Gazing at the gibbous moon through the hazy night sky, Black Bell's tail involuntarily swayed back and forth. Sensing its friend's unease, the little white cat beside it owed worriedly and rubbed its face against Black Bell's, helping to groom its fur.
Black Bell stretched out its paw to push the little white cat away and owed twice. The little white cat humd dejectedly and walked away towards Dormitory No. 3.
Watching the little white cat disappear from view, Black Bell looked up at the moon again, then sprang out of the bushes. Coiling its body, it leaped straight up two ters high like a spring, landing steadily on the first-floor windowsill of the dormitory building.
Then, Black Bell repeated the trick, hopping and jumping from one windowsill to an air conditioning unit and back to the windowsill, climbing upwards with agility akin to an assassin.
It had intended to go straight ho, but as it passed the fourth floor, it saw warm light spilling from Room 402's balcony and heard familiar voices inside. Out of curiosity, it landed on the balcony and carefully peeked its head in to observe the situation inside the room.
"Dodge!"
"Dodge!"
"Do we have any 'Protect'? Co on, soone play a 'Protect'..."
Black Bell wiggled its behind and elegantly hopped back to the balcony, resuming its journey ho.
These humans gathering together late at night without mating, always up to no good and never behaving – could it be that the idiotic male inside had been castrated? How pitiful. Next ti, I'll let him pet a bit longer.
「Fifteen minutes earlier.」
Down at the dormitory entrance, Ren Suo, after soothing Little Jiu, saw Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, and three others blocking the doorway. This gave him an eerie feeling. It's like an encounter with plot-driven monsters! It feels as though they've ambushed . Even if Bai Ji suddenly appeared behind to knock out, I wouldn't be surprised.
However, Ren Suo saw their hesitant looks. They seed to want to say sothing yet held back, only to try speaking again. He didn't know what was on their minds, but he invited them upstairs for a slow chat, which they didn't refuse, so it probably wasn't anything urgent.
With many guests over this ti, Ren Suo was not a stingy host. Upon arriving ho, he activated 'Fla Overlord' to supply extensive heating. Then he sat down and asked, "Did you girls need sothing from ?"
They all sat down without bothering to respond to Ren Suo. Only Little Jiu and Lin Xianyu opened the fridge, took out a tub of ice cream, and got ready to eat.
Qiao Muyi propped up her chin, picked up her scarf, and gazed at Ren Suo seductively, asking, "Did Xiao Suo knit this by hand?"
"Yep," Ren Suo nodded.
Ren Xingi covered her own scarf, asking, "Brother, did you knit this for by hand too?"
"Yes," Ren Suo nodded again.
Gu Yueyan asked, "What about mine?"
"Also yes," Ren Suo nodded thrice.
Feeling a bit hot, Dong Chengling took off her scarf, folded it neatly, and asked, "So did you knit mine by hand as well, Suo?"
"Mhm, mhm, mhm," Ren Suo nodded four tis.
All four of them were speechless. They weren't doubting Ren Suo's honesty; if Ren Suo were savvy enough to lie about sothing so trivial just to please girls, he would have long beco soone's prized possession. On the other hand, if he were truly that emotionally intelligent, he wouldn't be giving away six or seven scarves in one day.
Sitting to the side with an enal bowl of honeydew ice cream, Lin Xianyu spoke their minds, "Big Brother Ren, you knit really fast. Did you awaken a Spider Demon's supernatural power and grow eight hands to knit scarves?"
"I simply used the ti I usually spend sleeping and playing to knit scarves. I even used the ti I spend on chores to knit as much as I could."
Ren Suo earnestly said, "And it's not difficult. As long as you're willing to spend ti like I did and put your heart into it, even with just two hands, you can knit a series of custom-made scarves."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Muyi and the others exchanged glances, realizing that the patterns on their scarves were indeed unique, custom-made by Ren Suo. Setting aside his insane knitting speed, the re fact that he could craft such distinct scarves for each of them, and all of high quality, proved that Ren Suo had truly put his heart into it. The scarves were filled with his sincere affection.
But so what? Do you think re affection is enough to protect anything?
They had thought that the scarves were painstakingly crafted by Ren Suo, squeezing ti out of gaming and Cultivation, stitch by stitch, over countless nights. That's why they were so delighted.
Ren Suo was a Third-turn Cultivator, having recently battled Gu Yuexuan from the Sky Capital Strategic Bureau with extraordinary combat power. This showed that he must spend a lot of ti on Cultivation and practicing Spells. Therefore, the fact that he personally took the ti to knit the scarves made them so happy – a Cultivator's ti is very valuable.
But who would have thought Ren Suo's knitting speed was so monstrous! Hand-knitted? Certainly. Heartfelt? Indeed. But he's like a factory-direct sale, with no middleman profiting from the difference, generously giving them away to everyone!
At that mont, Ren Suo finally realized sothing was amiss. The focus of Gu Yueyan, Qiao Muyi, and the others was all on the scarves, which made him catch on instantly.
"Is it that the material isn't good, and it feels uncomfortable after wearing it for a while, so you want to exchange it?" Ren Suo untied his own scarf to inspect it. "I'm also using this cashre yarn for the first ti, and it feels quite skin-friendly. Maybe my tough skin isn't as sensitive as yours..."
"If you want to exchange it, it will take a few days, though."
He's actually capable of knitting a new scarf in just a few days?
Qiao Muyi was both amused and annoyed. "No, I really like your gift. I like it so much that I want to keep it properly as a keepsake."
Ren Xingi took off her shoes, sat on the couch with her legs crossed, and asked, "Speaking of which, bro, why did you choose to give us... scarves?"
"Hm?" Ren Suo blinked. Of course, I can't say it's to enhance the Bond System's favorability levels. He exchanged a glance with Qiao Muyi and then repeated the excuse he had used to fob her off, "I just felt like I should give you gifts for Christmas, and since Lianjiang is quite cold, I rembered seeing sowhere how to knit scarves, so I just did it on a whim..."
Gu Yueyan sat upright in her chair and said indifferently, "If you had only made one scarf, this excuse might have been plausible. But you spent so much ti knitting so many scarves just on a whim..."
Dong Chengling followed up, "Suo, you're not the kind of person who would spend so much ti on sothing just because of a whim."
Little Jiu, who was playing with her phone, giggled, "Big brother is very lazy!"
Being called out like this, Ren Suo was at a loss for words for a mont.
Lin Xianyu, who was busy spooning ice cream into her mouth, added fuel to the fire, "For Big Brother Ren to give up his Cultivation, abandon his gas, and instead knit scarves for us, there must be a greater interest at play!"
For a greater interest!
After Lin Xianyu spoke, the thought suddenly clicked for Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Ren Xingi, and Gu Yueyan. They simultaneously entertained a crazy, infuriating idea: to dismber Ren Suo on the spot!
However, after glancing at Ren Suo, they imdiately dismissed the thought.
Co on, even if Ren Suo dared to have such a thought, he wouldn't have the guts to act on it...
At this point, Ren Suo too felt sowhat awkward. I really can't explain that it was indeed done on a whim. If we weren't close, it would be another story, but we're all acquaintances. They know I'm a pragmatist by nature and wouldn't waste too much ti on trivial matters. Even if I did sothing highly ritualistic on a sudden impulse, that impulse would only last a few hours. However, knitting scarves took days, even weeks—plenty of ti for to cool down. The "on a whim" excuse simply won't fool them. Is it too late to say I bought them on Taobao?
After thinking it over, Ren Suo said, "I heard there's a step in Christmas of exchanging gifts… I'm actually not used to giving gifts to others, and I was worried that it would be awkward if you gave gifts first and I had nothing to give in return. So, I prepared gifts for you all in advance. No matter how you respond, I can feel at ease."
Ren Xingi felt it was incredible and said doubtfully, "Just for that reason? But you never gave a Christmas gift before..."
Ren Suo shrugged. "I've never given Christmas gifts to Mom and Dad before either, but this ti I also gave them two presents... In the past, I wasn't aware of this, but now it's different."
Gu Yueyan asked, "What's different?"
"Because now with the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, Assassin Organization, fallen Secret Realms, Demons and Ghosts, deities and Demons..." Ren Suo smiled faintly, his fingers intertwined, and said with an easy-going tone, "This world is full of dangers we can't hide from or predict. It's just that when the sky falls, there will always be tall ones to withstand it; that's why we can spend every day so easily."
"And then I just felt that being able to live so peacefully every day is actually quite fortunate."
Even though I own the Mini-World Ga Console, I still harbor so concerns deep in my heart. The Mini-World Ga Console isn't so powerful entity that can protect . In fact, the gas in it don't really have anything to do with ; I just obtain benefits from them through various ans. If I really encountered danger, would the Mini-World Ga Console protect ? I don't know. Perhaps it would prematurely create a ga for to complete, allowing to avoid the danger. Or maybe it would do nothing at all, leaving my fate entirely to luck and my own abilities.
Moreover, compared to other spectators who can only watch from behind a screen, I have a deeper and more intimate understanding of the dangers threatening the world—I've nipped almost all the seeds of disaster in the bud with my own hands on the ga controller. For example, with the upcoming "Night of the Hunt," what would happen if the Moon God truly descended upon this world? Would everyone fall asleep in their beds, trapped in an eternal nightmare, becoming nourishnt for the Slayer Moon God? I've actually wondered: do disasters appear, and I just happen to play the ga that can counteract them? Or is it because I play the ga that the Mini-World Ga Console brings forth disasters for to eliminate? Regardless of the possibility, both make acutely aware of my own fragility and also show what I need to do.
Despite spending my days sleeping profusely and cultivating using "Lazy Diligence's Body," I've tested it: normal Cultivation for five hours versus sleep Cultivation for nine hours yields higher overall benefits from sleep Cultivation. A slightly higher efficiency in normal Cultivation doesn't matter; the final return is what's fundantal. Of course, the best approach would naturally be to cultivate while awake and also while asleep... But when I'm awake, I need to play gas on the Mini-World Ga Console, so I can't cultivate then. Even if I managed to squeeze in a little ti, it wouldn't achieve much. It's better to leave Cultivation to "Lazy Diligence's Body"! Having my clone do household chores is for similar reasons; the ti spent on chores doesn't seem like much, but it accumulates significantly. Sending my clone to buy late-night snacks is also for similar reasons; going back and forth to buy snacks seems easy, but the ti also adds up considerably. Having my clone massage is for similar reasons too...
Although laziness is a big factor in these reasons, I clearly realize that whether it's for my own good, society's good, or the world's good, I should focus on the Mini-World Ga Console instead of my personal Cultivation. Only by clearing more gas and having more "Rippling Spring Sounds" summonable ti can I calmly face any ergencies. The gas I choose myself mostly have a positive impact on the world after completion and can better maintain global peace. Aside from gaming and Cultivation, the greatest help to naturally cos from these bonding partners and friends I know. Whether it's because of the Bond System or because I've received a lot of help in my daily life and Cultivation, I feel a asure of gratitude towards them. My acute awareness that this world isn't as safe as it seems has made re-evaluate how I handle my interpersonal relationships. It's only now that I vaguely sense that the Winter Solstice dinner and gifting the scarves, though they seed like impulsive acts, deep down, I was holding onto so kind of expectation for myself.
"And what's even more fortunate is getting to know you all."
Ren Suo scratched his head, choosing his words carefully, and said sowhat embarrassedly, "Cheng Ling, Young Master Mu, Yueyan, little sister, Xianyu, and Little Jiu, you are all very special and important people to . The year is almost over, and I was thinking that my greatest achievent this year is not my advancent to Third-turn Cultivator, nor becoming a Level Three Researcher, but eting you all, and eting Yu Kuangtu, Li Dan, Zhao Huo, and his several female friends..."
"Xianyu, you just said that I would put down Cultivation and gaming to knit scarves for you all for a greater benefit, and you're not entirely wrong," Ren Suo laughed. "What I consider a greater benefit should be our relationships."
"I've always sincerely felt that as long as I could play gas, I could find enough enjoynt. Of course, I still think so now; gas are really fun... However, now when I play gas, I feel happy, and being with you all, I feel relaxed and joyful."
Perhaps because he had never said such words before, Ren Suo unconsciously took off his shoes, crossed his feet on the sofa, pressed his hands on his ankles, his body hunched over, and he started to sway like a weeble, as if reflecting the unrest in his heart.
"But unlike a ga, which only requires a console, power supply, and internet to have fun, maintaining relationships isn't really my forte."
"After all, just being alive is lucky enough; eting you all might have used up all my luck in gas...huh?" Ren Suo said and suddenly chuckled as sothing ca to mind.
"So, I've decided to live each day seriously: to sleep seriously, eat seriously, play gas seriously, work seriously, and... seriously interact with you all."
Ren Suo spread his hands and continued, "I just want to give you gifts, just want to treat you to als. It's just that normally I don't have a reason. Now that Winter Solstice and Christmas are here, I'm using them as an excuse to give you gifts…"
"Because I want to treat you well."
"And I've discovered that giving gifts is really fun. I look forward to your reactions before I give them. After I've given them, seeing you happy with the gifts makes happy too."
Ren Suo looked towards the TV screen and scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I only know how to make myself happy, but you all might not be like , satisfied with just gas... I've never learned how to treat others well; I only know how to treat people to als and give gifts... I'm really not good at this stuff, am I?"
"Yep."
Dong Chengling and the others turned to look at Qiao Muyi, who was propping up her chin, scrutinizing Ren Suo. She said with biting sarcasm, "Xiao Suo, you really aren't good at socializing or giving gifts."
"Sorry about that," Ren Suo said, looking downhearted.
"Xiao Qiao…" "Sister Qiao…"
Qiao Muyi winked at them and continued, "But considering your sincerity, there might still be a cure for you, if you're willing, that is."
"How do I get better?" Ren Suo asked.
"Practice more!" Qiao Muyi declared earnestly. "From now on, every New Year, Lantern Festival, Arbor Day, Won's Day, Labor Day... basically, on every festive occasion, you should give gifts. No shirking; they must be gifts you've prepared with care!"
Ren Suo blinked. "Does Arbor Day even have anything to do with you?"
"Of course. You already call Young Master Mu, so how could Arbor Day be irrelevant to ?" Qiao Muyi said. "Here's the deal: if you give gifts, to make you happy, I will definitely pretend to be happy. So, isn't that a win-win?"
Lin Xianyu chid in, "To , the most heartfelt gift would be food made by Big Brother Ren himself!"
Realizing he had been played by Qiao Muyi, Ren Suo tugged at the corners of his mouth, saying, "Forget it. Just preparing for Christmas took so much ti. If I have to give gifts for every festival, I'm afraid I won't have ti for Cultivation or fun, and my whole year would revolve around preparing gifts..."
"Yeah," Dong Chengling nodded. "Suo, don't mind them; we've already received your kindness."
"If not on every festive occasion, then what about gifting a scarf every Christmas? That should be fine, right?" Qiao Muyi said, settling for less.
Little Jiu also decided to join in the fun, shaking Ren Suo's arm. "Little Jiu also wants a scarf every year, and they have to be different styles every year!"
Ren Xingi nodded. "That's a good idea, bro, I want one too!"
"Then I want one, too," Gu Yueyan followed Ren Xingi's lead, blinking her eyes.
"If the class president is getting one, then so am I!" Lin Xianyu said, finishing one cup of ice cream and going for another.
Christmas hasn't even passed, and they've already decided what gifts they want for next Christmas? Oh, wait, not just next year, but every year! Ren Suo thought.
Ren Suo signaled to Dong Chengling, hoping she would exert the authority of a Fourth Transformation Cultivator to intimidate these girls. Dong Chengling caught his signal, nodded, and said, "Hmm, Suo, I want a different style too."
I wasn't asking what style you wanted!
But Ren Suo didn't make things difficult and simply agreed. Maybe I should consider Lin Xianyu's suggestion and try to get an Ability from the Mini-World Ga Console that could sprout Three Heads and Six Arms. That way, my clones wouldn't have to work so hard in the future...
The mood beca more jovial, and then Lin Xianyu suddenly suggested playing a board ga. The girls, who had no intention of leaving, readily agreed, and they dug out a brand new Three Kingdoms Kill from Ren Suo's House.
Little Jiu chose to play on her phone, while the six of them began a role-based ga with one Lord, one Loyal Minister, one Traitor, and three Rebels.
In the first ga, Ren Suo got the Lord card, choosing the defense-offense character Cao Cao.
In Three Kingdoms Kill, the ga ends when the Lord dies. The Loyal Minister's role is to protect the Lord; the Rebels aim to kill the Lord, and the Traitor needs to eliminate everyone else before targeting the Lord. Until the roles are revealed, no one knows the identities of the others apart from the Lord.
Ren Suo equipped himself with weapons in a spirited fashion but then passed his turn.
His next player was Qiao Muyi, who drew her cards unhurriedly before playing a Trick Card [Stealing with Ease] against Ren Suo and also launched an [Attack] at him.
Ren Suo's brow raised. Qiao Muyi, you Rebel!
The next in line after Qiao Muyi was Lin Xianyu, who cheerfully played a [Severing Bridges] on Ren Suo and casually asked, "Big Brother Ren, although you gave a gift, I didn't prepare one for you."
Don't worry about it, Ren Suo thought. Lin Xianyu, you're another Rebel, just as I suspected!
"Aren't you disappointed I didn't get you anything?" Lin Xianyu curiously asked.
"Not disappointed at all. And besides, whether or not I'm disappointed, I don't want you all to be disappointed in ."
The girls paused for a mont, taken aback, then continued the ga.
After Lin Xianyu was Gu Yueyan, playing the character Zhou Yu. She decided to use [Sow Discord] on Ren Suo, making him guess a suit. If he guessed wrong, he would lose health and she would acquire the card.
Ren Suo guessed wrong and, picking up the card, he found it was a useless weapon card. His face instantly darkened. "Gu Yueyan, the Lord is very disappointed in you."
"As long as I'm not disappointed in you, that's good enough," Gu Yueyan said with a smile.
Gu Yueyan, the third Rebel!
Next up was Ren Xingi, who showed no rcy to her own brother, equipped her weapon card, and then went straight for him with a strike!
My sister, the fourth Rebel... Four Rebels?
"Protect the Lord!"
[Protect the Lord], the Lord's Skill, allows other characters from the Wei Faction to help him play a [Dodge].
Ren Suo looked at Dong Chengling sitting beside him with sincere eyes, but Dong Chengling was staring at her hand of cards and remained silent.
No matter what, Dong Chengling should be a Loyal Minister. Maybe she just doesn't have a [Dodge], Ren Suo thought, so he had no choice but to take a hit from his sister.
Then, Ren Xingi used [Severing Bridges] against Ren Suo, destroying one of his cards.
Finally, it was Dong Chengling's turn; she swiftly equipped her weapon and also gave Ren Suo a strike.
Dong Chengling, the fifth Rebel... Do Loyal Ministers and Traitors even exist?
Ren Suo frowned, realizing things were not as simple as they appeared. Six players, how can there be five Rebels!? Were the identity cards dealt incorrectly? But I was the one who dealt them!
The Lord was left with a re sliver of health, and it was Ren Suo's turn. He didn't draw a [Peach] and couldn't heal himself, so he quickly passed his turn. The ga will probably be over soon, he thought.
It was Qiao Muyi's turn, and surprisingly, she did not attack Ren Suo but instead initiated a [Duel] with Dong Chengling!
Ren Suo blinked. Was Qiao Muyi the Traitor card?
It was Lin Xianyu's turn, and she launched [Southern Barbarian Invasion]. Ren Suo was sure he was done for, but unexpectedly Lin Xianyu directly gave him an [Impenetrable], helping him avoid the [Southern Barbarian Invasion]!
Lin Xianyu, are you also a Traitor?
However, what followed was Gu Yueyan, Ren Xingi, and Dong Chengling not attacking Ren Suo but instead fighting each other. And if Ren Suo dared to heal or equip a weapon card, he would be quickly struck or disard.
Five Rebels have turned into five Traitors!?
So Ren Suo watched with a dumbfounded expression as the five of them fought each other, while he couldn't do anything at all, more useless than a decorative vase.
Although it was a five-person free-for-all, it seed that Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling were quickly taken out by a three-person pincer attack, revealing their identities as a Rebel and a Loyal Minister, respectively.
Ren Suo looked on enviously as Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling got up to leave, while he still had to continue playing this decorative vase of a Lord, weakly waiting for the final victor among the three of them.
Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling stepped out onto the balcony. Qiao Muyi, glancing at the fierce battle ongoing in the living room, brushed the hair by her ear and asked, "Chengling, are you angry?"
"No."
"Really not angry?"
"Not angry," Dong Chengling answered as calmly as ever.
"But I'm a little angry," Qiao Muyi pouted and grumbled. "Giving gifts as if they are wholesale, only Xiao Suo, that fool, could do that..."
"Suo is just being kind to us in his own way," Dong Chengling defended.
Qiao Muyi looked at Dong Chengling with a smile and asked, "Shouldn't you take this opportunity to create a rift, to make angry enough to leave?"
"I shouldn't," Dong Chengling shook her head. "I don't want you to be angry with him. Xiao Qiao, you are also very important to ."
Qiao Muyi was montarily speechless, then she shook her head. "Although I'm a bit angry, I've forgiven him... After all, his biggest achievent this year is getting to know !"
Dong Chengling chose to ignore that.
Qiao Muyi chuckled and said, "However, he always makes angry, amused, and fond of him at the sa ti. Looks like I'm completely under his spell for life."
"That won't happen. I'll make him loosen his grip on you."
"Hmph," Qiao Muyi flirtatiously blinked at Dong Chengling, saying, "Speaking of which, I want to change my strategy, just to let you know ahead of ti."
"Change?"
"Yeah," Qiao Muyi continued. "I think Xiao Suo makes a lot of sense. Being alive is already a great fortune, and eting him has used up all my luck for this lifeti... I shouldn't treat him with just a playful attitude anymore. I need to get serious."
"What does that an?" A hint of wariness appeared in Dong Chengling's clear eyes as she raised an eyebrow.
"Chengling, if he gives you the sa thing as he gives others, would you still want it?" Qiao Muyi suddenly counter-questioned.
Dong Chengling was slightly taken aback. Then she saw Qiao Muyi narrow her eyes, her lips curling into a seductive smile.
"I would want it," Qiao Muyi touched her scarf and said with a light laugh. "I don't just want it; I want even more. Whatever he gives to soone else, I want it, and what he hasn't given to anyone else, I want that too!"
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