TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 8

Ten minutes later, Xia Tong and Lin Mingfei arrived at Nightingale Spring.

This scenic map area had no monsters or dungeons, just a serene crescent-shaped pond reflecting the moonlight and birds resting on branches.

Under the low-hanging laurel branches at the water’s edge, lay a reclining, slumbering elf with slender pointed ears. The elf’s hair was pure gold, his tall, slender body draped in iridescent fabric, skin as smooth as fine jade. It would have been an enchanting scene, if not for the large, shining “Bounty” mark above his head.

Before Xia Tong and Lin Mingfei could even approach, the elf had already opened his striking blue eyes and gracefully leapt up, landing lightly in front of them.

“Every time, I’m the one waiting. Aren’t you afraid my patience will wear thin and I’ll leave you forever?” The elf placed a hand over his heart, gazing at Lin Mingfei with a sorrowful look.

Then his gaze drifted over to Xia Tong’s face.

Xia Tong’s mouth dropped open slowly.

“Shi Ge?!”

“Xia Tong?”

Lin Mingfei: …

All three pointed at each other, exclaiming in unison, “You two know each other?”

After a pause, Shi Ya said with a sigh, “Small world.”

Xia Tong giggled, only for Shi Ya to reach out and pinch his cheek.

“Silly as ever. Didn’t even bother to adjust your appearance when you joined the game?”

“Shi Ge, aren’t you also using your real face? So is Zero,”** Xia Tong whined as he tried to wriggle free.

“Nothing wrong with that. When you’re as good-looking as we are, who has time to adjust their face? At most, you’ll have people admiring your beauty.” Shi Ya chuckled, leaning close and murmuring in Xia Tong’s ear, “But tell me, why do you call Zero by his name but call me ‘ge’?”

Xia Tong blinked his long, curly lashes. “Huh?”

Shi Ya scratched his chin with a fingertip, smiling. “Hmm?”

Xia Tong pressed his soft lips together. He couldn’t quite explain why, but even though he should be calling Lin Mingfei “ge,” he just felt that no matter what he called him, Lin Mingfei wouldn’t mind. Calling him “Zero” just felt like it brought them closer.

“He can call me whatever he likes; I don’t care,” Lin Mingfei said calmly. “I’ve heard him call me everything by now.”

Shi Ya: “Huh?”

Xia Tong giggled foolishly. “Hehe.”

Shi Ya stepped back, shocked as he looked at the two simpletons in front of him. Neither of them thought anything was off about that remark, which only emphasized how dirty his own mind was… exceptionally dirty…

“Alright, enough chit-chat,” Lin Mingfei looked at Shi Ya. “Strip.”

Shi Ya’s forehead twitched. “Strip?? Strip what??”

Lin Mingfei: “Your equipment.”

Shi Ya actually blushed a bit, glancing at the clueless little mage nearby. “… Isn’t this a bit… inappropriate?”

Xia Tong obediently turned around. “Oh, should I leave then?” Just as he was about to go, Lin Mingfei grabbed him by the hat, dragging him back with a playful “Oh no, you don’t!”

“See that bounty above his head?” Lin Mingfei pointed at Shi Ya. “Twenty thousand silver. Beat him, and you’ll have enough to repair your gear.”

Xia Tong’s gaze toward Shi Ya changed instantly, his big, watery eyes sparkling with the allure of money. “So that’s how it is!”

Shi Ya: “??? Wait, bro? Are you serious? You’re willing to strip an old comrade naked and let a little mage beat me up just to cover some repair costs?”

Lin Mingfei: “Getting hit twice won’t get you ruined.”

Shi Ya: “He’s only level twenty-something! I’ll have to stand here for ten minutes while he hits me—and I can’t hit back!”

Lin Mingfei: “You could always just meditate.”

Shi Ya: “???? Do you have to make this sound even weirder?”

Zero, that sly dog!

“Can’t you just pay him directly with cash?” Shi Ya protested.

“My account is in a trade freeze,” Lin Mingfei explained.

“Then I’ll pay him!” Shi Ya said.

“Why are you being so squeamish today?” Lin Mingfei frowned. “You used to strip without a second thought.”

Shi Ya: “…So, that’s what you think of me, huh? Just some disreputable man of easy virtue?”

In the end, Shi Ya surrendered.

“Maybe Shi-ge feels embarrassed about stripping in front of me,” Xia Tong offered. “After all, I’m an Omega.”

“You’re overthinking it. Do you know why that bounty is on him?” Lin Mingfei said.

Xia Tong seemed to understand. “Shi-ge is really popular in the game, right?”

“Yeah, players lining up to hit on him could fill an entire road,” Lin Mingfei replied.

“But Shi-ge has only one heart. Once he gives it to someone, he can’t give it to anyone else,” Xia Tong added.

Lin Mingfei didn’t respond, his expression looking somewhat complicated.

By now, Shi Ya had taken off his equipment.

The male elf had waist-length golden hair, fluffy and flowing, with a fair, toned chest, long legs, and a lean waist wrapped in a translucent silk sash for modesty—a beauty almost impossible to classify.

Xia Tong let out a soft “wow,” clearly awestruck.

“Alright, let’s make this quick,” Shi Ya said, full of determined endurance. “Use your best skill and give it to me.”

“Then, sorry about this.” Xia Tong bowed respectfully and drew his staff.

“Get lost, you sly dog,” Shi Ya pointed at Lin Mingfei. “I’m disappointed in you.”

“Okay, okay.” Lin Mingfei laughed. “I’ll go train. Call me when you’re done.”

Shi Ya stood there, letting Xia Tong hit him with soft, harmless taps, feeling only mild discomfort. Bored, he yawned and glanced at Xia Tong. The little Omega looked adorable as he focused on his spellcasting, with a little tuft of hair that kept bouncing up.

He wanted to tug it.

“Hey, Xiao Tong,” he said. “Has Zero been talking trash about me to you?”

“Huh? No, he just said a lot of people like you.” Xia Tong replied, but as he got distracted, a “pop” came from his staff, and it began to smoke. Startled, he shook and blew on it until Shi Ya reached over, gently covering the top of the staff with his hand. Soft light flowed from his palm, and the smoke stopped immediately.

“Elves don’t need weapons to cast skills. Pretty cool, huh?”

Xia Tong nodded in awe, his eyes wide with wonder.

Shi Ya leaned in slightly, whispering, “Xiao Tong, I’m not like this around other Omegas, you know.”

Xia Tong was skeptical. “Are you not powerful around other Omegas?”

“Well, that’s not what I meant…”

Shi Ya realized he was acting strange today, unusually concerned with his image in Xia Tong’s eyes. If anyone was to blame, it was Lin Mingfei’s twisted plan, messing with his favorability rating—he couldn’t let Zero hog all the charm alone.

Ten minutes later, Shi Ya barely managed to let Xia Tong finish him off. They regrouped at a nearby respawn point, where Xia Tong gleefully used the bounty to repair his equipment. Shi Ya also dressed, his confident aura restored despite the weakness debuff from his death. He patted Xia Tong’s shoulder and said, “You know, Zero can be pretty cheeky too. I’m openly flirtatious; he’s covertly flirtatious. And covert is way scarier.”

This was another area Xia Tong didn’t quite understand. Rubbing his forehead with his staff, he muttered, “I still think you’re way ahead. No one lines up for him on a whole road!”

Shi Ya: “…He said that to you?”

Xia Tong: “Yup.”

Shi Ya: “Oh, wow.”

Xia Tong hesitated and lowered his thick lashes. “Zero doesn’t have anyone who likes him, and people are always mocking him. I feel so bad for him. We should treat him better.”

“Getting mocked is one thing, but you’re wrong about him having no admirers…” Shi Ya looked at him, blank-faced. Just then, a multicolored firework burst across the vast night sky.

“Wow!” Xia Tong exclaimed in surprise. “It’s so pretty!”

Shi Ya explained, “This firework is called ‘Romantic Venus.’ It’s typically used for rich confessions, and everyone on this map can see it.”

As they spoke, the firework formed the word “Zero” in the sky, scattered like fireflies.

Xia Tong froze, then instinctively glanced at the world chat, just in time to see a line of golden pink text scrolling by, swaying as it went.

“Sweet Little Sakura” ignited a “Romantic Venus” and announced to the world: [Celebrating Zero’s return! Hubby, I’ll love you for ten thousand years!!]

This seemed to open a bizarre floodgate.

“Snowflake RinRin” ignited a “Romantic Venus” and announced to the world: [Z-God, my beloved!! Now that you’re back, don’t leave again!]

“Alpha of the Tomb Kings” ignited a “Romantic Venus” and announced to the world: [Hubby, shoot me with your rifle! Shoot me hard!!]

…

Meanwhile, Lin Mingfei was training his sniping skills in a deserted area.

On the tree trunk behind him, there was a single bullet hole—just one. A faint red targeting line aligned in the opposite direction, then suddenly swung around 180 degrees!

“Bang!”

The bullet passed through the exact same hole without expanding or cracking the edges—a perfect shot.

The advantage of quick-scoping lay in the absence of a visible aim line, making it impossible for the target to predict or evade, and concealing the hunter’s position. Lin Mingfei repeated this action over and over like a machine, accurate and tireless. No matter where he aimed, he managed to hit the same bullet hole every time before the targeting line fully formed.

After a hundred shots, he lowered the gun, feeling fully in the zone again.

That primal competitive spirit reawakened within him, and he was itching to get back into the arena.

Suddenly, the sky lit up.

Bright fireworks turned the night sky as bright as day. Lin Mingfei paused, squinting as words like “hubby,” “shoot me,” and “make babies” filled the world chat, practically blinding him.

“Ding-dong”—a message popped up in the private chat.

Xiao Tong: [Zero, I totally misjudged you!]

Xiao Tong: [So you’re married, huh?]

Xiao Tong: [Your wife must be rich O-O]

Xiao Tong: [She’s sent so many fireworks for you!]

Polaris_Zero: […Is this your first time online?]

Lin Mingfei suddenly felt it was essential to explain things to this seemingly internet-clueless little Omega, or else his reputation would be ruined.

Polaris_Zero: [These are from different people.]

After a long pause, Xiao Tong: [I figured it out. Shi-ge told me too…]

Xiao Tong: [Zero, why are you like this! In our country, polygamy is illegal QAQ]

Polaris_Zero: [……?????]

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