Chapter 47 The year-end bells are about to ring, righteousness...

As the year draws to a close, the entire Yizhan team appeared at a high-end custom-made dress shop in Beijing. This trip was thanks to Lin Shuang's planning of Yizhan's special New Year's Eve event: "Team members were required to design the New Year's Eve look for the selected member."

Initially, the team members were not very interested in this somewhat "trendy" arrangement, but in this week's match, Yizhan crushed his opponent with an absolute advantage of 10:0. This exhilarating victory greatly boosted the morale of the entire team.

This victory came at just the right time. Previously, Gizen's promotional campaign had been extensive, but his performance had been lackluster, disappointing many fans.

This resounding victory, which shut out the opponent, not only made the team members proud, but also made Lin Shuang's New Year's Eve event planning seem particularly timely. With everyone in a good mood, they naturally had the energy to organize activities off the field.

"Let's take advantage of everyone's good mood and hold the event. The team members will be happy, the fans will love watching, and we can successfully achieve our KPIs. It's a win-win-win situation," Lin Shuang thought to herself with satisfaction as she looked at her team members picking out clothes in the store.

Riding on this high morale, team captain Lou Guanning generously announced, "Everyone will get a suit today, and I'll pay for it!"

Amidst this lively and joyous atmosphere, Zhao Zhinian arrived with a clear work assignment.

She has just taken on the hosting duties for the Honor of Kings All-Star Weekend, which is organized by the Tiny Herb team. This type of entertainment-oriented event requires a suitable dress to appear in.

Meanwhile, with the online phase of the Glory Challenge just concluded, her role as host for the offline competition is a done deal. Although the offline hosting of the Glory Challenge is still some time away, it's always wise to find suitable attire in advance.

Yi Zhan team achieved a perfect 10-0 victory for the first time, and coincidentally, Xing Xin team, a close ally of Yi Zhan, also successfully advanced to the offline finals, making it a double celebration. Lou Guanning mentioned in casual conversation that he had invited the Xing Xin team to watch the All-Star Weekend.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuang immediately expressed her excitement and said she wanted to go and "pay homage to the great master".

Lou Guanning hesitated. The master had never shown his face before, probably because he disliked being in the limelight. This time, he had originally planned to arrange a small gathering for the Happy team with a few people he knew from the online game.

However, he couldn't directly refuse Lin Shuang, so he subtly reminded her: "Didn't you volunteer to be Chinen's temporary assistant for the All-Star Weekend? You might not be able to find the time then."

Since learning that Zhao Zhinian would be hosting the All-Star event, Lin Shuang volunteered to be his assistant, as it was a great opportunity to get up close and personal with many Glory of Kings players backstage!

But now that she heard that Team Leader Lou and the others could meet the mysterious God Ye in person, she couldn't help but feel tempted.

Zhao Zhinian noticed Lou Guanning's predicament and smiled to smooth things over: "It's okay, let's meet the All-Star masters first! When the Challenger Tournament offline matches start, you can come and be my assistant. Anyway, Happy will definitely come to Beijing to participate in the offline matches, so we'll be able to see Ye Shen eventually."

Lin Shuang then belatedly realized her abruptness and quickly waved her hand, "Oh dear, I was just too excited when I heard that Ye Shen was coming! Of course, I have to take care of Chinen first! Captain, you guys go ahead, but... if you could get me an autograph, I would be extremely grateful!"

Wen Kebei, standing nearby, couldn't help but tease, "You've played in so many matches with the team and seen quite a few Glory legends, why are you still acting like a little fan?"

Lin Shuang immediately retorted, "That's Ye Shen! Do you dare say you wouldn't want an autograph if you met him in person?"

Wen Kebei was taken aback by the question, scratched his head and honestly admitted, "Okay... if I met the master, I probably wouldn't be able to stay calm either."

"Exactly!" Lin Shuang found a common ground and continued to sigh, "I really envy you guys who can fight alongside Ye Shen in the game. Let's not even talk about people like Zhi Nian who haven't even set foot in the God's Realm, but I've been in the God's Realm for so long and I've never even run into Ye Shen once! Last time I finally managed to ask the guild leader to take me with him when he was fighting a BOSS, but I was instantly killed as soon as I arrived. I didn't even get a glimpse of the great god's clothes!"

She looked around, and with her last glimmer of hope, asked, "Besides Chinen and me, have you all teamed up with Ye Shen in battle?"

Everyone present nodded in unison.

Wen Kebei suppressed a laugh and offered a profound reassurance: "Actually, fighting alongside a master is very stressful. After all, you know the difference between a god and a mortal."

But the smile he couldn't hide in the corner of his eyes made his words sound particularly "Versailles".

Just as Lin Shuang was feeling annoyed, Zhao Zhinian spoke softly, shattering her last illusion: "Actually... I think I've met Ye Shen in the game."

"What?!" Lin Shuang instantly felt betrayed. "When? In the tenth server? I should have created an account there too!"

Zhao Zhinian explained, "It wasn't in the tenth district. It was before... I borrowed a max-level account and happened to encounter it while watching various guilds fight for the wild map BOSS. Actually, the first one I encountered was Baozi Invasion."

Mentioning this familiar name piqued the interest of everyone at Yizhan. Zhao Zhinian then briefly recounted the incident where he was hiding in the cave when Baozi suddenly invaded, naturally omitting the part about Zhou Zekai.

Lin Shuang eagerly pressed, "Did the president take you there? When did that happen?"

The guild leader Lin Shuang mentioned was naturally referring to the Righteous Slash Guild. Zhao Zhinian couldn't hide it, so she admitted in a low voice, "I went with... people from Samsara."

Everyone immediately revealed knowing smiles, and Wen Kebei deliberately dragged out his words: "Oh~ Samsara! He must be by Samsara's side. Great gods appreciate each other, so it's indeed easier to encounter other great gods when you're by his side."

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the official Weibo account of the Yizhan team was the first to update with a behind-the-scenes video of the fitting session.

In the video, the team members are playing pranks on each other: Wen Kebei holds up a flashy suit covered in sequins and grins at Gu Xiye, while Zou Yunhai holds up an exaggerated seven-colored feather hat and gestures it towards Zhong Yeli's head... Laughter can be heard off-screen, and the subtitles appear at the right time: "This year's New Year's Eve is destined to be extraordinary, stay tuned."

At the same time, Zhao Zhinian's personal account also updated with a "All-Star Weekend Dress Fitting VLOG".

At the beginning of the video, she smiled at the camera and said, "It's an honor to be invited to host the Tiny Herb All-Star Weekend. I'd like to ask for your advice on my dress choice this time~"

In the following segment, she changed into several different gowns: from a simple and neat fitted style to a starry sky dress adorned with fine shimmer. In each gown, she turned gracefully in front of the mirror, showcasing the tailoring and design details from all angles.

Lin Shuang's voice-over remained enthusiastic: "This outfit looks great!" "Wow! This one really makes you look elegant!"

Her tone of heartfelt admiration was just like Tomoyo Daidouji from "Cardcaptor Sakura" meeting her own Sakura, pouring her heart and soul into every outfit.

In addition, Lou Guanning had promised to reimburse the full amount early on, and she repeatedly encouraged Zhao Zhinian to try on more luxurious styles that she rarely wore on ordinary days, since this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

However, netizens' reactions to this VLOG were very unified, with the vast majority of comments revolving around that familiar name, and the main themes were nothing more than: "My favorite CP is finally going to appear in the same frame!" and "@Zhou Zekai, come and see which outfit your host is wearing that looks best!"

There were very few comments that actually helped her choose a dress; they were instantly drowned out by a screen full of sweet banter.

Lin Shuang was enthusiastically choosing the next dress for Zhao Zhinian, completely treating Zhao Zhinian as her real-life Barbie, seemingly immersed in the joy of a "real-life Miracle Nikki".

At this moment, Lou Guanning walked over and patted her on the shoulder: "I just said that everyone gets one set, Lin Shuang, you should go and pick one out too."

Lin Shuang then snapped out of her reverie from the clothes rack, thought seriously for a few seconds, and shook her head: "Thank you, Captain Lou! But although these dresses are beautiful, I really don't have many opportunities to wear them."

Lou Guanning raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure you don't want it? It won't be available after this period."

Lin Shuang hesitated for a moment, then smiled sheepishly, "These dresses are beautiful, but they make me feel cold just looking at them... Team Leader Lou, how about you give me cash instead?"

This unexpected request left Lou Guanning speechless for a moment.

Zhao Zhinian, standing beside him, immediately chimed in: "Captain Lou, I think this suggestion is very practical. To be honest, renting a dress is a more cost-effective option for me. There's an unwritten rule in this industry: overly eye-catching styles aren't suitable for repeated appearances. Apart from special occasions like the All-Star Game, I really don't need such a glamorous, large skirt in my daily life."

For example, the champagne-colored flowing dress she's wearing now has an enormous A-line skirt that shimmers and glistens like a golden wave... This is probably the kind of battle dress you can only wear once in your life.

Lou Guanning looked at the two "thrifty" girls in front of him and couldn't help but laugh and cry: "You won't be short of your year-end bonuses, and you can't even give a gift?"

Lin Shuang retorted confidently, "Captain Lou, you rich people don't understand! We don't have any banquets or parties to attend, so we need to spend our money wisely!"

Lou Guanning sighed helplessly, but ultimately, under the combined "offensive" of the two, he smiled and acquiesced to this incredibly pragmatic request.

The New Year's Eve event organized by Yizhan was a great success, with a very lively atmosphere. However, the team members' outfits tonight were unusually uniform, each one dressed in a flamboyant style, as if they had worn the entire color palette.

Lou Guanning went even further by wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, perfectly embodying the spoiled, arrogant attitude of an "old money guy trying to act like a cultured person."

The official Weibo account of Yizhan (义斩) timely updated with a nine-grid photo collage, showing the team members dressed in various exaggerated costumes. The accompanying text perfectly captured the essence: "I wanted to interact with you as ordinary people, but instead, I've been met with estrangement. This rich guy is no longer pretending; I'm laying my cards on the table!"

This Weibo post completely confirms Yi Zhan's persona as a "rich second-generation who doesn't do his job properly" in the martial arts world, perfectly embodying the word "show-off".

The new year has arrived as scheduled, and the All-Star Weekend voting results have been officially announced. Zhou Zekai is firmly in first place, a result that is not surprising.

Zhao Zhinian naturally voted for this "well-known name" as well. When Zhou Zekai asked casually, she deliberately blinked and pretended to be clueless: "Guess?"

Seeing the series of hesitant emojis he sent, hinting at his words yet too shy to speak directly, Zhao Zhinian couldn't help but chuckle at the screen. After several rounds of roundabout probing, she finally relented: "Who else do you think could it be but you?"

On the eve of the All-Star Weekend, players from various teams arrived one after another, while Zhao Zhinian was still in the venue working with Team Tiny Herb to conduct the final rehearsal confirmation.

The internet is already buzzing with excitement. Besides anticipation for the various Glory of Kings players, some netizens are especially looking forward to a crucial moment: Zhou Zekai and Zhao Zhinian's second public appearance together. This will be the first time these two high-profile figures have appeared together in public since their live interview, undoubtedly making it one of the biggest highlights of this year's All-Star Game.

The day before All-Star Weekend, Team Samsara arrived early at the hotel designated by the league. This hotel has a partnership with Glory and will only accommodate Glory professional players and related staff during the All-Star period. Despite the hotel's increased security, many enthusiastic esports fans still gathered along the corridors, all eager to catch a glimpse of their idols. The fans carried a dazzling array of gifts, from flowers and handmade support items to even luxury goods... This has become the norm for Glory star players.

As the esports industry continues to expand its influence, those working in the field are receiving increasing attention. Zhao Zhinian, an esports host, has received numerous gifts.

As for the first gift, it came after a Yizhan match. A young woman, holding a bouquet of lilies, waited for a long time in the cold wind outside the stadium. Zhao Zhinian initially thought she was a fan of a Yizhan player, but the woman handed the flowers and a handwritten letter to Zhao Zhinian, saying she had always liked her.

This was the first time Zhao Zhinian had received a gift from a fan in her career. She carefully accepted the bouquet, read the accompanying handwritten letter, and then dried the gradually fading lily petals one by one, sewing them into several exquisite sachets by hand, hoping to preserve this sentiment for a longer time in this way.

She then launched a giveaway on Weibo, writing, "Since this is the first time I've received a gift from a fan, I'd like to share this fragrance with everyone." She also specifically mentioned that if the girl who sent the flowers didn't mind, she could send her a private message, and she would prepare a separate gift for her.

This warm and thoughtful gesture not only touched the fan who sent the flowers, but also showed more viewers how much she valued her fans' sentiments, earning her widespread praise.

Given the negative impact of accepting expensive gifts, and with the league's guidance on the rules for players accepting gifts, most professional players now only accept letters or handmade support items from fans.

At this moment, most of the fans surrounding the Samsara team were there for Zhou Zekai. Occasionally, someone would call out to other team members, mostly saying things like, "Du Ming! Can you help me pass this to Zhou Zekai?" or "Wu Qi! You're blocking my view of Captain Zhou!"

It's a well-known unspoken understanding among fans that Zhou Zekai doesn't accept gifts. Usually, he'll only accept handwritten letters and nod slightly in acknowledgment.

However, today, a clever girl took a different approach.

As Zhou Zekai passed by, a girl called out, "Captain Zhou! I'm a fan of Chinen. I made her a hair clip, but I haven't had a chance to see her lately! Could you give this to her for me?"

She had only been going with a try-it-and-see attitude, but to her surprise, Zhou Zekai actually stopped, turned around and walked up to her amidst the astonished gazes of his teammates, bending down slightly to confirm: "Did you make this yourself?"

The girl was young, clearly still a student. When she saw that Zhou Zekai had actually responded to her, her voice trembled with excitement as she nodded vigorously, "I did it all myself!"

She hurriedly opened the bag she was holding and took out several carefully crafted large bow hair clips. Afraid that Zhou Zekai wouldn't believe her, she even held up her finger, which still had a band-aid on it: "Look, I accidentally pricked my finger while I was making them! I really, really like Chinen-neechan. I went to watch the Gizan competition! Of course, I also support Captain Zhou! I hope you're all doing well!"

Amidst the surprised gazes of the surrounding fans, Zhou Zekai actually accepted this special gift and whispered, "Thank you."

Jiang Botao, who witnessed the whole thing, stepped forward, patted his captain's shoulder lightly, and smiled knowingly: "You've only just gotten off the plane, and you're already in a hurry to create a topic for Miss Zhao?"

Zhou Zekai looked down at the paper bag containing hair clips in his hand, his gaze softening: "She has always cherished the feelings of her fans."

“Now that you’ve taken this…” Jiang Botao lowered his voice, his tone full of teasing: “Starting tomorrow, fans will all be asking you to pass on their gifts under the guise of sending them to Miss Zhao. From now on, our Reincarnation will probably become the ‘exclusive gift collection point for Zhao Zhinian.’”

He paused, then added with a smile, "And I bet Miss Zhao will soon have someone ask her to deliver a gift to you. So, are you two about to start a new 'alliance courier' model?"

Zhou Zekai naturally understood Jiang Botao's reminder. He had indeed acted impulsively today and should try to reduce such "collection" business in the future. It wasn't that he regretted helping fans convey their feelings, but he didn't want to cause trouble for Zhao Zhinian.

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Author's note: Goodness, I'm finally going to write about the All-Stars!