Chapter 1021: The Show-Off

“That makes sense…”

Chen Junnan muttered. The two continued staring at each other’s fists, just about to loosen their grips when Chen suddenly shouted, “Hold on!”

Tian Tian and Yan Zhichun both jumped in surprise, staring at Chen.

“Chun-jie… I’m kinda scared…” Chen said. “I’m trusting you with my heart here. You better not hand me a hairpin, right?”

“A hairpin…?”

Yan Zhichun smiled faintly, then withdrew her left hand, reached behind her head, and took out a hairpin. She dangled it in front of Chen before clipping it back in place.

“Convinced now?” she said. “Any other concerns?”

“Well…” Chen knew Yan Zhichun wasn’t an ordinary person, so he had to be extra cautious. “Chun-jie, swear that what you’re holding is a ‘character’?”

“I swear.”

“A usable, score-worthy ‘character’ in this game,” Chen pressed. “If it’s not, you gain sixty pounds.”

Yan Zhichun hadn’t expected Chen to act like a child, resorting to childish curses.

“Fine, I agree,” she said, exasperated. “But honestly, you’re the least trustworthy one here. What if you’re holding a chain?”

“Come on…” Chen said.

“Keep your right hand still,” Yan Zhichun ordered. “Take out all the chains you’ve got—except the one hanging from your right hand. You’ve got one from Wen Qiaoyun, one from me—at least two. Once I confirm you’re not holding a chain, we trade immediately.”

“Alright… just wait a sec…” Chen reached into his pocket with his left hand, pulled out two chains, and tossed them on the ground. Then he patted his pocket—no sound. “See? Empty. I returned the rest. If I’m lying, may I shrink sixty centimeters.”

“Good.” Yan Zhichun nodded. “Let’s trade.”

They placed their fists over each other’s palms again, slowly loosening their grips. Tian Tian held her breath.

Two dark-gray metallic objects fell from their fists into each other’s hands.

They clenched their fists—both could feel they were holding genuine “characters”!

In this game, neither of them had lied.

The “characters” in their hands had been warmed by the other’s grip—hard, angular strokes confirming their authenticity.

“Chun-jie!” Chen Junnan exclaimed, wide-eyed. “Classy move! The mountains stand tall, the rivers flow long—we’ll meet again!”

Yan Zhichun frowned, clenched her fist without a word, turned, and walked out the door.

“Tian Tian, let’s go!” Chen said, gripping his fist. “We got their ‘character’—time to find Lao Qi!”

“Ah… okay!” Tian Tian nodded. “But what ‘character’ did you get…?”

Chen didn’t open his hand, just squeezed it. “Feels all twisty… not ‘horse’ or ‘chariot’… maybe… let’s go!”

They hurried out of the room, passing through another door into the “preparation area.”

Qi Xia had just seen Qiao Jiajin off when Chen Junnan came sprinting back, pulling Tian Tian along, his face a mix of emotions.

“Lao Qi!!” Chen yelled. “I—I—I—”

Without another word, he thrust his right hand in front of Qi Xia and opened his palm.

“Look!”

In his hand was a character.

One he never expected.

**”Bao.”**

The air froze in unprecedented silence.

A few seconds later, Qi Xia stared at the character and asked, “You said… you what?”

“I…”

Chen Junnan stared at the “Bao” in his hand, his expression even more twisted than before.

“I bought a damn ‘bag’ last year…”

Tian Tian covered her mouth beside him. She wanted to laugh but felt bad—Chen was clearly suffering.

Chen’s recent attempts had either landed him chains or a “bag.” Anyone else would be crushed, but somehow, it just made sense coming from him.

“Rare,” Qi Xia said after a pause. “Usually, stealing an opponent’s ‘character’ means taking it all. I didn’t expect someone to bring back half. How’d you manage that?”

Chen was silent for a moment. “Lao Qi, if I told you this ‘character’ wasn’t stolen but traded… what would you say?”

“I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“Fantastic,” Chen said. “Absolutely fantastic. I traded my ‘handsome’ for a ‘bag.’ Now I’m no longer handsome—just got a bag.”

“Pfft—” Tian Tian nearly burst out laughing.

“No… I’m furious,” Chen said. “I’m gonna go give her a piece of my mind—”

“Wait…” Tian Tian grabbed him. “What are you doing?”

“That Chun-jie played me! Not cool at all…” Chen grumbled. “I’ve heard of ‘handsome’ being worth something, but trading it for a damn bag?!”

“But you agreed…” Tian Tian said. “As long as she gave you a usable, score-worthy ‘character’ in this game, the deal was fair…”

“Huh? I said that?” Chen stared at her.

“Didn’t you…?”

Chen’s expression went completely dead. “So not only did I trade ‘handsome’ for a ‘bag,’ I also screwed myself over?”

“Seems that way…” Tian Tian nodded. “You proposed the deal, set the terms. Going after her now would just make you look petty…”

“Ugh…” Chen handed the “Bao” to Qi Xia. “Can we use this…?”

“It’s usable,” Qi Xia said. “But we already have a ‘Bao.'”

He placed the “Bao” on the “Phoenix Script Stand,” earning a point.

**Total: 10 points.**

“Plenty of time left,” Qi Xia said. “Losing a ‘character’ isn’t a big deal—they can’t store ‘characters’ in the prep area. Eventually, they’ll have to bring them out. As long as we create more ‘characters’ than them in the final minute, we win.”

Chen thought for a moment. “Lao Qi, is two ‘Baos’ even a word?”

“Even if it is, how do you pronounce it?” Qi Xia said. “I tested it earlier with Qiao Jiajin—guessing wrong costs points.”

“Right…”

“Don’t worry,” Qi Xia said. “Yan Zhichun’s ‘characters’ are clear now. She kept a ‘stone’ and took your ‘handsome.’ Next time we see her, we’ll take them back.”

Chen rubbed his forehead. “Lao Qi… I’m really not cut out for thinking.”

“Oh?” Qi Xia glanced at him. “So?”