ISWTDB Ch144

Chapter 144: The BOSS is always acting up (23, 24)

The data detailed Ying Zixi’s childhood growing up in an orphanage, where he had no hobbies or friends.

Life was extremely dull, and it was only due to his strong foundation and outstanding abilities that he became the team leader.

However, from his interactions with Mengshi, it seemed that this person did not match the description of Ying Zixi in the data.

Although the other party’s personality couldn’t be described as overly cheerful, he was dazzlingly confident, completely unlike the silent and gloomy person described in the records.

Nevertheless, he still needed to keep this person around. After all, since their relationship with Xiao Bai was still unclear, he might need Mengshi’s assistance in the future if Xiao Bai encountered any issues.

Thinking of this, the male lead felt somewhat relieved and focused on exploring the dungeon map with Xiao Bai.

When Ying Zhao returned, he sent Xiao Bai a message. Learning that Xiao Bai was out on a mission with the drinker, he took Flame Dragon to another map to search for equipment materials suitable for Xiao Bai.

As for the gems, he didn’t plan to have Xiao Bai look for them specifically. He directly told Flame Dragon that Xiao Bai was like family to him, hoping to receive his help.

With a partner around, he wouldn’t dare say other equipment was insufficient; he could naturally acquire whatever gems he wanted.

After confirming their relationship, Ying Zhao enjoyed the benefits that belonged to him even more without reservation.

After all, what belonged to a partner naturally belonged to him, and vice versa.

Seeing Ying Zhao treat him so casually, Flame Dragon felt very satisfied. He even thought that the spirit that belonged to him should depend on him.

The four of them spent a day gathering Xiao Bai’s set of equipment, and with Flame Dragon around, acquiring high-quality gems came easily.

Although Flame Dragon only had one top-quality green gem like the one Ying Zhao wore, he had plenty of others of slightly lower quality.

As long as Ying Zhao wanted them, Flame Dragon provided. He even took out gold coins and materials to help upgrade all the gems Ying Zhao had embedded to the highest quality.

In the past, Flame Dragon had been quite stingy with gold coins and treasures due to his dragon clan’s nature. However, considering that winning this season could earn him a smile from the beloved, he felt willing to spend everything for Ying Zhao’s happiness, even to the point of being foolishly infatuated.

On the other hand, Lu Chenhui, the male lead, was not in such a pleasant mood. He had other thoughts about Xiao Bai and had been trying to take the opportunity to show his goodwill.

Helping Xiao Bai acquire good equipment could also win him some favor. Although he also had high-quality embedded gems, they were naturally nothing compared to the world boss, Flame Dragon.

Seeing the grateful look Xiao Bai had towards Flame Dragon, even knowing he and Mengshi were a couple, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

At the same time, he felt somewhat annoyed, thinking he had lost in this regard. However, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry at Flame Dragon.

For some reason, he always felt that Flame Dragon’s appearance reminded him of his younger brother, Lu Yan.

Yet, this sense of blood relationship brought a certain estrangement, making him feel somewhat odd.

After their activities that day ended, Lu Chenhui hurriedly left for a while.

Ying Zhao knew he was going to deal with some matters in the real world.

His subordinates had always been efficient, and they quickly discovered that the two codes he had drafted earlier were pointing directly to the CEO’s assistant and department manager.

His subordinates sent the results to Ying Zhao, and he naturally needed to report such a serious situation back to headquarters. He also sent a detailed report of this matter to Lu Chenhui’s email to prevent any interference along the way.

Sure enough, after Lu Chenhui received the message, he immediately went to handle it. After all, this matter was closely related to his longstanding rival, Canglin Group, and the male lead couldn’t take it lightly.

Since the two opportunistic sellers had already attracted Lu Chenhui’s attention, he no longer needed to worry.

After all, having read through the entire plot, Ying Zhao was well aware of how decisive Lu Chenhui was in business battles.

He was not a soft-hearted person; this situation was something Lu Chenhui could handle by himself. Plus, by dinnertime, Lu Chenhui was already back.

Ying Zhao hadn’t expected him to return so quickly, considering the time difference between the real world and the game. The time he spent contacting the outside world after returning to reality was indeed very short.

However, seeing Lu Chenhui’s grim expression, Ying Zhao knew he must be feeling quite unhappy.

After all, that assistant had been by his side for many years, and being betrayed by someone he trusted was something anyone would feel bad about.

Not wanting to touch a nerve with the male lead, after the four of them had dinner, Ying Zhao directly returned to their room with his lover.

Thinking about how their team would need to get up early the next day to discuss team assignments, they planned to rest early today.

In fact, Wang Qi had also sent a message to Ying Zhao earlier, wanting to come find them. However, Ying Zhao felt it was already late after dealing with company matters.

He briefly checked on Xiao Bai’s situation and, not wanting to be too busy, politely declined Wang Qi. He promised to help him look over the tank’s equipment combinations the next day.

As for the female lead, Ying Zhao noticed that He Yue seemed calm all day. In reality, after being rejected by him in the morning and then being knocked away by Flame Dragon, she harbored resentment.

He understood that with He Yue’s personality, she absolutely wouldn’t let this go easily, so he intensified his surveillance. Sure enough, He Yue didn’t stay obediently in her room but found helpers and brewed a scheme, planning to take revenge on him and Flame Dragon the next day.

Thinking that the original owner had done so much for her, he felt that even if he had made her lose some face today, she shouldn’t be this way.

A cold glimmer flashed in Ying Zhao’s eyes as he decided that if He Yue really planned to act like this tomorrow, he wouldn’t hold back.

As he thought about this, he returned to his room, and when he came to his senses, he found himself embraced by the man. After realizing it, his face turned slightly red, feeling a bit shy and conflicted.

However, after waiting for a long time, what he had imagined didn’t happen. Looking at the man who was holding him and sleeping soundly, Ying Zhao felt somewhat dazed.

After returning to the room, Flame Dragon immediately picked up Ying Zixi in a horizontal manner. Ying Zixi thought that his partner wanted to express their feelings and planned to do something beneficial for their physical and mental exchange after returning to the room.

However, he did not expect that his partner would only hug him tightly, kiss him fiercely a few times, and then, with a satisfied face, hold him and fall into a deep sleep on the bed.

Looking at Flame Dragon, who even smiled in his sleep, Ying Zixi couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his swollen lips. He thought to himself, could it be that his partner was too innocent in this lifetime, not knowing what to do?

As the chief designer of “Journey,” Ying Zixi naturally understood that in this world, whether players or NPCs, the settings include complete bodies, and there was no restriction against them being together.

If his partner’s past nature and this world’s somewhat overbearing character were taken into account, he should have made a move on him a long time ago.

So, the only reason the man hadn’t made a move on him yet might be that he simply didn’t know he could do so.

Thinking of this, Ying Zixi couldn’t help but chuckle silently in the man’s embrace.

He did not expect that aside from the fact that the original character had a problem with his brain in the previous life, his partner was actually this naive in this life.

However, it made sense; unless in special circumstances, any game technician setting up ordinary NPCs wouldn’t include this aspect of knowledge for them. After all, it was completely unnecessary.

Even if NPCs had self-learning skills, Flame Dragon had been in a dormant state, so he naturally had not received this kind of information.

Even so, Ying Zixi did not plan to remind his partner immediately because he still had some concerns. Due to Flame Dragon’s special identity, he was formed from the consciousness of Lu Yan.

Therefore, his character was created by the male protagonist himself, along with a trusted technical staff member. While the other aspects such as appearance and skills involved some input from the original character, Ying Zixi still did not understand his partner’s body completely.

After all, the world of “Journey” was too vast; it was impossible for the original character Ying Zixi to complete everything by himself.

So, he was somewhat uncertain whether, after transforming back into human form, there were certain aspects that resembled the original setting of the dragon clan. Moreover, it was said that certain traits of dragons differed from humans. Could he really handle that?

Thinking of this, Ying Zixi couldn’t help but shiver. Blushing, he shook his head vigorously, feeling like his head was about to explode just from thinking about it.

Seeing his partner frown slightly and sleep a bit uneasily due to his movements, Ying Zixi quickly stopped moving and snuggled into Flame Dragon’s arms, finding a comfortable position. He then closed his eyes, trying to count sheep to fall asleep faster.

On the other side, after Ying Zixi and Flame Dragon left, Xiao Bai looked at Lu Chenhui, who obviously seemed in a bad mood, and felt quite worried.

Recalling how considerate this new friend had been towards him, he felt he should cherish the friendship with his new companion.

So, cautiously leaning closer to Lu Chenhui, he anxiously asked, “Chenhui, are you okay?”

Hearing this, Lu Chenhui raised his head, seeing the concern in Xiao Bai’s eyes, which warmed his heart. He nodded slightly and said, “I’m fine; it’s just that some issues arose at the company today.”

“I didn’t expect that a subordinate who had been by my side all along would betray me and act as a spy for my family’s enemy.”

Xiao Bai opened his mouth, realizing how serious this matter was. No wonder Lu Chenhui felt down.

He quickly comforted him by patting the man’s shoulder, saying, “Don’t be sad, Chenhui; it’s not your fault. Don’t waste your feelings on unworthy people!”

Lu Chenhui nodded in response, showing Xiao Bai a somewhat forced smile. Then, he lowered his gaze and stood up.

Xiao Bai thought he was going back to his room and quickly moved aside to let him pass. Who knew, the male protagonist instead leaned closer to him? The close distance made Xiao Bai feel a bit uncomfortable as he shifted.

Then, Lu Chenhui mumbled to him, “Xiao Bai, can I lean on your shoulder? I’m feeling a bit down.”

Before Xiao Bai could respond, Lu Chenhui had already leaned against him. Soon after, he heard the man whisper in his ear, “My parents passed away early, and later, my only brother was kidnapped and killed. For so many years, I’ve been all alone.”

“There are not many people I can trust around me, and I didn’t expect that this person would also disappoint me. Sometimes I wonder if this is just my fate.”

Seeing the man so dejected, Xiao Bai felt a wave of heartache. He didn’t know why, but this person reminded him of someone he couldn’t help but feel soft for.

Sighing, he decided not to be pretentious and simply hugged the man’s shoulder gently.

He knew that human emotions expressed this way could also be a form of comfort, hoping his actions could give Lu Chenhui strength.

Seeing this, Lu Chenhui pressed his lips together, resting his head on Xiao Bai’s shoulder, seemingly casually tightening his embrace around the person in his arms.

Due to their height difference, it looked as if it was not Lu Chenhui leaning on Xiao Bai, but rather him firmly holding Xiao Bai in his embrace.

Finally, having embraced him, Lu Chenhui’s eyes sparkled with determination from a hidden angle Xiao Bai couldn’t see. As long as he could achieve his goals, he didn’t mind what means were used.

From their short interactions over two days, he could tell that Xiao Bai was kind-hearted and soft. So, if he could get closer to him, it didn’t matter to sell a sob story or show weakness.

Though he had never willingly brought up his past with anyone, he was willing to lay bare his bloody history if it meant earning this person’s affection.

As for that assistant, although he found them handy for work, he could never fully trust them.

Having lost his parents early and after his brother Lu Yan was betrayed by the caretaker who raised them, Lu Chenhui believed no one was truly trustworthy.

Therefore, upon learning of this betrayal, his primary concern was how to deal with the aftermath, and his mood was not overly affected.

After all, even though that assistant had access to many internal company matters, the control over some secrets and major projects still rested in his hands, so he wouldn’t expose his weaknesses to anyone.

Still, using this excuse to hug his beloved felt quite worthwhile to Lu Chenhui.

Moreover, feeling Xiao Bai’s patting and comfort, and looking into his gentle eyes, Lu Chenhui’s heart raced with excitement.

He secretly thought, it seems that data can also have feelings.

Although he didn’t know whether Xiao Bai was a virus or artificially created by Ying Zixi, it was clear that Xiao Bai’s emotional system was already very well-developed.

Next, it would depend on how he could make this person fall for him.

That night, the two pairs had a peaceful time. The next morning, everyone gathered outside the hotel as previously agreed.

Ying Zixi saw Wang Qi hurriedly arriving and noticed that the female lead, He Yue, seemed to have been waiting there early, raising an eyebrow.

It appeared that she really intended to follow through with her previous plan. Since everyone was present, they could discuss tactics for the team.

He Yue’s expression showed no signs of displeasure; in fact, she smiled and greeted Ying Zhao, as if the earlier awkward moments of confessing to him and being shoved away by Flame Dragon had never occurred.

However, it was evident that He Yue understood she could no longer gain any advantage from Ying Zhao. After a brief exchange, she flushed and moved closer to Lu Chenhui, attempting to express concern and intimacy, clearly targeting the male lead.

Unfortunately, it was like a flower falling with a flowing stream; Lu Chenhui’s attention remained solely on Xiao Bai, not even sparing a glance for the female lead.

Seeing this precarious situation for the official pairing, Ying Zhao felt quite pleased. After all, the male lead’s real identity was his lover’s brother in this world.

During their time together, although Ying Zhao had an inexplicable aversion to Lu Chenhui, he could still sense that the latter’s character was quite decent. It seemed a waste to pair someone like him with He Yue.

Once everyone had finished their small talk, Ying Zhao began formulating a team strategy. He then discussed the issue of Wang Qi’s tank equipment, something he had already gone over with Wang Qi the previous day.

Just as Ying Zhao finished speaking, He Yue, standing nearby, awkwardly interjected, “Sorry, I’m a bit short on support equipment. While I have the full set, it doesn’t achieve the best group healing effect.”

Ying Zhao observed He Yue’s demeanor and smiled gently, asking, “So, Xiao Yue, what do you mean by that?”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s response, He Yue’s cheeks flushed as she replied, “If I could have a pair of Phantom Boots, it would make a big difference.”

Although she was responding to Ying Zhao, her gaze was fixed on Lu Chenhui, her expression filled with affection, which was quite nauseating.

Seeing that Lu Chenhui still ignored the female lead, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle internally. However, thinking about the boots He Yue had just mentioned, he knew exactly what they were.

Phantom Boots were a legendary piece of equipment for elven healers, primarily providing an added group healing effect. While the effect might not be significant for solo play, it could be very beneficial in a team.

Since everyone had already agreed to help Wang Qi with his equipment, they could hardly refuse the female lead’s request. Moreover, Ying Zhao was secretly hoping for He Yue to make a move. After all, if she didn’t pull any tricks, he wouldn’t have to embarrass her.

Ying Zhao had already monitored the previous interactions He Yue had with several people in her guild, so he was well aware of their plans. Since someone was willing to seek out trouble, he wouldn’t hold back.

With this in mind, Ying Zhao immediately agreed to He Yue’s request but explained that they needed to deal with Wang Qi’s equipment first.

Though He Yue was reluctant, Ying Zhao’s reasoning was impeccable. After all, the drop rate for Wang Qi’s equipment was much higher than that of He Yue’s Phantom Boots. Teaming up gave them a much better chance of quickly farming it.

As the new season started tomorrow, their time was limited, and He Yue had no choice but to join the team and step onto the teleportation array.

Wang Qi, thrilled to gather his equipment, eagerly followed Ying Zhao, chattering away.

Through their interactions, Ying Zhao realized that Wang Qi didn’t seem to harbor any ill will towards the original character; in fact, he appeared to admire him. Even through subtle hints, Ying Zhao sensed that Wang Qi might have some feelings for him.

Thinking back to the original text, which always said Wang Qi liked the female lead, Ying Zhao wanted to clarify, so he casually asked, “Wang Qi, I heard you and Xiao Yue grew up together?”

Wang Qi nodded, glancing over at He Yue, who was trying hard to get close to Lu Chenhui, and a look of disdain crossed his face.

Leaning closer to Ying Zhao, he whispered, “President, don’t get too close to this woman.”

Seeing the puzzled look on Ying Zhao’s face, Wang Qi blushed. Although he was stating facts, it still felt embarrassing to speak ill of someone.

But thinking of how Ying Zhao had treated He Yue favorably in the past, Wang Qi gritted his teeth.

He said seriously to Ying Zhao, “This woman isn’t a good person! She’s never been easy to deal with, and her previous kindness towards you was just to manipulate you!”

Ying Zhao was taken aback by Wang Qi’s words, not expecting him to say such things, which made his smile more genuine.

Nodding at Wang Qi, he replied, “Thank you, I understand. I used to see Xiao Yue as a friend, but after interacting with her, I feel she isn’t as innocent as I thought. I also think it’s better to keep my distance.”

Hearing this, Wang Qi immediately looked pleased and nodded vigorously.

Meanwhile, Flame Dragon, seeing his elf and the nearby beastman chatting happily, felt a surge of jealousy and shot a fierce glare at Wang Qi.

However, Wang Qi was quite the character, completely ignoring Flame Dragon’s gaze and continuing to follow Ying Zhao, even shooting back a glare.

This infuriated Flame Dragon. Although he had claimed ownership over Xiao Bai yesterday, “Baqi” was absent at that time.

Unable to tolerate the rival’s arrogance, Flame Dragon made a bold move, wrapping his arm tightly around Ying Zhao’s waist and planting a loud kiss on the corner of Ying Zhao’s mouth.

Wang Qi, witnessing this, was instantly shocked, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stammered, “P-President, you guys!”

Question: What to do with a jealous alpha? Answer: Just go along with it.

Ying Zhao sighed internally at the tight grip around his waist.

He actively smiled and nodded at Wang Qi, saying, “Yes, we’ve been together for a long time now.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed the man beside him lift the corners of his mouth, revealing a satisfied look.

Wang Qi, hearing Ying Zhao’s words, appeared utterly defeated, his entire demeanor sagging.