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

"Oh, Xiao Yan. Still awake? Congratulations on signing that big contract. You'll be a big shot in the team from now on, so please take good care of me." Peanut's tone was deliberately relaxed, but his voice carried an undeniable hoarseness.

Xiao Yan walked to his side, said nothing, and just looked at him quietly.

That penetrating gaze, seemingly able to see through everything, gradually froze the smile on Peanut's face, until he finally collapsed completely.

He lowered his head, avoiding Xiao Yan's gaze, and gripped the railing tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Do you feel like you're about to be kicked out of SKT?" Xiao Yan's voice was calm, but it was like a sharp knife, precisely piercing through Peanut's last pretense.

Peanut's body jolted, and he looked up, his eyes already red.

"I...I don't know." Peanut scratched his hair in anguish, his voice trembling. "Xiao Yan, am I useless? I've been following your instructions in everything. Other junglers could do these things too. I can't help you guys. I've become a burden to the team..."

"The team will definitely buy a jungler who can control the map better for you, right?" Peanut became more and more excited as he spoke, and finally couldn't hold back his tears.

Looking at the once spirited and talented young man before him now in such a broken state, Xiao Yan sighed softly in his heart.

Esports is that cruel. It can make someone a legend overnight, or send them plummeting to hell in an instant.

Xiao Yan turned around, leaned against the railing, took out a pack of tissues from his pocket, and handed it to Xiao Huasheng.

"Wipe your hands off. What kind of person is the world's number one blind monk, crying like this?" Xiao Yan's tone was slightly teasing.

Peanut took the tissue and wiped his face haphazardly, but he still couldn't calm down.

"Wang Hao." Xiao Yan suddenly called out Xiao Huasheng's real name, his tone becoming serious.

Little Peanut paused for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Yan.

"Do you think you played poorly this year because you've become weaker? Is it because your skills have deteriorated?" Xiao Yan stared into his eyes and asked, word by word.

Little Peanut opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.

"No, you haven't gotten weaker," Xiao Yan answered directly. "Your skills are still world-class, and your reaction speed is still faster than most junglers. The reason you're playing like a headless fly, only able to follow my commands, is because of this distorted version of the game!"

Xiao Yan's words resounded like a great bell in Xiao Huasheng's ears.

"What version is S7? It's the Ardent Censer version!" Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened as he began a deep tactical analysis. "In this version, vision control is incredibly important. The jungler's role is forcibly defined as a 'mobile ward' and a 'tank for initiating team fights.' Sejuani, Zac, and Jarvan IV—these are the answers to this version."

"And you? You're a Lee Sin, Nidalee, and Elise player! You're a predator who needs to tear apart the opponent's defenses through counter-jungling and exceptional individual skill! When SKT's coaching staff forces you to put down your weapon, pick up the green jungle item, and go ward the jungle, to be a dog for the mid and bot lanes, you've already lost!"

Xiao Yan's words were merciless, directly exposing the hidden wounds in SKT's tactical system.

"SKT's tradition is to protect the mid lane, which is correct, because that's Faker. However, this tradition becomes a shackle that binds you when the meta changes. To fit in with the team, you abandoned what you were best at and tried to play like Bengi, focusing on map control. And the result? You became a hybrid, neither fish nor fowl. You lost the sharpness of a carnivorous jungler, and you lacked the composure of a map-controlling jungler. That's the root cause of your poor performance this year!"

Xiao Hua listened blankly, each of Xiao Yan's words like a heavy hammer, striking his heart hard.

"Then... what should I do?" Peanut seemed to have grasped a lifeline, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes. "That's how the version is, that's what the team needs, I can't change it."

"Who says it can't be changed?" Xiao Yan's lips curled into a confident smile.

He turned around, put his hands on Peanut's shoulders, and looked at him intently.

"Wang Hao, listen up. If you want to stay with SKT, I can put in a good word for you. But you know SKT's current salary structure, you probably won't get a high salary like you would with other teams."

Little Peanut stared wide-eyed at Xiao Yan in disbelief.

He didn't expect Xiao Yan to speak up for him.

Peanut's breathing became rapid instantly, and his eyes welled up with tears again.

"Xiao Yan...you..."

"Don't be so moved." Xiao Yan interrupted him, his eyes becoming extremely serious. "I'll protect you, but whether you can stay with SKT next season depends on your own efforts."

Xiao Yan's decision to try and keep Peanut was also because he was very clear about the direction of Season 8.

The green jungle item will be removed by Riot Games! Vision control will return to the supports and team coordination. The jungle will once again belong to aggressive junglers! Lee Sin, Olaf, Xin Zhao, Camille—these champions will dominate the game again!

Peanut will once again be the most threatening top jungler.

Looking into Xiao Yan's eyes, which remained bright and resolute even in the darkness, Xiao Huasheng took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the emotions surging in his chest.

He didn't say any more words of gratitude, because he knew that for a player of Xiao Yan's caliber, any verbal promises were pale and powerless; only performance on the field could be the best reward.

Peanut nodded emphatically, his signature blond hair swaying slightly with his movement, his eyes becoming more resolute than ever before: "I understand. Xiao Yan, I will work hard. Next year, I will let everyone see that Peanut, who dominates the jungle, is back."

"Very good." Xiao Yan nodded in satisfaction.

"Remember the look in your eyes tonight." Xiao Yan withdrew his hand, his tone calm. "Go wash your face and get a good night's sleep. Head back to Seoul tomorrow to prepare for the new season."

Peanut thought the conversation was over and was about to turn and leave the balcony.

However, Xiao Yan's next move made him freeze in place.

Xiao Yan took out his phone from his pocket, skillfully unlocked the screen, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed a number.

While waiting for the call to be answered, Xiao Yan even pressed the speakerphone button.

"Beep—beep—"

The phone rang only twice before being answered. The voice of SKT General Manager Kim Sun-joong, slightly tipsy but still incredibly enthusiastic, came through the receiver:

"Oh! Xiao Yan! Still not resting so late? Is there some question about the contract? Or are you dissatisfied with the hotel arrangements? Let me know if you have any problems!"

Kim Sun-joong's tone was full of gentleness.

Little Peanut stood to the side, his eyes wide as copper bells.

He stared blankly at Xiao Yan, unable to understand why Xiao Yan was calling the general manager in the middle of the night.