Chapter 54: The Anchor Brother Loves Me 01 [Hey, your brother?]...
"Woo-hum-"
The piercing red light of an alarm swept through the core monitoring room of the Quick Travel Bureau. In the center of the huge screen, a point of light was tearing through layers of space walls at an intense speed.
Highest alert! High-energy soul fragments detected forcibly breaking through the world barrier... The energy body has broken through the world barrier... Threat level assessment... Highest!
The blood-red "S" representing the threat level on the surveillance screen flashed wildly.
After a brief panic, all the inspectors fell silent, looking as if they were used to it.
"It's that parrot again... Has Ye Ling completed the mission?"
"Is there something wrong with his world again?"
"So that energy body is...?"
Amidst repeated speculation of "as expected," the moment the terrifying energy body came into contact with the interception net of the Quick Pass Bureau, the violent energy fluctuations mysteriously subsided, becoming restrained, stable, and even... docile.
The defense system was at a loss: […Alert lifted? Threat level reassessed…Medium…Low…Target energy body enters dormant state.]
The alarm stopped abruptly, the red light faded, and the dreamy blue light illuminated the faces that were looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Supervisor..." a young inspector asked tentatively, "The target is clearly Ye Ling, the junior tasker! Shouldn't we notify him and his System 778 immediately? At least let them be on guard..."
"Notify?" the inspection supervisor snorted. "Notify that rookie and his equally useless rudimentary System 778? What good will that do other than terrify them into panicking and causing them to crash prematurely during the next mission, creating even more unforeseen trouble?"
"But Director, that fragment..."
"It's pretty 'quiet' now, isn't it?" the Director interrupted brusquely. "As long as it doesn't directly impact the Quickpass Bureau… that's it. Mark it as a 'low-priority potential anomaly' and archive it."
…
Quick-pass game, rest area for primary taskers.
The light here is always soft white, clean and dust-free, and the air is fresh.
In this peaceful environment, Ye Ling curled up on the soft white sofa, her body maintaining its original form - a palm-sized lovebird with messy feathers.
"Chirp..." He even twisted his little body and buried his golden head in the blue feathers on his waist.
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something and raised his head, his little paws unconsciously gripping the sofa cushion.
No...no.
The look in Shao Ye's eyes at his last moment, that unforeseen madness, was there something else hidden beneath it? Every step of that sudden torture precisely hit his fear point. It was simply... too effective, as effective as a staged play.
It was so effective that he didn't hesitate and immediately started the disengagement procedure the moment 778 regained its function.
"778!" Ye Ling quickly transformed back into human form and grabbed the light ball that was resting beside him. "Get me the flashback footage from the previous world! Not the part where I left, but the part after I left! I want to see what Shao Ye did! Quick!"
[Host?] 778 was startled by his excitement. [You're not in a good state to watch that anymore. Get some rest...]
"Show me!" Ye Ling gritted her teeth and ordered, which was extremely rare.
778 drifted into the void, the light screen unfolded, and the scene from the previous world quickly flashed back, freezing at the moment when Ye Ling disappeared. Then the image continued to play.
He saw Shao Ye facing the empty bed in silence, the madness on his face had completely faded, without a trace of shock or anger, only a strange calmness remained.
He saw Shao Ye sitting in front of the computer, calling up a complex interface, his fingers operating rapidly. He saw those cold words flash across the screen: "Self-annihilation", "99% probability of dissipation", "the price followers must pay"...
Ye Ling's breathing stagnated.
Then, he watched as Shao Ye picked up the paper cutter without hesitation, so decisively...
"No!" Ye Ling suddenly stretched out his hand as if to stop the person in the image, but his fingertips passed through the illusory light screen.
He watched Shao Ye fall, his blood staining the keyboard, and heard those last crazy yet resolute words—
"Wait for me."
"No matter where you are...I will find you."
Ye Ling was in a daze and staggered backward until he fell onto the sofa.
His hands trembled slightly, and his voice was filled with disbelief: "He... he didn't mean to hurt me... he wanted to... force me to leave?"
The previous fear and grievance were completely shattered by this discovery. An indescribable hot emotion blocked his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
[Host…] 778's voice was filled with worry and awkward soothing. [Are you feeling better? The next mission world has been matched. Based on our past performance… uh, this time it's just a simple D-class world with a modern background!]
Ye Ling did not respond, but just stared blankly at the direction of the disappeared light screen.
[Host...] 778 said earnestly, [If you don't complete the mission, your temporary body will...] It tried to find a positive reason, [Besides, the target of this mission is a 'brother'! !]
elder brother?
Ye Ling's hazelnut eyes blinked slightly.
This unfamiliar word, like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pond, creates ripples.
Brother... grooming feathers... sharing food...
Moreover, since Shao Ye said that he would come to find him, even if there was only a 1% possibility, would Shao Ye go to the next world with him?
His heart couldn't help but pound.
But that possibility was too small, too insignificant, too unbelievable. Ye Ling simply shook her head, throwing away all the inappropriate emotions and expectations.
"Okay, but before I go..." He lowered his eyes and spoke softly, "First, help me peel away the emotions of my previous world. And... I've also remembered some of the emotions from the world before that."
[Hmm…] 778 immediately scanned him, mumbling, [This shouldn't be the case! The peeling process is permanent, how did it fail? Never mind, I'll peel it for you again…]
Ye Ling closed her eyes and waited quietly.
[Alright, host! We're ready to go!] 778 finished processing and immediately initiated the teleportation process, fearing the host would regret it.
The memories of his previous life still lingered in Ye Ling's mind, but the emotions attached to them had vanished. He felt a sudden emptiness, as if a piece of his heart had been hollowed out. It was unpleasant, but he couldn't recall what that "feeling" was.
Even 778's incessant chatter seemed to come from far away, and was unclear as if it was covered by a layer of frosted glass.
【——Small world loading completed! 】
Severe dizziness, countless broken images, and noisy noises.
Ye Ling was like a fish thrown ashore, taking a few deep breaths of the air filled with the "human smell".
The noisy and bustling sound waves in the airport hall instantly rushed into my eardrums, merging into a buzzing background noise.
The rumble of the suitcase wheels rubbing against the ground, the clear and mechanical announcements on the radio, the conversations and shouts of the crowd...
The glaring ceiling light made him squint subconsciously, and what came into view were the cold, reflective floor tiles, countless hurriedly moving legs, and the completely unfamiliar faces of celebrities on the huge billboards in the distance.
[Host! Identity setup received!] 778's familiar electronic voice dispelled the slight discomfort. [You, Ye Ling, are eighteen years old and a country bumpkin. You've just been admitted to University in City A. To facilitate your studies, your parents, relying on their past friendship, have sent you to live with the Li couple, who built their fortune in City A from scratch...]
Today marks your arrival, and the day your resident 'brother', the protagonist, Li Feng, is picked up at the airport. Remember, you're a country bumpkin from the countryside, but you're also a scheming little green tea! When you meet the protagonist, you'll fall in love with him at first sight, and then—
"Brother...Brother?" Ye Ling repeated the key words blankly, instinctively feeling a sense of expectation for his protector.
[Yes! Li Feng! The protagonist! Your mission target!] 778's voice rose, [You will love him to the point of madness! Love him to the point of twisting your mind! To get his attention, you have to—]
[What…] Ye Ling subconsciously clutched the hem of her washed-out, old T-shirt. [Another mission like this!]
Buzz——
The old cell phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated.
[Quick, check your phone! News about Li Feng!] 778 immediately shifted focus.
Ye Ling frantically swiped open the unfamiliar screen. She saw a single message lying alone in her inbox, its words cold and icy:
Li Feng: [Wait a minute, I'm busy.]
The little bit of illusory warmth that had just risen up in my heart because of the word "brother" was instantly extinguished by these six words.
[Even the coolest male gods are like this! Don't lose heart!] 778 consoled dryly, [Host, since you're waiting for him...why not get familiar with the area now? That fast food restaurant over there smells so good! Are you hungry?]
"Gurgle..." My stomach made a soft sound at the right time.
Ye Ling's attention was instantly captured by the overbearing fried aroma in the air. He followed the smell and looked over - a warm yellow sign, from which the aroma was surging.
“Smells so good!”
[Hurry up and refuel! Eat well to have the strength to fight!] 778 quickly added fuel to the fire.
Ye Ling dragged an old suitcase that was too heavy for him, stumbled through the crowd, and plunged into the fast food restaurant filled with the aroma of grease and sauce.
The air conditioning blew in, dispelling the heat brought by the crowd. However, due to his limited budget, he only ordered a serving of fries.
He took the first bite with reverence.
The crispy shell and the soft and warm inside...a wonderful taste that you have never experienced before explodes on your tongue.
"Hmm!" Ye Ling's eyes widened instantly, and it seemed as if there were invisible little wings flapping happily behind him.
Just like that, he immersed himself in the simple delicacy, temporarily blocking out his "brother" and the mission.
"Fuck! Blade, that bastard! He's squatting in my fountain again! Is that something a human being would do?!"
An angry roar suddenly exploded from the seat next to him, accompanied by a loud "bang" sound of the table being slammed.
Ye Ling's hand trembled and the French fries she had just picked up almost fell out of her hand.
At the next table, a young man with a few wisps of eye-catching purple hair was staring at his cell phone screen with bloodshot eyes and a distorted expression.
He lashed out at his own livestream avatar on his phone, "Did you see that, brothers? This bastard! He just stared at me and tried to kill me! No moral principles! I'm definitely going to lose this round!... Damn it! Blade is definitely cheating!!"
“Blade”?
Ye Ling's ears instantly caught this keyword.
Is that "brother's" online name? The fragments of information 778 had instilled in him flashed through his mind.
[Host, look! It's him! It's him!] 778's electronic voice instantly rose to a high pitch. ['Blade', the top esports streamer with millions of fans, is the protagonist, Gong Lifeng! His controls are as sharp as a knife, his positioning is elegant, and he's a tough guy who doesn't talk much!]
[The most important thing is!] 778's voice suddenly took on a mysterious tone. [Although he has never appeared in front of the camera, his intoxicating bass and god-level performance have captivated countless fans...]
Ye Ling poked her head out from the booth, grabbed the side of the sofa with both hands, and stared at the purple-haired anchor's phone screen with her head tilted.
He saw lights and shadows flashing on the screen, and various skill special effects flying around. He was dazzled and confused.
In the chaos, he only saw the player with the ID "Blade" who was controlling the character to continuously kill opponents. His movements were fast, accurate and ruthless, and he could feel the terrifying murderous aura through the screen.
"That's bullshit!" The purple-haired streamer watched his crystal explode, slamming his phone on the table in anger. "You think you're just awesome? Why are you being so mysterious? Show your face if you can! Who knows if you're just a fat, pockmarked otaku!!"
His live broadcast room was instantly flooded with comments from Blade's fans:
[If you're not good at it, practice more! If you can't afford to lose, don't play! ]
[You blame Blade for your own poor performance? ]
"Blade's hands alone are incredibly handsome! How could you, a youkai, object?!"
【Blade Master's hands will make you drop dead handsome! 】
The purple-haired streamer's face flushed red and white from the barrage of comments. Furious and embarrassed, he stiffened his neck and roared, "I admit I'm not as skilled as him! But when it comes to looks, I'm definitely on par with him! Does Blade dare to show off? Huh!?"
The barrage was merciless:
[You? Please leave with your dignity!]
[Host, go look in the mirror! You can see everything in your dreams!]
【Take a piss and look at yourself, you ugly bastard! 】
The purple-haired anchorman was completely enraged. He stood up in a rage and scanned the store while yelling, "You bunch of brainless fans!!"
His eyes inadvertently swept across the corner of the restaurant, and his mouth, which was spitting, closed instantly.
His eyes rolled and he changed the subject: "I may not be that great, but my brother is awesome! He's got the best looks! He could debut as a star right here! He's way better than your cowardly Blade!"
"You don't believe it, right? Haha, I'll open your eyes right away!"
Relying on his years of gaming experience, he locked on and attacked!
Ye Ling was still watching the fun with relish, holding a French fry in her mouth, completely unaware of the approaching danger. When she raised her head, she was caught off guard by the close and wolf-like gaze of the purple-haired anchor. Her clear hazelnut eyes were full of confusion.
The next second, his arm was grabbed!
"Ah!" The half French fry in Ye Ling's mouth fell onto the table with a "pop", and she instinctively wanted to break free.
However, the purple-haired anchor was quite strong and pulled him towards him regardless of the consequences. With his other hand, he quickly adjusted the angle of the front camera of his mobile phone and forced his exquisite face, which was not like that of an ordinary person, into the live broadcast screen.
"Look! My brother! Are you convinced?!" The purple-haired anchor was very proud.
On the other side of the screen, Li Feng's game interface.
The badge of victory was suspended in the air, and the afterglow of the crystal explosion reflected on his hands resting on the keyboard, which were well-defined, slender and powerful.
The mouse cursor stopped at the "Exit Live" button, and the index finger was about to press it.
At this moment, the boy who was forcibly dragged into the camera bumped into his field of vision without warning.
The golden hair is as soft as light.
Her fair skin was dyed an alluring blush of fear and shyness, spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
There was a shimmering light in her wide-open hazelnut eyes, and her long eyelashes trembled in panic.
Time seemed to have stopped.
In the live broadcast room, the barrage of comments that were madly insulting Zimao just a second ago strangely went blank for half a second.
Then came the completely uncontrolled volcanic eruption:
[Holy crap! ! ! ! ! !]
[Is this face real? ? ? A deity descended to earth? ? ?]
[My amazing brother! I love you! ! ! !]
[Three seconds! I want to know all the information about this beautiful blond boy!]
[Where did you kidnap this fairy from?!]
@Blade Master! Come out and see the gods! ! ! !
The purple-haired anchor gradually became complacent as he watched his popularity soar and the barrage of comments turn around.
Ye Ling's cheeks burned hot, and he felt so ashamed and angry that he just wanted to disappear immediately. He resisted in vain: "Let me go! I don't know you..."
Li Feng frowned.
Why did he have this damn familiar feeling that made his heart skip a beat?
If he had seen such a face, he would never forget it.
He quickly found the photo his parents had sent him a week ago from his phone album, showing his "younger brother" whom he had been told to pick up in person at the airport today.
The photo shows a small town boy with plain clothes, a timid look in his eyes and ordinary black hair.
And right now, in the live broadcast, this... dazzling light golden hair, and the vividness that almost bursts through the screen...
Judging from his facial features, it is indeed that "younger brother". However, the live broadcast and the photos are not exactly the same.
What's going on?
More importantly.
This guy was entrusted to him by his parents - although it was one-sided - and he was the "little brother" he had to pick up in person today.
How did I become the "little brother" of this silly purple-haired dog in the blink of an eye?
……accurate.
Although I don’t know why, I feel extremely unhappy, and this unhappy feeling is extremely familiar.
At this time.
In the always silent game screen of "Blade", the cursor hovering above the exit button finally moved.
Not clicking exit.
Instead, it was moved to the public chat box.
The bony fingertips fell on the mechanical keyboard, and the tapping sound was clearly transmitted to the ears of every audience member through the live broadcast microphone.
Click. Click. Click…
This was the first sentence typed on the game interface by this e-sports star who swept the entire field and did not utter a word in the face of countless insults and provocations during the live broadcast today.
[Hey, your brother?]
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