Chapter 33: Guaranteed Famous!

After the interview, the team members were waiting for the two in the back.

"Back at last! I'm starving!" Flandre stood up and stretched.

"What are we having for dinner?" Viper asked, clearly more concerned about the food.

"Ask Ye Bo," Meiko said, then added a bit of trivia for Ye Bo: "It’s an unwritten rule in the scene—if we win, we have a feast; if we lose, we have takeout. Whoever gets the MVP gets to pick the menu!"

Jiejie rubbed his palms together and joked, "Heh, then Master Ye is going to have to shell out a fortune today... Scout, why don’t you throw our new guy a welcome party?"

It was meant to be a lighthearted joke, and Jiejie had good intentions. After all, nobody viewed Ye Bo as just a "replacement." It wasn't as if they hadn't had rookie mid-laners before; even now, the team’s substitute jungler Junjia and their former substitute top-laner Xiaoxiang were training and competing with them every day. Roster limits only applied to the World Championship; during the regular season, many teams kept several substitutes on standby. The most famous example was T1 last year, with a roster of sixteen players, rotating through dozens of lineup combinations—even Faker had been benched at one point.

However, Scout declined with a serious expression. "I don't have money. I only have a few thousand RMB in my bank account."

Although Ye Bo had stolen the spotlight today, Scout wasn't about to start targeting him. He really was broke. Every month, as soon as his salary arrived, he would keep only a small amount for living expenses and immediately exchange the rest into Korean Won to send back home. He rarely spent money at the base anyway, and if he needed to buy something expensive, he would just borrow from his teammates and pay them back when his next paycheck arrived.

"Alright, alright, I'll pay for it today! Consider it a belated welcome party for Ye Bo!" Flandre quickly spoke up to break the awkward silence.

"Awesome! It’s always satisfying to make Flandre pay!" Jiejie said, acting as if nothing had happened.

Ye Bo didn't decline their kindness. "Sure, let's find somewhere convenient."

"Bo, you’ve got to pick somewhere expensive. Flandre rarely bleeds cash unless he’s chasing idols. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!" Jiejie draped an arm around Ye Bo, offering to suggest some famous restaurants in Shanghai.

"There’s a place that should be good. It’s a local specialty from my hometown, very convenient."

"Sounds good. Is it famous? Wait, what are the specialties in Fujian again..."

"It’s definitely famous!"

Seeing the confidence in Ye Bo’s eyes, the group, already ravenous, felt their appetites piqued. Professional players usually kept their stomachs empty before a match because eating too much could cause dizziness and affect their reaction times and focus. In the history of the World Championship, there were countless "tragedies" caused by eating before a game.

The list of "culprits" that had successfully "arrested" players included Beef Noodles, Xiao Yang Pan-fried Buns, and bananas.

However, when Ye Bo followed the navigation and led everyone to their destination, the air seemed to freeze as they stared at the four large red characters hanging over the storefront.

"Don't tell me it's this."

"No way, there’s literally nothing else around here! Aren't the 'Three Great Kings' all here?"

"Ye Bo, this is the specialty from your hometown!?"

Ye Bo nodded earnestly. "Yeah, isn't it famous enough? We Fujianese have been eating this since we were kids!"

"It’s definitely famous, and not just for you Fujianese... I’m from Hubei, and I’ve been eating this since I was a kid too!"

Looking at the brightly lit Shaxian Delicacies storefront, the group hesitated for a moment before walking inside. They were just too hungry.

Ye Bo had chosen it mainly for convenience, specifically picking a location close to the base. Although their first win had gone smoothly, Ye Bo knew this was only the beginning of a grueling schedule. This match had taught him a lot and revealed many of his own shortcomings—areas that needed improvement—and he was anxious to get back and adjust. To him, time was the most precious and scarce commodity. Of course, a part of him also wanted to head back to check on the "First Win Reward." It looked like something quite special.

"Not bad... it's actually pretty tasty... slurps... this peanut sauce." Jiejie might have been complaining, but he was eating with gusto.

"Duck leg rice is the GOAT!" Flandre said, biting into a braised egg, his words slightly muffled. "You know, back in 2014, I ate this every day next to the Snake base. Back then, the club didn't have a canteen, and takeout wasn't like it is now. Having this was already a luxury."

Hearing this, Ye Bo suddenly said with a serious expression, "Flandre, do you know the best way to drive a Shaxian person crazy?"

"Huh? What is it?"

"As a Shaxian person from Fujian, I must solemnly declare: Duck leg rice is not Shaxian Delicacies! Authentic Shaxian Delicacies does! Not! Have! Duck! Leg! Rice!"

"...Aren't you from Huzhou?"

"That's not the point!!!"

"o.0 Understood, understood! If you throw a game in the future, I’m ordering a duck leg rice for your late-night snack, mixing it with peanut sauce, and crushing two wontons on top like scallions..."

Jiejie’s wicked tease drew laughter from everyone.

The Shaxian Delicacies shop wasn't large, and the dozen or so members of the EDG competitive and training staff basically filled the place. The environment was average, but the atmosphere was just as warm and harmonious as any other gathering. Ye Bo was having a good time—even if it wasn't exactly "authentic." Professional players didn't always have to eat at fancy restaurants; they were just ordinary people, after all. That was how Ye Bo saw it; he didn't think there was anything wrong with Shaxian, even if he might have been viewing it through rose-colored glasses.

However, a group of a dozen people wearing matching team uniforms, many of whom were very recognizable faces from the internet, inevitably drew attention on a bustling Shanghai street.

"Holy crap? Clearlove! Am I seeing things? And Meiko too!"

"What the heck, is the whole EDG team here? Didn't they just finish their match... and they're eating Shaxian!?"

"Manager, I'm your fan!"

"4396! 4396! 4396!"

By the time they were finishing up, a crowd had gathered outside, and it was growing by the second, turning into an impromptu offline fan meeting. This bizarre team photo would undoubtedly be all over the internet soon. Aside from the bold fans who walked right in to ask for photos, many genuine fans hid in the crowd, excitedly shouting the names of the players inside.

Miraculously, from the chaotic noise of the crowd, Ye Bo was able to isolate one specific voice calling his name.

"Ye! You played great, Ye!"

It wasn't much, but Ye Bo felt happy.

After the meal, the group hurried back to the base. Once Ye Bo returned to his dorm, he told Flandre he was tired and wanted to sleep, then closed his eyes and lay on his bed.

Following a soft whisper in his mind, a virtual notification box appeared before him once more.