Xue Lan looked at everyone, at a total loss for words. They were truly grinding the survival battles energetically in teams.
“Why’s the Internet cafe so lively today?”
Hearing a loud, familiar voice from the entrance, Xue Lan turned his head in surprise. It was actually Lao Qi and Pangzi whom they had not seen for a long time.
“Sorry, but we booked the whole Internet cafe today,” Qi Siyu called out.
“Zheng-ge?!” Pangzi’s eyes brightened the moment he saw Duan Wenzheng from afar. He hastily ran over. “Zheng-ge! I heard you joined LGW?! So cool! Can you help me get God Wind’s autograph? Oh right, also, also, I asked you to send my apologies to the lady, have you told her? I have no way to contact her, and I’ve been feeling sorry…”
Duan Wenzheng looked at Pangzi who gleefully came running, not knowing if he should laugh or cry. “You fake fan, how could you not see your own idol in such a small place?”
Pangzi then came to his senses after expressing his joy at reuniting with Duan Wenzheng. He looked around at a loss, only to see that the person sitting in the corner was truly…?!
But after a brief surprise, he hastily retracted his gaze and moved his line of sight to the person behind Duan Wenzheng.
Pangzi rubbed his eyes.
“I-It’s really you!” Pangzi squeezed through to get to Xue Lan’s side. “Lady! It was all my fault. I really didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to stream that… I hurt you. I’m so sorry. If you need me for anything in the future, call me anytime! I won’t decline your request!!”
Xue Lan scratched his head, not used to this sort of enthusiasm. “It’s okay, I’ve long forgotten it. Don’t let it bother you.”
“No way!” Pangzi slapped his chest as a pledge. “I will be your most loyal fan! Whatever fan club and cheers, you can leave it all to me! I don’t have any other strength, except for having a very loud voice!”
“… N-No need, that’s too troublesome. I also don’t need any fans,” Xue Lan said in embarrassment.
“If you feel sorry, go over there and turn on the computer and go grind the survival battle,” Duan Wenzheng suggested. “Maybe you can make up for it with some achievements.”
“Got it! No problem!!” Pangzi instantly agreed. He pulled Lao Qi along, turned on the computer, and started farming materials.
Seeing him still this lively, Xue Lan felt touched by this familiarity and enthusiasm.
“Let’s start too.” Wen Yan, sitting together with Zhou Kanqing and Meng Qi at one side, chimed in.
For a moment, the bustling Internet cafe instantly became silent.
They must not have heard it wrong.
Apocalypse‘s number one assaulter… wanted to play the survival battle, whose sole purpose was for lower accounts to upgrade?!
But Wen Yan paid no mind to everyone’s stares. He logged in straight into the game and opened the survival battle mode.
The entire Internet cafe immersed itself in a wondrous, heartwarming atmosphere as they played the survival battle together. Xue Lan was moved but was also concerned as he was pulled down to his seat. He looked at everyone who had started the survival battle in twos and threes. For a while, he felt the scene before him was like a dream.
Xue Lan rubbed his eyes and quickly logged in. Just as he logged in, he received a game invitation notification in the lower right corner.
System notice: LGW-Wind invites you to a survival match game.
System notice: Reset invites you to a survival match game.
“…”
With his desire to live longer, Xue Lan ignored both invites and instead formed a new group, inviting the two.
Reset: ?
LGW-Wind: ?
Exist: Congratulations to you two on becoming teammates!!
Reset: ?
Xue Lan keenly smelled the confrontation in the air. For the world’s peace, he bravely pressed the ‘start match’ option!
Everyone played in full swing, but as dawn was approaching, the invisibility chip was still nowhere to be found. Even Wen Yan was exposed to playing the survival battle, and a group of streamers came one after another to intercept.
Once a round of the survival battle concluded, Xue Lan halted the game queue and transferred the role of team captain to Wind’s account.
“You two continue. Me and Su Yiyu will go buy some food.”
Duan Wenzheng got up also. “I’ll go with you.”
“Nono.” Xue Lan quickly pulled Su Yiyu. “It’s just over there. We’ll be quick. Take the chance to play. I’ll come back soon!”
Su Yiyu had been yawning repeatedly, but when he heard Xue Lan call him, he quickly followed and stood up.
Xue Lan, who consciously felt like a third wheel, dragged Su Yiyu out of the Internet cafe. He felt bad for troubling everyone to help him grind and had decided to treat everyone to some snacks.
Because of ongoing road construction nearby, Xue Lan and Su Yiyu had to take a detour around the Internet cafe before eventually locating the lost delivery person. After getting the food, the two carried the bags full of snacks, intending to slip into the Internet cafe straight away from the back door.
But just as they walked up to the back door, Xue Lan heard a low voice coming from inside —
“… You are my closest brothers, and I’ve chosen to stay with the team for so many years because I know you all need me. I know Haoshan has retired, and our team is having a hard time… but Xiao Ran has waited five years for me. How many more years can a girl’s youth have? She is pregnant now… I’ve never been a good boyfriend, but I want to be a good husband, a good father.”
“I’m sorry.”
That person’s voice was low and heavy as he said, “A-Yan, as long as you’re here, LGW will always be LGW.”
Xue Lan’s footsteps paused. Did they… unintentionally overhear Meng Qi and Wen Yan discussing his definitive retirement?! He quickly pulled Su Yiyu away, but it was too late —
Wen Yan’s husky voice emerged from the darkness behind the door:
“Who’s there?”
——————–
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