Chapter 82

The applause was thunderous and unending. Rong Yi hesitated no longer; he nodded slightly and followed Xiao Yin onto the stage.

From backstage to the stage, this short distance seemed to stretch into slow motion in everyone’s eyes.

Countless cameras and phones were ready, but no one in the audience realized that it was a holographic projection. The actual award stage and presenters were in another venue.

Amidst a shower of starlight, the domestic Champion Trophy slowly rose. Under the dazzling lights, it seemed to glow with a layer of scorching gold.

The applause and cheers grew louder and more rhythmic. The crowd chanted, “VIT! VIT!” When Xiao Yin stepped onto the stage, it changed to “Yin-Ge! Yin-Ge!” And as Rong Yi stepped up, the crowd fell silent, only to erupt into even more frenzied screams and applause!

Live broadcast cameras, TV cameras, the audience’s phones, and even the screens showing the event all clearly captured Rong Yi’s figure.

Never before had there been such a moment, so vividly clear and seen by so many people from such a close distance.

Not even during the last All-Star Game had so many people seen him at once.

The young man had a tall, slender frame, delicate shoulders, a jade-like neck, and incredibly fair skin with dark eyelashes.

Most striking was his expression, carrying a special, light smile and a calm, composed demeanor.

Under the dazzling stage lights, he seemed to shine as brightly as the lights themselves.

Everyone was stunned, even Lin Yi. He quietly asked a nearby staff member, “Ah Yi’s camera phobia is cured? VIT agreed to appear on camera?”

The staff hesitated for a moment, but no one could say for sure what was happening. Soon, everyone set aside their doubts and joined in the applause and celebration.

“WOCCC, that’s the Captain? The Captain looks like this?”

“I’m at a loss for words. How can the Captain be this good-looking? My eyes can’t move away!”

“Is that Easy? Is that Easy? Is that Easy? Oh my god!”

The entire award ceremony’s GIFs and high-definition images all trended on social media. Ever since the moment [VIT Champions] was confirmed, it has remained at the top, alongside several other trending tags.

[MVP Easy]

[Five-Year Champion!]

“OMG, who else! Five years at the peak! Five-year champion!”

“Wherever he is, that’s where the championship is!”

The Host was announcing each person’s award speech, and this year’s Champion MVP was undisputed.

Rong Yi was their Mid core.

“Five-year champion, one World Champion title, from the top Mid laner to the top Support, and now coming back again, still the top Mid laner.”

“The arena is like a battlefield, and Easy is like a blade — perhaps dusty, perhaps unnoticed, because a blade is not meant to attract attention, not meant for dazzling brilliance, not for others’ praise. A blade is just a blade, carving a bloody path in the fight.”

“If you look up at him, you’ll find he’s always been there, shining brightly, changing the world.”

“This is VIT’s Mid laner, our Captain Rong, our EASY!”

“With his sword energy sweeping across 30,000 miles, his blade’s cold light chills 19 continents. An unprecedented Mid laner, the world’s only Mid laner, Li.”

Sword energy swept across, light and shadows flowed, and Li’s dynamic effect topped the scene again, over everyone’s heads.

The Host walked toward Rong Yi.

On the big screen, Rong Yi’s eyelashes slightly lowered, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Xiao Yin’s expression remained unchanged as he asked quietly, “Do you feel awkward? I told them to make the introduction a bit flamboyant.”

Rong Yi replied softly, “It’s fine, I quite like it.”

“The introduction for the World Championship stage is like this too?”

Rong Yi, not without some mischief, asked and then laughed quietly with Xiao Yin.

“The style is a bit different, but I think it’s similar,” Xiao Yin said softly. “Don’t act like you’re not familiar with it.”

“It’s all in English, I don’t understand,” Rong Yi said. “This year, you can be my simultaneous translator.”

“No problem,” Xiao Yin said.

No one heard what they were whispering about, but the cameras only showed Rong Yi and Xiao Yin standing very close, talking softly with smiles. Xiao Yin’s eyes carried a hint of indulgent affection, while Rong Yi’s eyes shone with joy.

The microphone was handed to Rong Yi, who didn’t say much.

The young man, looking as if he were glowing on the screen, held the microphone with his slender, pale fingers. His aura was as gentle as water and clouds.

His voice, too, was like water and clouds, clear and pleasant.

“Thank you all for your support of VIT. We truly appreciate it. This is just the first step; on the World Championship stage, we await you all the same.”

“The World Championship stage will not only have us but also CH. We hope you will continue to follow and support us.”

“There are many teams and players like us in the domestic competition, and we hope you’ll pay attention to them as well. Not just this year; every year moving forward, we aim for the pinnacle of the World Championship.”

Then, he bowed slightly to the audience, and everyone else followed suit.

A simple sentence reignited everyone’s passion.

Such brazen, straightforward ambition.

Such calm, unwavering determination pointing straight to the highest peak!

That night, all esports viewers, regardless of whether they were VIT fans, were awed by them.

“Go! Aim for the World Championship!”

“Five years, Captain Rong! Five years!”

VIT and CH had shattered the existing esports landscape, which was evident to everyone this season.

A team that dedicates itself earnestly and diligently can stand at the peak; the sweat from relentless practice day and night can transform into visible results.

As long as you respect everything involved, as long as you strive with all your might, how could there be no reward? How could you not see the starlight?

For the first time, the arena of the domestic competition champion wasn’t a battleground of fan community wars but a scene of all esports fans cheering, screaming, and crying together.

The entire CH team also rushed onto the stage, some crying, some laughing, embracing VIT’s members tightly.

This is what the esports landscape is all about.

There has never been a question of “what it should be”; “what it should be” is the weakest form of resistance. Only strength holds the highest authority.

When RS was in power, the shape of esports was the shape of RS.

With VIT in power, esports took on the shape that VIT wanted to create. They not only molded themselves but also created worthy adversaries.

Isn’t this the essence of competition?

This was the first and certainly wouldn’t be the last time that a genuine Champion’s Night burst onto the scene purely on its own merits.

The fervor of Champion’s Night lasted for three days, with close-up shots of Rong Yi flooding everyone’s social media platforms.

Esports matters stayed within esports, but the admirers had their own realm.

As a result, Rong Yi’s true appearance was thoroughly exposed across all platforms.

Under Xiao Yin’s international social media account, the numerous daily comments of “Xiao Yin, show us your wife” completely morphed into “Xiao Yin, the hatred of stealing one’s wife is irreconcilable” and “Thank you, everyone. The three of us are living happily…”

Rong Yi received countless interview invitations, but VIT declined them all.

Domestically, the season had concluded, and they entered the off-season. However, the international tournaments were gearing up.

Each year, the global tournament allocated qualifying spots by region, considering the basic capabilities of each region’s domestic competition and in-game overall KDA as crucial indicators.

In previous years, when RS won the domestic championship, the region typically received one spot. However, based on this year’s performance and various sources, it was expected that the domestic region would receive three spots.

But this wasn’t VIT’s concern anymore.

All their meticulous preparations were for the final battle against QILIN.

Xiao Yin’s old team.

On an ordinary, calm, and sunny morning.

At 6:30 in the morning, Rong Yi got up while Xiao Yin went for his morning exercise.

They each went about their morning routines and met at the staircase.

Xiao Yin, having changed his clothes, saw that Rong Yi wasn’t eating breakfast and had already sneaked into the training room, opening the electric curtains to let the autumn morning sunlight fill the room.

Rong Yi, dressed in a casual and comfortable long-sleeve cotton T-shirt, sat cross-legged in a gaming chair, spinning around to face him.

In the backlight, his dark, tousled hair was gilded with a layer of gold, his features appearing softer in the shadows.

“Auntie and the cafeteria staff aren’t here yet. Do you want some toasted bread?” Xiao Yin asked him, looking at him.

Rong Yi’s eyes curved into a smile as he looked at him. “And a glass of sweet milk, not too sweet, just half a spoon of honey.”

“Got it.”

Xiao Yin knew his habits well and didn’t say much. He went to the kitchen to toast the bread.

Rong Yi scrolled through his social media for ten minutes before seeing Xiao Yin approaching with toast and a glass of milk.

Xiao Yin was dressed in a simple, casual shirt, with the buttons undone to the second one, exuding a relaxed and leisurely vibe. As he got closer, the scent of his mint cologne became noticeable, very pleasant.

Rong Yi took a deep breath, then grabbed the toast directly with his hand.

Seeing that Xiao Yin hadn’t made any for himself, Rong Yi tilted his head and asked, “Did you only make mine? Aren’t you eating?”

Xiao Yin didn’t answer immediately; he just looked at him and smiled.

Rong Yi, not understanding, took a big bite of the toast, only to feel something hard against his teeth.

He took it out and placed it in his palm—a very dazzling diamond ring.

Xiao Yin still stood in front of him, still with that smile.

“If you allow me.”

As soon as he spoke, Rong Yi started laughing and exclaimed, “You’re so cheesy, Xiao Yin, you’re too cheesy.”

His words didn’t affect Xiao Yin at all. Xiao Yin smoothly continued, “With this breakfast and this ring, representing my heart, will you marry me?”

“I want to spend my life with you. I want to hold you every moment.”

“I know how much you value the arena and dislike mixing business with personal matters, so I didn’t propose to you on the night we won the championship. I thought that would be a disrespect to both the championship and you.”

“I chose an ordinary day because if not now, I don’t know when it would be.”

“The person I love is a workaholic. After the playoffs, there’s the World Championship, and after that, you’ll be busy with new season captain duties. And I don’t want to wait any longer.”

His formal tone came through again, “My darling, my love and partner.”

“The most important gem in my life.”

Everything was so ordinary. The sunlight was just right, with the breakfast plate carrying the warmth of the morning light.

The sunlight cast a golden line on the floor, passing through VIT’s domestic championship trophy, turning into a rainbow-like wave.

Rong Yi reached out his hand.

He said, “I do.”

This was what he wanted.

After wandering for half a lifetime, this was all he ever wanted.

Teammates who move forward carefree and without worries, someone who loves him wholeheartedly, and a goal ahead within reach.

So ordinary.

So happy.

—The End—