[PoisonedMilk: Come on, guys, the adjustment for the Rune Stone’s new effect is done. Anyone up for a dungeon run?]
[PoisonedMilk: Limited spots, first come, first served.]
[Deep Well Ice Player: Very busy, if you need something, find someone else, please. Thanks for not disturbing.]
[Gentleman Fan: Just received a few tasks. I’ll find you after I’m done.]
[Scavenger: It’s been a while since I did parkour. Need to practice, maybe some other time.]
[Serious Young Man: Um, Master… I might need to log off to work on my thesis.]
[What Pen Carries Fragrance: I strained my waist when I went out earlier. Probably won’t be able to engage in intense physical activity for a while.]
[Island Forest: I’m really sorry, dear, I have some matters to attend to. If you don’t mind, can you wait for a bit? It’s a bit regrettable. It’s hard to say when I’ll be free. You understand what I mean, right, dear?]
Finally, Green Fanatic timidly spoke up, with an expression of sacrificing oneself for a gentleman.
[Green Fanatic: Brother, how about I go then!]
[PoisonedMilk: … Never mind, no need.]
Someone’s uncontrollable laughter echoed in Jiang Shi’s ears. He closed the group chat messages, raised an eyebrow, and looked around. “Is it funny?”
Han Yuze cleared his throat, “It’s, um, okay.”
Jiang Shi lifted his long legs to kick someone away, glanced at the sky, and finally sighed silently.
He didn’t understand why. When he called them to test the new Rune Stone effects some time ago, they were all quite enthusiastic. But after a few sessions, it turned into what it is now—everyone making excuses as soon as he called.
Why is that? Was his Rune Stone effect not impressive enough, or was the testing process not stimulating enough?
Seeing Jiang Shi lost in thought while stroking his chin, Han Yuze couldn’t hide a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Stop thinking about it. Have you figured out how to arrange things for next week?”
“Next week?” Jiang Shi’s brow furrowed naturally. “I’ll probably be off for a while. Definitely won’t be able to participate in the holiday events.”
“Going back home?” Han Yuze asked.
“Yeah.” Jiang Shi nodded. “And because of what happened back then, with so many eyes watching at home, even if Jiang Yan intends to give me special access, it probably won’t be convenient to sneak out and log in.”
Time seemed to have passed quite quickly. Unconsciously, it was already the time for the New Year. Although holographic games like <Genesis> were bound to have large-scale events during that time, considering the need to go home for the holidays and the psychological endurance of his parents, the filial Jiang Shi had to reluctantly cut himself off and pretend to be obedient.
He was sure that he would have to be away for a while. He casually asked Han Yuze, “How about you?”
Han Yuze replied, “If you’re not going to be online, then neither will I.”
Jiang Shi looked up. “Your family doesn’t restrict your internet use, right?”
“No restrictions, but since you won’t be around, I might as well take the opportunity to rest a bit,” Han Yuze said.
Jiang Shi nodded. “Alright, see you after the New Year.”
“After the New Year?” For some reason, when Han Yuze said those three words, there was an indescribable subtlety in his expression. After stretching the last syllable a bit, he didn’t say anything else, tactfully changing the subject. “Speaking of the New Year, is there any special gift you’d like?”
Jiang Shi replied, “There is.”
“What do you want?” Han Yuze asked.
Jiang Shi said, “I want to go to an internet café and play games for the New Year.”
Han Yuze: “…”
If there hadn’t been much feeling a while ago, as the New Year approached, signs of the Spring Festival began to show up sporadically in the game.
The most obvious was that every now and then, someone would come over and entrust a few words, mostly farewells before the New Year.
It was evident that whether they were internet addicts or internet aficionados, there was a high probability that they would pretend during the time they went home.
Jiang Shi was a very typical example.
“Are you sure you’re only taking these things?” When Jiang Yan saw Jiang Shi with just a small backpack behind him while carrying several large suitcases downstairs, she looked surprised, “Aren’t you taking more stuff for vacation?”
“We’re going home, not on vacation,” Jiang Shi waved his hand, “Let’s go, let’s get going.”
The two didn’t choose to drive, instead, they called a taxi straight to the airport.
It had also been a long time since Jiang Yan had been home, and it was evident that she was in a good mood. She teased Jiang Shi a few times, “Are you sure you won’t ask to transport the virtual cabin back? We’ll be at home for at least ten days to half a month. Can you really endure it?”
“I can endure it,” Jiang Shi answered and didn’t forget to tease Jiang Yan, “But what about you? If you can’t endure it, I can reluctantly accompany you to find a nearby internet cafe.”
Jiang Yan snorted, “What can’t I endure? Do you think I’m as free as you?”
Jiang Shi asked, “It’s the New Year, what are you busy with?”
“You know it’s the New Year. It’s a great opportunity since everyone is around. Of course, I’m busy introducing my boyfriend to my parents,” Jiang Yan said with a brilliant smile as she drifted into daydreaming, “After a few days, when Yiyuan comes to find me, I’ll take him to visit relatives and such. It’ll take at least ten days to half a month.”
Jiang Shi: “…”
Han Yiyuan and Jiang Yan had always had a stable relationship. Not too long ago, they often strolled together in the <Genesis> continent. According to this pace of development, entering the phase of meeting the parents wasn’t surprising at all.
It was perfectly fine to meet the parents for the first time during the New Year. However, from what Jiang Yan implied, it seemed that it wasn’t just the parents they were planning to meet.
Thinking about all those aunts and uncles at home, Jiang Shi remained silent and silently lit a candle in his heart for Han Yiyuan.
Indeed, he was a man destined to become his future brother-in-law.
All he could say was, “Hard work, indeed.”
Jiang Shi had been abroad for medical treatment for several years, and after returning to the country, he stayed with Jiang Yan for observation. Now that he finally returned home, his top priority was naturally to spend more time with his parents.
He was very obedient, busying himself with buying New Year’s goods. Unconsciously, time passed by.
As the new year arrived, the whole family gathered to have the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Jiang Yan hadn’t mentioned it before, but at this moment, she brought up the topic of Han Yiyuan’s plan to visit for the New Year, directly igniting the atmosphere at the dining table.
Jiang’s mother, very enthusiastically, asked around while holding onto Jiang Yan, before finally remembering Jiang Shi. “Speaking of which, Ah Shi, you are not much younger than Ah Yan. When will you have news? Your brother-in-law is going to visit the day after tomorrow. If you can hurry up, maybe we’ll have a double joy.”
Jiang Yan suppressed her laughter, “Mom, actually…”
Jiang Shi knew what his older sister was going to say and calmly interrupted, “Mom, I need to take a call first.”
With that said, he immediately got up and bolted away.
Jiang’s mother found it amusing, “Look at him, as soon as I mentioned it, he ran away!”
Jiang Yan comforted her with a smile, “Don’t worry, Mom. These things happen when they are meant to happen. Maybe we’ll really have a double joy the day after tomorrow…”
Jiang Shi slipped away fast and didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.
But his excuse wasn’t just made up; he did have a phone call.
After closing the gate in the yard, isolating himself from the hustle inside, he leisurely put his phone to his ear and leaned against the wall with one hand in his pocket. “Hello?”
The other end was evidently lively too, with Han Yuze’s voice amidst the noise. “What are you busy with?”
“Eating New Year’s Eve dinner,” Jiang Shi glanced back at the closed gate and asked, “What about you?”
“I just finished eating,” Han Yuze said, suddenly laughing, “I was just being asked about my cousin’s relationship progress, and they managed to rope me into the conversation as well.”
Jiang Shi empathized, “What a coincidence, same here.”
After that, both sides fell into a brief silence.
After a while, Han Yuze, with a smiling tone, spoke again, “Since it’s such a coincidence, how about finding an opportunity to solve it together?”
Jiang Shi raised an eyebrow, “Are you in a hurry?”
“Not particularly.”
Originally, Han Yuze had given a decent response, but evidently couldn’t resist and added after a pause, “If there’s an urgency, do you have any good solutions?”
Jiang Shi knew this person had thick skin, but he really didn’t expect it to go this far. He jokingly said, “Then, why not handle it with your cousin the day after tomorrow?”
Han Yuze thought about it, “That might work.”
Seeing that this person was actually considering it, Jiang Shi couldn’t help but scoff, “Have some dignity.”
As it turned out, having dignity was something that was impossible for Han Yuze.
That night, after a brief chat, both returned home to continue the New Year’s dinner with their families.
Busy with the festivities, it wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that the lively and tiring atmosphere of the New Year’s Eve finally passed under the backdrop of the outside fireworks.
After exchanging “Happy New Year” wishes, Jiang Shi and Han Yuze climbed into bed.
At this moment, both had long forgotten the conversation they had after the New Year’s Eve dinner.
Jiang Shi never expected that two days later, when accompanying Jiang Yan to pick up Han Yiyuan, he would see that overly familiar figure beside his future brother-in-law.
Han Yuze: “Surprise~!”
Jiang Shi: “…”