Becoming a life winner from infancy

As Fan Yuan lifted the curtain of the arcade, what came into view for the group was a very unique and cozy gaming hut.

At the entrance of the hut was a small water bar counter, decorated with various cool and cute anime character collectibles, but no one was staffing the bar. With a card-operated access door separating the inside from the outside, everyone could only watch what the people inside the hut were playing.

To the east of the counter were four joystick arcade machines, currently showing the very retro "Three Kingdoms Chronicles," with four middle-aged men vigorously jostling the joysticks, clamoring for someone to hand them the ice sword.

Opposite the joystick arcade area were two colorful CRT TVs, with home-use FC consoles in front of them, one being played was

Past the joystick arcade area, you'd find the current mainstream consoles, the Smitch3, PS7pro, and XBOX-SSS, where only a couple was playing "It Takes Two." Also, there was a large racing game pod on the inside, with a man deeply engrossed in a racing game, swaying left and right as he steered.

"Is this place also an arcade?"

Luo Xianyu looked around in disbelief, "There are no coin pushers, no claw machines, and no dance machines either."

"How can those be called games? They are just toys for the socially satisfied. This is a place where boys can experience true joy."

"From the 1980s FC consoles to various mainstream models released in recent years, you could say everything is here."

Fan Yuan said, "The key thing is, for just 30 yuan for a cup of milk tea, you can play here all day!"

"Wow, really? That's so user-friendly?"

Xia Nuo was somewhat shocked, "Just 30 yuan!"

"It's so cheap, yet it seems like not many people come to play."

Luo Xianyu was somewhat puzzled.

"Humph, that's of course because there's a threshold to meet!"

Fan Yuan pointed to a small blackboard on the side and then showed everyone the store's description:

[Welcome to A'Chai's Gaming Hut]

[Purchase a specialty drink and enjoy a whole day of play inside the hut]

[Member price: 30 yuan/person/day, non-members only receive bar service, we apologize for the inconvenience]

[New customers please ring for assistance from staff, only after completing the gaming challenge task within the hut can you register as a member and play inside]

"So that's it, you have to be a member."

Xia Nuo curiously looked at Fan Yuan, "So, are you a member?"

"Of course, I am! Look at this!"

As he spoke, Fan Yuan pulled a medal from his pocket, "This is my membership card!"

"Let me see!" Xia Nuo was very curious about Fan Yuan's medal.

Speaking, Fan Yuan very politely handed his membership medal to Fang You, "Big brother, big sister, please take a look!"

Xia Nuo and Luo Xianyu both leaned in to look at Fan Yuan's medal, which was a gray cross medal.

"This membership card design is also so unique, pretty interesting!"

"This medal looks so simple..."

Luo Xianyu commented, "It feels tattered and worn."

"Because I am a Lv1 member, this is the only kind of medal I could get."

"There's even a level design for it?"

"Yes!"

Fan Yuan said, "The higher the membership level, the more sophisticated the medal. I've seen someone with a silver medal before, that seemed to be for a Lv3 member."

"You're not doing great, Fan Yuan,"

Xia Nuo sighed helplessly and, while holding Fang You's arm, hinted to Fan Yuan, "Your big brother Fang You excels at everything he does. How can you be trailing behind?"

"I, I've only started not long ago, that's why my points are so low..."

"Are there any privileges for higher levels?"

Fang You asked, "Like, no need to queue, discounts on drinks, stuff like that?"

Fan Yuan shook his head, "I haven't heard of that. Actually, being at a high level doesn't mean much—when you mingle and they find out you're a high-level member, they'll admire you more, that's all..."

Fan Yuan said, "After all, our membership levels here can only be raised by completing tasks, and the challenges for these tasks in this store are not easy."

"Completing tasks?"

"Right, complete the weekly challenges set by the staff, and you can earn membership points. Accumulate enough points, and you can level up, save points for higher ranks of medals. Cool, huh?"

"Wow, it feels just like playing a game in reality," Xia Nuo couldn't help but get interested.

"Isn't it fun... Is this the boys' happiness?"

"This design is indeed quite interesting."

At this point, Fang You was very interested in the rules introduced by Fan Yuan, "What exactly are the weekly challenges to be done?"

"You'll know when the staff come, hmm... let me keep you in suspense!"

Fan Yuan pressed the bell while waiting for the arrival of the staff.

"Speaking of which, I particularly like the sister who works here. Though she's not exactly an older sister, she has a unique charm that really attracts me..."

Luo Xianyu rolled her eyes after listening, "So you're really here for the pretty sisters, huh."

"Well, that's not completely true... There are plenty of pretty sisters out there, but this one is a bit special."

Fan Yuan said somewhat embarrassedly, touching his nose, "It might sound like a misunderstanding, but the reason I like this sister is because of certain traits she has that make me involuntarily think of my big brother..."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Xianyu immediately hugged Fang You tightly and looked around nervously, "Youyou... even if you really don't have any male friends to hang out with, don't force yourself. Yu can dress up as a guy to keep you company!"

[Luo Xianyu is very worried your little brother has designs on you, Emotional Energy +100]

"Oh my, my feelings for big brother are pure, not what you're imagining,"

Fan Yuan was about to explain his reasoning when there was a stir behind the bar.

"Here she comes, my apologies... sorry to keep you waiting."

"Hehe, actually we haven't been waiting long, sister, your timing is perfect!"

Fan Yuan rested his chin on his hands while sitting at the bar, smilingly gazing at the waitress he fancied.

She sported two braids, wore black round glasses, and had long, straight black hair. Compared to the various COSERs in Dimension Town, her attire was very modest, but her cheeks were fair, rosy, and lustrous, and upon a closer look, indeed, she was quite the beauty.

When the girl saw Fang You and his companions, she suddenly paused, her expression showing surprise, and her eyes widened.

She instinctively looked around for a place to hide, but then realized there was nowhere suitable.

All she could do was cough a few times, trying hard to maintain a composed demeanor.

"May I ask if you've all come together?"

"That's right, that's right! Sister, all these people are my friends," Fan Yuan said, "You see, I'm really looking after your business!"

"Thank, thank you... but I have to correct you, I just work here, it's not my shop."

"I must correct you; our relationship isn't that of friends."

Luo Xianyu corrected from the side, "He's just a lackey of my dad, don't get the wrong idea. Also..."

Luo Xianyu hooked her arm through Fang You's, "This is my dad."

"Your, your daughter is already this big?" Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"Isn't this making it even more confusing..."

Meanwhile, Xia Nuo kept staring into the store clerk's eyes, and the clerk didn't dare to meet Xia Nuo's gaze.

"Sister... I feel like you look so familiar."

Xia Nuo fell into thought, "Have we met before somewhere?"

"Eh, it should, should be the first time."

The store clerk adjusted her glasses, "I haven't seen you guys before."

While she was speaking, she glanced at Fang You with an embarrassed look, and after seeing the divine light in his eyes, quickly turned her head away.

"Such a nervous store clerk, is this the one who you said looks a lot like Youyou?"

Luo Xianyu questioned Fan Yuan's words, "How does this temperament resemble our Youyou? Our Youyou isn't socially anxious, it's only me who is."

"You don't know how awesome this sister is, you'll understand in a bit."

Fan Yuan then raised his hand to signal the store clerk:

"I'd like to sign up these friends of mine for membership. According to the rules, we have to complete a challenge to do that, right?"

"Um... yes."

The store clerk nervously fidgeted with her hands in front of her, a picture of nervousness, "But, but you guys don't need to, just go ahead inside, I'll sign you up for membership."

?

Just, just go inside?

Fan Yuan was incredulous at the store clerk's sudden change in demeanor.

Sister, you've changed!

To get inside to play, I practiced hard for a month to finally get signed up for membership, and now you're telling me we can just go in?

Was it because you think my brother is handsome, no need to go through such official business anymore?

You weren't such an unprincipled girl before!

"Sister, you can't do this!"

Fan Yuan hastily said, "Only after completing the challenge can we enter the games. That's the sacred gaming spirit of Manager Acharya, it absolutely cannot be compromised!"

The store clerk adjusted her glasses, which promptly reflected light, "But if I remember correctly, you also got in because I helped you complete the challenge, right?"

"Ah, that... At least I tried hard!"

Fan Yuan blushed and stammered, "Anyway, sister, you have to let us properly experience the gaming spirit!"

"What are the store's mission objectives? Let us take a look first."

More than the store clerk's dubious identity, Fang You seemed more interested in the game shop's mission design.

Seeing that Fang You had shifted the topic, the store clerk went on to introduce:

"Actually, this student should have told you the rules. Just pick one of these games below and complete the corresponding game challenge."

"I see, so it's a test of gaming ability..."

No wonder they said the threshold is high. If you're just here to try it out, you still need to ensure your gaming level is up to a certain standard.

Fang You and company looked at the game challenges the store clerk brought out:

1. In "Old Man's Ring," defend the tree without taking damage.

2. In "Pure Dark Soul 3," solo kill the hero Guda as the Useless One.

3. Single-handedly play the final chapter of "A Tale for Two."

4. In "Hollow Knight," pass through four gates with five locks.

5. Complete "Soul Calibur" in one life.

6. Complete "Metal Egghead" in one life.

7. In "Lecture Civilization 8," attain victory within 24 hours.

8. In "Warcraft III," beat seven frenzied computers at the same time.

9. Clear "Jump King" with a smile.

...

Are these game challenges really something that normal members can pass?

Even Emperor Youyou found them unbelievably difficult upon seeing them.

"What are all these games? I've never even heard of them!"

Luo Xianyu let out a hopeless sigh, "No wonder they say it's a boy's joy, I don't play any of these games."

"Most of them are action games, just practice and it'll be fine. A few rely more on luck and are quite demanding."

Fan Yuan explained, "However, the points you get for each mission target differ. Generally, the fewer points, the easier it is to complete, and most people pick the lower-scoring challenges against the clerk."

[50. Defeat the store clerk in "King of Fighters '97"]

"Looking at it this way, playing a fighting game with the store clerk should be the simplest, only 10 points..."

"Cough, cough cough..."

At this moment, the store clerk coughed and then struggled to put on a smile, "However, it's still recommended that you pick one of the earlier PVE challenges."

"Why not PVP?"

Fang You raised his eyebrow slightly and then displayed a friendly smile.

"I, I'm afraid I might..."

The store clerk's face turned red, and she looked awkward, glancing at Fang You from time to time.

"Lose control of myself..."

...

?

At this moment, Luo Xianyu glanced between the awkward store clerk and the expectant, smiling Fang You.

Suddenly, her pupils tremored like an earthquake.

Luo Xianyu had a bad premonition.

[How many older sisters have you flirted with?! Luo Xianyu is almost losing trust in you! Emotional Energy +500!]