Coriander Sauce stopped talking, and also turned her microphone off.

The rule of the game was that all teammates must be gathered in order to move forward. The vines could only imprison people, and didn’t cause any harm, so Coriander Sauce was rescued as well and moved forward with them.

He Chuzhou explained the gameplay to Pei Xi along the way. He led them out of the deep forest area, avoiding jailors, and they arrived at a swamp region.

Just when Pei Xi thought He Chuzhou was going to forgive and forget the faults of Coriander Sauce, he controlled the swordsman to move left and right, tricking a swamp monster into rushing straight toward him.

When he saw the swamp monster rushing right toward He Chuzhou’s face, Pei Xi thought he was stuck and hurriedly tried to pull him away.

Unexpectedly, He Chuzhou grasped his hand and, when the swamp monster was only half a foot away, took him quickly to the right.

As he dodged, the swamp monster continued forward under its own inertia and caused great disaster to Coriander Sauce, who was trying to climb into a blind spot.

The swamp had a suffocating effect. After being pushed into it by the monster, Coriander Sauce struggled to get out. A muddy bubble popped up, the health bar dropped to zero, and the name in the team panel turned gray, announcing the character’s death.

Pei Xi and Wu Qing both stared blankly.

“What the hell ? ! !”

Wu Qing was the first to react, clapping and whistling into the microphone: “So awesome, so flashy, so cool! Lao He, at this moment, I acknowledge you as god!”

“What use is your acknowledgement?”

He Chuzhou snorted: “Let’s go. There are still twenty minutes left in the game. If we delay any longer, we won’t make it.”

As they continued forward, Pei Xi asked if he hadn’t intended to bring Coriander Sauce through in the first place.

He Chuzhou: “Why would I bring her?”

Pei Xi: “Then why did you bring her all the way from the forest to the swamp?”

“I know this question!” 

Wu Qing snickered: “Did you see the four circles on the open ground when we passed the swamp just now? Those four circles require four people to step on them. Lao He used her as a tool!”

Pei Xi understood, but he had another doubt: “You got her friend killed. Why did she follow us instead of retreating?”

He Chuzhou: “I just checked their scores in Escaping Death, and they’re very high. They would get a reward if they won another game, but before this one, they had been on a losing streak.”

Wu Qing projected his voice and said: “No wonder they had such thick skin. I was just wondering why they managed to hold back from scolding you when you were being so rude.”

“They also cursed a lot.”

He Chuzhou asked Pei Xi to get on the single-plank bridge first, staying behind to hold it steady: “You should check out their homepage and see how many red X’s there are.”

In this game, a red X meant you had been banned once for disrupting the fairness of the game or verbally insulting other players.

Having been banned so many times, those people were clearly repeat offenders.

After leaving the swamp regions, they climbed along the vines to reach their destination. When He Chuzhou was halfway up, he kicked the two grayed-out avatars off the team.

Pei Xi: “ ? ”

He Chuzhou: “Corpses can’t speak. They didn’t quit, which means they were still watching the game.”

Wu Qing: “Hahahahahaha too cruel, Lao He! You let them see our victory and put an end to their thoughts of cussing us out at the end of the game! Feels great!”

After he figured out the logic, Pei Xi could only chuckle. He declined when He Chuzhou was about to queue up for the third time, saying: “Let’s stop here today.”

He Chuzhou: “So early?”

Pei Xi: “En. I have some work to deal with, so I’ll leave first.”

Before exiting, he had a sudden impulse and said goodbye to He Chuzou with a teasing tone and a hint of a smile: “Come back soon, Swordsman-gege.”

After saying this, his avatar went gray and his swordsman character vanished.

Wu Qing was focusing on the points collected. Pei Xi had long vanished when he heard He Chuzhou make an ambiguous tsk, somewhat regretful but even more over the moon.

Wu Qing: “Everyone’s gone. You didn’t have tolerance for anyone just now, so what’s with all this tsk tsk?”

He Chuzhou: “What do you mean?”

Wu Qing: “‘It sounds awful, ah.’ Isn’t that how you treat people who call you Swordsman-gege?”

He Chuzhou: “That’s for you and others. Xinxin’s voice is incredibly pleasant to listen to. Are your ears just for decoration?”

Wu Qing: “? ? ?”

Wu Qing hissed out a long breath and rubbed his chest vigorously: “Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. If I get sick from anger, nobody can replace me. I just wasn’t clear on my status, okay? What do you say, shall we continue?”

He Chuzhou: “No, I’m going to work.”

Wu Qing: “…..hello?”

He Chuzhou: “Didn’t you hear my wife tell me to come home early? Playing games all the time destroys one’s ambition and progress in life. Have fun by yourself.”

Wu Qing: “? ? ?”

Wu Qing: “Fuck you!”

*

*

The next morning, Pei Xi was awakened by a series of messages.

Xie Ling: [/link]

Xie Ling: [I just received this from a colleague. Why do these two people sound so much like you and He Chuzhou? Is it you guys?]

Xie Ling: [Taking advantage of a passerby to claim your teammate as your boyfriend, what a great move, ah. You sounded him out without a trace. Perfect.]

Xie Ling: [What was He Chuzhou’s reaction afterward?]

Xie Ling: [Honestly speaking, you guys have been posted all over Weibo, which can be considered a cyberbullying attack. Do you need legal assistance?]

After clicking the link, there was a blog post with an eye-catching title — <<818 Idiot passersby we met in the wild. Don’t get close to internet couples, or you’ll encounter tragedy!>>

The content detailed how the two bloggers joined a group and were maliciously deceived by a couple, as well as maliciously killed one after another, which resulted in the loss of a large amount of gameplay points.

At the end of the blog was a short video without any context, which showed how Doesn’t Eat Coriander was tricked into being killed by a jailor, how Coriander Sauce was killed by her teammates’ misbehavior, and the three of them discussing it triumphantly after their deaths.

The comments were full of condemnation, all of them one-sidedly defending the two corianders and scolding the other three players: 

[How disgusting, I can’t stand it!]

[I’m so angry that I pinched off a turd halfway through!]

[Backtabbing teammates, really? Can we report this, ah?]

[I also really hate gaming with couples! Conjoined twins are so annoying, you can’t enjoy the game at all!]

[I’ll say it again, all internet couples should die, okay? Don’t come out and bring disaster to others.]

[These video clips seem to be a little out of context. Can the blogger please post the entire video?]

[I feel the same way. And isn’t it a bit weird to say that they were tricked when they joined the group? Does this mean that as soon as people join, they have to shout that they’re a couple? Wouldn’t that be even weirder?]

[You mean to say I unjustly accused them?]

[Hasn’t the distinguished, rational guest seen the evidence?]

[The video and image records of the deaths are all here. I didn’t post the whole thing because it’s too long. My friend died very early on, and after that, I had my microphone shut off. Those parts aren’t worth watching at all.]

[No matter what, it’s wrong to backstab your teammates.]

[This is a team game, ah. No matter how you look at it, the swordsman’s behavior was excessive.]

[Can this account be banned? @ Game Official Blog]

[Wait, didn’t anyone notice? The IDs of these two swordsmen look really familiar to me.]

[Me too, to be honest.]

[I’m afraid I’ll misremember and accuse the wrong people.]

[Everyone, do you remember the phrase ‘Heavenly Gates?’]

[Or ‘A special title will be given after ten points?’]

The crowd was easily led to the rhythm, and even if there were one or two clear-headed people who occasionally came out and made sense, they were soon drowned out by the massive amounts of abuse.

But then, someone recognized the couple as the two humanoid NPCs who were giving out benefits to the entire Heavenly Gates area.

Thus, the comment section began to frantically tag the official Weibo account, asking for an explanation. If one clicked into the official blog at this time, they would find that the top comment section was flooded with players clamoring for a response.

The matter was a hot topic, but Pei Xi was uninterested.

He was only focused on one thing at the moment, which was that since he had been woken up by Xie Ling, he was in his right mind again today.

He felt irritated for some reason, and even the messages sent by Xie Ling, the instigator, were particularly unpleasant to him.

However, when he tidied up and left the room, then saw the empty kitchen and living room, his irritability disappeared in a flash.

Never mind. It was all the same.

He Chuzhou wasn’t home, so whether he was clear-headed or confused, he couldn’t get close to him anyway.

When Xie Ling didn’t receive a reply, he sent an emoticon asking if he was still asleep.

Pei Xi went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, and replied to him as he waited: 

Pei Xi: [I’m awake. I saw it.]

Pei Xi: [It was us, but the facts are different from what was written in that article.]

Xie Ling: [Got it. I couldn’t understand why you or him would do such unreasonable things. What are you going to do now?]

Pei Xi: [Don’t worry, it’s just a small matter. He Chuzhou will handle it.]

He put down his phone and changed the food and water for Xingxing and Yueliang, then took He Xingxing on a half-circle walk around the community.

When he got home, the house was still deserted, with only the kitten lying in wait on the armrest of the sofa.

He still wasn’t used to it.

He and He Chuzhou had been together for so long, and the other always arranged everything for him. Now that he was suddenly left alone, he wasn’t used to anything.

After a quick breakfast, he went to work in the study. When his eyes felt sore, he removed his glasses and looked sideways toward the green plants outside the window, his gaze lingering when he spied a cloud in the sky.

He withdrew his gaze only when He Chuzhou sent him a message.

When he clicked on it, he saw a photo of a doll in a shop window. The doll was wearing a black shirt and pants, its chin in its hand, gazing at the sky outside.

He Chuzhou: [/image]

He Chuzhou: [Look what I found, there’s a Xinxin locked behind the window!]

He Chuzhou: [/shocked little rabbit.jpg]

He Chuzhou: [Wait for me, Gege will rescue you and take you home. /sunglasses/sunglasses]

The doll did look a little like Pei Xi, but the childishness in He Chuzhou’s words was much more interesting.

Pei Xi chuckled as he read.

If he told him that he was currently in his right mind, he would be so alarmed that he’d instantly withdraw the messages. Would he make up an excuse to avoid being embarrassed, or simply pretend nothing had happened and change the subject?

He would enjoy either option.

However, he didn’t plan to tell him. Because if he did, there would be no way to justify himself…..

Pei Xi: [/image]

Pei Xi: [Look, this cloud looks like you.]

He Chuzhou: [ ? ]

He Chuzhou: [Where does it look like me, ah? Doesn’t it look like a chick pecking rice?]

Pei Xi: [It’s the same.]

Pei Xi: [/image. This one is also similar.]

He Chuzhou: [? ? ?]

Pei Xi: [The scones in the cupboard look like you too.]

Pei Xi: [ And the little pig decoration on the table..]

Pei Xi: [And He Xingxing when he hasn’t woken up in the morning.]

He Chuzhou: [? ? ? ? ?]

He Chuzhou: [Are you insulting me……]

He Chuzhou: [/little rabbit feels wronged.jpg]

Pei Xi couldn’t help but laugh: [I’m not insulting you.]

Pei Xi: [I just miss you very much.]

Pei Xi: [Everything I see makes me miss you.]

In another country at the same longitude.

Yun Ji was speaking in an orderly manner about the inspection plan after entering the fully-automated machinery factory, when a certain person who had been leisurely admiring the window merchandize suddenly picked up his pace.

Yun Ji: “? ? ?”

Yun Ji: “What are you doing? Are you suddenly being chased by a ghost?”

He Chuzhou: “Hurry up, don’t drag your feet. Let’s sign the contract early and go home early.”

Yun Ji: “It can’t be signed today no matter how fast you go, ah. They haven’t even done the presentation yet!”

Yun Ji: “Hey, wait for me!”

*

*

He had some free time in the afternoon, so Pei Xi made a special trip to the neighboring city to visit his grandfather.

The old man had been discharged from the hospital, but the temperature had dropped recently and he had a constant cough. He couldn’t withstand the wind, so he had been resting in bed at home.

Seeing that it was only him, Shen Congfeng asked: “Xiao He didn’t come with you?”

Pei Xi helped him sit up, piled pillows against the backrest, and took a seat next to the bed: “He’s on a business trip abroad.”

Shen Confeng nodded, and habitually began to ask Pei Xi about his recent situation. He thought of something at the end, and hesitated briefly before deciding to speak: “Xinxin, your mother called me yesterday and said that she might come back during the New Year.”

Seeing that Pei Xi didn’t have any special reaction upon hearing this, he paused for a moment, then asked: “When the time comes, would you like to see her?”

“No need.”

Pei Xi peeled a pear in one go, pulling the light green skin off thinly and evenly: “There wouldn’t be much to talk about if we met, so it’s best not to waste our time.”

Shen Congfeng: “You still blame her, don’t you?”

Pei Xi calmly shook his head: “She was so young back then. She had the right to pursue the life she wanted. I understand her, but I have no feelings for her, and seeing each other would just be awkward.”

Shen Congfeng sighed upon hearing the words “no feelings.” He didn’t attempt to persuade him further, but just lamented: “Time flies by so fast. I keep feeling like you should be the little kid who stood on a stool and asked me to hold you, but you’ve actually grown up so much.”

Pei Xi nodded. But as he cut the pear into slices, he thought of the events of that morning and couldn’t help but smile: “Sometimes time goes by very slowly.”

Shen Congfeng knew him the best, and rarely saw him show emotion in such a way. He felt it was novel, but then he recalled the previous conversation and came to a realization: “You’re missing Xiao He?”

Unexpectedly, Pei Xi didn’t deny it. 

Shen Congfeng asked again: “If you’re not busy with work, why didn’t you go with him?”

Pei Xi: “I can’t disturb him just because I’m not busy.”

Shen Congfeng: “Would it really bother him?”

Pei Xi: “No.”

Whether he was in his right mind or not, he wouldn’t disturb He Chuzhou while he was working.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Shen Congfeng smile at Pei Xi, who was very different from before: “Grandpa was always afraid you’d be resistant to starting a family because of your parents. I wouldn’t urge to you to start a family, but I was always worried you would be alone.”

“It’s all good now. Seeing that Xinxin has someone by his side, Grandpa’s old bones can rest assured.”

“If you miss him, just go find him. It’s better to see him rather than constantly miss him, isn’t it? You’re like Grandpa now, an old man all alone, thinking of your grandma but not able to see her.”

Pei Xi’s heart moved, and his actions paused.

Indeed, since he was sure He Chuzuhou wouldn’t be bothered, why not go to him?

Why wrong himself by keeping a distance between them? 

Besides, he would also want Pei Xi to come, wouldn’t he?

As for the excuse……

He didn’t need an excuse.

As long as he got some sleep on the plane and made a phone call when he landed, He Chuzhou would make up all of the excuses for him.

At midnight, an international flight took off from Wancheng Airport and flew north over the brightly-lit city.

After takeoff, the broadcast said that flight mode could be turned off again. Pei Xi opened his phone and clicked on the link Xie Ling had sent him that morning.

Unexpectedly, after just one day, the comments had done an about-face. All of the IDs that were originally condemning He Chuzhou had switched sides and were now Cursing Coriander Sauce and Doesn’t Eat Coriander:

[God, don’t you two have any shame? You took things out of context and used them to smear others. Now you’ve run out of luck and kicked an iron plate!]

[What kind of people play together like this? You two corianders are something else.]

[Cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap!]

[This sissy gay dude Doesn’t Eat Coriander harassed innocent players. Didn’t he deserve to die? If it were me, I would have backstabbed him too. I would take out my 40-meter sword and give him 4,800 cuts!]

[He really is two-faced. He was so arrogant when he joined the group, but his attitude changed drastically when he heard that the guy had a nice voice. Did he turn into a fool after hearing it?]

[These two corianders are on my blacklist. You can tell how notorious they are by looking at the red X’s on their homepages. They have foul mouths and are well-known verbal abusers.]

[Fortunately we found out about them before they changed their names. I’m really shocked by their low quality. How can people like this have the nerve to accuse others? Most importantly, some people believed it.]

[The game has come out to claim them. The couple is officially recognized. You two and your foul language are done for.]

[Just wait for your accounts to be blocked! This game is better off without you.]

[Hm? You were rather active in the comment section before. Why did you suddenly stop talking? Are you worried about something?]

Officially recognized?

Pei Xi doubtfully clicked into the official blog. Only then did he realize that the pinned video had changed from a new promotional video to a full-screen recording of their game that night.

The video was 48 minutes long in total, from the time the two corianders joined the group to the moment they were kicked off the team by He Chuzhou, as well as the brief conversation between the three people afterward. Everything was there, and there was no need to explain who was right and who was wrong.

Not only that, but the official blog also stated that they were indeed the two NPCs who had distributed benefits before. Due to receiving many backend reports that some players were maliciously insulting others and polluting the internal environment of the game, they had sent several GMs out to investigate.

It also claimed that after today, accounts with more than ten red X’s would be permanently banned, and asked people to please be civilized in their words and gameplay, and work together to create a harmonious and friendly gaming atmosphere.

Coincidentally, the number of red X’s for both Coriander Sauce and Doesn’t Eat Coriander were just over ten.

The comments under this microblog were divided in three directions. The first was scolding the two corianders, the second was apologizing to He Chuzhou and Pei Xi, and the third was exclaiming over how cute the two GMs were.

But Pei Xi felt nothing after reading them, just as he had felt nothing about the insults that morning.

Those on the internet who went with the flow and had no opinions of their own were not worthy of his attention or his forgiveness.

What he was more concerned about was the comment that said He Group’s CEO had reblogged this post.

He tried searching for it, and there it was.

He just wasn’t sure if the manager behind his Weibo account was He Chuzhou himself. After all, looking through the content, most of it was forwarded financial information and real-time news.

If he didn’t know He Chuzhou, he would definitely have thought that the CEO of He Group was a middle-aged man over forty.

In the sparse comment area, someone had asked if he was NPC 001 himself, but the commenter deleted it themselves not long after.

They probably had the same idea as him, thinking that it was impossible for an old man to play games or have such a nice-sounding voice.

They had inexplicably become permanent NPCs in the game, which was a truly fresh experience.

Pei Xi exited Weibo and put down his phone, glancing sideways at the scenery outside the window. The clouds blocked his view from above, but he could see numerous stars in the sky.

As the plane descended through a small cloud bank, he gathered up the blanket around his knees, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

Nine hours later, the plane landed at a foreign airport at 9:28 a.m. local time.

Pei Xi stood at the lane where taxis gathered outside the airport, suitcase in tow, with a look of stupefaction on his face.

Why…..?

How could this have happened?

He was certain he had woken up naturally, so why wasn’t he brain-addled?

He remained outside the airport until half of the taxis were gone. When he accepted reality at last, he closed his eyes and let out a long breath, as if having come to some kind of decision.

Opening his eyes again, he dialed He Chuzhou’s number. Before the other party could say anything, he spoke a crisp: “Gege…..”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

He couldn’t help the way the tip of his tongue quivered.

Pei-calico’s tone was really hard to imitate when he was in his right mind, and…..it put a lot of psychological pressure on him.

But now that it had come to this point, he couldn’t turn back.

After a brief pause, he took a deep breath, suppressed his shame, and continued to say the rest with a sticky intonation: “I’m in your city at the airport. Where are you, ah?”

---

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Chapter 57 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 59