Chapter 77：First World: Machu is real?

Wen Qinxi was trapped in a stupor ruminating over the events that occurred just before he left the game. His mind was chaotic giving off a feeling of suffocation the longer he stuck around. He just had to log out and get his head straight which is why he had the system log him out two hours early. It was necessary for Wen Qinxi to log off because they had reached the part of the plotline where Qie Ranzhe was running around with the guild making a name for himself for two years straight.

Two years of him doing nothing was simply unbearable though in the real world it would translate to almost two months. With a little tinkering, the boys managed to shrink the plotline to two weeks instead of two months which was already the best they could do. They didn't have to worry about Wen Qinxi not being accepted back into the game as he had already established some form of connection with Qie Ranzhe.

In GameX game room, an unsuspecting Hei Bao was holding a permanent marker hovering above Wen Qinxi skillfully drawing a petit handlebar moustache on his face. "Bai-ge! Come and see," he said snickering while beckoning him to come over. He bent over again proceeding to draw an unsightly goatee that was before Xia Bai stopped him asking, "What are you doing?"

Hei Bao took his hand back gesturing with his hand for Xia Bai to be quiet. "You know Wen Qinxi has temper. He won't let you off easy," warned Xia Bai tugging on his sleeve but Hei Bao shrugged him off drawing a circle around Wen Qinxi's right eye with a focused expression. He was about to draw a circle around Wen Qinxi's left eye when the victim abruptly opened his eyes just like an eerie scene in horror movie.

Startled Hei Bao screamed, "AHAHAHAH!" while jumping into Xiao Bai's arms, "Wen Qinxi you scared the shit out of me."

Xia Bai looked at Hei Bao tightly wrapping an arm around his neck saying, "You can get off now." Hei Bao complied while sincerely apologizing that is until his line of sight fell on his hilarious masterpiece on a now sitting upright Wen Qinxi. He struggled to hold back his laughter and let Xia Bai do all the talking.

A disoriented Wen Qinxi wasn't paying attention to Hei Bao's actions propping up his heavy head with his hands. "How are you feeling? You woke up two hours earlier than expected. The company doctor is not here yet to check on you," said a much more mature Xia Bai with a fixed expression trying to fend off his desire to laugh. Wen Qinxi really looked hilarious.

"I will go get Qie Ranzhe's personal physician maybe he's still around since he checked on the CEO just now," said Hei Bao before running out as he could laugh to his heart's content.

Ten minutes later he returned with the physician who glared at the both of them when he saw Wen Qinxi's face. The two culprits left without a hitch as they could barely restraint their laughter. The doctor knelt in front of him asking, "Does your head hurt?" while checking his pulse though his eyes were entirely fixed on moustache and goatee. He couldn't hold back in the end, asking, "Is this like an office game or something?" but Wen Qinxi was also puzzled so the doctor to out his phone and opened the front camera before passing it to him, "Here."

It only when he gave the doctor back his phone did he finally take a close look at his face. As though struck by lightning he asked, "Machu?" In front of him was a familiar but much older face. He had always thought only Zhao Huangzhi was from the real world but it turns out there was a Machu in the real world.

The doctor looked at him perplexed while studying his profile. He took out some rubbing alcohol from his medical kit and doused a cotton swab with it before handing it to Wen Qinxi to remove some of the permanent marker on his face. He was about to ask him if they had met before but after taking a closer look he blurted out, "Gecko!"

Wen Qinxi, "....."

He hadn't heard that nickname in a long time and froze as soon as that word came from Machu's mouth. In high school, he awarded name gecko on account of his ability to silently blend in fading into the background. If no one actually looked for him his presence would go unnoticed thus gecko. It's not that he was quiet it's just that he couldn't fit in with the rich kids gladly showcasing his true personality as soon as his mother came to pick him up. But how on earth did Machu know that? Was he in the same high school as him, if yes then why didn't he remember him?

"I should have known it was you. It makes a lot of sense now," he said but judging from Wen Qinxi's bewildered expression he could tell he had been long forgotten. "Wait you don't remember me? Oh, thats right l was a year behind you guys and had blonde hair back then. How can a xueba like you remember me when all you did was date your books back then?" he explained, "You look different yourself. You finally lost your glasses and braces. If l didn't look closely l wouldn't have known it was you."

Wen Qinxi slowly digested Machu's words, he did remember a scruffy blonde back then but barely paid attention to his classmates let alone students from other classes. Machu finished examining him and kept talking but Wen Qinxi was barely attentive. "Doc, he clearly isn't listening. You can tell me what he needs to do and l will take care of him," said Wen Danzhe who had shown up at some point.

He was already waiting for Wen Qinxi to wake up when Xia Bai called him to pick up his older brother ahead of schedule. Wen Qinxi smiled radiantly seeing his younger brother after such a long time. He suddenly overwhelmed by home sickness. Seeing this Machu couldn't help but ask, "Who might this be?"

"I am his brother," replied Wen Danzhe placing his hand on Wen Qinxi's shoulder that's before he saw Wen Qinxi's face. "Holy shit! What happened to your face?" Wen Qinxi gestured with his eyes towards Hei Bao and Xia Bai with his lip curled. Wen Danzhe understood giving him a look that seemed to be saying 'I will help you execute revenge'. This unspoken bond had Machu secretly lighting a candle for the two nerds.

Wen Qinxi left his brother having a discussion with Machu and somehow strolled over to take a peek at the handsome man lying in the game capsule just like a sleeping beauty in fairytales. He suddenly remembered that fun bubbly teenager in the game which caused his heart to ache. "I will get you out," he said with the back of his hand brushing against Qie Ranzhe's.

"Qi Dage, let's go!" said Wen Danzhe gently knocking on the glass window. Wen Qinxi turned on his heel to leave but his index finger was suddenly grasped by an unconscious Qie Ranzhe causing him to stop in his tracks. He assumed the guy had somehow managed to wake up only to find the man lying still with no movement whatsoever with the hold on his finger gradually loosening. He was about to go back by his side when an impatient Wen Danzhe knocked again.