Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“When he arrived, he stood at the door and asked if you were here. I thought at that time that surely, it had to be Zi Chuan. I asked him. He didn’t deny it, so I invited him in. But in the end, he left without saying very much.”
Qiao Lian frowned and persisted, “So how did you find out about his death?”
The captain sighed and replied, “Back then, both you and Zi Chuan had disappeared from the game. I was troubled when I couldn’t find you. I then sent him a private message on the game. After a few days, I received a reply that said…”
In that instant, the captain looked as stunned as years ago when he received the news.
The message said:
[He is dead.]
Those words shocked him to the core.
He quickly asked the other party:
[Who are you?]
After a long time, the other party replied:
[I’m his friend.]
The captain was silent for a long time before he ventured to ask again:
[I’m Zi Chuan’s old friend. Where can I go to pay my respects?]
The other party then replied with an address.
Shortly after, the messages stopped, as though the other party had also disappeared.
Eventually, he stopped logging in.
So that was how he was sure that Zi Chuan had died.
As Qiao Lian listened to his story, she felt an immense pain in her heart.
She looked up at Shen Liangchuan.
He would not have given anyone else his account information.
The only person who could log into his mailbox was himself.
Why had he told people that Zi Chuan had died?
What had happened that caused him to be so completely disillusioned with gaming eight years ago?
Only a person who was determined to bow out of the world of gaming would tell others that he had died.
Qiao Lian frowned.
She wanted to continue with a few other questions, but Shen Liangchuan was done dealing with Monochrome and he was walking towards her.
When he saw that she and the captain were talking in low voices, his eyes flashed as he interrupted, “Grandpa is waiting for us at home. Come with me now.”
He was urging her.
Besides, her identity had been exposed now. Looking at their team members, who were staring back at them with reverence in their eyes, she knew that if she stayed, it would spoil their gathering.
Furthermore, she had already heard what she wanted to know. There was really no reason for her to stay longer.
Hence, she nodded at the captain and looked at the people in the crowd. Then she said, “I have something to attend to, I have to go.”
Everyone looked reluctant as she said goodbye.
San Lang said at once, “Xiao Qiao, we have all been close friends for such a long time, can’t you stay a bit longer?”
The captain immediately kicked him after he said those words. Then he turned towards Qiao Lian and said, “Sure, off you go then.”
At this point, he leaned towards her and said in a low voice, “I’ll leave Zi Chuan a bouquet on your behalf.”
Qiao Lian was silent.
She turned to glance at Shen Liangchuan.
He must have heard what the captain had said.
But he was expressionless, as though he didn’t wish to expose his identity.
Qiao Lian nodded and walked out after Shen Liangchuan.
As she departed, she could even hear San Lang exclaiming behind them, “Hey, you’re really leaving! Ah! Captain, will you stop poking me?”
The captain replied, “Xiao Qiao’s husband is here, so it’s not appropriate for her to stay. After all, this matter about Zi Chuan may be a taboo with her husband.”
Qiao Lian was silent.
As she followed Shen Liangchuan on the way to the elevator and was about to step in, she suddenly heard the captain yell behind her, “Wait, Xiao Qiao! I suddenly remembered something else.”