Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 10 The Power of PUA
"What?" Qiu Yuanyuan was stunned.

Gu Xiao repeated, explaining, "Without them, we can never finish the fight. Since we can't finish it, why don't we take a break and play some CS with me?"

"I don't need to rest."

Qiu Yuanyuan's fingers kept moving. "If you promise something, you have to do it."

In the dimly lit private room, the light from the screen illuminated her serious profile.

Gu Xiaoyu said earnestly, "I'll teach you something for free—before you've got the money in your pocket, never disagree with your employer on the project content and execution standards."

Qiu Yuanyuan said with a disdainful expression, "Are you trying to renege on your debt?"

"This is called cutting your losses in time."

Gu Xiao said calmly, "I need it to be finished in three hours. If I can't finish it, then it's a failure. I won't be satisfied with 'finishing part of it' or 'I've done my best'."

Qiu Yuanyuan fell into deep thought.

Gu Xiao has already started researching computer games.

Having grown accustomed to the simplistic operating systems of later generations, he found everything about this early Windows interface—a blue screen with white text and a pixelated look—awkward and unsettling.

The mouse pointer was extremely difficult to drag across the screen, and I couldn't find the game even after searching through several folders.

Qiu Yuanyuan clicked her tongue, clearly disgusted by his clumsy manner.

She snatched the mouse from Gu Xiao's hand and started clicking rapidly.

A short while later, an extremely rudimentary game interface appeared on Gu Xiao's computer screen.

The rough textures and angular models were exactly what Counter-Strike originally looked like.

“I’ve never played before, take me with you,” Gu Xiao said matter-of-factly.

This time, Qiu Yuanyuan didn't refuse; the way he clumsily searched for the game earlier didn't seem like he was faking it.

She skillfully entered the game, created a room, and casually asked:

"Are you really a high school student?"

"Replacement guaranteed."

Why are you memorizing all these English words?

She pointed to the manuscript paper that Gu Xiao had carefully placed aside, "Why make such a big deal out of it?"

Gu Xiaodao said, "To make a living."

Qiu Yuanyuan's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Okay, keeping a squirrel as a pet can indeed be considered "making a living".

The room quickly filled up, and the game began.

The map is the classic Dust2.

Gu Xiao controlled the character to walk a few stiff steps and fired a few shots randomly at the wall.

Xiao Jiu was very excited and jumped around on the table, but Qiu Yuanyuan frowned as she watched.

"Don't waste bullets, follow me, look at the minimap, and head to site B."

The girl gave the order concisely.

Gu Xiao obediently followed.

The two quickly passed through the middle gate.

Before he could even get used to the buttons, a kill notification flashed in the upper right corner of the screen.

The one who made the move was none other than Qiu Yuanyuan, who was holding an AWP.

"Amazing," Gu Xiao exclaimed sincerely.

"Basic operation." Qiu Yuanyuan's tone was flat, but the slight upward inflection at the end revealed a hint of pride.

The two started playing games, and the tense atmosphere gradually relaxed, and they naturally started talking more.

During this process, Gu Xiao learned that Qiu Yuanyuan herself was also a high school student.

Her father was among the earliest IT programmers in mainland China, but he had little interest in assembly language and preferred physical entrepreneurship.

This internet cafe was built with compensation money from demolished properties years ago. After it became a success, Qiu's father lost interest in spending time in the internet cafe and handed it over to his son. He then started designing platforms, which required him to travel frequently.

Gu Xiao suddenly thought of her adoptive father and couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.

Despite being from the same era, the older generation's values ​​can differ so greatly.

While he was pondering, Qiu Yuanyuan subtly observed him.

Although they hadn't known each other for long, this boy, who claimed to be a high school student, gave her a strong sense of pressure.

It was a calm and composed control, as if everything was within the other party's expectations.

From the composure with which he presented the conditions at the bar, to the methodical approach with which he distributed the manuscript paper, and then to his incisive observation just now that Luo Rui and his group would be slacking off.

The door creaked open, and Luo Rui and Zhu Chen walked in one after the other.

Upon seeing the scene inside the private room, both of them stopped in their tracks.

"You guys...aren't you going to fight anymore?" Luo Rui asked instinctively.

Gu Xiao didn't turn her head, her gaze still fixed on the pixelated figure jumping on the screen, and simply hummed softly.

Qiu Yuanyuan sneered, "Twenty minutes in the toilet? I didn't know you guys had constipation."

Luo Rui shrank back and didn't dare to speak, while Zhu Chen also looked embarrassed.

"Okay, sit down and rest for a while, play some games with me." Gu Xiao gave her a disapproving look.

Qiu Yuanyuan snorted, but her hands flew across the room as she created it.

The two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and slipped back to their seats.

At this moment, they noticed Xiao Jiu's presence. Zhu Chen's eyes widened, and he stammered:
"Songsong. Song."

"Squirrel Xiao Jiu, Gu Xiao's pet." Qiu Yuanyuan said with disdain.

Luo Rui leaned closer in surprise and asked, "You can keep squirrels as pets? Won't they run away?"

“It’s generally not allowed,” Gu Xiao explained. “Xiao Jiu isn’t a local breed, so it can’t be released into the wild. That’s why I’m keeping it with me.”

Luo Rui suddenly realized that he had never seen a red squirrel before and thought it was because he was ignorant. It turned out that it was not a local species.

He tentatively asked, "Can I touch it?"

Seeing that Xiao Jiu was only looking at her curiously and did not resist, Gu Xiao nodded: "Be gentle."

Luo Rui carefully extended his index finger, as gently as if in slow motion.

Xiao Jiu, annoyed by his dawdling, leaned forward and rubbed her fluffy head against his knuckles.

"It's so well-behaved!"

Luo Rui smiled with delight, "Now I want to raise one too."

Gu Xiao shook his head. "Squirrels are naturally lively and active, requiring a lot of space to move around. They also have delicate stomachs and high dietary requirements. Don't try it lightly without certain breeding experience and patience."

Xiao Jiu's food is entirely provided by his adoptive father, Gu Hui. There is a detailed plan for what he should and shouldn't eat, which is something that most families cannot provide.

Watching the interaction between the human and the mouse, Qiu Yuanyuan's eyes were almost red with jealousy. She couldn't help but whisper and scold, "Are you still going to fight or not!"

Xiao Jiu was startled and quickly ran back to Xiao Xiao's shoulder, burying his head in his hat, leaving only his dark eyes peeking out as he warily surveyed his surroundings.

"Yuanyuan, you scared it," Zhu Chen couldn't help but complain.

Qiu Yuanyuan choked for a moment, wanting to retort, but seeing Xiao Jiu's frightened look, she swallowed her words back, angrily gripping the mouse and forcibly pulling her attention back to the screen.

Luo Rui also felt it was a pity, and looked at Gu Xiao with a somewhat apologetic gaze:
"Sorry, I'll keep typing. I'll definitely finish."

Gu Xiao glanced at him. "Aren't you going to rest?"

Luo Rui was extremely embarrassed. "No need, I've rested enough."

Gu Xiao nodded gently, "Thank you. If we finish, I'll treat everyone to Cokes."

Luo Rui's eyes lit up, and Zhu Chen beside him also showed a look of excitement.

And so, the sound of typing filled the room again, along with occasional discussions of entertainment gossip. But even as it became more lively, the pace of the conversation didn't slow down at all.
5:32 PM.

Gu Xiao received a 46-page manuscript, marking another step forward in escaping poverty!
(End of this chapter)