A Broken Mirror Reunited In An E-Sports Ch 61

The playoffs are in full swing.

VIT has maintained a perfect record so far. With two-thirds of the schedule completed, the teams they faced were all different, and as the playoffs progressed, each team showcased their own strategies. The level of excitement and complexity of the matches was high.

VIT only narrowly won once, against Team Lu Feng.

On the side of Lu Feng, they strategically banned Rong Yi’s advantageous hero and used a strong aggressive lineup, which proved successful once. In that game, both sides didn’t encounter many issues. However, there were some experiential mistakes made by Ci She and Hui Mao, allowing Lu Feng to seize control of the game tempo through strong lane rotations and extended vision exposure, which ended up restraining the team.

But after the loss, they quickly adjusted their state.

This allowed VIT to maintain a 1-2 record in the playoffs.

It was not an easy journey.

All teams are growing, including VIT.

The two younger players on the team have been rapidly improving. They suffered losses during the Group B matches, but in the playoffs, they have been unstoppable. That’s the most amazing part.

During VIT’s performance in the playoffs, Lu Feng’s comment hit the nail on the head.

“All teams are training against VIT’s strategies, without exception. Every match is a repetition of this strategy.”

“But whether anyone can break through them this season is still unknown.”

“At least, for now, there is no one.”

“Easy is VIT’s mid-laner. All domestic teams will have to face him forever.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and Rong Yi received an invitation to a special event for the festival.

“Mid-Autumn Festival special event, one team, one seat. Where is the team captain going?”

The others also received invitations, and the seating chart was the first thing they saw.

“He will be sitting with me in the sponsor’s section.”

Xiao Yin’s response was simple and straightforward.

Everyone immediately fell silent.

They understood it was the boss lady’s seat.

The Mid-Autumn Festival special event is like a small All-Star activity, and the tickets were sold out half a year in advance.

This year, the attention towards esports in the domestic region is higher than in any previous year, as everyone realizes that this year’s playoff champions should have more strength than just making it to the Worlds group stage.

In the national league this year, many new stars have emerged, and the selection and competition among the rookies have become the highlight.

While all the e-sports players were discussing their appearances and choosing outfits in the large group, Rong Yi was the only one who had already started looking at the Worlds schedule.

After the playoffs, they would directly enter the Worlds.

He has been to Worlds before. In fact, in these years with RS, he has never stopped studying Worlds.

He is a trapped beast. While others focus on the gold and jade within the cage, he doesn’t. He still wants to reach for the sky.

He has thoroughly studied past World Championships.

The strongest enemy is QILIN.

Xiao Yin’s former team.

A team that has won the championship three times in a row, the flourishing QILIN. They were only dethroned once in the middle year, and this year, it’s still unknown who will emerge victorious.

Although some say that QILIN’s defeat last year was due to Xiao Yin’s termination of the contract, Rong Yi is well aware that world championship teams and domestic playoffs are not in the same league.

At least, Ci She and Hui Mao, and even the team’s coordination at present, still appear immature.

Rong Yi’s progress has already reached the Worlds stage, and Xiao Yin has no objections.

He even took the lead in asking the data team to provide relevant matchup information for the Worlds opponents.

Both of them don’t see this as a problem.

The domestic championship is just one step for VIT, and it’s a step they will undoubtedly achieve.

On the day of the grand event, the VIT youngsters were nervous. Ci She and Hui Mao kept trying on clothes and changing outfits, shouting in front of the makeup artist.

“Damn, why do we have to wear lipstick! I’ve never worn lipstick in my life—I refuse—”

A few minutes later, Ci She exclaimed, “It’s kind of cool.”

Hui Mao, on the other hand, was very nervous. He had a potential fear of being in front of the camera, not because of anything else, but due to social anxiety and shyness.

“Why do you start sweating when you get nervous?” the makeup artist exclaimed. “Stay still, little cat, I’m going to apply some powder.”

Rong Yi and Xiao Yin, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.

Xiao Yin wore a formal and business-like style with a pure black suit. It was reserved and restrained, but he paired it with a gradually changing sapphire blue tie, adding a touch of brightness to his composed and handsome appearance.

Rong Yi didn’t plan on wearing a suit as it felt too constricting, and he didn’t have any on-screen requirements. Instead, he casually put together an outfit. He wore an asymmetrical-style white shirt with a tied hem that faintly revealed his slender waist, exuding elegance and a sense of heroism. He paired it with light-colored jeans, completing his look.

With his delicate and composed appearance, Rong Yi looked good in anything he wore. His tousled black hair and bright, curved eyes made him naturally eye-catching in the crowd.

The makeup team came over to take a look and had no complaints. Their boss and team captain were both exceptionally good-looking, even if they wore potato sacks.

However…

The makeup artist tilted her head and pondered for a moment before jokingly said, “Aren’t you two going for a couple’s look? Didn’t the boss and captain discuss it? Did you both just dress however you wanted? It’s a pity not to wear a couple’s outfit for such a big event.”

Rong Yi was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t thought about it.

There was no deliberate decision to wear matching outfits, nor was there a deliberate decision not to.

“It’s okay,” Xiao Yin spoke up. “It wouldn’t be good for him to stand out too much. Too flashy.”

Whenever it came to matters concerning Rong Yi, Xiao Yin always had a keen sense of judgment and great restraint.

Rong Yi glanced lightly at him. “Should I go change?”

He had another set of a sapphire blue shirt.

Xiao Yin’s gaze penetrated through and paused for a few seconds.

“No need. You look great today.”

Rong Yi’s ears turned slightly red.

Attending such grand occasions was familiar territory for Rong Yi.

Like any large-scale event, the league officials collected the players’ phones upon entry, and all the audience and fans had to go through security checks and electronic device inspections. Only during halftime could they go out for touch-ups.

The players didn’t have as many concerns.

The seating arrangement had player seats and sponsor seats. In the first half, Xiao Yin would represent the team and lead VIT to the player seats for their appearance, and there would also be a segment for signing with star players.

Rong Yi, of course, wouldn’t participate in that part. His seat was in the front row below the stage, sitting side by side with some heavyweight figures from the league.

The entire broadcast studio was brightly lit and bustling.

The audience gradually took their seats.

On such occasions, the cameras were sure to scan through the audience.

Rong Yi had prepared a hat and a mask in advance to alleviate the feeling of being watched.

The production team emphasized behind the scenes, “Don’t film Rong Yi.”

“Focus on the signage, the back rows of the audience, never sweep the front row. It would be disastrous if you do.”

There was a staff member who didn’t seem to understand. “What about the live broadcast cameras?”

“The live broadcast cameras won’t show the audience seats. Rong Yi won’t be shown on screen! Remember this.”

At exactly 7 o’clock, the offline audience had found their seats and held their breath in anticipation. At the same time, the online viewers flooded in to watch the All-Star event live.

Due to the live broadcast delay, there was a fifteen-minute time difference set by the official league to allow for adjustments in the content.

[“I want to see VIT! They all look so handsome and spirited today!”]

[“Brothe Yin is incredibly handsome—the blue tie looks amazing, help!”]

On stage, as each team made their appearance, the cheers from the audience roared like a tsunami.

When the spotlight fell on VIT, everyone lit up from the darkness, and Rong Yi stood up and applauded along with the audience.

In the dimly lit audience seats, he concealed himself, wearing a mask and a hat, happily waving his arms.

This was his team.

He cheered for them together with everyone else.

However, there were whispers in the distant part of the audience seats and discussions among the online community.

“Is Easy here today? I know he won’t be playing, but is he here today?”

“I don’t know! I’m so anxious! Has anyone gone to ask the captain about today’s outfit? Do we have any insider information?”

“I’m really worried! The frontline reports aren’t coming through, and we have to surrender our phones upon entry!”

“The frontline comrades can’t ask, but we can.”

The live chat room started flooding.

[“Is the captain watching? What is the captain wearing today? Can we accidentally run into him?”]

At this moment, Rong Yi couldn’t see any of this.

He was on the field, looking at the list of star players and their past records, thinking seriously.

VIT currently has five players with no substitutes, and the number and configuration are just right.

For now, sudden injuries are unlikely.

He has a habit of signing players. The professional lifespan of players is limited, and some teams treat substitutes as lifelong substitutes, only using them when their own players need adjustment.

But when he selects substitutes, it’s definitely with the goal of training second-team members. It’s not only for the stability of the team but also for the players’ personal future.

He will take responsibility to the end.

In the introduction of the star players in this event, Rong Yi bowed his head and earnestly looked through the information.

Little did he know that at this moment, the entire audience had another focus.

Everyone was looking for Easy.

Especially the fans of VIT, during breaks in the event’s schedule, they scanned the audience seats and backstage staff, hoping to catch the slightest trace of Easy.

[“Urgent update! There are four people in the front row who appear to match the age! They are in the backstage seats and coaching staff!”]

[“Is Easy in the coaching seats? Confirm first and then report!”]

[“Report—No one in the coaching seats is unrecognized! They are all familiar faces, no sign of Easy!”]

[“Understood, continue searching!”]

[“Report—”]

This time, the reports came flying in.

Online users gradually discovered a clue.

The clue was not with Rong Yi but with Xiao Yin.

After Xiao Yin led the team onto the stage, he took a seat in the guest area.

Everyone had a serious expression, focusing on the center stage, listening to the host’s introduction.

Only Xiao Yin’s gaze was drifting.

As the most popular star player nationwide and even globally, Xiao Yin had a calm demeanor. Countless pairs of eyes were fixed on him, but he seemed accustomed to it. The cameras, cues from the host—everything was focused on him, and he stood out.

In the midst of all the attention, he had no work in his hands, appearing somewhat bored, lightly tapping the table with his slender fingertips.

His gaze would occasionally wander, but it always returned to a fixed direction, a fixed person in the audience below the stage.