Su Xue joined Team Shanghai in the player seating area. In person, not in mind. She chewed her lips and fidgeted with her hands, deaf to the people around her. What if Im a terrible caster? What if I say something stupid? There are so many people here and even more watching online! All of them will see me screw up! Those people are vultures! Theyll jump on it and make fun of me for the rest of my life! Ill have to quit streaming and move to some hamlet in the middle of nowhere! Her stomach contracted and she felt nauseous. Theres still so much I dont know about this game. I dont know anything!

Lin Feng patted Su Xue on her shoulder, pulling her from her spiralling thoughts, and said, Stop worrying so much! You stream to 50,000 people all the time! This stadium cant even hold that many people right now! This is going to be easy for you!

Su Xue looked at Lin Feng and smiled. She replied, I know, I know. But when I stream it often still feels like before, you know? When I had like 50 viewers? Im still chatting with everyone and I know so many people! I dont just know their names but I know who they are! And they know me That connection is missing here. If I say something stupid She shook her head and asked, But enough about me! Shouldnt you also be worrying? Youre playing against Goalie! I heard hes really good!

Goalie? He is? Lin Feng asked, laughing. He shrugged and added, Theres nothing to it. Well go up on stage when its our turn, and were 3-0ing them.

Sure, sure, mister big mouth! Su Xue replied, rolling her eyes back. She then asked, You do know theyre like the favourites for the entire tournament, right? I was looking into them yesterday and everyone online is talking about them!

The large LCD screen above the two soundproof booths up on stage flashed to life. It showed the Champion Select for the first game of the first match of the Round of 16! Zeng Rui told Lin Feng to focus, but he ignored that and continued, We will win. Easy. And its okay, XueXue. You will do great too! Just be yourself. Remember all those times you commentated me playing? For your videos in the beginning and also when I was just playing solo queue? Your viewers loved that! Thats all you have to do here! They will all love you! Just keep doing your thing!

Su Xue looked into Lin Fengs dark eyes and focused on the small brown dot just off the center in his left eye. She breathed out a breath she didnt realize shed been holding and smiled. Just smiled. Hes right. What am I even worrying about? HuyaTV hired me because Im good at this! They dont want just anyone with just any type of casting. They wanted me. I just have to be me! And its not like Im totally in the dark either. I know Team Shanghai better than everyone else! The only thing I dont know She asked, What about my analysis of the game? Im just not experienced with that

Oh, that? Easy! Lin Feng replied. He grinned and explained, So heres what you do. You tell them that Team Guangzhou is a very cocky, arrogant team who believe that relying on Korean imports will win them the game. Then you go on to say that this is a stupid conjecture made by stupid people. You tell everyone that actual skill decides the game, and that theres nobody with more skill than me playing this tournament! Then you finish it off by saying that Ill hard-win mid by the 10th minute and that well destroy their nexus by the 20th minute. He briefly paused before adding, Easy, right?

Su Xue stared at Lin Feng for nearly a minute before her mouth finally moved and a sound came out. She muttered, You sure sound confident She took a long, deep breath and moved her lips around. Then she nodded and said, Alright, alright. Ill repeat that, word for word. But if you dont live up to it, you can bet your tiny ass on it that Im taking you down with me!

Lin Feng grinned and pumped his fist into the air. He replied, Its fine! Ill hard-carry these games, I promise! He turned his head to look at Team Guangzhous players and continued, I already told you. I will teach that guy a lesson hell never forget. After today, no one will remember him.

Ever since entering the Tianhe Stadium earlier in the morning, Seo had been staring at Lin Feng in anger. He glowered and mumbled curses. I dont even care about that stupid girl. She isnt even all that pretty! I can do so much better than her! But you, you fucking asshole! How dare you mess with me like that! What you did to me yesterday thats unforgivable! Ill make you regret being born!

Seo glanced at the large LCD screen and watched the first series come to an end. It was one game closer to the Team Guangzhou versus Team Shanghai series. He grinned. I cant wait to play against your arrogant ass, asshole! Ill stomp your girl and make her cry just like she did yesterday! And then well have to make sure to also teach you a valuable lesson. Namely that Im better than you. I am better than you! He nodded at Goalie and said, Give it everything youve got today. Make that asshole wish he was never born!

Goalie snorted. He didnt particularly care about Seos feelings or his desire for revenge. But he did care about the humiliation hed suffered at Lin Fengs hands. He turned his head to look at Lin Feng and narrowed his eyes. Who am I? Ill show you who I am! You think youre all that because you beat some has-been second rate idiot like AyDeeCee? Ha! What a joke! I play against Rake in solo queue all the time! Thats the difference between you and me! I play with the best and you play with noobs! Just you wait. When we play, Ill show you exactly how far apart we are! Im so much better than you that you cant even see me from down there!

Su Xue looked across the row of seats at the members from Team Shanghai and said, This series is about to end. Im I guess all of us are up next. I need to go backstage and prepare. She ruffled Lin Fengs hair and added, Goodluck! I want to cast you guys to a win!

Lin Feng pulled his head away from Su Xue, then smiled. He pounded his chest and said, Leave it to me! You focus on casting and Ill make sure we win!

Su Xue giggled and replied, I wont hear any bragging until after the series! Remember, Im going to say what you told me to! You better not make me regret it!

I wont! Lin Feng exclaimed, grinning. His teammates wished Su Xue goodluck and she turned around and walked away. He looked after until she was almost out of earshot and then shouted, YOU GOT THIS!

Su Xue looked over her shoulder and smiled. She mouthed, Thanks! Then she disappeared around a corner. She walked along the long corridors of the Tianhe Stadium and up several stairs until she arrived at a specific door in the backstage area. Behind it was the lobby for casters. I got this! You got this, Su Xue! She nodded at herself and then pushed the door open.

The room was larger and busier than Su Xue expected. There were people from the Guangzhou Esports Association walking around with clipboards, making sure everything was going according to schedule. There was a corner with different outfits and two people hard at work there, there were several visagistes and then there were the other casters. HuyaTV had hired 7 women and 1 man to cast eight games. Su Xue was the only one given two games. On top of that, there were the professional casters hired by the Guangzhou Esports Association. And all of them, except for the two casting the current series, were here.

Wow! Su Xue mumbled. There are so many people here! And the girls, theyre all so pretty! She looked around the room again and spotted several people looking back at her. Shit! They know I dont belong here! Im not a caster! They can see it! They can She forced herself to take a deep breath and smile. Im a caster! HuyaTV hired me. Stop being so miserable, Su Xue! Youve got this. She nodded at herself and then walked into the room, waving at the people looking at her and saying, Hi!

One woman wearing a low cut dress glanced at Su Xue and replied, Hello. You are?

Su Xue! Nice to meet you! Su Xue introduced herself. She then raised her finger and added, Oh! EveningSnowfall I mean!

Several women perked up and turned their heads to look at Su Xue. But they didnt greet her, or look especially welcoming. They glared at her and started whispering with each other, making sure that all Su Xue could hear was that they were talking about her. It was the woman in the low cut dress that eventually spoke up. She raised an eyebrow and said, Is whatever that is she pointed frantically at Su Xues clothes. ... what youre wearing?

This? Su Xue asked, confused, pointing at her own outfit. Yes? Is something wrong with it? She looked at the women in the caster lobby. They all snickered and she could hear them making fun of her outfit; they made sure of that. She looked down at her outfit, deflated. Theres nothing wrong with my outfit, right? Why are they making fun of it? Zuo You helped me pick it out! She said that I dont need to wear something super revealing that something more like me would fit me better... She felt her heart slamming into her ribcage and a prop was forcing its way up her throat. Compose yourself. Compose yourself, Su Xue! Theyre just being mean! Dont listen to them! Zuo You said I look great!

So the woman in the low cut dress started. She walked up to Su Xue and looked her up and down, walking around her. She then asked, Whats so special about you that Huya gave you two matches?

She mustve slept with some higher up, another woman chimed in.

Sucked a big, fat cock! a third said.

N-no! Su Xue yelped. She shook her head frantically and said, I didnt do any of that! I dont know why! They just asked me to do two! She bit on her lips and sucked back the tears that had appeared in her eyes. The door behind her suddenly felt very close and very safe. She took a step back. I cant do this! Everyones expecting so much from me and Im not good! I dont know anything about League! I just sit behind my computer and stream for fun! Not because I know things!

The cheering from the crowd sounded in the distance. One of the Guangzhou Esports Association staff members walked in and announced that the series had ended. He turned to Su Xue and said that she was up next and to get ready. She just stared at him, numb. Her knees felt weak and she wanted nothing more than to walk away. She felt trapped between the vicious glares from the other girls on one side and her boss on the other side. Theyre going to make me And those girls If I-- Her phone buzzed in the back pocket of her jeans. She took it out and looked at it and breathed.

Lin Feng (12:05 P.M.):You can totally do this, XueXue! I believe in you!!!

Su Xue smiled as she pictured Lin Fengs cheerful expression. She thought about how hed cheered her on and how he believed in her. Then she started laughing. She laughed away the ugly glares, the whispers and every other form of negativity. It felt liberating. I can do this! And Im gonna do great! She texted Lin Feng a thank you and then said to the staff member, Mic me up!

Lin Feng watched the host walk up on stage, clenching his fists. The audience behind him was still cheering for the 3-1 victory from Wuhan University over Nanjing University. He ignored that. What was coming up next was the only thing he cared about. He kept focused on the host as he said, Its our turn! You guys ready? Everyone feeling good? Ready to shock everyone and show them that were the team to beat!?

Tang Bingyao nodded and said, Mhm! Were going to win this one!

The host stopped in the middle of the stage. The multicoloured lights faded away until there was only a single beam of white light illuminating the host. He held a microphone up to his mouth and said, This edition of the Collegiate Cup is a bit special. For the first time ever, its taking place in winter. And much more importantly, for the first time ever, high school teams have been invited! He paused to let the audience cheer, then continued, There were many questions wondering if these teams were good enough to compete at the university level. I think all three teams have proven that much. Right now, I think were all curious to see just how far they can go! But, unfortunately, for one high school team the road ends here. Today.

Blue and red lights suddenly flashed around the stadium until focusing on the player seating area. The blue lights illuminated Team Guangzhou and the red lights Team Shanghai. The host shouted, This is it! We have the high schoolers representing the Guangzhou Esports Association facing off against the high schoolers representing the Shanghai Esports Association! The former esports capital of the world is looking to reclaim its place by beating the current esports capital of the world! Give it up for these 10 phenomenal players! We welcome to the stage TEAM GUANGZHOU AND TEAM SHANGHAI!

The audience cheered, louder and louder. The players from Team Guangzhou and Team Shanghai rose from their seats and walked to opposite ends of the stage. There they ascended the steps. Each time their feet hit the ground it sounded like the audience found a new breath and screamed and shouted even louder. It carried the players up on stage as they made their way to the soundproof booths. One more moment they enjoyed the sounds, then the players from both teams started entering.

Lin Feng and Goalie were the last two outside the soundproof booths. They looked across the stage at each other. Goalie smiled, confident, and drew a line across his neck with his finger. Lin Feng burst out laughing. He shook his head and walked into the soundproof booth. He then closed the door behind him, cutting off all distracting sounds.

The players from Zhejiang University watched this all happen from their seats in the player seating area. Zhejiangs Jungler turned his head to look at his teammates, worried, and asked, Do you think they can win?

Zuo Cheng laughed. He replied, Yes, of course I think Team Shanghai can win. I think they will win! That Lin Feng? Hes the real deal. There is no way that that shitty Goalie can beat Lin Feng!

Sun Ruinian slowly nodded and mumbled, Whatever happens, this is gonna be a special match.

The caster desk was separated from the stands, unlike those at the Shanghai 16 School Tournament and the East China Regionals. Su Xue looked through the glass window down at the stage, smiling. Zephyr, her professional co-caster, sat behind her at the caster desk and kept reminding her that there was nothing to worry about and that hed casted with girls from HuyaTV before and that he knew how to best help her. She didnt care. All worries about casting were gone. Now she just felt tingles and excitement for what was to come. She was going to cast Lin Feng!

Su Xue walked around the table and sat down next to Zephyr. Im feeling great! No, better even! Im feeling better than I ever have! This is exactly what Ive wanted! Who would've guessed! A few months ago I only had a dozen viewers and now Im going to cast a game for like a hundred thousand people! This is everything Ive been working so hard towards! And its amazing! She took a long, deep breath and then said, Thanks, but its okay. Im ready for this. Lets cast the shit out of this series!

Zephyr glanced at Su Xue and nodded slowly. He replied, Alright. Were up in a few. The players are getting in the lobby. Another minute and theyll be in Champion Select. When that appears on the LCD screen--you can see that on this screen over here--thats when we start.

Right now it is! Su Xue exclaimed a couple of seconds later. She leaned in towards the microphone and said, Were getting ready for Game 1! This is the Champion Select! She briefly paused, watching the screen, stunned. Team Guangzhou and Team Shanghai fired bans in rapid succession. More surprisingly, they left open several coveted picks. She continued, Thats odd. Lin Feng and Goalie are both known for their LeBlancs. How come she isnt banned?

Zephyr grinned. He grabbed his microphone and shouted, Obviously because Team Guangzhou is looking to pick her! First pick is for them and they LOCK HER IN! Goalie is going to play LeBlanc the Deceiver!