Chapter 99: What if he brings G2 into the semifinals?

Can Manager Gao get tickets for tomorrow's Snake match? I want to go watch.

Liang Yan spoke in Chinese, but several people on G2's side didn't understand, staring at Liang Yan in confusion. Ka Lao Si pulled the tour guide, and after translation they found out, then they were stunned.

On VG's side, Tacita and team leader YiL (Wang Liangyi) exchanged a glance, and both couldn't help showing delighted expressions.

Yes!

Tacita said excitedly,

"Since you want to watch, even if there aren't any, we'll have to make some! Tonight I'll get you... no, I'll send them to everyone at the hotel later. For now, let's leave contact information."

Liang Yan then glanced at his own team leader Biman, meaning to have Biman leave contact information, but before he could speak, a QR code was already shoved in his face.

Liang Yan looked up at that smile, which was almost fawning, on the VG team leader's face, and felt it rather abrupt.

Leave mine?

Okay, that move was nicely caught—I didn't even think of it……

But Liang Yan still took out his phone and scanned the code.

The scan result showed:

【The other party is already in your friend list (blacklist)】

Liang Yan froze, looked up, and saw Wang Liangyi wearing an embarrassed grin, barely able to hold it in.

You little brat, so it's you?!

Fortunately, Liang Yan's composure wasn't for show; he forcibly swallowed the exclamation that had almost escaped, then kept his expression unchanged as he removed the other from the blacklist, and quietly put his phone back in his pocket.

Added.

Okay, okay! We'll contact later!

Hmm.

Afterwards, the two from VG watched as G2 Zhong Ren boarded the vehicle and left.

Wang Liangyi wiped the sweat from his forehead:

Damn, this weather is really hot.

No kidding.

Tacita glanced at him, smiled, and said:

It's August, Shanghai is already nearly forty degrees.

Wang Liangyi fell silent for a moment, then followed Tacita inside.

"But Brother Jun, do you think we really have a chance? I see that Ka Lao Si seems to value him a lot, always asking for his opinion and willing to spend a great deal bringing a large group over for tourism, looking like he's not short of money, so I think……"

"Let's take it step by step; human effort does what it can, success depends on heaven's will."

"……When did you become so superstitious?"

"People launching projects worth hundreds of billions still pray to Guanyin; you don't even get a hammer."

"Alright? Then should I still be the one to contact later?"

"Or we'll see how things go."

"What do you mean?"

"What if he brings G2 into the semifinals—do you think you're qualified?"

"Holy shit, no way?!"

……

Since they had to go to the LPL venue in the evening to watch the match, they didn't go out sightseeing in the afternoon; the minibus directly took the group back to the hotel.

After lunch, Ka Lao Si came to Liang Yan's room to chat, indirectly asking whether Liang Yan had any grudge or connection with VG. Liang Yan didn't hide it, and he frankly told Ka Lao Si the whole story of his "grudged fate" with VG.

Ka Lao Si sighed: "VG is really not loyal at all."

Yet the smile on his face couldn't be hidden.

Liang Yan naturally understood—Ka Lao Si was worried about making early contact with VG, since the playoffs were coming up and the winter transfer window wasn't far off. Now that Ka Lao Si learned Liang Yan only had a grudge, not closeness, with VG, he naturally felt relieved.

Ka Lao Si sat a while longer, chatted a few minutes of small talk with Liang Yan, then got up, humming a tune as he left.

The room held only Liang Yan; his roommate Biman was probably next door, and the sound of clacking mahjong tiles came from the wall. Mahjong was something AP and the others had learned the previous night; it was incredibly addictive when first tried, and since learning it, AP and the gang would gather in the hotel to play whenever they could—if it weren't for Biman, as team leader, having some self‑control, they could play until dawn every day.

Liang Yan lay on the bed, one hand behind his head staring at the ceiling, and began to think to the sound of mahjong from next door.

Regarding VG's arrogant‑then‑humble behavior, Liang Yan had some guesses.

They probably saw his performance in Europe, recognized his ability, and wanted to make early contact to prepare for poaching him during the winter transfer window.

They were a bit hasty, but given VG's situation, it's actually understandable.

VG's reputation for splurging on talent in the LPL is well‑known; over the years they've spent a fortune buying players and building rosters. Even setting that aside, just look at VG's current roster: the mid‑jungle duo, Dandy and Easyhoon, are both championship winners. Dandy was the jungler of SSW, the Samsung White team that won S4 and is one of the Samsung Ten; Easyhoon was the mid laner of SKT, the S5 champion team. In the LPL, when people talk about SKT's mid laner they usually only know Li Xiang He (Faker), but they don't realize that in S5 season Easyhoon once held Faker down on the bench. With such résumés, their value is naturally high—just buying those two already cost VG a fortune, and adding the championship coach Homme (Redmi) makes them practically the LPL's most extravagant team.

When they put together this roster, it's no exaggeration to say VG was aiming for the S‑series championship! Yet reality turned out harsh.

When the LPL spring split ended this year, VG's result sheet could almost be described as a clean sweep of nothing—they only managed a sixth‑place finish in the playoffs.

I thought after a season of adjustment the summer split would improve, but there's still no sign of progress; as things stand, they're likely only good for a first‑round playoff exit.

With this performance, in the LPL full of strong teams, VG making it to S6 is pure wishful thinking!

In other words, VG's investment and returns are completely disproportionate.

If the management can still sit tight, then there must really be something fishy.

Performance ties to team popularity, and popularity directly correlates with club revenue—no performance means no popularity, no popularity means pure loss! As LOL esports grows hotter worldwide, our massive investment gets no share of the pie!

How could VG not be anxious?

This is it—even if there had been bad blood before, seeing Liang Yan bring G2 on a rampage through Europe, this kind of super‑strong carry player is exactly what VG dreams of, so VG doesn't mind swallowing its pride and actively seeks to mend past grudges to lay the groundwork for next year's ambitions.

Liang Yan fully understands the VG management's feelings; back when he was willing to consider VG as one of his options, it was out of pity for their miserable state—otherwise why would he bother sending a résumé to such a hopeless team?

Understanding is understanding, forgiving VG isn't that hard, but asking him to join VG next year?

To be frank, the chances aren't high.

It's mainly because VG's previous actions were too excessive; forgiving them is one thing, but to have no grudge at all in his heart is impossible.

At most, if he returns to the LPL in the future, he'll just go easy on VG when he tramples them.

Fight side by side?

Liang Yan asked himself, he truly wasn't that broad-minded.

Having sorted out his wishes and thoughts, Liang Yan had an idea on how to deal with VG's overtures; he no longer dwelled on it, sprang up from the bed like a carp, prepared to go next door to watch the mahjong showdown, and by the way pretended to be an expert giving pointers to a few rookie newcomers.

Mahjong, Chinese people all know how to play……

Right?

Just as he stepped out, his phone in his pocket rang, notifying him of a new WeChat message.

Liang Yan pulled it out and looked, then froze.