"I refuse to wear this..."
Huang Yan clenched the fabric in his hands, feeling regret over his decision for the very first time.
"What's wrong, Sir Huang? You don't like it? Then take a look at ours and see which one you prefer. We can trade."
Huang Yan glanced up and swept his eyes over them.
A "crooked-mouth zebra," a "roaring bear," and a "silly goldfish." Never mind, they suited them all too well...
"Why did I end up with a yellow weasel?"
"The seller said this was the only yellow one left. Look, it's even making a finger heart and winking! Isn't it cute?"
Wang Tianwei recommended it with utmost sincerity, absolutely refusing to admit that she had bought it in advance!
When she placed the order, she saw this mask and thought it looked exactly like Huang Yan, so she bought it. She figured that if all else failed, she could just give it to him as a birthday present.
Huang Yan sighed deeply, faintly foreseeing that his future was galloping off in an unpredictable direction, much like a runaway zebra kicking up its hooves...
"If you don't wear a mask, you'll be recognized..."
Jian Jingyu chimed in with a reminder.
"..."
Huang Yan closed his eyes and shoved the headgear into his pocket.
"...Did you remember what I just said? Go back and get things ready."
"What you asked for is easy, I can prepare it right here! I can show it to you as soon as I'm done. You guys go ahead and do your thing! Don't mind me!"
Wang Tianwei picked an empty spot, pulled her workbench out of her spatial button, and started working without another word. Her diligent back made her look quite like a "master craftsman"...
'Why would you carry a mecha mechanic's workbench around with you!?'
He had received far too many shocks for one day, and Huang Yan felt he needed a moment to process it all...
Seeing that Wang Tianwei was already busy, Jian Jingyu looked around.
Umm... Sir Huang's place was even emptier than his dad's office. His gaze swept over the numerous pieces of fitness equipment placed around the room.
"Since that's the case... how about a quick workout?"
...Today was his day off! You bunch of bandits!
Half an hour later.
Huang Yan finished his fourth set of weighted squats, completely drenched in sweat.
He looked at Wang Tianwei, who was in the dining area trying hard to draw out fine metal wire using her spiritual power, and then looked at Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra, who were sweating profusely in his living room. He couldn't understand how things had turned out like this.
"Huang Yan, your turn! Hurry up, or your heart rate will drop too much!"
"..."
"Sir Huang! I'm thirsty! Do you have anything cold?"
Wang Tianwei started shouting from the other side as well.
"There are nutrient fluids in the fridge..."
Wang Tianwei pulled open Huang Yan's fridge door, clicking her tongue as she stared inside for quite a while.
"What is this? What is all this!?"
And then she reached out her sinful little hands...
After Wang Tianwei finally completed the "secret weapon," Huang Yan inspected it and had her make a few modifications according to his instructions. Only then did this unexpected visit finally come to an end.
The three of them said their goodbyes and left.
The apartment, which had been noisy just moments ago, finally fell quiet. Huang Yan, who had been forced to work out for an hour, sat on a stool and took a sip of water.
Was he getting old? He really didn't have enough energy to keep up with this group...
He got up and walked to the fridge to grab a tube of nutrient fluid, but upon opening the door, he found that the nutrient fluids inside had changed packaging?
Now, it was entirely stocked with the brand Wang Tianwei usually drank at school, even sorted into several different flavors... Meanwhile, his few remaining original nutrient fluids were squeezed into a corner, looking rather desolate.
He silently snapped a photo and sent it to their group chat.
"What is this about? [Image]"
Wang Tianwei was the first to reply.
"As a key threat to QL, Sir Huang, you're actually drinking another company's nutrient fluid!?
Is my family's nutrient fluid not good enough? Out of all those flavors, is there not a single one you like? Young people these days just lack self-awareness!"
She followed it up with a [domineering CEO shrugging] sticker.
Jian Jingyu quickly replied as well.
"Sister Zebra said she's covering all our nutrient fluids from now on... She even sent me two boxes!"
Who was Sister Zebra? Was she Sister Zebra just because she wore a zebra mask?
"Me too... [Image]"
Zhang Lyra's photo seemed to have been taken earlier, as the weather outside didn't quite match today's. The boxes of nutrient fluid were stacked neatly in her dorm room.
"Support the brand, my bros! Aren't you just slapping my face by drinking the rival's products!?
Yida Nutrient Fluid has top-tier quality control! I speak for my family's brand!
Also, from now on, we only buy mechas and parts from Taihe!
For lawsuits, we only go to the Jian family! Lyra, which company's factory does your mother work at again?"
"...That's really not necessary."
"My mother doesn't work on commission..."
Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra truly hadn't expected to be dragged into this.
Huang Yan let out a baffled chuckle and took out a melon-flavored nutrient fluid pouch.
"Butler, search for information and licensing details on the Zero Boundary Arena. Let's see if they're operating legally."
"Searching for you now..."
**********
The final match against the "Guerrillas" took place on Sunday afternoon.
Jian Jingyu and Zhang Lyra went on their own. Since Huang Yan and Wang Tianwei lived close to each other, they took Wang Tianwei's hovercar together.
As soon as she saw Huang Yan, Wang Tianwei showed off her hovercar, patting it so hard it went smack, smack!
"Look! Sir Huang! This is Taihe's latest hovercar model!"
Huang Yan gave it a glance, opened the door, and got in.
"It's no longer the newest model."
Wang Tianwei confidently sat in the driver's seat.
"Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts!"
"It's on the commercial street, right? Let's drop by the Taihe exclusive store first."
"You got it!"
The hovercar sped like lightning all the way.
When they arrived at their destination, Wang Tianwei blew a whistle.
"Not bad! Sir Huang, when Lyra rode in my hovercar for the first time, her hair stood on end!"
Huang Yan gave a disdainful smirk and unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Use autopilot on the way back."
"..."
Entering the Taihe exclusive store, Young Master Huang acted as if he were returning to his own home.
"Get the items I ordered yesterday."
"Right away, Young Master Huang!"
The staff quickly brought over the parts Huang Yan had requested.
"I watched your match videos. We still have time, so install this on your mecha first."
Wang Tianwei read the parts manual, her eyes lighting up. They really found the right commander! He was a human cheat code!
When they entered Zero Boundary again, both had put on their masks. Inside the lounge, Zhang Lyra was filling out some new paperwork.
The staff member accurately located the previously unseen "Yellow Weasel" and handed over the light screen in their hands.
"We need your signature on these documents."
Huang Yan read through them one by one, signed his name at the very bottom, and then it was time for the naming phase.
The three people behind him simultaneously poked their heads out.
Thinking of the three's nicknames in the group chat, Huang Yan calmly typed out five large characters.
Wang Tianwei nodded in satisfaction, while Jian Jingyu was shocked, expressing that he was still too modest.
Only Zhang Lyra let out a long sigh.
"Is this the only route we can develop towards from now on?"
The staff member maintained their professional ethics, confirmed there were no issues, and left.
Huang Yan walked to the very center of the sofa. As soon as he sat down, he began to analyze the situation.
"The opposing team has three A-ranks and one B-rank. Jian Jingyu, you go up first and stall them. Stall as many as you can.
"Wang Tianwei, wait for the right moment to cast the net. Zhang Lyra, don't worry about Wang Tianwei, just listen to my command..."
The three of them listened intently. Before long, the screen indicated that it was their turn.
Huang Yan followed the trio toward the arena. As they passed through the transparent corridor, he noticed that the spectator stands below were only half full, yet quite a few people were waving and calling out in their direction.
"Did 'Mortal Threat' add a new member too!?"
"Let me see! We should finally get a clear winner today, right!"
"A weasel!? That is totally their style!"
"That weasel is even winking and making faces, hahaha! Just looking at him makes you want to punch him!"
"I wonder what tricks the 'Guerrillas' have up their sleeves today? Surely it won't be a third tie in a row!?"
A spectator sitting nearby, who had never seen a "QL Mortal Threat" match before, chimed in.
"Hey man, how are these two teams? Are they entertaining?"
"Just wait and see! They definitely won't disappoint you! Hahahaha."
