The offseason was about to end, and all the major clubs were preparing to announce their new players.
Ella was always the most efficient. Their two new players were the third and fourth-ranked trainees from the academy, and they already had a bit of fame within the Fifth Circle.
The rest of the clubs announced their players one by one, and in the end, only EAR hadn't released any news.
On Weibo, the fan super-topic threads were filled with:
[Urgent urgent, why hasn't the official account posted yet?]
[EAR, you're making me lose so badly!]
[What time? I'm just asking what time! BOOK said it, is it true? Give us some confirmation!]
[I really want to see it, sob sob sob.]
[EAR management, get to work already!!]
[I swear, if I don't see the announcement today, I won't close my eyes.]
Almost everyone in the Fifth Profession community already knew that the first- and second-ranked trainees had rejected Ella's invitation. Based on rumors, the vague attitude of current EAR players, and a few photos secretly taken at Haidilao, everyone was pretty sure these two trainees were going to EAR.
But guessing is one thing; an official announcement is another.
For a moment, all eyes were on EAR.
Finally, at 6:00 p.m., EAR's official Weibo "came alive."
---
[EAR Identity V Headquarters Personnel Announcement]
Based on respecting the individual's wishes, and after full communication and friendly consultation with the club, we are very pleased to announce:
Free agent Lu Xiangyang, competition ID: EAR-sun, officially joins the EAR Identity V division as a Hunter-side player!
Welcome player Lu Xiangyang @EAR-sun!
EAR-sun — officially connected!
[Picture]
---
[EAR Identity V Headquarters Personnel Announcement]
Based on respecting the individual's wishes, and after full communication and friendly consultation with the club, we are very pleased to announce:
Free agent Shen Kuangye, competition ID: EAR-wild, officially joins the EAR Identity V division as a Survivor-side player!
Welcome player Shen Kuangye @EAR-wild!
EAR-wild — officially connected!
[Picture]
---
By the time the announcement was made, most of the club members had already returned.
The offseason was ending, and everyone was starting to refocus on the regular season.
Xingxing, after posting the announcement via the club's official account, eagerly watched the screen. After a minute, however, no likes or comments appeared.
Even for ordinary posts about matches, there should have been some likes.
Xingxing was frustrated and was about to restart his phone when he realized it wasn't that there were no likes—it was that there were so many likes and comments the phone had frozen.
Within just two minutes, the post had over 99+ interactions.
[Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, does Fifth Profession even have such handsome players??? Two in one go???]
[Sorry, I'm an HS fan who usually wavers, but even if EAR's results are terrible, these two are way too handsome. I've decided to become a die-hard EAR fan.]
[So handsome, and they play so well. EAR this season will be terrifying!]
[Is it just me, or is everyone curious how EAR recruited these two?]
[I can't take it, sob sob sob. Sun seems a bit smaller, looks cute, gives off a cool vibe. But Wild is completely different—the eyes, the posture, the aura.]
[I've decided to go to the old grave to do something…]
[Same here, hehe.]
[Sob sob sob, the new season starts in a few days. I'm camping in the livestream room!!]
[I'm putting all my golden apples on EAR this season.]
Within just half an hour, the two EAR announcements each had over 100,000 likes, and news of "EAR has two super-handsome, super-strong rookies" shot to the top of trending searches.
Fifth Profession had been extremely popular in China for years, and its professional league received a lot of attention, with a growing fan base.
Before long, photos of Lu Xiangyang and Shen Kuangye were being widely circulated online.
Handsome players were already rare, but handsome players who competed in esports—especially in Fifth Profession—were particularly eye-catching.
[I didn't expect Sun to be a Hunter. So obedient-looking QAQ]
[Not only is he a Hunter, but he's also fierce. A 90%+ win rate isn't a joke.]
[Such a contrast, ah ah ah, they're a perfect match. I'm shipping them on the spot.]
[Wild's cold, handsome face makes it hard to imagine him screaming while gaming.]
[If they play as the Mimic…]
[Stop ruining my imagination!]
Xingxing laughed so hard he almost broke his mouth, scrolling through his phone all day.
All the club members also posted welcome messages on Weibo.
Meanwhile, the two players at the center of all the attention were at the hospital with Lu Ning.
Lu Ning's test results were good, though she still needed rest and observation in the hospital.
Lu Ning had suggested that staying in the hospital was too expensive and offered to go home instead, coming back only if she felt unwell.
Lu Xiangyang didn't agree.
Sitting beside her bed, he held her hand seriously:
"Mom, just listen to me. Focus on your treatment here at the hospital. Don't worry about the cost. I'm a professional player now, I can afford it. Besides, if I win the Abyss Grand Championship, I'll be able to buy us a big house, and we won't have to move all the time."
Lu Ning had carried him through many hardships.
When his father passed away, Lu Xiangyang was still very young, but the scene left a lifelong psychological shadow.
He saw their house ruthlessly taken over by relatives, and he and his mother were forced out. Lu Ning's arms and legs were covered in scrapes.
Through her tears, Lu Ning smiled at him:
"Yangyang, let's go live somewhere else with Mom, okay?"
The young Lu Xiangyang nodded.
But the housing prices were high, and Lu Ning still had to cover his education. They had to move frequently.
Lu Xiangyang's suitcase was always unpacked.
He secretly vowed to earn big money one day to improve Lu Ning's life.
Lu Ning valued his studies, but Lu Xiangyang was naturally not good at learning. He struggled in silence, not wanting to disappoint her, but he also seriously asked himself: If I have no skills, what can I do in the future?
At sixteen, he discovered the first game of his life: Identity V.
It was then he realized he might have a talent for gaming. Within less than two weeks, he reached Peak Rank 7, and by the end of one season, he consistently ranked in the top three Hunters.
The term "professional player" appeared in his world for the first time.
Watching players holding trophies under golden rain on his phone stirred up waves in his heart, and he even dreamed of standing on that stage winning championships.
When he told Lu Ning he wanted to pursue esports, she initially opposed it.
Even as a fairly open-minded parent, she didn't approve of this choice for her son.
"Yangyang, have you thought about what happens when you pass your prime years with only a high school education?"
"Mom doesn't oppose it, but she wants your future path to be easier."
She spoke softly:
"Mom searched last night. Esports players can get tendonitis; it's a painful condition that lasts a lifetime. Are you sure?"
Sixteen-year-old Lu Xiangyang nodded seriously:
"I'm sure, Mom."
This was the first time he made a request to Lu Ning; he had always been obedient and well-behaved in front of her.
He had long wanted to prove himself, but before he was just an untested academy player. Now he could finally say it.
Lu Ning wiped her eyes and, holding back her sob, said:
"Alright, Mom believes you."
"Mom, you've worked hard all these years. During this time, just rest and do what you enjoy. Don't carry any burdens."
Lu Xiangyang held her hand, smiling:
"And don't stay up late. Get along well with the club members, okay?"
Lu Ning gave her usual reminders.
Lu Xiangyang glanced at the door and whispered:
"Got it, Mom."
When Lu Xiangyang left, Shen Kuangye had already finished speaking with the doctor. He quietly instructed:
"If he asks later, just tell him what I said."
The doctor nodded and left.
Lu Xiangyang didn't know what they had talked about. He walked up to Shen Kuangye:
"Kuangye-ge, what did the doctor say?"
Shen Kuangye noticed the red in Lu Xiangyang's eyes. He handed him the milk tea tucked in his coat pocket:
"Here."
He knew Lu Xiangyang would act like this, so he bought a cup of milk tea that was said to improve one's mood.
Lu Xiangyang, surprised, took it. It was still warm:
"When did you buy this?"
Shen Kuangye:
"Picked it up."
Lu Xiangyang pouted:
"Liar."
Shen Kuangye couldn't help but laugh.
It was late. After saying goodbye to Lu Ning, they took a taxi back to the club.
In the car, Lu Xiangyang chewed his pearls while opening his phone, noticing that the three-no (private) Weibo account he created a few days ago had inexplicably gained nearly 50,000 followers.
His inbox was flooded with messages praising him, and some fans even called themselves "Mom."
Lu Xiangyang was a little stunned, almost forgetting to chew.
Shen Kuangye noticed and asked:
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know, it suddenly jumped 50,000 followers," Lu Xiangyang said, dazed.
"Today's the official announcement."
"Oh, I almost forgot… I guess it is," Lu Xiangyang finally realized.
He searched for EAR's official Weibo account. Clicking in, he saw the post officially linking Shen Kuangye to the team.
In the photo, Shen Kuangye's features were sharp and handsome, his aloof aura making him seem hard to approach.
Lu Xiangyang secretly saved the photo.
Shen Kuangye, completely unbothered, noticed the little action and raised an eyebrow:
"Why are you saving this?"
Lu Xiangyang's hand trembled, his nerves immediately on edge. He had just taken a sip of milk tea and accidentally choked.
He started coughing violently.
Shen Kuangye, unsure why Lu Xiangyang reacted so strongly just from asking, quickly handed him a tissue:
"Drink slower."
He noticed Lu Xiangyang's ears and face had turned red.
Once Lu Xiangyang recovered slightly, his cheeks tinged with pink, he whispered:
"It's nothing."
He couldn't help but think, I was too immersed just now, almost forgot Shen Kuangye was here.
Shen Kuangye opened Weibo and scrolled to EAR's official account.
He thought his own photo wasn't particularly good—just average.
He scrolled past until he saw Lu Xiangyang's post.
The usually obedient boy was rarely serious, his delicate, fair face looking especially cool.
Shen Kuangye thought this kind of photo was truly worth saving.
Lu Xiangyang, finally calming down a bit, secretly glanced at Shen Kuangye to see what he was doing—and noticed that his long fingers had opened Lu Xiangyang's own official photo, looked at it for a moment, and then—clicked save.