Chapter 103 Real World
Amidst the opulent and magnificent cruise ship, Wen Shi’s thoughts were originally focused on finding Mr. and Mrs. Pei Hongxin. Sensing something amiss, he discreetly coughed and quickly asked, “Why did your father look at me like that?”
Ji Yuanzhi could probably guess the reason but didn’t say it outright, only answering, “Getting older, he’s got presbyopia, looks at everyone that way.”
In truth, Ji Yuanzhi’s father wasn’t that old. The father and son looked quite similar, but Ji Yuanzhi’s father had an extra touch of coldness.
Before Ji Yuanzhi could exchange words with his family, the parents of the youth beside them smiled and looked behind them. “Pei Hongxin has arrived.”
Wen Shi’s expression turned serious. He followed the sound to where the crowd was most concentrated.
Pei Hongxin had a good reputation in the business world and was quite popular. Every time he appeared, he became the center of attention. Like Ji Yuanzhi, he always had bodyguards with him, no matter where he went.
Today, Wei Yue wore a black vintage long dress, lightly linking her arm with Pei Hongxin’s. She wasn’t adorned with too many accessories. Besides a pair of emerald earrings, she wore a southern red agate bracelet on her left wrist.
The moment the two appeared, they became the focus of attention. Many people went over to greet them.
As an observer, Wen Shi lowered his gaze and smiled silently. It was said that a southern red agate bracelet could bring wealth and prosperity. It seemed that the jade-carved golden leopard statue would also suit their preferences.
Ji Yuanzhi: “Do you want to make an appearance now?”
Wen Shi nodded and was about to walk forward when a hand stopped him.
“Why the rush?” Ji Yuanzhi’s father spoke, “The chef we’ve invited today is quite skilled. The deck is windy. You might as well go inside and have something to eat.”
Since he initiated the conversation with Wen Shi, his tone wasn’t too stern, causing people around to give Wen Shi an extra glance.
Although unsure of the other’s intention, Wen Shi chose to heed the advice and entered the interior of the cruise ship.
Pei Hongxin was in the middle of a conversation with someone when he saw a tall, straight black figure pass through the crowd. A strange yet familiar sensation welled up inside him. However, when he tried to get a closer look, the figure had already disappeared.
The focus of the gathering was on drinks. Many decorations for the night were suspended glasses used as artistic displays. Waitstaff moved back and forth with trays containing various types of glasses for guests to use.
Wen Shi casually picked up a champagne glass and paired it with a strawberry.
As Pei Hongxin entered, he positioned himself behind a champagne tower.
Setting aside moral perspectives, Pei Hongxin, now in middle age, perfectly embodied a blend of dominance and refinement. After a brief social engagement outside, he entered the yacht with a smile on his face.
Casually strolling, Pei Hongxin made his way to a makeshift platform. Raising his glass, he said some pleasantries, “Thank you all for taking the time from your busy schedules to gather here.”
Wen Shi didn’t pay much attention to the remaining words. By the time he was almost done showing off with half a plate of strawberries, a few individuals pushed a cart forward with a solemn air, delivering something onto the platform.
Though draped with a cloth, everyone knew that underneath was a bottle of wine, the sole auction item for the evening.
This was the first time Wen Shi had seen a wine bottle adorned with diamonds and gold plating. As the black cloth was unveiled, he was almost blinded by the brilliant single-cut diamonds on top.
Pei Hongxin attentively introduced the bottle, labeling it as the world’s most perfectly crafted natural brandy. When he raised the bottle for display, Ji Yuanzhi’s father, who had arrived not long ago, exchanged a meaningful glance with Wen Shi. Understanding the signal, Wen Shi’s wrist moved, causing the nearby fruit platter to crash to the ground.
The crisp sound of the plate hitting the floor attracted numerous gazes. On the stage, Pei Hongxin also looked over, and under the abundant, dazzling lights, the smiling face of the young man overlapped with a face from his memory.
The smile on Pei Hongxin’s face suddenly froze.
Next to him, Wei Yue’s breath became erratic, her nails almost piercing through her husband’s suit and into his flesh.
It was too alike.
This was a face nearly proportionally enlarged compared to that child!
From a distance, Wen Shi raised his champagne glass toward the couple. Others simply assumed he was apologizing for accidentally knocking over the fruit platter. However, on the stage, Pei Hongxin felt his heart racing like the beat of a drum.
For years, the presence of someone he had thought was gone, someone who had troubled his sleep and left him restless, now stood right before him. Bathed in a warm light, Wen Shi found himself in a spotlight, the vibrant orange hue resembling flames in a fire.
The surprised rendered Pei Hongxin momentarily stunned. The wine bottle slipped from his hand and landed on the wooden stage with a loud “thud,” a much louder sound than the earlier fruit platter mishap.
Even the most precious diamonds couldn’t prevent the bottle from shattering. The highly praised brandy flowed onto the ground.
“Husband…”
“Shut up.” Pei Hongxin struggled to suppress the tremor in his voice. He controlled his expression and swiftly deflected, “I apologize for the disturbance. I was almost grazed by a bullet during a project inspection abroad not long ago. The sudden noise triggers an exaggerated reaction in me.”
Jokes were exchanged with business partners who had better rapport with him. Waitstaff promptly cleared the table, sweeping this incident under the rug.
But there were always a few astute individuals, especially among the older crowd, who cast lingering glances at Wen Shi, feeling like they had seen him somewhere before.
Setting down his wine glass, Wen Shi inwardly sighed that it was indeed Ji Yuanzhi’s father who seized the opportune moment. He not only ruined a bottle of Pei Hongxin’s wine, but also made him embarrass himself in front of everyone. With all the guests gathered tonight, some might recall the photographs once published in the newspapers and link them to the incident from years ago. Pei Hongxin’s peaceful nights were now at risk.
During the latter half of the event, Pei Hongxin completely forgot his initial purpose. He deliberately avoided glancing at Wen Shi’s direction, fearing undue attention.
Right now, he wished Wen Shi would initiate a conversation, giving him at least a chance to test the waters.
However, Wen Shi stubbornly didn’t comply with his wishes. Besides occasionally lingering around Pei Hongxin to create a sense of panic, he refrained from any extra actions.
The gala continued until midnight. Wen Shi left half an hour early.
As the host, Pei Hongxin persevered until the last moment. Many intoxicated guests spent the night in the cabins aboard the ship. Wei Yue promptly led him to the bow, her heart still racing.
“Quickly have someone check the identity of that young man just now. I’ll review the surveillance footage to see who he came with.”
Pei Hongxin waved his hand. “Those aren’t the key points. If it truly is that child, he must have come prepared.”
Wei Yue furrowed her brows. “Are you implying…”
“Anyway, we were already planning to relocate overseas. Once the citizenship change application goes through, once we’re gone, tracing back won’t be so easy.”
Wei Yue disagreed somewhat. According to the original plan, they would at least spend another year or two gradually expanding into the international market. Hasty departure would result in substantial losses.
“There’s no evidence linking that incident to us, and he couldn’t possibly know…”
Pei Hongxin leaned against the railing, interrupting her for the second time. “Don’t hold onto wishful thinking.”
They wouldn’t run out of money in their lifetime, and the domestic market was almost saturated. Pei Hongxin didn’t want to spend his days in anxiety while guarding a mountain of wealth.
Wei Yue was about to say something else when Pei Hongxin glanced at her, causing her to purse her lips. Shortly after, footsteps approached from behind, and a sycophantic smile-bearing man walked over.
“Mr. Pei,” he presented a box, “a small gift as a token of appreciation. Thank you for your years of support for our company.”
Many of Pei Hongxin’s company’s devices were purchased from this person. Taking the box and opening it, he saw a lifelike golden leopard inside.
“Blessed by a master and even kept in a temple for a while,” the man grinned, “it ensures wealth and safety.”
Tonight’s events were quite uncanny, and the last sentence happened to strike a chord with Pei Hongxin. Without much thought, he accepted the gift, “You’re thoughtful.”
…
The moonlight was especially gentle.
Originally planning to return directly to the virtual world, Wen Shi was invited by Ji Yuanzhi’s father to stay as a guest.
There were many hotels in Tianhai City owned by Ji Yuanzhi’s family. Since Wen Shi had only nibbled on some fruits at the gala, it was time for a late-night meal to sustain himself.
Ji Yuanzhi’s father wasn’t talkative but avoided awkward silence. He only spoke after Wen Shi finished his meal, offering a few words of advice, “Sometimes, lack of evidence can ruin a person’s reputation, but at other times, even with ample evidence, the sentence may only be a few years.”
Wen Shi nodded. “Rest assured, I understand.”
He understood what the other meant. Even if everything went smoothly, the ultimate outcome for Pei Hongxin would still be a few years in prison.
Mr. Ji nodded. “As long as you understand. For astute entrepreneurs, bankruptcy doesn’t mean it’s all over.”
Mr. Ji had a meeting tomorrow in a neighboring city and had to leave now. He stopped them from seeing him off, reminding Wen Shi before he left, “Keep the most important secrets from your closest ones.”
If there was truly someone who could bring Pei Hongxin to his downfall, it would be Wei Yue, not Wen Shi.
The driver drove Mr. Ji away, and Ji Yuanzhi took a sip of tea. “He might have had a bit too much to drink today, hence the rambling. Don’t mind it.”
Wen Shi shook his head. “I’m quite grateful to Uncle.”
Without the game, regardless of how they handled things, it would be easy to become persistent concern.
Ji Yuanzhi said casually, “Once Pei Hongxin enters the instance, playing with him as you please is easy, as long as you spend points. There will be people willing to torment him to the brink of death.”
Wen Shi stared at the ripples in his tea cup. “That’s true.”
However, the people available for hire, and those who initially intended to torture him for information during his first instance are almost the same group. Dealing with them made Wen Shi nauseous and more prone to trouble.
Assuming Pei Hongxin casually met his end by some rule, he felt that would be letting the other off too easily, leaving some lingering frustration.
Seeing a hint of annoyance between Wen Shi’s brows, Ji Yuanzhi suddenly asked, “Do you still remember how we entered the ‘Crazy Love Season’ instance?”
Wen Shi looked up. “Purchase a theme with the ‘Dark Wedding’ scene.”
Ji Yuanzhi: “With Pei Hongxin’s abilities, his chances of survival in his first game are quite high. After that, you just need to buy an instance with a supernatural horror theme as his ‘grave.'”
Wen Shi wasn’t very knowledgeable about this aspect and asked humbly for guidance.
Ji Yuanzhi smiled. “Players dread this type of instance the most. It is said that in supernatural horror instances, once you die, your soul gets imprisoned.”
Hearing this, Wen Shi remembered the four figures clutching candles in the House of Mirrors, where deceased players seemed trapped in mirrors forever.
“A good idea,” he replied with a smile. After all, convincing someone to team up for an instance wasn’t that difficult.
Wen Shi: “Returning to the virtual world?”
There were quite a few players in the real world who wanted to harm him, not to mention the precautions needed with Pei Hongxin’s situation. The virtual world would be safer.
Ji Yuanzhi nodded. “It’s also about time for me to enter an instance. Shall we go together?”
Wen Shi: “My next instance was supposed to be at Merfolk Shore, but I need a ticket. Teaming up might not be easy.”
Ji Yuanzhi’s inquiry had been casual, but upon hearing this, his interest piqued a bit more. “No problem, I have an advanced teaming item that should help.”
Wen Shi noticed that Ji Yuanzhi seemed quite interested in this instance.
Ji Yuanzhi: “Dealing with instances that involve predefined elements is easier. Doing a thorough investigation of the legends beforehand and acquiring the necessary items are the strategies to tackle them.”
Wen Shi’s eyes lit up. “That’s great, let’s enter the instance together.”
He could also benefit from Ji Yuanzhi’s research findings.
To help Ji Yuanzhi gather information, Wen Shi voluntarily provided a clue, “In the previous instance, an NPC mentioned that getting close to the Merfolk King would bring misfortune.”
Not feeling nervous upon hearing a term similar to ‘boss,’ Ji Yuanzhi calmly responded, “No worries, in this regard, you can handle it head-on.”
All NPCs near Pei Wenwei had also encountered great disasters.
“……”
After exchanging information, the two of them tore open the travel pass and returned to the virtual world.
Where they left from, they would reappear there upon returning.
Wen Shi suddenly appeared in his hotel room. Song Yan was startled and almost couldn’t resist turning back into a mirror.
Originally feeling a bit embarrassed about startling Song Yan, Wen Shi couldn’t help but laugh at his startled expression, much like a startled white mouse.
Song Yan had a soft facial outline with slightly lower facial functions, giving him a baby-face appearance. He was holding a philosophical book in his hand, surrounded by a few thick piles of materials.
Wen Shi glanced at the book title. “Facing the Sun: Conquering the Fear of Death.”
He always felt that this true spirit incarnation was taking a strange path to advancement.
Shaking his head, Wen Shi walked to the hotel room and took out the two tickets. The lake-blue sheen mixed with warmth and cruelty.
He pondered how to give one to the mini octopus.
The system’s prompt sounded without warning:
“Would you like to spend ten points to mail the ticket?”
“……” It was evident that the game was also short on money.
However, the shadow of the scarecrow vanishing on the K9999 train was somewhat connected to Jian Qingrong. Mailing the ticket over was reasonable. Wen Shi didn’t hesitate to spend the ten points and chose to send it.
“I’ll add another ten points. Can you help include a small card?”
•
Sanatorium, data room.
The round table had been wiped clean, and various colored pastries were arranged on it.
The waiting time felt a bit long, and the pastries on the table began to slightly harden. In the quiet shadows sat a slender figure. He had been waiting for a day and only rose to tidy up the table after the midnight bell tolled.
“None…” the man murmured softly in the darkness.
There was no afternoon tea held today.
One by one, the pastries were taken off the table. As Jian Qingrong turned around for the last time, a greeting card had appeared on the round table.
He absentmindedly opened it, and a train ticket fell out, gently landing at his feet.
Attracted by the familiar handwriting, Jian Qingrong first looked at the content of the card. He immediately recognized it as Wen Shi’s handwriting. When Wen Shi had helped him modify his file, it had been the same handwriting. Occasionally, during his leisure time in the late hours of the night, Jian Qingrong would practice imitating Wen Shi’s handwriting to pass the time.
There was only one sentence on the card:
“Let’s go see the mermaids together.”
At the end, there was a simple sketch of a black cat poking its head out, its large cat eyes seemingly on the verge of blinking.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his pale face. Jian Qingrong gazed at the drawing of the cat’s head and softly spoke in the empty, dark space, “Alright.”
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