So… all of this was just me overthinking things?
Knowing the truth made Chongchong both happy and a little embarrassed. She thought back to how she had been bragging in front of Xianyun and the others this afternoon and wished she could just find a crack in the ground to crawl into right now.
“By the way, you’re coming with me to the backyard tomorrow to see Elder Sister Shen.”
“What am I going for?” Chongchong asked, stunned.
Chen Xiaoyan sat back on the wooden stool, spreading her hands. “How should I know? She told me to bring you.”
“However, it probably won’t be anything bad. Maybe she wants to train you or something.”
Chongchong pouted. “I don’t believe that. If she wanted to train me, she would have done it a long time ago. Why wait until now?”
“Then I’m not sure.” After saying that, Chen Xiaoyan stood up, clapped her hands, and smiled. “Alright, let’s run the dungeon for two hours. I’m a bit short on experience to hit level thirty.”
“As a top player, my level can’t fall too far behind. After all, I, Chen Xiaoyan, am considered part of the first tier of Xianjie players.”
“Big Sister, have you prepared the skill book for your sixth skill slot?” Xianyun asked from the side.
Chen Xiaoyan nodded.
“Hehehe, Sister Xiaoyan, what’s your sixth skill?” Hearing this, Chongchong immediately leaned over, putting on a cheeky grin.
[Carefree Umbrella]
“Carefree Umbrella?” Chongchong’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly asked, “What does the Carefree Umbrella do? Is it in the Book Pavilion?”
“Cleanses negative status effects, plus eight seconds of healing.”
“Holy crap!”
Hearing the skill effect, Chongchong couldn’t help but curse.
“It comes with a cleanse, and on top of that, it can also heal? Isn’t that just too overpowered?”
“Sister Xiaoyan, Sister Xiaoyan~” Chongchong’s eyes turned green with envy, her voice suddenly becoming sugary sweet. She lay across Chen Xiaoyan’s lap, looking up at her with a pitiful pout. “Am I not your little cutie?”
After more than a month of interaction, Chen Xiaoyan seemed to have grown accustomed to this girl’s antics. Not a ripple stirred in her heart.
‘Want the Carefree Umbrella, huh?’
“Mhm, mhm, mhm!” Chongchong nodded vigorously.
“Go ask Shen Qingqing.”
“Sister Xiaoyan, please help me~ You know if I go ask her directly, she definitely won’t give it to me.”
Chen Xiaoyan hesitated.
If it were before, she definitely wouldn’t be willing. Who would want someone else to have their trump card?
But after more than a month of getting along, this girl Chongchong could no longer be considered an outsider.
Since she wasn’t an outsider, helping her a bit wouldn’t hurt.
Just don’t be too direct about it.
“Tomorrow, I’ll give Elder Sister Shen a little hint. Whether she gives it to you or not is up to her. I can’t force her.”
“Mhm, mhm, okay! Thank you, Sister Xiaoyan! You’re the best!”
Chongchong threw herself into Chen Xiaoyan’s arms, rubbing her head against her like a kitten. Even though it didn’t meet her expectations, she was already satisfied.
If it were anyone else, they would definitely refuse a hundred times over. After all, who doesn’t want to be the most special one?
“Alright, stop squirming. It’s ticklish.” Chen Xiaoyan patted her head as a reminder.
“Oh.”
“Oh, what? Don’t get too happy too soon. I didn’t say Elder Sister Shen will definitely give it to you.”
“Hehe, it’s fine if she doesn’t. That’s not what I’m happy about anyway.”
“Then what are you so happy about?” Chen Xiaoyan was greatly puzzled.
Chongchong looked up and gave her a playful wink. “You guess.”
Chen Xiaoyan immediately gave her a flick on the forehead.
“I’ll guess your big head! Hurry up and get off. We’re getting ready to go grind levels in the Abyss Dungeon.”
“Noooo, noooo~” Chongchong wriggled her body, cooing and acting spoiled.
“It’s not like we’re short on time. What’s the big deal about letting me hold you for a little longer?”
“Because Sister Xiaoyan smells so nice~”
“Pfft, we Tianxiang players all have the same scent.”
“I think it’s different. Although it’s roughly the same, the feeling it gives is different.”
Xianyun and A Curtain of Dreams sat on the steps in front of the inner room door, quietly watching the two of them flirt and engage in ambiguous interactions in the courtyard. It made A Curtain of Dreams’ heart itch. She turned to look at Xianyun.
“Do we count as eating dog food?”
“Probably.” Xianyun replied perfunctorily.
Her gaze remained fixed on Chen Xiaoyan and Chongchong. No one noticed the trace of envy in her eyes.
“Sigh, I want to go find that guy and have a sweet romance too.”
“That guy?” Hearing this, Xianyun’s interest was piqued. She turned her head and asked.
“It’s just that guy! I’m not telling you.”
The corner of Xianyun’s mouth lifted slightly. She stretched, stood up, patted her butt, then turned back to A Curtain of Dreams with a smile. “Even if you don’t say, I know.”
“At the party, anyone who wasn’t blind could basically tell who it was.”
A Curtain of Dreams’ face flushed red. She lowered her head somewhat shyly and muttered in a small voice, “Knowing is useless anyway.”
*
Outside the Abyss Canyon dungeon, the four Healers had assembled.
Plus Hong Chen Ru Meng, I Am the Master of My Fate, Not Heaven, Mu Qingxue, and players from two guilds who hadn’t cleared the new dungeon yet.
Twenty-nine people in total.
“Dad, you finally remembered your son!” Zhao Longjun had tears in his eyes, moved to the point of being a mess.
“Uh…” Chen Xiaoyan scratched her cheek, explaining awkwardly, “I’ve just been too busy lately, so I forgot.”
“What level are you now?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Sister Xiaoyan, why did you call him over?” Chongchong tugged on Chen Xiaoyan’s hand, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in her ear.
Chen Xiaoyan put on a helpless expression.
‘I didn’t call him. Ever since the party, this guy hasn’t contacted me.’
‘If he hadn’t just messaged me begging for a dungeon carry, I might have forgotten I even had this chuunibyou dead-fat-otaku friend.’
“Yo, Chongchong girl, long time no see. Still as spirited as ever.” Zhao Longjun waved two fingers in front of his forehead, greeting her.
In response, Chongchong turned her face away, completely ignoring him.
Zhao Longjun shrugged. He was used to Chongchong’s coldness and didn’t mind.
I Am the Master of My Fate, Not Heaven: Bro, I found a CP in the game.
Looking at the private message Zhao Longjun sent, Chen Xiaoyan was a little surprised.
‘This guy found another CP?’
‘Didn’t he say before that he met a rare woman in real life who understood his handsomeness? Did he get dumped again?’
Chen Xiaoyan: Where? Call her over, let me have a look. I’ll vet her for you.
I Am the Master of My Fate, Not Heaven: Ahem, that won’t be necessary. In this lifetime, I will fight to the death to prevent her from ever seeing you.
Chen Xiaoyan: ???? What do you mean?
I Am the Master of My Fate, Not Heaven: Don’t misunderstand, I’m not targeting you. It’s mainly because you’re too terrifying. I don’t want my newly found CP to inexplicably turn into a lesbian the moment she lays eyes on you.
Chen Xiaoyan’s face darkened.
Chen Xiaoyan: Is that polite?
After sending that, she angrily closed the private chat window.
‘Slander. Pure slander.’
‘There are so many people around me, and they’re not all lesbians.’
‘Look at Xianyun, and Yumeng, and Hong Chen Ru Meng. Which one of them is a lesbian?’
“Yanzi, you called Mu Qingxue here too?” Zhao Longjun suddenly walked over to Chen Xiaoyan’s side, leaned down, and whispered in her ear.
The atmosphere instantly froze over. However, Zhao Longjun was unaware that his action made the surrounding…