Chapter 34 "Brother"

Even though he had just finished running 3,000 meters and the four o'clock sunlight was still shining, Ji Tong felt a chill run down his spine for no reason.

He subconsciously straightened his back, tilted his head back to the left, and looked at Gu Lin standing on the steps.

The squad leader, along with Cui Mingying and the others, also stopped what they were doing.

"I didn't..." Ji Tong's eyelids twitched. She wanted to explain, "I didn't shout," but as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt that something was wrong.

Ji Tong: "?"

What's there to be ashamed of? I didn't even shout it out.

…wrong.

Even if he called him that, it wouldn't be a big deal, right? It's just calling him "brother," isn't it? Boys just say that all the time when they're playing games, wouldn't they? Let alone "brother," he often hears Li Yuan call him "dad."

Just as Ji Tong was thinking this, he was about to relax his shoulders—

"Brother Hou Yi, come to me, I'm so scared being all alone."

It seems that besides Li Yuan, there were other people nearby who started the game by connecting via voice chat.

One sound after another came through the loudspeaker.

"Brother Lanling Wang, please stop arresting me!"

"I knew Brother Hou Yi was no ordinary person."

How many good brothers do I actually have?

"There are many, as long as they help me rank up, they are all good brothers."

Why isn't our Yu Ji calling out "brother" on her mic?

One sound after another.

Sitting behind Cui Mingying, "Yu Ji" finally pressed the voice message button. She glanced in a certain direction and said, "My mom said I shouldn't call out to people randomly outside, it's easy to..."

She paused for a moment: "I was arrested."

Low, muffled laughter came from all directions.

Ji Tong's back stiffened even more.

Gu Lin remained expressionless, his gaze lingering briefly on Ji Tong for a few seconds before finally settling on an object lying across the steps.

"I lost my phone."

Li Yuan's character in the game on his phone lost all his health and died.

For a fleeting moment, Ji Tong felt like her health bar was about to be wiped out.

"...Have you finished the call?" Ji Tong asked dryly.

Gu Lin: "Mm."

“You’re blocking my light…” Ji Tong didn’t dare to look at him for a moment. She just tugged at his clothes and pulled them down a couple of times. Her tone became increasingly harsh. “Sit down.”

"Brother Lin, you sit here, I'll go..." Li Yuan picked up his phone with trembling hands. Just as he was about to get up, the phone screen flashed and a huge "invitation" notification popped up.

It was that "Number One" from just now.

Li Yuan: "..."

Number One, you've done all sorts of bad things!

Li Yuan was about to refuse when Gu Lin, who had already sat down next to Ji Tong, suddenly spoke up: "It's still early, let's start another game."

Li Yuan: "..."

Li Yuan remained silent for several seconds before reluctantly pressing "Accept".

The moment of matching —

"Number four, the one who just spoke last and called out 'Brother, wait a minute,' is he also your friend?"

Finally, he spoke, calling out, "Brother, wait a minute..."

Cui Mingying and the others all turned their gazes toward Ji Tong.

Ji Tong immediately exploded, instinctively turning to look at Gu Lin: "No!"

He did say "wait a minute," but he absolutely, positively did not call him "brother"!

Number One is still outputting.

"Number four? Why isn't your mic on? Have your friend play a round, tell him I'll carry him to victory."

Li Yuan frantically pressed the voice recorder button: "Friends can eat whatever they want, but they can't say whatever they want. What kind of friend is there who has always been me? Have you ever heard of a voice changer?"

Number One: "???"

Number One: "Was that female voice you just heard?"

Li Yuan: "Yes!"

"Alright, since you're already here," Number One said, adaptable. "Turn your voice changer to the last one and follow me. I'll lead you through the fire."

Ji Tong: "?"

Is this never going to end? Is there no justice left?

He turned to look at Gu Lin again, opened his mouth as if to say something, but was at a loss for words, his emotions all mixed together. Ji Tong slapped Li Yuan on the knee: "Let's start a game."

Ji Tong said calmly, "Didn't you want to hear 'brother'? I'll call you that."

The eyes of everyone in the front and back rows were focused on Ji Tong.

"???"

Gu Lin lowered his eyes and opened and closed his fingers as if kneading.

Only Li Yuan was still in a trance state. Ji Tong reached over his arm and tapped the last ready position.

The game is a shooting game.

Maps are the most common type of rainforest map.

"Number Four, where do you want to jump?" Number One asked.

Number 4, Li Yuan: I want to jump off a building.

Li Yuan's gaming style is very consistent: he prioritizes stability and playing it safe, preferring to survive as long as possible. In rainforest maps, he usually chooses uninhabited areas like Shammi and Kambang. But today, he has only one thought—

Li Yuan landed directly at the training base, also known as the "base where he died directly".

While the parachutes were still in mid-air, sounds of gunfire erupted from the main building below.

Number One: "So tough? Number Four has been replaced?"

Number Four kept his microphone off and didn't say anything.

Number One is indeed quite skilled. Even in a place like the training base where big shots gather, he led Li Yuan out of the encirclement, turned into the second floor, and even threw Li Yuan a gun, telling him to stay close.

Li Yuan had been "dominating" the gaming world for so many years, and he originally thought that dying on the eve of dawn was the worst thing. Today, he learned for the first time that there was something even worse: wanting to die but not being able to.

Number One: "I've been helping you hide for over ten minutes, why aren't you turning on your mic yet?"

Ji Tong was watching closely as Number One spoke.

Number One led Li Yuan to an abandoned warehouse, where Li Yuan hid on the second floor with a gun in his arms.

Number One: "There are footsteps downstairs, be careful."

Tongtong stared intently as Lin Ge sat there.

Is there anything more torturous than this?

--have.

Li Yuan felt a chill run down his spine whenever he thought of Ji Tong's words, "Didn't you want to hear 'brother'? I'll call you that." Because of that one sentence, Li Yuan hadn't turned on his microphone since he landed.

Li Yuan was completely out of it and didn't even notice that the "footsteps downstairs" was something Number One made up on the spot.

Number Four hadn't fired a single shot or uttered a single word since entering the arena. Number One had already lost patience. He hid behind a cover behind Number Four and fired three shots at Number Four's feet, waiting for him to jump up. Number One immediately turned on his microphone: "Your target is over there at the corner of the stairs. I've got it. Shout 'Brother' and I'll fire."

As soon as Number One finished speaking, Number Four's voice bar finally lit up.

All microphones were on.

"Brother, hit him!"

Number One, a blank stare.

That voice... it's the one that just shouted "Wait a minute".

Number One was delighted and was about to respond to the "brother" when, before he could even open his mouth, a bullet hole suddenly appeared at his feet.

Number One: "?"

"Bang!" Another shot.

Number One: "??"

"Bang!" Another shot.

Number One: "???"

No one knows better than Number One whether there is anyone on the second floor at this moment.

"No, Number Four, did you turn it the wrong way or did it go wrong? Why are you hitting me?"

Microphone number four lit up again: "Here's yours back."

Number One was completely stunned.

Because this time, the voice that rang out was a male voice that was deeper than any I had ever heard before.

Before Number One could react, three more gunshots rang out in quick succession, exploding at his feet.

Number One completely lost his composure. Before he could even think about what had happened, another male voice suddenly appeared, shouting, "What the hell, bro! I only fired three shots!!"

"Sorry, I didn't hold the gun properly," Number One said calmly.

The person on the other end of the phone was stunned.

Li Yuan, Cui Mingying, and the others in the stands at Anhui University's sports field were also stunned.

Li Yuan couldn't even quite remember how the phone went from his hands to Tongtong's, and then from Tongtong's hands to Lin Ge's.

All I remember is three gunshots at my feet, then Number One suddenly turned on his microphone and said, "Say 'brother' and I'll shoot," and then a hand reached out from the side.

Ji Tong snatched Li Yuan's phone, turned on the microphone, shoved the phone into Gu Lin's arms, and began to speak clearly and loudly.

"Brother, hit him!"

Then, six bullet holes appeared under Number One's feet.

Ji Tong did call him "brother," and he made sure "Number One" heard it.

However, this "brother" wasn't called out to Number One.

The game continues.

After Number Four, armed with a broken gun, shot Number One in the head for the fourth time, he clearly realized a fact.

The sound can be changed, but the operation cannot.

This isn't some kind of voice changer, this is a complete transformation device! Number Four went to Tongtiandai!

Li Yuan's nickname ID is quite straightforward: "Press 1 to hear my revenge plan".

The way No. 1 addresses him is more straightforward, changing from "No. 4" to "Brother" to "Brother 1" and then to "Brother" after "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner," which is like a face.

"Bro! That's awesome! You're not some big streamer, are you?"

"It's been a long time since I've had this much fun playing. Let's add each other as friends and team up sometime, or do you have a personal account?"

One person spoke one sentence after another, while a friend request interface popped up.

Ji Tong: "?"

What's wrong with this person?

He makes others call him "brother" while also calling others "brother".

“No,” Ji Tong didn’t want Gu Lin to talk to him anymore, so he took the phone from Gu Lin’s hand and immediately pressed the reject button. “Who’s your brother? Don’t call me that.”

Number One: "No, Number Four, you—"

Ji Tong didn't let him finish speaking, so he exited the game interface and returned the phone to Li Yuan.

The class monitor, who was still standing to the side, glanced at Gu Lin next to Ji Tong.

The man's brows and eyes were relaxed as he leaned back in his chair, completely devoid of the oppressive feeling he had when standing on the steps.

All the changes originated from Ji Tong's words, "Brother."

The class monitor then turned his gaze to Ji Tong.

She doesn't say what she should say, but she's quite good at coaxing people.

-

The 8*100 group had the most participants, and the registration process alone took half an hour, but after the whistle blew, the outcome was decided with lightning speed.

The Computer Science Department advanced to the finals with a score of 6th.

As soon as the results were announced, thunderous applause erupted in the C section of the stands where the computer lab was located.

Dinner was a gathering organized by Ge Guangzu. In addition to Ji Yi's group, Ji Jiu, Duan Qiwei, and Chen Yongjie were also invited. Gu Lin, the "family member," was of course present.

Ge Guang chose a location near Anhui University for a newly opened hot pot restaurant.

"I ate here last time. Their signature dish is spicy hot pot, it's amazing. Anyone who can handle spicy food should definitely try it," someone said.

Ge Guang: "There were three tables in total, two tables with a yin-yang broth and one table with a spicy broth. The yin-yang broth is mushrooms with a spicy broth. The spicy broth flavor wasn't too strong, but it was still pretty good."

Since National Day, the dishes served have been all bland: congee with boats, morel and pork ribs, red mushroom and conch soup, and chicken stew with whelks. Ji Tong is now afraid of mushrooms and will head straight for the spicy hot pot table without a second thought.

"Where are we going?" Gu Lin grabbed him.

Ji Tong loves spicy food, but can't handle it very well. In this respect, she is similar to Li Yuan in terms of gaming talent, belonging to the "not good at it but loves it" type.

But Gu Lin really can handle spicy food. Once in high school, his class went to a Sichuan restaurant, and only Gu Lin and Zhou Tian didn't pass out from the spiciness.

Ji Tong pointed to the spicy hot pot and said, "That table."

Gu Lin: "Don't you want your stomach anymore?"

Ji Tong: "What could possibly happen over just a hot pot meal?"

Most people headed to the two tables with the yin-yang hot pot, but the spicy hot pot also clearly had a "market." Li Yuan and Ge Guang didn't hesitate at all and walked towards that table with their arms around each other's shoulders.

As Ge Guang walked, he kept calling out, "You really don't want to try some?"

Under Ge Guang's deliberate "seduction," several more people betrayed the Mandarin Duck Group.

The squad leader happened to hear Ji Tong's voice as he walked through the corridor.

"Then can I make the seasoning a little lighter to balance it out, okay?"

The group stopped in their tracks.

A moment later.

"Tongtong, this won't do. The family is so strict. We even need to ask permission to eat spicy hot pot?"

"Exactly, this will only get worse in the future."

"Stand up straight."

Ji Tong: "..."

After they finished speaking, they laughed and left.

Seeing that there were fewer and fewer seats available, and Gu Lin still looked like there was no room for negotiation, Ji Tong gritted her teeth and spoke with a tone and expression that said, "I'm going to eat spicy hot pot today, what can you do about it?"

"I just ran 3,000 meters, can't I even have a spicy hot pot?" Ji Tong glared at him, and the moment Gu Lin was about to speak, her tone suddenly dropped, "There won't be any seats left, brother."

The hot pot restaurant's decor is the most classic and popular Chinese trend style, with old-fashioned wooden tables and chairs below and visually striking red silk and lanterns above. The warm yellow lighting shines on Ji Tong, making his eyes appear moist and bright.

The same light shone on Gu Lin's face, yet it seemed to cast a shadow.

Every subtle expression on Gu Lin's face was magnified infinitely by Ji Tong.

Ji Tong immediately knew that he had softened.

Ji Tong originally only thought of the game in the afternoon, and just wanted to try it out, without having high expectations.

Surprisingly, it actually worked.

Ji Tong then raised his face.

If Ji Tong's previous "brother" was a tentative attempt, a "nothing to lose" gesture, these next calls were completely uninhibited. With each call, he brought his face a little closer.

"Gu Lin?"

"Brother Lin?"

"elder brother?"

"Help! Hurry, there are really no seats left."

"Brother—uh." Ji Tong's chin was grabbed.

Gu Lin remained tense for a long time.

"Don't let your stomach upset at night..."

"Okay, okay, let's go, let's go." Ji Tong was afraid that Gu Lin would change his mind, so he pulled him to sit down at Ge Guang's table.

"Since we're already here, speaking of hot pot with two broths, do you know what 'Mandarin ducks' is a euphemism for a romantic relationship?" Ji Tong had just sat down when the class monitor's voice rang out unhurriedly.

“You’ve hit my comfort zone,” someone replied. “Originally, ‘brothers’ was used in poems like ‘Mandarin ducks, beautiful and virtuous, there are two virtuous men, flying together to Mount Tai,’ which was a metaphor for the brothers Lu Ji and Lu Yuan. Later, it was basically used as a symbol of love.”

The class monitor then asked, "Do you know how mandarin ducks 'call'?"

Everyone: "???"

this……

"What should we call it?" someone asked hurriedly.

The class monitor wiped his hands with a tissue: "Brother, help! Hurry, there really aren't any seats left!"

That's what it's called.

Ji Tong: "…………"