Meeting Online Friends

After three consecutive sounds, a star on the Star Chart finally lit up, followed by a pleasant female voice.

"Yo, a new newbie!"

She chuckled, "Where are you from in Stream City?"

"The wilderness."

I said in a deep voice, "What should I call you, Miss?"

"My name is Ruolin."

The other party smiled, "ID Ruolin, real name Zhang Ruolin, from Chengdu. And you?"

"My name is Ding Han, ID Shadow Chaser, from Suzhou."

"Oh..."

Zhang Ruolin laughed, "What level are you? What's your overall combat energy level?"

"Just reached level 10."

I glanced at my stats and said with a little humility, "My combat energy level isn't too high, only 80 points right now."

"80 combat energy points is actually pretty good."

Zhang Ruolin smiled, "Newbie, are you looking for someone to carry you? Or...?"

"I'm looking for some help."

I mused, "I just arrived in Stream City, I don't know anyone, and I'm penniless. I don't even have a phone. I want to buy one from another player. Ruolin, do you have a channel?"

"I do, but..."

Zhang Ruolin chuckled, "To be honest, players are all pretty poor right now. And you might not know, but as players descend, this Star Abyss world is undergoing drastic changes. The Star Maple Federation calls us 'Descenders' and believes we'll bring disaster to this world. So, they've issued a kill order to hunt down all Descenders. The upper echelons of the Crimson Dragon Country and Stream City are currently unclear about their stance, but it's definitely not optimistic."

"So..."

I said helplessly, "Sister, are you going to help me or not?"

"I can help, but it requires an equivalent exchange. You must have something I need."

"Okay."

I nodded, "I have a few powerful explosive grenades here, and a white MP25 Roarer submachine gun. I want to trade them with you for a phone, plus some bullets for a Wind Whisperer sniper rifle. It would be best if you could also give me some cash. Can you handle it?"

"I can."

Zhang Ruolin said, "How about this, chatting on the Star Chart wastes too much experience points. Let's meet tomorrow at the Island Coffee Shop on Jiankang Road. How about it? When are you free?"

"Around nine in the morning."

I thought for a moment, "I'll be wearing dark blue jeans and a white T-shirt. What about you?"

"Me..."

Zhang Ruolin smiled, "Of course, I need to dress up when meeting someone online. Wait for me at the coffee shop at nine, and I'll recognize you."

"Alright, please don't be late. I don't have a cent on me, I can't afford the coffee."

"Don't worry, coffee's on me."

"Okay, see you then."

"Mhm, see you then!"

Early morning, around eight o'clock.

A student wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking frail as if he'd pulled too many all-nighters, arrived at the internet cafe. His name was Zhao Yihang, and he was the third internet cafe attendant besides me and Sakura. He was a university student.

After handing over the shift, I immediately left the internet cafe, preparing to head to Jiankang Road. Today, Zhang Ruolin was treating me to breakfast, so I wouldn't eat at the internet cafe. Still, I grabbed a cup of noodles and tossed it into my Dimensional Storage Space.

"Ding Han."

Not long after leaving the internet cafe, Lu Xiaobei's voice called out from behind me.

"Hmm?"

I turned around and couldn't help but be dazzled. Today, Lu Xiaobei had long, jet-black hair, a gray skirt, and a beige shirt paired with a dark blue, white, and gold striped cardigan. She exuded a strong youthful aura, looking incredibly casual and breathtakingly beautiful.

"Boss, what's with the outfit?"

"With three attendants at the internet cafe now, I can finally let loose."

Lu Xiaobei said with a hint of displeasure, "It's fine when you call me 'Boss' at the internet cafe, but we're outside now. Just call me Lu Xiaobei."

"Okay."

I asked again, "Lu Xiaobei, where are you headed?"

"To the Old City District across the street."

Lu Xiaobei pointed across the street, "It'll be Chinese New Year in a few months, which is peak tourist season. The inns in the Old City District have invited me to take promotional photos for them. It's 500 yuan a day."

"Whoa..."

My eyes reddened, "Do they need male models?"

"Perhaps it's needed too."

Lu Xiaobei said, "I'll ask around for you later. If I get a chance, I'll definitely bring you along to get rich."

"Alright then."

I nodded heavily. "A gentleman's word is his bond. You must think of me when there's a chance to get rich! I lack everything right now, but what I lack the most is money."

"Got it~~~"

Lu Xiaobei waved her hand and gracefully crossed the street, her figure disappearing into the crowd in the Old City District.

I glanced at her retreating back, then turned and headed straight for Jiankang Road.

Jiankang Road and Qianjin Street are only a few hundred meters apart. There's only one Island Coffee shop on the entire road, so it's easy to find.

After entering the coffee shop, I ordered a latte and some cake and dessert. Since Zhang Ruolin was paying, I wasn't going to skimp on myself. If she stood me up, it wouldn't be a problem either. At worst, I could break the window with my Bio-Optical Invisibility skill and escape without paying, which wouldn't be too difficult for me.

Time ticked by, and soon it was nine o'clock.

The coffee shop was quiet in the morning, with hardly anyone there.

Just then, a figure walked into the coffee shop. It was a woman.

She had short hair and wore sunglasses, so her eyes were hidden. She had on a white inner shirt and a coffee-colored jacket, paired with loose gray-blue jeans and a pair of clean white sneakers. She looked very sporty.

As soon as she entered, she tilted her head and glanced at me, then walked over with a smile and sat down opposite me.

"A little handsome, you didn't disappoint me."

Zhang Ruolin took off her sunglasses and, upon seeing what I had ordered, her expression immediately showed pain. "Wow, are you eating like a king?"

"I'm sorry."

I said helplessly, "I wandered in the wilderness for many days, and I arrived in Stream City penniless. I really haven't eaten anything good. Ruolin, you're so beautiful, you must understand."

"Your thick skin, little newbie..."

Zhang Ruolin said with a speechless laugh, "Why do you sound so old-fashioned?"

As she spoke, she waved her hand. "Waiter, order coffee."

She only ordered a Tiramisu and a latte.

"How long have you been in Stream City?" I asked.

"I was born in Stream City."

Zhang Ruolin lowered her voice and chuckled, "I guess you could call me a local native, so feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."

"Mhm."

I nodded. "Did you bring your phone?"

"Of course."

Zhang Ruolin slowly pushed a new phone over. "It's a new Xiaomi model, good quality and a good price. It cost me a full 3000 Star Coins. Additionally, I got you a phone card using Grandma Liu next door's ID."

She gave a knowing smile. "We players... must pay attention to hiding our identities. Otherwise, you never know when you'll mess up."

"Mhm, thank you."

I accepted the phone and charger.

"Download WeChat. Let's add each other as friends and keep in touch via WeChat from now on. It won't waste experience points."

"Okay."

I immediately connected to the Wi-Fi and downloaded WeChat. Then, I used my own phone card to register for a WeChat account. My username was "Shadow Chaser," and I scanned Zhang Ruolin's QR code to add her.

"Alright."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Show me your goods using the trading system?"

"Sure."

I immediately opened the trading system and put up a white Roarer and three Undercurrent explosive grenades.

This kind of player trading behavior is invisible to outsiders. From the outside, Ruolin and I were just sitting opposite each other, drinking tea.

"Wow..."

Zhang Ruolin pursed her lips and smiled. "To be honest, the goods are good, especially the grenades. Undercurrent technology?"

"Mhm."

I nodded. "I won't lie to you, I was once captured by Undercurrent and taken to a concentration camp. It was only by chance that I escaped from their base. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state."

"Then you've had a hellish beginner's village."

Zhang Ruolin laughed. "My deepest sympathies."

"A MP25 and three grenades are definitely worth more than just a phone," I mused. "I also need some bullets, and cash. Without cash, I can't survive at all."

"Indeed."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Don't worry, I won't shortchange you."

As she spoke, she placed two boxes of bullets and a stack of cash into the trading window. The bullets were large-caliber rounds, compatible with the Wind Whisperer sniper rifle, totaling 200. The cash amounted to a hefty 5,000 Star Coins.

After the trade was successful.

I frowned and asked, "Actually, I still need some standard Roarer bullets. Can you get them?"

"As long as there's money, bullets are no problem."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Currently, on our player market, the price for standard 9mm Roarer bullets is about 1:3. How many do you need?"

"1000 rounds."

I handed her 3,000 Star Coins in return and said, "Get them for me as soon as possible."

"Okay."

Zhang Ruolin accepted the money. "Right now, there aren't many ways for players to level up within Stream City. If you want to go outside the city to fight monsters and level up, extracting experience from the Essence Furnace, you can contact me. I have a small team, and we head out of the city periodically once we've gathered enough ammo."

"What are the target monsters?" I asked.

"Bugs."

Zhang Ruolin smiled slightly. "It's not peaceful outside Stream City; Bug Nests spawn everywhere. We players have the coordinates for some of them. We usually go hunt Tier 1 Nest Bugs. Nest Bugs don't have much attack power. As long as a few players cooperate, suppressing them with covering fire, you can basically farm them without taking damage. When you run out of ammo, you leave; no lingering."

"That's good..."

I nodded in agreement. "Take me with you next time you go out of the city. Are there any requirements?"

"There are definitely requirements to join the team; we don't carry passengers."

Zhang Ruolin asked, "What's your ranged weapon?"

"I have a green Roarer."

"That's fine then."

Zhang Ruolin smiled casually. "A green Roarer, plus 1000 rounds of ammo, and you have a Wind Whisperer sniper rifle. Your combat energy level is also not low. That meets the requirements to join. I'll call you next time we go out of the city. We'll use WeChat to contact each other with a code word then."

I nodded and got up to leave.

"Wait."

Zhang Ruolin frowned slightly. "Stay with me a bit longer. It's been a while since I talked to a normal person."

"Then I'll have to order some things."

"Are you a pig? You eat so much?"

She looked helpless. "Order away."