Conference room of the Central Science and Technology Bureau.

Fang Zhongzheng and all the executives of the online game authority are having a stiff, lifeless meeting.

Everyone's face has a sad face, especially Fang Zhongzheng's face, which is like an iceberg.

Li Yuantian, who was hot-tempered and careless, was the first to break the silence: "Damn, these M country guys dare to come to us to demonstrate, and use some indiscriminate tricks." ”

Fang Zhongzheng knocked on the table with his fist, and Li Yuantian immediately shut up.

Silence returned to the room. It wasn't until a young man walked in that everyone immediately picked up their spirits.

Fang Zhongzheng also sat up straight and asked, "Xiao Wang, what do you say about Cave Four and Cave Five?" ”

Xiao Wang lifted his glasses and said nervously: "Director, Dong 4 and Dong 5 have already approached Bruce, and they say that Bruce is not a superpower. ”

Everyone's faces darkened.

"But." Xiao Wang's voice was nervous, and he took a turn, "They think that Bruce's skills and abilities must be related to superpowers. ”

Li Yuantian raised his eyebrows and said angrily: "Fuck, I know that they are completely unruly-abiding bastards." ”

Fang Zhongzheng sighed deeply and said, "Rules? What rules? There is only a clear rule that superpowers cannot use their abilities against ordinary people, but there is no rule that says that superpowers cannot play games and cannot help others improve their strength in games. ”

Li Yuantian groaned sullenly and said, "It's really cunning, it's obvious that they are not doing it right, but there is nothing they can do about it." ”

Fang Zhongzheng said calmly: "Now is not the time to pursue these, we must be clear about how many superpowers they have entered the game and what they will do. Do you think it's as simple as developing a few strong players to embarrass our players? ”

Everyone shook their heads, there are only a few superpowers in a country at most, and since they have entered the game, they must have a big plan.

Fang Zhongzheng said again: "Xiao Wang, let Dong 2 and Dong 3 also enter the game, and let Dong 4 and Dong 5 closely monitor the dynamics of country M to see what they are going to do." ”

Xiao Wang stood up straight and said, "Yes, Director." Then he walked out of the conference room again.

***

The weather is getting colder and colder, and all players spend the whole Christmas in a low and depressed state, not as cheerful and active as in previous years.

Then two days passed.

December 27th.

Chang'an City.

Ling Xue shook and made an appointment for five yuan.

The Wind and Rain Dynasty was not far from the north of Chang'an City, and at this moment, Ling Xue was standing on the wall of Chang'an City, looking at the north from afar, her face was full of sadness.

"Hey, my brother has been locking himself in his room for the past few days, and I don't know what he's thinking."

Five Yuan didn't know how to answer.

Ling Xue shook and began to talk to herself.

"My brother has been competitive since he was a child, and my father was gone when we were very young, so he always felt that he was the only man in the family, a man who stood up to the sky, and he didn't need my mother to worry about it since he was a child, and he relied on everything on his own. And he either doesn't do it, or if he does, he will do it at his best. He has never failed, he has never been thwarted. This time, I was really worried that he would ...... Down. ”

Wu Yuan finally understood why Ling Xue was so sad, he smiled and said, "Amitabha, Ling Xue benefactor, the poor monk thinks you are too worried, you have been with him for so long, but you don't know him very well. ”

Ling Xue shook and questioned, "Then do you understand?" ”

Wuyuan said indifferently: "I can't talk about understanding, but the poor monk thinks that he is not a weak person, maybe he is not very suitable for frustration, but the poor monk believes that he will be able to face it calmly and have a stronger heart." ”

Ling Xue shook her face and said softly, "I hope it's really like what the master said." ”

As the sun set, the cold wind blew Ling Xue's swaying hair, and she stole a glance at Wuyuan's side face—what a familiar and unfamiliar face, a face that seemed to be difficult to see clearly.

***

For dinner on this day, the Fang family's dinner table was a little dull.

Fang Yulian, and his father Fang Zhongzheng, didn't know what they were thinking.

Seeing that both father and daughter were like this, Mother Fang shook her head and sighed.

Until a soft and crisp sound of "ding" pulled Fang Zhongzheng's thoughts back.

It was Fang Yulian's chopsticks that fell onto the bowl, and Fang Yulian frowned at the moment, covering her heart.

Fang's mother and Fang's father hurriedly dropped the rice bowl in their hands, and stood beside Fang Yulian one left and one right, Fang's mother asked eagerly: "Xiao Lian, is it uncomfortable?" ”

Fang Yulian's face was a little pale, she shook her head, and squeezed out a smile: "Mom, I'm fine, but my head is a little dizzy." ”

Fang Zhongzheng confirmed: "Is it really okay?" ”

Fang Yulian took two deep breaths, put down the hand covering his chest and said, "It's really okay, well, I've eaten and pulled, go take a bath and rest." ”

Fang's mother said: "Okay, sleep well after washing, remember not to play the game tomorrow, Mom and Dad will take you out tomorrow." ”

Fang Yulian said happily: "I know, tomorrow is my birthday, I look forward to what surprises you will give us tomorrow." ”

After speaking, Fang Yulian got up and went to the room.

Looking at Fang Yulian's back, the husband and wife sighed lightly at the same time.

Fang's mother went to clean up the dining table, while Fang Zhongzheng went to the study.

Upstairs, in the study, there was a smaller room, Fang Zhongzheng walked in, closed the door, and turned on the air purifier.

In this small room, there is only a chair and a table with an ashtray on the table.

Fang Zhongzheng leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette. This room is his smoking room.

He only took two puffs before he coughed violently.

Fang Zhongzheng is 54 years old this year, but he looks as old as an old man of 6 or 70 years old, he coughed a few times, but he continued to smoke, coughing while smoking. His brow furrowed—there were so many things that weighed him down.

At this time, the door opened, Fang Mu walked in, and said softly: "You have bad lungs, and you still smoke." Fang's mother is 39 years old, but she looks like a 30-year-old young woman, still soft. When two people are together, they will always be misunderstood as father and daughter by people they don't know, rather than husband and wife.

Fang Zhongzheng put the cigarette in the ashtray and pinched it off, and said, "It's okay, I'll only smoke one." ”

Fang's mother walked over and sat in his arms: "Is there something unpleasant at work?" ”

Fang Zhongzheng nodded silently.

Fang Mu said: "Then tomorrow ......"

Fang Zhongzheng continued: "I've already asked for leave tomorrow, it's okay, my daughter's matter is more important." ”

Fang Mu smiled and leaned on Fang Zhongzheng's chest.

***

At the same time, Qingling Temple.

In the meditation room, both Likong and Lichen have sad faces, especially Lichen, with an indescribable sadness on his face.

"Senior brother, time flies so fast, tomorrow is December 28th again."

The empty was silent and did not speak.

Lichen sighed a few times, and finally spoke: "Senior brother, do we have to do this?" ”

Sora nodded heavily.

He didn't give up, and said, "Master said that only this is the right way, so is there no other way?" ”

Sora shook his head and said, "No." ”

He said with a dead face: "Pity your good apprentice Wuyuan, for so many years, I never knew that his birthday was December 28th." ”

He said in a deep voice: "One day he will know, soon." This matter will soon pass. ”

Lichen wanted to say something to relieve the boredom in his heart, but in the end he didn't say anything, stood up, walked out of the empty meditation room, and went back to his room.

***

December 28th. The weather suddenly became colder.

Early in the morning, the sky was overcast, and by the time it was almost noon, the sky began to drift with fine snow.

It was not destined to be an ordinary day. Tianruo and Wuyuan are not in the game.

After Wuyuan got up, he was called to the meditation room by Lichen and chatted for a while, which has not happened for a long time since Wuyuan played the game.

Wuyuan could see that Uncle Shi seemed to have something on his mind, but he still discussed Buddhist issues with Lichen very seriously.

Tianruo saw that he got up early and put on very beautiful clothes. Fang Zhongzheng and Fang's mother also dressed themselves up today, and the three of them went out with smiles on their faces.

Birthday, what a beautiful day. 19 years ago today, Tenrua was born, and today, 19 years later, she took her parents' hands and went to a beautiful place to spend her birthday.

There is nothing happier than that.