Chapter 202
...
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way~"
The melodious and cheerful music drifted out, and the bright orange-red firelight reflected on the windowpane, making the whole shop warm and comfortable, as if the cold winter had been warmed up.
The child, wearing a thick down jacket, had a rosy, smiling face warmed by the air conditioning, and was dazzled by the wide array of toys in the cupboard.
There is a huge playground model on the table, made of LEGO building blocks, which emits dazzling and colorful lights when powered on.
The carousel turned slowly, and the roller coaster rushed past on the track, making the children's eyes light up and shout excitedly.
"Mommy! Daddy! I want it!"
The couple looked troubled as they stared at the four-figure price tag, but their child clung to them pitifully, begging for their attention.
Seeing an opportunity to sell his prized possession, the shop owner immediately rushed over and enthusiastically promoted it.
In the end, the couple gritted their teeth and paid.
The child jumped for joy, like a firecracker that couldn't be contained. The couple, who had initially felt a little heartache, immediately cheered, picked up the child, rubbed his head, and laughed nonstop.
call--
The breath froze into white mist in the cold air, spraying onto the shop window glass and turning into icy white frost.
The child standing outside the store subconsciously stretched out his red, frozen palms to wipe away the frost, and continued to stare blankly inside.
He was not very old, about nine years old. When he passed by the toy store, he was initially attracted by the exquisite and interesting amusement park model on the table. But as he looked at it, his attention was drawn to a family of three.
The doting and loving expressions of adults, and the happy and satisfied smiles of children, are captured in a moment when they reach out to take the playground blocks, as if frozen in a vivid oil painting from a fairy tale.
So beautiful, yet so unreal.
The child clinging to the shop window was completely mesmerized.
Thank you for your patronage! Welcome to visit us again!
The shop owner, beaming with joy after receiving a large order, walked back home when he noticed a child with his face pressed against the windowpane, his clothes dusty and tattered. He immediately frowned and impatiently scolded, "Whose child is this? Go away! Go play somewhere else and don't disturb our business!"
The child was startled by his loud voice, shuddered, and reflexively took a step back, wanting to apologize.
The shop owner's expression changed drastically upon seeing his face, filled with disgust.
The child immediately recalled the rumors that had been making headlines.
What parents were killed because of him?
The rich man who tried to capture these children to raise as ghosts failed, but they were still tainted with a strong aura of evil and death. Getting too close to them would bring misfortune.
Superstition tends to thrive in remote places.
A few years ago, some people, under the guise of breaking feudal superstitions, adopted these surviving children. They were widely reported by the media, returned home with honors, and made a fortune.
As a result, the philanthropist's facade didn't last long. As his influence as an online celebrity waned and he could no longer earn much money, he abandoned them in his old house and planned to send them to a welfare home once the controversy died down. They couldn't even afford warm clothes in the winter.
The child also suffered because of this, especially knowing that without him, his parents would not be targeted by bad people, and he even thought about jumping into the river to atone for his sins.
It wasn't until he vaguely saw his biological parents crying in the cold water that he suddenly mustered up a burst of strength and struggled to climb ashore.
Then, at this very moment, the child met the shop owner's disgusted eyes.
He tilted his head, suddenly pulled down his eyelid with his finger, and made a face at the boss with an extremely arrogant sticking out of his tongue.
"Hehehe—!"
The shop owner was taken aback, then flew into a rage, and chased after the brat in a few strides, ready to teach him a lesson.
"You brat, stop right there!"
But then they heard the sound of wind rushing past behind them, and heard loud shouts from the crowd, followed by a deafening roar.
Bang!
An out-of-control motorcycle crashed right where he had just been, smashing the plastic trash can to pieces!
The shop owner stared in shock at the rider stumbling out of the garbage heap and the scattered trash on the ground, his legs belatedly going weak and trembling.
Good heavens, if he were hit by that, wouldn't he be rushed to the hospital on the spot?!
The boss suddenly realized something, his eyes widened, and he turned to look at the child.
The child wasn't much better off; he was stunned by the sudden commotion.
But faced with the shop owner's horrified expression, he was stunned and bewildered, yet a twisted and indescribable sense of pleasure gradually arose within him.
—Ha! You all despise me because I'm a ghost child, and you even think it's bad luck to touch me, but I accidentally saved your life!
At that moment, the child puffed up his chest, raised his chin proudly at the shop owner, like a victorious little rooster.
The child's boastful expression surprised and bewildered the shop owner, who genuinely believed that the child had used supernatural powers to save his life.
Thus, his contemptuous heart turned into unease, even fear, and his mind was filled with thoughts of how to repay the debt.
Before the shop owner could even speak, the child turned and ran away.
It's not just about making yourself look good in front of people who look down on you, but also about feeling relieved and relaxed.
The children ran so joyfully, laughing so happily, striding freely and running like leaping forest sprites through the muddy, filthy streets, shivering in the cold wind that chilled their collars and cuffs, yet they didn't stop.
—See, I can save lives.
—Not a ghost child, not a ghost child, not a ghost child, oh yeah!
—It won't bring disaster; it's a lucky star!
The child only stopped running when he was completely out of breath.
He looked up, panting, at the empty street above him, and his grin suddenly vanished.
With the weather so cold, nobody wants to wander around outside. Business is slow, and even the shops along the roadside have closed early.
The child finally remembered that he had gone out because he was so hungry. Clutching the one yuan he had earned from selling plastic bottles, he went to find a shop that sold steamed buns.
As darkness fell and the body grew colder, the child, clutching his rumbling stomach, stood on the deserted street, feeling as if he were the only person in the world.
At one moment, looking at the myriad lights of homes spreading overhead and into the distance, the child suddenly couldn't move. He squatted down, curled up into a ball, and burst into tears, his shoulders shaking with sobs.
If his birth is a disaster, if he will always be alone, if he is useless and despised for his entire life.
So what is the significance of his existence?
Suddenly, a hoarse, weary voice called from upstairs: "Children downstairs! Children!"
The child didn't realize he was being called until an old man stood in front of him. He sniffed and looked up in confusion.
Tears blurred his vision, making the old man's face indistinct.
Her deep-set eyes slanted downwards, giving her a somewhat sarcastic look: "New Year's Day is just around the corner. Don't cry in front of someone's shop; it's bad luck."
The child, like a hedgehog that had been pricked, stood up abruptly, only to see the old man extend his withered, yellowish hand and hand him a bowl full of things.
Steam rose and filled the air with the aroma of food.
"Wipe your tears, nothing is insurmountable. Are you starving? Eat..."
...
"The big boss of the first year of junior high school has woken up!"
The nerve pain caused by near-death had not completely subsided, and Yan Chuyi's head was throbbing with pain.
He rubbed his temples to clear his head, and with his teammates' help, he sat up. His gaze swept around, and seeing no immediate danger, his first words were: "...What are you cooking?"
"Hey boss, you smelled it?" a teammate said. "There are lights at the train station, but only small monsters are spawning. We tried to start a fire and cook hot pot! But it's just congee and clear broth, because we're afraid the smell will be too strong and cause trouble."
"And also, this is chicken soup specially made for you. Frozen chicken might not taste as fresh. Once we clear the area, let's all go out to eat! Captain Xu said he'll treat us to Yuepinxiang in the main area!"
Smoke curled from chimneys not far away as people ate their meals, the warm glow of the firelight illuminating their laughing faces in a lively atmosphere.
The members of Brian's team rarely integrated into the group. Holding a bowl in one hand and chopsticks awkwardly in the other, they couldn't quite understand the Middle-earth people's obsession with eating and drinking well in the Infinite Game.
Upon hearing that Yan Chuyi had woken up, everyone rushed over, forgetting that they still had food in their mouths and carrying their bowls.
Even Squad 7721 noticed the commotion and craned their necks to look around curiously, wanting to see just how extraordinary this player named Yan Chuyi really was.
"How are you feeling, boss? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Yan Chuyi glanced at the concerned faces and said, "It's alright, there shouldn't be any major problems."
There was a campfire right in front of him, the dry wood crackling and popping. Fearing he might suffer from hypothermia at night, the others covered him with a thick blanket. The warmth seeped into his very being, and he felt no chill whatsoever.
Yan Chu looked at the chicken soup in his hand. The heat from the porcelain bowl moistened his fingers. He picked it up and took a sip. The rich and mellow aroma filled his taste buds.
He looked at one of the players who couldn't hide his anticipation, nodded, and praised him affirmatively: "Delicious."
"Hey." The man smugly said, "That goes without saying, I have A-level cooking skills! Boss, drink more, this soup has added top-grade rare seasonings, it has attribute bonuses."
Yan Chuyi smiled and hummed in agreement, finishing the chicken soup in one sip after another.
That smile stunned many players.
After finishing the soup, there was still half a bowl of chicken left at the bottom, all of which was tender meat carefully selected by his teammates. He ate it all up carefully.
Because he hadn't fully recovered his strength, the young man ate very slowly, but his movements were extremely elegant, exuding a noble air that was pleasing to the eye.
The players stopped eating and gathered around to watch.
In fact, it wasn't just this bowl of chicken soup; before Yan Chuyi woke up, they had also put in a lot of other items to replenish blood and energy.
I have to say, watching the young man go from lifeless to energetic, his pale skin regaining its rosy glow, gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
I inexplicably found enjoyment in nurturing a character.
After Yan Chuyi had finished eating and drinking, Captain Xu crouched down and came to his side. Meeting the young man's suspicious gaze, he coughed lightly and said, "Well, Chuyi, there's a question I'm not sure if you'd be able to answer it?"
Yan Chuyi: "Go ahead and ask."
Captain Xu's eyes gleamed: "What is your relationship with Xie Xubai?"
Upon hearing this, all the players present, including viewers in various live streams, perked up their ears!
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