Strawberry Flavored

《Fire》 is a 4v4 game, divided into Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist (CT) factions. Teammates share economy, each round is two minutes, and it’s a best of sixteen out of thirty rounds format.

Currently, the common tactical combination for international teams is generally two assaulters, one sniper, and one free agent. Depending on the match situation, there might be some adjustments, but it’s largely the same.

In the monitoring feed, Xue Wei finished his individual match and entered random matchmaking.

For youth training promotion matches, the random matches are also against other youth trainees, but they are all anonymous.

In this match, Xue Wei’s team, including himself, was paired with three snipers.

The other youth trainees discussed it and prepared to fill roles as needed.

In this round, Xue Wei’s side was the Counter-Terrorist (CT) force. The map points were extremely disadvantageous: both enemy strongholds were on high ground, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

In the first round, they had no economy, and coupled with the map disadvantage, Xue Wei’s team was quickly wiped out, subsequently receiving a system compensation for their loss.

The score became 0:1.

Youth trainees were all seasoned players and knew that on this map, the CT side’s first round was usually a sacrifice, so their mentality wasn’t too anxious.

After receiving the economic compensation, the team’s total economy reached 5000.

Xue Wei purchased a TRG long-range sniper rifle, valued at 3500.

This was only the second round.

His purchase of a TRG meant that his other teammates could only use makeshift equipment. Let alone in a youth training team, even in a public match, this would be an action that would draw furious criticism.

His teammate #3 couldn’t help but open their mic: “Number 4, which team are you from? Are you f*cking throwing? Throwing in a promotion match, how many people are you going to screw over? Never seen a sniper before, have you?”

Xue Wei typed: [We can win.]

The second round began, and these youth trainees weren’t willing to waste time on infighting. The other three, holding ordinary guns, entered point A, discussing tactics.

It was at this moment that the replay showed: Xue Wei did not follow them, but instead went alone to point B, ten thousand eight thousand miles away.

His teammates started cursing, but before they could say a few words, one of the enemy’s avatars grayed out.

The upper right corner displayed:

[Team A #4] used TRG to kill [Team B #2]

Less than a second later.

[Team A #4] used TRG to kill [Team B #1]

Only two enemies remained; footsteps rapidly approached, and a shadow appeared behind Xue Wei.

《Fire》’s sniper weapons cannot fire continuously; they are heavy, with at least half a second between shots.

In a professional match, half a second is enough to kill a person.

The enemy clearly wanted to quickly close in and exploit this cooldown period to take him out. In just half a second, the opponent threw a smoke grenade, blocking his position.

Xue Wei directly spun around, firing a flick-shot, the bullet piercing through the mist.

A direct hit.

[Team A #4] used TRG to kill [Team B #3]

[Team A #4] used a dagger to kill [Team B #4]

[System settlement: Team B was completely wiped out this round, Team A wins, 10 seconds remaining until the next round]

For the next four rounds, Xue Wei single-handedly held points and sniped, steadily occupying the sniper position.

His teammates fell silent.

At this moment, the enemy youth trainees had not yet realized the gravity of the situation.

They were also among the top players in the world; they had never been so pressured by a sniper, especially when they had the map advantage.

In the subsequent rounds, they changed their tactics, all four players encircling Xue Wei, attempting to break through the core.

This strategy was actually sound.

But…

The head coach ‘tsk’ed: “They still haven’t had enough experience to judge their opponents’ strength.”

All of Team B surrounded Xue Wei, and for five consecutive rounds, like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandpa, they were all wiped out by Xue Wei.

This no longer looked like a youth training promotion match; it looked like a fish pond game.

After five rounds, Team B finally cleared their heads a bit, no longer competing head-on with Xue Wei, but retreating upon seeing him. However, the cost of simply spotting him and then reporting a retreat was already brutal enough – at least one teammate’s death.

“Holy crap, buddy, can I add you after the assessment? Are you a youth trainee from National Team One?” #1 tried to get friendly with him over the mic, “I heard God Wen brought a few snipers to Team 1, is that you?”

Xue Wei’s voice was concise: “No.”

In the coaches’ room, Wen Man leaned back, cigarette in hand, eyelids slightly lowered, but then he suddenly smiled.

“His individual KDA is terrifying, but he only seems to play sniper…” The head coach was originally discussing with him, but seeing his smile, he paused for a moment: “What’s wrong?”

“Keep talking.” Wen Man gave no indication.

The coach pulled up the replays of the later rounds.

By the eighth round, because of Xue Wei’s presence, their score had reached 7:1; the opponents hadn’t won a single round except for the first.

However, in the ninth round, Xue Wei’s team encountered a problem: teammate #3 made a major mistake, a smoke grenade failed to block the enemy’s path, instead exposing the teammates’ positions. All four, including Xue Wei, were wiped out.

Everything reset, economy worsened, and Xue Wei could only play assault with the others.

After losing the sniper position, Xue Wei was completely detached from the team.

This time, they encountered a street fight. Xue Wei did not follow his teammates but took an extremely off-angle position, directly encountering the two fiercest enemy assaulters.

1v2, before he was killed, both opponents were reduced to a sliver of health, but his damage wasn’t quite enough, and his teammates didn’t follow up, resulting in a loss for this round.

In the surveillance footage, the usually placid youth pursed his lips, and a hint of defiance seemed to appear in his eyes.

“This youth trainee is extremely detached from the team, or rather…” The coach frowned, “He can barely achieve effective team coordination.”

“Mm, right.” Wen Man crossed his legs.

His gaze had always been scattered and wandering, but this time it finally settled, dark and profound. He was clearly not listening attentively, his eyes fixed on the live recording on the other side.

The head coach noticed he was still watching the real-time replay on the other side.

The match ended, Xue Wei took off his headphones, let out a soft sigh of relief, and rested his forehead on the table, staying there for a while.

Others gradually prepared to get up and leave; a few noticed him, whispering: “Is that person alright?”

“Must have gotten demoralized.” Others chuckled softly nearby. “After all, he’s from the practice squad; wouldn’t he be completely suppressed?”

Xue Wei’s hearing and vision were blurry. He gasped faintly, cold sweat beading on his fingertips.

The training room was noisy. After the match, everyone could finally speak freely, discussing their performance today. Gaming chairs dragged back and forth, hitting tables, occasionally clanging.

Suddenly, someone pushed open the door, and the training room fell silent, like boiling water suddenly stilling.

The silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Only a few youth trainees from National Team One, having seen him a few times, stammered after a long moment to the man who entered: “W-Wen BA…”

Wen Man casually greeted: “Morning.”

He was very tall. His peach blossom eyes, far from making him seem approachable, instead added a fluid, controlled aggression beyond his inherent authority. Light and shadow cast beneath his lashes, making him appear indifferent and unrestrained.

Everyone looked towards him, and he, in turn, scanned the corner.

In the second-to-last row by the wall, Xue Wei was still slumped on the table.

He noticed the unusual commotion and stirred, lifting his head.

Wen Man looked down, meeting his bewildered, dizzy eyes.

Almond eyes, very round and beautiful eyes, with clear whites and blacks, like obsidian in dim light, bearing a strange luster.

Because of his dizziness, he slightly parted his lips to inhale, cold sweat soaking his messy hair.

Wen Man placed the items in his hand on the table.

“Strawberry milk, strawberry chocolate.” Wen Man held a piece of chocolate, his voice calm and steady, “Student, can you move yourself?”

Xue Wei struggled to lift his head; he had no strength, unable to speak.

Wen Man lowered his eyes, tore open the chocolate wrapper in his hand, broke off a piece, and directly put it into his mouth.

Xue Wei had a small canine tooth, its tip lightly scraping against his finger, feeling cool.