Part 2
[Hard to say. According to ZAP’s usual style, after replacing a starter, they might still make Every a sub in the second team. Look at Wall before; he was also pinned to the sub bench for a year.]
[I wonder if a ‘Chosen One’ will appear in this Spring Split draw.]
[I still can’t forget a draw from two years ago where three bottom-tier teams were drawn into one group. That group’s match was a ‘state banquet’ level; you could be fed full on their ‘dish-serving’ plays without even eating.]
[I’m still more looking forward to the clash of strong teams. I wonder if a new dark horse will break out. I’m tired of seeing the same few teams fight for the championship.]
[The Spring Split can’t even pique my interest anymore. Call me when there’s a team that can kick Korea and punch Europe on the world stage.]
[Your Majesty, you’ve slept yourself silly. We haven’t won a World Championship in five years! Crying.jpg]
[Not only is there no World Championship, but we also get bloodily abused by Korean and European teams every time. Even if we lose after beating them, I’d accept it. Raging.jpg]
The day the bustling transfer period drew to a close, the coaches and players from various teams sent to participate in the Spring Split draw and show match boarded planes for the Arena Professional League headquarters located in Beijing.
Because at 6:00 PM the following evening, the Spring Split draw would be held on-site and broadcast live.
After the draw and once New Year’s Day passed, the first match of the Spring Split would begin.
The Spring Split schedule would move relatively slowly, with only one match per day during the group stage, lasting until the start of the Spring Festival holiday.
Since the champion and runner-up of the Spring Split would represent the Hua Country region at the World Championships in the summer, the Spring Split was also the most prestigious domestic competition of the year. Most teams were going all out in their preparations.
After resting for a night in the hotel booked for them by the league officials, the following afternoon, Zuo Chi and Ning Luzhao went to the headquarters venue where the draw was held to do their makeup in advance.
As the popularity of esports grew year by year, esports players had gone from wearing flip-flops to play matches at the beginning to now having to do their makeup and hair for matches and events.
They didn’t arrive very early, and several makeup rooms were already full. Players who were on good terms gathered in groups of three or five to chat, with someone occasionally looking up to glance at them and say hello.
After walking a circle, they found a corner seat and sat down. A young girl dressed smartly, likely a makeup artist, walked over and said she would be responsible for their styling today.
Zuo Chi saw that Ning Luzhao was watching an influencer’s game video on his phone, so he said to the makeup artist, “How about doing my makeup first?”
The mirror reflected the young man’s handsome features. The soft lines weren’t too impactful, but after looking for a few seconds, one would feel it grew more and more comfortable to look at.
The makeup artist picked up a powder puff and eyebrow pencil, staring at the mirror for a while, unsure of where to start: “…How about I just give you a light layer of foundation, apply some lip balm to improve your complexion, and give your hair a slight perm?”
He nodded—he didn’t have much understanding of makeup anyway, so professional matters were naturally left to professional people.
The makeup artist picked up the powder puff and lightly patted his cheek: “I don’t seem to have a suitable foundation shade here…”
“It’s fine, no foundation is okay too.”
“Your skin is fair, your face is small and photogenic; actually, being bare-faced is already great—may I take the liberty of asking which team’s players you are? I just started an internship here and don’t recognize everyone yet.”
“VEX. He’s our team’s jungler, and I’m the coach.”
The makeup artist’s eyes widened, and she whispered, “I thought coaches had to be in their thirties or forties. It turns out there are ones this young…”
After applying lip balm and styling his bangs, Zuo Chi stood up and gave the seat near the mirror to Ning Luzhao, feeling a bit unaccustomed as he toyed with his hair.
Ning Luzhao had already played matches for a year and was very used to the makeup segment before events. He said flatly to the makeup artist, “No need for foundation for me either.”
“Oh, oh, oh, okay… Can I ask another favor? Could you leave an autograph for me in a bit? My younger brother especially loves watching this competition and keeps saying he wants to play professionally. Hearing I could come be a makeup artist, he asked me to help him get players’ autographs.”
“Of course.”
After signing the notebook the makeup artist handed over with Ning Luzhao, Zuo Chi thought for a bit and added a line: “Looking forward to seeing your ID in the Professional League.”
Going to the event venue, the players from various teams were almost all there. The first two rows had seats assigned by team, with name tags attached.
The back was the spectator area, with fans from various teams coming to watch the draw and show match.
The countdown for the draw was displayed on the giant screen in front. On the table in the center of the stage was a transparent glass box containing 24 sealed envelopes—the envelopes contained numbers for Groups 1-8. Whichever one was drawn determined which group the team was assigned to.
They found their seats, which happened to be next to the ASH team’s seats.
“Hey! Coach Zuo, what a coincidence!”
“ASH’s coach is also personally coming out for the draw.” Zuo Chi greeted him with a smile.
“Tell me about it. Didn’t I just win five hundred bucks in the lottery two days ago? The players insisted I have a lucky hand and made me come for the draw—my requirements aren’t high; I’ll be satisfied as long as I’m not assigned to a Group of Death.”
“No problem. Maybe our two teams will be in the same group.”
The ASH coach waved his hand repeatedly, his eyes wary: “I definitely don’t want to be in the same group as you. We haven’t won a single training match against your team!”
At exactly 6:00 PM, the countdown on the big screen boomed and transformed into the Arena Professional League logo, followed by the words for the eight groups. The top 8 teams from the Autumn Split were already displayed sequentially under Groups 1-8.
“Welcome everyone to the Arena Professional League Spring Split Group Stage Draw Ceremony!”
The host walked to the front of the stage and first briefly introduced the guests attending the ceremony.
“The draw representatives and show match players from various teams are already seated! Next, I will begin announcing the rules for this draw ceremony—”
The camera panned across the popular players of each team one by one.
The applause and screams from the spectator seats in the back rose in waves, occasionally mixed with shouts of “Draw a good seed” and “No Group of Death.”
“The fans on-site are very passionate, and we also hope every team can draw a group they are satisfied with. This draw ceremony will proceed according to the alphabetical order of each team’s name. Among them, the top 8 teams from the Autumn Split are automatically divided into the eight groups and do not need to participate in the draw…”
[It’s that day of the season with the greatest suspense again.]
[Begging you, ASH, draw a good seed. Can we at least crawl into the knockout stages?! Praying.jpg]
[I want to see all the Round-of-16 teams drawn into one group. Fight, fight hard! Smirking-face.jpg]
[The ZAP players look so relaxed, as if they aren’t worried about the draw results at all.]
[What is there for a champion team to worry about? Isn’t it that whoever is drawn into a group with ZAP should be worried?]
Their VEX draw order was last. Zuo Chi silently summoned the system panel and took a look—the “Spring Split Ultimate Draw Luck,” which had been grey, was now glowing with faint white light.
He quietly closed his eyes to make a wish.
Let the teams drawing before us all draw the groups with the champion and runner-up.
Let our group have no Round-of-16 teams.
Let me be drawn into a group with my ‘brothers in suffering’…
“The first team to come up for the draw is—ASH!”
The ASH coach rubbed his pants legs, stood up, and walked toward the stage.
“Coach, please draw an envelope! The group ASH is assigned to is—Group One! Congratulations!”
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