In the early morning, the sky wore a gloomy veil, with a gentle drizzle tapping lightly on the windowpane.
Chu You was jolted awake by the persistent buzz of a mobile phone. As he picked it up and checked, the screen displayed notifications of various banks transferring funds into his personal accounts.
It appeared that the business empire his parents had toiled to build was slowly unraveling under Chu You's watch.
Chu You stared at the phone screen for a moment, feeling a growing sense of unease. He took a deep breath and rose from his bed.
When he entered the kitchen, his gaze swept across the brand-new cabinets, untouched by the scent of cooking. Chu You opened the refrigerator, revealing an array of fine champagne and cold beer, but not a single vegetable or even an egg in sight.
In a world that had fallen on hard times, this aristocratic young man had picked up many skills, including the art of cooking.
Chu You let out a small sigh; some habits were hard to shake.
"Why not buy some vegetables at the market?" Chu You pondered the idea and found it somewhat amusing.
Now that he was experiencing the ordinary, perhaps he should let this semblance of normalcy continue. After all, it might help ease the anticipation building up within him until the game's official launch.
With these thoughts in mind, Chu You stepped out of the door. The surroundings, the scenery, and the villas all seemed simultaneously strange and familiar. Chu You made his way to the garage, where he activated the fingerprint reader. Slowly, the garage door ascended.
Inside rested a Königsegg Duke, a model so rare that only ten existed in all of China.
Should he really drive this car to buy groceries?
As the engine roared to life, it emitted a fervent energy, akin to a dormant dragon awakening from its slumber and letting out a resounding roar.
After configuring the settings, this attention-grabbing super sports car slowly pulled out of the villa.
Whenever he encountered pedestrians along the way, their attention was invariably drawn to the car!
As the Königsegg gracefully merged into the bustling street, its speed steadily increased. Chu You handled this car somewhat unfamiliarly, yet with the touch of a true aficionado.
When Chu You floored the throttle, the car's four exhaust pipes erupted with a powerful rush of air, propelling it forward.
Time passed swiftly, and when Chu You returned to the villa, it was already noon. He parked the car in the garage, retrieved a plastic bag filled with various vegetables and meats from the passenger seat, and headed back inside.
While still at the vegetable market, Chu You received a call from customer service, notifying him that his exclusive high-end game cabin for "Tian Shi" had arrived at his doorstep. Chu You remotely disabled the home's security system, allowing the installer team to set up the game cabin.
Upon entering the spacious, sleek, and elegant bedroom, Chu You's gaze instantly fell upon a sci-fi-style game cabin.
This contraption couldn't be more familiar. Chu You had spent countless days and nights here in the past.
With everything prepared, Chu You reclined inside and initiated the process of linking his identity.
"Collecting information..."
"Human DNA identified..."
As the last task was completed, the scene abruptly shifted. Chu You found himself on the wall of a grandiose skyscraper, peering down at an army below that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. He observed their well-ordered formations, the palpable aura of violence, and the resounding beat of a war drum. A surge of excitement and bloodlust coursed through him.
A powerful voice resonated from the heavens, declaring, "Chu You... Your presence here is tied to the threads of destiny."
"Ah! The ancient sacred crown of the great emperor still lies untouched. Are you prepared for your coronation?"
Just then, the tone shifted, and an icy, inhuman voice from the system spoke, "Please choose your character's name..."
"Silent Nocturne," Chu You softly replied.
"Naming successful. This will be your exclusive name and account in this game."
"At 10:00 on September 28, 2187, 'Tian Shi' will officially commence. There are still 6 days remaining. Please be patient..."
At that moment, the game automatically closed, and the seamlessly integrated gaming pod retracted slowly from above, casting a gentle, faint blue glow around it.
Chu You rose from within the pod, savoring the long-lost sensation. With an eager stride, he approached the computer and accessed the official website.
At this moment, Chu You noticed that the top spot on the China recharge leaderboard had amassed an impressive 5 million recharges. The player's name: "Wego is rampant." Chu You recalled this individual as the President of the Long Shou World Association, a formidable figure in his forties, and a renowned and powerful character within the game.
In the second position, a player had recharged 3.5 million yuan. The name, "Cun Mang Huan," left Chu You puzzled, as he couldn't recollect who this person was, making their presence quite unfamiliar.
As Chu You observed the fluctuations in the recharge leaderboard, it was evident that the top-ranked solo player sensed a growing threat from the second-place contender, resulting in an intense battle of recharges between the two.
Chu You took a deep breath, realizing that the moment to determine his destiny had arrived. He clicked into the recharge page, and a prompt appeared, asking, "How much would you like to top up?"
Upon seeing that the maximum recharge amount was limited to 100,000, He couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. With time running out, He knew he had to recharge quickly.
Chu You swiftly entered the number "100,000" and promptly confirmed the transaction.
At that moment, an SMS verification code appeared on his phone. Chu You entered it meticulously and then pressed the "Enter" key.
"Recharge successful!"
Chu You's eyes remained fixed on the screen as he continued...
...
An hour later, he glanced at the time and realized he had already recharged a total of 3 million yuan. He shook his head, realizing that lunch would have to wait for another day.
Another glance at the ranking list, and the first place still stood at 5 million. Chu You smiled slightly. He had opted for a hidden approach, which meant that regardless of how much he recharged, he wouldn't appear on the recharge list.
He was determined to maintain a low profile, to avoid drawing attention. If people were to discover how much Chu You had invested in a game that had yet to officially start, it might have unforeseen consequences on the course of history.
Because the amount Chu You intended to recharge would undoubtedly astonish everyone.
Continuing on...
At 1:30, Chu You had cumulatively recharged 4 million...
By 2:30, Chu You's total recharge amounted to 6 million...
At 3:30, Chu You's cumulative recharge reached 9 million...
And at 4:30, Chu You's total recharge had surged to 14 million...
"No, I'm genuinely hungry," Chu You declared as he sprang from his seat and rushed to the kitchen to prepare some noodles. He couldn't help but notice that this brand-new kitchenware was being used for the first time by its owner.
Consider ordering takeaway? To be frank, Chu You had no inclination to consider other options at the moment. When hunger struck, his immediate response was to cook his own meal. This had been his routine for several years during the difficult times in his previous life.
"So, some habits are just hard to change."
After hastily finishing his noodles, which had a rather bland taste due to the absence of seasonings or appetizers, Chu You returned to his computer. Realizing it was going to be an all-nighter, he decided to call his life assistant.
"Xiao Zhou, please help me buy some medicine, it's the kind..."
After hanging up the phone, Chu You resumed his activities.
At 7:30, Chu You's cumulative recharge reached 20 million...
The doorbell rang with the sound of 'Ding-Dong,' and Chu You opened the video feed to find an elegantly dressed woman, approximately in her mid-twenties, standing at his doorstep, carrying a bag with poise.
This woman was Chu You's life assistant, and a hint of complexity flickered in Chu You's eyes. He pressed a button, and the door opened automatically.
A short while later, a knock echoed from the room where Chu You was located...
"Come in."
The bedroom door swung open, and Chu You paused his work, swiveling in his leather chair to face the woman who had entered.
Truth be told, this woman had a striking appearance, exuding an alluring charm. She was personally handpicked by Chu You to serve as his life assistant.
She smiled at Chu You, saying, "Boss, I've brought what you asked for." Her voice was melodious and held a captivating allure, making it tempting to just sink into bed.
"Place the items over there," Chu You replied casually, his demeanor notably light. He didn't say much after that.
The assistant set the bag down, and a subtle sense of unease crept into her thoughts. She couldn't help but feel that Chu You was acting rather differently from his usual self at this moment.
"Boss, is there anything else?" the female assistant inquired.
Chu You lowered his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he shook his head, then glanced at the assistant. "No, you can go."
Sensing Chu You's coldness, the assistant nodded, her gaze downcast, and she left the room. As she passed by the kitchen, a delightful aroma wafted through the air, piquing her curiosity.
With her experienced eye, she quickly discerned that the kitchen utensils had been used, despite being brand new just before. This discovery left her intrigued.
The stunning female assistant glanced back at Chu You's door with a puzzled expression before departing, her thoughts swirling.
Watching the video feed, Chu You saw the assistant leave the villa. He couldn't help but let out a sigh, shaking his head, and resuming his recharging spree!
By 10 o'clock, Chu You had cumulatively recharged 37 million...
And the process continued!
It was now three o'clock in the middle of the night, with tranquility surrounding the night. Chu You massaged his sore neck, his head throbbing as fatigue began to take its toll.
At this moment, Chu You had amassed an astonishing 75 million recharges.
To onlookers, this seemed insane. Anyone with a typical IQ would never engage in such a pursuit.
Only Chu You understood that if he didn't recharge these astronomical sums onto his card in these few days, once the game commenced, recharging would no longer be an option. The main brain would automatically awaken, rendering his money worthless. There would be no second chances.
The excruciating pain was not something Chu You wished to experience a second time.
Overwhelmed by drowsiness, he struggled to keep his eyes open. It had been a while since Chu You had stayed up all night. Glancing at the assistant's purchase, he decided it was time to use it.
The purchase was a vial of green liquid medicine. Chu You poured this expensive elixir into a bathtub filled with warm water, undressed, and then slipped into the tub.
This remedy was a costly but effective solution for relieving physical fatigue, with rapid and potent effects. However, it couldn't be used frequently.
When Chu You returned to his computer, he felt revitalized, free from any signs of fatigue.
Unbeknownst to him, the morning bird's cry resonated outside.
Chu You lit a cigarette, a rare indulgence for him. Even in his previous life, he wasn't a heavy smoker, but he occasionally enjoyed one.
A glance at his recharge records revealed that he had amassed an impressive 130 million.
Chu You had never kept track, so he remained unaware that this 130 million exceeded the world recharge list by 50 million.
With still five days remaining before the game's online launch, he felt the need to make the most of his time. He gazed at the early morning scenery beyond the window and flicked the ciggerate butt away.
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