Just like the previous night, the internet café was filled with ten people again, divided into the same teams.
Xia Zhi leaned close to Shenhe's ear and whispered a few words.
Shenhe blinked slightly, then nodded in agreement.
Xia Zhi sent a message to Furina before addressing the group. "Tonight, Shenhe and I won't be playing."
The Dragon King looked puzzled. "Won't that leave us two players short?"
Xia Zhi smiled. "Not at all. Two friends happened to drop by tonight, and when they heard we were gaming, they wanted to try it out. So they'll be taking our spots."
Xia Ci glanced around. "Cousin, where are they, then?"
"They're in my room. Due to certain circumstances, it's not convenient for them to meet everyone just yet. I'll introduce them properly another time."
"Oh..."
Xia Ci looked thoughtful, her gaze flickering toward the tightly shut door before she averted her eyes.
Though she was curious about who these "friends" were, she wouldn't press further if her cousin wasn't comfortable sharing.
Time to focus on the game… Since they'd be teammates tonight, she'd see how skilled these newcomers were.
If it was their first time playing, they'd probably hold the team back, right…?
Just as Xia Ci was thinking this, two unfamiliar usernames appeared on the team roster:
[Cream Puff], [Cake].
Why were they both named after desserts?
Did they really love sweets that much?
Xia Ci pondered for a moment before typing in the team chat: "Hey there."
[Cream Puff]: Hi, everyone!
[Cake]: Hello.
From just these two greetings, Xia Ci could already tell that "Cream Puff" was far more cheerful than "Cake."
She typed again: "Is this your first time playing?"
[Cream Puff]: Yep!
[Cake]: More or less.
What kind of answer was "more or less"?
Xia Ci reassured them. "If it's your first time, don't worry about losing the first couple of matches. Just focus on learning the basics."
[Cream Puff]: Got it!
[Cake]: Mm.
After some discussion with Xia Zhen, Xia Ci assigned Ganyu to take Xia Zhi's usual jungler role, leaving the bottom lane to the newcomers to experiment with.
Meanwhile, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged smug glances upon seeing their opponents' loading screen info.
Fresh meat! This was going to be an easy match.
The game began.
Less than two minutes in, the first kill was announced—[First Blood].
Xia Ci, busy laning against Cloud Retainer, sighed. "They died already? Guess we're in for a rough game..."
Beside her, Xia Zhen gave her a strange look. "Maybe you should check again?"
Xia Ci quickly glanced at the scoreboard. "Huh? Why is Moon Carver dead? Wait, Mountain Shaper too?!"
Ten minutes later, the enemy's bottom lane tower had fallen.
Fifteen minutes in, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper wore solemn expressions.
Twenty minutes later, the opposing team surrendered.
Xia Ci stared at the MVP screen in silence before typing, "You're seriously first-timers?"
[Cream Puff]: Yep!
[Cake]: More or less.
Xia Ci: "Then how are you so good?"
[Cream Puff]: Maybe I was born talented?
[Cake]: Luck, probably.
Xia Ci recognized that familiar meme-like response and glanced at her cousin, suspicions rising.
"Next game," she typed.
This time, the newcomers tried different champions, but the outcome was identical.
Listening to the constant stream of victory announcements in her headphones, Xia Ci couldn't help but laugh wryly.
However, the two didn't keep playing. After three consecutive wins, they switched to spectate mode, letting Xia Zhi and Shenhe rejoin.
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper both exhaled in relief.
They'd expected bronze-tier opponents, only to find themselves facing two legendary players. Terrifying…
The gaming session lasted late into the night before everyone finally dispersed, satisfied.
Xia Zhi watched as the café emptied before heading to his room alone.
"Cousin!"
"How was tonight?"
"Amazing! It's so rare to play with so many friends at once!"
"Right?"
Xia Zhi walked further inside.
"You're welcome to come often."
"Definitely! I'll be here every night!"
Focalors shot Furina a glance but said nothing, seemingly acquiescing to her declaration.
"That's fine, but dawn's about to break outside."
"Time flew by so fast… Cousin, um…"
"What is it?"
"I suddenly feel like getting a massage…"
"A massage?"
"Mhm! Can I?"
Furina gazed at him with hopeful eyes.
Xia Zhi nodded.
"Of course."
Furina leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
Xia Zhi stepped behind her, placing his hands gently on her head and beginning a slow, rhythmic massage.
Immediately, an indescribably pleasant sensation spread from his fingertips, one she hadn't felt in five hundred years.
Amazing, amazing!
I've missed this feeling for so long… Finally, finally!
Unconsciously, Furina let out soft, contented hums.
She tilted her head back slightly, letting it rest against Xia Zhi's torso.
Though separated by fabric, the familiar hardness and contours of his abs remained unchanged from her memories…
So good, so good, so good!
Furina's face flushed, her breathing growing slightly uneven.
Xia Zhi, oblivious to these perfectly normal reactions, continued massaging diligently.
In his vision, the shimmering platinum progress bar above Furina's head was steadily filling.
He'd noticed this bar during his first visit to her dreams.
However, during those initial encounters, he'd remained in stealth mode and hadn't interacted with her physically, so the progress hadn't budged.
It was only in tonight's dream, through direct contact, that the bar finally began moving.
At some point, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
"Progress bar has reached [100%]. Platinum Treasure Chest reward obtained."
What an odd coincidence.
Focalors' progress bar had also maxed out through a head massage.
Xia Zhi kept going until every acupoint had been thoroughly tended to before withdrawing his hands. His gaze shifted to Focalors, who had been watching them the entire time.
"Want to give it a try?"
Focalors shook her head. "No need…"
"Really?"
"No."
"Come on, just try it."
Xia Zhi walked over and stood behind her.
"Lean your head back a bit."
"I said no…"
Despite her protests, Focalors obediently tilted her head back and closed her eyes.
Tsunderes were like that—always denying things verbally while complying physically.
Xia Zhi rested his hands on her head and began massaging with practiced motions.
Furina turned around in her chair, resting her chin on the backrest as she watched the scene unfold, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"Cousin, are you still staying at Cloud Retainer's abode?"
"For one more day. We'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Mondstadt's Windblume Festival isn't that fun. You should come to Fontaine instead! The Fontaine Film Festival is starting soon—way more exciting. From Mt. Aocang, you can pass through Chenyu Vale and reach Romaritime Harbor. It's not far."
"Fontaine Film Festival?"
"It's about making movies. If you're interested, you could even act in one!"
"Not for me. Though now that you mention it, I always felt like many things in Fontaine had strong parallels to my original world—kameras, rail transit, and such. I'm guessing that's your doing?"
"I might've dropped a few hints here and there, pointed them in the right direction."
"I see. Sometimes, the right research direction makes all the difference."
"So? So? Cousin, come visit Fontaine!"
"Ha, don't rush me. I'll visit, but it'll have to be next year's festival."
"Ugh…"
Furina puffed out her cheeks in displeasure, letting out an adorable whine.
"Annoying… If it weren't for the fact that I can't leave Fontaine until that matter is resolved, I'd have come to find you ages ago."
"Meeting in dreams every night works too."
"I guess…"
After finishing Focalors' massage, Xia Zhi sent them off and exited the dream world himself.
Waking in bed, he lay still for a while, lost in thought.
Though only a single night had passed, it felt like he'd lived through countless events.
His earlier speculation to Xia Ci had been correct—
This kind of time-skipping phenomenon would likely happen a few more times in the future.
Xia Zhi sat up.
Morning light filtered through the window, accompanied by birdsong, filling him with serenity.
Such an elegant, tranquil environment—truly befitting an adeptal paradise.
It was getting late. Time to make breakfast for everyone.
As for the two platinum chests he'd obtained last night, he'd open them tonight.
After changing clothes, Xia Zhi left his room.
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