When an Alpha is Marked by One of His Own Kind

Chapter 52

Just as Team DG started their regular practice for the day at their hotel, the results from the morning games came out-BIG and COCO had each won one more point.
With that, the LPL became the first division to advance in the international tournament.

The LCK and LMS divisions, on the other hand, would need to play in a Bo5 match that evening to determine who would advance to the finals. The winner of that match would go on to play against the LPL in a Bo5, which would ultimately determine the winner of the international tournament.

Based on each regional league's past performances, it was almost a sure thing that the LPL would face off against the LCK in the upcoming finals.

Coach Fang took Lu Zhe and the other players from Team DG to watch the Bo5 between LCK and LMS that night. After LCK secured a victory, DG proceeded to review the highlights from the game. It wasn't until two in the morning that the members of Team DG disbanded and returned to their rooms to rest.

......

The next morning, Shen Qiao was woken by an irregular tapping sound on his window.

He lay in bed for a while. Once his drowsiness faded somewhat, he climbed to his feet and went over to the window.

With a swoosh, he pulled open the curtains and revealed a gloomy sky outside. A thin, wispy drizzle of rain pelted the window, leaving fine streaks running down the glass, like the silk of a spiderweb.

The rain was still falling, with no signs of letting up. There was no telling how long the rain would persist. The clouds in the sky were like dense tofu blocks; they had plenty more rain to shed.

The finals of the international tournament were due to take place in this weather.

Shen Qiao felt a little gloomy for no particular reason. Perhaps it was simply caused by the equally gloomy weather, which could often make people feel the blues. Shen Qiao moved away from the window to grab a clean uniform from the closet, then ducked into the bathroom.

After taking a hot shower, Shen Qiao felt his sullen mood dissipate. He checked his bag before heading out, making sure he had everything he would need for the day. Once he was ready, he opened the door to his room and stepped out into the hallway-just in time to see Lu Zhe stepping out of the neighboring room.

Their gazes met. In that moment, they both saw a matching light of mirth rising in the other's eyes.

"Morning," Shen Qiao greeted first, raising his eyebrows.

The corners of Lu Zhe's mouth curved like a crescent moon. His voice was as light as a spring breeze as he asked, "Are you ready?"

Shen Qiao paused suddenly, his hand frozen on the door that he was just in the process of pulling shut. He didn't know if Lu Zhe was referring to the night's game, or the... personal matters that would come after the night's game.

But when he thought of the gifts he had in his own bag, he nodded. "Of course."

Lu Zhe's smile inexplicably grew a little brighter.

Manager Zhou appeared from around a corner down the hall. When he spotted the two players who'd gotten themselves ready, he sighed and said, "You guys really are the easiest ones to manage. Those other pigs make me wake them up one by one every day.

"I already ordered a hot breakfast and milk from the hotel today. You two hurry up and go eat."

After he finished saying all that, Manager Zhou continued down the hall and knocked on the doors of the other three players, taking special care to focus on Er-Hua and Qian Bao, the king and queen of sleeping in.