Lin Qingying's Gift

"What price? Oh my god, you scared your dad to death!" The fat man suddenly appeared in a sarcastic tone.

Immediately afterwards, Kou Mei's starry sky also began to twinkle. "We're all players, so why are some people so mean?"

"Kou Mei, you don't know this..."

An anonymous bystander commented, "One Blade Into Soul's real name is Huang Jinbo, from Yangzhou. He's never been a good person. It's said he owns a few foot massage parlors, the shady kind. People like him are only interested in bullying others and would never consider themselves part of the player community."

"Really..."

Another bystander commented, "Some people are inherently selfish; One Blade Into Soul is a typical example of that!"

Suddenly, the Star Chart became lively, with many players who had been bullied by Ragnarok coming out to hurl insults and criticisms.

After a long silence, I finally spoke, "One Blade Into Soul kill. Words are meaningless. I'm making this clear today: from this day forward, whenever I venture into the wilderness map, I will shoot and kill anyone I see with the words 'Ragnarok' above their head, without any mercy!"

Immediately, a commotion broke out within the star map, and many people were dumbfounded.

I continued, "Alliance Leader Long is right. We players are a vulnerable group in <Star Abyss>, and we should unite instead of fighting each other for resources. Since your Ragnarok Guild is so unjust, don't blame us for being unjust as well. I hope that all members of the Ragnarok Guild will leave the alliance, or I will definitely keep my word!"

"Ding Han!"

The Zu'an Liberal Arts Top Scholar roared, "Are you fucking threatening Ragnarok?"

"It's more than just a threat."

I said calmly, "If you were in front of me, I would have cut you down with a single sword stroke without hesitation."

Hahaha~~~

One onlooker laughed, "Damn, I love the domineering aura of Shadow Chaser! What bullshit 'One Blade Into Soul- hit kill' Ragnarok'? They're just a bunch of bullies who rely on their power. The player culture in <Star Abyss> needs to be straightened out a long time ago. I unconditionally support Master Shadow Chaser. If we really have to go to war with Ragnarok, count me in!"

"That's right, count me in too!"

More busybodies raised their hands.

"Me too!"

"I!"

Count me in!

The stars twinkled, and in the blink of an eye, more than three hundred players had appeared on the star map of Huaining City. It was terrifying!

"One Blade Into Soul, you'd better think it over."

I said calmly, "Brothers, let's go. There's no need to waste Experience Points here."

"Walk!"

Everyone logged off from the star map.

"Drop!"

A WeChat message from Milo: "Han'er, is tomorrow your birthday?"

"Um."

I replied, "How did you know?"

"I heard it from someone else."

Milo said, "I'll be busy with album work tomorrow and won't be able to go to Huaining. Happy birthday in advance! Be sure to have a good time and eat well!"

"Yeah, thanks a lot! You too! I wish you great success and hope you'll sign an autograph for me sometime!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Milo hurried off.

"Drop!"

Another WeChat, this time from Lu Xiaobei: "Ding Han, I can't celebrate your birthday with you tomorrow. I got locked up at home by Old Lu as soon as I got back to BH City. He said I have to face the wall and reflect on my actions."

"How pitiful..."

I sent a laughing emoji, "How did you know it was my birthday? Did Milo tell you?"

Do I need someone else to tell me?

Lu Xiaobei sent a bomb-throwing emoji. "When you first started working at Feiyang Internet Cafe, I saw your ID card, which had your birthday on it, so I remembered it. Now I'm asking you something, I've also shown you my ID card, do you remember my birthday? You have 10 seconds, no checking!"

July 1st.

Without thinking, I told her her birthday.

"Not bad!"

Lu Xiaobei sent a happy jumping emoji and said, "I won't be celebrating your birthday with you this year. Next year, I'll definitely treat you to a good meal!"

"Hmm, you should stay home and reflect on your actions."

"Snort!"

She sent a disdainful emoji and then stopped talking.

I also felt extremely tired, so I soon drifted off to sleep.

The next day, I went to work as usual.

"Ding Han, did you really book the Dark Gold Rose private room?" Xu Hao seemed to have a special bias towards this hotel.

"Um."

I nodded. "What's wrong?"

"This hotel is amazing... most people can't afford to go there, you've really struck it rich!"

"Good..."

"Is a private room for twelve people enough?"

Beside him, the fat man asked, "Besides Cai Cai, Ruolin, Kou Mei, Shen Yue, and Haozi, did you invite anyone else?"

"Yes, I have a friend."

I nodded. "She might come, just save a seat for her."

"Okay, sure!"

So, as everyone was eagerly anticipating, it was finally time to leave work. Shen Yue drove her CC and took us to the hotel. Soon after, we arrived at the legendary Dark Gold Rose Hotel. It was indeed very high-end, looking like a rose manor. Although it was winter, it was decorated very beautifully, looking like springtime.

Not long after entering the private room, Ruolin, Cai Cai, and Kou Mei arrived together.

"Wow..."

Xu Hao's eyes widened. "Ding Han, are all these your friends? You have so many beautiful girls among your friends..."

"Um."

I introduced them one by one, "This very feminine one is called Ruolin, this cute girl is called Kou Mei, and this dark-faced guy is called Cai Cai. They are all my friends."

Then he pointed at Xu Hao: "This is Xu Hao, my colleague with Fatty in Luo Mei, a local!"

Xu Hao, oblivious to the deeper meaning of "local native," laughed and said, "Greetings, beauties and handsome men! I'm Ding Han's colleague, hahahahahaha~~~"

He gave an awkward laugh, making everyone feel quite uncomfortable.

"Please sit down and let's talk."

I gestured for everyone to sit down, and Ruolin placed a large cake on the table next to us. Together with the one Fatty ordered, we now have two cakes today.

"Can we order now?"

The fat man asked, "When is your friend coming?"

"Let me ask."

So I sent Lin Qingying a WeChat: "We've arrived. What time will you be there?"

"A meeting suddenly needs to be held, it should be quick."

Lin Qingying sent a message: "Sorry... I'll finish this meeting as soon as possible, I should be there before seven o'clock..."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you!"

"Um!"

Looking up at everyone, he said, "Let's chat for a bit first. My friend has a meeting, so he'll be a little late, probably before seven o'clock."

"Let's order first, and then we can ask the kitchen to serve it later."

"OK."

Xu Hao asked the waiter for playing cards, and a few people gathered around to play Guandan. I didn't understand it, so I played on my phone to the side.

It's 6:50 in the blink of an eye.

"Drop!"

Lin Qingying sent a message: "On my way, will be there in ten minutes."

"Okay, I'll have the waiter bring the food. We'll wait for you."

"Um!"

Ruolin finished her card game, looked up at me, and asked, "Ding Han, who exactly is your friend? He's being so mysterious. Do any of us know each other?"

"You probably... don't know him, right?"

I thought for a moment and said, "Hmm, I don't know you. None of you have ever met me before."

"Is that so?"

The fat man chuckled, "Male or female? So mysterious."

"A woman..."

"Ah?!"

The fat man was dumbfounded.

Zhang Ruolin's expression tightened slightly. "Could it be... Lu Xiaobei?"

"No."

I shook my head. "That guy's grounded at home. BH City is over a thousand miles away, how could he possibly come?"

Who is that?

Ruolin smiled and said, "For you to value this so much, our relationship must be quite close, right?"

"It's alright, don't ask anymore, she'll be here soon."

"All right..."

Shortly after, the waiter pushed open the door to the private room, and with a series of footsteps, Lin Qingying, wearing a trench coat over her work clothes, appeared in everyone's sight.

She had a refined and beautiful appearance, and carried a subtle air of authority.

Furthermore, a man wearing Dark Gold Rose lobby manager's badge followed behind, repeatedly saying respectfully, "Manager Lin, I didn't expect the guest in this private room to be your friend. Oh dear, if we had known Manager Lin would be coming to our Dark Gold Rose today, we would have..."

"Manager Xu, you don't need to be so polite."

Lin Qingying turned to look at everyone and said, "Sorry to keep you all waiting. I am Ding Han's friend, Lin Qingying."

"Lin... Lin Qingying..."

The fat man's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

"Ah?!"

Shen Yue's expression also changed. As Luo Mei's employee, she naturally knew who the boss of their competitor was—the CEO of Yue Ning Group, who was now standing right in front of her!

"Come here and sit next to me."

To avoid making Lin Qingying feel awkward, I asked Ruolin to move a seat so that Lin Qingying could sit between Ruolin and me.

"Everyone must be starving by now..."

Lin Qingying said apologetically, "Manager Xu, please serve the dishes quickly."

"Okay, okay!"

Manager Xu said repeatedly, "The dishes for this private room are urgent, Manager Lin, please wait a moment, they'll be here shortly!"

He was too enthusiastic, but Lin Qingying remained aloof.

"Ding Han..."

Xu Hao shushed him, gave him a wink, and lowered his voice, saying, "I didn't expect you to actually bring Manager Lin here..."

"Um."

I nodded, feeling like it wasn't a big deal.

"Ding Han."

At this moment, Lin Qingying took out an exquisite box from her bag and whispered, "Although you repeatedly emphasized that it's enough for you to come, I still wanted to give you a birthday present. I hope you won't mind."

"Oh? You're too kind..."

I was speechless, but I still took the box and opened it. To my surprise, it contained a men's watch.

"!!!"

Not far away, Shen Yue stared in disbelief, gently nudged the fat man's arm, and whispered, "That Patek Philippe..."

I didn't hear you very clearly, but I asked, "Is this watch very expensive?"

"Not expensive, it's alright."

Lin Qingying smiled and said, "I think it suits you better, so I bought it."

"Drop!"

The fat guy secretly sent WeChat message with a screenshot of a luxury watch price list. "Ding Han! This watch currently has an official price of 269,000 RMB..."

"..."

I was stunned. Perhaps Lin Qingying was already thinking of buying a cheaper watch to ease my anxiety, but what she considered cheap was still too expensive for ordinary people.