"This... this is!"
"Just dropped from the dungeon. Looks like an epic-tier item?" Chen Nian remained deadpan.
"Epic-tier!"
Hearing that word, everyone nearby couldn't help but gasp in shock.
After all, the world's first epic-tier item had only recently surfaced, prompting the opening of the trading space. And now they were seeing one right before their eyes...
Terrifying! At this stage, epic gear commanded astronomical prices!
No exaggeration—this bow was worth a villa in Linhai!
Even if epic gear would soon be outdated, wealthy players would still pay top dollar for it. It offered a massive combat power boost.
Wait... Why was Chen Nian so calm?
A terrifying suspicion began to form in their minds.
Could it be... that Chen Nian was the one who actually dropped the first epic item, which is why he's not the least bit surprised?!
That was the only possible explanation!
Truly the strongest player in Calamity. In just a few days, he'd reached heights ordinary players like us could never hope to attain.
"Wait!"
After the initial shock, Qin Yu finally caught on.
"Why did such a great piece of gear go to you? Didn't I kill the boss?"
The others couldn't help but chuckle.
Why did the gear go to Chen Nian? Because in group dungeons, 80% of boss drops go to the killer, with only a 20% chance of randomly going to others.
Chen Nian getting the best gear was perfectly normal!
"Guess I got lucky. Want it?" Chen Nian asked with a smile.
"I... I..."
Qin Yu stammered. "I'm an archer myself—of course I want it! But this is epic gear! You'd just hand it over that easily?"
"Nope."
"You... you... I defeated the boss—can't you just..."
"No."
Chen Nian's cold, consecutive refusals silenced Qin Yu completely.
She wanted that gear a million times over!
If she could get it, her strength would skyrocket, putting her miles ahead of everyone else.
"I can pay for it!" she gritted out.
"How much?"
"Three million!"
Chen Nian still shook his head.
"Five million!"
"Are you trying to squeeze toothpaste out of a tube?"
"Ten million! That's all I have! You... just look at how much effort I put in. Can't you just give it to me?"
The girl bit her delicate lip, her eyes brimming with tears. Who knew how wronged she felt?
She'd faced inexplicable mortal danger, been knocked unconscious by a rock. He'd discovered the dungeon, brought Chen Nian—an outsider—along, fought hard to defeat the boss, and now had to shell out a fortune for gear.
Chen Nian found it amusing. This girl had a surprisingly good temper. If it were someone else with a petty streak, they'd probably have fought him on the spot.
And yet she was actually willing to spend money to buy it!
"Still not enough."
A playful smile suddenly curved the corners of Chen Nian's mouth.
This time, Qin Yu's defenses crumbled completely.
Wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, her reddened eyes still feigning resolve, she demanded, "Then what do I have to do to get it?"
"A simple condition: be my nominal girlfriend."
"?!?"
Qin Yu's beautiful eyes widened, her small mouth slightly agape, frozen in shock.
The other three were so shocked they immediately covered their mouths, their eyes widening with disbelief, unable to utter a single word.
Chen Nian's request wasn't because he was attracted to Qin Yu's beauty.
Rather, having a "girlfriend" by his side would avoid a lot of trouble and make his actions much more convenient.
"No Words" was known to everyone as a hopeless bachelor.
Countless rich, beautiful women fawned over him—from stunning young wives to lively schoolgirls—with girls throwing themselves at him left and right.
But "Silent" touched not a single one, convinced online romance was unreliable and that these women only coveted his gaming skills.
To others, though, Silent was even rumored to be impotent!
Why not Nantong?
Because countless men sought him out too...
Having a girlfriend now would significantly reduce the risk of his identity being exposed.
Especially with Ye Hongling hunting him down—it would drastically lower the chances of her finding him!
That woman's status, connections, and methods far surpassed those of the innocent Qin Yu. They weren't even in the same league.
If Ye Hongling actually came knocking, it wouldn't be something he could handle lightly!
So using Qin Yu as a shield was the perfect solution.
Upon hearing this, Bu Yu's three friends were instantly speechless with excitement, their hearts bursting with joy.
Big Shot Bu Yu wants to make Little Yu his girlfriend!
What incredible news!
What did this mean? It meant Xiao Yu would have an ultimate powerhouse by her side!
We could all benefit from that too—why wouldn't we jump at the chance?
"No way... How could I just casually become your girlfriend? Sure, I really want that gear, but I can't just throw myself around like a bargaining chip."
Qin Yu didn't hesitate long before flatly refusing.
"I said it'd be just for show."
"Still no way... I don't want to do something I dislike. Come up with another condition!"
The bespectacled chubby guy immediately stepped forward.
"Xiao Yu, you really need to think this through carefully. Don't reject it so quickly!"
"Exactly, Xiao Yu! An epic-tier piece of gear like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You can't just give it up! Even if not for yourself, think about us!"
Qin Yu glared. "You... all of you..."
"Sis Yu, you're so beautiful, constantly harassed by all sorts of things every day. Wouldn't having a boyfriend protect you better?"
"But a rumored boyfriend would ruin my career..."
"Who cares about a damn career in this world? All we'll be doing is slaying monsters, leveling up, and getting stronger—otherwise we won't even survive!"
Qin Yu was utterly dumbfounded.
What the hell is this group playing at?
Why are they so desperate for me to agree?
I'm a girl who values modesty, okay? I've never even dated before!
"Relax, I said it's just for appearances. I have zero interest in you."
Qin Yu: ???!!!
This statement made the cat's fur stand on end.
Not interested? You're not interested in me? You really think you're so hot stuff, huh?
Fine, fine, I'll make you regret saying that.
"Alright, I agree!"
"Excellent. Pleasure doing business."
Chen Nian promptly handed over the "Firework Bow."
Qin Yu immediately checked the gear's stats upon receiving it.
Firework Bow (Epic)
Defense: 30
Attack: 140
Attributes: Constitution +7, Agility +12, Supernatural +5
Special Effect: Arrows fired are imbued with fire enchantment, significantly increasing destructive power.
"Damn, this gear is insane..."
Qin Yu hadn't expected this guy to actually hand over the gear.
This was Epic-tier!
It was like Chen Nian had just bought her a seaside villa outright.
"He is reliable, at least..."
Qin Yu felt a rare flicker of goodwill toward Chen Nian, but she remained determined to make him regret it.
Just wait until you actually want me as your girlfriend—then you'll regret it, hmph!