The girls who hadn't contributed looked disappointed and envious.
Someone secretly clenched their fists.
Next time, I must perform!
I can't be a burden!
Huang Tang looked at them and said seriously, "Tonight proved that you're not just burdens hiding behind me. You can fight, protect yourselves, and protect your companions."
"Even if I'm not around in the future, you'll be able to take care of yourselves when danger comes."
The girls listened, their eyes turning red.
Three days ago, they were just rookies who only knew how to scream.
Now, they had personally killed two merfolk.
This sense of achievement was more thrilling than winning a million!
After dealing with the corpses of eight merfolk, Huang Tang sat on the sofa and opened the World Channel.
It was filled with cries of despair.
[Help!!! Our host was eaten by merfolk! Now they're breaking down the door! Someone save me!]
[We originally had twenty people, now it's just me, a woman... Is there a big shot who can take me in? Three connections...!!!]
[There's a second wave of merfolk, we can't hold on! Farewell, brothers!]
[Does anyone know if there's a third wave? I'm out of ammo and supplies...]
Messages scrolled frantically, each followed by countless "+1," "me too," "save me" replies.
Huang Tang scrolled through, feeling a bit heavy-hearted.
He glanced at the online number.
[Current online users: 7,842,361,549]
A few million fewer than yesterday.
Which meant that tonight alone, a few million more had permanently logged off!
He specifically searched for [Meng Changjun]'s ID, showing online.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
That kid's intel was quite useful, he couldn't die!
The girls gathered behind him, looking at the tragic scenes in the World Channel, their faces pale.
"If it weren't for Huang Tang..." someone whispered.
No one responded, but everyone understood.
Without Huang Tang, they would have long become snacks for the merfolk or been swallowed by the flood like those players.
Huang Tang turned off the World Channel, afraid they'd get discouraged, and clapped his hands: "Alright, go back to sleep. We have to enter the Any Door tomorrow."
The girls nodded and returned to their rooms.
Huang Tang also went back to his room, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
Tonight's battle was won, but it also made him realize that as the house got bigger, defense would become increasingly difficult.
He needed to upgrade to an Eight-story Building quickly and find ways to improve the other girls' combat abilities.
As he was thinking, the door was gently pushed open.
A figure slipped in.
In the moonlight from outside the window, Huang Tang saw who it was.
Jiang Jing'an.
He remembered what Jiang Jing'an said in the morning and smiled slightly.
"You're here?" he said softly.
Jiang Jing'an stood at the door, not moving.
Huang Tang found it strange; wasn't this girl usually very proactive? Why was she so hesitant today?
"What are you doing standing there? Come over," he beckoned.
Jiang Jing'an walked over with her head down and sat by the bed.
"Hurry up," he said, "it's late, and we have to enter the Any Door tomorrow."
...
After a while.
Huang Tang felt a bit strange.
This...
Why did it feel even more awkward than yesterday?
But he was too tired to think much and soon fell asleep.
...
The next morning.
Huang Tang opened his eyes, and the space beside him was already empty.
He got dressed and went out the door.
As soon as he reached the hallway, he ran into Jiang Jing'an.
"Morning," Huang Tang greeted.
Jiang Jing'an glanced at him, blushed, and quickly walked away with her head down.
Huang Tang was stunned.
When did this girl learn to be shy? It didn't seem like her character!
As he was puzzled, someone patted his shoulder.
"Huang Tang brother!"
He turned around, and another Jiang Jing'an was standing behind him, smiling.
Huang Tang was dumbfounded.
"You... who was that just now...?"
Jiang Jing'an giggled, "That was my sister, Jiang Golan! Huang Tang brother, you mistook her last night."
A flash of lightning struck Huang Tang's mind.
"Last night... it wasn't you?"
Jiang Jing'an playfully blinked:
"You just realized? When I went over last night, there was already someone in your room, so I didn't go in."
Huang Tang: "???"
So last night he was with...
"No wonder it felt like a step back overnight!"
Huang Tang couldn't help but cover his face.
Jiang Jing'an gave him a sidelong glance: "You got lucky and you're still complaining! You made a big gain, didn't you?"
Huang Tang thought about it and realized... it wasn't a loss?
"Then why did she run away when she saw me this morning?" he asked.
Jiang Jing'an smiled like a fox: "The little girl is shy. It's her first time, after all. Don't worry, I'll talk to her later."
Huang Tang looked at her speechlessly.
This sister, she really is...
The two went downstairs to the dining room together.
After upgrading to the Five-story Luxury Villa, the dining room was also bigger, enough for more than twenty people to eat together.
As soon as Huang Tang walked into the dining room, a figure rushed over and grabbed his arm.
"Huang Tang brother, over here!"
It was Su Qing.
She pulled Huang Tang to her side, where the table was full of breakfast.
"I prepared breakfast for you, all high-protein!" Su Qing smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, "Sit down and eat."
Before Huang Tang could speak, his other hand was grabbed by someone else.
"Huang Tang brother, breakfast should be light." Liu Lingqing smiled like a fox, "I prepared porridge and pickles, good for the stomach. Come sit over here."
Su Qing's smile froze.
"Liu Lingqing, what do you mean?" she glared.
Liu Lingqing looked innocent: "It's all for Huang Tang brother's good, why are you in such a hurry?"
"I called him first!"
"Whoever calls first gets him? He's been having breakfast with you every day, what's wrong with me having him once?"
Su Qing got anxious and started to play her trump card.
Her eyes reddened, and her voice carried a sob: "Huang Tang brother, do you remember how we had breakfast together from elementary school, middle school, high school... all the way to work?"
Huang Tang paused.
It seemed... that was true?
"Your mom often said to take good care of me," Su Qing looked at him with teary eyes, "and said that when I grew up, I'd be your wife. Don't you want me anymore?"
Huang Tang: "..."
This move was a bit ruthless.
Liu Lingqing was also stunned, not expecting Su Qing to directly use the "Childhood Sweethearts" trump card.
But she reacted quickly and immediately countered: "Su Qing sister, Huang Tang brother has had breakfast with you so many times, what's wrong with letting me have him once? He's not your private property."
"I'm not saying you can't! But you have to wait your turn!"
"Wait your turn? Do you think this is a cafeteria line?"
The two went back and forth, neither willing to back down.
Jiang Jing'an stood by, watching the drama unfold, secretly relieved.
Luckily, she had foresight and was the first to have Huang Tang's...
Otherwise, she'd have to fight with them now.
Cai Lin sat on the side, watching in astonishment.
It had just started, and they were already fighting like this?
What would happen in the future?
She looked at Huang Tang, caught between the two women, and the thought in her mind grew stronger.
She couldn't wait any longer!
If she waited, the opportunity would be gone!
She took a deep breath and was about to make her move when Huang Tang, who was getting a headache from the two women's arguing, sat down beside her.
"Stop fighting," Huang Tang picked up the porridge in front of him, "I'm having breakfast with Cai today."
Su Qing and Liu Lingqing were both stunned.
They had been fighting for so long, and Cai Lin got the benefit?
The two stomped their feet in frustration, glared at each other, and silently competed.
Cai Lin was also a bit surprised.
So this was... what it felt like to get lucky?
She glanced at Huang Tang beside her, unable to suppress a slight smile.
Huang Tang sighed as he drank his porridge.
They say three women make a drama; with twenty-four around him, he'd probably be watching palace dramas every day.
"Isn't it nice to have so many women fighting over you?" Cai Lin asked him quietly.
Huang Tang thought for a moment and nodded seriously: "Now that you mention it, it is quite nice."
Cai Lin rolled her eyes at him: "Thick-skinned!"