For a professional player, this was a form of humiliation.
It was not because of his opponent's taunts or the fact that he had been crushed in the arena.
It was true that this would make him feel bad and he would blame himself. However, for Li Shiyi, this was something he could endure and was used to.
For him …
The heaviest blow, the deepest and most bone-piercing humiliation …
But now, even the customers and fans in the internet cafe didn't approve of him.
The current him …
He had actually fallen to the point where even the normal internet cafe fans were unwilling to be in the same group as him. They were even willing to give up the opportunity to go on stage to avoid embarrassment.
The silent atmosphere in the internet cafe crowd was like a loud and silent slap to his face.
It was hot and painful.
At the same time, it was like the sharpest of thorns, ruthlessly stabbing into his heart.
The pain was almost indescribable.
Not to mention the laughter and undisguised mockery from the other members of his own club. Their laughter was constantly shaking his eardrums. He felt as if all the blood in his body was about to rush to his head. His face was flushed red, and he felt extremely ashamed and sad.
The saddest thing was …
Even at this moment, he was powerless to do anything.
…
Not far from the arena, the big-bellied boss of Mountain Internet Cafe, Chief Wang, could also see that something was wrong with the situation. He could not help but frown.
"What's going on?"
"You guys can't even fight in the second exhibition match?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at the team leader of Mountain Club beside him. There was a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
"That's too unreliable."
The team leader of Mountain Club immediately smiled apologetically. "Yes, yes, yes. We didn't do a good job. Chief Wang, please calm down. I'll go and check out the situation —"
Then, the team leader quickly walked to the team members of his own club and said angrily,
"What's going on?"
"Our fans have drawn their cards. Why aren't we starting the second round? Chief Wang is watching from behind. He's very unhappy with us!"
The members of Mountain Club began to complain.
"Leader, this has nothing to do with us."
"The two fans from our team are ready. It's Li Shiyi and Little Fool's team. The few fans who were assigned to their team don't want to be in the same team as them. We're still missing one player, but no one else is willing to join us."
"Yeah, it's all Li Shiyi and Xiao 'er's fault!"
"They just fought like a pile of sh * t in the last round. Who would be willing to be in the same team as them?"
"It's all Li Shiyi's fault. Leader, you should be looking for him!"
Therefore, the leader quickly walked up to Li Shiyi and Xiao Er with a dark face and scolded them harshly.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Even the customers and fans in the store don't want to be in the same group as you. Is this how you fight an exhibition match?"
"I think you guys don't want the red packets later!?"
Such an old man could only rely on his seniority to earn the sympathy of the club and continue to stay in the base.
It was fine if they spent a few thousand yuan every month to support this trash. They didn't want other people in the industry to think that the Mountain Club was so heartless that they didn't even take care of their old players.
But now …
You're still causing trouble for this kind of thing. Their President Wang is watching. He's the big boss and the major shareholder of the club. You're going to implicate the others and get scolded too! Do you know that?!
The more he thought about it, the angrier the Mountain Club leader became. He turned around and scolded Li Shiyi again.
"This is all your fault. Forget about Xiao Er. What the hell were you fighting just now?
"You weren't happy when the club put you in the substitute position. Look at you now, how dare you speak up!?
"You played like this in a jungling match …
"Even the three players who were just assigned to your team played better than you!
"With your current level, how dare you say you're a member of the Mountain Club?"
"Huh?!"
Li Shiyi's neck was completely red from the scolding. He could only lower his head and clench his fists. He couldn't refute a single word.
Xiao Er couldn't bear to listen to him and said, "Leader … Don't talk about Brother Li. I'm also in the wrong —"
The leader glanced at Xiao Er coldly.
"Don't say anything.
"Both of you are to blame, but you have to make up for it. Do you understand?"
As he spoke, he paused for a moment, then walked directly to the front of the stage. With a smile on his face again, he raised his voice to the internet cafe customers below the stage.
"Everyone, everyone —"
"It's true that these two players didn't play well just now, but I hope everyone can give them another chance. There's one lucky player left. Who's willing to join this team?"
There was dead silence below the stage.
The customers were still looking at each other. It was obvious that no one was moved by the leader's words.
After all, they had clearly seen the match from below the stage:
That was called not playing well?
It was obviously a huge trap.
Moreover, they had also heard that the two members of the High Mountain Battle Team were only substitutes. They were far inferior to the real main forces of Team One and Team Two. If they were to go on stage, they would definitely lose.
No one wanted to go up and be beaten up. Not to mention being dragged down by two substitutes from the Mountain Club.
Seeing no reaction from the audience, the smile on the leader's face became slightly forced. He turned around and glared at Li Shiyi.
"What are you waiting for?"
"You're the one who caused trouble, and you want me to clean up after you?!"
"Why don't you get your ass over here and apologize to the fans in the shop so that they can give you another chance?!"
Li Shiyi was stunned.
Not far away, the other members of the High Mountain Team were also jeering, "That's right, you're the one who caused this trouble, and you're asking our leader to clean it up?" "What the hell are you doing, Li Shiyi?" "You're playing noobs, and you're embarrassing our club?" "Aren't you going to apologize to our fans?
Sharp sarcasm.
Harsh sarcasm.
He was humiliated in front of so many people.
At that moment, Li Shiyi felt like all the blood in his body was rushing to his head. If he could, he would have turned around and slammed the door. That way, he wouldn't have to endure such humiliation. That would be the best way to vent his anger.
But —
He couldn't do that.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms to the point of drawing blood. It was this kind of heart-wrenching pain that made him forcibly suppress that impulse.
He couldn't leave.
If he left, he wouldn't be able to answer to the club. Not to mention the red packet tonight, even his substitute status in the club would be revoked.
Without a stable job and a source of income, how could he make a living in a big city like Shanghai? How could he support his sister's living expenses and tuition fees?
Li Shiyi's expression alternated between green and red. He lowered his head and clenched his teeth so hard that his lips almost broke.
Finally —
A hint of despair and pain flashed in his eyes.
Then, he slowly raised his head and used the last bit of his strength to squeeze out a bitter smile that was uglier than crying. With great difficulty, he said,
"Everyone, I'm sorry.
"It's my fault for not playing well.
"But I hope that everyone can, can give me another chance.
"Let one more person join our team and be my teammate —"
It was as if he had used up all his strength to say those words. At the last moment, Li Shiyi bowed deeply.
"Please, everyone!"
"Please!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
From an angle that no one could see, this substitute member of the High Mountain Team was already silently crying.
*****
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