"HA ha… Xiao Jin… Ha ha… How did you become like this? Ha ha ha… I didn't know you have this kind of weird taste. When did you start wanting to look like a seven-year-old again? Ha ha ha!" Bai Ze said, laughing uncontrollably. He was holding his stomach and even bending over.
Luo Jin's face turned from pink to red to bright crimson in just a second. His face was so red, blood could probably drip out of it. This was so embarrassing! How could this guy suddenly appear here? If he wasn't so surprise seeing that familiar face, he would definitely not exclaim his name that easily. Then Bai Ze would have not recognized him. Well, probably.
"I didn't pick this avatar! It was this game's fault! So if you're talking about 'weird taste', then this game is the one who has a problem!" he shouted.
"The game's algorithm when it comes to 'random selection' is totally random, just like how it's called. So there's no bias or unfairness," Shen Ji Yun said on the side.
Luo Jin glared at him. "Shut up! Am I talking to you?"
And once again, Shen Ji Yun ignored him.
"Hey, Xiao Jin, don't talk like that to our captain," Bai Ze said, still barely controlling his laughter. "But I must say, this look certainly suits you. Very cute."
If a glare could put holes on a person, then Bai Ze's body would certainly be full of holes now because of how hard Luo Jin was glaring at him. But it didn't really have the desired effect. He didn't look threatening at all. Instead, he looked like a small kitten whose tail had been pulled.
"I'm not cute! Don't call me cute or I'll… I'll… I'll definitely make you bald!"
Bai Ze roared with laughter once again. It didn't really help that Luo Jin's voice was so milky. Seeing how his small face turned even redder, if that was even possible, he probably realized himself that only a kid would say what he just said. Luo Jin probably just said the first thing that came to his mind.
"Then I have to make sure to keep my hair away from Xiao Jin," he said, teasing him.
Bai Ze truly didn't expect that one of the person Shen Ji Yun would bring would be Luo Jin. And in this form too. The last time he saw him was during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year. The kid suddenly shot up in height and became almost as tall as him. Now, he was probably either the same height or even taller. He thought he wouldn't have a chance to tease him again about his height. Who would have thought that he would be a gnome in this game?
But wait- didn't Shen Ji Yun say that he would invite that one in the game forum. If he remembered correctly, that person's avatar was of normal height. That's when he glanced at the other person brought by his friend.
He had long white hair tied in a high ponytail. The long pointed ears already showed that he was some kind of elf. His big blue eyes fanned by white eyelashes were dusted with gold. His lips were pinkish-red and his skin was white and delicate. He was looking at Bai Ze with curiosity in his eyes.
Under normal circumstances, Bai Ze would probably be amazed by this shining beauty in front of him. Because this beauty looked so similar by eight to nine points to someone closely related to him.
[Aunt Mei Hua…]
He almost blurted that out. That's right, the white haired elf looked similar to his deceased aunt. Then he remembered the other thing that Shen Ji Yun said. That he would also bring the brother of the person in the forum post. If that person was this elf and that brother was Luo Jin, then…?
"X-Xiao… Yan?"
Luo Yan tilted his head to the side. He had been observing the situation since earlier. Actually, not only him, but also Shen Ji Yun. The only one who was probably not interested in all of these was the pink-haired girl with butterfly wings. As evidence of her indifferent expression.
He first thought that this 'Brother Ze' was someone Luo Jin knew, probably from the same school. He didn't expect that he would know him too. And that stunned look that he gave him earlier. It's like both unbelieving and amazed.
The only possibility he could think of was; a relative?
"You know me?" he just chose to ask.
"He's our cousin, Uncle Chen's eldest," Luo Jin introduced, he already got over the initial embarrassment and the color of his little face was already back to normal.
Uncle Chen? Then Luo Yan remembered a man in his 50s who, like his father, was very well-maintained. He was handsome with a bright and honest face. Bai Chen visited him once when he was still in the hospital. He looked at the lion beastkin in front of him. This was his eldest son? Now that he looked at him, he really did resemble that uncle.
Hearing what Luo Jin said, Bai Ze's guess was finally confirmed. Knowing that this really was his cousin – Luo Yan – he didn't hesitate anymore and gave him a bear hug.
He was already 13 when that awful car accident happened. So everything was still a bit fresh in his mind. His aunt and two little cousins were in the car when a truck crashed into it. Aunt Mei Hua died on the spot. And Luo Yan fell into a coma. Only Luo Jin managed to survive unharmed.
The repercussion of that incident also affected them greatly. It happened just right after his grandmother died. So it became a like a double hit for his grandfather. Especially since Aunt Mei Hua was his most beloved daughter. His dementia quickly worsened after that. As if trying to forget all the painful memories.
Bai Ze heard his parents talking once that Luo Yan might not have a chance of waking up again and might have to remain in that vegetative state all his life. But then, just four months ago, they heard a good news. That his cousin woke up. He wanted to go with his father to S City when he decided to visit Luo Yan. But he was rejected. Because he still had school then.
But now, they suddenly met here in the game! He couldn't describe his happiness and excitement.
He was just about to talk when someone suddenly grabbed his neck from behind and unceremoniously pulled him away from Luo Yan. He turned and saw his iceberg friend, still holding the back of his neck. As if preventing him from making another move. Shen Ji Yun's usual expressionless face was frowning, something that didn't happen often.
"Why are you suddenly grabbing me for?" Bai Ze asked, dissatisfied by his friend's move.
"You're crushing him," Shen Ji Yun simply said.