Chapter 32: Game Sandbox Second Test

After singing in the private room until eleven o'clock, the party was almost over. Before Xu Zhi left, he received many small notes from girls, who, blushing, secretly handed them to him behind Chen Xi's back. These notes contained their WeChat IDs, clearly indicating their intention to betray Chen Xi.

Heh. So much for good girlfriends. "I treat you as my best friend," he thought, "but you're giving me the 'Green Light.'"

Xu Zhi, however, didn't pay much attention to these things. He quietly tossed the notes into a nearby trash can. Helplessly, he helped the tipsy Chen Xi onto his electric bike and headed down the road towards home.

"Happy now? Satisfied?" Xu Zhi asked, riding his electric bike with the cool night breeze blowing past.

She only asked him to be her boyfriend to deal with this class reunion, didn't she? She had certainly made a splash, attracting countless envious and jealous gazes. She must be very satisfied.

"Hehe, I've saved face. I'm happy and satisfied." Chen Xi, perched on the back seat of the electric bike, leaned against Xu Zhi's back, her body warm and soft like a sponge.

Leaning against him, her soft hands, wrapped around his waist, suddenly began to explore his abs. Drunkenly, she slurred, "Hey! You really did get a Photoshop buff! Just like my friends said, it feels so good! Your muscles are so firm. Indeed, having a handsome, gentle, terminally ill boyfriend is one of life's great fortunes."

"'Terminal illness' – can you please stop bringing that up?" Xu Zhi felt a headache coming on, and a fiery sensation rose in his abdomen. "And take your hands off me; you're playing with fire. Don't blame me if something happens—I won't be responsible. Be careful, or I might just take advantage of you, and you'll have nowhere to cry!"

Blushing, Chen Xi quickly pulled her hands back. Naively, she raised her head and proudly exclaimed, "I *will* bring up your terminal illness! If you weren't terminally ill, would you have resigned? Would your girlfriend have abandoned you? Would you even be my boyfriend? I'm simply not good enough for you!"

"You're drunk," Xu Zhi said, speechless.

"I'm not drunk at all!" she retorted. "My childhood dream has come true; I finally got to bring you to meet everyone as my boyfriend." She counted on her fingers, "I'm not exceptionally pretty or smart. My face used to be especially chubby when I was little. I've worked hard every day since junior high to slim it down, and now it's finally an oval shape, making me prettier. But I still can't compare to your previous girlfriend's naturally slender face. She was as beautiful as a movie star, especially her chest – compared to her, I'm just… *sob*, no matter how much I've massaged for years, there's been no improvement."

Xu Zhi was momentarily stunned. In reality, now that he could modify gene chains, he no longer thought a person's appearance was that important. Looks weren't everything. This round-faced girl was already quite beautiful; after all, there weren't that many flawlessly stunning beauties who could topple kingdoms.

"You're still young. Keep massaging, and you'll develop," Xu Zhi said, his face serious.

"Really?" Chen Xi's eyes widened, sparkling with joy. "I can still develop?"

"Yes, you will develop," Xu Zhi lied through his teeth. He thought that since she was already in college, a second major growth spurt was unlikely; she'd probably remain petite.

"That's good then!" Chen Xi chuckled naively, still tipsy, then whispered, "It's just a shame, *sob*, that you won't be around to see it."

Xu Zhi: ...Could we please stop talking about me dying? I'm in my orchard yard, using a civilization evolution sandbox, harnessing the power of an entire world to find a cure! There's still hope! Cancer can be cured!

After riding his electric bike and putting up with her drunken antics for a while, they returned to town. Xu Zhi dropped her off at Aunt Li's house next door. Aunt Li scolded the dizzy Chen Xi for a moment, saying, "You make your Brother Xu Zhi play father and mother all day! Now go take a bath and get to bed!"

Then, Aunt Li apologized profusely to Xu Zhi.

"It's alright, I watched this girl grow up too," Xu Zhi said, standing at the doorway, caught between laughter and tears. After a brief chat, he returned to his yard. He felt that rural life, free from scheming and full of simple pastoral charm, neighborly affection, and quaint country love stories, was quite heartwarming.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly. Clear sunlight streamed down upon the endless mountains, forests, oceans, grasslands, and the Babylonian tribes within his yard, creating a dazzling, pale golden glow that radiated boundless vitality, as if the light illuminated the entire world.

After finishing his heartfelt breakfast around eight o'clock, Xu Zhi sat in the yard eating an apple, continuing his work and looking towards the small sandbox world in the distance.

Routine covert observation of the giants."Stop looking! There's a survival crisis; the species are about to be eliminated!"

Inside, a bunch of bizarre, anomalous species were developing and entertaining themselves.

"It's time for an adjustment. We need professionals to step in and play this game," he mused. He then drafted an update announcement post, reviewed it several times to ensure accuracy, and finally posted it on the forum.

"Thank you, all netizens, for your anticipation and support for this game. Many of you are eagerly awaiting the second beta test and the release of more internal testing slots. In response to popular demand, the game will now open its second beta.

**Spores Evolution 0.2 Beta Version Game - Update Log:**

**I.** This time, 50 new internal testing slots will be opened, increasing the maximum concurrent player count to 150.

**II.** To apply for an internal testing slot, players are welcome to submit applications via email to the official address. Applications should take the form of a 'Biology Thesis,' articulating your understanding of the game, specifying which species you plan to evolve upon entering the game, and explaining the feasibility and rationality of your proposed species. This will serve as the basis for internal testing slot selection.

**III.** Due to technical limitations, the game cannot offer more slots to players in the short term. To allow more players to experience the game, 'Spores Evolution' will adhere to the principle of 'survival of the fittest.' In each phase of the game, the bottom 20 players out of the 150 internal testers will be eliminated, freeing up their slots.

**IV.** Spores Evolution will introduce an achievement system. Players who evolve uniquely powerful and promising species will have their achievements recorded in the evolution annals and receive special system rewards!

**V.** The sandbox mechanics are realistic and logical. Players are encouraged to DIY any wondrous species."

As soon as this official update log was released, the entire forum exploded. There was no other reason; it was simply too hardcore.