The moment Su Nian turned off the live stream, she seemed to have all her strength drained away. She leaned back in her gaming chair and closed her eyes. The intense concentration required to deal with online trolls and haters, while simultaneously maneuvering precisely and analyzing the situation, was a considerable burden on her still-exhausted soul, a result of her "escape from the outpost." Her face was slightly pale, and her fingertips even trembled almost imperceptibly.
The training room was completely silent.
Fat Monkey and the other team members stared wide-eyed at the now-blacked-out live stream interface, then at Su Nian sitting there with her eyes closed, her face a picture of confusion: "Who am I? Where am I? What did I just see?"
"Holy crap... Sister Nian..." Fatty Monkey swallowed hard, his voice hoarse, "You...you just now..."
He stammered for ages, unable to utter a single complete sentence. His awareness and skills, crushing those of a Korean Challenger player, his composure in the face of a massive online backlash as calm as if he were watching the weather forecast, and his final, self-destructive clarification… Is this really the same "fake girlfriend" who only knew how to whine and scheme to get close to Shen, as the legendary figure?
The team's most composed support player, Lao Mao, adjusted his glasses, his gaze towards Su Nian filled with surprise and inquiry: "Ms. Su, do you have any evidence for your earlier claim that the recording was edited and synthesized?"
Su Nian slowly opened her eyes, a hint of weariness in them, but her tone remained calm: "The evidence has been submitted to the league officials and the club. The technical analysis report will be out by tomorrow at the latest."
She had barely finished speaking when the training room door was suddenly pushed open.
Xie Chen stood at the door, seemingly having arrived in a hurry. His bangs were slightly disheveled, and his breathing was a bit more rapid than usual. His eyes, which always carried a hint of languor and detachment, were now like precise radar, instantly locking onto Su Nian, who was sitting in a chair, clearly taking in the weariness on her face.
Almost instinctively, he walked a few steps to Su Nian's side, completely ignoring the other stunned team members in the room. He squatted down, looked up at her, and spoke in a softer tone than anyone else had ever heard, with undisguised concern: "Tired?" This tone and posture were completely different from his usual aloof demeanor, as if it were a habit rooted in his subconscious.
As he spoke, he naturally reached out and took Su Nian's slightly curled hand, which was resting on her knee. Her fingertips were icy cold.
Su Nian was slightly taken aback, meeting his gaze filled with concern and dependence. This gaze strangely overlapped with the one he had given her not long ago when he had shielded her amidst the exploding energy flow. Even though he no longer remembered that brief interstellar adventure, this protective instinct and dependence seemed to have become even more deeply ingrained in his instincts. The tension in her heart, heightened by dealing with public opinion, inexplicably eased slightly. She softly hummed in agreement, without withdrawing her hand: "It's alright, but my mental energy was quite depleted." She subconsciously used a more accurate description.
Xie Chen frowned, clearly dissatisfied with her answer. He stood up, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Leave the rest to the club. Go back and rest." His gaze swept across the computer screen, and seeing the now-closed live stream, his brows furrowed even more, as if he was unhappy that she had faced all of this alone.
Then, regardless of Su Nian's agreement, he put his arm around her shoulder and half-carried her up from the chair. He then said to the still stunned Fatty Monkey and Old Cat, "The training plan remains the same," and left the training room with Su Nian in his arms.
The team members behind him looked at each other in bewilderment, the air thick with gossip and shock.
"I...I didn't see wrong, did I? Was that Shen Shen just now?" Fat Monkey pinched his thigh. "The look in his eyes just now...damn, it was like a wolf king who had lost his cubs had found them! So nervous?"
Old Cat watched the direction the two had left, lost in thought: "It seems that the rumors we heard before and what we've seen now... are quite different. Miss Su is no ordinary person."
Xie Chen took Su Nian directly back to her temporary room at the base.
The moment the door closed, the composure he had maintained in front of his teammates vanished, replaced by an almost clingy sense of urgency. He still held Su Nian's hand tightly, following closely behind her, as if afraid she would disappear if he let go. This lack of security was more pronounced than ever before.
"Are you really alright?" He gently helped Su Nian sit on the edge of the bed, then pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, his hands still enveloping her slightly cold hands, trying to warm her with his own body heat. His deep eyes were fixed on her, her reflection clearly visible, filled with complete dependence and a lingering fear. "I saw those comments... they were insulting you." His voice lowered, carrying a barely perceptible hint of grievance and suppressed anger.
Looking at him like this, Su Nian felt a little amused, yet also a little weak. This "Wolf King," who was a force to be reckoned with in the game and struck fear into the hearts of his opponents, was now a "loyal dog" who was even more insecure because of the (perhaps forgotten) adventure and the insults she had suffered, and who needed to constantly confirm her presence.
"Getting scolded a few times won't hurt you. Look, didn't I handle it well?" Su Nian reached out her other hand and gently smoothed his furrowed brows, her movements natural and practiced.
Her touch seemed to have a magical power, easing Xie Chen's tense nerves slightly. He buried his face in her warm palm, nuzzling her like a large dog seeking comfort, and hummed softly, but the strength in his arms around her did not lessen at all.
"From now on... don't face these things alone." He whispered, his tone carrying a domineering and pleading tone that he himself didn't realize. "Wait for me." This didn't sound like an instruction to a teammate; it sounded more like a declaration and possession of something exclusive.
Looking at his soft hair and feeling his completely trusting demeanor, Su Nian felt a strange, bittersweet, yet warm emotion spreading through her heart. This was no longer just a consideration of the mission objective, but a genuine heartache for the worry and dependence that this person still instinctively showed despite being forgotten.
"Okay," she whispered, promising the future, "together next time."
The room fell silent, broken only by the soft murmur of their breathing. The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, elongating their shadows and bathing them in a warm glow. In this tranquil moment, the simple starry ice and snow brooch around Su Nian's neck seemed to flicker almost imperceptibly, so quickly it was like a mere illusion of light and shadow.
Just as Su Nian had predicted, her clarification livestream, which could be described as "performance art," was like a bomb dropped into deep water, creating a huge uproar online.
The live stream recording was widely shared. Hashtags such as #SuNianLiveStream# #SuNianTechnique# #FakeGirlfriendReversal# #Shen'sTruthIsAmazing# and others skyrocketed to the top of the trending topics.
At first, there were still online trolls and stubborn haters who put up a last-ditch effort, clinging to the accusations of "edited recordings" and "showboating."
However, NF Club's official Weibo account quickly issued a formal statement, attaching a recording authentication report issued by a third-party authoritative institution. The report clearly pointed out that the circulating "solid evidence recording" contained multiple traces of artificial synthesis and malicious editing, constituting fabricated evidence. The club has reported the matter to the police and will pursue legal action against those who fabricated and spread the rumors.
Following this, the league's official account also reposted the Weibo post, expressing its deep concern and stating that it would severely crack down on any behavior that undermines the fair competition environment in esports.
Faced with irrefutable evidence, public opinion began to undergo a dramatic reversal.
[My God! They really were framed! This method is so despicable!]
[I knew it! Someone as arrogant as Shen wouldn't be fooled by a pretty face! Turns out, this girl is a hidden master!]
[I just watched the live stream recording... The awareness, the skills, the overall game sense—I'd believe it if you told me they were active professional players! Even Fat Monkey was completely outmaneuvered!]
[I'm so sorry, Su Nian! I insulted you before, I was blind! I'll kowtow to you!]
So someone's jealous of Shen Shen and deliberately sabotaging him and his girlfriend? That's disgusting!
[Wait...girlfriend? Shen looked so nervous when he rushed into the training room just now...is this for real?! It's definitely not acting!]
[‘She's more important!’ (Referring to Xie Chen's words when he rushed in during the live stream) I'm so smitten! A domineering wolf online, a loyal dog offline! What an amazing love story!]
[From today onwards, I am a die-hard fan of the 'Silent' CP (Shen + Su)! I'll fight anyone who spreads rumors about them again!]
Online opinion reversed overnight, with many of those who had previously been the most vocal critics joining the ranks of those apologizing and becoming "CP fans." Su Nian's Weibo followers skyrocketed at an unprecedented rate, and her private messages were flooded with apologies and compliments. The NF team's PR manager, witnessing this miraculous reversal of public opinion, was overjoyed and immediately adjusted their promotional strategy, preparing to promote Su Nian as a new, positive image for the team.
However, amidst this "peaceful" atmosphere, an anonymous email was quietly sent to the league's disciplinary committee and the whistleblower email addresses of several well-known esports media outlets.
The email content directly targeted Su Nian—
[NF team rookie Su Nian is suspected of using an unauthorized neural link assist program (commonly known as a 'cheat'). His superhuman reaction speed and battlefield awareness displayed during livestreams far exceeded normal human limits, severely undermining competitive fairness. We demand that the league immediately investigate and permanently ban him!]
"absurd!"
NF team manager Wang Shuo slammed his tablet on the conference table, his face ashen. The screen displayed a screenshot of the whistleblower letter. The coaching staff and several core players, including Xie Chen and Su Nian, were all summoned.
"Neural link assist program? That's something from science fiction movies! It's not even fully matured in laboratories yet, and they dare to use it to slander us!" Manager Wang's chest heaved with anger. "This must be some new trick the person behind it came up with after their attempt to frame us failed!"
The data analyst frowned: "The whistleblower letter is very detailed, and it even includes some so-called 'data analysis' pointing to several inhuman micro-management actions by Su Nian during the live stream. Although it's obviously far-fetched to anyone with a discerning eye, the public outcry has just subsided. If the league launches an investigation under pressure, it will be a blow to Su Nian and the team."
"Moreover," Old Cat added, his eyes sharp, "the other party chose to report at this time, which is obviously an attempt to muddy the waters. Even if it turns out to be a false accusation in the end, the rumors during the investigation will be disgusting enough, and may even affect Su Nian's mentality and subsequent match arrangements."
Xie Chen sat beside Su Nian, remaining silent throughout, his aura frighteningly low. He gripped Su Nian's hand (a habit he seemed to have whenever they weren't in public), his fingertips white with tension, his dark eyes churning with icy anger and a hint of violent rage, as if his sore spot had been touched. He didn't care about being insulted, but he couldn't tolerate anyone repeatedly using such dirty tactics against Su Nian. This protective instinct was particularly acute at that moment.
Su Nian felt the strength and emotional fluctuation in his hand, and gently squeezed it back to indicate that she was alright. She looked at Manager Wang and the coach, her face not showing much panic, but rather an unusual calmness. This calmness seemed to stem from countless experiences facing even more dangerous situations.
“Manager Wang, Coach,” she began, her voice clear and steady, “I accept any investigation from the league.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Xie Chen beside her, who was suppressing his anger. A faint, yet powerfully confident, smile curved her lips.
"Furthermore, I suggest that the entire investigation process be made public."
"Since they doubt my abilities, then I will prove them to them in front of everyone, openly and honestly."
"Use real matches."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Manager Wang's eyes lit up: "You mean?"
Su Nian smiled slightly, a smile that carried a hint of cunning befitting a mission executor, and even more so, a sharp edge unique to Su Nian herself:
"Didn't you suspect I was cheating?"
"Then let's have an offline public exhibition match. Invite all the skeptics to come and watch."
Her gaze shifted to Xie Chen, meeting his deep eyes. The ferocity in Xie Chen's eyes instantly transformed into complete trust and support when she looked at him, even carrying a hint of expectation. Su Nian's tone was light yet carried an undeniable strength:
"Me and you, together."
Xie Chen responded almost immediately, his voice resolute and declarative: "Okay."
The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. Su Nian and Xie Chen were the last to leave the meeting room. Walking down the corridor back to their room, Xie Chen still held her hand tightly. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he paused slightly, his brow furrowing gently, revealing a rare hint of confusion.
"What's wrong?" Su Nian noticed his unusual behavior.
Xie Chen shook his head, seemingly trying to dispel some vague feeling. He looked at Su Nian, his eyes regaining their clarity, but with a hint of confusion: "It's nothing... it's just that for a moment just now, it felt... the way you suggested playing an exhibition match seemed a bit familiar." He paused, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "It seems... I've seen you somewhere before, even more... well, how should I put it, more sharp and assertive? Maybe it's just my imagination."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. Was it a lingering memory? From that moment he had forgotten, when they fought side by side against the remnants of the Protoss?
She remained expressionless, simply tightening her grip on his hand and smiling slightly, "Really? Perhaps it's in your dream."
Looking at her smiling face so close to his, Xie Chen instantly forgot his inexplicable confusion, his heart filled with an almost overflowing sense of satisfaction. He lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, and whispered, "Yes, it must be a sweet dream."
However, a question quietly arose in Su Nian's mind: Will those forgotten memories truly disappear completely? Or will they subtly influence reality in some way? And what awaits them in this upcoming public exhibition match—will it be merely a challenge from their opponents, or will there be… unexpected interference from the "Land of Oblivion"?
(End of Chapter 89)
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