Qi Xu had forgotten which previous reward it was that included a full set of hotpot tools and ingredients. He had casually stored them in the preservation compartment of his backpack and never remembered to eat them.
It wasn’t until now that he recalled—there was even a spicy rabbit head made by the Chinese Master Chef! These were the kind of things best enjoyed in the middle of a freezing, snowy wasteland.
When Qi Xu took it out, it turned out to be an enormous takeout preservation box—so big that a single table couldn’t hold it all. He had to first buy a standard-sized dining set from the in-game shop.
He traded a padded coat for it, and both sides felt it was a fair deal.
The entire table was soon covered: snowflake beef, lamb rolls, tripe, basa fish, duck intestines, shrimp paste, luncheon meat, fish roe dumplings, crab sticks, cheese rice cakes, baby bok choy, enoki mushrooms, wide noodles, shiitake mushrooms, lettuce... and, most conspicuously, an oversized spicy rabbit head.
The broth options were spicy and mushroom-based. Qi Xu hadn’t had hotpot in years. Watching the lamb rolls boiling vigorously in the pot, he opened a container of sesame sauce and dry spice dip, then brewed himself a cup of rose tea...
On an endless snow-covered highway, this scene suddenly struck Qi Xu as incredibly beautiful.
He snapped a photo, intending to share it in a small group chat, but accidentally posted it directly to the public chat hall instead.
Instantly, all the players who had been too cold to even lift a finger were jolted into action!
Blessed by Luck: "Can I just ask—Whirlwind Big Shot, is this ‘highway survival’ or a solo luxury vacation?"
Player 1022: "If you’re eating hotpot, can I at least lick the broth?"
Player 1111: "Crying with envy. I traded all my supplies for warmth gear and now I’m stuck gnawing on stale buns..."
Little Bear Dudu: "Dearest Whirlwind Big Shot, can you finish all that alone? A friend of mine would love to join... their drool’s already frozen into icicles."
Player 1213: "There’s a kid out here whose heart just shattered into pieces..."
Qi Xu hadn’t meant to show off—after all, flaunting wealth usually led to bad outcomes. Ever since location cards appeared, top-ranked players often got ambushed.
But... with so many people already riled up, he couldn’t be bothered to delete the post. Within a minute, the group chat exploded with "9999+" messages.
Though Qi Xu rarely spoke in the chat, every time he did, the chat hall would instantly erupt.
Embarrassed, he rubbed his legs while waiting for the meat to cook—then suddenly heard the familiar chime of the system notification.
[Congratulations, player Qi Xu, for earning the new title [Little Show-Off Brat]!
When you incite envy in over 5,000 players, you’ll receive a special supply crate (no monsters inside). The more envy you provoke and the stronger the reactions, the higher the crate’s tier! The title will automatically disappear after five days of restraint.]
[Current show-off behavior is still escalating... Rewards can be claimed after the event concludes while the title is equipped.]
Qi Xu froze. Another title trigger? No time to overthink it—he immediately equipped the new title.
Regardless, since he’d already shown off, he might as well secure the reward.
Then he remembered someone he’d met after a server merge: "This Lord Adores Ugly Socks," who loved flaunting everything in the group chat daily.
Their bragging had incited so much resentment that a few players teamed up to ambush and rob them—until their avatar turned gray.
Now Qi Xu wondered... had that person also triggered this title, forced to show off just to get the special crate?
Player 0909: "@Invincible Black Whirlwind, can I ask—aren’t you freezing sitting in the snow? Why not eat in your car? Or do you have some special way to stay warm?"
Qi Xu posted the item description of the [Green Fur Set] directly into the chat.
[Green Fur Set]: A four-piece outfit (hat, scarf, jacket, pants). Wearing it instantly adjusts your body temperature to spring-like warmth. No more suffering in the cold—I’m ultra-cozy!
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "Wearing the Green Fur Set, so I’m not cold. And honestly, eating hotpot in a snowstorm feels pretty great."
As soon as he sent this, Qi Xu noticed the "show-off meter" under his title ticking upward, the numbers climbing rapidly.
Retired Magical Boy knew exactly what was needed—time for the squad to step in.
He immediately posted in the group: "Big Shot, are you selling that Green Fur Set? Can you make extras? I’m freezing to death here—I’d trade everything for one! Too cold to even fight monsters from crates!"
Old White Dragon in the Waves: "What’s wrong with you? Stuff this good is usually one-of-a-kind. No way it’s mass-producible. If there were extras, only an idiot wouldn’t want one."
The two of them kicked off a chain reaction, with players lining up to beg for the Green Fur Set.
Qi Xu casually scrolled through the chat while eating his hotpot. The lamb was surprisingly fresh, and the sesame sauce was fragrant.
After the first batch finished cooking, he sent small bowls topped with sesame sauce and broth to a few players in the chat.
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang: "Whoa! Perfect timing—I was just craving this. So satisfying!"
Chinese Master Chef: "The broth is excellent."
Only after eating his fill and noticing the show-off meter had plateaued did Qi Xu reply again.
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "The Green Fur Set is for sale, but the materials are rare. I only have enough for a few dozen sets. If you want one, hurry—I’ve got time to kill now, but I’m hitting the road this afternoon."
Cursed by Misfortune: "Wait—you need to ‘kill time’ after eating? Shouldn’t you be preserving that full stomach, not ‘killing’ it?"
Brother Qin: "Listen to this guy—‘only enough for a few dozen sets’... My heart’s in pieces too."
Player 1213: "So... how much for the Green Fur Set? Auction? Highest bidder? If so, we’re out of luck..."
Invincible Black Whirlwind: "Priority goes to special items or food with unique attributes. Otherwise, I’ll accept vehicle upgrade fragments, batteries, or basic materials—but you’ll need to offer more.
I’m busy, so I won’t reply to everyone or haggle. If you’re interested, initiate a trade directly. If the offer’s good, I’ll accept."
This declaration made many players reconsider, while those with resources began frantically digging through their inventories, desperate to trade for a set and escape the cold.
Meanwhile, Qi Xu’s usual group quietly gathered materials for a crafting station amid the trading frenzy, turning the exchange hall into a bustling marketplace.
........
