Surprise! My online crush turned out to be... - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Big Pigeon, have you seen my computer screen?

An incredible thought occurred to Shu Yang. He traced his phone’s data cable and saw that the other end was plugged into his laptop.

Then he was surprised. This phone app wasn’t just a virus; it was probably a powerful malware. It could leak private information simply through the data cable—it was a bit too scary.

Shu Yang quickly unplugged the cable and looked at the reply on the screen.

[This low-damage weapon doesn’t play to your strengths.]

…This message left Shu Yang speechless. He looked at his M4 and 98K and was silent for a moment.

[Big Pigeon is really strict…] He even used a slightly Japanese-style translation, [So what kind of gun do you usually use? It’s not like you always pick up a powerful gun like the AWM.]

This time, the reply was still quick.

[Laser weapons and particle beam weapons.] Other information is military secrets.

Shu Yang twitched his lips. This big pigeon really was always showing off—he typed the next sentence.

[Sorry, we poor kids don’t understand what you city folks say.]

[It’s okay.]

Shu Yang wanted to chat for a bit, but a powerful smack on his shoulder brought him back to his senses.

“Do you still want to play? Do you know how long Daddy’s been waiting for you?” Chen Yi tapped the keyboard, pointing at the afro-clad figure in a skirt on the screen. “Who are you chatting with?”

Suddenly, Fatty Shen’s tone softened, taking on a hint of lewdness. “Didn’t you say your phone had a virus? So now… aren’t you chatting with that ahem, sexy lady from some mysterious website? A sexy dealer? Dealing cards online?”

“What are you thinking about! I’m not going to play anymore. Play by yourself first.” After hearing Fatty Shen’s words, Shu Yang suddenly remembered the live broadcast of his computer screen.

Luckily, he was just playing a normal game, not something outlandish. But on second thought, Shu Yang felt relieved. So what? We were all men, and who didn’t have a teacher they truly loved?

“Shu, aren’t you going a bit too far? Are you prioritizing love over brotherhood?” Fatty Shen spun around in his chair, interrogating Shu Yang from the heart.

“Shen, did you abandon your good brother, who had just lost his youth, to go stargazing with a young woman? Given the choice between revolutionary friendship and romantic love, did you decisively choose the latter?”

Fatty Shen choked, then slowly said, “Well, actually, I didn’t have a choice at all. My heart has always belonged to our Meng Ran.”

“Can you please get out of my house?” Shu Yang said with a professional smirk. What’s this all about? If he wasn’t just a “lecher,” he might as well be a bearded, rough-hewn, shaggy-legged pigeon.

“Everything you say is true. Treat it as bullshit.” Fatty Shen spun around again and continued playing. “And Shu Yang, the Wild Dog Entertainment Club’s tournament is about to start. Are you joining?”

Shu Yang stared at the back of Fatty Shen’s head and gritted his teeth. “Yes!”

He quickly typed on his phone:

[Big Pigeon, what are your hobbies?]

I have to find something to talk about, otherwise this wonderful online connection will be ruined.

Since Shu Yang was in this so-called circle, he understood its rules and regulations perfectly. Those who made it in the game weren’t fools; rather, they were the ones who mastered the rules to perfection.

Shu Yang’s circle was a small one, but City B was teeming with people of similar social status and age.

Though they rarely interacted, they knew each other. After all, connections were often far more important to them than money.

To maintain this delicate connection, the so-called “Wild Dog Club” was born.

While the club’s name might not sound appealing, those seeking membership still needed some serious capital. Shu Yang shot to fame two years ago after gaining membership.

While the club offered a variety of unique recreational activities, the most popular was its annual car race.

Shu Yang happened to be there during his first year. Enticed, he signed up. After about three months of intensive training, Shu Yang took to the race.

He had no ambitions for a high score, and even cherished his life. Knowing his skills weren’t up to par, he didn’t choose a car that would take him to the limit. He simply finished the race honestly and finished second to last.

After each race, a staff member would be assigned to clean up the mess, preventing the last-place finisher from embarrassing themselves. This had become a regular feature of the Wild Dog Club. Even the last-place finisher would use this as a self-deprecating joke.

However, Shu Yang thought he could finish second to last. Unexpectedly, a minor mishap caused the staff member to accidentally overtake him, making him the first person in the Wild Dog Club’s racing history to finish last except for a staff member.

The staff member felt deeply aggrieved.

They had clearly seen the young master about to cross the line, but unexpectedly, in the final sprint, he suddenly collided with the soft roadside guardrail, causing him to accidentally make a mistake.

Shu Yang was mortified and furious, but it also successfully gained him a wave of attention. His circle of friends almost doubled in an instant.

Fat Chen even called him a scheming person.

Later, Shu Yang went to the previous racing event again, and surprisingly, he finished second to last. Those people still didn’t let him off, asking him if the staff had been professional this time.

Enough!

So Shu Yang decided to enter again to avenge his previous shame.

[No.]

[How could there be no? Shu Yang was a bit surprised. In this kind of entertainment-obsessed lifestyle, how could this guy be without entertainment if he wasn’t so busy he didn’t even have time to eat? How barren must he be? No wonder he was always chatting and joking with him, acting like a dramatic character.

Shu Yang thought he’d seen through the loneliness of the other person, but the reply “No Time” on his screen the next second only confirmed his thoughts.

He felt like his words were almost heartfelt.

“While the cause of building a beautiful and peaceful empire is important, and it’s an unbearable weight of responsibility on your shoulders, you should also take care of your health. If you collapse, who will the empire rely on?”

Since this guy was so into interstellar and empire, he might as well just say the same thing. It was quite amusing.

“What I’ve done is just a drop in the bucket. The soldiers of the Imperial Legion are the primary force maintaining peace. There’s still a long way to go, and I can’t accomplish it alone.”

So official? Shu Yang smiled.

His brain circuits were so different that he had no idea this was an olive branch extended to him by the renowned Marshal Francis.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Shu Yang knew what this netizen’s “hobby” was…

—

“Marshal, General Tours has sent you a transfer order. You are required to suspend all missions today and return home.”

Joyce winked mischievously, out of Francis’s sight. He really couldn’t blame him for being so naughty. General Tours had actually conveyed the message in a brief message.

General Tours was the Marshal’s father. It was said that their relationship wasn’t very good. If it weren’t for Mrs. Tours mediating, the two of them probably wouldn’t have spoken to each other for a year or two.

General Tours lived a distinguished life and retired with honor after a distinguished military career. His son, upon taking over, carried the Tours name forward, bringing it to heights he hadn’t reached.

He was pleased with his son’s abilities, but not with his character. He agreed that his son possessed all the perfect qualities of a soldier.

But he felt his son lacked a touch of humanity.

When he told Francis this, Francis simply said, “That’s why you can only reach the rank of General.” General Tulse couldn’t eat properly for two days.

His rank held no real power, but it carried a symbol of honor. It was strange that he was in a good mood after being bullied by his own ungrateful son.

Thus, Tulse never treated his son kindly, believing it wouldn’t be too late to offer his love until he came crying after being wronged.

However, Tulse only vaguely expressed this thought to Mrs. Tulse. After Mrs. Tulse gently stroked his temple, he forgot the reason for his anger.

“I understand,” Francis replied calmly.

Although he and his father weren’t particularly close, he mostly obeyed his parents’ orders. Besides, there was nothing else important to do today.

The hacker never revealed his purpose, and Francis could only do his best to support him, waiting for the day Joyce could crack the code.

This feeling was novel. He discovered that, in this almost inefficient way of communicating, the two of them found a deeper joy in understanding each other, like deciphering a secret.

For example, Francis put down the ancient book. The words the man spoke while fighting alongside his comrades differed from what he had typed on the screen.

From a few of these words, he understood their general environment and located approximately thirty similar planets.

It should take less than a week for him to learn the man’s interstellar codename and geographic location. By then, even if Joyce didn’t have the code, he could still achieve his goal through other means.

Francis closed his eyes to rest. When he opened them again, his pupils had deepened, a dark blue like a vortex, ready to capture him.

“Prepare the car. We’ll leave in one minute.”