MMORPG: Crowd Control

While enjoying the shrimp tempura onigiri and chatting along, a person entered the convenience store.

"So you are really here, Lei Zhen…"

The person called out, prompting Lei Zhen to turn around and see who it was.

To his surprise, it was Shan Lin, someone he had not contacted for a while now.

Ever since he found out his father became a major shareholder and that Shan Lin seemed to be the acting Guild Leader of the Aries Guild, he had been distancing himself from him.

Although there was no clear evidence that he was involved in it, the fact that his father was involved was evident enough.

Quickly suppressing his emotion, Lei Zhen decided to keep his cool and calmly asked, "What are you doing here, Shan Lin?"

Despite not contacting him much, he still didn't wish to directly cut off their friendship without letting him explain.

So long as Shan Lin comes clean, then he shall give him a chance.

"Is he your friend?" Tie Longkun suddenly interjected, seemingly confused by Shan Lin's sudden appearance.

Shan Lin kept silent, his intention seemed to be clear as he wanted to see how Lei Zhen would respond.

However, Lei Zhen didn't reveal much information for Shan Lin to deduce as he chuckled a bit and said cleverly, "I've known him for a pretty long time, so what do you think, Tie Longkun?"

Seeing the response, a bitter smile appeared on Shan Lin's face.

'As expected… Lei Zhen found out about my secret.' Shan Lin thought, feeling a bit sour.

"Can we have a chat outside, Lei Zhen?" He then asked, clearly wanting to speak privately with him without the interference of Tie Longkun.

"Can you watch the store for a while?" Lei Zhen asked Tie Longkun before giving a reply to Shan Lin.

It was technically his work shift and Tie Longkun was only here because he had nothing else to do. Hence, it would be impolite of him to just ditch him without asking for consent.

Alas, Lei Zhen underestimated Tie Longkun's innocence as he laughed. "Go ahead, Lei Zhen. Your friend came all the way here to chat with you. I can easily watch over the store."

Nodding his head, Lei Zhen proceeded to follow Shan Lin outside.

Once outside, Shan Lin held a solemn expression and asked in a low but subtle tone, "You know about my father's involvement with the Lei Enterprise, right?"

Lei Zhen kept silent and merely nodded his head in response.

What had to come, would come eventually. It's just that he didn't expect to be confronted at this moment.

Shan Lin breathed a soft sigh and smiled bitterly.

"No wonder why you have been so distant recently. It seems like you have truly found out about my father. But I'm curious, his identity was kept a secret, so how did you find out?" He asked.

"No comment."

Lei Zhen outright refused to answer where he obtained his source of knowledge.

Tang Qiaolian was generous enough to inform him, and there was no way he would reveal her name casually.

Not to mention, he could not discern whether Shan Lin is a foe or a friend currently. For him to come all the way here to chat, Lei Zhen could not understand his goal and motive for doing so.

Seeing how cautious Lei Zhen was around him, Shan Lin felt some pain in his heart. It wasn't a physical pain, but more an emotional pain.

"So after all these years… you still don't understand my personality?" Shan Lin laughed bitterly.

"I've been genuine and treated you as my best buddy. Did you think all of those are fakes?"

"If you were truly genuine, then why have you kept this matter a secret?"

For the first time ever after being ousted by the Lei Enterprise, Lei Zhen had spoken in a raging tone.

"You knew what happened to me 10 years ago, and you should know very clearly what I despised the most in my entire life. Yet you still kept this matter a secret. So tell me, who's the one in the wrong?" He raised his tone further and screamed, his eyes turning red from anger.

With the agitated tone of Lei Zhen and his furious response, Shan Lin bit his lip slightly, clearly unable to respond to his questions.

Of course, he knew he was in the wrong for keeping the matter a secret, but Shan Lin never wanted to harm Lei Zhen.

He was his best friend and one they had played together since young.

"I-I'm sorry, Lei Zhen. I'll come another time." That was all Shan Lin could say before leaving depressingly.

As much as he wanted to reconcile their relationship, he knew it was too far-fetched at the moment to obtain that result.

Shan Lin was afraid that their argument might soon lead to a brawl, and if that happened, then all hopes of reconciling would be disintegrated.

The same goes for Lei Zhen, he was extremely agitated but kept his hand to himself. He was not a young kid no more that would use a fist to talk and fighting wouldn't help much either.

The only thing Lei Zhen did was stood still and glanced at the disappearing back of Shan Lin.

After today, their relationship had officially gone from friendship to neutral, and quite possibly an enemy.

"Why did you have to keep it from me?" Lei Zhen muttered, feeling like the inside of his intestine was being devoured. It was gruesome and painful to the point that he wanted to punch himself.

To make matters depressing, Lei Zhen heard the rain pitter-patter around his surroundings, and soon, some of the raindrops fell onto his hair.

However, he remained immovable, almost as if he was hit with a stun or snare.

His clothes were soon soaked and Tie Longkun came out at this time with an umbrella.

"Lei Zhen, what's wrong with you? The rain is coming down harder, let's go back inside." Tie Longkun said in a panicked voice when he saw Lei Zhen standing still like a dork, letting himself soaked in the rain defenseless.