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

A man with dazzling blond hair was already sitting at the top of the pyramid.

His high nose bridge, narrow single eyelids, and well-defined features gave him a slightly sharp appearance.

He leaned casually against the back of the chair, his long legs crossed, exuding a strong sense of detachment.

Jiang Zhiyu and his gaze met directly, as if an invisible spark was ignited in the air.

However, he didn't engage in much eye contact with the other person, but simply looked away.

"Brother Jiang! Over here!"

A low but excited greeting came from not far away. Yao Wei had already taken a seat in the teens, leaning half his body out and waving at Jiang Zhiyu with bright eyes, as if afraid that the other party would not see him.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze swept over the densely packed seats on the steps, from the top center seat to the very bottom, his expression remaining calm throughout.

For others, the position of their seat represents initial popularity, capital preference, and industry recognition; it is the first ticket to enter this game.

But for Jiang Zhiyu, a former professional e-sports player who once stood at the top, all the other rankings made no difference except for first place.

This is a consciousness etched into his bones—in competition, there are only champions and non-champions; no one remembers the runner-up.

Therefore, without the slightest hesitation, he stepped onto the steps and sat down steadily in the empty seat next to Yao Wei.

Yao Wei's heart skipped a beat.

He was overjoyed when he waved, but when he truly felt Jiang Zhiyu sitting beside him, he became so nervous that his breathing became rapid.

Yao Wei secretly glanced at him, his ears burning slightly. His earlier excitement turned into a flustered, racing heart, and his hands gripping the hem of his clothes tightened slightly.

The live stream camera seemed to favor Jiang Zhiyu, following him all the way until he sat down next to Yao Wei before reluctantly cutting away.

- [Take more photos! Take more photos! Doesn't the photographer know what's good for him?!]

- [He's so handsome it's unfair! I came to see my favorite, but why am I drooling?]

I don't care, I'm going to pick this stock!

No matter how much some viewers cried out in the comments, demanding more time to film Jiang Zhiyu, the seat selection process continued to proceed in an orderly manner.

Many trainees had not yet entered the venue, so the live broadcast camera moved away from Jiang Zhiyu and switched to the next contestant waiting to enter.

Inside the control room, director Hong Liu stared at Jiang Zhiyu's exquisite profile on the screen, then glanced at the rapidly scrolling barrage of comments, and let out a long breath.

The staff members around him huddled together, their voices filled with surprise.

"Jiang Zhiyu's popularity with the audience is terrifying. He's only been on screen for a few minutes, but the barrage comments are trending very well."

"He has a natural talent for being in front of the camera; any pose or glance he makes is captivating. It's a pity..." someone shook their head regretfully. "He's just an ordinary person with no company or connections; it'll be too difficult for him to make it big later on."

"Ordinary people trying to compete with the princelings of big companies based solely on their looks is too weak. Haven't you seen it? This year, those princelings have been spending lavishly on publicity, trending topics, and scripts; they're practically being fed by capital."

"It's hard to say," another staff member countered. "His face is just too striking; he's the kind of face that viewers can remember at a glance. As long as his performance on the first stage isn't bad, even without a company, it's not impossible for him to compete for a debut spot through popular vote."

Hong Liu leaned back in the large director's chair, listening to the chatter of people around him. His lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he forcefully suppressed the boastful words he wanted to say.

An amateur? Thin and frail?

Who he is will scare you to death!

Unfortunately, I can't say.

Hong Liu swallowed back all the words that were on the tip of his tongue, feeling both amused and helpless, as if he were carrying a huge secret but his mouth was tightly covered.

Just then, the screen on the control panel suddenly changed.

At the entrance, five teenagers dressed in matching black suits filed in one after another. Their tailored suits were paired with their own eye-catching accessories. They showed no stage fright or hesitation whatsoever.

They maintained a cold expression throughout, walking straight past the empty seats at the bottom without glancing to the side, and resolutely heading towards the nine chairs at the top of the tower.

Their movements were synchronized, and their aura was imposing; it was clear they were there to seize a high position.

The staff immediately fell silent, and someone muttered under their breath, "Look, the princes are here."

"Which one is the real crown prince? There must be some attendants among them, right?"

"Cough cough—"

Hong Liu deliberately intensified his cough, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.

Sensitive topics involving capital should absolutely not be discussed in the live broadcast control room.

The staff immediately understood, obediently shut their mouths, and refocused their attention on the screen, no longer daring to discuss it privately.

The five people quickly sat down in the empty seats at the top of the tower, without exchanging a single word or even making eye contact.

A cold, silent atmosphere quickly spread from them, enveloping the entire top of the tower. Even the trainees sitting nearby subconsciously tensed up, not daring to speak loudly, for fear of accidentally touching these people who looked like they were not to be trifled with.

Jiang Zhiyu lowered his eyes slightly after sitting down, seemingly lost in thought.

It wasn't until Yao Wei's body became increasingly stiff, his shoulders taut and his breathing became shallow that he belatedly came to his senses.

To ease his mood, Jiang Zhiyu casually broke the silence by starting a conversation.

Are they from the same company?

"Ah...? Ah! Yes, they're all from Feixing Entertainment, one of the top companies in the industry, with excellent resources. You should have heard of them." Yao Wei was lost in his thoughts and didn't react immediately, but he quickly realized that Jiang Zhiyu was asking about the five people who had just appeared.

"Okay, I understand." Jiang Zhiyu nodded earnestly, but his eyes were blank.

He had never been in contact with similar entertainment companies while playing in ZPL. After deciding to participate in the talent show, he simply found a dance studio to focus on practicing his first stage performance. Therefore, he still knew very little about the talent show industry.

Yao Wei didn't notice his confusion, but since he had already started, and taking advantage of the fact that the camera wasn't pointed at this corner, he finally couldn't help but start talking, and began to explain things to Jiang Zhiyu in a low voice:

"The one in the very middle with the ugliest face is called Mi Lan. He's the boss's own son, a real royal prince. All the internal resources are poured into him, and his teammates have to revolve around him. I heard they often argue in the practice room."

"The curly-haired guy next to him, Deng Sushui, is an actor signed by Lantu Film and Television. He has played supporting roles in several popular dramas and has a considerable fan base. He came to the talent show to enhance his resume."

"The guy next to you with the buzz cut is Ahn Joon-young. He's an individual trainee like you, a former underground rapper. He has a fiery temper and isn't easy to get along with."

"The blond man at the very top..." Yao Wei's voice suddenly stopped, his eyes subconsciously glancing at the blond man at the top of the tower, his tone becoming hesitant, as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

"What's wrong with him?"

Jiang Zhiyu noticed his pause and subconsciously turned around to look at the top of the tower. Coincidentally, his gaze met that of the blond man again.

Jiang Zhiyu frowned, sensing that the other party harbored unexplained hostility towards him.

"That person is named Wei Shuang. He is the sole heir to the largest internet company in China, a genuine top-tier rich second-generation, and a well-known playboy in the industry."

Yao Wei glanced at Jiang Zhiyu and added, "Brother Jiang, I think you'd better stay away from him—"

"The camera's coming." Jiang Zhiyu lowered his eyes and saw the approaching camera, interrupting Yao Wei in a low voice.

Yao Wei froze, abruptly shut his mouth, instinctively straightened his back, and glanced guiltily at the dark camera lens that was slowly scanning towards him, his heart pounding.

The live stream did not record any interaction between the two, and the chat did not notice Yao Wei's embarrassment, as the atmosphere in the chat was quietly becoming increasingly tense.