Surprise! My online crush turned out to be... - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ever since Fatty Chen moved in, the amount of trash has been growing at a noticeable rate, and the number of hourly workers has been increasing even more.

The snack wrappers in the trash can and the empty and unopened drink cans on the table all put a certain amount of pressure on Shu Yang.

“I said, you’re eating like this. Will Xu Mengran tolerate it?” Shu Yang casually threw a pillow at Fatty Chen, who was playing a game.

Fat Chen had finally managed to break away from the ranks of singles, even though his girlfriend had a strange hobby of stargazing all night.

“Mengran doesn’t dislike me. She loves the interesting soul beneath this 200-pound body. Unlike you, who are superficial!” Fatty Chen didn’t even turn his head, the sound of mouse clicks and keyboard clacking mingling.

When boys get together, the topic of games is always there.

Fat Chen and Shu Yang are both obsessed with a recently released real-life 3D strategy shooter. The two of them almost cleared out a space in their house for a dedicated game room.

“Honestly, Fatty, do you think this game is still interesting?” Shu Yang walked up behind Shen Yi, watching him play like a tiger, and then asked.

“What’s wrong? Are you bored?” Fatty Shen controlled his character, holding a gun and aiming a high-powered scope at the head of a dog in a warehouse, imitating the sound of a gunshot, “Bang! Headshot.”

“It’s not that it’s boring, I just feel like I want to play something else.” Shu Yang leaned against the computer desk. “No matter how 3D this game is, you can’t experience it yourself. It would be great if there were holographic online games like that.”

“What are you thinking, friend? When will it be developed? Why don’t you invest in a game company and hire people for it specifically to research it for you?” Fatty Shen, taking a rare moment to look at Shu Yang, chuckled. “If it’s developed, I won’t charge any creative fees. Just give me a gaming nutrition pod or a helmet. It’s what they say in novels.”

“If I really listened to you, Comrade Shu Zhiyi might break my legs before it’s developed. Then, I’ll have to rely on holographic games to spend the rest of my life in misery.” Shu Yang rolled his eyes at Chen Yi.

Chen Yi snorted and turned back to his computer. “Given how much your dad loves you, he definitely wouldn’t break your legs. My dad would be more like that.”

“You don’t understand, brother.” Shu Yang sighed, slumped down in his gaming chair, and turned on his computer. “Don’t start it yet. Wait for me.”

While waiting for the computer to boot up, Shu Yang pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at it. The anonymous user, Da Ge, hadn’t replied yet. Honestly, he didn’t know why he was so insistent on talking to a stranger. Maybe it was the strange feeling of being linked without knowing each other.

Besides, this Da Ge was actually quite interesting. Shu Yang smiled and connected the data cable to the computer. Too lazy to find a charger, he just charged it.

“Are you done yet?” Chen Yi felt his hands itch as he stared at his unresponsive game screen.

“Don’t rush now. Doesn’t it take time to boot up?” Shu Yang expertly logged into his game account. He couldn’t see that as he entered the game screen, the screen of his phone, connected to the computer, lit up.

—

A distant imperial capital planet hosted an elegant dinner for the nobility.

Madam Stacy Tulsi, despite her age, still retaining her charm, was arm in arm with her distinguished son, chatting and laughing with the other ladies.

Francis kept his eyes half-lidded throughout, watching his mother. Though his face was expressionless, a hint of tenderness could be seen in his downcast gaze.

But even with this added touch of human touch, no one dared to approach him directly.

Even at such a casual gathering, Francis remained in his military uniform, creating a sense of distance and a constant reminder that he was the most influential figure in the empire.

Thus, people had to approach Madam Tulsi in a roundabout way, hoping to catch the Marshal’s attention.

Madam Tulsi seemed enthusiastic and familiar with the occasion, handling everyone with ease and offering warm greetings.

As the crowd grew, Francis frowned subtly.

He leaned over to whisper in Mrs. Tulsi’s ear, “Mother, I’m going home now.”

Mrs. Tulsi’s expression remained unchanged. Out of sight, she pinched her son’s arm, a sharp pain.

Looking at her son standing beside her, he remained expressionless, even finding the time to say, “An hour’s up. You’re so inefficient! You’ve wasted all your time just listening to compliments on your outfit.”

Of course, Francis lowered his voice, clearly wanting to be heard. Even those who could hear a bit pretended to be deaf.

Mrs. Tulsi glared at him fiercely. “Can’t you stay a little longer?”

“The greater good is more important.”

“Go on, go on, you uninspired fellow.” Mrs. Tulsi pulled her arm free, lifted her skirt, and walked away.

Francis stood there for a moment, then turned and left.

When he recalled the problem with his computer, he realized that, subconsciously, he hadn’t prioritized this matter.

This meant he was almost certain the owner of the computer had no ill intentions, at least not toward the Empire. He wasn’t sure about him.

Thinking of the conversation he had just had before leaving, Francis took out his computer and took a look.

The sight made him pause.

The desolate desert was dotted with dilapidated houses. The scene shifted, revealing three people carrying guns and backpacks. As the perspective shifted, and the sight of a pair of hands and a gun at the bottom made Francis almost certain they were individuals wearing cameras.

Then, a voice rang out from the screen.

“NW315: One person behind a rock, SE135: Two people behind a tree.”

—

“What the hell are these crappy teammates? They’re so bad, and they’re still okay?” Fatty Shen was prone to emotionally immersing himself in games, and he always felt unhappy when he lost due to external factors. Shu Yang had said this several times. Games are for entertainment. If you can’t have fun, what’s the point of playing?

Fat Shen righteously retorted, saying the most important thing about a game is the feeling of accomplishment that comes from winning, the feeling of being number one in the world. A rookie like Shu Yang didn’t understand that.

Shu Yang simply chuckled and headshot the man who had defeated Fatty Shen. They were just getting started with the game.

After that, Fatty Shen never harped on about the game in front of Shu Yang again.

If Shen Yi is a diligent player, then Shu Yang is a talented one. In this game, Shu Yang’s strengths were clearly demonstrated: calm, composed, patient, with exceptional insight and reaction speed.

Shen Yi, on the other hand, was easily impulsive, eager to give away kills.

However, after playing for a long time, both players’ skills improved dramatically, and now, barring unexpected circumstances, they are both seeded players who can consistently win the game.

Now the two of them were facing a two-on-six situation. Besides them, two other teams had noticed them simultaneously.

The four of them had been communicating via voice chat, but just now, two of them had rushed forward, revealing their position and giving away lives. This was unbearable for Fatty Shen.

Shu Yang said coldly, “Have you forgotten what you did before?”

Fat Shen finally calmed down and muted the other two’s microphones. “If you ask me, we still can’t play solo. Let’s get Tao Zi or someone else to join us tomorrow. Brothers united are stronger than iron!”

“…Come up this slope and give me a high-magnification scope.” Shu Yang crouched behind cover, spraying himself with medicine.

“Hey, brother, you’re no longer a lamb, Yang. You’re a fierce tiger of the Empire State.” Fatty Shen followed suit and crouched beside him.

“Don’t get so close to me. One mine could easily take us both out.” Shu Yang looked down at Fatty Shen with disdain.

“How could it be that accurate?” Fatty Shen scoffed. “Do you think everyone can be as good as me, Shen Shen? Being a demolition genius isn’t easy, buddy.”

“Hush, listen.”

“They’re fighting?” Shen Yi rubbed his mouse. “How about we go out and join the fray?”

“Let’s go.” While the fun of the game lies in winning in the end, coming in second isn’t quite as satisfying. Shu Yang ducked back to his previous position.

“Seal the smoke, let’s outflank them.”

Although Shu Yang’s build and appearance weren’t as rugged as Shen Yi’s, it was actually Shu Yang who made more decisions during their time together.

“You two, I’ll three. If we can win, we win. If we can’t, we’re dead.” Shu Yang filled his tank and said something rather silly. “Now is the time to make a decision!”

Shen Yi took the initiative, taking advantage of the enemy’s fierce battle to draw fire and extend his gunfire, giving Shu Yang time to close in.

Shu Yang quickly circled behind both opponents, using cunning maneuvers and steady ganking to secure a triple kill. It looked clean and neat, but Shu Yang hadn’t been so sure of it.

Then he and Shen Yi each took out one opponent.

Good luck.

“Don’t get cocky; this is just the beginning.” Shu Yang narrowed his eyes.

For someone like him who spends his days doing nothing, he always has to find some fun. Thinking this, he glanced at his phone while preparing for the game.

[Not bad. But according to Article 672 of the Empire, you deliberately killed six citizens in this battle, which should have been criminally responsible… But from what I can see, you acted in self-defense, so I can expect a lighter sentence. As for the possession of munitions… those weapons wouldn’t meet the sentencing criteria. You’re quite clever.]

…

Shu Yang hadn’t realized he’d inadvertently live-streamed a game to his online friends, and now he was a little stunned by the words.

Two more messages popped up immediately.

[For the glory of the Empire? You’re an Imperial?] [State your purpose.]

Shu Yang, unbeknownst to him, was Francis’s admiration for talent. He presented himself as a “soldier” with impressive physique and incredible hacking skills.

The Empire’s legions were not small in strength, but there was no shortage of individuals with exceptional, top-tier skills. If such a person joined, it would certainly have unexpected benefits.

Even if his origins were unclear, extracting a bit of his physical substance would reveal all the answers within the gene pool.

Besides, everyone has weaknesses, and Francis never thought he couldn’t suppress a mere B-grade individual.

Shu Yang thought carefully, then tried to align himself with Big Pigeon’s train of thought. Perhaps only by pretending to be a fanatical imperialist radical could he connect with Big Pigeon.

[Everything I do is for the future of the Empire. Even if it means sacrificing my life for it.]

After sending the message, Shu Yang suddenly felt something was amiss.

He pulled the message box upwards and saw the tally of his kills.

How did this big pigeon know this?