Hank Chu was still in a daze, while Ken had already started chanting "Amitabha" in his heart. He didn't dare make a peep, quickly sitting down, terrified of provoking this seemingly delicate but actually tougher-than-any-guy Selina Shi if she got angry.
Just imagining what would happen if Selina really kicked him flying...
Ken glanced at the punk on the ground, half-kneeling and clutching either his stomach or somewhere between his legs, eyes full of sympathy. That kick—he might never have kids again.
The little street punk lay there for ages before finally crawling out toward the first floor, hurting so bad he couldn't even spit out a single threat.
Meanwhile, Selina Shi, who'd just booted a thug across the room, showed no emotion on her pretty face, like none of it had anything to do with her. Her gaze landed on Evan Lin, sitting next to Ken: "You. Play me."
Selina stared straight at Evan, her eyes glinting with curiosity and a hint of mischief.
She hadn't expected Evan to school Jason Jiang and his crew on the basketball court just now.
Originally, she planned to jump in and play Evan herself, but when Jason admitted defeat, she dropped the idea.
Now at the internet café, Selina had just crushed Ken and Hank Chu, then turned her gaze to Evan, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"I'm really bad. Not playing."
Evan Lin shook his head.
"Are you even a man? It's fine if you're bad, I'll go easy on you." Selina raised an eyebrow, not impressed by Evan's words.
"I don't need to prove I'm a man to you. I just don't feel like playing girls." Evan stretched lazily, getting ready to stand up.
Hearing Evan's blunt reply, Hank Chu almost wanted to give him a thumbs up, while Ken was terrified, nervously nudging Evan's leg, trying to warn him to watch his words so he wouldn't end up like that unlucky punk from before.
"Hmm?" Selina raised her eyebrow at Evan's answer, then slammed her palm on the computer desk with a bang. She looked straight at him: "Nope. Either you lose to me, or you beat me. Those are the only two options."
"You say you don't play girls? Fine, just don't treat me like one."
Selina pressed hard, refusing to back down.
The standoff dragged on, neither side budging.
Finally, Evan looked at Selina for a long moment before sitting down with a helpless expression. "Alright, fine. Best of three."
"Hey, Yi, you sure about this? If you can't win, maybe you shouldn't play. If you don't lose, at least we've still got hope. But if you lose, we're totally wiped out!" Ken muttered under his breath.
"Does it even make a difference?" Hank Chu was confused by Ken's words.
"What do you know? Of course it matters—it's about a man's dignity!" Ken puffed out his chest, wanting to keep persuading Evan, but then noticed Selina's cold gaze sweep over. He shrank back instantly.
He liked girls who were pretty, sweet, and had a good figure—but first and foremost, they absolutely couldn't be the type to throw punches.
After witnessing Selina boot that punk across the room, Ken knew he and this girl would never be a thing in this lifetime.
Even if Selina lost her mind and came chasing after him, Ken wouldn't dare accept.
A pretty girl can warm your bed and brighten your lonely life, but a dangerous girl—she might just end your family line.
Ken chickened out. One look from Selina and all that talk about dignity was stomped flat. He put on a righteous face, looked at Evan, and said earnestly, "Bro, it's fine. Go for it! I believe in you!"
"Just don't embarrass me and Hank Chu. Show your real skills—even if you lose, lose with style, lose like a real man!"
Ken finished his speech and quickly shut up.
Evan couldn't help but smile wryly. He knew his childhood friend's personality all too well.
On the other side, Selina finished setting up the computer.
Seeing she picked Human, Evan picked Human too.
In the first game, Evan skipped the usual opening and went straight for the double-peasant altar build, getting his hero out about ten seconds faster than Selina and using militia to help level up.
Back in the day, Evan was pretty bad at games, but he watched a ton of pro matches, so he knew all kinds of strategies and tactics.
Problem was, his hands couldn't keep up with his mind, so even if he knew how to play, he still sucked.
But now, Evan was different. Both his thinking and physical coordination had leveled up massively.
To Hank Chu and Ken, Evan's left hand hammered hotkeys nonstop, switching groups and screens at lightning speed. The display kept flickering, leaving them dizzy and stunned.
"Holy crap, is this really the Evan I know?" Ken stared at Evan's screen, then at Evan's calm, focused face, unable to put his shock into words.
"Damn, since coming back from Minghai, Yi's not just taller—did he train some secret kung fu or something? This guy's become a monster!" Hank Chu twitched his nose, feeling totally hyped.
He felt an indescribable urge.
Clack clack clack clack clack.
Across the table, Allen Ju heard the crisp sound of Evan's keyboard and paused, glancing at Evan without revealing his surprise.
He realized he couldn't figure out what this kid was really thinking. For some reason, he felt Selina might actually be in trouble this round.
In the first game, both armies clashed in the center of the map.
A decisive battle.
The war horns sounded—both sides fielded mage squads, led by Human Archmage and Mountain King heroes.
Selina frowned slightly, her slender fingers flying across keyboard and mouse, micro-managing her troops back and forth.
Evan's hand speed jumped up another level, his fingers darting so fast they left afterimages.
After a fierce clash, both sides suffered massive casualties.
In the end, Evan's Mountain King slammed Selina's Archmage to death, then charged forward through the carnage, unstoppable.
"I lost."
Selina typed GG, let out a heavy breath, and frowned as she looked at Evan—his face still calm and indifferent.
He didn't look at all like someone who could pull off moves like that.
That hand speed just now—APM had to be at least 310, right?
Selina was secretly shocked. That kind of speed was beyond most pro players. Plus, while playing against Evan, she clearly felt his effective actions were insanely high.
Seeing Selina type GG and admit defeat.
One to zero.
Allen Ju and Warren Wu both looked up with weird expressions, staring at Evan in shock.