As the annihilation moment on the big screen, where Ye Lan lay dead, occurred, countless male fans must have felt their hearts stop.
"Impossible, our goddess wouldn't be defeated!"
"If that Zhao Ri Tian hadn't chosen the most powerful Broken Heart Saber, he wouldn't even be able to touch the tip of the goddess's hair!"
Ren Yuanhao paid no attention to the win or loss. Instead, he looked at Ye Lan on the big screen as she smiled faintly at the camera.
That smile instantly made the thrilling battle that had just transpired lose its color.
In the plaza, cheers of Ye Lan's in-game ID, Annihilation, erupted.
The scene was incredibly spectacular, no less impactful than a top-tier celebrity.
Ren Yuanhao was the first to rush into the Big White Shark Internet Cafe. Since there were other matches scheduled for that evening, the live broadcast had not been paused. Ye Lan soon emerged from the private room.
"Phew, I lost. Aren't you going to come give me a comforting hug?"
Ren Yuanhao immediately flashed a sunny smile and opened his arms. Ye Lan, without any trace of her "Ice Queen" persona, melted into his embrace like a young girl.
"Just now, I really wanted to shout out your name in the livestream."
"Do you want your fans to crawl through the internet wires and kill me?"
"Yeah, yeah, that way you'd only be able to be with me, and you couldn't go anywhere else."
Just as Ye Lan was enjoying Ren Yuanhao's wide embrace, an out-of-place voice suddenly came from behind.
"I never expected our aloof queen to fall in love. It makes sense, after all, this year's competition was eliminated early, so you can go to the Maldives and Hawaii with this little pup."
Zhao Ri Tian wore an expression of arrogant amusement.
Ye Lan was about to lash out, but Ren Yuanhao shielded her behind him. He brushed some dust off his sleeve, his voice dropping to a depth as if from an abyss.
"I didn't quite catch that. Please, say it again."
For some inexplicable reason, as Zhao Ri Tian met the other's gaze, he felt the aura around Ren Yuanhao instantly transform. His eyes shone with an imperious cold light, like a lion coiled in the grass!
He abruptly averted his gaze and involuntarily took a step back. But then he thought, this was the Big White Shark Internet Cafe, company territory. What could a mere "little pup" do to him?
"Hahahaha, a little pup has learned to protect his owner. What's up, did your master make big talk this morning, and you want to stand up for her? I'm telling you, Leaf, if it weren't for your high popularity, our Tianshu would never need a half-baked professional player like you!" Zhao Ri Tian spread his hands wide and let out a sharp whistle!
*Beep beep beep, detecting psychological damage to the employer. Recommending a crushing defeat with a 50/50 buff active!*
Ren Yuanhao finally heard the system's pleasant voice. A refreshingly cool mountain spring seemed to flow through his fingertips and into his mind!
"Since Captain Zhao is so self-assured, I wonder if you dare to play a match with me, a complete gaming idiot?" Ren Yuanhao scoffed, a chilling smile gracing his lips.
But as soon as Ye Lan heard him proposing a match with Zhao Ri Tian, she immediately tugged at his sleeve from behind and whispered, "Yuan Hao, you're not his match. Don't play with him. I'm fine, I don't..."
Before Ye Lan could finish, Ren Yuanhao, somehow gaining a surge of courage, turned around and pulled her into his arms. With lips carrying a hint of chill, he directly sealed hers!
—My first kiss! This is a major highlight of my life, dammit!
Ren Yuanhao's kissing technique was extremely clumsy, nearly making Ye Lan gasp for air.
Although Ye Lan harbored good feelings for Ren Yuanhao, they had only known each other for a few days. And yet, this guy had just forcefully kissed her!
Shouldn't she be angry? Why... why was she feeling a little excited and thrilled right now?!
Zhao Ri Tian coughed twice and said in a muffled voice, "Little pup, do you know who you're challenging? I think you should obediently listen to your master and go back to train for another three to five years. Perhaps then, I might reluctantly accept your challenge and offer some guidance."
Ren Yuanhao released Ye Lan at this moment, holding her possessively. With a smile that was still unsettling, he said, "My girlfriend merely let you off easy by five, six, seven, or eight fingers, and you're still taking this long? I'm blushing for you. So, are you even afraid to accept a challenge from a noob like me?"
"From what you're saying, it sounds like I won by sheer luck. If you want to challenge me, you should probably try sparring with my underlings first. If you're seeking humiliation, I'll oblige!"
Zhao Ri Tian was always cautious, but upon seeing this kid, he always felt his emotions getting somewhat out of control. When Ren Yuanhao implied that his victory was due to Ye Lan deliberately holding back, he was finally successfully provoked.
He wanted these two to know that the captain of the Tianshu team was not someone to be trifled with. He wanted everyone to know that the face of the Tianshu team was Zhao Ri Tian, not some woman who relied on her looks!
"Fine, how about in ten minutes, right here in the internet cafe's esports zone?"
"As you wish. If you want to be publicly humiliated that quickly, I don't mind," Zhao Ri Tian sneered and walked towards his office, casually calling over a sparring partner who was watching the broadcast.
Ren Yuanhao was pulled by Ye Lan into his exclusive lounge. The room wasn't elaborately decorated; two walls were adorned with team posters and personal photos. A potted lucky bamboo stood by the windowsill, and a standby computer blinked with a faint blue light.
"You... you're being too reckless."
Ye Lan knew his intention was to protect her, but she was acutely aware that he had no professional esports training, nor did he even understand this game well. The chances of him winning a one-on-one duel against the experienced Zhao Ri Tian were practically zero!
He was too impulsive, yet Ye Lan's heart was filled with emotion.
"Don't worry. Time is tight, you need to teach me the basic operations. Maybe I'm a genius, haha!"
Ren Yuanhao laughed heartily, but his eyes held a convincing light.
"Alright, I can only teach you some basic operations and skills in the shortest amount of time."
"Let's start."
...
Ten minutes later.
"Hey, snacks and drinks for sale in the front row!"
"Let's just watch the livestream. These kinds of PKs with no suspense are too boring."
Word had spread throughout the internet cafe's esports zone about the rookie Ren Yuanhao challenging the great Zhao Ri Tian. However, most people were more interested in the upcoming internal selection matches for Tianshu. They had little interest in this battle of vastly unequal strengths.
"Great God Zhao Ri Tian just defeated our goddess and is at the peak of his momentum. How could he possibly play with a little noob?"