Chapter 158

The quarter-finals of the Spring Season disappointed the audience greatly.

In the match between ADT and DSG, audiences didn’t expect ADT to upset and win against DSG, but ADT’s smooth defeat left them unsatisfied.

It was hoped that the match between KU and REAL would be more thrilling, but REAL’s unexpected situation caught everyone off guard and left them bewildered.

Both ADT and REAL fell into the losers’ bracket, where they would face off again. The loser would be completely eliminated, while the winner would still have a chance to continue.

Fortunately, the losers’ bracket match was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. REAL had a day to adjust, but unfortunately, Sun Yuanyang immediately went to the hospital after the match, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The diagnosis stunned all the team members on the spot.

“Doctor, I have a match the day after tomorrow,” Sun Yuanyang coughed twice, “Can you prescribe something to help me recover quickly?”

“A match? What match?” The doctor sighed, “I’m not a miracle worker. There’s no elixir for you. If you want quick results, I can give you intravenous fluids, but even that isn’t guaranteed. If you plan on any strenuous activity, it’s absolutely out of the question the day after tomorrow.”

“It’s not strenuous activity, it’s a gaming competition,” Ye Chi explained.

“Gaming? There are competitions for playing games?” The doctor signed the form impatiently, “Go get your drip first. Right now, you need rest, not gaming.”

“No, I…”

Before Sun Yuanyang could say more, he got too excited and coughed, his face turning red. Everyone quickly urged him not to speak.

While Sun Yuanyang was receiving intravenous treatment, the others discussed outside the ward.

“What should we do?”

“If only we had forfeited against KU earlier. Maybe Yang-ge would have recovered overnight and not developed pneumonia.”

“Stop thinking about ‘what ifs’. Let’s focus on how to solve this problem.”

This sudden situation felt like a malicious joke from heaven.

They had just won against PHQ, everything seemed to be going well, but then this happened.

The team members looked at Ye Chi, waiting for their captain to make a decision.

Under everyone’s gaze, Ye Chi made his decision, “Let’s see how Sea’s recovery goes tomorrow. If it doesn’t look good, we’ll use the substitute. Health comes first.”

Use the substitute?

The auxiliary substitute they recruited from the secondary league?

Everyone’s expression suddenly became extremely complex.

How was this any different from forfeiting?

Ye Chi looked around and stated firmly, “That’s settled.”

Indeed, it was regrettable. Ending the Spring Season like this for such a reason would leave them feeling unsatisfied no matter how they thought about it. The most painful part was undoubtedly Sun Yuanyang himself.

But faced with such a situation, someone had to step up to make a decision and bear the responsibility and consequences.

That was the significance of him being the team captain.

“Everyone, go back and rest. We can’t afford to have anyone else fall ill. I’ll stay here with the manager to take care of Sea and monitor the situation.”

Chen Dong said, “Let’s stay together.”

“Listen to me.”

Ye Chi’s tone brooked no argument.

“Alright…”

Once everyone had left, Ye Chi entered the ward and informed Sun Yuanyang, “Rest. We’ll see what the doctor says tomorrow. If it’s not possible, we’ll use the substitute.”

“I can do it.” Sun Yuanyang anxiously sat up, but Ye Chi pressed him back down, “Whether you can or not, it’s up to the doctor to decide.”

“I really can. Just a drip will be enough. I can hold on.” Sun Yuanyang remained anxious, his emotions showing no signs of calming down.

His performance on the field today was extremely poor. He felt ashamed because he felt he single-handedly dragged the entire team down. They had a chance to win, but because of him…

Sun Yuanyang clenched his fists, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.

“Sun Yuanyang, listen to me. Falling ill isn’t something you can control. It’s not your fault. We won’t only have this Spring Season,” Ye Chi gripped Sun Yuanyang’s shoulder, “Trust me. Despite losing in the Spring Season, we’ll win back in the Summer Season and World Championship.”

After comforting him, Ye Chi’s tone became more serious, “If your body breaks down, you won’t be able to play professionally anymore. Do you think that’s the result you want?”

Sun Yuanyang shook his head, covering his face, silently crying.

“I’m sorry for letting you all down.”

“I’ll say it again. This isn’t your fault. No one blames you. You can blame yourself, but if your self-blame affects the team’s unity, even if you’re the boss’s brother, I won’t go easy on you.”

Sun Yuanyang shook his head again and looked up, “Can’t you say something nicer?”

Ye Chi replied, “What did I say that wasn’t nice?”

Sun Yuanyang grabbed a tissue to wipe his face and sniffled, “No wonder Chen Dong always says you’re a tough straight guy.”

Ye Chi sighed, “Stop overthinking it. Just rest.”

Sun Yuanyang nodded. He felt dizzy, had a headache, and his chest felt heavy. Esports may not consume physical stamina like traditional sports, but competing while ill was draining. Sun Yuanyang had been pushing himself hard during the match, but unfortunately, they lost all three games…

Sun Yuanyang fell into a heavy sleep.

Ye Chi went out to buy food and water, leaving the manager to continue taking care of him.

On the way, Ye Chi checked his phone. There were many messages asking about Sun Yuanyang’s condition, even from ADT’s team members, their opponents the day after tomorrow, showing concern for Sun Yuanyang’s situation.

Ye Chi replied to each one, simply stating, “He’s okay.”

When replying to Dong Jianguo, Ye Chi paused briefly. Thoughts of Mo Yin came to mind, and he immediately felt a faint weariness.

When Sun Yuanyang had a fever, Ye Chi remained calm. He had shown composure and fully supported Sun Yuanyang’s decision to compete while ill.

None of the REAL team members were star players. They were just a grassroots team formed by a group of game enthusiasts.

Despite the 3:0 loss, Ye Chi remained composed.

After Sun Yuanyang was diagnosed with pneumonia, he calmly made decisions for the entire team.

The match against PHQ had brought about a qualitative change in his mentality, helping him understand what a player could truly achieve on the field without regrets.

That’s why he remained calm and composed in the face of today’s unexpected situation, handling it with ease.

Only when he thought of Mo Yin… he couldn’t help but let down his defenses, feeling the frustration and fatigue well up inside him.

If he and Mo Yin were friends, he might have confided in him about his current feelings.

He wouldn’t need to pretend not to be affected in front of someone as strong as Mo Yin.

After buying food and water, Ye Chi continued to stay by Sun Yuanyang’s side in the ward.

The best thing about esports was staying up late. Ye Chi put on his headphones and went to Mo Yin’s livestream room.

Mo Yin wasn’t livestreaming.

Ye Chi sighed softly, feeling an indescribable sense of disappointment.

They had a chance…

No, he couldn’t keep thinking like this.

Ye Chi looked at the sleeping Sun Yuanyang and a gleam of determination flashed in his eyes. He thought, if Mo Yin faced a situation like this and was in his position, what would he do?

Firstly, Mo Yin would never give up.

Secondly, even if a substitute was brought in as support, Mo Yin would still give his all on the field.

If someone was truly strong enough, they could change the course of the game.

Wasn’t that what happened in the second match against them in the regular season? He single-handedly secured the victory.

Ye Chi clenched his hands tightly.

He wasn’t strong enough yet.

He needed to become stronger, as strong as Mo Yin!

The weariness and disappointment in his heart dissipated in an instant. Ye Chi smiled suddenly, realizing how he had been feeling down and then inspired by the thought of the same person. He probably didn’t expect to play such a big role in his thoughts.

What was he now? A fan’s mentality towards an idol?

Ye Chi chuckled.

When could he truly become as strong as Mo Yin…

After a day’s rest, Sun Yuanyang remained anxious. However, the next day, his condition worsened, and the doctor completely ruled out his participation in the match.

Sun Yuanyang sighed helplessly. He didn’t want to cry anymore, not wanting to add more psychological pressure to his teammates. He weakly smiled at Ye Chi, who was accompanying him, and the teammates who rushed over, “You guys look after yourselves.”

“It’s okay. Just relax and watch the match. Let’s see how we win tomorrow.”

“Can’t beat KU, can’t beat ADT either. Dong Jianguo isn’t that formidable.”

“Exactly. ADT was shattered by DSG. They might not necessarily win.”

…

Laughter and chatter filled the hospital room, the REAL team.

Ye Chi and the teammates returned together, took a shower, slept for three hours, and then got up to review the recordings of the three matches between DSG and ADT, studying Mo Yin’s decision-making in the mid lane repeatedly.

It was impossible to catch up with Mo Yin’s skills in just one night.

Learning to understand might still offer a chance.

Even if they couldn’t win, they couldn’t afford to lose as helplessly as they did yesterday.

Chen Dong was gaming nearby and noticed Ye Chi repeatedly scrubbing through the progress bar. He couldn’t help but comment, “Captain, I always thought I was a true fan, but now I see someone like you is the real deal.”

Ye Chi stared at the screen without blinking, “Whether you’re a real fan or not doesn’t matter. What matters is learning something.”

Chen Dong nodded, picked up his phone, pretended to make a call, and discreetly snapped a photo, sending it to Tang Qi.

— [Our mid laner is watching how your mid laner is demolishing ADT. Getting ready to steal some tricks.]

— [How’s your jungler? Can he play tomorrow?]

— [Pneumonia, substitute support will jungle.]

— [Huh? Substitute support as jungler?]

— [Otherwise, are we supposed to let the mosquitoes from the base go in? No choice but to do it this way.]

— [Keep it up…]

— [It’s okay, if we lose in the Spring Split, there’s still the Summer Split, we’ll have a chance to be thrashed by you guys.]

— [Sigh]

Tang Qi sighed, flipped over his phone, glanced at Mo Yin in the corner, then picked up his phone again to look at the photo Chen Dong sent.

Genius isn’t replicable.

Tang Qi recalled what Mo Yin had said.

So cruel, yet so real.

After finishing the training match that evening, around 7 o’clock, the official roster was released.

“The roster is out.”

“Ding Wenquan said, ‘REAL’s substitute support will jungle.'”

Tang Qi had known this already, so he didn’t say anything.

“REAL is going to get 3:0 again.”

DSG’s jungler, Guan Ming, lamented, “It’s a pity, REAL’s jungler isn’t bad, ADT’s jungler might not necessarily beat him.”

“Luck is also part of strength,” top laner Qin Kunlun said, “REAL’s mid laner is quite annoying. Let’s see if he can still carry.”

“Indeed.”

Mo Yin went out for a run, so they chatted more freely.

“PHQ is causing trouble. What’s with not wanting to embarrass your skins, not wanting to embarrass your skins, yet you’re still losing 3:0.”

“Haha,” Guan Ming chuckled, “MY must be annoyed by him.”

“Probably, I’ve never seen MY dislike anyone,” Qin Kunlun mocked, “That’s also his skill.”

Tang Qi couldn’t help but say, “I don’t think MY dislikes him.”

Qin Kunlun glanced over.

Tang Qi was less experienced than Qin Kunlun, so he hesitated and didn’t dare to speak again.

Ding Wenquan looked directly at Tang Qi and Qin Kunlun, shrugged, and signaled not to argue with the kid.

“If he can win even a single game against ADT tomorrow, I’ll respect him,” Qin Kunlun said.

“What use is your respect?” Ding Wenquan lounged in his chair, “He doesn’t need your skin.”

Qin Kunlun: “…”

The sound of the door opening came from the entrance.

Everyone turned their heads simultaneously. Mo Yin entered the training room with a refreshing aura, his hair still slightly damp, indicating he had just washed it.

Ding Wenquan raised a hand, “MY?”

Mo Yin pulled out a chair and turned around.

His half-damp hair fell over his forehead, making him appear less cold and distant than usual.

“REAL’s substitute support will jungle tomorrow.”

Mo Yin’s expression remained unchanged.

Ding Wenquan asked, “Do you think they can win?”

“3:0,” Mo Yin replied.

Qin Kunlun spread his hands towards Ding Wenquan, shrugged, smirked.

Ding Wenquan continued, “Do you think they can win even a single game?”

Qin Kunlun propped his chin with one hand, nonchalantly watching Mo Yin.

“Captain—”

Ye Chi was urgently tutoring the substitute support. Chen Dong burst in like a cannon, excitedly holding his phone up to them.

“Captain, look!!”

Ye Chi glanced at Chen Dong inexplicably, then looked at the WeChat chat interface.

— [Just asked MY if you guys can win even a single game.]

— [MY said, ‘Not sure!’]

Ye Chi silently read these two WeChat messages, his tense face softened slightly. He continued reading further down.

— [He said ‘Watch Ye Chi’.]