ATLAS TRANSLATES

Yu Nuo was still sharing a room with Ying Jiajia this time.

Yu Nuo curled up on the sofa playing with her phone for a while, the blue light from the screen reflecting on her face. Her luggage remained unpacked beside her.

When Xiang Jiajia walked over, she didn’t notice at all, too absorbed in whatever she was looking at.

“Nuo Nuo, are you feeling better?” Xiang Jiajia sat down beside her with concern, handing her a bottle of aloe-flavored milk.

Yu Nuo looked up from her phone and said, “I’m much better.”

Xiang Jiajia yawned, “Good, then go take a shower. The flight was so long and tiring. We don’t have anything scheduled tomorrow anyway, so we can sleep in.”

Yu Nuo nodded in agreement.

Opening her suitcase and unzipping the inner compartment to get her nightgown, Yu Nuo paused. The protective charm she got from Dacisi Temple was still lying inside.

She picked it up and held it in her palm, looking at it for a while.

When she went to shower, Yu Nuo still had her phone with her. While removing her makeup, her phone on the counter vibrated and she immediately picked it up.

Conquer: “Send me today’s photos”

Yu Nuo thought for a moment, selected a few from her album, and sent him some scenery shots along with a few of him standing under the tree.

A few minutes passed.

Conquer: “?”

Conquer: “?”

Yu Nuo also replied with: “?”

Conquer: “Where are the selfies?”

Yu Nuo hesitated, leaning against the cold tiles as she typed: “You mean of us together?”

Conquer: “You can send ones of just yourself too”

Yu Nuo: “……”

Yu Nuo looked at their photos from earlier, feeling her expression was too silly to send, so she replied: “I just looked and I think I look a bit ugly TvT”

Conquer: “Who’s ugly?”

Yu Nuo: “Me…”

Conquer: “Just send them” Before Yu Nuo could reply, his next message came: “As long as I look good”

Staring at that line of text.

Yu Nuo felt both annoyed and amused. After hesitating for a while, she still didn’t send the selfies.

She thought for a moment and replied: “Go to sleep early, I need to shower”

Conquer: “How can I sleep without seeing the photos”

Yu Nuo was someone who gave in easily. With his repeated requests, she felt bad refusing, and planned to edit the photos later to see if she could salvage them. After thinking for a few seconds, she placated him: “You sleep first, I’ll send them to you in a couple days.”

After sending that message, Yu Nuo accidentally caught sight of herself in the mirror – her cheeks were flushed, eyes sparkling, happiness evident in every feature.

She was startled.

She immediately reflected – when she was with Chen Yuzheng today, surely she hadn’t had this expression…

Yu Nuo bent down and splashed cold water on her face to calm her emotions.

She felt unsettled, thinking about this even while showering.

When she came out after her shower, the main lights in the room were off, with only a dim table lamp left on. Xiang Jiajia was already asleep in bed. Yu Nuo quietly sat on the edge of the bed applying body lotion.

Her phone vibrated – Chen Yuzheng had sent a moon emoji.

She smiled and sent a moon emoji back.

—

After arriving in Paris, they spent one day filming promotional videos, and the rest of the time was mostly spent training at the hotel.

The four teams took turns scheduling practice matches.

Soon, it was time for the opening ceremony of the Continental Championship. The group stages would run for two consecutive days, with twelve matches in total.

On day one of the Continental Championship, there were two consecutive matches between China and Korea.

Since S1 when Riot officially established the League of Legends professional league, LPL had experienced a long period of LCK dominance at World Championships, missing out on the championship trophy year after year. As a result, the fear of Korean teams had become a lingering shadow in the LPL region.

On the first day of matches, LPL’s coaching staff directly used their first and second seeds to face off against the Korean region. Although there were some rough patches along the way, OG and TG ultimately defeated the Korean teams without major incidents.

While this boosted morale, WR and YLD weren’t in their best form. After two days of matches, LCK still held a slight lead in total points for first place.

This meant LPL would have to face LMS in elimination matches on the third day.

They would play four one-on-one matches, with the first to win three matches advancing to finals. If it ended up 2:2, each side would choose any team for a tiebreaker.

Before facing LMS, domestic public opinion was largely one-sided, as LMS’s strength was far behind LPL and LCK, being perennial also-rans. LPL viewers weren’t worried at all, with fans of various teams forming a grand harmony – even the usually antagonistic OG and TG fans called a truce.

Fans had already started discussing how to play against LCK the day after tomorrow, going to the four teams’ official blogs to offer strategies on how to face the Korean teams.

On the third day of eliminations, OG played first. As everyone expected, they won decisively against LMS’s second seed with absolute dominance.

The post-match interview was with Will and Yu Ge.

Will was his usual playful self, making some provocative comments as usual.

When it was Yu Ge’s turn, the female host asked: “What would Fish like to say to the upcoming teams?”

Yu Ge replied expressionlessly: “Play well, so we can finish work early today.”

[Hahahahaha! Did you hear that encouragement from the veteran? The remaining three teams better step up!]

[Translating Fish’s words: Get a 3-0 sweep so we don’t have to play tiebreakers!]

[Wuwuwuwu Fish is so cool, he’s cool even without expression, and cool when speaking!!!]

At this point, the domestic atmosphere was still full of laughter, with no worry at all.

For the second match, since neither side knew which team the other would send out, the LPL coaching staff discussed in the backstage rest area. They predicted LMS would send out their first seed XC team. They decided to take a small gamble and send out fourth seed YLD – if they lost it wouldn’t matter much, but winning would be a huge bonus.

Best case scenario would be a 3-0 sweep to finish early. Even if YLD lost one match, WR and TG would likely win against LMS’s teams, worst case being 3-1.

As the match began, XD’s jungler was in hot form, coordinating with all three lanes for ganks, scoring a 3-0 lead. With the early disadvantage, YLD’s overall response wasn’t great, and XD pushed to their high ground, ending the game at thirty minutes.

The casters weren’t too concerned about losing one game, still chatting casually: “XD is still a decent team overall, they make Worlds every year, reached quarter-finals last year I think?”

Caster B: “Yes, we just got news that LMS will likely send their third seed next. Wonder who we’ll send? I think the safest would be to send TG, then have WR face the fourth seed in the fourth game, should be a sure win.”

Just as they finished analyzing, the producers’ voice came through their headsets – LPL had confirmed their choice, sending WR.

Caster A was a bit confused: “Oh, WR is going up for the third game? If they win this one, TG will have to play the deciding game. They’re still a rookie team this year, won’t they be nervous playing in this kind of international tournament?”

Caster B: “The coaching staff must have their considerations. Although TG is a new team, they fought their way from group stages to finals in spring split this year when many doubted them, the whole team is very spirited and passionate. They also helped beat LCK’s team with OG yesterday, I believe they won’t disappoint today.”

When Zhou Dang was still active, it was WR’s most glorious period. During those years WR dominated domestic tournaments and won LPL’s first World Championship. Until the veterans retired and Aaron retired to become a coach, WR’s new players inherited the excellent traditions of the older generation – they never backed down from international matches and rarely disappointed.

In the third game, WR played almost flawlessly in the early game, pushing to victory in twenty minutes, completely crushing LCS’s third seed to end the match easily.

With the first three matches completed, the last game would naturally be between TG and LCS’s fourth seed LOT. TG just needed to win for LPL to advance directly to finals and face Korea tomorrow for the championship.

After a short break, TG’s members walked through the tunnel onto the stage.

Most of the live audience today were Chinese international students. Although there wasn’t much suspense for the last game, everyone was still very enthusiastic, with cheers and applause giving TG a grand welcome.

During pre-match preparations, all sides were checking and confirming equipment. The broadcast camera focused on TG’s players – Killer was saying something to Ultraman, both looking relaxed and at ease.

Chen Yuzheng hadn’t said a word, resting his head on one hand.

Caster A casually commented: “Alright, last game, good luck boys. Though TG’s players seem quite confident, not worried at all.”

Caster B laughed and teased: “Tsk, that comment’s not very rigorous, there might still be another game later.”

Fourth game, the deciding match.

By fifteen minutes into the game, TG had built up a clear advantage. At 25 minutes, Chen Yuzheng already had three core items, dealing unstoppable damage, while LOT had basically lost all three lanes.

Even the official casters’ tone had become casual.

Just when everyone thought LPL was about to beat LCS 3:1 and finish work, TG suddenly started playing recklessly.

First was Van’s Olaf making an inexplicable gank attempt, forcefully diving the top lane Vampire under tower. His skills missed, and the tower aggro wasn’t coordinated properly with Thomas, taking two tower hits that chunked his health significantly. In his low health state, he got outplayed and died.

This directly led to TG losing dragon soul.

Right after, Chen Yuzheng and Ultraman forced a 2v3 in bot lane. After a series of mechanical outplays, the enemy top laner also arrived, resulting in a 0 for 2 trade. Chen Yuzheng’s bounty was claimed, directly feeding the enemy Vampire.

After several reckless mistakes by TG, the previously tilted balance slowly evened out.

Realizing something was wrong, TG went all-in, heading straight for Baron. They planned to end the game.

But they rushed it too much, giving the enemy Vampire a perfect opportunity to shine in the dragon pit. LOT’s top laner used pool, cast his ultimate, and Ultraman’s health bar performed an instant disappearing act, dying on the spot.

Seeing it was unwinnable, Killer called for retreat, and LOT secured the dragon.

With Baron buff, LOT directly took all of TG’s outer towers. Once the Vampire got fed, almost no one on TG could handle him.

The caster’s tone became heavy: “TG currently has no answer for this Vampire, nobody dares approach when he stands in the crowd.”

“They can only group up now, focus the Vampire in teamfights first, otherwise TG’s damage output is meaningless.”

The game dragged into late game, where TG’s champion scaling fell off and they really couldn’t deal with the Vampire.

TG got reverse swept by LOT despite having a huge advantage.

Before the red crystal exploded, LOT seemed to get their revenge, all five members flashing their team logo simultaneously.

From the latter half until the end of the game, the live audience was stunned into silence.

The caster’s casual comment earlier had become a self-fulfilling prophecy. No one expected TG to lose the crucial game to LCS’s fourth seed.

Throughout the entire game, domestic forums and Weibo exploded, with fan emotions going from initially relaxed to tense midgame, then finally furious.

[Well done Van! Perfectly demonstrated what it means to throw all three lanes, Sorry for the whole game]

[My mental is absolutely destroyed, if I’ve committed a crime, let the law punish me, not by making me watch TG’s games and suffer!!!!!!]

[What the actual f***???? TG are all braindead, LPL second seed losing to LMS’s bottom team????]

[YLD and TG actually lost to the minor region? What plane did you take, just swim back from Paris, we’ve planned the route for you.]

[YLD is fourth seed anyway, it’s like the horse racing strategy right? No big deal losing to LMS’s first seed, but TG, spring split runner-up, couldn’t beat the minor region’s fourth seed, that’s just ridiculous]

[This is hilarious, isn’t TG the team that loves flashing their logo??? Only dare to flash against OG??? Aggressive in domestic matches but cowards internationally. How does it feel getting flashed by all five LCS players this time??? Feels good???]

Because TG lost to LOT, LPL and LCS were tied 2:2, requiring a tiebreaker game.

With basically no other choice, both regions sent out their strongest first seeds. After playing the first game, OG returned to the stage for the fifth game.

In the backstage rest area, players, coaches, and analysts from all LPL teams gathered together.

When TG’s members pushed open the door and came in, there was a moment of silence as everyone looked at each other.

Killer’s face was ashen, aware of the stares. He felt he had never been unable to hold his head up like this before. He quietly walked to a chair and sat down.

No one criticized anything. WR’s mid laner walked over, patted Ultraman’s shoulder and consoled: “It’s okay, bro, losing one game is nothing. OG’s got this covered now, no big deal, we’ll win the next one.”

Ultraman felt quite embarrassed too, lifted his face with a bitter smile, “Sorry about that.”

“What are you sorry for, didn’t you win yesterday too?” WR’s mid laner was very understanding, “It’s normal to make mistakes in your first international tournament.”

The atmosphere eased a bit, gradually more people came over to comfort TG’s members, telling them to stay relaxed.

As the fifth tiebreaker was about to begin, everyone held their breath, gathering around the TV to watch the match broadcast, waiting for the final deciding game to arrive.

At this time, the bullet comments on various streaming platforms became lively:

[Thank goodness OG can save TG’s ass in game five, otherwise if LPL got eliminated in playoffs, TG would take all the blame!!!!]

[Conquer is a f***ing orphan AD, just quit already, toxic player!!!!!]

[Well done TG! Beautiful loss!]

[Sigh, whatever, we still have to face LCK tomorrow, stop flaming for now. At least we have OG to clean up, honestly my heart broke when TG lost, good thing someone can wipe their ass. If OG wins later, TG’s whole team should kowtow to OG tonight]

…

…

In the projection, OG won the first small teamfight, with Yu Ge directly claiming two kills. The rest area erupted in cheers.

The previously tense atmosphere finally lightened somewhat. Yu Nuo also felt relieved, instinctively wanting to look at Chen Yuzheng. But after searching around, she couldn’t find him anywhere.

Yu Nuo asked Xiang Jiajia beside her: “Where’s Chen Yuzheng?”

Xiang Jiajia was focused on the match, looking around blankly: “Don’t know…”

After asking several people who all said they didn’t know, Xiang Jiajia casually guessed: “Maybe he went somewhere to brood alone.”

After watching the match for about ten minutes, Yu Nuo couldn’t help worrying, and took advantage of when no one was paying attention to push open the rest area door and go out.

She took out her phone and sent Chen Yuzheng a message: “Where are you?”

After waiting a while, he replied: “Smoking”

Yu Nuo: “Where?”

He didn’t reply. Yu Nuo felt worried inside, went around looking, running up and down checking several places.

Finally she found Chen Yuzheng in the fire escape.

He was sitting on the stairs at the corner, cigarette glowing between his fingers.

Yu Nuo’s footsteps paused, she went over and tentatively called out: “Chen Yuzheng?”

He didn’t respond.

Yu Nuo walked over, hugging her knees as she crouched down beside him: “Are you okay?”

Chen Yuzheng said lazily: “What could be wrong with me?”

Still his usual casual and carefree tone and demeanor.

The lighting was dim here. Yu Nuo glanced at his profile. Seeing he didn’t want to talk right now, Yu Nuo also stayed quiet, but didn’t leave. She didn’t know how to comfort people, so she just silently crouched behind him, keeping him company like this.

Until her feet went numb from crouching.

Chen Yuzheng put out his cigarette and glanced at her lightly, “Why are you guarding me, afraid I’ll commit suicide?”

Yu Nuo pressed her lips together, stood up and sat down beside him, turning her head: “No…”

The distant sounds of the match and audience cheers carried over, feeling unreal and far away. Chen Yuzheng was quiet for a while, then suddenly asked: “Are you disappointed?”

“Huh?” Yu Nuo was stunned for a moment, “What?”

He gave a self-mocking smile, “Nothing.”

Yu Nuo suddenly remembered, last time after the spring finals when they lost to OG, Chen Yuzheng had asked her the exact same question when he was drunk…

Yu Nuo gathered her thoughts for a moment, her right hand secretly reaching into her pocket, touching something, “I meant to give you something earlier, but forgot.”

“What?”

Yu Nuo’s voice was very soft: “When I was in Chengdu before, I went to a temple, and… that day I made two wishes.”

Chen Yuzheng stared at her, saying nothing.

Yu Nuo gripped the protective charm in her hand tightly, paused, then continued: “The first one was hoping my family stays healthy, and that all my brother’s wishes come true.”

He asked: “What about the other one?”

Yu Nuo gathered her courage and handed him the protective charm, “It’s this.”

Chen Yuzheng lowered his eyes to look at the red and yellow pouch in her palm.

She looked at him, speaking word by word: “I hoped that one day, you, and Ultraman, Killer, Thomas, Van – you would all be seen by everyone.”

Chen Yuzheng fell silent.

“Even though you lost your match today, I’m not disappointed. Chen Yuzheng, I remember what you said in the semifinals.” Yu Nuo spoke very seriously, her eyes showing not consolation but trust, “You said you would win against everyone, and I believed then that you could do it in the future.”

In the dim stairwell, they were close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

Yu Nuo’s voice was gentle but firm, each word striking heavily in Chen Yuzheng’s ears and heart.

“One day, Conquer will definitely be remembered by everyone.”