The Squad's Scheme

Soon it was the New Year season. Actually, Xiao He didn't like the New Year. A group of relatives who rarely visited each other would gather together, showing off their son's annual income, their son-in-law's degree, and so on. They would show off whatever they could. If there was nothing to show off, they would scold their own children, "Look at other people."

Thinking of this, Xiao He felt a pang of nostalgia for his family in the Special Response Department, where at least everyone genuinely cared for each other and didn't care how much the other earned in a year.

Out of consideration for his parents, Xiao He still had to go with his family to have the New Year's Eve dinner, only to be subjected to a barrage of sarcastic remarks from his relatives. Especially his distant cousin, whose son had gone abroad to study and become a PhD, his words implied that even the excrement he took abroad smelled good.

Xiao He couldn't help but think to himself, "Just wait until I beat the shit out of these national Mutant, then I'll show them how good it is!"

Having finally made it through the third year of junior high, Xiao He's family's routine of visiting relatives was also over.

On the fourth day, Xiao He's parents went to great lengths to buy him some good cigarettes and wine, as well as a lot of local specialties. They even prepared several bottles of their own pickled radishes and braised beef. Then they repeatedly reminded Xiao He of the things he should pay attention to when he visited.

On the morning of the fifth day, Xiao He arrived at the airport with gifts.

He actually wanted to use the Dimensional Walker to go there directly, but now he was "Xiao He" instead of "Yinglong," and his inexplicable appearance in Ye Wanqing's city might cause some people to discover his true identity.

"Mom and Dad, I'm boarding the plane now." Xiao He smiled happily: Finally, I can get rid of these two old folks' nagging.

"Hey, bring me back a daughter-in-law." Xiao Yuanshan waved to him and laughed.

"But Wanqing is only nineteen years old, not yet of legal marriage age," Xiao He frowned.

"You little rascal!" Ji Mingzhu pinched him, both amused and annoyed. "You're something else! You actually managed to pick up a nineteen-year-old girl!"

"Ugh, so annoying!" Xiao He glared at his parents, annoyed. "Alright, alright, I'm boarding the plane!"

After saying that, Xiao He went through security on his own. It was the Lunar New Year period, and most people traveling by plane at this time were like him, either going to their wives' parents' home or taking their wives home.

Xiao He mingled among these ordinary people and found it somewhat comical: he could even occasionally overhear others discussing Yinglong.

After all, the Earthquake happened shortly before the Spring Festival, and it's still a hot topic.

This year's Spring Festival falls on February 1st, which means there is still one month left before the start of the Mutant Competition Arena.

The competition officially starts on March 1st. Before the competition begins, participants need to register in advance. In other words, around mid-February, the Mutant from abroad will begin to enter the country.

After about two hours of flight, the plane landed at Xinchuan City Airport. Xiao He came out of the airport terminal with his luggage and searched for that cute and petite figure in the waiting area.

"Old Xiao!" Ye Wanqing skipped happily from the back of the crowd and waved to him.

Upon seeing his beloved girl, Xiao He couldn't help but smile, and he opened his arms to welcome her.

But just as he was about to pull Ye Wanqing into his arms, a burly man blocked his way.

"Oh my, so this is the young man? Welcome, welcome!" The middle-aged man hugged Xiao He tightly, patted his back, and smiled warmly. Then he lowered his voice and said, "Thank you for your contributions to this country. I saw it on the news, Magnitude 9.6 Earthquake! My God, if it weren't for you, Xinnan City would probably have been half destroyed."

"Uh..." Xiao He froze on the spot, realizing that this man was his future father-in-law, and his mind went blank.

"Dad!" Ye Wanqing said coquettishly from the side, "Don't be like that! She's never even met you before!"

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." The burly man extended his hand to Xiao He. "I am Ye Wanqing's father, Ye Zhichun. This is the child's mother, Dai Na."

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie," Xiao He said, snapping out of his daze and nodding repeatedly.

"Oh my, this young man is quite handsome. I didn't expect my Xiaoqing to be like any other girl in this regard, liking handsome young men." Dai Na looked at Xiao He and laughed. "You don't know, this child has always had trouble getting along with boys. She's never had a male friend, and her father and I were always worried that she'd never have a boyfriend in her life."

"Mom," Ye Wanqing glared at her mother reproachfully, "Let's stop talking here and get in the car!"

Then, Xiao He finally hugged his lovely girlfriend, buried his face in Ye Wanqing's neck and sighed, "Ah, I missed you so much, how many days has it been since we last saw each other?"

"It's only four days, is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?" Ye Wanqing said in a low voice, suppressing a laugh.

Dai Na, standing nearby, shook her head and sighed, "This child has finally been waiting for you to come. These past few days, she's been listless and absent-minded, greeting relatives by calling uncles 'aunt' and maternal uncles 'grandma.' But this morning, she immediately perked up and started thinking about what to wear, spending an hour in her room choosing."

Xiao He looked at Ye Wanqing with interest. She wore a white, semi-transparent silk T-shirt over a black camisole, and brown shorts with flesh-colored leggings, showing off her slender and shapely legs. She was cute yet sexy, a bit bolder than Ye Wanqing usually was.

"Mom!" Ye Wanqing blushed crimson, her face turning bright red. "Alright! Let's get in the car and go home!"

Xiao He got into the car with Ye Wanqing and her family, and they drove to Ye Wanqing's apartment building.

"Uncle, let me take it. I'm young and strong," Xiao He replied, then took the luggage from Ye Zhichun's hands, led the way into the elevator, and pressed the button for the third floor.

Neither Ye Zhichun nor Dai Na said anything, and they silently entered the elevator. But during the silence, everyone seemed to realize something: How did Xiao He know they lived on the third floor?

"I... I already told Old Xiao!" Ye Wanqing quickly explained, then secretly pinched Xiao He, "You stinky pig!"

Upon arriving at Ye Wanqing's house, Xiao He presented her with the cigarettes, alcohol, and local specialties he had bought. However, the gifts that Ye Zhichun and Dai Na liked the most were the two least valuable items among them.

"These pickled radishes look so good! They're so plump and white." Dai Na looked at the jar of pickled radishes with interest and laughed. "My radishes always turn yellow when I pickle them, I don't know why."

"My mom made this herself," Xiao He nodded and smiled wryly. "It's nothing valuable. I told her not to bring it, but she insisted. If you don't like it, just throw it away, it's okay."

"Wow, this is delicious!" Dai Na took a bite and handed it to Ye Zhichun, "Old Ye, you should try some!"

After taking a bite, Ye Zhichun exclaimed in surprise, "Mmm! Delicious! The sweet and sour flavor is just right, and the slight spiciness is perfect for those of us who can't handle spicy food. How did you make it taste so good?"

"Actually," Xiao He said with a wry smile, "My mother just uses the brine from pickled peppers as a base, then adds some white vinegar, sugar, and salt to adjust the flavor. It's convenient and easy, and the pickled radishes taste delicious."

"Wow, that's so clever!" Dai Na exclaimed admiringly. "She sounds like someone who knows how to manage a household!"

"This beef sauce is also delicious," Ye Wanqing said, twisting open the bottle of beef sauce beside her. "Beef and soybean paste go so well together."

"That was made by my dad," Xiao He said with a dry laugh, thinking to himself: What a kind family! I'm sure I won't regret becoming in-laws with them.

"Your parents' cooking is really good!" Ye Zhichun exclaimed. "Oh dear, it makes me a little worried. Do you like our food? My wife and I are just so-so cooks."

"It's alright, I'll do it," Ye Wanqing said with a smile. "I'm the one who does the cooking in Beichang City."

While Ye Wanqing was busy in the kitchen, Xiao He chatted with Ye Wanqing's parents.

Xiao He was initially worried that they would ask about his family situation, but in fact, they only asked about everyday matters, such as how he and Ye Wanqing were living in Beichang City, and whether they would get hurt during the mission.

"Come on, tell your uncle in private, are you serious about this relationship?" Ye Zhichun waved to Xiao He, gesturing for him to come closer before whispering the question. Xiao He immediately became anxious. "Absolutely serious! I plan to propose to her as soon as she reaches the legal marriage age! Such a wonderful girl, I will never let her leave me!"

"I believe you, but there's one thing I need to say," Ye Zhichun said seriously. "Although we know you are Yinglong, and what you've done is great, making you a hero, you are ultimately going to marry our daughter. Your safety needs to be considered. Of course, you are very strong, and her mother and I know that, but for the sake of your family, you should try to avoid taking risks."

"I know." Xiao He nodded. "Wanqing and I made a promise that we wouldn't do anything risky. If I get hurt, she will take away my rights and punish me."

Xiao He was immediately filled with lingering fear: he had almost blurted out "deprivation of mating rights"—how could that have been a disaster?

"Hmm. Although I don't know you very well, the fact that you became Yinglong means you must be an upright and kind child." Ye Zhichun nodded. "Most importantly, this girl has never been attracted to any boy before. It's rare for her to meet someone she likes, so we can't let him slip away."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He couldn't help but chuckle, feeling as if his own situation at home was also unfolding at Ye Wanqing's house.

His parents and Ye Wanqing's parents seemed to agree that their son and daughter might end up alone.

The conversation was starting to die down, so Xiao He offered to go to the kitchen to help Ye Wanqing.

When we got to the kitchen, that adorable figure was darting around like a cheerful little sparrow.

"Xiaoqing, I'm here to help you," Xiao He said with a smile.

"Then can you crack the eggs for me?" Ye Wanqing said with a hint of coquetry in her voice.

"Yes," Xiao He responded, standing next to Ye Wanqing and starting to crack eggs, while Ye Wanqing meticulously chopped vegetables.

At that moment, Xiao He felt as if he were seeing the shadow of his parents. Back home, his parents also cooked together in this way. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable warmth and contentment in his heart.

"Here, it's ready." Xiao He handed over the bowl and gave Ye Wanqing a quick kiss on the head.

"Hmm, let's put it aside for now, we'll make steamed pork later." Ye Wanqing said with a smile, then handed over the bowl she was holding. "Old Xiao, add some soy sauce and cooking wine to it, just a little bit, okay? Take your time."

"Is this enough?" "Give me a little more, that's enough! Go boil some more water, just until it's lukewarm." "Give me a kiss and I'll go." "You're so annoying!"

Ye Zhichun and Dai Na secretly watched the two working together from the living room, and the corners of their mouths turned up slightly.

"These two kids are so in sync, just like you and me, their dad," Dai Na couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, it's obvious they've worked together many times." Ye Zhichun nodded in satisfaction. "They look like a married couple, not bad. This boy looks at Xiaoqing with such affection, and judging from Yinglong's behavior, he's an upright and reliable person. A man like this is someone you can entrust your life to."

"Sigh, at least I don't have to worry about this child anymore." Dai Na sighed. "Our child is so beautiful and innocent. I was always afraid she would be deceived by a scumbag. But good deeds are rewarded, and she got such a good man Yinglong."

The two chattered on and off as they silently retreated to the living room to continue watching TV.

With Xiao He and Ye Wanqing working together seamlessly, the food was served quickly. Since it was cooked by Ye Wanqing herself, it tasted even more like home to Xiao He, and he ate heartily without any hesitation.

"This child, he's eating so heartily," Dai Na teased, watching Xiao He eat.

Ye Wanqing smiled happily, "Right? I love watching him eat. That's exactly why I liked him in the first place."

"Okay! As long as you like it, that's good. I'm just afraid you'll never find a boy you like in your life," Dai Na sighed earnestly.

"Really," Ye Zhichun said, still shaken. "This child always looked at boys with disgust and disdain. I was worried she was..." He paused, then chuckled, "But it's all right now."

As they ate and chatted, Ye Wanqing suddenly said in a slightly coquettish tone, "I can't eat anymore."

Ye Zhichun was smugly preparing to take on the task, but at that moment Ye Wanqing handed the rice bowl to Xiao He and said coquettishly, "Old Xiao, eat it for me."

Xiao He seemed to hear a cracking sound, but he didn't think much of it and took Ye Wanqing's bowl to eat. Ye Wanqing, meanwhile, watched him with a smile, resting her chin on her hand.

"My little darling is gone," Dai Na sighed in Ye Zhichun's ear.

"But I still have you, don't I?" Ye Zhichun said irritably. "Here, give me whatever you can't finish."

"I can finish it all, I'd like to ask for more rice," Dai Na, protecting her bowl.

During the meal, Ye Wanqing's parents briefly inquired about Xiao He's family situation. After learning that they were only comfortably well-off, they seemed more at ease.

Because only in this way could the two families be considered a "well-matched couple." Xiao He also felt that if the family conditions were not on the same level, it would lead to a big difference in their values, which would more or less cause some problems.

However, what truly concerned Xiao He was that Ye Wanqing's house had no guest room. Where would he sleep that night? Would he sleep on the sofa?

While washing the dishes, Xiao He discussed this matter with Ye Wanqing.

"Of course I'll sleep with you," Ye Wanqing said, looking at him with a puzzled expression and blinking her beautiful eyes.

"Don't your parents have any objections?" Xiao He asked, somewhat surprised.

Ye Wanqing glanced at him sideways and muttered, "We're just sleeping together, we're not doing anything. Do you think you can mess with me when my parents are right across from us?"

"If you don't object, I have no problem with it." Xiao He smiled slightly, took the washed bowl from Ye Wanqing's hand, cleaned it again, and then put it in the cupboard.

"Pervert!" Ye Wanqing pinched his cheek and complained, "All you think about is these kinds of things."

However, just after they finished washing the dishes, Cui Man called to inform them of something important.

"The team information for the World Championship has been submitted," Cui Man replied on the other end. "There's a big problem."

"What's the problem?" Xiao He asked curiously.

Cui Man said somewhat anxiously, "There are twelve teams participating this time: Dragon Country Team, National Team, Continental Team, Our Team, National Team, India Team, Ross Team, Continental Alliance Team, National Team, African United Team, Southern Alliance Team, and Asian United Team. Have you noticed anything amiss among these teams?"

"Nonsense, right? These two small, run-down countries, Benhe and others, have formed a separate team? Do they even have that many Mutant?" Xiao He frowned.

"Right? The same situation applies to countries and continents," Cui Man replied. "These countries simply don't have enough powerful Mutant to form a team on their own. On the other hand, continents clearly have a large population but only managed to assemble one team."

"What exactly happened?" Ye Wanqing asked, puzzled.

Cui Man sneered, "Judging from the information on the team members they reported, it seems that the country gave away those Mutant weren't particularly strong to their allies, namely the four countries of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the continent. This has directly resulted in Asia losing quite a few teams."

Originally, there were other Asian countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States, which together could have formed two or three teams. However, the separation of the United States from its homeland directly resulted in the Mutant from these countries only being able to form one team.

Other continents were also affected to varying degrees by these factors. In addition, the country "bought" powerful Mutant from various small countries, which ultimately resulted in the tournament, which was originally expected to have sixteen teams, becoming only twelve teams. Many small countries lost this good opportunity to make money because they could not form a complete team.

This makes one wonder if the country had foreseen this day.

But the real problem isn't there; it's why the country would give away its precious Mutant.

"Their goal is to use a war of attrition to control Yinglong," Cui Man said through gritted teeth. "The Mutant are all from the country, so they'll win easily. Conversely, when they fight us, these people will fight with all their might to wear down Yinglong's stamina."

"Isn't this just like hiring actors to play video games?" Ye Wanqing said, a little annoyed.

"Indeed, but they didn't break any rules," Cui Man sneered. "Exploiting such loopholes is exactly the style of the state faction."

But then, Cui Man changed the subject. "But it's okay, because our plan was to have Yinglong go first and fight the entire first round. Because the rules of the arena tournament stipulate that as long as you win, you can continue to fight until that player loses or leaves the arena voluntarily. So as long as Yinglong can keep winning, he can fight the entire round of the tournament by himself."

"Does that mean Old Xiao has to take on all the Mutant in the group by himself?" Ye Wanqing frowned. "But there's a rule that a participant can't participate in more than one-third of the total matches, right?"

"We only need Yinglong to play in the first round of the group stage. On the one hand, it will showcase Yinglong's strength, and on the other hand, it will help us understand the enemy's Superpower," Cui Man nodded and said. "This way, when the other Mutant in our team play in the second round of the group stage, they will be prepared. As for the matches outside the group stage, we only need to have Yinglong play in the battle against the Kingdom."

"I see. In that case, I'll play in the first round of the round-robin tournament, and the other teammates can handle the second round. That way, it won't take up more than a third of the matches," Xiao He said, suddenly realizing.

"That's right, exactly." Cui Man nodded with a smile. "Only the weak need schemes and tricks."

After a pause, Cui Man suddenly teased, "You two are together now, which means you're meeting each other's parents, right? That's great, you should get engaged soon, and be careful."

After lunch, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing's family went for a walk, and finally it was time to go to bed.

There were two blankets on Ye Wanqing's bed, clearly indicating that they were to sleep separately on one bed.

"What are you doing?" Ye Wanqing asked, somewhat puzzled, when she saw Xiao He planning to sleep on another blanket.

"What are you doing? Aren't these two blankets yours?" Xiao He asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Oh dear, that's for my parents!" Ye Wanqing said coquettishly, patting the spot next to her. "Come here quickly."

Xiao He was naturally delighted. He had just slipped into Ye Wanqing's blanket when the little girl came up and hugged him.

"Hehe, I can finally hug my Old Xiao!" Ye Wanqing laughed happily. "I haven't slept well these past few nights."

"Even if you sleep with me, you might not be able to sleep soundly," Xiao He joked.

"You can't keep me up all night," Ye Wanqing muttered, poking his cheek. Then she shifted her little bottom and sat in Xiao He's Xiao He, cheerfully saying, "Okay, let's watch a show, shall we?"

In this position, Xiao He naturally wrapped his arms around Ye Wanqing's righteousness, teasingly saying, "You little rascal, you don't actually enjoy me bullying your righteousness, do you?"

Ye Wanqing blushed, and unusually, she didn't refute, but instead nodded gently. "I feel very safe when you hold me."

"Hey, then I won't be polite." Xiao He kissed Ye Wanqing on the cheek and laughed, "But what should we do after that?"

"I'll take care of it for you in a bit," Ye Wanqing said, gently touching his face.