No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric)

The comment section of the live stream exploded with insults and heated arguments.

Xenia watched the viewer count skyrocket in her stream, which made her heart soar with excitement. She knew drama like this would attract more followers.

On the other hand, Lucas felt humiliated. He hadn't expected SweetNelly to reveal their private conversation so publicly. He was certain that SweetNelly wasn't Noelle.

If it were her, she wouldn't have risked tarnishing the Liddell family's reputation like that.

Since SweetNelly refused to cooperate, Lucas decided he wouldn't hold back.

He logged into the game and opened a Player Kill ranked match. His rank was 90.

Lucas quickly messaged a few others in the 90th ranks and asked them not to join the game. That way, his match would default to SweetNelly. If she wanted to advance, she would have to face him. Initially, Lucas had planned to sign her to his team and capitalize on the match as a marketing opportunity. But the plan was no longer needed.

James hesitantly said, "Mr. Liddell, she's just a rookie. Are you sure you want to take on her yourself?"

"Yes, I'm going to teach her some respect." Lucas was confident. As a top-tier professional player, there was no way he would lose to a newbie. SweetNelly indeed had potential. But she still wouldn't stand a chance against a professional player.

The Player Kill match started quickly.

When Noelle saw who her opponent was, her expression turned icy.

"Well, isn't this a coincidence," she said coolly.

Noelle knew Lucas' rank, but these matches were randomized, and Lucas was not the only player who ranked within the 90s. He had clearly rigged the match. The viewers in her stream noticed, too.

"Don't worry, Ms. Nelly! You've got this!"

"What's a pro doing bullying a new player? Isn't that against the rules?"

"The captain of Team Luminark is clearly using this as payback!"

Noelle's tone remained calm. "Don't worry, everyone. The match isn't over yet. Let's wait and see who really wins."

A troll chimed in. "Big talk for someone who's about to get crushed. Hope you don't regret those words later."

Noelle ignored the comment. Her focus was on the screen, where Lucas' character stood fully geared in the same equipment she had once customized.

She was prepared to dismantle that gear personally. No one knew Lucas' playstyle better than she did.

Noelle gripped her weapon and said, "Let's begin."

Her fingers danced across the keyboard with lightning speed. She was able to anticipate almost every move Lucas made. But her strategies? They were completely unpredictable to him. Five minutes into the match, Lucas' health bar was nearly empty. His character scrambled to hide inside a building.

Noelle didn't bother chasing him. She stood calmly in the open, unmoving.

Lucas muttered frustratedly, "How is this possible? How does she know all my moves and strategies?"

"Mr. Liddell, maybe she studied your gameplay beforehand. That's why she's familiar with all your moves."

Lucas shook his head. "No, that's not it. That last move-I've never used it before. I've been saving it for the finals."

Then, realization suddenly dawned on him. "Wait... There's only one person who could know." It was Noelle. She was the one who had suggested those secret skills.

His breath caught in his throat. Could SweetNelly really be Noelle?