[System] Harvest the rice.

Everyone looked confused, like they’d just seen a question mark pop up over their heads. Before them stretched six acres of land, full of the hardworking results of the people. It was autumn, but the weather still clung to the tail of summer. Not far away, huge watermelons beckoned temptingly to the players in their thin short sleeves, big baggy shorts, and standard flip-flops.

Wang Qiang was the first to dash over, yelling, “Damn, I’m coming!”

They weren’t the only ones harvesting—there was also a group of NPCs helping out.

“This mission… isn’t this just a farming sim?” muttered Li Xiaoming as he busied himself, his hands moving with practiced efficiency. Xu Yi laughed too.

“The system’s finally acting like a decent human being for once.”

By evening, after a full day’s labor, everyone walked along a country path. The sunset was vivid, its colors so striking that it made people stop in their tracks to admire it.

“Peaceful times,” Fei Ye remarked. Then Li Hai chimed in:

“Sun setting in the west—perfect time for a big slice of watermelon.”

Everyone burst into laughter. Xu Yi’s forehead was still covered in sweat, and Yi Yu reached out to wipe it away, but Xu Yi dodged him on purpose.

“Just shower when we get back. Don’t bother wiping it.”

Back at their place, neighbors were already eating. A square table sat in the courtyard, dogs hovered beside their owners, staring intently. The little boy sneaked a glance at his parents—next second, the dog scored a piece of chicken.

Meanwhile, the players still had to prepare their own dinner.

“Hey bros, anyone wanna try eggs fried so dark they match the wok?”

“Hard pass, bro. I’ll just drink air, thanks.”

Amid the joking, Yi Yu walked into the kitchen. Xu Yi, proud as ever, shouted at him, “Do it right!”

Thankfully, some people still had a conscience—Li Xiaoming helped with prep, and Wang Qiang picked up a knife, muttered a Buddhist prayer under his breath, shut his eyes, and swung down. He missed the fish completely and smashed the cutting board instead.

Xu Yi grabbed the fish with one hand, took the knife from Wang Qiang, and said, “Go wash dishes.”

He tossed the fish into the pot. While everyone else was chatting outside, with the sunset still lingering in the sky, Xu Yi leaned over and gave Yi Yu a kiss on the right cheek, saying:

“A man who works seriously is the most handsome.”

After dark, the countryside quieted down—nothing like the noise of the city. At that moment, a group of hot-blooded young people shared one goal: Watermelon Warriors.

“Didn’t you guys read that essay back in school? About the boy Run Tu?”

Someone quickly responded. Xu Yi picked up a watermelon, gave it a knock, and confidently handed it to Yi Yu.

“Guaranteed sweet.”

They didn’t get to eat much of the melon before the village head made them all squat in rows as punishment. As she left, the old lady threw back a line:

“You ate my watermelons, so tomorrow, you’re harvesting my vegetables!”

After all the chaos, Xu Yi and Yi Yu walked at the back of the group. “Once this world ends,” Xu Yi said, “we’ll be at the final stretch.”

Maybe Yi Yu felt Xu Yi’s hand was a little cold, so he held it tighter. A breeze swept through, tossing their hair.

“This isn’t the end,” he said.

Yi Yu looked at Xu Yi very seriously and added,

“You and I still have a long, long road ahead.”