Chapter 39: Bamulei

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“Qingqing, where are you?”

Yang Ying was aimlessly squirted her small water gun. Rather than looking for props, she wanted to find Gu Qing more.

“I’m over here.”

The village wasn't large, and Gu Qing's voice drifted from a distance.

Yang Ying's beautiful eyes lit up with vitality, and she trotted over with light steps.

But as soon as she saw Gu Qing, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

There stood Gu Qing, with two water guns tucked into his waist and two large water guns held in his hands, shouting, “Sister Baby, look how fierce am I?”

“Fierce, fierce, fierce!”

Yang Ying gave a gentle smile and reached out, saying, “Give me one to play with.”

“I'll give you the biggest one.”

Gu Qing handed over a giant water gun.

Yang Ying hoisted the water gun onto her shoulder and struck a pose. “Do I look like Jinx?”

“Jinx?”

Gu Qing picked up the two pistols at his waist and turned his back to her. “Then I’m Lucian.”

“Qingqing, you know League of Legends?”

Yang Ying asked in pleasant surprise, as if she had found a kindred spirit with the same hobby.

“Of course. My skills are actually quite strong,” Gu Qing said casually.

Although in 2015, internet cafes were still filled with the presence of *Need for Speed*, *CF*, and *Dungeon & Fighter*, the popularity of *League of Legends* was already growing in a straight line, beginning a decade-long reign!

It could be said that during this period, any male who played games on a computer had played *League of Legends*.

As a homebody streamer, Gu Qing had been in contact with *League of Legends* since Season 3, playing all the way through the "CrossFire" era. His talent was decent—at a "transcendent" level in the Rift—and in the context of 2015, it was a total mismatch for his opponents.

If the original owner of this body hadn't signed a contract with an entertainment company, Gu Qing might have actually pursued a career as an e-sports professional.

“Really? Then we should play together when we have time,” Yang Ying said excitedly. “I'll play ADC, and you play support for me.”

“No way, my blood pressure would skyrocket,” Gu Qing refused without a second thought.

“Are you looking down on my skills?”

Yang Ying angrily pulled the trigger of her water gun. “I'll shoot you to death!!”

“Piu piu piu...”

“Witness my Holy Light!”

Gu Qing fired both pistols in rapid succession, sending the "Big Baby" scurrying away in terror.

Little did they know, the VJ teachers responsible for filming were finding their affection for the two of them skyrocketing.

Compared to those who went to great lengths to manufacture unrealistic personas like "foodie," "sharp-tongued," or "straight-A student," a "gaming-addicted boy/girl" felt much more relatable to the average audience. At the very least, it felt real!

While things were lively on this side, there was constant combat on the other.

Deng Chao and Chen Chichi teamed up, driving the Red Team's "Double King" duo into a steady retreat.

“Oh no, I'm out of water!”

The ammunition in the small water guns ran out quickly, and Wang Zulan wailed across the field.

“I have water here!!”

Yi Yi made an exaggerated entrance, leaving the men speechless.

“Good heavens, is she that fierce?”

Yi Yi had tucked her water gun into the front of her pants, causing them to think of a certain phrase: "Big-X Cute Girl"!

Unfortunately, the toy water guns Yi Yi had brought weren't filled with any special solution; even if they hit a name tag, it had no effect.

Chen Chichi took the lead, launching an offensive and being the first to eliminate Wang Zulan.

Seeing the situation turn sour, Wang Baoqiang and Yi Yi split up to run.

“Don't scatter! Chase Bao Bao first!” Deng Chao commanded the pursuit.

Before long, Wang Zulan, sitting in the "retirement home," heard the announcement: "Wang Baoqiang is out!"

“This won't work. If this keeps up, we'll be wiped out in ten or twenty minutes. How are we supposed to stretch this episode out?”

The production crew began off-camera manipulation, forcing everyone on the Blue Team to separate so they couldn't attack as a team. Once separated, the Red Team's chances of success increased significantly.

Hai Quan turned into a "lurker," being the first to sneak up and send the "Big Baby" packing.

“Baby, Out! Baby, Out!”

As the show's fixed CP, Gu Qing naturally had to show indignation. “Who—who eliminated Sister Baby?!”

He grabbed a real water gun he found in a corner and searched for the Red Team members in a rage.

“Yi Yi?!”

Rather than Gu Qing finding her, it was more like Yi Yi ran straight into him.

“Little brother, can't you give your sister a break?” Yi Yi pleaded coquettishly.

“Impossible. I said before, I won't hold back!” Gu Qing displayed an iron-blooded demeanor.

Seeing that begging wouldn't work, Yi Yi turned to run. But as she ran, she accidentally ran into a small courtyard, leaving her with no way out.

“You forced my hand!!”

Seeing Gu Qing raise his water gun, Yi Yi became even more aggressive. She lunged forward, wrapping both arms around Gu Qing's waist.

“Aren't you just handing yourself over?”

Confused, Gu Qing reached out from his height advantage and aimed the water gun directly at her name tag, squeezing the trigger.

“Yi Yi, Out! Yi Yi, Out!”

The announcement broadcasted over the speakers.

But Gu Qing immediately noticed something was wrong. *You've been eliminated, so why are you still hugging me?*

After she held on for another two or three seconds, even the crew's men in black came to drag her away.

“I'm not leaving! I'll go down with you!” Yi Yi looked deeply aggrieved, clutching Gu Qing's waist with all her might.

“Damn, she really wants to go viral...”

Gu Qing simply spread his hands to prove his innocence. This was his first experience with the sheer attraction of "traffic"!

As the previous Baby had said, once you become famous, the temptations and challenges of the entertainment industry have only just begun.

……

After Yi Yi was eliminated, only Hai Quan remained on the Red Team.

The recording of these shows was essentially like "filling with water" (padding). Even though three people ganging up on Hai Quan could have ended it, they had to follow the program's instructions and allow two more "kills" to happen.

Gu Qing and Chen Chichi were subsequently defeated by Hai Quan's "sneak attacks."

This left a one-on-one showdown between Deng Chao and Hai Quan.

As expected, Deng Chao emerged victorious!

Hai Quan failed to achieve the miracle of wiping out an entire team by himself.

The rewards for completing the mission were laid out on the table. There was a wide variety: food, drinks, supplies—everything.

“Why are there hoes and compasses here?” Deng Chao hoisted a hoe onto his shoulder, looking like an old farmer.

Baby grabbed a phone, while Gu Qing merely glanced around before decisively taking a bag of alcoholic peanuts. Eating the nutritious meals arranged by the company every day was making him feel like he was starving to death.

“Hahaha, Xiao Gu, you really know me!” Chen Chichi laughed as he took a cocktail provided by the show. “You have food, I have drinks. A perfect match!”

“Not a perfect match, it's—perfection!” Gu Qing and Chen Chichi exchanged a look and burst into laughter.

After a thirty-minute drive, the four of them sat in the car. Old Deng was driving, Chen Chichi was in the passenger seat, and Gu Qing and Baby sat in the back.

“Here, have a drink first.”

Chen Chichi used his teeth to pop the cap and handed the cocktail to the back. Baby took it, but instead of drinking directly from it, she held it at a distance and poured a bit into her mouth.

Gu Qing didn't have such reservations; he took a swig straight from the bottle. It was a pure fruit-flavored drink—he loved it!

A bottle of Rio was quickly finished by the three of them, except for the driving Deng Chao.

“Here, Brother Chichi, Brother Chao.”

Gu Qing tore open the seal and poured a handful of peanuts into his palms, feeding Deng Chao and Chen Chichi in the front seats.

“Tastes good.”

Deng Chao chewed them with a satisfying crunch, feeling very pleased. “We are *fam-lee*!”

“*Fam-lee*?”

At this, everyone burst into laughter. “Brother Chao, it's *family*!”

“Sister Baby, here.”

After the laughter died down, Gu Qing held the bag, preparing to pour.

“Ah~~”

The "Big Baby" opened her small cherry mouth and blinked her eyes, waiting obediently to be fed.

Gu Qing smiled and was about to pour from his palm when his arm was pressed down. Yang Ying pouted, signaling him to use the other hand.

“Here you go.”

Gu Qing switched hands to feed her, and Yang Ying chewed with squinted eyes.

The four of them chatted and laughed, and while dark clouds gathered and strong winds blew outside, it did not affect the warm atmosphere inside the car.

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(End of Chapter)