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

Neither Bian Ziang nor the man who actually committed the theft expected the matter to escalate to this extent.

When the man's identity was first discovered and he was questioned by the production team, he still held onto the hope that the production team would ask him to settle the matter privately in order to minimize the impact.

But when he watched helplessly as the police intervened and the sponsor got involved, and the situation gradually escalated into a point that no one could control, he completely panicked.

He also asked the other staff members in despair why so many people had been alarmed when he had only stolen a cheap trinket and a box of medicine.

The staff member merely glanced at him and said, "The seriousness of this matter has nothing to do with the value of the items from beginning to end."

As he sank into despair, Bian Ziang finally felt the fear that things were getting out of his control.

He first forced himself to calm down, hiding the things the man had temporarily left with him even deeper, and then during lunchtime he found Yao Wei, who was closer to Jiang Zhiyu, trying to find out the latest developments in the matter from him.

As expected, Yao Wei had no suspicion of him and thought that he was simply concerned about Jiang Zhiyu, so he told him everything he knew.

Bian Ziang knew that once his actions were exposed, he would have no room to survive in this industry. Therefore, when he saw the police enter the office building, his heart stopped for a moment, and he felt his world spinning.

But it was too late to regret it now. He sat in his dorm room forcing a smile and got through the whole noon. After Yao Wei and his other roommates left, he spent the whole afternoon alone, feeling absent-minded, before finally being knocked on the dorm door.

These past few days, his relationship with Jiang Zhiyu wasn't exactly close, but they were still fairly familiar friends.

Bian Ziang was immersed in his regret all the way to the conference room. His mind was blank, and he could hardly think or imagine how he should face Jiang Zhiyu.

Just like now, he slumped down in front of Jiang Zhiyu, covered his face with his hands, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Hong Liu's phone rang. He pushed open the door and went out to answer it. Apart from Bian Ziang's suppressed sobs, there was no other sound in the conference room, which resonated with the heavy rain outside.

Jiang Zhiyu gripped the tiger pendant tightly in his hand, the incessant sound of the torrential rain still lingering in his ears. He frowned and tilted his head slightly.

Lin Shi, who was originally sitting by the window, suddenly tensed up. He quickly walked to the water dispenser, filled a glass of water, and picked up the medicine box that Jiang Zhiyu had left on the table, handing it to him.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out and took the pill, then swallowed it with water.

There is an unspoken understanding between the two.

Hong Liu returned after finishing the call, his expression somewhat complicated: "The police have found out that the illegitimate student who instigated the incident was just an ordinary dropout. Her family was very strict, and she didn't have much pocket money. She stole the five thousand from her parents' safe."

"student……?"

The man standing silently to the side muttered to himself, then dejectedly lowered his head.

Hong Liu hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jiang Zhiyu and continued, "That little girl cried and screamed, threatening to kill herself, saying she wanted to see you."

"I won't see him." Lin Shi's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Zhiyu, his tone firm and resolute.

Jiang Zhiyu also looked up at Hong Liu: "Director Hong, I'd better not."

The man looked around, then belatedly realized who was at the center of the conversation in the meeting room. He threw himself at Jiang Zhiyu's feet: "Jiang Zhiyu, Zhiyu, can you forgive me? I really acted foolishly. Can we settle this privately?"

Jiang Zhiyu stood up and took two steps back, his tone icy: "With the police involved, there's no possibility of settling this privately. Besides—I'm not some saint, you have to take responsibility for your actions."

The stolen items were not of high value, but the man still couldn't escape the fate of administrative detention, fines, and a permanent ban from the industry.

Due to the special nature of the industry and considering the pressure of public opinion, Bian Ziang, as an accomplice, will also be subject to the maximum punishment within the scope of the law.

But until they were taken away, Bian Ziang didn't say another word, let alone beg. He just kept his head down, as if he could no longer face Jiang Zhiyu.

Only when the meeting room returned to silence did Xingyao CEO Cheng Yun, who had been waiting on the sidelines, get up to say goodbye: "That's all for today, I still need to go back and report on the situation."

Hong Liu stepped forward and shook hands with him, smiling, "Thank you for making this special trip, President Cheng. Let me see you downstairs."

The group left, leaving Lin Shi and Jiang Zhiyu alone.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyu still silently tugging at the few crooked whiskers on the tiger's face, Lin Shi sighed: "You've gone soft on Bian Zi'ang?"

Jiang Zhiyu remained silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head: "No, I just don't understand."

"I know you don't understand anything." Lin Shi pulled up a stool and sat down in front of him. "You don't understand why someone would betray their friends."

"But Zhiyu, not all relationships in this world are as pure as the ones between you and Jingchi."

"Relationships can be influenced by many factors, such as money, future prospects, or even trivial things."

"That's just how people are." Lin Shi looked deeply into Jiang Zhiyu's eyes, as if he could see right through him. "But people's hearts are also precious. You'll find that people with different personalities and viewpoints, who meet you at different times, will offer you their most precious sincerity for different reasons."

"I believe you've made more friends here than you think, haven't you?" Lin Shi smiled and ruffled Jiang Zhiyu's fluffy hair, somewhat pleased that his head still felt as good as ever.

Jiang Zhiyu, with his hair slightly disheveled from being handled, pouted and finally relaxed his tense back, leaning lazily against the back of the chair.

"And I didn't expect you to get along so well with Wei Shuang, that's amazing," Lin Shi added.

"It's alright... Why do you say that?"

"Oh, I haven't told you yet, he's the son of the RXG sponsor's relative who ran away from home and came looking for you, the heir to the Nebula Group."

"What?" Jiang Zhiyu's eyes widened slightly, and his back straightened instantly.

"RXG's sponsor, Hoshino Esports, and the title sponsor of 'Shining Project,' Xingyao Intelligent, are both subsidiaries of the Nebula Group. The fact that Xingyao's CEO came in person this time was because Wei Shuang specifically called them to request it."

Jiang Zhiyu recalled the scene of him accidentally witnessing Wei Shuang making a phone call at noon. His feelings were complicated. He paused for a moment and then asked, "Does he know who I am?"

"Yes, he's always known, it seems like he's been a fan of yours for a long time."

He closed his eyes, unable to control himself as he recalled everything that had happened since joining the show. He remembered thinking that the other person was declaring war on him the first time they met, and how he pretended to be a gaming novice in front of Wei Shuang when they were recording an e-sports variety show. His ears gradually burned.

Only when his face began to turn uncontrollably red did he manage to stand up, say goodbye to Lin Shi, and leave the conference room in a huff.

Lin Shi watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but chuckle.