The strategist told him the beautiful woman definitely liked him and that he could confess without hesitation. But as soon as he confessed, the beautiful woman vanished on the spot.
Aside from cursing Bei Sining as an idiot to the cat, he couldn't do much else; only Bai Shuang could withstand his anger.
There are an unusually large number of people in the underground fighting arena today.
Bai Shuang was still the same as always, lounging lazily on the sofa, her long legs propped up on the armrest, looking extremely comfortable.
Wen Zheng walked a few steps to the other side, raised his leg and shoved the coffee table forward, hitting the edge of the sofa where Bai Shuang was sitting, blocking the way for someone on the sofa to get down.
Bai Shuang: "…………"
"Are you in a bad mood?" Bai Shuang wriggled like a worm as she climbed down from the armrest, then slowly moved the coffee table back to its original position and sat down. "What's bothering you? Tell your brother."
"Deng Puyue and you've made up?" Wen Zheng deliberately retorted, but Bai Shuang didn't seem to care. "What are you talking about? Did we ever break up?"
They didn't break up, but they're definitely in a cold war. But judging from Bai Shuang's behavior, it doesn't seem like she's just bragging.
Bai Shuang waved for a waiter to bring her a drink, and the moment the door opened, a burst of cheers erupted outside.
"It's started?" Wen Zheng asked casually. Bai Shuang thought he wanted to watch the game, so she had someone open the viewing platform in the private room.
A heatwave hit, and the spotlights outside were blinding, causing Wen Zheng to tear up instantly.
“He’s a newcomer, a self-taught fighter,” Bai Shuang explained. “He’s got a lot of fighting skills and good results. He’s a rising star in the shop and has the potential to dethrone the mysterious [Mask A].”
He laughed again: "Let's do an interview. What are your thoughts?"
Wen Zheng watched two rounds and thought that the guy was indeed wild, but he couldn't compare to the trained players. Even Bai Shuang could take down that kid in less than a minute.
But Wen Zheng did not lose interest quickly; instead, he frowned slightly.
Bai Shuang: "Hmm? Why aren't you going down? Shouldn't Mask A, who's been wiping out the arrogant newcomer, be immediately given a battle to solidify his position in the martial arts world?"
“…He looks familiar.” Wen Zheng paused. “I think I know him.”
At this distance, Wen Zheng couldn't see the person's face clearly, and the person was also wearing a prop to conceal their face, but for some reason, Wen Zheng thought of someone.
Although it was unbelievable, his physique revealed a great deal. The newcomer was short and thin, yet he possessed a ferocious, almost reckless, fighting spirit. Wen Zheng watched for a while longer, then said, "I'll go downstairs for a bit."
Bai Shuang: "Hmm? I'll call the manager."
"If you don't beat me today, don't say I was here." Wen Zheng took two steps forward, temporarily setting aside his plan to beat Bai Shuang against the wall, and went to the second-floor corridor.
This is the only way to the backstage dressing room.
The loser on the field usually takes a different route to the infirmary, separating from the winner and avoiding further conflict. Over time, this route has become a common sight, with a lone figure appearing after the game.
Wen Zhengshun was wearing a baseball cap and leaning against the wall, his face obscured in the dim and lonely corridor.
A moment later, slow footsteps could be heard.
The newcomer had removed the simple covering around his eyes, revealing a head of fluffy, soft hair. His loose t-shirt was soaked with sweat and clung to his body, revealing lean and powerful muscles with bruises and abrasions. He was carrying a water bottle in his hand.
He had been here more than once and knew very well that there would be no one in this corridor, but the figure in front of him seemed to be deliberately waiting for him here.
"Get out of the way."
The aftershocks of the fight had not yet faded; his voice was hoarse, his momentum undiminished, and he seemed eager to try again—as if he could find a reason to fight again if the other party really came looking for trouble.
Wen Zheng didn't speak. His eyes, hidden under the brim of his hat, caught sight of someone who was both strange and familiar. At that moment, he suddenly understood the sense of incongruity.
"Yu Jin?" Wen Zheng called out.
When Yu Jin saw the face of the person who had come into view, his pupils contracted, and he was truly stunned.
He was undoubtedly very nervous; large drops of sweat seeped out and dripped down his face.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he subconsciously raised his free hand, pressing his thumb against his throat.
This was a very strange action. Wen Zheng frowned, straightened up, and was about to warn of the danger when the other party quickly lowered his hand, as if the two seconds that had just passed were just an illusion.
Yu Jin seemed to have finally calmed down from the shock. Water was still dripping from the tips of his hair. He looked like a punctured balloon, half-empty, which combined to create a strange and wonderful aura.
He gave an awkward laugh: "What a coincidence." After thinking for a moment, he added: "I'm sorry."
It is a person's own business what kind of mask they choose to wear in public, but "Yu Jin, the person who was rescued," has indeed let Wen Zheng down.
Wen Zheng didn't say anything else, only asking, "Did you do that on purpose that day?"
Yu Jin's gaze shifted slightly, but he answered quickly, "I've always been like this."
When Wen Zheng first met Yu Jin, the man was being bullied at Lecheng Amusement Park, being kicked and trampled on the ground. Wen Zheng couldn't understand why someone with such fighting prowess would be willing to suffer a loss, but it was his own choice.
Wen Zheng got to know him through that "rescue" incident. There was only one thing that mattered to Wen Zheng—was Yu Jin deliberately getting close to him?
However, since the other party denied it, he had no interest in pursuing the matter further.
"That's good."
After saying that, Wen Zheng withdrew his hand and turned to leave, but was stopped by someone behind him.
"Wen Zheng." Yu Jin, carrying the water bottle in both hands, returned to his usual well-behaved and shy demeanor and said in a low voice, "What a coincidence today. May I treat you to dinner?"
Wen Zheng grunted, "Next time, you can treat your injury."
After he finished speaking and walked a short distance away, he heard footsteps following closely behind him.
Wen Zheng began to lose control of his agitation and abruptly turned around: "Am I supposed to thank you in return?"
Yu Jin was startled, his face paled, and he gave an awkward smile before handing over something: "...I'm sorry, I just wanted to say that you dropped something in your pocket."
It was Wen Zheng's ever-present notebook, the first half of which contained Liu's grocery money, and the second half contained his messy passwords.
Wen Zheng reached out and took it, and then heard Yu Jin say again, "I'm sorry."
***
After getting a cat, Wen Zheng never came home too late again. He sent Bai Shuang a message and headed straight home.
Wrapped in a scarf, I walked along the street, watching the streaks of light from passing cars.
In this era of driverless cars, the significance of car lights is questioned year after year.
Two hundred years ago, it was said that there were millions of traffic accidents every year, but now, there are no more than ten a year. However, the driver's seat is still there, and in case of system failure, humans have the right to drive in an emergency; for this reason, the headlights have been retained.
Looking down from a high vantage point, the bustling traffic and the past seem no different from what one would expect from a distant past.
But what about two hundred years from now?
Wen Zheng breathed in the crisp air, his thoughts drifting aimlessly. After watching the night view of Rongcheng for half an hour, he walked home.
Bei Sining still hasn't replied to his message today, nor has she logged into the game.
The next day, Xiaobailing's mother contacted Wen Zheng through a private message on the cat-themed live stream.
Since he had already agreed, Wen Zheng didn't refuse. It was just a matter of playing a game with the little girl, nothing more.
The other party was very attentive, but their words were full of demands. One moment they wanted to broadcast live in Xiao Bailing's live stream room at the same time, and the next they wanted to avoid scaring the child and not to do everything for her, but to give Xiao Bailing a chance to speak, and so on.
Wen Zheng nodded and agreed to everything, then made a phone call to Yanghe.
"Little Nightingale?" Yanghe asked, puzzled. "Isn't that the lead child singer? Why are you asking about her?" Then he added, "Huh??? You want to have her stream games with you!?"
After hearing the whole story, Yanghe clicked his tongue in amazement: "Why didn't you include me? You're at the peak of your career, this exposure opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I don't think her parents' motives are so pure. To get to this level, you must be a master of marketing."
Yanghe gave Wen Zheng a briefing on Xiaobailing's marketing strategy.
She started out on karaoke apps, then appeared on various entertainment programs, and really became famous after joining a children's choir as the lead singer and participating in a music variety show.
The entertainment program was completely outside Wen Zheng's knowledge; he didn't recognize a single word from beginning to end. He listened to it in a haphazard way and came to a conclusion.
"If he doesn't take good care of the child, his parents will be in a lot of trouble."
Yanghe, his throat dry from talking, replied: "...Yes."
Wen Zheng regretted hanging up the phone for three seconds and decided to listen to his "Don't get angry" message eight hundred times before the live broadcast that day, so that he could become a good dad.
Fortunately, only the child was in the game, so Wen Zheng would probably not have to deal directly with her parents again, which put her mind at ease.
Following the link provided by Yanghe, Wen Zheng clicked on several of Xiaobailing's famous videos.
The first one was an excerpt from the lead singer of her choir. When the melodious children's voices came from the speakers, even Wen Zheng, who has no artistic talent, felt a tingling sensation.
A pure, divinely bestowed voice, singing an ancient song; the first verse was sung entirely by Little Nightingale alone.
Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient road, fragrant grasses stretch to the horizon.
The music evolved into a scene, and combined with the stage effects, the unparalleled shock that struck him when the chorus began truly struck him.
There's no such thing as sudden fame. With some effort, it's not hard to understand why Little Nightingale has so many fans.
On the night they agreed to meet, Chengmei and Deng Puyue both went online early.
Chengmei changed into a pink princess dress today, which was more revealing than the previous Western fantasy female warrior style dress with a breastplate. Her two chubby legs would definitely be irresistible to any loli-loving otaku.
Wen Zheng was still dressed in black clothes and pants. After a moment of silence, he said, "You're becoming more and more unrestrained."
"Hehe!" Chengmei said happily, "Aren't we going to be on TV today? Dress nicely!"
Deng Puyue also changed into a new outfit from the mall and looked at Wen Zheng: "Wearing the same outfit for ages, never even pinching each other's cheeks, even straight men these days don't do that anymore."
Wen Zheng: "Shut up."
As soon as I turned on the live stream, a barrage of comments flooded in.
-may god! ? ? ? ? ?
-May, is this outfit a sign of your wedding? Will you marry me?
-It's that time of year again when we question May's gender...
-Ahhh! I saw on Weibo that Zheng Ge is going to play with Xiao Bailing!!!
- Little Nightingale is here today! Holy crap, what kind of crossover collaboration is this? I'm blown away! My beloved Little Nightingale, my little angel, how could her family allow their child to play such a terrifying game?!
...Horror games my ass! We're a "mystery puzzle game"! And the kids mode automatically blurs things like bloodstains. I think there's a rating system, so parents can turn it on.
-...the first time I knew
- I want to know what the world looks like through the eyes of children. If it were a Western fantasy story, how would a potted vampire vine be censored?
-Sunflower Bar
-？？？？
-I'm starting to feel more open-minded...
After a while, a large number of new users suddenly flooded in, and judging from their wording, they were all fans of Xiaobailing.