Chapter 1

Da B Manor.

Since the playoffs started,

Every day, a guest comes here to team up with Teacher Da B.

"Thanks for the rockets, brothers. Today's guest might not be familiar to everyone; he's my teammate from my QG days."

"Swift? I also wanted to invite Swift, brothers, but he definitely won't come."

"No problem, if Swift doesn't come, I can get his substitute."

"Dongmen, come over and say hello, handsome— I've always said he's handsome!"

Next to Doinb sat a very handsome guy.

Xu Dongmen, nicknamed Xu Chengbei, is a third-tier professional player who has long been active in the LDL.

From his debut to now, it's been a full seven years.

Throughout his long career, Xu Dongmen has never stepped onto the LPL stage.

The barrage raved: "Looking like this, it's no wonder he's so bad for not making it to LPL", "Heaven is indeed fair", "Handsome version of Panda C", "What a waste of that face".

"Thanks, Ying Bi Ge. I already have one; I'll take it home for my mom. Coincidentally, I'm also preparing to retire and go back to my hometown."

Like the other guests, Xu Dongmen also walked away with an iPhone 14.

Having money is great!

When leaving B Dala Palace in a special car, Xu Dongmen was envious.

The manor has a small luxury car, plus a virtuous wife and beloved children by his side; he can bring in gold without even leaving the gate.

This life, so awesome!

Remember when we first met him in S5? We were all poor kids; a month's salary wasn't enough to buy an iPhone.

And now, Doinb has one or two hundred iPhones lined up behind him every time he streams.

People, you can't compare!

The only consolation is that I'm better-looking than him, and not just a little bit.

Yeah, looks can't be eaten as food...

Returning to his residence, Xu Dongmen confirmed with his manager the news of his retirement.

He is already 25 this year, which is considered old in the esports industry.

After chasing his dream for seven years, it's time to put a period on this journey.

Xu Dongmen opened his computer, intending to play a couple of games before sleep, but somehow ended up playing a big chaotic match, and played all night.

The end of League of Legends is the big chaotic match.

Ranked? Climbing?

What era is this? We no longer have that leisurely elegance.

"Little Xu, wake up already— it's past 11, how are you still sleeping!"

Xu Dongmen opened his eyes to see the face of QG manager Lin Ke.

Strange, wasn't he already returned by the LPL and transferred to the KPL? Even if he's in the KPL, QG Happy no longer exists, having become some wolf team.

"Why are you looking at me? Wash up and come to the training room; there's an important announcement today, move quickly." Lin Ke left first.

Wait, where's my phone?

Xu Dongmen felt around the bedside, and a small, delicate old antique appeared in his hand.

The size is wrong!

It's a 6S, with only a 4.7‑inch screen.

MD, who stole my phone?

Xu Dongmen cursed, yet discovered his own fingerprint could unlock it.

Wait, isn't this the one I used before?

Wasn't this thrown into the trash n years ago?

How did it come back on its own?

2016, March 28!

The date shown on the phone made Xu Dongmen feel things weren't simple.

He got up and went to the washroom, looking at himself in the mirror, utterly unbelievable.

This skin, this hair volume!

What the heck, could I really have gone back to 2016? The person in the mirror isn't that my 17‑year‑old self?

Full of doubts, Xu Dongmen came to the training room.

On the wall was embedded a huge QG emblem.

Swift, Ai She Jiayi, Tian Zai Mo Ri, and UZI……

Xu Dongmen recognized them one by one, discovering they were all youthful versions; Uzi especially looked inexperienced, a pure round chubby kid.

The next to appear was even more heavyweight— Teacher Da B had arrived!

19‑year‑old Doinb, skinny as a reed, could be blown over by a gust of wind.

"Jin Taixiang, you're late again." Head Coach Pu Longyun rebuked him in Korean.

"Come on, it's not my fault— today's Monday, the traffic outside is terrible, you know?" Doinb defended loudly, speaking in Mandarin.

"Jin Taixiang, what's this attitude? Initially we let you live outside because you promised to be on time to the base every day, but lately you've been late every day for a month, and now you don't even attend the morning meeting!"

Pu Longyun grew angrier as he spoke: "As head coach, my patience with you has reached its limit; don't blame me for not warning you!"

Just as his words fell, manager Lin Ke appeared in the training room.

After confirming everyone was present, he announced a new rule: from today on, no one is allowed to stream in the base.

"Why? My own streaming doesn't affect others, what's it to them!" Doinb was the first to stand up and oppose.

The opposition was invalid!

Apart from him, everyone expressed support.

Doinb finally realized that today's meeting was aimed at him!

Head coach Pu Longyun publicly announced that, due to the team's poor condition and recent losing streak, personnel adjustments would be made.

The first to be hit is the mid lane!

"I know my recent form isn't great, but losing a match isn't solely my problem—why target only me?" Doinb tilted his neck, feeling unconvinced.

"Since you feel unconvinced, let everyone vote to decide."

Pu Longyun initiated a team-internal vote; he is a coach who cares deeply about the players' feelings.

"I agree!" Swift was the first to stand up and voice support.

The locker-room conflict between him and Doinb had long existed, developing to the point of being irreconcilable—only a step away from a complete break.

Top laner V, AD marksman Ai She Jiayi, and support Tian Zai Mo Ri raised their hands one after another.

"Why? Don't I usually treat you well? Why are you treating me like this?" Doinb looked bewildered, not knowing what he had done wrong.

"Doinb, your streams are too noisy, you don't play seriously in scrims, and you don't practice the meta champions." V spoke bluntly.

Ai She Jiayi spread her hands: "Not living in the base is fine, but you're always noisy during streams, which really affects everyone's training, don't you know?"

Tian Zai Mo Ri went straight to the point: "Jin Gu Gu, I don't want to blame you for anything, but can you say it's not the case? Your mind is no longer on playing professionally."

"Brothers, I…"

Doinb really wanted to defend himself, but he had no way to rebut, because what everyone said were facts.

The only good news: UZI cast an abstention vote, not taking sides.

After all, he's an outsider, but UzI still understands.

"Dongmen player, what about you?" Pu Longyun looked toward Xu Dongmen.

"Me? I'm just a substitute—what say do I have?"

Xu Dongmen didn't want to get involved in this mess; at QG he's just a nobody, and to him everyone present is a big brother—there's no way it'd be his turn to speak.

"Little Xu, just vote when called, don't be afraid—you can vote for whoever you want." Lin Ke encouraged him, having dragged this kid out of bed, not to let him just watch the show.

"Really want me to vote?" Xu Dongmen looked around.

"Of course, although you've never played on stage, you're still a member of our QG." Swift spoke in Chinese, his fluency not lacking compared to Doinb's.

"Fine then, if you're asking whether I support changing players, I definitely do not." Pushed into the spotlight, Xu Dongmen stated his position.

"Why?" Including the manager and coach, everyone felt puzzled.

Is this guy close with Doinb? Seems just so-so.

"I know the team has had some issues lately, but I think Ying Bi Ge makes sense—losing a match isn't one person's fault, there's no reason to single him out."

Xu Dongmen explained his reasoning.

In the end, the vote result was 4 to 1.

Although it didn't change the outcome, Xu Dongmen's stepping forward was undoubtedly a timely help for Doinb.

"Dongmen, thank you so much—from today on you're my best brother, Jin Taixiang!" Doinb teared up with gratitude.

"Hahaha, if you want to thank me, thank that iPhone 14." Xu Dongmen spoke his mind.

Distance reveals a horse's strength; time reveals a person's heart.

Da B teacher lent him a hand at the end of his career; he remembers this favor.

"What iPhone 14? Apple's newest model isn't the SE? This is the one I have—my birthday last month, Tang Xiaoyou gave it to me."

Doinb, while showing off, never forgets to sprinkle dog food—one look and he's clearly in the throes of love.

"Ying Bi Ge, you're also a substitute now—what's your plan?" Xu Dongmen asked what was on his mind.

"Plans? Sure, I have one—I'll only stream from home from now on; I need Tang Xiaoyou to help me buy a better mic online, my home mic is terrible, and there's always static when I stream."

Doinb wholeheartedly worries about his streaming career.

Xu Dongmen queued up with him for a duo; he didn't refuse, but during ranked play he didn't forget to post a Weibo apology to fans, saying he couldn't stream during the day and could only watch streams at night.

Even at this point, his head is full of fans—he truly makes me want to cry!

"Is this the SE?" Xu Dongmen glanced at Doinb's phone; its size is the same as his 6S.

Doubt rose again from the depths of his heart—was he reborn, or were those earlier experiences just a dream?

If it were a dream, then this dream would be all too real and clear.

Badala Palace, iPhone 14, LPL's tenth anniversary……

All kinds of questions welled up in his heart.

Clang—!

When the game matched him and he entered the Summoner's Rift, Xu Dongmen's doubts were resolved.

Before his eyes, a phantom image of an iPhone 14 screen appeared.

【Detecting host…】

【Scanning in progress, scan successful…】

【Based on host's condition, system tag matched】

【Upon detection, the player's professional career has never participated in an important tournament】

"Huh? What is this?" Xu Dongmen was a bit dazed at first.

Until the next line of text appeared.

【Major tournament player, tag successful!】

【Upon detection, the game currently being played is the Aeonia solo/duo mode, rank: Grandmaster】

After evaluation, this match was rated D-level, allowing players to exert 100% of their strength!

Note: D-level is the lowest tier; matchmaking mode and Howling Abyss mode will not trigger markings.

When the match is rated C-level, the player can exert 120% of their strength!

When the match is rated B-level, the player can exert 150% of their strength!

When the match is rated A-level, the player can exert 200% of their strength!

When the match is rated S-level…

On the iPhone 14, rows of black text appeared.

Xu Dongmen's eyes welled up.

Once a fringe player, a tiny unknown on the team, he suddenly received the favor of the esports god.

crying, thanks to Teacher Da B for the iPhone!!