The All-Star Games will open on July 15th. From the 1st to the 14th was the voting period, also the league's break time. All major teams were on vacation, and Coach Lin has also given everyone a two-week break, letting them arrange their time freely.

In private, Chi Shuo asked Ye Shaoyang, "What are your plans for the two-week vacation?"

With both parents passed away, Ye Shaoyang had no intention of returning to his hometown in Star City. Instead, he wanted to travel around.

So far, he had only visited cities like Binghe and Yayan, where esports events were held, knowing nothing about other places. Since the playoffs were still far away, it wouldn't hurt to take the opportunity to travel and relax, right?

With this in mind, Ye Shaoyang said, "I want to go traveling. Captain Chi, do you have any interesting places to recommend?"

"I'm not very knowledgeable about traveling either. Let me ask Qu Jiang; he likes photography and used to travel alone often," Chi Shuo replied. He, a gamer through and through, had never traveled before. He sent a message to Qu Jiang, asking, "With a two-week break, any good places for traveling?"

Qu Jiang responded with a curious expression, "Is it just you going, or both of you?"

"Both of us," Chi Shuo replied.

Qu Jiang understood and quickly typed, "A self-driving tour, the Grand Loop. The scenery is beautiful along the way, with fewer tourists and no need to queue at the attractions. It's quite suitable for friends to relax together." He thought for a moment, then deleted the word "friends" and replaced it with "good friends."

Chi Shuo copied Qu Jiang's words and sent them to Ye Shaoyang, saying, "How about a self-driving tour?"

Ye Shaoyang replied, "Self-driving? I don't know how to drive; I haven't got my license."

Chi Shuo said, "I'd be happy to drive."

After some thought, Ye Shaoyang realized that a self-driving tour would indeed offer more freedom. Being part of a tour group meant being constantly followed by a guide, waiting for others, which could be cumbersome. Self-driving would be much more relaxed, with the freedom to stop wherever they wanted.

Ye Shaoyang responded, "Why don't we all go together?"

Chi Shuo was puzzled, "All of us?"

Ye Shaoyang explained, "Well, the regular season is over, and since it's still a long way to the playoffs, a two-week break at the team's base would be boring. Let's go out together."

Chi Shuo couldn't help but laugh and cry, "You want the whole Tianhuan team to go on vacation together?"

Ye Shaoyang looked confused, "Why not?"

Chi Shuo sighed inwardly. He had originally planned to go with Ye Shaoyang alone, but now Ye Shaoyang was thinking about bringing all their teammates along. Chi Shuo reluctantly replied, "Okay, if you like the idea, let's all go together."

It wouldn't be appropriate for just the two of them to go alone. After all, they hadn't established a romantic relationship yet. If they were spotted together before the playoffs began, it would be difficult to explain, and it could affect the team's reputation.

They could always have time for a honeymoon later; there was no rush.

With this in mind, Chi Shuo suggested, "Let's ask everyone."

Ye Shaoyang sent a message to the "Tianhuan Family" group chat, asking, "With a two-week break, it's a good opportunity to relax. Hey, folks, how about a self-driving tour? Who's up for it?"

Qu Jiang: "..."

Wait, weren't you two going alone?

Cheng Xing immediately popped up after seeing the message, "Yang Ge, are you going on a self-driving tour?"

Ye Shaoyang replied, "Yeah, how about we all go together? Does anyone else know how to drive?"

Qin Yizhuo said, "I do, I have a driver's license."

Ye Shaoyang said, "Great, then Captain Chi and Old Qin can take turns driving. I'll cover all the expenses for meals and accommodation. Let's go out and have some fun for a few days!"

He hadn't touched the 5 million signing bonus he received and was eager to treat his Tianhuan teammates to a trip.

Ye Shaoyang regarded these teammates as family, especially since he didn't have many friends after crossing over, and both his parents had passed away. The members of Tianhuan were his biggest concern in this world.

Qu Jiang really wanted to tease: Why bring so many third wheels along?

However, unaware of the truth, Cheng Xing thought it was Ye Shaoyang's idea and immediately excitedly agreed, "Yang Ge's treating us? Awesome! When are we leaving? I'll pack my bags right away."

Ye Shaoyang said, "Let's discuss the itinerary."

Chi Shuo suggested, "We need to be back by the 14th for the All-Star Game, so we have to return before the 13th. Let's depart on the 3rd and return on the 13th. Is 10 days enough? @Jiang Shui"

Qu Jiang replied, "That should be plenty. But driving all the way from the capital is too far. We can fly there and rent a car locally."

Chi Shuo decisively agreed, "That's settled then. We'll take a flight on the 3rd. Everyone, pack your bags tomorrow. Qu Jiang, you handle the logistics; you're better at booking tickets and accommodations."

Ye Shaoyang said, "Thanks, Jiang Jiang. I'll cover all the expenses. [Hug.jpg]"

Qu Jiang noticed that Chi seemed to have no objections to the idea of the whole team going on the trip, so he replied, "No problem, leave it to me. I'll find you guys a travel guide and make a list of items you need to prepare."

Cheng Xing had never traveled with teammates before and eagerly went online to research.

The Grand Loop was a famous scenic route in the western part of China, spanning thousands of kilometers with grasslands, deserts, and snow-capped mountains along the way, offering picturesque views and ideal for a relaxing self-driving tour.

However, the weather there was changeable, with significant temperature differences between day and night, so sunscreen and warm clothing were essential.

Qu Jiang quickly compiled a list of items for everyone to prepare, made travel arrangements, and booked hotels along the route, sharing the details in the group chat to gather everyone's opinions.

Ye Shaoyang noticed that Qu Jiang was indeed a very attentive and reliable person, skilled in household travel, and also the team's photographer. As for Old Qin, he had researched a bunch of food guides, with his focus unsurprisingly on "eating" being his top priority.

The discussion in the Tianhuan group chat was lively. Old Qin suggested, "After we arrive at our destination on the first day, we shouldn't set off immediately. Let's go eat roasted lamb locally. I've been craving a whole roasted lamb for a long time."

Qu Jiang said, "If we're renting a car, we can book it online in advance and pick it up directly at the airport. How about renting an SUV for the five of us? Captain Chi, do you have a preference for the car model?"

Chi Shuo sent an icon of a car and asked, "Do they have this model?"

Qu Jiang replied, "Yes, I'll contact them."

Ye Shaoyang handled the finances, Cheng Xing was in charge of purchasing daily necessities, Qu Jiang, the household manager, helped organize the itinerary, Old Qin checked out the food joints they would visit along the way, and Chi Shuo served as the driver.

The coordination among the five members of Tianhuan in daily life was still incredibly harmonious.

A day later, the five of them flew to Xilin City. Qu Jiang contacted the rental car company by phone, and they picked up the car at the airport. Chi Shuo then drove while navigating to the local hotel.

Qu Jiang had chosen a hotel that was not only affordable but also had a nice environment. Considering that Yangyang was an Omega and needed to stay separately, Qu Jiang booked five rooms, just like during their usual matches.

After checking in, they went out with Old Qin to find a restaurant and ordered a whole roasted lamb.

Cheng Xing's mouth watered as he exclaimed, "Delicious! This is the best lamb I've ever eaten!" Ye Shaoyang also praised, "Old Qin, your food app is indeed reliable."

Qin Yizhuo laughed, "I've prepared a full guide for foodies throughout the journey. Will I gain ten pounds on this trip back?"

Ye Shaoyang replied, "As a top laner, you should gain a little weight for a sense of security."

Upon careful consideration, Qin Yizhuo nodded and indulged in eating, "Makes sense. If you're going to play the meat tank, you need a bit more meat on you!"

Chi Shuo watched Ye Shaoyang enjoying his meal with a big smile on his face, and he couldn't help but feel his mood lighten.

Finally, he understood the significance of Ye Shaoyang's actions.

With the regular season over and the playoffs yet to begin, Ye Shaoyang took his teammates out for a vacation to relax. In fact, he wanted everyone to let go of all their pressure and have a few carefree days of fun before entering the playoffs in the most relaxed state possible.

Chi Shuo had never considered taking everyone out for a trip. In his view, good results came from daily training. But sometimes, when the players' spirits were too tense, it wasn't a good thing.

Perhaps he was too serious as a captain.

Although he had authority, he lacked a bit of human touch.

Ye Shaoyang was even better at winning hearts. If he were leading the team, he would definitely be a great captain, right?

Chi Shuo looked at Ye Shaoyang and always felt that Ye Shaoyang seemed more like someone who had been a captain before rather than a newcomer.

Ye Shaoyang looked up and met Chi Shuo's gaze, casually handing him a piece of roasted meat with a smile, "Eat more. When you're out having fun, don't think about the competition. Just eat, drink, and be merry. There'll be plenty of time for training when we get back."

Chi Shuo nodded and took the roasted meat from Ye Shaoyang. Taking a bite, he found the meat tender and flavorful, paired perfectly with the special dipping sauce, truly a treat for the taste buds.

The five of them enjoyed their meal, filled their stomachs, spent the night at the hotel, and set off early the next morning for the snowy mountains.

Chi Shuo drove with Ye Shaoyang in the passenger seat, while the other three sat in the back.

Ye Shaoyang had intentionally downloaded some songs and connected his phone to the car's stereo to play them.

The car quickly left the urban area, and along the way, listening to the heroic songs and gazing at the boundless grasslands outside the window, all the worries in their hearts vanished into thin air.

The beautiful natural scenery indeed had a way of easing one's mood.

Qu Jiang set up his camera and filmed the journey, planning to edit a video to commemorate their trip after they returned.

The itinerary for the few days was very flexible. Everyone woke up naturally each day, and they set off or stopped whenever they felt like it. They visited the grasslands, saw the snow-capped mountains, and even went to the desert to ride sand dune motorcycles, having so much fun that they almost forgot they were esports players.

They were just young people in their early twenties.

Spending all day in front of a computer playing games at the base could indeed lead to exhaustion over time.

Taking this kind of relaxation was hugely beneficial for the players' mental states.

The 10-day journey passed quickly, and it was time to head back.

They passed by the grassland where they had camped on the first night. The five of them lay on the grass, looking up at the vast expanse of stars above. Suddenly, Ye Shaoyang said, "Actually, being able to meet a few like-minded friends and strive together while we're young feels pretty good, don't you think?"

Old Qin was momentarily stunned, scratching his head with a sheepish smile, "I'm not very good at expressing myself, but I'm really happy to know you guys."

Qu Jiang smiled, "Me too. The experiences we've had these years are something I'll never forget, even when I'm old."

Cheng Xing exclaimed excitedly, "Me too! I feel so lucky to be a part of Tianhuan!"

Ye Shaoyang's lips curved into a relaxed and easy smile. "In the future, let's go play together again whenever we have time. Even if we don't compete anymore, we'll still be lifelong friends."

Chi Shuo: "..."

Qu Jiang: "..."

Cheng Xing also realized something was amiss.

Lifelong friends? Oh no!

What about Master's plan to get out of being single? Are you going to be lifelong friends with him too?

Chi Shuo calmly changed the subject. "After this season's over, it will be my treat. I'll take you guys on another trip."

Qu Jiang quickly chimed in, "Sounds great! This trip was so much fun. Thanks to generous Yangyang for hosting. Next time, it's Captain Chi's turn, and we won't hold back."

Old Qin also added, "Let's make a plan then. How about a vacation after S10?"

Chi Shuo agreed, "Hmm, let's go to bed now. We're heading back tomorrow, with the afternoon flight. Get some rest."

Everyone returned to their tents to sleep.

Qu Jiang sent a message to Ye Shaoyang: "Yangyang, don't you have anyone you like? Or what type of Alpha do you like?"

Ye Shaoyang replied, "I haven't thought about those things. Right now, competing is the most important."

Qu Jiang: "..."

Ye Shaoyang: "What's wrong?"

Qu Jiang replied with a suppressed smile, "Nothing, I was just curious."

It seemed that his guess was correct. Ye Shaoyang didn't even realize that his relationship with Chi Shuo was an issue. Chi Shuo's journey to get out of being single was still a long way off, and he needed his teammates' help.

Qu Jiang quickly created a small group chat with Qin Yizhuo and Cheng Xing and sent a message: "Chi Shuo said he'll treat us to another trip after this season ends. Let's be tactful and not act as third wheels anymore."

Old Qin immediately understood and replied, "I was just saying that to brush it off earlier, so Chi Shuo wouldn't feel embarrassed. When the time comes, I'll say my grandfather is celebrating his 80th birthday, and I need to go home."

Cheng Xing added, "I'll say my parents are taking me abroad?"

Qu Jiang: "Hmm. Let them go play by themselves. If Chi Shuo doesn't seize the opportunity, I'll be worried for him."

Old Qin sent a row of silly smiling emojis, "I was also surprised when Chi Shuo suddenly asked everyone to go play together. I thought he was going to travel alone with Yangyang?"

Qu Jiang said, "They haven't confirmed their relationship yet. It's hard to explain when an Omega and an Alpha go on a trip together, and it could damage their reputations. Bringing us along makes it more reasonable."

Old Qin: "Makes sense!"

Cheng Xing scratched his head, "I never thought about these things. Qu Ge, you seem to understand a lot?"

Qu Jiang sent a row of smiling faces, "I often read novels. Unlike you guys, who only think about games."

Old Qin and Cheng Xing: "..."

While Ye Shaoyang, whose mind was filled only with thoughts of competition, lay in his tent with his eyes closed, lost in thought.

This trip was short, but everyone had a great time. He believed that in the upcoming training and matches, the Tianhuan team members would let go of all their mental pressure and perform even better than in the regular season.

Combining work and leisure was necessary. Being too tense during matches could actually be counterproductive. Going out for a trip like this was more effective than staying at the team base training every day.

The playoffs wouldn't start until September, with a month and a half left. There was still time to train properly after returning.

Ye Shaoyang checked his phone and saw that the All-Star voting was about to end.

Currently, he and Chi Shuo's votes were consistently in the top three. Only the top 15 players with the highest popularity would be selected for the All-Star. Ye Shaoyang quickly scrolled down and noticed that Qu Jiang's votes were hovering around 15 - 16th place.

Old Qin and Cheng Xing's popularity was outside the top 20, so they likely wouldn't make it. But as a former mid-laner for Tianhuan, Qu Jiang had always had a dedicated fan base. After some thought, Ye Shaoyang sent a private message to Chi Shuo: "Do you want to help Qu Jiang get some more votes? The voting ends tomorrow, and I see he's just a bit short of making the top 15."

Chi Shuo replied, "Sure, let's post on Weibo."

Ye Shaoyang posted a Weibo: "I've voted for Tianhuan's Qu Jiang in the All-Star voting. Come join me in voting!"

This was an automatic Weibo during the voting process. Ye Shaoyang had accumulated 50 votes during his travels in the past 10 days, all of which he now gave to Qu Jiang. Shortly after, Chi Shuo voted too.

Tianhuan's fans understood immediately and began rallying in their group chats: "Vote for Qu Ge! Chi Shuo and Yangyang are already in, no need to compete for rankings. Let's give the rest of our votes to Jiang Jiang, and Tianhuan can have three All-Stars!" "Exactly, Bei Mu's lineup for this All-Star has three players, we can't lose!"

Under the rallying cries of Tianhuan's fans, Qu Jiang's vote count soared. By the time the voting closed on the 14th, he had secured 12th place and entered the S10 All-Star competition.

Qu Jiang: "..."

Thank you both for helping me with the votes!

For your future wedding, I'll make sure to capture an incredibly stunning video as a gift in return?