This remark, the same joking way as before, made these tough guys couldn't help but have tears in their eyes. It was the first time in their lives that they were willing to be scolded.
They all picked up their already cold coffee, smiled with relief, clinked their cups, and drank it all in one gulp.
After that, none of them said a word. They stood up and were about to leave. Xing Xing pushed Ji Siyue out first, running like a frisky little rabbit. Ji Siyue almost wanted to scold.
The tough guys behind didn't ask how everyone was recently. Instead, they were teasing each other about their current gaming skills, saying things like they were going to beat each other up.
It seemed that everything had remained the same, yet also seemed that everything had changed.
The live - broadcast ended. The peak number of viewers was exactly 2.45 million. If one was more careful, they might notice that this number was exactly the number of official live - broadcast viewers of the last battle of the GH team's do - or - die match that year.
The recorded broadcast and the topic both made it onto the hot search list under the name #GH's Return#.
To be honest, this team didn't have a very good public image among passers - by, but it had high topic value and was a myth back then.
However, where there were people looking forward to their return, there were surely those who were against it.
[I don't think they should return. This game belongs to everyone. It's not a place where they can come and go as they please. If everyone did this, what would this game be? Their youth is youth, but isn't mine? I think they should be boycotted. This team doesn't take the league seriously, doesn't take the game seriously, and even less take us seriously! There are so many good teams now! We don't need them! Please boycott them!]
As soon as this Weibo post was made, it received an immediate and enthusiastic response.
Some people had these thoughts but didn't dare to voice them. Now that there was a start, there were many people who wanted to add fuel to the fire.
[I think the official should issue a statement not to let them participate in the competition. Otherwise, what are we?]
[I agree!]
[Come on, let's go and flood the official Weibo with comments! We can't let them come back!]
[They're no longer young. They want to come back to play the game because of their love for it. Can't we just let them be? I felt so sad watching the live - broadcast in the coffee shop. It was really...]
[How do you know it's not a hype?]
[Hype? Are you blind? The atmosphere was so tense. It was obvious that no one knew what the result would be. You say it's a hype? I'm going to swear!]
[Just watching the drama. Not saying a word.]
A large number of people flocked to the official Weibo and forced the official to respond.
The official Weibo didn't reply for a long time.
...
No one had been to the base for several years. Although someone came to clean it every month, with so many white cloths covering everything, it looked desolate.
Qin Chengyao sat there, watching the others bustling around, filled with mixed emotions.
— Finally back.
The phone rang. Qin Chengyao answered it. It was someone from the headquarters of "Sanction".
"President Zhang, why did you call me yourself?"
"Xiao Qin, I'll be straight to the point." The person on the other end of the phone was the boss of the game company of "Sanction". He called personally to ask, "There are many people on Weibo boycotting you now, saying that you don't respect the league. I really want you to come back, but I need your assurance."
"What kind of assurance?"
"Will you play until the end this time when you come back, regardless of the ranking?"
Qin Chengyao looked at the base that was gradually returning to its former state.
Zhu Zhiyao and Xing Xing were uncovering the white cloths on the furniture. Nangong Qi was turning on the computers one by one to check the hardware and configuration problems. Bai Qi was mopping the floor and wiping the tables alone.
And Ji Siyue. Since she couldn't do physical work, she was on the phone, contacting people she knew about the computer configuration for training and some live - broadcast materials, insisting that everything had to be the best and that price was not an issue.
All these people were working hard, trying their best to pick up their dreams and youth again.
Qin Chengyao let out a long sigh and said, "I can't leave 'Sanction', you know. I love that world. I'll stay and fight until the end. I won't leave. This is my promise to you."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Then, it seemed that the person suddenly laughed, full of emotion, "A few years ago, you also said in such a tone that you would definitely win the championship. And then you really did. After that, there has never been anyone in the league with such a huge influence as you. You're the faith of a generation. Welcome back. I'll handle the online public opinion. You just focus on your preparations."
"Thank you, President Zhang. We'll work hard. We... are GH!"
Two hours later, the official Weibo of "Sanction" finally posted a Weibo about this incident.
There were no words, just a video.
The video showed scenes of GH's battles and the struggles, joys, and tears of many teams in previous competitions. There were game footage and recordings from the matches, with subtitles.
[Before we knew it, 'Sanction' has accompanied everyone for eight years. From a small online game that was not favored by the company at the beginning to the current 'Sanction World', we couldn't have achieved this without every one of you, every player, every friend. Six years ago, the first AKM League started, and no one participated. In the second year, the game became extremely popular, and many professional players who were the faith of players emerged out of nowhere. There was the delicate - minded Landu, the powerful - operating Gray - Brown, the strategic Shiyu who led his low - ranked teammates to win the third place, and... the gentle and powerful Hornet!]
At this point, the subtitles suddenly turned gray.
When the screen slowly lit up again, the image of [Hornet] wearing a mask and playing the game seriously appeared on the screen. This scene was enough to make every old fan shed tears.
This was the former Hornet!
They won the championship and left quietly. Then there was the re - organized team, with four veterans and one new member, facing great pressure to participate in the online trials.
Later, during the Bai Yu incident, their serious faces when they were doing their best in the competition...
Everything was changing, but the only thing that remained unchanged was the firm belief in their eyes.
The screen turned gray again.
The name of GH was crossed off the list of that year's league, as if it had never appeared.
In the following three years, there was no news of them.
[Maybe you've all found new goals and ideals. Maybe you won't come back. Maybe... on a sunny afternoon, you'll also smile when you think of the first time you passed a dungeon in the game... All these are our memories and youth!]
Suddenly, the picture brightened up!
It was a series of photos of the smiling faces and hugs of most of the players in previous competitions, hundreds of them in total, flashing by one by one!
Finally, it was fixed on GH!