Chapter 102: I Smell It—This Is the Scent of River Crabs

[Mu Qingxue: Why did you go silent?]

[Chen Xiaoyan: Sorry, Qingxue, I’m on the back mountain chasing rabbits with Chongchong, this Dead Rabbit is definitely getting roasted sooner or later.]

[Mu Qingxue: Rabbit? Is it for a quest, do you need help?]

Mu Qingxue knew that the Tianxiang Sect didn’t have much attack power, and that fighting monsters was much harder for their players than for other sects.

[Chen Xiaoyan: No need, and we’re not doing a quest anyway.]

[Mu Qingxue: Then, are you coming to the party for the sect this time?]

She asked again.

[Chen Xiaoyan: Of course I’m coming.]

[Mu Qingxue: Huh? You’re really coming?]

Seeing Chen Xiaoyan’s firm tone, Mu Qingxue was stunned.

The doubts in her heart instantly vanished into smoke.

No way, if she were hiding something, she’d definitely hesitate or refuse.

How could she be so certain?

You think it’s just a delaying tactic?

No, there’s no way Xiaoyan could’ve known I’d look into her, and even if she did, how long could she stall?

A few days?

Ha, once we meet at the reality gathering party, no lie will hold up.

Mu Qingxue originally wanted to ask about Chen Xiaoyan’s real identity, but after thinking for a long time, she didn’t speak up.

If she asked, Xiaoyan would know she was investigating her.

Forget it, better not ask.

No need to hurt our relationship, and anyway, everything will come to light in a few days.

[Chen Xiaoyan: Qingxue, you’re saying something weird here. Free food and drinks, why wouldn’t I come?]

[Mu Qingxue: My bad, slip of the tongue.]

[Mu Qingxue: Then it’s settled, I’ll give you a party to remember.]

[Chen Xiaoyan: Hehe, I heard Qingxue is the eldest miss of the Mu family from Central Province? Ooh, can I cling to your thigh?]

[Mu Qingxue: That’s all the ambition you’ve got?]

Chen Xiaoyan froze for a moment, then awkwardly scratched her cheek.

With what she’d just said, she honestly didn’t know how to respond next.

***

In a pink ocean, the ground was littered with soft peach blossoms.

Chen Xiaoyan gathered piles and piles of fallen peach blossoms, then scattered them together, making a huge Peach Blossom Bed.

“One, two, three.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the two of them fell back together.

The scattered peach blossoms flew up, then drifted slowly down, landing on their bodies.

“Mmm~”

Chen Xiaoyan inhaled deeply, taking in the rich fragrance of peach blossoms.

“If I wasn’t worried my real body couldn’t handle it, I’d want to live in this game forever.”

“Xiaoyan-jie, you want to live in the game forever?”

“Don’t you want to, Chongchong?”

Chongchong didn’t answer, as if pondering something.

“The air in real life is nowhere near this fresh, and look—every blade of grass and tree in the game is so real. Treating this place as a second world isn’t a problem at all.”

“It’s a pity, though—people are made of iron, rice is steel. You can skip a meal, but go without food for days, and your family will be hosting a wake for you.”

“Xiaoyan-jie, do you know about the Nursing Pod?”

Chongchong suddenly asked.

Chen Xiaoyan shook her head.

“Just from the name, is it some new hospital tech?”

“Nope.”

“It’s a product from Tel Technology. It just finished testing recently. If I’m remembering right, the Nursing Pod lets you go a whole week without eating.”

Chen Xiaoyan’s interest was immediately piqued.

“In this digital age, how has Tel Technology released something this amazing, and there’s not a peep about it online?”

“Well, it’s internal info. It just finished its first tests, and they can’t afford mistakes with this kind of thing—one slip and it’s a matter of life and death. So Tel Technology is being super cautious, testing over and over.”

“So how do you know about it, Chongchong? Don’t tell me you work for Tel Technology?”

Chen Xiaoyan asked with a laugh.

“No, but after Tel Technology finishes testing, they wanted to hire me as a spokesperson. I didn’t agree. Who knows if that thing is safe? If I endorsed it and something really went wrong, my reputation would be ruined.”

“Oh, right, Xiaoyan-jie, you have to keep this a secret.”

“Relax, my lips are sealed,” Chen Xiaoyan patted her chest and promised.

“And you, you little rascal—getting invited by Tel Technology as a spokesperson. You’re not secretly a big star, are you?”

After all, what are the odds a regular person would catch a big company’s eye?

At these words, Chongchong gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

“A big star?”

“Sometimes, being too famous is just a burden.”

Seeing the girl’s heavy expression, Chen Xiaoyan reached out and gave her a flick to the forehead.

“Hey, hey, this isn’t the Chongchong I know. Demons and monsters, begone!”

It was obvious—Chongchong was someone with a story.

But seeing her looking so down, Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t feel good either.

“Ah!!!”

Chongchong clutched her forehead, glaring at her with a mix of grievance and defiance as she yelled, “Xiaoyan-jie, you flicked me again!”

Chen Xiaoyan ignored her protest and nodded with satisfaction.

“Mm… that’s the Chongchong I know.”

Chongchong fell silent.

Then, she rolled over and snuggled close, hugging Chen Xiaoyan’s left arm.

That familiar feeling, that familiar scent—it was almost magical, able to quietly sweep away all her gloomy emotions.

“Xiaoyan-jie, you really are different.”

“I’ve met a lot of girls, but none are as interesting as you.”

As soon as Chongchong finished speaking, she realized what she’d said.

She nervously watched Chen Xiaoyan’s reaction.

She was terrified that, at the drop of a “player,” Chen Xiaoyan would storm off in a huff.

Obviously, she’d guessed wrong.

Chen Xiaoyan didn’t mind these things at all.

What’s that saying again?

What’s wrong with a girlfriend going yuri?

Some people say it’s betrayal—a spiritual kind.

But Chen Xiaoyan didn’t see it that way.

In her eyes, hell, buy one get one free, isn’t that a good thing?

The sad thing was, her yuri partner was herself, not her boyfriend.

That was the only pain.

“How am I interesting?”

Seeing Chen Xiaoyan’s calm tone and reaction, as if she hadn’t taken it to heart at all, Chongchong felt both relieved and a bit dissatisfied.

What the—do I mean nothing to her at all?

Unbelievable.

“Hmph, not telling you,” Chongchong pouted, turning her head away in a huff.

“Not talking, huh?”

Chen Xiaoyan’s right hand shot out like lightning to Chongchong’s waist, unleashing her invincible ultimate move.

Tickle attack.

“Hahaha, Xiaoyan-jie, what are you doing, hahaha!”

“Gonna talk?”

“Haha, talk about what?”

“Tell me why you think I’m interesting.”

“No way! I’d rather die of laughter than say it!”

“Good, such spirit! Take this!”

Chen Xiaoyan pulled her left hand free and launched a frenzied assault on Chongchong’s underarms with both hands.

Chongchong couldn’t take it and tried to escape.

But Chen Xiaoyan just yanked her right into her arms, hugged her around the waist, and went for the spot just below her navel.

“Don’t… Xiaoyan-jie, stop,” Chongchong’s expression changed as she started to beg for mercy.

“What happened to all that spirit? Why are you surrendering now?”

Chen Xiaoyan smirked in triumph.

“No, that spot… not there.”

That soft, teasing tone from Chongchong made Chen Xiaoyan freeze for a moment, then her expression changed too, realizing what she was doing.

What the hell am I doing?

The girl in her arms had a face as alluring as ripe fruit, biting her lip tightly, her eyes brimming with the look of spring.