art and thought that he should cheat Ma Qi out of a meal.
He remembered that there was a pretty good family restaurant nearby.

The two people sat in the restaurant.
Gu Xizhou ordered a lot of things.
He had just handed his menu to the waiter when Ma Qi couldn’t help but ask, “Can you finish eating so much at noon?” 

“In the last world, I almost starved to death.” Gu Xizhou curled up his lips and whispered, “Up until now I still haven’t completely recovered.”

Ma Qi showed an understanding expression.
He got Gu Xizhou’s meaning.
There were plenty of crazy rules in the mission world.

While eating his many dishes, Gu Xizhou mentioned Ma Qi’s nickname.
“This nickname of yours is a bit interesting: Mystical Lao Ma… You narcotics officers have a more dangerous job than the criminal police.
Isn’t there a firefight every day? It’s exciting to think about.”

“Exciting?” Ma Qi shook his head helplessly with a bitter laugh, saying, “Only by relying on seeing my life countdown and knowing that I won’t die do I dare to be at ease and act boldly.
As a result, I’m fine every time there’s a firefight… but my partners have changed batch after batch.
Right now, I’m not afraid of apprehending armed drug dealers, but I dread entering the mission worlds.” 

Gu Xizhou nodded in acknowledgement.
Ma Qi was very reasonable.
It wasn’t because of a miracle, but rather due to knowing that he won’t die that he dared to act so brave and fierce.
On the other hand, as the life countdown ended and he entered the mission world, one wrong step would lead him to fall into the abyss.

Gu Xizhou changed the subject and asked Ma Qi, “How did you get to our side? It seems quite distant.”

“There’s nothing to be done about it,” said Ma Qi reluctantly.
“Who doesn’t want to stay in their hometown? This time, a few of my coworkers died, but we also solved a huge case, and that drug lord was arrested.
The narcotics officers had to be transferred away.
There’s likely to be an incident if they stay in the original region.”

Gu Xizhou realized that while criminal police were arresting murderers, the narcotics department was arresting murderers with guns.
The power balance was fundamentally different.
The narcotics officers were also human, and they were afraid of the underworld’s retaliation.
The transfers were a means to avoid that. 

The two chatted a while longer.
Gu Xizhou didn’t mention Si Yu or Fang Zhi to Ma Qi, but from their conversation, Gu Xizhou knew that Ma Qi had a team of his own.
Just like Gu Xizhou, Fang Zhi, and Si Yu’s group of three, he also had friends that he teamed up with regularly.
Although Ma Qi didn’t mention their names, Gu Xizhou could tell that he trusted them from his words.

“You really finished it all,” he said, “Gu Ran… en… Gu Xizhou, I’m now convinced you weren’t deliberately cheating me.
You really were starving.”

“No kidding,” Gu Xizhou spread his hands.
“I went hungry for four days.
I nearly starved to death.”

Gu Xizhou looked at the time on his cell phone and used a napkin to wipe his mouth.
He said, “Let’s go, there’s still half an hour.
If we hurry back, we can still nap.” 

“All right.”

The two people, one in front and one in back, returned.
As soon as Gu Xizhou said goodbye to Ma Qi, he went through the door and met Fang Zhi, who was also on his way back.

“Gu Ge, guess what I got!” Fang Zhi said, putting on a mysterious tone.

Gu Xizhou looked at him.
“What?” 

“A driver’s license!”

Fang Zhi took out his newly obtained driver’s license.

Gu Xizhou heard his words, and his mood lightened.
He patted Fang Zhi’s shoulder.
“Not bad, ah.
When we go out in the future, you drive the car, and I can finally rest.”

Fang Zhi thumped his chest and said, “Okay, Gu Ge!” 

Then, Fang Zhi’s stomach rumbled, and Gu Xizhou grinned.
He said, “You haven’t eaten yet? Go eat quickly.”

“En!” Fang Zhi left like a wisp of smoke.
Gu Xizhou looked at Fang Zhi’s departing back and shook his head in exasperation.

Gu Xizhou’s day was pretty serene apart from arresting a few thieves.
There were no dead bodies.
Gu Xizhou was very satisfied with this pleasantly relaxed day without overtime.

In the morning, Gu Xizhou was driven by Fang Zhi straight to Si Yu’s mansion.
After the car was parked, he directly input the PIN to enter Si Yu’s villa.
They went upstairs.
The resting Si Yu opened his eyes and gestured for them to sit. 

Gu Xizhou mentioned Ma Qi to Si Yu.
Contrary to Si Yu, who didn’t say anything, Fang Zhi’s whole face was filled with shock.

He gripped his water cup tightly and said, “Gu Ge, you’re saying the new Ma- Deputy Ma is like us?”

“Yeah, do you really think his luck could be so good otherwise? A bullet was blocked by a car fragment.
He survived by the skin of his teeth,” Gu Xizhou spoke casually.

Fang Zhi agreed and said softly, “In that case, as long as there’s still time on our countdown… nothing we do will kill us… even if we jump from a building?” 

“In theory, yes,” said Si Yu.
“Of course, Ma Qi himself has already covertly proved this theory.”

“So like this, it’s difficult to die with the countdown.” Gu Xizhou grinned and said, “This trick is pretty useful.”

Si Yu agreed, then he turned to ask Fang Zhi, “How long is your countdown?”

“There’s still ten minutes.” After Fang Zhi had completed several worlds, he was clearly no longer as uncomfortable as before.
His mentality had experienced a qualitative leap. 

“Ten minutes, ah.” Gu Xizhou shot Si Yu a pitiful look and said, “Chief Si, I want to drink coffee.
The most expensive kind.”

Si Yu: “……”

Si Yu turned around to get the coffee.
He had apparently grown accustomed to Gu Xizhou’s shamelessness.
He only contacted him when he needed to enter a mission world.
If not for that, he wouldn’t even see a glimpse of his shadow.
Because of this, he was slightly irritated, but he didn’t realize the cause.

The author