Chapter 279: This Is the Only Chance in This Life

The next day there was another morning shooting task; Liang Yan got up very early, feeling his head a bit dizzy and heavy.

He didn't sleep well all night.

Tang Anna actually appeared in his dream, chasing him and asking repeatedly:

Who will I call if you leave?

Who will I call if you leave?

Who will I call if you leave?

Liang Yan also had a headache, both mentally and physically.

When Tang Anna asked him then, he felt a bit awkward, casually said a couple of sentences to brush it off. Actually it wasn't really brushing off; Liang Yan said you could call Ka Lao Si, he's a decent person and would likely help. In fact that's true—Ka Lao Si would definitely not refuse.

But that was obviously not the answer the girl wanted.

Or rather, Tang Anna's surface question was one thing, but what she really meant was something else.

Actually it's quite obvious.

But Liang Yan couldn't answer, because he had indeed decided to return to his country next year.

Fortunately Tang Anna didn't need to participate in the shoot, so when the others went out for location filming, she stayed alone in the hotel training room.

That way they avoided the embarrassment of meeting.

Although only temporary.

……

As time passed, the day of the finals' opening drew nearer day by day, and the online competition atmosphere grew hotter and hotter.

In his free time, Liang Yan would occasionally go surfing, checking what netizens were discussing and what the mainstream predictions were.

But he doesn't like to read Zhihu now, mainly because after reading a lot he discovers that aside from a few experts who really put effort into research, the rest appear to write long essays, with rich details and accurate data, sounding knowledgeable, but actually the details are speculative guesses with strong subjective bias, the data is sought with an agenda, thousands or even tens of thousands of words flowing— in short, it's all just the answerers' personal fantasies.

It would be better than a single sentence from a Tieba old-timer:

【I'll give a number, ROX 3:2 G2】

【Jiao Shen is awesome, but his teammates are weak; I think it's probably ROX 3:1 G2】

【If Jia ke zhang messes up, he can be crushed like that; playing against Smeb would make him explode with crap】

【If G2 wins the championship, I'll do a handstand and have diarrhea; I'll post as proof】

How concise.

Why go on about all that? Anyway they're just personal predictions; one sentence is enough.

If one really wants to output some opinions, a Tieba old-timer would say:

【I think G2 can't win; ask and it's just Ou Mei scraping by, stereotypes have their reasons, I don't care how they beat SKT, anyway Ou Mei are all trash】

Or:

【If SKT loses to G2, you could say SKT can't fight, or you could say Jiao Shen is really strong; in the third game, a single leg turnaround kick shattered SKT's confidence. But I really can't think of a reason ROX could lose to G2—laning is strong, teamfighting is strong, jungle matchup I'd reluctantly give a 50-50—Xiao Huasheng being the world's number one jungler is beyond doubt? So no matter how others hype it, I think at most G2 will win one game.】

As for those predicting G2 will win, there aren't none, just very few.

【My mom gave me a thousand yuan living expenses; I took half for the semifinals and bought SKT, but the result was SKT made me eat instant noodles for a month. I don't want to eat instant noodles, I'm preparing to go all-in with the last five hundred on G2—if I win I'll add a drumstick, if I lose I'll scavenge a trash can, hoping Jiao Shen does well.】

【Believe in G2, don't ask why; the answer is just that Jiao Shen is awesome.】

Those who are optimistic about G2 mostly do so because they're optimistic about Liang Yan's personal ability.

This is putting pressure on Liang Yan.

……

October 28th evening.

After the review of today's practice match ended, Ka Lao Si stood up, his gaze sweeping over the seated players.

Everyone knew he had something to say, so they quieted down.

"The importance of tomorrow's match, I believe needs no further explanation from me."

"Right now, I only want to tell everyone one thing:"

"This might be our only chance in this life."

"For me personally, Ka Luo Si, if we seize it and win this match, the team I founded, G2, this name will forever be passed down in the history of League of Legends; our trophy-lifting moment will become promotional material for countless future tournaments, and the G2 team name will shine at every future global finals—this is exactly my original intention in founding the team, and also my lifelong pursuit."

"As for you, setting aside all glory, you will gain countless concrete benefits—you could even announce retirement right after winning the championship and then make money off the champion title. In other words, just win this match, and from now on your lives will be liberated, basically financially free, with plenty of leisure time to splurge. You should know I'm not lying."

"So whether it's for me or for yourselves."

"Tomorrow, go for it."

……

October 29th, afternoon.

Staples Center.

Just like Madison Square Garden, this venue is also the home court of an NBA team, and its maximum spectator capacity is about the same, around twenty thousand.

Today, not a single one of the twenty thousand seats is empty.

If viewed from above, aside from the central stage, the surroundings are packed head to head; with the blue arena lighting, it looks like a sea of people.

Finals venue interior

The opening ceremony is about to begin.

Backstage here, the players are still waiting in the lounge, but they've all been made up by the makeup artist—each with a clean complexion and specially styled hair; altogether they look like pretty young men, the handsome ones even more handsome, the less handsome also looking much more presentable.

The opening ceremony segment doesn't involve the players; only after it ends does the player onstage segment begin, which lasts about ten or so minutes, so nobody rushes to leave; they all stay in the lounge, sitting in twos and threes chatting, or obediently sitting at the computer, guarding that screen together with Ka Lao Si, waiting to watch the opening ceremony.

Liang Yan sat on the sofa, but he was a bit distracted, his unfocused gaze not landing on the slender figure sitting at the computer; miscellaneous thoughts tangled in his mind.

These past few days Tang Anna has been avoiding him a little.

Liang Yan naturally knows why— that day Tang Anna's single sentence almost broke through the window paper, but Liang Yan, changing the subject, did not give a direct response.

Tang Anna probably thinks this already counts as a response; no one knows what she's thinking, but her behavior these past few days has been not to look Liang Yan straight in the eye even once, likely because she feels embarrassed.

As for Liang Yan, he's not exactly irritable, but he's a bit bothered; Liang Yan also doesn't know how to handle this delicate relationship, and to be honest, he also doesn't get why Tang Anna took a liking to him—maybe it's just because he rescued her as a hero, a momentary impulse?

If that's really the case, then it's not a big problem; I guess it'll be fine after a while.

While he was thinking about these, a teammate's voice suddenly rang out beside him:

"Liang, if you really became financially free, what would you do?"