Chapter 24: Your Idol Is Across the Way

The gunshots came from the direction of the school. Clearly, they had been discovered.

The sudden turn of events instantly put everyone on high alert. Cheng and his team reacted quickly; as soon as their teammate Firefox was taken down, they immediately drove the car in front of him to shield him from being finished off, using the vehicle as a temporary cover.

Once the car was parked, all three scrambled out. Xiaodongdong rushed to rescue the fallen teammate, while Cheng and another teammate found nearby cover, ready to provide supporting fire for Xiaodongdong as she revived Firefox.

Rapid bursts of gunfire and the sharp crack of shots echoed as the group in the school unleashed a fierce barrage toward them. Yang Hao’s team, being closer, inevitably got caught in the crossfire.

“Get out! Find cover!” Ling Xue’er, who was driving, stopped the car, while Lin Zijin issued the command.

Originally, Yang Hao hadn’t planned to get involved with Cheng’s group. After all, the firepower from the school was mainly focused on them. Though Yang Hao’s team was affected, they could easily drive away to find a better counterattack position or simply leave.

But considering Xiaodongdong was with Cheng’s group—and though Yang Hao didn’t know her well, Ling Xue’er was close to her—abandoning them seemed somewhat heartless.

With that in mind, Yang Hao didn’t object and followed Lin Zijin and the others, finding cover nearby.

“The opponents are no pushovers. Be careful,” Lin Zijin warned Yang Hao, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.

“Oh,” Yang Hao replied quietly.

Glory, Changyuan!

That ID was not unfamiliar to Yang Hao. From the prefix alone, he knew the player was a member of the Glory professional team. Yang Hao might not know him personally, but he knew about him.

Thanks to Lin Zijin, Yang Hao was well-acquainted with the professional scene. If he remembered correctly, Changyuan was a new player in the Glory Club’s battle royale division.

Though a rookie, his reputation wasn’t small. He was said to be a prodigy from the Glory youth training camp, nicknamed “God Sniper,” and had stunned everyone with his performances in previous tournaments. He currently served as Glory’s chief sniper.

Yang Hao hadn’t expected to encounter him here.

He’d heard that Changyuan’s marksmanship was legendary—almost never missing a shot.

He was described by the outside world as a rising star in the professional scene, perhaps even destined to become the next Lin Zijin.

And who was Lin Zijin? Even those outside the esports field had heard her name.

In five years, she’d set an unprecedented record of championship victories. The prospect of Changyuan becoming the next Lin Zijin was certainly intriguing to Yang Hao.

“Wow, it’s Changyuan!”

“I can’t believe we’ve run into him here—this is going to be interesting.”

“If he realizes he’s up against his idol, Goddess Zijin, will he jump for joy?”

“I doubt it. I bet he’ll cry. Haven’t you seen Changyuan get beaten to tears by Goddess Zijin?”

“The goddess is a legend. The girl from yesterday has become a mountain in the professional world.”

“Haha, I’m going to tell Changyuan—this is too exciting!”

“Bro, you’re really wicked…”

When Firefox was taken down, the live chat paused in surprise, recognizing a familiar ID.

Glory, Changyuan—equally familiar to the audience.

Both sides had a history. Changyuan’s popularity as a rookie was already high, and everyone knew Lin Zijin was his idol. It was said he entered the profession because of her.

He’d publicly stated this when he started making a name for himself. Later, Lin Zijin heard about it and gave him a rather favorable comment.

This brought Changyuan even more attention, and he took pride in it.

Since Changyuan was a popular pro and a die-hard fan of Lin Zijin, most of her fans had heard of him.

Adding to the excitement, Lin Zijin had started playing PUBG a month ago. Though she hadn’t competed officially, she’d encountered Changyuan quite often in ranked matches.

Anyone facing Lin Zijin in-game would find it daunting, and Changyuan was no exception.

Of course, alongside the headache was a secret thrill—meeting his idol in-game was exhilarating for a devoted fan.

But Lin Zijin didn’t show mercy just because Changyuan was her admirer. As a professional, Changyuan wouldn’t hold back either, knowing that doing so would tarnish his identity and disrespect Lin Zijin.

Whenever they met, their encounters were always spectacular duels.

As for the outcome—Changyuan was thoroughly defeated.

Not that he never won, but his losses far outweighed his victories.

There was even a time when, despite having a numbers advantage, Changyuan’s team was wiped out single-handedly by Lin Zijin, showing him once again how terrifying his idol could be.

Rumor had it, Changyuan cried then.

He later explained it was just eye strain from sitting at the computer too long and not actual tears, but netizens didn’t care. The joke about Changyuan being beaten to tears by Lin Zijin became a meme.

Despite everything, Lin Zijin’s experience and peak form set her apart, and as a rookie, Changyuan still needed time and matches to reach her level.

When viewers saw Changyuan take down Firefox, then spread fire toward Lin Zijin’s team, and Lin Zijin preparing to counterattack, they knew a spectacular showdown was imminent and shouted excitedly.

Some, always eager for drama, even rushed to Changyuan’s streaming channel to break the cruel news to him.

…

Starlight TV.

Changyuan’s streaming channel.

After knocking down a player, Changyuan did not fire again, instead waiting patiently for the perfect shot.

As a sniper, he never fired recklessly—every shot must draw blood.

The thrill of a headshot could only be understood by those who had experienced it themselves.

He’d thought the two cars belonged to a single team, but it turned out to be two full squads.

Though outnumbered, Changyuan wasn’t concerned. He had full confidence in his abilities.

Even against overwhelming odds, he felt no fear.

With a rifle in hand, what danger could threaten him?

“Bro Chang, the other side is crafty—we can’t find an opening! The one you knocked out earlier has probably been revived,” came a youthful voice through his headset.

It was a teammate from this match, not yet a professional, but a member of the Glory youth training camp.

As a veteran from the camp, Changyuan often took time to help these youngsters, sharing his experience.

“No worries. There’s little cover where they are, and we hold the high ground. We can pin them down there,” Changyuan replied calmly.

“Bro Chang, there’s something I need to tell you…”

As Changyuan watched the opponents, another voice sounded in his ear, tinged with unease.

“What is it?” Changyuan frowned.

“Your idol is on the other side!”

At first, Changyuan didn’t react. But when he did, his expression froze.

His idol, Lin Zijin, was on the opposing team?

The realization made his face fall.