Chapter 736
Chapter 736:
As the others receded into the background, Neal stood alone, bathed in a golden spotlight, instantly becoming the epicenter of the gathering’s attention. The crowd burst into loud cheers below, and Fernanda caught snippets of whispers, phrases like, “What a charmer!” and “Absolutely incredible.”
Neal was more than merely handsome; as he stood on the stage, trophy in hand, surrounded by a sea of flashing cameras, he embodied the epitome of a victorious hero, radiating charm and confidence. Sliding into the seat next to Bonita, Fernanda bumped her elbow gently. “Caught you staring! Come back to reality.”
Startled, Bonita felt her face heat up as she quickly lowered her phone, her words tumbling out in a fluster. “Oh, I wasn’t… I mean, I wasn’t trying to take his picture or anything…”
Fernanda’s laughter was warm and forgiving. “Relax, it’s perfectly fine to take photos. Why not immortalize such a glorious moment?” Encouraged, Bonita bit her lip thoughtfully, then raised her phone once more and began eagerly documenting Neal’s presence on stage. As Neal prepared to address the crowd, Bonita switched to video mode, anticipation hanging in the air.
Neal’s approach to his victory speech was unconventional and brimming with self-assured charm. Skipping the usual formalities of thanking sponsors and team members, his speech was tinged with his personal brand of confident humor.
Flashing a knowing grin, he said, “The person I most need to thank is, well, myself. This tournament would have been downright dull without my brilliance. I really am that impressive.”
He paused, his smirk widening. “And let’s not forget my teammates. They really owe me one; without my contributions, they’d probably still be trying to figure out the group stages. The organizers ought to be more appreciative. Most of the crowd here are followers of my live streams. Without my presence, the viewer count wouldn’t even come close. I’ve clearly stirred up significant excitement for this event. I propose the organizers recognize my contribution—maybe a small bonus wouldn’t hurt.”
His words mirrored the flamboyant style he flaunted during his streams, a demeanor many of the audience found amusing, often responding with robust laughter. The vibe in the room was undeniably vibrant.
Following his playful bragging, Neal’s demeanor slowly turned more thoughtful.
“There’s someone else I need to acknowledge.” Neal’s voice took on a serious undertone, catching the audience off guard. “My girlfriend.” A hush fell over the crowd, quickly replaced by a flurry of reactions.
𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙩: 𝗀ⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝗌﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗆
“Wait, seriously? He’s got a girlfriend?”
“Oh no, my heart is broken!”
“Yes, it’s me. It looks like he’s finally going public with our relationship.”
“Ridiculous, he’s clearly talking about me!”
“Everyone needs to snap out of it. It’s definitely me! I didn’t realize I had so many competitors.”
The crowd buzzed with whispers and exclamations, each person visibly astonished; Neal had never once hinted at a girlfriend in his live streams.
Bonita, taken aback, nearly leapt from her chair. As she clutched Fernanda’s arm, her voice trembled with unease. “Fernanda, what’s he up to? Why is he turning this into such a spectacle?”
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