First Match, Facing OMG

After a few simple words, the two returned to their respective homes.

Silence throughout the night!

As they woke up from a good sleep, Snake was officially about to embark on their journey. This wasn't just Snake's first match, but also Chen Yi and Su Nuan's debut.

Even before Snake took the stage, before the match even began.

The buzz surrounding Snake had already spread across various media forums.

[Snake is going to compete this time.]

[I heard there's a female player. Do you think she'll dominate?]

[No way! What are you thinking? A female player dominating? If that were possible, why hasn't it happened before?]

[I'm not discriminating against women, I just feel like this is impossible. They're clearly doing this just for the traffic.]

[Didn't a certain country have a female player before? How badly did she get crushed? I feel like it'll be the same here.]

[I agree!]

It wasn't just the comment sections, but even many of the streamers broadcasting the event.

Regarding the female player.

They might have spoken somewhat subtly, but the lack of confidence in their words was palpable. If only one person had said it, it might have been fine!

But it wasn't just one person; it was many...

Not to mention precedents in esports, with Ah Yi's past incident, many people would choose to wait and see. But no matter what the online discourse said.

Whether it was looking down on them.

Or questioning them.

Or perhaps disbelief.

They couldn't stop the match from starting.

The 2017 LPL Spring Split saw a change in the tournament format, with the twelve teams divided into two groups, A and B.

[Group A: RNG, OMG, IG, IM, Snake, LGD]

[Group B: WE, EDG, QG, NB, VG, GT]

And Snake was in Group A!

As the match began and the players walked onto the stage.

Snake!

Actually, this team had a decent reputation, but compared to the truly top-tier teams, their popularity was nothing. Yet at this moment.

All eyes were on Snake.

Rather than the team itself.

It was more like all eyes were on a certain individual.

Finally...

When the Snake players came onto the stage, how many people had been anticipating this.

Top laner, Jungler, Mid laner, ADC!

Finally!

When the Support player appeared, the venue erupted.

[Holy crap!]

[They're actually playing.]

[Snake really dares to do it. I thought she was just a mascot, but she's actually a player?]

[Who said the player wasn't a mascot? My prediction is... Snake couldn't find a suitable bottom lane duo, so they just decided to go all out and do whatever gets the most traffic.]

[See? The traffic is here now!]

[Indeed!]

[The first female player in the LPL certainly has a lot of buzz. And this female player is quite good-looking. Even though the team uniform is baggy, judging by her face, she's at least a nine out of ten.]

[Speaking of which, isn't anyone else paying attention to the ADC player? He's a handsome guy too.]

[Who's paying attention to the guys!]

[True!]

The bullet comments scrolled wildly. Many people had come to watch this match, most of them drawn by the female player. As for who was paying attention to the men.

That would be...

Their opponents.

OMG!

That former dark dynasty had its golden age, but that was a glory of the past. Still, a starving camel is bigger than a horse.

Especially this season.

They entered the competition with the mindset of achieving results, but upon seeing their opponents, they felt severely insulted.

As both teams took the stage, the host introduced the players.

After the introductions.

They went offstage to compete. There was time to adjust equipment, a task left to the referees, while the players chatted amongst themselves.

It was fine on the snake side.

But on the OMG side, there was quite a bit of chatter.

Especially Xi Yang, the top laner. Upon seeing the opposing lineup, he sneered, "What's snake trying to do? Sending a girl to play against us? Do they look down on us that much?"

Hearing this, Leng Shao, the mid laner, coughed and said, "What are you saying? Girls can be skilled too, you know?"

Xi Yang sneered, "Anyway, I've never met one. If they were truly skilled, why would they still be here? Pretty and good at the game? I'd become a streamer. Play professionally? Do you believe that?"

Leng Shao: "This..."

Xi Yang: "In my opinion, she's just a mascot. So, crush our opponents in the bot lane. Make them cry!"

In response... Sima Laozai didn't reply, maintaining a cool and aloof demeanor.

His support, Xiao Wu, however, quickly agreed, saying, "OK! Since they look down on us, we'll make them pay the price for their contempt. If nothing unexpected happens... the first win is ours."

Upon hearing this, they exchanged smiles.

Even their coach, Ming Zhe, didn't stop them, or rather... his mindset was the same.

It wasn't just his mindset.

Even the live audience, and even the commentators, held the same attitude.

Soon!

The team compositions were finalized.

snake (Red Side)

Bans: [Lee Sin, Kha'Zix, Malzahar, Elise, Jayce]

Picks: [Top: Singed, Jungle: Rengar, Mid: LeBlanc, ADC: Tristana, Support: Thresh]

OMG (Blue Side)

Bans: [Nami, Trundle, Camille, Rek'Sai, Syndra]

Picks: [Top: Skarner, Jungle: Jarvan IV, Mid: Ryze, ADC: Ashe, Support: Zyra]

With the compositions set, the commentators took the stage.

Chang Mao + Rita!

Chang Mao: "Miss Rita, what are your thoughts on this match, especially regarding snake..."

"This..."

Rita hesitated.

The implication was clear: he wanted Rita to talk about the female player.

Facing Chang Mao's expectant gaze, she reluctantly said, "I have high hopes for this support player. There are plenty of girls with gaming talent!"

"However... many rookies get stage fright in their first match and might not perform well. We should give new players room to grow. I believe snake's performance will improve."

As soon as she spoke, the bullet comments flooded the screen.

[Woohoo! As expected of Miss Rita, that was a beautiful statement. Her EQ is amazing.]

[High EQ: 'Will get stage fright in the first match.' Low EQ: 'The girl is going to feed this game.']

[What if snake actually wins this one?]

[Win what? Setting aside how the girl plays, they're bringing in two rookies at once. Do you even know this ADC? She's just a small streamer, only ranked in the top thirty of King.]

[I think if snake wasn't short on players, someone like that wouldn't even have a chance to play.]

[What's the point of playing?]

[So they brought in a female player. Regardless of the results, they've already generated buzz. The match itself isn't important. I just hope they don't embarrass themselves too badly.]

There were many voices.

But none of it had anything to do with the members of snake.

Meanwhile, Su Nuan was taking deep breaths.

Nervous?

Of course, she was.

It's normal to feel this way during your first time on stage.

Chen Yi also spoke, saying, "Don't be nervous, just perform at your normal level. Remember what I told you yesterday? Don't worry, I've got your back!"

"Okay!"

Hearing this, Su Nuan's mindset calmed down considerably.

She didn't reply!

Instead, she gave a satisfied smile and said, "Thank you for being here!"

"Go for it!"

"Okay."

Cheering each other on, it was actually quite normal.

Even the two of them didn't think much of it.

However, for the three people around them, and the referee behind them, goosebumps rose on their skin.

Damn it!

Are they showing off their affection even on the competition stage?