Chapter 2

[Y: Boss Bing, thanks, but you really didn’t have to offend them just to defend me.]

Bian Yan thought for a long time before sending a WeChat message to Po Bing, then tossed his phone onto the bed, stretched lazily, and closed his eyes.

The evening’s live stream caused quite a stir because of Po Bing’s defense. The bullet screen was instantly filled with heated arguments.

Pei Yun Chang’s fans naturally couldn’t tolerate a small streamer insulting their player, and Bian Yan’s fans couldn’t stand their arrogance either.

The esports circle has gradually become more like fan circles in the past two years, and Bian Yan was all too familiar with their antics.

He didn’t want Po Bing, as an ordinary person, to be dragged into the super topic by fans, so he had to help explain a few words and quickly ended the stream.

He stared at Po Bing’s WeChat avatar in a daze.

The two added each other on WeChat in the second month of Bian Yan’s streaming, and it was Bian Yan who took the initiative to ask.

At that time, Bian Yan was just a small streamer with little attention, and Po Bing was spending so much without asking for anything in return, which made him feel embarrassed.

Bian Yan didn’t receive a reply from the other side, so he aimlessly opened a short video app. Just after watching a couple of videos, a message popped up at the top of the screen—

[Shi Yi Yi: How come the busy man is online on Douyin at this time? Aren’t you supposed to be streaming?]

It was Bian Yan’s childhood friend, Shi Yi.

Before Bian Yan could reply, Po Bing also sent a message—

[Po Bing: It’s okay, I think you played really well.]

Bian Yan, being “heavy on romance and light on friendship,” ignored Shi Yi’s message and clicked into Po Bing’s chat box.

[Animated Emoji]

Bian Yan looked at Po Bing’s message, unsure of what to send, so he sent a cute emoji.

[Po Bing: Really]

The reply came quickly.

[Y: Pei Yun Chang is the top jungler among active professional players, I better not try to ride on his coattails.]

Bian Yan leaned back in his chair, typing with his legs crossed.

[Po Bing: What about you? Have you considered going pro?]

Bian Yan saw certain words and suddenly sat up straight.

[Y: Boss Bing, don’t joke with me. I just want to do my streaming well, haven’t thought that far.]

[Y: Besides, with my skills, if I went pro, wouldn’t I just get beaten to a pulp?]

For some reason, the reply from the other side was slow this time, taking a full five minutes before sending—

[Po Bing: Okay]

Bian Yan looked at the solitary word and suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

Is she angry?

No wonder fans call her “Bing Bing Jie,” Bian Yan internally complained, but still dutifully said goodbye to Po Bing, then belatedly replied to Shi Yi’s message.

[Y: Something came up, ended the stream early.]

Shi Yi replied instantly—

[Shi Yi Yi: What about your streaming hours? Doesn’t the platform have requirements?]

[Y: I’ve streamed enough this month, I’ll just make up a few more hours tomorrow.]

[Shi Yi Yi: That’s fine then. Bian Yan, let me tell you, you can’t imagine what rank I’ve reached this new season!]

The new season updated three days ago, and Shi Yi had been sneaking in games during class, so it was normal for him to rank up quickly.

But Bian Yan definitely wouldn’t give him the chance to show off, responding with sharp sarcasm.

[Y: Finally know what the Master rank interface looks like?]

[Shi Yi Yi: Damn you, on the third day of the new season, I’ve already reached Saint Sovereign with two stars!]

Bian Yan thought of his other account, which was already at Saint Sovereign rank with twenty-two stars, and silently typed an “oh.”

[Y: Just reached my halfway point.]

[Shi Yi Yi: …]

[Shi Yi Yi: Bian Yan, would you die if you didn’t show off? How about you play that account during your stream?!]

Bian Yan laughed so hard his shoulders shook, and he added a cheeky Dragon King emoji.

[Y: No way, I’ve finally figured out my persona, can’t go out of character.]

[Shi Yi Yi: Since you ended the stream, want to play ranked? Me and my roommate, he’s at Elite rank.]

[Y: I don’t want to lose rank.]

[Shi Yi Yi: Get lost! Who said you had to use that account? I don’t want to experience a Saint Sovereign twenty-plus star match at the start of the season.]

[Shi Yi Yi: Just use your streaming Diamond account, kuku rank up.]

[Y: How’s your roommate’s skill level?]

[Shi Yi Yi: I’m a provincial standard top laner, he’s a provincial standard jungler, plus your abstract Fire Child.]

[Shi Yi Yi: All-star lineup! Lose one game and we’ll go to court!!]

[Y: Alright]

[Y: Don’t win too much on the streaming account, or I’ll have to drop it myself later.]

[Shi Yi Yi: …]

Shi Yi really wanted to punch through the screen and give Bian Yan a couple of hits.

Two minutes later, the public screen announced—

“N” entered the room.

A Saint Sovereign twenty-plus star rank looks extremely impressive at the start of the season.

Shi Yi immediately opened the mic and roared: “Didn’t I tell you to use the Diamond account?! Who knows what kind of people this account will match with!”

Bian Yan opened the mic: “Suddenly remembered, that account isn’t convenient tonight, need to hide it for a few days.”

Shi Yi’s roommate, judging by the voice, was a Northeasterner, and even though he didn’t open the mic, his voice was loud enough to come through Shi Yi’s mic—

“Oh my, you only said rank up, didn’t tell me your friend’s rank was so high, I still want to reach Saint Sovereign!”

“Start it, put your mind at ease.”

“Win casually.”

Bian Yan’s confident voice came through the headset, with a hint of magnetism mixed in with the youthful tone, making people feel at ease.

——

Guangleng City, WIN Esports Club Base.

Bai Yao Xing had been practicing last-hitting techniques in the training camp for two hours, and his neck was sore.

While rubbing his shoulders and neck, he quietly twisted open a bottle of cola and glanced at Pei Yun Chang beside him.

Bai Yao Xing took a sip of cola and sneaked behind Pei Yun Chang, suddenly speaking.

“Brother Pei, what are you doing?”

Pei Yun Chang reacted quickly, immediately turning off his phone, leaving only a fleeting green chat box.

It looked like he had just sent a WeChat message.

“You just went to the hospital last week because of a toothache.” Pei Yun Chang glanced at the cola bottle in his hand, “Sister Xu Ke just left a few days ago.”

Bai Yao Xing tried to cover Pei Yun Chang’s mouth, but he cleverly dodged with a tilt of his head.

“I was wrong, brother, keep it down, if Sister Xu Ke finds out, she’ll kill me.”

Xu Ke is the life manager of WIN, mainly taking care of the players’ daily lives. For example, arranging the team’s meals, maintaining the living environment, and purchasing daily necessities for the team.

Bai Yao Xing is the youngest in the team and also the biggest obstacle in Xu Ke’s work.

“Did Sister Xu Ke allow you to drink cola secretly?” As they were chatting, Lao Miao came in after using the restroom.

“Brother Miao, I’m telling you, when will you give up your lame puns!” Bai Yao Xing was embarrassed for a moment, then immediately started complaining.

“Brother Pei was chatting with someone, as soon as I went over, he turned off the screen, and he wants to tell Sister Xu Ke on me.”

Lao Miao glanced at Pei Yun Chang thoughtfully, then raised his wrist to check the time, “Aren’t you supposed to be watching a live stream at this time?”

“What live stream?” Bai Yao Xing almost choked on his cola, “Oh right, the one with the bad internet?”

“Pfft—” Lao Miao almost died laughing, “That’s called the lagging stream.”

“Yeah, brother, aren’t you supposed to be watching a live stream?” Bai Yao Xing seemed to suddenly realize something, “When did you start leaving early?”

Pei Yun Chang didn’t answer, tilting his head back, raising his hand to casually run his fingers through his hair.

His jawline was smooth, his sword-like eyebrows flew into his temples, his features were sharp and handsome.

No wonder fans called him the most handsome internet-addicted youth in the competitive circle.

“Where are Pan Shi and Juan Juan?” Pei Yun Chang awkwardly changed the subject.

Lao Miao saw through it but didn’t say anything, wearing a knowing expression, “They went shopping.”

“By the way, brother, the season updated, what rank are you all at?”

Bai Yao Xing hid the cola, not wanting more people to find out his secret, and asked excitedly.

“Saint Sovereign ten stars.” Lao Miao sat down at his spot, “The teammates at the start of the season are really all sorts of weirdos.”

Bai Yao Xing followed him, cheekily extending his pinky finger, “Brother, I’m already at Saint Sovereign seventeen stars.”

“Tch—” Lao Miao rolled his eyes, “What about the captain?”

“Twenty-four.” Pei Yun Chang answered.

“Twenty-four what?”

Just as Pei Yun Chang finished speaking, Pan Shi and Juan Juan returned from shopping.

The atmosphere was quiet for two seconds.

“Actually, I have a suggestion—” Bai Yao Xing rolled his eyes, rubbing his hands, looking around at the four.

Lao Miao stroked his chin, “I know what you’re going to say…”

“Hey, stop.” Pei Yun Chang glanced at the two, “It’ll leak tactics.”

Bai Yao Xing shook Pei Yun Chang’s chair, extending one finger, “One game, just one game…”

“It’s just a casual match, no one will dig deep, just right to test my new build.” Lao Miao rarely sided with Bai Yao Xing.

——

Bian Yan’s rank was too high, and with Shi Yi’s roommate at Elite rank, the two random teammates they matched with were only around Saint Sovereign five stars.

The rank difference among the five was too large, and they waited for a long time without matching.

“Why don’t you switch accounts, we’ve been matching for almost five minutes.” Shi Yi yawned.

Bian Yan restarted once more, “Last time.”

“Ah, this is the trouble of having too high a rank…”

Before Shi Yi could finish, the phone suddenly vibrated—

Match successful! Entering the game!

BP phase—

“Who to ban?” Shi Yi opened the mic to ask.

Bian Yan was too lazy to type, so he directly sent a “do as you please, I’m invincible” emoji.

Shi Yi: …

He shouldn’t have asked.

BP phase ended, Bian Yan chose the character You Die, focusing on control.

The opposing jungler picked Feng Lang, with high mobility and damage, extremely difficult to operate.

The remaining four positions were all heroes that could cooperate with Feng Lang.

Jungle core?

Bian Yan frowned.

Both sides entered the final adjustment phase.

“Prepare to face the judgment of the Saint Sovereign!” Shi Yi shouted dramatically, “Bian Yan, why aren’t you talking?”

“Nothing.”

Why does the opponent’s lineup look so familiar?

As the system announced, both sides completed their hero selection and officially entered the loading phase.

The next second—

“What the hell! It’s them!?” Shi Yi screamed.

Then, Bian Yan heard a series of curses from his teammates, the “damn” echoing endlessly.

Although Bian Yan didn’t curse out loud, he couldn’t help but clench his fists and flex his fingers.

The reason was simple: they had matched against one of the top domestic ace teams—WIN.

The club had been established for a long time, with rich experience, and had repeatedly used the “jungle core” tactic to shut out opponents, with terrifying strength.

Especially their captain and jungler, Pei Yun Chang, who became famous at a young age, with extraordinary talent, getting better with each game, often turning the tide and becoming the nightmare of all so-called star players.

He was always the confidence behind WIN’s comebacks.

And they didn’t just match against one, but the entire WIN first team, all five starters.

The five opponents’ IDs lined up neatly—

WIN-Arrow
WIN-White
WIN-Miao
WIN-Juan Juan
WIN-Pan Shi

The five were respectively the jungler, marksman, mid laner, support, and top laner.

Each ID was followed by a prominent “professional” tag, with the jungler and top laner having national marks in the top right corner, looking extremely impressive.

“Are we going to get destroyed? I’m going to sue the matchmaking system of Sacred Domain Clash!” Shi Yi’s roommate shouted in a Northeastern accent, but didn’t forget to quickly take a screenshot to post on social media after getting beaten.

“Let’s surrender at six minutes, there’s no point in playing this…” a random teammate chimed in.

Shi Yi looked at the names on the other side and suddenly remembered a certain show-off, teasingly said: “Hey, didn’t you say we’d win easily tonight?”

“…”

Bian Yan gave Shi Yi an invisible middle finger through the screen, “I never said it included professional teams!”