"Finally, our Wende, [Heir of Yin and Yang], will not be entering the limited-time UP banner. Instead, he will be added directly to the standard banner after the Version 1.2 update. This is truly a blessing for the free-to-play party! (You'll get him eventually from a lost 50/50 anyway)," Jimi muttered the last part under his breath.
Glare...
Wende crossed his arms, took a deep breath, and stared blankly at the bird.
Sigh, please let this end soon. They've already started talking about doujinshi! And can't you be normal! Talk about something normal! Why are you talking about me and Blade?
His gaze couldn't help but drift over to Blade, who seemed to be just a tiny bit taller than him. Wende involuntarily shivered.
He suddenly thought that the players shipping him with Kafka wasn't so bad after all... A big sister is always better than a muscular hunk...
"..."
Wende's body suddenly froze. Since when did he start developing a preference for older women?
It must be Stelle's fault!
At this moment, in the live chat:
[What? Standard banner??? Doesn't that mean everyone has a chance?!]
[Hiss... isn't that a little too broken?]
[It seems he won't be added to the 300-pull character selector, though...]
[Lifesteal, super armor, burn, slow, and RES shred? Plus he can remove enemy buffs? This is Destruction?!]
["Honkai: Wende Rail"]
[He really is Star Rail's golden boy. And they're putting him on the standard banner... Even though we'll get him eventually, miHoYo! That face you're making to trick people into spending on the standard banner is truly disgusting!]
[I just checked, the wiki just posted his multipliers and base stats. They're pretty average, but... he has so much utility! You could take any two parts of his kit and make a whole new 5-star character!]
[Holy crap, pulling one 5-star Yifu is basically enough to clear the entire game!]
[He's getting nerfed on release for sure!]
[Hey, dev team! Are you drunk?!]
[Actually... if you just look at him as a main DPS, his team compatibility is only a little better...]
["A little," as in he can be slotted into literally any team!]
Watching the chaotic debate in the live chat, Wende just thought they were being noisy. His kit had been approved by the system! Sure, he had pushed the system's absolute bottom line to get it done, but it was still system-certified! He wasn't taking the blame for this!
The Wende who had figured out the system's every nook and cranny thought this without a hint of blush or a quickened heartbeat.
Anyway, if he could be a main DPS, he would. If not, he could be a utility sub-DPS. And if all else failed, he could just be a support tool.
Seeing the growing number of questions and unhinged comments, Wende simply decided to close his eyes and rest.
[Shh... Yifu is sleeping!]
[??? You say that as if Yifu can actually see the live comments!]
"..."
Wende, who discovered he could still see the comments even with his eyes closed, remained silent.
Which bastard designed this live comment system? Why can I still see it!
Watching the comments grow increasingly ridiculous, Wende's eyes snapped open and he sat up straight with a formal posture.
Heh... he'd better not sleep.
After an unknown period of torture, Wende woodenly looked at Jimi, who was winking and making faces at him. He gave a silent nod, and then, to Jimi's horror, released all three redemption codes in his hands at once.
Just end this already!
Amidst a screen full of "LONG LIVE YIFU," Wende spread his arms wide, then turned and walked away.
"Uh... this..."
Jimi was at a complete loss. It looked like he wouldn't be getting his paycheck for this.
As the players' reluctant voices filled the air, Wende tapped the return button on his system panel.
"Hah..."
Staring at the familiar ceiling of the inn, Wende let out a sigh of immense relief. He had finally escaped that farce of a special program livestream. Even if he was the one who caused most of the farce... it didn't matter!
The moment he saw the players' unhinged comments, his Dao heart had been shattered.
He could be their Yifu, but he could not be their Star-struck Slave, their wife, their fantasy object, or the leader of the Blue Pupils!
Sigh. Time to get up!
Wende immediately got dressed, then pulled up Stelle and March, who were still an "Entangled Fate," from the bed. He quickly combed their hair, took care of their personal hygiene, and then cooked a sumptuous breakfast to fill their stomachs.
"Er... what's with him?" March whispered to Stelle, who was eating her meat and egg congee, as she watched Wende, who looked like he'd been deeply traumatized by something.
"I don't know..." Stelle replied, looking just as bewildered. Although Wende usually washed up and cooked for her, it was never quite like this...
"Alright, while we don't have anything urgent to do, I thought I'd take you two to buy some Xianzhou clothes. After all, since we're here, it feels like we haven't really been here if we don't buy some new clothes, right?" Wende said with a beaming smile.
"Uh, you're not wrong, but something feels strange..."
March scratched her head silently. But the moment Wende announced that he was paying, she immediately finished the congee in her bowl and urged Stelle to eat faster.
"Really? Really?! I've already decided what color clothes I want to get! How about sky blue? Or pink? Maybe I should try Himeko's red? No, no, that's way too bold!"
Watching March, who was already lost in the joy of buying new clothes, Wende smiled helplessly. It seemed March really did want a new outfit.
However...
Wende looked at Stelle, who seemed much less enthusiastic, and raised an eyebrow.
"Wende... maybe we shouldn't buy anything... It wasn't easy for you to earn that money before," Stelle said softly, recalling the days when he delivered food on the space station.
"Er..."
The previously excited little March fell silent upon hearing Stelle's words. She thought about it carefully, then said to Wende with a serious expression, "I think Stelle is right. It's not like we're in desperate need of clothes right now..."
"..."
Looking at the considerate Stelle and March, who were thinking so much on his behalf, Wende took a deep breath, his heart filled with an inexplicable feeling.
"No, we must buy them this time. Think of it as a reward for all your hard work on the Xianzhou!"
Wende smiled confidently at the two of them, then showed them the balance on his phone.
"Ah! So bright!"
March gasped in shock as she saw the number of digits in Wende's savings.
This was the benefit of working for a rich woman!