Chapter 59: Candy
Perhaps because Chi Zhen had taken too long to reply, Wujin Shi sent him a single question mark.
Part of it came from realizing for the first time that he was attracted to men. The other part came from falling in love for the first time.
He had absolutely no idea how to respond. But he couldn't not respond.
If someone sends you a photo and you don't say a word afterward, wouldn't that be incredibly weird?!
In the end, Chi Zhen simply sent a thumbs-up emoji.
By then it was already 6:30 p.m., and his takeout had arrived.
He absentmindedly ate his beef noodles, unable to taste a thing, staring blankly at the phone in front of him.
6:40...6:45...6:50...
His mind was still a complete mess. How am I supposed to stream? There was no way he could stream tonight. He could log in just to harvest crops, water plants, and fool around on stream, but Wujin Shi would most likely come online. And what if Qingtian Wai asked him what he thought after seeing the photo? What was he supposed to say?
Right now, he couldn't face Wujin Shi at all. Much less be in the same YY voice channel, playing games together.
6:55...
Chi Zhen finished the last sip of beef broth, cleared the table, wiped it clean, washed his hands, and returned to his computer.
6:59...
At last, he made up his mind. With lightning-fast speed, he opened the Bilibili Live app on his phone, entered his streaming room, and posted a leave notice:
"Power outage. The electricity suddenly went out, so I'm taking today off from streaming. Bow!"
Viewers could leave comments beneath the notice, and it didn't take long for everyone who had shown up for the stream to start flooding it.
[Power outage? Poor Xiao Chi. He must live somewhere with old wiring in an aging apartment building.]
[Xiao Chi's probably made pretty good money over the past couple months, right? He should move somewhere better for streaming.]
[Isn't Xiao Chi taking those training courses for college or undergraduate classes nearby? Moving would be a hassle.]
[Come on, do you seriously believe the power outage? I reasonably suspect he's secretly opening Wujin Shi's package by himself and having the time of his life.]
[Reasonable suspicion: Wujin Shi shipped himself over.]
[Holy crap, my brain just generated some very NSFW images.]
[Didn't Wujin Shi say the package wouldn't arrive until tomorrow~]
[No Xiao Chi stream tonight, so I guess we're camping under the leave notice instead. Everyone, keep the comments coming~]
[Xiao Chi, come out! You dare cancel the stream! Do you dare show yourself?! Tomorrow you have to livestream unboxing Wujin Shi's package! That's the only way to make up for me not having my electronic comfort food to eat dinner with today!]
From that comment onward, the replies became one long queue of viewers demanding that tomorrow's stream be dedicated to opening Wujin Shi's package.
Fine, an unboxing is an unboxing, Chi Zhen thought. It's just some merchandise. What's so interesting about that?
The real problem was… How was he supposed to face Wujin Shi from now on?
Chi Zhen ruffled his hair in frustration.
Ding— Ding—
His phone kept buzzing with new messages.
[Sister Gou]: Guild Leader, did your power really go out?!
[Sha Polang]: Oh no! I was going to ask Guild Leader to carry me through the ten-man raid tonight. I'd already told both my senior brothers!
[Qingtian Wai]: A power outage? Wujin Shi's photo must be cursed. It actually knocked out the electrical grid.
[Sha Polang]: Where's the photo? I want to see it too.
[Qingtian Wai]: Guild Leader Xiao Chi shows us his handsome face on stream every day. It's only fair Wujin Shi lets him see one. Why are you trying to join in, kid?
[Sha Polang]: Huh? Weren't you selling it for eighty Broken Soul Fragments?
[Sister Gou]: I get it now. So only Guild Leader Xiao Chi is qualified to buy it, huh?
[Qingtian Wai]: Heavenly secrets must not be revealed.
[Qian Yu]: Isn't it kind of inappropriate to share Brother Wujin Shi's photo without his permission?
[Qingtian Wai]: Qian Yu, you're still young. You don't understand.
[Qian Yu]: I'm actually older than Sister Gou, Xiao Chi, and Sha Polang.
[Sister Gou]: Forget all that. Let me ask you one question. Have you ever been in a relationship?
[Qian Yu]: No.
[Sister Gou]: That one word says more than a thousand.
[Qian Yu]: Studying and gaming already take up all my time. Something as secondary as dating just isn't possible.
[Qingtian Wai]: Why does that sound so familiar? Are you Wujin Shi's long-lost biological brother or something?
[Sister Gou]: Wait... don't tell me Wujin Shi's this old and has never dated?
[Qingtian Wai]: Yep.
[Sister Gou]: Oh my god.
[Qingtian Wai]: Surprised?
[Wujin Shi]: Is that so strange?
[Qingtian Wai]: Of course it is.
[Sister Gou]: Of course it is.
[Qing Ning]: Of course it is.
[Sha Polang]: Of course it is.
[Sister Gou]: Sha Polang, don't tell me you've actually been in a relationship.
[Sha Polang]: Drop the "been." We haven't broken up. It's still ongoing.
[Sister Gou]: You're not studying—you started dating in middle school?!
[Qingtian Wai]: You're just a second-year middle school kid! What kind of dating are you doing??
[Wujin Shi]: Old Qing's mentality just shattered.
[Qing Ning]: You do homework in the morning, go to tutoring in the afternoon, and play games at night. How exactly do you find time to date? Teach Qian Yu and Wujin Shi.
[Sha Polang]: We see each other every day at school. During summer vacation, can't we at least have a little space for ourselves?
[Sister Gou]: What a mature outlook on relationships. Respect.
[Sha Polang]: Guild Leader isn't lining up to answer... Don't tell me you've never dated either?
[Qian Yu]: There are seven people in this group. Four have dated, three haven't. Statistically speaking, choosing not to date is perfectly normal.
Qingtian Wai]: Qian Yu, don't say I didn't warn you. I'd suggest you get moving.
[Sister Gou]: Exactly. Wujin Shi and Guild Leader Xiao Chi are one of the hottest CPs around right now.
After that, the Little Vegetable Guild's conversation completely derailed into everyone asking Sha Polang to teach Qian Yu dating skills.
Chi Zhen reread the group chat over and over. Every time he saw Sister Gou's comment, he died a little more inside.
Ahhh!
Why did she have to say that in the group?! Wujin Shi is going to see it!
At the same time, another thought distracted him. No way... Wujin Shi is that handsome, and he's never dated? There must have been tons of people chasing after him. Why didn't he date anyone? Oh... right. He was a top student in school, so he was probably too busy studying. And after he started working... he was probably too busy then, too.
His thoughts wandered aimlessly until Wujin Shi sent him another message.
[Shi]: Has the power come back yet?
[Xiao Chi]: Not yet.
[Shi]: Do you have anything for lighting?
[Xiao Chi]: No... but it's okay.
[Shi]: Does your phone still have battery?
[Xiao Chi]: Yeah. I have a power bank too.
[Shi]: Stay safe.
[Xiao Chi]: Okay. Thanks.
There was a saying, wasn't there? A single lie eventually requires a hundred more lies to cover it up. Chi Zhen was starting to feel guilty answering these questions—especially while he was literally charging his phone as he replied.
[Shi]: How come Brother Xiao Chi isn't chatting in the group?
[Xiao Chi]: Ah... I've just been reading what everyone else is saying...
[Shi]: You've really never been in a relationship?
Chi Zhen's face instantly turned scarlet. Why would he ask something like that? He stood up, took a drink of water, washed his hands, wiped down his computer desk, and forced himself to calm down before sitting back down to type.
[Xiao Chi]: N-No...
[Shi]: Me neither.
Chi Zhen froze. What was that supposed to mean? How was he supposed to respond? Why would Wujin Shi suddenly tell him that? He already saw it in the group chat!
Without waiting for a reply, Wujin Shi simply skipped past the topic and asked about his classes instead.
[Shi]: How was class today? Was it difficult?
Chi Zhen let out a sigh of relief.
[Xiao Chi]: It was only the first day, so they covered pretty basic material. Nothing's been too difficult so far.
[Shi]: Have you decided which university you want to apply to?
[Xiao Chi]: Ah... I want to get into the University of Technology in our province, but I'm not sure I can. Based on where I am academically right now... it'll probably be pretty difficult...
[Shi]: The University of Technology? That's really close to me—it's in the neighboring city. Do your best, Xiao Chi. If you run into any problems, just ask me. I've been out of school for several years, but I should still remember calculus and English.
Close to Wujin Shi?
Chi Zhen stopped cold.
His first reaction was to open a map.
The neighboring city to the University of Technology...
It really was close. Only a forty-minute ride on the high-speed rail.
His heart began pounding. Somewhere deep inside him, a determination he hadn't known existed quietly took root. It grew stronger and stronger.
I'm going to get into the University of Technology.
Since he'd already posted the leave notice for his stream anyway, Chi Zhen simply took out his textbooks and notes and began reviewing everything he'd learned in class that day.
The training program's schedule was fairly relaxed. Every afternoon included an hour and a half of self-study, during which the teacher stayed after class to help students with homework.
Chi Zhen had already finished today's assignments without any problems. He took out his English textbook and started reading. I have to bring my English grades up!
From now until next March, I still have more than half a year. I can definitely do it!
The next day, Chi Zhen had finally adjusted his mindset.
Realizing he liked men was already shocking enough. Falling for an online friend he'd never even met in person—someone he'd only played games with—was even more unbelievable.
But… As long as he kept it hidden, as long as he guarded the secret carefully and nobody found out, then it wouldn't affect anyone.
Everything could stay exactly as it had been before.
Chi Zhen figured that admiration and romantic feelings probably looked pretty similar on the surface anyway. The viewers were already teasing him and Wujin Shi as a couple, and Wujin Shi himself didn't seem bothered by it. So all he had to do was keep acting normally. Just like now. Being in the same guild as Wujin Shi, getting along well with him, and being able to play games together...That was already enough.
Right on schedule, CZ Xiao Chi went live.
"Sorry about yesterday, everyone. Something unexpected came up," Chi Zhen said as he logged into the game. "Today's stream will be business as usual. From now on, I'll be streaming four hours a day, Monday through Sunday. Unless I'm making up missed hours, I won't be streaming during the daytime. If anything comes up, I'll post a leave notice."
[What?! It's summer vacation and you're only streaming four hours a day?!]
[The annual event is still going on! Do you have any career ambition at all?!]
Chi Zhen explained, "I'm preparing for the college entrance exam, everyone. Whenever I'm not streaming, I'm studying or doing homework."
[I don't care. Stream yourself studying!]
[I recommend livestreaming your homework. I'll do mine with you. #doge]
[Gaming streamer and study streamer? That's the perfect combination.]
[Forget that—do the unboxing!]
[Exactly! Where's Wujin Shi's package?! It should've arrived today, right?!]
Looking into the camera, Chi Zhen smiled awkwardly. "It did... Mm-hmm. To make up for canceling yesterday's stream, today I'll be unboxing the package Wujin Shi sent me. Honestly, there's nothing that exciting inside—it's just Quest for the Azure Heavens merchandise. Wujin Shi's really a nice person. He heard on stream that I wanted to decorate my room, so he mailed me some merch..."
Chi Zhen stepped away from his desk and carried over the shipping box.
"Um... it's a pretty big box..."
[HOLY CRAP! Did Wujin Shi literally ship himself to you?! The box is that big?!]
[Since Wujin Shi's such a nice guy, I also want some Quest for the Azure Heavens merch to decorate my room. Why doesn't he send any to me? Is it because I'm not as handsome as Xiao Chi?]
[Because you're not his husband. #doge]
Chi Zhen had already peeled off the shipping label. Using a utility knife, he cut through the packing tape. "There are probably several plushies inside, so they take up quite a bit of space."
He took the plush dolls out one by one and arranged them on his desk.
"These plushies are so cute... Ah, there's also a Spirit Cultivator figure. This figure is really well made. Let me show everyone." Copying the style of toy-unboxing streamers, he held the figure close to the webcam so everyone could get a clear look.
"This Spirit Cultivator figure is so detailed! Ah, and here's a Sword Cultivator figure too. This one is so cool." His eyes sparkled as he took out the Saber Cultivator figure, opened the box, and admired it quietly.
The figure wore a black school uniform and was frozen in the middle of drawing its saber. Its sharp expression, flowing robes, and dynamic pose gave it an incredibly imposing presence.
[Why are there only Spirit Cultivator and Sword Cultivator figures?]
[Damn... Wujin Shi is playing some very calculated games.]
[Those figures sell for 899 yuan each on the official site. Wujin Shi really spent a fortune. I'm genuinely jealous of Xiao Chi. Your husband is rich.]
[No wonder he's the top donor.]
[What else? What else?]
Chi Zhen took out a fabric wall scroll and several acrylic display stands, showing each of them to the viewers.
Finally, he looked into the bottom of the box...and froze.
[WHAT IS THAT?! WHAT IS THAT?!]
[I knew there was still something in the box! You can't fool me!]
[What love token is it?! Show us already!]
[I suggest lifting up the entire box so we can verify it's really empty!]
[HOLY CRAP! Xiao Chi's ears turned red!]
[What is it?! If you don't show us, I'm going to start making things up! Did he send condoms?!"]
[The comment above is driving way too fast. I'm getting carsick. #doge]
Chi Zhen hurriedly unmuted himself. "Don't say things like that. Two-day timeout. Seriously, stop joking around. It's not anything weird. I'll show you. It's... a lollipop..."
He lifted up the box for everyone to see.
Lying at the very bottom was an enormous lollipop. It was thirty-four centimeters long. The kind commonly sold in supermarkets: a giant lollipop shell that, when opened, contained lots of smaller lollipops inside.
Holding up the oversized lollipop awkwardly, Chi Zhen weakly explained, "...It was probably packed by mistake."
[So Wujin Shi is actually a pure-hearted romance warrior? I'm dead.]
[Oh my god, are you two elementary school kids dating? I'm shipping this so hard!]
[Wujin Shi, I take back everything I said about you being scheming. You're way too innocent.]
At that moment, Chi Zhen's phone received a new message.
[Shi]: It wasn't packed by mistake.
[Shi]: I was trying to think of something else I could send you as a gift.
[Shi]: I bought the candy at the convenience store downstairs from my office. I hope you don't mind it, Xiao Chi.
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