Chapter Ten: Xinyu’s Gift

Everyone was already seated on the sofas in the living room. When they saw me approaching with a broad grin, Xu Lin immediately smiled and asked, “Xiao Lin, how are you feeling? Did you have fun?”

“The game is fantastic!” I gave a thumbs-up, then continued, “I picked up a few small quests and am grinding levels in the woods outside the newbie village. Nothing to brag about yet.”

“What, you got quests already? Where did you get them? The guys I brought said the quests are really hard to come by—most were snatched up by veteran players. Not bad, kid~” Xinyu, reclining seductively on the sofa beside me, threw me a flirtatious glance. She was still in her pajamas, and her twin peaks trembled with every movement.

Xu Lin was just as surprised. “You got quests? That’s great! Did you get any equipment we could use?”

Calmly, I replied, “I found a green longsword for myself, a pair of green greaves, and a robe that adds four points to Intelligence. You and Xuehan can discuss who wants it.”

“What—a robe with +4 Intelligence?!” Xuehan’s petite mouth fell open, her face a picture of delicate astonishment.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You know, someone in my newbie village is offering five hundred real-world bucks for any gear with +3 Intelligence or higher! And you got three pieces of equipment? My god, are you related to the game admins?”

Was a +4 Intelligence item really that amazing? If I told them I had two pieces that added six points to Stamina, I couldn’t imagine how they’d react.

Xu Lin thought for a moment and said, “Let’s wait until we’re out of the newbie village before deciding about the equipment. Good gear is hard to come by at this stage. No one in my village has even seen a green item yet. Let’s not rush to sell anything—focus on leveling up first. By the way, Xiao Lin, which newbie village are you in?”

“Wild Dog Village—one of the eight villages to the right of Hurricane City.”

Xuehan smiled, “What a coincidence! I’m in Wild Wolf Village, right next to yours~”

Xu Lin nodded. “That’s perfect. The rest of us are scattered in distant villages. Xiao Lin, later go pick up Xuehan and bring her to your village. That robe with the Intelligence bonus should go to her—it’ll make her priest much safer.”

“Sure. By the way, what talents did you all get?”

Xuehan’s eyes widened. “Talents? Mine seems to increase mana regeneration by one percent.”

Hmm… a bit lackluster, but better than nothing.

Xu Lin sounded a bit envious as she grumbled, “My talent only gives a one percent increase to accuracy. Honestly, I have no idea what use that is.”

I quickly consoled her, “Don’t say that. In games, stats accumulate bit by bit. That one percent might not seem like much now, but with equipment and skill bonuses, it could quickly add up.”

Xinyu nodded in agreement, then said, “My talent is Perception—it gives me a chance to sense hidden creatures within eight yards!”

Damn, that’s the nemesis of my “Stealth”! If I run into her, my talent is basically useless!

“Xiao Lin, what’s your talent?” Xinyu shook my arm as she asked, her ample chest pressing against my shoulder.

“Hey, stop the harassment! My talent is Stealth—I can hide in the shadows…”

As expected, Xinyu burst out laughing, her snowy curves bouncing so much it made my eyes ache. After a good while, she wiped her tears and said, “See? We really are fated, having such perfectly countered talents. How about you just surrender to me tonight? Big sister’s been feeling a bit pent-up lately…”

“Go find a gigolo on the street—there are plenty!”

“Don’t you have to pay those?”

“I’m even pricier!”

“But I like…”

“…”

While I was rendered speechless, Xu Lin asked, “Xiao Lin, what level are you now?”

“Level five. Why?”

“Oh my god, level five already? How did you do it? I’m only level three!”

“It’s probably because of the quests. Many can be taken repeatedly by different people. You should talk to more NPCs in the village—try your luck. Let’s all get our job classes as soon as possible. Once we unlock class skills, leveling becomes much faster. By the way, Lin-jie, how are you playing your mage? Don’t tell me you’re hitting monsters with a stick?”

Xu Lin blinked. “Before job change, my physical attack and HP were the same as yours, so of course I was slashing away with a broken sword too.”

I suddenly realized, “I almost forgot—it really is like that.”

Turning to Xuehan, I said, “Wait for me at the village entrance later. I’ll come get you, and then we can go level up together in Wild Wolf Valley behind the mountain. It’s still pretty empty there.”

Xuehan nodded, her fair cheeks tinged with a shy blush—what a bashful girl!

Xu Lin pointed to the bread and milk on the table. “Alright, everyone, eat breakfast quickly. Afterward, log in and keep leveling. If you can’t hold out, go to sleep. Next meal’s at 7 p.m. If you get hungry, help yourself to something from the fridge.”

“Got it!”

After a quick breakfast and exchanging game IDs, everyone went back to their rooms. Xuehan and I headed to ours as well.

Once I put on my helmet, I reappeared on the hillside near Wild Wolf Valley. The gray wolves I’d just slain had respawned in droves. Xuehan should be waiting for me at Wild Wolf Village’s entrance by now. Just then, my communicator beeped. I opened it—Green Veggie Cocoa: “Lin Fan, I’m waiting for you at the village entrance.”

I replied immediately, “Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes!”

Heh, even Xuehan’s messages seemed so gentle and sweet!

Another “beep beep~” sounded—a text from someone named “Veggie Temptation”: “How are you and your little sweetheart Xuehan? When will you spend some time with your big sister?”

I swear on all that is holy, this had to be Xinyu—that flirtatious little minx!

“Big sis, please stop harassing me! I’m about to go carry Xuehan!”

Xinyu was relentless: “No problem, but after dinner, come take a walk with me, okay? I’m so bored…”

I was stunned. She could get bored? In my mind, she should be busy entertaining herself and never feel lonely.

After thinking it over, I replied, “Alright!”

She sent a smiling face—“:)”—and that was the end of it.