Meanwhile, the “culprit” Pei Qian, far away in Jingzhou, silently sipped his happy cola, contemplating life.

It was winter, with sunrise coming late. Pei Qian had set his alarm for 5 AM and crawled out of bed when it was still dark.

Three matches combined took just an hour and a half, finishing by 6:30 AM when dawn hadn’t fully broken!

This BO5 was remarkably quick, leaving audiences with a “Wait, that’s it? What just happened?” feeling.

Pei Qian had expected FV to get cleanly 3:0’d, but it went completely the opposite way!

Had something gone wrong?

Already foggy-minded from waking early, this completely unexpected turn left Pei Qian wondering if he was still asleep, if this was just a dream.

The livestream had started the next BO5, but chat was clearly still fixated on the previous match.

Puzzled, Pei Qian checked forums to see netizens’ reactions.

Forums visibly overflowed with joy.

“3:0 with fountain diving! Cathartic, so cathartic!”

“These Western teams looked down on us? Refused scrims with FV? Now are they convinced?”

“Hilarious, this is CEM, the hyped European powerhouse? Why’d they crumble on contact? They got all their favorite heroes and still got smashed!”

“I noticed FV’s psychological warfare – CEM players clearly tilted after game one, completely unprepared, shell-shocked.”

“True, now it seems game one was CEM’s best performance despite tactical counter. Games two and three showed self-destruction and mechanical breakdown.”

“Felt like a dream, everyone predicted 3:0, but who knew it’d be this 3:0? Nothing more to say, FV rocks!”

“I apologize for calling FV trash before! Clearly they practiced hard, otherwise how could they improve this fast and discover Chaos Fate’s counter?”

“Yeah, FV’s like a different team compared to qualifiers, completely transformed!”

Forum users wildly praised FV. All negative and contradictory posts got attacked, previous FV hate threads unearthed and repeatedly slammed.

Esports was like this – success brings praise, failure brings criticism. With results, even insults become compliments. Winners could do anything.

FV was written off pre-match, facing acknowledged powerhouses, yet delivered one-sided performance with 3:0 domination – impossible to overhype.

Many were excited from being suppressed too long!

Two domestic teams failed groups, “cn lol noob” spammed foreign sites, plus FV being denied scrims left many players feeling inferior.

FV’s performance slapped haters hard, letting all domestic players hold their heads high!

Many shared foreign comments, wanting to see how foreigners praised FV. Others analyzed post-game replays explaining FV’s strengths in tactics, details, mechanics, execution.

During live matches, situations changed rapidly with unnoticed details.

Most viewers remembered FV dominating like playing bots, but couldn’t understand why CEM was powerless.

Many foreign viewers flamed CEM for underperforming, poor mentality, not showing 10% normal level in critical quarterfinals.

Understandable – difficult to graciously acknowledge others’ excellence.

But with professional analysis of these three games, FV’s secret strength gradually surfaced.

From targeted BP strategies to in-game execution, crisis response, and snowballing through map control…

Seeing these analyses, netizens realized: FV’s so detailed, incredibly detailed!

Countless details combined left opponents helpless.

Did CEM underperform? Partly yes – getting destroyed game one with no counterplay severely impacted their confidence, affecting later games.

But mentality wasn’t the main factor for losing this BO5.

After replay analysis, most agreed this wasn’t mentality – this was pure skill difference!

CEM tried finding opportunities, but FV was impenetrable. With economic leads, their vision and positioning were perfect. CEM found no openings; forcing plays meant suicide.

Their frustrating defeat wasn’t mechanics-related, but game understanding domination!

Forums buzzed with celebration, barely discussing the next BO5.

Previously, most expected FV’s 3:0 elimination, but now maintaining today’s form, semifinals seemed achievable, even championship possible!

Then users noticed FV’s new Weibo post.

Brief content: “cn lol, charge!”

Image showed a sci-fi fighter (actually “Mission and Choice” concept art) with blue flames trailing, space distorting from speed.

Fighter’s nose bore FV’s logo, wings displayed the other two domestic clubs’ logos.

Seeing FV’s new post, many expected more memes, like dumping CEM in trash.

Given FV’s habit of taunting everyone without matches, after 3:0’ing opponents, they’d surely rub it in hard?

Yet this post surprised everyone.

No taunting any teams, instead highlighting the eliminated domestic teams.

Comments exploded:

“FV rocks!!!”

“Keep winning! Want another 3:0 next week, understand?”

“Foreigners deliberately denied scrims, calling domestic teams trash. Lucky you stepped up, or we’d be labeled ‘noobs’ all year. Well done!”

“Quick, need new VLOG immediately!”

“Other teams should bow to FV, right?”

“cn lol’s last hope, charge FV!”

Domestic fans previously disliked FV’s Weibo antics.

Chinese traditional values favored humility and low profile. Such showboating seemed immature, naturally unpopular. Losing meant accountability.

FV taunted domestically and internationally, using every meme. Their “Me and my teammates” post genuinely hurt other teams’ fans.

But post-quarterfinals, this Weibo completely reversed FV’s public image!

These three teams represented domestic IOL. Despite winning, FV remembered the others, placing their logos on wings.

Clearly, FV’s antics weren’t targeting anyone specifically, just for entertainment value.

The other teams performed poorly – should poor performance be protected? Pointless.

Losing meant taking criticism, learning from mistakes – correct attitude.

Moreover, other clubs never treated FV as one of them, never shared tactics, showed no goodwill. Since everyone played separately, why should FV care about their opinions?

This latest post showed FV’s magnanimity, greatly reducing pressure on other clubs while countering “cn lol noob” narrative.

Previously angry domestic fans lacking outlets had flamed the failing clubs, but FV’s victory redirected praise away from criticism.

Many now felt no need for harsh judgment – they tried their best, simply lacking ability.

Additionally, FV’s frequent photos and VLOGs weren’t criticized anymore. Fans demanded more content!

Since arriving in Los Angeles, FV’s three photographers constantly uploaded photos and videos, “poisoning late-night feeds.”

Seeing FV’s luxurious conditions made most envious.

Were you competing or vacationing?

But post-victory, such attitudes vanished. Netizens agreed good performance deserved good food and five-star hotels!

They even wanted more photos and VLOGs to better understand FV’s LA life and training.

Then a new post sparked debate.

“Insider Info! FV Self-Funded LA Trip, Dragon Yu Ignored Them!”

“Gossiped with club friend today. Many wondered about FV’s business flights and luxury hotels while others don’t post such content. Not humility from other clubs, but hidden reasons!”

“Finger Company arranged accommodation day before tournament, so normal schedule meant arriving day before. Dragon Yu pre-paid week-long accommodation for domestic clubs to adapt early and practice.”

“But Dragon Yu never invited FV!”

“Obvious reason: FV never got along with officials. Everyone knew FV was Mr. Pei’s club during qualifiers, competing directly with Finger Company and Dragon Yu. Natural conflicts made them dislike the number one seed.”

“So FV arrived week early like others but completely self-funded, without team scrims with domestic clubs. Everything from lodging to training was independent!”

“Even after official accommodation, FV refused, staying self-funded.”

“Honestly, I was shocked hearing this. Lucky FV delivered – imagine getting 3:0’d due to scrim denial as number one seed. They’d be flamed mercilessly, background details ignored.”

“All praise FV, Dragon Yu sucks!”

This post went viral, constantly referenced and discussed!

Dragon Yu supporting two teams’ overseas training was semi-public knowledge in IOL circles – impossible to hide.

Previously, Wu Yue wanted to expose this online but was stopped by Manager Lu since matches hadn’t begun – too early for effect.

With FV silent, others felt no need to defend them. Plus, FV was unpopular across IOL esports then.

But now, after 3:0 quarterfinals victory, perfect time for accountability.

Without Wu Yue speaking, observers would expose this.

Though unproven, the post’s content largely matched reality and aligned with circumstantial evidence.

Many fans reviewing FV’s Weibo wondered about official accommodation quality but didn’t think much initially.

Connecting to this post revealed issues.

Such conditions weren’t official arrangements, but FV’s self-funding!

Regarding funds’ source – obvious! How could small FV club afford such luxury? Definitely Mr. Pei’s money!

This comparison made Dragon Yu and Tenda’s contrast stark!

One stingy, one generous; one petty, one broad-minded!

Angry players flamed Dragon Yu thoroughly.

Discriminating at such critical times, what if FV’s performance suffered, quarterfinals eliminated – who’d take responsibility?

Strictly speaking, the two domestic clubs weren’t innocent.

Neither considered FV’s needs as brother teams. Even private scrims or tactical support would’ve helped.

Though FV’s strength made this meaningless, but doing nothing showed attitude, not ability issues.

These clubs unhesitatingly sided with Dragon Yu, never treating FV as comrades.

Yet FV chose magnanimity. After semifinals qualification, no complaints on Weibo, instead generously posting “takeoff” photos including both clubs, declaring “cn lol” victory.

Comparison showed immense difference!

FV’s image emerged: isolated in LA, enduring and training hard alone, earning success through effort.

Were Dragon Yu and other clubs wrong?

From business perspective, totally understandable.

Dragon Yu didn’t want advantages handed to Tenda and GOG, hence resenting FV. Other clubs feared offending Dragon Yu – all reasonable.

But this highlighted FV’s hard-won victory more.

Internet erupted as players relentlessly criticized Dragon Yu without mercy!

…

Pei Qian intensely followed drama, feeling dizzy.

This worked?

All FV’s previous negative news completely reversed!

Even Weibo photos and memes became popular topics with no criticism!

Occasional forum trolls were instantly flamed by angry netizens, repeatedly crushed.

FV’s excellent performance won most casual observers, so opposing trolls were vastly outnumbered, ineffective.

Pei Qian sighed at these trolls’ poor performance.

Actually, Pei Qian’s attitude toward trolls was indifference. Just clowns making noise online, couldn’t physically attack them. Caring too much would only upset himself.

Now these trolls couldn’t function, Pei Qian felt pity for their misfortune, anger at their incompetence.

How could they guiltlessly take Dragon Yu’s money this way?

Trolls like this? Show some impact!

Pei Qian felt melancholy, finished his chips, brushed teeth, deciding to nap again.

…

Meanwhile, FV players returned to backstage lounge, preparing to leave for hotel.

Everyone beamed with excitement.

Since LA arrival, daily early mornings and late nights focused solely on training. Now cleanly securing quarterfinals 3:0 finally rewarded previous efforts.

Surely distant Mr. Pei felt genuine relief?

Wu Yue hugged each player: “Excellent job! But stay humble, rest today, regular training tomorrow.”

Players readily agreed to Wu Yue’s arrangement.

Next match was semifinals in a week, but none dared relax.

Today’s overwhelming victory mustn’t breed arrogance since pride precedes defeat. During worlds, teams practiced frantically, improving rapidly. Any slackness risked being overtaken.

Escorted by four bodyguards, players boarded their minibus for rest.

Wu Yue happily checked domestic forums, grinning at FV’s overwhelming praise.

Months ago, he couldn’t have imagined this: FV players becoming domestic fans’ last hope at worlds, cleanly eliminating foreign powerhouses 3:0.

Then the translator’s phone rang.

After English conversation, translator told Wu Yue: “Boss Wu, FRY team wants scrims.”

Wu Yue’s smile instantly vanished.

These people had nerve requesting scrims again?

Previously FV contacted multiple teams including FRY, all uniformly claiming “scrims fully booked” – none willing.

Now seeing FV’s dominating performance, wanting to test them again.

Wu Yue chuckled: “Oh, tell them sorry, our training matches are fully booked.”