“I won’t say anything unnecessary. Let’s leave the next part to the professionals,” Chen Xiaoyan put down the microphone and quickly shot a look at Qiu Xue.
Everything that needed to be said was already said; after all, she wasn’t a professional host and wasn’t great at managing the atmosphere.
Secondly, she wanted to check on Mu Qingxue’s condition, to see if she was feeling any better.
Noticing this, Qiu Xue immediately made a hand gesture toward a nearby staff member.
The latter nodded understandingly and walked toward the stage.
Chen Xiaoyan handed the microphone to the staff and hurried behind the folding screen.
“Qingxue, how’s your body? If you really can’t go on, you should rest first. I’m here.”
“I’m fine, just need to sit for a bit.”
Mu Qingxue gave a gentle smile and shook her head.
“That’s good. You really scared me just now.”
“It’s my problem. In the game, I tried facing men directly, but my condition was never this severe. I underestimated it.”
“This… can you talk about what happened in your childhood that made you so afraid of men? Of course, if it’s inconvenient, just forget I asked.”
While they were talking, Qiu Xue fetched a round wooden stool and placed it beside Mu Qingxue.
“Xiaoyan, take a seat while you talk.”
“Thank you,” Chen Xiaoyan nodded and smiled, then plopped down.
She then looked at Qiu Xue and asked, “Do you play Immortal Realm too? You seem very familiar.”
Mu Qingxue chuckled softly, “She is Qiu Xue.”
“Oh～ So you’re Qiu Xue! Nice to meet you, Qiu Xue!”
Chen Xiaoyan smiled and reached out her hand.
Qiu Xue shook her hand gently and nodded politely with a smile.
“Xiaoyan, you’re too kind.”
“Are you Qingxue’s bestie, Qiu Xue?”
“No…”
Before Qiu Xue could answer, Mu Qingxue interrupted.
“Yes.”
“She’s both my bestie and my assistant. Qiu Xue handles a lot of things for me.”
“Amazing,” Chen Xiaoyan gave Qiu Xue a thumbs up in admiration.
“Did you graduate from a prestigious university, Qiu Xue?”
Qiu Xue was just about to speak when she saw someone approaching and quickly moved to stand protectively in front of Mu Qingxue.
Chen Xiaoyan also sensed something was off and turned around.
“Yanzi, here you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Zhao Longjun came around the screen and greeted Chen Xiaoyan.
“Fat Otaku?”
“Uh… Didn’t we agree never to use that nickname again?”
Zhao Longjun’s face fell as he stared at her, aggrieved.
“I never promised,” Chen Xiaoyan spread her hands and smiled.
“Also, don’t come any closer. Stay right where you are.”
“Why?”
“No reason. If you come closer, I guarantee you’ll get beaten up,” Chen Xiaoyan glanced at Qiu Xue’s unfriendly expression and shrugged.
Zhao Longjun looked at Qiu Xue.
What’s with this girl’s fierce look, like she’s about to stab me?
Come on, we’ve never even met before, how did I offend you?
“Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
“I…”
Zhao Longjun looked at Chen Xiaoyan, his confused eyes making her want to laugh.
What does this even mean?
As soon as I show up, you want me gone?
Chen Xiaoyan quickly shot him a look, hinting that Mu Qingxue was here.
Zhao Longjun glanced at the lady behind Qiu Xue and recalled what Chen Xiaoyan had said outside the game dungeon.
He suddenly understood everything.
That damned androphobia.
Poor Miss Mu, destined to be alone for life.
“Xiaoyan-jie!”
“Captain!”
“Boss Xiaoyan!”
At that moment, Chong Chong, Hongchen Rumeng, Yilian Youmeng, and Xian Yun arrived together.
“You’re here!”
Chen Xiaoyan greeted them with a smile, her tone as gentle as could be.
Zhao Longjun saw this and felt uneasy inside.
The difference between people really is huge.
Feeling blue and like a lonely mushroom.
“Eh, are you the Sleazy Guy?”
Chong Chong looked at the handsome guy before her in surprise.
She hadn’t recognized him from the back, but now that she saw his face, she realized this was the guy from Destiny is Mine, Not Heaven’s, that annoying fellow.
Why did she dislike him?
Hmph, he seemed really close to Xiaoyan-jie.
It didn’t make much sense, but she just didn’t like him.
“Chong Chong… little sis?”
Zhao Longjun was taken aback when he saw Chong Chong in real life.
He hadn’t expected this young comrade to be just as cute in person.
Chong Chong pretended not to hear, not wanting to pay him any attention.
Seeing that she ignored him, Zhao Longjun didn’t push it and turned his attention to Xian Yun and Yilian Youmeng.
As for Hongchen Rumeng, he automatically ignored her.
Because her style was too fierce—not his type at all.
“How should I address the two Miss Tianxiang?”
Zhao Longjun gave his most charming smile, dressed in white, looking like a refined scholar from ancient times.
“Xian Yun, Yilian Youmeng.”
Zhao Longjun’s face twitched, caught between laughter and tears.
He was asking for their real names, not game IDs.
But he could tell neither of these girls wanted to have anything to do with him in real life.
Forget it. How is it that no one who plays Immortal Realm seems to appreciate my earth-shattering handsomeness?
Real life is better—at least someone gets me.
“What a life, what a life,”
Zhao Longjun sighed as he walked away, making a strange discovery.
Whenever there were girls around his bro, they never seemed interested in him.
He didn’t know why.
It wasn’t superstition; it’s just the way things had been all along.
Anyway, he’d better steer clear of her when looking for girls from now on.
“You know that guy?”
After Zhao Longjun left, Yilian Youmeng asked Chong Chong.
“He’s just an annoying sleazeball. Ignore him.”
“Oh.”
Yilian Youmeng glanced at Zhao Longjun’s retreating back, muttering to herself, “He doesn’t seem that sleazy. In fact, he’s kind of handsome.”
“Xiaoyan-jie, hug!”
Chong Chong opened her arms and happily pounced toward Chen Xiaoyan.
Such a familiar scene.
Anyone else would have scooped up this little cutie for a good cuddle.
But in Chen Xiaoyan’s eyes—
The cutie had become synonymous with demon.
Chong Chong was the demon.
At least in real life, she was.
Seeing Chong Chong pounce, Chen Xiaoyan’s guard shot up, and she quickly pressed her hand against Chong Chong’s face.
“Stop!”
“Xiaoyan-jie, play gods and demons?”
Chong Chong tilted her mouth, peeking at Chen Xiaoyan through her fingers.
“I’m not feeling well. Don’t touch me.”
“Huh?”
Chong Chong was stunned.
She panicked a little.
Was it really as she feared?
She was disappointed, but didn’t give up.
She’d already expected this last night.
Wasn’t it just a matter of building feelings over time?
She could wait.
“Alright then.”
Chong Chong got up and quietly stood aside.
So obedient?
Impossible, right?
Was this still Chong Chong?
Chen Xiaoyan gave her a suspicious look.
If this wasn’t real life, she’d seriously suspect her account had been hacked.
Though the chances were slim.
“Hello, Miss Zhou.”
After sitting for a while, Mu Qingxue gradually returned to normal.
Seeing the interaction between Chen Xiaoyan and Zhou Xiaochong, she felt unhappy and decided to butt in.
When that woman extended her hand and called her Miss Zhou, Chong Chong instantly realized Mu Qingxue had investigated her.
A cold gleam flashed in her eyes.
“Miss Mu, nice to meet you.”
Chong Chong barely brushed Mu Qingxue’s hand before letting go, as if it were something dirty.