LPL didn't want me? I joined SKT instead!

The next morning, the sunlight in Beijing, with its unique coolness and brightness of late autumn, streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the five-star hotel and onto the soft carpet of the presidential suite.

The madness and clamor of last night seemed to still linger in the air, but Xiao Yan woke up early.

He didn't have the headache of a hangover, only the clarity of complete relaxation after experiencing extreme tension.

He was wearing a comfortable cotton bathrobe, holding a cup of freshly brewed black coffee, standing quietly by the window, overlooking the fully awakened metropolis.

The Bird's Nest in the distance looked solemn and magnificent in the morning light; it was the throne where he ascended to the top of the world last night and was crowned FMVP.

"Buzzing—"

The phone on the marble coffee table had been vibrating like a tireless motor since 6:30 in the morning.

The screen lit up, turned off, and lit up again; countless missed calls and unread messages nearly burst this latest smartphone.

Xiao Yan took a small sip of his bitter, rich black coffee, turned around, walked to the sofa, sat down, and picked up his phone.

The screen displayed a variety of names with different nicknames, as well as many more unfamiliar numbers without nicknames, but without exception, they all came from the locations of major e-sports clubs at home and abroad—Shanghai, Beijing, Los Angeles, and Seoul.

He knew that when he held up the golden trophy on stage last night and delivered those ambitious and declarative words in fluent Chinese and Korean, the entire global esports capital market had gone completely crazy for him.

A 19-year-old Chinese champion ADC, at his peak, with a significant skill gap, a massive following, and extremely high tactical awareness, and with only a few days left on his contract.

In the eyes of the owners and managers of major clubs, this is no longer just a player, but a gold mine, the ultimate piece of the puzzle that can instantly transform a team into a world-class powerhouse, or even a super cash cow that can double the club's market value.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.

The first call came in from Su Xiaoluo, the team manager of IG, a veteran powerhouse in the LPL. But the voice on the other end of the phone wasn't Su Xiaoluo's; it was a voice that was somewhat lazy yet carried an undeniable air of dominance—the real boss behind IG.

"Hello, is this Xiao Yan? This is Principal Wang."

"Hello, Principal." Xiao Yan's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, carrying just the right amount of politeness.

"I watched the game last night, and it was fucking amazing! I smashed my wine glass in the VIP box!" Principal Wang's laughter was hearty, with the straightforwardness typical of a rich second-generation. "I won't waste any more time on nonsense. You're a free agent now. LPL needs you, and I need you too."

Principal Wang paused for a moment, then offered his bargaining chip: "Come to IG. As for salary, I'll offer you the highest salary in LPL history—three years, 150 million RMB, a fully guaranteed contract with no performance-based clauses! Not only that, if you agree, you can choose any large apartment in downtown Shanghai, by the Huangpu River, either Tomson Riviera or Bund 9, as your signing bonus, and it'll be directly in your name! You can rest assured about your tactical role; the bot lane will be the absolute core, and the jungler will provide 24/7 support. How about that? Is that sincere enough?"

Three years, 150 million, plus a signing fee of 100 million for a river-view apartment.

If this number were released, it would be enough to cause a magnitude 10 earthquake in the entire e-sports industry.

This is completely outside the salary range of esports players. The novel "LPL Doesn't Want Me? I Joined SKT Instead!" is causing a reading frenzy on Cola Novels. Haven't you read it yet? It has reached the income level of top-tier celebrities in the domestic entertainment industry.

Xiao Yan tightened his grip on his phone slightly, but his expression remained calm.

"I truly appreciate the principal's sincerity, and I'm very grateful for your recognition." Xiao Yan's voice was gentle and calm, without the slightest excitement or loss of composure. "IG is a team with great potential, but, Principal, a transfer is a major decision, concerning my career planning for the next few years. I just finished the World Championship, and my mind is still a bit muddled. Please allow me a few more days to consider and comprehensively evaluate all factors before giving you a clear answer, okay?"

On the other end of the phone, Principal Wang heard that Xiao Yan hadn't directly agreed but also hadn't refused. Instead, he laughed heartily: "Good! It's a good thing that a young man can remain calm! Not arrogant or impatient, no wonder you were able to pull SKT back from the brink. I understand what you mean, comparing options! Compare as you like, but let me put it this way: in the LPL, no club is richer than my IG, and no one knows better than me how to treat top players! My doors are always open for you!"

After hanging up the phone, in a top-tier private club in Shanghai.

Principal Wang tossed his phone onto the sofa, picked up a glass of red wine, and a confident smile appeared on his lips.

"Principal, he didn't agree?" Su Xiaoluo asked nervously.

"He didn't agree, but he didn't refuse either." Principal Wang swirled his wine glass, his eyes deep. "That kid is incredibly smart. He knows his current worth, and he knows that all the capital in the world is watching him. He's waiting, waiting for all his cards to be played. However, not refusing is the best news. He wants the most lucrative terms, and we at IG have no shortage of them. Go, have the finance department prepare another 20 million in contingency funds, ready to add more at any time!"

"Yes!" Su Xiaoluo perked up and immediately left.

……

Xiao Yan had only hung up the phone for less than ten seconds when it rang urgently again.

This time, it's Abu, the head coach and manager of EDG.

"Xiao Yan, congratulations on winning the championship. The FMVP title is well-deserved." Abu's voice was shrewd and capable, without the nouveau riche air of Principal Wang, but full of the rigor of a tactical mastermind.

"Thank you, Mr. Bu."

"Xiao Yan, let's not beat around the bush. You know EDG's current situation. Although we are dominant domestically, we always fall short on the world stage. We need a super core player who can step up in desperate situations and has absolute carry and game-closing ability. And you are the perfect candidate."

Abu spoke quickly and clearly: "We've studied all your match videos with SKT. Your playstyle, your command, even your ability to withstand pressure in disadvantageous situations, perfectly align with EDG's future team-building strategy. If you come to EDG, we will match the highest salary offer from IG or any other club. But what we can offer you is something no one else can—an absolute core position in the team's strategy."

Abu took a deep breath and offered an extremely generous tactical incentive: "If you come, EDG's entire tactical system will be completely overhauled and rebuilt around you! Mingkai will become your most loyal bodyguard, and both the top and mid lanes can choose utility champions to withstand pressure. You will have unlimited firing rights and resource allocation. Furthermore, you know EDG's operational capabilities in China; we will mold you into a unique leader in the LPL."

The latest chapter has ignited the plot! Stay tuned for more updates.