Volume 1, Chapter 27: A Man Who Doesn't Value Himself Is Like Rotted Cabbage

Yu Yansui picked up her laptop and shoved it into Zong Qiaoqiao’s arms. "Quick, Qiaoqiao, stop playing that frustrating King of Glory and launch *Chronicles of Gods and Demons*!"

Zong Qiaoqiao took the laptop and teased, "Oh? That’s rare. Why aren't you reading your novels?"

"Don't talk nonsense! I’m a gaming enthusiast too, alright? Besides, Xiao Wan is online today, and as the vice guild leader of *Yunwen Zhaowan*, I need to set a good example."

Zong Qiaoqiao opened the laptop and logged into *Chronicles of Gods and Demons*, poker-faced as she pierced through Yu Yansui’s excuse. "Whether it’s setting an example or keeping your ‘big brothers’ company, we all know the truth."

Yu Yansui wasn't annoyed by her best friend’s jab and laughed, "So, are you playing or not?"

"I’m playing, get online already."

Yu Yansui and Zong Qiaoqiao placed their laptops face-to-face and opened the login screen for *Chronicles of Gods and Demons*.

The login interface had just been updated to a promotional PV featuring the award-winning actor Mu Yanshi.

*Wow, God Mu has a new promo PV.*
*Still as handsome as ever!*
*If only I could meet God Mu in person.*

After sighing, Yu Yansui entered her account credentials. As soon as she entered the game, the notification sound from Green Bubble [WeChat] rang out, and she picked up her phone.

"A message from your big brother? Fine, I’ll go find Xiao Wan first. Once you're done, teleport directly to Azure Sea Pavilion."

"Yes, Captain!"

**Sui Sui’s Little Nest**

【Brother Su Zhi: I’ve added you, little sweetheart.】
【Brother Xiao Feng: Accept my friend request first.】
【Brother He Nian: You two go have fun. Remember to rest early when you’re done; it’s getting late.】
【Sui Sui: Got it, goodnight Brother He Nian!】
【Sui Sui: I’ve added you both.】
【Sui Sui: By the way, are you two together?】
【Brother Su Zhi: At Heavenly Sound City.】
【Sui Sui: Then I’ll come find you.】
【Brother Xiao Feng: We’ll wait for you here.】

"Yan Jiu Gu has requested to add you as a friend."
"Yi Shun Feng Hua has requested to add you as a friend."

Yu Yansui quickly accepted their requests and teleported to Heavenly Sound City.

*Chronicles of Gods and Demons*, Heavenly Sound City.
Heavenly Sound City, where spring lasts all year round, is a flower-filled city built encircling a mountain. With falling petals everywhere, it is aesthetically stunning and accessible only to players level 40 and above.

***

As soon as she arrived in Heavenly Sound City, Yu Yansui followed their coordinates.

She saw the two of them surrounded by a crowd of players—or, more accurately, Yan Huaifeng was being besieged, and Li Suzhi was getting caught in the crossfire.

Player 1: 【Big Shot Fenghua, can you carry me through a dungeon? I’m a Qinyin, my healing output is massive!】
Player 2: 【Big Shot Fenghua, I’ve liked you for so long, can you give me a friend slot?】
Player 3: 【Great God, do you need a partner? Look at me!】
Player 4: 【Wow, little brother Yan Jiu Gu, you’re so handsome! Do you need an apprentice? I can carry you!】

Yan Jiu Gu: 【Sorry, I already have someone to carry me.】
Yi Shun Feng Hua: 【Thanks for the invite, but no!】

"My god, these two are so popular! Especially Brother Xiao Feng—he’s actually ranked second in the Feiling class, a total pro!"

Yu Yansui squeezed into the crowd and sent a message in the public channel.

You Yan Sui Sui: 【These are people I know, I’m here to claim them!】

Seeing Yu Yansui’s ID, the surrounding players began to grumble in the public channel.

Player 1: 【The vice leader of *Yunwen Zhaowan*? Why do all the top players get snatched up by their guild?】
Player 2: 【Break it up, break it up! The vice leader of the third-ranked guild in the whole game is here.】
Player 3: 【Can’t you give us mid-tier support players a chance? Apparently, all the damage dealers are reserved for ranked supports.】

The players grumbled a few words before dispersing; nobody dared to linger when the vice leader of a major guild came to claim her people.

Yu Yansui invited both of them to a party and turned on her microphone.

"Wow, Brother Su Zhi, you’re actually of the Demon race? This outfit is so cool!"

Li Suzhi was playing a Taihua, a fragile, crowd-control mage, and his faction was the Qingqiu Fox Palace of the Demon race! He wore his long white hair loose, topped with fluffy fox ears, and nine massive tails swayed behind him—he was a total heartthrob.

"As long as you like it, little sweetheart."

Yan Huaifeng complained mournfully, "What, am I not handsome?"

Yan Huaifeng played a Feiling, a long-range, high-burst damage class—the current meta’s golden child. With his hair tied in a high ponytail and dressed in purple robes, he radiated youthful energy.

"Brother Xiao Feng is handsome too, I just didn't expect you to be the big shot Yi Shun Feng Hua!"

Hearing Yu Yansui praise him as a big shot, Yan Huaifeng immediately became smug. "The second-ranked Feiling in the entire server is none other than yours truly. It’s nothing special, really."

*Pfft, Brother Xiao Feng is such a narcissist!*

"Then I’ll leave the Nine Creeks Village dungeon to you, Brother Xiao Feng. After all, I’m just a healer with zero damage output!"

"You got it!"

Li Suzhi: "I didn't realize the little dog was so strong. I’ll leave it to you to carry us, little dog."

***

"Now you know how powerful I am, right? If you’re trash, practice more!"

"Brothers, let me take you to meet my best friend first? Nine Creeks Village is a six-player dungeon, so it’ll be perfect for us."

Yu Yansui used her teleport skill to lead them to the Azure Sea Pavilion. Accessible from level 10, it was a resting spot in *Chronicles of Gods and Demons* where many casual players liked to hang out and gossip.

The moment the three of them arrived, they walked straight into some fresh drama.

Jue Jue: 【Can we even stay together? You’re in a game-marriage with me, yet you’re bringing another girl around?】
Li Xinxin Is Not A Tea: 【Sister-in-law, you’ve misunderstood. Brother Yun and I really have nothing! It’s just brotherly love! We’ve known each other for ages; if there were anything between us, we would’ve been together long ago! There wouldn’t be any room for you.】
Yun Feng: 【Exactly! Jue Jue, can’t you be more broad-minded? Tea and I have been running dungeons together since before I met you.】
Jue Jue: 【Running dungeons is one thing, but what’s the meaning of your flirting in-game? Do you think I’m dead!?】
Li Xinxin Is Not A Tea: 【We’re just interacting normally. Even when you aren't around, Brother Yun and I are always like this. Sister, don't be so possessive of Brother Yun.】
Jue Jue: 【Get lost! Get the hell out and dissolve our game-marriage, don’t force me to post about you two on the forums!】

The gossipers were debating the matter heatedly. Yu Yansui pulled her two best friends into the party interface and followed the party tracking coordinates to the second floor.

Before they even reached the top, they could hear the two of them trading barbs about the "scumbag" and the "green tea."

Zong Qiaoqiao: "Ugh, that woman is a slap in the face, and that man is an even bigger disaster!"
Zhao Wanyun: "I hate ‘pick-me’ girls the most!"
Zong Qiaoqiao: "This ‘Li Xinxin Is Not A Tea’ must be sick, and Yun Feng is sick too! If they like each other so much, they should just get together. Why look for a game-marriage elsewhere?"
Zhao Wanyun: "Maybe they’re looking for a thrill?"

The more they talked, the more animated they became, completely forgetting that they had joined a party and that their microphones had switched from friend-chat to party-chat.

Zhao Wanyun: "I’ve finally figured it out. All men are rotten to the core. A woman who feels sorry for a man is doomed for life!"
Zong Qiaoqiao: "Exactly, exactly. Men who don’t respect themselves are like rotten cucumbers and wilted cabbage. Bah!"
Zhao Wanyun: "And those guys who call every girl they meet ‘little sister’—total scumbags! You never know how many ‘little sisters’ they have in private. Disgusting!"

Zhao Wanyun was Yu Yansui’s other best friend, currently living in Country C. Her game ID was ‘Ping Sheng Bu Wan’, the number one Jiuge in the server and a hardcore gamer. When they first started *Chronicles of Gods and Demons*, they built a guild together, which had grown quite successful and famous.

Yu Yansui didn't know how much her two "big brothers" had heard of her friends' ranting or what they thought about it now. She coughed several times, trying to get their attention.

Jiuli’s charismatic laughter came through the microphone. "Little sweetheart, Brother is a good guy. I absolutely do not have any other ‘little sisters’ in private."

Yan Huaifeng also immediately jumped on the mic to defend himself. "Baby, I’m not a scumbag. I have plenty of self-respect, I am definitely not rotten cabbage, nor am I some sour cucumber!!"

Hearing two male voices coming through the earpiece, the two girls screamed in unison.

*We’re finished!*