Love Has Fireworks

Jun Cheng had acquired a set of legendary gear in the game that awed the entire server, only for the black-hearted Li Yifei to thoughtlessly give it all away to some random player in the game.

Heartbroken, Jun Cheng barely managed to catch the recipient's in-game name: "HalfNightOnAName."

He swore to cut all ties with that despicable Li Yifei for ten thousand years.

That gear set had cost him all his phone credit and was his absolute pride and joy. Unable to let it go, he tried every means to contact HalfNightOnAName, hoping to reason with them and appeal to their emotions to get his gear back.

But the other party proved to be a tough nut to crack, sternly telling him: "A person must have principles. For example, what's given cannot be taken back, and what's taken cannot be given back."

When he asked what the hell that meant, they explained: "Once you give something to someone, out of moral obligation, you can't ask for it back—that would make you shameless. And even if you decide to be shameless and demand it back, the recipient has no obligation to return it."

Jun Cheng was floored. He thought he was already shameless enough, but here was someone who took it to another level.

The other's self-righteous attitude made him sick to the point of internal bleeding. He couldn't help but recall that famous gaokao fill-in-the-blank quote: "Water too clear breeds no fish; a person too shameless is invincible."

Since direct demands didn’t work, he decided to try a different approach.

Like playing the pity card.

He typed furiously, pleading with HalfNight: "Bro, you have no idea—I sold everything and even mortgaged my house for that gear! If my mom finds out, not only will she disown me, she’ll kick me out without even leaving me a pair of underwear! She’s that ruthless! I’m practically homeless now. If you don’t return my gear, isn’t that just inhumane?"

HalfNight quickly replied with a line of text: "If—and I mean if—what you’re saying is true, then you really are pitiful. But your parents having a wastrel like you makes them even more pitiable. That said, no matter how pitiful you are, we’re strangers. I don’t owe you any humanity."

Jun Cheng wanted to cry. The other party wasn’t just thick-skinned and shameless—they were utterly impervious.

He checked HalfNight’s in-game level and smirked coldly. With stats that low, how dare they cling to his top-tier gear? It was laughable! At their current level, they’d need to grind another seventy or eighty levels just to barely use that equipment.

After some thought, he decided to switch tactics again.

He typed: "Dear Brother HalfNight, let me be straight with you—at your level, my gear is useless to you anyway. How about this: return my gear, and I’ll power-level you. Deal?"

On the screen, HalfNight paused for a moment before replying: "Fine, since you’re so pitiful and I’m not unreasonable. Here’s the deal: you power-level me. For every ten levels I gain, I’ll return one piece of your gear."Jun Cheng was filled with reluctance as he hurled every Beijing-style curse he knew at the faceless scoundrel on his computer screen. Yet his fingers typed out an entirely different message, dripping with sycophantic flattery: "No problem at all! Then it's settled, bro! Whoever backs out is doomed to never find a wife! Ah, bro, you've finally given me some breathing room—just a glimmer of hope to keep living. Thanks a ton!"

On the screen, the username "Broken Name" slowly replied with three words: "No problem." A few seconds later, three more words popped up: "Fate, huh?"

Jun Cheng felt blood rush to his throat.

Eyes red, he yelled at the screen, "Fate your sister! I'm gritting my teeth and saying one thing while meaning another, and you have the nerve to play along shamelessly! Just wait till I get my gear back—I'll hack you to half-death every single day! Want to level up? Pfft, maybe in your next life!"

For the sake of his gear, Jun Cheng had no choice but to suppress his dwindling patience and selflessness to level up with Broken Name, who had spent half the night thinking of a username.

At first, he assumed the low-level character must belong to some greenhorn who had just started gaming, and that guiding him would be a pain. But to his surprise, Broken Name wasn’t just talented at swiping others' gear—he was also a natural at gaming.

In just one-third of the time Jun Cheng had anticipated, he helped Broken Name level up ten times.

On the day they hit the tenth level, Jun Cheng was ecstatic—he could finally reclaim one of his precious treasures.

He was brimming with anticipation, imagining his peerlessly beautiful armor restored to his dashing, heroic frame.

But reality was cruel. The first piece Broken Name returned wasn’t his magnificent armor—it was a boot.

And only one boot at that.

Jun Cheng stared at the half-pair of boots and nearly cried.

"Bro, is this how you play? At least give me a pair! Who the hell returns boots one at a time?!" he typed furiously.

The reply was a single, ice-cold word: "Me."

Jun Cheng: "That’s just unfair!"

Broken Name: "Ten more levels, and I’ll return the other one."

Jun Cheng hammered the keyboard harder: "Damn it! Never met a guy as petty as you!"

Broken Name: "With that attitude, do you really expect me to return your gear?"

Jun Cheng gnashed his teeth and shook his fists at the screen.

You little brat! Just wait till I get all my gear back—I’ll slaughter you a thousand times a day! Want to level up? Dream on!

For the sake of the other half of the boot—and the rest of his beloved gear—Jun Cheng had no choice but to suppress his temper and keep leveling up with Broken Name.

Broken Name was diligent, leveling up at an astonishing speed. At times, Jun Cheng even thought the kid had real talent and potential in gaming. He wrestled with the idea of putting aside their grudge and properly mentoring him. Once trained, he wouldn’t have to beg that bastard Li Yifei to help him in group battles anymore.

But Broken Name’s obsession with gaming was almost excessive—even more fanatical than Jun Cheng had been when he first started. It made him wonder about the kid’s motives.

He asked Broken Name, "Why are you so obsessed with gaming? Does your family know you’re skipping meals and sleep for this?"

Broken Name shot back, "What about you? Why do you do it?"Jun Cheng remained completely unaware that the direction of his question had been altered and answered earnestly, "Because of passion!"

Po Ming paused before replying, "I'm the exact opposite of you. It's because of hatred."

His answer left Jun Cheng utterly baffled, despite mustering all his intelligence.

"Why hatred? If you hate it, why are you so enthusiastic about playing? Are you schizophrenic?"

Po Ming fell silent again.

After some thought, Jun Cheng asked another question, "Then why are you working so hard? What's the point?"

This time, Po Ming didn’t hold back and quickly gave an answer—one that made Jun Cheng spit out his drink in shock.

"To defeat Mo Gaofeng."

Who was Mo Gaofeng? He was the top-ranked player in the entire server.

Jun Cheng typed, "Kid, your ambition is truly grand, hahaha! But of course, having a dream is good—it shows you're motivated. However, kid, let me give you some heartfelt advice: you can't be unrealistic!"

Once he started lecturing, he couldn’t stop. After a pause and shaking his fingers, he continued typing furiously, "Like when I was a kid, I wanted to be the U.S. president. But no matter how beautiful that dream was, it was impossible. Do you know why?"

Po Ming replied, "Probably because you should’ve taken some risperidone and olanzapine, but you didn’t."

Jun Cheng stared at the two suspicious drug names, full of questions. "What the hell are those? Doesn’t matter, though—that’s not the right answer. Guess again."

Po Ming: "Because you're not American."

Jun Cheng: "Nationality? That’s nothing for me! I could become a U.S. citizen in a snap if I wanted! Guess again!"

Po Ming: "Can’t guess. Not playing anymore. I’m going to do quests."

Jun Cheng grew impatient. He’d never met such an incurious brat. No way was he letting the kid leave like this—if he didn’t share the answer today, he’d burst from frustration.

"Wait, wait! Hear the answer first before you go! The reason I didn’t become U.S. president is that when I grew up, I stopped being naive and became wise and patriotic. Think about it—why would a Chinese guy go to America to be president? Even if I wanted to fulfill grand ambitions of governing, I’d aim to be the chairman of our own country!"

Po Ming sent a long string of ellipses, then said, "Bro, your thinking is seriously split. I really think you should get some risperidone and olanzapine. It’d be good for you—and your family."

Jun Cheng stared at the two complicated terms and asked, "What the hell are those things you mentioned?"

Po Ming ignored him, so Jun Cheng looked them up on Baidu—only to discover they were well-known medications for schizophrenia.

Furious, he hammered the keyboard.

"You little brat, get back here! How do you even know these drug names? And what about me seems schizophrenic?!"

He copy-pasted the same message repeatedly, spamming the chat until Po Ming finally responded.

"Look at how hysterical you are right now—doesn’t that count as schizophrenia?!" Po Ming typed back. "Since you’re so excitedly worshipping me, I’ll reluctantly tell you how I know."This time, it took a while before Broken Name sent another message.

"Because sometimes, I feel so sad that I think I need them."

Jun Cheng stared at the words on the screen, suddenly at a loss for what to say.

After Broken Name returned another boot, two wrist guards, and a pair of combat shorts, the entire server once again entered the grand and glorious moment of collective brawling and city sieges.

Jun Cheng's guild ranked second on the server, while the top spot was unquestionably held by Mo Gaofeng's guild.

Both guilds would be participating in this siege.

Jun Cheng asked Broken Name, "Never seen a scene this big before, have you?"

Broken Name was unimpressed: "How big could it possibly be?"

Jun Cheng lectured him: "Today's siege will have Mo Gaofeng and his wife Bai Mei participating, plus me—all the top-ranked players on the server are coming. Isn't that big enough?"

Broken Name: "How is Mo Gaofeng's wife ranked first?"

Jun Cheng: "She's known as the most beautiful player on the entire server!"

Broken Name: "Have you seen her?"

Jun Cheng: "No, but that's what people who have seen her say."

Broken Name: "Heh."

Broken Name: "And how exactly are you ranked first on the server?"

Jun Cheng: "My gear dominates the entire server!"

Broken Name: "Heh, most of your gear is with me now."

Jun Cheng grabbed his keyboard, ready to smash it, but then remembered its excellent performance. Getting a replacement would require ordering from overseas, which would take days. So he took three deep breaths and gently set the keyboard back down.

After all, he was one of the top-ranked players on the server—he shouldn't stoop to the level of some noob account.

He decided to educate this grassroots player about what it meant to be server-first.

Jun Cheng: "Since you're aiming to surpass Mo Gaofeng, do you know much about him and his in-game wife?"

Broken Name: "Heh, why should I? All I need is to defeat them. Besides, Bai Mei isn't anything special—just high-level with weak combat skills. Her reputation on the server only exists because Mo Gaofeng's account protects her. Without him, I could kill her in seconds."

Jun Cheng thought this grassroots player really didn't understand chivalry—what kind of man showed such violent tendencies toward a girl? And his boasting was completely shameless.

Jun Cheng: "Youth truly knows no bounds. Let me give you some golden advice: tone down the arrogance before you get smacked down. You're new and your account is weak—you probably don't fully understand these two accounts. Let me tell you, they were once involved in a massive, dramatic love triangle with another player named Tang Hai!"

After a long pause, Broken Name replied with a single word: "Oh?"

Jun Cheng automatically imagined this word spoken with a skeptical, rising tone, which fueled his enthusiasm as he typed: "Back then, besides Mo Gaofeng, there was another top player named Tang Hai who also liked Bai Mei. But he couldn't defeat Mo Gaofeng, so Mo Gaofeng married Bai Mei. After that sensational server-wide wedding, Tang Hai's account never appeared again."

After another long pause, Broken Name replied with three short words: "Is that so."The Military Minister watched his lackluster response and felt rather disappointed. He thought the person on the other end of the computer was truly pitiful—they hadn’t even mastered the essential skill of gossiping with enthusiasm. Someone who didn’t know how to gossip with others would never have friends! And a person without friends—tsk tsk, how utterly pathetic, how utterly pathetic.

After some thought, he typed: "Look, how about you return my gear first? You should know I’m the backbone of our guild. Even though I’ve given up on taking down Mo Gaofeng, if I were fully equipped and willing to burn some cash, I might actually stand a chance against Bai Mei for a while. But with my current gear—two boots, two bracers, and one combat underwear—let’s not even bother imagining our guild putting up a fight. The outcome would be a guaranteed loss, no doubt about it! Speaking of that freak Mo Gaofeng, only my despicable childhood friend can handle him. But I’ve already made up my mind to cut ties with him, so this time, I’m determined to rewrite this cursed fate with my own two hands!"

After a pause, Po Ming replied: "Don’t overthink it. Even if I returned all your gear, you still wouldn’t stand a chance. Your skills are trash. Returning your underwear so you can at least protect your vitals in battle is already more than generous. You should learn to be content, to be grateful, and not shamelessly push your luck by asking for more. With such audacity, your mother would be ashamed of you."

The Military Minister stared at the screen, furious.

"You little brat, are you rebelling against me?! Do you still want to level up following behind me?"

During the guild wars, Mo Gaofeng kept spamming an ultimate move—one that wiped out entire crowds in an instant.

The execution of that move was incredibly complex. So far, aside from him, the Military Minister hadn’t seen a single other player in the entire server who could pull it off.

Their guild was getting utterly crushed. Just as defeat seemed inevitable, Po Ming sent the Military Minister a message: "Get on YY."

The Military Minister was baffled. No matter how much he had threatened or bribed this kid before, they had never agreed to join YY. Today, they were being unusually proactive. He figured this grassroots player must have been awestruck by the unprecedented scale of the battle and wanted to vent their feelings directly over voice chat.

He logged into YY and found the room number Po Ming had sent him.

The moment he heard Po Ming speak, he was utterly shocked.

This person was actually a girl.

The Military Minister thought Po Ming’s voice was quite pleasant. But what she said next left him completely bewildered.

"Grand Chancellor," Po Ming called out, using his in-game name, "I’ll return your armor later."

The Military Minister interrupted, "It’s a breastplate, thank you very much!"

Po Ming: "Fine, breastplate. Honestly, with our backs against the wall, why bother nitpicking over details?"

The Military Minister felt like flipping a table.

Ignoring him, Po Ming continued, "Once I return your breastplate, along with your bracers, your character stats, your level, and the gold ingots in your storage, you’ll be able to use Mo Gaofeng’s ultimate move."

The Military Minister froze for several seconds, incredulous. "Wait, what? I don’t think I heard that right! I can use Mo Gaofeng’s ultimate move? Are you kidding me?!"Po Ming calmly told him again, "You really can unleash Mo Gaofeng's ultimate move, but each time you use it, it requires a batch of gold ingots. In other words, you'll need to burn some money if you want to pull it off."

Jun Cheng still didn't believe it. Po Ming's tone suddenly shifted, growing impatient. "Stop dawdling! Let me guide you!"

She abruptly exuded an air of dominance, and for some inexplicable reason, Jun Cheng found himself following her instructions.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he, the top-geared player dominating the entire server, would one day take orders from a grassroots alt account—whose actual user was a woman, no less.

And what shocked him even more was that, aside from Mo Gaofeng, he, Jun Cheng, had unleashed that legendary ultimate move! Sure, Mo Gaofeng relied on skill, while he relied on burning money, but he had still managed to stun the entire server.

In the battles that followed, he became an even more dazzling figure than Mo Gaofeng.

Players flooded the system chat with their astonishment: "How does that Grand Chancellor know Mo Gaofeng's ultimate move?!"

Jun Cheng couldn't help but burst into maniacal laughter over the mic.

But he forgot an old saying passed down by the wise elders of ancient times: "Extreme joy begets sorrow."

His arrogance led to a misstep in his commands, and his final ultimate move failed to activate.

Then, he was spectacularly obliterated by Mo Gaofeng.

And just like that, their guild suffered a crushing defeat.

Through his headphones, he heard a loud thud , as if someone had fallen off their chair.

The siege event concluded with Mo Gaofeng's victory. All the gold ingots in Jun Cheng's warehouse had been burned up to fuel his ultimate moves. Though he was now penniless, his heart soared with exhilaration.

Because—

"I'm now the only person on the entire server who can rival Mo Gaofeng! Wahahahahahaha!"

Overnight, he became the talk of the game, overshadowing even Mo Gaofeng in popularity.

Minimizing the game window, Jun Cheng called out to Po Ming on YY: "I was so awesome today, wasn't I?! I even impressed myself! Hahahaha!"

Po Ming's voice sounded pained. "You were this close to defeating Mo Gaofeng! You fell short, lost everything, and yet you're still this happy? Where is your shame?!"

Jun Cheng couldn't be bothered to argue with her. Right now, he was far more curious about something else: "How did you know how to execute that ultimate move?"

Po Ming replied nonchalantly, "Just a coincidence."

Jun Cheng, claiming his IQ was too high to be fooled by a two-word answer, pressed, "Cut the crap! Are you Mo Gaofeng's side chick or something?"

Po Ming let out a cold laugh, her voice laced with wintry disdain. "Why don't you take some risperidone and olanzapine, huh? If you don't get treated soon, I'm afraid your brain might explode from all that wild imagination!"

Jun Cheng retorted, "No thanks," and switched to a new question. "How did you know I had so many gold ingots? Was it my natural noble aura—'nobility' for short—that moved you?"

Po Ming scoffed again. "Nobility? Hah! All I sensed was your cheapness !"

Jun Cheng persisted. "Come on, how did you know I was so loaded?"

Po Ming pretended to gag. "You recharge insane amounts of phone credit every month, don't you?"

Jun Cheng froze—then was utterly stunned."How did you know? You've been investigating me! You created that fake account just to get close to me, didn't you?! Do you like me?! Did you target me because I'm rich?! Let me tell you, I would never get involved with someone who stole my favorite gear in the game!" He fired off questions like a machine gun.

Po Ming didn't respond, simply disconnecting from the voice chat.

Left in sudden silence, Jun Cheng seethed with indignation through his headphones.

"Bastard! At least admit you like me before leaving, damn it! Being stubborn won't make your boobs grow any bigger! Why leave in such a hurry, got a date with the reincarnation cycle?!"

After that siege, the Military Minister still teamed up with Broken Name to level up for the remaining equipment. However, his mindset had subtly changed by then. His feelings toward her were somewhat complicated—while he no longer completely looked down on this grassroots cross-dressing account, most of his emotions still fell under the categories of "can't stand her" and "utter disdain."

After all, her level was too low, and her character was questionable. Even if she happened to unleash that ultimate move, it couldn’t cover up the fact that she secretly admired him but refused to admit it, resorting to underhanded investigations—what a sleazy thought.

The two no longer relied on furious typing to communicate; they started using voice chat. And during these calls, most of the time was spent bickering, with only a tiny fraction dedicated to actual game discussions.

Time flew by in a blur, and before they knew it, the New Year was approaching.

One day, Broken Name suddenly said to the Military Minister, "Help me with one thing, and I’ll return all your gear."

Happiness came so abruptly that the Military Minister couldn’t believe his ears: "Seriously? What do you need me to do? Let me say this first—I have principles! Don’t force me to do anything that betrays my body. I know you’ve been eyeing me for a long time! Let me tell you, if you’re after my flesh, I absolutely won’t agree!"

Broken Name let out a long, cold scoff. "Thank you so much! I wouldn’t bother with your body even if you paid me! Relax, it’s nothing difficult. Just pretend to be my boyfriend and come home with me for the New Year. And I won’t just use you for free—after the holiday, I’ll return all your gear in one go and even pay you rent. Weren’t you broke after spamming your ultimate move last time? So, think carefully about my offer."

The Military Minister seriously considered the proposal.

First, his hot-tempered mom, in an effort to curb his gaming addiction, had refused to give him any allowance this month. Broken Name was right—he was flat broke.

Second, during the New Year, his mom and dad had already planned to go abroad for their nth honeymoon. He had suggested tagging along, but his cold-hearted dad outright refused and mercilessly brushed him aside.

Lastly, since he had already decided to cut ties with that scoundrel Li Yifei, he had to stand firm—he absolutely couldn’t spend the holiday with him.

In summary, if he ignored Broken Name’s offer, he’d likely spend the New Year alone, broke and miserable...

After careful thought, he made his decision.

Putting on airs, he replied to Broken Name, "Well, I’m just too soft-hearted. Since you begged me, I’ll reluctantly agree. But let’s be clear—I suspect you have a history of crushing on me. If you’re renting me for the holidays, I’m only providing emotional services. If you try to use excuses like 'the house is too small' or 'there aren’t enough beds' to force us to sleep together, I swear I’ll resist to the death!"

Broken Name put all her energy into a loud, disdainful "Pfft!"

Before logging off, they exchanged phone numbers. As the Military Minister lay down to sleep, Broken Name texted him asking for his ID number.

Suspicious, he texted back, "What do you want?"

Her reply radiated a strong "Dude, are you okay?" vibe."What can I do? Buy you round-trip plane tickets, duh! Or do you want to pay for your own travel expenses? If that's what you want, I'd be more than happy to let you!"

Jun Cheng immediately sent over his ID number without hesitation.

As if! He was broke—paying his own way? Don't even joke about it!

A week later, two days before New Year's Eve, Jun Cheng and Po Ming agreed to meet at the airport.

When he arrived, Jun Cheng spotted a short-haired girl with her back turned and rushed over.

He swaggered up, tapped her on the shoulder, and blurted out, "Hey, Po Ming!"

The girl jumped in surprise, turned around with wide eyes, and glared at him. "Who the hell are you? Are you nuts?!"

Jun Cheng blinked, completely bewildered.

His gut told him this had to be Po Ming.

The girl rolled her eyes at him and walked off, leaving him standing there stiff and dumbfounded.

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder.

He spun around to see a young woman with a ponytail and delicate features smirking at him.

That smirk... had an indescribably eerie vibe.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Forget to take your meds today? Calling random people 'Po Ming' like that."

Jun Cheng stared at her, even more confused. "You're Po Ming? Damn, you look so much like a girl! This doesn't match your online persona at all! You're so manly—how could you possibly have long hair?"

Po Ming scoffed. "Let me tell you, saying that doesn't just offend me—it offends every short-haired girl out there. Are you implying all short-haired girls are tomboys?"

Jun Cheng clicked his tongue and shook his head. "No, what I mean is, not all short-haired girls are tomboys. Like Sun Li—she rocks short hair and is still a goddess. But you? You're so manly, you should definitely have short hair!"

Po Ming sighed and patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Dude, you need to get your head checked ASAP. Any later and you'll really lose it. Stop overthinking things!"

Once on the plane, the two exchanged detailed personal info.

Po Ming told Jun Cheng, "My name is Dang Yu—Dang as in the Communist Party, Yu as in 'rain or shine.'"

Jun Cheng squinted. "Are you an orphan?"

Dang Yu whipped her head around and glared. "Care to explain how you reached that brilliant conclusion?"

Jun Cheng scratched his cheek. "My childhood friend told me—oh, by the way, we're not friends anymore—he said orphans from orphanages, the boys all have the surname 'Guo,' and the girls all have 'Dang.'"

Dang Yu took a deep breath, barely holding back, and finally rolled her eyes. "With an IQ like yours, no wonder you can't survive in games without gear—you'd die eight hundred times a day! Fine, let's say you're right—boys get 'Guo,' girls get 'Dang.' Do you think these orphans never grow up? Never get married and have kids? And their kids don't inherit those surnames? Are those kids orphans too?!"

Jun Cheng was stunned by her rapid-fire questions, blinking rapidly. "Oh... yeah, I guess you're right."

Dang Yu looked at him with pity. "It's a miracle you've survived this long with that brain. Your parents are saints for managing to raise you."

Jun Cheng stiffened and muttered, "Oh, come on!"When it was his turn to introduce himself, he said, "My name is Jun Cheng..." Before he could finish, Dang Yu interrupted.

"I know."

Jun Cheng was taken aback. "Because I just told you, right?"

Dang Yu denied it without hesitation. "No." After a moment's thought, she narrowed her eyes and said, "You told me when we were gaming before."

Jun Cheng froze for five seconds. After that, his tone was resolute. "Impossible! I never said that!"

Dang Yu quickly retorted, "You did."

Jun Cheng: "I didn’t!"

Dang Yu: "You did!"

Jun Cheng: "No!"

Dang Yu: "Are you confident in your memory?"

Jun Cheng: "..."

Dang Yu: "No confidence, huh? Then why argue blindly? Keep it up, and you can get off the plane before takeoff. I’ll keep the gear and save the rental fee."

Jun Cheng immediately became sincere. "Ah, I’ll think about it—I’m sure I’ll remember saying it!"

After the plane took off, Dang Yu began briefing Jun Cheng on her family situation so he could get a general grasp of his role.

She told Jun Cheng, "My mom passed away when I was in middle school, and then my dad remarried. My stepmom brought a daughter with her—same age as me but with a later birthday, so she’s technically my younger sister. My sister told my dad and stepmom that she wanted to bring her boyfriend home for New Year’s. My stepmom said to her: 'You can’t do that. Your sister hasn’t made any progress yet, and you’re already bringing a boyfriend home? That’s not right.' My sister got upset and started pushing me to find a boyfriend to bring back. So, here we are—I had to rent you."

Jun Cheng let out an "Oh" and said, "Your stepmom and sister sound a bit... eccentric."

Dang Yu chuckled but didn’t comment further.

Dang Yu told Jun Cheng that her stepsister’s name was Bai Mei, and her sister’s boyfriend was Tang Hai.

When he heard her sister’s name, Jun Cheng laughed.

"Why didn’t she just name herself Bai Fu Mei (rich and beautiful)?"

Dang Yu rolled her eyes. "Let’s wait till she actually marries her boyfriend. Otherwise, she’s too poor to qualify."

Jun Cheng thought for a moment and asked, "Is her boyfriend rich?"

Dang Yu’s eyelid twitched slightly, and she let out a faint scoff. "You could say that. His family runs a small business. Hah! If he weren’t rich, my sister wouldn’t have been able to steal him from someone else."

Jun Cheng clicked his tongue repeatedly. "Your sister’s got no morals!"

Dang Yu shot him a sidelong glance. "Could you put 'your sister' at the beginning as the subject? Don’t make it sound like you’re cursing me."

Jun Cheng continued clicking his tongue. "Is your sister pretty?"

Dang Yu’s gaze drifted slightly. "She’s alright. Quite pretty—otherwise, how could she have stolen someone else’s man?"

Jun Cheng let out an "Oh." "I see. Honestly, if a pretty girl lacks morals, it’s still somewhat tolerable. But someone like you? No way—too much of a tomboy!"

Dang Yu stared at him expressionlessly. "Once we land, buy a ticket back. Consider your gear and the rental fee gone with the wind."The military advisor quickly called out, "Hey, don't take it like that! Can't you tell I was joking? Negative sense of humor, huh? Let me tell you, everything I just said was the opposite of what I meant. You're not at all like an old man—actually, you're a pure old wo—"

Dang Yu glared at him fiercely.

As if suffering internal injuries and a fright, the military advisor swallowed the last word "man" back down.

When the military advisor actually arrived at Dang Yu's home, he realized not only were her stepmother and stepsister strange, but even her stepsister's boyfriend was odd too. He felt the family atmosphere was somewhat eerie, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly was off about it.

Dang Yu's younger sister was a soft and innocent-looking girl, except for the slightly odd way she looked at people. Her boyfriend was quite handsome too, though compared to himself, he felt the guy was several tiers below.

When stepsister Bai Mei first saw him, her eyes widened, her brows raised, and her face bore an expression of "Huh?"

But she quickly replaced the "Huh?" look with a sweet, harmless smile. "Oh, sis, your new boyfriend is so handsome!"

The emphasis she placed on the word "new" was particularly striking.

In contrast to the eerie enthusiasm in her smile, her boyfriend's gaze toward him was much colder. Strangely enough, though, the guy kept stealing extra glances at Dang Yu.

After some small talk, Dang Yu's stepmother finished preparing dinner, and everyone took their seats to eat.

In the military advisor's understanding, a family gathering around the table for a reunion meal should be a warm and loving occasion, one that brings happiness and relaxation. Yet he sensed that the atmosphere at Dang Yu's dinner table was strangely tense, and Dang Yu herself seemed ready to engage in some kind of battle at any moment, constantly on guard. He was certain every nerve in her body was stretched taut.

Why was she in such a state?

For some inexplicable reason, the meal left him with a taste of "awkwardness."

As he ate, the military advisor observed discreetly. Though his friends often teased him for his limited intelligence, he believed himself to be an exceptionally perceptive and clever person. Reading people and situations—if he put his mind to it—was something he could manage.

Five minutes into the meal, the atmosphere at the table suddenly shifted. The change came when Bai Mei spoke up.

"Sis, weren’t you single just a while ago? How did you get a boyfriend in just a few days? Have you had one all along and been lying to us? But what’s the point of lying about that?"

Bai Mei's voice was sweet and her tone light, yet the military advisor couldn’t shake the feeling that her words carried an edge, like hidden weapons.

Dang Yu chuckled at her. "Why would I lie to you? The military advisor and I fell in love at first sight, so things moved quickly." She then turned to the military advisor and asked, "Right?"

Hearing the words "love at first sight," the military advisor nearly bit his tongue. Seeing her feign deep affection while gazing at him and asking "Right?" almost gave him a stomach cramp.

But before his stomach could react, a sharp pain in his leg nearly made him grimace. Under the table, Dang Yu was pinching him with a threatening force.

Suppressing both his inner turmoil and physical agony, he mustered his brightest smile and said to Bai Mei, "Yeah, yeah! Your sister and I—it was fate!"Bai Mei giggled. "Brother-in-law, you're so funny."

Funny my ass! My legs are practically bruised from all the pinching thanks to your comment!

Jun Cheng lowered his head, silently swallowing the tears of pain welling up inside him.

As the meal went on, Bai Mei seemed to have unlocked some hidden power—her voice grew sweeter, but her questions became increasingly annoying.

"Sis, how far along are you two?"

"Sis, when are you planning to get married? Oh, wait—you are planning to get married, right?"

"Sis, how long will it take for you to afford a house in Beijing?"

Each saccharine "sis" made Jun Cheng's skin crawl.

How strange. Didn't her mother teach her that proper young ladies should observe silence during meals? He glanced up and saw Bai Mei's mother beaming with pride, as if no one but her daughter could ask such delightful questions.

Jun Cheng sighed inwardly. If Dang Yu hadn't paid him to be here, he would've long lost his temper with this bizarre mother-daughter duo. Couldn't they let people eat in peace?

His eyes flicked to Dang Yu's father, who seemed resigned to the situation.

Meanwhile, Tang Hai beside Bai Mei kept shifting between pale and flushed.

Interesting. He was the most affected by all this.

Dang Yu handled each probing question with unshakable composure. Jun Cheng wasn't sure if she was extraordinarily patient or just thick-skinned—either way, he had to admire her steely resolve.

But then Bai Mei dropped another bombshell that made him nearly choke.

"Sis, Brother Jun Cheng is so handsome—he's not just some boytoy you hired to cure your loneliness, is he?" She covered her mouth in a giggle, the picture of innocence.

Jun Cheng opened his mouth to defend his dignity, but Dang Yu beat him to it.

"Xiao Mei, don't talk nonsense!" Dang Yu snapped.

For once, she didn't back down from her demonic little sister. Jun Cheng reined in his anger, waiting to see how this would play out.

"What nonsense? What do you mean, sis?" Bai Mei's voice rose an octave.

"Bai Mei!" Tang Hai, who'd been silent until now, finally spoke up. "That's enough."

Bai Mei turned to him with a coy smile. "Enough of what? I'm just joking with my sister. Are you getting protective?"

Tang Hai frowned at her but said nothing more.

The situation grew more bizarre by the minute. Clearly, there was some complicated family dynamic at play here.

Jun Cheng decided to play peacemaker. "Little Mei, how could I let such an amazing woman support me? I'd rather shower her with money like she's some pampered young mistress—if she'd even give me the chance." He winked at Dang Yu.

Bai Mei's sweet smile froze. "Oh, brother-in-law, you're quite the charmer!"

Dang Yu looked at him with approval.

In that unobserved moment, he mouthed two silent words to her: "Raise pay!"

All appreciation vanished from Dang Yu's eyes, replaced by a look that clearly said, I can't hear you.

The meal finally reached its turbulent conclusion.

Bai Mei was the first to set down her chopsticks. Beaming at Tang Hai, she said, "Didn't you bring something for Dad? Go get it!"Tang Hai put down his chopsticks and went to the bedroom, returning with a box of sea cucumbers in hand.

Bai Mei took the sea cucumbers and handed them to Dang Yu’s father. “Dad, wishing you good health and a happy New Year.”

Dang Yu’s father accepted the box and thanked her. “You’re so thoughtful, Xiao Mei.”

Bai Mei smiled sweetly. “It’s the least I could do! You raised me with so much effort, and your health hasn’t been great. Getting you some nourishing supplements is my way of repaying your kindness.” She glanced at Dang Yu with a smirk. “Sis, don’t you think so?”

Dang Yu’s face gradually paled. She had left in a hurry, distracted by Bai Mei bringing Tang Hai home for the New Year, and had completely forgotten to get anything for Bai Mei’s mother.

Suddenly, she felt Jun Cheng nudging her. She turned and saw him making exaggerated facial expressions only she could see, mouthing the words: “Extra cash!”

She froze, about to angrily warn him not to mess around, but he had already stood up abruptly.

He also went to the bedroom and returned holding an exquisitely ornate velvet box. Walking up to the dining table, he presented it to Bai Mei’s mother. “Auntie, this is a small token of appreciation from Dang Yu and me. It’s nothing much, but if you like what’s inside, we’ll make sure to get you more in the future.”

Bai Mei’s mother accepted the box with curiosity and opened it eagerly. Bai Mei leaned over to look—and her expression instantly changed.

A full box of premium cordyceps! Instantly overshadowing her and Tang Hai’s sea cucumbers!

While everyone was admiring the gift, Dang Yu whispered to Jun Cheng, “Wow, Prime Minister, you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve! Where’d you get this?”

Jun Cheng whispered back, “Before heading to the airport, my dad’s friend asked me to pick this up for him. I was too lazy to drop it off at home before catching my flight, so I just stuffed it in my luggage. Never thought it’d come in handy here—guess it’s destiny making sure I shine wherever I go, heh heh!”

Dang Yu felt a metaphorical sweatdrop forming on her forehead.

“What are you going to tell your dad later?”

Jun Cheng shrugged. “The truth. My parents always support me when I’m saving face out in the world! If they found out I lost a battle of one-upmanship today, they’d beat me to death, tsk!”

Dang Yu thought the Jun family was truly bizarre.

After admiring the gifts, Bai Mei’s mother, overjoyed, thanked Jun Cheng for the cordyceps, and dinner officially wound down. As Bai Mei’s mother stood to clear the table, Dang Yu stopped her. “Mom, don’t move. Jun Cheng told me he’d do the dishes after dinner.” She turned to Jun Cheng. “Right?”

Jun Cheng stared at her blankly, unsure what expression to wear.

This troublemaker! At home, he didn’t even have to pick up chopsticks if they fell! And now she wanted him to wash dishes? Who did she think he was?!

No way he’d give in!

He steeled himself to refuse.

But then Dang Yu mouthed at him: “Gear!” After a pause, she added, “Extra cash!”

Jun Cheng tossed his head and stood up. “Auntie, don’t lift a finger! Go watch TV with Uncle—I’ll handle the cleanup!”Bai Mei's mother and Dang Yu's father, all smiles, got up and went to the living room to watch TV.

Bai Mei glanced at him and Dang Yu with a hint of jealousy. After stealing a couple of looks, she also stood up, intending to return to her room. However, upon rising, she noticed Tang Hai still sitting there without moving.

Irritated, she snapped, "Tang Hai, let's go. What, are you planning to help my sister's 'new' boyfriend with the dishes?"

Jun Cheng felt that the word "new" sounded strange, carrying a peculiar flavor.

Tang Hai got up and left, but not before quickly glancing at Dang Yu twice, looking as if he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to speak.

Jun Cheng sensed that eerie atmosphere surging once more.

Dang Yu began to regret letting Jun Cheng wash the dishes.

On average, he could break eight out of ten plates and bowls.

Standing by the sink, listening to the crashes and staring at the shattered pieces on the floor, Dang Yu felt a headache coming on.

"You did that on purpose," she stated firmly.

Jun Cheng looked back at her, his eyes clear and sincere as autumn water: "Believe me, if I did it on purpose, all ten bowls would be broken—not a single one left!"

Dang Yu felt her liver tremble. She narrowed her eyes at him: "Pay for the bowls."

Jun Cheng rolled his eyes: "You told me to wash them!"

Dang Yu ignored him: "The cost will be deducted from your rent. Just letting you know."

"What the hell! You can't just play it like this! Don't think I won't go in there right now and expose you—tell them I'm not your boyfriend at all, just some guy you hired to save face!" Jun Cheng slammed the last two bowls into the sink.

Amid his lingering words, two more crisp cracking sounds echoed, adding another pair of broken bowls to the sink.

Jun Cheng stared at the sink, his hands awkwardly hovering, unsure where to put them.

"This, this, this—how come your bowls are so fragile? Hahaha..."

Dang Yu looked at him expressionlessly: "Tell me, how exactly do you manage to do something so idiotic?"

Jun Cheng wiped the sheepish look off his face and replaced it with defiance: "Anyway, if you dare dock my pay, I'll storm in there and tell your dad the truth! It's the New Year—think carefully about whether you really want to shock him like this!"

Dang Yu let out a cold laugh: "If you dare tell my dad the truth about us, I'll go tell your mom exactly how much money you've poured into online games through phone bill top-ups!"

At this, Jun Cheng's shock nearly sent his soul fleeing his body.

"What the hell! How do you know my mom forbids me from gaming? Who the hell are you? Tell me, tell me now!" He jabbed his index finger toward Dang Yu's nose, hysterical.

Dang Yu grabbed his finger and bent it backward toward his hand: "You told me yourself."

Jun Cheng nearly cried from the pain: "I did not!"

Dang Yu applied more pressure: "You did!"

Jun Cheng's voice trembled: "I didn't!"

Dang Yu doubled the force, the finger bending at an inhuman angle under the torment: "You didn't?!"

Jun Cheng's voice cracked with pain: "I did! Let go already!"

Dang Yu released his finger.

Jun Cheng cradled it, blowing on it frantically.

Dang Yu pricked up her ears, catching his muttered complaints between breaths: "What kind of person is she?! How could she treat you like this?! Look, she almost broke you! She's worse than a beast!"

Watching his dramatic antics, Dang Yu suddenly laughed.

She had thought this New Year would be unbearable, but thanks to this clown, she no longer found it so hard to endure.

After finishing the dishes, Jun Cheng went to the living room to watch TV with Dang Yu's dad. Bai Mei's mom, Bai Mei, and Tang Hai had gone downstairs, while Dang Yu stayed in her small room, browsing the internet.Dang Yu's father suddenly turned up the TV volume a bit louder, then turned his head and smiled at Jun Cheng. "Child, do you have a nickname?"

Jun Cheng blinked in surprise before replying, "My friends and others call me Da Jun. Uncle, you can call me that too."

Dang Yu's father nodded. "Da Jun, there's something I need to ask of you. If possible, please be good to my Xiao Yu in the future. She's suffered a lot since childhood, and I, as her father, owe her too much." By the end, a trace of sorrow had crept into his expression.

Jun Cheng, remembering he was being paid for this role-playing gig, decided to put in some extra effort. He quickly deployed his silver tongue, using the same tactics he employed to sweet-talk his own mother—mixing flattery, humor, and a bit of playful exaggeration—until the old man was chuckling happily.

This conversation gave Jun Cheng a deeper understanding of Dang Yu's complicated family dynamics, and his initial shock quickly flared into a spark of excitement.

So, Tang Hai and Dang Yu had actually been a couple at first!

Based on Dang Yu's father's account, combined with his own deductions and reasonable imagination, Jun Cheng pieced together the story:

Back when Dang Yu and Tang Hai were in that ambiguous phase—more than friends but not quite lovers, with neither daring to confess—Dang Yu had invited Tang Hai to visit her hometown during a holiday. That was when Bai Mei set her sights on him.

No one knew when she got Tang Hai's contact details, but after he left, Dang Yu noticed him growing increasingly distant. Soon after, Bai Mei announced she and Tang Hai were together.

Jun Cheng's emotions churned at the thought. Hearing that news must have felt like a bolt from the blue for Dang Yu.

He glanced at Dang Yu's father, whose eyes were now slightly reddened.

"Xiao Yu isn't the type to take things lying down. If this had happened to someone else—if another girl had stolen her boyfriend—she wouldn't have stayed silent and just retreated. But it had to be Xiao Mei. My health has been poor for nearly a decade, and I've relied on Xiao Mei's mother for care. I know Xiao Yu endured it for my sake—she didn't want me to be left without support."

Pausing to catch his breath, Dang Yu's father steadied himself before continuing, "I even considered, for my daughter's sake, just throwing caution to the wind. Let her be with Tang Hai. If Xiao Mei and her mother couldn't accept it and wanted to leave, I'd manage on my own. But that wasn't realistic—my health makes living independently impossible. And if I moved to Beijing, wouldn't I just be burdening Xiao Yu? So in the end, I could do nothing but watch as her younger sister stole her boyfriend."

Dang Yu's father wiped his eyes. "Da Jun, I've seen all the pain Xiao Yu has gone through this past year. Now that she's finally opening her heart to someone new, I'm begging you—please treat her well, alright?" His eyes were bloodshot, brimming with a father's love for his daughter.

Moved, Jun Cheng blurted out without thinking, "Uncle, don't worry. I'll definitely treat her well!"

Before bed, Dang Yu showed Jun Cheng to his room and brought two quilts to help make his bed.While spreading out the blankets, Dang Yu said, "Let me tell you, these two blankets were taken from my own bed. That means I’ve shared my own warmth with you selflessly, so you better be grateful, got it?"

Jun Cheng scoffed. "Cut it out. Ours is purely a transactional relationship. Talking about gratitude in this context is just plain pretentious!"

Dang Yu stopped making the bed, gathered the half-spread blanket, and straightened up. "Fine, then. I’ll take the blanket back. If you’re cold, well, tough luck. You can always rent one from me—for a fee."

She headed for the door with the blanket, only for Jun Cheng to spread his arms like a mother hen and block her way.

"How can you be like this? Can’t you read between the lines when a man says one thing but means another? Do you take everything I say at face value? Can’t you see with your heart just how grateful mine truly is?"

As he spoke, he snatched the blanket from under Dang Yu’s arm and tossed it back onto the bed, then nudged her toward it. "Come on, keep making the bed—nice and neat. I’ll stand here and watch you with gratitude in my eyes."

Dang Yu rolled her eyes at his shameless antics.

Once she finished making the bed, she turned to leave, but Jun Cheng stopped her again.

"Stay a little longer. Keep me company for a bit. I’ve been having trouble sleeping since moving to this new place, but if I get bored enough chatting with you, maybe I’ll finally doze off."

Dang Yu: "..."

Jun Cheng pulled her down to sit. "Let me ask you something."

Dang Yu smirked. "Go ahead. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer, though."

Jun Cheng clicked his tongue. "Now that’s just not playing fair! I even gave your stepmom some premium cordyceps to make you look good!"

Dang Yu’s brows twitched. "Fine, ask. But just one question."

Jun Cheng dragged a chair over and sat across from her, grinning like a gossipy old woman. "I already know about you, Bai Mei, and Tang Hai. Your dad told me everything."

Dang Yu’s face darkened. "Why does my dad tell you everything?!"

Jun Cheng chuckled. "Don’t blame him. He just wants you to find a good man this time—one who won’t get stolen by your sister and will actually treat you right." He paused. "But what I really want to know is, how did you and Tang Hai meet?"

Dang Yu stared at him blankly. "We met in a game."

Jun Cheng immediately tsked in disapproval. "That’s so irresponsible! What kind of decent person do you expect to meet in a game?"

Dang Yu shot him a look. "You’re right—like you!"

Jun Cheng choked. "I’m the exception!"

Dang Yu scoffed. "Because you’re not human?"

Jun Cheng mirrored her scoff. "Actually, you’re spot on. I’m not human—I’m a god. A male god!"

This time, it was Dang Yu’s turn to choke. "Dude, does your family know just how nauseating you can be?"

The next day was New Year’s Eve. As midnight approached, the four young friends went downstairs to set off fireworks.

The two pairs set off their own fireworks separately, but for safety, Jun Cheng moved farther away to light his. Dang Yu stood watching while Bai Mei complained of a stomachache and ran upstairs to the bathroom, leaving Tang Hai waiting for her below.

Amid the deafening crackle of firecrackers, Dang Yu heard a voice ask her, "You never logged into that account again."She turned her head and saw Tang Hai standing beside her.

She flashed him a smile. "That's your account, not mine. I won't be logging into it again."

Tang Hai's brow twitched slightly. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Are you quitting the game?"

Dang Yu's voice was light and breezy. "Nope, just leveling an alt. Someone at your tier probably wouldn’t even notice me."

Tang Hai quickly followed up, "Leveling an alt isn’t easy. Let me help you."

Dang Yu chuckled. "No need. Someone’s already helping me."

Just then, Jun Cheng came running over after setting off the last firework. Dang Yu pointed at him and said to Tang Hai, "See? That’s him." She paused, then turned to look at Tang Hai, enunciating each word clearly, "Oh, by the way, his in-game name is Grand Chancellor."

Tang Hai’s face instantly paled with shock. His eyes widened as he blurted, "Him?!" Muttering to himself in disbelief, he added, "No wonder… no wonder he could pull off that ultimate move too."

Jun Cheng had already reached them by then. Glancing between Tang Hai and Dang Yu, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What are you two talking about? The atmosphere feels a bit… off." His gaze settled on Dang Yu. "Hey, beautiful, care to enlighten me? Was someone just trying to hit on my girlfriend?"

Tang Hai stiffened instantly. Dang Yu, however, burst out laughing. Under the glow of the fireworks, her smile was radiant.

"No one’s hitting on your girlfriend. We were just chatting about your girlfriend’s boyfriend."

Jun Cheng stared at her smile, momentarily dazed.

This was the first time since meeting her in person that he’d seen her laugh so brightly.

New Year’s Day was the Dang family’s annual temple visit.

During breakfast, Bai Mei said, "Tang Hai has a friend in X City. He said we could borrow his car, but it’s a Buick sedan—might not fit everyone. So two people will have to take a taxi."

Bai Mei’s mother fretted, "Oh dear, we’re just going to the temple. Maybe we shouldn’t borrow such a nice car—what if it gets scratched?"

Bai Mei smiled sweetly. "Don’t worry, Mom. Tang Hai’s an excellent driver. Besides, we’ll be buying our own car soon anyway. Think of this as a test drive—if it’s comfortable, we might get the same model."

Bai Mei’s mother still hesitated. "But two people will still have to take a taxi…"

Dang Yu was about to volunteer herself and Jun Cheng, but he cut in first.

"No need for that. Actually, I just remembered I have a friend here too, and his car is bigger—it can fit all of us." With that, he stepped out to make a call. When he returned, he announced, "All set."

Bai Mei’s expression soured, but Jun Cheng didn’t even glance her way.

Soon after, everyone finished breakfast and headed downstairs to wait for the car.

While they waited, Bai Mei smirked at Jun Cheng. "I wonder if the car you called will be as comfortable as the Buick? My parents aren’t as young as they used to be—they can’t handle a rough ride."

Dang Yu frowned, catching Bai Mei’s implication: If you’re going to find a car, at least make sure it’s better than ours!

Worried, she quietly asked Jun Cheng what kind of car he’d arranged.

Jun Cheng pointed at a luxurious Ford van turning the corner in the distance. "Ah, here it comes! That one!"Dang Yu's jaw dropped to the floor. She had seen that business van in Beijing before—it probably cost over two million yuan.

In her hometown, this small scenic mountain town, there really weren't many people who could drive such a modern, eye-catching vehicle. She turned to look at Jun Cheng—this guy really knew how to make an impression!

She then glanced at Bai Mei, whose face had turned ugly. Bai Mei was looking up at Tang Hai, complaining about something while Tang Hai frowned, his expression barely concealing his patience wearing thin.

Dang Yu sidled up to Jun Cheng and whispered, "Not bad! You actually have connections like this in my hometown?"

Jun Cheng raised an eyebrow, his expression smug. "Of course! I get along everywhere I go!"

He ushered the whole family into the car and took the front passenger seat, chatting briefly with the driver. It was clear they knew each other, but the driver's attitude toward him carried a hint of deference. Everyone except Dang Yu watched their interaction with quiet astonishment.

After a while, Jun Cheng's phone beeped.

He looked down.

A line of emotionally charged text lit up the screen: "You little brat, your father wants to know why you're commandeering the branch company's car without permission?!"

Jun Cheng tapped away at the screen with exaggerated cuteness: "Here's the thing, Mom. I came to × City for fun, but someone here tried to show off in front of me! Tell me, if someone dares to act up in front of the Jun family, shouldn't I put them in their place?"

A minute later, the reply came: "Absolutely put them in their place! My precious Cheng, next time something like this happens, forget the business van—if we're going to shut someone down, let's make it unforgettable! Just tell Mom, and I'll send the family jet over!"

Jun Cheng grinned and tapped furiously, laying on the charm, flattery, and obedience: "Mom, you're the best! Mom, you're the most beautiful! Mom, I love you! Mom, could you transfer some money to my card?"

Another minute later, the screen displayed the reply: "Get lost! Transfer money so you can waste it on games? Ask me again when I have Parkinson's! As long as my mind's clear, don't even think about tricking me into funding your gaming addiction!"

Jun Cheng snorted and put away his phone.

Maternal love was so unpredictable—sometimes overflowing, sometimes scarce. So annoying.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, early in the morning, Dang Yu dragged Jun Cheng up and reminded him, "Traditionally, today's the day to visit the wife's family. Even though Bai Mei and I aren't married yet, we both have to bring gifts for her mom."

Jun Cheng blinked sleepily. "Oh, and then?"

Dang Yu said, "In the past, we each gave gifts separately. But this year, since we both technically brought boyfriends home, the gifts should be from us and our respective boyfriends together."

Jun Cheng thought for a moment. "Didn't we already give gifts on the first day we got back?"

Dang Yu shook her head. "That doesn't count—that was just a greeting gift. Today's is the formal New Year's gift for the wife's family."

Jun Cheng yawned. "Waking me up so early, so annoying! Fine, I got it. I'll help arrange another gift for the wife's family."When Dang Yu heard this, instead of looking pleased, her face grew tense and serious. She shook Jun Cheng's shoulders vigorously, saying, "Wake up! You don't get what I mean! Of course, I haven’t even said what I mean yet, so naturally, you wouldn’t understand! Listen to me—what I’m telling you is that I’ve already found time yesterday to arrange the gift. It’s a gold necklace, from both of us, so don’t go pulling any stunts to steal the spotlight. Otherwise, if we outshine Bai Mei’s side, her mom will lose face—got it?!"

Jun Cheng blinked. "A gold necklace?" He looked thoughtful for a moment before rolling his eyes. "I’m not deliberately stealing anyone’s spotlight. My dazzling charm is innate—it can’t be contained!"

Dang Yu felt like she was about to throw up.

Jun Cheng blinked again. "Besides, if you don’t want me to steal the show, just say so. No need to curse."

Dang Yu paused, recalling the accidental "her mom" phrasing, and then began shaking Jun Cheng even harder at a nauseating frequency.

That’ll teach your mouth to be so snarky.

After Jun Cheng got up and finished his morning routine, he said to Dang Yu, "I have something to take care of outside."

He returned just before lunch.

As soon as lunch began, Bai Mei took out a long red velvet box and handed it to her mother. "Mom, this is a gift from Tang Hai and me—a gold necklace. We picked the design together, so you can’t say it’s not pretty!"

Bai Mei’s mother took the box, beaming with joy at her daughter. "Of course it’s pretty—it’s from my daughter and son-in-law!"

Meanwhile, Dang Yu was stunned.

Yesterday, Bai Mei had asked her what gift she planned to give, saying she wanted to avoid choosing the same thing. Dang Yu had mentioned wanting to give a gold necklace. But now, not only had Bai Mei also prepared a gold necklace, she had beaten her to the punch by presenting it first.

Dang Yu stared at Bai Mei’s beautiful, innocent face, watching her sweetly smile at her, and felt her heart grow cold once more.

Her younger sister would probably never stop targeting her in this lifetime.

Now, everyone was waiting for her to bring out her gift. She sighed, steeling herself to present the gold necklace she had prepared.

Just as she was about to stand, she felt a hand press down on her shoulder. She turned and saw Jun Cheng winking at her.

He mouthed the words: "Extra money!"

Then, from under the table, he pulled out an exquisitely luxurious jewelry box. Turning to Bai Mei’s mother with effortless grace, he said, "Auntie, this is a little something Dang Yu and I prepared for you. It’s just a small token of our respect. If you don’t mind, please make do with it for now. If we come across something better in the future, we’ll arrange it for you."

Bai Mei’s mother took the box and opened it, her face instantly lighting up with delight.

"What is this? It’s so beautiful!"

Jun Cheng smiled and explained, "It’s a Burmese ruby. I had a friend specially source and customize it—one of a kind. Feel free to wear it—I guarantee no one else in the world will have a matching piece!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions around the table shifted to varying degrees of astonishment.Bai Mei's face turned pale with shock and dismay: "If it's so rare, it must be something truly exceptional. How could something so precious just casually appear in an ordinary household like ours? Brother-in-law, I think you might have been tricked—this thing is probably fake!"

Jun Cheng's smile exuded a natural air of nobility: "Don't worry. I may not be the best at judging people's sincerity, but I never make mistakes with these stones. My mother was fond of them, so I grew up surrounded by all kinds of gemstones."

Bai Mei's face grew paler by the minute.

Dang Yu watched as Bai Mei's mother couldn't take her hands off that Burmese ruby, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

Finally making it through lunch, she dragged Jun Cheng back to his room, grabbed him by the collar, and shoved him against the wall, demanding, "Didn't I tell you not to steal the spotlight again?!"

Jun Cheng stuck out his tongue and said shamelessly, "Oh, and just watch you pull out a gold necklace too, embarrassing both yourself and your dad?"

Dang Yu's gaze wavered for a moment—she had no comeback. But a second later, she tightened her grip on his collar and snarled, "Why do I feel like you came prepared?!"

Jun Cheng pried her fingers off, straightened his collar, and said, "Of course! Did you think I was as dumb as you? 'Don't steal the spotlight,' my ass! If I hadn’t seen this coming, you’d be bawling your eyes out from humiliation today! Yesterday, I overheard your holier-than-thou sister and her spineless brother-in-law planning to buy a necklace at the jewelry store!" By the end, Jun Cheng was practically preening. "Seems like it was fate—destiny chose me to be the hero who stops the villains!"

Dang Yu nearly gagged.

After a pause, she shot him a sidelong glance and asked, "Is that gemstone even real? Don’t you dare scam Bai Mei’s mom with a fake—if we get caught, I’ll never live it down!"

Jun Cheng scoffed. "Look at you, so clueless! That ruby—just look at how dazzling it is! Ask it yourself if it’d ever settle for being fake!"

Dang Yu’s legs trembled slightly again.

"If that thing’s real, how much is it worth? Listen, I rented you , not your stuff. Whatever you brought is on you—I’m not paying for it!"

Jun Cheng rolled his eyes. "As if you could afford it even if you tried! Pfft! Look at you, so stingy! Fine, let me put your mind at ease—consider this big bro’s act of charity today. Pure, selfless generosity. No selling your body to pay me back, got it? Relax! And stop shaking—you look like you’re on drugs. So ugly!"

Dang Yu huffed and wobbled out of his room on shaky legs.

That night, Jun Cheng got another text from his mom.

"Mommy’s precious Cheng, you had the family jet deliver a ruby to × City today. Now, tell me—did you win this round?"

Jun Cheng replied, "Of course! With Mom’s ruby, I’m invincible!"

A minute later, another message arrived: "Mommy’s sweetheart, if you promise to quit online games, I’ll make sure you stay invincible every day!"

Jun Cheng excitedly tapped out a reply: "Mom, I don’t need to be invincible every day. I just want you and Dad to buy out Qiansheng. I want to see that little bitch Li Yifei kneel and cry in front of me!"

The response came swift and curt: "Okay, sweetie, no more talk. Mommy and Daddy are going for a night swim."

Jun Cheng tossed his phone aside with a disgruntled snort.

His mom was so annoying—every time the topic of acquiring the Li family came up, she’d just ignore it. So much for motherly love!

After the third day of the New Year, Dang Yu and Jun Cheng returned to Beijing.

On the plane, Dang Yu let out a long sigh.

This holiday had finally, miraculously, scraped by without disaster—though not without heart-stopping moments.Before disembarking the plane, Dang Yu took out a stack of pre-prepared pink bills from her bag and handed them to Jun Cheng: "This is the rental fee for taking you home for the New Year. As per your request, it's 30% higher than the original agreed price."

Jun Cheng happily accepted the money—after all, it was earned through his own hard work!

Watching his money-grubbing expression, Dang Yu's lips twitched: "You can get your hands on a one-of-a-kind ruby in minutes, so how did you end up so desperate for cash that you’d act this shameless? I’ve truly never seen someone so obsessed with money!"

Jun Cheng rolled his eyes at her: "You don’t understand. There’s a legitimate reason for me to get a ruby—my mom won’t scold me and is even willing to support me. But if I asked her for money to play online games, she’d probably beat me to death!"

The day after returning to Beijing, Dang Yu returned all the gaming equipment to Jun Cheng and stopped letting him power-level her in the game.

Looking at the recovered precious gear, Jun Cheng suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of loss, as if something he had been looking forward to was gone. Glancing at the stack of pink bills Dang Yu had given him, his heart skipped a beat.

This clean-cut transaction made it seem like they would have nothing to do with each other from now on.

He tucked the stack of pink bills inside a thick Kangxi Dictionary and placed it beside his pillow. His method of storing the money was particularly tedious—he counted each bill meticulously, placing one every five pages. By the time he finished, the dictionary had noticeably thickened.

When the housekeeper came to tidy his room, she once tried to move the gold-laden dictionary back to the study, only to be startled by his loud protest.

He didn’t let her touch the dictionary, keeping it firmly by his pillow. Sometimes, when he was too restless to sleep, he would toss aside his pillow and rest his head directly on the brick-like dictionary. The discomfort was real, but somehow, as if his self-tormenting tendencies had escalated, he’d eventually drift off to sleep.

And so, the pink bills remained pressed flat and crisp inside the dictionary, as pristine as freshly minted banknotes.

He still secretly played games behind his mom’s back, but no matter how short on in-game currency he was, he never touched the bills in the dictionary to top up his account.

His daily life was ostensibly the same as before, yet somehow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed.

He didn’t know what Po Ming had been busy with lately, but their online schedules never seemed to overlap. He wondered if she was avoiding him—maybe worried he’d ask her to pay for the ruby someday. Hah.

Gradually, he exchanged everything of value in his inventory for in-game currency until he had nothing left to squeeze out of himself.

Unable to play without spending money, the financial pressure eventually forced him to quit the online game altogether. To satisfy his gaming cravings, he switched back to CS.

He had played CS for a while before this online game took off, relegating CS to the back burner.

Back in the day, he had been a true expert at CS—the only game where he could hold his own against Li Yifei.

But playing CS alone against a bunch of strangers, dominating the battlefield with no one to appreciate his skills, felt unbearably dull.After some thought, he texted Dang Yu to tease her: "How about I teach you how to play CS?"

Dang Yu quickly replied: "I'm afraid you'll end up crying and clinging to my leg if you lose."

Jun Cheng let out a "Ha!" and perked up.

"Me, lose?! If I ever lose, time itself would freeze in shock!"

A minute later, Dang Yu responded: "Alright then, if you lose, next New Year if I still haven’t found a proper boyfriend, you’ll have to give me a 20% discount on this year’s rental fee so I can rent you again for the holidays."

Jun Cheng snorted again, tapping his phone screen: "What a grand dream you’ve got there, almost reaching the heavens! If you can actually beat me, forget 20% off—I’ll play the role of your perfect boyfriend for free next year!"

After this exchange, by dinnertime that evening, Jun Cheng and Dang Yu were already squaring off in CS.

Jun Cheng was brimming with confidence, even attempting to coach Dang Yu over voice chat before the match.

But Dang Yu scoffed at his well-intentioned advice: "I already know all that. Stop blabbering and let’s just fight!"

Jun Cheng felt a slight sting—his first-ever attempt to kindly guide a noob had been brushed aside. He decided to teach her a lesson in-game, showing her the price of disrespecting the CS king: headshot after headshot after headshot!

But then...

Once the game started, the one getting headshot after headshot after headshot turned out to be him!

Jun Cheng was on the verge of losing his mind.

He yelled over voice chat: "Dang Yu, are you cheating?!"

On the screen, Dang Yu smugly switched to a knife and charged at him, stabbing him to death again.

"A bet’s a bet. If you’re outmatched, admit it. This lesson from your big sis is: there’s always someone better! See? I don’t even need a gun—just a knife to finish you off!"

Jun Cheng nearly threw his keyboard.

"Are you even a woman?! Playing CS more ruthlessly than any dude! How do you expect to find a boyfriend? Keep dreaming! Better start saving up to rent me for life!"

He roared into the mic while Dang Yu killed him twice more with her little dagger.

When they logged off that night, Dang Yu said over voice chat: "Don’t invite me next time you play this. You’re so bad it feels like a waste of time."

Jun Cheng swallowed the blood that had risen to his throat and rasped: "Fine! Let’s go back to the MMO tomorrow and see how my main account destroys you!"

And so, starting the next day, Dang Yu’s online gaming hours synced up with Jun Cheng’s once again.

But after resuming their shared playtime, certain things began to irk Jun Cheng.

For instance, if Dang Yu teamed up with others to grind levels, he’d get extremely unhappy. He’d find every excuse to break up the party, then lure her back into his own group with all sorts of perks.

Like saying: "Join my party, and I’ll let you ride my mount! I know someone’s been drooling over it!"

Gradually, the equipment Dang Yu had returned to him somehow found its way back into her hands—all willingly given by him.At the beginning of the month, when most of the equipment had already been given away and there was almost nothing left to entice with, Jun Cheng's despicable, sworn-off friend—the one he had vowed to cut ties with—sent him some warmth from the human world.

The company he co-owned with Li Yifei had finally made a payment, and his bank account was no longer empty!

However, although the card was his, when he first opened the account, under his mother's coercion, he had registered her phone number. This meant that every transaction he made would be instantly known by his mother. Consequently, he couldn't directly top up his gaming account online. Instead, he had to take a roundabout approach—first topping up his phone credit, then using that credit to exchange for in-game equipment and currency.

The day after the money arrived, he happily trotted off to the mobile service provider to recharge his phone credit.

When he arrived, his VIP customer service manager happened to be out. He called the manager and asked him to arrange for someone else to handle the matter—he didn’t want to wait too long. The manager assured him he’d ask the lobby manager to assign someone to assist.

Not long after hanging up, he heard the lobby manager call out loudly, "Dang Yu, Manager Wang is out. There’s a VIP client of his here—come and help!"

Hearing the first two words, Jun Cheng’s mouth fell open in shock.

Jun Cheng finally understood why Dang Yu had known some of his personal details before. She had stubbornly insisted that he had accidentally let it slip himself—what a load of nonsense! Clearly, she had known all along!

He watched as Dang Yu gracefully walked over to him. She was wearing the standard uniform, with a silk scarf around her neck. The uniform’s waistline was tailored perfectly, accentuating her curves.

He thought she looked absolutely stunning dressed like that—almost like a flight attendant.

She smiled faintly at him, while he narrowed his eyes and stared back.

After completing the top-up, Dang Yu asked, "Would you like any complimentary gifts? Tea again?"

Jun Cheng snorted lazily, looking at her. "Sure, tea it is. Perfect for mailing to my future father-in-law—he loves it, doesn’t he?"

The corner of Dang Yu’s professionally polite smile twitched. She lowered her voice and teased, "Oh? You already have a father-in-law? Who might that be?"

Jun Cheng smirked without warmth. "Isn’t it your dad?"

Dang Yu chuckled. "What, you’ve got your eye on my sister?"

Jun Cheng scoffed. "I’ve got my eye on my sister’s sister!" After a pause, he added, "I’m treating you to dinner tonight, my sister’s sister!"

Dang Yu continued to chuckle. "What’s gotten into you?"

Jun Cheng rolled his eyes. "I’m trying to hit on you, you idiot!"

Dang Yu rolled her eyes right back. "You can bring that up again when you can beat me at CS!"

Jun Cheng slammed his hand on the table. "How am I supposed to beat you at CS if you won’t even give me a chance to play with you?"

Dang Yu gave him an exaggerated smile. "Once I defeat Mo Gaofeng, I’ll give you the chance to play CS with me."

Jun Cheng cursed under his breath. "You still haven’t given up on that dream? Did my example about the U.S. president mean nothing to you? You need to be more down-to-earth, sis! Like, say, having dinner with me tonight or something..."

Now that he had money, Jun Cheng started buying top-tier equipment for Dang Yu.

Each time he gifted her something, he’d add, "Hurry up and crush Mo Gaofeng already, so we can battle in CS!"

Faced with such a lunatic, Dang Yu could only chuckle in response.About a month later, something earth-shattering happened.

Mo Gaofeng suddenly issued a challenge to the Grand Chancellor, drawing the attention of all players on the server.

The Military Chancellor accepted the challenge and vented to Dang Yu on YY: "Why do I feel like your goal is to target me with that ultimate move too? His pettiness knows no bounds!"

Dang Yu's response, however, was completely off-topic: "I haven't told you about the history between me, my sister, and that brother-in-law of mine, have I?"

The Military Chancellor was taken aback. "Huh? Isn't it that your brother-in-law's real identity is actually his own brother-in-law?"

Dang Yu choked slightly before replying, "There's more to it than that. Listen carefully and don't interrupt."

"I used to have another account, one so powerful you'd never guess who it was. Tang Hai and I met in this game. After playing together for a long time, we developed a mutual admiration. At first, he was pretty clumsy, so I carried him as we dominated the server together. I was playing a cross-gender character, and he treated me like a brother. It wasn't until we used YY during a siege that he found out I was actually a girl. Then we exchanged photos, and gradually, vague feelings started to develop between us."

"Later, during a long holiday, I went back home, and he traveled to my city for a visit. We met up. Bai Mei tagged along when we met."

"After his visit, Bai Mei also started playing the game. She asked me to guide her, so the three of us leveled up together in-game."

"Then one day, out of the blue, Tang Hai told me he wanted to swap accounts with me. By then, his account was already quite strong, but still nowhere near mine. I asked him why he wanted to switch, and he said he wanted to learn how to unleash powerful ultimate moves like I did. I agreed, swapped accounts with him, and taught him how to use the ultimate moves."

"Gradually, Tang Hai started using my original high-level account to level up with Bai Mei. And then, I found out they had actually gotten together—it was Bai Mei who had persuaded Tang Hai to ask me for the account swap."

"When I found out, all I could do was laugh coldly. Was it really necessary? If they had just asked for my account outright, I would've handed it over without a second thought. Game accounts are just virtual items—if you don't have the skill to level up from scratch, I do! Why resort to such scheming?"

"I completely withdrew from their circle. I have no respect for turncoats. And since they went through all that trouble to trick me into swapping accounts, I decided to level up a new account and defeat them—to show them that the account was only invincible in my hands. Or rather, to make them understand that I am the invincible one. An account is just something you can abandon and rebuild."

The Military Chancellor listened quietly, growing more and more unsettled. He felt something was glaringly obvious, yet he couldn't quite grasp it.

He asked, "After the swap, were they really that hard to defeat?"

Dang Yu replied, "Yeah, extremely hard. After all, the empire they now possess was originally built by me."

The Military Chancellor wanted to roll his eyes. This girl's bragging was even more nauseating than his own.

"Such a show-off!" he couldn't help but scoff. "How impressive could your so-called empire really be? Don't tell me you were even stronger than Mo Gaofeng?"

As soon as he said this, an eerie laugh came through his headset from Dang Yu.

The Military Chancellor was irritated by her laughter. "What the hell are you laughing at?!"Dang Yu continued to chuckle, "I'm laughing at how impressively low your IQ is. Tang Hai and Treading the Sea, Bai Mei and Hundred Charms—didn't those names spark any associations for you? And the ultimate move Mo Gaofeng uses—I was the one who taught it to you."

Hearing her words, Jun Cheng froze. A full minute passed before he snapped out of it.

He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Don’t tell me your cross-dressing account ID is Mo Gaofeng!"

Dang Yu’s laughter through the headset was so eerie it seemed to ooze black sludge: "Congratulations, you finally got it right this time! Looks like Risperidone and Olanzapine really saved you!"

On the other end of the headset, the esteemed Prime Minister was stunned into idiocy.

Two days later, the day of Jun Cheng’s duel arrived.

Before the battle, Dang Yu said to him on YY, "How about I take over today? I’ve wanted to defeat him for a long time."

Jun Cheng handed over his account to Dang Yu without hesitation.

This time, aside from the ultimate move, Mo Gaofeng also used a pay-to-win skill. The Prime Minister’s level was far below his, and when the opponent started burning money, Dang Yu clearly felt she was struggling to hold her ground.

Jun Cheng’s in-game warehouse had been emptied of gold ingots—he’d spent them all buying equipment for Dang Yu.

In no time, the Prime Minister, under Dang Yu’s control, was killed by Mo Gaofeng several times.

Jun Cheng watched the battle unfold, and when the Prime Minister fell yet again, he panicked.

He grabbed his phone and called his dear mother.

"Mom! Mom! Mommy! I’m about to lose face in the game—can you send me some money to buy skills? If I win this time, I promise I’ll never play online games again! I mean it! If I break my word, may I die without heirs!"

His mother’s furious roar came through the receiver: "You little brat, are you cursing yourself or me?!" After a pause, she added, "But the Jun family’s pride must never bow to others! I’ll give you the black card—spend as much as you need. I’ll cover it all. Just don’t you dare lose, understand?!"

Jun Cheng happily hung up, happily received his mom’s card details, and happily started burning cash to send gold ingots to Dang Yu.

That night, the entire server witnessed a miracle.

A master and a grandmaster, their godlike skills and RMB-fueled ultimate moves clashing in a life-and-death struggle—the battle was dazzlingly intense, made even more spectacular by its sheer extravagance.

And in the end, the victor was the Prime Minister, despite being far out-leveled.

Not long after that duel, rumors began circulating on the server.

Word had it that on the night of the showdown, Mo Gaofeng had spent a fortune to win, only to find the Prime Minister even wealthier. In his desperate resistance, his credit card was maxed out. As he stepped down from his undefeated throne, he was greeted by a staggering bank bill. Later, to pay it off, his family even sold their villa.

Soon after, Mo Gaofeng and Hundred Charms divorced in-game.

On the day of the divorce, Mo Gaofeng announced that unless Treading the Sea logged in, he would no longer use the "Mo Gaofeng" ID to play.

The server’s players erupted.

What they thought was a love triangle turned out to be a BL drama! This was a plot twist dripping with passion—ahhhhh!

Amid the excitement, everyone began debating who the real winner of the battle was.The conclusion was that the company behind this game reaped the greatest benefits.

After that night's battle, the Military Minister kept his word and indeed never touched online games again. His mother was so moved that she went to the temple to burn incense for three days in gratitude.

As for Dang Yu, having achieved her goal of defeating Mo Gaofeng, she also lost interest in continuing to play the game.

With nothing better to do, Juncheng asked Dang Yu on YY: "How about we play a round of CS?" After a moment's thought, he added, "Hey, do you think just the two of us playing counts as online gaming?"

Dang Yu's crisp laughter came through: "Nope!"

They connected online and started their CS match.

Dang Yu secretly went easy on Juncheng, letting him win.

Juncheng cheered excitedly on YY: "To celebrate this hard-won victory, come on, little lady, I'll treat you to something delicious!"

Dang Yu agreed with a laugh.

After that, Juncheng dragged Dang Yu into playing CS every day, taking her out for good food after each victory.

About a month later, Juncheng said to Dang Yu: "So, uh, my mom wants to meet you."

Dang Yu asked: "Does she want to hand me a check and tell me to get lost?"

Juncheng shook his head vigorously: "Of course not! My mom would never throw checks in people's faces! She said any girl who can get her son to quit online gaming must become her daughter-in-law! Plus, she even had someone do the math—said you and I are a match made in heaven, hahahahahaha!"

Looking at his utterly ridiculous expression, Dang Yu's lips twitched: "Doesn't your mom blame me for ruining you financially? That night we played, I made you burn through so much money."

Juncheng grinned even wider: "Didn't I tell you? This game was actually co-developed by me and that asshole childhood friend I was about to cut ties with."

Dang Yu stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter.

They say fools have fortune—though she wasn't sure whether that referred to him or herself.

Seizing the moment while she was laughing, Juncheng waggled his eyebrows at her and called out: "So what do you say, little lady? Wanna be my girl?"

Dang Yu looked at him, her smile growing even brighter: "Sure! Since we've got nothing better to do anyway, let's give it a try!"

Juncheng let out a whoop of joy, grabbed his phone, and quickly dialed a number, announcing to the person on the other end: "Mom, mission accomplished!"

Watching this simple, kind-hearted, and slightly goofy man, Dang Yu felt something heavy yet solid settle in her heart for the first time—a sense of happiness.