"Thank you all for gathering here today. Let's give a warm welcome to our two new members joining the miHoYo family! Everyone, applause!"
The next moment, the café erupted with enthusiastic applause.
Wise and Belle sat right in the center, completely surrounded, while Su Chen on stage delivered a passionate speech.
"Uh... thank you, everyone!" The siblings could only offer awkward smiles, nodding repeatedly at the people around them.
To celebrate the addition of Wise and Belle, nearly all available actors had come—the Express Crew, the Hunters, the Luofu Group, and the Belobog Group—all gathered together.
Even someone as seasoned as Wise felt a bit overwhelmed.
Aside from the two of them, everyone else was a superstar.
"Hey, Belle, can you tell me how to beat the tenth level?" Silver Wolf waggled her eyebrows at Belle.
Belle looked suspicious. "After all these days, you still haven't beaten it?"
"I'm just giving you a chance to show off!"
"Actually, the tenth level is pretty easy. But I have a question—what's up with this Thursday team-building day? Why does everyone look so miserable, like it's life or death? They all seem like they're being forced to participate, just like the maids at that cleaning company I know."
"Ugh..." Silver Wolf pulled out a cookie stick from somewhere and stuck it in her mouth, exhaling deeply as if it were a puff of smoke.
"You don't wanna know. Try to skip these events in the future—they'll kill you!"
"Wha—kill you?!" Belle immediately scooted two seats back, tugging at Wise's sleeve. "Oh no, big bro, we've really walked into a den of thieves!"
"Hm?" When Wise didn't respond, she turned to see him staring intently at the big screen.
Not just him—everyone had their hands clasped together, muttering under their breath, "Not me! Not me! Please, not me!"
—
The screen lit up, revealing an eye-catching title:
"The Pitfalls of Being Overly Cultured."
"Whew~"
The entire café collectively exhaled in relief. Just based on the title alone, there didn't seem to be anything obviously incriminating.
But the next second, they resumed their prayers.
Belle clung to Wise's arm. "Big bro, miHoYo people are seriously weird. First, there's Scott, and now this team-building thing feels like some kind of cult!"
Wise gently patted her back. "It's fine. What Silver Wolf meant by 'death' isn't literal—it's social death."
"Social death?! I'd rather just die for real! And they don't even resist?"
"Employees rebelling against the boss? Are you joking? Just sit back and enjoy the show."
—
Su Chen maintained a cult-leader grin as he pressed play.
The screen then displayed Yingxing and Dan Feng.
At that moment, all eyes turned toward the two of them. The crowd silently crossed themselves before settling into comfortable positions, snacking and drinking like it was a casual day.
Meanwhile, Yingxing and Dan Heng broke out in cold sweat.
Dan Feng swallowed hard, feigning composure. "Maybe... it's not a cringe fan-edit? Could it just be some other kind of video?"
"If this isn't a cringe edit, I'll ban Su Chen's gaming account myself!" Silver Wolf was the first to protest.
March 7th quickly followed. "Yeah! Why should only the two of us suffer?"
Though usually quiet, Yingxing was now visibly agitated.
"Seriously, why does it have to be us two?"
"Whose fault is that? In the movie, you and Dan Feng, plus Baiheng and Jingliu, looked like two couples. You have no idea how obsessed the fans are!"
"True!" Silver Wolf cut in. "Jing Yuan was just there like a third wheel."
Jing Yuan chuckled awkwardly. "Little Silver Wolf, I'm right here. Besides, I'm just an actor—direct your complaints at the director and screenwriter."
"Yeah, fair point!"
By then, the video had started playing—an AI-generated edit.
"Dan Feng, do you recognize Luofu script? It's different from Zhuming's," white-haired Yingxing asked, holding two slips of paper.
"Of course I do. Why?"
The AI voices were squeaky and unnatural, and the animations were stiff.
Just from the opening, some were already struggling to hold in laughter.
"Jing Yuan left me a note." Yingxing handed it to Dan Feng.
The camera zoomed in on the note, which read:
"I won't tell you, silly~ If you want me to, call me 'sweetheart' first."
"Pfft—" Silver Wolf collapsed onto the floor, curling up. "Nooo, I can't—this is too funny! I need to see where this goes!"
Stelle licked her lips. "I'm into this. More, please!"
—
Dan Feng took the note and read it.
Yingxing looked impatient. "He said it's really important. Just read it for me, okay?"
"Fine." Dan Feng enunciated each word slowly. "I won't tell you, silly~"
"Come on! I'll forge you a spear later!"
Dan Feng sighed. "No, I mean—this is what Jing Yuan wrote!"
"What did he say?"
"I won't tell you, silly~ If you want me to, call me 'sweetheart' first."
Yingxing took a half-step back. "Wait, you're into this?"
Dan Feng facepalmed. "I didn't say it—Jing Yuan did!"
"Then what did Jing Yuan say?"
Dan Feng pointed at the note. "It says right here: 'I won't tell you, silly~ If you want me to, call me 'sweetheart' first.'"
Yingxing pouted. "Fine, keep your secrets... but making me call you 'sweetheart'? I—WON'T—SAY—IT!"
He crossed his arms defiantly.
—
Watching this, Yingxing's face turned as red as a roasted duck. He gritted his teeth. "Boss Su Chen, where did you even find this?!"
Dan Heng clutched his chest, wishing he could dig a hole and disappear.
"To be born human... is my greatest shame."
Meanwhile, the other two were losing it.
Silver Wolf was rolling on the carpet, while March 7th laughed so hard she kept slapping her thighs.
Stelle was even worse—if Su Chen hadn't held her back, she would've started licking the screen.
"Let me ship them! Don't suppress my nature!"
Even the ever-composed Kafka had to cover her mouth to keep from grinning.
"Yingxing and Dan Heng... truly magnificent."
Himeko nearly spat out her precious coffee.
"Such good friends! You two are adorable. Just a reminder—we're only halfway through."