LOL: What does it mean to torture players?

In addition to the media, official offers of assistance have also been pouring in.

An invitation letter from the General Administration of Sport of China was solemnly delivered to the EDG club.

The letter invited Su Mo to participate in the "Annual Chinese Sports Personality of the Year" awards ceremony held in the capital as a representative of outstanding athletes.

This invitation caused a huge stir within the LPL.

This means that Su Mo is no longer just an e-sports player, but a representative figure recognized by the mainstream sports world and on par with traditional sports stars.

Abu and the factory manager were so excited that they didn't sleep all night, preparing a bespoke suit for Su Mo and arranging his itinerary.

Su Mo's own reaction was: "Huh? We have to go to the capital? It'll take two days round trip, right? That's too much trouble."

Finally, after Abu's earnest persuasion that "this is for the glory of the entire LPL," Su Mo agreed.

A few days later, at the awards ceremony.

Su Mo, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, stood out remarkably slender and upright among the group of tall, traditional athletes. He sat in the audience, surrounded by Olympic champions from table tennis, diving, weightlifting, and other sports, each radiating the glory of bringing honor to their country.

When the host announced his name and the big screen began playing highlights of his incredible plays in the World Championship, the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Whether it was sincere or not, at least we got applause.

Su Mo calmly walked onto the stage and accepted the heavy trophy from the presenter. He didn't give a passionate acceptance speech, but simply said, "Thank you. I will continue to win."

Concise yet powerful.

Official activities extend far beyond this. The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League also extended an invitation to him, hoping that he could participate in an online sharing session for college students nationwide as a representative of "Outstanding Youth for Upward and Virtuous Conduct Nationwide".

During the sharing session, Su Mo remained as calm and composed as ever.

When asked by the host about "how to persevere in pursuing your dreams," he thought for a moment and said, "Find what you truly love, and then do it to the best of your ability, so good that others can't ignore you. That's all."

A simple and unadorned answer can touch people's hearts more than any fancy words.

Despite these high-profile official events, Su Mo's personal life was never neglected.

After finishing his trip in BJ, he didn't return to base immediately, but instead went to find Rita and the others.

After the plane landed, he went straight to a van that was already waiting outside the VIP lane.

The car door opened, revealing three stunningly beautiful faces with charming smiles.

"Our 'China Sports Personality of the Year' is back?" Rita joked, taking the trophy from his hand and playing with it curiously like a little girl.

"You've worked hard," Yu Shuang said, handing her a bottle of warm water. "You look like a completely different person on TV, all dressed up in a suit and tie."

Luo Xin didn't say anything, but took out a soft towel and carefully wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.

Su Mo leaned back in the comfortable chair, let out a long sigh, and instantly shed his official armor, reverting to his lazy nature.

“I’m exhausted,” he complained. “It’s much more comfortable being with you guys.”

“Of course,” Rita said proudly, raising her chin. “We’ve prepared the best relaxation program for you.”

"Oh? What is it?"

"I'll take you to eat authentic Changsha crayfish, and then we'll go to Orange Isle to watch the fireworks!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo smiled.

For him, the glory under the spotlight and the official titles were certainly proof of success, but ultimately just fleeting moments.

What truly makes him feel relaxed and happy is always being with his loved ones, enjoying these ordinary yet genuine moments.

Outside the car window, the city's neon lights flashed by.

Inside the carriage, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

There may be many championship trophies, but there is only one real life.

The fireworks in Changsha were dazzling but short-lived, but the warmth they ignited lingered in the hearts of the four people.

Back in Shanghai, Su Mo's life returned to "vacation mode." He slept in every day until he naturally woke up, and in the afternoon he would go to the base to play a couple of ranked games to maintain his skills. The rest of the time he would enjoy a rare moment of leisure in his penthouse duplex in Tomson Riviera.

Rita, Luo Xin, and Yu Shuang also tacitly reduced their live streaming and work time significantly, becoming frequent visitors to his home.

Today, the four of them stayed home, a rare occurrence, and snuggled up in the huge sofa in the living room. An art film was playing on the projector, and the coffee table was covered with snacks and fruit.

The movie plot was a bit dull, and Luo Xin started to feel sleepy as she watched. She tilted her head and naturally leaned on Su Mo's shoulder. Rita, on the other hand, was restlessly snatching the potato chips from Su Mo's hand, her two long, fair legs unabashedly draped over his lap.

Only Yu Shuang watched most intently. She suddenly sighed softly and said quietly, "Speaking of which, it seems a bit inconvenient for us to come here every day like this."

Upon hearing this, Rita paused in her act of stuffing potato chips into her mouth and joined in the complaint: "Yeah, yeah! Especially those paparazzi, they're so annoying! Last time I drove out of the underground parking garage, I felt like someone was following me. And it's such a hassle to move all my cosmetics and clothes around."

“Mainly…” Yu Shuang glanced at Su Mo and said carefully, “Although your place is big enough, it’s still an apartment after all. Sometimes when we’re doing live streams, or you’re training all night, we’re all living under one roof, so it’s bound to affect each other. And… the privacy is always a bit lacking.”

Su Mo had been resting with his eyes closed, but upon hearing this, he slowly opened them.

He didn't say anything, but simply picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed a number.

"Hello, is this Manager Li? This is Su Mo."

On the other end of the phone, a steady middle-aged male voice immediately became extremely respectful and enthusiastic: "Mr. Su! Hello, hello! How can I help you?"

"Keep an eye out for detached villas in Shanghai for me," Su Mo said casually, as if ordering takeout. "My requirements are simple: First, top-notch security is essential; I don't want any unauthorized personnel getting close. Second, the area must be large enough, around 1,000 square meters of usable space, with a large garden and courtyard. Third, the environment must be quiet and private. Contact me anytime if you find a suitable property."

After hanging up the phone, an eerie silence fell over the living room.

The three women stared at him wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

Just now... was he arranging to buy a villa? Just because they casually mentioned it?
"You...you're serious?" Rita was the first to react, stammering as she asked.

Su Mo tossed his phone aside and laughed, "What else? You're right, it's really inconvenient here. Let's buy a bigger house, you can each have a floor, and leave me a basement to play games in peace and quiet."

His current net worth is already astronomical. The prize money from several championships, the sky-high live streaming contracts, the countless commercial endorsements, plus the share dividends from the club, his cash flow has easily surpassed dozens of small goals.

For him, buying a top-tier villa is indeed not difficult.

But to the three women, these words were like a magnitude 10 earthquake. It wasn't about money; it was the domineering, doting, and powerful drive that this man inadvertently revealed that struck their hearts like a hammer blow.

"One person per floor..." Luo Xin murmured to herself, her face as red as a ripe apple, her mind already imagining what life would be like in the future.

A wave of emotion washed over Yu Shuang. She said nothing, but silently picked up a slice of cantaloupe and gently offered it to Su Mo's lips.

Top real estate agencies are incredibly efficient.

Just two days later, Manager Li called respectfully, claiming that he had selected three top-tier manor-style villas that perfectly met Su Mo's requirements and that viewings could be arranged at any time.

So, on a sunny afternoon, a black Maybach with a Shanghai license plate (沪A) quietly drove away from the city and headed towards Sheshan, known as the "root of Shanghai".

Inside the car, Su Mo remained as relaxed as ever, leaning back in the back seat and pretending to doze off. The three girls, on the other hand, seemed excited and nervous, chattering away like elementary school students about to go on a school field trip.

"What kind of villa do you think it will be? A thousand square meters... My goodness, isn't that like a small castle?" Luo Xin's eyes were full of stars.

"It definitely needs a huge walk-in closet! And an outdoor swimming pool!" Rita has already started planning her "territory".

“Security and surrounding facilities are also very important,” Yu Shuang said more rationally. “It would be best to have an independent housekeeper and security team.”

Manager Li sat in the passenger seat, looking at this strange scene through the rearview mirror, and was secretly amazed.

He had hosted countless top tycoons, but Su Mo was the first one who possessed such wealth and charisma at such a young age, and was accompanied by three stunningly beautiful women with distinct personalities.

The vehicle eventually stopped at the gate of a heavily guarded manor.

This is the most exclusive villa area in Sheshan. Each villa covers several acres and is separated from each other by dense forests and high walls, ensuring the ultimate in privacy.

Manager Li personally got out of the car and opened the door for Su Mo.

"Mr. Su, this is 'Purple Garden,' the first property we're going to see today. It covers an area of ​​five acres, with a building area of ​​1,800 square meters. It has three floors above ground and two floors below ground, and comes with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a private cinema, and a wine cellar."

Upon entering the estate, the first thing that catches the eye is a huge lawn manicured like a golf course, with an elegant fountain in the center.

The villa is a French classical style building with an exterior made of precious stone that shines brightly in the sunlight.

Pushing open the heavy oak doors, an atmosphere of luxury washes over you. The magnificent foyer, with its ceilings over ten meters high, is adorned with dazzling crystal chandeliers, gleaming Italian marble floorboards, and oil paintings on the walls that you can't quite decipher but that look incredibly expensive.

"Wow..." Luo Xin and Rita exclaimed in unison, sounding as if they had never seen anything like it before.

Although Yu Shuang tried her best to remain calm, she could not hide the shock in her eyes.

Although their salaries are already quite high compared to ordinary people, they are still like penniless compared to Su Mo.

Manager Li smiled and began to introduce the house: "The entire house uses German Miele kitchen appliances, Gaggenau built-in appliances, and the bathroom fixtures are from the contemporary Black Diamond series... The entire villa is equipped with a private elevator and a whole-house smart home system."

Rita couldn't contain herself any longer and rushed to the walk-in closet, which was even bigger than her own bedroom, letting out a happy scream.

Luo Xin was deeply attracted by the open kitchen with its huge island and unbeatable garden view, and began to fantasize about cooking for Su Mo there.

Yu Shuang then pulled Manager Li aside and carefully inquired about the security system, property services, and surrounding medical and educational resources, acting like the lady of the house.

Su Mo followed behind, hands in his pockets, at a leisurely pace. He had no interest in the luxurious decor or expensive brands; his gaze remained fixed on the three women.

This was something he had actually wanted to implement for a long time.

He saw Rita gesturing as if she was having a party by the pool, saw Luo Xin leaning against the garden's French windows gazing wistfully at the flowers and plants outside, and saw Yu Shuang nodding in satisfaction.

Finally, he went down to the second basement level. This area was designed as a huge entertainment space, including a gym, a private cinema, and an area that had been specially reinforced for soundproofing, with top-of-the-line network ports pre-installed in the walls.

"This space can be converted into a professional esports training room," Manager Li added at the opportune moment.

Su Mo nodded.

After viewing the entire villa, Manager Li respectfully asked, "Mr. Su, what do you think? This is our current main offering. Of course, there are two more available later, one in a modern minimalist style and the other in a Chinese garden style..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Mo interrupted him.

"That's it."

"Huh?" Manager Li was taken aback, thinking he had misheard. Less than an hour of viewing the property, and they hadn't even discussed the price yet, and they'd already made a decision?

"This is the one," Su Mo repeated. "Let's draft the contract, full payment."

Manager Li's mind went blank for three seconds, then he was overwhelmed by a tremendous surge of joy. In his more than ten years in the industry, he had never seen such a decisive and efficient client! That was a property worth nearly 300 million!

"Yes! Yes! Mr. Su! I'll take care of it right away!" His voice trembled with excitement as he immediately took out his phone and began contacting the legal and financial departments.

The three women also came over, and upon hearing Su Mo's decision, their eyes gleamed with an unusual light.

"You've decided so quickly? Aren't you going to take a look around more?" Yu Shuang asked softly.

Su Mo reached out, took Luo Xin's hand with one hand, and put his arm around Rita's waist with the other. He looked at Yu Shuang and smiled.

"The style of the house doesn't matter."

"The important thing is that you all like it."

"Home is where you are."

Su Mo's words stirred up ripples in the hearts of the three women that would never be calmed.

What followed was a surreal, dreamlike process. Manager Li's efficiency was astonishing; with his full coordination of legal, financial, and housing management bureau departments, all the tedious procedures were completed in the shortest possible time. When a brand-new property certificate bearing Su Mo's name was respectfully delivered to him the following evening, this transaction worth nearly 300 million yuan was officially concluded.

Su Mo casually flipped through it and then tossed the "little red book," which would drive anyone in Shanghai crazy, onto the coffee table.

He looked at the three still somewhat dazed beauties in front of him and said calmly, "You all have the keys. As for the renovations, if there's anything you don't like, you can handle it."

"Give...give it to us?" Yu Shuang was taken aback. "Such a big house, we..."

“Don’t worry, just do it the way that’s most convenient and what you like best.” Su Mo interrupted her. “You can discuss it yourselves. Rita likes a lively atmosphere, so she can design the living room and garden on the first floor, even a pool party area is fine. Luo Xin likes a quiet and cute atmosphere, so the second floor is yours, go for the princess style. Shuang Jie, you’re the most steady, so you can plan the master bedroom and study on the third floor.”

He paused, then added his only request: "Keep that entertainment area on the second basement level for me. I want to convert it into a gaming room and a home theater. As for the rest, you can do whatever you want with it, just swipe my card."

After saying that, he strolled back to his room, closed the door, and said only, "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when dinner is ready."

The three girls looked at each other, speechless. (End of Chapter)