The sound of wind chimes jingled softly. Zhang Jingyi smiled and greeted, “Welcome.”
The person entering was a stunningly beautiful woman with an alluring figure. Despite the freezing weather, she was dressed in extremely light and form-fitting clothes, exuding elegance and drawing the attention of everyone in the café. Customers couldn’t help but glance her way.
The woman ignored the gazes around her and walked straight toward the second floor of Qingzhu House.
When Zhang Jingyi saw the guest clearly, her brows furrowed slightly. Realizing who it was, she quickly moved to block her path.
“Sorry, miss. The second floor isn’t open right now,” she said with a stiff smile.
Chen Zhiru frowned, her face showing clear irritation. Without sparing Zhang Jingyi a glance, she fixed her gaze on the staircase and said, “I know Gu Jiu is upstairs. I need to talk to her.”
Zhang Jingyi maintained her polite smile but stood firm. “I’m sorry, the second floor is closed.”
Chen Zhiru’s patience finally ran out. Her gaze shifted to Zhang Jingyi.
Since becoming a player, Chen Zhiru had thrived in the real world and hadn’t been obstructed like this in ages—especially by someone as insignificant as one of Gu Jiu’s followers. Her mood soured further.
As her frustration grew, the aura of a B-level player seeped out of her, an oppressive presence no ordinary person could withstand.
Zhang Jingyi felt suffocated under her gaze. Her breathing became labored, her legs weak, and her mind filled with doubt. Since when had Chen Zhiru become so powerful?
“Step aside!” Chen Zhiru barked, showing no regard for ordinary people. If not for considering Huo Ting, she would’ve taken action already.
Despite her fear of the now-menacing Chen Zhiru, Zhang Jingyi stood her ground and refused to move.
Finally, Chen Zhiru’s patience reached its limit. She grabbed Zhang Jingyi, intending to toss her aside, when a voice rang out.
“Chen Zhiru, what do you think you’re doing?”
Chen Zhiru looked up to see Gu Jiu and Huo Ting standing at the top of the stairs. She hadn’t noticed when they arrived, but now both were watching her.
Her grip loosened instinctively as she forced a strained smile. “I was just asking her to step aside. That’s all.” But deep down, she felt irritated. She wasn’t explaining to Gu Jiu—she was explaining to Huo Ting.
Gu Jiu descended the stairs slowly, with Huo Ting following close behind.
The scene stung Chen Zhiru’s eyes. She couldn’t help recalling the past. Whenever these two appeared together, even in front of someone as distinguished as Huo Ting, Gu Jiu had always behaved confidently and unyieldingly. No one could play the part of the young master before this proud young lady. It was enough to make onlookers sympathize with Huo Ting.
Why did he keep chasing after someone who didn’t value him?
Gu Jiu didn’t spare Chen Zhiru a glance. Instead, she reached out, took Zhang Jingyi’s hand, and checked her condition. Satisfied that Chen Zhiru hadn’t done anything harmful, she said dismissively, “For once, you were smart. I’ll let it slide.”
Chen Zhiru nearly exploded with anger.
Her face flushed red, as if she might lash out at any moment. Even Zhang Jingyi worried that the young lady might provoke her into doing something dangerous.
Chen Zhiru took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm.
She knew she couldn’t compete with Gu Jiu—neither in the past nor now. Even though it was a bitter pill to swallow, she couldn’t deny the truth. After experiencing the “Ella Town” instance, she had witnessed Gu Jiu’s combat prowess and problem-solving abilities, which far surpassed her own.
Ignoring Gu Jiu, Chen Zhiru turned to Huo Ting instead. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Cautiously, she asked, “Brother Ting, when did you arrive in Haishi? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could’ve picked you up.”
Oh, she talks as if they’re very close.
Zhang Jingyi secretly rolled her eyes, thinking that Chen Zhiru was really overestimating herself. This handsome man clearly carried an extraordinary air, likely someone of the same high status as Gu Jiu. It was probably through Gu Jiu that Chen Zhiru even knew him. Where did she get the confidence to act as if they were so familiar?
Huo Ting replied succinctly, “No need. I’m here to discuss something with Gu Jiu.”
The onlookers couldn’t help but smirk at his response. So, it turned out that the woman was throwing herself at him, while the man had already made his stance clear—they were far from being close.
Chen Zhiru’s expression stiffened, and she bit her lip in embarrassment.
Her beauty leaned toward a sultry and glamorous type, and acting pitiful didn’t suit her at all. She was far better suited for a queenly, domineering style. Unfortunately, Chen Zhiru had always liked competing with Gu Jiu, instinctively imitating her words and behavior. She forced herself into a pure and innocent persona, which only resulted in her coming off as awkward and out of place, wasting much of her considerable beauty.
Zhang Jingyi was speechless.
Being friends with Gu Jiu, she was also familiar with Chen Zhiru. She always felt that Chen Zhiru harbored a deep, almost obsessive infatuation with Gu Jiu—emulating everything about her. But she failed to capture Gu Jiu’s essence or warmth, leaving her completely unable to evoke sympathy from men.
Huo Ting didn’t spare another glance at Chen Zhiru and turned to Gu Jiu. “Ah Jiu, I’ll be off now. Let’s meet again when we have time.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “Safe travels.”
Huo Ting acknowledged her with a simple “Mm” and strode out of the café.
“Brother Ting!”
Chen Zhiru chased after him, following him out of the café.
From inside, the patrons could see what happened next. Outside on the curb, Huo Ting stopped briefly. Chen Zhiru’s face lit up with delight, but the joy quickly turned into a look of dismay.
Huo Ting said seriously, “If there’s nothing pressing in the real world, you should spend more time training in Boundless City’s practice grounds to enhance your abilities. I’ll be entering the A-level fields soon and probably won’t be able to help you much anymore.”
Chen Zhiru looked at him with grievance-filled eyes and blurted out, “What about Gu Jiu?” She couldn’t believe he wouldn’t help Gu Jiu.
If he was willing to help her, surely he would help Gu Jiu too. She knew Huo Ting was responsible and conscientious—especially considering the sensitive nature of being a player. He wanted to see more players thrive in their world. There was no way he’d leave Gu Jiu alone.
“What does this have to do with Gu Jiu?” Huo Ting looked at her in confusion. “Gu Jiu is very strong. She doesn’t need anyone worrying about her. She’ll survive in the game world just fine.”
Was he implying that she, Chen Zhiru, was weak and wouldn’t survive?
Even if it was true, the bluntness of it still stung. She cursed inwardly, calling him a “dog of a man.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.” Huo Ting added politely before striding across the street.
He was indeed busy. Not only did he have matters involving the players to handle, but he was also dealing with real-world responsibilities. His decision to visit Haishi last night was purely to clarify things regarding Gu Jiu, squeezing out whatever time he could.
Chen Zhiru watched him leave, her calls unable to stop him. Angrily, she kicked the streetlamp with all her strength.
“Why kick the streetlamp? It didn’t offend you. And straighten it back up while you’re at it,” Gu Jiu said, her tone annoyed.
Chen Zhiru glanced at the slightly bent lamppost and reluctantly straightened it. Only after she did so did she realize what she was doing. Furious and embarrassed, she snapped, “What does this have to do with you?”
“How could it not?” Gu Jiu replied with a bright smile. “When you targeted someone from my family, did you stop to think it wasn’t my business? We’re both players, after all, so if I beat you up, Huo Ting probably wouldn’t mind.”
Chen Zhiru froze, startled, and quickly stammered, “Players can’t attack each other!”
Gu Jiu’s smile remained gentle. “You’re absolutely right—the rules do exist. But I can find a loophole and still kill you. Do you believe that?”
Chen Zhiru felt a chill run through her entire body, staring at her in terror.
She didn’t doubt Gu Jiu’s words. This woman was terrifyingly intelligent. If she claimed she could exploit the rules to kill her, she would absolutely find a way to do it. Regret began to take hold—she never should have relied on her player status to pit the Chen family against the Gu family.
“Th-the Gu family didn’t fall for it, and nothing happened anyway, right?” she stammered, her voice shaking.
Gu Jiu didn’t respond. Her cold gaze bore into her, making the air around them freeze.
A sleek black luxury car pulled up to the curb. The window rolled down, revealing the round, slightly chubby face of a middle-aged man. His face lit up in delight. “Zhiru, why are you here? Oh, Ah Jiu is here too!”
His tone was laced with smugness, as if flaunting some victory.
Gu Jiu spared him a glance, her expression indifferent. She could hear the conceit in his voice loud and clear. Her lips curved into a faint, mocking smile.
Chen Shishen stepped out of the car, dressed in the polished attire of a successful businessman, radiating confidence and arrogance.
Seeing the eldest daughter who once stood so high above him, he felt a rush of pride. He longed to see this proud young woman beg him for help, just as the Gu family had once condescended to assist him.
Feigning concern, he said, “Your eyesight is poor—you’re almost blind. Why are you out alone? Does no one in the Gu family care about you? Why don’t you come back with me? The Chen family is different now. We’ve moved to a new house, it’s huge, and there’s plenty of space for the whole family to live together…”
Listening to his self-satisfied words, Chen Zhiru felt her embarrassment reach a peak. She wanted to curl her toes so hard she could dig a three-bedroom apartment into the ground.
If Gu Jiu weren’t a player, perhaps the Chen family’s gloating would have landed its intended blow. But knowing that Gu Jiu was a player too, her father’s antics now seemed utterly ridiculous—like a clown putting on a show. It was so mortifying she wished she could bury herself alive.
She felt a moment of relief that Huo Ting had left. If he had witnessed this—
And just as she thought that, she spotted him standing not far away, watching the scene unfold with an inscrutable expression.
Chen Zhiru: “….” Kill me now.
Gu Jiu looked at the middle-aged man in front of her as if he were a fool. With a trace of curiosity, she asked, “What did my mother ever see in you? Was it really a case of repaying a life-saving debt with marriage?”
Chen Shishen froze mid-sentence, his face turning beet red.
Even Chen Zhiru couldn’t help lowering her head in embarrassment.
Back then, Gu Jiu’s mother, Gu Jiaqi, was the esteemed eldest daughter of the Gu family. Her status was unmatched, and countless suitors vied for her hand. Chen Shishen wasn’t even on the radar and was completely overlooked.
But fate played its hand.
The Gu family’s eldest daughter was kidnapped, and Chen Shishen stumbled upon the scene by sheer luck, saving her.
No matter how thoroughly the Gu family investigated afterward, they found no evidence of foul play. Given the Chen family’s lack of power, it was impossible for them to have orchestrated such a scheme. Chen Shishen’s timely appearance was deemed a coincidence.
Perhaps it was the gratitude for saving her life and the bond formed during that moment of shared peril that led Gu Jiaqi to fall for Chen Shishen. Against her family’s objections, she married him.
Gu Jiaqi was frail from a young age, and her health deteriorated further after giving birth to her daughter. By the time she passed away, she was unaware that Chen Shishen had already been unfaithful—and that his mistress’s daughter was only three months younger than her own. Out of gratitude for Chen Shishen’s life-saving act, which allowed her to live an additional two years with her family, she had secured the Gu family’s support for the Chen family.
Gu Jiaqi passed away peacefully. At least until her death, Chen Shishen had worked hard to be a good husband. Because of this, the Gu family, while disliking him, didn’t take any action against him. However, they took the newborn Gu Jiu away, refusing to let their granddaughter grow up under the care of such a father.
Later, for the sake of the Chen family’s future, they continually pressured Chen Shishen to curry favor with his daughter, who was being raised by the Gu family. Meanwhile, Chen Zhiru’s mother, though part of the Chen household, remained an unofficial mistress with no proper status. It wasn’t until Chen Zhiru became a player, bringing benefits to the Chen family, that her mother was finally legitimized as the matriarch of the Chen household.
Gu Jiu tilted her head slightly, as though lost in thought, her expression growing uninterested. “Forget it. Talking about this is pointless. The Chen family is doing well now—I hope you can continue to maintain your current glory.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Chen Shishen’s heart skipped a beat as inexplicable panic welled up inside him. Gripping his younger daughter’s arm, he asked, “Zhiru, what does she mean? Could it be that she’s also…?”
Chen Zhiru nodded reluctantly.
Chen Shishen froze as if struck by lightning, his mind going blank.
The Chen family’s rise had been entirely thanks to Chen Zhiru. Players couldn’t reveal their identities to ordinary people in the real world, but they could fabricate a story. Chen Zhiru had told her family that she’d joined a mysterious government organization and received substantial rewards for her contributions, enabling the Chen family’s climb to prominence.
Because of this, Chen Shishen felt triumphant, believing he no longer needed to grovel to the Gu family or his eldest daughter.
But if Gu Jiu was also a member of that mysterious organization, the Chen family had no advantage.
Deep down, the Chen family knew that compared to Chen Zhiru, Gu Jiu was clearly superior. Her abilities completely overshadowed Chen Zhiru’s. With Gu Jiu in the picture, the Gu family had nothing to fear.
Terrified, Chen Shishen stammered, “Zhiru, what exactly did she mean? Is she planning to target you?”
His fear was palpable. He no longer dared to underestimate Gu Jiu.
Chen Zhiru remained silent. She understood Gu Jiu’s implication all too well: the Chen family’s glory rested on her shoulders. If she were to die, the Chen family would be crushed. The Gu family wouldn’t even need to act—others would gladly shove the Chen family back into the dirt, leaving them worse off than before.
In the world of players, it was a game of life and death, and dying was a very real possibility. The thought that Gu Jiu might make a move against her only deepened her fear.
Still, in Huo Ting’s presence, she forced herself to maintain her composure.
Once Huo Ting turned and left, Chen Zhiru clenched her jaw, pulling her visibly panicked father into the car and driving away.
—
After leaving Qingzhu House, Gu Jiu didn’t head home immediately.
Although a cold rain had fallen earlier in the morning, by afternoon, the sky had cleared. There was no sunlight, but neither was it gloomy.
Walking along the damp streets, Gu Jiu eventually arrived at a nearby park.
She felt her way to a bench by the roadside and sat down. Behind her was a small grove of trees. The wind was strong, and she pulled her coat tighter as a faint smile appeared on her face.
Her vision was hazy; she couldn’t see anything clearly. Occasionally, when someone passed by, she could only discern vague streaks of color moving and fading away.
A gust of wind blew, lifting her hair and rustling her clothes.
She let out a soft sigh, as though speaking to herself. “Why did Mom choose that man? There were so many good men, yet she picked a cheater… Mom had terrible taste. Thankfully, I’m not like her.”
After a moment, she turned her head toward the grove, her smile widening. “Ah Ji, you’ve been following me for so long. Are you not planning to come out?”