Felix had never intended to stomp anyone to death.
He just needed to figure out how to properly use these free laborers. If the players were going to exist in his sandbox, then they'd better work hard—evolving new species, exploring possibilities, and pushing the limits of life itself.
That was the whole point.
As he stepped out through the front gate, he saw Ellie already waiting nearby. She leaned casually against her electric scooter, helmet tucked under one arm, sunlight catching in her hair. When she spotted him, she waved enthusiastically.
"What's the fun in farming all day?" she teased. "Wouldn't dating pretty girls be way more exciting?"
"Farming relaxes me," Felix replied absentmindedly. "And it helps with my cancer. Girls aren't nearly as interesting."
"You're hopeless." Ellie rolled her eyes, then grabbed his hand without warning. "Come on. High school reunion. You promised."
They rode out of the county town and into Dongcheng, stopping on a quiet street lined with old buildings. The restaurant was small and unremarkable—no luxury, no flair. Everyone was only in their first year of college, after all. No one had money to burn.
They climbed to the second floor and pushed open the door to a private room filled with chatter and laughter. Several long tables were crowded with young men and women mid-meal.
The moment Felix stepped inside, the noise dipped.
"…Who's that?"
"Did someone walk into the wrong room?"
"He's insanely handsome—what the hell?"
Felix touched his nose awkwardly, caught off guard by the sudden attention.
Ellie stepped in behind him, clearly enjoying herself. She smiled smugly and lifted her chin.
"This is my boyfriend, Felix. I already told everyone—he's really handsome, right?"
…Are you done showing off?
Felix shot her a helpless look.
They sat down together. Almost immediately, Ellie's former classmates—especially the girls—crowded over, curiosity overwhelming basic manners.
"Ellie, seriously, where did you find him? Is he a model?"
"His face is so sharp… kind of exotic. Not perfect, but the more you look, the better it gets."
A tall girl in a black silk dress reached out and casually brushed Felix's cheek, eyes glittering. Another petite girl used the chaos to sneak a quick squeeze at his abdomen.
"Hey!" Ellie jumped up instantly, wrapping herself around Felix's arm like a territorial cat. "Hands off! He's mine! Look all you want—no touching!"
"So stingy!"
"It's not like he'll lose anything!"
"I just wanted to check if he's real! And those abs—how could I not?"
Felix coughed lightly. Girls these days were terrifying. Was this what a generation gap felt like?
Despite the chaos, he stayed calm. He knew exactly why Ellie had dragged him here—it was her moment. He didn't mind cooperating.
He hadn't deliberately changed his looks to stand out. His appearance was simply the natural result of evolution. As useless genes were eliminated and his body refined itself, he was steadily approaching the ideal lifeform.
"Yes, he's my boyfriend," Ellie repeated proudly, basking in the envious gazes. She ate while happily embellishing stories—childhood friendship, deep affection, destiny, devotion.
Felix didn't bother correcting her.
That was his role tonight.
"He went to our high school and got into a top university."
"He even worked overseas for a while."
"No wonder you rejected everyone chasing you. You already had a childhood sweetheart!"
Ellie had always been lively and clever. Plenty of boys had liked her. A few of them now approached with forced smiles and raised glasses, clearly intending to drink Felix under the table.
Felix accepted every toast politely.
He didn't even flinch.
Compared to what he'd endured in life, this was harmless. These were just immature kids hoping to embarrass him.
Unfortunately for them, his current body made alcohol a joke.
After dinner, they moved to a karaoke box.
By then, the novelty surrounding Felix had faded. Several boys who had challenged him earlier were sprawled on the floor, red-faced and mumbling nonsense. No one dared offer him another drink.
The girls sang enthusiastically. Some boys chatted, others scrolled on their phones. One group huddled together, watching a livestream.
Felix lounged back on the couch, casually browsing his phone, waiting for Ellie to exhaust herself. But a glance at the screen caught his attention.
They were watching Spore Evolution.
"This is insane," one boy exclaimed. "The variation is ridiculous. Same actions, totally different outcomes every time."
"They must be running some insane supercomputer," another said. "Like AlphaGo, but way crazier."
"This streamer sucks though," someone laughed. "I could do better. When Open Beta launches, I'm evolving something god-tier."
"Dream on," another sighed. "Experts say it's impossible to open it up. The evolution paths are infinite—it probably needs multiple supercomputers. That's why only a few players can enter."
So it's gotten popular already…
Felix smiled faintly.
They were wrong, of course. This wasn't a hardware problem. There was no computer running the sandbox. He simply didn't want too many players.
Quantity meant nothing.
"This game is wasted on amateurs," one student said confidently. "Leave it to professionals. I study natural evolution—if I had access, I'd create something incredible."
Professionals?
Felix blinked.
That thought… hadn't crossed his mind before.
And just like that, a new idea quietly took root.
Seems this reunion wasn't a waste after all.