Chapter 43

About half a month into Ying Nian’s university life, the summer season playoffs reached the finals. SF defeated the veteran strong team LO and would now face last year’s world champion, N1T, in a battle for the championship.

The first two matches of SF were held outside the city, and due to the start of the school year, Yu Linran had strictly forbidden her from following the team to the games. As a result, she could only watch those two matches live from her apartment using her electronic devices.

Fortunately, the finals were held in her city. Ying Nian immediately bought tickets and eagerly prepared everything, excitedly heading to the venue.

It had been a while since Ying Nian had seen the members of SF. During the time she was attacked by trolls, they had sent their regards to her through Yi Shen’s WeChat, which had really warmed her heart. Their opponent was the top-ranked team in the country, N1T, and in comparison, the rising SF team was still quite inexperienced. Audience predictions showed that only 20% believed SF would win.

Throughout the match, Ying Nian was on edge, anxiously gripping her seat. Her throat was nearly hoarse from cheering, and the tension she felt was far beyond anything she had experienced even during exams, her heart pounding nonstop.

Was the match against N1T difficult?

Whether you asked SF members or their supporters, there would likely be only one answer: very.

SF lost two matches in a row, and everyone thought they would be swept with a 0-3 score. That was the most difficult moment for Ying Nian during the entire match. The outcome seemed inevitable, with failure looming on the horizon, yet it hadn’t arrived just yet, leaving her in agonizing suspense.

She didn’t even need to check to know how harsh the live-stream comments must have been at that moment.

But in that tense instant, the camera panned over the SF team, and Yu Linran’s face appeared on the big screen. Ying Nian gazed at his familiar expression. His face remained as calm as ever—no sorrow, no joy, no arrogance, no impatience.

He was still composed, poised, and steady as always.

In that instant, her heart calmed.

As the third game began, the energy from SF’s supporters had noticeably dwindled. Ying Nian’s thunderous cheers stood out, bold and unwavering. It seemed to jolt the others, as if waking them from a daze. The next few chants were deafening, so loud that they nearly shook the roof.

Compared to last year, SF had grown significantly. Though off the stage they were still a group of rowdy youngsters, on the stage they were calm and composed, displaying remarkable maturity.

Ying Nian had already heard the commentators point out this very growth during the match analysis.

The commentators said, “SF’s steady playstyle is closely tied to 103. As the captain and shot-caller, his composure greatly influences many critical moments.”

Another commentator agreed, “Exactly. 103’s style is calm, composed, and highly strategic, but also sharp when needed. Almost 80% of SF’s iconic team fights come down to his excellent timing in initiating engagements. Overall, SF has made significant progress this year compared to last! Strong macro play has become their hallmark.”

Just as the outside world recognized SF’s playstyle, in the third game, even though they were slightly behind in various metrics, SF played the long game. They pushed forward strategically on all three lanes without creating overly intense confrontations, gradually grinding down the opponent’s crystal bit by bit.

After pulling back a win, they pressed forward, securing another victory in the fourth game. With the score tied at 2-2, the match reached an intense, white-hot stage.

The final game resembled the third one. SF slowly pushed N1T back through macro play, but this time, as they approached N1T’s high tower, several intense team fights broke out.

In a team of five, cooperation is key—like a machine where each part performs its role to the fullest. While this may not be as flashy or thrilling as having one or two standout players who dominate and drive the audience’s adrenaline, this steadiness is precisely SF’s greatest strength.

The strong synergy between teammates, the shot-caller’s excellent game sense, and each player’s consistent performance, combined with the ability to seize key moments and showcase exceptional plays—this orderly and methodical style gave this young team, barely over two years old, a mature quality.

In the final game, SF executed all these points perfectly. Especially during the last team fight, Yu Linran was key in protecting his teammates—not just Bo Can, the ADC, but also Yi Shen, the jungler, Cheng Run, the top laner, and Lin Shan, the mid laner. Yu Linran had a sharp sense of timing, flawlessly shielding his teammates at every critical moment.

The match ended 3-2.

SF pulled off a stunning upset, defeating N1T and winning the summer championship that year.

When Ying Nian went backstage to find Yu Linran, she was still immersed in an indescribable excitement, the image of them lifting the trophy on stage playing over and over in her mind.

The backstage lounge was a bit chaotic, evidence that they had been celebrating after coming off stage.

“Hey! Ying Nian!” Yi Shen greeted her immediately, “Long time no see! Did you come to watch the match today?”

Ying Nian nodded, sneaking a glance at Yu Linran, and the two exchanged a knowing look. She then greeted everyone else in the room.

It was a time of high spirits, and no one held back in sharing the joy—even Bo Can, who rarely smiled, had a faint grin on his face.

Although Ying Nian hadn’t brought a cake, the coach enthusiastically invited her, “We’re celebrating tonight, come join us!”

From SF’s perspective, Ying Nian and Yu Linran were just friends. Given Yu Linran’s notoriously difficult personality, the fact that she could get so close to him meant that she had earned his approval.

When interacting with her, the team generally treated her as a friend of a teammate, not as a fan.

Ying Nian glanced at Yu Linran for his reaction, and seeing that he had no objections, she smiled and nodded, “Sure!”

There was still an interview waiting, and Cheng Run couldn’t help but notice that as soon as Ying Nian arrived, Yu Linran was completely absorbed in talking to her. The two stood closely together, something about it felt off. Unable to hear what they were whispering about, Cheng Run decided to break the moment, “Yu, it’s time for the interview!”

Yu Linran turned around and, without a second thought, calmly said, “You go, or have Lin Shan do it.”

“You’re not going?”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

Cheng Run: “…” But you seem to have plenty to say to Ying Nian.

Yu Linran brushed it off, and the coach didn’t push him. Cheng Run, eager to avoid the interview, quickly passed the task to Lin Shan before he even had time to react. Once that was settled, Cheng Run turned back to find that Yu Linran had already taken Ying Nian over to check out the trophy.

Yi Shen wandered over to join the fun, followed by Cheng Run, and even Bo Can, seeing the others admiring the trophy, leisurely joined them as well.

“Looks good, right?” Yi Shen said. “Touch it, the texture—tsk, it’s beautiful.”

“Can I touch it?” Ying Nian asked, instinctively turning to Yu Linran for confirmation.

Yu Linran nodded, and she raised her hand to gently touch the trophy.

“Earlier on stage, we all took turns holding the trophy, but this guy Yi Shen wouldn’t let go! He was about to stash it in his arms,” Cheng Run joked, giving Yi Shen a playful punch on the shoulder.

Bo Can didn’t say anything but nodded in agreement.

“I was just too excited!” Yi Shen laughed sheepishly. “Ying Nian, do you want to take a picture? I can help you get a shot with the trophy.”

She smiled and replied, “No, just looking at it is enough.”

“Take a picture and post it on Weibo… ah, wait!” Yi Shen quickly corrected himself, lightly smacking his own lips. “What am I thinking? That would definitely cause trouble if you posted it!”

After all, she was a fan, and taking a photo with SF’s Summer Championship trophy—what would people think?

Hearing this, Cheng Run couldn’t help but ask, “About what happened last time… you didn’t take it to heart, did you?”

“Not at all,” Ying Nian smiled. “Once I sent out the lawyer’s letter, those trolls backed down faster than anyone. Strangely enough, I’ve been gaining followers since then. I still don’t quite get it.”

“That’s because you stood your ground!” Yi Shen praised her with admiration, giving her a big thumbs-up.

After staying in the lounge for a bit longer, Lin Shan returned from his interview, and with the day drawing to a close, the group headed out for a celebratory dinner.

Cheng Run draped an arm around Lin Shan’s shoulder. “Don’t you think there’s something off between those two?”

“What’s off?”

“Do you really think they’re just friends?”

Lin Shan stared at the backs of Yu Linran and Ying Nian walking side by side, frowning. “…Can’t be, right?”

…

Not long after Lin Shan and Cheng Run started speculating about Ying Nian and Yu Linran’s relationship, a sudden leak caused a stir in the esports community.

As the summer champions, SF had earned a direct qualification for the global tournament, bypassing the play-ins. They had started training early, fully prepared to compete once the group stage concluded.

That afternoon, just after 2 p.m., Yu Linran went to discuss something with the coaching staff, leaving the other four in the training room. Yi Shen, who had stepped away from his computer for a break, suddenly burst back into the room twenty minutes later, pushing the door open with a sense of urgency.

“Holy crap, holy crap! Something’s wrong—there’s trouble!” Yi Shen shouted as he burst into the room.

“What are you making such a fuss about…”

Before the others could finish complaining, Yi Shen rushed to each of their computers, tapping them on the shoulders. “Stop playing for a second! There’s a problem!”

The three, annoyed at being interrupted, reluctantly paused. But when they saw what Yi Shen was showing them on his phone, they all froze, speechless.

【Breaking news: SF player 103 caught sleeping with a fan! Intimate and unclear interactions with a fan!】

The post was published on a forum, featuring not only a sensational headline but also a few candid photos. In the pictures, a man and a woman could be seen, and the SF team members recognized both of them immediately.

The girl was Ying Nian, and the guy was none other than their dear captain—the one who always presented a polite, harmless smile to the public, but internally remained cold, distant, and wore a deadpan expression every day!