[Esports] Team Leader Xie, your mid laner is causing trouble again.

Li Zhi first met Xie Jichuan two years ago.

"Congratulations to Lychee from the QW youth team for winning the mid-lane championship in this year's Rookie Cup!"

The not-so-large venue was packed with people, all of them young trainees with dreams in their hearts, their faces shining under the stage lights.

Sixteen-year-old Li Zhi walked forward into the spotlight, took the trophy that belonged to him from the host, his fingertips trembling slightly.

The passionate voices of the two hosts echoed throughout the venue.

"This year's Rookie Cup has really produced a lot of talent! I remember the jungle champion is also from QW's youth team!"

"That's right, QW's manager and coaches must be overjoyed this year."

"Speaking of which, the champions of the remaining four lanes in the Rookie Cup are already waiting backstage. Let's give them a warm round of applause as they take the stage!"

Golden glitter drifted down from the sky, falling gently like a light rain.

This was the first time Li Zhi had stood on such an awards stage. The lights were too bright, and the applause was too loud. He held the trophy somewhat awkwardly, unsure of where to look.

He could only turn around following the audience's gaze, walk through the falling golden rain, and meet the eyes of someone else walking towards him, also holding a trophy.

The boy was very tall with broad shoulders and a stern face. His brow bones were high and sharp, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

The venue was bustling with noise, and Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

He pursed his lips, and an inopportune thought popped into his mind.

So handsome.

He didn't know how long he had been staring at the person.

It wasn't until the boy slightly turned his head, his gaze seemingly sweeping over him, that Li Zhicai suddenly snapped back to reality and fixed his eyes on the trophy in his hand.

Golden glitter landed on his eyelashes, and he blinked, shaking off the annoying speck of gold.

He rubbed his slightly hot ears and lowered his head to listen obediently to the host.

The host is introducing the five track champions on stage in order from left to right.

Li Zhi was the third in line. When he was introduced, he waved to the camera and smiled sweetly and gently.

There was some restlessness in the audience, and the host even made a joking remark:

"Did I host the wrong show? Lychee is so good-looking, I thought I was presenting an award to a celebrity."

"Lychee could have easily relied on his looks, but he still won a championship through hard work!"

Another host chuckled and chimed in, "If that's the case, then after the awards ceremony, Lychee and River can hold hands and debut in the entertainment industry together. QW's training team is probably going to cry their eyes out."

"Hahahaha, I was just kidding. Speaking of River, next up is our rookie cup jungle champion, River Xie Jichuan!"

Xie Jichuan.

Li Zhi silently repeated the name in her heart, her heart stirring slightly.

The name is not unfamiliar; I've even heard it many times.

"Have you heard? Our youth team has a new jungler, his ID is River, and he's ridiculously strong."

"Xie Jichuan? I know him. He was the FMVP of the previous city tournament and was recruited by the coach."

"That guy doesn't look like someone to mess with. I ran into him in the hallway last time, and he ignored me when I greeted him."

"...They probably just didn't hear it."

"No, you didn't see the look in his eyes. Everyone looked like they owed him eight million."

These conversations drifted past Li Zhi's ears while he was nestled in his gaming chair, practicing last-hitting minions with a multitasking mind.

He has never been very interested in these kinds of gossips; he just listens and forgets, not even bothering to find out what the other person looks like.

There are so many people in the youth training team, he doesn't need to know everyone.

So this award ceremony marked the first time he had met Xie Jichuan.

Li Zhi secretly glanced to the right.

Xie Jichuan faced the camera directly, his expression indifferent.

He didn't seem to be receiving an award; he was as calm as a master who was about to pass away.

Li Zhi was shocked by her own imagination, and then she was caught peeking by the person in question.

Xie Jichuan had probably been holding back for a long time.

He turned around with a frown, his expression clearly irritated, and his lips moved slightly, as if he was about to say something rather impolite.

From the moment he stepped onto the stage, the person next to him kept staring at him, a gaze so intense it was impossible for him to ignore.

They all have two eyes and one mouth, what's so interesting about them?

But after seeing Li Zhi's face clearly, Xie Jichuan paused for a moment almost imperceptibly.

He swallowed back the question he had prepared.

His gaze suddenly dropped downwards, lingering for a moment on Li Zhi's fair neck.

His tone held a hint of confusion: "You're an Omega?"

Neither of them wore microphones, and there was a thick layer of sound between the stage and the audience, so when they spoke softly, no one could hear them at all.

Li Zhi's face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

I felt that blatant, unabashed gaze fixed on my neck.

He had never seen anyone like this before, staring at the neck of someone whose gender he didn't know, and then asking such an offensive question.

Even if he's just a Beta, he still has some privacy he wants to protect, okay?

If he were an Omega, Xie Jichuan would have sued him for sexual harassment just for that one glance.

Not to mention, they asked a question that was almost as sensitive as "What color underwear are you wearing today?"

Unfortunately, Kurichi is not an Omega.

He was just an ordinary beta, with no real reason to condemn Xie Jichuan's rudeness, and could only stammer out a rebuttal:

"I am not."

Upon hearing this, Xie Jichuan seemed even more surprised: "Beta?"

Li Zhi nodded, then wrinkled her nose slightly, looking a bit fierce: "What's wrong? Can't Betas play professionally?"

He thought Xie Jichuan would say something even more offensive.

After all, while the esports community doesn't treat Betas with the same blatant disdain as they do Omega, they certainly don't show much respect either.

He had heard these words far too often: "mediocre," "lacking talent," "just there to make up the numbers."

However, Xie Jichuan simply looked at him calmly, his voice low and unhurried:

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it."

He paused for a moment, then said, "If you're a Beta, then you're very impressive."

Li Zhi was just about to fly into a rage when it was easily extinguished.

He glared at Xie Jichuan, looked at that sharply defined face, then looked away, then looked back.

After a few attempts, it stalled completely.

Damn, he's so handsome no matter how you look at him.

He's so handsome that you wouldn't even want to get angry at him.

Li Zhi coldly forced herself to turn her face back to the front, thinking expressionlessly:

Lust can cloud judgment and lead people astray.