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"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final playoff of the 2023 Chinese Ghost Story's Spring Semifinals! I am your host for today, Zhao Jiaqi, alongside my co-host Li Fa. We have an extraordinary treat for you tonight with our special guest commentator. Please give a warm round of applause to the Red Queen herself, China's pioneering female pro eSports player and the current Head Coach of the reigning champions; Team Zhi Yi, Ms. Bei Weiwei!" The man on the right side of the commentator's booth announced, igniting a thunderous eruption of cheers from the stadium crowd. The woman herself gave a radiant smile at the camera. She looked absolutely impeccable in a long crimson side buttoned coat with a matching dress underneath. It was evident that Weiwei's stylist had truly outdone themselves in crafting her exquisite look for this momentous event.After retiring from active play, Weiwei took on a new role as the strategist behind the scenes, providing guidance to the new team members. She was the last of the original five members of the founding team to retire. Her husband was the first to step back from professional gaming, just over a year after their wedding. He had his hands full with the release of the Chinese Ghost Story sequel and the company's transition to cybersecurity. Soon after, Yu Banshan and Qiu Yonghou also decided to move on. Yu Banshan was needed for the company's expansion, while Qiu Yonghou chose to pursue a master's degree and later joined a cutting-edge gaming PC engineering firm. Although Qiu Yonghou still made occasional visits to the company, it wasn't the same as when they all lived together in the clubhouse.Finally, it was Hao Mei's turn to retire. He had initially planned to retire alongside his adopted little sister, but government restrictions on same-sex relationships, particularly for public figures, forced him and KO to make the decision earlier. The couple found leadership roles in the company's American branch, where they legally married and even contemplated adopting a little girl. As Weiwei thought about her former teammates, her smile softened. She pushed thoughts of her pseudo-family to the back of her mind and gracefully acknowledged her introduction with a slight bow of her head. In a polite voice, she expressed her gratitude by saying, "I’m pleased to be here. Thank you for having me here today."The two announcers shared a lighthearted laugh, and then Zhao Jiaqi resumed speaking. "As always, the Red Queen shows her grace with her regal presence and eloquent words. I was disappointed to hear that your husband, the renowned Xiao Nai, couldn't join us tonight. However, a little birdie informed me that you both have some exciting news to share with us. Care to enlighten our eager audience?"Weiwei's smile widened, and with a mischievous gleam in her eyes she revealed the highly anticipated release date for the new Kulan Mountain expansion to A New Chinese Ghost Story. She urged the audience to direct their attention to the screen for an exclusive preview of the game, causing an eruption of chaotic cheers from the audience. As the preview played on the large screen located to the left of her, Weiwei couldn't help but chuckle to herself. It was evident to those familiar with the original team just who were the players in the captivating screen captures. Neither she nor the others had lost their gaming prowess over the past seven years since their team's inception. If anything, they had become even more formidable. Weiwei made a mental note to suggest to her husband to mention the possibility of organizing an All-Star exhibition game during one of those little weekly calls that he did personally to Feng Teng. Such an event would undoubtedly generate tremendous buzz and serve as excellent advertising for both the companies and for the league.She tabled that idea for the time being as she focused on providing her expert commentary for the ongoing match. The prospect of organizing an All-Star exhibition game would have to be postponed until at least the next season, considering the demanding schedule that she and her husband had lined up for the next six or so months. Additionally, she would need to consult with the other veteran players from different teams to gauge their interest and availability. Nevertheless, Weiwei couldn't deny that the idea held considerable merit for publicity.As the first match was being battled, the other two announcers peppered questions to Weiwei, inquiring about what her strategies would be if she was the one playing. Weiwei made sure to provide insightful critiques that were focused on more of the instructional sides, rather than simply stating what she would have done if she had been playing. Never getting out of the tutor mindset, she aimed to help fans understand the reasoning behind certain moves and improve their overall game sense. This approach not only enhanced her team's critical thinking on the field but also earned her appreciation from numerous younger players who dream of joining the league. What had once been a modest streaming channel in her early college years had now become one of the most popular resources for training among both professional and casual players alike. It was this reputation that made Weiwei one of the most sought-after former players for guest commentary appearances. Although her husband was also highly requested due to him being the walking text book on the game, securing his participation proved more challenging due to his running his company and all. Much to the disappointment of their fans especially those of the female variety.As the final round came to a close and Team Dragon emerged as the victorious challengers set to face the reigning champions, Team Zhi Yi in the championship finals; Weiwei descended from the announcer's booth and personally congratulated the five triumphant members along with their coach. She playfully expressed her anticipation for their upcoming match, prompting Team Dragon to join in with good-natured banter and taunts. After bidding farewell to both teams, Weiwei quietly slipped away, opting to exit through the back entrance where her team’s travel van awaited her so they could take her back to Team Zhi Yi’s headquarters while everyone’s attention would be on Team Dragon.Finally by herself she unbuttoned and shedded the anti-radiation long coat that she had been wearing all day. She had been sweltering in it all day but it was a small price to pay for the protection it gave to her unborn babe. Not only from the radiation from the computers that she was around but also camouflaging the barely there baby bump from the public’s deserving eye. Neither she nor her husband felt the need to publicize what she was expecting so left it to the stylists to take care of hiding things.As Weiwei opened the sliding door to step into the van, a spirited two in a half year-old boy leaped into his mother’s unexpecting arms, catching her by surprise. "Cong Cong!" she exclaimed, embracing her son with shock. Both he and Xiao Nai were supposed to be in the office until she returned. Glancing at her husband, she noticed his disapproving glare that he was directing at their first born child. She couldn't help but smile, finding his uncharacteristic display of jealousy that her husband was showing rather amusing. It intrigued her how her typically composed and collected husband could be bothered by the idea of sharing her love and attention with the product of their love. "I sincerely hope that when our next child arrives in the next five months, you won't be as jealous of the affection I will be giving to them," she playfully remarked, teasing him with a knowing look.Xiao Nai's expression turned unamused as he spoke in a stern tone, "Perhaps our next child will refrain from the urge to relieve themselves on my laptop while I'm on the balcony, engaged in a business call." He raised an eyebrow, as he reminded her of the incident from fifthteen months ago when Cong Cong was just learning to crawl and decided to remove his diaper to pee on his father’s laptop. His challenging gaze conveyed the memory vividly.Weiwei chuckled, fully aware that their son would be reminded of that incident for years to come whenever he got into trouble, just as she was constantly teased by Xiao Nai about being confessed to throughout her life. "You can't deny that he learned his mischievous ways from watching you pick on me and others," she playfully mocked her husband before planting a kiss on his cheek in greeting. Xiao Nai's black expression softened, and he returned the gesture with a chase kiss on her lips, gently caressing her small baby bump, welcoming both his wife and their unborn second child with affection. “Mnn,” she smiled as licked her lips. “So what did our darling son do today to put you in such a dark mood?”The handsome CEO shot a menacing look at the child in the car seat located in the middle row in front of them before turning his attention to Weiwei. "Your son chose the perfect timing to interrupt a conference call while I was discussing the new pvp zone in the next expansion. By loudly proclaiming that it's interesting how quickly we're able to finish a playing a map when we're playing in the living room where he can watch, but whenever you and I are locked in our study, we play so slowly," he remarked, causing Weiwei to nearly choke on her own saliva. Her face turned a new shade of plum as she realized the implications of Cong Cong's unexpected interruption had been. "Luckily, only the others and Feng Teng were on the call today.”The beautiful woman sighed and buried her face in her hands, feeling a mixture of exasperation and embarrassment. It was just like their mischievous son to announce something so embarrassing at the most inappropriate time. At least it wasn’t during a live stream where the public would have witnessed. The situation would be hilarious if it weren't so mortifying. Weiwei couldn't help but wonder how she would face the others the next time they all gathered together, especially Feng Teng and his sweet wife, Shan Shan. However, she found solace in knowing that Shan Shan would understand and sympathize with her, considering she also had to deal with her own husband's tyrannic nature. Taking a deep breath as she rubbed her temple she reminded her first born about not announcing their family’s public affairs where others that were not family could hear in an exasperated tone. Cong Cong just tilted his head innocently and loudly said that he thought that Uncles Feng Teng and Uncle Yugong were family. Causing Weiwei to give out a mirthless chuckle and her husband’s stony expression to crack in amusement. Weiwei had to admit to herself life has never been dull ever since Xiao Nai asked for her hand in marriage in game all those years ago.-The End