After finishing the declaration full of united determination, Lin Ranjiao gave a few more instructions and left with the people from the youth training class.
The change in atmosphere among the ING team was obvious not only to the guests but even to the viewers in the live stream.
: Why do I feel like their atmosphere has gotten much better? Luo Weizhi even smiled twice.
: Yeah, something feels off. Weren’t they just talking with the new coach? They must’ve hit it off.
: Mu Li and Zhai Yi’s relationship has eased up a lot. You can tell their states are way better than before.
: They’re even chatting and laughing. That’s great.
: For real. Mu Li’s attitude toward Zhai Yi is so much better than before. It’s like they’ve gotten to know each other anew.
: That’s how it should be. If they keep this up, they’ll dominate the Autumn Split.
: Looking forward to the Autumn Split.
: +1
…
Back in the training room, Fu Liang and Yu Lanting had already played four or five games. The two of them basically switched off on marksman, and if their positions got snatched sometimes, they’d swap to other roles.
For example right now, by the time Zhai Yi walked in, they’d already started a new match.
Fu Liang was playing marksman Gongsun Li, while Yu Lanting was on Yaomei.
Fu Liang looked up at Zhai Yi. “Godfather’s back. Pleasant chat?”
Zhai Yi sat down. “Not bad. How’s your practice going?”
Fu Liang said, “This is our fifth game. The first four, Lan Ting and I switched off marksman, and we won them all.”
Zhai Yi glanced at their game. Fu Liang’s Gongsun Li was decent—his positioning and mechanics were quite forward-thinking. He hadn’t gotten ganked by the enemy jungler.
“Your ultimate can kill or save people. In that last teamfight, you could’ve pushed their marksman and mage under your own tower. Even if you sacrificed your jungler, you’d at least get a 1-for-4.”
Fu Liang’s eyes lit up at that. “You’re right.”
Zhai Yi turned to Yu Lanting’s phone. “You need to keep a constant eye on Gongsun Li’s status. Watch the shield’s thickness and refresh timer so it doesn’t get CC’d hard while yours is on cooldown.”
“Like right now—you jump onto Gongsun Li and look at that ‘yellow health bar,’ which is the shield Yaomei’s ultimate provides to other heroes. When the yellow bar’s about to run out, jump down proactively. The ultimate’s cooldown will shorten then—around 5.6 seconds, depending on your build. That way, you’ll have a second shield ready for the marksman.”
Yu Lanting seemed to get it. “Got it. I’ll give it a try.”
Zhai Yi continued, “Yaomei’s first skill has a lot of potential too. It’s a control skill, so when you throw the ball, push once first, then use the second stage’s homing to push again. That gives you two controls.”
“There’s also a triple control combo. Use the first skill—push once as Yaomei starts winding up, push again once the ball’s out for the second, and finally trigger the second stage knock-up for the third control. Super simple, right?”
After Zhai Yi finished explaining, Yu Lanting tried it out following the instructions. Then her screen went black.
Yu Lanting: “….”
Zhai Yi: “….”
Retribution for a failed lesson came this quickly.
The next second, Gongsun Li’s wail arrived right on cue.
“Aaah, I’m getting swarmed! Yaomei, you died way too fast! Aaah!” Fu Liang lamented.
Zhai Yi saw Yaomei was about to respawn. “Go find Cheng Yaojin in top lane and try it under his tower. I’ll coach you from the side.”
Yu Lanting agreed. “Okay.”
Yaomei headed to top lane and gave it a shot per Zhai Yi’s tutorial. She pulled off the double control fine, but the triple was tricky.
Zhai Yi stood up and leaned in close to Yu Lanting. “Take it slow. No rush. Watch the timing before you push the ball.”
Feeling Zhai Yi so close, Yu Lanting tensed up instantly. Her fingertips went numb from gripping so hard, and she was mashing the phone with extra force.
Zhai Yi watched as Yaomei staggered around on-screen like she was drunk.
She glanced down at Yu Lanting’s flushed neck and ears, all her insights vanishing with a soft sigh. “Yu Lanting, you’re gonna die.”
Yu Lanting snapped back to reality and looked at her screen. Yaomei was getting pummeled by Cheng Yaojin, down to a sliver of health. One skill from him and she’d be gone.
“S-Sorry, I… zoned out. I’ll…”
Zhai Yi leaned over, grabbed the phone with both hands, and quickly maneuvered the low-health Yaomei. She triggered the passive bug, turning into a little deer that scampered back under tower to grab a health pack.
The instant Zhai Yi leaned down, Yu Lanting felt the warmth and softness of her body against her back, completely enveloped by Zhai Yi’s scent.
Her heart rate spiked to 160 bpm.
“Watch my controls.” Zhai Yi felt the trembling beneath her and arched a brow.
Yu Lanting braced her hands on the desk, shrinking back, her big innocent watery eyes blinking as she murmured, “Mm.”
Zhai Yi said softly, “Watch—we use the first skill first. Once the ball’s out, push it for the flow, then hit ’em with the knock-up from the first skill’s second stage. That’s your triple control.”
Her ears turned redder, her shaking intensifying. Zhai Yi almost thought she’d leaned into a massage gun.
“Got it?”
Yu Lanting’s voice was so quiet only Zhai Yi could hear. “Mm-hmm.”
Zhai Yi straightened up and set the phone on the desk. “Practice it yourself. It’s easy.”
Yu Lanting picked up the phone. “Okay.”
Fu Liang glanced up during his recall and was startled by Yu Lanting’s flushed face. “Lan Ting, what’s up? Face that red? Room’s not hot. You catch a cold?”
Yu Lanting: “….”
Don’t ask!!!
Zhai Yi shot him a look. “Ten minutes in, and Gongsun Li’s died five times. Proud of that?”
Fu Liang hung his head silently. “….”
: Lol I’m dying, silly son! They’re flirting, and you gotta ask? Deserve the scolding!
: Lmao, silly son. You’re about to get a godmother, hahaha…
: Zhai Yi and Yu Lanting are so perfect together. That pose just now? I was moved—imagine Yu Lanting.
: Yu Lanting’s face could fry an egg.
: If I were Yu Lanting, forget blushing—I’d be melting.
: Upstairs, tone it down. Don’t wanna get the stream banned.
: I got it instantly?!
: Instant get +1
: Instant get +1
…
The evening game was simple: guests vs. program group in dodgeball. Ten minutes, longest-surviving team wins.
Everyone gathered on the grass outside the villa. Staff marked out a rectangle with white lines.
The guest team had 11 people left; the program group sent 11 too, with the exact same male-female ratio for fairness.
Luo Xi said, “Both sides send one person to rock-paper-scissors for who goes first.”
The guest team sent Mu Li. He won against the program group rep.
After polling everyone, Mu Li decided guests would go first.
They wanted to scout the program group’s strength and see how many guests survived.
Luo Xi called out, “Alright, guests first. Program group, position yourselves outside the lines and attack the guests inside.”
“Anyone hit by the ball is out immediately. Director Luo has final say.”
Everyone: “….”
Naked favoritism.
Luo Xi held up the attack balls. “The balls are soft—won’t hurt much. If anyone wants protection, we have gear.”
He looked at the three girls present. “Need any?”
Zhai Yi shook her head. “Nah.”
Yu Lanting waved it off. “Me neither.”
Seeing Yu Lanting decline, Zeng Ranran said stubbornly, “I don’t need it either.”
Luo Xi nodded. “Got it.”
Fu Liang raised his hand. “Director Luo, why not ask the guys? Sexist much?”
Luo Xi smiled. “With your thickness, I’m more worried about the ball breaking.”
Fu Liang: “….”
The others chuckled.
Luo Xi blew the whistle. “Game on—”
In the rectangular field, the 11 program group members lined the “long” sides with three each and the “short” sides with three and two.
Whistle blew, and they grabbed balls, pelting the guests inside nonstop.
Their throws were fast—balls flew the second they were in hand.
Zeng Ranran and Bian Tang got caught off-guard, hit in the leg and arm, and were out first.
Then Jiang Qingyan took one to the back, and Li Zhi couldn’t reposition in time and ate one to the chest. Eliminated.
Program group’s pace ramped up; guests dodged frantically.
Yu Lanting spun and retreated, only to see a program group member hurling a ball at her—too fast to dodge.
Suddenly, a strong force yanked her aside from the right.
It was Mu Li.
He’d seen the ball incoming and pulled her out of the way.
“You okay?”
Yu Lanting shook her head. “Thanks.”
“Stick with me. I’ll block any balls coming your way.”
Yu Lanting refused. “No need. If one hits, it hits. Don’t get yourself out for me.”
Her elimination was fine, but Mu Li’s would hurt the team’s odds.
Mu Li thought she was worried about him and smiled. “It’s cool. I got this. Stick close, and I’ll save you in time.”
Yu Lanting didn’t reply, focusing on dodging.
But—
She glanced at Zhai Yi nimbly sidestepping beside her. Was she seeing things?
It looked like Zhai Yi had reached out too.
Yu Lanting snuck a peek at Zhai Yi, wondering, “Was that my imagination?”
Tuantuan asked curiously: 【First Sister, why’d you pull your hand back just now?】
Zhai Yi turned. “Male lead already reached. Why should I butt in?”
Tuantuan thought it over: 【True. Female Lead should be saved by the male lead.】
Zhai Yi nodded. “Exactly. They’re the world host. Their bond isn’t breaking that easily.”
Even if the Female Lead liked her, it was probably just fleeting fondness or curiosity.
She and the male lead went way back—they’d even been together. Years of feelings wouldn’t be replaced by some newcomer like her.
Past glitches were rare. Compared to all the missions she’d done with her, it was barely a one-in-a-thousand chance.
But then she remembered: that one-in-a-thousand happened to her, pissed her off big time, and she had to kill the rampaging world host, crashing the whole world.
Thinking about it filled Zhai Yi with resentment.
Tuantuan sensed her mood. 【First Sister, what’s wrong? Mood tanked?】
Zhai Yi eyed an incoming ball. On reflex, she bent backward to dodge, then nailed a backflip to stand tall.
“Just remembered some bad stuff.”
The moment she spoke, the field went dead silent. Everyone stared at her.
Shocked, horrified stares.
Zhai Yi replayed her moves and shrugged. “Normal stuff. Close your gaping mouths.”
Everyone: “…”
The most lethal showing off is the invisible kind!
: Was that a backflip?
: Backflip confirmed.
: Who backflips in dodgeball?
: Mine does (new Zhai Yi stan). Pardon us.
: So cool! So flashy!
: Love it! Unconscious backbend and backflip—that waist, I’m sold.
: Upstairs, wipe your drool.
: Hot looks, sweet temper, great personality, killer background, and that waist—wifey goals, way better than me!
….
Ten minutes were up, and the guest team still had four people left: Luo Weizhi, Zhai Yi, Mu Li, and Yu Lanting.
The teams switched, with the guest team now attacking and the Program Group defending.
The Program Group members had learned the guest team’s evasion tactics. Five minutes passed, and they took out four people—three of them knocked out by Zhai Yi.
Seeing this, Mu Li tossed the ball to Zhai Yi. “From now on, give all the balls to Zhai Yi. She’s got deadly aim.”
Zeng Ranran pouted. “I hit some too, you know?”
Fu Liang said, “My Godfather nailed three without bragging. You got one and you’re all proud?”
Zeng Ranran: “…”
“Why you always picking on me?” she whined pitifully. “You got a problem with me or something?”
Fu Liang blinked, playing innocent to poke the bear. “Hey, that’s not fair. When did I pick on you? I’m just stating facts. Did my Godfather brag after nailing three? Didn’t you only get one?”
“And you ask if I have a problem with you? Can’t you tell?”
Zeng Ranran: “…”
No surprise from a rapper—guy’s got a silver tongue.
Everyone agreed with Mu Li’s suggestion. They kept passing the balls to Zhai Yi for her attacks.
Zhai Yi’s hit rate was insane. Every shot she took landed.
When the last ball nailed the final defender inside the field, there were still thirty seconds left on the ten-minute clock.
Director Luo announced, “Guest team wins.”
Everyone cheered, “Yay—!”
: Zhai Yi’s got Director Luo’s number. All his games are a breeze for her.
: If I were Director Luo, I’d be helpless against Zhai Yi too.
: Zhai Yi’s like she’s got a lucky star on her side. Total charm.
: Bye-bye—bye-bye—
: Bye-bye to me too!
: Same, bye-bye.
….
The game ended, and so did the live stream. Exhausted after a full day, everyone headed back to their rooms.
Back in her room, Zhai Yi started prepping to make up her live stream hours.
She’d checked with the others earlier—their stream times were nearly caught up, but she still had dozens of hours left.
Lin Ranjiao had advised holding back her true marksman skills during lives and variety shoots. Even if forced to play, stick to heroes she’d used publicly before, so competitors wouldn’t spot her real strength.
Zhai Yi set up her streaming gear and was about to start when she felt thirsty. No drinks in the room fridge, so she headed downstairs to the storage room.
On the negative first floor, she spotted Zeng Ranran lurking around, looking all shifty, like she was spying on something.
Zhai Yi made a deliberate noise. Zeng Ranran jolted and whipped around. Spotting Zhai Yi, her face filled with panic.
“What are you doing here?”
Zhai Yi eyed the phone clutched in her hand. “Grabbing stuff from storage. What about you?”
Zeng Ranran’s gaze darted away. “I, uh… wanted to work out, digest a bit. Go ahead and grab your stuff. I’m out.”
Zhai Yi watched her guilty, panicked scramble away.
Tuantuan said: 【First Sister, she secretly filmed the male lead and female lead.】
“Yeah.”
Tuantuan, puzzled: 【First Sister, why didn’t you call her out just now?】
“The original plot has her leaking the male and female leads’ romance, right?” Zhai Yi lectured Tuantuan. “As a tasker or support system, complete your objectives without meddling too much in the world’s main storyline. Avoid drawing fire or unnecessary trouble.”
Tuantuan kinda got it: 【Got it, First Sister.】
Zhai Yi kept going toward storage when Yu Lanting’s voice suddenly rang out loud, followed by a sharp slap.
From the smack’s force, it sounded like the female lead hitting the male lead.
Good.
Zhai Yi had no intention of getting involved and continued on, but Yu Lanting’s words made her pause.
“Mu Li, I don’t like you anymore. There’s someone I like now.”
“Who?” Mu Li growled. “Who do you like?”
Zhai Yi’s heart skipped a beat.
“I can’t tell you that.”
Zhai Yi quietly let out her breath.
Mu Li sneered coldly. “Lan Ting, you’re doing this on purpose. You’re just lying about liking someone to mess with me.”
“Believe what you want. I’m going back to my room. Move.”
“I’m not moving. Lan Ting, I know I messed up before. I’m sorry. Forgive me, and we can start over. I’ll do anything you want.”
Yu Lanting sighed. “Mu Li, I’m not saying who it is to save face for both of us. Don’t push me, okay?”
Zhai Yi rubbed her forehead, thinking: What a mess!
Mu Li gave a bitter laugh. “Save face? You’ve already rejected me. What face is left to save?”
Yu Lanting took a deep breath, like steeling herself. “Mu Li, I’m gay. I like girls.”
Mu Li: “….”
In that instant, Zhai Yi could almost hear a heart shattering.
