The soft glow of the computer screens bathed the room in a muted blue light as Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng sat side by side in the training room. Their fingers moved swiftly across their keyboards, the sound of rapid typing and clicking filling the quiet space. The two were locked in a heated practice match, coordinating their attacks with precision and skill, their characters moving across the virtual battlefield in perfect sync.
They had been here for hours, practising, as they had done countless times before. But this time, something felt different. Ye Xiu was quieter than usual. His focus was as sharp as ever, but the air around him felt heavy, his usual effortless calm replaced by a tension that even Su Mucheng could feel.
As the final seconds of the match ticked down, their characters secured the win. Victory banners flashed on their screens, signalling the end of the game. Normally, Ye Xiu would have leaned back in his chair with a smug grin, teasing her about how they could do better. But today, he simply stared at the screen, his eyes distant.
Su Mucheng glanced sideways at him, concern knitting her brow. She had known Ye Xiu for years, long enough to tell when something was off. He was her best friend—her confidant. But lately, he had been closed off, more withdrawn than usual. She had been patient, waiting for him to open up, but his silence was becoming harder to ignore.
"Ye Xiu?" she asked softly, turning to face him fully. Her voice broke through the quiet of the room. "Is everything okay?"
He didn't respond immediately, his fingers hovering over the keys as if lost in thought. After a moment, he let out a small sigh, pushing his chair back from the desk and rubbing his eyes. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice steady but lacking the usual warmth. "Just... stressed about the upcoming national championships."
Su Mucheng's eyes narrowed. She wasn't convinced. She knew him too well to believe it was just about the tournament. But before she could press him further, Ye Xiu stood up, forcing a half-hearted smile. "We've got a lot on our plates right now," he added. "Let's just focus on the game."
Su Mucheng hesitated, watching him closely. Something deeper was bothering him, but if he wasn't ready to talk about it, there wasn't much she could do. She gave a small nod, deciding to let the matter rest for now. "Alright," she said quietly, standing up and stretching. "But if you need to talk... you know I'm here."
Ye Xiu nodded, his smile a little more genuine this time. "I know. Thanks, Mucheng."
The next morning, the mood at Excellent Era was as tense as ever. The team had gathered in the conference room for their usual meeting, but the weight of recent events hung over them like a storm cloud. The deaths of Sun Xiang and Zhang Jiale had shaken the entire gaming community to its core, and the players at Excellent Era were no exception.
Ye Xiu sat at the head of the table, his expression serious as he looked around at his teammates. Liu Hao was seated next to him, his brow furrowed in concentration. Across the table, Su Mucheng was focused, her eyes scanning the notes in front of her. The rest of the team was unusually quiet, their usual banter and excitement replaced by a subdued atmosphere.
Ye Xiu took a deep breath, knowing it was up to him to lift the team's spirits. "Alright, guys," he began, his voice carrying a tone of determination. "I know things have been rough lately. We've all been through a lot, and the loss of two of our fellow players has hit the entire scene hard. But we can't let that stop us."
He paused, glancing at each of his teammates, making sure to meet their eyes. "The national championships are coming up, and this is our chance to prove that we're still the best. We're Excellent Era, and we've built a legacy of being the strongest team in Glory. I believe in every single one of you."
Liu Hao nodded, standing up and slapping his hand on the table. "Ye Xiu's right. We've been through worse, and we've come out on top every time. We can't let fear or doubt hold us back. We owe it to ourselves—and to the people we've lost—to give this everything we've got."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, the players starting to nod and straighten up in their chairs. The tension that had weighed them down began to lift, and a flicker of determination sparked in their eyes.
"Let's start fresh," Ye Xiu said, smiling faintly. "Mucheng and I will grab us some food later. But first, we need to get back to work. We've got matches coming up, and our first game is probably going to be against Blue Rain. We need to be ready."
The mention of Huang Shaotian's team's name brought a few grins to the players' faces. Despite the seriousness of their situation, they couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of facing their old rivals. Blue Rain had always been a formidable opponent, and the thought of going up against Huang Shaotian's fast-paced, relentless style always added an extra layer of intensity to their preparations.
Later that day, Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng left the training room, heading out to grab food for the team. As they walked through the quiet streets near the Excellent Era base, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the pavement.
Su Mucheng glanced at Ye Xiu, her expression soft. "You're doing a good job, you know," she said. "The team's morale is picking up."
Ye Xiu shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "We'll see," he replied. "There's still a lot we need to work through. It's not just about winning anymore. This whole situation... it's bigger than that."
Su Mucheng didn't say anything, but she gave him a reassuring smile. She could see how much was weighing on him, but she also knew he was strong enough to handle it. He always was.
Back at Excellent Era, the team gathered once again to continue their preparations. Everyone knew what was at stake, but as the week went on, they slowly regained their focus. Despite the looming shadow of the recent tragedies, their drive to succeed in the upcoming matches never faltered.
When the official schedule was released, Ye Xiu stood in front of the large screen displaying their first matchup. Sure enough, their first opponents were Blue Rain.
"Looks like we're starting with a bang," Liu Hao said with a grin, clapping Ye Xiu on the shoulder.
Ye Xiu smirked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the name of his rival. Huang Shaotian. The fast-talking, skilled player of Blue Rain was known for being relentless on the battlefield, and their rivalry had been going on for years. This match would be another chapter in their long history of clashes.
"We'll be ready," Ye Xiu said firmly. "We have to be."
The team began to prepare, their minds focused on the upcoming challenge. But even as they practised, the events of the past continued to linger at the back of their minds. The losses they had endured were not forgotten, but with every passing day, their resolve grew stronger.
For Excellent Era, the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty. But as long as Ye Xiu led them, they knew they could face whatever came their way.