"Xiao Qian, is your foot alright?" Li Li was also surprised, holding her up to take a look. "Does it not hurt anymore?"
The girl stood there awkwardly. "Uh… yeah, I originally sprained it a little, but just now, after hopping around, it… it seems like it's back in place."
"So your foot is better again! I'm so lucky!" Zhu Zhu patted her chest in relief. "If I had made your injury worse, Li Li would have fought me to the death!"
"It's not that exaggerated…" Li Li scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "It's good that you're okay. Let's all sit down and eat, sit down…"
Su Man was first a little dazed, then sat down, filled a glass with wine for herself, and downed it in one gulp!
Li Li was startled and blurted out, "What are you doing again! Drinking like that, what if you get drunk!"
"I want to!" Su Man slammed the empty glass down and poured another. "Mind your own business!"
Li Li couldn't figure out what was wrong with her and muttered, "I can't be bothered to care about you."
Yan Qingwen looked at them with a faint expression. Finally, his gaze fell on Zhu Zhu, who was eating, and he asked with a smile, "I remember there was a film festival where they were selecting the Best Actress or something… you seemed to have gone too?"
Zhu Zhu was slightly stunned, then waved her hand with a smile, "No, no, it was the Newcomer Award. I didn't win, I was just nominated."
"Being nominated is also very impressive." Li Li praised supportively.
As they were chatting, neat footsteps came from the direction of the entrance.
The people eating and drinking all stopped and turned to look.
It was Chu Huaijin bringing Professor Song over.
This national treasure-level scientific research talent, for whom the higher-ups didn't hesitate to deploy eight special operations teams, was now leaning back in a wheelchair, being slowly pushed in by Chu Huaijin.
The person in the wheelchair wasn't necessarily crippled; they might be too old or too weak.
Bai Youwei felt that Professor Song was both.
His hair was completely white, his skin was aged, and he looked to be seventy or eighty years old. He sat weakly in the wheelchair, his whole person exuding the vicissitudes of life in his twilight years.
"What's wrong with him?" Bai Youwei asked Shen Mo in a low voice.
Shen Mo explained to her in a low voice, "Professor Song has a son who is also a research member in SCO. He encountered a game on the way to the evacuation and turned into a doll…"
He paused slightly, lowering his voice even further. "Professor Song wasn't originally this old. In order to save his son, he used a prop. That prop could use his own vitality to heal the injuries of others, but unfortunately… even though he used the prop, his son still couldn't get out of the game."
Losing a son in middle age, with such a huge blow, it wouldn't be strange for a person to become like this.
Bai Youwei nodded in understanding.
Professor Song and Chu Huaijin arrived at the center of the banquet.
Chu Huaijin poured him half a glass of wine.
Professor Song raised his glass and said, "This cup, I offer to everyone. Thank you all for gracing us with your presence."
His voice sounded much younger than he looked.
Professor Song finished the wine in his glass.
The guests watched him in silence, waiting for what he would say next.
"The reason I invited everyone here is to discuss something," Professor Song said.
The surrounding air became even quieter.
Everyone knew in their hearts that this banquet was definitely not just a simple meal and drinks.
"All of you present have escaped death in games several times. You have a deeper understanding of the games than ordinary people, and you have more experience. Among you, there are many experts who have entered the maze."
Professor Song looked around, his tone calm and steady.
"Presumably, some of you also know that the organization is racking its brains over the Hide-and-Seek game on the 21st. So far, the number of people who have cleared this game is 0, and there is almost no strategy available.
Just yesterday, the team that entered the 21st game was completely wiped out, and the 24th game also shifted! If we don't take action, I'm afraid the city will be in trouble in seven days!"