Chapter 8 Eight Consecutive Wins

Eight consecutive wins, coinciding with Christmas, brought an atmosphere of joy to Happy. Ye Xiu didn't want to spoil the mood by reminding everyone to be cautious and calm, at least not until after the holiday!

Chen Guo once again brought out the roughly made, handmade Christmas tree, but this time it wasn't placed in the internet cafe lobby for activities. Instead, it was moved to the training room and carefully decorated in a corner.

Looking at the Christmas tree, Ye Xiu couldn't help but be taken aback. This was the third time he had seen this Christmas tree. The first time was two years ago, less than a month after leaving Excellent Era. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed, and he had actually formed a team in this internet cafe, fought his way back into the Alliance, and reached fifth place in the standings…

Looking back now, Ye Xiu himself found it a bit unbelievable. He had actually accomplished something like this, and done it pretty well.

"What are you spacing out for? Come help!" Chen Guo's shout interrupted Ye Xiu's thoughts.

Chen Guo was hanging gifts on the Christmas tree, gifts she had prepared for everyone at Happy. Each one was carefully wrapped, making it impossible to tell what was inside.

"Which one is mine?" Ye Xiu asked casually as he helped her hang them on the tree.

"I don't know. Everyone can pick one themselves when the time comes. It'll be more fun that way," Chen Guo said.

"What about you?" Ye Xiu asked.

"Of course, I have one too," Chen Guo said.

"Is it that fun to prepare a gift for yourself?" Ye Xiu laughed.

"What do you mean, for myself? This is Happy giving a gift to every member of Happy. Am I not a member of Happy?" Chen Guo said righteously.

"Of course," Ye Xiu quickly nodded.

"Great, that's settled then!" Chen Guo hung up the last gift and carefully checked everything again, nodding in satisfaction after confirming that nothing was amiss.

"Besides drawing gifts, what other fun things are there?" Ye Xiu asked.

"For you guys, isn't playing Glory here the most fun thing to do?" Chen Guo said.

Ye Xiu paused, then smiled wryly. "It wouldn't hurt to play something else once in a while."

"Oh?" Chen Guo thought for a moment. "Play Galaxy Domination online?" Galaxy Domination was the most popular real-time strategy game at the time.

"Looks like you can't think of anything else to do besides playing games," Ye Xiu said.

"Yeah, I guess," Chen Guo said, emphasizing the "guess." She didn't think Ye Xiu would have any good ideas, especially since this wasn't the first time they had spent a holiday together.

"Let's wait for everyone to come," Ye Xiu said, sitting on the sofa.

"Brainstorming?" Chen Guo sat down too.

The two sat there, staring at the ceiling. One was Happy's captain, and the other was Happy's boss, yet both were remarkably indecisive about these things, perhaps because they had spent too many lonely days without family by their sides.

Bang!

The training room door was pushed open, and Steamed Bun Invasion walked in with a steamed bun in his hand.

"Yo, boss!" Steamed Bun Invasion waved the steamed bun at Ye Xiu as a greeting, and was about to greet Chen Guo when he saw the Christmas tree in the corner of the room. "Yo, a Christmas tree!" The next moment, Steamed Bun Invasion's greeting decisively skipped over Chen Guo and was directed at the Christmas tree.

"Yeah, a Christmas tree," Chen Guo said, not minding that Steamed Bun Invasion had skipped over her. She was quite satisfied with Steamed Bun Invasion's reaction to seeing the Christmas tree.

"The tree is decorated with gifts. Everyone can pick one when the time comes," Chen Guo explained.

"Okay, thank you, boss," Steamed Bun Invasion nodded, then picked one and took it down.

Something seems wrong? Chen Guo wondered.

"What is it?" Steamed Bun Invasion had already started unwrapping it.

"Hey! It's when the time comes. I said when the time comes. Didn't you hear me?" Chen Guo jumped up.

"When the time comes? When is that?" Steamed Bun Invasion asked.

"Christmas!" Chen Guo said.

"Isn't today Christmas?" Steamed Bun Invasion asked, confused.

"Tomorrow is! Today is the 24th, Christmas Eve! Do you understand平安夜 (Ping’an Ye - Silent Night)!" Chen Guo said angrily.

"Oh, then I'll unwrap it tomorrow," Steamed Bun Invasion nodded, finally stopping the unwrapping. Chen Guo wanted to snatch it back, but… Steamed Bun Invasion's hand had already left fingerprints on the wrapping, and his hand had just been holding a real steamed bun. Chen Guo felt depressed. What to do now? Re-wrap it? While she was thinking, someone else came in, and also exclaimed "Oh!" upon seeing the Christmas tree.

"It's a Christmas tree," Steamed Bun Invasion eagerly introduced. "The gifts are hanging on it. Pick one yourself, but you can't unwrap it yet. You have to wait until Christmas tomorrow." After Steamed Bun Invasion finished the introduction, he gave Chen Guo a "you're welcome" look.

"Hahaha, like kids, why so many rules!" The newcomer strode over and, without waiting for Chen Guo to stop him, walked up to the tree, picked the biggest box, and tore it open in a few seconds.

"I…" Chen Guo really wanted to burst into tears at that moment.

"Let's see what it is!" Wei Chen had completely removed the wrapping, and the largest gift turned out to be… a hip-hop monkey pillow.

Wei Chen, a man past thirty with a stubbled chin and a sigh of life, was a little helpless holding this pillow, looking completely at a loss for what to do with it.

"Is this for me?" Wei Chen said, a little dumbfounded. This gift really didn't match him at all!

"You chose it yourself," Chen Guo's voice sounded quite cold. The gifts were said to be self-selected, but in fact, she had prepared some hints. Before she could even start the game, he had already chosen and unwrapped it. Chen Guo's heart was broken.

"This… this… can I re-select?" Wei Chen looked down. "The wrapping isn't too damaged. Steamed Bun Invasion, quickly find some transparent tape and re-wrap it."

"Yes, you can't unwrap it now. You have to wait until tomorrow, Christmas!" Steamed Bun Invasion said, actually going to find tape.

"No way! This one's yours!" Chen Guo refused to indulge them any further, rushing forward to grab the pillow from Wei Chen and shoving it back into his arms. Looking at Wei Chen's innocent uncle-like expression paired with the hip-hop monkey, Chen Guo felt amused and annoyed.

"This is it! No changing it." She emphasized again. This guy messed up her plans, so let him be embarrassed holding the hip-hop monkey!

But Chen Guo underestimated Wei Chen's ability to withstand it.

"Alright!" Seeing Chen Guo's determination, Wei Chen easily accepted it with a smile, holding the pillow as if he were holding a pagoda, and sat down on the sofa, using the pillow as a backrest.

"What did you get?" Wei Chen asked Ye Xiu, who was next to him.

"I don't know. I haven't picked one yet," Ye Xiu said.

"Noble and virtuous?" Wei Chen said with disdain.

Ye Xiu was silent. He wanted to laugh, but Chen Guo was glaring at him fiercely.

"Or, should I pick one first?" Ye Xiu tentatively asked.

"Pick one, pick one!" Chen Guo said helplessly, feeling like there was no point in insisting anymore.

So Ye Xiu went over and randomly picked one.

"Let's see what it is," Wei Chen said.

Ye Xiu looked at Chen Guo, who didn't seem murderous anymore, probably having given up, so he decisively unwrapped the packaging. When Steamed Bun Invasion saw this, he thought, the boss is unwrapping, so I have to keep up! He quickly unwrapped the one in his hand.

At this moment, Su Mucheng and Tang Rou came to the training room together. Girls were always closer, and Wei Chen and Steamed Bun Invasion didn't know about the Christmas gifts, but the girls had known about it since they were hanging out together. But seeing Ye Xiu and Steamed Bun Invasion already unwrapping gifts, this… seemed different from Chen Guo's plan!

"What is this?" they both asked, puzzled.

"Don't mention it. You two go pick one!" Chen Guo said, dejected.

At this time, Ye Xiu had already unwrapped his gift, and upon seeing what was inside, laughed out loud. "Haha, this is great!"

"Old man, I'll trade with you," Wei Chen said quickly, without a second's hesitation.

"Hehe," Ye Xiu refused with a laugh. He had unwrapped a lighter. Ye Xiu and Wei Chen were the only ones at Happy who smoked, so this gift was obviously prepared for them, and it was perfect for Ye Xiu.

"What did Old Wei get?" Su Mucheng and Tang Rou, who had just arrived, asked curiously.

Wei Chen shifted his body, showing them the flattened hip-hop monkey behind him.

"Hahaha…" They both laughed immediately. This gift, and Wei Chen, was an impossible combination not to laugh at!

"You really know how to pick!" Su Mucheng said. Seeing Wei Chen get this, she knew that things were out of Chen Guo's control, no wonder Chen Guo looked a little depressed when they came. However, when it came to giving gifts, what mattered was the intention. Su Mucheng didn't care too much about the process and the result, what was important was the atmosphere, wasn't it?

"Will you be carrying it around with you everywhere from now on?" Su Mucheng asked Wei Chen with a smile.

"Hurry up and pick one. Pick a lighter and I'll trade with you," Wei Chen said.

"Don't even think about it. I won't trade with you no matter what I get," Su Mucheng said, taking one from the Christmas tree and unwrapping it. "Oh, how did I get this?"

"What is it?" Wei Chen carried his hip-hop monkey pillow and leaned over, ready to make a trade at any time.

"This… should be given to that person!" In Su Mucheng's hand was a voice recorder, and her eyes were pointing to where Mo Fan was walking into the training room alone.

A voice recorder and the silent Mo Fan… it was truly an exquisite combination.

"Too bad, it's mine now," Su Mucheng said, putting away the gift.

Wei Chen didn't seem very interested in the voice recorder.

"What's Little Tang's?" He went over to Tang Rou.

After unwrapping it, Tang Rou's gift was a pretty common one, just a beautiful music box.

"Isn't there anything more manly?" Wei Chen shouted.

"Are you talking about this one?" Steamed Bun Invasion turned around, wearing a glove on his right hand. Most people might not see anything special at first glance, but those present could tell at a glance that it was a Qi Master's glove weapon from Glory, a piece of Glory merchandise. The intention of this gift was also obvious. It would have been quite meaningful for Fang Rui, who had transitioned to a Qi Master, but unfortunately…