Chapter 89
News of HighTowerMiyuki’s highway accident spread like wildfire. Days later, the story, and the number of fans gathered at the hospital hoping to see her, showed no signs of abating.
Meanwhile, rumors of Slay’s hospitalization also surfaced. With the two most crucial and challenging matches of the Winter World Cup looming, news of key players potentially being sidelined spread panic.
Everyone speculated about Nine Heavens’ next move, the most likely scenario being a last-minute selection from among the trainees.
The internet was abuzz, trying to identify a potential savior for Nine Heavens.
But no one seemed capable of replacing HighTowerMiyuki.
Not just among Nine Heavens’ trainees, but even looking at the global esports scene, there were few who could fill her shoes.
Team synergy was crucial. Unless they had a leader-level prodigy, who could develop instant chemistry with the rest of Nine Heavens in just two days?
Faced with unprecedented adversity, would Nine Heavens, undefeated since their formation, finally break their winning streak?
Some prayed for Nine Heavens, others prepared to celebrate their downfall.
When the starting lineup was announced before the match, the number of live stream viewers exceeded 200 million.
The online commentators joked that everyone seemed particularly enthusiastic, eager to see how the revamped Nine Heavens would perform, what changes they would make to their strategies.
“There’s another important reason,” the other commentator said. “Today’s starting lineup for Nine Heavens will definitely include an unfamiliar player. Everyone is curious to see who will rise to the challenge. According to the organizing committee, this player is from the newly formed second team, a trainee. And that’s not the most surprising part. This trainee just joined Nine Heavens yesterday.”
The live stream chat exploded:
“Joined yesterday?! Am I crazy, or is ENIAC crazy? Throwing a complete newbie into the fire?!”
“Is ENIAC’s management trying to sabotage Nine Heavens?”
“I’m speechless… Even if the trainees aren’t ready, they can’t just pick a random person off the street!”
“Why not give 99 a chance? She’s the most promising trainee, isn’t she?”
“Don’t panic, everyone. I think ENIAC knows what they’re doing, they wouldn’t joke about the World Cup. Calm down, maybe they have a surprise up their sleeves.”
“I’ve given up hope, unless they tell me Sister Lou is actually fine and she’ll be playing as a disguised newbie, otherwise, I really… This is a guaranteed loss.”
Pessimism filled the internet.
Even before the match began, the atmosphere was grim.
Besides the fans’ lack of confidence, there were also plenty of haters eager to see Nine Heavens fall from grace.
Despite being a weekday, the number of viewers continued to rise. Fans in other hemispheres set their alarms, waking up in the middle of the night to watch this momentous match.
Nine Heavens’ luck had indeed run out. At their most vulnerable, they faced their toughest opponent yet.
Today’s opponent was Wild Hurricane, a formidable dark horse that had risen rapidly since last year.
Wild Hurricane was once a veteran team in the domestic league. They hadn’t been able to withstand Nine Heavens’ dominance and went bankrupt during the first major reshuffling of the clubs.
Acquired by a foreign club and rebuilt, they were now a completely different team, but some of their veteran players remained as coaches and advisors, their experience and lingering resentment towards Nine Heavens making them a dangerous adversary.
They definitely wouldn’t go easy on Nine Heavens in this match.
Before the Winter World Cup began, Lou Mi had ranked Wild Hurricane as the team she least wanted to face.
Not only were they facing them now, but at Nine Heavens’ most vulnerable moment. It seemed fate was playing a cruel joke.
Lou Mi suspected that A Bao and Xiao V had deliberately chosen this critical time to strike.
A Bao definitely wanted her dead, but even if she failed, Lou Mi would still suffer a heavy blow.
A Bao knew how important a player’s health was in holographic esports.
Either kill Lou Mi, or cripple Nine Heavens.
Either outcome would be a victory for her.
Lou Mi’s guess was correct. That was exactly A Bao’s plan. It had gone smoothly, and she would have gotten away with it—if that drone hadn’t mysteriously disappeared.
The drone must have been shot down, but she had no idea where it had landed.
Xiao V searched for two days and two nights, even diving into the sea, but found no trace of it.
A Bao flew into a rage at home, smashing everything she could get her hands on.
Xiao V quietly cleaned up the mess and, after A Bao calmed down, reminded her to stay focused.
The police were watching them closely, she shouldn’t do anything rash that might attract unwanted attention.
“I’ll find the drone,” Xiao V promised.
Exhausted, A Bao leaned against Xiao V, almost collapsing.
Xiao V supported her weight, preventing her from falling.
“I can only rely on you now,” A Bao sobbed. “You’re all I have left.”
Xiao V’s chest heaved, and she said, “Don’t worry, go get some sleep, you haven’t closed your eyes in two days.”
***
The starting lineups for the globally anticipated match were announced.
Nine Heavens:
Xie Buyu, Fu Tu, Huhu, Lin.
As soon as the names were revealed, the live stream chat was flooded with question marks.
“Who is this Lin? Never heard of her. Is she a complete newbie with no professional experience?”
“Wait, is this Lin, Chi Lin?”
“Sister Lou’s little sister?!”
“Chi Lin from South Lake Third High? Really?”
“Nine Heavens is crazy, ENIAC is crazy, I’m going crazy!”
“Have they given up?”
“Did HighTowerMiyuki suffer brain damage from the accident? Letting her little sister play in such an important match, just to promote her girlfriend, has she considered the consequences for the team? Nine Heavens isn’t her personal team, it carries the hopes and dreams of countless fans… This is too reckless! I’m so angry!”
***
The announcement sent Nine Heavens fans into a frenzy.
Doubts and criticisms poured in from around the world.
A Bao lay in bed, watching the live stream intently.
Seeing the lineup, her grip on the remote control tightened.
Xiao V used voice control to turn off the TV.
“Turn it back on.” A Bao turned it back on, forcing herself to watch.
Xiao V remained silent.
“Lin is playing?!”
During break time, Wei Zhuoning was watching the live stream on her phone. Her exclamation drew a crowd, almost crushing her in their eagerness.
“Lin is playing professionally?! What kind of sorcery is this?!”
“I knew there was a reason she wasn’t at school today!”
“Taking Sister Lou’s place! Oh my god! I’m dying from the sweetness!”
All of South Lake Third High was in an uproar.
It was normal for outsiders to doubt Chi Lin’s abilities.
But the students of South Lake Third High had absolute faith in her. They knew better than anyone how exceptional she was.
Chi Lin was a legend, a legend of South Lake Third High. No matter how much she had messed up before, she was now standing before the world, about to become a key figure in holographic esports history!
South Lake Third High was already celebrating in advance.
The match was about to begin. Chi Lin’s face appeared on the screen.
As a newcomer in her first world-class competition, Chi Lin seemed incredibly calm. Fu Tu said something to her, and the viewers assumed it was about strategy, but then they both laughed; it was just a joke.
Chi Lin looked completely relaxed, while Peng Ziyuan and Lou Lixing were on the edge of their seats.
If Lou Mi weren’t injured, they would be at the venue, delivering food and cheering her on.
They were already sweating just watching from the hospital room; the atmosphere at the venue must be incredibly tense.
“Our Little Lin isn’t nervous at all, look at her, so relaxed.” Lou Lixing praised Chi Lin’s composure.
Lou Mi, still feeling uncomfortably full, continued to pace around the room.
She thought, of course she wasn’t nervous. Who was Chi Lin? Putting aside her status as Empress, she was a general who had fought in real battles, her mental fortitude was unmatched. Just swinging a sword in a virtual world, what was there to be nervous about?
Lost in thought, Lou Mi went to the bathroom again.
Chi Lin wasn’t nervous, but she was.
She had never been this anxious, even during her own matches!
The match began.
Randomly selected map: Snowy Peak.
The viewers sighed:
“Seriously? Out of all the maps, they got Snowy Peak. How unfriendly this map is to newcomers is well-known. Forget about team fights, I’m not even sure this Lin can navigate the terrain without falling to her death.”
“Really, just because you’re an internet celebrity doesn’t mean you can play professionally. Nine Heavens’ undefeated streak is about to end.”
Both teams started their ascent from opposite ends of Snowy Peak. Fu Tu led the way, Huhu stayed at the back, and Xie Buyu and Chi Lin were in the middle.
Their formation remained intact from the start.
Not only did Chi Lin keep up, but she was also the main damage dealer in their first engagement.
No one expected Nine Heavens, without their star player, to choose a head-on assault against such a strong opponent.
This was Lou Mi’s strategy.
“Wild Hurricane’s playstyle is aggressive. The longer the match drags on, the harder it gets. Our best chance is to secure early kills, specifically targeting their healer. Once the healer is down, their strategy will fall apart. Huhu, they’ll definitely think you’re our core and focus on you.”
Huhu nodded.
“So, in this situation…” Lou Mi smiled, “we’ll give them a big surprise.”
Wild Hurricane’s strategy was exactly as Lou Mi predicted.
They had three plans, two targeting Huhu, one targeting Fu Tu.
No one expected this newbie, with zero experience and seemingly there just to make up the numbers, to make any impact.
Even if she was useful, she wouldn’t be the core of their strategy.
They were wrong.
What made Wild Hurricane even more uncomfortable was this newbie’s aggressive playstyle, even fiercer than their own. Her skills and movements were unpredictable, defying all their professional experience, throwing them into disarray.
Chi Lin quickly took down their healer, securing the first kill, her movements swift and decisive, her control impeccable!
The chat was silent for a moment.
Then, the question marks returned.
“What did I just see?”
“Is this a replay?”
“HighTowerMiyuki, come out! This is definitely your alt account! Who else uses that diagonal movement?!”
“Ahhh, Little Lin, Mommy loves you! You made us proud!”
“Fighting in your sister’s place, protecting your territory! Snow Vegetable CP is so sweet!”
***
What was expected to be a long and arduous battle, estimated to last around two hours, ended quickly with Chi Lin taking down their key player, causing Wild Hurricane’s strategy to crumble.
Nine Heavens, with their fresh blood, maintained their signature swift and decisive style.
The match ended in 15 minutes and 18 seconds, with Chi Lin earning the MVP title.
The newcomer “Lin” silenced all doubters with her flawless performance, gaining a large number of fans in just 15 minutes.
Her first professional match, her first official match, two kills, and the MVP title.
Her legendary career began.
The finals were in three days.
ENIAC’s owner and shareholders were ecstatic. As soon as the match ended, they rushed backstage, surrounding Chi Lin, taking photos non-stop.
None of the management had agreed with Lou Mi and Zhuo Jinglan’s decision to let a complete newbie play in such an important match.
But there was always a risk of losing, and since Chi Lin was recommended by Lou Mi and Zhuo Jinglan, experienced professionals who were always on the front lines, they could only hope for a miracle.
And the miracle happened, effortlessly.
After the internal celebrations, the media arrived, surrounding Chi Lin, the flashing lights almost blinding her.
In the press release photos, Chi Lin’s expression was tense, her eyes squinted, looking adorably awkward, a stark contrast to her fierce demeanor in the game.
After the match, no one could find Chi Lin’s Weibo account. Fans flooded Nine Heavens’ official Weibo, begging them to reveal their little fairy’s account.
The official Weibo account was also clueless; they didn’t know Chi Lin’s Weibo.
They didn’t even know she played esports!
The management arranged two buses to take the team to a celebratory dinner.
Chi Lin had forgotten about this part, thinking she could leave after the match. She hadn’t realized the night’s activities were just beginning.
She messaged Lou Mi: “I don’t really want to go to the celebratory dinner, it’s just a bunch of formalities. Can you find an excuse for me to leave?”
Lou Mi replied quickly: “You’re the star tonight, they won’t let you leave easily. You might even have to drink.”
Chi Lin had experienced the potency of modern alcohol before, and it hadn’t ended well. She now had a slight aversion to it:
“I don’t want to drink with people I don’t know well.”
“Don’t worry, it’s still during the tournament, you won’t have to drink much.”
“I don’t want to drink at all.”
“I know you just want to come back and see me, you can drink with me. Do you miss me that much?”
They had been discussing serious matters, but Lou Mi quickly turned the conversation flirty, scattering Chi Lin’s focus.
Images and sensations flooded her mind…
Chi Lin was still at the live stream building, and the club members were still being held up by the media. After they were finally free, they would move on to the next round of celebrations.
Her face felt warm, but the color hadn’t changed yet, but every glance from anyone made Chi Lin feel like they could see through her thoughts.
“I’m in public, don’t tease me like this.” Chi Lin lowered her voice.
“Oh, I understand, we’ll continue this at home, behind closed doors. Okay, I get it, I’ll add it to my to-do list. Now be good, save your energy, we’ll have plenty of time to release it tonight.”
Chi Lin was both amused and exasperated.
Twisting her words, this person was a master.
But…
“What do you mean ‘we’ll continue this at home’?” Chi Lin felt something was amiss. Just as she sent the message, she heard cheers from the entrance.
Lou Mi, in her wheelchair, surrounded by her teammates, arrived before Chi Lin.
Lou Mi, looking smug, winked at Chi Lin: “Children, Guaren has arrived.”
Zhuo Jinglan almost choked on her drink. What was wrong with Lou Mi now?
Lou Lixing pushed Lou Mi’s wheelchair, and Peng Ziyuan, standing outside the crowd, waved enthusiastically at Chi Lin.
Chi Lin waved back awkwardly, feeling slightly embarrassed by the scene.
Xie Buyu, leaning on Fu Tu’s shoulder, was almost in tears from laughter: “Is this a leader inspection? A disabled leader, no less.”
Lou Mi spared Xie Buyu a death glare, which Xie Buyu accepted readily.
Chi Lin hurried over: “Why are you here again?”
Chi Lin, the emotionally stunted ancient person, always prioritized practicality.
“How could I miss such a historic moment? Come here.”
Lou Mi beckoned her with a finger, wanting to whisper something in front of dozens of people from the club.
Chi Lin, surrounded by onlookers, still unable to be shameless in such matters, blushed.
Seeing that her summons hadn’t worked, Lou Mi tried again, this time pouting as well.
Chi Lin, afraid that Lou Mi would do something even more outrageous in public, leaned down obediently, bringing her ear close to Lou Mi’s mouth.
Lou Mi whispered, “I have superpowers.”
Chi Lin: “?”
“I knew you missed me, so I came.”
Chi Lin straightened up: “What…?”
She didn’t notice the smudge of Lou Mi’s lip gloss on her ear.
Xie Buyu and Fu Tu’s knowing glances made Chi Lin flustered—had they heard what Lou Mi said? Were their ears that sharp?
Lou Mi, pleased with her handiwork, patted Chi Lin’s waist twice and nodded towards the club owner.
Chi Lin understood and took over pushing Lou Mi’s wheelchair from Lou Lixing.
Lou Mi asked Xie Buyu and Fu Tu to entertain her father and Peng Ziyuan while she took Chi Lin to talk to the management.
Chi Lin stood behind Lou Mi, listening to her lavish praise.
Lou Mi was hinting that she wanted Chi Lin to join the main Nine Heavens team, so that when she retired, Chi Lin could take over.
Chi Lin quietly watched Lou Mi’s back, her emotions complex, her mind wandering.
She responded instinctively whenever Lou Mi mentioned her.
She couldn’t remember what she had said to the management, but the atmosphere was lively and pleasant.
The celebratory dinner that evening was a grand affair. Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan were also dragged along by the enthusiastic crowd.
They had only come to celebrate with Lou Mi and Chi Lin and hadn’t planned on attending the dinner.
But the club members were too enthusiastic, practically carrying them downstairs, insisting they join.
The owner himself appeared, shaking their hands, thanking them for raising such an outstanding daughter, and declaring that they wouldn’t leave until they were drunk.
Unable to refuse such hospitality, they joined the festivities.
As everyone headed downstairs, Chi Lin pushed Lou Mi’s wheelchair, trailing behind.
Lou Mi noticed her deliberately slow pace and knew she wanted to speak to her privately.
Lou Mi knew exactly what Chi Lin wanted to say.
“I really do want to entrust Nine Heavens to you. I want you to stay here.”
Before Chi Lin could speak, Lou Mi continued:
“I know what happened to your country, and I know what you carry on your shoulders. I don’t remember everything yet, but I like you, I truly like you… I’ve never felt this strongly before. Chi Lin, you’re not alone anymore, share your burden with me, I’ll carry it with you, I’ll carry it with my life.”
Looking straight ahead, Lou Mi continued, holding Chi Lin’s hand:
“I’ll remember everything you want me to remember, and I’ll help you restore your nation. Stay in this era, marry me, and spend your life with me.” Lou Mi realized she sounded too serious, as if she didn’t know how to speak sweetly to her lover, except for her aggressive flirting.
“Of course, I’m not making a deal with you.” Lou Mi looked back at Chi Lin. “I’m begging you… please, stay.”
Chi Lin’s tense expression softened.
“Have some pride.”
“I don’t need pride in front of you.” Lou Mi rubbed her face against the back of Chi Lin’s hand. “So, does that mean you agree?”
Chi Lin didn’t answer immediately.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Just as Chi Lin was about to speak, Lou Mi added:
“We’ll get married when I regain my memories.”
Reaching the garage, Lou Mi still refused to move, insisting that Chi Lin carry her to the car.
Chi Lin, used to waiting on Her Majesty, effortlessly lifted her into the car, folded the wheelchair, got in, and set the navigation.
As she did, Lou Mi started to get restless, nuzzling her chin against Chi Lin’s, kissing her ear, then her neck.
Chi Lin giggled, her focus wavering:
“Wait, let me finish setting this.”
“How long does it take to set a destination?”
One second. Lou Mi used voice control.
“Okay, can I continue now?” Lou Mi practically pinned Chi Lin against the car door.
Chi Lin laughed, her head down, and Lou Mi, adjusting to her height, kissed her, ignoring the stinging pain in her back and the beads of sweat on her forehead.
Finally, Chi Lin stopped her: “If you continue like this, your injuries will never heal. Really, don’t be reckless.”
Being stopped mid-passion was a new experience for Lou Mi, who was finally experiencing the joys of a relationship.
She couldn’t get enough of Chi Lin.
“I’m fine, really…” Before she could finish, a sharp pain in her back made her wince and freeze.
“Are you, alright?” Chi Lin was startled.
“I, I can’t move, help me.”
This time, the pain was real; she was practically crying out for help.
Chi Lin helped her back into her seat and burst out laughing.
Lou Mi frowned, her hatred for A Bao and Xiao V intensifying.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Zhuo Jinglan and the others were already there, waiting for them.
Xie Buyu, seeing Chi Lin carrying Lou Mi out of the car, shook her head:
“Sister Mi, Little Sister is the hero tonight, you’re here to celebrate with her, not to boss her around. Look at you, anyone would think you’re actually disabled.”
Lou Mi, settling into her wheelchair, glared at Xie Buyu: “If this were hundreds of years ago, Guaren would have you executed.”
Zhuo Jinglan, who had been waiting impatiently, snapped: “I don’t know if you’re Guaren or not, but if you don’t behave, I’ll make Chi Lin a widow right now. Get inside!”
Leave a Reply