The human world.
Trees on the streets were adorned with various colored lights, and new couplets could be seen on the doors of every household.
Children darted through the streets, holding small firecrackers, occasionally throwing out a double-bang or a larger one.
The sounds of 'pa pa!' and 'peng peng!' were continuous, making it quite lively.
Huang Zihuai, lying at home, could still hear the excited screams of those children.
And the 'clang' sound when iron basins were blown away by firecrackers.
These were all things he had experienced before.
But as he grew older, while the things he could play with increased, simple happiness diminished.
Thinking of this, Huang Zihuai sighed and took out his phone to unlock it.
He clicked into the only live stream he followed to check.
—Ever since he used the fan benefits sent by the streamer to save his relative's child, this was the only channel he followed.
The live stream was not broadcasting.
Only a group of bored viewers like him were chatting inside.
Some were exchanging couplets, some were setting up stalls to eat melon seeds, and others were playing with memes.
"I thought I was the only one this bored, looks like everyone is the same!"
Huang Zihuai typed a line of text.
Immediately, new bullet comments appeared below.
"No need to work, no need to worry about the boss chasing for business, it suddenly feels unreal to be this idle."
"Same here. Me too, I almost habitually reached for my computer to work just now."
"Children are so much better off. My brother and his friends are out having a blast, so happy."
"Will the streamer broadcast today? Will the underworld celebrate the New Year?"
A viewer suddenly asked curiously.
"Probably, didn't the ghost market start preparing couplets last time?"
"Then the streamer must have gone to celebrate the New Year...?"
"That makes sense, we might not be able to watch today, e=(´o｀*))) alas"
As Huang Zihuai was scrolling through the viewers' bullet comments, a new message notification suddenly popped up at the top of the screen.
WeChat Nickname [Old Dragon]: Gaming party, wanna join?
Huang Zihuai glanced at the still black screen of the live stream and replied: Come.
"Brothers, I'm going to play a game first. If the live stream starts, ping me."
After sending this bullet comment, Huang Zihuai exited the live stream and opened the Monster Beasts game.
'Welcome to the world of Monster Beasts~'
Huang Zihuai selected his game character and just as the game started counting down, a notification suddenly popped up at the top of the screen.
He instinctively swiped it away, to avoid delaying the game.
But then he felt something was a bit off?
What had he just swiped away?
It seemed like a notification that the live stream had started?
But at this moment, the game had already begun.
"..."
Huang Zihuai's character stood still.
He was debating whether to quit now or play one round first.
Would he be reported if he quit? Would his brother come through the internet to beat him up?
Just as Huang Zihuai made up his mind, he suddenly noticed a message appear in the team chat channel.
[Jian Xiaoxiao]: Brothers, I apologize, I'm leaving first. I'll accompany you to the end next time! (Bows)
[Rulus]: What the heck, you're not being human! Can't you wait until after this match to leave?
[Jian Xiaoxiao]: Rather than being human, I'd rather go watch the underworld celebrate the New Year (Bye bye~) Da Feng Novel
[Punk is Up]: Huh? The streamer is broadcasting? Take me with you!
[North of the Yellow River]: Take me!
Huang Zihuai also added a sentence at the end.
Immediately after, the player nicknamed 'Rulus' watched a line of system prompts flash by.
'Your teammate 'Jian Xiaoxiao' has left the team~'
'Your teammate 'Punk is Up' has gone offline~'
'Your teammate 'North of the Yellow River'... '
Rulus: ???
What?
No way, everyone's not being human for New Year's?
Underworld? What underworld New Year celebration?
What are they talking about the underworld on such a festive day?
A player was bewildered and started to wonder if he should call the police for help?
Could these guys be having second thoughts?
While he was still bewildered, the game screen in front of him suddenly displayed two large, golden words: 'Victory'.
Rulus: ??? It's victory already?
o((⊙.⊙))o
What happened to the opposing team?
Did they all get a virus and their internet went down???
...
[Ding~ The live stream you follow 'Daily Healing in the Underworld' has started broadcasting, come and take a look~]
...
A mahjong parlor was filled with over a dozen mahjong machines.
Dozens of mahjong players, young and old.
If you were to ask what the popular entertainment activity for the general public during the New Year is, mahjong and card games would undoubtedly be at the forefront.
"Two of bamboos!"
"Three of萬!"
"Pong! Three of bamboos, want it?"
"Wait, let me see..."
A young man felt his pocket vibrate, took out his phone to look, and then looked again.
"Do you want the three of bamboos?" the mahjong player opposite him urged.
The young man holding his phone showed excitement. Hearing the urging, he looked at his hand.
"I've won, I've won."
"You've won and you hesitated for so long..." the mahjong player opposite him looked at the young man's hand.
Then he was shocked, "Holy cow, you have such a good hand and you're not going for a clean sweep, but winning my two yuan?"
However, the young man waved his hand dismissively, "Find someone to replace me, I'm leaving for now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man heard similar voices from the table next to him.
"I'm not playing anymore. I've taken everything this round, calculate how much it is, and I'll pay!"
Immediately after, two more people stood up from another side of the mahjong parlor.
"Hold on, let me check my phone, no rush to play."
The young man saw this and his lips curled up, feeling a sense of camaraderie with fellow viewers.
The world is sometimes so wonderful.
Although they were strangers who had never met, once they had something in common, their relationship instantly drew closer.
As the saying goes, 'All viewers under heaven are one family.'
...
"Come, come, it's New Year's, please have some melon seeds and peanuts, don't be polite~"
The owner of the mahjong parlor came in with two large bags of melon seeds, peanuts, and candies. Just as he was about to distribute them, he suddenly noticed that the atmosphere was a bit off?
He swept his gaze around and understood what was happening, but he became even more confused.
What's going on?
They came to the mahjong parlor but instead of playing mahjong, they were all gathered around looking at their phones?
They came to the mahjong parlor, turned on the mahjong machines, and played on their phones?
This was the first time he had seen such behavior.
The owner scratched his head, should he still distribute his melon seeds and peanuts?
Just then, the young man who had stopped playing first waved his hand, "Boss, do you have melon seeds and peanuts? Get some for everyone, I'll pay."
After speaking, he shouted, "Viewers, don't be shy~"
The owner subconsciously responded, "Alright."
No matter what, it seemed... he could sell melon seeds and peanuts?
And perhaps collect some table fees along the way?
I run a mahjong parlor but I'm selling melon seeds and peanuts...
How wonderful!
...