At the distribution station for the game watch, there was already a long line when Fang Yue arrived. He felt like all hope was lost.
"Can I even get the watch if I line up here?"
The game Blue Ocean was scheduled to start tonight, and if he could not get his hands on the watch, he would have to wait for the next batch.
Based on his previous experience with other games, if he started slower than other players, it would be difficult for him to catch up. He actually hoped to earn money from Blue Ocean.
On the way here, he tried using the parchment for all kinds of predictions such as buying the lottery or manipulating shares. However, the parchment did not react; not a word appeared on it.
Fang Yue tested all kinds of methods to activate the parchment, but it seemed like it only reacted to a certain event, which concluded Fang Yue's delusional thoughts of getting rich overnight.
He got the number from the machine and queued up at the end of the line.
Anxious, Fang Yue took the parchment out again. This time around, words started to appear.
[I queue up like everyone else.]
[The line moves slowly.]
[When it finally gets to my turn, the watches are all sold out.]
"So, I don't get to buy the watch?"
Anxiety rose in Fang Yue's heart. The words were then replaced by another new line.
[I don't want to wait anymore, so I cut the queue.]
[Someone notices my rude behavior and scolds me.]
[I endure the insults and don't argue with them. I slowly cut through the queue, but the condemns got louder, eventually making me the public enemy.]
[I was beaten up.]
[After being punched and insulted, I break three bones and suffer multiple bruises. I even get to experience a seven-day vacation behind bars.]
[Seven days later, I was released. I finally got the watch, but that meant I'm seven days behind everyone else.]
[I got the watch
"What the f*ck?" Fang Yue reacted with a gloomy expression. "This bloody parchment just can't show anything decent, can it?"
If he queued like everyone else, he would not get the watch; if he cut the queue, he would be beaten up.
"What the heck should I do now?"
As though the parchment could read Fang Yue's mind, new words appeared.
[I ponder the circumstances. Then, I noticed a guy with a cap in front of me. He looks familiar.]
[A quick thought later, I realized that he's a scalper from whom I used to buy scalped tickets.]
[A scalper! I knew it. I get out of the line and talk to him.]
[After a quick negotiation, I got his queue number.]
[Half an hour later, I bought the game watch.]
"There's another way?!"
Surprised, Fang Yue looked around and saw the scalper ahead of him, so he got out of line and walked to the scalper.
"Hey, brother, are you selling your spot?"
The scalper looked at Fang Yue in surprise. "Sharp eyes. How did you know what I am doing? Unfortunately, someone has booked this spot."
"So, it's not for sale?" Fang Yue was a little disappointed. The parchment did not mention anything about a rejection.
"Sale? What are you talking about? The most important thing to us scalpers is reputation! Reputation is important in our industry, and it's worth its weight in gold! Which means…a higher price!" said the scalper.
"Uh…how much are we talking about?"
"10K!"
"HOW MUCH?!"
Fang Yue's eyes almost fell out of his eye sockets. He only had 30,000 RMB in his pocket. If he spent 10,000 on the watch, he only had 20,000 left for his daily expenses and any kind of emergency.
"He must be taking me as a fool, asking for 10K for the spot!"
Fang Yue walked away, but before he left, he paused because new words appeared on the parchment.
[I don't buy from this scalper. Instead, I ask the other scalpers in line, and I get the game watch as well.]
[However, I later realize that the scalper with the cap has the number with the lucky gift.]
[I think about this every night and regret it tremendously to the extent that I cry almost every day in my sleep.]
"The watch with the lucky gift?!"
All it took was a second for Fang Yue to go back to the scalper.
"I'll take it."
After transferring the money, Fang Yue got the scalper's number. He looked at the parchment. Seeing that there were no new updates, for now, he sighed a breath of relief.
The others in line were looking at Fang Yue with a strange look as though they were looking at a fool.
It was normal for scalpers to sell their spots, but the price was ridiculously high in this case. It was rare to see someone willingly pay the scalper such a high price.
Fang Yue turned a blind eye to everyone's prying gaze.
The line moved slowly, and soon it was his turn.
"Miss, I would like to buy the watch."
"Sure."
Now that Fang Yue got what he came for, he left in a hurry.
On the way back, he hailed a ride back to his electric scooter.
He then rode his scooter to the supermarket to buy three boxes of instant noodles. The instant noodles were the rations for his upcoming harsh battle.
Despite not even logging into the game, he had already invested 20,000 in it. His poverty alarm was ringing, which boosted his determination to win the game even further.
Back in Qingshui District, where his apartment was, he ran back to No. 305 on the third floor. It was a 3LDK apartment.
Fang Yue had one room to himself and two other tenants had the other two rooms.
Fang Yue put the boxes of instant noodles in the kitchen before returning to his room. It was then that he heard water noises from the bathroom.
There was a thick glass window in between him and the bathroom, but he was still able to see a blurry slender figure taking a bath.
"W-who is it?"
"It's me!"
The bathroom door opened by a crack, and a cute girl's head popped out. Her hair was wet as she smiled at Fang Yue. "Oh, Yue, you are back."
"Oh, Sister Yuan, it's you. You scared me. Haven't you called someone over to fix your bathroom?" Fang Yue looked rather displeased.
"Hehe, I've been running low lately, so I won't be fixing my bathroom for now. It's the same as taking a bath in your room anyway. Oh, did you get your watch?"
"It's a game watch! The special device for the game, Blue Ocean!"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I have a date later. Let me finish my bath."
Sister Yuan then withdrew her head from the door and shut it. She did not deem Fang Yue an outsider.
Fang Yue could not do anything either. He knew Sister Yuan for a year now. She had been renting the apartment longer than him. She was an outgoing girl and always took good care of him, so the two of them got along quite well.
Sister Yuan's bathroom had broken down lately, so she had to borrow Fang Yue's bathroom to clean up.
Fang Yue was helpless.
They were a young man and a young woman staying together. What if Fang Yue could not hold himself back?
Other than Sister Yuan, the other tenant was the daughter of the landlord, but she barely came back.
Therefore, Fang Yue and Sister Yuan got the large apartment to themselves.
Fang Yue ignored the noise of the shower in the bathroom and went on to tidy his room. He then took the watch out and had a closer look.
The watch looked futuristic. It was silver in color with black as its garnishing color. The centerpiece was a circle that was black at the moment because he had not turned it on.
He put the watch aside and took the parchment out.
[It's almost time for the opening.]
[I am prepared.]
[I log on to the game on time]
"Great, everything is progressing smoothly."
Most of the predictions from the parchment were related to the game, Blue Ocean. Could the parchment love playing games as well?
Bang!
It was then that Sister Yuan finished her bath and came out with a grin. "I'm done, Yue.
Her towel could barely hold her huge breasts in, so Fang Yue did not know where to look. He simply grunted and brushed her off.
Sister Yuan was not concerned either. She teased Fang Yue for a bit before she left. A while later, she left the apartment.
Fang Yue pulled his mind back and patiently waited for the server opening.
Soon, it was midnight. He put the watch on his wrist and logged into the game.
Fang Yue fell asleep. Everything before his eyes went dark before lines of words then appeared in the dark before him.
"Identifying ID…"
"ID confirmation…"
"Retina confirmation…"
"Please select a nickname before entering the game…"
"NightDawn."
Fang Yue used his old in-game name without a second thought. His old ID had a bit of a reputation among pro players, so he did not want to give it up.
The ID represented his personal reputation, and reputation could attract clients.
"ID confirmation…"
"Entering the game…"
"Welcome to Blue Ocean."
Fang Yue entered the game.
At the same time, the parchment on the table started to show new lines of words.
[I'm out!]
[But I'm too weak!]
[Fortunately, I've gained control of some stupid guy!]
[Hahaha, I played that guy like some toy in my palm! He's so stupid!]
[I must use him to help me recover my strength.]
[I must be careful and cautious.]
[This is the last chance for me to turn this around! I cannot afford any more mistakes.]
The words on the parchment then slowly disappeared line by line until nothing was left.