Zhu Zhiyao walked up to Ji Siyue and said, "Aren't you going to explain this to Qin Chengyao? After all, this is the real culprit behind the breakdown of your relationship."
"The culprit?"
Ji Siyue pondered over this word carefully. It seemed that this was indeed the case. But if she thought more deeply, if she had chosen to believe that Qin Chengyao could solve her dilemma back then instead of leaving the country without hesitation, things might not have turned out like this.
She couldn't blame anyone else.
If she really had to find a culprit, it was herself.
"Forget it. This incident has brought serious harm to all of us. And if Qin finds out about this now, he'll surely feel bad. It's a crucial period for the competition, so it's better not to tell him for the time being."
"Maybe Qin still hasn't gotten over this hurdle. Are you just going to let the misunderstanding between you two last forever?"
"Maybe I'll tell him when everything is settled, or maybe I'll bury this matter deep in my heart forever." Ji Siyue lowered her head and sighed. "Stop talking. It's already late. Go and rest. Our battle will officially start tomorrow."
"Okay. I'll leave first. You should go back and rest soon. Don't let everyone worry about you."
"Don't worry. I won't let everyone be distracted from the competition because of me."
Zhu Zhiyao seemed to want to say something else, but seeing Ji Siyue's attitude, she thought it would be in vain. So she just shook her head and left.
That night, none of them really felt like sleeping, but they still forced themselves to fall asleep.
Early the next morning, everyone put on their team uniforms and gathered on the first floor.
Ji Siyue glanced around at everyone's faces and smiled.
"Today is the day we compete against Junchen. I won't say much else. You're all smart people and you know what to do. Let's go."
They took the bus to the stadium again. Since they had experienced this once yesterday, they weren't that nervous today. They were relatively relaxed.
When they arrived at the venue, Ji Siyue found that the scene was even more spectacular than yesterday.
There would be four matches today, and the order was the same as the lottery draw yesterday. Their match against Junchen was the second last one, so they would be free in the morning. Ji Siyue took her team members to the lounge and watched the first two matches on the live - broadcast device, so that they could have an idea in case they encountered those teams in the future.
The first match was between Ik.
This team was extremely brutal. They defeated the seventh - ranked team with three consecutive victories. After the match, they were so arrogant.
They originally thought the match would take two hours, but now the time was halved. As soon as the previous team's match was over, it would be their turn.
Ji Siyue stood up and clapped her hands.
"Maybe in about half an hour, we'll need to go to our match room to prepare. Everyone stand up and move around to get your bodies in an excited state."
Since they had come early and sat here for a while, they were a bit sleepy. Hearing this, they all stood up and jumped around in the room.
An hour later, when the previous team's match was half - way through, someone came to inform them.
"The people from GH can go to the operation room to prepare. You'll be the next to play."
Hearing this, everyone went out in high spirits.
Unexpectedly, there were also reporters waiting outside the lounge. Seeing them come out, the reporters blocked their way and wanted to conduct pre - match interviews.
In response, Ji Siyue directly stood in front of the reporters.
"The match hasn't started yet. Please be patient. I'll accept your interviews after the match. Thank you for your hard work, dear reporters."
These reporters had just come from Junchen and had been treated coldly there. Now seeing Ji Siyue's good attitude, they felt more balanced and said some nice words and let them go.
The computer equipment in the operation room was top - notch, but most professional players were more used to using their own external keyboards and mice when playing matches.
Ji Siyue held a meeting with the team members.
"For the first game, we'll use the regular lineup. Qin Chengyao, Xingxing, Zhu Zhiyao, Bai Yu, and Nangong Qi will play. Bai He and Lan Du will be substitutes."
Everyone replied in unison, "Yes!"
Everyone trusted Ji Siyue's judgment. Moreover, as the team leader and, to some extent, the coach, they naturally listened to her.
After the five players sat down, they took out their external devices from their backpacks, connected them to the computers, and started to warm up their hands.
Bai He walked up to Ji Siyue and said, "Leader, can I discuss something with you?"
"What is it?"
"If we win today's match, can I use the same method to taunt them back?"
"No. Taunting before a match is a tactic, but taunting after a match is just bad - mannered. I won't allow you to do this." Ji Siyue refused firmly.
Bai He was just joking to make Ji Siyue happy, but he didn't expect her to be so serious. He couldn't help but feel a bit in awe of her.
"Okay, okay. I won't taunt!"
There was no live - broadcast device in the match room, and everyone was concentrating on adjusting the settings and skill positions on their accounts.
Ji Siyue went out to take a look. The previous team's match had reached the decisive game. Now the score was 2:2. The winner of the fifth game would advance to Group A.
Ji Siyue stood at the door and watched for a while, then suddenly came back.
"The outcome outside has been decided. Everyone can start to prepare."
"Yes!"
Sure enough, within five minutes, the staff outside knocked on the door and said,
"The match is about to start. Please ask the substitute players to go to the lounge next door. The coach can stay here. Our staff will come to equip you with ear - mics and in - team communication devices soon."
Ji Siyue nodded and replied, "Okay, thank you."
Bai He and Lan Du walked into the next - door lounge, arm in arm, to watch the live - broadcast. Ji Siyue and the five players all put on the same ear - mics. But she was holding a small tablet and standing at the back, ready to adjust the lineup and direct the team to choose their professions at any time.
She would have to leave here when the match officially started. By then, everything would be up to Qin Chengyao. So she had to choose the lineup carefully before the match started.