C4 4
"Is this all you're eating?" Before Liu Chao could react, Wang Qi was already in front of Qu Menghan. He picked up her lunchbox, brought it to his nose, and sniffed, frowning. "Leftovers from lunch?"
"Uh... do you want some?" Qu Menghan did not know how to answer. She looked up timidly and carefully offered him the half bun she was holding.
"Hah. Seriously?" Wang Qi sounded both amused and exasperated.
"Come with me." Wang Qi snatched the bun from her hand, tossed it back into the lunchbox, then grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the classroom. Qu Menghan was too startled by his forceful move to resist. She let him lead her, not knowing where they were going. Wang Qi walked fast, and Qu Menghan had to jog to keep up. As they went, her eyes curved into crescents and she lowered her head, smiling to herself. She did not know where Wang Qi was taking her, and she did not know why he would not let her eat dinner. None of it mattered. All she knew was that Wang Qi was holding her hand as they walked through the school. His hand was large, strong, and warm, gripping hers tightly and never letting go.
Wang Qi did not notice Qu Menghan's quiet, poetic thoughts. He led her straight to the school cafeteria, ordered two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, along with a few large rolls, and found an empty seat. The whole time, Qu Menghan followed behind him like a quiet little wife, saying nothing, only smiling with her head down.
"Hurry up and eat. Once you're full, we can head back for evening study," Wang Qi said as he sat beside her. He put a steaming roll into her hand, then grabbed another and took a big bite. After sleeping all day, he was truly hungry. It was not until Wang Qi handed her the roll that Qu Menghan snapped out of her daze. She stared at the two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, unsure what to do. Honestly, she did not get to eat like this even once a month.
"What are you staring at? Eat up. I've got other things to do later," Wang Qi said impatiently when he saw her sitting there without touching her food.
"Huh? I'll eat. I'll eat. Don't be so harsh," Qu Menghan said, startled by his tone. She pouted, picked up her chopsticks, and reached for the vegetables in front of Wang Qi.
Wang Qi couldn't help but click his tongue at the scene. It seemed overcoming insecurity wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. Wang Qi deliberately placed two servings of meat in front of Qu Menghan, but her first choice was still the two vegetable dishes in front of Wang Qi. "Eat some meat. You're so skinny, like a little carrot stick," Wang Qi said with exasperation. "I... I don't like meat. I prefer vegetables," Qu Menghan replied timidly, looking up at Wang Qi, nearly leaving him speechless. Hey, this little girl, do I really have to deal with you like this? "That's your problem. If you dare leave these meat dishes untouched, I'll spank you," Wang Qi threatened, glaring at Qu Menghan with a mock fierce expression. "Ugh. How shameless, saying things like that," Qu Menghan said, her face turning red at Wang Qi's words. Even so, she obediently picked up the meat in front of her and started eating. She didn't dare to test whether Wang Qi would actually follow through. She knew him well enough to believe he might. Seeing Qu Menghan finally eating the meat, Wang Qi smiled with satisfaction and continued eating with her. Unbeknownst to Wang Qi, all their interactions were being watched by Zhang Wantine and her friend, who were dining not far away. "Wantine, did you see that today? Not only did Wang Qi not get you lunch, but he also ate with another girl," her friend said, pointing in Wang Qi's direction, clearly puzzled. "Who cares? She can eat with whoever she wants. It's none of my business," Zhang Wantine said with a huff, her voice dripping with resentment. She felt frustrated and indignant. In Zhang Wantine's eyes, whether it was looks, charm, or family background, she outshone Qu Menghan in every way. Yet this girl, who couldn't compare to her in any aspect, had taken everything that should have been hers. How could Zhang Wantine, who was always the center of attention, accept that? "Country girl," she muttered under her breath, glaring at Qu Menghan, her tone tinged with jealousy. After a while, Qu Menghan looked at Wang Qi with a troubled expression. "I... I can't eat anymore." She really couldn't eat another bite, but there was still a bit of meat left on the plates. Qu Menghan worried Wang Qi might scold her.
"All right, then go get ready for class. See you tomorrow," Wang Qi said. The threat of a scolding had only been a playful way to get Qu Menghan to eat more, and he had already forgotten about it. Seeing her satisfied smile, Wang Qi felt at ease. He gently ruffled her hair before getting up to leave. "Why'd you take so long? Hurry up. I heard someone scored a rare item, and our whole guild is here to farm monsters," Liu Chao called out as Wang Qi jogged into the internet cafe. Liu Chao was already deep in battle, controlling his warrior character. "You go ahead. I've got something important to do," Wang Qi replied, ignoring Liu Chao's invitation as he started downloading the programming software he needed. With his skills and memories from before, Wang Qi easily got the source code. He flexed his fingers and began typing rapidly on the keyboard. "What are you doing? Come help us get gear. I heard that item sold for thousands," Liu Chao urged again when Wang Qi did not join the game, but Wang Qi remained focused on his task. Liu Chao stopped insisting and returned to his game. With the source code for the Legend Private Server, there were no major hurdles, just some tedious number adjustments. Everything else could be adapted from the Official Server. From around 6:00 p.m. until nearly 10:00 p.m., Wang Qi worked tirelessly, and by then the initial version of his modified Legend Private Server was ready. Eager to see the results, Wang Qi launched his server, created a character, and began the beta test. In the current gaming scene, whether on Official Servers or Private Servers, players often criticized the slow leveling pace. Especially in the later stages, it could take weeks or even months to level up even once, and by today’s standards it was downright frustrating. Wang Qi adjusted the experience multiplier and, wielding a wooden sword, casually took down a deer in the starter village. Instantly, he jumped from level 0 to level 100. Even though he had been prepared for it, the rush was exhilarating. However, Wang Qi knew leveling up was never the main thrill of the game. It was the rare skills and equipment, and the coveted throne of the Castle Lord, that players truly chased after. With a slight smile, Wang Qi continued testing, ready to make adjustments whenever something seemed off."
