Li Yunxi was genuinely happy for them. In her eyes, they were the perfect match. It was hard for her to imagine them with anyone else. Ever since she met Shao Qi, he seemed deeply devoted to Zhou You. She believed that Shao Qi would always treat Zhou You well on their journey together.

"What are you all doing?" asked Zhou You.

"Didn't you hear? The gaming platform released a notice. The top 100 from the first leaderboard will be assigned a mission, said to be a directive from the central authorities. It's an important and confidential task," Miao Miao explained, glancing at Shao Qi. Seeing Zhou You's bewildered expression, it was clear the leader hadn't informed him yet.

"Luckily, our luggage is still in the car, so no need to unpack," Shao Qi said, pulling Zhou You to sit. He then briefed him, "The mission is confidential. Do not disclose it. The nation has developed a critical satellite. If launched successfully, it will solve our current communication problems. The launch site is located 1,000 kilometers northwest of Yangcheng, in Jiucheng. We must arrive within half a month to secure the site and assist the engineers. The entire process might take about three months."

"Why isn't the military handling such a vital task?" Zhou You inquired.

"The military will be involved, but the strength at each base isn't enough. They have their missions. We're acting as a mobile unit for support, and this is also confidential."

Zhou You, sensing something amiss, whispered, "Aside from mutated beasts, are we also against humans? Are foreign powers involved?"

Shao Qi nodded. "This satellite is crucial. Some information has leaked, and while I'm not sure if anyone has designs on it, we must be prepared."

"When do we depart?" Zhou You asked, thinking of repacking their luggage for a long trip.

"Tomorrow."

Zhou You shot Shao Qi a glance. It seemed like their return had been meticulously planned by Shao Qi, who had kept things under wraps.

Grasping his hand, Shao Qi said, "No need to pack now. Let them handle the supplies. We have urgent matters to attend to," and with that, they left again.

The pair, in their hurry, left and returned just as quickly. When they did, the triumphant and gleeful expression on Shao Qi's face was unmistakable, screaming "ask me!"

They then showcased two red booklets stamped by the Civil Affairs Bureau, blinding everyone with the realization that the couple had officially married in just half a day.

Miao Miao, stunned, struggled to find words. She knew they were an item, had seen the rings, but the marriage certificate was unexpected.

Cheng Yuran, blushing with anger, sat sulking without knowing why.

"Congratulations! You have to treat us, right? When's the banquet?" Long Gan wondered how much he'd have to gift for the wedding feast.

Taking the initiative, Shao Qi stated, "A treat is a must. Let's have a reunion dinner tonight. Once we depart, good food might be scarce."

Zhou You didn't object. Now that they were married, there was nothing left to negotiate. However, he hadn't informed his family and didn't have time to do so in person. So, he sent a picture of the marriage certificate to Zhou Hua Jin.

Zhou Hua Jin was in the middle of hosting some relatives from the Hu family for the Lunar New Year festivities.

Upon seeing the photo Zhou You sent, the glaring word "Marriage Certificate" made him spit out his wine in shock. After a lengthy coughing fit, he felt overwhelmed.

Chapter 165: Departure.

As dawn broke, the gates of Lychee Mansion opened. Two snowmobiles sped out, heading northwest from the base.

It was only last night that Zhou You learned of the high confidentiality of this mission. In the game, everyone used aliases and fake identities. Few, like Zhou You and Shao Qi, were easily guessed, with most of the top 100 players unfamiliar to one another.

Their notifications came separately, with no clear destination or content, only informing them of the rendezvous point and the reward upon task completion.

The handsome reward made it hard for most to decline. That morning, numerous vehicles left the base. Only the news of the Martial Arts University's enrollment was more captivating, overshadowing this departure.

"Damn! Are we being set up? With this weather, isn't this mission basically a suicide mission?" Sang Liwu, who came with Tang Lian, pondered. They decided to check the situation; if they weren't satisfied at the gathering point, they'd return immediately.

"Look, quite a few cars have already stopped ahead," Tang Lian pointed out. The rendezvous was 20 kilometers outside the city on snow-covered roads. By the time they arrived, the sun was already up.

"Finally, some sunlight. Seems like a good day was chosen. Feels like it'll be a great journey," a young man clad in furry leather said, snapping photos fearlessly.

"Hey kid, how old are you?" Sang Liwu couldn't resist asking as he drove past.

The boy looked up, dumbstruck, then hastily took a shot, exclaiming, "Wow, you're Captain Sang! And you... you're Tang Jiu, the former top ranker! I'm so thrilled, haha, to meet so many celebrities. How lucky!"