Leveling Up Together

Xu Shuche thought Jian Yixun only casually mentioned playing games and would probably forget about it the next day.

But unexpectedly, Young Master Jian seemed to be stimulated by the two red rankings in the game, and early the next morning he was already hugging his laptop and refusing to let go.

In fact, Xu Shuche was someone who had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places.

Normally, if he changed where he slept, he would toss and turn until the middle of the night before falling asleep.

But perhaps because he was too tired from moving luggage during the day, and also because Jian Yixun’s bed was soft and comfortable, Xu Shuche closed his eyes and slept groggily until after eight the next morning.

Usually, Jian Yixun would stay in bed whenever he could.

But today, he was like he had been injected with energy, sitting in bed with a laptop in his arms.

Xu Shuche had just woken up, his mind still foggy.

Although City B had heating in winter, mornings were always a bit cold, making him subconsciously move closer to a nearby source of warmth.

Jian Yixun was fully focused on leveling his character when he suddenly felt something soft touch his forearm.

Startled, he looked down and found Xu Shuche unconsciously burrowing into his arms.

He found it a bit amusing and cleared his throat.

“Senior, time to wake up.”

Xu Shuche let out a soft “mm,” his usually neat hair now messy from tossing around under the blanket.

He stretched lazily, his pajamas pulling open a few buttons and revealing part of his waist.

Jian Yixun froze for a moment and immediately looked away.

“Senior, are you hungry?”

Xu Shuche shook his head.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m playing a game and leveling up.”

Jian Yixun eagerly showed him the computer screen like presenting a treasure.

“Look, I’ve already reached almost level 20 this morning!”

Xu Shuche squinted at the screen for a moment, then suddenly couldn’t help laughing.

“Idiot.”

“What?”

Jian Yixun raised an eyebrow at him.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“You’ve been following the storyline all morning?” Xu Shuche said.

“No wonder you’re only level 18.”

There was a faint hint of pride in his tone, like a little cat showing off.

Jian Yixun hid the smile in his eyes and followed along.

“Then how can I level up faster?”

Xu Shuche got out of bed, went to the bathroom to wash up, then came back, put on his glasses, and opened his computer.

“Come on, I’ll teach you. Which server are you on?”

“I think it’s the Chang Xiangsi region.”

Jian Yixun paused, suddenly realizing something.

He had casually created a small account in the same region as Xu Shuche, but wasn’t that a bit too coincidental?

Would a beginner even care about server selection?

“Are you in Chang Four or Chang Six?”

“Chang Four has four sub-servers sharing one system, while Chang Six has another six sharing a different one,” Xu Shuche said, glancing at his screen.

“I’m in Chang Four.”

“I… I don’t know which one I’m in.”

Jian Yixun nearly bit his tongue before swallowing the words “I’m also in Chang Four.”

“My server is called ‘Fish Delivering Letters.’”

“That’s perfect, mine is ‘Plum Blossoms by Courier.’”

Xu Shuche looked a bit happy.

“I was just about to tell you, if you had made your account in Chang Six, you should come to Chang Four and create one to play with me.”

“Play with you?”

Jian Yixun naturally leaned closer to him, and the fresh scent of aftershave drifted to Xu Shuche’s nose.

Xu Shuche froze for a moment, suddenly feeling his heartbeat speed up.

He had thought Jian Yixun stayed in bed all this time, but apparently he had already washed up and even shaved, yet Xu Shuche hadn’t heard a single sound.

Back when he lived in a dorm during undergrad, his roommates would always make a lot of noise in the morning as if announcing they were awake.

Even on days when Xu Shuche didn’t have early classes and could sleep longer, he would still be woken up by them.

“Senior?”

Jian Yixun tilted his head at him.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Shuche snapped back to his senses and logged into the game with his small account.

He had considered using his main account to carry Jian Yixun, but his main was a healer and not well-equipped for damage output, making dungeon runs difficult.

So he decided to continue using his alternate account instead.

Besides, his in-game friends believed his character “Little Bunny Rice Ball” was a girl, but Jian Yixun knew his real identity.

If he misspoke, it would be troublesome.

He planned to tell his friends the truth someday, just not now.

“What’s your name?”

Xu Shuche looked at Jian Yixun’s ID and couldn’t help laughing.

“Lucky Goose?”

Jian Yixun clicked his tongue.

“Isn’t it related to your name? Anyone can tell we’re together.”

The name “Lucky Goose” had originally been something Xu Shuche chose casually when he was having a streak of bad luck and wanted to turn things around.

He hadn’t expected Jian Yixun to match it.

Jian Yixun accepted Xu Shuche’s friend request, and his beginner character stood beside Xu Shuche’s swordswoman.

“Senior, what outfit is this? It looks really nice.”

Xu Shuche checked his wardrobe but couldn’t remember which event he got it from.

The game’s cosmetic system was similar to gacha games, but fortunately had guaranteed drops.

He had once bought a growth fund and obtained two outfits without even finishing the currency, considering himself quite lucky.

He had always planned to sell the extra one but never had the chance.

Now that they were playing together on the same server, he decided to give it to Jian Yixun once he reached level 89.

“Senior, how do I use this skill?”

Jian Yixun randomly pressed some keys, placing a chain-like glowing blue-purple skill on the ground.

“Open your skill menu,” Xu Shuche said.

“Get familiar with it first, although later you’ll mostly just press whatever lights up.”

Jian Yixun obediently started studying the skills.

After a while, Xu Shuche called him.

“Click follow.”

He did, and was teleported to a snowy area outside the Qingfeng sect.

The place was surrounded by snow year-round, and characters would lose health from the cold unless they drank hot soup for a warmth buff.

Jian Yixun hurriedly bought some soup and barely avoided freezing to death.

“Stay away from me,” Xu Shuche said.

“Stand on that rock.”

Confused, Jian Yixun did as told.

The moment he stood still, flashes of sword light appeared before him.

The Qingfeng sword techniques were stunning, blending icy blue sword energy with the snowy landscape.

Moments later, enemies fell, and Jian Yixun’s character suddenly leveled up three times in a row.

“See? I told you it’s fast this way.”

Xu Shuche looked at him proudly.

“Do a few more missions, and you can reach level 80 today.”

“Really?”

Jian Yixun smiled, indulging him.

“That amazing? I thought I’d only reach level 30 or 40.”

“That’s the advantage of having someone guide you,” Xu Shuche said.

“I’m pretty good, right?”

“Senior is amazing.”

Jian Yixun humored him like coaxing a proud little cat.

“So when can I run dungeons with you?”

“When your stats improve, I’ll take you to beginner dungeons,” Xu Shuche said, opening his panel.

“But your equipment is wrong.”

“Why are all your gems multi-colored?”

He grabbed Jian Yixun’s mouse and started removing them while laughing.

“You’re a poison-based class, why are you using water and wind gems? That green one is only for Qingfeng!”

Jian Yixun listened, suddenly feeling grateful for the game.

He never knew Xu Shuche could be so passionate about something like this.

It revealed a side of him he had never seen before.

Like assembling a puzzle, piece by piece, he was gradually discovering the real Xu Shuche.

Not just a cold or kind senior, but someone more vivid and adorable.

At that moment, his phone vibrated again.

Unlocking it, he saw several messages from Lin Xiu.

“Why aren’t you replying during the holiday?”

“What are you doing? Still asleep?”

“Want to play basketball later?”

Jian Yixun replied with a smile.

“I’m busy today, not playing.”

“Oh? What’s so important?” Lin Xiu teased.

“You don’t even have time to play with me?”

“I’m playing a game with my senior.”

His words carried a hint of pride.

“It’s that game I told you about before.”

After a while, Lin Xiu finally replied.

“Jian Yixun, something’s off with you,” he said.

“Do you remember what you told me last time? You said if you wanted to get closer to someone you liked, you’d bring them into this game, and by the time you both reach max level, your bond would be unbreakable.”

“Why do I feel like you’re not just playing with your senior anymore?”