06:07

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "Xiao Xi, is that you?"

06:12

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "Are you there?"

10:08

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "Are you awake? Reply as soon as you see this."

11:02

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "Xiao Xi, why aren't you saying anything? Where's your brother?"

12:00

*Connection failed. Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji) has cancelled the light screen connection.

*Connection failed. Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji) has cancelled the light screen connection.

12:58

Chu Zhiqin, "Xiao Ji": "Don't scare Mommy, say something!"

...

Xi Xi stared at the familiar voice on the screen, and a surge of indescribable emotion welled up inside her. For some reason, tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes like a burst dam, instantly blurring her vision.

Xi Xi : "My brother is picking lotus flowers by the Daming River..."

At that moment, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed Xi Xi, who was utterly exhausted, burst into tears, crystal-clear tears streaming down her cheeks.

Because Xi Xi is an only child, she has no younger brother.

The dialogue, "Where's your brother?" and "My brother went back to his hometown. He's probably picking lotus flowers by the Daming River right now," originated from a kidnapping scene Xi Xi watched as a child. She was so traumatized by it that she suffered from paranoia and couldn't sleep all night. Her father, feeling sorry for her, came up with a way to comfort her.

He had Xi Xi come up with the code so the whole family could memorize it. That way, if something happened to them, they would have a chance to use the code to find out what was going on and call the police immediately.

Although Xi Xi had never been kidnapped until she grew up, she belatedly realized that given her family's financial situation... well, there was really no reason for the kidnappers to kidnap her... But from then on, this line of dialogue became the secret code for the three of them to deal with online scams.

In her past life, during those perilous and turbulent years, Xi Xi once walked alone on arduous footsteps towards the official refuge.

Along the way, she searched and looked, with a faint hope in her heart, imagining again and again that she would see a familiar figure and successfully use the secret code they had agreed on.

However, reality is always cruel and unforgiving. No matter how hard she searched, things never turned out as she wished.

As Xi Xi was pondering, the light screen in front of her suddenly flickered, and a prominent call icon appeared on it.

Xi Xi, who was unfamiliar with the game's new features, was somewhat confused, but she still gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with trembling hands and pressed the answer button.

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "Hello?"

Xi Xi's mother's voice came from the screen. Xi Xi was stunned for a moment, then responded, "Hello, Mom..."

Her tears flowed even more freely, but then Chu Zhiqin launched into a tirade of abuse, almost making Xi Xi hold back her tears of emotion...

"Xi Xi! You've gotten too big for your britches, huh? Why aren't you replying to my messages? Do you know how worried I was?! Oh my god, you have no idea how anxious I was..."

Chu Zhiqin's furious scolding came from the light screen, but as she scolded, her voice suddenly became tearful.

In the end, the mother and daughter cried their hearts out across the screen.

Later, after some questioning, Xi Xi remembered that according to the third point in the original game announcement, after the novice period, she would automatically be grouped into the same unit as her relatives.

Xi Xi (fierce): "What about my dad?"

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "You forgot, your dad and we aren't registered in the same household."

Household registration? Xi Xi read the game's pinned announcement again carefully before she understood.

[III. After the new player protection period ends, relatives without personal vehicles will join the game. Each household registration constitutes a default unit. In areas without a household registration system, relatives are divided into default units based on blood ties and legal relationships (maximum 10 people). Members of the default unit can be assigned to the same service area and freely form teams. The adventurer decides whether to form an initial unit with other members of the default unit.]

Yes, Mr. Xi and the mother and daughter are not registered in the same household.

The reason behind this is quite amusing.

Initially, because Grandma Xi's house happened to be located within the area of ​​urban demolition and redevelopment, the compensation that relocated households could receive was calculated based on the registered population.

As a result, given that their relationship was already lukewarm, none of the three siblings on the father's side were willing to compromise easily.

Ultimately, the three children reached an agreement to transfer their household registration to the house under their grandmother's name.

Unexpectedly, the demolition dragged on for two or three years, and before they had received any benefits, the end of the world arrived.

Thinking of this, Xi Xi couldn't help but feel helpless. Judging from this, were the four of them in the same group? But her grandmother, aunt, and uncle couldn't drive, so wouldn't her father have to carry all three of them?

Xi Xi suddenly felt a little unsure how to comment. To ease the tension, she casually changed the subject.

Xi Xi (fierce): "Mom, have you eaten?"

Chu Zhiqin (Xiao Ji): "No, it's even hotter today, and there's nothing good in the treasure chest."

Chu Zhiqin, "Xiao Ji": "Are you hungry? Mom has half a bag of biscuits and a bag of milk here."

Xi Xi frowned and turned to look out the window. The scorching sun was burning the earth, and it looked even hotter than a few days ago. She quickly said to her mother, "Mom, wait a moment."

On the other end of the screen, Chu Zhiqin had beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. She wiped them haphazardly with her sleeve, her eyes never leaving the screen, anxiously waiting for her daughter to return.

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