C15 The Role Model

At the entrance of the exhibition hall, there was a modest booth that didn't attract much attention, with only a trickle of visitors passing by.

"This game has been around for quite some time, and new players are rare these days. You might just be the only one," Soong Mu commented as he and his companion approached the quiet stall, where a person sat idly playing with their phone.

A young girl with long hair was engrossed in her phone, oblivious to the three people who had now gathered in front of her.

Lin Chuan had been told there wouldn't be much to do and to expect few visitors, so she hadn't bothered to look up since her arrival.

"Hello, I was wondering how to claim the novice gift box?" Xie Yu inquired after a moment's thought.

Seeing that the girl hadn't noticed him, he decided to initiate the conversation.

Startled by the voice so close by, Lin Chuan jerked her head up, her black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her gaze was slightly bewildered, and the delicate moon pattern on her white sleeve cuff spoke of quality and elegance, enhancing her natural poise.

It appeared she hadn't quite caught what was said...

Taking a deep breath, Xie Yu smiled and repeated, "I'm a new player in Reveler World, registered for less than 15 days. I've only completed the newbie tutorial and the first dungeon. I should be eligible for the newbie gift box, right?"

His gaze inadvertently drifted to the gift box on the table.

The girl looked up, her eyes lingering on Xie Yu's face for a few seconds before turning to Soong Mu.

Soong Mu quickly waved off any misunderstanding, "I'm not a new player; I'm just here with him. One gift box for him will do."

"Wait a moment," the girl responded, nodding. She pulled out a tablet from beneath the table and began to work on it.

Curiosity piqued, Xie Yu restrained himself from peering over, respecting her space.

"Give me your ID, I need to check it," Lin Chuan requested, her slender fingers tapping assertively on the tablet before looking up expectantly.

Xie Yu nodded, his hopes pinned on finding an experience potion inside the gift box.

"My ID is Resignation, as in 'no choice' for Resignation, 'why' for why, and 'sky' for sky," Xie Yu explained.

He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but after he introduced himself, it seemed like the girl in front of him hesitated for a split second.

However, the moment was fleeting. She proceeded to enter his game ID into the system, verified that his newcomer period wasn't over, and completed the necessary steps before finally looking up.

"Okay, your starter pack includes 1000 gold coins, two weapon points, two bottles of experience potions, and an exclusive piece of furniture for beginners. I hope you enjoy your time in Reveler World."

Lin Chuan adjusted his hair, his gaze flickering as he looked at Xie Yu, a blush still evident on his cheeks. Soong Mu, observing from the side, was slightly dazed. After all this time, he hadn't expected the most beautiful girl to be tucked away here, engrossed in her phone.

"I really like your game ID. I'm a player too. Can we be friends?" Lin Chuan asked with a hopeful smile.

Xie Yu seemed not to hear, his eyes fixed on the small gift box in his hands.

"Two bottles of experience potions? That's fantastic." Xie Yu couldn't afford to be distracted by anything else; his focus was entirely on those potions, to the point where he even overlooked the weapon points.

With those experience potions, he could level up quickly and keep pace with the Hibernation Awakening.

His words also caught Lin Chuan's attention, causing him to pause mid-gesture, his hand frozen in his hair. He was taken aback that Xie Yu was so fixated on the experience potions.

Soong Mu was equally surprised by Xie Yu's preoccupation with the potions, which were so inexpensive yet seemed to hold more allure than the stunning girl before them.

"Xie Yu..." Soong Mu inhaled deeply, his voice low. Xie Yu snapped out of his reverie, giving him a puzzled look.

"What is it?"

"Never mind... just act as if I didn't say anything," Soong Mu said, hand on his chest, at a loss for words.

She told you she wanted to add you as a friend! Can you really just ignore that? If you're not interested, step aside and let me handle it!

"Odd, isn't it? Come on, I'll take you to check out something else." Xie Yu pocketed the gift box and was the first to turn away.

"Xie Yu..." Soong Mu was at a loss for words, "No, wait, Yu, you're officially my hero from now on."

Xie Yu gave him a puzzled look. Soong Mu's thinking was off-kilter once more.

Was it the long hours at work getting to him?

Lin Chuan stood there, dumbfounded, watching the retreating figures of Xie Yu and Soong Mu, unsure of what to say.

In Reveler World, players couldn't share names; each player was unique. Since Xie Yu was the owner of the name "Resignation," he had to be the one she had encountered.

He wanted the Experience Potions because she had once told him to level up to fifteen before coming back to her. But now, there he was, in person, having just mentioned adding her as a friend, and he just brushed her off.

Her worth seemed less than those two bottles of Experience Potion...

Though Lin Chuan didn't consider herself a knockout, she wasn't unattractive either. How could she be so easily dismissed?

After a moment's thought and finding no answers, Lin Chuan resigned herself to sit back down. She had to keep an eye on the booth. As a staff member of the game's organizing team, it wouldn't be right to just wander off.

Well, she thought, let's chalk it up to an odd day. Next time they crossed paths in the game, she'd seize the opportunity to tell him.

Meanwhile, Xie Yu and Soong Mu meandered about, encountering a host of game characters along the way—swordsmen in ancient garb and wizards donning mage hats—all roaming freely around the exhibit. Xie Yu had always felt that the best part of a digital world was bringing to life characters that once existed only in imagination or on screen, allowing for real conversations and embraces.

But no, that wouldn't do!

"Ah, after seeing the most beautiful one, all the other girls just seem to lack something." Soong Mu draped an arm over Xie Yu's shoulder, shaking his head in a wistful sigh.

"What's this about the most beautiful girl? Where did you spot her?" Xie Yu scanned the area, but nothing particularly striking caught his eye...

Soong Mu gave him a sidelong glance and gestured over his shoulder with a finger. "Remember where you got the newbie gift box? The staff girl there, she's the most beautiful one."

"Really?" Xie Yu expressed his surprise, "I guess I didn't really notice her. I was too focused on checking out the list of items in the gift box."

"That's exactly my point. From here on out, you're my Yu!" Soong Mu flashed a big thumbs up, his voice resonating with conviction, "You're the example we all should follow!"