Chapter 42: It's all because of Xuangao, this cs!

At the end of the interview, Sjokz asked a specific question related to the match:

"In the match that just ended, I noticed that when you first went back to base, your Elise had bought a pair of Boots of Speed. As far as I know, this build is an emerging trend in the top-tier Rank on the Korean server. Firrrrrre, is your itemization also something you learned from the Korean server Rank?"

Liang Yan blinked slightly:

"So it's really popular in the Korean server? I hadn't noticed. I do play ranked on the Korean server from time to time, but I've never copied anyone else's build."

"Oh my god, could it be that you started this trend?! May I ask, what's your Korean server ladder score?"

"Um, King tier, over eight hundred points."

"Goodness! Then this build definitely started spreading from you!"

"I don't know about that, but I'd advise not to copy me."

"Why?"

"Keep thinking for yourself; what suits you is best."

The livestream audience exclaimed:

"【He really wants to teach me how to play the game!】"

"……"

Off-camera.

Shanghai, nine thousand kilometers from Berlin, the VG Club headquarters base.

Tacita, the manager of the VG League of Legends division, and team captain YiL were sitting on the sofa in the base's lounge area; in front of them, the 80-inch high-definition TV was broadcasting the post-match interview footage from the European summer regular season.

Watching the young man on TV, calm and speaking fluently English to the camera, YiL regretted and slapped his thigh:

"What a pity! Damn it, if it weren't for Xuangao, that CS player, breaking my e‑bike's brake that day, this kid would have joined our team!"

Having said that, YiL pointed at the TV:

"Manager, take a look at this kid—you don't even need to talk about how he plays; just his demeanor tells me he's absolutely talent!"

Tacita, on the other hand, had little reaction, looking at YiL's right leg still in a cast, she laughed and said:

"I've been telling you to get a driver's license—why do you keep driving that broken e‑bike around? Which team captain behaves like this, damaging our club's image, you know?"

"And stop slapping your thigh—Jin Wenhe has been covering for you for over half a month; if you keep doing this, when will you ever recover?"

"It's all because of Xuangao, this cs!"

YiL swore profusely.

Tacita laughed and said:

"If you keep cursing, you'd better watch out—if word gets back to him, you'll regret it."

"In a law‑abiding society, I'm not afraid of him at all!"

"…" Only after he left do you dare say that—you're something else.

"Tch, I'm not scared of him..."

YiL muttered under his breath, pulled out his phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to a contact: "Hey handsome,"

The reply he got back was still just a red exclamation mark.

"Sigh…"

YiL let out a deep sigh, slipped his phone back into his pocket, and looked up at the TV:

"This kid holds a grudge too much—he still hasn't taken me off his block list…"

"Is it possible they never even thought of you at all?"

"……"

Manager Gao said that was correct.

Liang Yan really hadn't recalled that person.

He certainly remembered being stood up, but as for who exactly did it, he couldn't be bothered to check—he only knew it was someone from VG.

As for WeChat, after finishing that drink he blocked the VG contact who had reached out to him.

He never thought of unblocking them, since there was no need.

Unless it's an ex, who would idly wonder who's on their block list?

Let alone unblocking them.

After the post‑match interview ended, Liang Yan returned to the lounge and received a warm welcome from everyone, who praised his interview answers as dignified.

Ka Lao Si stepped forward, put an arm around Liang Yan's shoulders, and said reassuringly:

"You've got this, man—your presence is solid. Even AP, after half a year here, still doesn't have your poise. I think from now on we should let you handle all the interviews."

"I think that works!"

Mithy, fearing the world might not be chaotic enough, raised his hand and voiced strong approval.

AP, meanwhile, started jumping up and down, shouting that his interview wasn't dignified at all, blah blah.

Yet no one noticed the embarrassed expression on CyanideFI, sitting on the sofa—Liang Yan's performance just now was too brilliant, whereas his own showing as a returning veteran in the previous matches…

There's no jealousy—CyanideFI had originally planned to spend the rest of his career as a base guard in OG until retirement, already having the mindset of a carefree hermit.

It's also because Ka Lao Si's silver tongue is so persuasive that CyanideFI, in a moment of heat, signed that contract.

Of course, there's no regret.

But right now, feeling a bit envious is genuine.

Youth really is great……

CyanideFI, who is actually only twenty‑one years old but feels mentally aged, reflected inwardly, then came to and noticed a hand resting on his shoulder.

He turned his head—there was Liang Yan.

"What are you thinking about, Old Li?"

"Nothing much. Congratulations."

Watching CyanideFI smile as he congratulated himself, Liang Yan however caught a faint hint of loss in his eyes, and so he chuckled and said:

"Nothing much, I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants."

"Huh?"

CyanideFI didn't understand that sentence.

"Nothing. Let's go, Ka Lao Si said he'll take us out for a big meal!"

Everyone filed out the door, the two walked behind with arms around each other's shoulders.

Watching his teammates ahead constantly laughing and chatting, CyanideFI dazedly seemed to see that FNC squad from S1… He suddenly felt relieved.

It doesn't matter; isn't growing old the same wherever you are?

At OG, since most players are older, the base always has a lingering air of twilight—heading over to G2 to experience some youthful energy isn't bad either.

As for the online talk about him betraying xPeke and such,

CyanideFI couldn't be bothered to respond.

Even without saying a word, xPeke would understand him.

The car drove through Berlin's urban area for over ten minutes, finally stopping outside a restaurant; Liang Yan got out, looked up, and saw it was actually a Chinese restaurant.

He looked ahead and happened to meet Ka Lao Si's gaze as the latter turned back.

Ka Lao Si is someone who can't hide his thoughts; at this moment his face was full of smugness.

Liang Yan saw through Ka Lao Si's little trick, smiled, walked forward with his hands in his pockets, and said seriously:

"Thank you."

Ka Lao Si didn't expect him to thank him so sincerely, he froze for a moment, then placed his hand on Liang Yan's shoulder and gave it two light pats, laughing:

"Play well, we won't let you down!"

"Huh?"

"I mean..."

Ka Lao Si glanced at CyanideFI, who had walked ahead to talk with Zven, and lowered his voice:

"You play a stint as a substitute first, and when the playoffs come, you'll start!"

Liang Yan heard this, stared steadily at Ka Lao Si for a while, until Ka Lao Si felt creeped out deep down, then he suddenly smiled:

"You're really that confident we can make the playoffs?"

Ka Lao Si rolled his eyes, not wanting to answer that stupid question at all.

"Can't make the playoffs?"

"Then we might as well disband!"

Tang Anna was the last person to walk into the Chinese restaurant.

Watching Liang Yan's back, her feelings were somewhat complicated.

She also really wanted to shout like everyone else: "Congratulations!"

But she was shy… back then she just murmured a sentence from amid the crowd, and the other side seemed not to hear…