11:30 a.m.
The small banquet room at Hongfu Tower, Fujin Hall, was bustling with people. Nearly twenty tables were almost full.
Relatives chatted with one another, children chased and played between the tables and chairs, and waiters weaved through the room, beginning to serve cold dishes.
Chen Yu squeezed up beside Lin Yi, excitement on his face. Lowering his voice, he said:
"Brother Yi, the stuff's in my car. When should we go get it?"
"Let's go now. You head down first. I'll be right behind you after I say something to everyone."
With that, Lin Yi turned to his parents, uncle, aunt, and the others, who were chatting nearby, and said with a smile:
"Uncle, Uncle, my good friend Chen Yu prepared a 'special gift' for me. I'm going downstairs to get it. I'll put on a little show for everyone in a bit!"
He deliberately left them in suspense.
His uncle, Zhou Jianjun, asked with interest, "Oh? You've prepared a show, Xiao Yi?"
"Honestly, this kid's been tinkering with stuff at home all week," his mother, Zhou Jinghua, said with a smile, urging him along. "Go on, don't keep everyone waiting."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
With that, Lin Yi turned and hurried downstairs.
In the parking lot by the hotel entrance, Chen Yu was already waiting beside a deep-blue SUV. He had no idea what make it was.
When Lin Yi came over, Chen Yu opened the trunk, then lifted the lid of the silver-white box inside with a click.
At the center of the box lay the dark, almost-black pieces of the Titanium Alloy Armor, with a Black Iron Short Staff on either side.
"How's that? Cool, right?"
Chen Yu patted the armor proudly.
"It's insanely cool!"
Lin Yi laughed and punched Chen Yu lightly. Then he picked up the two Black Iron Short Staffs and examined them. He aligned their slots and joined them with a twist.
With a click, the two short staffs became a Great Sage Weapon, almost exactly like the one in the game.
He hefted it. It felt cold and heavy in his hands, with a perfect balance.
"Thanks, A Yu. I'll be counting on this in a bit..."
Lin Yi paused before continuing, "Let's carry it upstairs first. We'll put it in the lounge behind the Small Stage in the hall, just in case."
Together, the two of them carried the box to a corner of the lounge beside the small banquet room on the second floor.
When they returned to the hall, all the cold dishes had been served, and the hot dishes were beginning to arrive one after another.
Lin Yi checked the time. It was almost noon, so he stopped waiting and walked straight onto the small stage in the hall.
He held a glass of beer in one hand and a microphone in the other, his face showing the earnestness and youthful awkwardness of someone his age.
"Grandpas and grandmas, uncles and aunties, and all my good friends..."
Lin Yi cleared his throat. His voice carried clearly through the somewhat noisy banquet hall, drawing everyone's attention.
He smiled, his tone sincere.
"Thank you all so much for coming to my college entrance celebration today!"
"Honestly, getting into Qingteng University wouldn't have been possible without all the hard work Mom and Dad have put in over the years. It's also thanks to the care and encouragement of all the elders and friends here..."
"I'd like to raise this glass to all of you. Thank you!"
Lin Yi tipped his head back and drained his beer in one go, drawing a wave of friendly applause and cheers.
He set down the glass and looked toward his parents.
"Dad, Mom, you're the ones I'm most grateful to. You've worked so hard all these years!"
Lin Yi fell silent for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile.
"I won't say anything more sentimental. I wish Mom and Dad peace, joy, happiness, and good health from now on! And I wish all our family and friends good health and success in everything!"
The applause grew even louder, mixed with a few heartfelt remarks like, "What a good kid," and, "So thoughtful."
Lin Ruiming and Zhou Jinghua's eyes were slightly red, and they could only keep nodding.
Then Lin Yi changed tack. A touch of youthful playfulness and embarrassment crept into his expression.
"Um... besides the meal, I've also prepared a little show to entertain everyone! My deskmate and good friend, A Yu..."
He nodded toward Chen Yu, who was seated at the table with his classmates.
"You've probably heard about Dark Great Sage recently. It was featured on CCTV as the Pride of China."
"Today, he gave me a really flashy Great Sage Equal to Heaven cosplay set: a Titanium Alloy Armor and a Long Staff custom-made by experts! The real deal!"
Everyone's attention immediately turned to Chen Yu, who stood up proudly and waved.
"I've watched a lot of Dark Great Sage videos lately, and secretly picked up a few Staff Techniques. I'm not very good, so don't laugh!"
Lin Yi scratched his head and flashed a sunny smile.
"It's just a personal hobby. I thought everyone might be tired of singing and dancing, so I figured I'd put on a little show to liven things up!"
"Sounds good!"
"Let's see it!"
"I didn't know Xiao Yi had this talent!"
The banquet hall immediately filled with curiosity and anticipation.
Lin Yi glanced at the wall clock: 12:02.
"A Yu, do me a favor and help me change into the armor backstage." He called to Chen Yu, then cupped his hands toward the guests. "Please wait a moment. I'll be right back!"
Amid the guests' expectant gazes and laughter, Lin Yi pulled Chen Yu along and hurried toward the lounge beside the small banquet room.
As soon as the door shut, cutting off the noise outside, Lin Yi briskly opened the silver-white alloy box in the corner and spoke at top speed.
"Quick, A Yu, help me put it on!"
The dark armor pieces gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the lights. Beside them lay the heavy Black Iron Long Staff.
"Come on, Brother Yi, why so serious? Are you actually nervous? It's just a performance."
Chen Yu teased him, but his hands were quick as he helped Lin Yi pick up the backplate.
They worked together, one passing the pieces and the other fastening the clasps, their movements clearly clumsy and hurried.
Lin Yi deliberately made himself look awkward, fumbling with the clasps several times before fastening them. He muttered as he worked:
"This stuff's made of titanium alloy, but it's still pretty heavy... Where's the clasp? Here?"
Chen Yu was fumbling too. "Yeah, here! Hold it down... Oh, this strap's gotten tangled..."
With Chen Yu's help, Lin Yi finally finished putting on the imposing, fearsome Qitian Battle Armor.
Of course, he firmly refused to wear the extravagant Phoenix Winged Purple Gold Crown, saying, "It won't stay on tight. If it slips during a big move, I'll look like a joke."
Lin Yi grabbed the cold Black Iron Long Staff and weighed it in his hands, then tried moving around a little. His heavy Alloy Combat Boots thudded against the floor.
He glanced at the wall clock: 12:08.
"Let's go!"
Lin Yi took a deep breath, his eyes instantly sharpening with focus, as if he'd truly become the character.
He pushed open the lounge door. The armor pieces clanked against each other with every step, and he strode toward the center of the banquet hall's Small Stage beneath everyone's astonished, curious gazes.
"Please bear with me!"
Lin Yi called out, gripping the middle of the Long Staff with both hands as music played from the large screen, accompanying the CG animation. He struck the Great Sage's signature opening pose from Dark Great Sage.
His movements were a little stiff, but his stance looked convincing.
Next, Lin Yi performed a somewhat clumsy flourish with the staff, then began swinging it around.
The moves weren't complicated. He mainly used a few basic techniques: chopping, sweeping, lifting, and thrusting. He wasn't particularly fast, and though the imitation was obvious, a trace of nervous awkwardness showed through.
But with the staff whistling through the air and the dark armor to match, he still looked rather imposing.
"Great!"
"Whoa! Not bad!"
"That staff looks heavy!"
Cheers and chatter immediately rose throughout the banquet hall.
Lin Ruiming and Zhou Jinghua exchanged helpless glances, then looked at their son onstage, feeling both amused and proud.
Chen Yu stood beside the Small Stage, chin raised proudly.
After all, he'd have to help his good friend take off the armor once the performance was over, so he hadn't bothered returning to his seat.
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