The celebration banquet restaurant booked by Tang Can was near the Star City E-sports Center.
When everyone arrived at the scene by car, the family members had already arrived early. As the "Head of the Family Group," Qu Jiang's father had called on everyone to buy five bouquets of fresh flowers to present to the five players of Tianhuan's main team.
The five of them held the flowers and took a group photo with the family group before sitting down to eat.
Chi Shu's parents also graced the scene with their presence, sitting at the same table as everyone. Ye Shaoyang was a little nervous inside, but on the surface, he still pretended to be nonchalant as he greeted the two elders: "Hello Uncle, hello Auntie."
Chi Shu's mother, Ming Yue, smiled and said, "Yangyang, right? Although I don't understand the match, I heard many fans shouting your name in the audience. Your penta kill today was really handsome!"
Ye Shaoyang glanced at Chi Shu and said guiltily, "Thanks to Captain Chi's help."
Chi Shu smiled and had Ye Shaoyang sit next to him.
Coach Lin stood up proactively and said, "Come, come, the domestic matches are over. Everyone, have a drink! We won't go home until we're drunk tonight!"
Just as Chi Shu was about to raise his wine glass, Ye Shaoyang suddenly remembered that in Seoul, when Chairman Qiu proposed a toast, Chi Shu drank two glasses of red wine, suddenly got drunk, entered a Susceptibility Period, and forcibly kissed him…
Ye Shaoyang hurriedly glanced at Chi Shu, meaning: Have some idea of your own alcohol tolerance. If you drink too much and enter a Susceptibility Period again, I won't care about you.
However, Chi Shu didn't seem to receive Ye Shaoyang's signal and drained the glass decisively.
Ye Shaoyang: "…"
Everyone around was drinking, so Ye Shaoyang had to bite the bullet and drink the red wine.
Coach Lin raised another glass and said, "On behalf of Tianhuan Club, I thank all the uncles, aunties, and family members for your full support of our players."
Qu Jiang's father said, "Coach Lin is too polite! We are one hundred percent reassured handing the children over to Tianhuan. Thanks to the club staff for taking care of them with all their heart, and thank you, Coach!"
The atmosphere at the dinner table was warm, and the elders were all drinking.
Qu Jiang's father was practically a social butterfly; in the blink of an eye, he started chatting with Coach Lin. Others were also eating happily. Just as Ye Shaoyang was worried about whether Chi Shu would get drunk, Chi Shu suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Don't worry, there's cola in my glass. I won't get drunk and lose control into a Susceptibility Period again this time."
Ye Shaoyang: "…"
So he did receive the signal just now.
He didn't know when Chi Shu swapped the red wine in his glass; his hand speed was fast enough.
Thinking of the experience of being forcibly kissed in Seoul, Ye Shaoyang's ears burned a little. With so many family members present, it wasn't appropriate for him to show it.
Chi Shu's mother noticed the two of them whispering and glanced at them with a smile.
Ye Shaoyang hurriedly coughed lightly and said seriously, "After God Ming retired, you took over as captain at 18. These past few years must have been very difficult. If not for Captain Chi's persistence, Tianhuan wouldn't be where it is today… Captain Chi, I toast you. To Tianhuan's third good captain!"
Hearing this, the teammates all thought their whispering just now was serious talk related to the team. So Qu Jiang, Old Qin, Xiao Xing, and the teenagers from the 2nd Team raised their glasses one after another: "To Captain Chi!"
Chi Shu glanced at Ye Shaoyang, chuckled lightly, raised the glass of cola which was very close in color to red wine, and said decisively, "Let's drink together. For Tianhuan, and for all our dreams."
The glasses clinked in the middle of the table, making a crisp sound.
Gathered together because of a common dream, this bond would also be the most precious memory of their lives.
After the celebration banquet ended and they returned to the hotel, Ye Shaoyang swiped his card to enter his room. Just as he was about to say goodnight to Chi Shu, Chi Shu nimbly slipped sideways into Ye Shaoyang's room.
Ye Shaoyang quickly closed the door backhand, turned to look at him, and said, "What are you doing?"
Chi Shu wrapped his arms around Ye Shaoyang, turned him around neatly, pressed him against the wall, leaned in close to his lips, and said, "Want to kiss you."
Ye Shaoyang: "…Didn't you switch to cola?"
Chi Shu said innocently, "Mn, I drank cola. I'm not drunk, and I'm not losing control in a Susceptibility Period. I just really want to kiss my boyfriend. Can't I?"
Ye Shaoyang was defeated by his logic. Just as he wanted to speak, his lips were firmly blocked.
A gentle kiss landed. Chi Shu skillfully pried open Ye Shaoyang's teeth and drove straight in. Sure enough, Ye Shaoyang tasted the sweetness of cola in Chi Shu's mouth…
His ears couldn't help but burn, and his heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
Ye Shaoyang had to admit that he liked Chi Shu's kisses more and more.
At first, he was clearly a straight man who couldn't imagine being with a man at all. But now, ever since being with Chi Shu, he found that being kissed by a man seemed quite comfortable?
Every time Chi Shu kissed him, he didn't dislike it. Instead, his heart raced, and his body temperature rose.
He was even willing to cooperate actively?
Anyway, he was already bent into a mosquito coil; Ye Shaoyang didn't want to straighten himself back out.
He closed his eyes, gently held Chi Shu's shoulders, and let Chi Shu deepen the kiss.
At that moment, the fierce heartbeats of the two and their simultaneously red ear tips seemed to tell each other—
We are not only the most compatible partners.
But also the most compatible lovers.
After the deep kiss ended, both of their breathing was a bit disordered. Chi Shu pulled back, gazing gently at the Omega in his arms. Ye Shaoyang looked up at him. Their eyes met, and they laughed at the same time.
Ye Shaoyang complained, "Feels like we're having an affair."
Chi Shu reached out, gently wiped Ye Shaoyang's wet lips, and whispered, "I'll wrong you for a while to be a secret couple. Later, we'll be together openly and honestly."
Ye Shaoyang said readily, "It's fine, I don't feel wronged. Being together is a private matter between the two of us. We just need to handle it well ourselves; there's no need for too many people to know."
Yangyang's open-mindedness warmed Chi Shu's heart. He gently hugged Ye Shaoyang, rested his chin on the other's shoulder, and said, "But, I really want to tell the whole world that Yangyang is mine."
Ye Shaoyang: "…"
Alpha's possessiveness was indeed unreasonable.
Was this normal in the ABO world? Or was Chi Shu's possessiveness exceptionally strong?
Ye Shaoyang's current mindset was very zen. Anyway, his biggest goal was the World Championship, and he was only one step away from this goal. As long as he could realize his championship dream and fulfill the regret of his past life, everything else was easy to discuss.
It wouldn't be too late to discuss it slowly then?
Thinking of this, Ye Shaoyang gently hugged Chi Shu back and said, "No rush. Wait until our relationship is stable, then find a suitable time to announce it."
Chi Shu hugged tighter, thinking, Relationship is stable?
Does Yangyang mean after completing the Complete Mark? After all, a Complete Mark, also called a Lifetime Mark, is the most stable relationship between an AO couple.
An Alpha can only completely mark one Omega in their life; that represents a promise to stay together for a lifetime.
Ye Shaoyang completely didn't expect that Chi Shu's mental progress bar was always one step ahead of his own.
The stability he referred to was actually just the stability of their feelings?
Team Tianhuan returned fully loaded, harvesting three weighty trophies: the S10 Season Grand Champion, the MVP Award, and the Best Rookie Award. Three more slots in the trophy display cabinet on the first floor of the team base were filled. The senior management of Tianhuan Club also very generously distributed the domestic championship prize money to the Tianhuan players according to their contracts.
A large sum of bonus money entering their accounts was also a huge incentive for the players.
The next day, the results of the Gods' War Professional League competitions in major regions were also announced on the official website one after another.
After Coach Lin organized the information, he called everyone to the conference room and said, "We won the domestic championship. I know everyone is excited, but now, you must reel in your hearts and calmly prepare for the upcoming World Tournament."
Everyone nodded in unison to show they understood.
The China Region hadn't won a World Championship in 10 years; this was a knot in the heart of the entire region. Tianhuan had narrowly missed the World Championship in S6, which was also the regret of a generation of Tianhuan people.
S10 was the season Tianhuan was most likely to win the World Championship. They absolutely could not be careless.
Seeing everyone listening with serious expressions, Coach Lin opened the PPT and said, "In the North American region, FNO won the championship. Mitchell has been thinking about our Yangyang. Their bot lane marksman and support have also improved greatly. If we encounter them in the World Tournament, they will be a formidable enemy for Tianhuan."
"Qualifying as the second seed from North America is Team FLD from Florida. This team's overall strength is also very strong; they won the World Championship in the S8 season."
Everyone was all too familiar with FNO. They played plenty of scrims usually, and Ye Shaoyang had even crushed Mitchell once. He defeated Mitchell again in the Individual Tournament. It was said Mitchell was still brooding over this?
Ye Shaoyang smiled and asked, "What about the European region?"
Coach Lin said, "In the European region, AMT undoubtedly won the championship and secured a World Tournament spot. There's also a HER team from Germany. We're not too familiar with them; the coaching staff will seize the time to study their data."
"The teams qualifying from Southeast Asia are GOW and MOK. Both teams use a Wild Core playstyle."
These were all old acquaintances. It was within everyone's expectations that they could get World Tournament spots.
"The teams from the African and Latin American regions are weaker overall, but we can't underestimate the enemy…"
Coach Lin turned the PPT to the last page: "Korean Region."
Everyone in the conference room immediately pricked up their ears.
"Team ATB successfully defended their title, qualifying for the World Tournament as the two-time champion of the Korean region. The second seed entering the World Tournament is Team TIP led by Kim Min-jun. Additionally, because the Korean region won last year's World Championship, they obtained a third qualifying spot. Korea's Team TOC also secured qualification."
Ye Shaoyang and Chi Shu exchanged a glance.
ATB—this was the key point of their attention.
Choi Hyuk and Park Won-seok, currently "Korea's recognized" strongest Mid-Jungle duo in the world, would also become their strongest opponents in the World Tournament.
For the S10 season, Korea happened to win the right to host the World Tournament. The previous Individual Tournament was held in Seoul, and this time, the most prestigious 5v5 Team Tournament of the World Tournament would also be held in Seoul.
ATB had the home-field advantage.
At that time, countless fans would come to the venue to cheer for their Oppas. As the previous World Champions, ATB's 5 players were all very strong, and their coaching staff was also formidable. They occupied the favorable timing, geographical location, and human harmony.
However, Tianhuan wasn't afraid of them.
The current Tianhuan had no weaknesses. They would go all out and play to their best level.
Ye Shaoyang smiled and said, "Would it feel even better to defeat the Korean team on the Korean field?"
Chi Shu said indifferently, "Going to their door to slap their faces—the Koreans will probably have a mental breakdown."
Xiao Xing couldn't help roasting, "Ideally, make them have a collective breakdown. Before, when Brother Yang won the Individual Tournament championship, they were being sarcastic there, saying Brother Yang relied on luck to reach the finals—if they win, they are awesome; if they lose, it's bad luck. They really know how to find excuses."
Qu Jiang roasted, "After all, they are the World's No. 1 Mid-Jungle; it's impossible for others to defeat them. The Korean media's rhetoric is that because Park Won-seok didn't participate in the Individual Tournament, Tianhuan Lieyang picked up the Individual Championship for free."
Old Qin roasted, "This implies Yangyang is inferior to Park Won-seok? The World's No. 1 Mid-laner is still Park Won-seok?"
Ye Shaoyang shrugged. "Being World No. 1 isn't something you say with your mouth. This World Tournament, we not only want to beat ATB but also win beautifully! I know it's hard, but we can do it, right?"
Chi Shu said decisively, "Yangyang is right."
Others echoed one after another, "That's right, win beautifully!"
Seeing everyone's high spirits, Coach Lin went with the flow and said, "To adapt to the atmosphere of the World Tournament, the club has decided to let everyone go to Seoul in advance for intensive training. Although there isn't much time difference, dietary habits and such should still be adjusted in advance so we can participate in the competition in the best physical condition."
Everyone nodded to show they understood.
Coach Lin said, "Beimu will go with us and stay in the same hotel, making it convenient to look after each other. In the country, we are opponents; abroad, we are on the same side. At that time, our two teams can also exchange information about opponents from other countries. Everyone pack your luggage. We fly out the afternoon after tomorrow, expedition to the World Tournament!"
The S10 World Tournament would officially open on December 10th and end on December 20th.
With 10 days left until the World Tournament, all members of Tianhuan packed their luggage and rushed to Seoul ahead of time with all members of Beimu. Both clubs booked the same hotel for the players to train.
The strongest domestic rivals were the closest comrades abroad; they represented the China Region.
According to the rules, teams from the same country would not be placed in the same group in the World Tournament, nor could they meet before the semi-finals. Therefore, during the training period in Seoul, Tianhuan and Beimu's main teams could play scrims directly without hiding various tactics.
Playing freely allowed them to discover each other's shortcomings most intuitively and adjust the players' conditions quickly.
After playing scrims for several days continuously, Sean learned Ye Shaoyang's ^_^ symbol following his [Cracked.jpg].
The bad-tempered Zhao Xin'an became good friends with the gentle Qu Jiang. Little Zhao agreed that after returning to China after the competition, he would privately learn Qu Jiang's video editing techniques.
On December 5th, the results of the Wild Card region came out.
Surprisingly, Team Yueying and Team Jingzhe actually fought their way into the World Tournament from the mixed bag of the Wild Card region, obtaining the 2 spots for the Wild Card region!
Many teams from various countries participated in the Wild Card region. The competition time was after the professional leagues of various countries ended. Many teams that failed to qualify in their professional leagues would also try to rush the Wild Card region, making the competition very fierce. Every year in the World Tournament, the Wild Card region had a total of 3 qualifying spots, and teams from the China Region actually took 2.
Domestic media were excited bad; press releases flew everywhere—
"This is the most proud year for the China Region in 10 years!"
"We have 4 teams making it to the World Tournament; it's too worthy of pride."
"This year, the overall strength of the China Region has greatly improved. The key lies in tactical expansion and changes in thinking. Major teams are constantly improving; this is a positive and healthy competitive environment."
But there were also many people online mocking cynically: "So what if 4 teams qualified? Isn't it just a collective delivery of heads to be abused?" "If they all get wiped out, they'll be laughed to death, right? E-sports isn't an event won by numbers!" "4 teams charging together, wouldn't it be even more shameful if none win the championship in the end?"
Regardless of what the outside world said, Ye Shaoyang and Chi Shu were still very happy to see these old friends at the World Tournament.
December 6th, 4 days before the official start of the competition.
Yueying and Jingzhe arrived in Seoul together, gathering with Tianhuan and Beimu.
Ye Shaoyang hugged Xie Weiyu tightly. "Good job."
Xie Weiyu smiled and said, "Even if there's only a glimmer of hope, we wanted to come to the World Tournament to see. Consider it gaining experience; serving as sparring partners for you guys is good too."
Chi Shu hugged Fang Zhengqing. Xie Yuan reminded from the side, "No matter who wins the award in the end, remember that promise—go back and treat us to a meal!"
Xu Zhuo roasted from the side, "You remember freeloading meals every day, so why don't we see you gaining weight?"
Xie Yuan said, "If I gain weight, I'll really become 'Round and Round' (Yuan Yuan Run Run)."
The group laughed together.
Chi Shu actively extended his hand. The dozen or so people around him placed their hands on top one after another and shouted in unison, "China Region, Add Oil!"
World Tournament, we are coming.