CS: The Last Dance, a Dance That Leads to Professional Success

Chapter 112 got over a thousand likes, so here's a bonus chapter where I'll tear apart a galactic battleship with my bare hands!
After watching his cousin's interview, Meng Lang couldn't help but laugh. He didn't feel offended at all; on the contrary, he thought it was very "cousin-like".

My older cousin is such a passionate person.

If you win, you'll be ecstatic; if you lose... well, you might lose a small pearl.

He completely ignored these common pre-match trash talk.

Seeing that Meng Lang seemed completely unaffected and even looked relaxed, Lao Ni couldn't help but chuckle mischievously and urge him, "Meng, don't you have an Instagram account? Why don't you respond to his 'friendly greeting'?"

"That's not necessarily a bad thing."

Meng Lang raised an eyebrow, readily picked up his phone, quickly edited the post, and then simultaneously updated it on Weibo and Instagram.

—Warm-up complete! If this post gets over 1000 likes, I'll show you how to tear apart a galactic battleship with my bare hands! [Image]

After posting, Lao Ni, the child, and others followed Meng Lang's Instagram account and soon received a notification.

The next second, laughter rang out in the tactical meeting room, and Little Li even gave Meng Lang a thumbs up.

That expression is so mesmerizing, hahaha!
At this time, in China, within the largest Dark fan group organized by Li Shan.

"Dark has updated its status!" an administrator shouted immediately.

The group chat was instantly flooded with over a dozen replies: "Where are you?" "Send it to me quickly!"

Then there's a screenshot of Meng Lang's Weibo post taken by the administrator.

The group chat was immediately flooded with "hahaha" and laughing-crying emojis:
"Well said! Dark, kill them all!"

"Let him be arrogant! My cousin just loves to talk big!"

"That feels so good! This response is so refreshing!"

"Everyone, hurry up and like Dark's Weibo post!"

"."

Some FAZE fans in the group also helped to explain: "Big Brother was just joking around. He's actually a very nice person and very easygoing off the field."

Someone immediately chuckled and said, "You like to talk big, huh? Let's see who's the real deal on the field the day after tomorrow, and make him drop his pearls after the competition!"

These heated discussions weren't limited to his fan groups; they also appeared in the comment sections of his Weibo posts, quickly building up to a huge number of posts.

It has to be said that the Antwerp Major has made it this far thanks to the huge exposure of a world-class event!

As the only player in CNCS in recent years to have made it from the Challenger Group to the Champion Group and shone brightly, Meng Lang's Weibo followers have skyrocketed from the initially jokingly "777" to 7, and are still growing.

Fans left encouraging messages and jokes in the comments section, creating a lively atmosphere.

After posting his update, Meng Lang happily replied to a few encouraging comments from fans before putting down his phone.

As for the system...

Without even looking, the "Goat value" is definitely skyrocketing right now.

Thinking about the possibility of starting more simulation training, a mysterious, sweet smile crept onto Meng Lang's lips.

Coach XTQZZZ also said with a smile, "Alright, let's ignore these off-field arguments for now. In the end, it's all about performance on the field. No matter what Big Brother said, the ones who advance in the end are the real winners."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, gathered their attention, and refocused on reviewing and analyzing the FAZE match demo.

……

After the debriefing session ended at night.

Meng Lang didn't make the kids do extra practice tonight as usual.

Before going back to their room to sleep, the child was still a little unsettled and asked Meng Lang curiously, "Meng, why aren't we practicing tonight? It's not like you."

Meng Lang smiled mysteriously.
Said:

"I have a better place to practice playing FAZE."

"Where?"

The children became even more curious.

Meng Lang smiled and pointed to his temple.
A serious face:
"here."

"???"

The child tilted his head, looking puzzled.

"Yes, in my head."

Meng Lang remained serious.

Divine gold!

The child rolled his eyes and walked away.

Meng Lang smiled, shook his head, and turned back to his hotel room.

Old Ni was on the balcony talking to his girlfriend when he saw Meng Lang come home so early tonight. He was a little surprised and greeted Meng Lang with a smile through the glass window.

Meng Lang quickly grabbed a change of clothes and rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower.

After showering, he threw himself onto the soft bed and his consciousness sank into the system.

[Would you like to consume 1000 GOAT points to start a training match simulation against the "Galactic Battleship" FAZE Clan?]

【confirm】

"Galactic battleship, here I come!"

Meng Lang entered a dream in an instant!
Five minutes later, when Lao Ni hung up the phone and returned to the room, he saw that Meng Lang on the next bed had closed his eyes and was breathing steadily, as if he had entered a peaceful dream.

Old Ni was puzzled when he saw this: "Going to bed so early tonight? That's not like him. He's usually so addicted to the internet that he doesn't come home until quite late..."

He suddenly remembered that before playing FAZE at the Cologne station last time, Meng Lang seemed to have said something similar about studying FAZE in his "dream".

"Could it be... that I'm going to fight FAZE in my 'dream' again this time?"

Old Ni was amused by his own absurd idea, shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and went to wash up and prepare to rest.

the day after tomorrow,

There's still a tough battle ahead.

The following day, today is the match day for the lower half of the championship group, and G2 has no matches scheduled.

In the morning, Meng Lang was called by the staff of G2 Club who were filming a VLOG to participate in the media day event of the Antwerp Major. His main task was to interact with some fans who had come from all over Europe to support G2 and to fulfill their wishes for autographs and photos.

This is also one of the itineraries arranged by PGL officials and clubs.

Meng Lang subconsciously asked, "G2 fans... do I need to go too?" He subconsciously still felt like a "temporary worker".

The staff member said with a smile, "Of course! Dark, many fans came here today specifically for you!"

Turning his head, Old Ni was winking at Meng Lang with a smug smile on his face, clearly showing off that his prediction when he picked him up at the airport was correct—"After this Major, your fans will grow even more."

Upon arriving at the autograph session venue, we found ourselves in the spacious lobby on the first floor of the hotel, where several long tables covered with black tablecloths had already been set up.

As expected of the universally recognized "male model and internet celebrity team," the arrival of the G2 group instantly caused a burst of enthusiastic cheers and exclamations from the fans who were waiting in line.

Meng Lang found a seat with his ID on it and sat down. Then he took out the official merchandise, posters, autographed items, etc. prepared by the Major organizers and began to skillfully sign his ID "Dark".

My cousin, Little Li, the child, and Old Ni also took their seats nearby.

Soon, enthusiastic European fans formed several long lines at the autograph booths in front of them.

Looking around, you can clearly see that the line in front of Old Ni is the longest among the five G2 players' autograph booths!
Old Ni also showed his signature friendliness, always with a smile on his face, patiently signing autographs for each fan and graciously posing for photos.

This scene is truly impressive. Old Ni is indeed the "longest river" among CSGO riflemen. Since his debut, he has never fallen out of the annual TOP list and has accumulated an extremely deep fan base. Even though he has never won a Major championship, his charm and strength still have many fans.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. NiKo is just that kind of person—not "perfect," but very real. His personality is similar to most ordinary people who pursue their dreams. He always sticks to his goals, and even if he encounters failure, he wipes away his tears and musters up his confidence to keep going.

This childlike innocence makes people feel very close to you!

He may never win a Major title in his lifetime, but people will remember him not because he won a Major title, but because of how he did his best to pursue his goal year after year, day after day, on the field.

Although his performances can sometimes be disappointing, prompting some die-hard fans to make sarcastic remarks, it's hard to truly dislike someone like him.

Meanwhile, at the autograph booth, the second longest queue was right in front of Meng Lang!
Meng Lang's wrists were aching from signing autographs. He looked up at the long queue in front of him, which showed no signs of shortening, and a touch of melancholy rose in his heart along with his joy:
So having too many fans can be a burden.

At this moment, after signing an autograph and taking a photo with a student fan who had flown in from China to support him, the next person to come up was a beautiful, doll-like European girl.

She looked to be about seven or eight years old, with long, slightly wavy golden hair as bright as the sun, and fair, flawless skin. Most striking were her large, clear blue eyes, which were blinking and looking at Meng Lang with a hint of curiosity.

Meng Lang was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.

CS has a very mature and large viewing market in Europe and America. During the games, the camera often pans across the venues and you can often see very young boys who have developed an interest in CS at a very young age due to the influence of their families.

While it is relatively rare to see a little girl, it is not surprising.

What's interesting is that the little girl in front of us is holding a beautifully wrapped little gift box tied with a ribbon.

"Hello! What's your name?"

"My name is Anya!"

"Is this gift for me?"

Upon hearing Meng Lang's question, the little girl first nodded vigorously, then seemed to remember something and gently shook her head.

Seeing this, Meng Lang couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

With her still childish and slightly accented English, Ayia looked up at me earnestly and said, "This gift... I think I'll give it to you personally when you win the championship."

At that moment, her eyes were filled with pure anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Meng Lang was taken aback at first, then a smile appeared on his face.

He nodded seriously and said, "Okay! It's a deal then! You can give it to me personally after I win the championship."

"Thank you, Anya!"

You're welcome, Dark. I like you!

He bent down, matching the little girl's height, and took a photo with her.

After receiving the photo, Ainya happily ran to her mother who was waiting nearby. Before leaving, she ran back and clapped her hands with Meng Lang before leaving contentedly.

in the corner,
Looking at Meng Lang's immense popularity at the autograph booth, rivaling that of the team's star player NiKo, G2's team manager NiaK couldn't help but sigh—people really do have a special fondness and adoration for those prodigies who rise like comets and amaze the world upon their debut.

Dark's popularity has now clearly surpassed that of the kid who performed equally well in Katowice.

Thinking about the uncertain future of the club and Meng Lang, NiaK felt a sense of urgency.

He walked to a relatively quiet corner and dialed the number of Carlos, the founder and CEO of G2 Club.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, Germany.

Carlos, the founder of G2 esports club, was comfortably lounging in the hotel's luxurious bathtub, leisurely smoking a cigar, in a very good mood.

During this period, G2's CS division has been receiving good news from Antwerp.

Before the tournament, he didn't have high hopes for G2's Antwerp Major journey, given the last-minute roster changes, including the demotion of veteran Jackz and the temporary hiring of a relatively unknown Chinese player brought in by NiKo to fill the roster.

This seemingly "cobbled-together" lineup would be considered a success if they made it into the Legends group, and a championship if they made it out of the Champions group. As for winning the Major championship in the end?

It’s simply a fantasy!
Not to mention, one of the team's core players also has a mysterious debuff that makes him "naturally immune to Majors".

However, Carlos never expected this!
Dark, the newcomer whom no one knows where he was "picked up," gave everyone a huge surprise at this Major after a simple trial period!

The team carried the charge all the way, advancing triumphantly!

They've made it to the semifinals!
"It's a pity...it's not a French athlete."

At this moment, Carlos sighed inwardly. If it were a French prodigy, he probably would have excitedly shared this good news with his French wife immediately.

Carlos lay in the bathtub, just as he comfortably exhaled a smoke ring.

Just then, the cell phone that was placed on the waterproof platform next to it rang.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was NiaK, the Antwerp team manager. Upon answering, he asked immediately, "What's up, NiaK?"

On the other end, Manager Niak's tone was urgent:

"Boss, what's your thought about that matter I mentioned?"

Carlos instinctively wanted to ask "What's wrong?", but then he suddenly remembered something, frowned slightly in displeasure, and asked in return, "Can't we wait a little longer? The Major isn't over yet."

"I can't wait any longer, boss!"

NiaK explained anxiously, "Dark's performance is getting better and better, and everyone can see that. The managers and coaches of other clubs aren't blind either. If we don't extend an olive branch and show enough sincerity in advance, it won't be so easy for us to retain them after the Major ends and when offers come pouring in, and the cost will be much higher!"

Carlos hesitated for a few seconds, tapping his fingertips lightly on the edge of the bathtub, before finally shaking his head and saying, "Let's wait until this Major is over."

Manager Niak was dumbfounded on the other end of the phone; he hadn't expected his boss to be so stubborn.

“I know your concerns, NiaK.”

Carlos took a leisurely puff of his cigar and said with a smile, his tone carrying the shrewdness and confidence of a capitalist, "But I don't think any other club can offer Dark a better deal than G2 at this stage."

"It's not just about the contract amount, but also about roster fit. He has now perfectly integrated into G2's system and has developed a good chemistry with NiKo, m0NESY, and others. Facts have proven that this is the most suitable stage for him to perform on."

"He is currently in a period where he needs to achieve results and accumulate honors to prove himself. If he blindly joins a team that offers high salaries but whose system doesn't fit him, can he guarantee that he can maintain his current stats and results?"

"I think if this player from CN is smart and rational enough, he will make the wisest choice."

To put it bluntly, even if he were to sign, Carlos wouldn't be willing to pay a price that exceeds his expectations.

Europe is teeming with child prodigies.
One crop after another.

His wife has always pursued the revival of the glory of French CS. As a player from the East, CN, he is somewhat "incongruous" in terms of club "bloodline".

Moreover, he vaguely remembered that the other party seemed to have a history of "hand injury," and who knows if it would relapse in the second half of the year.

This is a risky investment.

and,

The key is--

"Isn't this...the team that hasn't won the championship yet?"

Carlos was pondering this in his mind.

What if G2 is eliminated in the semifinals or falls in the finals?
If he rushes to contact and negotiate a contract now, when the other party is at the height of their influence, the terms he offers will definitely be inflated.

Then this deal wouldn't be worthwhile.

Only after the final Major results are settled can he offer a seemingly generous but actually "reasonable" price that matches the other party's status as a "CN player," based on their final "achievements."

With that in mind, Carlos replied without hesitation, "I have my own considerations and pace for this. Your priority now is to play well in every game from now on."

"Give me a good performance in tomorrow's semi-final! Show those FAZE guys what they're made of! Let me see what you're capable of!"

Manager Niak heard that the boss on the other end of the phone had clearly changed the subject, and knew that there was not much room for negotiation at this stage.

In the corner, holding his phone that had ended its call, he looked at Meng Lang, who was surrounded by enthusiastic fans and whose popularity was off the charts in front of the autograph booth, and couldn't help but sigh deeply, his face full of helplessness.

……

The autograph session in the morning concluded successfully.

In the afternoon, the entire G2 team gathered in the tactical meeting room to watch two intense matches between the four teams in the lower bracket: ENCE and Little Fire; and NAVI and Heroic.

The final results came out quickly.

The two teams that successfully advanced from the lower bracket to the semifinals of the other bracket are NAVI and ENCE.

With that, the schedule for the second round of the Antwerp Major Championship Group tomorrow, which will also determine the finalists in the semifinals, will be fully revealed:

Upper bracket semifinals:

G2 vs FAZE Clan
Lower bracket semifinals:

NAVI vs ENCE
From among them,
The teams that will advance to the finals will be decided tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)