I'm trapped in a block

Chapter 1282 Sparkling Stars
The middle-aged man slowly woke up and touched his aching head.

When I was young, I could stay up all night and nothing would happen. Now, if I stay up a little late, I feel like my body has been hollowed out.

He nodded apologetically to the "stranger" who had stayed with him all night, then took out an electronic screen to check the time.

His haggard face was reflected on the still-unlit electronic screen. Wrinkles had appeared on his face, and there were obvious white streaks in his hairline.

The middle-aged man stared blankly at his unfamiliar reflection on the screen for a long time.

Finally, he sighed and turned on the electronic screen.

The moment he turned on the electronic screen, a barrage of random information popped up.

Some came from superiors, some from colleagues, some from family, some from friends...

As the sum of social relationships, he became a node trapped in the center of the grid, unable to move.

The middle-aged man, enduring a headache, replied to each message one by one.

He flattered his superiors.

He is friendly to his colleagues.

He was kind to his family.

He is interesting to his friends.

The light from the electronic screen shone on his face, constantly changing, as if he were wearing different masks. Each mask was a part of his true self.

After replying to the message, he turned around and smiled at Mo Ling.

He couldn't remember what he said last night when he was drunk, but he remembered the warm companionship. This "stranger friend" was strange, saying nothing, but he was a great listener.

He solemnly bid farewell to his newly acquainted friends and once again stepped into the "net".

It's time to return to my own node...

The autumn wind carried the middle-aged man's silhouette further and further away, and a chill swept over him once more.

Mo Ling's gaze drifted upwards.

"It's going to snow again, isn't it?"

……

The old man rubbed his hands together and sat down next to Mo Ling with practiced ease.

"Aren't you cold?" he asked Mo Ling in a low voice.

"not cold."

"Old Li passed away last week. He was my best friend. We've known each other since we were three years old..."

"Condolences."

"There's nothing to grieve over. At this age, it's time to go. I reckon I'll be gone someday... But you, you're immortal, aren't you?"

"It is."

A block, of course, will not age.

"That's great. When I die, can you come to my funeral? Don't just sit here. Go and see other places. The scenery in other places is also quite nice."

What scenery was there at your funeral?

"What you're saying... I'll have a super cool coffin custom-made; it'll definitely be the most unique sight."

"Then I'll go."

"It's a deal, don't go back on your word."

"Ah."

"Oh, and also, would you like to read a eulogy at my funeral?"

Why am I the one reading this?

"All my old friends are dead, except for you. And you have a rather unique look; you'd definitely look handsome at a funeral..."

Will he really be handsome?

Mo Ling imagined herself standing on the stage in a suit, with a square head of hair; she just didn't look "serious" enough.

……

Spring passed and autumn came, but the old man didn't come looking for Mo Ling again. Instead, a middle-aged woman with a sorrowful expression came to the square. "You're a friend of my father's, aren't you? He asked me to invite you to the funeral."

"Let's go." Mo Ling stood up from her seat.

On the way to the funeral, the old man's daughter kept looking at Mo Ling.

“My father often talks about you to us.”

"What did he say?"

"He said he knew an ancient relic who had lived since the time of the Abyss invasion..."

"I am indeed an old-fashioned person."

“No, you look very young… even younger than me.” A hint of envy flashed in the old man’s daughter’s eyes.

No matter what stage of human progress we reach, the pursuit of "immortality" remains as fervent as ever.

"Did my father tell you that he wanted you to speak at the funeral?"

"I told you."

"Okay, would you like us to prepare a draft?"

"No need, I know him well. Just prepare a decent outfit for me."

"of course."

……

The day of the funeral arrived quickly, but Mo Ling was quite surprised. Instead of a suit, she prepared a mascot costume that fit his square head.

At the funeral, everyone was dressed in mascot costumes, as the old man had requested before his death; he wanted everyone to attend his funeral in mascot costumes.

Even his own coffin was a "spaceship".

"He's really handsome."

When the time came, Mo Ling slowly walked onto the stage.

This was the promise he made to the old man.

"Dear fellow star-loving folks, thank you for coming..."

"Today, we are filled with excitement to witness the first space journey of the Star Fat race... Behind me is the first Star Fat astronaut, Mr. Qi Xingxing!"

Star Fat is a doll IP designed by an elderly person, which quickly became popular all over the world after its release.

In the old man's vision, each star represents a star and possesses special abilities.

However, these star-shaped fats are not perfect either; they all have personality flaws due to their own characteristics.

Just like the old man often complained to Mo Ling:

"My boss is very responsible, but he's too responsible, which makes him a bit too serious."

“My daughter is very kind, but because she is kind to everyone, she is easily bullied, and over time, she has become somewhat timid.”

"Old Li is someone I admire. He's always cheerful and carefree, but to outsiders, he seems a bit irresponsible and immature..."

The designer of Star Fat was at the center of a social network, which allowed him to see the differences in personality among the people around him. He took this opportunity to design Star Fat dolls with distinct styles and a strong sense of "realism".

"Everyone can find themselves in the Star Fat Doll."

This is the original design intention behind Xingxingfei.

Qi Xingxing, the elderly man, did not want his funeral to be filled with sadness. He wanted to see all the stars he had painstakingly designed standing together, surrounding him, and sending him into space.

There are many stars in the universe; he just went to find other stars and grew fat, but he didn't die.

"The journey has only just begun!"

Hearing Mo Ling's inspiring "declaration of departure," the fans below were "excited" and shed tears.

Music that had been prepared beforehand played at the funeral. Under a realistic projection, the spaceship carrying the astronauts slowly rose into the sky and flew towards the infinite stars.

"My friend, the elderly Qi Xingxing, often said something to me..."

"People should live like stars!"

"I hope that in the days to come, everyone can strive to shine brightly, without listening to the words of those who give up on themselves. Let everyone contribute what little warmth and light they have, like fireflies, to give off a little light in the darkness. Don't wait for a torch; even when things are dim, keep moving forward in this silent and dark universe!"

(End of this chapter)