The karaoke session dragged on until nearly eleven before the party finally began to break up.
Just as Felix was about to leave, a few bold girls—faces flushed, eyes shining—quietly slipped around Ellie and pressed scraps of paper into his hand. Each one had a WeChat username scribbled on it.
They were seriously trying to steal Ellie's "boyfriend."
What great friends.
Felix didn't even blink. He casually dropped the notes into a nearby trash bin.
Ellie, on the other hand, was completely drunk. With no other choice, Felix mounted her electric scooter and drove her home, the cool night wind brushing past them.
"Happy now?" he asked dryly.
She'd accomplished her mission—showed him off to everyone. That should've been more than enough.
"Hehe… yeah. Totally worth it," Ellie giggled from behind him, her soft body pressed against his back.
Her small, warm hands slid from his waist up to his abdomen. "Hey—what kind of cheat did you use? Just like my friends said, your abs are amazing. So firm… so strong. Having a handsome, gentle boyfriend is such a blessing—even if he's terminally ill."
"Can you stop reminding me that I'm terminally ill?" Felix sighed, tension creeping up his spine. "And quit touching me. You're playing with fire. I'm not taking responsibility if something happens, so don't cry later."
Startled, Ellie yelped and pulled her hands back, cheeks burning red. Still, she smiled.
"I'll mention it whenever I want. If you weren't sick, would you have quit your job? Would your girlfriend have dumped you? Would you have ended up with me?" She looked up at him, grinning crookedly. "I know I'm not good enough for you."
"You're drunk," Felix muttered.
"I'm not," she said stubbornly. "My childhood dream just came true. I finally got to show you off as my boyfriend."
She started counting on her fingers. "I'm not that pretty. I'm not smart. I had 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. Now I'm kind of cute, but I'll never compare to your ex. She was like a movie star. Especially those. Sob… no matter how much I massage, mine stay small."
Felix was speechless.
At his current stage of evolution—where he could freely adjust genes—appearance no longer mattered much to him. The round-faced girl behind him was already cute enough. True perfection was rare anyway.
"You're still young," he said seriously. "Keep massaging. Maybe they'll grow."
"Really?" Ellie's eyes lit up. "You think so?"
"Of course," Felix replied with a perfectly straight face.
He knew the odds were slim—college age was past the second growth window—but giving her a little hope cost nothing.
"That's good…" she smiled foolishly, then sniffed. "What a shame though. You won't be around to see it."
Felix: "..."
Can we please stop bringing up my death?
I'm pouring the power of an entire world into curing myself. Cancer is curable. I will live.
They bickered all the way down the quiet country road until they reached Mrs. Li's house. One look at Ellie's condition made Mrs. Li throw her hands up.
"You made Felix take care of you all day? Go shower and get to bed!"
Then she turned to Felix, apologetic. "I'm really sorry."
"It's fine," he said with a chuckle. "I've known her since she was little. Watching her stumble around like this feels nostalgic."
After a few more polite words at the gate, Felix headed home.
Rural life had its own charm—no schemes, no politics. Just warmth, simplicity, and real peace.
The next morning, sunlight crested the horizon, spilling golden light across mountains, rivers, forests, seas, and plains. Inside the courtyard, the miniature world shimmered with life.
The Babylonian tribe awakened beneath the morning glow, their tiny world brimming with energy.
By eight o'clock, Felix had finished breakfast. He sat in the courtyard, lazily munching on an apple while observing the sandbox.
"Let's secretly watch the giant again!"
"Shhh! That's too dangerous! We might die!"
The little people bustled about as noisily as ever.
"It's time for an update," Felix murmured, opening his laptop.
After drafting and proofreading carefully, he posted an announcement on the official forum:
[Spore Evolution – Closed Beta v0.2 Now Live]
Thank you for your continued interest and support!
Due to overwhelming enthusiasm, we are officially launching the second phase of the closed beta.
Update Log – Version 0.2
• New Tester Slots
50 new slots unlocked
Maximum of 150 concurrent players
• Beta Application Process
Submit an application email containing a biology-themed essay:
– Your understanding of the game
– The species you plan to evolve
– Why it's a strong evolutionary choice
Applicants will be reviewed and selected.
• Survival of the Fittest
Due to technical limitations, player capacity remains restricted.
After each phase, the lowest-performing 20 players will be removed and replaced.
• Achievement System
Players who evolve unique or promising species will be recorded in history and receive exclusive rewards.
• Creative Freedom
Design any species you wish. Let evolution run wild.
The forum exploded.
No surprise there—Spore Evolution might have been niche, but it was brutally hardcore.