December 22, Thursday.
Shanghai Airport.
Zhao Xuming, along with leaders and players from two other clubs, were waiting for their flight.
The IOI World Championship dates had been finalized—starting next Saturday, December 31st, and running until the end of January, lasting one month.
The format was similar to GOG’s Global Invitational, with sixteen teams divided into four groups, split into a group stage and knockout stage.
The schedule arranged key group stage and knockout matches mainly on weekends and holidays, while less important matches and rest days were scheduled during weekdays.
Although not perfectly arranged, it was reasonably balanced.
However, due to time differences, domestic viewers would have a poor viewing experience. For group stage matches, domestic viewing time would be from 3 AM to noon the next day, requiring viewers to pull all-nighters.
Since the tournament was in Los Angeles, this scheduling couldn’t be helped.
Fingertip Company would only provide hotel accommodation starting the day before the tournament began, continuing until a team was eliminated.
Most poorer clubs would arrive just one or two days before the tournament started at hotels near the venue.
To allow domestic clubs to play practice matches with European and American teams and adapt to the local environment, Zhao Xuming decided to arrive over a week early, staying at the hotel arranged by Fingertip Company.
Flights and this week’s accommodation expenses were fully covered by Dragon Universe Group.
In total, there were 20 people: the two clubs had 14 people (five players each plus team leaders and coaches), with six Dragon Universe Group staff members, including Zhao Xuming.
Zhao Xuming was going to Los Angeles purely to take this opportunity to travel and watch the IOI tournament. Since Dragon Universe Group’s IOI Operations Department would be promoting and marketing during the tournament, his trip was justified.
Once in Los Angeles, besides settling the players from both clubs, Zhao Xuming would visit and exchange with Fingertip Company’s headquarters, along with other IOI Operations Department colleagues.
The group of 20 waited at the airport.
Currently, only a few domestic cities like Beijing and Shanghai offer direct flights to Los Angeles at relatively higher prices. Other cities usually required transfers, which were cheaper but took much longer.
Zhao Xuming didn’t choose cheaper connecting flights but instead selected one of the relatively few and expensive direct flights, which would only take about 13 hours.
Zhao Xuming felt somewhat proud—after all, Dragon Universe Group was covering the tickets, so choosing direct flights was quite generous for these clubs.
Most players were internet-addicted youths who had never been abroad or seen much of the world. Zhao Xuming felt his gesture of goodwill was already quite substantial.
Regarding seating, as a Dragon Universe Group executive, Zhao Xuming could choose business class for business trips, but after much consideration, he opted for economy.
It wasn’t about saving money for the company—it was a matter of image.
With so many people, having all 20 in business class would be too expensive. Business class tickets cost three times as much as economy, requiring an extra 300,000-400,000 yuan in reimbursements, which was somewhat against standards.
Yet Zhao Xuming couldn’t bring himself to fly business while making club members fly economy, so he had to sacrifice his comfort.
The club leaders and players didn’t mind this. Dragon Universe Group, covering direct flights, was already good enough—asking them to pay triple for business class would be excessive.
Besides, Mr. Zhao was also flying economy.
With significant time before boarding, Zhao Xuming chatted with the club leaders, briefly outlining the Los Angeles itinerary.
The hotel Fingertip Company arranged is the Courtyard by Marriott, about 200 meters from the venue. Walking distance, very convenient.”
“The hotel environment is excellent—everything you could want.”
“Once we arrive, we’ll check in directly. Pre-tournament hotel expenses can be reimbursed through me. The day before the tournament starts, everyone will check out and re-check in to Fingertip Company’s designated rooms.”
“Our company has assigned a translator. I’ll need the two leaders to work with our translator to find nearby internet cafés and restaurants, checking where to train and eat.”
“Although Fingertip Company will provide training facilities and meals, those only become available the day before the tournament starts. This week, we’re on our own.”
Zhao Xuming detailed various arrangements while the two leaders nodded repeatedly.
Other players were also excited, with some experiencing nervousness as it was their first flight.
As Zhao Xuming chatted with the leaders, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching.
“Over here. Everyone, line up by height—yes, three rows. The main players in front hold up the club flag. Good, I’m taking photos now.”
“One, two, three! Nice, let’s do another.”
Zhao Xuming was momentarily stunned. Turning around, he froze completely.
Wasn’t this the FV Club?
Why were there so many people?
About thirty people were gathered for photos, with FV Club flags in the front row. The five main players stood prominently, whom Zhao Xuming recognized immediately.
Two photographers wielded professional cameras, capturing shots from all angles, while a videographer recorded everything with his equipment.
Zhao Xuming quickly spotted more familiar faces in the crowd, including Ding Gan, Wu Yue, Manager Lu, and SUG Club players.
Zhao Xuming was bewildered.
What was going on?
If these people were here, they must be catching flights—likely to Los Angeles.
But even with the FV Club going to Los Angeles, there should only be seven or eight people at most.
Why so many?
Why were SUG Club members here, too?
Zhao Xuming had thought his entourage with two clubs was impressive enough, but FV Club alone outnumbered his entire group!
Zhao Xuming couldn’t make sense of this unexpected encounter.
Wu Yue, having finished taking photos, noticed Zhao Xuming at the boarding area.
Wu Yue was also surprised. Though he had no warm feelings toward Zhao Xuming, pretending not to notice at this point would be too much.
So Wu Yue approached to greet him.
“Mr. Zhao! What a coincidence meeting you here.”
Zhao Xuming forced a smile and stood up: “Mr. Wu, you’re taking this flight to Los Angeles too?”
Wu Yue nodded: “Yes, you too? What a coincidence.”
“Though it makes sense, this flight has good timing. Great minds think alike, don’t they?”
Although Min Jingchao and Ye Zhizhou were from Jingzhou, both the FV and SUG clubs were based in Shanghai. Since Jingzhou had no direct flights to Los Angeles, everyone departed from Shanghai.
Considering departure and arrival times, schedule arrangements, seat availability, ticket prices, and other factors, this was the optimal flight, explaining the coincidental meeting.
This encounter created some awkwardness.
Zhao Xuming had deliberately excluded FV Club from the Los Angeles trip—a fact both parties understood.
In this situation, Zhao Xuming could only avoid mentioning it, pretending with small talk: “Mr. Wu, there’s still time before boarding. Shall we find seats?”
Wu Yue smiled: “Sure, but no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Zhao.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Yue called to his group: “Everyone, follow me to find somewhere to rest.”
To Zhao Xuming’s surprise, instead of sitting in the nearby rest area, Wu Yue’s group headed directly to the more distant Business Lounge.
Zhao Xuming’s head was filled with question marks.
What was happening?
The Business Lounge catered exclusively to business class passengers or elite members, offering TV, newspapers, magazines, snacks, drinks, flight change services, and comfortable leather chairs rather than hard public benches.
Watching all thirty people enter, including the photographers and videographers, Zhao Xuming was even more shocked.
What did this mean?
Had all thirty people booked business class?
Zhao Xuming knew the prices—economy around 10,000 yuan, business nearly 30,000. Thirty people in business class would cost 600,000 yuan more than economy!
Ridiculous!
Zhao Xuming quickly dismissed the idea.
How could FV Club afford an extra 600,000 yuan for flights? It made no sense!
Ah, they must have paid to enter the lounge to show off in front of us!
Zhao Xuming knew these lounges, while designated for business passengers and elite members, allowed paid entry at 100 yuan per person.
In that case, 30 people would only cost 3,000 yuan total. More reasonable.
Zhao Xuming considered spending 2,000 yuan for the same privilege, but realized that with no flight delays and boarding soon approaching, it would be unnecessary.
Better to act like nothing happened.
Interrupted by Wu Yue’s group, Zhao Xuming lost interest in chatting with the club leaders. Everyone quietly scrolled their phones while waiting.
Somehow, Zhao Xuming’s mind kept wandering to scenes in the Business Lounge.
Quiet environment with no noise, reclining in comfortable leather chairs, reading magazines or watching movies, unlimited free snacks and drinks…
The more he thought about it, the more envious he felt.
Zhao Xuming checked his watch frequently. Thankfully, boarding would soon begin.
Everyone lined up at the gate, waiting.
The direct flight to Los Angeles was a large aircraft seating nearly 500, with two levels, resulting in a lengthy queue.
Zhao Xuming’s group stood in relatively forward positions, waiting patiently.
As the line grew longer without Wu Yue’s group emerging from the lounge, Zhao Xuming’s suspicions deepened.
What was their situation?
Were they not worried about queuing, or…
Finally, Wu Yue and Ding Gan led their thirty-plus group from the Business Lounge, but instead of joining the queue’s end, they headed straight to another boarding gate.
Under the crew’s attentive reception, Wu Yue’s group passed through without hindrance.
The contrast with the long economic line was stark.
Zhao Xuming, the club leaders, and players watched helplessly as Wu Yue’s group began boarding while their line crawled like a tortoise.
The large aircraft had two levels with separate boarding gates, avoiding interference between boarding and disembarking. Business class on the upper level, economy below—business passengers didn’t queue.
Zhao Xuming: “…”
Watching Wu Yue and Ding Gan’s retreating figures, he quietly shut down.