Xu Cheng looked at Factory Director in surprise. "Huh? Me... tomorrow?"
"Right, that's correct. You don't need to be surprised."
Factory Director smiled and patted Xu Cheng on the shoulder. "Don't worry, big bro. You can do this! It's a good chance to get more familiar with the Professional Arena."
"...Okay."
Xu Cheng didn't ask any more questions.
He'd seen the scrims they'd played during this time, as well as the coaching staff's assessment of him: "He's a monster, but it seems we're not worthy of being his monster teammates."
He knew Factory Director must have had a hand in this, and probably put in a lot of effort, to get him onto the country's top professional stage so quickly.
"Get ready. Tomorrow's opponents are no pushovers, especially in the top lane. Their top laner is a seasoned veteran, so be prepared."
"But don't worry, big bro. I'll protect you."
Factory Director gave Xu Cheng an earnest look and cheered him on.
That evening, EDG officially announced its starting lineup for the next day.
There were no changes in the other positions, but the change in the top lane caught the attention of some EDG fans.
[The Data Monster's starting tomorrow?]
[No way, isn't this way too fast? The Summer Split just started. How many scrims has he even played?]
[Honestly, we can still look forward to Grandmaster. He's a genius, after all.]
[Good grief, are they ready to throw in the towel? Z Emperor wasn't enough, so now they're adding a rookie too?]
[We might really be doomed this year. Damn, this Club really doesn't give a shit about us...]
Amid the few discussions, the issue of EDG's starting lineup for this year's Summer Split was a sore spot for the fans—
With Deft and Pwan gone, and iBoy too young, EDG had no choice but to pick the best of a bad lot for AD: a former substitute mid laner from the old ROX Tigers.
The former substitute mid laner had switched to AD, and he was already shockingly bad. Now they were adding a rookie to the roster, so it was no wonder EDG fans were losing it.
Apart from a few die-hard EDG fans, a small number of others also noticed the lineup.
Although the Data Monster's popularity had long since died down, the Professional Arena had always been about skill, and results were the best proof. Before he had any results to show for himself, the Antifan Forum couldn't be bothered with all the damn hype.
But Xu Cheng wasn't just any rookie.
After seeing the lineup, the teams that had once hoped to recruit him, along with his friends Xiao Yu, Yu Shuang, and Rita, all started paying attention.
[Cheng Cheng's starting tomorrow!]
[I saw it too. I can't believe he's starting so soon. As expected of our bestie!]
[He's a guy, ladies. Could you stop calling him your sister already...]
Xiao Yu typed in exasperation.
[You're right, we shouldn't call him our sister.]
Rita agreed, then added: [Have you seen his official player photoshoot...? We should call him hubby instead.]
???
[Don't get all hot and bothered. You've been way too thirsty lately.]
[Oh, by the way, Rita, aren't you commentating on EDG tomorrow? Doesn't that mean you can hype up Cheng Cheng right there on the broadcast?]
[Yep! Don't worry, babies. I'll hype him up good!]
[...]
The next day.
In the morning, Xu Cheng was taken to the rest area, where a Club staff member gave him a brief rundown of the preparations and requirements for competing.
That included not bringing your own drinks and having to drink what the venue provided, not being late, and how to react when facing the cameras...
Along with the official photoshoot and Promotional Film for the Opening Ceremony he'd taken part in not long ago, Xu Cheng had gotten a taste of what it was like to be an LPL pro player.
Before noon, Factory Director and the others were ready to go. They all boarded a business bus emblazoned with the EDG logo.
They headed straight for the venue.
"Don't be too nervous. Just play normally, like you do in scrims."
On the way, Mouse sat beside Xu Cheng. Seeing him lost in thought, Ah Guang even offered him some reassurance.
It touched Xu Cheng a little.
After all, he'd taken Ah Guang's starting spot this time. He hadn't expected the other man to show him such goodwill.
"Hey, I know what you're thinking."
Seeing Xu Cheng's expression, Ah Guang smiled. "I know what I'm good at, so I'm not worried."
"Besides... to be honest, you're way more talented than me. You just haven't gelled with everyone yet. You'll definitely be starting in the future..."
Ah Guang spoke with complete sincerity. Xu Cheng could tell he meant every word.
"Thanks."
After thanking him, Xu Cheng felt much more at ease.
They didn't speak again on the way and went straight to the Hongqiao World Performing Arts Center.
As soon as the bus arrived, before Xu Cheng and the others had even gotten off, they saw plenty of fans outside the venue, waving Support Items featuring cartoon versions of Factory Director, Meiko, and the others and cheering loudly.
Everyone but Xu Cheng was used to it. They got off the bus discreetly, entered the venue through the VIP passage, checked in, and then headed to the backstage rest area.
As they passed the audience seats, Xu Cheng caught another glimpse of the packed crowd. When they saw the EDG players pass by, they raised their Support Items and shouted the IDs of the players they supported.
Factory Director had the most fans, followed by Meiko and Scout. Even Z Emperor and Ah Guang had a few fans.
Only Xu Cheng couldn't spot a single fan who'd come to support him, no matter how long he looked.
"Look, over there! There!"
Factory Director beside him patted Xu Cheng and pointed in a certain direction.
Xu Cheng looked over and saw a dozen or so young men and women holding Support Items. One young woman even wore a cute headband, and on her raised phone was a line of text—
"Good luck on your debut, Murder!"
"Grandmaster, you'll win your debut!"
"Wait... those are my fans? I've never even played a match before. People came here to support me?"
Xu Cheng was pleasantly surprised.
Online and in person were two entirely different things.
"They're not your fans."
To his surprise, Factory Director gave him a mischievous grin. "They're mine."
"Huh?"
Factory Director chuckled. "Well, to be precise, they're EDG fans. Since you're starting today, it'd look bad if you had no fans, so they're temporarily pretending to be your fans in the crowd..."
"So these are the famous paid audience actors?"
Xu Cheng was baffled.
"What do you mean, actors? We're not paying them!"
Factory Director was very unhappy with Xu Cheng's bluntness. "It's called making a rookie feel welcome. You get it?"
Xu Cheng: "..."
"Don't worry. One day, you'll have fans of your own."
Seeing Xu Cheng look a little disappointed, Factory Director knew he must be feeling the contrast between the online world and reality. He patted him on the shoulder and said firmly:
"Maybe once you've played today and carried the whole match, all these people will become your fans."
Xu Cheng smiled but said nothing.
But for some reason,
as he looked at the stage before him, its lights flashing, and the densely packed audience below,
beneath his nervousness, he felt an unfamiliar urge to show what he could do and win.
Is this the charm of the Professional Arena?
An hour later, at exactly four in the afternoon, the director's announcement came from up ahead.
Xu Cheng gathered the peripherals Factory Director had specially prepared for him, stood up, and strode toward the stage with his teammates.
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