Chapter Nine: Official Announcement of the New Season Lineup

At that moment, a WeChat notification popped up on the phone. Senming Shi quickly turned around upon seeing it. Noticing Shi’s strange behavior and sensing he was hiding something, Uzi looked him over and asked, “What’s up?”

“Nothing much. Lin Ruo sent me a message saying you’re his idol and that he can’t wait to face you in the Spring Split,” Shi replied unabashedly.

The naive little chubby guy took it at face value and chuckled, “Tell him that since he’s my fan, I’ll go easy on him in the Spring Split.”

Shi cautiously opened his phone to reply, careful not to let Uzi catch even a glimpse.

“The little dog is right next to me, and you’re still speaking so carelessly? Don’t you remember how badly Mingkai’s fans tore him apart?” Lin Ruo messaged back from the EDG base. His previous message was clearly taunting.

“I’m already trying to hold back as much as I can,” Shi responded.

Lin Ruo glanced at the earlier chat logs and teased, “I heard you joined RNG, so you and the little chubby guy better clean your act and get ready to be shredded by me in the Spring Split.”

Nothing wrong with that. Joking among friends is normal, isn’t it? It’s not like you were making those comments for the chubby guy to see.

Lin Ruo had been cryptic like this for quite some time; there was no reason for Shi to be so anxious.

...

As the public opinion continued to ferment, that evening, EDG’s marketing manager Lao Yue went live on Zhanqi TV as usual.

The enraged fans, or “piglets,” flocked to the live stream demanding an explanation.

Following management’s directives, the bald Lao Yue gave a lengthy speech, covering several points:

First, EDG had indeed recruited Lin Ruo, the former youth substitute from RNG, and due to his strong trial performance, he was very likely to start in the Spring Split.

Second, Mingkai was present during the trial matches and agreed to the signing, casting the deciding approval vote.

Third, there were no worries about disciplinary issues; EDG was managed militarily and would never allow players to slack off by playing other games.

While making this statement, Lao Yue couldn’t help but mock the neighboring club, “Unlike some clubs that can’t even manage player discipline.”

His words were like a thunderclap. The live chat exploded with a piglet-dog war, volleys of insults flying back and forth, making for quite a spectacle.

Lin Ruo, who had registered a new account, was lurking in the chat as well.

Seeing Lao Yue using his name to attract negative traffic left him inexplicably uneasy.

“I haven’t even made a move yet, and you’re already reaping all the benefits.”

It wasn’t that Lin Ruo didn’t want to stream, but since joining EDG, he could no longer broadcast on Huya.

EDG and Zhanqi TV were strategic partners, and all their players, without exception, were stationed on Zhanqi.

...

Lin Ruo still had a contract with Huya that wouldn’t expire until January of the following year.

Since he had joined EDG, he was prohibited from streaming during this period.

Aside from the recent surge in fame, he had previously been practically invisible.

The penalty for breaking the contract wasn’t high, but for a young player who had lost three months of salary, it was a considerable sum.

Having just joined the club without any results, he certainly couldn’t expect the club to pay the 30,000 yuan buyout fee.

Lin Ruo didn’t have that kind of nerve.

Besides, it was less than a month to endure.

With that in mind, Lin Ruo casually registered a new Weibo account.

Thus, EDG_Ling was born.

Before he even made a single post, within half an hour, the comment section had dozens of remarks.

The piglets, ever reactive, continued defending their factory captain.

“Wow, still dare to register an account.”

“A player that even RNG doesn’t want, not sure what Sister Bu saw in you.”

“Too lazy to roast you, but if you mess up and let Mingkai down in the new season, we won’t let you off.”

Lin Ruo couldn’t resist the urge to reply and be cryptic.

But he was certain that if he made any move, Abu, who had just quelled the public opinion storm, would be the first to come and tear him apart.

Better to lie low until he had some achievements.

“Tian Ye, follow me, will you?” Lin Ruo glanced sideways.

Tian Ye decisively refused, “I don’t dare. The transfer window closes tomorrow; wait until the official announcement and the club follows you, then I’ll follow you.”

Truly a refined egoist.

No wonder the Grand Slam had barely made a splash outside the Asian Games over the years.

Lin Ruo searched for the next target, fixing his gaze on Ai Loli.

Ai Loli shuddered and quickly replied, “You know I don’t use Weibo.”

Scout genuinely didn’t use Weibo; his account was probably managed by the club.

Aguang had returned home; his elderly father passed away before the World Championship this year, and he still had unfinished business.

The factory captain had long since quit; he wasn’t playing in the Spring Split and had little reason to stay with the club.

Lin Ruo gave up the idea, scratched his nose, and, seeing Abu come in to check on things, symbolically started a game of ARAM.

He called it “training his personal skills.”

This was a timeless maxim from a certain shy world-class top laner: playing ARAM puts more pressure on your mechanics.

...

December 16 arrived, and the LPL transfer window officially closed.

LPL’s major clubs, once hesitant, began to make announcements, unveiling their new rosters.

EDG’s operations team posted nearly ten official Weibo statements in one go.

First, they announced Deft and Pawn’s departures, wishing them well and bidding farewell.

Then, they officially introduced new players Lin Ruo and Ai Loli, along with new Korean coach Nofe.

Ai Loli was promoted from the second team.

Lin Ruo was a free agent signing.

Under Lin Ruo’s announcement, comments soared into the thousands.

“NC club, signing this kind of player just to make the neighbors laugh?”

“RNG’s trash too? And he was Zaozi’s substitute? Deft’s departure must be infuriating.”

“Don’t be too harsh. When Lin Ruo left RNG, Uzi was still dismantling QG. He was Wuxx’s substitute, basically Uzi’s substitute’s substitute.”

“666, so the substitute was second in line?”

“Since he’s here, we fans won’t say much. Let’s see the skills speak in the Spring Split. Don’t give us a chance to catch you slipping.”

The piglets vowed to scrutinize intently, threatening that if the Spring Split went badly, they’d be ready to storm the towers.

In contrast, Ai Loli faced far less pressure. Comment numbers were negligible, mostly filled with encouraging words.

In truth, he should have been the primary target of piglets’ scrutiny.

In the new season’s roster, the factory captain had already been cut and would not play in the Spring Split’s regular season.

Some rational piglets couldn’t help but worry about the club’s prospects and whether it could continue to dominate the LPL.

The competition hadn’t even started, yet they were already nostalgic for Mingkai.

The neighboring RNG was in a similar situation.

Mata and Looper had left to return home, joining KT Communication Agency to build the “Galaxy Battleship.” The club’s former substitute Letem and support Ming, who transferred from YM, now occupied the top lane and support positions respectively.

However, RNG had thus become an esteemed all-Chinese roster, boosting fan confidence.

The Spring Split was sure to see a fierce battle for national pride unfold.