Chapter 143

After breakfast, they got ready, and around noon, Lian Qinglin entered the instance with White Hair and Golden Hair.

Everyone promptly opened the app. The newly added livestream room showed the three of them. Lian Qinglin was already considered a popular player. Within just a few minutes of going live, more than a hundred thousand viewers poured in. His popularity sat firmly in first place by a huge margin. After watching for a while, everyone cast their votes for White Hair, who was ranked near the bottom.

Over the past two days, the authorities had gradually begun announcing information about the Safe Zones. Owen Dong and Pink Hair returned from buying groceries and said that things outside were especially chaotic now.

There was a limit on the number of places in the Safe Zones. Players with over one hundred thousand followers were not allowed to enter. But many of those players had been forced into instances in the first place. If they had a choice, they wouldn't want to continue being players either. Yet the Safe Zones excluded them.

Owen Dong wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's especially bad. Props are flying everywhere, and the streets are full of military personnel. It'll probably stay chaotic for a while."

Fortunately, the authorities had prepared for this situation in advance. Chaotic as things were, the kind of people randomly hacking others to death in the streets like overseas hadn't appeared. The media also kept repeatedly reporting on this great migration. Although players with over one hundred thousand followers couldn't enter the Safe Zones, all of their family members would be protected.

The authorities would not give up control over areas outside the Safe Zones. They would protect ordinary citizens, allowing players to fight without worries, maintain the stable operation of society, and ensure the nation would never fall. This positive messaging quickly calmed the unrest. Of course, when the authorities stepped in to suppress the disturbances, their dazzling variety of props also served as a warning to those troublemaking players.

Compete with props? They couldn't beat the authorities. Compete in numbers? They couldn't beat the military. Gather a crowd to cause trouble? They'd be wiped out immediately. So what was there left to make a fuss about? Just behave. That was the national mentality. Aside from a handful of extremists, everyone still longed for stability.

Tan Manyu sent Li Zhi some good news.

"After the Safe Zones were announced, several cult hideouts voluntarily turned themselves in. Those followers had joined in a moment of hotheadedness after being stirred up by doomsday theories. Now that they've realized they can still return to living normal lives, nobody wants to keep living in constant fear. It'll be very difficult for domestic cult forces to make a comeback now."

That really was good news. At least the chances of running into cult players in future instances would become much lower.

Li Zhi invited Tan Manyu to join their villa household, but she regretfully declined.

"Official players are all assigned by the organization. Otherwise, I'd definitely come stay with you. I especially like the backyard of your house. If you have time, you should put up a swing there. Swinging in the breeze would feel so nice."

Li Zhi hadn't expected Tan Manyu to have such a romantic side.

She laughed. "Sure. I'll go make one in a bit. Come try it sometime if you get the chance."

After lunch, Li Zhi found some tools in the storage room and really did head into the garden to hammer things together. When everyone heard that the boss was planning to build a swing there, they enthusiastically came over to help.

While they worked, they saw the villa district, which had still been desolate a few days ago, become bustling with activity as wave after wave of people moved in.

Just as Li Zhi had predicted, the area around the Free Zone had become a highly sought-after location. Any player with even a bit of money had moved over here. Quite a few players recognized Li Zhi, and after their initial shock, began whispering among themselves.

Owen Dong hammered a wooden stake into the ground and quietly said to You Jingmeng, "See those people over there? They look sneaky as hell! One look and you know they're no good! We need to stay alert tonight. Who knows what bad ideas they're plotting!"

You Jingmeng replied, "Didn't Boss Zhi use the Black Tortoise Shell to shield this house? It should be fine. With the boss here, would they really dare cause trouble? Stop being so paranoid."

Owen Dong said, "Look at you! Not a shred of vigilance! Dream, with that attitude you'll never become a top player!"

You Jingmeng rolled her eyes at him. Owen Dong turned to seek Pink Hair's agreement. The two of them muttered together about something unknown. After dinner, they disappeared.

Li Zhi sparred in boxing for a while with You Jingmeng and Chi Yi before everyone returned to their rooms. Night had just fallen, and outside, they could occasionally hear the sounds of people moving into their new homes. Li Zhi was video chatting with Li Shuang when loud shouting from Owen Dong and Pink Hair suddenly came from downstairs. It sounded as though they had caught someone.

Li Zhi quickly told Li Shuang she had to go and ended the video call before hurrying downstairs. The first floor was pitch black. Only the front door stood slightly open. In the newly renovated garden, three figures were wrestling together.

The person on the bottom was firmly pinned down by Owen Dong and Pink Hair. When Owen Dong saw Li Zhi running out, he immediately excitedly claimed credit.

"See, Sister Zhi? I told you being vigilant was the right call! Didn't we catch someone?"

Li Zhi spotted a suitcase lying on the stone path, and her temples throbbed.

"Get up! It's Han Wenlin!"

Owen Dong blinked.

"Huh?"

He shifted his round belly aside. The man whose face had been pressed into the dirt twitched like a dead fish, slowly raised a hand, and gave Owen Dong the middle finger.

Ten minutes later, Han Wenlin sat on the sofa in the first-floor living room looking filthy, with dirt even inside his nostrils. The garden had only just been renovated. Li Zhi had planned to scatter flower seeds there tomorrow. Fortunately, it had only been renovated and not yet fertilized. Otherwise, there would be more than just dirt on Han Wenlin's face now.

Owen Dong said awkwardly, "Sorry, brother. I didn't know it was you... I thought you were a thief."

After a pause, he added righteously, "But why didn't you tell us you were coming? You didn't even knock! Why were you wandering around outside? How is that our fault?"

Han Wenlin didn't want to speak.

A few days ago, he had received Li Zhi's private message inviting him over for a meal. He had actually been pretty happy. But when he remembered how he'd behaved inside the instance, especially after getting to know what kind of person Li Zhi was, he became awkward about it. After hesitating for several days, he finally made up his mind today.

So what if he came for a meal? They had promised to treat him in the instance. He was simply here to have them fulfill that promise!

So Han Wenlin packed his things and flew over early that morning. Security checks between different districts were very strict now. By the time he reached the address Li Zhi had sent him, it was almost dark.

Standing outside the gate, he hesitated again.

Li Zhi had said in her private message that Owen Dong and the others were living here too, and everyone would treat him to a meal together.

Although he had joined Li Zhi's team later in the instance, he had always felt like an outsider who had never truly blended into the group. Now the whole team was living together happily, and it felt awkward for an outsider like him to insert himself.

So Han Wenlin stood hesitating at the gate.

Just as he was struggling with himself, two people suddenly rushed out and pinned him down. Before he even had the chance to speak, he was greeted with a merciless beating.

The more Han Wenlin thought about it, the more wronged he felt.

He had only come for a meal. They were the ones who had invited him. What was the meaning of this?!

Owen Dong stared at him and suddenly panicked.

"Holy crap, brother, you're not about to cry, are you? Don't!"

Han Wenlin: "..."

He gritted his teeth angrily.

"Who's crying?! Stop talking to me! I don't want to hear your voice right now!"

Li Zhi couldn't help laughing.

"Alright. Stay here and rest for the night first. Tomorrow we'll treat you to a big feast. Mengmeng, take him to the third floor. Any of the empty rooms up there are available."

Suppressing her laughter, You Jingmeng led him upstairs.

Owen Dong looked at Li Zhi with a wronged expression.

"I really didn't do it on purpose."

Li Zhi: "..."

What a headache.

The next day, apparently to apologize, Owen Dong got up early to prepare ingredients. Since they had promised to treat Han Wenlin to a meal, they certainly couldn't be perfunctory about it. Everyone made one of their signature dishes. When Han Wenlin slowly came downstairs, he was stunned by the spread.

After recovering, he said somewhat awkwardly, "This is... quite a feast..."

Everyone happily enjoyed a lavish meal together. That afternoon, they continued tidying up the garden and building the swing. Han Wenlin watched from the side for a while before joining in to help.

Just like that, two days passed, and no one ever mentioned asking him to leave.

On the third day, Han Wenlin couldn't sit still anymore. He ran over to ask Li Zhi,

"So... does that mean I can stay?"

Li Zhi was browsing the forum. She looked up at him.

"Do you want to stay?"

Han Wenlin remained silent for a long time before quietly saying, "I do. This place of yours..." He scratched the back of his head, not daring to look Li Zhi in the eyes. "It's... really nice."

Li Zhi lowered her head again and continued browsing the forum, speaking casually.

"If you want to stay, then stay."

Han Wenlin suddenly didn't know what to say. He had prepared a whole speech to express his loyalty. After a while, he said, "Oh... alright then." He glanced behind him. "I'll go sweep the floor."

Li Zhi nodded.

"Okay."

Han Wenlin scratched his head and went off to sweep the floor. Something about it felt strange, yet at the same time, everything felt perfectly natural.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Lian Qinglin also safely emerged from the instance with White Hair and Golden Hair. Life in the villa became even livelier.

It rained in the morning. Li Zhi had chosen the exact time to enter the instance down to the minute, setting it for one o'clock in the afternoon. That morning, Yao Mingfeng brought over the official player who would be joining them this time. She was a cool-looking young woman with short hair named Xu Yan. From her, Li Zhi could see the same military bearing that Li Feng possessed.

"She's a friend of my brother's," she introduced herself to everyone.

Everyone gathered around Xu Yan with looks of amazement. Unable to resist, You Jingmeng reached out a hand.

"Big Sis, can I feel your muscles? Are you really strong?"

Xu Yan caught the hand she had reached out with and coldly replied,

"Pretty strong. I could take on ten people like you."

You Jingmeng: "............"

Waaah—

There was still one slot left on the official Team Card. Several people started fighting over it. You Jingmeng once again suggested deciding the winner with rock-paper-scissors, but this time Owen Dong absolutely refused.

While everyone was arguing, Han Wenlin quietly sat off to one side playing a game. Suddenly, he heard Li Zhi ask,

"Wenlin, do you want to enter with me?"

Han Wenlin was so startled that he nearly dropped his phone. Pointing at himself, he asked,

"Me? Can I?"

Li Zhi nodded.

"Other than Chi Yi, you have the highest follower count. Your turn to enter an instance should be coming soon."

Chi Yi was already capable of handling things on her own. Owen Dong and the others still had some time before their turns, so waiting until she came back to take them would still be in time. Although Han Wenlin had stayed behind, he had always felt that he hadn't truly become part of the group. Li Zhi had probably noticed that too, which was why she had taken the initiative to offer to bring him along.

Han Wenlin's emotions surged. After a long pause, under everyone else's envious gazes, he abruptly stood up.

"I do! I'll go with you!"

The Team Card successfully bound them together. At one o'clock that afternoon, the three fully prepared people disappeared from everyone's sight at the same time.

Chi Yi immediately opened the app. The little red notification dot in the upper right informed her that a player she followed had started streaming. She clicked the link, and a brand-new livestream appeared before everyone.

The livestream was titled "Butterfly Village."