After exchanging a few simple words, the two of them each returned.
The night passed uneventfully!
Once they woke up, Snake would officially embark on its journey. This was not only Snake's first match, but also Chen Yi and Su Nuan's debut.
Snake did not even need to take the stage—not even before the match had begun.
The discussion surrounding Snake had already spread across various media forums.
[Snake is playing this time.]
[There seems to be a female player. Do you think she'll go on a killing spree?]
[No way! What are you thinking? A female player going on a killing spree? If female players could do that, why hadn't there been any before?]
[I'm not discriminating against women. I just feel this simply won't work. They're only pulling this stunt for the traffic.]
[Didn't some other country have a female player before? What happened when she got completely crushed? I feel this will be about the same.]
[I think so too!]
It wasn't just the comment sections. Even many streamers covering the matches...
As for the female player...
Perhaps they were being somewhat subtle, but their lack of confidence was still obvious from their words. If only one person had said it...
That would have been fine!
But it wasn't just one person. It was many...
Setting aside precedents in esports, with A Yi's example right before them, many people chose to wait and see. No matter what people said online...
Whether they looked down on her...
Whether they questioned her...
Or whether they simply didn't believe in her...
They couldn't stop the match from beginning.
In the 2017 LPL Spring Split, the format had been changed that year, and the twelve teams had been divided into Groups A and B.
[A Group: RNG, OMG, IG, IM, Snake, LGD] [B Group: WE, EDG, QG, NB, VG, GT]
And Snake was in Group A!
As the match began, the players took the stage.
Snake!
This team actually had a decent reputation. However, compared to the true top-tier teams, its popularity was nothing to speak of. Yet at this moment...
Everyone's attention fell on Snake.
Rather than the team...
It was more accurate to say it was on a certain person.
Finally...
When Snake's players took the stage, countless people began looking forward to it.
Top, jungle, mid, ADC!
Finally!
When the support player appeared, the venue exploded.
[Holy shit!]
[She really took the stage.]
[Snake is seriously bold. I thought she was just a mascot. I didn't expect her to actually be a player?]
[Who says a player can't be a mascot? My guess is... Snake couldn't find a suitable bottom lane, so they decided to go all-in. Whatever brings in traffic.]
[Look, isn't the traffic here now?]
[Indeed!]
[The first female player in the LPL really is drawing a lot of attention. And this female player is pretty good-looking too. Her jersey is loose, but judging by that face, I'd give her at least a nine.]
[By the way, are you all really ignoring the ADC? He's a handsome guy too, you know.]
[Who cares about men?]
[True!]
The bullet comments refreshed furiously. Most people had come to watch this match because of the female player. As for anyone paying attention to the man...
That would be...
His opponents.
OMG!
That former dark dynasty had once enjoyed its own era of glory, but that was already a glory of the past. Even a lean camel was bigger than a horse.
Especially this season...
They had entered the season determined to achieve results. But after seeing their opponent, they felt they had suffered a serious insult.
Both teams took the stage, and the host introduced their players.
After the introductions were complete...
They went down to play. While the equipment was being adjusted, that task was left to the referees, and the players began chatting during the break.
Snake's side was fine.
But OMG's side had quite a lot to say.
Especially Xi Yang in the top lane. After seeing the opposing lineup, he sneered in disdain and said, "What does Snake mean by this? They sent a girl to play against me. Are they looking down on us that much?"
Hearing that, Leng Shao in the mid lane coughed lightly and said, "That's not necessarily true. Girls can be good too, you know?"
Xi Yang sneered. "I've never met one. If she's really good, would she still be here now? Pretty, and good at the game too? Why not become a streamer? Go pro instead? Do you believe that?"
Leng Shao: "This..."
Xi Yang: "As far as I'm concerned, she's nothing but a mascot. So crush them in the bottom lane. Make her cry however you can!"
Sima Laozai said nothing, maintaining his aloof demeanor.
His support, Xiao Wu, was the first to agree. "OK! Since they look down on us, we'll make them pay the price for it. Barring any surprises... the first win is ours."
At that, the several of them exchanged smiles.
Even coach Ming Zhe did not stop them. Or rather... his mindset was the same.
It wasn't just his mindset.
Even the spectators at the venue—and the commentators—held the same attitude.
Soon!
Both teams' compositions were locked in.
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 finalized, the commentators took the stage.
Chang Mao + Rita!
Chang Mao: "Miss Rita, what do you think of this match, especially Snake's side..."
"Well..."
Rita hesitated.
The implication was already obvious: Chang Mao wanted her to talk about the female player.
Facing Chang Mao's expectant gaze, she helplessly began, "I have a lot of confidence in this support player. There are plenty of girls with gaming talent!"
"But... many rookies get stage fright in their first professional match, so they may not perform well. We should give rookie players a chance to adjust. I believe Snake's form will get better and better."
As soon as she said that, the bullet comments refreshed furiously.
[Woohoo! As expected of Miss Rita. What a beautifully worded statement. Her emotional intelligence is incredible.]
[High EQ: She may get stage fright in her first match. Low EQ: This girl is going to throw this game.]
[What if Snake actually wins this time?]
[Win what? Setting aside how the girl performs, they put two rookies on at once. Do you even know this ADC? He's just a small-time streamer, and his rank is only top thirty on the ladder.]
[In my opinion, if Snake weren't short on players, someone like him wouldn't even be qualified to take the stage.]
[Then why even play?]
[That's why they put a female player in. The result doesn't matter; the topic has already been maxed out. The match itself is no longer important. I only hope they show some restraint and don't lose too embarrassingly.]
There were plenty of such comments.
But none of it had anything to do with the members of Snake.
At that moment, Su Nuan was also taking deep breaths repeatedly.
Nervous?
Of course she was.
After all, it was her first time taking the stage. Such a reaction was perfectly normal.
Chen Yi also spoke up. "Don't be nervous. Just perform at your normal level. Do you remember what I told you yesterday? Don't worry. I've got everything covered!"
"Okay!"
Hearing that, Su Nuan's mindset relaxed considerably.
She did not reply!
Instead, she gave him a satisfied smile and said, "Thank you for being here!"
"Good luck!"
"Okay."
Encouraging each other was perfectly normal.
Neither of them felt there was anything strange about it.
However, the three people around them, as well as the referee behind them, all got goosebumps.
Fucking hell!
Were they really showing off their romance on the stage?
Before you continue