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墨書 Inktalez
In the early morning, with no birds singing and no sun visible, all of California was shrouded in a massive blanket of gray clouds. Despite this, Chen Rui still woke up very early, so early that even he thought he could sleep a little longer.
After changing clothes and packing his meager belongings, he recalled how Li Xue had specifically reminded him to get up early the night before. It seemed he would be leaving Los Angeles today.
Upon entering the living room, he found that everyone was already awake. He smiled apologetically and said, "Hey! You all got up pretty early. Sorry for coming late."
"Not late at all! We haven't had breakfast yet. I was going to call you directly, but she just had to... What are you doing? Can't even finish a sentence... Learning to bully your brother before you're even married... How's that going to work out in the future?" Li Li was interrupted by Li Xue, who kept pinching her waist. Li Li gasped for air, her facial expression comically exaggerated.
"Alright, alright. Since we're all here, let's have breakfast. You guys woke up so early; are you really that eager to leave? You might as well not have come," Bai Qingyu said with a pout as she glared at Li Li.
Li Li sighed and shook her head helplessly. "If you weren't in this city, then this city would have nothing to do with me."
Bai Qingyu's cheeks flushed slightly as she waved her hand dismissively. "You only know how to say nice things; there's no real action behind it."
Li Li deliberately avoided the topic and cleared her throat. "Ahem... You're right; we shouldn't delay any longer. Let's hurry up and eat breakfast before we head out."
Bai Qingyu rolled her eyes at him and fell silent as she led everyone toward the dining area.
Although their expectations were low, the meal prepared by Luo Dong truly astonished everyone—it completely exceeded their expectations.
There were no breads, cakes, or sandwiches; instead, it was a full Chinese breakfast. Depending on personal preferences, Luo Dong had prepared hot dry noodles, Beef Noodle Soup, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, soy milk, tofu pudding, and more. There was plenty to eat and drink, but one set of chopsticks remained conspicuously empty in front of Chen Rui.
Luo Dong bowed apologetically. "I didn't know what you usually like for breakfast, so I didn't put anything specific on the table. However, everything is ready in the kitchen; whatever is on the table has backups in the kitchen and can be served immediately."
Chen Rui was left speechless by the impeccable service. For someone who usually grabbed breakfast from random roadside stalls, this felt like an extravagant treat at home. "I'm fine with anything; whatever works."
"Does that mean you want one of everything? What should I serve first..." Luo Dong asked curiously.
This girl is trying to make things difficult for me!
Chen Rui smiled apologetically. "Just the Beef Noodle Soup for now, and a cup of soy milk will be enough."
Luo Dongxun placed the two items in front of Chen Rui's seat and bowed again, saying, "I'm really sorry..."
"Alright, alright..." Chen Rui quickly interrupted. Why hadn’t he noticed how distant this girl had become? Could it be that Bai Qingyu had said something to her last night?
Lost in thought, he glanced across at Bai Qingyu, who smiled at him and lifted a bowl of spicy soup, raising it slightly toward Chen Rui, her smile growing warmer.
Seeing her like this only strengthened Chen Rui's conviction that Bai Qingyu must have said something to Luo Dong, making her act so distant toward him.
After breakfast, everyone packed their bags and boarded the rented vehicle. Bai Qingyu stood by the car, looking at Li Li with deep affection. "Aren't you going to stay a little longer?"
"If it weren't for them, I would want to live here forever. If not for you, I wouldn't have stayed here for even a second," Li Li sighed as she started the engine.
Tears seemed ready to spill from Bai Qingyu's eyes, but she held them back as she saw everyone off from the villa without shedding a tear. As the car drove away, Chen Rui caught a glimpse of Bai Qingyu in the rearview mirror; she finally couldn't hold back and began to cry uncontrollably, squatting down and burying her head between her legs...
"Do you really not have even a moment to spare? We should have plenty of free time if we're out having fun," Chen Rui asked lightly.
Li Li's voice was choked with emotion. "Actors... acting is what’s real."
Chen Rui felt a surge of irritation. "She waited for you for so many years, sacrificing her precious youth, and you think she's just acting?"
Li Li let out a long sigh. "Life is like a play; everyone, every moment, every breath is part of the act. Who isn’t acting?"
Li Li's words left Chen Rui speechless. If he wasn’t acting, that would be false; accompanying them to Los Angeles felt like a performance too. To please them, Chen Rui was also putting on a show.
He glanced unintentionally at Li Xue beside him; she was staring out the window. Chen Rui wondered what she was thinking and whether she had heard his conversation with her brother or if she was feeling sad.
Why did he care so much about her? Wasn’t it just an act? Had he gotten too deeply involved...?
The Ford quickly merged onto the highway heading west, cruising at about seventy miles per hour. Chen Rui couldn’t help but ask, "What’s the speed limit on this highway?"
"Sixty-five miles per hour," Li Li replied calmly.
Chen Rui was astonished. "You, you, you are still so calm. Don't you know?"
"Don't worry, even if we go up to seventy-five miles per hour, it won't matter as long as we don't exceed that. American police don't have time to catch people for minor offenses; after all, there are too many of them. Who told them to set the limit at sixty-five?" Li Li chuckled, completely unconcerned about the situation.
Chen Rui couldn't help but feel exasperated by this person's nonchalance. He seemed to know everything about local customs, almost like an expert on America.
"Where are we going?" Chen Rui asked, glancing at the road ahead. They had been driving west for nearly an hour and still hadn't reached their destination.
"To Las Vegas!" Li Li replied with a smile. "You were playing around in the dream world, and we didn't even step foot in a casino!"
Chen Rui scoffed at his logic. "Come on! The place you robbed in the end wasn't a casino; it was a restroom! Do you think there are billions of dollars in cash in a restroom?"
Li Li clearly forgot that detail and smiled sheepishly. "What I meant was that we didn't even get to sit at a table. Since we're in America, how could we miss out on this great place?"
Chen Rui sighed helplessly. He couldn't understand the mindset of those wealthy individuals who had become numb to money. While gambling did bring an unusual thrill, was it really worth giving away cash for fleeting happiness? What if they became addicted? Perhaps they were simply buying joy with their money.
In the Dream World Game, the city they were in was Las Vegas, and they hadn't escaped this city even until death. Chen Rui truly didn't expect to return to this fantastical city so soon.
Li Li smiled again. "Do you remember? In the Dream World Game, the Vice President's convoy took this very road to reach our destination."
"Too bad we don't have the protection of those dozen big guys," Chen Rui shook his head, pointing out the difference in treatment compared to the Vice President.
Laughter erupted in the car as they reminisced about the comical moments from the Dream World Game.
The journey wasn't long, but due to speed limits, it took them over four hours before they finally caught sight of Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is located in Nevada, surrounded by desolate deserts and semi-arid mountainous regions. It receives little rainfall, experiences scorching summers and cold windy winters, and occasional heavy rains can lead to flooding. This beautiful yet harsh place has become a shining point in the world thanks to its numerous casinos.
Familiar roads, familiar streets, familiar buildings—seeing these scenes felt as if he had just been there yesterday. Yet Chen Rui's travel records showed no indication that he had ever been to Las Vegas; that was the magic of dreams.
Li Li expertly drove onto Las Vegas Boulevard, where everyone caught sight of the chilling Excalibur Hotel. Not long ago, they had been there engaged in fierce gun battles with thousands of zombies.
The group did not check into the Excalibur Hotel, but instead chose to stay at the Pyramid Hotel, which is under the same company.
Although it was still morning, the occupancy rate of Las Vegas hotels was always among the highest in the world, and vacant rooms were never as plentiful as in some ordinary cities.
Through negotiations and by revealing their identities, they managed to secure four deluxe double rooms and one deluxe single room, even though they did not get a luxury suite.
It was clear that this meant Chen Rui would have to share a room with his younger sister. Had he forgotten what he said that morning? What was with his inconsistent words and actions?
Chen Rui forced a smile as he held the room key card, while Li Xue stood beside him, seemingly having waited for this moment for a long time. She excitedly clutched her suitcase, her big watery eyes looking up at him.
With no choice but to accept his fate, Chen Rui thought that his dream from last night hadn’t been too bad. However, that was just because she had been so tired and it had all taken place in a dream; he wasn’t really prepared for how things would be in reality.
The decor of the Pyramid Hotel was much better than that of the Excalibur Hotel. First of all, they were not in the same league. Secondly, the Pyramid Hotel had undergone a major renovation six or seven years ago, making it more modernized. It could be considered one of the few large modern casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
After putting their luggage in their rooms, everyone instinctively headed to the casino area since that was their main purpose for being there. After exchanging greetings, they each went off to find their favorite gaming tables.
Even though it was still morning, the casino area always gave off a midnight vibe. Once inside, one couldn’t help but feel an exhilarating rush, wanting to try their luck at the tables.
Li Xue had already neatly exchanged several thousand dollars for chips and had even divided them into several denominations, with the lowest being just ten dollars—she had clearly thought this through.
The two quickly found a less crowded table to sit at when suddenly they spotted Li Li nearby. They exchanged awkward smiles. The dealer was a young Asian girl who seemed to be watching Li Li intently. Chen Rui felt as if he understood something…
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