Chapter 129: Team Uniforms

"Team uniforms!" The group was stunned. They had never imagined that someone would actually prepare team uniforms for them.

Moreover, these uniforms looked quite impressive and were actually down jackets. It was already December, the coldest time of the year in South Korea. Some players hadn't prepared suitable clothing and had arrived wearing only single layers, leaving them shivering and nearly frozen. Seeing these warm down-filled uniforms, their hearts nearly melted. It was truly a gift sent in the nick of time.

"I want one!" Deep jumped out immediately, snatching the jacket from Huang He's hands before he could even check if it would fit. But since it was a down jacket, unless one was exceptionally short or overweight, size usually wasn't an issue.

"Mr. Huang, did you only bring one?" Others looked at Deep with envy, wishing they had been as quick as him.

"I brought thirty of them; they are all at my hotel. Follow me later, and I'll take you to get them!" Huang He said with a smile, prompting an immediate cheer from the group.

However, there were some discordant voices among them. Pei Le, for instance, looked at the uniform with a skeptical eye, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Mr. Huang, you intend to sponsor the Chinese National E-sports Team, don't you?"

"Oh?" Huang He glanced at Pei Le with surprise. The guy actually had the nerve to call them the Chinese National E-sports Team. While it was technically true that they represented China based on the WCG's scale and format, labeling this group of a dozen or so hastily assembled players as such gave the situation a different weight—it was no longer something that could be brushed off with just a uniform.

"What does 'sponsorship' mean?" One player scratched his head, not understanding the term. Of course, others did understand, and they cast thoughtful, cautious glances at the uniforms.

"It is indeed a sponsorship," Huang He nodded. "I was moved by your dedication to winning glory for the country on the field, and since Zhi Meng is very fond of e-sports, I have decided to sponsor you."

"So, it's not just the uniforms. Your accommodation and meals will be covered by our Jiangnan Group. I will book hotel rooms for you, two to a room, at the hotel where I am staying. From now until the end of the tournament, you will stay there. I will also rent a bus for you; you will take it directly to the venue for matches, so you don't waste your time and energy walking. In short, this is the same treatment a traditional sports delegation would receive!"

"Really?" The players were even more excited. They never expected to have their clothing, food, housing, and transportation all taken care of.

"And the sponsorship fee..." Pei Le tried to push for more, but Huang He said coolly, "Young man, you know what your situation is. Right now, I am the only enterprise willing to sponsor you. If you don't want it, that's fine—an entrepreneur doesn't have an infinite grain reserve either."

Hearing this, Pei Le immediately shut his mouth. These pitiful e-sports players should be grateful enough to receive standard treatment. Besides, he wasn't a player himself, just tagging along for the fun of it; he shouldn't be the one to ruin things for them.

Although the others vaguely understood Huang He's intentions, he was putting up real money, and all they had to do was wear his brand's clothing during the competition. It didn't seem like much of a loss, so they happily agreed.

After a hearty meal, Huang He followed through on his promise and called for a bus. The group rushed back to their rented rooms, gathered their belongings, and boarded the bus to the hotel. It was a four-star establishment, and the interior decor opened the eyes of these e-sports players. They never imagined that a gamer like them could one day enjoy such treatment.

"If only playing games could always be this glorious!" the thought crossed their minds. But upon reflection, they realized that entrepreneurs like Huang He were rare, and he was likely only interested because of the WCG's stature. Unless they returned to the WCG next year, they might never experience this again. Thinking of this, they felt a bit despondent, and their eyes turned toward Mr. Huang with a mix of anticipation and a hint of sycophancy.

***

"Brother-in-law, is it really okay to corrupt them with money like this?" Watching the players head to their rooms, Leng Zhimeng said with some dissatisfaction. "They were such a pure group of people, with nothing but the competition in their eyes. But now, they aren't pure anymore!"

"What 'pure'? Do pure people deserve to suffer? Does being pure help you win matches?" Huang He tapped Leng Zhimeng on the head. "Believe me, they are now even more eager for victory than before. They will have more opportunities to help China win the championship!"

"Oh," Leng Zhimeng drew out the sound.

"But what about you? Still want a champion for a boyfriend? I think that Mty and Deep have potential. The StarCraft team finals start tomorrow; they might just be the first to win a title!" Huang He laughed.

"Those two..." Leng Zhimeng thought of Deep's rolls of fat and Mty’s scrawny appearance, which exuded a sense of poverty. She couldn't help but recoil. To be honest, she regretted being so foolish as to start this whole endeavor.

Of course, she wouldn't admit it. She muttered, "Mind your own business!" and stormed off to her room to sleep. Mr. Huang smiled, feeling an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

Everyone slept well that night. The next morning, they rose full of energy, put on the down jackets Huang He had provided, and went to a nearby internet cafe to train for three hours to keep their hands warm before taking the bus to the venue.

However, an unexpected problem arose. They were blocked by venue staff from entering the competition area because they weren't wearing the official T-shirts provided by the organizers—those emblazoned with a large Samsung logo. As the sole sponsor of the WCG, Samsung’s presence was vital; without them, the organizing committee would have to disband.

Seeing the Chinese players standing there in their uniform down jackets, the staff immediately intervened. Huang He didn't object; it was standard business logic—if you pay to host a tournament, you call the shots.

However, Huang He found Pei Le, who was watching from the sidelines, and smiled. "Xiao Pei, how about it? Do you have the ability to solve this? My requirement is simple: our company's logo must be visible on the broadcast, but we cannot fall out with the committee."

"I have to solve it?" Pei Le was taken aback. He was just here for the ride and free perks; why was he being asked to solve the boss's problems? But Pei Le was a clever man. He quickly grasped the implication and nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, boss, I have a way to fix this!"

With that, Pei Le headed backstage. Huang He smiled; the future "Emperor of Shanghai" was indeed extraordinary. It seemed he had discovered another talent.

Sure enough, within ten minutes, the problem was solved. Later, Huang He learned from Leng Zhimeng that Pei Le had approached the staff and claimed the official T-shirts were too thin. He argued that the venue's heating was inadequate and the outside temperature was near freezing, causing several players to catch severe colds—which, he claimed, was the reason they had lost yesterday. They were wearing the down jackets specifically to prevent further illness.

The other players played along, pinching their noses to turn them red and coughing incessantly, acting as if they were in great pain. Of course, the committee wasn't convinced until Pei Le threatened to complain to the American journalists covering the event. The Korean committee feared nothing except their "Samsung Daddy" and the "American Journalist Grandfathers." If this made the news, their reputation as the "loyal son" would be ruined.

The committee backed down. Pei Le seized the opportunity to propose a compromise: they could wear the down jackets during the unrecorded preliminary matches. If they made it to the finals, they would take them off inside the glass booths. As long as they were on camera, they would comply and wear the Samsung T-shirts.

The committee agreed. Once the players were inside, Pei Le instructed them that even though they had to take off the down jackets during the matches, they should drape them over the backs of their chairs. By doing so, the large "OO" logo on the back of the jackets would be naturally visible. No one could complain, and it didn't violate the rules.

The players couldn't help but think: Pei Le is truly an e-sports genius.