Chapter 221: Announcement

Su Rui originally didn't plan to eat, but thinking she might lose her sense of taste again tomorrow, she still opened a pack of spicy strips.

After all, it was Cheng Shuili who got it for her, and it's a gesture of goodwill; she couldn't let it go to waste.

But Cheng Shuili never wrongs herself.

Su Rui had just eaten two packs of spicy strips when she heard Cheng Shuili's disdainful voice: "Can you go outside to eat? The smell is really strong."

Su Rui: "......."

This is completely different from how she just gave her snacks—like two different people!

Cheng Shuili sat on the carpet, leaned back against her two-meter-wide bed, and leisurely opened the regional channel.

Indeed there's nothing much today; the system even specifically said mileage wouldn't be counted today, and there are no supply boxes on the road—clearly telling everyone to rest for a day.

The instance is also surprisingly simple, since there's no danger to life, almost all players are in a very relaxed state.

But although they were supposed to manage meals for a whole day, they got docked down to just one evening meal, and everyone is still full of resentment.

"Which bastard is it? Dare the system reveal that person's ID? No matter who it is, I'll definitely blacklist them!"

"I want to blacklist them too!"

"I thought you were going to use a designated player duel, why is it so peaceful? The resentment still isn't big enough."

"Eh, it's not me saying it—why does the system always say what it shouldn't and not say what it should? Opening a random instance isn't what players want, yet you leak their IDs! This special instance is definitely player-initiated, yet you hid it thoroughly! The system is just the most disgusting thing!!!"

"Damn, I didn't even realize it until you said that! Back then, that straightforward 'straight'—that person's ID was directly exposed! Why should this one be hidden?"

"How do we complain about the system? Hurry! Waiting online!"

"Can we get a different system? I really don't want this one anymore."

"All systems are the same; is there anyone who can replace it?"

"I… am about to replace it, V Emperor Fifty, I bless you that every supply box will drop a vehicle card!"

"Scammer, get lost!"

Cheng Shuili: "……"

Actually, watching them argue back and forth is pretty nice; it gives a feeling that everyone is still alive.

At noon, Qi Wan Yi prepared two dishes and a soup, and also steamed rice.

The dishes are sweet and sour pork ribs and stir-fried lettuce, the soup is tomato egg drop soup.

They now have very little vegetables and eggs left; eggs, which require live hens to produce, are especially rare, and they came from Xinxue monitoring the regional channel for trades.

One could say Qi Wan Yi again emptied the household savings for this meal.

Every time Cheng Shuili tells Wan Yi to make an extra person's meal, she takes out the best ingredients and uses the best technique, probably hoping Cheng Shuili will have face when giving the food away.

Anyway, when Cheng Shuili handed Wan Yi's packed meal to Su Rui, she indeed felt a sense of pride.

After Su Rui received it, Cheng Shuili picked up her own rice bowl.

The two have lived under the same carport for so long, yet this is the first time they've eaten together; the experience still feels somewhat novel.

Cheng Shuili felt it was nothing, but Su Rui felt a bit uneasy; she used stiff fingers to lift the lid of the disposable lunchbox.

Then… she had no time to feel uneasy.

Fragrant.

This is Su Rui's first impression.

Before, she had no sense of taste; even if she could smell the fragrance, imagining eating it felt like chewing wax, so she didn't feel hungry—but today is different!

Today! She can actually taste these foods!

As Su Rui's chopstick tip touched the sweet and sour pork ribs, the amber-colored sauce slowly slid down along the ribs' grain.

She carefully picked up a piece, stiffly placed it in her mouth, and the moment her teeth broke through the tender outer skin, the sweet-and-sour juice burst in her mouth, causing Su Rui's pupils to contract sharply.

She almost forgot to chew.

She finally tasted it!

The rib meat is tender and falling apart yet still chewy, the sugar-to-vinegar ratio is just right, so fragrant she almost wanted to swallow the bone along with it.

She struggled to suppress the impulse, and for a moment didn't know what to do.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Shuili noticed her sudden stiff movement, glanced suspiciously, and asked, "Not to your taste?"

Su Rui shook her head, but her eye sockets felt hot.

She lowered her head and shoveled a big mouthful of rice; the grains' sweet fragrance melted in her mouth, this most ordinary flavor now made her want to cry.

She then picked up a chopstick of stir-fried lettuce; the fresh vegetable aroma with a hint of garlic's mild spiciness, and the crisp, tender texture made her involuntarily let out a satisfied sigh.

Cheng Shuili put down her chopsticks, couldn't help but remark: "You're like a starving ghost reborn. Oh, pretty much the same."

Su Rui: "……"

Does this guy die if he shuts his mouth and eats a meal?

The meal ended completely after Su Rui licked her lunchbox clean.

After four hours passed, the system immediately popped up.

【Congratulations to all players who completed the instance!】

【This instance has successfully ended! First, thank all players who formally participated, thank all staff who urgently served as NPCs, thank……】

It paused for a moment, and almost all players perked up their ears.

【The host player of this instance! Ge Wudi!】

Oh? Exposed already?!

Cheng Shuili's eyes lit up; she knew she hadn't guessed wrong!

The system hardly has any good intentions; after stirring up trouble for so long, claiming it wasn't to pave the way for an announcement, Cheng Shuili absolutely doesn't believe it.

She opened the regional channel, intending to see what the stand-ins were cursing about.

"Who!!!"

"Ge Wudi??"

"Did I hear wrong? Is that the cow dung brother?!"

"Wait! Let's calm down first, don't scold the wrong person!"

"What the hell, still calm? It's him! In this godforsaken place, how could there be duplicate IDs!"

"Holy shit! Turns out it's you, this old six, making us starve!!!"

"Brothers and sisters! The time to unite has come! Pull up the blacklist and go! From now on, every time we see them we'll curse them!"

"@Ge Wudi, get out! Explain! You open an Instance, I don't say anything, but couldn't you wait until after the day off? You even open it at midnight! This Instance start card has amazing cost-performance! Before using this card you're worth nothing, after using it you're worth forty thousand!"

This line is good, Cheng Shuili silently noted it; her material library hasn't been updated in a long time.

"Laughing to death, this ID with this operation is indeed invincible, truly invincible and begging for a beating!"

"Is the system doing this on purpose? Why do I always feel the system is so scheming, as if it's been waiting to blow up. Could it be that the system is also resting today, coming out to work overtime?"

Seeing this message, the system's eye sockets turned red—great, someone understands it!

Some calm players started to question.

"Wait, what's he aiming for by opening this Instance? Just to have us scold him? Um, maybe it's a bit forward, but… is he fond of us?"