"What... what’s going on?"
Shen Xing stared blankly at the bent doorknob in his hand. ’This thing might be made of sheet metal, but it shouldn’t be this flimsy, right?’
He quickly realized something and muttered to himself, "Could it be... because my Attributes in the game increased, my strength in the real world grew too?"
At this thought, Shen Xing’s pupils contracted slightly.
His gaze swept around the room and quickly locked onto the water jug in the corner.
He wheeled himself over, grabbed the body of the jug with both hands, and heaved.
Just like that, he lifted the water jug, which weighed dozens of pounds.
"My strength really has increased!"
For a normal person, lifting a few dozen pounds might not be a big deal.
But because he was paralyzed from the waist down, he could only use his upper body. Normally, even lifting something that weighed ten-odd kilograms was a struggle.
BEEP! BEEP!
His phone vibrated nonstop in his pocket as multiple messages came in from the group chat.
Loves Playing with Coriander: "Holy crap! Shen Xing, Jiayi, this is incredible!"
"I hit Level 3 in the game today, and when I logged out, I suddenly felt my body was full of Power."
"So I went to the gym downstairs to test it out. My grip strength went up to eighty kilograms, and I ran the 100-meter dash in under 11 seconds!"
I Eat and Eat replied: "I felt it yesterday. I used to be gasping for air after climbing two and a half flights of stairs. Now I can carry a package up six flights in one go without even getting winded."
"And on the way, a black dog tried to bite me, and I kicked it into the air, haha!"
Clearly, they had all felt the physical changes brought on by leveling up.
Although the improvements weren’t ridiculously exaggerated, they were comparable to what an ordinary person might achieve after several years of systematic training.
Loves Playing with Coriander continued: "This is awesome! Let’s meet up at the mall tomorrow. My treat!"
"Shen Xing, you just wait at home. I’ll come pick you up in my old man’s car."
He paused, then said mysteriously, "Oh, right, I’ve got something good for you guys too."
I Eat and Eat: "What kind of good stuff?"
"It’s a secret."
"Tch, acting all mysterious. If you’re just messing with me tomorrow, I’ll make you regret it," Xu Jiayi threatened, which was her way of accepting.
Shen Xing was also curious about what "good stuff" Qin Lang was talking about, so he replied with an ’OK’ sticker.
He went to the kitchen, boiled a pot of frozen dumplings, and after eating, lay back down on his bed.
He mentally reviewed the day’s gains, pulled the blanket over himself, and fell into a deep sleep.
...
...
「The next day.」
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice in the early morning.
As summer approached, the daily temperature rose, and the cramped rental apartment gradually grew stuffy and hot.
Shen Xing opened his eyes, looked at the ceiling, then at the glasses on his nightstand, lost in thought.
This was his third day since discovering the game, and he felt like the entire trajectory of his life had changed because of it.
’For now, I don’t know if this change is for the better or for the worse.’
Even he wasn’t sure how long he could last in the game, or if he would be torn to shreds by a monster one day in the future.
But at least, compared to his life over the past few years, these last few days had been exciting.
"The Great Northeast, that’s my home~"
A loud ringtone echoed through the rental apartment.
The moment he answered, Qin Lang’s excited voice came through: "Shen Xing, come down quick! Jiayi and I are almost at your gate."
"Okay, give me a minute."
Shen Xing hung up and deftly got out of bed.
After a quick wash-up, he took his wheelchair downstairs.
He reached the street below his old residential building. By the side of the road, two familiar figures were waiting.
Qin Lang was wearing a casual gray T-shirt and a pair of shorts.
’I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but he seems a bit more muscular than before.’
Xu Jiayi, standing beside him, wasn’t in her pajamas for a change, but she was just wearing a black hoodie and jeans.
Her hair was a mess, and she looked disheveled overall.
However, Shen Xing noticed her skin’s State was a bit better than before—it was fairer, and she had fewer pimples.
Behind them was a Silver Lexus SUV.
"Shen Xing, I’ll push you."
Qin Lang ran over and pushed Shen Xing to the car.
Then, he put his hands under Shen Xing’s arms, lifted him up with ease, and placed him in the passenger seat.
Xu Jiayi folded up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk.
HONK HONK!
The car started and sped down the street.
The early morning breeze wafted into the car, carrying the scent of fresh grass.
Shen Xing leaned against the window, listening to the viral hit "Zood" by Snow Leopard playing on a loop, and watched the pedestrians and traffic go by, a ripple of emotion stirring in his heart.
Soon, they arrived at a nearby mall.
Qin Lang parked in the underground garage, pushed Shen Xing into the elevator, and they went up to the first floor.
Their unusual group attracted the attention of many passersby.
Most of them, however, focused on Shen Xing, surprised by how handsome the young man was, before their eyes fell to his legs with a look of pity.
They paid no mind to the stares and continued on.
As they passed an escalator, a figure staggered off it.
Not paying attention, the person stumbled and nearly fell on top of Shen Xing.
But Qin Lang, with his quick reflexes, caught the person with a large hand and forcefully pushed them away.
"Damn it, watch where you’re going!" he snapped.
The person didn’t speak, merely lifting their head to reveal a deathly pale face, their eyes shot with blood.
They were a middle-aged person in their thirties or forties, wearing a black leather jacket.
Qin Lang was about to say more, but Shen Xing tugged on his sleeve and slowly shook his head.
"Hmph. You’re lucky. Watch yourself next time."
The middle-aged person still said nothing, simply turning and walking straight toward the center of the mall.
The incident didn’t spoil their mood. The three of them continued on, talking and laughing as they entered an all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant.
The server was very enthusiastic and gave them an Introduction to the restaurant’s various signature dishes.
They placed their order and chatted while they waited.
"Qin Lang, did you strike it rich recently? Bringing us to a place like this," Xu Jiayi said in disbelief. "It’s super expensive here. It’s over three hundred per person."
Shen Xing’s and Xu Jiayi’s families were both of average means, so they rarely participated in activities that cost more than a hundred yuan.
"Haha, I did come into some money recently. Farmed a lot of Gold Coins from my old man."
Qin Lang replied with a laugh, then waved his hand. "Let’s not talk about that. Shen Xing, Jiayi, this is for you."
He mysteriously pulled two boxes from his pocket and passed them over.
The boxes were silvery-white and had a premium feel, as if they were plated with silver.
"What’s inside?" The two of them grew even more curious.
"Open them and see. It’s definitely good stuff," Qin Lang replied, still acting mysterious.
Shen Xing and Xu Jiayi exchanged a look, and with a hint of puzzlement, they slowly opened the boxes.
Before their eyes were two glowing orbs of light. Vague silhouettes spun within them, and above them were patterns of two stars.
Inside the left orb was a pale white skeleton with a quiver at its waist, holding a wooden bow.
Inside the right orb was a gray rock with short, stubby limbs and a head on its edges.
"This is... a common Two-Star Unit Nest, Skeleton Archers and a Stone Giant?!" Xu Jiayi exclaimed.