C12 Surprise!

Zhao Zhe stood at his doorstep, feeling drained as the clatter of mahjong tiles echoed from inside. He wondered to himself, "Isn't it dinner time? Why aren't these mahjong enthusiasts heading home to eat?"

He was about to disrupt the game when the noise of tables and chairs being shuffled around interrupted his thoughts, followed by several neighbors making their way out of the house.

"Zhe, you're back from school! Go buy some food quickly. Your grandma won some money today, so we're in for a treat at dinner," an auntie said, affectionately ruffling his hair.

Zhao Zhe sidestepped the auntie's hand, skeptical. His grandma wasn't the best at cards; even if she won, it was unlikely to be enough for a lavish dinner.

"Aiyo, Zhe, you look pale. Let me have a look. Maybe you need a couple of acupuncture needles," Zhang Chu, who ran the health club downstairs, said while reaching for Zhao Zhe.

Zhao Zhe quickly stepped aside, "Zhang Chu, you better go rest. I really can't afford your treatment, and honestly, I'm a bit wary of it."

Zhang Chu was known as Teacher Zhang, a bold but expensive healer with a history of leaving patients worse off than before. Zhao Zhe was not about to risk it.

Soon after, his grandma emerged, carrying a bag and smiling at the sight of Zhao Zhe. "Wait for me, Zhe. I'm going to buy some groceries. We'll have a feast tonight."

Zhao Zhe let out a sigh and turned to head back inside when he saw Chen Xiaomeng, who should have been on his way home, hurrying over from the next building, arms laden with two large bags.

"Zhe, surprised?" Chen Xiaomeng asked.

Zhao Zhe paused, "Surprised about what? We just saw each other a little while ago. What's there to be happy about? My day's been nothing but shocks. Weren't you headed home? Why are you back here?"

Chen Xiaomeng had already put the day's earlier troubles behind him. "Yeah, I went home. But didn't I mention I had a surprise for you? We've moved right next door to you!"

Chen Xiaomeng gestured towards the three-story building next door. It was snug against Zhao Zhe's grandmother's three-story villa. The previous owner had moved abroad, and surprisingly, Chen Xiaomeng's family had snapped it up. They really lived up to the 'rich second generation' reputation, probably buying it just so he could have a friend nearby. Chen Xiaomeng had mentioned that in his old upscale community, he didn't have any friends to hang out with.

"Your family really is loaded, buying buildings just like that," Zhao Zhe remarked.

Chen Xiaomeng whispered to Zhao Zhe, "Zhe, it's not just about persuading my parents. There's been talk of major renovations coming to this area, so my dad's been on a buying spree for properties around here. You're the one who gave me the heads-up about your next-door neighbor selling. My dad says thanks, and he insists on paying the finder's fee."

Zhao Zhe dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand, "Hold on, I merely mentioned it in passing. Who knew your family would go to such lengths, buying up buildings and land on a whim? Besides, I still owe you money. Let's just call it even; no need for any finder's fee."

Chen Xiaomeng wouldn't have it, "No way, my dad's money is his, and my money is mine. I'll send you a red envelope later, but for now, let's celebrate. I've got some deli food and beer. Come on, let's head to your rooftop. It's cooler up there."

Zhao Zhe was feeling irritable, but the idea of having a drink and catching a breeze seemed appealing. They climbed up to the rooftop, which was furnished with tables and chairs. They had spent many evenings there drinking and shooting the breeze, and even the tripod for live streaming was still standing. Zhao Zhe wasn't into that, but Chen Xiaomeng was, and it looked like quite a few of their classmates were getting into Slow Hand too.

Settling in, they each chugged a can of beer. Zhao Zhe exhaled deeply, "Cutie, I really owe you one for all the help you've given me lately, especially today, putting up with all the hassle."

Chen Xiaomeng slammed a can down on the table and said, "Zhe, what are you even saying? What's this about helping or not, feeling wronged or not? When I was picked on before, didn't you jump into the fray without a second thought? Let them say whatever they want about us; we know we're clear of any guilt... Anyway, Zhe, come clean—who were you buying that dress and that other item for?"

Would Chen Xiaomeng believe Zhao Zhe's explanation? He had been honest several times already, yet Chen Xiaomeng was still questioning him, clearly showing her disbelief. The only way to convince her would be to bring Xiaoxue before him, but his assistant had made it clear that wasn't possible. It was frustrating; the stain of accusation seemed impossible to wipe clean.

Seeing Zhao Zhe remain silent, Chen Xiaomeng dismissed the topic with a wave of her hand. "Let's drop it, Zhe. No more talk about that. Let's just sing. Oh, and I'm going to bring up the sound system—the phone's volume just won't cut it."

Zhao Zhe popped open another can, his mood sour. Life had brought him unexpected turns, and the path forward was fraught with twists. The progress in the world of ice and snow was a mystery, and back on Earth, he was being branded as shameless. Life seemed unbearable. Who could be orchestrating all this against him? Perhaps the same person was behind the issues with Xu Jian and the evening lingerie shop.

"Zhe, give me a hand, will you? It's too heavy," called Chen Xiaomeng from upstairs, struggling with the sound system. Zhao Zhe saw that it was the same set he had brought back from the world of ice and snow, along with the electric guitar.

While helping, Zhao Zhe remarked, "Cutie, I'm not even sure if this thing works well. Someone else left it here, but it's been charged for a while."

"It's working great," Chen Xiaomeng assured him. "I just tested it downstairs, and it's way better than my own system. The only issue is it doesn't have a storage card. Luckily, I've got my phone for the music accompaniment. We'll just connect it to the sound system in a bit."

Chen Xiaomeng was quite adept with the equipment. Zhao Zhe had assumed there might be differences between the sound systems of the two worlds, but Chen Xiaomeng had everything set up in no time. With a strum of the guitar, the impromptu concert kicked off, and naturally, it was live-streamed on the Slow Hand app.

"Hey, don't get mad, Uncle. Just take a seat and have some tea. Let me express my affection for her at a leisurely pace..."

This catchy tune, "Don't Be Mad, Uncle Across," has been trending on Slow Hand back on Earth.

The song ended, and Chen Xiaomeng was buzzing with excitement. "Zhe, we've got 20 viewers. I've invited Xiaoya over. Just the two of us guys aren't enough to liven things up."

Zhao Zhe couldn't help but roll his eyes. Sun Xiaoya had given him an earful just that evening. And now, in no time at all, Chen Xiaomeng was reaching out to her again. Was he asking for another scolding? She might not even want to show up.

To Zhao Zhe's surprise, Sun Xiaoya appeared downstairs within two minutes. She lived just across the street, upstairs from Zhao Zhe's place. Chen Xiaomeng had been so keen on moving in with Zhao Zhe, it made one wonder if he had a thing for Sun Xiaoya.

"Looks like you two are enjoying the good life," Sun Xiaoya quipped with a sly smile as she eyed the spread of food and drinks on the rooftop. Her comment sounded less like a compliment and more like a tease.

Zhao Zhe looked skyward, resigning himself to the fact that some things are better left unexplained. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaomeng, the turncoat, was busy setting up chairs, fetching wine, food, and drinks, and even preparing the live broadcast setup for Sun Xiaoya. They each had their own broadcast channels and audiences.

During the broadcast, Chen Xiaomeng's Slow Hand audience began to get rowdy. "Hey, the beauty's here! Let's see a dance! If the beauty dances, I'll send a barrage of arrows!"

Chen Xiaomeng wasn't concerned about whether the virtual arrows came in or not. He wasn't short on cash, and if others didn't send them, his alternate account would. With the Cloud Piercing Arrow feature and Sun Xiaoya's charm, he was sure to attract a crowd of a hundred viewers or more. That would certainly boost his status at school.

"Xiaoya, about what happened this evening?" Chen Xiaomeng attempted to whisper an explanation, but Sun Xiaoya dismissed it with a wave of her hand, "No need to explain. You two clearly don't want to come clean, so there's no point in deceiving me further."

Chen Xiaomeng hung his head, accepting the blame, and tried to appease Sun Xiaoya by handing her a can of soda. Soon enough, they were both singing and dancing with abandon, lost in the fun of the moment.

Zhao Zhe genuinely enjoyed Sun Xiaoya's performances. Her beauty, paired with her excellent figure and voice, made her a captivating singer and dancer. When you added Chen Xiaomeng's electric guitar to the mix, the energy in their live streams soared. Chen Xiaomeng sent out a few Cloud Piercing Arrows from his account, and before long, the viewership spiked to an unprecedented 200 people.

"That creep sitting there drinking, don't just sit there, do something! Sing us a song, or at least share your story about buying women's underwear and sanitary pads," someone in the live stream chat teased, clearly someone who knew about the evening's events. It had to be a classmate from their school.

Sun Xiaoya had just finished belting out '19 Degrees 3', a vibrant and fiery track. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she glanced at her phone screen and chuckled at Zhao Zhe, "Come on, your haters are calling you out. Don't just sit there drinking. You're usually such a troublemaker, what's got you so subdued today? Get over here and give them an explanation."

Chen Xiaomeng addressed the viewers, "Guys, let's not get carried away. Things aren't as you imagine. Zhe and I are not creeps; we're just in a tough spot..."

Chen Xiaomeng's attempt at clarification only stirred the pot more, sparking a flurry of insults and jeers. The number of viewers in her live stream quickly dropped from over 200 to just over 100. While Sun Xiaoya's stream had many dedicated fans, some began to unfollow. Those who remained were vocally urging Sun Xiaoya to go home, expressing their concern about her association with the two alleged weirdos.

Sun Xiaoya had downed two cans of booze, and now the alcohol was hitting her hard. She yelled at Zhao Zhe, "Zhao Zhe, if you're really a man, come over here and say it. You're acting like a woman, sulking over there and looking so pitiful it's embarrassing!"

Her outburst stoked the fires of Zhao Zhe's rage. He was, after all, a traveler from another world, chosen by Nusbath, the King of the Universe, to be a space-time warrior tasked with the monumental duty of saving a doomed dimension. And now these nobodies dared to mock him!

Zhao Zhe grabbed the electric guitar from Chen Xiaomeng's grasp. He and Chen Xiaomeng had been jamming on it for days. Though this guitar hailed from another realm, its tunes were unmistakably universal.

"I am who I am, a unique firework. My life doesn't need your understanding!" Zhao Zhe bellowed, and with a strum of the guitar, he burst into song. "Trapped by your side, like a fish in the sand, knowing there's no way out, yet unafraid of a bloody end. Loving you is a mirage, drifting like foam, a pursuit of illusions, lalalalalala... I've forgotten the words. I've set the universe ablaze, the heat like a surge of electricity, at 38.6 degrees!"

Sun Xiaoya nearly choked on her drink when Zhao Zhe admitted to forgetting the lyrics. But as she heard the line about 38.6 degrees, her cheeks turned a fiery red. The song was undeniably catchy and a pleasure to the ears. It was likely a new hit that Sun Xiaoya had never encountered before, but the lyrics were cutting. She had just belted out a line about 19.3 degrees, and now he comes back with 38.6 degrees? Was he some cosmic jester sent to thwart her at every turn?