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nThe first thing that Zhao Lifei did when she left the office was to call Lu Minhong. She'd prefer to tell him the truth first because he would surely find out through third-party sources.

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nHe picked up on the first ring but what greeted her was the sound of loud explosions and gunshots.

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"A squad is coming in from Northwest. Let's just stay in this house and snipe.

" He shouted into his headset, distracted by the challenge set before him.

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nShe raised a brow. Why would he pick up if he was going to continue playing the game?

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"Aw man! I'm knocked out, come and pick me up, hey, hey where are you going?!

" He angrily shouted through his headset. He nearly slammed his keyboard in annoyance when his teammates suddenly abandoned him, forcing him to die.

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"Goddamnit, I was only five kills away from winning!

" He cursed and hit the table.

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"Is this a bad time to call you?

" Zhao Lifei hesitantly asked. She didn't want to tell him the bad news when he was already angry too begin with.

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"Depends on what you're calling me for.

" He grumbled and threw his headset onto his bed. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, annoyed at losing another game. He had played five matches before this one and in all of them, he had lost terribly.

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"Well…

" Zhao Lifei trailed off, not sure if she should tell him the bad news or not.

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nShe thought of a better approach and an idea came into mind.

"Are you busy tomorrow? Want to go out to eat? It'll be my treat.

" She offered. She knew the best way to put him in a good mood was to make sure his stomach was full and that his wallet remained as fat as it was.

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"Why?

" Lu Minhong became suspicious at her offer, his eyes narrowing. He knew she had a hidden motive to suddenly offer to treat him to a meal.

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nShe chuckled.

"Do I need a reason to invite a longtime friend to eat? Don't be so skeptical of me.

" She reasoned over the phone while sticking her arm out to hail a cab.

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"It's skeptical if it comes out of nowhere.

" He said, just as his stomach decided to grumble for food. He tilted his head to look at the empty ramen cups that littered his desk and wondered whether he should maybe eat something healthier.

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"What? Two friends can't suddenly enjoy a good meal together?

" She sounded suspicious, even to her own ears.

"I just wanted to treat you because we haven't seen each other in a while. Plus, you did a really good job on the task I gave you, so you deserve it.

"

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"Hm, I don't know about this.

" He said while getting up from his desk and walking to the fridge.

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"It's free omakase 1, you sure you don't want to come?

" She bribed him by using his favorite food to her advantage. If there was one thing that can move him aside from money and games, it would be his obsession with sushi.

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nLu Minhong opened his fridge and became disappointed when he saw how empty it was. There was a single package of tofu in it and when he pulled it out to examine it, he saw it was expired. Aside from random sauces, nothing was edible. He sighed, omakase sounded really nice right now…

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"Which restaurant?

"

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"Your favorite one.

" She answered in a heartbeat, quickly seizing the opportunity before her.

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"What time?

"

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"6:30 PM. Right before your live stream starts.

"

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nLu Minhong raised a brow. She had everything planned out perfectly.

"You know me too well.

" He pulled out a ramen cup from under his cupboard and filled it with warm water.

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"Of course.

" She chuckled. But she frowned upon hearing the sound of sloshing water.

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"You're eating ramen again? That's not good for you.

" She chided him like an older sister. She had practically watched him flourish into the amazing young man he was today, thus, felt a sense of responsibility in making sure he stays that way.

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"It's better than nothing.

" He closed the lid and waited for it to fully cook.

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"At least add an egg for nutrition.

" She continued to nag just as a cab pulled up right in front of her. She climbed in and told the man her address.

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"There's nothing in the fridge.

" He grumbled, picking up the cup and bringing it into his room.

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"Why didn't you say so earlier? I'm going grocery shopping right now. Want me to pick something up for you?

" She lied, ready to tell the cab to turn the car around.

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nLu Minhong uncapped the ramen, breathing in the heavenly smell of it.

"No need. I'm already eating as we speak.

" He told her just as he loudly slurped up the noodles, nearly burning his tongue in the process.

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nShe sighed.

"Tomorrow, you're going grocery shopping with me. You need some nutrition in your body.

" She scolded and thought of his tall but incredibly lean frame. He was very skinny and pale.

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"Going to the grocery is so much work-

"

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"I'll pay you to go with me.

" She said, looking out the window. She tilted her head upon seeing the unfamiliar street they were driving by. Maybe this was a quick route home?

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"Really? How much?

" He gleefully asked, his eyes lighting up at the idea of making money.

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nShe chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"How does a couple thousand sound?

" There was a fond smile on her face as she teased him.

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"Pft! Just a couple thousand? I'm pretty sure you use a couple thousand as your toilet paper! How about something in the hundred thousand?

"

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nShe laughed at his greedy words.

"If I want to remain rich, I need to be frugal with my spending.

"

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"As if you ever need to be frugal! Your definition of frugal must be spending only a million a day!

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"Hey, hey, in my defense, I'm paying for your dinner. And on top of that, I'm doing grocery shopping for you. I think my kindness should make up for my cheapness.

" She joked, leaning her head onto the window just as a pounding headache kicked in. The scent in this car was really weird…

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"Twenty thousand and then I'll go with you.

" He negotiated, knowing twenty thousand was probably like twenty cents to her.

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nShe sighed at his greed for money, her eyes tiredly fluttering close.

"Alright, fine. Twenty thousand, but you better not complain or whine about the vegetables I pick for you!

" Even with her eyes closed, she was already planning out a list of healthy greens for him.

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"You're the best!

" He happily said and immediately hung up first so that she couldn't change her mind.

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nZhao Lifei tried to sit up but she had become incredibly dizzy. She pressed a hand onto the seat in her attempt but the tiny action of moving her hand drained her energy. She squinted and noticed the air in the car looked foggy…

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"Hey, Mister, can you roll down the window?

" Her words were slurry as she tried to open the window herself.

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nHer heart drummed in fear when she found her body unable to move. She struggled to open her eyes, only to see a strange dispenser near the air conditioner vent. She looked at the rear view mirror and felt her heart drop when she saw the gas mask on the cab driver.

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n'What the hell was going on?' She thought to herself.

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nHe turned the air conditioner to the highest setting which caused more wind to circulate around the car and the strange dispenser blew out more gas.

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nHer eyes grew hazier and within the next few seconds, black dots began to taint her vision. She tried to fight it, but when she blinked, everything turned to black.

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