After Qin Chuan sent that message, "Peppermint Tea" took another ten minutes to reply.

Peppermint Tea: No, it's raining outside. I got wet and just went to change my clothes.

Qin Chuan: Let's do the Cloudtop City dungeon together tonight?

Peppermint Tea: That dungeon is a bit difficult. Eight Whiskers and I will just drag you down. You should find a few people with similar combat power; it'll be easier to clear.

Qin Chuan: It's fine. The three of us have always been a fixed team. We'll just add a few more people. Let's give it a try.

After a moment, "Peppermint Tea" finally agreed.

Qin Chuan called "Eight Whiskers," and the three of them, along with three temporary teammates they recruited, set off.

The Cloudtop City dungeon was one of the most difficult dungeons in the game so far. It required a team of six, and not a single team on the entire server had managed to clear it yet.

But the dungeon had extremely high requirements for gear stats; it was no longer something that could be cleared by skill alone.

The last time Qin Chuan had teamed up with several Nascent Soul stage players on his main account, they had tried five times and still failed to clear it. Everyone was exhausted and went their separate ways.

At the time, the dungeon had disgusted Qin Chuan so much that he thought he never wanted to see the dungeon entrance NPC again in his life.

But it wasn't long before he was back again, bringing "Peppermint Tea" and the others with him.

The result was no surprise.

Last time, six Nascent Soul stage experts couldn't get past it. This time, with two Golden Core stage and four Nascent Soul stage players, even after fighting for a whole night, even when the group had meshed and developed a great rapport, no longer needing much direction, they were still stuck dying over and over again on the final boss, unable to get the clear reward no matter what.

As it neared eleven o'clock at night, the other three temporary teammates successively made excuses and left the team.

They had only come in the first place out of respect for Qin Chuan. Now that they had fought all night, they had given him enough face. Since they really couldn't clear it, Qin Chuan couldn't possibly blame them.

Before leaving, one of them tactfully said to Qin Chuan: This dungeon is quite difficult right now. It's not recommended for Golden Core stage players to attempt it yet. Next time, it'd be better to form a full Nascent Soul stage team.

The implication was that "Peppermint Tea" and "Eight Whiskers" had too low combat power.

Qin Chuan said nothing.

He had brought the two of them to this dungeon simply because "Peppermint Tea" had said he wanted to see how difficult it was.

"Peppermint Tea" had once patiently taught him operational skills and PK techniques again and again. For Qin Chuan, merely wasting one evening was nothing in comparison.

In fact, it was "Peppermint Tea" and the other who felt very bad about it.

Peppermint Tea: Don't bring us anymore. It doesn't matter to us whether we clear this dungeon or not.

Qin Chuan: Although those three were Nascent Soul stage, their combat power isn't ranked high on this server. I'll find the other two of the top three Nascent Soul players to help you guys clear it later.

Eight Whiskers: Don't! We'd feel uneasy. The favor would be too big. Your thought is enough.

Peppermint Tea: Let's just leave the dungeon to fate. If we can't clear it now, we'll clear it eventually. But—

Qin Chuan: ?

Peppermint Tea: It's so late, don't you have homework to do? You should get some rest.

Qin Chuan fell silent.

Only then did he remember that his persona was a teenage girl.

Last time "Peppermint Tea" had asked what grade he was in, he had casually said first year of high school.

Don't first-year high school students have class tomorrow?

Qin Chuan thought for a moment and typed a line: Tomorrow's our school sports meet. We have two days off.

"Peppermint Tea" replied with an "oh" and, as expected, didn't ask any more questions.

Qin Chuan thought for a moment, opened the chat window with "Eight Whiskers," and asked: Can I tell him the truth?

Eight Whiskers: What truth?

Qin Chuan: That I'm actually a guy.

Eight Whiskers: Better not.

Qin Chuan: Why?

Eight Whiskers: Based on how long I've known him and my understanding of him. I've found that he's more patient with girls, and a bit more of a gentleman. Although he always says he won't take apprentices, can't you tell the difference in his attitude toward you before and after your "sex change"?

Qin Chuan: ...

Eight Whiskers: Your main account was exposed, you already deceived us once. Of course, I don't think it's a big deal, but you and Peppermint Tea are master and apprentice after all. He taught you a lot of game skills. Now, not only do you suddenly reveal your main account, but you also drop your pants and say you're a big dude, not at all delicate and in no need of protection. What do you think he'll think?

Qin Chuan was silent for a moment, thinking that if it were him, he'd probably think this person had ulterior motives in approaching him and was deceptive. He'd just delete and block them, and wouldn't waste another word on them.

Seeing him silent for a long time, the other person understood and said: See, you also think it's better to hide it, right? It's not too late to find a chance to tell him later.

Qin Chuan: But he seems to already be suspicious.

Eight Whiskers: That's because you talk so stiffly, not like a girl at all. Look at the people talking on the world channel. Those who act cute and coy, eight or nine times out of ten, they're guys. And those who use voice chat, if they sound absurdly cutesy, they're most likely using a voice changer. Don't be fooled by them playing female characters, all decked out in hairpins and gauze dresses, talking more like a girl than actual girls in the game. In reality, they're all burly, foot-picking slobs.

Qin Chuan: ...

Eight Whiskers: Come, I'll teach you a trick.

Qin Chuan: I'm all ears.

Eight Whiskers: No matter what you say, just add a "da" or "ya" at the end. For example, "Master, I'm going to do my homework, ya." "Master, are we going to the Celestial Ascension Platform tonight, da?"

Qin Chuan: ...

Eight Whiskers: Don't disbelieve me. The moment he hears it, his heart will soften. I definitely won't expose you. That rascal Peppermint Tea is on the game every day, either PK-ing or dungeoning. It's so dull and boring. You're doing this to enhance his gaming experience; it's a white lie. He'll never know the truth even on the day he quits the game, but you'll have given him a beautiful memory.

Qin Chuan was noncommittal. He suspected "Eight Whiskers" was saying all that just to see him make a fool of himself.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Casually closing the chat window, he stopped listening to the other's nonsense and got up to open the door.

The door opened.

A curly-haired woman in a pink Burberry trench coat stood outside.

Her eyes crinkled in a faint smile, exuding endless charm.

Although a trench coat was a bit out of season, Qin Chuan wasn't naive to the ways of the world. He quickly noticed the lace hem of a red silk nightgown peeking out from below her fair collarbones.

Not to mention the fragrance that, like a cat's paw, would intermittently scratch at him in a probing seduction.

"I'm Lisa, from across the hall. The hot water for my bathtub is broken, could I borrow your bathroom?"

After speaking, she winked at Qin Chuan.

"Surprise."

The corner of Qin Chuan's mouth twitched.

Thinking about it now, this kind of "surprise" was more in line with Shen Rui's taste.

The guy had really gone all out. People who weren't hotel guests couldn't even get into the elevator. To show his sincerity and ensure Qin Chuan had a pleasant and wild night, Shen Rui had even booked a room on this floor for the woman.

Seeing he had no reaction, the woman was about to press closer.

Qin Chuan, expressionless, simply slammed the door shut, leaving the person outside.

Thinking of his earlier misunderstanding of Bo He, he didn't feel a shred of sympathy.

An employee so reckless that she could walk into the wrong room and not realize it immediately would sooner or later make other mistakes at work.

It was better to get rid of her.

Shuffling back to his computer in his soft slippers, Qin Chuan saw that "Peppermint Tea"'s name had turned gray.

This meant the player had logged off.

"Peppermint Tea" had left him a message: Rest early. Even if you don't have school, don't stay up too late. A student's main focus should be their studies.

Qin Chuan replied: Okay.

"Eight Whiskers"' words flashed through his mind. Qin Chuan thought for a moment, then added a word.

Okay-da.

The storm seemed to have fallen in love with the island.

The wind, which hadn't stopped all night, had only subsided slightly by morning.

The trees by the sea were ravaged by the wind and rain, leaning precariously with their branches and leaves in disarray, all grace and composure lost.

Flights to the island were still widely delayed, but fortunately, the conference could be held as scheduled. Although there were fewer attendees, none of the leaders who were supposed to host the opening ceremony were missing.

However, a small incident occurred on Qin Chuan's side.

As one of the organizers and an important corporate representative, Qin Chuan was scheduled to be the first speaker at the second session of the conference that afternoon.

But during the lunch break, his work laptop suddenly went black and wouldn't turn on no matter what he tried.