Amidst the sky filled with blazing fire, He Fang, who was driving away, turned back to witness the dazzling crimson glow emerging from the slowly fading darkness. It was utterly breathtaking.
Due to Scorching Sun City’s massive size, the burning area made the entire city appear even more majestic and terrifying.
The bright glow flickered in He Fang’s pupils. It took him a long time to barely come back to his senses.
“Why did you blow up Scorching Sun City?” He Fang trembled as he opened his mouth, his voice shaking. He couldn’t believe that such a grand explosion in the city had nothing to do with his NPCs.
He Fang had never issued such an order, nor did he have any intention of causing trouble for Scorching Sun City in the first place. The residents of Scorching Sun City were people, too. Putting himself in their shoes, He Fang wouldn’t want his own city to be destroyed out of nowhere by some random strangers.
“To create chaos,” Sai Gu casually replied, his gaze passing through the back of the driver’s seat to observe He Fang’s stunned profile. He seemed to have lost interest in the artistic explosion behind them. Calmly leaning back in his seat, he watched as the brilliant flames reflected off the window, complementing He Fang’s expression. Being someone who appreciated beauty, Sai Gu thought this moment made their creator look absolutely stunning.
“Won’t such extensive damage cripple Scorching Sun City?” He Fang voiced his doubts. After all, while the upper echelons of Scorching Sun City were domineering in their actions, its residents didn’t show any hostility. Moreover, there have been no casualties so far. Innocent people should not suffer. He Fang believed that the residents of Scorching Sun City should still have the space to live their lives.
“It won’t. This is just a small disruption. As long as no one notices us leaving, it’s enough,” Qi Jingwei, who was seated in the passenger seat, spoke with arms crossed.
At this moment, the usually silent Min Zhizhou could no longer hold back and finally spoke, his tone filled with shock: “How was this done? The walls of the mobile city are extremely sturdy, reinforced with additional thickness to resist the erosion of Nightmare Beast seeds, and they must have been treated to be non-flammable. Why is it burning like this? When did you even plant the bombs?”
The Finance Department member broke the silence among the group and slowly admitted, “It was me.”
He Fang widened his eyes in astonishment and turned back to glance at him. The Finance Department member’s calm and quiet face, though covered in blood from a completely healed wound, looked slightly terrifying. His expression was serene, as though the intense explosion had been a casual act. It was at this moment that He Fang realized the true meaning of the saying, “Strong and silent”. He had thought it was Sai Gu’s doing.
Sensing He Fang’s suspicion, Sai Gu shook his head. “I’m not one for brute force. Such a simple and crude method has never been my style.”
The Finance Department member then spoke softly, “It was an experimental product given to me by the research institute—explosive powder. It could be scattered casually on the ground, and as long as there was excessively strong vibration, it would explode. When they were transporting me out as a corpse, I scattered it along the way. Looking at it now, the effect is decent. When I return, I’ll have to write a trial report for the research institute.”
Cold sweat broke out on He Fang’s forehead.
“At first, I didn’t intend to do this,” the Finance Department member said awkwardly, averting his gaze. “But their actions were too ruthless, my head was buzzing, and I feared our City Lord might suffer. To divert everyone’s attention away from our City Lord, I used this method to shift the focus.”
“You did well,” Qi Jingwei remarked.
The Finance Department member slightly tilted his head, seemingly not expecting Qi Jingwei’s praise.
“How’s your injury? Earlier, I saw it seemed to be a direct hit to the head. Let’s head straight back without stopping on the way. Once we’re back, go to the hospital for a thorough checkup to ensure there are no lasting effects,” He Fang said, his concern evident. Despite the status panel showing no major issues, blood loss was still blood loss, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
The Finance Department member lowered his head, as silent as ever, but he very slowly and softly muttered, “Thank you, City Lord, for your concern.”
They had stayed in Scorching Sun City for an entire day and night, during which the city was gradually approaching Hope City. He Fang and the others took turns driving, and they returned to Hope City earlier than expected. Their first task upon arriving was to take the Finance Department member to the hospital.
Due to their false information, Scorching Sun City had already changed its course and would temporarily pose no threat or impact to Hope City. By now, Hope City was essentially a city that was, in every sense, already dead. Only then did He Fang quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Lu Hu obtained all the information from the Finance Department member. After analyzing it, even though there were some differences between his city and other cities, he was still able to accurately calculate the exchange rates. This solidified the market positioning between Hope City and the main cities.
Qi Jingwei returned to the police department as the chief, while He Fang felt that having Sai Gu remain an unknown and quiet mechanical engineer, tinkering with machines out of personal interest, might be a waste of his talents. Yet placing him in the Weapons Development Facility seemed to squander his “deceiver” and “spy” abilities. Sai Gu’s skills were simply too unique. Secretly, He Fang came up with a rather bold plan.
He wanted Sai Gu to leave the city and become a mercenary.
Sai Gu was an incredibly capable person with top-tier observation and communication skills. Within such a short period of time, he had identified the weak points of Scorching Sun City, managed to infiltrate the upper echelons in a single night, and even reached the City Lord of Scorching Sun City. His abilities were truly remarkable.
“Young City Lord, if you’re in such a hurry to send me away, I’ll be very hurt,” Sai Gu said after hearing He Fang’s proposal, putting on a slightly wounded expression.
“Uncle Gu, your abilities are truly exceptional. I feel that keeping you confined to the main city is an utter waste of your talents. You clearly thrive in chaotic times, where your skills can have an even greater impact,” He Fang remarked, finding Sai Gu’s capabilities almost frightening. “If you became a mercenary and roamed beyond the city, it would be easier to gather more information. If situations like Scorching Sun City keep arising and we always handle them in the same way, it’ll easily lead to failure.”
Sai Gu looked at the adorable creator standing before him, who had the appearance of a youth. However, Sai Gu knew full well that this was a fully mature individual with a mind of their own.
“But Uncle Gu,” He Fang continued, “while that’s my reasoning, if you’re unwilling, I won’t force you. As long as we take proper precautions, I believe other cities won’t find it so easy to encroach upon Hope City.” Using the landmarks and light pillars as tools, He Fang believed they were sufficient to fend off an entire city. Besides, the strength of his NPCs was formidable enough to handle anything, if it came to that.
Sai Gu squinted his eyes. He really enjoyed seeing their small creator pondering and worrying, and… how the creator would immediately change his tone and stop insisting whenever they frowned. With his keen perceptiveness, how could Sai Gu not see the respect and importance their young City Lord placed on them?
Too adorable.
No matter what he did, he was always adorable. He was weak and timid, yet he managed to use his own caution and attentiveness to protect every NPC born within the city.
He still remembered the time in Scorching Sun City. That small figure appeared to be earnestly seeking shelter in his embrace, but in reality, he was using this approach to create opportunities to protect them.
When the Finance Department member almost perished, he could clearly and unmistakably feel the terror and rage trembling within their little Creator. That trembling still lingered on his fingertips to this day.
He liked the Creator very much.
From admiration at a distance to genuine interaction, that fondness hadn’t diminished because of their real contact.
“In any situation, information is critically important.” Sai Gu looked at the little Creator in front of him, who was making a proposal. He smiled. While he had always been a carefree and unrestrained person, he was willing to obey the little Creator’s orders. “Perhaps you can learn from the decisiveness of Scorching Sun City’s ruler. Even if I’m unwilling, you should use your authority as the city ruler to compel me to serve you.”
“I won’t do that. Collecting intelligence in any city as a mercenary is an extremely dangerous task. I would never force anyone to do something that would risk their life,” He Fang said firmly, his unwavering gaze revealing just how significant this principle was to him.
Sai Gu chuckled. That statement was music to his ears—how perfect it would be if it were meant solely for him.
“Little city lord, obedience and meekness in bed can stir emotions, but fierce resistance can ignite even stronger feelings,” Sai Gu remarked. His silver hair partially obscured his profile, adding a layer of mystery to his mature and handsome face. “I can embrace any response, as long as it’s your command, little city lord.”
He Fang, at first, failed to react. Once he processed the meaning, a flush of embarrassment colored his face. “The bed is the bed; business is business. Don’t mix them up when you speak!”
“In my view, the bed is life,” Sai Gu countered lazily, sprawled out with limbs relaxed against the chair’s back. His eyes danced with amusement as he gazed at He Fang, seemingly enjoying the flush brought on by his teasing.
“I’ve given this matter a great deal of thought,” He Fang responded earnestly, steering the conversation back to seriousness. “I’ve even consulted Zhu Yan’s opinions. Uncle Gu, Min Zhizhou, and others’ information has very likely already been documented by Scorching Sun City. If they’re not foolish, they’ll notice the anomalies, so I fear you may have been listed as a disreputable mercenary.”
“Not a chance,” Sai Gu denied with a playful, knowing smile. “Scorching Sun City is a battle-hardened metropolis with no shortage of enemies. Countless mobile cities stand in opposition to them. If word gets out that a particular mercenary squad could deal significant blows to a city, it would tarnish Scorching Sun City’s feared reputation.”
He Fang nodded. “Uncle Gu is right, and I think so, too. But I still feel uneasy, so this time, if Uncle Gu goes out, I have one condition.”
“Hmm?” Sai Gu’s deep, slightly husky voice carried an irresistible allure, the upward lilt at the end momentarily blanking He Fang’s mind.
“If you encounter danger, retreat immediately. No matter the reason, just retreat,” He Fang said, stepping forward and pressing down on Sai Gu’s legs, locking eyes with him earnestly. “Uncle Gu, do you understand?”
Sai Gu looked at the boy standing so close in front of him. The boy’s face was smooth and fair. For someone like Sai Gu, who was drawn to beauty, how could he resist doing something? Suddenly, he leaned forward and planted a kiss on He Fang’s forehead. Caught off guard, He Fang froze on the spot.
“Of course,” Sai Gu replied, his sneak attack successful. He smiled softly, his mood light, his gaze tender. “I’ll look forward to an obediently waiting-at-home little city lord to welcome me back for another forehead kiss.”
He Fang gasped, clutching his head as he stumbled back several steps. “Uncle-uncle-uncle-uncle-uncle…”
Sai Gu laughed, unable to hold it in. He truly thought their little city lord was unbearably adorable.
“When will our little city lord finally figure things out?” Sai Gu tilted his head slightly, his voice tinged with amusement and a hint of sentimentality. “Hmm… little city lord, if someone keeps appearing in front of you, you should know—they like you.”
He Fang: “?”
Sai Gu chuckled, hooking an arm around He Fang’s neck and resting his forehead against He Fang’s. He laughed aloud. “For example, your Uncle Gu, who’s trying so hard to make you remember him.”
“Uncle Gu, you… Uncle Gu, you… you like… you… I…” He Fang’s mind was in utter chaos, filled with disbelief.
Sai Gu, however, burst out laughing. Unlike his usual deep chuckle, this laugh was brighter and more carefree.
When He Fang realized he had misunderstood Sai Gu’s teasing, his face turned red. Sai Gu’s hand then landed on He Fang’s head. “Sorry, little city lord. Uncle can’t do it. Uncle’s too old.”
“Old?” He Fang didn’t think Sai Gu was old at all. He was at the peak of his mature charm, and thanks to his avatar’s design, he didn’t show any signs of aging. This handsome look was, in fact, a unique aesthetic.
“Yes, old.” Sai Gu gave He Fang a once-over and then chuckled mischievously. “If I were with the little city lord, people would say I’m a ‘cradle snatcher’.”
He Fang felt so misunderstood that it made his scalp tingle. He hadn’t thought that—he really hadn’t!
“Ruins Without Restart” was a city-building game; it didn’t even have romance lines! He knew that!
“Next time I meet you, Uncle Gu, I’m definitely bringing along Qi Jingwei,” He Fang said with a small trace of frustration, turning his head away and deliberately speaking with a cold tone.
“Spare me, little city lord.” Sai Gu immediately spread his arms and took two steps back as if genuinely frightened by He Fang’s “threat”. “If he locks me up for a few more days, that wouldn’t be fun at all.”
He Fang stared at Sai Gu, who had a slightly unkempt appearance but still exuded a distinct aura. That kind of charisma made him unforgettable.
“Uncle Gu, you yourself said you’re old. So, no matter what happens, don’t push yourself too hard, okay?” He Fang still felt worried. This was his first time sending an NPC on an external mission, and he wasn’t sure if any issues might arise.
“Don’t worry.” Standing not far from He Fang, Sai Gu reached out and patted He Fang’s head in a reassuring manner. “Uncle’s clever, you know.”
Although He Fang felt distressed, he truly needed sources of information. After all, relying only on the limited data they currently had wasn’t enough to immediately compile the mobile city’s dossier.
Sending Sai Gu out was, in fact, a sort of experiment. He envisioned Sai Gu becoming akin to a “traveler” often found in various games or perhaps a “merchant” who appears at fixed intervals. These types of NPCs bring back information—perhaps some trivial tidbits, or possibly leading to numerous new quests.
When He Fang suggested Sai Gu select a few team members to go with him, he was declined. With Sai Gu’s personality, he preferred recruiting teammates directly from other cities rather than picking them from within the city. This approach not only provided cover but also avoided drawing too much attention and inciting others’ wariness.
Sai Gu was very set in his ways. As a result, He Fang stopped offering suggestions, instead entrusting everything to Sai Gu and granting him certain permissions, including accessing funds from the Finance Department and retrieving necessary items from the research institute. He Fang eagerly awaited the information Sai Gu might bring back about other cities.
By the time He Fang logged out, it was already nighttime. He had spent the entire day working on exploration tasks in Scorching Sun City. He then turned Sai Gu’s recordings into a semi-strategy video and uploaded it online. After all, the “Deceiver” and “Spy” tags were exceptionally rare, so He Fang included a guide suggesting how to nurture NPCs to develop these tags.
Looking at the increasing amount of money trickling into his backend, He Fang felt a surge of happiness. The game was enjoyable, and earning money from it only made him feel more content. At that moment, he suddenly realized how comfortable his current life had become.
Having just completed the Scorching Sun City mission, He Fang rubbed his temples. With the city steadily developing and no immediate dangers on the horizon, he thought that perhaps it was time to relax a little.
It had been a long while since he had played any other games. Searching online for the latest releases, he stumbled upon a newly launched game with exceptionally high ratings. Intrigued, He Fang clicked to explore its content.
The game seemed fascinating, at least based on the beautifully crafted promotional video. He Fang skimmed through several gaming streamers’ strategy guides and confirmed it was a rare, interesting game. Considering its recent release and stellar ratings, it was undoubtedly worthwhile. He Fang opened the software, ready to purchase it.
However, at that very moment, a silvery light flickered at the edge of his vision. Startled, He Fang raised his head to glance at the promotional clip that had just played. Pausing for a moment, he used his keyboard to adjust the video and replay a specific segment.
It was an ethereal, intertwined scene of blue and black hues. Like a deity, the heroine stood atop the ruins of a dilapidated castle, gazing down at a vast, tranquil world. The beautiful silver moonlight spread across the expansive plains, illuminating not only the serene landscape but also the heroine’s stunning star-shaped earrings, which dangled brightly from her ears.
He Fang immediately hit the pause button. This was…
In an instant, he recalled his last encounter with a delivery worker, who had been wearing earrings identical to those in the game. The design of the earrings was so unique and unforgettable that it couldn’t possibly be a coincidence. While they might seem a bit extravagant in real life, they appeared breathtakingly dazzling on the game’s radiant heroine.
However, He Fang thought again of the delivery worker with golden hair. Clearly a male, yet wearing those earrings didn’t make him appear feminine in the slightest. In fact, if placed in the CG imagery of the game, He Fang believed he might even outshine the game’s heroine.
He Fang vaguely realized something. The design of those earrings was undeniably extravagant. After some online searching, he finally found the merchandise on the official website. Previously, He Fang had only obtained a tiny piece of the earring, so he hadn’t been able to identify it. Now, seeing the complete design on the official page, he noted its luxurious, mysterious appearance—and its hefty price tag.
When He Fang saw the cost of the merchandise, he drew a sharp breath. It was a high-end product, crafted from real gemstones. With such a design, only the most dedicated fans of the game would be willing to splurge on such an indulgence.
But that delivery worker had bought it!
He had bought it!
He Fang suddenly glanced at the small star-shaped fragment he had carefully stored in a little pouch. Realizing its incredible value left him utterly stunned.
A mere delivery worker, yet he had purchased such an expensive item. Either he came from a wealthy family, or he genuinely loved the game.
He Fang was bewildered. He began to suspect that the delivery worker might also be a fan of single-player games.
Even though He Fang was perfectly content playing single-player games alone, deep down, he yearned for a friend who shared his love for gaming—a companion to play with.
He was socially anxious, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want a friend. Unlike online connections, having a real-life friend to interact with was something different. Perhaps the start of having a friend was sharing a common interest, and for He Fang, gaming wasn’t just a hobby—it was his life!
For some inexplicable reason, He Fang suddenly became excited. The feeling was akin to discovering that his neighbor was also a peer who loved gaming, and the two of them had agreed to play games and discuss strategies together at any time. Filled with restlessness, He Fang paced around his room twice before gradually calming himself.
Enjoying gaming didn’t mean others would want a friend who also enjoyed gaming.
The delivery worker was someone both handsome and strikingly attractive. With such looks, he’d undoubtedly be admired wherever he went. But what did He Fang have that would make someone like that want to interact with him?
And besides…
He Fang couldn’t even communicate with others properly.
No one would want to be friends with someone socially anxious.
He Fang returned to his chair and stared blankly at the little star piece.
Lowering his head, he placed another delivery order. Watching as the status changed from “Order accepted by the merchant” to “Delivery rider en route to the merchant”, He Fang immediately opened the rider’s profile information.
He Fang paused for a moment, surprised. The delivery rider wasn’t the beautiful one with dazzling golden hair. Feeling an inexplicable sense of disappointment, he didn’t cancel the order or place another. After all, he didn’t want to inconvenience anyone.
He put his phone down and decided to purchase the new game instead.
When his phone buzzed again, He Fang glanced down at the message. To his astonishment, it was from a very familiar phone number.
It was the golden-haired delivery rider’s number!
He Fang was stunned.
The message read: Good evening, dear customer. Today, your ever-energetic delivery rider is here to bring you your order again! As usual, shall I leave it at your door?
He Fang’s heart raced with nervous excitement. Why? How? The rider wasn’t supposed to be delivering this order originally. Was it a last-minute reassignment due to unforeseen circumstances with the previous rider?
Totally unprepared, He Fang quickly grabbed the star-shaped earring component from the shelf. He wanted to return it to the delivery rider immediately. Such a valuable item, and one he clearly cherished so much—it was undoubtedly custom-made. Someone who loved this earring so dearly would surely be distraught if it were lost.
Hastily, He Fang moved to open the door and place the star-shaped earring outside. Normally, when delivery riders sent such messages, they were just arriving downstairs, so he figured there was still time to leave it there.
Just as He Fang opened the door, he heard the sound of the elevator doors opening. In an instant, instinctively, he slammed the door shut again.
He squatted by the door, unable to stop himself from trembling with fear. Though there was only a door separating them, he had just been so close to actually meeting the other person face-to-face.
It had been so long, far too long since He Fang had stepped outside or interacted with anyone. His social anxiety, already severe, had worsened through his own self-isolation. By now, He Fang couldn’t even imagine himself holding a normal conversation with others.
“Customer?” A curious voice suddenly came from the other side of the door. Though there was a barrier between them, He Fang could still sense the sheer clarity and perfection of the voice. Unlike the distorted sound from phone calls, this was his first time hearing the other person’s voice up close in real life.
Panic surged through He Fang. The delivery rider must have noticed him slamming the door earlier. He felt as though a pair of invisible hands were tightening around his throat, rendering him nearly unable to make a sound. Just the thought of the person at the door possibly knocking or trying to talk to him left his mind blank and his limbs weak.
However, the delivery rider outside remained silent. Contrary to He Fang’s anxious imagination, the rider didn’t knock on the door. Instead, He Fang heard the soft rustling of movement from the other side, followed by the rider’s voice once more.
“Customer, I’ve left your order at your door. I also took the liberty of disposing of your trash for you. Please give me a five-star review, okay?”
The delivery rider didn’t push further; they simply placed the delivery down. Soon after, He Fang heard their footsteps retreating.
He Fang’s heart jolted as he realized—the star-shaped earring piece in his hand still hadn’t been returned to the rider.
This was a responsible and kind delivery rider. Even though He Fang had never met him face-to-face, he had always been treated with genuine kindness by the other.
Leaning against the door, He Fang peered through to see the delivery rider waiting for the elevator. His profile was flawless, his gaze calm—the kind of beauty that made He Fang unable to resist stealing a few more glances.
The delivery rider blinked, and that single motion was as graceful as a butterfly fluttering its wings—stunningly beautiful. At that moment, he turned slightly toward the direction of the door. Startled, He Fang instinctively wanted to step back, but he quickly remembered that there was a door separating them, and the rider couldn’t possibly see him. Mustering his courage, he continued watching. The rider’s eyes held a trace of helplessness as if he had lightly sighed, though it was unclear what he might be lamenting.
When the elevator chimed, He Fang’s mind suddenly went blank.
No, this couldn’t happen. He couldn’t just let the rider leave like this.
The loss of such an important item would surely make him anxious and upset.
If He Fang were the one to lose something so precious, he would desperately hope for its swift return. Thinking this way, he figured others might feel the same.
He had to return the item. Frantic with worry, He Fang’s fear of people kept him from speaking up. Yet he knew that if he didn’t act now, it would be too late.
In a sudden impulse, He Fang slammed his fist against his own door. The action was so abrupt that even he froze in shock.
He had never tried to attract the other person’s attention before.
For the first time, he made a sound, telling the other person, “Don’t go, turn around, look at me.”
Realizing what he had done, He Fang was almost paralyzed with fear. He deeply regretted his impulsiveness. After all, it was just a lost item, and it could be returned next time.
But He Fang noticed that this time, the delivery person was not wearing that dazzling earring.
He wanted to return it but also wished the delivery person had not heard his voice. This internal conflict made him feel incredibly uneasy.
“Customer?” This time, however, he heard the delivery person’s voice again. The busy delivery person didn’t rush to his next delivery but spoke with a hint of probing concern, “Are you okay? Do you need my help?”
He Fang felt his heart almost stop.
Yet the other person softly said, “If you need help, just knock on the door.”
He Fang heard it, but he didn’t want to knock. His body was frozen with fear, gripping the doorknob so tightly that he couldn’t move at all.
He didn’t look through the peephole again, and he couldn’t see the blonde delivery person. He could hear the delivery person’s voice but couldn’t find his own.
The other person seemed to think for a moment, then did something unknown. Afterward, He Fang heard the sound of the delivery person turning to leave. In that instant, He Fang suddenly felt a huge emptiness in his heart.
Why…
Is it always like this?
Because of this flaw, he couldn’t do anything well.
He Fang felt extremely aggrieved, his eyes starting to redden. Holding the star piece in his hand, he thought about how the other person must be very anxious. Finally, He Fang shut his eyes, clenched his teeth, and suddenly pressed the lock on his front door. A ‘click’ sounded as the lock opened.
The blonde delivery person seemed to hear the sound, and his footsteps returned. He Fang knew he was now standing at the door.
Although the delivery person realized the door was unlocked, he didn’t do anything. It was as if he was waiting for He Fang to make the next move on his own.
Summoning his courage, He Fang opened the door just a tiny crack and carefully placed the small star piece—wrapped in a bag—out through the narrow gap. It dropped onto the doorstep.
He nudged it with his finger, pushing the small transparent bag a bit farther away to avoid it being caught by the door.
Then he simply shut the door.
With a loud bang.
He Fang noticed just how loud the sound of the door closing was and began to spiral into anxious thoughts. Would the other person think he was strange? Would they find his behavior rude? Would they… get angry because of his odd actions?
He Fang grew increasingly panicked. Already on edge, his eyes had reddened with anxiety, and now small teardrops fell uncontrollably.
“This is the missing part of my earring!” Suddenly, a voice full of immense joy echoed from the doorway. It carried an already pleasant tone, which became even more charming because of the speaker’s excitement. “Thank you, customer, thank you! I thought I had lost it. I was heartbroken for such a long time. I was even thinking about getting it remade, but it’s so expensive that I couldn’t bring myself to do it. So, I hadn’t ordered a replacement yet.”
He Fang’s eyes widened. The tear lingering in his eye didn’t fall as he listened to the cheerful voice outside.
“Thank you, customer. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude. This is a piece of merchandise from a game I’ve been particularly fond of recently. I spent a lot of money to buy it. You might not understand why I’d spend so much on something like this, haha. But that’s not the point—I just wanted to say thank you, truly, thank you. Next time I deliver to you, please, I insist on giving you a gift!”
The person’s tone was filled with pure joy and repeated words of thanks, which eased the confusion and panic in He Fang’s heart a little.
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might have an emergency and needed help. I was even planning to call the police after going downstairs.”
He Fang froze for a moment, suddenly feeling grateful he had opened the door. Otherwise, facing countless officers would have been a daunting experience—He Fang thought he might have fainted on the spot.
He quietly leaned against the peephole, wanting to catch a glimpse of the blonde delivery person.
And then, he saw the most beautiful smile in the world.
The beautiful blonde delivery person’s face was filled with pure joy. Even though he couldn’t see He Fang, he still showed the most sincere gratitude and smile. His beautiful eyes curved slightly, making him look as angelic as one could imagine.
He Fang was momentarily struck by such a face, his mind going blank, even forgetting his fear.
“What a wonderful evening this is,” the delivery person said, tilting his head slightly. A portion of his silky golden hair fell over his shoulder. He gazed gently at the peephole as if he could truly see He Fang. “I’m also very happy to have received the help of such a kind customer. Thank you.”
He Fang could hear the sound of his own heartbeat.
It was loud.
So loud, in fact, that it stirred a rare impulse within him—a desire to try and connect with this cheerful, radiant person.
But in the end, He Fang did nothing, because he deeply understood that an impulse was just that—an impulse.
He wasn’t ready to interact with anyone. He had merely felt the desire to.
The delivery person left, walking away happily. Even when He Fang opened the door to retrieve his delivery, it felt as though the air was still filled with a faint sense of happiness.
He Fang brought the delivery back inside. As he ate, his mind kept replaying the image of that beautiful delivery person’s joyful smile.
So, could it be that one day, he would be able to bring this much happiness to someone else?
He Fang felt his emotions being belatedly influenced. His mood gradually lifted, and in the solitude of his space, laughter suddenly spilled from him.
For a brief moment, He Fang imagined becoming friends with this beautiful delivery person who loved gaming. They would chat about games, and when he ordered delivery, the person might knock on his door with a surprise. He Fang would give his hardworking friend a bottle of iced drink, making his job more refreshing, and they could play games together during days off.
In his mind, He Fang envisioned all sorts of happy scenarios, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
But he clearly knew that this was only a daydream.
As He Fang ate, a thought suddenly emerged in his mind.
With his strange behavior today, would the other person find him annoying? But judging from the delivery person’s expression, it didn’t seem like he was disliked at all.
The delivery person had called him a kind person.
Could it be possible that he liked not only He Fang but also strangers in general?
——When someone keeps appearing in front of you, you must know that they like you.
Suddenly, a line from Sai Gu surfaced in He Fang’s mind.
He Fang knew he was overthinking things.
Yet he couldn’t help but feel delighted the entire evening over this tiny, fleeting connection.
The next day, as he logged into his game, he found that his good mood from the night before hadn’t faded. In fact, something unusual happened—he dreamt of having a friend. In the dream, his friend took him everywhere, and they even traveled into the game together.
He Fang opened the event log, browsing through the major and minor events in “Ruins Without Restart” that had occurred while he was offline. But suddenly, one particular update caught his eye:
——“Congratulations to the City Lord on the successful completion of the first railway. Researcher Zhu Yan is leading the institute in conducting a trial run of the train.”
Upon seeing this message, He Fang felt like today was filled with one amazing thing after another!
The railway he had been longing for was finally completed! Connecting the two cities symbolized the dawn of a new era of trade and rapid development.
Excitedly, He Fang couldn’t wait to dive into the game!
