Garden of Words (Bonus 12)

Morning.

There weren't many people using the computers, so it was quite relaxing. I lay on my network administrator's throne, closed my eyes, and silently summoned the regional activity interface. I opened the leaderboard in the upper right corner and found that the Points rankings were almost the same as yesterday's, especially the top three. My points, along with those Points "Gun Like a Dragon" One Blade Into Soul," had hardly changed.

It seems the ammunition shortage in the Player Black Market has affected everyone; not only am I unable to leave the city to fight the Dark Tide army, but the other players are in the same boat.

Of course, it also depends on the player's stamina. After a big battle, everyone is exhausted and needs rest.

Lu Xiaobei disappeared for a day, but posted a picture of the ancient city on his WeChat Moments, which Milo liked.

In the evening, as I was about to leave work, I finally discovered a serious problem.

I was too tired when I got back yesterday, and I was in such a rush this morning that I forgot my keys on the sofa in the living room.

Having no other choice, they had to ask Lin Qingying for help.

I took out my phone and sent her a WeChat message: "I forgot my keys..."

A few minutes later, Lin Qingying seemed to finally check her phone and replied, "Then I'll leave work early. Wait for me downstairs. I have a short meeting after work today, so I'll finish early and be at the apartment complex around 5:40."

"Good!"

After handing over my shift, I left the internet cafe, wandered around the ancient city for a while, and then returned to my residential area.

"Ding Han!"

The voice of chubby Li Xiang could be heard from the plaza downstairs in the residential area.

I turned around and saw him carrying a schoolbag, showing off his skills on his skateboard on the flat ground of the square, with several elementary school students cheering and exclaiming in surprise.

"Um."

I nodded, ignored him, took out a few coins, sat down in front of the arcade machine, inserted coins, selected the fighting game "The Moonlit Swordsman" and chose the speed-type Li Liehuo.

This game is a precious memory from my childhood; conquering all the levels was a piece of cake for me.

A moment later, Li Xiang came running over with his skateboard in his arms, sat down beside him, and said in surprise, "You can do this too? My Feng is pretty good at it. Can we spar?"

"Overestimating yourself!"

I gave him a disdainful look, then helped him insert a coin.

Li Xiang quickly selected a character and then started a match.

As I expected, Li Xiang's skills as Moonlit Swordsman were only rudimentary, far inferior to mine, a master honed over twenty years. Under Li Liehuo's relentless onslaught, he quickly suffered two defeats and turned pale.

"This one doesn't count..."

Li Xiang protested, "One more round?"

"Alright."

I nodded, then my gaze fell on the skateboard tucked into the side of his backpack. I said, "But what's the point if there's no stakes? How about this, let's play another round. If I lose, I'll cover all your game coins for the next month, but if you lose, the skateboard behind you is mine. Want to bet?"

The chubby boy was ecstatic about it, but seemed reluctant to give up the skateboard.

Finally, he nodded emphatically. "Alright, you'd better not back out, I have some trump card skills up my sleeve!"

"Sure!"

I inserted the coin for him again, and this time Li Xiang actually chose Ogunamigata Moriya. He really did have a trump card. In the first round, he kept sending up dragons, making it impossible for me to jump.

But in the end, experience prevailed. I started playing a back-and-forth game with him, constantly pulling and sparring, and finally won 2-1.

"The skateboard is mine now."

With a deft flick of his wrist, he snatched the skateboard from behind Li Xiang's backpack. Looking at the pattern on it, he chuckled, "Oh, it's Flying Fire Meteor! I heard it's a limited edition."

"Ding Han, you... you give me back Flying Fire Meteor..."

Li Xiang's face immediately turned pale, and then he burst into tears.

"Don't cry. Men bleed, they don't cry. Don't be so weak. Don't make me look down on you, okay? Besides, a bet is a bet. Can't you accept defeat, Li Xiang?"

"I..."

The chubby boy wiped away his tears, trying to be strong, but when he saw that the Flying Fire Meteor was already in my hand, it was like seeing his girlfriend in someone else's arms. He immediately broke down and started crying loudly again.

Just then, I felt someone watching me from behind. When I turned around, I saw Lin Qingying standing beautifully behind me in her work clothes.

Her eyes were full of helplessness when she looked at me.

"Li Xiang, don't cry."

Lin Qingying stepped forward and said, "How about I treat you to Beef Rice Noodles?"

"Really, Little Ying Sister?"

Children's tears come and go quickly. As soon as Li Xiang heard that Lin Qingying inviting him to dinner, Li Xiang smiled.

"Should I have another one?"

"..."

Lin Qingying glanced at me and said softly, "Let's go."

So the three of them went out of the residential area and came to a Beef Rice Noodles on the street. Lin Qingying ordered rice noodles for each of them, and also ordered some snacks such as chicken cutlets and seafood strips for Li Xiang.

Why are you back so early?

I glanced at the time; it wasn't even 5:30 yet.

"The meeting was canceled, so I came back early."

Lin Qingying said thoughtfully, "Creek City has been quite turbulent lately, and many companies are already considering relocation."

"So, is your electronics store also moving?"

"Yes, it's in preparation."

Soon after, the rice noodles arrived, and they tasted pretty good, with a strong local flavor.

It was past six o'clock when we finished eating. Night had fallen, and the neighborhood became quiet. Li Xiang and Grandpa Li went home, so it was just me and Lin Qingying left.

I placed the skateboard, named Flying Fire Meteor, on the ground, stepped on it steadily, slowly accelerated, and then suddenly braked with the tail of the board. However, embarrassingly, my body swayed slightly and I lost my balance, almost flipping over on the spot.

"You can skateboard?" Lin Qingying, somewhat surprised.

"Um."

I nodded. "I played with it when I was little, but I've been too busy with school ever since. Do you want to give it a try?"

"I..."

She pursed her red lips; although her pretty face still appeared aloof and indifferent, she seemed to be somewhat tempted.

"Are you a beginner and prone to falling?" she asked cautiously.

"It's alright, with a good teacher like me by your side, you won't fall."

"All right."

So the two went to an open area in the square. Lin Qingying tried to stand on the skateboard, but quickly lost her balance and had to give up. She was a little unwilling. "Should I go upstairs and change my high heels?"

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

"Um!"

Not long after, Lin Qingying returned. She hadn't had time to change her clothes, but she had changed her high heels into a pair of Xiao Bai flat shoes.

She gradually mastered the knack and stopped panicking when she was on the board.

Just ten minutes later, Lin Qingying was able to stand on the board and glide steadily and slowly.

A gentle breeze blows, and her long hair flutters in the wind.

In the dim light of the residential complex, her face appeared exceptionally beautiful.

Around 7 p. m.

The neighborhood gradually became lively, with many middle-aged women starting to dance in the square, which greatly reduced the space for Lin Qingying and me to skateboard. Soon, fine beads of sweat began to appear on her forehead.

"Ding Han."

She packed up her skateboard, turned to look at me seriously, and said, "Li Xiang only has this one skateboard. You won it by betting in a game, which is actually quite unethical. I don't think that's right..."

"Yes."

I smiled and said, "Shall we go to that stationery store outside?"

"Ah?"

You'll find out when you get there.

"Good."

So, the two of them went out of the neighborhood and into a stationery store. I spent 200 Star Coins to buy a purple skateboard called "Night Meteor." This skateboard looked newer and was cooler than the Flying Fire Meteor, and it was quite popular with the kids.

"Alright."

I brandished the Night Meteor and said, "This is for Li Xiang, and then the Flying Fire Meteor officially belongs to us. Isn't this a pretty perfect result?"

"Um."

Lin Qingying nodded happily.

Night.

Lin Qingying continued writing materials in the living room, while I sat to the side watching TV.

"Drop!"

A WeChat message from Zhang Ruolin: "Ding Han, are you busy?"

"No, is there something you need?"

"Um."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Let's have dinner together tomorrow night. Some players have invited us to dinner at Stream City No. 1. Don't worry, they're not bad people. I've already met them. They're just casual players like us. This meeting is mainly to get acquainted with them."

"Okay, it's your decision."

I sent a dog emoji and said, "The real big shots are always strategizing behind the scenes; they never concern themselves with what's happening in the public eye."

"That's true!"

Zhang Ruolin also sent a dog emoji, and then didn't send any more messages.

The next day, in the evening.

After the shift ended, Zhang Ruolin appeared in front of the internet cafe, and the two hailed a taxi and headed straight for Stream City No. 1.

This is my second time eating at this restaurant where the average cost per person is several hundred yuan, but I'm a little nervous. I don't know who Zhang Ruolin invited, after all, I'm a graduate student who just graduated not long ago, and I'm actually quite socially awkward.

Upon entering the private room, three people appeared before me.

One of them, with short hair and looking like a spirited young man, was probably the leader of the three. He stood up and said with a smile, "Master Shadow Chaser Ying, I've heard so much about you! It's great to finally meet you. My name is Cai Cai, from Hangzhou. My Firepower Specialist,' and my game ID is 'I'm Bad But Can Talk Trash!'"

"..."

I was somewhat taken aback; it turned out that this guy was Firepower Specialist on the Creek City leaderboard.

Immediately afterward, a rather gentle-looking girl behind Cai Cai stood up and said with a smile, "Hello, Master Shadow Chaser Ying! My name is Garden of Words, level 23, sword-type super weapon, from Yangzhou. I hope you'll take good care of me!"

This girl gives off a friendly vibe.

The third person slowly stood up. He looked like a slightly shy young man, at most around 20 years old. He said, "Hello, Master Shadow Chaser. My game ID is AAA Nationwide Flight), level 23, Psionicist, and the main Psionicist of the Cai Cai Squad."

No wonder he looked shy; anyone would be shy with that game ID!

"Don't call me 'boss' anymore, my name is Ding Han."

I smiled at everyone and said, "I'm from Suzhou, and I'm not particularly capable. After graduation, I've just been holed up in my rented room playing games. It's kind of embarrassing to admit, so I'm not some big shot at all. Please don't be so polite."

My words greatly shortened the distance between us.

"Brother Han!"

Cai Cai immediately changed her tune. "Please sit down, Ruolin, you sit down too. Let's order together. Order whatever you want, don't be shy!"