Chapter 2: Special Service

Chapter 2: Special Service

The camera was aimed below the neck, focusing on the keyboard.

Positioned in the gaming section of the live stream, there was a slight preference for new streamers in terms of traffic, and people gradually started to fill the live room.

Chen Bai took a quick glance around before starting a new game.

Having played two rounds earlier, he remembered the controls. Though not entirely smooth, his performance was no longer as poor as before, where his character would almost immediately die upon landing, moving about aimlessly on the map like a living maggot.

A squad of five split into two groups, the first three floors departed merrily together, while he, the fifth floor, moved in tandem with the fourth.

The fourth floor was a chatty young man, his character flamboyant and colorful, serving as a moving target that was equally flashy.

Chen Bai, still in the midst of recovery, paired up with someone whose maneuvers were just as peculiar. In a peculiar sense, they were a perfect match.

Though his current rank is low, his historical performance is commendable. Following a unique matchmaking system, the opponents they faced this round were formidable. However, through sheer luck, the duo managed to survive into the latter stages of the game.

All five members of their squad persisted, wreaking havoc in the latter half of the game, slaughtering recklessly.

The trio in charge of wreaking havoc was now in trouble, leaving the two of them to squawk and carry on.

Hunkered down inside a building, Noobs squealed amidst the incessant gunfire outside as Chen Bai continued to practice controlling his character, repeatedly picking up and putting down the gun he had found along the way, all while facing the wall.

The cacophony of gunfire outside contrasted starkly with the stillness within the building, creating two distinct worlds. Despite the chaos, the two could still exchange banter and idle chit-chat. Chen Bai even managed to sneak a peek at his live stream chat.

Surprisingly, there were quite a few viewers, significantly more than when he first started.

However, these people weren't tuning in out of anticipation for any spectacular moves from him; they were merely curious about how long the duo could survive purely on their outrageous luck. Some commenters in the live chat speculated that they would be eliminated before the final circle, confidently betting a Golden Bean—a small gift on the platform that wasn't expensive but perfect for placing bets.

Chen Bai continued to aimlessly point his gun at the wall, pausing momentarily to say, "A big thank you in advance to the friend who sent the Golden Bean."

His words might as well have been blessed.

After thanking the Golden Bean prematurely, their trio of mayhem-makers entered unfavorable terrain and were promptly taken down, leaving no chance for rescue. The five-man team was suddenly reduced to just two.

They couldn't hide in the building any longer. They had to venture out. Even someone as carefree as Noobs couldn't help but feel a bead of sweat trickle down his back.

They moved from one building to another, just outside the designated final circle's perimeter.

Judging by the gunfire earlier, there should be someone lurking nearby. The toxic zone began to slowly shrink; staying put meant certain death, and venturing out risked being sniped.

The live-stream audience unleashed merciless mockery, with screens filled with "LOLs."

Chen Bai calmly looked at his good teammate and said, "Bro, we're friends, right?"

Noobs affirmed it with certainty.

"It's like this," Chen Bai said, "could you, friend, step outside for a moment?"

The noob guy, though puzzled, stood out bravely.

And, as expected, it was swiftly defeated.

There were two gunshots that rang out.

A sound from an enemy hiding nearby, another from Chen Bai; the system notification for a takedown echoed through.

"What happened?"

"Just took a sip of water, what went down while I was away?"

The situation was straightforward.

As the enemy locked onto noobs, Chen Bai, guided by sound and the minimap, swiftly redirected his aim and executed a flash shot. The moment noobs hit the ground, so did the enemy, in a one-for-one exchange.

In essence, he used noobs as a living target, achieving parity in the exchange.

"How cunning this human is!!"

"So cunning, yet oddly charming."

"It's hard to believe the one pulling the trigger is the same person from before [Confused Cat Face.jpg]."

"Farewell, noobs. Choose your friends wisely [Pat on Shoulder.jpg]."

Fortunately for noobs, there's no need for a farewell just yet. With no enemies nearby and the safe zone within reach, there's no rush to move. He's been revived, managing to survive into the final circle.

While helping the noob up, Chen Bai glanced at the lower left corner of his screen, thanking the viewers who had sent gifts with professional courtesy.

Rising again, the noob didn't feel deceived; instead, he felt like he'd found a unique purpose—transforming from a flamboyantly incompetent player into an equally flamboyant decoy, a role he played to great effect repeatedly.

Before entering the final circle, the noob fulfilled his mission and retired honorably.

Perhaps due to the noob's sacrifice, the final round was won with unprecedented ease. In a clash between two teams, one player died, another was injured, and while Chen Bai chatted with his viewers, he finished off the wounded player, securing a kill.

Even as the "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" screen appeared, many in the live stream were still puzzled about how such a disastrous start led to victory.

Confused by this match, they stayed on, watching several more rounds, only to become even more perplexed.

This player seemed incompetent, yet his headshots were impressively accurate. To call him skilled, however, felt odd, considering he had managed to blow himself up with a grenade—a display of high-level incompetence.

Despite the chaotic nature of each game, today's victories were achieved through a combination of his own skills and teamwork, resulting in a perfect win streak. By the time the stream ended, the viewers were still unsure if this player was genuinely talented. It wasn't until the unseen face in the video said goodbye for tomorrow that they realized they had spent over two hours engrossed in the stream.

After bidding farewell, Chen Bai received a few more gifts, which he thanked the senders for collectively before going offline.

The moment he signed off, he leaned back against his chair, tilting it slightly and slowly rotating his wrists.

Today was just a trial broadcast; it hasn't been long since the stitches on my hand were removed, so I couldn't hold on for too long, hence the short stream. But the earnings were decent for a new broadcaster, exceeding expectations.

After leaning back enough on the chair, he leaned forward again, refocusing his gaze on the computer screen where he noticed new messages in the backend. Before opening them, he casually changed the default ID to "Erbai".

The messages in the backend were from the platform, inquiring about signing a contract. He swiftly typed a few words in response.

During the days it took to finalize the contract with the platform, Chen Bai continued to stream on schedule every day, stabilizing his streaming hours at night and into the early morning.

Finishing late at night meant sleeping in, leaving him feeling like a wandering spirit when he rose in the morning. Out of his three meals, breakfast was the only one not prepared by himself.

Another morning of oversleeping, the weather was good, and when the person lying in bed woke up, what he saw with his eyes open was the sunlight illuminating a corner of the blanket.

Squinting, he sat up in bed, shuffled to the bathroom in a pair of slippers for his morning routine, then threw on a coat after finishing up. With that, Chen Bai stepped out of his door.

Downstairs was a breakfast shop, now past its peak hours, there weren't many people around. He bought two buns in hand, then headed to the locksmith shop just next door, bending down to fish out his keys to unlock the door.

This was his landlord's shop. After returning from the hospital previously and having a chat, his landlord found out that he was working nights at the moment. It turned out to be perfect timing as it allowed him to work here during the day shift. Normally, he only needed to sit in the shop during his free time, taking on business as it came.

The trade turned out to be surprisingly easy to pick up. He spent some time obtaining his professional qualification certificate, and then went straight to work. When there was work, he worked; when there wasn't, he sat in the shop looking for new job opportunities. Occasionally, someone would ask for his contact details, and he'd readily pull out the QR code for the work number printed by his landlord, which had remained unused by anyone thus far.

As the afternoon waned and passersby dwindled, Chen Bai closed his shop before the elderly folks who had been shopping for groceries at the market returned home. He purchased ingredients for tonight's and tomorrow's dinner, then headed back with his haul.

Brother Supporting Character wasn't one to cook for himself; his kitchen was barren. Since returning from the hospital, he'd acquired some essentials, making it less spartan. Now, he could stir-fry dishes and boil rice.

Dinner concluded around the usual time, he washed the dishes, dried his hands, and turned on his computer.

As the screen illuminated, he glanced over and noticed that his regular medication, left aside, was running low.

It was still early, and the nearby pharmacy should be open. Without further ado, Chen Bai grabbed his phone and keys, donned his jacket, and stepped out.

The pharmacy was indeed open, and his medication was in stock, a common variety.

After parting with over a hundred dollars, he walked through the chilly night breeze with his medicine, feeling a pervasive chill throughout his body, his eyes half-open as they surveyed the path ahead, pupils subtly shifting.

In this old neighborhood on a bitterly cold evening, someone else was walking alone, just like him, entering one of the adjacent residential buildings.

It was the very building where he lived.

Ascending the stairs, the sound of footsteps multiplied from one to two, and then back down to one again.

Ascending the stairs, Chen Bai, one hand carrying medicine, lifted his gaze and saw a figure standing at the end of the staircase, having halted in their steps. A man, clad in a black overcoat with the brim of his hat pulled low, stood precisely before the door adjacent to his own.

This individual seemed to be his elusive neighbor, whom he had never met face-to-face. Even Brother Side-character's memory did not hold this person, suggesting that they were not a frequent resident.

Pulling out his keys to unlock the door, Chen Bai casually inquired, "Friend, have you forgotten your keys?"

The man standing beside him had a sharp jawline and exuded an icy aura; he was a man of few words, simply replying with a curt, "Yes."

Chen Bai, whose heart was already colder than ice, felt no chill from the man's demeanor. His eyes instantly lit up upon hearing the response, and he swiftly entered his apartment, shutting the door behind him.

Silence once again enveloped the hallway.

Xu Sinian glanced at the tightly closed door before lowering his head to retrieve his phone.

This was the house bestowed upon him by his grandfather. He had come here to search for something to keep as a memento, as his keys were likely left in the lounge at the filming location.

Given the distance between the lounge and here, he could only ask his assistant, who was still on set, to locate the keys. He would have to return another time.

A soft click echoed through the air as the door latched shut.

The moment before the number dialed on his phone could connect, the door next door, which had already been shut, swung open once more.

A beam of light seeped through the crack, and a face that Xu Sinian had just seen reappeared, beaming with sincerity and warmth:

"Friend, need a special service code?"

Xu Sinian glanced over and saw the dazzling eyes beneath the disheveled hair of the person opposite him, as well as the slender collarbone peeking out from under their thin coat. Unconsciously, his eyebrows furrowed.

Before he could decline, the person standing by the door produced another small booklet from somewhere, proclaiming, "Professional locksmith services, registered with the police, quick and worry-free!"

The tone was brimming with passionate announcer-like enthusiasm, a perfect imitation of a sales advertisement.

The small booklet was a professional locksmith qualification certificate.

The "special service" referred to was house call locksmithing.