The Bot Lane Is Still Showing Off [Esports]

(The upcoming column novel "The Mid Laner Is Cool and Doesn't Chat" is now being serialized, and the blurb for "Substitution Reaction" is almost ready. Feel free to bookmark them if you're interested!)

The day after winning the world championship, genius support Sheng Pu discovered that he had arrived in a world two years in the future.

Less than ten hours after getting his championship experience card, he was told: Times have changed. He's no longer the glorious, gold-medal support everyone admired, but an obsolete has-been that everyone loves to hate.

And he hadn't transmigrated through time at all. He'd simply lost two years of memories after hitting one dead end after another during the transfer window.

Sheng Pu stayed optimistic in the face of public opinion sinking to rock bottom: Since his memories had gone back two years, he could just let his skills go back two years too. LPL, your number-one bot lane is back-

Wait, where's my ADC?

When he learned that the genius AD Jiang Li, who had once been unstoppable alongside him, had left the competitive scene a year ago, and that his identity as the son of the founder of Xinze Group had soon become public knowledge, Sheng Pu's eyes widened in shock.

You said you'd stay with me until we retired. How did you end up going back to inherit the family business?

Sheng Pu took a bored lap around the transfer market. During tryouts, he demolished one AD after another, but none of them felt like Jiang Li. After much deliberation, he decided to work for INK, the new team founded with investment from Xinze, and drag Jiang Li into it too.

Sheng Pu said enthusiastically, "Young Master Jiang, I heard your team still needs a bot laner. My suggestion is that we go in together and show them what a real number-one bot lane looks like."

Jiang Li said coolly, "Brother Sheng, whether you're really suffering from amnesia or just pretending, my advice is to stay away from your ex's life."

Sheng Pu was confused. "Do former teammates have to keep their distance too?"

The AD who had clung to him and refused to let go in front of cameras around the world just the day before now stared at him expressionlessly. "Former teammates don't. Former boyfriends do."

Sheng Pu: "???"

The highly talked-about new team INK fought its way through the new season and won the league championship. During the interview, the host smiled and asked Jiang Li, who worked for the team, and Sheng Pu, the employee standing a foot away from him: "The famous 'Li-Pu' duo are just as impressive as ever, and the rumors that you two don't get along have been put to rest. Could you share the secret to maintaining such great chemistry?"

Sheng Pu: "...Keeping our distance?"

Host and audience: "???"

At almost the exact same moment, Jiang Li quietly edged closer to Sheng Pu. They looked like they couldn't have been any closer.

Comments: "Genuine question: Is this the new way the number-one bot lane shows off?"

Genius support Sheng Pu had lost a lot over the past two years, but gained an ex-boyfriend.

Sheng Pu clenched his fist confidently. "Trophies, fame, whatever it is, I'll get back everything I've lost."

Jiang Li: "Brother Sheng, did you forget something else? O.O"

Oh, right. He'd also gained an ex-boyfriend. He needed to deal with that soon...

Maybe he should just take him back.

A ruthless, taciturn, outwardly cold but inwardly warm cool-guy top (Jiang Li) x a sociable, talkative, outwardly warm but inwardly guarded and resilient bottom (Sheng Pu)

A sweet, strong-couple story about getting back together after a breakup. HE. The game is League of Legends, with some original worldbuilding about tournament patches. No characters are based on real people. The career plot is pure wish fulfillment.

[Upcoming novel blurb: The Mid Laner Is Cool and Doesn't Chat [No CP Esports]]

Genius mid laner Han Xun is handsome and plays like a beast, but he's also universally recognized across the league as socially anxious.

An illness he had as a child damaged his vocal cords, leaving his voice softer and raspier than normal. People made fun of him for it growing up, and after he went pro, he also picked up plenty of mocking nicknames.

Feeling insecure about his voice, he always tried to avoid talking too much with people, and his social anxiety only grew worse.

His coach and teammates shook their heads and said they couldn't communicate with him. During post-match interviews, he couldn't utter a single word in front of the whole crowd. After too many ridiculous incidents like these, and another year with no honors to show for it, everyone thought his professional career was already as good as over.

By a strange twist of fate, Han Xun joined WAVE for the new season, a team full of outgoing extroverts from top lane to bot lane.

A forum post declared: "Will he end up seeing a therapist after spending a season with WAVE?"

On Han Xun's first day, he opened the practice room door to find his chattering teammates racing toward him with a banner welcoming him enthusiastically. And so began a chaotic new season.

A socially anxious mid laner's struggle to survive on an extroverted team. The protagonist seems cool and doesn't chat, but is actually sensitive and loves making snarky comments. A lighthearted, healing, feel-good growth story with a satisfying rise to success. The whole team is full of angels.

Note: The game is League of Legends. No CP and no characters based on real people. The male lead loves only League of Legends.

[Upcoming novel blurb: Substitution Reaction [Modern Danmei Esports]]

After years in the game, Zhuang Minghuai, once hailed as the league's premier AD, endured the torment of his injuries and put up the worst performance of his career in a contract year. The same fans who had once praised him to the skies now condemned him for ruining his legacy.

His haters told him to retire and make way for younger players. His fans and friends urged him to retire and focus on recovering. But Zhuang Minghuai made a decision that shocked everyone: He would switch positions and keep competing as a support.

His announcement sent shock waves through the community, and the forums were united in their criticism: He was disrespecting both his former status as a star AD and the support position. He'd really do anything to keep playing, with no shame at all.

Even so, quite a few clubs made offers during the transfer window, hoping to capitalize on his popularity.

When Zhuang Minghuai went to the Air club for a tryout, he met Li Zheng, the league's brightest new star this year.

Li Zheng was a genius AD who became famous as soon as he went pro. He had countless iconic plays in his very first season. Arrogant and aggressive in his playstyle, he had won himself a huge fanbase.

In both personality and playstyle, Li Zheng was Zhuang Minghuai's opposite. The one thing they had in common was that they were both so handsome they stood out from the crowd.

Having heard about Li Zheng's many acts of defiance, Zhuang Minghuai, who was usually reserved and low-key, felt a little apprehensive. When the spirited young man reached out to him with a smile, the confidence and vitality in his eyes struck Zhuang Minghuai like a scorching light.

He regretted agreeing to the tryout. At the end of his career, he was worn down and disheveled, unable to lift his head beneath the dazzling, youthful energy radiating from Li Zheng.

But then he heard Li Zheng say, "Brother Minghuai, you're my idol."

"I've been your fan for ten years. No joke."

A cocky, handsome, younger top who is both a devoted fanboy and fiercely ambitious (Li Zheng) x a gentle, reserved bottom who is strong without realizing it (Zhuang Minghuai). A strong-couple, feel-good wish-fulfillment story. The game is League of Legends. No characters are based on real people. HE.

Theme: The past cannot be changed, but the future is still ours to pursue.