Chapter 56: I Warned Him Long Ago

"Why are you here?"
Inside an internet café near Tianhai University, Zhu Ziyuan stared at Xie Qingzhu, who had just appeared before him, his face full of bewilderment.

"Why am I here?"
Xie Qingzhu let out a cold laugh at Zhu Ziyuan’s question, her voice laced with meaning as she asked, "Didn't you say your stomach hurt and you were going to the school infirmary? So how did you end up here?"

Hearing Xie Qingzhu’s indifferent tone, Zhu Ziyuan felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t expected her to find him here at this moment.

The other patrons in the café quickly took notice of their exchange, surprise spreading among them.

"Look, isn’t that Senior Xie Qingzhu?"
"No way, why would she come to a place like this?"
"I'm telling you, it's her. Take a look!"
"Whoa, isn't that Senior Zhu Ziyuan? No wonder she came here…"
"This is bad, Zhu must have sneaked here to play games and got caught red-handed by her."
"Wow, are we about to witness some drama?"

This internet café was a favorite hangout for Yang Hao and his friends during their university days. Its proximity to campus meant most customers were Tianhai University students. Both Zhu Ziyuan and Xie Qingzhu were prominent figures at the university, admired as a couple, and well known among the students. Zhu's seat was tucked away, so few had noticed him until Xie Qingzhu arrived, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Especially when their conversation was overheard, the flames of gossip were fanned. Clearly, there was a story here…

In no time, the area around Zhu Ziyuan became the focal point of the café. Gazes converged upon them.

Xie Qingzhu paid no mind to the onlookers, her eyes sweeping over Zhu Ziyuan’s computer screen. Seeing the stats displayed, a smile touched her flawless face.

"My, your record is impressive! You’ve killed ten people already. Should I call you a gaming god?" Her gaze seemed almost admiring, which made Zhu Ziyuan feel a growing panic.

It’s fake—totally fake.

He reminded himself silently.

Stay calm! Must keep cool! Don’t make things worse!

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Ziyuan forced himself to adjust his emotions and managed a strained smile before raising his head.

"Double sniper rifles?"

He was about to speak when Xie Qingzhu continued.

"Two 98Ks—well done! Clearly, you’re intent on showing off. That deserves praise!"

Although Xie Qingzhu didn’t play games herself, thanks to Zhu Ziyuan, she knew a thing or two—especially about the hugely popular PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.

Feeling her increasingly gentle tone, Zhu Ziyuan’s heart sank further. He was barely holding it together.

"Darling, let me explain—"

"Who’s your darling?" Xie Qingzhu rolled her eyes, her voice tinged with jealousy. "Seems your life is plenty exciting with just video games for company."

"Sigh, I really thought someone was sick and even took leave from the professor. Who would’ve guessed someone ran off to play games, leaving us all to work? The modeling is only halfway done, and the key person disappears. Poor us, the insignificant ones…"

Seeing Xie Qingzhu’s pitiful act grow ever more dramatic, Zhu Ziyuan knew things had gotten out of hand—she was truly angry now.

"Darling, I was wrong! I won’t dare do it again…" Realizing the gravity of his mistake, Zhu Ziyuan was utterly dejected.

Seeing him bow his head and confess, his face a picture of misery, Xie Qingzhu couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be angry.

Her anger wasn’t because Zhu Ziyuan had snuck off to play games. Though she didn’t like his gaming, she rarely restricted him. What really angered her was his lie—claiming illness, making her worry needlessly.

Not long after Zhu Ziyuan left, Xie Qingzhu, unable to rest easy, also took leave from her professor and hurried to the infirmary, only to find no trace of him. She called him, but he didn’t answer, leaving her anxious. Finally, she remembered this internet café Yang Hao and Zhu Ziyuan often visited, and found him here.

She hadn’t expected to actually catch him. More importantly, she’d been standing behind him, watching for several minutes, and he hadn’t noticed—completely absorbed in his game.

Unable to endure it any longer, she erupted.

…

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

"I shouldn’t have sneaked out to surf the net!"

"And?"

"I shouldn’t have lied!"

"Is that all?"

"There’s more?"

"You shouldn’t have ignored my calls!"

"Huh?"

Meanwhile, Yang Hao and Yao Cheng, on the other end of the computers, listened to the exchange between Xie Qingzhu and Zhu Ziyuan, nearly bursting with laughter.

The same scene amused over a million viewers in the livestream. Don’t forget—Lin Zijin was still broadcasting. With her popularity, a million viewers was nothing; she easily drew that crowd.

Everything had unfolded before their eyes.

"Wow, Piggy’s done for—caught in the act!"

"Hahaha, I can’t help but laugh, this is hilarious!"

"Did you all notice? Piggy has a wife!"

"Damn, terrifying! That’s a real couple moment…"

"Whoa, dog food for a million viewers?"

"I refuse this round of dog food, sorry!!"

As everyone laughed, a certain group suddenly realized a painful truth, suffering a critical hit of sorrow.

Faced with this comical situation, a gentle sadness filled their hearts.

Why do other gamers have wives, but they don’t?

Unfair!

Why?

Hmph…

Deep resentment began swirling in their minds.

"Hey, hey, Piggy, you there?"

Suddenly, Yang Hao’s voice echoed in the livestream.

Everyone was startled.

What’s going on with Bluff King? Surely he knows what Zhu Ziyuan is facing right now, right?

"Hello? Did you disconnect, Piggy?" With no response, Yang Hao called again.

His actions puzzled the viewers.

But while most didn’t understand, a few did. Hearing Yang Hao, Yao Cheng, who was also in the game, paused for a moment before grinning knowingly.

"Stop calling, it’s late—he’s probably gone home to his wife," Yao Cheng chimed in, his voice loud enough to practically shout.

"Impossible, Piggy said he’d game with us until dawn. He’s probably just in the restroom," Yang Hao replied, following Yao Cheng’s lead.

With a tone of disappointment, Yao Cheng lamented, "Piggy, honestly… What’s so fun about games? It’s late, he should go home instead of making his wife worry."

"Sigh, I told him long ago—among all things, the wife comes first. Too bad he never listened."

Yang Hao let out a heavy sigh, his volume conveying his helplessness.