1...2...3...
The round has begun.
While Chen Jingyun was enjoying the sound of aggressive button hits being on the same wavelength of rhythm as the song, she enjoyed more watching how people raced against themselves for a perfect score. In this case, the people would be Li Minghao and Fu Wang.
Fu Wang was obviously focused, hitting all the notes in a timely manner, earning 'perfect' all over his score screen. It was quite impressive as the range of patterns and random hooks on the song, could trick and throw off even expert players.
As for Li Minghao, he seemed to take a laid-back approach... or at least that's what his demeanor showed them. In-game, he seemed to go all the way, not a note was missed! He was performing even better than he did on the easy mode!
"Look at him... is he really a newbie?"
"He must be... why would anyone play easy level if they already know how to play like that?"
"Maybe he was warming up?"
Tilting her head, Chen Jingyun looked intently at Li Minghao's screen. It was true. The guy wasn't missing any note! In fact, he seemed to be almost in synch with the machine as his hands seemed to move so calmly and in harmony. It was as if he played the same song over and over again he knew the patterns well.
But Chen Jingyun knew that wasn't true.
She bets Li Mignhao has never touched this kind of game before!
Hmm... She will ask his secret later. Maybe she can pull it off too...
When the round came up to an end, Fu Wang was surprised at the scores. No, not his perfect 'SS' grade on the screen... but the S grade on Li Minghao's screen.
How did Li Mignhao do it? Was he a pro since the beginning?
No... no. Why would Li Minghao bother to go through the tutorial for no reason? He must be a newbie...
Or not?
Gah!
This guy confused him more than Chen Jingyun!
"You are a natural at this game." Fu Wang chuckled awkwardly.
But Li Minghao was cool and humble, waving his hand in disagreement.
"You flatter me."
"Shall we?"
Li Minghao only nodded.
Without Fu Wang having to ask her, Chen Jingyun stepped up and went to scroll through the song list.
"Oh! This is a classic!" Chen Jingyun chirped up when she found that tune.
"That one is one of the hardest songs on the game..." Fu Wang instinctively mumbled when he saw the song title. He still hasn't perfected it.
"It can't be that bad!" Chen Jingyun laughed as she stepped back into the crowd waiting to play.
How different can it be from other songs?"
Despite his comment, Fu Wang still chose the hard level.
And unsurprisingly but surprisingly, Li Minghao also chose hard level.
This time Fu Wang was not quick to dismiss Li Minghao, but... he still held his reservations.
He really didn't think Li Minghao could possibly pass a hard-level song, but he'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Once again, another round was starting, and the two of them found themselves wrapped in the game.
This time Li Minghao was not as calm and harmonized as before, he seemed like he was hurrying to meet the notes. He wasn't having a good start. The tempo was way faster than he had anticipated.
As for Fu Wang, he had a good start. He already played this song quite a few times so he would not be surprised by the drive-by notes at the start. For him, that was a piece of cake. What he was preparing himself for was the middle of the song. That's where the notes jumbled together in a quick string making your hand-eye coordination into a pretzel. This was the most crucial part of the song or else you would be eliminated as missing most of the notes would make you get into the death zone of the game.
It was here.
The middle part of the song.
Biting his lips, Fu Wang went on full concentration mode, his blue eyes were wide and his mind went blank. His mind memorizing the patrons as he completed them in a live fashion. He didn't even have time to actually pay attention to what patterns were being played.
Nonetheless, it functioned, he passed the middle part, the rest of the song was going to be a walk in the park.
Only... if he hadn't glanced at Li Minghao's screen.
How was he still alive in the game?
Crap! He broke the combo.
Unknowingly, Fu Wang had ruined his perfect score that could have set his name on the worldwide table score, just because he wanted to spy on the other.
At the end of that round, both of them were still eligible to continue playing. However, Li Minghao shook his head and said he was bored. Fu Wang had his palms red from all the playing so he also decided to step off. As for their ongoing games, the next in line took advantage of it.
"How did you do it?" Chen Jingyun asked as they walked away from the crowd.
"Do what?" Li Minghao arched his brow.
"I mean, isn't this your first time playing this game?"
"Yes."
"Then how come you are so good at it?"
"It is simple. You just have to play the tutorial, it explains everything, really. Li Minghao was monotone.
"But you just played the highest level of difficulty and got an 'A'!"
"It is just an 'A'." Li Minghao blinked innocently. "Fu Wang got an 'S'. Compliment him instead."
Despite being noticed, Fu Wang had different feelings.
Just an 'A'? Fu Wang cried.
That A was worth weeks of gameplay!
(╯'□')╯︵ ┻━┻
Whatever, let's just play something else.