How could that be!” Yang Qu chuckled awkwardly. “I can’t believe even you know that meme, Sis.”
“You play too?”
“Of course! Which server are you on?” When it came to games, Huang Xiu’s demeanor shifted entirely.
Her face beamed with triumph. “I’m incredibly skilled. Your Miss Liu Lu has fallen to me many times.”
“That impressive.”
Yang Qu’s gaze upon Huang Xiu changed, filled with a mix of admiration and a hint of delight.
Female gamers were already a rarity, especially in highly competitive online games like 101.
Even more so for those with high skill levels.
The only girl he knew who played was Liu Lu.
However, having been thoroughly beaten by her as a child, he found it impossible to treat her as a girl.
Yet, Huang Xiu, standing before him, was not only sweet-faced and exceptionally talented but also enjoyed gaming, and her temper seemed quite pleasant!
‘This is the kind of woman who could be his mother!’ No, she was the epitome of his ideal girlfriend!
‘So… should he try? See if there was a chance?’
Yang Qu immediately became more enthusiastic.
“I’m on Server One,” he said cheerfully. “Next time we have a chance, let’s team up.”
He wasn’t actually on Server One; he had deliberately chosen Server Two to avoid the pressure of duo-queuing with Liu Lu.
But at this moment, none of that mattered.
Now, he was a Server One player in life and a Server One dog in death.
“Alright!” Huang Xiu readily agreed, completely oblivious to Yang Qu’s hidden intentions.
With that, she turned and hurried after Chi Xue, pulling her suitcase behind her.
Watching the girl jog to the end of the line, Liu Lu turned back, puzzled. “Fat Sheep, aren’t you on Server Two? When did you switch to Server One?”
“I said that specifically to ease the tension between you and Sister Xiu,” Yang Qu explained.
A glimmer of wisdom sparkled in Yang Qu’s small eyes.
Huang Xiu had initially worried that Huang Xiaoxian wouldn’t pass security, but it turned out her concerns were unfounded.
The security personnel were clearly from the Jurisdiction Bureau, exuding a relaxed air that suggested they had seen it all.
One of them simply held it, observed it for a moment, then gave a slight nod, indicating that Huang Xiaoxian was not allowed out of the carriage, before returning it to Huang Xiu.
The entire process was incredibly swift.
As Huang Xiu passed security and pulled her suitcase, she felt a slight disorientation.
‘It was actually that simple?’
She mused, but then heard the Security Officer behind her declare, “This is not allowed.”
“What’s not allowed?”
Huang Xiu turned back curiously, seeing the Security Officer holding a powerful crossbow spray-painted black.
On the adjacent security table lay a black backpack and ten finely crafted steel bolts.
Evidently, these had all been confiscated from the backpack.
The backpack’s owner was a Tightly Bundled Youth, wearing a jacket and long pants despite the sweltering heat.
“Ah, is it not allowed?” He timidly drew back his neck, his eyes filled with fear. “Without this for self-defense, I’ll feel insecure.”
“No,” the Security Officer firmly refused. “This must be stored in the luggage compartment.”
“Alright,” the youth sighed, his head drooping.
“Holy smokes, this guy’s seriously hardcore!”
Huang Xiu clicked her tongue in amazement, not forgetting to nudge Chi Xue with her elbow as she spoke. “A’Xue, did you see that?”
Chi Xue nodded in response, while Bu Chenghua, standing nearby, looked on with envy. “That crossbow is so cool.”
Chi Xue echoed the same sentiment to Huang Xiu.
Ticketing for the VIP lounge was combined with security checks; once cleared, one could proceed directly to the platform.
The trio strolled through a long corridor, then ascended a vertical elevator, finally reaching the platform.
****
A white steel dragon lay dormant on the tracks.
It was a standard Fuxing Hao high-speed train, though it only comprised six carriages.
Tiandu University had arranged Huang Xiu’s seat in the third carriage, without any special treatment or privileges.
Perhaps the only advantage was that the platform they ascended to was directly opposite the third carriage.
This saved her the effort of walking further.
Chi Xue was also in the third carriage, though unfortunately, not in an adjacent seat.
As for Bu Chenghua, whose seat was in the sixth and final carriage, he was left to trudge alone to the back with his luggage.
“Let’s go!” Huang Xiu and Chi Xue exchanged glances, then stepped inside with a hint of anticipation.
‘Even if she hadn’t eaten pork, she had seen pigs run.’
Though she had never ridden a high-speed train, Huang Xiu wasn’t entirely ignorant of their interior layouts.
However, the layout inside this particular special high-speed train was completely different from what she had seen in videos.
Within the approximately twenty-five-meter-long carriage, there were only ten rows, each with just four seats evenly distributed on either side.
Consequently, every seat was exceptionally spacious, far more so than even first-class seats.
“The layout here is wonderful!” Chi Xue exclaimed, also surprised.
They were among the later groups to board, and the carriage already held a fair number of new students.
Pulling her suitcase along the aisle, Huang Xiu arrived at her window seat.
‘But… was this person also a new student?’
She felt a pang of confusion as she looked at the Mature Man sitting directly in front of her seat.
The man had a heavy, fleshy face, wore a black trench coat, and carried no luggage.
‘Even if he was an “old hand,” he couldn’t be *that* seasoned!’
“What are you staring at?” The man, sensing Huang Xiu’s gaze, grunted irritably.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
As a polite and well-mannered youth of the new era, Huang Xiu felt she was in the wrong and promptly apologized.
Indeed, staring at someone for an extended period was impolite.
Even after Huang Xiu apologized, the man continued, pushing his advantage. “These Tiandu University freshmen! Honestly, not a single one knows even basic respect.”
The young woman’s brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing more, placing her luggage on the rack before taking her seat.
Thus, this special train bound for Tiandu departed amidst an atmosphere that was anything but pleasant.
Seeing that the seat next to Huang Xiu was empty, Chi Xue moved to sit there.
The two chatted quietly, their voices barely above a whisper.
Yet, the man turned his head towards them. “Could you please be a little quieter? You’re deafening!”
However, other new students nearby were also chatting, some even louder and more boisterously.
But he completely ignored them.
‘Was he deliberately looking for trouble?’
Huang Xiu’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Uncle, is there a chance your ears are just a little too sensitive?”
While she wasn’t one to seek out trouble, she certainly wasn’t afraid of it either.
She had been mischievous as a child, even participating in a few brawls.
“Perhaps!” The man chuckled. “My ears are just that keen. My apologies!”
With that, he shrugged.
Observing the escalating tension between the two, Chi Xue felt a ripple of unease.
After all, before becoming an Awakened individual, she was merely a well-behaved girl who had never even witnessed a chicken being slaughtered.
Despite this, she stood resolutely by Huang Xiu’s side, glaring back with determination.
“Heh.” The man let out a soft chuckle, then turned away.