LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

The night gently enveloped the two of them.

The early autumn air in Paris carried a slight chill, but the indoor temperature gradually rose because of this passionate kiss.

Su Mo did not show any aggression as he did on the field. He simply wrapped his arms around Yu Shuang's waist gently, his palms carrying a reassuring warmth, as if he were protecting a rare treasure.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the huge floor-to-ceiling curtains, casting a golden dappled light on the heavy carpet.

Su Mo opened his eyes precisely at seven o'clock. He habitually maintained steady breathing and glanced down at Yu Shuang, who was still fast asleep in his arms. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and a serene smile lingered on her lips.

So as not to wake her, Su Mo carefully withdrew his arm and gently placed the pillow, still warm from his body, beside her. Then, he put on a soft cotton loungewear and quietly left the bedroom.

The hotel suite had a separate kitchenette. Su Mo skillfully tied on an apron and took out fresh toast, eggs, and milk from the refrigerator. He made no unnecessary noise, cracking eggs, frying, heating milk—every movement was unhurried and full of life. If his opponents, whom he had beaten to a pulp, were to see this, they would probably find it hard to believe that the demon king who dominated the canyon would actually cook for his lover in private.

As the warm aroma of butter wafted into the bedroom, Yu Shuang rubbed her sleepy eyes and came out.

"Awake?" Su Mo turned around, all the sharpness in his deep eyes gone, leaving only a gentle warmth like spring water. He handed her a glass of milk at just the right temperature. "Go wash up and get ready for breakfast."

"You always get up so early." Yu Shuang held the milk, feeling warm inside.

At the dining table, the two quietly enjoyed this rare moment of tranquility. There were no tactical discussions, no game replays, only the occasional clinking of cutlery.

After breakfast, Su Mo changed into casual clothes. He wore a light gray, thin trench coat over a pure white turtleneck sweater, a black baseball cap without any logo, and a pair of gold-rimmed non-prescription glasses. This outfit instantly softened the coldness between his brows, making him look more like a gentle and refined international student, so low-key that he wouldn't cause much of a stir in a crowd.

"Let's go, we won't take them today, let's just stroll around the streets." Su Mo naturally took Yu Shuang's hand and put it into the pocket of his large trench coat.

In Paris, fallen leaves carpeted the cobblestone streets. Instead of visiting the famous tourist attractions, the two avoided the crowds and strolled through the unassuming alleyways along the Seine.

Su Mo stopped as she passed a shabby antique music box shop.

The shop owner was an elderly woman with a full head of white hair, wearing reading glasses and dozing off in the sunlight. The shop was filled with all sorts of small items that bore the marks of time.

Yu Shuang's gaze was drawn to a small wooden music box in the corner. It was a statue of the Little Prince sleeping peacefully on the moon. Although the workmanship was not particularly ornate, it exuded a sense of tranquility and peace.

Su Mo observed this, stepped forward, and spoke softly with the old lady in fluent and authentic French. His voice was low and gentle, which brought a kind smile to the old lady's face, who had been dozing off.

A moment later, Su Mo came over with the wrapped music box and handed it to Yu Shuang.

"This is for you." He smiled slightly. "The piece inside is 'Für Elise.' Listening to it to fall asleep at night will help relieve your migraines."

Yu Shuang accepted it with delight, her eyes filled with emotion: "You actually remembered that I've been having occasional headaches lately."

"I've never forgotten what happened to you." Su Mo ruffled her hair and led her forward.

In the afternoon, they went to an open-air café on a street corner to rest.

Just then, a European boy of about ten years old at the next table caught their attention. The boy was holding a tablet, frowning as he watched a League of Legends match replay on the screen, while also scribbling in a small notebook, seemingly studying a hero's combo moves. But because he was so engrossed, he accidentally knocked over a water glass on the table.

Water spilled all over the table, and the little boy frantically grabbed a tissue to wipe it up. In his haste, the tablet almost slipped off and fell to the ground.

A slender, fair hand steadily caught the tablet.

Su Mo didn't say anything, but simply took out a few tissues and calmly wiped the water stains off the table for the little boy, then placed the tablet perfectly in front of him.

"Thank you, sir." The little boy looked up gratefully, and when he saw Su Mo's face clearly, he was stunned. Although Su Mo was wearing glasses and a hat, his unique temperament still gave this young fan who had been following e-sports for years a sense of familiarity.

"You are you?" The little boy's eyes widened, his voice stammering with excitement, "Are you Mo?"

Yu Shuang was slightly startled and subconsciously wanted to cover for Su Mo, since being recognized in a foreign country could easily attract attention.

But Su Mo just smiled gently. He raised his index finger and gently placed it to his lips, making a "shh" gesture.

Then, he picked up the pen the little boy had placed on the table and wrote a sentence in English in a smooth, flowing hand in the blank space of the notebook where he recorded game combos: "Keep the passion alive, enjoy the game."

At the end, he signed his name with a flowing "Mo".

After returning the notebook to the little boy, Su Mo patted his head and quietly left the coffee shop with Yu Shuang. The whole process was discreet and unassuming, attracting no attention from anyone.

The little boy held the notebook, staring blankly at Su Mo's departing figure, speechless for a long time. That legendary, ruthless top laner was actually such a warm and easygoing older brother in private.

As the sun set, the two strolled back to their hotel.

As soon as I reached the training room door, I heard sighs and slightly anxious discussions coming from inside.

Pushing open the door, Ah Chen was scratching his head in frustration, while Xiao Yue stared at the replay video on the screen with a troubled expression.

"These European teams are playing too passively. They just won't come out to fight and are trying to drag the game into the late game. I can't find any rhythm when I invade the jungle!" Ah Chen complained.

Mingkai stood to the side, his brow furrowed, clearly also troubled by this defensive tactic.

The atmosphere in the training room quieted down a bit when Su Mo walked in. Everyone thought that the team's backbone would give them a stern scolding.

However, Su Mo simply walked to the water dispenser, filled two cups with warm water, and placed one of them next to Ah Chen.

"Have some water and catch your breath." Su Mo's tone was calm and gentle, without any hint of blame. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to Ah Chen, his gaze fixed on the paused video recording.

"Don't let your opponent's rhythm dictate your actions." Su Mo extended his slender finger and lightly tapped a jungle lane on the screen. "They're choosing to avoid fights because they know you're looking for an opportunity. At this moment, your impatience is their biggest weakness."

He turned to look at Ah Chen, his eyes radiating a reassuring power: "Since they want to wait under the tower, then control all the vision outside and cut off their information sources. A jungler doesn't necessarily need kills to have a rhythm; turning the enemy blind and letting them gradually lose their composure in the shadows is also a way to win. Understand?"

Su Mo's words were not harsh at all; they were like a patient older brother imparting his experience, yet they instantly dispelled the fog in Ah Chen's mind.

“I understand, Brother Mo.” Ah Chen took a deep breath, and his originally anxious emotions were completely calmed down under Su Mo’s gentle guidance. “I was too impatient. I’ll go find the coach again later to rearrange the vision control routes.”

Mingkai watched this scene and smiled with satisfaction. He realized that Su Mo had become more mature without him even noticing. On the field, he was a sharp and ruthless sword; off the field, he had gradually learned to temper his sharpness and use gentleness and inclusiveness to unite the entire team.

"Alright, everyone's had a hard day. Let's tidy up and get ready for dinner," Mingkai announced, clapping his hands.

Su Mo stood up, walked to Yu Shuang who had been waiting quietly beside him, and habitually took her hand.

"What are we having for dinner tonight?" Yu Shuang looked up at him, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"I heard there's a nice Chinese restaurant near the hotel that serves your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs," Su Mo said softly, her eyes so gentle they seemed to melt anyone's heart.

Outside the window, night had completely fallen in Paris. The brightly lit city unfolded against the backdrop of their backs as they walked side by side.

On the eve of this world championship filled with battle and glory, Su Mo quietly protected those around him in his low-key and gentle manner. He didn't need to constantly wear his domineering aura on his face, because true strength had long been etched into his bones, transforming into a calm and peaceful state of mind.

As Su Mo strolled down the corridor leading to the restaurant, he slowed his pace. He turned his head slightly, listening to Yu Shuang share some of the trivial and interesting things that had happened that day, nodding occasionally in agreement, a faint smile always on his lips.

Parisian nights always have a languid feel to them.

The Chinese restaurant, located not far from the Seine, was small but elegantly decorated. Pushing open the wooden carved glass door, the familiar aroma of food wafted out, instantly soothing the sense of alienation one might feel in a foreign land.

The owner, a kind overseas Chinese uncle, recognized the renowned e-sports star player at a glance. However, he was a tactful person and did not make a big fuss. He simply led the two to a quiet corner by the window on the second floor with a smile and even served them a pot of fine Biluochun tea.

"Thank you, boss." Su Mo nodded slightly, his voice gentle and polite.

After ordering, Su Mo poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it to Yu Shuang's side. Outside the window was the dazzling street scene of Paris, and inside the room was warm yellow light; everything seemed just right.

"This restaurant makes really authentic sweet and sour pork ribs, you should try some." As soon as all the dishes were served, Su Mo picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a bright red pork rib coated in sweet and sour sauce onto Yu Shuang's bone plate. His movements were calm and natural, without the slightest air of commanding thousands of troops on the field.

Yu Shuang took a bite and squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "It's really delicious. However, tomorrow is the opening match of the group stage, and the first match is against T1. Everyone seems to be very nervous. Just now at the base, I saw Ah Chen almost choke on his water."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo smiled faintly. He slowly peeled a boiled shrimp, dipped it in sauce, and placed it in Yu Shuang's bowl.

“It’s normal to be nervous.” He pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands, his tone as calm as if he were talking about tomorrow’s weather. “T1 has always been very dominant in the group stage, and with the recent version changes from the official team, the pressure from the outside world is indeed very high. Young players need this kind of experience to calm their minds.”

"And what about you?" Yu Shuang rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with a sparkling gaze. "Today, a lot of Korean media outlets are stirring up trouble online, saying that you're definitely going to be punished by the game version this time, and some people are even saying that you'll become EDG's weak point. Are you really not affected?"

Su Mo raised his head, his deep eyes showing no anger. He simply smiled gently and reached out to tidy up the stray hairs that had fallen beside Yu Shuang's ear.

“Those comments are like fallen leaves occasionally blowing in through the window; you can just glance at them and move on.” Su Mo’s voice was gentle and deep. “My task is to play well in the game. As for the outside world’s evaluation, once we destroy the opponent’s crystal, a conclusion will naturally be reached.”

His composure seemed to possess a magical power, instantly dispelling all the worries in Yu's heart. She nodded vigorously and focused on enjoying the warm dinner.

Two days later.

Accor Arena, Paris, France.

The group stage of the 2024 World Championship has officially begun. The arena was packed, with esports fans from all over the world waving light sticks and shouting deafeningly.

As the opening match, LPL's number one seed EDG faced off against LCK's number two seed T1, and the attention this match received was unprecedented.

Backstage in the lounge, the EDG players were making their final preparations. A-Chen kept taking deep breaths, trying to calm his wildly beating heart; Xiao-Yue stared intently at the screen, repeatedly memorizing the positioning habits of the opposing mid-laner, Faker.

Su Mo sat on the sofa in the corner, holding the familiar black thermos in his hands. He didn't look at any competition information, but simply closed his eyes to rest quietly.

A staff member knocked on the door, reminding everyone to prepare to go on stage.

The team members stood up one after another, and the atmosphere became somewhat solemn.

Su Mo opened his eyes and slowly stood up. He walked to the water dispenser, filled a glass halfway with warm water, and handed it to Ah Chen.

"Have a sip of water, and don't let your hands shake." Su Mo's voice was gentle, yet it carried a reassuring strength. He patted Ah Chen's shoulder, a faint smile playing on his lips. "The opposing jungler, Oner, is human too; he makes mistakes. Just stick to our usual training rhythm. I'll keep an eye on the jungle for you. Don't be afraid."

Ah Chen took the water glass, and looking into Su Mo's calm eyes, his panicked heartbeat miraculously calmed down. He nodded vigorously: "Understood, Brother Mo!"

"Let's go." Su Mo walked in front and pushed open the door to the lounge.

The moment the entire EDG team walked out of the player tunnel and appeared under the spotlight, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers.

Unlike other flamboyant players who wave their arms wildly, Su Mo simply waved calmly to the audience and walked steadily towards the match stage. His composed demeanor, unperturbed by praise or criticism, drew admiration from the LPL commentators in the commentary booth. (End of Chapter)