The day before the match, the League of Legends official account and several gaming blogs released the pre-match trash talk for the 2021 Spring Split.
The highly anticipated segment arrived, with both casual viewers and fans clicking to watch.
It started with some back-and-forth, bland commercial mutual praise. Then came individual player shots, starting with something explosive.
OG team. Director: “What do you think about Conquer’s statement in the semifinals that ‘I will beat everyone’?” Yu Ge looked at the camera and said slowly: “It’s admirable, but his confidence doesn’t match his ability.”
Comments scrolled: [When it comes to being savage, Fish is still the best hahahaha] [Savage Fish!!!! So fierce!!!!] [Fish God, crush TG in the finals, teach the rookie a lesson.]
TG team. Director: “Fans are looking forward to the bottom lane matchup, are you confident this time?” Ultraman thought for a moment and smiled: “I heard Fish is the best ADC in LPL since Wan retired? Conquer told me last night that in the finals, he’ll show everyone who Wan’s true successor is.”
Comments flew by: [Not even famous, but loves to ride coattails.]
Then it was Chen Yuzheng’s turn. Director: “Fish is also a player with outstanding individual skill, do you feel pressure facing him?” He replied casually: “He’s strong, but he can’t beat me.”
This statement implied quite a bit. When Yu Ge first debuted, he was also a brilliant young prodigy, but when he faced peak Zhou Dang, he was completely suppressed.
Talented ADCs appeared every year, each more fierce than the last, but in the end, WR.Wan always won the championship. It wasn’t until Zhou Dang semi-retired after S8 that Yu Ge won his first professional championship.
Haters often brought this up to mock Yu Ge when he lost matches.
Off-screen, staff members laughed, and quickly asked the next question: “Fish is also a veteran player with great dominance in the LPL, are you really that confident?”
Chen Yuzheng was silent for a few seconds, then said without hesitation: “The future belongs to the young, the veterans can rest now.”
His lazy demeanor combined with these words made him seem quite provocative.
Post-production even specifically added: “Young people have promising futures!”
To this, Yu Ge responded: “It’s time to wake him up.”
…
…
As soon as the pre-match trash talk was released, it instantly topped several trending topics. One of them was #Who is Wan’s true successor#.
This sparked another round of arguments, with Zhou Dang’s fans mockingly commenting: [How dare they compare themselves to Zhou Dang?] [Please, Zhou Dang has retired, can you stop bringing him up? Is the official channel just using him for attention now?] [Whether he’s here or not, LPL will only ever have one Zhou Dang, in the past and now. Fans don’t need anyone to replace him, and no one can replace him.]
OG fans fought back: [Although Fish has said he considers Wan his professional goal, he’s always had his own pride and never wanted to be anyone’s successor. Fish is Fish, Zhou Dang’s fans should stop butting in.] [Give it a rest, does Fish need to be anyone’s successor with his current popularity? Open your eyes, Zhou Dang is history.]
However, Zhou Dang’s fans quickly mocked back: [Who’s more ridiculous than Yu Ge? When Zhou Dang was around, he could only be second best. Finally waited for Zhou Dang to retire, and now he can’t even beat a rookie. Didn’t you hear? Time to rest.] [All Fish has to show for himself is MSI, what has he done in Worlds? Just all talk.]
As the two sides were arguing, somehow they suddenly turned and jointly attacked Chen Yuzheng: [Whatever, both Wan and Fish are very popular, and their skills are evident, fans don’t need to argue about who’s better. But the other one? Who does he think he is? Doesn’t even have a championship, but already trying to ride their fame?]
This quickly drew agreement: [Indeed, this Conquer is way too cocky, not even famous but trying so hard to associate himself with others.]
…
…
Although TG had fans, their fighting power was negligible compared to these two groups.
Chen Yuzheng’s new fans didn’t dare speak up – such was the fate of niche celebrities. While the outside world was in chaos, they could only huddle in their fan forum and worry: [Zheng, if you don’t show some results, mama’s going to wither away.] [Zheng, can you fight for some respect? If you don’t fight for respect, how can mama hold her head high when arguing with others?] [Starting May 3rd, 2021, daily check-in — Has Conquer become famous today?]
—
Yu Nuo finished watching the pre-match trash talk and clicked into the trending topics, unsurprisingly finding a war of words.
She felt complicated.
On one side was her brother, on the other were the TG members. She would feel regret no matter which side lost.
The afternoon was training time, and Yu Nuo had nothing to do.
Her roommate Xiang Jiajia was from the art department. Yu Nuo had learned video editing and photo editing skills while being active in the scene during university, so she could help out a bit.
After they finished working, they sprawled on the bed. Xiang Jiajia suddenly said: “Hey, why don’t we go out for a walk? We rarely come here. We’ll probably leave after the match is over.”
Yu Nuo had liked this city before, so she nodded in agreement: “Sure.”
They discussed where to go.
Yu Nuo looked through travel guides and asked Xiang Jiajia: “Would you like to go to Taikoo Li1? There’s a temple there that I want to see.”
…
…
They bought bubble tea and walked around Spring Xi Road and Taikoo Li. Yu Nuo opened Gaode Maps2 and searched for Daci Temple.
They reached their destination in about ten minutes.
Yu Nuo stopped at the entrance and looked up.
The classical-style building was partially hidden by large trees, showing curved eaves. There were green plants on both sides of the round arch, and golden relief carvings on the crimson walls.
She went in with Xiang Jiajia.
Despite being in a busy commercial district, the temple was surprisingly quiet. In the afternoon, there weren’t many people inside.
A monk silently swept yellow fallen leaves from the slate tiles, while a few people observed the Buddha statues. Almost no one spoke loudly.
Yu Nuo lit several incense sticks and asked the abbot for a protective charm.
She knelt before Buddha, clasped her hands, closed her eyes, and made a wish.
While writing prayer cards, Xiang Jiajia secretly asked her, “What did you wish for? Let me see?”
Yu Nuo was a bit worried: “Won’t it not come true if you look?”
Xiang Jiajia reassured her, “How could it not come true? As long as you’re sincere, Buddha will hear it.”
Yu Nuo handed Xiang Jiajia one card, which was what she wrote for Yu Ge. May all his wishes come true.
“What about the other one?”
Yu Nuo was a bit embarrassed and hesitated to hand it over.
Xiang Jiajia peeked at it, and after reading for two seconds, smiled, “Nice, nice, that’s heartfelt.”
After writing, Yu Nuo stood on tiptoe to hang both prayer cards on the tree.
She stepped back two paces.
A breeze blew by, making the red strings of the prayer cards hanging on the branch tips sway gently.
Yu Nuo turned her head and found Xiang Jiajia taking photos of her. She walked over, curious, “Were you photographing me?”
Xiang Jiajia looked through the recent photos, “Yeah, that moment was really beautiful, I couldn’t help but take a picture. I’ll print it out for you later.”
Yu Nuo smiled slightly, “Okay.”
—
Back at the hotel, Yu Nuo discovered that Yu Ge had replied to her message from yesterday an hour ago: [Where are you]
Yu Nuo typed: [Just went out for a walk, now back at the hotel. I brought some snacks. Want me to bring them over when you’re free?]
A few minutes later, Yu Ge sent her a room number.
This time the organizers were very thoughtful. They specially arranged a room for team training.
Yu Nuo found the place and knocked on the door.
Awen came to open it.
Yu Nuo went in and distributed the snacks she brought.
Awen was confused: “Why so little this time?”
Yu Nuo felt guilty.
She couldn’t say that the rest was in the stomachs of the TG members.
Yu Ge sat in a chair, watching previous match reviews.
Since Yu Nuo told him about working at TG, they hadn’t spoken until now.
Yu Nuo walked over and gave Yu Ge the protective charm she just got from the temple.
Yu Ge glanced at it but didn’t take it.
Yu Nuo compromised and crouched beside him, “Brother, don’t be angry with me…”
Yu Ge leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, coldly watching the review.
Yu Nuo felt a bit discouraged and tugged at his sleeve again, “Brother…”
Yu Ge finally raised his eyes to glance at her.
She looked at him expectantly.
Yu Ge said nothing but took the protective charm from her hand.
Yu Nuo instantly smiled, her eyes sparkling as she said happily, “Brother, good luck in tomorrow’s match.”
Yu Ge put away the charm and finally made a sound of acknowledgment.
—
The next day at noon, TG and OG arrived at the Chengdu Sports Center in two buses at the same time.
Fans from both teams had been waiting for a long time.
Like opposing kings, they occupied the passages on both sides, though OG fans had the upper hand in terms of momentum.
As soon as Yu Ge appeared wearing a mask, screams and cheers instantly broke through the stadium’s blue sky.
Yu Nuo got off with the TG members.
Several players were surrounded hand-in-hand by bodyguards, fearing any accidental trampling incidents.
Just then, amid the one-sided chants of “Fish, Fish, OG, Fish,” some sudden, clear, jarring noises cut through: “Hey hey hey??? Chen Yuzheng! Chen Yuzheng!!”
Everyone stopped and turned to look.
Even the rowdy OG fans quieted down for a moment. The noisy backstage instantly fell silent.
Killer looked closely and almost burst out laughing.
A group of fans wearing TG support gear, organized and disciplined, held what looked like scrap metal megaphones, refusing to be outdone.
They literally carved out a path through the sea of OG fans.
Several shouts: “Chen Yuzheng!!!!”
All eyes fixed on Chen Yuzheng.
The megaphone continued: “Can you hear us Chen Yuzheng, we’re calling you Chen Yuzheng!!!!”
Chen Yuzheng stopped, turned back, and said with some amusement, “I hear you, what is it?”
“Play well in today’s match, you hear?!!”
Under everyone’s gaze, Chen Yuzheng, lacking energy, casually replied, “Got it.”
Strangely, no one spoke.
All the top professional players from both clubs, including team leaders and coaches, as well as OG fans, stood dumbfounded watching their interaction.
Hearing his response, the shouting fans nodded with satisfaction and waved: “Alright, message delivered, go on in!”
…
…
As Chen Yuzheng’s silhouette was about to disappear at the end of the passage, the megaphone transmitted one last faint call:
“—Zheng, when will you finally become famous?!”
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