Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

In early May, the air in Shanghai already carried the slight dryness of early summer.

The LPL Spring Split Finals are scheduled for May 2nd at the famous esports arena that has witnessed countless cheers and sighs. The two teams facing off will be JDG and TES, a clash between two new champions that also marks the rise of the new generation of LPL power.

As a two-time World Championship Finals MVP, Li Ran naturally had no reason to refuse the official invitation.

What's more, TES also has his old partner, JackeyLove, who once lifted the trophy alongside him.

Filming wrapped up on the morning of May 1st. Li Ran then arranged a three-day holiday with the production team and boarded a flight to Shanghai with her assistant.

After the plane took off, his fingers unconsciously tapped a familiar game rhythm on his knees, muscle memory returning to that familiar Summoner's Rift before his thoughts could even register.

……

On the afternoon of the finals, Li Ran arrived at the venue, found the TES lounge with ease, and knocked on the door.

Ah Shui opened the door.

He was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with undisguised surprise, and he lightly punched Li Ran on the shoulder: "Brother Ran! You really came? When did you arrive?"

"Last night." Li Ran smiled and punched back, his gaze sweeping over the familiar and unfamiliar faces in the room.

The atmosphere here is tense and focused, with clips of the opponent's tactics playing repeatedly on the screen.

"I'm here specifically to put pressure on you in the arena, so play your best today."

"Absolutely!" Ah Shui grinned, his eyes gleaming. "With Brother Ran in charge, won't I be unleashing my full potential?"

Karsa looked up from his tactical board, adjusted his glasses, and said in a tone that was half teasing and half serious, "Hey Burning God, give me some experience. That jungler on the other side is pretty good."

Li Ran chuckled: "Kawhi, don't be ridiculous. What kind of storms haven't you weathered? And you're talking about someone who just came up as a substitute? Besides, I never even played against him before I retired."

Hearing this, 369, who was leaning against the wall, came over. His chubby figure carried a hint of honesty and seriousness: "Ran Shen, that guy's skills are amazing, but for some reason, beating him is not nearly as intimidating as when you trained him in the military."

After he finished speaking, he scratched his head sheepishly.

Li Ran couldn't help but smile as he recalled the "psychological trauma" he and TheShy had left on this young top laner, who had to see a psychologist after the match.

He straightened his expression and gave succinct advice: "Stay calm in lane today and trust your teammates."

"The enemy jungler isn't as scary as you think. Just play at your own pace, but be careful of Green Hair's support. His ability to initiate team fights and find opportunities is top-notch."

He paused, glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the slightly shy mid-laner Knight and the quietly preparing Prophet, then clapped his hands: "Alright, you guys get ready. I wouldn't dare take over the coach's job. I just came to check on the brothers."

After saying a few more encouraging words, Li Ran left the lounge at the right time. Just before closing the door, he turned back to look at Ah Shui.

The boy who once followed behind him, flashing forward and risking his career, is now the absolute core carrying the team forward.

Li Ran turned around and walked towards the commentators' lounge. Time seemed to overlap at this moment. He was no longer a player in the lounge, but he could still feel the desire and heart palpitations for the battlefield welling up from his bones.

Li Ran pushed open the door to the commentators' lounge, and familiar laughter and chatter poured out from inside.

Guan Zeyuan, Wawa, and Miller were discussing something around a small round table.

"Hey! Our Burning God has arrived!" Guan Zeyuan, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot him and immediately greeted him with a smile.

Li Ran smiled and nodded to several familiar faces: "Brother Guan, Director Wa, Teacher Miller."

He walked to an empty chair and sat down, his tone unusually sincere, "This is my first time sitting in the commentary booth, and it's the finals, so please take care of me, everyone, and don't let me make a fool of myself."

Upon hearing this, the doll laughed and teased, "Come on, Li Ran, you're a big star now. What haven't you seen? What are you afraid of?"

"How can these be the same?" Li Ran shook his head.

"If you make a mistake in a game, you can make up for it in the next round. But the commentators are broadcasting live. If they say the wrong thing, the chat will bury me."

Miller adjusted his glasses and said gently, "Alright, stop being modest. Back in the World Championship finals, your hand didn't even shake when you stole the dragon. This kind of spectacle is nothing to you."

Guan Zeyuan leaned forward, his face full of curiosity, and asked in a low voice, "Seriously, Ran Shen, how's it going to switch from the competitive arena to the entertainment industry? Is there a lot more variety to it than when you were a professional player?"

Li Ran leaned back in his chair, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly said, "It feels just so-so. It's just a different map and different rules, but the core is still 'the game'."

He paused, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Life is like a play, and a play is like life. It's the same everywhere."

The brief chat was quickly interrupted by a staff member's reminder that the competition was about to begin.

Due to special circumstances, there were no spectators present, making the large venue appear somewhat empty and quiet.

After the pre-match promotional video and trash talk segment finished playing on the big screen, the lights focused on the players' seats in the center of the stage, and the music for the draft phase began, creating a solemn and ceremonial atmosphere.

The finals unfolded like a dramatic symphony.

JDG took the first game, but TES quickly retaliated in the second game, leveling the score.

In the third game, the battle reached its climax in front of the dragon pit. TES's two carries made amazing plays, tearing apart the opponent's formation with two against five, and securing the victory in one fell swoop, taking the lead in the match.

However, JDG showed amazing resilience in the fourth game, playing steadily and methodically, dragging the game into a decisive fifth game.

The draft phase screen for the decisive game flashed on the screen in front of Li Ran.

When JDG locked in Bard as their last pick, Li Ran's heart skipped a beat. This unpredictable support hero had finally been chosen.

Will the ending change because of this?

Although he had specifically warned TES in the pre-match rest area to be careful of Green Hair's support initiating team fights...

As the game reaches a critical juncture, a battle for vision control near the Baron pit is about to erupt.

Just as TES's formation showed a fleeting moment of weakness, Green Hair's Bard made a move.

A magical journey portal, almost predictively, lit up behind the wall. Immediately afterward, a golden, shimmering path of destiny precisely pierced through the crowd, transforming TES's core damage dealers and key frontliners into dazzling golden statues! Time seemed to be stolen at that moment.

"It's over." These two words flashed through Li Ran's mind, his voice so soft that only he could hear them.

The team fight on the screen showed a one-sided crushing victory, with TES's formation collapsing under a perfect first strike.

JDG advanced triumphantly and destroyed the crystal.

The golden rain finally fell for JDG, as they lifted their first-ever LPL championship trophy. Cheers and jubilation belonged to the other side of the stage.

In the commentary booth, Li Ran, together with Miller and Guan Zeyuan, completed the final commentary, his tone professional and restrained.

The match is over.

Li Ran took off his headphones, and the real sound waves in the stadium finally entered his ears. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the dejected figures of TES leaving the stage. He recalled that year at the Bird's Nest, when he himself had also walked off the stage with a face full of resentment.

Besides the cheers of victory, esports is also full of regrets.