“Team up?”
Rong Yi wanted to help Raymond up, but her back was not strong enough at the moment. Whenever she stretched her hand out, it hurt so much that she gasped in cold air.
Fan Xingze quickly held her shoulder and reached over her to grab Raymond’s clothes and lift him up.
Raymond: “…I’m just a programmer in a checkered shirt, yet his strength is so great?!”
He leaned against the table in front of Rong Yi and winked, “What do you think? If we team up, we might become the first players to reach the top of the S-level game!”
Rong Yi was still processing the information: “…So this game can be played in teams!”
Being pulled into the game was so sudden for her. Inside the game, she only wanted to survive, and outside the game, she had her busy work life. She didn’t really have the chance to understand the rules and mechanics of this game.
She needed her younger boyfriend to tell her more about the game tonight.
Teaming up with Raymond would indeed be advantageous for the still inexperienced Rong Yi. His experience and strength would greatly assist her.
Luo Huayue suddenly sighed, “I wanted to team up with Sister Yong…”
Zhang Haiyang also sighed, “I’ve wanted to follow Sister Yong for a long time…”
Seeing the two inexperienced players with worried expressions, Rong Yi couldn’t help but feel a sense of sympathy.
Although Luo Huayue and Zhang Haiyang seemed inexperienced, they each possessed strengths that Rong Yi valued.
Luo Huayue’s innate skill, “Da Vinci Painting Eggs,” was very unique and essential for resources and weapons in the dungeons.
Rong Yi wasn’t sure about Zhang Haiyang’s skills, but he was very good at surviving. For her as a newcomer, this skill was more important than experience or strength. After all, staying alive was her top priority.
Of course, these strengths were only relevant to her as a newcomer. Raymond was a pro player, and it was understandable if he felt they were burdens.
Furthermore, the power gap between her and Raymond in the dungeons was huge.
Her skill was unique and not limited by individual strength levels. If used correctly, it could change the course of events.
Her boyfriend had previously warned her that others might try to seize her skill in the dungeons, and that nearly led to her death in the ogre dungeon.
Teaming up with someone much more powerful could pose risks if they harbored ill intentions, and she might struggle to resist.
You can’t always rely on random bosses appearing to save the day, can you?
Just as Rong Yi was about to suggest further consideration, Raymond swiftly sent her a team request.
*Bleep bleep*
However, his floating screen immediately sounded a warning.
“Team request failed?” Raymond was astonished. “Did the other party blacklist you?”
Rong Yi, feeling bewildered, let out a confused sound, then opened her floating screen and swiped around. “Where’s the blacklist?”
Luo Huayue also tried to send a team request, and Rong Yi quickly received the notification, confirming the team-up.
Following suit, Zhang Haiyang also joined the team.
Zhong Zhiming tried as well, and Rong Yi still received his team request. However, he promptly withdrew, explaining that he preferred to go solo.
Only Raymond, after sending a request, received a *bleep*.
Rong Yi apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, I really can’t find where the blacklist is…”
“It’s normal that you can’t find it,” Zhong Zhiming pushed his glasses. “Because in the Lucky Carnival system, there’s no such thing as a blacklist.”
“So I think there might be a bug in the system.”
Raymond, bombarded with multiple *bleeps*, wailed in despair, “Am I the only one experiencing this blacklisting bug?”
Fan Xingze pushed his glasses and, though unsure of what was happening, still smiled pleasantly.
Then Raymond made some sarcastic remarks, like “Fight between lovers” and “the prodigal son comes back,” causing everyone to burst into laughter. The room was filled with a joyful atmosphere both inside and outside the box.
Shortly after, the dishes they ordered were served. They closed the door and began eating while discussing gaming matters.
“I got tricked. I was aiming for a Ph.D., craving it badly!” Zhang Haiyang ripped at the salted duck leg. “The game came out of the blue, promising that once you earn enough points, you can exchange them for items to fulfill your wishes. Like serendipity, I clicked to confirm joining.”
“I wanted to get into the Central Academy of Fine Arts.” Luo Huayue poked at the sticky rice pearl balls in her bowl. “I studied for three years, almost like an obsession. Then, instead of receiving the admission letter from the academy, the game showed up first. Haha, thinking I was clever, I quickly found someone in the forum after the floating screen appeared, but it turned out…”
Do they have a forum in their system? Rong Yi flipped through her own floating screen but found no forum-like section.
Zhong Zhiming skillfully picked up a piece of tender trembling crab roe tofu with his chopsticks. “My hands seem fine, don’t they?” He smiled, placing the tofu in his bowl.
“Neurosurgery is very precise; sometimes even the patient is awake, requiring their cooperation to confirm the correct surgical area. Mechanical assistance is limited; the delicate hand-eye coordination is crucial.”
Upon closer inspection, Rong Yi noticed Zhong Zhiming’s hand holding the chopsticks was actually trembling slightly.
“Two years ago, I had a car accident. Why did my hands get injured?”
With a self-comforting smile of an adult, he said, “Still want to go back to the operating table… Sitting in the office every day has strained my lower back muscles.”
It turns out they all triggered the Lucky Carnival due to their strong desires.
Rong Yi looked at Raymond. He had returned to his seat, and sensing her gaze, he tilted his chin and flirtatiously asked, “Interested in my past?”
Rong Yi replied, “Thank you, but I’m not interested now.”
As she pondered, she wondered if her strong desires had also sparked the Lucky Carnival for her. Despite her successful career, youth, beauty, caring parents, worry-free retirement, and a compatible online boyfriend, she had one true wish – to be with her boyfriend as soon as possible. But the sudden appearance of the game disrupted their meeting.
“Indeed, completing dungeons can earn points. However, as my level increases, the difficulty of entering dungeons also escalates. I have to use points to purchase many life-saving items from the store to ensure I don’t die in the upcoming dungeons.”
“So, I’m earning points faster than I’m spending them.”
The middle-aged doctor, with a graceful demeanor, sipped his tea and said, “It took me a year to realize that this game is a massive trap of desires, luring us in to endlessly challenge one dungeon after another.”
“We have all become its slaves.”
Raymond chuckled, tossing a clamshell into the bone dish and elegantly picking up his chopsticks. “So, instead of resisting, why not just enjoy it? Doctor Zhong, you can earn points through live streaming much faster than you think!”
Dr. Zhong took another sip of tea, unfazed. “Is that so? Then why are you still in the game? Haven’t you earned enough points through streaming to fulfill your desires?”
Raymond’s smile faded, and after a moment, he chuckled lightly, “… my desires are very expensive.”
As the lunch went on, approaching two o’clock in the afternoon, Rong Yi pondered the information shared by other players, remaining silent as she processed. In the subsequent discussion, Fan Xingze participated more actively.
When not facing Rong Yi, Fan Xingze displayed agility in thinking and eloquence, delving deep into topics of interest with a spirit of inquiry. Several players, thoroughly questioned by him, seemed to be left feeling drained of all answers, and he contentedly let them go.
Over the next few days, Rong Yi buried herself in the hospital wing.
Apart from work, she delved into studying her suspended screen interface and discovered the live broadcast section, where the top spot featured a live stream of Raymond’s Gikas Castle dungeon with a fiery hot sign recently displayed.
Title: The Unseen Scene of Ray Ocean King’s Car Flip Disaster [Fire Fire Fire] [Hot]
The cover displayed Rong Yi’s disdainful and beautiful face.
It was a gif, with eye-rolling expressions.
Rong Yi: …
She scrolled down, finding live broadcasts of Gikas Castle dungeon and Orc dungeon.
It seemed that to prevent players from learning dungeon strategies in advance, the system not only restricted communications but also censored live videos, allowing only dungeon completion broadcasts.
Which were not very informative.
She had hoped to watch her boyfriend’s game broadcast to see him sail yachts and aircraft carriers, becoming a gaming bigshot. But given their contrasting levels of skill, it seemed unlikely.
By the time her hospital stay ended and her back was about ninety percent recovered, with the company abuzz with new gossip, Rong Yi returned to the office.
Simultaneously, she resumed her boxing training.
The gentle Thai boxing coach had taken treating Rong Yi’s injuries as a personal mission, devising a training plan that enhanced but didn’t risk further injury, all while affectionately calling her “sister.”
“Sister! Don’t exert force with your waist; tighten your thigh muscles!” Coach Ice, with delicate waterproof eyeliner, maintained a rhythm while guiding Rong Yi, who was drenched in sweat after late-night training, through waist muscle relaxation exercises.
It was her second day of recovery training, and for the past two days, Ice had instructed her to relax her waist muscles after each session. The results were undeniable.
Rong Yi was quite pleased with the coach and even mentioned him to her boyfriend during their chat:
Rong Yi: According to this recovery progress, I think I can enter the dungeon tomorrow without any issues.
X: [Observing Cat.jpg]
X: Is this coach really okay… training together late at night…
X: [Pouting Panda.jpg]
Rong Yi: Where’s this hint of jealousy coming from? [laughing while crying]
Rong Yi: Haven’t I shown you a photo together? He’s more refined than me, can you even match up?
Rong Yi: Besides, he’s a professional coach, let’s respect his professional ethics, okay?
x: … the girl’s mouth said…
x: We’ll be raiding tomorrow, make sure you wear your sports gear this time! And also, make sure to go back home early to rest!
Rong: Yeah. If work wasn’t so busy, I wouldn’t have to do late-night boxing sessions every time.
Rong: The last two raids were in the afternoon, it should be similar this time. Don’t worry, I took a morning off tomorrow to catch up on sleep. This time, I’ll be fully prepared to enter the game!
Checking the time, it’s almost noon. Ice just finished the night shift, and they both head into the separate male and female changing rooms to shower and change clothes.
The hot shower after the workout was invigorating. Rong changed into fresh clothes, drying his half-wet short hair, lit a post-workout cigarette, almost walking out of the changing room at the same time as Ice.
Seeing each other, they both paused for a moment.
“Why are you dressed like that?”
“Why are you dressed like that?”
They both mock each other’s attire, then looked down at themselves –
Somehow, both of them had changed into the classic cotton gym uniforms with oversized pants and sleeves, where Ice wore a blue one meant for boys, and Rong wore a bright red one for girls.
Outside, the pleasant sound of the school bell rang. Rong subconsciously reached into his pocket, only to find two lollipops, a half-used tissue pack, and a worn-out meal card with the school name barely visible.
Looking up again, the boxing gym had transformed into a spacious and empty sports hall, with the bright sunlight streaming in through the high windows.
Before Ice could say anything, heavy footsteps approached rapidly –
“Thud thud thud thud thud!”
“High School Class 2 (3)! Rong Yi!”
A middle-aged man with thinning hair rushed towards them, his face flushed with anger as he shouted, “Caught you smoking again!”
He snatched the cigarette from Rong’s mouth, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it with disgust, berating them:
“Look at yourselves! Do you look like students at all?”
“You’re in the second year of high school, about to take the college entrance exams, can’t you be more responsible and focused, huh?!”
“Both of you, come to my office now!”
Author’s Note: Rong Yi: … Smoking is harmful to health. I’ll quit smoking after this raid!
Unexpectedly, it’s time to enter the game~
One update~ Tonight at 9 o’clock, a second update~ Huge red packet drops in the comments section for this chapter!
— Lunchtime Theater —
Zhong Zhiming: I heard you passed the level in Gicas Castle 2nd Floor using the abbreviation for mental disorders? Amazing! Not many laypeople know that the abbreviation for Dissociative Identity Disorder is DID. Your job doesn’t seem to involve this, right?
Rong Yi: Yes, that’s right. I have a very annoying colleague.
Zhong Zhiming: ?
Rong Yi: He appears as a professional in front of others, an expert with good communication skills. But in front of me, he always shows low emotional intelligence, speaks arrogantly, and likes to belittle my boyfriend. I’m really fed up with him.
Rong Yi: He has two different faces in public and around me, so I often feel he has Dissociative Identity Disorder. I even looked up related information to use mental illness as a reason to dismiss him.
Zhong Zhiming: …
Rong Yi: Turns out, he doesn’t exhibit any clinical symptoms, he’s just a mentally healthy ordinary person who’s simply confrontational with me. What a pity.
Zhong Zhiming: …
Fan Xingze: ?
Fan Xingze: !
Fan Xingze: qaq
— Paying tribute to Lu Xun’s “Kong Yiji” —
Guess who quietly blocked Raymond?
After checking some neurosurgery information, I found that there are still many precise surgeries that require human hands to complete. If there are any medical inaccuracies, please feel free to correct me in the comments section!
Boyfriend said nope. No chance.