Chapter 127: Artistic Ambitions As Xin logged out of the game and found himself back in the real world, he spotted Xiaxia engaged in a tense conversation over the phone in the kitchen.
Carefully placing his helmet aside, he rose to his feet and headed for the fridge.
Xiaxia acknowledged Xin’s presence with a nod, though her expression was far from pleased. Frustration etched lines on her face as she wrapped up her phone call with evident annoyance.
"I told you, I’m busy. Stop calling me," she asserted firmly before disconnecting the call.
Xin took a refreshing sip of water, the cool liquid providing solace to his parched throat.
. Curiosity piqued, he couldn’t help but inquire, "Who was that?"
Xiaxia exhaled deeply and directed her gaze upwards. "It’s Tristan," she admitted, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Xin didn’t comment and only raised an eyebrow. His silence spoke volumes.
"Please don’t judge me," Xiaxia implored. "I’ve blocked him multiple times, but he always manages to find a way to contact me."
"Why not change your phone number then?" Xin suggested.
"I can’t," Xiaxia sighed. "This has been my phone number for as long as I can remember. I shouldn’t have to change it because of him. And why should I adjust?"
"What does he want?" Xin inquired.
Xiaxia crossed her arms, a mixture of resignation and frustration evident in her face. "A rematch. And this time, he’s offering a substantial amount of money and rare items."
"How much money are we talking about?"
Xiaxia met Xin’s gaze for a moment before reluctantly admitting, "One million."
"Gil?" Xin clarified, thinking of the game’s currency. That would be like one thousand dollars.
"No," Xiaxia replied firmly. "One million dollars, as in real-world currency."
Xin was taken aback by the staggering amount. "That much?"
Xiaxia nodded in confirmation. "Apparently, they’re desperate to regain their lost reputation and standing, so they’re willing to stake a million dollars on a rematch, fair and square."
"Fair and square, meaning they’re pitting their hundred well-coordinated elite players against your hundred ’noob’ players who don’t even know which way is east and west, right?" Xin remarked, a hint of skepticism in his tone.
He wasn’t passing judgment; after all, he had his own ace in the hole, using Hilda, an NPC boss, which wasn’t exactly fair either. Not to mention that he was bug himself.
Xiaxia, however, adopted a persuasive tone. "Think about it, bro. One million dollars! With that kind of money, we could reclaim our old house! And with Hilda on our side, we might actually stand a chance."
Xin shook his head resolutely. "You see, a hundred players all above level 90 could easily overwhelm us. Have you looked at my level right now?"
While victory was possible with the right rules and strategy, Xin couldn’t risk exposing Hilda’s true identity to others.
Until he could make sure that they could stand on their own, he wouldn’t risk Hilda’s true identity in public. She would always be a last resort.
Xiaxia nibbled her lip, trying to find a counterargument. "But aren’t you tempted by the reward money?"
Xin, however, remained steadfast. "The reward only matters if you win. If you lose, you not only forfeit all your progress but also your legendary-grade equipment."
Xiaxia fell silent, grappling with Xin’s logic. "Maybe if we could negotiate that I won’t bet my legendary-grade equipment, they might agree to the challenge?"
Xin remained firm. "That’s highly unlikely."
Disheartened, Xiaxia sighed, "Then maybe you’re right."
"Goodnight, Xiaxia," Xin declared as he settled onto his mattress, covering himself with the blanket and retreating into its warm embrace.
Xiaxia couldn’t help but pout and mutter her frustrations under her breath. There was something she wanted to discuss with Xin, but it seemed that she would have to wait for a better opportunity.
In the end, she returned to her room and drifted off to sleep, her thoughts lingering on the unresolved matters.
The following morning, Xin and Xiaxia headed to school as they always did.
In Xin’s classroom, they were engrossed in their lessons when the teacher announced the upcoming school grand auction.
"In one month, we will host the school grand auction on the Fate’s luxury yacht. This event will precede Halloween and the holidays, so make sure you have your pieces ready by then. Your grades will depend on it," the teacher declared.
"Half of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to charity and the other half you can take home. So strive to win big prizes," the teacher added.
Victor, who was sketching on his canvas, turned to Xin and asked, "What are you planning to do?"
Xin pondered for a moment. "Maybe a portrait of a well-known woman; that way, more people might bid for it."
Victor chuckled. "That could work too. You could draw someone like Seraphina, and everyone would clamor to buy it."
Xin hesitated. "I’m not sure if it’s legal to draw her likeness. Wouldn’t she sue me?"
Victor contemplated the idea. "I don’t see anything wrong with it; it’s art."
". . ."
". . ."
The two were silent for a moment.
"Yeah, maybe it’s best if you ask for her permission first," Victor said.
"That’s a good idea," Xin agreed.
Vivi, who had been working silently on her canvas nearby, suddenly interjected with a sneer, "Bunch of morons."
Both Victor and Xin turned to look at her, surprised by her outburst.
She glared at them before turning back to her canvas as if their presence was unwelcome. "You guys rely on little tricks. Why don’t you actually use your skills for once?"
Xin was at a loss for words. It was the first time Vivi had addressed him, and it was to criticize him for not using his skills in the competition.
He was merely joking with Victor, but it seemed like jokes weren’t meant for him because of his impassive face.
Victor, tried to diffuse the tension, and whispered in Xin’s ear, "Don’t pay her any mind. She’s just afraid of losing. She’s incredibly competitive, you know."
He leaned in closer and added, "If she’s scowling and growling at you, it means she sees you as a threat."
Xin found himself unsure about that. "But does she ever lose?"
Victor grinned. "No."
Xin glanced briefly at Vivi’s canvas, he couldn’t help but admire her skilled strokes and the way she effortlessly brought her artwork to life.
Despite her abrasive manner, there was no denying her talent.