The room was a shrine to victory, a chaotic yet somehow organized mess that screamed "gamer girl."
The walls were lined with shelves crammed with shiny trophies, golden plaques, and framed certificates from esports championships around the world.
LED lights in shades of purple and blue bathed the room, reflecting off her custom-built gaming setup, a triple-monitor display, a sleek mechanical keyboard, and a headset glowing faintly with RGB colors.
In the middle of it all sat Xiao Ting, the Goddess of Esports.
Her long black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and she wore a hoodie with her team logo emblazoned on the front.
Beneath the dim glow of her monitors, her flawless skin seemed almost ethereal.
The final seconds of the League of Legends championship ticked down.
The enemy team was relentless, pushing her Nexus with the ferocity of wolves.
Xiao Ting's teammates were panicking, but she wasn't.
"Hold the line!" she barked, her voice sharp and unwavering. Her fingers moved like a pianist's across the keyboard, executing commands with perfect precision.
With a quick glance at the minimap, she saw her opening. The enemy was distracted. "I'm going in."
Her champion darted through the jungle, weaving past wards.
Her heart pounded, but her face was calm. The commentators on the livestream were losing their minds.
"She's going for the backdoor!" one yelled.
"Classic Xiao Ting!" the other commentator replied. "She's the queen of split-pushing. The Goddess is back!"
Her fans flooded the chat with frantic messages. "SHE'S INSANE!" "GO TING GO!" "GODDESS AT WORK!"
The enemy team realized too late. The Nexus exploded in a flash of light. Victory.
Xiao Ting leaned back in her chair, her lips curving into a faint smile. Another day, another championship.
---
Outside her gaming dungeon, her parents sat in the living room.
The sound of Xiao Ting's fans cheering echoed faintly through the closed door.
"Ugh. She won," Xiao Jun sighed, his voice heavy with exasperation.
"Again," Xiao Ling-er added, mirroring his sigh. The two sat on the couch, coffee mugs in hand, staring at the TV screen, though neither was watching whatever was playing.
"Should we send her to America?" Jun suggested with a groan. "I heard it changes people."
Ling-er gave him a look, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "She won't even come out of her room! Are you going to kidnap her and throw her on a plane to America?"
Jun winced. "I don't know. I'm growing old. I need grandchildren." He took a sip of his coffee, looking thoroughly defeated.
Ling-er sighed but said nothing, her mind clearly racing. After a moment of silence, she placed her mug down with a sharp clink.
"We have to do something," she said thoughtfully.
"And what would that be?" Jun asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ling-er smirked softly. "You'll see."