Player Identity

"It doesn't matter."

Captain Qin frowned and said, "We can reconsider joining the Great Wall Watch. There's no need to rush it. Ultimately, it has to be your own willingness to join. Focus on recovering from your injuries and getting fully healed as soon as possible. Everything else is secondary."

"Yes, thank you for understanding, Captain Qin!"

I nodded and didn't say anything more.

Cheng Shuang picked up an apple and started peeling it, Captain Qin took out his phone and sat down on the sofa.

A few minutes later, a phone call came into the ward.

Cheng Shuang got up to answer the phone, said "Mmm" a few times, then hung up and turned around to say, "Ding Han, the hospital director said you should be able to be discharged in the next few days. I'm going over there now to fill out the discharge papers."

"Okay, go ahead."

Cheng Shuang turned and left.

Only after she had walked away did Captain Qin get up from the sofa again.

I know that Cheng Shuang was most likely sent away by him.

"Captain Qin, please speak freely."

I slowly got up, stood by the window, and rubbed my wrist. My body has indeed recovered almost completely, and I can move around normally now. It's just that my attribute points have been reduced by 45% due to the severe Severely Injured.

"Alright, then I'll just get straight to the point."

Captain Qin stepped forward, and after confirming that the ward door was closed, said, "Ding Han, we're not outsiders. You inherited Cheng Feng's sword. Even if you don't join the Great Wall Watch in the future, I, Qin Lang, will still consider you half one of my own. So there are some things I need to say."

"You say."

"I think you've probably noticed something along the way. Cheng Shuang has started to develop some feelings for you. Although these feelings are uncertain, it's a very dangerous sign."

He frowned and said, "Cheng Shuang is Cheng Feng's only sister. Cheng Feng doted on her when he was alive. Cheng Shuang suffered betrayal and death from her fiancé, which caused her great emotional trauma. I've told you about this before. If you develop feelings for Cheng Shuang during this time, it would be highly suspicious of taking advantage of her. Besides, Cheng Shuang may not be able to withstand another blow like this."

"Captain Qin, I think you might have misunderstood something?"

I felt a slight tremor in my heart. In fact, I didn't feel that Cheng Shuang was showing any signs of anything beyond friendship towards me, or that her excessive kindness towards me was partly due to Cheng Feng. At least, that's what I thought.

Whether I misunderstood or not is not important; what matters is what you think.

Captain Qin's voice grew increasingly stern. "Ding Han, do you really think you can have a relationship with Cheng Shuang and have it work out?"

I Wu Yan.

"You know, the day before Cheng Feng died in battle, he told me one of his speculations."

"What speculation?"

He said, "You are very likely a legendary player."

"!!!"

I was dumbfounded.

Captain Qin noticed my emotional fluctuation and sneered, "Looks like Cheng Feng guessed right!"

His gaze was fixed on me as he laughed, "How laughable, the legendary players... If you are players, what are you playing with? Is it this world? I've heard some things about players; many of you are searching for a way back to your own world. So, if Cheng Shuang really falls in love with you, what can you give her? Once you find a way back, will you leave her alone in this world to suffer?"

"Captain Qin, you don't need to say that."

I frowned and said, "I'll say it again: I have no improper thoughts about Cheng Shuang. I only regard her as a friend, as Brother Cheng Feng's sister. Within my ability, I try my best to take care of her and protect her."

"There's absolutely no need for that!"

Captain Qin's gaze was icy. "Cheng Shuang is the sole heir of the Cheng Group and a key protected individual in Jiangning City. Her safety will naturally be protected by others. As for you, your leaving her now is the greatest protection you can offer her."

I felt a little depressed. "So, we made a decision, and Cheng Shuang didn't even have the right to know?"

"You want her to know that you're a player?"

"..."

I Wu Yan again. The identity of a player was indeed a taboo, and at this moment, it seemed that my "player identity" had become a handle in Qin Lang's hands.

"Think about it again."

Captain Qin's voice softened considerably as he said, "You are the successor to Cheng Feng's sword, and I don't want to be too harsh. Ding Han, you were one of the people who killed Gray Bug Regiment Commander Vega. I believe someone like you can't be a bad person. In short, think this over carefully, just for Cheng Shuang's sake."

"Um."

I nodded, and then Captain Qin left.

In the evening, we ate dinner in the sanatorium's restaurant.

Cheng Shuang's phone kept ringing, seemingly from someone chatting. After a while, she looked up and smiled, "Ding Han, my parents have heard about you and want to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. What do you think?"

"Ah?"

I was surprised; at a time like this, it seemed even less necessary to meet her parents.

"Forget it, I'm a little nervous."

"What are you afraid of? They're my parents..."

Cheng Shuang said, "It's just a simple home-cooked meal. The restaurant is already booked, and I'll go with you tomorrow night."

If I really couldn't refuse, I could only nod and agree.

Time flies, and it was already evening the next day.

Cheng Shuang drove me to a restaurant in Jiangning City.

The private room was large. A middle-aged man in casual clothes stood up and smiled, "Young man, you must be Ding Han? I am Cheng Shuang's father, Cheng Mingyuan. Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you."

I quickly stepped forward, shook hands, and said, "Hello, Uncle Cheng. I've heard so much about you, Uncle Cheng. I've long admired you."

"Haha, this young man really knows how to talk..."

Cheng Shuang's Mother smiled and said, "Ding Han, don't be shy, sit down. We haven't ordered yet. You and Xiao Shuang can see what you'd like to eat and order it yourselves."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie!"

It would be a lie to say they weren't reserved. As the head of the Cheng Group, Cheng Mingyuan exuded a very strong aura, and Cheng Shuang's Mother also had the air of a noblewoman, making them seem unapproachable.

Cheng Shuang took the menu from the waiter and sat down with me to look through it.

This restaurant is quite upscale, and the dishes are rather expensive. Even a simple stir-fried vegetable dish costs over a hundred yuan, which is a bit outrageous. Some dishes made with rare ingredients cost over a thousand yuan. This meal would probably cost over ten thousand yuan.

Cheng Shuang didn't try to save money, ordering several expensive signature dishes, while I ordered a slightly cheaper vegetarian dish. Later, her parents added some more dishes.

We were drinking red wine, and I didn't dare to be presumptuous. I picked up my glass and toasted each of the two elders.

"Dad, Mom, Ding Han can't tolerate alcohol well, let him drink less," Cheng Shuang said.

"Um."

Cheng Mingyuan nodded and smiled, "I understand, I understand."

Afterwards, the topic of Creek City came up, and they talked about Cheng Feng's Creek City there. For a moment, the two elders looked somber.

"Cheng Feng has always been too opinionated."

Cheng Mingyuan sighed, "He ignored such a vast fortune, yet insisted on becoming a sentry on the Great Wall. He didn't even have Essence Furnace, so he couldn't learn ancient martial arts like others. In the end, he ended up in Creek City..."

"Old Cheng, stop talking."

Cheng's mother's eyes were already brimming with tears.

"Ding Han."

Cheng Mingyuan said, "I heard that Cheng Feng's sword has been passed down to you."

"Um."

I nodded and said, "Unfortunately, I was Severely Injured in the battle of Creek City, and this sword fell into the hands of my friend. It is not currently in my possession."

"Eh..."

Cheng Mingyuan sighed, "Perhaps this is Cheng Feng's fate. He's clearly not suited for it, yet he's so stubborn. That sword was carefully forged by an old friend of mine; just keep it safe."

"Okay, Uncle Cheng, I will."

Afterwards, everyone lost interest in the meal.

"Cheng Shuang."

Cheng Mingyuan said, "Go downstairs to pay the bill, we'll wait for you here."

"Good."

Cheng Shuang picked up her bag, patted my shoulder, and left.

I frowned. When only Cheng Shuang's parents and I were left in the private room, I suddenly felt the atmosphere become tense, even a bit like a battle was about to break out. The expressions of the two elders gradually turned cold.

"Ding Han."

Cheng Mingyuan said, "You are someone Cheng Feng chose and approved of, so in principle... you are practically family to us. But I heard that Cheng Shuang has been focusing all her attention on you lately, which makes your aunt and me very uneasy. Cheng Shuang has suffered a major emotional blow before, and she is now my only heir. I have already started arranging for her to work in the group, so I don't want a relationship to affect her future at this time."

Sure enough, the worst thing happened.

"Uncle Cheng, don't worry, Cheng Shuang and I are just friends, and I have absolutely no ulterior motives."

"That's good."

As soon as Cheng Shuang left, Cheng's mother revealed a completely different side of herself, her expression becoming exceptionally harsh. She said, "Our Cheng family is large and powerful, and countless people outside are eyeing Cheng Shuang. Some are like toads trying to eat swan meat, hoping to use Cheng Shuang's influence to rise to the top. Such petty thoughts can't fool anyone. You must understand what I mean, right?"

"Clear."

I stood up abruptly, placed my hands on the table, and looked at her intently. "Auntie, please rest assured. Perhaps Cheng Shuang is a swan, but I, Ding Han, am definitely not a toad. I have never sought anything from Cheng Shuang. That's all I have to say. I will leave Jiangning City soon and will not cause you any trouble."

"Ding Han, your aunt isn't very educated, and her words can be a bit harsh. Actually, what we meant was..."

Cheng Mingyuan wanted to say something more.

I smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Cheng, there's no need to explain. I consider Cheng Feng my elder brother, so I will respect you two elders. As for your concerns... they won't come true. Don't worry, I will keep my distance from Cheng Shuang."

"That's good, I'm sorry to have troubled you..."

Cheng Mingyuan's eyes showed remorse.

After going downstairs and seeing Cheng Shuang, I said directly, "Let's go back to the sanatorium."

"Um."

Cheng Shuang drove away from the restaurant, her beautiful eyes sweeping over me as if she had noticed something. "Did they say something to you?"