The people who came to pick up the car were He Xinyang and another boy He Yuan had never seen before.
Xiao An’s car had run out of gas and couldn’t be driven, so it had to be parked temporarily until the insurance company could tow it the next day.
When He Xinyang saw half a box of burnt ingredients, his expression froze. When he noticed He Yuan, he was startled again but nodded politely as a greeting.
The incident with the model was already in the past. He Yuan, having long since stopped holding a grudge, replied lightly, “Thank you for your hard work.”
The four of them got into the car one by one. As soon as He Yuan opened the door, he frowned at the strong smell of alcohol inside. He couldn’t tell if the two who came had successfully sobered up or not.
Fortunately, the area was remote, with no traffic or police checkpoints.
“Are you two driving under the influence?” Xiao An, shocked, pulled He Xinyang out of the driver’s seat. “Move over. Let me drive.”
Because of He Xinyang’s shorter legs, Xiao An had to adjust the seat before settling in. Once he fastened the seat belt, he shouted, “God of learning, come sit in the front and show me the way.”
“Check the navigation yourself.” Though He Yuan said this, he still moved to the passenger seat.
The car started. The return trip was faster than the outbound one. It was quiet the whole way, with no one speaking. Xiao An didn’t actually ask He Yuan to guide him.
The two in the backseat hadn’t completely sobered up and were soon slumped against each other, fast asleep.
By the time they arrived at the party hall, it was two in the morning. The hall remained lively, and it was clear everyone planned to stay up all night.
“Let’s go.” He Yuan moved to open the car door.
“Wait.” Xiao An hesitated for a moment before saying bluntly, “I had fun tonight. Thanks for playing with me.”
His eyes were bright, and for a moment, He Yuan thought this was the most attractive feature on Xiao An’s face. Those eyes, when they looked at you, made you want to stop and listen to him.
He Yuan felt that his decision to get into Xiao An’s car tonight was likely influenced by those eyes.
After rummaging through his pockets, Xiao An finally pulled something out and handed it to He Yuan.
The object felt slightly rough in his hand. He Yuan glanced down to see a small candy wrapped in colorful plastic.
He couldn’t immediately make sense of the gesture and looked at Xiao An in confusion.
“I came unprepared, and this is all I have left. You don’t drink, so…” Xiao An scratched his head. “I didn’t treat you well earlier, and I wanted to apologize.”
“I didn’t mind,” He Yuan said briefly.
Xiao An’s tone softened as he added, “I think I really like you. If you don’t mind having another brother, I’ll find you the next time there’s something fun.”
“You really like to say ‘next time,’” He Yuan noted. It was the third time Xiao An had mentioned it tonight.
Playing ball when free, setting up a meeting next time, finding him again for fun.
It sounded enthusiastic, but the phrase “next time” felt empty—like a promise that could be fulfilled at any point in the future, leaving both speaker and listener content but noncommittal.
He Yuan didn’t find the phrase reassuring, let alone pleasing.
Xiao An was taken aback, then laughed. “I was just being polite before. This time, I mean it.”
“Then I’ll wait for your invitation.” He Yuan opened the door, stepped out, and, turning back, replied in kind, “I’ll come if I’m free.”
Xiao An immediately frowned, looking puzzled. After waving goodbye, he drove off.
He Yuan pocketed the candy and made his way toward the party hall. A group of drunken heads peeked over the second-floor railing, observing him.
They were all from his former department and were now openly gossiping about who had dropped him off.
‘These kids really love their melons,’ He Yuan thought.
“Where have you been, Minister?” one boy teased with a grin. “You went out to play and came back empty-handed—didn’t even bring us food.”
“The Minister didn’t go to eat. He probably went for a heart-to-heart,” a girl chimed in, patting the boy beside her.
“Oh? Just a heart-to-heart? Sat face-to-face and talked for hours?” The drunken group sounded like they were doing crosstalk.
“I ate.” He Yuan, in a good mood, replied, “I came back after eating.”
But his slightly upturned lips gave him away. His colleagues immediately misunderstood.
“The Minister has grown up, wuwuwu…” The drunken group faked sobs. “When will you bring someone home for us to meet, Minister?”
“No.” He Yuan secured the candy deeper into his pocket, worried they’d snatch it later and let their imaginations run wilder. He raised his head and quipped, “Even if I had kids, I wouldn’t show you.”
…
The party lasted a full day and night. He Yuan endured the noise until morning, returning to school at noon on Saturday. After taking a nap, he woke to find it already dark.
His phone was filled with new messages, including one from Xiao An.
Xiao An: Your sketchbook and pen fell in my car [Picture]
Apparently, the chaos of last night made He Yuan forget about them entirely.
He Yuan: I forgot to take them.
Xiao An replied quickly, like someone who always had their phone at hand.
Xiao An: Don’t worry, I didn’t look at them.
Xiao An: Do you need them urgently? I can send them over.
He Yuan: No hurry.
He Yuan: Give them to me next time.
Xiao An: Don’t be so polite [laughing and crying emoji]
Xiao An: Just let me know when you need them. I’ll send them anytime.
It was lunchtime, and He Yuan didn’t want to trouble anyone for a special trip, so he replied simply: OK.
Junior architecture students didn’t have sketching classes anymore, as most used boards for drawing. However, He Yuan occasionally sketched by hand, a habit cultivated since junior high school and encouraged by a particularly influential elder.
After ordering takeout, He Yuan logged into the v site on his computer.
The “Mutual Help” competition had been ongoing for a day, and the video that Xixizi posted last night was nearing the end of its assessment period.
The rules were simple: the entry with the most likes and views would win. Although they initially planned to let Ye Miao win, He Yuan felt that Xixizi might actually take the crown after last night’s live broadcast.
He clicked on Xixizi’s video again, noticing that the number of views had reached 50,000, with the likes nearing 3,000.
For any up-master with a similar fan base, this like ratio was clearly exceptional.
He Yuan casually glanced at the comment section and was surprised to see a comment left by his “rival” Ye Miao.
Ye Miao Eating Alone: Go for it!!! [Waving flags and shouting.jpg]
Up-master “What Is Xixizi Eating Today” replied: [Little yellow bird holding face with wings.jpg]
He Yuan frowned. Just a few days ago, these two were in the game together—one cold and disdainful, the other hiding with the microphone muted. How were they suddenly interacting again?
A reunion?
He immediately dismissed the thought, deciding it had little to do with him and not worth overthinking.
At that moment, Xixizi’s notification popped up. He Yuan was used to the little yellow bird poking its head out whenever she sent a message.
When dealing with netizens you’ve never met, it’s easy to imagine the person behind the screen resembling their favorite emojis.
In He Yuan’s mind, Xixizi was the little yellow bird, always fluttering its wings.
An An: Brother qwq [Little yellow bird showing feathers.jpg]
An An: Do you want to play games? I cut a row of new wood for you!
An An: Let’s build a pavilion. [Little yellow bird leaping for joy.jpg]
He Yuan, sleep-deprived and sluggish after staying up all night, was about to refuse—afraid his poor state would result in a crooked pavilion.
But another message arrived urgently.
An An: Brother, I was captured QAQ
Wall: ?
An An: A bear-looking guy said I cut down his tree and then he captured me!
An An: [Little yellow bird bursting into tears.jpg]
Wall: I’m coming now.
In their shared save file, only the six team members could access the world, meaning Xixizi must have encountered an NPC.
When He Yuan logged in, spawning where he last went offline, the others were already gathered—except for Xixizi.
[“Wall is here! He’s definitely here to rescue (or spectate)!”]
[“This game actually has a triggered plot, xswl.”]
[“Deforestation has consequences. Did Xixizi learn their lesson yet?”]
“Xixizi said they were captured?” He Yuan asked.
“Brother,” Xixizi’s mic was still connected, “I’m stuck in a small dark room. I can’t see anyone right now.”
Ye Miao inexplicably chuckled, clearly enjoying Xixizi’s misfortune.
“The hidden copy and NPC must’ve been triggered,” Ye Miao deduced, picking up a Type 98K. “It’s probably standard routine: complete the quest, unlock unexplored areas, and trade with the NPC.”
He Yuan checked the task log. Sure enough, there was a new hidden quest titled “Who Cut Down My Tree?” with the prompt: “Negotiate with me.”
The NPC’s name was alarmingly arrogant.
“Xixizi, do you know where you were taken?” Huahua Kindergarten asked.
“I have no idea! I was halfway through cutting a tree when he showed up. Next thing I know, I was thrown into a sack.” Xixizi sounded miserable. “Now it’s pitch black around me!”
[“The imagery, hahahahahaha!”]
[“Why does the NPC have a sack???”]
[“NPCs without sacks aren’t qualified kidnappers.”]
“Let’s find him first,” Big White Goose suggested. “He’s probably in one of the marginal areas we haven’t explored yet. Let’s head there.”
“An An,” He Yuan called, “What tree were you cutting?”
It felt strange to address Xixizi by his Penguin ID, but calling him like the others did felt even more awkward.
Xixizi took a moment to realize he was referring to him. “I was cutting red sandalwood. You know, the thin-stemmed ones with lots of leaves…”
“Got it,” He Yuan responded.
With no map available at their current development stage, players could only rely on memory and instinct to navigate. He Yuan led the group toward the red sandalwood area, a precious resource they’d left untouched.
As they reached the spot, there was no sign of the NPC.
“Where is he?” He Yuan grumbled, wielding a Type 98K. “Grandpa! Give me back my friend!”
[“Hahahahaha, every shot is pure comedy gold.”]
[#Grandpa! Give me back my monster!#]
[“NPCs don’t come out just because you shout, but the anchor’s energy is on point today.”]
He Yuan then swapped to his axe and struck a nearby red sandalwood tree without hesitation.
A few swings later, a bear-like man burst out of the woods, clutching an enormous sack.
“Someone cut down my tree again! Someone cut down my tree again!” the NPC bellowed. “I’m going to lock you all up!”
He Yuan barely dodged as the NPC charged toward him. Stowing his axe, he bolted, the rest of the group trailing after him in a chaotic escape.
After a while, the chopped sandalwood returned to its original state. “Grandpa” wasn’t a very smart NPC after all. He stood there helpless and furious for a while, then stomped back angrily with the sack.
“Follow me,” Wall said immediately, picking up a Type 98k.
[Scared me to death, sack trapping really left a shadow on my childhood.]
[My friend played this game, and it’s said that a whole team got sacked.]
The group quickly followed “Grandpa’s” trail, running deep into the woods. Soon, they stumbled upon a wooden house next to a spring, which was probably the NPC’s residence.
“This house isn’t even as good as Wall’s,” Huahua Kindergarten said.
Everyone approached cautiously, breaking into the house one by one. Inside, “Grandpa” sat fixedly on a chair.
Pick Up a 98K, as the captain, stepped forward to talk to the NPC.
“Grandpa” flipped the table next to him angrily and shouted, “Is it enough to just chop down my tree? If you want your friend back, send me a thousand blue tiles!”
“A thousand?” Xixizi gasped in shock, “Why don’t you go rob someone?”
[Hahaha, arguing with an NPC in a dark room is iconic.]
[Game routines are always so predictable (see through.jpg).]
[Blue tiles are hard to find. I was stuck in a dark room for a week before my teammates gathered enough.]
“If you don’t send blue tiles, Grandpa will make your friend stay here to wash clothes, cook, and even wash my feet!” the NPC yelled.
He Yuan imagined the scene: a little yellow bird working day and night with tears streaming down its face, only to get beaten even if it wasn’t full. It sounded miserable.
“If this game allowed fighting, I’d knock off his bear head,” Wall said, wielding his 98k.
“I remember there used to be blue tiles on the krypton gold ship, right?” said Big White Goose.
“I used them already,” Wall admitted.
Just two days ago, he’d built an old house in the Jiangnan style using blue tiles. Xixizi had cut down red sandalwood specifically because Wall mentioned wanting to build a pavilion.
Thinking back, Xixizi had been tirelessly gathering materials for him in the game, but Wall had never done anything in return.
“It’s okay; I don’t mind not having blue tiles,” Xixizi said cheerfully. “This game just wants to trick impatient people into spending money.”
[Xixizi is too real.]
[I fell into the spending trap too. I’m crying in the club.]
Wall exited “Grandpa’s” wooden house, walking back through the woods.
The others followed reluctantly. It wasn’t so much about saving their teammate—after all, it was just a game—but completing the plot would unlock new areas.
However, Wall didn’t stop at the edge of the woods. Instead, he walked straight to the old house he’d built and took out explosives.
“Wait a minute, Wall, are you serious?” Pick Up a 98K exclaimed. “How long will it take to rebuild that?”
Xixizi, overhearing this, panicked. “Brother, don’t worry about me! I can’t play much at school anyway. You guys can slowly gather materials, and if all else fails, I’ll spend money for another shipload of supplies…”
[Fuck fuck fuck, he’s really going to do it.]
[Why don’t I have such a godly teammate (555).]
[This feels like fairy love. Wall really cares about Xixizi (storm crying.jpg).]
“Brother, don’t blow it up,” Xixizi pleaded. “If you destroy it, how will I pay you back?”
After all, Wall had never accepted Xixizi’s money before.
[Promise yourself to him, young man!]
[You have nothing left to give but your heart.]
Xixizi’s panic was evident, and he even initiated a QQ voice call.
Building the old house had taken a lot of work, and the thought of destroying it was painful.
But Wall was resolute. He used explosives on the old house, triggering a game prompt.
[Prompt: Do you want to destroy the building and recycle the corresponding materials?]
Wall clicked “Yes”.
With a muffled explosion, the entire house collapsed, leaving behind a pile of blue tiles.
In Pick Up a 98K’s live broadcast room, the chat exploded with comments:
[He actually did it. This is insane.]
[Wall really loves Xixizi. This is some god-tier teammate behavior.]
Wall calmly gathered the blue tiles, then answered Xixizi’s QQ call. He didn’t speak right away, waiting for Xixizi to start.
“Brother,” Xixizi’s voice came through, trembling slightly, “Did you really blow it up?”
The explosion hadn’t been audible from Xixizi’s side, but the implication was clear.
“Yeah,” Wall replied, his voice steady. Then he added, “Don’t overthink it. I just want to be nice to you.”
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