Chapter 35 – I Won’t Let You Get Your Way
Jerry was still completely dazed when he was called backstage to the lounge, clutching a newly ordered, one-of-a-kind cheering sign.
“Are you really going to let me go?” He was speechless, blurting out the most ridiculous question: “Who’s going to hold up the cheer sign then?”
“…Is that really what you’re worried about right now?” Ban sighed. “Dragon and I can bring it backstage for you!”
Ji Wei stared at the colorful neon sign that read: “Six Gods escort, shining this summer.”
He struggled for a long moment, fighting the urge to snatch the sign away and toss it.
“The vendor’s production schedule was too slow—we almost missed the competition. We even paid extra for SF Express shipping,” Ban tried to lighten the tense atmosphere. “I also asked Brother Qiu for a front-row seat. You’ll get to see it up close!”
Dragon patted Jerry’s drooping head. “You got thrown into a last-minute match and don’t have any fans in the audience. I’ll play the cheer for you through the app. Don’t worry about it.”
Jerry’s eyes brightened a little, but soon his anxiety returned. “What should I do? This is the finals! If I mess up, the online forums will roast me until next year!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Da Shu, who didn’t have his phone, sat on the sofa watching the replay with Mi Li. He looked up at Jerry and said,
“This won’t end today. Brother Qiu will definitely take Wolf to court—he’ll be the one getting scolded. Besides, it’s your first time playing in a tournament. People won’t be too harsh on you.”
Hearing this, Jerry turned his head away reluctantly, his hands clutching the fabric of his pants.
“Brother Wolf… why would you do something like this?”
“Stop calling him ‘brother.’ He’s just a psycho,” Da Shu snapped, furious. “You have no idea how terrifying that knife was. I really thought the captain was going to die right there.”
“Pssst! Say it now!” Ji Wei was so anxious he almost jumped up.
“Pssst, relax. Brother Qiu just messaged in the group chat—he said my brother’s wound isn’t deep. The bleeding’s stopped. He only needs a tetanus shot and two stitches. It’s not serious, so we can focus on the game.”
“Not serious? He needs stitches!” Ji Wei finally dug out his phone, which he’d forgotten in his bag, and checked the group chat.
Ban suddenly saw a new Weibo notification. “Oh my god, Brother Qiu already posted on Weibo! That was fast!”
The operations team worked with incredible efficiency. As soon as Xu Shaoqiu finished registration at the hospital, he immediately coordinated with officials to confirm the roster and released a statement on Weibo.
[@AVG Club: [Statement Regarding Playoff Roster Adjustments]
We regret to inform our fans that our key player, Solve, suffered a sudden injury before the game and, as confirmed by medical staff, will be unable to participate in the upcoming playoff finals. The cause of the injury is currently under investigation.
According to league rules and team arrangements, substitute player Jerry will play in the finals. We have full confidence in our substitutes, and the entire team will give it our all to achieve excellent results.
Thank you for your understanding and support!]
This announcement once again set Weibo ablaze, and AVG’s official account was quickly flooded with anxious Solve fans.
[What injury? Is it serious? Why the hell didn’t they protect the players?!]
[You’re not replacing Solve just to dodge public pressure, are you?]
[Without Solve, what’s the point of the competition? Just pack up and go home—we’ll fight again next year.]
[What kind of results can you get with only three core players and a sub?]
[We finally managed to score some points, and then this happens in the finals. You guys are seriously cursed!]
The overwhelming public outcry was predictable. After all, Solve was the cornerstone of AVG’s reputation.
“Come to think of it, our team has probably issued more statements this year than in all the previous years combined…” Ban muttered wistfully, scrolling through his phone.
Das Su snorted. “What’s that old saying? Heaven sends down great men to be tested by villains. On our road to glory, it’s no surprise we’ve run into someone like Wolf!”
Ji Wei: ?
Just then, a staff member knocked on the door. “Are all the AVG players here? Time to get your makeup done and prepare for the interview.”
“Yes,” Da Shu replied, dragging the two disheartened boys along. “Come on, don’t look so down. Think of your trash talk while you’re getting your makeup done.”
…
The playoff finals were scheduled for 7 PM, but the official livestream would start at 6 PM, featuring highlights, sponsor announcements, and the fans’ favorite segment: pre-game trash talk.
At 6:10, Wolf’s livestream on the Maoyu platform went live with the title: <Watch Today’s Playoffs Together.>
Even though most PUBG streamers were covering the finals that day, Wolf’s inherently controversial stream still attracted a flood of onlookers, quickly boosting its popularity.
[“Isn’t this guy supposed to avoid suspicion? And here he is joining the fun?!”]
[“Avoid what? His old team’s in trouble—of course he’s watching. Wouldn’t you do the same?”]
[“Congrats to AVG on winning their 0th playoff title!”]
[“How dare you call me a Wolf fan? Tell me, how many championships has your team won?”]
“I was just invited by the platform to commentate. Don’t overthink it. The mods already kicked out anyone who was cursing,” Wolf said, appearing on screen. He adjusted his collar and spoke a little breathlessly, as if he had just rushed in from outside.
[“Why do his hair and clothes look damp?”]
[“It rained in Tonghai City today, didn’t it?”]
[“Did Solve really bully you? Did Solve really bully you? Did Solve really bully you? Did Solve really bully you?”]
“Whether Solve bullied me or not, you’ll find out by watching the matches. If a professional team collapses just because it loses one player, then there’s something wrong with the club’s management. Young players who are constantly suppressed by their seniors will never get the chance to break through, and they’ll never amount to much.”
Wolf clicked on a webpage and kept talking to himself:
“The official site has predictions for the finals. Did everyone vote yet? Let’s see… AVG’s chance of winning is… 11%.”
He couldn’t help but sneer after saying that.
[“I voted, using the UGC app.”]
[“I’m an AVG fan, but honestly… I don’t have much hope tonight.”]
“It seems this has already become common knowledge.” Wolf closed the webpage and pulled up the finals livestream. “Go ahead and watch the pre-match interviews first. I’ll slurp some noodles, or else I’ll be starving during the commentary.”
He opened his takeout box and, together with tens of thousands of viewers, tuned in to the pre-match broadcast.
After a bland commercial segment, the much-anticipated trash talk finally began.
The first team to appear on screen was UGC, led by their captain and flex player, KK.
KK was a tall, broad-shouldered man whose bulging arms looked like they could barely fit inside his team uniform, let alone the camera frame.
Smiling at the camera, he said, “Tonight’s win should be even easier than I imagined. After all, this isn’t UGC’s first championship.”
Next up were UGC’s assaulters, AM and Kelly.
AM stared confidently into the lens. “They say UGC isn’t a team that can win gunfights. Tonight, I’ll prove who the real best marksman in the world is.”
Kelly immediately followed, “Tonight I’m going to win my very first championship. Even though my 18th birthday passed a month ago, this will be the best coming-of-age gift I could ask for!”
Then came 66, the team’s veteran gunner and big brother figure. “The manager promised that if we win, he’ll take us to the Maldives. The plane tickets are already booked. I’m confident there won’t be any surprises tonight.”
[“World’s best marksman? You sure about that?”]
[“Guess we’ll see tonight… after all, the real No. 1 is still in the hospital.”]
[“Honestly, they don’t hit that hard. My team’s just a gentle and down-to-earth squad.”]
[“Here they come, family squad! AVG’s turn!”]
Finally, it was AVG’s moment. The first player to appear on camera was Jerry, making his debut.
He sat up straight, glanced awkwardly at the camera, and stammered, “Huh? I’m the first one to speak?”
“Well… today’s my first time playing in a match, and I’ll give it my all. I hope you’ll bear with me!”
[“? He looks so nervous.”]
[“Who voted for that 11% just now? Do you regret it after hearing this?”]
The next person was Da Shu, who gave the camera a sinister grin: “Teams ahead of us, watch out! All those strategies you prepared for AVG tonight are useless—because we’ve changed our roster!”
[“0 people care.”]
[“Changing the roster is their biggest strategy. Just treat them like bots when you meet them.”]
Mi Li, his hair slick and shiny from being drowned in hairspray by the makeup artist, still looked furious during the interview. He shot the camera a cold glare:
“AVG’s era is far from over. As long as we’ve got the gun, we can win.”
The last person to appear was Ji Wei.
His face, pale from earlier shock, had been retouched by the makeup artist with a rosy glow and subtle contouring, making his already handsome features look even sharper.
[“Unique is truly beautiful!”]
[“If nothing else, AVG wins the entire league in looks!”]
Wolf frowned at the barrage of comments. “If you’re here for eye candy, don’t come to my stream. This game isn’t about looks.” He scowled at the screen in disgust and bent his head to continue slurping noodles.
On screen, Ji Wei’s eyes had lost their usual softness. The faint bags beneath them were fuller, and the corners drooped slightly, giving him a weary look. He stared straight into the camera, silent, as though locking eyes with someone specific.
Wolf hadn’t heard a sound and glanced up from his food in confusion—only to be met with a piercing gaze. The boy looked directly into the camera, his eyes seeming to read straight through him:
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“I won’t let you have your way.”
“Tonight, I have only one goal: the championship.”
Even after the trash talk segment ended, the audience still couldn’t decipher Ji Wei’s words.
The hashtag #uniquewhatistalking# climbed to the bottom of the trending searches before the game. Everyone speculated that something must be wrong within AVG, prompting the players to speak out during the trash talk portion.
…
At the hospital, Yin Sijue found a corner with good reception and watched the livestream with Xu Shaoqiu on their tablet.
“Hand me the tablet, quick—and don’t jostle it.”
Yin Sijue passed it to him without comment. “The doctor said the stitches can come out in a week. Don’t get so worked up.”
“Of course I’m worked up—the faster you recover, the better!”
Xu Shaoqiu clicked into the livestream, just in time to catch the replay of the pre-match trash talk. Mi Li’s glossy, stiff hair made him wince.
“Oh my god, who poured that much hairspray on Mi Li? I’m calling the police.”
“Not bad though—he looks pretty imposing!”
“Unique, sure. He’s such a little prince. Looks even better with makeup.”
Yin Sijue’s gaze lingered on the screen. “He looks good even without it.”
“That’s true… I’ll make a fortune selling merch later—oh my god! Is he calling out Wolf? Is this his first time trash talking? How dare he say that? And with a champion’s tone, no less?”
On screen, the boy glared arrogantly into the camera like a furious little kitten—but Yin Sijue noticed the nervous way his hands gripped at his shirt.
Cute.
The corners of his mouth lifted as he said to Xu Shaoqiu:
“Why wouldn’t he? He can win.”