During the conversation between the two, Grandpa Wang's phone suddenly rang.
The moment he glanced at the caller ID, his neck instinctively shrank, and a fawning smile instantly spread across his face. Even his voice dropped several pitches. "Hey, old woman... Don't rush, don't rush! I'm on my way home! Qinghe's here too... All right, all right, we'll be there soon!"
After hanging up, he wiped at the nonexistent sweat on his forehead and anxiously urged his granddaughter, "Qinghe, hurry, hurry! Your grandma's calling to hurry us back like her life depends on it. If we don't get home soon, we'll be sleeping in the hallway tonight!"
After finishing the call, Grandpa Wang hurriedly spoke to Wang Qinghe.
Only then did Wang Qinghe suddenly remember her mission. She stuck out her tongue. "Junior Ling Yun, let's chat again if we get the chance! I'm heading out for now!"
She nimbly took out her phone and added Ling Yun on WeChat. Then, supporting her grandfather, who was still muttering, "It's over, it's over," she disappeared beyond the plaza's lights in a whirlwind.
Ling Yun pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. The glare from the screen made him squint. "Whoa, it's already past eleven."
The night wind was slightly cool, and he could not be bothered to wander around anymore. He headed straight home.
The moment he entered the house, his phone began buzzing. It was a message from Jiang Yingxue.
Jiang Yingxue: Boss, I finished editing the video you sent me earlier and emailed it to you! Take a look and see if the result works for you! [expectant sticker]
Seeing the word "Boss," Ling Yun could not help laughing. His fingers flew across the screen.
Ling Yun: Sister Yingxue, you changed how you address me faster than turning a page! A few days ago, you were calling me "little brother" every other word, and now I'm your boss? [crying-laughing sticker]
Jiang Yingxue: Of course! I've already been paid. Calling you little brother would be too improper. What if I get too casual and you, the big boss, get angry and fire me? [sighing sticker]
Ling Yun: Hahaha, Sister Yingxue, you've really mastered the art of human interaction. You have a bright future ahead of you!
Ling Yun: I'll watch the video now. At exactly midnight, the Canyon opens on schedule. We'll chat in-game!
Jiang Yingxue: OK! I'll wait for you!
Ling Yun opened the video file in his email.
The screen lit up, and the passionate background music instantly seized his ears.
His body, originally leaning against the back of the chair, unconsciously tilted forward. The editing was as smooth as flowing water, without a single unnecessary transition.
The thrilling plays he had made in the Peak Tournament—desperate counter-kills, hair's-breadth escapes, and precise predictions—had been cleverly slowed down and frozen in place, paired with dazzling effects and perfectly timed sound effects. Every kill was explosively thrilling, and every movement was incredibly stylish!
The editing of several key team fights was especially impressive. The rhythm was bursting with energy, and even Ling Yun himself became fired up watching it.
"Beautiful!" Ling Yun could not help snapping his fingers. "With editing skills like this paired with my plays, it'd be hard not to go viral!"
He immediately uploaded the expertly edited video to his Douyin account.
The time reached midnight.
Ling Yun was just about to invite Jiang Yingxue when a message from Zhou Da popped up first.
Zhou Da: Brother Yun, I can't hold out anymore... I really can't push for Honor anymore!
Zhou Da: I stood at attention until my legs cramped during military training today, then stayed up late gaming with you tonight. I feel like I'm about to become dried cured meat. Even with the person and the box together, I probably wouldn't weigh ten jin!
Zhou Da: I'll be satisfied with just reaching King rank and getting a King mark! Besides, you and Sister Jiang Yingqing can go duo-queue and climb sweetly together. I won't be the third wheel!
Ling Yun: Understood, understood. Get some good rest!
Ling Yun smiled knowingly.
If not for his cultivation-enhanced physique, even an iron man could not endure sleeping only two hours a day.
He replied to the message. The moment he logged into Honor of Kings, a team invitation popped up—Jiang Yingxue was already online and waiting.
"Boss! You're a full three minutes late!"
Jiang Yingxue's deliberately aggrieved, coquettish voice came through his headset, accompanied by the faint sound of her yawning in the background.
"Sorry, sorry. I was just saying a few words to Zhou Da." Ling Yun briefly explained Zhou Da's situation.
"Zhou Da's right." Jiang Yingxue's voice turned serious. "Staying up like this every day while also attending classes and training during the day will really ruin your health."
She paused, her tone laced with concern. "By the way, I remember you're a student too, right? Are you... really all right? Why don't we call it a night? You should get some rest."
"Relax, Sister Yingxue!"
Ling Yun's tone was relaxed. "My physical fitness is top-notch! I sleep two hours a day and still feel full of energy! I'll show you what it means to be bursting with vitality another day!"
He made the joke without thinking.
"...Who wants to see that!"
Jiang Yingxue's voice was clearly tinged with embarrassment and annoyance. Then she asked in confusion, "Besides, when did I agree to meet you?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you." Ling Yun only remembered then. "Your dad invited me to your house for dinner this Saturday."
He told her about Jiang Mingyuan's invitation and how Jiang Yingqing had recommended her as an editor.
"I see! I was wondering why you suddenly messaged me today and asked me to be your editor. It turns out my little sister recommended me!"
Jiang Yingxue suddenly understood. Her tone held a hint of relief and faint admiration.
"Not bad, junior. You achieved financial freedom in your first year of high school, while I still have to work for you after graduating from university."
She said it half-jokingly, but she gained a better understanding of her father's invitation. No wonder he had taken the initiative to befriend such a capable young man.
"Ahem, it was just luck." Ling Yun was modest. "Let's get started!"
Over the next three hours, war raged across the Canyon. Ling Yun led Jiang Yingxue on a triumphant charge. When the crystal exploded once more and the golden "Glorious King" emblem appeared on the screen, Ling Yun let out a satisfied breath.
Jiang Yingxue had also reached thirty-nine stars.
"I can't do this anymore... I can't..." Jiang Yingxue's voice was thick with exhaustion, and she yawned repeatedly. "My eyelids are fighting each other, Boss... Let's continue tomorrow."
"All right. Good night, Sister Yingxue."
"Good night... Hoo..." She sounded as if she was already almost asleep.
Three days slipped quietly by, and military training finally reached its last day.
Throughout those three days, Ling Yun's life had followed a routine as precise as a preset program.
He attended the school's military training during the day. However, because Ling Yun's performance was nearly perfect, he spent most of the time resting.
In the evening, he continued playing in the Peak Tournament, accumulating new highlight material to send to Jiang Yingxue for editing.
His main account, "Douyin • S of Honor of Kings," was like an insurmountable peak, firmly occupying first place on the Peak leaderboard.
His terrifying score of 2,500 had left second-place Flower Sea nearly 300 points behind, and the matchmaking wait was absurdly long.
He simply trained two more alternate accounts, aiming directly for the top three when the season rankings were finalized!
If he pulled it off, his traffic would absolutely skyrocket on the spot!
By then, his traffic would definitely take off completely.
After three days of edited videos, combined with Douyin's official traffic promotion, his account had gained a total of 200,000 followers.
Looking at the numbers constantly jumping in the background, even Ling Yun clicked his tongue in amazement. "This speed... is a little ridiculous!"
Finally, after playing Honor of Kings with Jiang Yingxue, his account had climbed to eighty stars, while Jiang Yingxue had reached sixty-nine stars.
At that moment, Ling Yun stood on the sports field. The atmosphere was entirely different from usual. Colorful flags fluttered around the field, school leaders and drill instructors filled the platform, and the stands were packed with students who had come to watch the performance.
"Students! This is the last event! Stay steady! Don't be nervous! Take a deep breath! Just do it like you practiced! You're the best! Believe in yourselves—we're definitely going to take first place!"
Cheng Yuanzhou encouraged the students from the side.
But the more he said this, the more nervous some students with weaker mental fortitude became, and their faces began to pale.
Only Ling Yun remained calm and composed, with even the faintest hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.
First place? It was already as good as his. If not for the system reward, he could not be bothered to put in the effort.
Win or lose? It meant nothing to him.
Just then, the loudspeakers in the center of the sports field rang out with the host's resonant and passionate voice:
"Now approaching us is the formation of First Year Class 3! They carry the vigor of youth and march with resolute steps, shining with vitality like the rising sun. This is a united and progressive collective. In the classroom, they thirst for knowledge; beside the sports field, their cheers surge like waves. With sweat, they write of youthful spirit, and with perseverance, they embody the responsibility of youth! Look, their eyes are confident and determined, as if declaring: 'First Year Class 3 is ready to unleash its full potential!'"
The host on the platform shouted at the top of his voice.
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