Chapter 115

Long Cry

The anniversary celebration at the factory was not just for staff — employees' families were welcome too.

Hanyue was a small place. For occasions worth celebrating, the factory had always brought in the families. It made the event livelier, and it built goodwill among the people who quietly kept the workers going. A harmonious home life was good for the factory too.

"That's the tradition, but today isn't the right occasion." The deputy director was sweating through his collar, making his case to Director Chen in her office. "Today the big boss is coming — and city leadership too. Having them see our factory like this — won't that look bad?"

He'd had the privilege once of visiting the Kunlun headquarters tower in the capital. The scale of it. The style.

"This factory was built on the backs of local people. Last year at the anniversary we thanked the families for everything they do for us. I'm not going to turn them away this year just because the big boss is coming." She crossed to the water dispenser, filled a cup, and put it in his hands. "Stop worrying. If the big boss thought poorly of us, he wouldn't have put this much effort into developing Hanyue's economy."

"That's true, but—" He drank. His voice came down a register. "There are plans to expand the factory. I'm afraid this could complicate things."

If the factory expanded, it wouldn't only be Hanyue that benefited — the surrounding counties and cities would too.

He'd been losing sleep over it for weeks. Every morning he woke up half-expecting a call from the parent company telling them the expansion plan had been rejected.

"Stop overthinking." She smiled. "Even if headquarters is dissatisfied, I'll be the one to answer for it."

"Director..."

He sighed. A few weeks ago, Director Chen's child had been taken by criminals — thankfully recovered safely.

"Come on." She checked the time. "Xu Chenzhu should be arriving soon. Let's go to the gate."

She wondered if Consultant Chao would come too.

The day after her daughter was found, she'd gone to the hotel with gifts to thank him personally — but Consultant Chao was always busy, and in two or three visits she hadn't managed to catch him.

*

A large open area stretched in front of the factory's main building. The anniversary banquet was set up there.

The space was full. On a temporary stage, a children's cartoon played, and a row of small children sat watching it with heads tilted back. Factory families sat in clusters chatting, the atmosphere as warm and easy as the New Year.

Director Chen stood at the gate with the management team. The deputy director noticed a smudge of dust on the plaque just as the cars came into sight — and quickly rubbed it off with his sleeve before anyone arrived.

The cars stopped. Secretary Liu and Assistant Yang came out of the second vehicle to open Xu Chenzhu's door.

"Which one is the big boss, Director?" The deputy director was genuinely unsure. Two men had stepped out of the first car. The one in glasses had an imposing manner and looked the part — but he was the one opening the door for the younger man.

If he were the boss, he wouldn't be opening doors for someone else. That didn't add up.

Director Chen had a moment of vertigo herself. She was only now realizing that the man who had been beside Consultant Chao throughout the day of her daughter's abduction — the one she'd never looked at twice — was standing right here again.

"Consultant Chao." She stepped forward quickly and bent to shake his hand. "Thank you for coming."

"No need for ceremony, Director Chen." He returned the handshake, then turned slightly to make an introduction. "This is Director Chen, who manages the factory — you were with me the last time we were here. Director Chen — this is the head of Kunlun, Xu Chenzhu. He takes a great personal interest in Hanyue's economic development, which is why he came to do an on-site assessment himself."

This man was Xu Chenzhu?

She composed her shock as well as she could. "Mr. Xu — I had eyes but failed to see. Please forgive any lack of hospitality."

"The circumstances were unusual. I understood." He gave a small nod, then looked past the gate into the factory.

"When there are deadlines to meet, the workers give everything they have — the small things at home fall to their families. Whatever progress this factory has made, the families share credit for it." She led the group inside. "Tonight is worth celebrating, so I asked the staff to bring their families and share the joy."

The other managers felt a quiet dread. Would headquarters be dismissive?

Xu Chenzhu's expression held no displeasure. "You've arranged this well."

"Oh!"

A child of three or four came running out and bumped straight into Xu Chenzhu's legs. The lollipop in his tight little fist smeared itself across the trouser leg.

The sudden accident sent the management team's hearts lurching upward. The child, flat on the ground, saw the expressions on the adults around him and didn't dare cry.

"Are you hurt, little one?" Chao Musheng picked him up, crouched to his level, and dusted him off gently before standing with the child against his chest. "Tell Uncle your name."

He took the soiled lollipop from the boy's hand and replaced it with a clean sweet from the nearest table.

"My name is Little Tiger." The boy had been frightened at first, but with Chao Musheng holding him, a smile was edging back onto his face.

"No wonder you're so sturdy — with a name like that." He ruffled the child's head. "Are you brave like a tiger?"

"Yes!" A vigorous nod. "I'm very brave!"

The child's small, bright answer did more to ease the tension than anything else could have. The atmosphere warmed back up.

"Consultant Chao — he belongs to one of our workers." Director Chen, noting that Chao Musheng's handling of the child was a little inexperienced, took him back with a smile and returned him to his parents.

"This age group — they run everywhere." She turned back, expression carefully neutral. "I'm sorry, Mr. Xu—"

"It's nothing. Don't give it another thought." He glanced at Chao Musheng, something shifting in his expression that was hard to read.

*

After a tour of the main production lines, the group returned to the banquet.

Xu Chenzhu looked at the children already waiting hungrily to eat, and politely declined the pre-meal remarks. He asked Director Chen simply to begin.

She had prepared tall wine glasses — she'd heard that people from the city had particular tastes.

"My apologies." He looked at the glass placed in front of him. His voice was unhurried and not raised, yet perfectly audible to everyone at the table.

"My partner is rather strict about drinking." He placed his hand lightly over the mouth of the glass. A faint smile. "So I don't."

Director Chen was frozen. She looked down at the fresh-pressed fruit juice she was holding. She hadn't been about to pour him wine — she wasn't out of her mind.

Chao Musheng turned to look at him sideways. Who asked you?

"Mr. Xu and I have something in common — being managed by our partners." The deputy director stood to pour him juice. "Please try this — it's locally pressed fruit juice from Hanyue."

"Thank you." He slid the glass over to Chao Musheng's side. "It has nothing to do with being managed. I simply don't want him to worry."

The deputy director nodded agreeably on the outside and thought privately that the big boss had a remarkable talent for making henpecked sound poetic. If the boss's partner were sitting at this table, they'd be charmed speechless.

Still —

He'd noticed the movement, and then watched Consultant Chao accept the drink as naturally as breathing and begin drinking it without a second thought. What is Consultant Chao to the boss, exactly?

What followed only confused him further.

Whatever dish Consultant Chao's eyes settled on, Xu Chenzhu would serve it to his bowl.

The moment Consultant Chao's glass was empty, Xu Chenzhu refilled it.

For a moment he genuinely could not determine who was the boss and who was the consultant.

Everyone had been quietly worried the visitors from headquarters would look down on this small-town celebration. Seeing Consultant Chao eat with such evident enjoyment, they all privately relaxed.

*

The banquet ended. Dishes were cleared and replaced with seeds and fruit, and the awards portion began.

Chao Musheng sat in the audience listening to the managers speak in their plain and heartfelt way. He nudged Xu Chenzhu's arm with his elbow. "Excuse me, Mr. Xu — is your boyfriend very strict with you?"

"Not strict." He smiled quietly. "I just want to do what he says."

"Oh?" His expression curved.

Xu Chenzhu dug in his pocket and produced an orange-flavored lollipop. He unwrapped it and held it out. "Here."

"Your mood before dinner wasn't quite right." Chao Musheng took it in his teeth, voice slightly blurred. "What was it?"

Two small children went running past hand in hand. He pulled his legs back so they wouldn't stumble.

"You like children?" He had noticed the movement.

"Yes." He nodded.

Xu Chenzhu looked down briefly.

"I also like cats and dogs, flowers and plants." He added. "There are a lot of things I like."

Yes — and he was one of them.

"You're different." He put his hand behind his back and found Xu Chenzhu's. "You're my love."

Liking and loving — not the same.

"Secretary Liu — the boss is smiling so much." Yang looked over, saw what was visible from across the room, and lowered his voice. "Is this the power of love?"

The old boss had been as cold and remote as a statue. Now here he was smiling like— like it was nothing.

"Finding a boyfriend like Xiao Chao — wouldn't anyone be happy?" Secretary Liu glanced up, voice carrying unmistakable warmth. "It suits him."

Yang: ...

The boss can't even hear you and you're still doing it.

I've lost.

Secretary Liu gave him a brief glance. If you want to compete for the boss's trust, little Yang, you have a long way to go.

Every moment of what the boss felt for Xiao Chao — he'd watched it accumulate. Yang understood nothing of it.

He opened the company gossip group. Everyone was discussing the boss's relationship.

[Who is the boss's partner? Liu and Yang have been around him this whole trip — they must know.]

[Have you seen Xiao Chao's social feed? He seems to be in a relationship too.]

[No need to check his feed — the internet is plastered with stories about Consultant Chao finding a rich boyfriend.]

[Legal and PR are handling it — don't worry.]

He read the thread with a click of his tongue. Why doesn't anyone stop to think about why the boss and Xiao Chao announced relationships at the same time?

Too afraid to think it? Or thought it and too afraid to say it?

They were all working professionals. Kunlun's benefits were exceptional. Nobody was going to say anything reckless about the boss or about a technical consultant with a brilliant future. Especially when Xiao Chao was in this very chat group.

The anniversary celebrations were still going, and when the bonus announcements came in from headquarters, the atmosphere rose to a new high entirely.

*

"Consultant Chao." Director Chen came over leading a small girl. "Thank you so much for saving my daughter. I've been trying to find a moment to thank you properly ever since."

The girl reached into her schoolbag and produced a small bouquet made from pipe cleaners. "Xiao Chao Gege — thank you for rescuing me from the bad people."

He saw her eyes were clear and bright — she'd moved past the shadow of what had happened. He reached out and touched her head. "Thank you."

Director Chen thanked him in every way she knew how, running through every word of gratitude she had, and finally tried to press a small golden pig figurine into his hands.

"I've already received the best thanks." He held up the pipe cleaner bouquet. "Keep the little pig for your daughter."

She blinked hard and said a quiet thank you again.

For Consultant Chao, this was perhaps nothing more than a chance thing. For her it had been everything.

Seeing he wouldn't take the gold pig, she didn't push. Instead she produced a small, simply crafted golden bead. "A few days ago I saw on your social media — you've found someone you care for."

"This bead is only a few grams. It isn't worth much — but it could be made into a charm for your partner's bracelet." She moved quickly, pressing it into his palm before he could refuse. "Please accept it. I wish you and your partner a life as round and bright as this bead."

He looked at the small round golden bead in his hand, then reached for Xu Chenzhu's hand and placed it in his palm. "Thank you, Director Chen."

She broke into a smile — then stopped.

The bead she'd intended for Consultant Chao's partner — why had he put it into the big boss's hand?

She looked at Chao Musheng. She looked at Xu Chenzhu. Her mouth slowly opened.

"Thank you for the blessing, Director Chen." He closed his fingers around the bead. "I like this gift very much."

This — I — he—

The big boss and Consultant Chao are a pair?!

*

When the evening ended and the management team had seen the visitors off, they turned back to find the director still standing, staring after the departing vehicles.

"Is something wrong, Director?"

"Nothing." She passed the deputy director the planning documents bearing the boss's signature. "The factory expansion has been approved."

"Yes!"

A cheer broke out across the yard.

She watched the departing motorcade, a smile slowly finding its way back to her face.

Good.

Hanyue has new hope.

*

"Fortune in this region has improved further."

Deep in the night, Lin Sheng sat rigidly upright in bed, the static behind his eyes blazing.

Data exploration: failed.

Scenario simulation: failed.

FAILED.

FAILED.

Directive correction — sever the entanglement of fate and vitality.

*

In the plain, modest airport, Chao Musheng held out a jacket. "It's only around ten degrees in the capital. Remember to put this on when you land."

"Zhaozhao." He pulled him close. "Come back soon."

The attendants who'd come to see them off stared with undisguised astonishment.

"Once things are wrapped up here, I'll come back to you as fast as I can." He returned the embrace for a moment, then released his hold. "Go — you're the CEO responsible for a great many people's livelihoods. They're all counting on you. Work hard."

"Yes." He smiled. "That's what you want. I'll see to it."

He watched Xu Chenzhu and his team disappear through the boarding gate. The smile faded slowly from his face. He stood at the broad window until the private plane lifted and turned away from Hanyue — then walked out of the airport.

In the days that followed, he went almost nowhere except the work site. When the project finished, the site organizers invited them for a group photograph.

This time the arrangements were understated. No workers lined up at the entrance. No one led them near the stored materials. Just a clear patch of open ground, the project signboard erected, and a few worker representatives brought in for the photo.

Professor Zhang looked at the workers assembled — then looked out at a few more carrying heavy sandbags in the distance. "Bring those ones over too."

"Professor — they're casual laborers, not company employees." The construction company representative said quietly.

"Everyone contributing to the build is contributing to the country. There's no distinction between permanent and temporary." He waved them over.

When word reached them that the leaders wanted them in the photo, Ah Peng and the others were taken aback.

Curly Hair, who had started working on site only that first day, was also surprised. She knew how the workers were regarded here. She caught the eye of the other five and gave a small nod — don't refuse — then took the towel a worker passed her, wiped her face and hands, and came to stand in the frame.

All six looked up at once. The person standing beside Professor Zhang. Nobody made a sound.

Curly Hair was already edging her gaze away. If she'd known she'd run into Xiao Chao, she wouldn't have worked this 150 yuan shift.

"Come." Professor Zhang, thinking they were hanging back out of shyness, beckoned warmly from where he stood. "You're all still young."

Under everyone's eyes, she shuffled forward in small steps to stand behind him.

"Everyone find a gap — show your faces. One, two, three — smile!"

The shutter clicked. People who didn't belong to this world left their image in it anyway.

"Xiao Chao." Once it was done, she came to stand beside him and spoke quietly. "Are you leaving Hanyue?"

"Tonight's flight." He said. "Hanyue to the capital only has one route, evenings. Do you want to come back with me?"

Come back?

She looked at him. In Xiao Chao's mind — is the capital where she belongs?

This visit had been an accident. She didn't know if she'd ever have another chance to come to this world.

In that moment, she very much wanted to say yes.

"Xiao Chao — I still have things to do here." She looked back at the five players behind her and slowly shook her head. "Not just yet."

"All right." His gaze moved past her shoulder to the players. "I look forward to meeting you again."

"Xiao Chao!" Her eyelids trembled. A smile was on her face. "Getting to meet you was something wonderful — and very lucky."

Without Xiao Chao, she would never have understood what the instance worlds were really hiding.

"I feel the same." He asked her: "What are your plans after this?"

"Once I've done what I need to do, I'll come back—"

"Wait." He cut her off. "In television dramas, people who say things like that always run into trouble afterwards."

He took out a keychain figure, thumb-sized. "A friend gave me this as a lucky charm several months ago — it was supposed to bring good fortune. I'll lend it to you. Return it to me when we meet again."

S-rank Lucky Puppet.

Every player present recognized it.

Luck-enhancing items had an extremely low drop rate. An S-rank puppet was virtually unheard of. As far as they knew, only one player in the entire infinite space had ever owned one — and that player had died in an exploration instance long ago.

"Was the friend who gave this to you called Xiao You?" She took it. "Xiao Chao — I know who it originally belonged to."

Something in the restriction on what she could say seemed to have loosened very slightly.

"Xiao You and I come from the same place." She got that far — and then her tongue began to lose control. "Xiao Chao — you need to be... careful—"

She opened her mouth. The rest of the words would not come.

The machinery on the site broke into a sudden roar. She saw his lips move in response, but couldn't make out what he said.

"Don't push yourself too hard." He smiled. "I need to go back to the hotel and pack. See you next time."

Once he left, the five players crowded around her. "Xiao Juan — what were you saying to the golden thigh? Our system panels all flashed red warnings."

She shook her head. Her tongue was still numb. She couldn't speak yet.

"Come collect your photos!" A worker came over and handed out the printed copies of the group shot.

The construction site was chaos. And yet the photograph had a kind of settled peace about it.

The players stared at it. They'd been smiling that easily?

She ran a finger across the image. Xiao Chao had also been smiling.

She closed her hand around the Lucky Puppet, her scattered feelings slowly settling. She turned to face the five of them. "After midnight tonight — we go back."

"Oh." Ah Peng's smile faded. "Right. Time to go back."

A few days of normal life, and they'd nearly forgotten they didn't belong here.

She watched the lightness disappear from their faces, and her own eyes grew steadier.

*

When she stepped back into the player space, she found it noticeably dimmer. Every player in the hall was unsettled.

She looked at the main screen.

The beginner instances were gone.

All of them?

Did this mean the Main God could no longer summon new players into the infinite space?

She found You Jiu and asked what had happened.

"Not long after you were pulled into the instance, the whole space began to tremble." He paused — he didn't know himself. "Then everything plunged into darkness. When the light came back, all the beginner instances were forcibly closed."

"I think the Main God came under some kind of attack. For the past few days it hasn't been forcibly pulling players into instances."

"In Xiao Chao's world, news like that would call for a celebratory feast." She reached into her bag and produced a stack of signal scramblers. "These are for you — keep following the plan."

Beep—

The system let out a long tone.

The ground shook violently beneath their feet. Darkness and light alternated, heaved, and when everything settled again, the infinite space was dimmer than it had been when she'd arrived.

"All survival instances have been forcibly closed!"