Chapter 594: Recognizing Reality

On the FMVP interview stage, when the audience's cheers finally subsided a little, Sjokz wore a charming smile, looked at Liang Yan and said:

"Firrrrrre player, hello, we meet again."

Liang Yan returned a smile:

"Hello, long time no see."

"By the way, can you comment on my outfit today?"

Liang Yan politely sized up the other person, nodded: "Very nice."

A hint of a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of Sjokz's mouth:

"So, have you regained a bit of that fluttering feeling?"

"Huh?"

Liang Yan froze for a moment, thinking he had misheard.

The 20,000 spectators at the venue erupted in loud cheers.

Seeing him stunned, Sjokz covered her mouth and giggled, then waved her hands repeatedly, her speech still leaking tiny laughs:

"Just joking, just joking. But are you sure you haven't remembered anything?"

"Uh..."

Liang Yan thought seriously, and indeed he remembered. He looked at Sjokz and smiled.

"In the post-match interview after my professional debut match against GIA, you were wearing this dress."

Sjokz's eyes lit up instantly, she covered her mouth in disbelief, and exclaimed excitedly:

"Goodness, you actually really remember!"

Liang Yan smiled:

"After all, that was the start of my professional career, and the impression is still quite deep."

The audience at the venue started to howl, the noise from the twenty thousand people made the whole arena lively like a large-scale pig-slaughtering scene.

Even faintly, one could hear someone shouting loudly in Chinese:

"Together! Together!"

That sound pierced through the clamor and reached Liang Yan's ears.

Liang Yan's smile suddenly became hard to hold, the corner of his mouth twitched, and then he suddenly thought that Tang Anna was probably watching the live stream.

Sjokz also keenly noticed that Liang Yan's emotions had fluctuated somewhat; although she didn't understand Chinese, she was still clear about what the atmosphere on site was like, so she immediately recalled some rumors she had heard from G2 players.

Sjokz immediately composed herself, lowered her head to glance at her cue card.

"Alright, then let's move on to the main topic—today's FMVP interview segment. First question—"

Sjokz raised her head to look at Liang Yan, with a dignified and proper smile,

"May I ask, Firrrrrre player, after winning this championship today, some say you have already achieved a grand slam achievement; how do you view that yourself?"

Liang Yan pretended to be embarrassed and rubbed his nose:

"Isn't there such a saying—quasi-grand slam."

"Pfft... cough cough, sorry. I'm asking what you think!"

"Me? I think it's also fine."

"What does 'fine' mean?"

"It means I agree with that saying. Moreover... I think saying it's a grand slam is actually not a problem."

The audience boiled over to the Nth degree.

Although people like humble folks, if one has ability yet is overly humble, it smacks of showing off. Liang Yan's reaction, however, struck just the right balance—it won't make people think he's arrogant, nor will excessive modesty become annoying.

As for such a flawless public statement, Sjokz could only give a thumbs up. The first question's stunt failed, no matter, she still has the next question!

"Alright, second question!"

Sjokz again raised her head to look at Liang Yan, the corner of her mouth bearing a hint of a teasing smile,

"Given that the two teams you joined since your debut both underwent a major reorganization after you joined, some say you are a team‑disbanding maniac. How do you view this evaluation?"

This question really caught Liang Yan off guard.

Liang Yan pondered seriously for a few seconds, then answered Sjokz's question solemnly:

"I think that esports players are in a very harsh profession; those who are indecisive and of average talent, if they can early on recognize reality and withdraw in time, for their long lives this might not be a bad thing."

……

In the LPL broadcast studio, Ming Kai watched the screen where Liang Yan spoke confidently and at length, his expression somewhat dazed.

Although Liang Yan didn't point at anyone specifically, Ming Kai still thought of himself.

Recognize reality, withdraw in time……

So as not to end up later with a broken head and blood flowing, ruined reputation and shattered fame.

Asking himself, he wondered whether his skill had declined due to age, or whether it was simply because everyone else's level had risen, leaving him knocked back to his original form.

Previously, Ming Kai was unwilling to think much about this problem, fearing it would shake his confidence.

But now, Ming Kai cannot help but but start to face himself squarely.

The answer is actually quite obvious.

In the MOBA game realm, I do have talent, but the ceiling isn't high. The career highlights from S2 to S5 seasons actually just lived off the dividends from having played professionally before.

The starting point of his MOBA game professional career was in Nobunaga's Ambition, far earlier than the vast majority of currently active LPL pro players.

He entered the LoL circle with experience. When most people's understanding of the underlying logic of MOBA games had just begun, and they relied solely on talent and instinct to play matches, the experienced Ming Kai was naturally like a tiger among sheep, slaughtering indiscriminately.

Actually, that early batch of the most famous LPL players were all like that.

The difference is that others, upon seeing their future downhill path at the peak, chose to retreat bravely—whether withdrawing from the competitive scene or becoming a streamer to make money—in short, they withdrew in time and left the professional arena.

For example, Ming Kai's teammates during the Nobunaga era were Juan Mao and Youzi.

Mingkai, however, still refused to face reality.

Not until this spring's finals, after being thoroughly educated by a real genius, did he finally begin to think about retiring.

Today, Liang Yan's remarks in the FMVP interview once again laid bare the cruel facts before Mingkai.

It was time to make a decision……

Mingkai thought so in his heart, and finally made the true decision.

……

As expected, after MSI ended, when VG truly won the MSI championship, following the domestic online celebrations, people began to bring up previous matters.

For example, after the LPL Spring Finals, the remarks of the two junglers in the group interview, and the ensuing wave of hype.

There were not a few who mocked VG, saying that to win an LPL championship they shamelessly studied EDG, completely neglecting MSI preparation, truly inviting disaster; they would surely be crushed in every way at MSI, their true colors exposed.

EDG, however, looked to the big picture and the future, focusing solely on studying MSI, neglecting research on their own region's finals opponent, which is truly regrettable.

And so on.

Now the boomerang has returned.

Besides those high-profile detractors being dug out and whipped, the Changzhang who had started that wave of hype was also pushed to the forefront.

The reckoning, though late, has arrived.