After a long night of karaoke that stretched until eleven, the party finally began to wind down. Just as Xu Zhi was preparing to leave, a group of girls—cheeks flushed and eyes glittering—snuck behind Chen Xi's back and discreetly handed him scraps of paper with their WeChat usernames scribbled on them.
Apparently, they were seriously planning to steal Chen Xi's "boyfriend."
What lovely friends.
Xu Zhi remained unfazed and casually tossed the notes into a nearby trash bin.
Chen Xi, meanwhile, was dead drunk. Left with no other choice, Xu Zhi climbed onto her electric scooter and drove her home.
"Happy now?" he asked dryly, enjoying the breeze of the cool night air.
After all, she'd achieved her goal—showing him off to her friends. She should be more than satisfied.
"Hehe. Yep. Totally worth it," Chen Xi giggled from the back seat, her soft body pressed gently against his back.
Her small, warm hands slid from his waist up to his abdomen. "Hey! What kind of cheat code did you use? Just like my friends said—your abs feel amazing. So firm and muscular… It's such a blessing to have a handsome, gentle boyfriend—even if he's terminally ill."
"Can you not mention that I'm terminally ill again?" Xu Zhi sighed, tension spreading from his stomach upward. "And quit groping me. You're playing with fire. I won't take responsibility if something happens, so don't come crying to me later."
Startled, Chen Xi blushed and pulled her hands back, but her tone remained light.
"I'll keep mentioning it whether you like it or not. If you weren't terminally ill, would you have quit your job? Would your girlfriend have dumped you? Would you have ended up with me?" She looked up at him and grinned. "I know I'm not good enough for you, okay?"
"You're drunk," Xu Zhi muttered.
"I'm not drunk. My childhood dream just came true—I got to show you off as my boyfriend."
She began counting on her fingers. "I'm not that pretty. I'm not smart. I used to have such a fat face when I was little. I've been massaging my boobs every night since middle school, but they still won't grow. And now I'm all grown up and kind of cute, but I'll never compare to your ex. She's movie-star gorgeous. Especially those. Sob. No matter how much I massage them, they just stay small."
Xu Zhi was stunned.
At this point in his evolution, having gained the ability to freely manipulate genes, physical appearance no longer seemed all that important. This round-faced girl beside him was plenty cute already. After all, true perfection was rare.
"You're still young," he said seriously. "Keep massaging. Maybe they'll grow."
"Really?" Chen Xi's eyes lit up. "You think they'll grow?"
"Of course," Xu Zhi lied with a straight face. He figured it was unlikely—college-age was past the second puberty window—but it was a harmless hope to give.
"That's good," she said, breaking into a silly grin. Then, with a little sob, she added, "But it's such a shame... You won't be around to see it."
Xu Zhi: "…"
Can we please stop bringing up the fact that I'm going to die?
I'm pouring the power of an entire world into finding a cure. Cancer is curable. I will survive.
He kept bickering with the drunken girl as they coasted down the quiet country road, finally pulling up to Mrs. Li's house. Upon seeing Chen Xi's state, Mrs. Li threw her hands up and began scolding her.
"I can't believe you made Xu Zhi babysit you all day! Go take a shower and get to bed already!"
Then she turned to Xu Zhi and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry about this."
"It's fine," he said with a chuckle. "I've known her since she was little. Watching her stumble around like this is kind of nostalgic."
He lingered at the gate for a few more minutes of polite conversation before heading home.
Country life had its charms—no politics, no scheming, just warmth and simplicity. The neighbors were kind, the pace was slow, and the peace was real.
The next morning, sunlight spilled over the horizon, casting golden rays across mountains, rivers, forests, oceans, and plains. Within the small courtyard, the miniature world glowed with life.
The Babylonian tribe bathed in morning light, their tiny world full of energy and wonder.
By eight o'clock, Xu Zhi had eaten breakfast and was lazily munching on an apple while observing the sandbox from his courtyard seat.
"Let's continue our secret observation of the giant!"
"Shhh! That's too dangerous! We could die!"
In the sandbox, the eccentric little people were hard at work, chattering as usual.
"It's time for a little update," Xu Zhi mused, pulling out his laptop. After carefully drafting and proofreading, he posted an announcement to the official forum:
[Spore Evolution – Closed Beta v0.2 Now Live]
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
As many of you know, countless players have been eagerly awaiting a chance to participate in the game. In response, we are now launching the second closed beta.
Update Log – Version 0.2:
50 New Tester Slots Unlocked
The server capacity has been expanded to allow up to 150 players online simultaneously.
Beta Application Process
To apply, send an email to the moderators with a biology-themed essay.
Share your understanding of the game.
Describe the species you plan to evolve.
Explain why it's a strong evolutionary choice.
Applications will be reviewed to select suitable testers.
Survival of the Fittest
Due to technical limitations, the game cannot support a larger player base for now.
After each phase, the lowest-performing 20 players will be removed and replaced by new applicants.
New Achievement System
Players who evolve unique, promising species will be recorded in history and receive exclusive rewards.
Full Creative Freedom
The game encourages creativity—design any species you want. Let evolution run wild!
The forum exploded.
No surprise there—Spore Evolution was a niche game, but it was insanely hardcore.