Chapter 31: Team Up for a Game

Pei Yi truly lived up to his reputation as a master at livening up the atmosphere. After their greetings, the conversation had grown a little quiet, but Pei Yi soon found a topic to enliven the group.

After some chatting, Pei Yi suggested they play a game.

At that moment, Lin Youqi spoke up, “How about a mobile game? I’ve gotten hooked on one lately.”

Lin Lehan perked up with interest, “What are we playing? Count me in!”

Lin Youqi mentioned the name of the game.

Wen Jiu immediately recognized it—it was the same game she’d played with Gu Yulin last time, and she still had it installed on her phone.

Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Lin Lehan, who had to download the game since she didn’t have it yet.

When Wen Jiu opened the app, Lin Lehan casually asked, “Hey, Jiu-jie, you play this game too? I thought you didn’t play games.”

Wen Jiu smiled and replied, “I only downloaded it recently, I’m not very good at it yet.”

As she finished speaking, she looked up and saw Gu Zehuai watching her. Wen Jiu raised her eyebrows, her eyes hinting at the game on her phone.

Gu Zehuai’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Soon, four of them had logged into the game, with only Lin Lehan still waiting for her update to finish.

Barely had they entered the home page when Pei Yi, eager to team up, asked for Wen Jiu’s ID. “Jiu-jie, what’s your ID? I’ll add you.”

No sooner had he spoken than Pei Yi noticed Gu Zehuai had already invited a friend into the room. About to ask who it was, he caught sight of a familiar WeChat avatar and was shocked. “Ah Huai, how do you have Jiu-jie as a game friend?! You two have been teaming up behind my back? That’s outrageous!”

Wen Jiu couldn’t help but laugh, “No, I played with Yuyu last time.”

Gu Zehuai nodded, but the curve of his lips betrayed his mood.

Lin Youqi, rarely seeing Gu Zehuai like this, eyed him thoughtfully.

At the same time, Lin Lehan seemed to sense something was off. Hadn’t Pei Yi always called Jiu-jie his goddess? Why did things seem to have shifted?

Before Lin Lehan could dwell on it, her game update finished, prompting her to restart.

Once in, she skipped the tutorial and added Pei Yi as a friend. Pei Yi pulled her into the team room.

The group launched into the game.

Though Wen Jiu and Lin Lehan weren’t especially skilled, with three strong teammates carrying them, the five won easily.

Quickly, Wen Jiu and Lin Lehan got the hang of the game, growing more adept, and the group’s coordination became increasingly smooth.

After a five-game winning streak, they exited the game.

It was still early. Wen Jiu noticed messages in the company group chat—some colleagues were barbecuing at the leisure area behind the hill and inviting others to join.

Several coworkers tagged Wen Jiu directly. Unable to refuse their enthusiasm, she got up to say her goodbyes.

“You all go ahead and have fun. My colleagues are calling me to join them in the leisure area, so I’ll head off now.”

Pei Yi immediately offered to escort Wen Jiu to the back hill, but Gu Zehuai stood up first. “No need—I’ll take her. They’re all from our company anyway, I should go say hello.”

Wen Jiu looked at him, pondering the sincerity of his offer to greet the others.

Lin Youqi and Lin Lehan, sensing the subtle change in atmosphere between the two, exchanged identical, knowing expressions, as if they’d just discovered a juicy secret.

Only Pei Yi, ever the straightforward one, found nothing odd—he was simply disappointed that he couldn’t accompany his goddess downstairs.

Once outside the private room, Wen Jiu and Gu Zehuai walked side by side, Wen Jiu at a temporary loss for words.

It was Gu Zehuai who broke the silence. “I’ll walk you down and then head back. It’s your team gathering, I won’t intrude—just have fun.”

His words caught Wen Jiu off guard for a moment, but she nodded.

“Thank you for seeing me off.”

Gu Zehuai turned his head toward her, lowering it slightly, his eyes warm. Smiling, he asked, “Any token of gratitude?”