[1.6] Activating The Hidden Mission

As soon as Ming Yichen hid his phone in his pocket, another ruckus appeared at the shop's entrance.

Their supposedly silent and peaceful rest kept on being disturbed, huh?

However, Yan Feiyu was pleasantly surprised to see the familiar jerseys worn by the newly arrived group. He stood up from his table and waved at his volleyball teammates. "Da ge!" he called out energetically.

Zhang Wei and the others automatically looked back at the voice's owner. Their eyes brightened as they recognized that it was their 'baby' Yan Feiyu. 

"Yuyu! It's nice seeing you around." Lin Yuze was the first to walk over, fist bumping their favorite libero. His gaze then drifted to the tall man sitting in front of Yan Feiyu. "Oh, you're with a friend?" 

Ming Yichen stiffened at that. His expression was still blank, but the reddish tint on his ears betrayed his inner turmoil. 

Yan Feiyu also looked at Ming Yichen before he answered, "Ah, yes. Ming Yichen, meet my teammates." Yan Feiyu gestured to the group wearing their marketing department's jerseys. 

Ming Yichen hastily stood up straight as he bowed deeper than he was supposed to. "Hello, I'm Ming Yichen from the Engineering Department. It's a pleasure to meet you all." His voice was monotone but loud. 

This contrast made the group burst into teasing laughter. "Aiya, don't be so uptight, Mr. Ming. Bowing so low. We're not your boss, ah." 

Ming Yichen slowly bent back again so that he was now standing ramrod straight. He slightly bowed again. "Sorry." 

"No, no, it's okay," Zhang Wei hurriedly mediated between his teammates and the dull-looking handsome chess player. He guiltily shifted his gaze to Yan Feiyu. "Sorry for disturbing you two." 

Yan Feiyu chuckled, waving his hand nonchalantly. "Don't mind, don't mind. We're just here to chill, anyway." 

"Okay. We'll just order first." 

Zhang Wei and his team bid them good-bye before proceeding to pick up their orders. 

Ming Yichen carefully looked at Yan Feiyu's casual expression before he licked his lower lip to gather courage after some deep thought.

"Yan Feiyu, does that mean that some people think we're a couple?" 

"Pfft—cough!" Yan Feiyu's eyes bulged out as he pumped his fist on his chest to stop himself from coughing so hard. He just choked on his saliva at Ming Yichen's low whisper. "Don't surprise me like that!" he scolded before coughing again. 

Ming Yichen pursed his lips in guilt. "Sorry." He extended a hand to give out his handkerchief. "Here, use it until you're okay." 

Yan Feiyu did not refuse his offer as he dabbed the handkerchief on his mouth. He coughed up all that he could before his face turned back to normal. 

He then glared at Ming Yichen. "Why are you suddenly bringing that up? What if they heard you?" he hissed with gritted teeth. "Be careful!" 

"Oh." Ming Yichen covered his mouth with the back of his hand. "I didn't think it would be so confidential." 

"It is, Ming Yichen. Look, you and me shouldn't be called like that. We're not a couple, and we're not going to be one as well. If you happen to pass by while they talk about us, it's even better if you correct them," Yan Feiyu said before leaning back on his seat. He unconsciously fiddled with the handkerchief by folding it in any shape he suddenly thought of.

Ming Yichen tilted his head as a thought came into his mind. "But if we do that, doesn't it sound more in denial? They might think we're being defensive, right?" 

Yan Feiyu snapped at Ming Yichen's conjecture. Wow, the robot actually has this thoughtful side to him as well! 

"Ah, you're right, you're right. There's indeed a possibility that it would only fan the flames of the rumors. Let's just ignore them and lay low," Yan Feiyu suggested after considering Ming Yichen's idea. 

Ming Yichen nodded. "Okay." 

Just as peace finally dawned on them, there was suddenly a static noise echoing inside their heads. Time seemed to have frozen as everyone in the shop stood still. 

Yan Feiyu and Ming Yichen looked at each other in shock. "What the hell is going on...?" 

[Hello, dear hosts!] 

Yan Feiyu flinched at the unexpected appearance of a glowing sphere in front of them. It swirled happily, as if it were waving at them. 

Yan Feiyu raised an eyebrow at 250. "Why are you manifesting yourself in such a dramatic way?" 

System 250 harrumphed. 

[Well, it's not really my fault. It's just that something important is going to happen in the next few seconds!] 

Ming Yichen and Yan Feiyu exchanged meaningful glances as they intensely observed the blue light floating in the air. 

Ming Yichen was the first one to open his mouth to talk. "Elaborate for us, System 250. We're not fortune-tellers to guess what will happen next, am I right?" he said in a voice that came out slightly deep and authoritative. 

System 250 couldn't help but shiver in fear. A system and a robot face off was never on his list! And so he hastily answered the man in all honesty. 

[Here's the catch!] 

[In the next few minutes, a special scenario created by the mother system is going to happen.]

[This scenario will serve as your hidden mission.] 

"Hidden mission?" Both Ming Yichen and Yan Feiyu blurted out in surprise. "So suddenly?" 

System 250 ignored their rants and continued his monologue.

[The hidden mission will be revealed in three seconds.] 

[3... 2... 1...]

[The hidden mission has successfully arrived at System 250. Informing participant Yan Feiyu and participant Ming Yichen of the instructions prepared by the mother system...] 

[Here's your first hidden mission.] 

Yan Feiyu grimaced at that. "First? So there'll be a second one?" What in the scam is this?! 

System 250 swished its body at Yan Feiyu. 

[Hush!]

It then cleared its throat in a business-like manner. 

[Hidden mission: Participant Yan Feiyu and Ming Yichen should save everyone from the upcoming robbery in the ice cream shop that will happen ten seconds from now.]

[The use of items from the system's market can be negotiated.] 

[We encourage the participants to outwit the evildoers.] 

[Rewards: 10 extra badges per person and a total of an extra 5,000 coins per person.]

[Best of luck, participants!] 

System 250 then changed its robotic and monotone voice into that of a slightly childish one. 

[Jiayou, dear hosts. I'm rooting for you!] 

Yan Feiyu was about to say something when the glowing blue ball suddenly vanished in his ear. The seemingly stagnant air also flowed back as the chatter from the others continued.

The two couldn't help but feel pressured. Knowing that ten seconds from now would result in a disaster, they couldn't help but squeeze their brains to think of a wiser move.

However, ten seconds were too short.

Time soon passed by as the bell's ringing tune emitted through the dainty ice cream shop. Yan Feiyu and Ming Yichen looked at the door with bated breath.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the tiled floor as everyone turned their heads towards the noise.

"ALL OF YOU, HANDS UP AND GET DOWN ON THE FUCKIN' FLOOR!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three gunshots were fired vertically by a brawny man wearing an all-black outfit. The only thing that could be seen in his body were his eyes. The rest were covered in black cloth. Typical robber outfit.

Yan Feiyu grabbed Ming Yichen's hand and pulled him down to duck under the table. He then raised a finger to his lips, indicating that Ming Yichen should stay quiet and observe first. If they make a move now, it will certainly alert the robbers.

Also, no matter how much he wanted to appear like a hero and save everyone from these bad guys, Yan Feiyu was never the kind to step up unless he's sure of the chances that he'll succeed.

Right now, his success rate in stopping them is only 0.0001%. In other words, Yan Feiyu wasn't ready to do the hidden mission.

Ming Yichen was quite Yan Feiyu's opposite. He was raised by his butler to always be righteous and use all of his advantage for the benefit of all.

Thus, despite Yan Feiyu's silent warning about staying well-behaved, Ming Yichen gathered all of his guts to stealthily dial the police for help. 

Seeing this, Yan Feiyu did not stop him, but he even decided to cover up for him by shielding Ming Yichen's body from the robbers.

Everyone's hands were up at the moment, and the only bold exception was Ming Yichen. Yan Feiyu only needed to bid sometime for his partner to have his call picked up by the authorities. Once they're done with this, they'll be fine, right?

"HANDS UP, KID—OR ELSE, I'LL BURST YOUR PRETTY HEAD WITH THIS BULLET."

Yan Feiyu's eyes widened as he watched one of the robbers suddenly turn in their direction while pointing the gun at them. Particularly, at Ming Yichen's head.

"STOP WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING! RIGHT NOW!"

Ming Yichen slowly turned his head to face the robber. He then carefully raised both of his hands with a blank expression. He did not talk, nor did he make any extra moves.

Yan Feiyu was about to sigh in relief when he suddenly heard an ear-piercing bang.