I Rely On Poverty To Sweep Through Survival GamesCh98 - DEATH Game Studio (1)

Edited by Jules

When Xiao Lan woke up, what greeted his eyes were ancient-style bed curtains and an unfamiliar ceiling. The bed below him was carved wood, and the quilt was made of brocade satin. It had an exquisitely embroidered pattern, and was clearly handmade. There was also an elegant fragrance of incense in the air. Excajy

His mind was blank. Where was he? What had he been doing before?

Xiao Lan almost thought he had transmigrated.

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Maybe not long after, a servant girl would rush over to tell him, “Aiya, you’re finally awake, young master. You’ve been unconscious for many days; madam and master are worried sick…”

“You’re awake, sir?” Luo’s voice rang out beside him, and only then was Xiao Lan’s train of thought dragged back from his irrelevant and brash conjecture. Em7rlt

Separated by the light muslin bed curtains, Luo’s figure was a little blurred. Xiao Lan could only see a black body. It seemed that he had changed back to his previous three-piece suit and was standing on the side and waiting for Xiao Lan’s response.

A few fragments suddenly flashed through Xiao Lan’s blank mind: hot spring, red plum flowers, lights, a figure walking towards him in the dense steam… and — Xuezhuo.

Xuezhou truly tasted good; he seemed to have drunk too much, and in the end wasn’t very clear as to what he had done. However, he vaguely recalled that before he lost consciousness, he had just looked at Luo and felt that this person was especially pleasing to the eye, the sort that was good-looking no matter how you looked at him.

Xiao Lan’s heart tightened. He… hadn’t done anything strange to Luo, right?

“Sir?” Luo asked again.

“Hm? Oh… I’m awake.” Only then did Xiao Lan come back to his senses. Flipping over, he got out of bed and reached out to lift up the bed curtains.

Beside the bed, Luo’s face carried the same elegant smile as usual, and he looked very normal.

“I didn’t do anything after getting drunk last night, did I?” Xiao Lan asked uncertainly. pHmV3c

“Hm…” Luo hummed for a moment, and his expression seemed a little solemn.

He then adjusted his expression and his small smile was restored as he said, “No. Breakfast has been prepared for you.”

Xiao Lan: “…”

But that expression of yours doesn’t look like a no at all ah!!! FGYQ04

Xiao Lan couldn’t help staring at Luo’s face, wanting to make out the slightest clue from his expression.

However, how could a mere human see through the thickness of a non-human’s face? He could only see calm on Luo’s face, like every other day.

But the more he was like this, the more suspicions Xiao Lan had. Could he really have done something?

And was it something which even made Luo feel that it was better to forget it or not mention it? ZVKFw8

And Luo didn’t explain anything. In this way, he harboured a secret and slightly bad intent, and cheerfully enjoyed every day as a day his family’s sir would forever remember.

Harbouring such doubts, Xiao Lan stayed at the hot spring villa for the next few days.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

It seemed that he shouldn’t rely on his high alcohol tolerance to drink whimsically; look, wasn’t his car flipped… Moreover, drinking alcohol while soaking in a hot spring wasn’t good for your health. He shouldn’t do this anymore… Xiao Lan reflected on himself.

After returning to the player hub, he returned to the life of frantic training every day, and gradually tossed the doubts in his mind to the back of his head. VH9QsD

The time to enter a game arrived once again.

After the familiar darkness receded.

What appeared before Xiao Lan’s eyes was an unmanned front desk. The front desk looked very avant-garde, with very sharp arcs and curves. Behind it was a black backdrop with silver-white, metal words that said ‘DEATH Game Studio’ which were very stylistic and paired with a unique logo.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Jifjgis, atlr kjr atf ogbca vfrx bo j ujwf raevlb. XSgsdr

Obbxlcu ja atf cjwf jcv atf ujwf mbcafca bo atf Cvnfca Qbgiv, la kjr nfgs ilxfis atja la kjr j raevlb atja wjvf tbggbg ujwfr.

C mibmx tecu bc atf kjii, jcv j kjafg vlrqfcrfg jcv rcjmx mjylcfa kfgf rfa bea. Veggbecvlcu atf jgfj kfgf rbojr jcv rfjar qgbnlvfv obg uefrar ab gfra bc, jr kfii jr j nfgs ijguf KN rmgffc. Snfgsatlcu ibbxfv nfgs cbgwji, yea atfgf kjrc’a j rlcuif qfgrbc lc rluta.

Not long after, the players appeared one after another. There were nine people overall, and this time there was unexpectedly not a single female player.

Everyone gathered in the lounge, and when no more new players appeared, there still wasn’t a single NPC who came out to receive the players. CdfceY

The players remained in the place where they had appeared, observing each other and their surroundings. Not a single person rashly ran up to introduce themself or ask to form a team.

This was probably the biggest difference between intermediate players and beginner players.

They no longer blindly trusted the principle of strength in numbers. Sometimes, many people also meant that the threat was right with them, and their expectations for players in the same round had turned from mutual aid to mutually not holding each other back or using themselves to block a bullet.

Xiao Lan surveyed his surroundings. This place didn’t look to have the layout of an office interior; instead, it seemed like the inside of an apartment. 68qbhE

Although the scenery outside the window looked artificial and desolate and it was pitch black, he could still recognise that they were in a villa area in the illumination of the street lights.

This might be a small-scale studio in the initial stage that was set up in the boss’s own villa.

According to custom, they wouldn’t be able to open the door.

And in this game, they couldn’t exit even through the windows. An invisible wall in the air obstructed the players, as if the scope of the game was merely limited to this studio area. i4abkV

This lounge was separated from all other areas by glass doors. Beside the glass doors were card-swiping machines. It was evident that they could only enter by swiping a card. But before the main thread of the game was clear, none of the players intended to rashly damage the scene.

As such, their present range of activity was confined to this lounge.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

“Looks like we can only wait here for the game to start.” A man’s voice rang out. It was low and each word was pronounced clearly and sharply in a languid and arrogant tone; it was a very memorable voice.

The players turned their heads and saw that the speaker was a man with the corner of his lips pulled up in a slight smile. dCIB5S

His facial features were well-developed and there was some indifference in his long and narrow eyes. He had an earring in one ear and his hairstyle made him look like a celebrity. He was wearing an extremely flirtatious, white suit, with extraordinary-looking craftsmanship and quality. An overcoat in a similar colour was draped over his shoulders, and each of his movements was filled with style.

When he spoke, he unhurriedly stroked the white, long-furred cat in his embrace, and appeared relaxed and at ease. The kitty also revealed a matching expression of enjoyment, and even quietly purred happily.

This person was like a white peacock with its tail spread, constantly emitting charm.

Unfortunately, the audience present this time was all men. iY qX6

They looked at this guy in white and all thought the same thing in their hearts —

You sure are flirty ah. 

Xiao Lan looked at the man who was speaking and felt a sense of familiarity; it was like when he had encountered Wang Ke and Qi Ning in Madam Bella’s manor. There was the sense that they were skilful and at ease in a lower-level game.

This was very possibly an advanced player. ZUR63E

As if he had perceived Xiao Lan’s gaze, the man who was engrossed in doting on his cat raised his head and directly met his eyes. The man looked at Xiao Lan and said, “Hello. I’m Cheng Wenyi.”

There was none of the modesty a normal person showed when they introduced themself, as if it was obvious that other people should know him.

Xiao Lan nodded at him. “Hello. I’m Xiao Lan.”

After they spoke, the other players also took the initiative to introduce themselves. CdOAZn

In any case, the game still hadn’t officially started, and they didn’t lack this small amount of time.

After a few of the players had introduced themselves.

“I- I’m… call- called Hua Bei.” A man who looked very shy spoke. He seemed to have social anxiety; just saying this sentence caused his face to turn red.

“Hua Bei sounds the same, but this one is 花呗, which is a consumer credit service offered by a financial service company… nice name…” a player said. DThZq3

Truly a name that led to people having criminal thoughts from the bottom of their hearts.

“Can it be that you have a sibling called Jie Bei a loan service provided by Alipay?” Xiao Lan couldn’t help asking.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

“N- no.” Hua Bei shook his head with a red face. “It’s the B- B- Bei of a sh- shell 贝壳 bei ke.”

When Hua Bei spoke more, Xiao Lan realised that this person actually had a bit of a stutter. He was introverted and shy; he looked completely like a gentle and helpless herbivore. THksrw

But if someone like this was able to reach the intermediate level, he definitely wasn’t as harmless as he appeared.

After everyone gave a simple self-introduction, only one person still remained sitting in a corner and didn’t move.

He looked about fifteen to sixteen years old, and wore a black, hooded sweatshirt. He had several leather and metal accessories on him, numerous studs in his ears, a lip ring, and deep, dark circles under his eyes. He looked like a punk youth.

This youth had been engrossed in the video game in his hands the entire time. N8x2li

That video game device was in a very antique-looking style and even had a green pixel screen. The ‘beep beep beep’ of the game was especially evident after everyone quieted down.

A fat otaku player called Hu Zhai, who was wearing a T-shirt with the portrait of a beautiful young girl on it, revealed an envious look. “A first-gen gameboy ai, how envious ah…”

However, the youth had no intention of raising his head to bother with anyone.

At that moment, Cheng Wenyi opened his mouth. “Xiao Yang, greet everyone.” dygx8C

The punk youth who was absorbed in the game finally bestowed a look on the players in the same game. “Mu Yang.”

After this dry self-introduction, Mu Yang again buried his head in his old game as he continued fighting. Because of his unruly spirit, the punk youth felt it was beneath his dignity to interact with the stupid adults.

Cheng Wenyi laughed. “Sorry, Xiao Yang is like this. He really likes games.”

Hu Zhai couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not going to stop him? Bringing something like a cellphone around is very dangerous ai…” j5gSLn

Cheng Wenyi: “That’s why his video game was downgraded from a Switch to a Gameboy. With this sort of pixel screen, ghosts won’t find it easy to come out.”

Hearing this, Hu Zhai had a face of enlightenment, as if hearing words of wisdom of the mortal world.

In a moment like this, an otaku was truly filled with ingenuity and bravery.

After the players finished their introductions but still saw no changes in the game, they dispersed for the moment and found their own ways to pass the time. XBhr5K

Cheng Wenyi, however, approached Xiao Lan.

The white kitty in his embrace seemed very interested in Xiao Lan. It meowed coyly at Xiao Lan, looking like it really wanted to be petted, and directly leapt out of Cheng Wenyi’s embrace.

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The kitty ran a couple of steps and was just about to reach Xiao Lan, when it suddenly stopped.

It looked at Luo as if it had seen some dangerous beast. Its white fur puffed up and it instantly leapt back to Cheng Wenyi’s side and no longer dared to approach Xiao Lan. kcRfLX

“Shirley?” Cheng Wenyi was a little confused at the change in his family’s kitty.

The white cat called Shirley merely rested by his feet and no longer moved forward.

“Sorry, we seem to have frightened your cat?” Xiao Lan said.

“It’s fine. Shirley has always been rather timid and squeamish.” Cheng Wenyi shifted his attention from the cat to Xiao Lan. “I didn’t get to introduce myself just now. I’m from Lunhui.” JuK7t6

Why was it Lunhui again? Xiao Lan felt a little baffled in his heart.

“What’s wrong? Did Mr Xiao encounter people from Lunhui before?” Cheng Wenyi asked when he saw Xiao Lan’s reaction.

“Mn. A girl called Diyi Fugui.” Xiao Lan didn’t conceal it either. After all, there were several people in that game who knew that he had met Diyi Fugui before, plus the way Diyi Fugui enthusiastically narrated Xiao ge’s deeds, perhaps it was like storytelling under the overpass, telling of them repeatedly for over three hundred rounds. MPZYQA

“Xiao Fugui ah.” Cheng Wenyi laughed. “I know her. She and another girl formed a ‘Xiao ge Support Group’ in Lunhui, and even pulled in a lot of members. They’ve been developing particularly well recently.

“That Xiao ge shouldn’t be you, right?”

Xiao Lan: “…”

He didn’t think it would actually be like this! qGIVNR

Countless embarrassing memories spun in his mind like a carousel lantern. Did he still have time to deny it? Perhaps when he first met Diyi Fugui he should have said, “I’m not, I wasn’t, you recognised the wrong person.”

But with the current situation, it was all already too late.

Shame is like the wind, accompanying me often. 

At this time, Mu Yang’s voice sounded in the wake of the game’s sound effects. “Bo… He doesn’t have his own support group, which is why he cares so much about this.” juodWQ

Cheng Wenyi: “…”

He took a deep breath and his slightly reserved smile didn’t waver. “Xiao Yang, one more essay is added to your homework this time.”

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The gameboy in Mu Yang’s hand was instantly no longer fun.”…I hate essays the most!”

Cheng Wenyi shot him a small glance. “Two.” v ECjh

Mu Yang’s head drooped. “I was wrong…”

In the face of tyrannical homework, the punk youth’s rebellious spirit was so beaten down that he couldn’t lift his head.

Cheng Wenyi’s gaze returned to Xiao Lan. “Since Mr Xiao knows Diyi Fugui, do you want to consider joining Lunhui? The benefits at our Lunhui are very good.”

Xiao Lan pointed at the listless Mu Yang. “Does it also include employing child labour?” BVLFEp

Cheng Wenyi: “…”

He couldn’t hold a conversation today!

Xiao Lan: “I’m just kidding. I’m just more used to being with my teammate. This way, it’s easier to improve myself, to say nothing of how I don’t really have any concerns about the real world.”

Hearing Xiao Lan’s response, Cheng Wenyi no longer continued to persuade him, and there was no anger on his face, as if he had just been saying it casually. He revealed a meaningful smile. “In that case, I look forward to personally experiencing Mr Xiao’s skills.” iyCXoc

Right at that moment, it turned 0:44 on the clock on the wall.

The originally peaceful atmosphere was suddenly disrupted.

In the wake of a brisk ringing, the television that had always been treated as a backdrop lit up. There were no images to be seen at all, just a static screen.

A voice came out of the screen. “Welcome… new employees. Please follow the guide and input your fingerprint and facial data at the front desk to receive your employee card…” gpEuJT

The voice was cold and seemed far yet near, and carried a trace of gloom.

The author has something to say:

The highly anticipated (seemingly by no one) Cheng shao has appeared. Is he like what you guys imagined, ehehe~ Ugob9B