LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

When Su Mo also came out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat ambiguous.

He was drying his hair, a few drops of water sliding down his well-defined abs, exuding a strong masculine aura.

Rita glanced at it furtively, her heart pounding even faster. She quickly looked back at her phone screen, but she couldn't decipher a single word on it.

Neither of them spoke first; the only sounds in the room were the patter of rain outside the window and their slightly hurried breathing.

Finally, Rita broke the silence. She pointed to the large bed, her voice trembling slightly, "Um... how about we build a wall in the middle with pillows, and each of us sleep on one side?"

“Good idea.” Su Mo nodded immediately.

Like two elementary school students, the two of them solemnly piled up the extra pillows and cushions on the bed to form a "38th parallel" in the middle of the bed.

With everything ready, the two dried their hair, then turned off the main light in the room, leaving only a dim bedside lamp, and then lay down on either side of their "territory".

The soft mattress sank slightly under the weight of the two people, making the pillow wall in the middle seem a little precarious.

"Good night." Su Mo's voice sounded particularly low in the dim light.

"Good...goodnight." Rita's voice was barely audible.

The two stood back to back, their bodies stiff, neither able to sleep.

The sound of rain outside the window seemed to act as a catalyst, amplifying the ambiguous feelings inside the room.

They could clearly hear each other's breathing and feel the warmth emanating from another body under the covers.

After an unknown amount of time, just as Rita's consciousness began to blur, she turned over and accidentally bumped into one of the pillows in the middle.

The already flimsy pillow wall collapsed with a crash.

A soft pillow slipped off, and in the darkness, her hand inadvertently touched another warm hand.

As if electrocuted, Rita froze.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

In the darkness, Rita could feel Su Mo's fingers twitch slightly, but he didn't pull them away.

Her heart was in her throat.

After a long while, she mustered all her courage and asked softly, in an almost inaudible voice:
"Su Mo...are you asleep?"

"……not yet."

After answering, Su Mo did not pull his hand away. Instead, he gently and tentatively grasped Rita's slightly cool little hand in return.

Rita's body trembled slightly, as if struck by a weak electric current, but she did not break free.

The darkness became the best cover, allowing her to let her heart pound like a drum.

Su Mo slowly turned around. In the dim light of the bedside lamp, he could see Rita's eyes, which were like those of a fawn, filled with both nervousness and anticipation.

Her long hair was scattered on the pillow, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks, adding to her rare gentleness and charm.

“I can’t sleep either,” Rita said softly, “My mind is… a bit of a mess.”

"Could it be because of me?" Su Mo asked softly.

Rita's cheeks burned even hotter: "Well, this is my first time sleeping in the same bed with a guy, so... I'm a little nervous..."

"Then give me a hug and you won't be nervous." Su Mo thought he would tease her a little.

But to everyone's surprise, Rita moved over the next second and softly hummed in agreement.

Su Mo paused for half a second, then removed the middle pillow and gently pulled her into his arms.

“This wall…” Su Mo’s deep laughter sounded above her head, “should have collapsed long ago.”

Rita's body stiffened instantly, but when she felt the familiar, reassuring warmth and strong heartbeat in Su Mo's embrace, all her defenses and tension crumbled in an instant.

Rita snuggled against him, like a kitten that had found its safe haven.

She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek tightly against his chest.

She could smell the pleasant scent of his shower gel mixed with his unique, clean masculine aroma, which made her feel more at ease than ever before.

The two embraced quietly, while the torrential rain outside continued to relentlessly pound against the glass, making the atmosphere inside the room even warmer and more tranquil.

After a long while, just when Su Mo thought she had fallen asleep, a question, barely audible and nasal in tone, suddenly came from her arms.

"Brother Mozi..."

"Ok?"

"You'll take responsibility for me, right?"

This question is filled with all the uncertainty, all the expectations, and all the desperate gamble of a girl.

She placed all her trust in the man who was embracing her.

Upon hearing this, Su Mo was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

He tightened his arms, holding her even closer, and lowered his head to gently place a tender kiss on her forehead.

"What do you think?" His voice was full of affection.

Rita didn't say anything more, but buried her face even deeper, while the corners of her mouth uncontrollably turned up high, outlining a smile that seemed to overflow with happiness.

Yes, is there even a need to ask? From the moment he led me by the hand to the top of that mountain, the answer was already self-evident.

The torrential rain outside the window may never stop, but the rain in my heart inside the room has finally found its warmest refuge.

The night is still very long.

There's still a lot to do.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clear sky after the rain and streamed into the room through the hotel's antique window frames, Su Mo slowly opened her eyes.

The torrential rain outside the window had long since stopped, replaced by the crisp chirping of birds and the fresh scent of the air.

Su Mo, who had been working hard all night, had already woken up.

In his arms, soft and warm, Rita slept peacefully like a well-behaved kitten. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows in the morning light. Without the usual competence and makeup on the commentary stage, she appeared exceptionally serene and gentle at this moment.

Su Mo didn't move, but just looked at her quietly, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turning up.

He gently reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair that had playfully fallen across her cheek behind her ear. His fingertips inadvertently touched her warm skin, causing her to let out a soft moan in her sleep and snuggle even closer to him.

Just then, Rita's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her sleepy eyes. The moment their eyes met, the ambiguous memories of last night flooded back, and her cheeks flushed instantly. She instinctively tried to break free from his embrace.

"Good morning." Su Mo's deep voice, tinged with a slight morning huskyness, sounded in her ear, but he pulled her arm even tighter.

"Good morning...good morning." Rita's voice was barely audible. She buried her face in his chest, not daring to look into his eyes, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Su Mo chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss her forehead: "Does the question you asked me last night still stand?"

"What's the problem..." Rita asked knowingly, her voice muffled.

"A matter of responsibility."

"Hmph, then we'll see how you do!" Rita finally mustered up her courage, raised her head, and gently punched his chest, her eyes filled with coquettishness and sweetness.

The two did not rush to get up, but instead enjoyed the rare tranquility after the rain.

They ordered the hotel breakfast to be delivered to their room, where they enjoyed the beautiful morning view of the ancient town from a wooden table by the window.

The sun shines brightly, and life is peaceful.

Su Mo thought that continuing this kind of life might not be a bad choice.

So, for the next few days, Su Mo simply accompanied Rita around, to places she wanted to go, and to do things she wanted to do.

This holiday became a time for all EDG players to completely relax and have fun.

Meiko and Scout went to Japan as they wished, and posted photos of delicious food and hot springs on their WeChat Moments every day;

Jiejie returned to his hometown, enjoying the praise of his relatives and friends as a "world champion," and was so happy that he forgot about home. It is worth mentioning that he also sent a message to Su Mo to complain that many distant relatives came to his house to borrow money. Su Mo smiled helplessly after reading it and told him to think carefully and not to lend money easily.

Su Mo, on the other hand, spent a sweet time with Rita that belonged only to the two of them.

They didn't visit famous tourist attractions; instead, like any ordinary couple, they occasionally went to the movies, shopped at malls, or spent an afternoon in a quiet café in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, enjoying the tranquility of returning to the ordinary after being in the spotlight.

However, while the players were on vacation, the world of League of Legends was far from peaceful.

The afterglow of the S10 World Championship has barely faded when the annual and most exciting winter transfer window has already begun.

Teams in various regions have begun a new round of arms race, with all sorts of rumors and insider leaks flying around, keeping countless fans on the edge of their seats every day.

In the LCK region, DWG, who were highly anticipated but fell short in the finals, became the center of the storm.

Perhaps due to the immense impact of this defeat, their championship roster was not fully retained. Top laner Nuguri, the talented player who was thoroughly traumatized by Su Mo in the finals, ultimately chose to leave for another country, joining the LPL region's FPX team with a sky-high contract, a piece of news that shocked the entire esports world.

There's also an undercurrent of tension within the LPL region. After a disappointing season, RNG has undergone sweeping reforms, with veteran player Xiaohu even transitioning to the top lane. TES and JDG, on the other hand, have opted to largely retain their original rosters, addressing their weaknesses in preparation for next year's competition.

As the world champions, EDG is naturally the focus of everyone's attention. The biggest suspense is Su Mo's future.

"Is Brother Mozi still going to fight or not?"

"Can EDG keep this four-time champion?"

"I heard that a North American team has written a blank check to sign Mozi!"

"I heard LCK has started too!" The discussion on the internet is in full swing.

Just then, EDG Club released two major announcements in quick succession:

First, Viper, the talented Korean ADC player formerly of the GRF team, has officially joined EDG.

Second, Flandre, the former top domestic top laner of the LNG team, has also joined EDG.

These two signings have brought EDG's already formidable roster depth to an alarming level. While fans are ecstatic, they are also increasingly puzzled. With the addition of Flandre, is Mozi really going to retire?

At the EDG base, Abu, who had ended his vacation early, was on the phone with Su Mo.

“Viper and Flandre are both players that Mingkai and I have been scouting for a long time, and their strength is definitely not a problem,” Abu explained. “Viper’s laning dominance and teamfight damage output are top-notch in the LPL right now. As for Flandre, his champion pool and experience can also complement our tactical system very well. Of course, most importantly, Xiao Mo, we need to prepare for your future in two ways.”

Su Mo understood what Abu meant, and he smiled: "Brother Bu, you guys can handle these things. I'm just a lazy bum, I only slack off occasionally."

“You kid…” Abu chuckled, “Although, I still have to tell you that the team needs fresh blood. Although our team seems strong this year, the most important person is actually you. Without you, we have almost no chance of winning the championship. So I have to think about your future and the future of EDG. After all, you always think about tanking.”

"You guys decide..." Su Mo said the same thing, leaving Abu feeling helpless, and he abruptly ended the call.

……

The short off-season flew by amidst various transfer rumors, and soon, the Demacia Cup, serving as a prelude to the S11 season, officially kicked off.

This is the first appearance of the new rosters of various teams, and also a touchstone for testing the results of the offseason.

FPX.Nuguri, EDG.Viper, EDG.Flandre... one after another, impressive new IDs appeared on the field, much to the delight of the audience.

As world champions, EDG is naturally the biggest favorite to win this Demacia Cup.

They fielded a starting lineup that can be described as luxurious: Flandre, Jiejie, Scout, Viper, and Meiko.

After discussing with EDG's management, Su Mo was not included in the roster and chose to rest, leaving the stage to his new teammates.

EDG's new lineup demonstrated overwhelming dominance, overcoming all obstacles and ultimately sweeping FPX 3-0 in the finals to lift the Demacia Cup championship trophy.

Viper won the MVP award in the finals with his impeccable performance.

Just as the smoke from the Demacia Cup has cleared, another year-end extravaganza for the LPL—the LPL All-Star Weekend—is about to begin.

This is a carnival that combines entertainment, competition, and glory, where fans vote for the most popular players to compete in multiple events such as the Solo King Challenge, Legend Showdown, and the main tournament.

That afternoon, Su Mo was processing company documents in his office when a familiar phone call came in.

"Brother Mozi is Zhang, the person in charge of Tencent's LOL esports events."

"Hello, Mr. Zhang."

"Haha, first of all, congratulations to EDG for winning another Demacia Cup! Your dominance is just too strong!" General Manager Zhang started with some pleasantries, then got to the point, "Well, this weekend is the LPL All-Star Weekend, and the organizers would like to formally invite you to attend. Your popularity is undoubtedly the highest in the LPL, so in the fan vote, you were elected as the captain of the main event with an absolute majority of votes."

Su Mo wasn't surprised. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your support, fans."

"Besides the main tournament, we also hope you can participate in the Solo King challenge. Everyone is eager to see you have a real showdown with top players like TheShy and Knight," Mr. Zhang continued. "Of course, most importantly, there's an annual awards ceremony at the end of All-Star Weekend. After unanimous deliberation by our judging panel, both the 'Most Popular Player of 2020' and the most prestigious '2020 Best Player (MVP)' awards belong to you. We hope you will be there to personally accept this honor."

After listening, Su Mo pondered for a moment.

All-Star Game, sounds interesting, might as well go and have some fun.

“No problem, Mr. Zhang,” he readily agreed, “I will participate.”

After hanging up the phone, Su Mo leaned back in his office chair and stretched.

All-Star Weekend is indeed a good way for him to relax.

Without the heavy pressure of risking everything like in the S-series, it was more of a celebration to give back to fans and reunite with old friends.

Soon, with a series of pre-event promotions from the LPL official team, the news that Su Mo would be attending the All-Star Weekend and participating in the main event and the Solo King Challenge was like a bombshell, once again stirring up huge waves in the e-sports circle that had only been calm for a few days.

Su Mo is undoubtedly the number one player in the e-sports circle today, with unparalleled popularity, and is the undisputed number one.

Therefore, any news that has anything to do with him will quickly cause a stir online.

The official LPL Weibo account also posted a pinned announcement immediately:
[#LPLAllStarWeekend# The King Returns, Stars Shine! We are proud to announce that EDG.Mo, the S10 World Champion and four-time FMVP winner, will be attending this year's All-Star Weekend! He will serve as the main event's voted captain and participate in the highly anticipated Solo King Challenge! The ultimate showdown is about to begin! Who will be the true King of Kings? Let's wait and see!]

Within just one hour of its release, the Weibo post garnered over 100,000 reposts, comments, and likes, with the comment section completely overrun by enthusiastic fans.

"Here he comes! That man is back again!"

"Mozi's All-Star performance is a blast from the past!"

"Solo King! I'm totally ecstatic! Mozi vs. TheShy? Mozi vs. Knight? I've been dreaming of seeing this!"

Major esports media outlets and forums quickly followed suit, with posts full of gimmicks and suspense springing up like mushrooms after rain.

On Baidu Tieba, a post titled "[Rational discussion: Who has the best chance of winning this year's Solo King?]" was instantly pushed to the top of the homepage, generating thousands of replies.

The original poster wrote: "The roster is out: TheShy, Knight, Bin, 369... and of course, that guy, Mo. Guys, who do you think will lift the trophy this time?"

1st floor: "Is that even a question? It's TheShy! Solo matches are all about mechanics and dominance. Who understands offense better than TheShy? Oh, I forgot there's Mozi who understands it even better than him."

2nd floor: "Stop praising him! TheShy and Mo? I, Knight, disagree! Knight's champion pool is bottomless, his mechanics are incredibly refined, and his mentality is unwavering. Solo matches aren't just about mechanics; they're also about details and mentality. I'm betting on Knight!"

3rd Floor: "Calm down, everyone. The All-Star Solo Tournament is mostly for entertainment, but who doesn't want to win? Especially against an opponent of Mozi's caliber, I believe every player will give it their all. This isn't just a simple match; it's a battle for honor! Whoever beats Mozi will be standing on the shoulders of a god to reach the top!"

Online public opinion continues to escalate, and the players at the center of the storm have also responded.

IG base.

TheShy was sitting in front of his computer, idly playing a custom game of Riven.

When Rookie handed him his phone screen and pointed to the official announcement, TheShy glanced at it, then a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

TES base.

"Brother Mozi is coming too?" Knight looked at the news, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "That's great."

Karsa, who was standing nearby, leaned in and chuckled, "What, want to bump into him?"

Knight nodded seriously and gripped the mouse tightly: "Yeah, I want to give it a try."

He didn't say "I want to win," he said "I want to give it a try." This reflects both respect for the legend and confidence in his own abilities.

As time goes by, this upcoming All-Star Weekend has been given a significance far beyond an entertainment event.

It became a clash between old and new champions, a collision of talents, and a feast that all LPL fans had been eagerly anticipating.

A few days passed quickly.

Chengdu, the host city of All-Star Weekend.

This vibrant city has become even more bustling with excitement because of the arrival of LPL events.

At airports, hotels, and competition venues, fans dressed in various team uniforms and holding support signs could be seen everywhere. They came from all over the country just to witness this star-studded event.

On the day of the event, Su Mo's private car slowly drove towards the venue.

Outside the car window, a sea of ​​fans stretched out, waving their light sticks enthusiastically. The words "Mo" and "EDG" shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Brother Mozi!!"

"we are the champion!"

A deafening roar of cheers pierced through the car windows and reached Su Mo's ears clearly. Su Mo rolled down the window, smiled, and waved to the fans outside, instantly igniting even more enthusiastic screams.

Upon entering the backstage area, the familiar hustle and bustle immediately envelops you.

This place brings together the top players, coaches, commentators, and staff of the entire LPL, and everyone's face is filled with relaxed and joyful smiles.

"Brother Mozi is here!"

Someone shouted, and everyone backstage immediately turned to look.

"Brother Mozi, long time no see!" Rookie greeted Su Mo with his signature sunny smile and gave him a bear hug.

"Long time no see, Yijin." Su Mo smiled and patted him on the back.

Jackeylove and Zuo Shou also came over, and Ah Shui nudged Su Mo with his elbow with a mischievous grin: "Brother Mo, not bad, you can still win the annual MVP after retiring, this is really something else."

"There's nothing I can do; my strength doesn't allow me to keep a low profile," Su Mo joked.

Just then, a figure walked over from not far away.

TheShy.

"Hi Shy," Su Mo greeted him first.

"Hello, Mozi!" TheShy quickly walked over and said in slightly broken Chinese, "Solo match, I'll be waiting for you, I'll do my best!"

"Okay." Su Mo smiled.

As the opening ceremony approached, the contestants walked onto the stage one after another.

As Su Mo walked through the corridor, he could clearly hear the noise coming from inside the venue, indicating that there were already many people.

The lights flickered at the end of the corridor, where a stage awaited the attention of everyone.

Tonight, he will once again step onto the familiar stage.

Of course, it's no longer about the glory of winning the championship; it's more about defending one's throne. (End of Chapter)