UNEXPECTED MEETING
LUO YAN and Luo Jin were just outside the gate of Matlock Town waiting for Shen Ji Yun. Today was the day that they would meet his other two teammates. They were supposed to meet them yesterday, but it was postponed because one other member had another appointment. Luo Yan didn't mind at all. So they changed the meeting today.
He looked down at his brother who still had a sulking face. Obviously, despite agreeing with Luo Yan, he's still quite reluctant to meet Shen Ji Yun's teammates and definitely still didn't want to join his team. It had been two days since then and his younger brother was still pouting.
"Is Ah Jin still unwilling to meet with Brother Ji Yun's friends?" Luo Yan asked, he purposely made his eyes filled with tears. It would immediately evoke pity from anyone who saw him like this. "But didn't Ah Jin already agree with me?"
Seeing his brother being like this again, Luo Jin suddenly felt that he'd been thrown again into a pit. And that pit was even personally dug by his brother. But even if he felt like that, what could he do? He just couldn't bear to see his brother looked sad.
"I'm not unwilling. If I am, then I wouldn't be here at all." Even though Luo Jin said that, he said it through gritted teeth. A sign that he was definitely unwilling.
But Luo Yan ignored that and just smiled. "Okay."
The main reason why he wasn't opposed to the idea of joining Shen Ji Yun's team was because he had been thinking of playing at the Arcadia Cup. But in order for that to happen, he had to have a team consisting of at least five members. He first thought of building his own team, but then he realized how much trouble that would be. Because as the one who built it, he had to also be the one who would manage it. And that's just troublesome.
But joining another team would be equally troublesome. Especially if the team was full of annoying people. That's why joining a big team had never been an option for Luo Yan. Because he was sure that those types of people would often be seen in those kind of teams. After all, there were only five spots in during an official game. So competition between team members would definitely be fierce. If they saw a newcomer better than them, it would just arouse envy and resentment.
Luo Yan had no patience dealing with people like that. Besides, he was playing Arcadia to have fun. Not to be annoyed at every turn.
Then a notification bell sounded. It was a notification indicating that someone sent a private message to him. Luo Yan immediately opened it.
SHEN: [I just logged in. Are
He replied; Noctis: [We just got here.]
Then received a reply immediately; SHEN: [I'll teleport there now.]
Looking at this exchange of message, Luo Yan couldn't help but remember when Shen Ji Yun first sent him a private message in WeChat. It was after dinner, on the same day that he asked for his WeChat ID.
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Luo Yan who was holding his phone received five video files from [luckycloud] – Shen Ji Yun's username. He said that it was the videos of those game developers who made speeches during the game convention he attended.
He was a bit surprised, he didn't expect that he would send it so fast.
[YanYan1213]: Thank you.
[luckycloud]: You're welcome.
Then it was followed by a white rabbit sticker. The rabbit was blowing kisses which in turn produced two small hearts.
Luo Yan stared a while at this rabbit sticker and wasn't able to react immediately. He never thought that almost expressionless guy would actually send something so… cutesy?
[YanYan1213]: I already talked to my brother. He agreed but on the condition that we have to meet your teammates first.
Another rabbit sticker was sent. This time the rabbit was clapping, sparkles and the word 'good' appeared beside it.
[luckycloud]: I'll talk to them. Then I'd message you again.
[YanYan1213]: Okay.
As a reply, it was another rabbit sticker once again. Now the rabbit was winking, first the left eye then the right eye.
After that conversation, the only thought in Luo Yan's mind was; Does Shen Ji Yun like rabbit so much?
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Just remembering those cute rabbit stickers, he definitely couldn't equate it to the almost doll-like Shen Ji Yun. Luo Yan found the contrast a bit, well, cute. If the private message function in Arcadia also allowed stickers, Shen Ji Yun might have been using those cute stickers every time they exchanged message.
His thoughts were cut off when he saw a familiar figure wearing all-black suddenly appearing out of thin air.
"Sorry. Did you wait long?" Shen Ji Yun immediately asked when he ran towards them.
Luo Jin snorted but Luo Yan smiled and gently shook his head.
"No. Didn't I tell Brother Ji Yun that we just got here?" he said.
"That's good. Then shall we go?"
"What else do you think should we do here? Sing and dance?" Luo Jin said sarcastically.
"Ah Jin," Luo Yan said in a bit of a scolding tone. Even though there's a part of him that truly wanted to laugh because of that comment.
As usual, Shen Ji Yun didn't pay much attention to what the gnome said. "Then let's go."
He took out a group teleport scroll and activated it. This one would immediately bring them to his team's headquarters.
Luo Yan felt the familiar feeling of falling into a vacuum. When he opened his eyes, they were already inside some kind of entrance hall. He looked around at the surrounding architecture and deduced that they were inside a palace. Not the type of western palace, but the ancient palace that could only be found in their country's history.
He was definitely surprised. Because this was not the headquarters of a small team he was expecting. But then again, maybe all three members didn't lack crystal coins so they could easily build a headquarter like this.
"This way," Shen Ji Yun called.
He led them towards a huge hall. Inside, two figures were standing.
One was a girl who looked like she was only five or six. She had short bubblegum pink hair and a pinking eyes that looked like a pair of rose quartz. Her porcelain white skin was covered by a white robe. On her back, there was a pair of beautiful butterfly wings with the color of pink, red, and purple. Every time she moved, crystal dust fell from it.
The other one was a tall man with well-defined muscles. His skin was like a rich honey color. His hair was red-orange and his eyes were golden-red. On top of his head was a pair of lion ears and swishing back and forth behind his back was a long lion tail. He would look quite intimidating, if not for that playful glint in those shining golden-red eyes.
"B-Brother Ze?!" Luo Jin suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the lion beastkin.
Bai Ze's brows furrowed when he heard the gnome calling him so familiarly. But then he stared at the gnome. And the more he stared, the more this gnome's features became familiar to him. Until an image of a particular person emerged in his mind.
"No way… Xiao Jin?" Knowing that he's right, looking at the cute and small gnome in front of him, Bai Ze's first reaction was; "Pfft!"
And then a huge laugh erupted from the lion.