Volume One, Chapter 114: The Esports All-Star Tournament

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After Chi Xingwan agreed, Xiao Rui immediately called Zhang Shaodan, who arranged a VIP box for him at once.

On the day of the All-Star Match, the area around the main venue was bustling with activity, packed with esports fans who had come to watch.

Chen Beibei clutched Chen Qifan’s sleeve as they squeezed through the crowd, brimming with excitement and wonder. “Brother, there are so many people! Is this really only an esports exhibition match?”

“Of course it is,” Chen Qifan replied. “The esports industry in China has developed rapidly over the past few years. There are more and more fans every day.”

“That’s incredible.” Chen Beibei was genuinely impressed. In Lan Kingdom, esports was still in its infancy, a niche and relatively obscure industry.

Chen Qifan looked around until he finally spotted someone familiar. “Beibei, let’s go over there. I see your sister Xingwan.”

At once, Chen Beibei ran even faster than Chen Qifan.

Bouncing through the crowd, she called out, “Sister Xingwan, I’m over here!”

Chi Xingwan was being held tightly by Xiao Jin. When she heard Chen Beibei’s voice, it sounded like music from heaven. She immediately waved to Chen Beibei and Chen Qifan.

When the four of them came together, Chen Qifan’s curious gaze moved unabashedly back and forth between Chi Xingwan and Xiao Jin.

Chi Xingwan said, “Xiao Jin, weren’t you going to the restroom? Go on. We’ll wait here.”

Xiao Jin had no memory of ever saying she needed to use the restroom, but after Chi Xingwan mentioned it, she realized that she did, in fact, feel the need. “All right, then. Make sure you wait for me.”

Chen Beibei looked up at Chen Qifan. “Brother, I want to go too.”

“Then you two can go together.” Chen Qifan handed Chen Beibei over to Xiao Jin. “Xiao Jin, you’d better take good care of Beibei for me.”

Xiao Jin rolled her eyes and muttered, “You make going to the restroom sound like going into battle.”

After the two girls left, Chi Xingwan let out a long breath and leaned against a streetlamp, looking utterly worn out.

Chen Qifan stared at her with wide, curious eyes. “Sister-in-law, how did you end up with Xiao Jin?”

“You think I wanted this?” Chi Xingwan replied helplessly.

The previous day, Xiao Rui had suddenly gone to see Chi Xingwan. He confessed that not long ago, he had suggested that he and Xiao Jin scheme against Chi Yueyao, and that Xiao Jin had been feeling miserable ever since because of it.

Xiao Rui was somewhat panicked. He was afraid Xiao Jin would become mentally unstable if things continued this way, so he wanted to bring her out to relax during the All-Star Match. He had come to ask Chi Xingwan what she thought.

Naturally, Chi Xingwan had no objections. Xiao Rui could invite whomever he pleased.

And so this whole situation had come about. They had originally entered the VIP box through the private entrance, but Xiao Rui had said that the area outside the venue was lively, with fans handing out support merchandise. He had insisted on dragging them all outside for a look.

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No one had expected there to be so many people outside. Before long, the group had become separated. Unfortunately, Chi Xingwan ended up walking with Xiao Jin, who was terrified of being left alone and clung tightly to her.

After hearing the story, Chen Qifan unsurprisingly focused on the matter of Xiao Rui and Xiao Jin scheming against Chi Yueyao. He sighed. “Xiao Jin is still young. This is the price of growing up.”

“Since that’s the case, you should look after her as her brother,” Chi Xingwan said. “When she comes back, keep an eye on her. I’ll hold Beibei’s hand.”

Chen Qifan smiled awkwardly. “That doesn’t seem like a good idea. If people misunderstand and think Xiao Jin and I are together, I’ll be the one suffering.”

“Then why not hold Beibei’s hand too?” Chi Xingwan suggested. “Hold one on each side, and people will be less likely to misunderstand.”

Chen Qifan rejected the idea without hesitation. “It’s more appropriate for you to hold Xiao Jin.”

Neither of them seemed to realize just how much they were both trying to avoid Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin herself had no idea. It was quite some time before she and Chen Beibei emerged from the restroom. Complaining, she said, “There was such a long line, and it smelled awful. I almost threw up.”

Chi Xingwan and Chen Qifan exchanged several intense glances, neither willing to give way.

Suddenly, Xiao Jin said, “Huh? I think I just saw Auntie’s boyfriend.”

“What?” Chi Xingwan and Chen Qifan turned to look at the same time.

Chi Xingwan had met Xiao Peilan’s boyfriend before. She glanced around but saw no one.

Xiao Jin tugged at her hair. “I might have been mistaken.”

The man she had just seen, who looked very much like her aunt’s boyfriend, had been holding the hand of a young girl. She must have been mistaken.

“Then why did you say anything?” Chen Qifan grumbled.

Chi Xingwan suggested, “Why don’t we go inside? There are too many people here, and it’s no fun.”

Chen Qifan agreed immediately, and Chen Beibei nodded along.

“That sounds good,” Xiao Jin said. “I don’t want to keep squeezing through the crowd either.”

When they returned to the VIP box, Chi Xingwan saw Xiao Ming and Xiao Yu. The two had just come back as well, apparently unable to bear the crush outside any longer.

Xiao Yu was rarely this furious. “Brother is completely useless. He said he was taking us out to have fun, but we nearly got crushed in the crowd, and now he doesn’t even know where he’s been pushed off to.”

Zhang Shaodan happened to walk in. “He just sent me a message saying he went backstage to find his teammates. We don’t need to worry about him.”

Xiao Yu angrily cursed him again. No one found it surprising. In everyone’s eyes, Xiao Rui was simply an unreliable man.

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The audience gradually entered the venue. After another half hour or so, the All-Star Match finally began. The organizers had invited a popular idol group to perform the opening show, and in an instant, the atmosphere inside the arena caught fire.

The host also took the stage and began delivering the opening remarks.

Meanwhile, backstage was in complete chaos.

“Hurry! Where’s the doctor? Hurry and stop Ghost’s bleeding!”

The manager of the Imperial Dragon team was sweating profusely from rushing about, while the organizers stood nearby in a panic.

A doctor came running over with a medical kit. The moment he saw the wound, he drew in a sharp breath. “These injuries are far too serious.”

The player whose gaming ID was Ghost now had a shard of broken glass embedded in his right forearm. Blood streamed down his arm, staining his entire palm red.

Xiao Rui entered the backstage area and found his own teammates. “What happened?”

“Xiao Rui, what are you doing here? Didn’t you say you were going to watch the match from the stands with your family and friends today?” one of his teammates asked.

“I just saw a staff member rush out looking terrified, and then a doctor ran in. I was worried something had happened, so I came to take a look.”

His teammate sighed. “Something did happen, but it wasn’t to our team. It was Ghost from the Imperial Dragon team.”

Xiao Rui was stunned. “No way. What happened to him?”

“He went to the restroom just now. Someone grabbed him from behind, and the attacker stabbed a piece of broken glass into his right forearm.”

Xiao Rui sucked in a sharp breath. To an esports player, one’s hands were more precious than life itself.

Ghost was the Imperial Dragon team’s star player. He had ranked first in the popularity vote for three consecutive years, and who knew how many fans had come to today’s exhibition match specifically to see him.

“How is he now?” Xiao Rui asked.

“The doctor is treating the wound. He probably won’t be able to play today.”

Another teammate spoke grimly. “That isn’t even the most frightening part. The worst thing is that the attacker still hasn’t been caught.”

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