The live broadcast ended inconclusively, and the production team issued a vague apology statement.
Encounter in Countryside: Due to machine malfunction, today's live interview at Sang Ning's house could not be completed as planned. The production team deeply regrets this and will thoroughly reflect and summarize lessons to avoid such incidents in the future.
However, netizens weren't buying it, believing it was a live broadcast mishap, with Sang Ning's backers covering up for her. Her Weibo comment section was flooded with insults in no time.
[Sang, you Bitch, are you trying to dodge this mess? If you're afraid of people seeing your family's reality, then you shouldn't have agreed to do this show in the first place!]
[Staying silent, huh? Are you planning to release a statement separating yourself from those people in the video, claiming they aren't your family—that it was just a mistake by the production team?]
Knowing their embarrassing family matters had been aired to the entire internet, the Sang Family gathered together to read the Weibo comments.
Sang Youming and Hu Zhi were nervous and flustered, unsure of what to do. Their daughter caused such a scene on her first day home—would she find it so disgraceful that she'd disown them?
Sang Chuan, after reading the comments himself, also felt anxious. He glanced up at Sang Ning, who was curled up in a corner of the sofa staring at her phone, silent. He feigned indifference and said, "Sang Ning, would you say something already? Now you know. This is what our family is like. If you're ashamed we've ruined your reputation, why don't you just go back to the Chu Family for your so-called dignity!"
Sang Youming and Hu Zhi lightly smacked Sang Chuan on the head to remind him to watch his words. Other than the slap, they didn't speak, as Sang Chuan's doubts mirrored their own. They also wanted to know whether Sang Ning would abandon them again because of this.
Sang Ning slowly looked up, the corners of her lips curving into a mocking smile. She replied with biting indifference, "Oh, so you realize you're embarrassing, huh?"
Her words immediately sank Sang Youming and Hu Zhi's hearts.
Sang Chuan bristled, smashed his phone onto the sofa, and snarled, "How does playing games make me embarrassing? We kids from poor families have simple hobbies—what's wrong with that?"
Sang Ning crossed one leg over the other and stared at Sang Chuan, her gaze heavy with admonishment.
Sang Chuan immediately jumped off the sofa. Sang Youming and Hu Zhi hurriedly grabbed his arms, one each. But he forcefully shook them off and locked eyes with Sang Ning.
"Don't look at me like that. You're no better than me, just a bit more competent in fights. This time, even if you beat me to death, I'm going to say it: I can't control whether Dad keeps drinking or Mom keeps playing mahjong, but I refuse to give up gaming. If you can't deal with it, then leave the Sang Family already!"
"Heh." Sang Ning shook her head lightly and let out a chuckle.
Sang Chuan's eyes brimmed with tears, and he roared, "What do you mean by that, Sang Ning? Are you mocking me?"
"Exactly." Sang Ning adjusted her posture, propping her chin on one hand. She blinked innocently and said, "Did I not make myself clear enough?"
"You—"
Just as Sang Chuan was about to explode again, Sang Ning raised a finger to her lips, silencing him.
Sitting upright, she became serious. "Playing games isn't wrong. But as far as I know, you've stopped studying altogether just to play games. With your clumsy skills, do you really think you can make gaming your livelihood?"
After she finished, she picked up her phone and opened the app store, starting a download.
Sang Chuan, now 17, had applied to drop out of school right after taking his high school sophomore semester exams, determined to become an elite esports player.
At this fiery, impassioned age, Sang Ning's brutally honest words were like a sharp knife stabbing right into his proud heart.
Sang Chuan refused to back down. Sang Ning didn't understand anything—what gave her the right to criticize him from some moral high ground?
He rushed forward, fist clenched, aiming straight for Sang Ning's face. The veins on the back of his hand bulged violently.
"Sang Chuan!"
Sang Youming and Hu Zhi shouted in unison, but Sang Ning just sat calmly on the sofa, unmoving. She didn't even flinch; there was a sly smile resting on her lips.
In the end, the fist stopped just an inch before making contact with her.
Sang Chuan gritted his teeth, unclenched his fist, and let it fall limply to his side.
He looked down at Sang Ning, anger blazing in his eyes. "As I expected… You, the infuriating witch, are nothing like Sister Xi! Sister Xi respects my dreams and encourages me to chase them. She said that as long as I can achieve my goals, it doesn't matter whether I study or not. Gaming skills come through practice, not by mindlessly burying your head in books. My life isn't limited to academia!"
"Then let me tell you: one of you is stupid, and the other is malicious. Since when does a big sister persuade her little brother to drop out of school?" Sang Ning shrugged dismissively, her lips curving into a helpless smile. "Do you even know the probability of making it big in esports? It's one in hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, the chance of getting into Tsinghua or Beijing University is one in ten thousand. Are you really sure gaming offers more prospects than studying? Especially with your laughable skills."
Seeing red, Sang Chuan yelled back, "You haven't even watched me play! What makes you think you can make such a judgment? Did you know I won first place in our school's King of Glory tournament? No one in our school can beat me! Not to mention, my rank is 10 stars at the Unrivaled King level—how could you dare call my skills pathetic?"
"People like you, who know nothing but love to criticize, are the ones I hate the most. But don't worry—I won't quit on my dreams just because of your empty words. I'm telling you now—there's no way I'll go back to school. But gaming? I'll never give it up!"
"Unrivaled King, 10 stars?" Sang Ning's eyes widened as she looked at Sang Chuan, her expression utterly astonished.
Not understanding her intent, Sang Chuan hesitated but nodded anyway. "Yeah! So what? Are you scared now?"
The moment he spoke, Sang Ning burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Unrivaled King, 10 stars, and you want to pursue esports? Are you kidding me?"
"Sang—Ning—!" Sang Chuan's patience reached its breaking point. If not for the fact that Sang Ning was his sister, he'd have kicked this madwoman out of the house.
Sang Ning laughed so hard she was nearly in tears. Her naive brother was so hopelessly delusional that reasoning with this rebellious teen was futile. Only by thoroughly crushing his ego would he see reality.
She crossed her legs again, picked up her phone, and glanced at him casually. "Log in."
Sang Chuan froze momentarily. "Log in? Log in to what account?"
"King of Glory, obviously. Let's go head-to-head. Show me what your real skills are." Sang Ning said, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "But I have one condition. If you lose, you promise never to touch gaming again and return to school next semester to study properly."
"Heh, I won't lose!"
Sang Chuan's lips curved into a confident smirk as he turned to fetch his phone and log in.
He was ready to teach Sang Ning a lesson, making her realize that in the world of gaming, she would have no choice but to call him "Boss"!