System, you’re getting farther and farther on this road of cheating money, never admitting defeat!
He looked at the pink card and sneered. “Don’t worry, I won’t even put in any more money. How can I use a credit card? Trash game, don’t try to cheat me!”
With that, he closed the pop-up window.
There was still a bit of time before the next round started.
Li Shuoxing was a little tired after staying up all night. He yawned and decided to go offline for a meal and a nap and wait until 3pm to go back online for the next wave of activities.
Li Shuoxing: “Cub, I’ll leave first. I’ll come back at three o’clock to continue to grab red envelopes and see the venue.”
Su Mingqian nodded and advised, “Okay. When you come back, bring some cooking-related content. I’ll study how to cook.”
After a couple sentences, Li Shuoxing closed the game, ordered takeout for himself, and checked the Terminal Food Group to see a rare large area of message withdrawal prompts.
What the hell.
Weird.
Li Shuoxing didn’t bother to look into it and threw his phone away. It was time to eat and sleep.
When he woke up, it was 2:50, just in time to go online to continue the game.
Awkward at first but becoming skillful later, the two of them got a total of 115 red envelopes in the second red envelope rain, basically receiving all the red envelopes in a round. They believed that by the third round, not a single fish would slip through the net.
Learning from the first time, this time Li Shuoxing gave all the red envelopes to Su Mingqian to open.
The results were gratifying.
Three more lottery tickets were in hand, three more shiny gold items were waiting for him.
In addition, Li Shuoxing also obtained three 200 contribution coupons, a redemption coupon for quality pyjamas, and a redemption coupon for quality formal attire. Although the total amount wasn’t as much as the first time, the value definitely far exceeded it.
Even if it was across a screen, Li Shuoxing excitedly hugged his phone and pecked it, giving the little person a big kiss on the head!
“Cub, you little red hand <sup>1</sup> 红手 [hóng shǒu] refers to lucky people. , you’re great! We don’t need to spend any money in the second venue at all!”
Su Mingqian was stunned.
What was that pecking sound?
This thought flashed through his mind, but he didn’t ponder it deeply, because immediately, Li Shuoxing’s voice brought him back to reality.
He couldn’t help smiling. “It’s good to save money.”
Li Shuoxing was in high spirits. “Okay, let’s head off to the venue and pick out the most beautiful pyjamas and the most beautiful formal attire, and get 600 worth of stuff—”
Five minutes later, they arrived at the venue.
Li Shuoxing saw his soul item.
[House Extension – Winter Warmth Lounge]
[Original Price]: 1888 contribution points
[Double 11 Special Price]: 1000 contribution points
[Note]: Want to have a sunroom with a glass ceiling? Want to have a large bookshelf that takes up an entire wall? Want to have a fireplace built into the wall and curl up by the warm winter fire in a big sofa with a thick fleece blanket? Everything you could wish for is in the Winter Warmth Lounge!
Su Mingqian saw his soul item.
[Automatic Sprinkler]: 300 contribution points each
[Note]: Starts daily at 7am sharp to water 50 units of land. The “Good Assistant” automatic sprinkler is your go-to assistant for growing flowers and vegetables!
Li Shuoxing: “Cub!”
Su Mingqian: “Ximu!”
They said in unison, “I want to buy this!”
After the impulse, the sound of each other’s voices calmed them down a little.
Li Shuoxing spoke first, “I’ll look at yours and you look at mine.”
Su Mingqian: “Okay.”
Li Shuoxing saw the automatic sprinkler and Su Mingqian saw the lounge.
Both were a little excited.
Li Shuoxing directly calculated. “I think this is also very necessary. It can directly free up the labour, and it’s not expensive, 300 for one, 600 for two. Planting 18 days worth of pumpkins can make back the money. We can also get the Halloween set together in these 18 days, as 600 pumpkins can probably get the remaining 69 fragments.”
Su Mingqian was the opposite.
Although he was vaguely tempted, he didn’t show it. He advised Li Shuoxing, “Building a lounge isn’t cheap. The current house is already enough. There’s no need to buy this for now.”
Li Shuoxing insisted, “But it’s half off now.”
Su Mingqian: “Even so, it’s more than the 600 we have.”
Li Shuoxing struggled. “But it’s really beautiful.”
Su Mingqian: “It’s not a necessity.”
Li Shuoxing took a deep breath. “But I’ve already bought it.”
Su Mingqian: “…”
Li Shuoxing added, sounding pleased, “I’ve bought the house and the automatic sprinkler, and it feels great.”
Su Mingqian: “…”
He also took a deep breath, then said, “Ximu, come with me.”
Li Shuoxing: “Where to?”
Su Mingqian: “To the clothing store next door. We still have two redemption coupons to redeem.”
This furniture store is too scary.
Five hundred to eight hundred at every turn.
It’s safer to go next door and just redeem the two redemption coupons.
Su Mingqian thought.
Ten minutes later, he realised he was wrong.
A small mountain of clothes was piled up in front of him.
Ximu seemed to want to shove every single outfit in the store at him. He even found two women’s outfits among them.
He steadily picked out the two women’s outfits and set them aside before continuing to sort out the men’s clothing he didn’t like so much… But it was no use. There were always more clothes falling from the sky, piling the small mountain higher and higher.
He couldn’t help saying, “Ximu…”
The other’s serious voice rang out next to his ear. “I’m not buying, I’ll just try them and take a picture afterwards. Cub, I want to see you in different clothes. You look good in anything!”
Su Mingqian: “…”
He sighed.
After a brief pause, the little person on the screen began to try on the clothes in the mall.
Li Shuoxing was genuinely only going to have the little person try them on and then take a picture, to pretend that he already had them.
But after the little person tried on the clothes, he changed his mind.
He looked at the little person wearing jeans and suddenly felt that the washed white colour on the jeans was particularly attractive.
He looked at the little person wearing a windbreaker and suddenly felt that the khaki windbreaker with the collar up was super cool.
He looked at the little person wearing silk pyjamas and suddenly felt that the little person with this texture must be very comfortable to hug.
He looked at—
Whatever he looked at, he felt that he wanted to have it.
One outfit was just 68.
With the full reduction and discount, 50 an outfit wasn’t a bad deal at all.
What was the point of leaving aside the contribution points over there?
Wasn’t its whole point to be taken and used?
Without blinking, Li Shuoxing took the card and started swiping it.
At 5pm, the second venue ended.
The two returned to the small room from the venue with a slew of clothes bags, two automatic sprinklers, and a built lounge, as well as a… love credit card that was already down 3000 contribution points.
Li Shuoxing propped his head on its side, his mind a little confused.
But this confusion only lasted half a minute.
Half a minute later, Li Shuoxing succeeded in explaining himself.
What I used was a credit card. I didn’t top up at all.
The contribution points in the credit card can be repaid entirely through farming and producing items.
And that can be left entirely in the hands of the future me. I will rely on him for the repayment!
The flag didn’t fall at all.
Li Shuoxing was satisfied. Satisfied, he calculated his limit capacity. He couldn’t help saying to the little person, “Cub, I calculated that we actually have 500 credit left to use, and there’s a third mystery venue in the evening—”
Su Mingqian calmly said, “No, you have to write in the evening.”
Li Shuoxing was proud once he heard this. “I’ve already written 8000 words.”
Su Mingqian frowned. “When did you write it?”
Li Shuoxing: “Early this morning, so—”
Su Mingqian continued calmly, “So, you have to rest in the evening.”
Then he coldly drove Li Shuoxing away.
It was dangerous to let this guy stay here for one more second!
Li Shuoxing was kicked out of the game by Su Mingqian.
He had nothing to do, so he simply sat at his computer and wrote another three thousand words.
After three thousand words, it was eight o’clock.
Li Shuoxing came back online and gave a clear cough.
His voice was heard by Su Mingqian.
In the same instant, a tangled ball of wool popped up above the little person’s head in the lounge.
He said, “Ximu…”
He went offline too quickly in the afternoon. It wasn’t until now that Li Shuoxing got a proper look at the newly built lounge.
Transparent glass made up the ceiling, from which starlight leaked down.
The fireplace on the wall was lit by a flame, the leather sofa shone in the firelight, and the owner sitting on it seemed to be infected by the light, possessing a warm glaze.
Li Shuoxing took a good look around and sighed. “This house feels so cosy. I don’t think I bought the wrong thing.”
Su Mingqian: “It’s very cosy.”
The voice hidden in the night seemed to be infected by the night, faint and soft.
Su Mingqian thought he should say thank you to Li Shuoxing.
But he had already said so many thank yous.
So he decided to put it another way.
From now on, he wouldn’t use words to express his gratitude, but actions.
Su Mingqian: “Alright, the red envelope rain is coming. Let’s go pick up red envelopes and go to the venue afterwards, but don’t waste money.”
Li Shuoxing raised his eyebrows. “Okay!”
The last red envelope rain arrived on schedule.
But perhaps they’d used too much luck in the morning and noon; this time, after opening all the red envelopes, they only got four lottery tickets, nothing else.
Although it was exciting to get ten lottery tickets together, the drops this time were indeed a little strange. Even if the luck was bad, it didn’t make sense to just drop precious lottery tickets without dropping other items…
Could it be because the third venue no longer needs these things?
Li Shuoxing inwardly thought, and, without saying much, decided to go to the third venue to find out.
The last of the three commercial buildings in the triangular arrangement finally opened.
They entered the building.
A luxurious hall, a luxurious table.
With gold as the base colour and red as the accent colour, the psychedelic light wandered around the room, finally settling on the four cards on the table.
On the luxurious table were four upside-down cards.
The cards were black, glistening like black diamonds. At the centre of the back was a sunken heart gilded with gold.
Li Shuoxing tapped on the table and the game popped up with an instruction menu.
“Welcome to the card room. The player may draw love cards from the card room. Each game has four love cards. Each card costs 10 contribution points to turn over, with a minimum of one card turned over in a game. Each card will depict an item from the game. The player needs to select the most precious of the four items. If selected, the game is won and the player can take the item away; if not selected, the game is lost and the contribution points paid by the player go to the house of fate.”
Li Shuoxing studied it for a moment and understood.
Four cards in a game.
Turn over all four cards: 40 contribution points.
Turn over only one card: 10 contribution points.
If he guessed correctly and took it away, he’d win the most precious item with 10 contributions.
If he didn’t guess correctly, he’d lose at least 10 and at most 40 contribution points.
This venue was essentially gambling. No wonder there was no need for messy discounts.
Intellectually, he understood that the likelihood of taking away the reward was low, but a player who looked at a lottery and didn’t want to play… could they be called a player!
Li Shuoxing wasn’t an exception, so he said, “Cub, this looks pretty fun. Let’s play two games.”
Su Mingqian: “Two games?”
Li Shuoxing changed his words. “Three games. No more than three. I’ll leave after three games.”
Su Mingqian smiled. “Then let’s play.”
Following international practice, Li Shuoxing went to wash his hands and then sat back down.
He started a game and just spent 10 contribution points to pick one at random.
He had no idea how many items there were in this game. In other words, there was actually no way to determine which item was the most precious by looking at all the cards.
In that case, instead of wasting 40 contribution points on one game, it was better to spend 30 on three games.
A mobile phone was on the card.
Li Shuoxing’s heart moved.
He didn’t expect that there were also mobile phones in the game… What was the use of mobile phones in the game? Could they be used to send him a message?
He tapped the phone and chose to take it away.
But immediately afterwards, a bolt of lightning struck the card, splitting it into black charcoal.
At the same time, text flashed on the screen.
[Card Room: Sorry, you have made the wrong choice.]
Li Shuoxing was a bit regretful.
He chose to start a second game.
This time, instead of picking randomly, he asked Su Mingqian, “Cub, pick a card.”
Su Mingqian picked the leftmost one.
Turning over the card, it was a diamond-studded fountain pen.
The pen did look luxurious and beautiful, but…
Li Shuoxing: “Hmm…”
Su Mingqian honestly said, “I think this game’s gonna be bad.”
Li Shuoxing felt the same way, so even though he’d said only three seconds ago that it was most cost-effective to turn over one card in a game, he spent another 10 contribution points to turn over a second one.
The second card was a black wallet.
Emm…
Li Shuoxing was unwilling and turned over a third one to get a stylish silver headset.
Li Shuoxing’s heart went cold.
But I’ve already turned over three, and there’s still the last one?
Maybe I’m just 10 contribution points short of victory?
Anyway, 10 contribution points went down again.
He turned over the fourth card, and this time a big one came out, a bar installed in the house.
Pen, wallet, headset, bar.
Li Shuoxing decided to determine the value of the items in a general way.
He selected the bar.
Immediately, a bolt of lightning split the bar into black charcoal.
Li Shuoxing: “…”
Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe.
Then he gritted his teeth and started a third game.
Su Mingqian suddenly sounded, “Cough.”
Li Shuoxing: “I know.”
Su Mingqian continued, “Cough cough.”
Li Shuoxing: “I understand!”
Su Mingqian continued still, “Cough cough cough.”
Li Shuoxing swore to heaven, “No more than three. I’ll definitely let it go after this game. If I don’t, I’ll chop my hand off!”
Only then did Su Mingqian stop coughing. He smiled at Li Shuoxing. “My throat was a little itchy just now. Let’s leave after this game.”
Li Shuoxing once again swore, “Last game, I’ll forget about it if I don’t get anything.”
With that said, he didn’t choose much and randomly opened the third card to see a black window appear on it.
Li Shuoxing: “…”
Su Mingqian: “…”
Li Shuoxing raised his finger several times to tap something else, but paused every time in Su Mingqian’s staring gaze. Finally, he reluctantly said, “Okay, we can leave.”
With that, he directly tapped the select button.
The moment he did.
Golden light exploded, music played, and hearts and ribbons appeared together to celebrate the moment of victory.
The system refreshed three messages on the screen in a row.
[Card Room: You win. Congratulations on obtaining the most precious item in the game.]
[System: You obtain the game’s unique item [Outward Opening Window].]
[Outward Opening Window]: This is a window that can lead to reality.