Chapter 21: Wait Just a Moment!

“Damn, Hustler Bro, you’re just too much!”
“Do you have to be this cheeky, bro?”
“Cheng: Careful, there’s an enemy nearby! Hustler: Relax, bro, it’s me! I’m just testing the suppressor you gave me... Cheng: FML!”
“Hustler, when will I ever be as awesome as you?”
...

The viewers in the livestream were nearly doubled over with laughter at the exchange between Cheng and Yang Hao—Yang Hao’s shot just now had given Cheng a real scare.
A sudden gunshot with no warning is enough to startle anyone half to death—not just Cheng and his crew, even Ling Xue’er and her friends were nearly jolted from their seats.
But since Cheng and his team were present, Ling Xue’er held back from ribbing Yang Hao. After all, Yang Hao was Lin Ziqin’s “little fiancé.” With outsiders listening in, she had to let him save some face.

“This suppressor... sigh...”
Yang Hao began to comment but then stopped, sighing instead and leaving his thought unfinished.
Cheng was left puzzled by this—Yang Hao’s tone sounded a bit dissatisfied.
An unfinished sentence could be agonizing. Little Dongdong, who’d just caught the first half, grew curious when the rest didn’t come: “What’s wrong with the suppressor?”
Hearing her question, Yang Hao glanced at her with appreciation. He’d been hoping someone would pick up the thread, and her timing was perfect.

“The suppressor’s nice and all, but if you came all this way just to bring us this, isn’t that a bit insincere?”
Cheng raised an eyebrow. He’d just handed over a suppressor and now he was being accused of insincerity?
And what about the three big medkits?
Did Yang Hao really think medkits grew on trees?
Cheng grumbled inwardly, but he couldn’t voice such thoughts—otherwise, he’d come off as petty.
He’d already given them the items; if he now acted stingy, he’d lose both the goods and his reputation.

“What else do you need? If we have it...” Cheng hesitated, but finally spoke.
“I was waiting for you to say that!”
Yang Hao was secretly delighted.

“Don’t you think our team is still missing something?” Yang Hao began to lead him.
“What?”
Cheng seemed not to catch on.
“The 98K!”
Yang Hao was almost exasperated—he was giving such an obvious hint, was Cheng playing dumb or was he really clueless?

Usually, one sniper per team was enough, but for tactical flexibility, there’d often be a backup sniper.
Without question, Lin Ziqin was their team’s sniper, and the only 98K had naturally gone to her.
Among the remaining three, only Lu Ziqi was carrying an SKS, which was also a sniper rifle, but its single-shot damage couldn’t compare to the 98K.
After all, barring airdrop weapons, the 98K was the highest-damage sniper—the helmet below level three could barely withstand a headshot from it.

Before finding an M24 or AWM, the 98K was every sniper’s top choice.
The problem was, Cheng’s team of four only had a single 98K, which was his. If he gave it up, what would he use?
Landing a headshot with the 98K always made for explosive content during a stream—Cheng almost always insisted on having one in his hands.
He’d even planned to show off his shooting skills in front of everyone later!
If he were giving it to Lin Ziqin, he could accept it, but her inventory was already full.
Glancing at the SKS on Lu Ziqi, Cheng gritted his teeth and resigned himself to the trade.
A 98K for an SKS—though it felt a bit unfair, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable, especially since Lu Ziqi was a real beauty.

“Thanks, bro!”
The moment Cheng dropped the 98K, Yang Hao’s voice rang out by his ear, and Cheng’s mouth twitched.
He turned to see that the 98K he’d just placed on the ground was now in Yang Hao’s hands, while a double-barreled S686 shotgun had appeared in its place.
Cheng’s face darkened.
Yang Hao didn’t care about Cheng’s mood. The moment he got the 98K, he was filled with satisfaction.
Except for the first match, this was his first time getting his hands on a 98K. And honestly, the first time, it had almost cost him his life.

“Heh, nothing beats an 8x scope for clarity.”
Holding the 98K, Yang Hao was like a child with a new toy, peering through the scope and aiming everywhere, thoroughly entertained.
Of course—
If only he hadn’t aimed the barrel at Cheng, Cheng might have managed a smile.
After Yang Hao had played around enough, he finally put the rifle away, which eased Cheng’s anxiety. When Yang Hao had aimed the 98K at him, Cheng had genuinely been on edge, half-afraid Yang Hao would fire off a shot and send him straight to the lobby.

“Oh, I nearly forgot!”
As Yang Hao put his gun away, he sounded a bit embarrassed. He tossed over thirty rounds of 12-gauge from his backpack, saying enthusiastically, “I got so caught up I almost forgot to give you the shotgun ammo. This gun’s awesome, I just killed someone with it. Trust me, trading a 98K for this is totally worth it!”
No sooner had Yang Hao finished than the live chat erupted again.

“LMAO, Hustler Bro’s at it again!”
“Hmm, 98K for S686, not a bad trade, can’t argue with that...”
“Once is funny, but this is getting out of hand.”
“Seriously, are you trying to make me laugh myself to death so you can inherit my iPhone X?”
“Maybe consider a Huawei P20 instead.”
“Cheng: FML!”

In the game, Cheng stared at the S686 and thirty rounds of shotgun ammo on the ground, so stunned that for a moment, he was speechless.

“Hey? That black helmet on your head—is that the legendary Level 3 helmet?”
Before Cheng could recover, he was again assaulted by a voice that made his heart skip. Not content with his suppressor and 98K, this guy was now eyeing his Level 3 helmet.
“I’ve played for so long, and this is the first time I’ve seen a Level 3 helmet. So that’s what it looks like.”

Hearing Yang Hao again, Cheng’s gaze shifted, and his face grew even darker.
Never seen a Level 3 helmet?
Then what’s that on your own head?
A hat?
Cheng could see perfectly well that Yang Hao already had a Level 3 helmet.
He’d got one himself and was still coveting someone else’s?
Bold-faced lies!
Was there no limit to this guy’s shamelessness?
Cheng was about to blow a gasket.

“Bro, you must be joking—you’ve got one on your head,” Cheng forced himself to remain calm, suppressing the urge to erupt, and stated the obvious as evenly as he could.
“Do I... do I?”
Cheng’s reminder finally jogged Yang Hao’s memory—wasn’t he wearing a Level 3 helmet himself?
It was a little damaged, but still, it was a Level 3 helmet.
Now Yang Hao felt just a bit embarrassed.
Lying is one thing, but being caught in your own lie is awkward.
Couldn’t this guy have just played along and not called him out?
Yang Hao grumbled to himself.

Meanwhile, the live chat was once again in stitches.
“Awkward, Hustler Bro!”
“Told you, once is funny, but there’s a limit—this is too much.”
“Even I can’t help you now.”
“Good luck, Hustler Bro!”
“...”

Without a doubt, hearing the exchange—especially when Cheng exposed Yang Hao’s blatant lie—the viewers in Lin Ziqin’s stream were all reveling in schadenfreude.
Watching their beloved Hustler Bro make a fool of himself, they were already gleefully clapping from the sidelines.

“Um... could you guys wait a sec? Just a moment...”
In-game, as soon as Yang Hao said this, he turned and darted into a nearby house.