Chapter 18: Smyrna Purple

With the score tied, both teams approached the final round with razor-sharp focus. Chaihong stared at the buy screen, without hesistation she purchased an assault rifle. "This time, we play default," she instructed, her voice calm but resolute. "They push, we wait, we trade. Stick to the plan."

Jihan nodded and split off to cover the choke point, setting a trap with practiced precision and positioning himself with a shotgun. Meanwhile, Chaihong took up an ambush position, her rifle aimed steadily, ready for any sudden movement.

On the other side, Lixin and Kaito were more cautious than ever. They moved deliberately, clearing every corner as if their lives depended on it. Lixin crept toward the chokepoint, his sharp ears picking up the faint, distinct click of Jihan's trap arming. A sly grin spread across his face. "Kaito, stay close. We'll trade him out," he whispered into his mic.

The trap triggered with a sharp snap. Lixin reacted instantly, breaking it with a quick shot. Just as predicted, Jihan swung out from his position, shotgun at the ready. But Kaito was quicker, pre-aiming the angle and firing first. The feed flashed red with Jihan's name, signaling his elimination.

Chaihong's eyes flicked to the kill feed, her grip tightening on her mouse. She exhaled softly, processing the sudden turn. "A two-versus-one," she murmured.

"Sorry, Chaihong," Jihan muttered, slumping in his chair. "I shouldn't have—"

"Don't worry about it," she interrupted, her tone steady. "I'll handle it."

Chaihong remained silent, her gaze glued to the screen as her mind worked rapidly. She adjusted her grip on the mouse, her breathing steady. "Don't worry about it," she finally replied to Jihan, her voice calm. "I've got this."

Lixin and Kaito regrouped, confident in their 2v1 advantage. They moved slowly, clearing angles and covering each other's blind spots. "Stick close," Lixin said over their comms. "Don't give her a chance to isolate us."

Chaihong took a steady breath, her mind racing with calculations. She quickly repositioned herself to an angle where she could isolate the engagement, ensuring she wouldn't be caught in both Lixin and Kaito's line of sight. The key was to divide and conquer, turning their numbers against them.

She hugged a tight corner near a narrow corridor, her rifle aimed precisely at the most likely entry point. Her position was strategic: if one of them pushed alone, she could take the fight as a clean one-on-one. If they came together, the angle would only allow one of them to peek at a time.

Her heart pounded, but her hands remained steady on the mouse and keyboard. "Come on," she whispered, her ears straining to catch even the faintest footstep.

As Chaihong held her position, the sound of cautious footsteps echoed faintly through her headphones. She tightened her grip on the mouse, her crosshair hovering at head level. Kaito's silhouette appeared at the edge of the corridor first.

Without hesitation, Chaihong fired a precise burst. Her bullets hit their mark, and Kaito went down before he could react.

"Damn it!" Kaito groaned, slamming his fist lightly on the desk as his character dropped.

Lixin, realizing what had happened, immediately adjusted. "She's cornered!" he called out, trying to rally himself as he swung wide to catch her off guard.

But Chaihong had already anticipated this. She quickly repositioned again, retreating slightly to another angle while Lixin charged in. The sound of his rushing footsteps betrayed his location. Using the narrow-angle to her advantage, she crouched and aimed, waiting for the moment he would step into her sight.

As Lixin's character emerged, Chaihong fired a perfectly timed spray, cutting him down before he could get a shot off.

"Clutch!" the in-game announcer declared.

The match ended, the victory screen glowing on Chaihong's monitor.

The room erupted into a mix of laughter and groans. Lixin leaned back in his chair, throwing his hands in the air. "She baited me! How did I fall for that?"

Jihan burst into laughter seeing Lixin fall to the ground " You walked right into that! What did the coach tell you before? Flash before peaking."

Zhang LiQiang reached out for a fistbump, his grin wide and approving. "Well done," he said warmly.

Chaihong hesitated for a moment, her shyness creeping in, but she returned the gesture with a small nod. "Thank you," she replied softly, her voice almost drowned out by the energy in the room.

Just then, the door swung open, and Coach Ming stepped in, his arms crossed and an amused look on his face. "It's lively over here," he remarked, his tone teasing as his eyes scanned the chaotic atmosphere.

Jihan immediately pointed toward Lixin, who was slumped dramatically in his chair, muttering complaints about the match. "He got skill diffed," Jihan quipped, smirking.

Lixin bolted upright, glaring at Jihan. "Try being in my position, you damn horsetail!"

Kaito chuckled, patting Lixin's shoulder. "You've gotta admit, that was clean. I got jump scared during the sniper round"

Coach Ming raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zhang LiQiang. "So, this is the recruit you were telling me about?"

LiQiang nodded, pride evident in his voice. "She's even better than I expected. Perfect game sense, sharp aim, and she can lead too."

Coach Ming observed Chaihong's cautious gaze for a moment before breaking into a warm smile. "I always welcome talented and hardworking players," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "Since LiQiang has tested you out, I assume you'll need some time to decide. Just know this—our organization is fully equipped to support you and help you reach even greater heights."

Chaihong listened intently, her thoughts swirling. The weight of the decision hit her again, grounding her in the reality that her choice wasn't made yet. But despite that, she couldn't deny the feeling she'd had moments earlier. When she was playing, the tension and second-guessing she had often felt in the past were absent. She didn't have to watch her every move or question her worth. The environment here, the mutual respect from the players, and their environment made her feel... safe.

Her hands rested on her thighs, her fingers fidget with her shirt. She glanced at Zhang LiQiang, who gave her a small, encouraging nod. The playful banter among Lixin, Kaito, and Jihan echoed softly in the background, their energy infectious.

Chaihong took a deep breath and met Coach Ming's gaze. "I'll think about it," she said, her tone firm but sincere. "But… I really enjoyed today. It's been a long time since I felt like this."

Coach Ming smiled knowingly. "Take your time, Chaihong. The door is always open, and the team will be here when you're ready. "

Lixin, overhearing the exchange, leaned over "Not too long though, preliminary rounds start in 6 months. We should get every minute in practice."