The next morning, the cacophony of nearly 250 people's conversations filled the hotel's main ballroom where each team's players and their coaching staff were gathered for the tournament's kickoff breakfast. At this meeting, the organizers would review the schedule, the tournament rules and other expectations. It was also a friendly forum for the teams to interact and get to know each other before match play.
Shockingly, none of the other teams were interested in meeting the only female player in the tournament. Although the members of CK and YQCB were friendly and wanted to confirm that their ZGDX colleagues were not letting the negativity get to them too much, the other teams were noticeably negligent with their acknowledgements. A few of them sent nods of respect in the direction of the male team members – especially, in Lu Si Cheng's direction – but, mostly, they were ignored and avoided. It was as if Team ZGDX had caught leprosy, and Tong Yao was especially contagious with a case of leprosy, rabies and zombieism combined.
After fifteen minutes of enduring this treatment, Tong Yao had resigned herself to their rudeness. While others mingled, she sat, closed her eyes, and listened to one of Blackpink's CDs: Born Pink.
Occasionally, she felt Lu Si Cheng's worried gaze, but she didn't respond to it. She was focused on a finding a way to make these misogynistic Neanderthals curse the day they dared to dismiss her!
At 9am, the lead organizer introduced himself. The short, but lean man began to review the key tournament events in a nasally, droning voice. "Team tournament photoshoots will occur today and tomorrow. On Friday, at 7pm, we have the championship kick-off dinner. NetEase's Management team will open the session. Their speeches will be followed, as usual, by the Talent Show."
The phrase, "Talent Show", resulted in low groans and much eyeball rolling at various tables throughout the room.
"Talent show?" asked Tong Yao. Everyone at their table, except for Lu Si Cheng, was similarly curious.
Sans enthusiasm, Si Cheng explained what he remembered from the last time that he participated at Worlds. "Each invited country or region is required to perform a 3 to 5-minute, non-gaming related talent. The talent can be performed by a group from a region or by an individual representing the region. Some teams staff talented alternates with weak OPL skills for just this reason." It was one of the longest speeches he had ever given.
"Is there a prize? Does it impact our competition scores?" asked Little Fatty.
"No impact," he responded. "No meaningful prize other than bragging rights. However, there is pain. No one wants to become a national embarrassment."
"Is this event broadcasted, Cheng-ge?" asked Xiao Rui. "I don't remember seeing it."
"Filming any part of the dinner is strictly prohibited and severely prosecuted," he replied. "The embarrassment is limited to your fellow competitors, the team owners, the other several hundred people in attendance and…whatever rumors they decide to spread. Usually, Japan or Russia on behalf of Europe wins."
At the conclusion of Lu Si Cheng's explanation, the team refocused on the Lead Organizer's speech.
"Now, that you've discussed among yourselves," he said with the same lazy energy he had projected earlier. "Which of you will represent your areas?"
Tong Yao's hand shot straight up in the air with the shocking speed of a clown springing out of its jack-in-the-box hiding place. "I volunteer for China!" she said enthusiastically.
The members of teams CK and YKCB had tried approaching ZGDX to discuss the talent contest, but ZGDX had been intently listening to Lu Si Cheng about something, and they didn't dare interrupt. In any case, they were thrilled that Tong Yao was volunteering because not a single one of them wanted to perform.
"Jai Yo," said many of their teammates. "Way to go!" Although many on CK and YKCB were relieved, both Ah Jia and Jian Yang had shocked, skeptical looks on their faces.
Yang-sha was already trying to cool his teammates' expectations. "She doesn't have any talent," he whispered tersely.
"That's what I thought too," seconded Ah Jia.
Their teammates looked at each other for a few seconds before shrugging. "Who cares as long as we don't have to do it."
Lu Si Cheng wasn't so easily persuaded.
"Put your hand down," he ordered sternly, but just loud enough for only his table to hear.
"No," she replied resolutely.
"Put your hand down," he barked again.
She looked directly into his eyes and repeated firmly, "No!"
"What talent to do you have?"
"Girl power talent," she replied. "You don't know everything about me Lu Si Cheng. I can always surprise you," she said confidently.
He couldn't argue with that. One of the reasons why he loved her is because she surprised him, in little and big ways, every single day.