“Income situation? I don’t know much about that,” Tang Rou said calmly, showing no confusion.

The reporters were momentarily stunned. This answer was quite unexpected. Although their question was phrased that way, it was just a lead-in to open the conversation. The income of professional players was something any player in an internet cafe could discuss for hours. However, Tang Rou’s answer of “not very clear” seemed to derail the lead-in.

Some of the more seasoned reporters glanced meaningfully at Chen Guo after hearing Tang Rou’s reply. They suspected this was a conspiracy by the Happy boss, keeping the players naive and easily controlled. Unfortunately for them, upon closer examination, they saw no nervousness or unease in Chen Guo’s reaction to Tang Rou’s answer. Instead, she smiled happily and then acted normally.

What’s going on?

The reporters were even more bewildered. In any profession, who doesn’t know their income? Was this beautiful girl deliberately teasing them?

The reporters looked suspiciously from one to another until the press officer prompted again, “Any more questions?”

The press conference was stalling frequently today, and the press officer was getting impatient.

“Could you reveal the current salaries of Happy’s players?” A reporter persisted, shifting the focus from Tang Rou back to Chen Guo.

The reporters' instincts were correct; the question touched on a sensitive issue for Happy. Chen Guo answered awkwardly, “Until the Challenger League, we were all gathered together out of passion. Now that we're a professional team, we need to formally discuss contract details. It hasn’t started yet, so there’s nothing to disclose.”

The reporters were stunned.

If this was a casual team of players who met up for fun, such a situation would be expected. But Happy had defeated Team Excellent Era to win the Challenger League, with the great god Ye Xiu leading the team. According to Chen Guo, their setup seemed to offer little in terms of compensation, all based on love?

“Are you saying that, so far, none of Happy’s players have received any income?” Someone finally asked cautiously.

Chen Guo was embarrassed, but she wasn’t one to hide things or lie in public. She nodded. “Yes.”

A buzz went through the room, and someone immediately followed up, “Is that the case for the great god Ye Xiu as well?”

“Uh… yes.” Chen Guo hesitated, deciding it was best not to mention her internet cafe manager’s salary.

The uproar that followed was quite a spectacle. Happy’s situation was shocking. The lack of income was one thing, but Chen Guo’s statement that they hadn’t even drawn up formal contracts yet was a significant issue.

Now that they had qualified for the professional league next season, all the players would become true professionals. Shouldn’t they be rushing to offer contracts and retain their players? Were they waiting for the team to become a supermarket open for anyone to buy once they joined the league? Based on their performance in the Challenger League, reporters believed Happy’s players would attract attention from many professional teams. Hadn’t gossip already surfaced during the Challenger League?

In fact, some teams had already shown interest in Happy’s players back then. But Happy's lineup remained intact, with no one swayed by those offers. Yet, according to the Happy boss, Happy hadn't taken any measures to retain their players. Was their team held together solely by their own will?

It was too unscientific.

Other teams must have underestimated Happy's unscientific approach, which explained their lack of aggressive recruitment. If this news got out, wouldn't Happy dissolve instantly?

The reporters were even worried about Happy. But they knew the story would inevitably be exposed. Not all reporters would be compassionate enough to cover up Happy's naive and unscientific state. Someone might already be compiling the information.

Happy’s experience with the media was truly unique! They had revealed something so important at a press conference. The reporters felt like they were getting away with something.

The scene became somewhat chaotic. The League’s press officer checked the time and, after consulting with Happy, announced the next question would be the last.

The press conference had already yielded a lot of information. There was no point in pursuing complex or difficult questions for the final one. It was best to end on a positive note.

“Having been away from the league for so long, what are your thoughts at this moment?” The final question was directed at Ye Xiu.

“Heh,” Ye Xiu chuckled and said, “I’m back.”

I’m back!

Simple words, yet they revealed an unwavering belief. Although the press conference had uncovered numerous bombshells, and everyone was already eager to compile and organize them, most media outlets ultimately chose that final sentence as their headline.

Ye Xiu: I’m back.

The media also fully utilized their skills in compiling, organizing, and finding meaning in other content.

One year of preparation led to Happy’s championship. Opportunity favors the prepared!

Former Excellent Era captain fires shots at press conference, denouncing Excellent Era boss Tao Xuan for abandoning Excellent Era!

Happy, united by love!

…

These headlines were packed with content and written to be as sensational as possible. They merely revealed the information gathered at the press conference. The real value of public opinion lay in using the information to guide perception.

Those reporters who favored Excellent Era seized upon Ye Xiu’s words and skillfully separated Excellent Era from Tao Xuan. They attributed all the negative news surrounding Excellent Era to Tao Xuan personally. Other unbiased reporters, faced with such clear facts, couldn’t misdirect their writing.

The team isn’t corrupt, but certain individuals are!

After this explanation, everyone saw the logic in it. As the saying goes, “It’s the human factor.” All the disgusting things Excellent Era had done were ordered by the boss. His control had led the team to such a state.

In an instant, the wind shifted.

Many Excellent Era fans had already dispersed, feeling ashamed and disillusioned by the various scandals surrounding the team. But after the latest round of reports, their sadness and disappointment turned into anger. They regrouped and vowed to defend their Excellent Era team, to drive out the real tumor.

Tao Xuan, get out!

Within a day, slogans like this were seen everywhere outside the Excellent Era club, on the ground, and in the hands of players. No one was begging for Excellent Era not to be sold anymore. They realized that selling wouldn’t destroy Excellent Era, but continuing to let Tao Xuan run it would completely turn Excellent Era into a disgrace.

Excellent Era belonged to each of them, while what Tao Xuan held was merely some fixed assets. That was just the form of Excellent Era, not its soul.

Where was the soul? The soul was in the heart of every fan.

Loyal Excellent Era fans, while condemning Tao Xuan, began to loudly call for someone who genuinely loved Glory and Excellent Era, someone capable, to take over the team.

In that moment, Excellent Era came alive.

Fans were a team’s greatest asset.

No one wanted to completely take over Excellent Era because the scandals had cost them fan support. Naturally, no one wanted to clean up such a mess. But now, the fans had saved themselves. They realized where the problem lay and found a solution. They stood up again to support Excellent Era. Everyone could see that.

Such an Excellent Era could rise again. But there was one condition: Tao Xuan had to leave. He could take everything he owned, but he couldn’t take away a single fan. Even if the place was empty, the fans would stay. And with their support, Excellent Era could rebuild from scratch.

How did this transformation happen? It started with Ye Xiu’s words when facing reporters, which awakened countless fans.

Ye Xiu was their captain, forever!

No Excellent Era fan would question that, even if he had sent Excellent Era out of the professional league once again. That was just the competition, not related to anything else. Wasn’t that their captain’s consistent attitude on the field?

After more than a year, their former captain had officially announced: He was back.

It was a pity he hadn’t returned to Excellent Era. Although some had started to call for Ye Xiu to come back and lead Excellent Era again, most fans couldn’t make such a request.

It was too selfish.

Ye Xiu had already contributed enough to Excellent Era. They had no right to endlessly demand more from him.

Ye Xiu didn’t owe Excellent Era anything. Excellent Era owed him a lot.

Not to mention the player contracts. Han Wenqing, who had fought alongside Ye Xiu since the beginning of the league, had the best contract in the entire league. But what about their captain? For so many years, he had a long-term contract signed at the start of the league, a contract with laughably low pay by today’s standards.

Talking about money was blunt, but Excellent Era was blatantly indebted to their captain, and he had never complained, because that wasn’t what he cared about.

What he pursued was always the same: victory. This was something that wouldn’t change no matter where he was. The Excellent Era fans could only offer their blessings.