Bai Yu didn’t understand.
He opened Weibo and realized the entire trending list had exploded.
It started with someone posting a video on a foreign website, and coincidentally, it captured the person who had insulted Bai Yu as a “vase” on the spot. With the power of the internet, this person was quickly tracked down.
Unexpectedly—
He wasn’t a hater.
He was a ten-year fan who had followed Bai Yu from his debut and had never missed a single event!
Right after cursing Bai Yu that day, he went home and deleted every Weibo post from the past ten years related to Bai Yu, erased all his personal data, and left only one message: “The rivers and lakes shall see me no more.”
Then he permanently deactivated his account, never to update again.
If it had been just a regular fan, it wouldn’t have mattered. But this kind of public “unfollowing and stepping back” behavior was especially degrading. And this person was different—he had genuinely and steadfastly supported Bai Yu for ten years. His dedication had been witnessed by many, including Bai Yu himself, who had a deep impression of him.
As soon as the news broke, the public opinion completely shifted.
Fans began posting long “goodbye essays” online. The mix of truth and lies quickly ignited a wave of mass unfollowing.
And SG, who had already wanted Bai Yu to step down, immediately seized the opportunity from the trending wave and announced without consulting him: “Bai Yu will be suspending play for injury recovery!”
Public opinion exploded again!
No matter how much Bai Yu had been hated, he had always stood on the front lines. That was something nobody could criticize.
Precisely because he had never given up, his fans didn’t give up on him either. And yet, now he was the first to surrender?
The internet was flooded with sarcasm and ridicule.
Looking at the screen full of emotional goodbye posts, Bai Yu’s lowered lashes trembled slightly. He suddenly remembered that large-scale cyberbullying incident from years ago.
Coward, weakling, deserter.
He thought those words would no longer stir any emotion, but his chest still felt like it had been stabbed.
On this path of esports, he had never thought of running away. No matter how hard it got, he had endured. One by one, those around him retired, but he gritted his teeth and persisted for the sake of the so-called profession.
And now, at the very end—
He had been labeled a deserter.
When Bai Yu stood up, his head spun. The whole room felt like it was spinning. He opened WeChat and pulled up the team manager’s contact, typed a long message, but in the end deleted it all word by word.
His fingers turned pale from pressing too hard—still powerless.
He felt like he had fallen into an inescapable vortex. In front of him were only two roads: either go along with the club’s arrangement, which might help his future transition, or fight them head-on, terminate the contract, transfer teams, and in the end gain nothing but pride.
He hadn’t decided what to do yet when Zhou Xunwen, already panicked, called him: “You’re home, right? Wait there, I’m coming over now!”
Zhou Xunwen rushed into the apartment and saw the lights were off. He wondered how anyone could sleep under these circumstances.
He turned on the light and saw Bai Yu still sitting on the edge of the sofa, looking heartbreakingly fragile.
Zhou Xunwen quickly lowered his voice: “Things haven’t gotten to the worst yet. Don’t panic. Right now, public opinion is against us. If we fight the club now, we’ll be on the losing end. So listen to me—let’s endure this wave. Once things cool down next year, we’ll negotiate with the club.”
Bai Yu didn’t say anything. Zhou Xunwen could never guess what he was thinking, which made him nervous: “Think of it this way—just take it as a break. After all these years of exhaustion, a rest might not be a bad thing.”
Seeing him nod, Zhou Xunwen thought he had agreed.
He pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Yan An.”
The call rang for a long time with no answer. Someone who normally handled work 24/7 was suddenly unavailable now—clearly trying to leave them hanging.
Zhou Xunwen was so anxious he almost broke his phone, when suddenly Bai Yu’s calm voice rang out: “No need to call. I’m preparing to terminate the contract.”
Zhou Xunwen was so shocked he almost dropped his phone. “Bai Yu, don’t act on impulse! Think it through before deciding!”
Bai Yu had never been impulsive. On the contrary, his voice was frighteningly rational: “I’m not being impulsive. I know what I want. I can’t sit on the bench. I don’t have the confidence to wait another year. This year is my last chance. If the team insists on suspending me, I’ll terminate the contract.”
After Bai Yu finished speaking, he suddenly let out a long breath, as though this decision had been on his mind for some time, and the team had finally given him the reason to act on it.
The room fell silent, and Zhou Xunwen didn’t dare to break the quiet.
Just then, his phone rang again. He thought it was someone from the team, so he instinctively answered, “Hello?”
A familiar voice came through the line: “Brother Zhou, it’s me. I’ve noticed that public opinion has been quite chaotic lately. I wanted to ask if Bai Yu is thinking about retiring? If he does, I’m willing to offer a high price to rehire him. Whether or not it works, I mainly just want to collaborate with him…”
Zhou Xunwen exploded: “What retirement? What retirement! I’m telling you, Bai Yu will not retire! Even if he does, it’s none of your business! Don’t call again!”
He hung up the phone and finally came to his senses, looking at Bai Yu with suspicion. “Do you know what terminating the contract now means?”
Bai Yu nodded.
It meant he was about to go head-to-head with the capital.
Zhou Xunwen thought through all the possible scenarios: “First, there’ll definitely be a huge online debate. You’re very likely to lose. Then Yan An will use his connections to blacklist both you and me. At least half of the teams won’t even take you, and the ones that do might not need you, and even if they do, they won’t meet your expectations…”
He spoke for a long time, but Bai Yu showed no reaction. Zhou Xunwen couldn’t continue, and asked, “What are you really thinking?”
Bai Yu replied honestly: “I want to win another championship.”
He felt he hadn’t expressed himself clearly, so he added, “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”
Zhou Xunwen was momentarily stunned.
Bai Yu gazed ahead, his voice as thin as his figure. “SG’s double C position has a low ceiling. No matter how much effort I put in, it’s all in vain. Actually, for the past two years, I’ve known that SG couldn’t give me what I wanted. I just didn’t have the chance to leave, nor the courage to start over. Now that Yan An has given me that chance, I want to take it and try again.”
His eyes seemed to flash, sharp and determined, just like when he first started.
Zhou Xunwen, surprisingly, calmed down. He realized Bai Yu had this power—no matter how ridiculous the decision seemed, people couldn’t help but want to believe in him.
The apartment was too quiet at night. Zhou Xunwen took out a cigarette and took a couple of deep puffs. As the thick smoke enveloped him, his mind drifted back to when they first sat together on those late-night trains, knocking on the doors of club after club, fighting for every tiny opportunity to play.
The worst outcome now seemed no worse than what they had already been through.
He suddenly snuffed the cigarette into a flower pot, the burn on his fingers making him wince. “Alright, let’s terminate the contract. I’ll get you my lawyer, my team, I won’t let you suffer.”
Bai Yu’s attitude was firm. The termination process went smoothly. His signing bonus wasn’t too high, and with only six months left on his contract, his lawyer helped him secure a reasonable sum.
The management finally realized the urgency. They knew that once Bai Yu terminated his contract, the entire team would face public backlash. Yan An, who had previously been firm, now softened his tone: “Bai Yu, I think the current situation isn’t entirely hopeless. We can still work together for a win-win situation. You just need to take a short break, and once your condition improves, the team can help promote you again…”
Bai Yu leaned back in his chair, looking at him calmly. “Mr. Yan, you seem to have misunderstood something. I’ve never needed anyone to create hype for me. Everything I’ve achieved has been through my own efforts. If I’m good, people will watch. If I’m not, people will criticize me. I don’t need you to worry about that.”
His voice was light, but it wasn’t weak.
There were no extreme words, but every word held weight.
Yan An’s face darkened.
He finally understood why no one had taken up the plan headquarters had suggested—they had underestimated Bai Yu. While he appeared soft, in truth, he couldn’t be controlled.
Yan An left the office and held an emergency meeting. Half an hour later, he returned, ready to compromise: “Bai Yu, the team is sincerely trying to keep you. How about this? We’ll sign a new contract. Your starting position will be guaranteed, and I promise no one will challenge that.”
The new contract draft was placed in front of Bai Yu. He glanced at it and pushed it back, his voice soft but firm: “Aside from the starting position, I also want the mid-laner and AD to be changed.”
The situation had shifted.
The streets outside were crowded, air thick with tension.
Zhou Xunwen couldn’t help but laugh as he walked down the street. “Haha, you should’ve seen Yan An’s expression. It was priceless!”
It was also the first time Bai Yu had seen Yan An’s face crack open with frustration. Zhou Xunwen grinned, “Well, now we’ve completely torn the mask off. The contract termination is happening for sure. What happens next?”
Zhou Xunwen immediately pulled out his notebook, showing Bai Yu the research he’d done over the past few days: “I’ve gone through all seventeen LPL teams. Here are three that seem promising. Take a look…”
The contract termination process was kept very secret. But there’s no such thing as a completely sealed door. Despite SG’s best efforts to suppress it, rumors still spread: Bai Yu had terminated his contract with SG!
The news spread quickly, and people began criticizing SG’s management style.
Because every year, whenever their results weren’t good, rumors would fly about Bai Yu’s retirement or contract termination. Fans would cry out for his return, and by the time the new season rolled around, it was as if nothing had happened.
But this year? No one was buying it anymore.
Public opinion turned against SG:
“It’s started again. This happens every year…”
“If he really retires, then whatever, I’m immune.”
“Yeah, every year they perform terribly, then issue a retirement warning, apologize, then come back next season and suck again. This routine is so predictable.”
“Do you believe Bai Yu’s contract termination, or do you believe I’m the first emperor of China?”
Meanwhile, some smaller streamers jumped on the bandwagon: “Bai Yu’s current business model is just like this. There’s no way he’ll terminate his contract. He’s still living off the glory of his past championships…”
The online comments were a mix of cold mockery and people playing along, but nobody truly understood the gravity of the situation.
Until the so-called “only real esports connection” streamer, Big Mouth Brother, streamed for hours and accidentally let something slip: “This new assistant coach is no good. If TUP manages to get Bai Yu this year, maybe next season they could really give it a shot.”
The screen exploded:
“??? What are you talking about?”
“Bai Yu’s still with SG, isn’t he? The contract isn’t over.”
“Big Brother, do you know something?”
“Wait, what? He really terminated his contract?”
“Ah???”
Big Mouth Brother already had considerable traffic, and with the explosive topic, the news quickly spread like wildfire. People began reaching out, trying to confirm the details, and the shocking conclusion was that Bai Yu had terminated his contract with the team two weeks ago!
"Wait, Bai Yu had a fallout with SG??"
"What? No way! I thought Bai Yu was going to retire at SG!"
"Was he resting due to an injury, why did he suddenly terminate the contract?"
"SG announced that Bai Yu was benched, and right after that, Bai Yu terminated his contract.. this is really suspicious..."
"I heard SG’s management decided to bench him without his consent, and that led to the fallout. In the end, they had no choice but to let him go."
"Guys, it wasn’t Bai Yu’s choice to stop playing. SG mishandled things!"
"Bai Yu deserves better, he’s earned so much for LPL, how could they make decisions for him?"
"Enough with the nonsense, I support Bai Yu terminating the contract!"
Public opinion quickly shifted in Bai Yu's favor, and SG was getting roasted. However, SG's PR team reacted swiftly, turning the narrative into one about Bai Yu's conflict with the mid-laner and AD in the team.
After the world championship, Bai Yu and the fans of the team's double C had been in constant online battles, blaming each other for their shortcomings. With SG leading the narrative, the fanbase war only intensified. The fans of both sides, young and energetic, flooded social media, and it seemed like Bai Yu was destined to lose this battle.
However, Bai Yu’s fans, who had once been the loudest critics of him, had now become his fiercest supporters after years of experience. They showed everyone that Bai Yu’s fans had only grown stronger over time. The old fights had forged a force that was nearly invincible.
They made sure everyone knew that if it wasn’t for Bai Yu’s efforts, these fans wouldn’t have even existed to support him in the first place.
In reality, SG’s management had made the unethical decision. Bai Yu had been exhausted and wanted to rest, but instead, SG tried to force him to sit out. The fans weren’t having it, SG had clearly mishandled the situation.
With multiple factors supporting Bai Yu, the fans turned the tide in his favor. Public opinion calmed, and yet, Bai Yu himself hadn’t made a public statement.
A month had passed since Bai Yu terminated his contract, and speculation was rife online.
“Maybe Bai Yu’s given up and is thinking of retiring?”
“No, please, I still want to watch him play!”
“Why bother terminating the contract? Wouldn’t it be better to retire and enjoy the benefits?”
“Didn’t he have a fallout with SG because he wanted to play?”
“Maybe his demands were too high, no team would accept that.”
“His transfer fee is sky-high, who would pay for an older player?”
“His contract would have been at least three years, but Bai Yu’s already 26. Who would want that?”
“Is there a possibility that no team wants him? Even the struggling TUP hasn’t expressed interest…”
“Wait, are you serious? Don’t say that!”
Such cases weren’t unheard of. Some players, despite still having skill, just couldn’t find a team willing to take them. Take Xu Bo for example, he was once at his peak with Bai Yu but after leaving, he became a champion AD with no team willing to sign him.
Fans quickly became suspicious.
Haters took this chance to attack Bai Yu, calling him an outdated player that no team wanted. SG’s double C fans also seized the opportunity to make a show of it, stirring trouble on social media. Meanwhile, Bai Yu remained silent.
Fans were becoming anxious, fearing that Bai Yu might miss out on opportunities. Just then, Big Mouth Brother accidentally revealed more: "There’s no way no one wants him. Bai Yu is a legend! TUP has been dying to have him, but the conditions were already set and Bai Yu still hasn’t spoken. Now, no one knows what he’s thinking."
"Currently, TUP is a top-tier team. They’re going to the World Championship without issues. If Bai Yu joins, they’ll definitely be contenders next season!"
“Rumor has it that TUP has been very sincere and has made many efforts, even offending SG, but Bai Yu still hasn’t said anything.”
As the transfer period was nearing its end, fans were on edge, worried that Bai Yu might miss his chance.
Other teams started to make moves too. Initially, they didn’t want to offend SG and were hesitant, but with TUP making the first move, they no longer had reservations.
When it became clear that TUP’s offer didn’t sway Bai Yu, other teams began extending olive branches, even resorting to underhanded tactics. Some netizens exposed a team manager who, using a fake account, pretended to praise his own team while trash-talking others, trying to influence Bai Yu’s fans into pushing him toward their team.
When exposed, the manager denied everything, attempting to blame other teams.
The situation turned ridiculous, and fans were left stunned. Who knew the esports world could be so full of corporate warfare?
The fans were laughing hysterically, with some joking, "Maybe 0T will really go water the money tree on the other side?"
"Don’t say that, I really think 0T could pull something like this off."
"Alright, stop, this is too embarrassing."
"But if it means Bai Yu will join, I wouldn't mind..."
"Hahaha, this is so unexpected!"
"Who would have thought that even after all these years, we would still see all these teams fighting to recruit Bai Yu?"
"Wow, this is Bai Yu, after all!"
"Back in the day, Bai Yu was a huge name. Even if he’s older now, I’m sure his influence is still there."
The discussions went on for a while, and many of Bai Yu's old fans came back. A lot of his old videos were brought up, leaving new fans stunned.
"Wasn’t Bai Yu the one who barely made it into the top 16 and got roasted by haters? Didn't people say his championship win was just because of his face and not real skill? Now he's older, his popularity is declining, and technically, no team should want him, so why are all these teams still fighting to sign him?"
As "the only connection in the esports circle," Big Mouth Brother’s streams were filled with people wanting to hear news about Bai Yu.
At this point, the situation seemed pretty clear, and Big Mouth Brother didn’t hold back: "You can rest assured that even if Bai Yu doesn’t play anymore, he won’t be out of work. I’ve dealt with him before, and that guy’s vision is beyond what most people can even imagine. He shocked me. If I had a team, I would definitely want him, even if just as a figurehead. The problem is, there are so many teams trying to recruit him, but he hasn’t said anything. No one knows what he’s thinking…"
Fans were getting more and more anxious.
"Bai Yu, what are you waiting for?"
At that moment, Zhou Xunwen, who had been reminiscing about Bai Yu’s glory days while scrolling through old footage, was caught off guard when his phone rang. He answered distractedly: "Hello?"
The voice on the other end was out of breath. It was Bai Yu: "Come downstairs, let’s go check out the base."
Zhou Xunwen was confused: "??? What base?"
"OT" here refers to 换血优势 (Out-Trade), meaning dominating lane pressure in LOL. It’s a meta joke about "sabotaging" the enemy’s strategy. So, the commenters were joking and calling them OT for that.
"Water the money tree on the other side" means "Disrupt their success."
"Double C" or double carry means relying on both the AD and midlaners to do most of the damage for the team, which is why Bai Yu asks for them to be replaced.