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Edited by: kapekopicoffee
Online Dining and Birth of Virtual Wedding
The group, once again, was silent.
After that moment of silence, Ten Zero Mausoleum laughed. “Hahaha, Ximu, your jokes are getting bigger and bigger. Soulmates are soulmates. Saying partner will give people the wrong idea.”
Calm and Collected also exhaled. “That’s right, Ximu. You’re joking so seriously that I’m going to get the wrong idea.”
Everyone was teasing, but they were careful to save face for Li Shuoxing in front of the professor, so they quietly hid the title Eunuch.
Su Mingqian said, “What Ximu said is true. We’re indeed in a relationship and are also planning to hold a wedding soon. Everyone’s invited to come and watch the ceremony then.”
Calm and Collected: “
”
Passing Prosperity: “
”
Soren: “
”


A series of ellipses began to line up in the group.
Everyone looked at Su Mingqian’s words, and suddenly remembered a sentence that Li Shuoxing had once said.
“My wife Su Mingqian!”
They couldn’t help but fall into contemplation.
Eunuch and Professor Simon are together, so why on earth would Eunuch say that sentence?
It can’t be because Professor Simon’s Chinese name is Su Mingqian, right? The timing simply doesn’t add up. It’s reasonable to assume that Eunuch knew something about Professor Simon when he posted a picture of him on his Weibo, which was already this year; but, Eunuch had decided his male protagonist’s name when he started his article in November last year. Eunuch was still perfectly normal at that time. Looking back, it’s really saddening.
Could it be

Is it possible

Eunuch really fell in love with his main character.
And Professor Simon, a super fanboy of Eunuch’s novels, didn’t just turn Eunuch’s past fantasies into reality. He had become deeply infatuated with this person Eunuch, and in order to win his heart, he viewed the new article and set his Chinese name and net name as Su Mingqian, and then indeed
 won Eunuch’s heart!
It turns out that it’s true there’s a golden house in a book, and there’s a beauty in a book <sup>1</sup> These come from the poem 《抱歊篇》 by 漋真漗. It explains the importance of reading (education) from the perspective of people who are in pursuit of fame and wealth. . You can really get a wife by writing!
Eunuch’s the most successful example who has appeared in front of us! As long as I keep writing, a wife like Professor Simon might not be a possibility, but a more ordinary, lovely and clean wife who likes my writing doesn’t seem like it’d be a delusion

The single dogs in the group had fallen into deep imagination, which directly led to a drop in their typing speed, and they failed to express their feelings on this matter immediately.
Li Shuoxing was rather surprised, but that didn’t stop him from saying what he wanted to say next, smoothly and easily:
“The main reason I came back this time is to pack up some things and to get together with everyone. I might be permanently living in the United States in the future, and I don’t know when I can meet up with my brothers again
 alas.”
Eunuch hasn’t really changed. We’re the first thing he thinks of when he’s about to leave.
We didn’t get to know Eunuch for nothing!
Everyone felt very moved. They all patted their chests as they promised, “Don’t worry, Ximu. We’ll make it to your side for this parting meal, even if we have to take a leave and stop updating!”
“That’s good!” Li Shuoxing praised. “How about next Monday?”
“The Buddhist temple will be doing a big puja next Monday, and all monks have to be there. Let’s change it to another day,” Six Flavour Monk hurriedly said.
Another day was another day. Freelancers were free anyway.
“Next Tuesday then,” Li Shuoxing proposed.
“There’s a critical match next Tuesday and I have to sit on site,” Ten Zero Mausoleum hurriedly said.
Then, he’d change it to another day. This time, he picked a day when office workers would be free to get together.
“How about next Sunday?” Li Shuoxing then suggested.
This time, Passing Prosperity and Soren said in unison, “I have something next Sunday!”
Li Shuoxing: “
”
After that, Li Shuoxing had proposed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but someone had something they needed to do on each day, so there wasn’t a single day when everyone could get together. He lifted the table and said, “Before, you even said that you’d stop updating and take a leave for me! Now what?!”
A touch of embarrassment was permeating.
Calm and Collected said, “That’s mainly because there are too many of us and we’re scattered all over the country, so we can’t schedule a good time. How about this?” He suggested with a flash of inspiration. “We’ll just keep up with the times and have this parting meal directly through video call, okay?”
Before the others could answer, the mysterious <sup>2</sup> ç„žéŸ™è§éŠ–äžè§ć°Ÿ [shĂ©n lĂłng jiĂ n shǒu bĂș jiĂ n wěi] may be used to describe a person who is quite mysterious at their whereabouts, appearing at one moment and disappearing the next. Mulberry Without Ghost appeared soundlessly.
“That’s a good idea. Do you still remember Haidilao’s paper love affair that was popular a few months ago? That was also eating with a phone. We’ve caught up with the times haha. There really are all kinds of people these days. I don’t know who came up with that idea. Normal loneliness is level ten, and he’d have to be level fifty here.” When Mulberry Without Ghost finished laughing, he suddenly reacted. “Is Calm and Collected a newcomer? Where’s Eggy?”
The group got more and more awkward.
Everyone silently looked at Mulberry Without Ghost, who had been out of the loop, and really didn’t want to talk.
Calm and Collected and Passing Prosperity once again silently changed their names back.
Li Shuoxing’s mood was extra complicated amidst the silence.
I really didn’t expect that I’d become a popular trendsetter one day
 With a shiver, he once again strengthened his determination not to have his identity guessed. He clapped the board and said, “All right, let’s follow the example of paper love. No need to pick a day, let’s just get together online to have hotpot now!”
The internet changed life. Everyone responded to this convenient and simple way of getting together that didn’t cost time and money.
Only Six Flavour Monk suddenly reacted and hesitantly asked, “
Eat hotpot?”
But, by this time, everyone had already scattered to prepare the ingredients and pots that would appear on camera later. No one answered Six Flavour Monk, so Six Flavour Monk silently hid away.
Calm Egg was the first to return to the group about half an hour later. “I’m ready. How about you guys?”
Soren was the second to respond, and Ten Zero Mausoleum was the third.
Everyone said they were ready five minutes later.
So, Li Shuoxing adjusted the camera to point it towards himself and Su Mingqian, as well as the hotpot and dishes in front of them.
With everything in place, he opened the group video.
The group members appeared in the video one after the other: Calm Egg, Six Flavour Monk, Interfinger Storm, Ten Zero Mausoleum
 Everyone was here, all waiting for Li Shuoxing to speak.
Li Shuoxing didn’t speak immediately.
He looked down, thought for a moment, then used his mouth to select a video beauty option. Pink hearts jumped out with “thump thump” sound effects, and Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian were placed together inside a frame.
Li Shuoxing asked, “Do you see our hearts? Isn’t this a more romantic and wedding-like atmosphere?”
Everyone: “
”
Everyone’s eyes were dull. “I see them. They’re really atmospheric.”
Li Shuoxing was satisfied. “It’s good that you can see them. Shouldn’t you give me a heart?”
Everyone clicked.
[Soren gifts you a heart.]
[Ten Zero Mausoleum gifts you a heart.]


A rain of hearts could be summoned with five or more hearts collected. Li Shuoxing gleefully clicked again, which caused pink hearts to splash up from the bottom of the video frame, adding to the pink atmosphere.
Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian raised their glasses together amidst the rain of pink hearts. “Come, let’s drink to that.”
With that, he and Su Mingqian lightly clinked the rims of their glasses together with a soft click.
Everyone: “
”
For some reason, this guy’s every move was filled with an uncomfortable sour stench ever since Professor Simon was here.
They bowed their heads, pondered for a moment, then, not to be outdone, clinked two glasses using both hands simultaneously, pretending that they had company too!
After a series of light clinks, Li Shuoxing took a sip of wine and contentedly began to say a toast. “As you all know, I’m in a relationship. In fact, there’s not much to say. The feeling after getting into a relationship is good, very good, especially good. You can’t go back to sleeping in bed alone once you’ve spent your days together with someone. So, I hope that everyone can find a partner as good as Mingqian, just like me!”
Everyone: “
”
Everyone’s heart felt stuffed.
They felt that they couldn’t let Li Shuoxing go on any longer. Calm Egg interrupted him. “Eunuch, you start the toast.”
Li Shuoxing: “Let’s start with you.”
He raised his glass to Calm Egg, drank it, then did something that no one expected.
When he finished drinking, he turned his head and blew a big kiss across the air to Su Mingqian beside him. “MUAH~ I love you!”
After the muah, Li Shuoxing urged Calm Egg, “Quick, there’s a video function to give roses. Hurry up and give me one for the occasion.”
The others weren’t the only ones stunned.
Su Mingqian also felt stunned.
Red flew up Su Mingqian’s cheeks a few seconds later.
He also turned his head slightly and returned a kiss to Li Shuoxing across the air. “Muah. Me too.”
At this moment, Calm Egg clicked to send a rose just in time.
A large rose bloomed on top of the video, as if showing the grand and beautiful love between both people.
The corners of everyone’s mouths twitched furiously. “Damn, Ximu! Are you inviting us for a meal or to eat dog food?!”
Li Shuoxing smiled badly. “We’ll have two meals in one. First taste the love, then eat later.” After saying that, he lamented, “Actually, video dining has its advantages too. The atmosphere is great! Everyone, hurry up and give me and Mingqian more roses and hearts, and don’t forget to blow up some more fireworks!”
Shit!
Can we still eat this meal?
I can’t eat anymore. I’m full of anger!
Everyone gritted their teeth and clicked on the roses, fireworks and hearts under the video screen one after another, giving them all to Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian.
The overwhelming special effects covered both of their faces, and the brilliant fireworks and beautiful flowers were the only things that could be seen.
Just like this, Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian were immersed in the lively atmosphere, toasting one by one.
From Calm Egg to Deer Over Fragrant Grass, from Soren to Interfinger Storm, all the way to Six Flavour Monk.
Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian were frozen.
The others were also frozen.
A total of nine people were online, and eight soup pots: three red and four white, the red soup boiling and the white soup rolling, and a pot of clear water gurgling alone.
Six Flavour Monk was the one who owned this out-of-place pot of clear water.
In an ancient temple chamber, a small pot was placed in the centre of the big square table <sup>3</sup> ć…«ä»™æĄŒ [bā xiān zhuƍ] is an old-fashioned square table for eight people. , with three plates next to it: a plate of vegetables, a plate of tofu, and a plate of mushroom.
And a young monk in a yellow robe, sitting behind that, slowly lowered his head, revealing a bright and polished head.
Six Flavour Monk: “Almsgivers, can we not have hotpot?”
Everyone: “No.”
Six Flavour Monk: “But the tofu, vegetable and mushroom pot really doesn’t taste good
”
Everyone sighed. “Seeing you struggling to eat makes us feel good eating.”
Calm Egg picked up a piece of pig intestine and waved it in front of the camera. “Monk, see this? This is pig intestine. It’s thick and chewy. One bite and your mouth’s filled with oil.”
The intestine fell into the soup pot the moment he loosened his chopsticks, making a small splash, then bobbed in the water again.
Soren spooned up a spoonful of brain and shook it in front of the camera. “Monk, see this? This is brain. Eat brain to nourish your brain. It’s smooth as skin, and tender as breasts.”
He stuck the spoon into the red soup pot and let the red soup lick the brain.
It was Li Shuoxing’s turn.
Li Shuoxing was much simpler compared to the previous two.
He picked up a piece of beef tongue, scalded it for a moment, fished it out, blew on it, then gave it to Su Mingqian. “Try it and see if it’s delicious.”
Su Mingqian tasted it and nodded. “Delicious.”
Six Flavour Monk: “
”
Amidst everyone’s laughter and scramble to eat meat, he got sad. “You guys are really too much!”
The online meal ended with Li Shuoxing and Su Mingqian showing their love, the rest of them being full of wine and food, and Six Flavour Monk eating without taste. When the hotpot was cleared, with everyone slumped in their chairs and looking at each other, Interfinger Storm suddenly spoke up.
“Actually, when Ximu goes to the United States, he could spend US time with us staying up late writing and typing until dawn. We wouldn’t only not spend less time together, but become more
”
A word awakened the dreamers.
Everyone was shocked. “Doesn’t that mean that us and Ximu could become closer?”
“If we want to eat together, we could just set up a video meal like now,” Soren added.
Deer Over Fragrant Grass: “That’s right, and it’s more atmospheric. It’s just a shame we can’t make it to the United States to attend Ximu’s wedding.”
“About that,” Su Mingqian suddenly said, “do you mind attending a virtual wedding with brain nerve access?”
Everyone was stunned. “
Wait, is that the kind we’re thinking of? Is it that technology you announced earlier, Professor?”
Su Mingqian said with a smile, “Yes.”
There was a brief, frozen pause.
Soren let out a howl, breaking the ice. “Me me me! Please give me a spot! The era of virtual online games in human fantasy is really coming ahhhhh!!!”
1
These come from the poem 《抱歊篇》 by 漋真漗. It explains the importance of reading (education) from the perspective of people who are in pursuit of fame and wealth. 2
ç„žéŸ™è§éŠ–äžè§ć°Ÿ [shĂ©n lĂłng jiĂ n shǒu bĂș jiĂ n wěi] may be used to describe a person who is quite mysterious at their whereabouts, appearing at one moment and disappearing the next. 3
ć…«ä»™æĄŒ [bā xiān zhuƍ] is an old-fashioned square table for eight people.