After the match ended, the five members of Tianhuan were invited to the interview desk together. The reporter said excitedly, "Congratulations to Tianhuan for winning the second round of the Winner's Bracket and successfully advancing to the Grand Finals! Welcome to the interview desk, five players!"
The five appeared together, creating quite a spectacular scene.
Photographers aimed their cameras at them one after another, flashes blindingly bright. Cheng Xing looked at the reporters below the stage, his heart racing. He felt like a big star attending a press conference.
The reporter handed the microphone to Chi Shu and said, "Captain Chi, Tianhuan has made it to the S10 Huaguo Regional Grand Finals. Do you have anything you want to say to the fans?"
Chi Shu took the microphone and said calmly, "In the past three years, Tianhuan's results haven't been good, and we've experienced many difficulties. Thank you, everyone, for not giving up on us even during our low points. I believe that Tianhuan this season will definitely hand in a satisfactory answer sheet to those who support us."
The reporter asked, "Does 'satisfactory answer sheet' refer to the championship?"
Chi Shu nodded. "Yes, we will do our utmost to win the championship!"
Applause erupted at the scene. Ye Shaoyang, Cheng Xing, and the others also clapped along.
The reporter passed the microphone to Qu Jiang. "Jiang Shui, your performance today was outstanding. In 4 games, you played mage support in 3 of them, and won MVP in 2. As a former Mid laner, you've adapted very well to the support position. May I ask how you adjusted your mindset?"
Qu Jiang smiled and said, "Adjusted my mindset? I don't think switching from Mid to Support is anything regrettable, nor is there a need to dwell on it. Supports also play a big role. As long as we can win the match, playing any position is actually the same. Besides, Yangyang really plays Mid better than I do. I admire him very much."
The reporter said, "It seems the relationship between you two is very harmonious?"
Qu Jiang and Ye Shaoyang nodded simultaneously. "Yes."
Ye Shaoyang added, "My coordination with Qu Jiang is also very tacit. With the dual Mid-laner synergy, our team fight rhythm is consistent. Controlling two opponents at the same time was also the key to winning against Yueying today."
The reporter looked at Cheng Xing. "Xiao Xing has grown very fast recently, and today you didn't lose out in lane against Yueying's Xiao Yu. How do you evaluate yourself?"
Cheng Xing coughed with a red face and said seriously, "I am Captain Chi's apprentice, the younger brother taken care of by Brother Yang, Brother Qu, and Old Qin, and Tianhuan's rookie. But at the same time, I am also their teammate. So, I must constantly improve to catch up with them and not become their burden!"
Ye Shaoyang smiled and applauded. Cheng Xing's ears turned slightly red as he stammered, "As for how I evaluate myself? I think I now have the strength to compete against top-tier marksmen!"
The reporter said, "We also look forward to Xiao Xing's performance in the finals." She passed the microphone to Old Qin. "Old Qin has a relatively low presence in Team Tianhuan. Do you feel pressured by this?"
Qin Yizhu smiled simply and honestly. "No pressure really. A team always needs to distribute economy reasonably. It's impossible for all 5 people to output damage and kill. I am everyone's shield."
Finally, the reporter handed the microphone to Ye Shaoyang. "From the regular season until now, Team Tianhuan's performance in S10 has been getting better and better. Many fans say the key lies in Lieyang's joining. Lieyang, what do you think?"
Ye Shaoyang said frankly, "I don't think it's because of me. Clash of Gods isn't a one-man game, but teamwork. I am very grateful to the Tianhuan coaching staff and my teammates for their trust in me."
He looked at Chi Shu beside him and smiled. "Players and teams have always achieved success through each other. If I had joined another team back then, I might not even have been a starter. So, it's not that I joined Tianhuan and made Tianhuan reborn; rather, it's because there was Tianhuan that there is today's Tianhuan Lieyang."
Meeting Ye Shaoyang's smiling eyes, a surge of warmth welled up in Chi Shu's heart.
Some rookies, after debuting and achieving some good results, would think highly of themselves, believing they were the best and that they carried their teammates to victory—that winning was their credit, and losing was because teammates couldn't keep up…
But Yangyang was different.
He was always calm and rational, and knew gratitude.
Although he possessed the strength of a world-class Mid laner and had won the World Individual Championship, he never felt he was carrying his teammates. He always believed that the power of the team surpassed the individual. It was precisely because of this breadth of mind that Qu Jiang, Old Qin, and Xiao Xing liked him, respected him, and trusted him so much.
Tianhuan gave him a platform, and he also achieved success for Tianhuan.
This was a win-win situation.
Chi Shu and Ye Shaoyang looked at each other and smiled.
Watching this harmonious scene, the reporter couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "I still remember at the beginning of S10, Tianhuan fell into Group B during the preseason. Back then, no one expected Tianhuan to become the biggest dark horse of S10! With two weeks left until the finals, do you have anything to say to your teammates and fans?"
The 5 of them looked at each other. Chi Shu actively extended his hand, and the others cooperatively placed their hands on top. They shouted in unison, "Tianhuan, add oil!"
Add oil! Just one last battle left, and they can take back the Huaguo Regional Championship trophy lost for 3 years!
Add oil! Just one last battle left, and they can charge into the World Tournament!
Two weeks to prepare seriously, and give it their all in the Grand Finals.
This was the shared wish of the 5 Tianhuan members at this moment.
…
After leaving the interview desk, the 5 returned backstage. Since Tianhuan's base was in the Imperial Capital, everyone took a car directly back to the base and had some late-night snacks nearby.
Coach Lin wasn't in a rush to review the game, letting everyone rest well.
Back in the dormitory, Ye Shaoyang held Xiao Bai and combed its fur while sighing with emotion, "Time flies so fast. It's almost the finals. Who do you think our opponent in the Grand Finals will be?"
Chi Shu said, "Hard to say. The competition in the Loser's Bracket is very intense."
Tianhuan advanced to the Grand Finals as the winner of the Winner's Bracket, and their opponent would be the winner of the Loser's Bracket.
Currently, the surviving teams in the Loser's Bracket were Huowen, Jingzhe, Beimu, and Yueying. Everyone knew that losing another game in the Loser's Bracket meant elimination, so these teams would definitely fight with their backs against the wall.
Ye Shaoyang said, "Let's just watch and wait. No matter who the final opponent is, we have to win."
Chi Shu was about to speak when his phone suddenly lit up. It was a WeChat message congratulating him on making it to the Grand Finals. Ye Shaoyang asked casually, "An old friend?"
Chi Shu handed the phone to him. "It's my mom."
The WeChat message was short: "A-Shu, congratulations on Tianhuan making it to the Grand Finals. Your father and I want to go to the finals to watch the match. Is it convenient? Does the Alliance issue VIP tickets for family members? Remember to ask for two for us. If they don't, I'll buy tickets online."
Ye Shaoyang returned the phone to Chi Shu and touched his nose. "Cough, um, Uncle and Auntie are coming to the venue?"
"Mn, my parents are usually very busy and didn't pay much attention to the matches in previous seasons. According to my mom, e-sports matches are too complicated to understand, so she just didn't watch." Chi Shu paused and said, "This time, they probably think Tianhuan has a chance to win the championship, so they want to come join in the fun and cheer for me?"
When Ye Shaoyang played matches in his previous life, his parents would also come to the venue to cheer for important events. Even if they didn't understand, the old couple would still shout "Add oil" with boiling blood.
He suddenly missed his parents a little.
After transmigrating, he had no parents. At the finals, presumably, no one would come for him, right?
Just as he was thinking, his phone suddenly lit up. It was a message from Little Rui: "Brother, congratulations on Tianhuan making it to the Grand Finals, you guys are awesome! Are there tickets for family members? I want to go to the scene to watch the finals and cheer for you!"
Ye Shaoyang was stunned for a moment, then the corners of his lips rose.
Although he had no parents in this world, he had a cute Omega cousin who always cared about and supported him. Ye Shaoyang replied casually: "Yes, I'll save one for you."
Qin Rui: "Great!"
Ye Shaoyang remembered his relationship with Chi Shu and looked at him. "By the way, your parents don't know about us being together, right?"
Chi Shu: "Mn, haven't told them yet."
Ye Shaoyang breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, otherwise meeting them would be too awkward."
Chi Shu gently held Ye Shaoyang's hand and said, "No rush to make our relationship public. After the World Tournament ends, I'll take you home formally to meet my parents."
Ye Shaoyang's smile stiffened. "This… meeting the parents thing, can we delay it?"
Chi Shu said gently, "My parents are easy to get along with. They will definitely like you. You don't need to feel pressured."
Ye Shaoyang hurriedly waved his hand. "It's not pressure, just feeling a bit awkward? Cough cough, I can't explain clearly right now. Anyway, let's hold off for now. We are still young; there's no need to rush meeting parents."
Chi Shu was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay, I respect your thoughts."
Worried that Chi Shu might be angry, Ye Shaoyang bit the bullet, leaned over to kiss Chi Shu's forehead, and smiled, "Goodnight." Then he fled back to his bedroom.
In the living room, Chi Shu, having been suddenly kissed, had a slight smile on his lips.
He really wanted to introduce Yangyang to his family and tell his parents—this is the Omega I want to spend my life with. However, since Yangyang felt it was too early to meet the parents, he wouldn't force it. Let nature take its course.
Back in the bedroom, Ye Shaoyang took a deep breath, went to the bathroom to wash his face with cold water, and finally calmed down.
Going home with a guy to meet his parents—that was too weird.
In his world, only couples who were sure they were getting married would meet the parents.
Did Chi Shu want to marry him?
He had accepted dating a guy now, but had he accepted marrying a man? Deciding the rest of his life just like that was too rash. Better to date for a while longer and see?
Besides, what preparations did an Omega need to make to meet an Alpha's parents?
He knew nothing.
Ye Shaoyang lay in bed, his mind in turmoil.
That night he had a dream again. The dream was full of indescribable scenes, and in the end, Chi Shu carried him into a wedding hall.
The hall was carpeted in red, with fresh flowers on both sides. Tianhuan teammates stood by throwing petals at them. Coach Lin said on the vow platform, "Tianhuan Shuoyue, Tianhuan Lieyang, are you two willing to form the #SunMoonShineTogether# CP, never to abandon each other, and distribute sugar to CP fans every day?"
Chi Shu whispered, "I do."
Ye Shaoyang said, "I've been following the Super Topic with my alt account for a long time. In the future, I'll be the host of the CP Super Topic and give everyone sugar every day."
Ye Shaoyang waking up in the morning: "???"
The content of this dream is too rich, right? Everyone in Tianhuan had a role!
Coach Lin's officiant lines were also bizarre enough.
Ye Shaoyang rubbed his temples and guiltily picked up his phone to scroll through the Super Topic with his alt account.
Sure enough, countless fans were shipping them, wishing for Tianhuan to win the championship in the finals, and saying that the best CP should stand on the championship podium hand in hand.
Fans said that Shuoyue and Lieyang should lift the trophy together on the world's biggest stage.
Ye Shaoyang shamelessly replied with his alt account: "You guys are right. The two of them will definitely realize their dreams together. Maybe they'll come to the Super Topic to distribute sugar then."
Meeting the parents could be discussed later; he needed to think it over carefully. But the battle for the championship was imminent, and he didn't need to think at all—no matter who the opponent was, winning was all that mattered.
…
In the following two weeks, the matches in the Loser's Bracket became increasingly fierce.
First, Jingzhe eliminated Huowen to advance to the next round. Following that, Beimu eliminated Jingzhe, advancing to the final round of the Loser's Bracket. And Yueying, who had been eliminated to the Loser's Bracket by Tianhuan, met Beimu once again.
The final battle for the top spot of the Loser's Bracket: Beimu vs. Yueying.
Last time in the Winner's Bracket, Yueying defeated Beimu 3:2. This time in the Loser's Bracket, Beimu defeated Yueying 3:2!
In the same blind pick deciding game, this time Zhao Xinping didn't pick a Marksman. Instead, she simply picked a Warrior side laner [Rose Blade]. Blood-colored roses bloomed on the blade tip; the Alliance's only Alpha female captain flashed in a critical team fight and instantly deleted Xie Weiyu.
Team Beimu advanced to the S10 Huaguo Regional Grand Finals as the champion of the Loser's Bracket.
Seeing this, Coach Lin smiled and said, "Alright, our opponent for the final domestic match is confirmed to be Beimu. Everyone remembers, right? In the first round of the S9 playoffs, Beimu eliminated our Tianhuan 3:2; in the S10 regular season group stage, Beimu defeated our Tianhuan 2:1."
He looked at the team members. "We lost to Beimu twice. What about this time?"
The team members looked at each other and clenched their fists in unison.
Do we have the nerve to lose this time? We must reclaim our dignity!
This time last year, Ye Shaoyang came to the Star City E-sports Center to watch that match between Tianhuan and Beimu. He remembered clearly that Old Nie and A-Ning were in declining form and about to retire; Chi Shu and Qu Jiang's synergy wasn't tacit enough, the jungle was targeted crazily, and Chi Shu was forced to choose a utility Jungler.
In the high ground team fight, all teammates died.
Chi Shu guarded the crystal alone, clearing minions desperately until the crystal finally shattered.
It was that match that made Ye Shaoyang decide to join Tianhuan, because he saw the strength and resilience of this team—no matter how great the difficulty, Tianhuan could always hold on until the last moment.
One year later, meeting Beimu again in the Grand Finals, Beimu had brought in the European ace Mid-laner Sean, greatly increasing their strength. And Ye Shaoyang had become [Tianhuan Lieyang].
He would fight alongside his teammates until the very last moment!