CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31 THE CURSE FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE STAR SEA

The next morning, after finishing his training, Chen Gu headed to school. Today, Chen Gu arrived a bit earlier than usual and didn’t go directly to the classroom; instead, he waited at the school gates.

When Chen Zili arrived, Chen Gu grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to the bathroom.

Upon Chen Gu’s entry, the students who were urinating hastened their efforts, quickly finished without shaking off, and hurried out.

Darkray and a few others, seeing Chen Gu hauling Chen Zili into the bathroom, followed and blocked the door. "Quick, quick, quick, the boss is about to handle something, everyone guard this place well!"

Chen Gu was unaware that he had become the head honcho of the school’s delinquents. His presence now overshadowed Liu Shichan and Zhao Junzhi, the "celebrated pair." He slapped Chen Zili. "That’s for being a smart-ass, for taking matters into your own hands! Today you’ll learn what it means to weave your own noose!"

"OW, OW..."

Chen Zili covered his head and screamed, then shouted in a fit of anger, "Why are you hitting me? It’s all your fault my dad is getting discharged! His future in the military is completely ruined!"

"Huh?" Chen Gu felt a weight in his heart. "Discharged? Tell me more."

Chen Zili knew very well that his father’s future would determine if he could continue living as an arrogant and happy second-generation. Therefore, after Chen Jixian let something slip yesterday, Chen Zili made calls to several familiar uncles on his way to school. He found out Chen Jixian’s professional prospects were bleak and, feeling downcast, reported everything to his grandfather.

Chen Gu didn’t strike again but sighed internally, feeling low for the rest of the day.

To make matters worse, a holographic emoji became popular in the school that day. Some jerk had used the final moment of Chen Gu’s fight with Liu Shichan, where Chen Gu ripped her stockings. They then altered the characters’ expressions to make Chen Gu look like a lecherous creep with a sleazy grin, while Liu Shichan appeared as though saying, "This little one is frightened."

Sometimes, fashion trends are just ridiculous, and this meaningless emoji instantly became all the rage at school, even showing signs of spreading beyond the campus.

Chen Gu caught a glimpse of it by accident, and his mood turned even more sullen.

That evening, as soon as he got home, Chen Gu immediately entered the gaming pod. That "Beauty in the Mirror Prepares for War" said she was from the Central Operations Room, so she should have the ability to influence Chen Jixian’s discharge arrangements, right? But by doing so, my own identity might be exposed.

...

Bai Xianya’s work diary:

"Day one of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—no response. He might have broken his hands."

"Day two of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—still no response. He might have broken his legs too."

"Day three of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—yet again no response. Surely it must be some old man’s urinary system disorder acting up."

"Day four of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—still no response. He’s probably developed dementia."

"Day five of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—NO! RESPONSE!"

"Day six of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—I’m not expecting a reply anymore. He must be dead—dead—dead—dead—dead—gone!"

"Day seven of spamming game messages at [Idol Actor]—let’s end this. This task is impossible to complete. As a virtuous little fairy, I need to self-reflect. It was wrong of me to bear a grudge and to curse an old, decrepit man—weakened with age, his dignity waning like the setting sun, stumbling and bumbling along. He’s an elder who I wished would get hit by a maglev train when he stepped out; be crushed by a ceiling collapse at home; choke on a chicken bone while eating; be poisoned by bleach in his water; die straining against a kidney stone while peeing; die of fright from a horror movie; get strangled by a tie while dressing; or be fatally injured by the equipment during a rectal exam. This was all wrong. Even though I don’t feel a trace of remorse now, this... is really not right."

"Look at the vast Star Sea; our lives, all that we are, are so minute in comparison. Please be calm, you shouldn’t be so irritable."

"May all these curses come true!"

Bai Xianya was completely fed up. Everything at the research institute was ready: promising researchers, substantial funds, advanced equipment... everything was set, yet the "lead sheep" had yet to respond.

You said you’d consider it, fine, but can you give a deadline? Are we supposed to wait indefinitely if you can’t make up your mind, putting the whole research project on hold?

And yet her uncle was quite fond of this wretched old man. Although [Idol Actor] hadn’t formally declined, her uncle was patient enough to just wait.

On the first day, Bai Xianya sent [Idol Actor] six game messages, eighteen the next day, and then the numbers soared, hundreds upon hundreds.

Another week went by. With no sign of [Idol Actor], it was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. Bai Xianya pondered how to bring this matter up with her uncle and persuade him to give up on [Idol Actor], choosing instead some tactical master to lead the research institute. Suddenly, in her friends list, [Idol Actor], marked with a "special attention" sign, lit up!

[Idol Actor] logged in?!

Grinding her teeth, Bai Xianya’s first reaction was to order the AI to send ten thousand messages cursing him out. But she held back.

Look at the vast Star Sea; our lives, all that we are, are so minute in comparison. Please be calm, you shouldn’t be so irritable.

Stay composed, be ladylike.

She pretended not to see and sat there unwavering—acting unapproachable. You’re ignoring us, so we’ll just have to show you that you’re out of our league, she thought.

A minute or so passed, and DING-DONG, the avatar for [Idol Actor] went dark again.

Bai Xianya’s plush lips formed a big "O" as she completely lost it. Are you blind to all those game messages? Can’t you see them? Not even basic manners, you hateful, disgusting old fart! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!

"War AI, search the entire Star Sea for every civilization’s most savage, most vicious, most terrifying curse!"

Bai Xianya lifted her dainty hand, ready to blast off ten million messages, hoping to crash the detestable old man’s game the next time he logged in!

But suddenly, DING-DONG, the [Idol Actor] avatar lit up again.

"Hmm?" Bai Xianya frowned, then calmed down. But this calm lasted even shorter than before; after half a minute, DING-DONG, the avatar went dark again—the guy had logged off.

Then "DING-DONG"... online again.

"DING-DONG"... offline again.

"DING-DONG"... Eh, I’m back again, surprise or what?

"DING-DONG"... Hey, I’m gone again, didn’t expect that, did you?

"DING-DONG"

"DING-DONG"

"DING-DONG"

...

The [Idol Actor] was mercilessly tormenting the game’s AI by incessantly logging in and out!

Bai Xianya couldn’t take it anymore and spent three hundred Starshields for a top-up, blasting him with a huge font message:

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!!

This time [Idol Actor] responded quickly, "Yo, isn’t this pay-to-text feature known as the stupidest in-game purchase? Can’t believe someone actually uses it."

"It really is true that all kinds of birds exist in a big forest."

"But with your intelligence, you’re a strategist? Our military’s think tank is worrisome."

Bai Xianya took a deep breath, gently wiped her smooth, delicate face with her hand, and composed herself.

Look at the vast Star Sea—our lives, everything we are, pale in comparison. You should remain calm and not be so irritable.

Then she stood up, grabbed the chair, and with all her might, smashed it on the ground dozens of times until it was in pieces!

Then once again, with a serene face, she ordered, "AI, send a new chair over, a sturdy one."

Bai Xianya sent a message using the plainest font, "What’s with the logging in and out?"

[Idol Actor] replied swiftly, "Why’d you stop using that font? You’ve already spent the money; are you stupid to use it just once?"

"You’re not falling apart because of what I said, are you? Are you reliable enough for crucial decisions with such a weak mentality?"

The AI delivered the chair, and Bai Xianya, with grace, grabbed it and smashed, smashed, smashed!

"Bring another, even sturdier!"

Bai Xianya, using the costly font she paid three hundred Starshields for, sent again, "What’s with the logging in and out?"

DING-DONG, the reply came, "I just said a couple of things and you keep changing. So indecisive, little comrade. As a strategist, you should stick to your judgment..."

"That’s enough!" Bai Xianya didn’t even finish reading before she shut it off. "What’s with this logging on and off, what are you trying to do?"

"Nothing much, just checking to see if you were around."

"’I knew it, I’ve found you out,’" followed by a string of [Smug]+[Success]+[Saw Right Through You]+[I’m Such a Little Smarty] emojis!