Trafford's Trading Club

602: Chapter 15: Dilemma 602: Chapter 15: Dilemma “Mom made dumplings, Xiaobao!”

Xiaobao, who had just walked out of the bathroom, wiping his wet hair with a towel, heard his mother speaking.

At this moment, his father was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper. “Mom, we just finished dinner not long ago, how can I eat so much?” Xiaobao couldn’t help but laugh.

Xiaobao’s mother said, “Look at you, child.

You’ve been working overtime for several days without coming home.

Eating that stuff at the office every day, is that nutritious?

Eat some!

Look at you, you’re as skinny as a monkey!” “Alright, alright, I’ll eat,” Xiaobao reluctantly agreed, squeezing his mother’s shoulder with both hands, and coaxed, “Who’s dumplings are they?

My mom’s dumplings are unmatched in the world!” “You sweet talker!” Xiaobao’s mother laughed and scolded, “When will you use that mouth of yours to deal with girls?

Then I can relax!” “Uh…

Dad?

It seems like we haven’t had a game in a while, right?

How about we play a round?” Xiaobao laughed and sat down, hurriedly retrieving a chessboard from under the coffee table.

Xiaobao’s mother stood with her hands on her hips and said, “You brat!

I’m talking about serious stuff!

What happened to the daughter of the court director I introduced to you last time?

It seems like there hasn’t been any news?” “Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Was there such a thing?

Oh!

I remember, there was such a thing…” Xiaobao laughed it off, dealing with it all the way through.

Not until it was past ten o’clock did Xiaobao escape back to his room, let out a sigh of relief, and lay down on the bed.

But as a seasoned gaming enthusiast, Xiaobao found that his own bed strangely felt unfamiliar, as if he couldn’t get settled…

After a while, feeling inexplicably restless, Xiaobao scratched his head vigorously, and crawled in front of the computer.

He was surfing the internet, munching on sunflower seeds, and browsing through forums to see if there were any new shows worth following… but he still felt somewhat restless.

Had he been too immersed in games recently?

Xiaobao suddenly had this thought—before this, Xiaobao was browsing through posts in a general forum frequented by gamers.

Search, blue sky.

Xiaobao instinctively searched for this name and was quite surprised to discover that there were unexpectedly many posts about ‘blue sky’… and often, where there were posts about blue sky, there was also Qian Yu Xian Rou… as if they were tied together.

This blue sky is truly a legend, Xiaobao found.

First appearing in a game four years ago, known as one of the five tycoons on the entire server, not just a super spender, but also a technical expert who, with the same equipment, dominated a group of devoted gamers.

And Qian Yu Xian Rou was blue sky’s in-game marriage partner—another of the five tycoons.

In about two years, this blue sky had played several games, always using the name blue sky, consistently at the top of the pyramid, with the same marriage partner, Qian Yu Xian Rou.

Later, for some unknown reason, in the last game, blue sky suddenly ended the marriage with Qian Yu Xian Rou and directly deleted the account and disappeared.

For a period after that, until now, Qian Yu Xian Rou has still been active in various games, and just like in Emerald Fantasy, Qian Yu Xian Rou has been frantically searching for blue sky. “Wow… it’s not just Emerald Fantasy; Qian Yu Xian Rou is actually playing five games at once?” Xiaobao looked at the posts from different games, astonished and unable to close his mouth, “This woman, could she have already mastered the art of gaming?”

Based on this situation, the curious and bored gossipers began to discuss these two legendary figures in the gaming world, Qian Yu Xian Rou and blue sky.

Some say the two were married in real life and later divorced.

Some say blue sky was a nouveau riche who abandoned Qian Yu Xian Rou.

Others say Qian Yu Xian Rou is a lonely, empty housewife, while blue sky was just a pretty boy who cuckolded her wealthy husband, leading to revenge in real life.

Some say blue sky has already left the gaming world, while Qian Yu Xian Rou is still immersed in the virtual world, unable to accept blue sky’s departure, constantly searching for her blue sky across different games, unable to move on.

There are many rumors and speculations, but those who claim to be insiders can’t provide any concrete evidence.

The true relationship between blue sky and Qian Yu Xian Rou remains shrouded in mystery.

In the forum, Xiaobao also saw many videos uploaded by players, including battle videos of blue sky in other games.

Curious, Xiaobao clicked to watch and found that this blue sky was indeed the nemesis of non-spenders… the skills were really top-notch, and he especially loved achieving high combos in games with a combo system.

Watching one game where blue sky was crazily achieving record-breaking combos, Xiaobao couldn’t help but think of the non-human scene during the day, when Qianxiu achieved nearly four thousand combos at the Ice Valley entrance in Emerald Fantasy.

It seemed like two figures were gradually overlapping in front of him.

Xiaobao furrowed his brow, instinctively logged into Emerald Fantasy, opened his friends list, found that Qianxiu’s icon was still lit, and casually sent a greeting emoji.

To Xiaobao’s surprise, Qianxiu had set to reject instant message reception and did not display his location to anyone.

As for Qian Yu Xian Rou… not online.

Xiaobao suddenly felt the game had become much quieter, looking at Central Union City, which was sparsely populated because it was nighttime, and felt a sudden sense of aimlessness. “Hmm…”

Xiaobao sat blankly in front of the computer for over half an hour, then sent Qianxiu an email, before logging off and climbing onto the bed to sleep.

But not long after, Xiaobao got up restlessly again, logged into the game once more, and sent Qian Yu Xian Rou an email, before logging off again.

He lay back on his bed, hugged his pillow, and gradually fell asleep. … …

A slight chill made Qianxiu shiver.

When he opened his eyes, he even found some moisture on his eyelashes, surrounded by a white mist that covered all his vision.

He sat up, rubbed his forehead, glanced at the time, and was surprised to realize that he had fallen asleep in such a place for the entire night.

His mind was still very groggy, even a bit painful, probably due to a hangover—but the fact that he had spent so much time at this lakeside bridge in the wild made Qianxiu sigh inwardly.

How much did he drink?

Anyway, the stock of alcohol in his inventory had sharply decreased by more than half. “When did he leave?”

Qianxiu looked around.

His head was too heavy, he only remembered meeting a fishing account here yesterday, chatting about some trivial and strange topics before he fell asleep.

There was a system notification of an unread email from Xiaobao, simply asking him where he was.

Qianxiu glanced at it and quickly deleted it, then opened the friends list, looking at the only friend’s avatar, his fingertip slid over the operation interface, approaching the delete option.

This time, however, unlike the past when he would unhesitatingly delete those who intruded into his life, Qianxiu paused.

His finger suddenly moved, causing all the interfaces to disappear, and a bottle of liquor appeared in his palm again, which he opened and drank, ignoring his stomach’s protest. “You’re still here?”

The sound of footsteps came from the wooden bridge, and through the mist on the white lake shore, a figure emerged gradually, getting clearer in Qianxiu’s sight.

Holding a fishing rod in one hand and a basket in the other… It was the little fishing Mage from yesterday: LQ (Luo Qiu). “Do you come here every day?” Qianxiu nodded, casually throwing the empty bottle onto the lake, then he heard some clinking sounds.

Turns out there were already quite a few bottles floating on the lake surface.

They remained motionless on the calm water, but this latest throw created splashes, causing them to collide again.

Had he really drunk so much…

The little fishing Mage sat down in the same spot as yesterday, beginning to bait the hook again, still using Golden Earthworms… Seems like before coming here, the little fishing Mage had dug up a fresh batch of bait? “Well, it’s fine.

Whenever I think of it, I come to fish a bit.” LQ smiled slightly, clutching the fishing rod, “Anyway, the task doesn’t have a time limit.

If I keep fishing, I should be able to catch something, right?”

Qianxiu shook his head, leaned against the wooden stake of the bridge, and said with a dry smile: “This task was encountered during testing, but even by the end of testing, it wasn’t completed.

At that time, almost everyone was involved in discussions about this task in the internal group, and every method was tried, without success.

Give up what needs to be relinquished, why waste time?

Although it’s described by the official as a unique item, it’s not something absolutely necessary.

Some things, no matter how persistent, cannot be achieved…

Why waste time.”

The little Mage pulled the hook that had eaten the bait and continued patiently placing more bait, “Maybe because I have a lot of time?

Besides, since the task is set up and there’s a reward preview, it should be feasible to complete, shouldn’t it?”

Qianxiu remained silent for a while, “Even if facts exist and there are ultimate choices, isn’t there a situation in the world where you can’t proceed even if there’s a road, like when a monkey is trapped in an iron cage on an isolated island, its fate is nothing but death, is there any other outcome?

Even if opening the cage allows it to live freely on the island.”

LQ chuckled: “Such settings are indeed too hard.

The monkey really has no other choice but death.” “Right.” Qianxiu lightly knocked his head against the stake, looking at the white expanse, “Not only is it too difficult, but also too merciless, too cruel.” “Hmm…

Indeed.” LQ nodded.

Both attended to their tasks quietly, after some time, LQ suddenly said: “But what if a key falls before the monkey, wouldn’t it be able to escape?”

Qianxiu laughed softly: “How could a key fall?

The probability is lower than a convict becoming the country leader, isn’t it?

I’m speaking in modern terms, not ancient scenarios.”

LQ chuckled: “You’re quite skilled at setting up such ruthless scenarios.

But what if it happens even in such a situation?”

Qianxiu frowned, eyeing the little fishing Mage, contemplating for a long while before murmuring: “In that case, even if it escapes, isolation on the island awaits the monkey, and eventually still… death.”

The little fishing Mage added new bait, casting the fishing rod anew.

Qianxiu shook his head, not understanding what he insisted on, seems truly like someone with time to burn through such useless endeavors. “The mist has cleared, I should be going.”

Qianxiu stood up shakily… probably an effect of the alcohol.

He looked at the little fishing Mage, “Continue, as you said, since the task is set, perhaps there really is a way to complete it.

Unlike that monkey on the island with a predetermined ending.” “Hmm…

If I catch something, I’ll let you know.” LQ stood up, saying as he looked at Qianxiu.

Is this… farewell?

Qianxiu paused, instinctively chuckling, shook his head, turned away, waving dismissively, “Hope you succeed.

But I won’t be returning here, whether you catch anything or not, it’s irrelevant to me.”

He faded into the lingering mist.

The little fishing Mage resumed fishing.

Soon enough, footsteps echoed on the bridge again, accompanied by a voice, “Master, someone was here?”

Thus the little fishing Mage… Boss Luo patted beside him, “No need to design new algorithms today?”

The maid slightly lifted her skirt, sitting sideways, softly saying, “The algorithm is already completed, Adam can handle the monitoring next.”

Boss Luo smiled: “Your efficiency is always so high.”

The maid said: “Though it’s your command, You Ye shouldn’t leave you alone like this.” “Then accompany me fishing.” Boss Luo laughed, casting the bait, suddenly saying: “Just now, I was stuck with a hard problem.”

The maid blinked, softly replying: “That must be quite a difficult problem.”

Luo Qiu nodded, “It is difficult… for humans.

Oh, finally hooked something… ah, it’s just an ordinary grass carp.”

Throwing the ordinary grass carp bitten onto the hook into the basket, Luo Qiu laughed: “Let’s have fish for lunch?” … …

Lan Kai was having breakfast alone at home, long accustomed to sitting by an empty large table.

At this moment, a servant ran to him in panic, looking frightened, “Sir!

Sir, quick!

Go check!”

Lan Kai rushed to the upstairs room, opening the door he always wanted to open but repeatedly avoided.

At the window edge, Xiao Rou was lying there, her hand dropped along her body onto the carpet, blood continuously flowing from her wrist, staining the white carpet red. “I initially wanted to tidy up the clothes for washing, but when I saw this…”

In fury, Lan Kai roared: “What are you standing there for?

Call an ambulance!

Go!!”

Saying this, Lan Kai frantically rushed to Xiao Rou’s side, lifted her in his arms, face pale, “Xiao Rou… you mustn’t have anything happen!!”

He rushed out of the mansion in slippers and pajamas, carrying Xiao Rou, feeling the world spinning around.