Chapter 109: The Livestream Warm-up (First Installment!)

The following day, afternoon.

It was nearly three o'clock. Across the internet, countless viewers had logged onto various streaming platforms, waiting on the simultaneously broadcast pages. The long-anticipated Celebrity Streamer Invitational was set to officially begin at three.

Last night, the revelation of the mysterious celebrity streamer and the sudden inclusion of Lin Zijin and her three teammates had set the entire internet ablaze. It was, without a doubt, explosive news. The Invitational, which already boasted high levels of interest, was pushed to an entirely new height by this announcement. The topic had been ignited. Among the top three trending searches on the internet, two were related to this tournament, including Lin Zijin herself.

There was no helping it; the event was simply too sensational. About three months ago, Lin Zijin had terminated her contract with the Legend Club. Although she had not formally announced her retirement, her subsequent total disappearance from the public eye had caused a massive stir.

She had achieved legendary status in her very first professional battle! Countless people had followed her from the moment she first showed her brilliance, through her rise to godhood, and onto her path of legend. The name "Lin Zijin" had come to mean far more than just the pinnacle of esports or a mere legend. She represented an insurmountable height and the very essence of youth for countless fans. Her emergence had even spurred the rise of many female professional players, a rarity in the professional scene prior to her arrival.

She had changed the landscape of the profession single-handedly. Since then, because of her, no one dared to belittle female professional players again. Who said women were inferior to men? When that phrase was applied to Lin Zijin, no one dared to disagree. Who would dare? In that field, she was the Queen.

When she left the professional stage, countless people wept for her, heartbroken. Was this legend truly retiring into obscurity? At the time, countless people asked themselves that very question. They were unwilling to accept it—not for her sake, nor for their own. She was in her prime! Five years of time had only made her stronger. She could have gone even higher, even further, even though she had already worn that crown. Some had believed that this legend would never stop. Yet, her sudden departure had led many who loved her to turn away from the field entirely.

Even more unimaginable was that her absence caused the esports scene in China to fall into a slump. This was likely the first time in history that a single person had impacted the entire industry so profoundly. Even in leaving, she had shown the world with her departure that she was an insurmountable legend. Her terrifying influence left people both inside and outside the industry in awe.

And yet, just as people were failing to come to terms with the facts, she appeared again. A month ago, a single announcement set everyone into a frenzy: "Lemon Team, PUBG!" With just those eight characters, Lin Zijin had announced her return. To many, however, this announcement felt less like a notice and more like a manifesto, as if she were telling the world that the legend was still in full bloom. She was back!

At the same time, a photograph accompanying the announcement sent the staff of most professional teams into a panic. In that photo, alongside Lin Zijin, were Lu Ziqi, Shen Muxi, and Ling Xue'er. In her return, she brought an entirely new team—a team that belonged to her. Each of these four individuals, if placed into any other team, would be an absolute core member. Yet, these three had quietly joined Lin Zijin’s team. Lin Zijin’s terrifying ability to rally others had manifested once again. Even though this was a newly formed team with no major club behind them, no one dared to underestimate them. Countless people were wary, and countless others were waiting in anticipation. They were all waiting for their official debut.

Unfortunately, after forming the Lemon Team, Lin Zijin and her teammates had made few moves. The only thing that drew attention was that Lin Zijin, who had always focused solely on professional tournaments, had started streaming online. For nearly a month, aside from their daily streams, the team remained quiet. But the more they did so, the more uneasy some people became, for they knew Lin Zijin must be preparing something. She would not act without purpose, but once she did, she would surely catch them off guard.

Although this Celebrity Streamer Invitational was nominally just an entertainment event, it was the first competition in which Lin Zijin and her team would appear, and many wanted to see for themselves just how far their strength had reached. Teams, streamers, fans, and ordinary viewers—countless people were watching.

Finally, the time reached three o'clock. The countdown page vanished, and the stream transitioned.

"Hello everyone, I’m the commentator Xiao Qi!"
"Hello everyone, I’m the commentator Xiao Mo!"

As these two voices sounded, two figures appeared on the screen.

"It’s finally starting!"
"Whoa, it’s actually them?"
"The organizers really spent a fortune to get them here."
"My Xiao Qi is so handsome, love you! Mwah!"
"Xiao Mo, you’re the most beautiful!"
"Calling it for Xiao Qi and Xiao Mo!"

Seeing the two on the commentary desk, many were stunned, then went wild. Xiao Qi and Xiao Mo were the most popular pair of professional commentators at the moment. Their "golden boy and jade girl" dynamic, combined with their highly professional commentary, gave them an esteemed position in the hearts of the audience. Of course, such a commentary duo commanded a high price, and many hadn't expected the organizers to be so generous. It was clear they had invested heavily.

"I’m very happy to see everyone again. Today’s opening qualifier will be commentated by myself and Xiao Mo," the young man in the suit said with a smile.
"Indeed, we hope to bring you some fantastic commentary," Xiao Mo, wearing an evening gown, replied with a smile.
"Is that so?" Xiao Qi tilted his head slightly, then pretended to look disappointed. "But I feel like everyone might not actually want to hear us commentate."
"Why?" Xiao Mo asked, confused.
"Don't you know there's a mysterious guest participating in this tournament? Compared to us, I think that’s who everyone is waiting to see!"
"Are you talking about my idol?" Xiao Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up.
"Exactly!"

By the time their conversation reached this point, nearly all the viewers were completely excited. Even though they already knew who the person Xiao Qi and Xiao Mo were referring to, the mention of her name made those waiting before their screens unable to contain themselves.

The next moment, the stream’s chat was flooded. As Lin Zijin’s name appeared frantically across the screen, the emotions of the audience were fully stirred. Anticipation! Excitement! Thrill!

Xiao Qi and Xiao Mo’s opening hype had clearly achieved a magnificent effect.