Chapter 1178: Too Much

It was

Journey to the West

!

While it was a good book, Zhang Wei didn’t remember it being such a tearjerker.

“I got to the part where Sun Wokong struck down the White Bone Spirit thrice...” Zhou Jing said.

“Oh, that part!” Zhang Wei thought back to the story and attempted to empathize with her. “Sanzang was obstinate! Sun Wokong was wronged! When I watched that part on the television as a kid, I cried from frustration...”

“That’s not it.” Zhou JIng sniffed. “The White Bone Spirit was so pitiful. It only wanted to eat Sanzang’s flesh. What’s so wrong with that? It tried so hard, yet Wokong exposed it every time. I feel so sorry for it...”

Zhang Wei felt like the confused math lady trying to understand the complicated formulas crammed into his head.

This is a test, Zhang Wei!

Don’t lose! You must not lose!

“Ahem!” Zhang Wei tried his best to put himself in the death monster’s unusual mindset.

“That’s right. It started out as a skeleton. After years of collecting spiritual power in nature and essence from the sun and moon, it finally became a spirit and climbed to the top of the pecking order. It must have been an arduous process! Yet it died to Sun Wukong’s staff just because it wanted to eat Sanzang. How cruel! How absurd! Humans can eat animals. Why can’t spirits eat humans?”

“Yeah.” Zhou Jing was on the verge of tears again. “It’s so...so tragic!”

“Yeah, yeah...” Zhang Wei was getting into his role. “Fate is cruel. Those who put the most effort in life often suffer the most, those who crave the stage most often find themselves further from the spotlight, and those who believe themselves to be the protagonists find themselves living like clowns.”

Zhou Jing blinked at her. Notifications popped up from her head: Affection +1+1+1+1+1...

She wiped her tears and broke into a smile, putting her glasses back on. “It’s nice talking to you today, Zhang Wei. I need to go now, though...”

She rose to leave. Zhang Wei stood and watched her go, filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Although It went in an unexpected direction, it ended better than I expected!

Zhang Wei, you’re a genius!

I’ll have her in three days!

A beep interrupted his thoughts. He took out his cell phone and saw Comm added to the interface.

Raven Shark had sent him a message:

“It’s

here.”

Zhang Wei quickly responded: “What’s here?”

“Figurine.”

“Already? It arrived today when I ordered it last night? What amazing courier service is this?”

“I

Can

Deliver it for you.”

“Sure. Give it to the dorm keeper for me!” Zhang Wei continued to type. “But why are you stumbling with your words in messages when you have stopped doing that in person?”

“Game

Limited signal

Unstable.”

“Alright. I gotta hurry.”

Zhang Wei pressed skip.

“

Only let go when love stomps. Only turn around when loneliness strikes. Believe not in forever. I’d rather have never had it—your false tenderness...

”

Rambunctious music and percussions almost shattered Zhang Wei’s eardrums. He found himself in the center of a bar’s dance floor. Colorful lights prickled his eyes. All around him were silhouetted NPCs losing themselves in the hedonistic excitement.

Zhang Wei looked around and spotted Zhou Jing—she stood out like a sore thumb when surrounded by silhouettes. Unlike her usual getups in school, she had thick makeup on with captivating large blond curls running down her back. Wearing a revealing camisole and tattered denim shorts, she danced without reservation, her long bare legs catching eyes.

Zhang Wei clicked his tongue.

Gap moe is one thing, but a different hair color out of nowhere? That’s game logic for you. The style can just change like that.

He danced to the music while slowly approaching Zhou Jing. He was considering how he should create a chance meeting and what he should say to start a conversation. Then suddenly, a man—a silhouetted figure—appeared right behind Zhou Jing. He pressed himself flush to her back, his body writhing in tandem with hers. His hands found their way to where they shouldn’t, outright groping her.

Broken out of her dancing, Zhou Jing turned around and shot him a glare, moving away.

The man pressed close still, whispering something into Zhou Jing’s ear. Although he was only a silhouette, Zhang Wei could sense his lecherous attitude.

Zhou Jing’s face darkened. She turned to leave, but the man suddenly grabbed her hand and yanked her into his arms, tightening his arms around her.

“What are you doing?!” Zhou Jing pushed the man away and slapped him.

He paused, returning a slap and cursing her out.

“You ****!” Zhang Wei, having witnessed the whole thing, charged up to throw a punch at the man’s face in the heat of the moment. However, the man dodged the punch easily and kicked him to the ground.

Wait, really? I’m the MC! Why can’t I beat an NPC?!

Zhang Wei was about to pick himself up when the man rained punches and kicks on him. Unable to resist, he turned into a human punching bag. The pain was unusually real—

where is the damn game spending all its resources?!

Zhang Wei looked up while getting beat up. Zhou Jing was gone. He shielded his head with his hand and quickly took out his phone, pressing the skip button.

Swoosh

.

Zhang Wei was back in his dorm. It was Late Night—the time slot had been unlocked. Due to his injury, though, he was forced to rest in his room.

He sat on the lower bunk, his face covered in bruises and little cuts. Raven Shark cleaned his wounds for him with a cotton swab and disinfectant.

“Ow...gentler... It hurts!” Zhang Wei winced.

Raven Shark awkwardly went lighter and explained, “Don’t start a fight like that now. Your Physique is 10. You can’t beat anyone.”

“How do I increase my Physique?” Zhang Wei immediately asked.

“Do part-time jobs, play basketball, go to the gym, or learn boxing. Boxing will increase your physique the fastest.”

“I’ll learn boxing tomorrow!” Zhang Wei raged. “I’m gonna skin that bastard the next time!”

“You don’t have money for the classes,” Raven Shark said.

“What trash game is this? I’m the MC!” Zhang Wei rattled on. “An NPC stomping on the player? What experience is the game trying to give its players?”

Raven Shark ignored his outburst. “Given what happened, Zhou Jing should be away for a few days. You should prioritize increasing your stats, doing part-time to earn money, and collecting information in the meantime, waiting for the next plot to trigger.”

“Alright. I’ll do that.” Zhang Wei had calmed down after ranting.

“The dorm keeper likes the gift. He now allows you to leave the dorm during Late Night. You have an additional action per day.”

Zhang Wei quickly took out his phone to check the actions available for Late Night. “There are quite a lot of options... Night jogging, night karaoke, scaring couples in the forest... What even is that option?”

Raven Shark had finished dressing his wounds. “All done.”

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Zhang Wei checked his face in the mirror. The wounds are all gone.

“Thanks.” Zhang Wei had another thought. “Oh, can I check my progress in the romance?”

Raven Shark shook his head. “The progress is usually hidden.”

Zhang Wei sighed. “I don’t know how long Sister Vermilion Bird’s domain will last. I’m so anxious I wanna get Zhou Jing immediately!”

“Trust yourself,” Raven Shark encouraged. “You can do it.”

“You really think so?” Zhang Wei brightened up.

Raven Shark paused. He didn’t actually believe in Zhang Wei, but Pro Gamer compelled him to encourage his teammate; it would increase the chance of success.

“Yeah,” Raven Shark lied without batting his eyes. “You’re the most attractive man I’ve met. Were I Zhou Jing, I would surely fall for you.”

“Haha, that’s too much.” Pleased, Zhang Wei tilted his face to look at himself from different angles. He touched his chin and then grinned at his reflection, arching his eyebrow and flipping his hair.

“Hm, not bad... Zhou Jing, just you wait. I’ll make you fall for me in a week!”

With renewed confidence, he skipped ahead.