Chapter 2781: The Online Game Master's

At night, Cheng Lang logged into the game, but his mind was elsewhere.

In the guild channel, Xiao Ku Bing secretly private-chatted him.

【Private Chat】 Xiao Ku Bing: Moon Warrior! I'll secretly ask, are you and the big shot having a falling out? I feel the big shot has been cold these past two days; I didn't see him come discuss today's event warm-up.

Cheng Lang stared at the message and typed a reply.

【Private Chat】 He Liangyue: Nope.

What else could he say? That we're just ordinary friends now, that because I know he likes me but I can't reciprocate, so we can only go back to how we were.

He couldn't even explain these words clearly to himself, let alone to outsiders.

Cheng Lang closed the private chat window and continued to stare blankly at the game screen.

Time ticked by, minute by minute, pointing toward half past nine.

The bedroom door wasn't closed; Cheng Lang sat at his computer, heard the sound from the entryway, and quickly walked out.

Jin Chen was changing his shoes, his cheeks slightly red from the cold wind; seeing Cheng Lang come out, he smiled and lifted the paper bag in his hand.

"Senior, the desserts at that restaurant are pretty good; I brought you some."

Cheng Lang pressed his lips; deep down he was soft-hearted, yet he couldn't utter a single question about what, with whom, or why they were eating so late.

He took the paper bag and whispered, "……Thank you."

Jin Chen smiled, said nothing, and turned to hang up his coat.

He was straightforward, finishing up and then getting ready to wash up.

Cheng Lang looked at the dessert paper bag in his hand and suddenly realized they didn't even need to deliberately avoid each other or speak coldly—just as long as Jin Chen stopped actively approaching him like before, stopped asking for hugs and intimacy, and stopped looking at him with eyes full of him……

They could easily become ordinary friends.

But…… this isn't what he wanted.

And only today, only now, did he realize this.

【Detected Heartbeat Value +6, total +60!】

——

After repeated communication and coercion by Guild Leader Jian Wu Xiao in the guild channel and privately, Jin Chen still agreed to participate in this limited-time Love Fate Odd Fate event, with Cheng Lang still as his partner.

Jian Wu Xiao was a bit worried; he privately approached Cheng Lang, tactfully asking if the two had any conflict, fearing it would affect their coordination in the event and drag down the guild's ranking.

He even suggested that if it really wasn't possible, he could first team up separately with each of them for a few rounds to see how things went.

Cheng Lang also had no idea what to do.

But the event still had to be joined; this was a major matter concerning the guild's ranking.

In the Trial Instance, Jian Wu Xiao first teamed up with Xun Chen; as the guild leader, his operation was naturally top-notch, but after a few rounds it still felt off.

Next, Jian Wu Xiao teamed up with He Liangyue; the result was even more obvious—He Liangyue's bold warrior style often clashed with Jian Wu Xiao's rhythm.

The guild leader glumly discovered his worries were completely unnecessary.

【Leisure Abode】 Jian Wu Xiao (Guild Leader): …I was wrong. Having a falling out doesn't affect you two at all—it's like you can read each other's minds. Forget it, you two just play on your own.

The premise of the event is to first bind a Love Fate relationship in-game.

The two were teleported to the scene map specially opened for this event, Love Fate Valley.

In the valley, mist swirled, jade trees and qiong flowers stood, and the Three Lives Stone rose upright.

On screen, Xun Chen and He Liangyue stood side by side before the Three Lives Stone, following the system's guidance to bow to the white-haired Moon Elder.

An ancient scroll unfurled, upon which flying dragon and phoenix ink characters appeared, accompanied by background music:

Though our bodies are far apart across mountains and seas, our hearts share the same dawn and dusk.

In past lives we glanced back a thousand times; in this life we walk hand in hand into the mortal world.

The road through wind and rain in the jianghu is long, fortunately your heart resembles mine.

May we become intertwined branches, may we be twin-winged birds flying together.

May those who bond: grow old together in heart, never part.

"Never part……" Cheng Lang unconsciously murmured, his heart stirring.

Following the prompt, both pressed the confirm button at the same time.

In an instant, the Three Lives Stone blazed with light, peach blossoms and light points surged forth, swirling around the characters in a flying dance.

【System Announcement: Red Phoenix Star Moves, Heaven‑Bestowed Good Fate! Congratulations to player "Xun Chen" and player "He Liangyue" for their mutual affection; they have formed a Mandarin Duck Alliance at the Three Lives Stone, becoming Love Bound! From now on, though the jianghu road is far, they walk hand in hand, never parting in old age!】

The game characters' packs each gained a set of Love Fate outfits—a brilliant red ancient‑style wedding attire.

Jin Chen opened his pack to look; the purple‑clad young master on the screen flashed with light, changed into the wedding attire, gaining a few more scorching vivid hues and festivity.

Having changed into the wedding attire, Xun Chen turned and silently gazed at He Liangyue, still in his warrior gear.

Cheng Lang stared at the red‑clad figure on the screen, his heartbeat inexplicably quickening a few beats; his finger clicked the mouse, and he also opened his pack to switch into the same wedding attire.

Before the Love Fate Instance officially opened, players who had become Love Bound could freely roam the Love Fate Valley map, with a chance to randomly trigger special items that reward intimacy.

The two strolled through a valley bursting with strange flowers and herbs, where clear streams trickled.

In the night, warm‑yellow lanterns rose in the valley, drifting slowly toward the star‑spangled sky, romantic as a fairyland.

They walked to the stone bench carved with brocade flower patterns; just as they approached, a system prompt triggered:

Love Fate Valley·Tranquil Moments: Sit here with your Love Fate partner to trigger warm interactions.

Share a cup of wine, intimacy +10; deep embrace for five minutes, intimacy +20!

(Note: Love Fate intimacy can be exchanged for limited outfits, rare mounts, and items; accumulating points yields mysterious rewards; the event ends on the day the Love Fate Instance officially opens.)

A hug……

Cheng Lang gazed at the line about a deep embrace for five minutes, his thoughts drifting away.

These past few days, Jin Chen hasn't come to him asking for a hug.

Cheng Lang waited a while; seeing Xun Chen just sitting quietly, with no intention to interact.

After hesitating repeatedly, Cheng Lang walked toward the guest bedroom with a nervous heart.

The door was ajar, not closed tightly.

Cheng Lang pushed the door open and saw Jin Chen with his back to the door, curled up in the sofa chair, appearing asleep, fingertips lightly resting on the armrest, cheek leaning against the backrest.

Cheng Lang slowly approached, picked up the corner of the blanket that had slipped, carefully covered Jin Chen with it, tucked it in from the shoulders down, making sure it was snug.

After doing that, he maintained a slight forward-leaning posture, his gaze falling on Jin Chen's cheek, where a few light gold fibers clung near the lower eye area, perhaps picked up from the blanket just then.

Cheng Lang reached out, slowly moving toward those fibers; Jin Chen's eyelashes twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.

Jin Chen blinked, seeing Cheng Lang still dazed, unable to react.

Isn't this the time for ordinary friends? How did my wife end up running into his room?

【Hehe, you're napping, Main God came in to sneak a peek at you, he's been watching for a while~】 Ling Gun Gun exclaimed excitedly.

Jin Chen took two seconds to respond; his voice, still thick with sleep, hoarse and warm, said, "Senior, do you need something?"

Cheng Lang's hand still hovered in midair, less than an inch from Jin Chen's cheek; his fingers curled slightly and he withdrew.

"There's something on your face."

Jin Chen sat up a bit, turned his face toward the dark-screened phone, and rubbed it randomly.

Cheng Lang's fingers hanging at his side clenched tighter; why would he hide?

Why no longer act as before, confidently making various demands?

Why even such a trivial little thing no longer needs him?

Jin Chen looked at Cheng Lang, seeing him truly dejected, softly sighed, and took hold of his hand hanging at his side.

"Senior," Jin Chen said, still seated, looking up at him, "Do we still have to go through the mission today? The event warm-up seems to have a few small tasks left undone."

Cheng Lang gripped Jin Chen's hand, shook his head, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Forget it, you're tired; just sleep… don't stay up."

He was driven by a strong desire in his heart, his Adam's apple rolled once, and his voice grew even more hoarse.

"... Want a hug?"