Ye Chen stared at the staff member, his surprise evident. He was astonished to learn that people in the industry had placed their bets on him. The odds were tight—nearly neck and neck—but it seemed that most were not convinced he had what it took. The time had come for him to step up and prove his mettle.
After the chaotic press conference debacle with Green, the odds on Spinach's side had widened even further. Ye Chen knew he had to deliver—he needed more victories to silence the doubters.
"How much did you put down?" Ye Chen inquired.
The staff member glanced around conspiratorially, then raised a finger.
"One hundred?" Ye Chen guessed.
"Ten thousand! That's a win in the making!" the staff exclaimed.
Ye Chen was momentarily taken aback. For an office worker, ten grand was a hefty bet. People in this beautiful country had little regard for saving; when it came to finances, many found themselves scrambling over mere hundreds or thousands. So this guy had staked ten thousand dollars right off the bat—was he a true believer in Ye Chen or simply reckless?
Amidst the preparations, as the hand straps were tightened and gloves adjusted, Ye Chen took a deep breath and headed for the stage. "Aren't you worried about losing all that money?" he asked, looking back over his shoulder.
"What?" the staff replied, his eyes widening.
Was Ye Chen alluding to something? Recently, news broke about coaches manipulating games through betting, a scandal that resulted in severe consequences. One player had been expelled, and the UFC had disqualified all fighters tied to that coach for life. It was a harsh reality, and yet the risks involved were all too tempting for some.
Ye Chen chuckled, "Just kidding, my friend. You'll soon be cashing in."
As the unmistakable sound of his entrance music began to play, Ye Chen walked into the arena with a confident stride.
The audience erupted into laughter the moment they laid eyes on him, but Ye Chen shrugged it off, engaging with the eager fans who reached out for high-fives and encouragement.
"Must win, Ye Chen!" one shouted.
"I'm rooting for you! Can't wait to see your skills shine!" another cheered.
"Can I give you a hug?" asked a wide-eyed admirer, beaming with enthusiasm.
"Hope you get knocked out!" someone sarcastically added, their voice lost amongst the supportive cheers.
Ye Chen's keen ears caught the taunt, though he couldn't see who it was amidst the crowd. Soon, he was applying Vaseline and double-checking his gloves, gearing up for the match.
Before he could even settle into his routine, a woman in the front row, donning a cap and mask, enthusiastically called out, "I'll help you with that!" Without hesitation, Ye Chen handed her his gear, not thinking twice about it.
But the unexpected happened—a swift slap on his backside and a whisper, "Quite firm… too bad you'll be crying tonight."
The crowd erupted into a mixture of laughter and boos, leaving Ye Chen momentarily dazed. Had he just been taken advantage of in front of so many people?
Yet there was no time to dwell on this latest incident; the host was already introducing Bobby Green, and the atmosphere was electric. After finishing his warm-up, Ye Chen's attention drifted back to the woman who had hijacked his moment, still waving her shirt excitedly and shouting greetings.
Ye Chen could only blink in disbelief.
As Bobby Green entered the Octagon, confidently rolling into the ring, he extended his fists for a fist bump. Ye Chen aimed to reciprocate, only to watch as Green turned around, playfully shrugging him off as he strutted away.
A grin spread across Ye Chen's face despite the teasing antics—Bobby Green was clearly there to stir things up.
The live broadcast exploded with commentary. "He's showing incredible disrespect towards Ye Chen," one commentator noted.
"Let's hope Ye Chen serves him a reality check and gives those booing fans a taste of defeat!" another chimed in, excitement palpable in their voice.
The chat lit up with passionate fans, their sentiments ranging from disbelief over Green's antics to fervent wishes for Ye Chen to claim victory and restore honor.
"Seriously? He's as disrespectful as Li Zhengyong last time. I'm rooting for Ye Chen to unleash a fierce comeback!"
"Let's see Ye Chen take him down! Green's all talk, be ready for a brutal showdown!"
Amidst the palpable tension, the referee stepped in, "You both know the rules. No dirty tricks. If I say stop, I mean it. Are we clear?"
They nodded, the air thick with anticipation.
"Ready for a fist bump now? If not, back to your corners," the referee continued, his eyes darting between the fighters.
Without another thought, Ye Chen and Bobby Green bypassed the fist bump and retreated to their corners.
"Start!"
Ye Chen surged toward the center of the cage, facing his opponent with unwavering resolve. Bobby Green, notorious for his bold playing style, stepped forward with confidence, a smirk plastered across his face as he lowered his hands, inviting the confrontation.
With a playful hop, Ye Chen bounced on his feet, beckoning Green closer with a gesture.
It caught Green off guard, confusion flickering across his face.
However, after a moment's hesitation, he charged forward, attempting a low sweep. Ye Chen effortlessly lifted his leg, dodging the maneuver, and cheekily wagged his finger left and right, as if to say, "You can't do this either."
The match had officially begun, and the audience was in for an electrifying showdown.