Esports world champion, debuted as the center of a talent show

The staff led him to a conference room where several middle-aged men in suits were sitting.

An eerie silence filled the conference room. Lin Shi stood by the window with his back to the door, watching the rainwater flowing down from the eaves.

"Here you are." Hong Liu nodded to him.

Lin Shi turned to look at Jiang Zhiyu, the frost in his eyes melting away, replaced by a smile: "Sit and wait a while, they've gone to pick someone up."

He nodded slightly and obediently found a chair nearby to sit down.

Hong Liu, who had been feeling listless all day, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "Zhiyu, let me introduce you."

He first pointed to the group of middle-aged men and said to Jiang Zhiyu, "These are the people in charge of Xingyao Intelligent, the sponsor of the program."

The man at the head of the group smiled kindly at Jiang Zhiyu and said, "Hello, Zhiyu. I am Cheng Yun, CEO of Xingyao."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded politely: "Hello, President Cheng, my name is Jiang Zhiyu."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The first person to enter was the man Jiang Zhiyu had seen on the surveillance footage at noon. He looked nervous and his eyes were darting around.

Hong Liushi's face turned ashen when he saw him. Although he was just an external, non-core staff member, this act of betrayal still made him extremely angry.

He spoke with an angry expression: "Repeat the whole thing."

The man avoided Hong Liu's gaze and spoke in a hoarse voice.

It all started late at night two days ago.

The man was lying in his rented room, smoking and wondering if he could make some extra money through the show, which was even more popular than he had imagined.

This job was introduced by a relative. Although the salary is high, it is only a short-term job. As soon as the program ends, these contract workers will be dismissed.

The man was unwilling to just earn a fixed salary for the next few months and desperately wanted to find a way out for himself.

That night, a message from an unknown source became a comforting presence in his "difficult" state.

Hello, are you a staff member of "Project Shining"?

How did you know? Who are you?

The man sat up straight, looking completely bewildered.

[You posted your work ID on social media, and I just happened to see it.]

He recalled that it was true; when he first received his work permit, he posted it online out of a desire to show off, even though the production team did not allow it.

But assuming no one had accessed his account, he hesitated for a moment before replying: "What's up?"

Want to make money? Several times more than your monthly salary.

The man frowned, suspecting a scam: [Scammer? Blocked.]

No, brother!

The other side got a little anxious and sent several messages in a row.

It's very simple; only you can do it.

Doing this would be effortless for someone in your position.

And don't worry, it's nothing serious, it might never be discovered.

Seeing the messages popping up on his phone, the man couldn't resist replying: "What do you want me to do?"

Help me retrieve someone's personal belongings.

You want me to steal for you? No way.

These trainees wouldn't care if they lost something insignificant. If you can hand it over to me, I'll offer a five- or six-figure sum.

Are you serious?

I can pay you a deposit of 5000 (transfer: 5,000) first.

The man was intimidated by the other party's wealth and arrogance, his heart stirred, and his desires grew wildly.

However, I can't get in touch with the trainees.

"You can do it... I've heard that some trainees are struggling financially."

I know what you mean; whose things do you want?

Jiang Zhiyu.

The man accepted the five thousand yuan deposit and, following the other party's instructions, contacted someone he had never considered before. This person actually agreed to conspire with him, but demanded a 60/40 split. The man considered the amount he might receive after the deed was done and gritted his teeth, accepting the offer.

Until the night of the incident, he received a message from an insider who was hiding near 310 and was keeping him informed of the situation in real time.

Using his intelligence, the man sneaked into the empty room of 310, stole Jiang Zhiyu's tiger pendant and a medicine box, and handed them over to an insider that night for easy transfer.

"I don't dare to pick anything that looks too expensive, so I only dare to take the cheap ones. I'm afraid things will get out of hand..." The man lowered his head, his breathing trembling slightly.

Hong Liu was breathing heavily, his anger making him dizzy. He ignored the man and gritted his teeth, asking Brother Wang, who was waiting nearby, "Where's that person? Haven't they been brought over yet?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the meeting room door was pushed open again.

A boy with a deathly pale face stood outside the door, his hands tightly twisting the hem of his clothes.

Jiang Zhiyu looked up and froze.

"Bian Zi'ang!" Hong Liu shouted, "Do you know what you're doing?"

Hong Liu's voice exploded in Jiang Zhiyu's ears, but he ignored the noise beside him and just stared at Bian Ziang, looking at the embarrassment and panic on the familiar face in front of him.

Bian Ziang avoided Jiang Zhiyu's gaze, lowering his head with trembling hands: "I'm sorry, I... I don't know why."

"You could have had the future you dreamed of." Lin Shi stood by the window, looking at him, his voice steady, but every word felt like a heavy hammer blow to Bian Ziang's heart. "A sponsor thinks that you and Yao Wei have great potential as a duo and wants to provide you with exclusive commercial opportunities. The show will also increase your exposure in the future."

"Really?" Bian Ziang looked up, his eyes red, in disbelief.

"real."

Hong Liu sighed.

Bian Ziang's facial muscles twitched, and he stammered, "I didn't mean to. I have too many debts to pay off. I only agreed because I was thinking too much. Please give me another chance, I beg you."

He reached out and grabbed Hong Liu's sleeve, his eyes full of pleading.

"Where is the stuff?" Lin Shi interrupted him.

"Here it is..." Bian Ziang paused for a moment before hurriedly pulling a tiger pendant and a medicine box from his pocket.

He hurriedly turned his head and met Jiang Zhiyu's dark pupils. He looked away abruptly as if he had been burned.

But no matter how much he tries to avoid Jiang Zhiyu, he will eventually have to face the person he betrayed.

Bian Ziang gave a bitter smile, handed the pendant and medicine box to Jiang Zhiyu, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't speak. He shifted his gaze from Bian Ziang's face to the tiger pendant he was holding.

The tiger pendant was still crooked and twisted. The scene of Jing Chi handing it to him on his 12th birthday flashed through his mind. It seemed like the rain was just as heavy that day.

But everything is different now.

Jiang Zhiyu took the things, his throat dry, unable to say anything.