AFTER doing his usual morning exercise routine, Luo Yan took a bath.  When he’s done, as per usual, he measured his height at the stadiometer standing inside his huge walk-in closet.  He asked his father to buy him one because he wanted to keep track of his height.  It arrived last week and he still hadn’t had the chance to use it.  

His current height was really like a thorn in his heart.  How could he accept that he would remain this short his whole life?  It’s cute and all now, but it certainly wouldn’t be like that once he grew older and entered his 20s.  He firmly believed that there’s still hope for him.  After all, his father and brothers were all tall.  Certainly he wouldn’t be the only odd one out.   

So to better facilitate his growth, he made sure to eat nutritious food.  Even those he didn’t particularly like.  And, of course, drink milk during every meal and before he slept.  Surely, after almost four months, there’s bound to be a change.

He stood on the stadiometer and carefully measured his height.  When he’s done, Luo Yan’s peach blossom eyes brightened.  151 cm!  His height grew from 150 cm to 151 cm!  He couldn’t help but want to jump in happiness.  Yes, it’s only a centimeter but that’s already huge for him.  Maybe before the year ended he could grew to 155 cm.  

There’s at least five months left before that.  Luo Yan pumped his fist.  Yes, he could do it.  

With a wide smile on his face, Luo Yan walked out of his room and went to the dining room to have breakfast.  On his way, he met his older brother who was already dressed for work.  

Luo Ren was wearing a sky blue long sleeved polo shirt.  Both sleeves were folded up to his elbow, showing his well-formed forearm.  It was tucked in a pair of black slack pants.  His outfit just screamed young professional.  

Luo Yan gave his brother a thumbs up.  “Brother is so handsome.”

Luo Ren laughed.  “What’s with your sweet mouth?”

“What, I’m only telling the truth.”

Luo Ren noticed the bright smile on his brother’s face.  Luo Yan wouldn’t show this kind of smile just because he found his older brother handsome.  “What made you smile so happily?”   

Because of his brother’s question, Luo Yan remembered the good thing he discovered earlier.  “Brother, I grew one centimeter!” he excitedly shared.

Luo Ren seriously examined his brother but he felt that there wasn’t really any change in his height.  But of course Luo Ren wouldn’t say that.  “That’s great.  No wonder I felt that you’re a bit taller.”

Luo Yan’s eyes brightened, as if hundreds of twinkling stars were inside it.  “Really?”

“Yes.”

He became even happier.  He hugged his brother’s arm and said, “Let’s go and eat breakfast.”

They both walked towards the dining room and saw that their father was already sitting at the head of the table, reading newspaper.  Luo Yan let go of his brother and went to his father.

“Good morning, Dad!” he greeted.

Luo Wei Tian put down the newspaper he’s reading.  He looked at his two sons and smiled.  “Good morning.” 

Luo Ren greeted back and sat on his right.

“Dad, do you notice anything different in me?” Luo Yan suddenly asked.

Luo Wei Tian looked at his second son and saw the expectant look in his eyes.  He suddenly sweated a little.  Because aside from seeing how cute and adorable his son was, he couldn’t really see anything different.  He secretly glanced at his eldest, asking for clues.  Then he saw Luo Ren moved his lips, forming the words – ‘taller’.

He immediately understood what his eldest meant.  He looked back at Luo Yan and didn’t really see the increased of height.  But of couse he couldn’t tell that to him.  With that expectant look, he would definitely be disappointed.  So, Luo Wei Tian had to try to act surprise.  “Did Xiao Yan grow taller?”

Luo Yan smiled proudly.  Because he was so happy about his increase of height, he didn’t notice the little interaction between his father and brother.  “Yes, I grew one centimeter!”

“No wonder.  Xiao Yan is really amazing,” his father complimented.

Luo Yan happily sat on his usual seat.  

“Then let’s eat breakfast,” Luo Wei Tian said.

After saying that, two maids came in and started serving food on the table.

“How about Ah Jin?” Luo Yan asked after seeing that his younger brother was still not here.

“He’s still asleep.  It seems like he slept very late last night.  Just let him have breakfast later,” his father answered.

“It’s because he’s been playing that VR game.  He seemed to become addicted to it,” Luo Ren commented then he turned to Luo Yan.  “Yan Yan, you’re also playing that game, right?  Make sure you don’t copy Xiao Jin.”

“Brother, you don’t have to worry.  I always sleep on time,” Luo Yan assured.

He had to do that.  Because sleeping on time would definitely help in his growth.  But Luo Yan didn’t expect that Luo Jin would play Arcadia until late at night, considering how opposed he was at first in playing the game.

Then he suddenly remembered the hidden event task that he still hadn’t finished.  He felt a headache just thinking of that dragon.  No matter if he had to fight it or not, he still had to do some preparation.

With that thought in mind, he turned to his father.  “Dad, uhm, could I ask you something?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Could you help me load crystal coins in my Arcadia game account?  I don’t need much.  A thousand will do.”

Luo Yan couldn’t really load crystal coins by himself because, currently, he didn’t have his own money.  So, he could only ask.

“Of course.  I will tell Assistant Wen to do it,” Luo Wei Tian said.

“Thank you, Dad!”

He already expected this answer and happily tell his father his game name ID.

———-

When Luo Yan was done with his tutoring lessons for the day, he went back to his room and logged in to Arcadia.

He opened his eyes and found himself at his small cottage at Origin Village.  Before going out, he opened his Items Tab first to see the amount of crystal coins he had.  When he saw it, his eyes almost bulged out from his head.

What the f—

2,000,000 crystal coins!

No matter how much he rubbed his eyes, it was still the same number.  Although he did expect that his father might exceed the thousand crystal coins he asked, he didn’t expect that he would give this much.  Then he remembered his older brother.  Luo Ren probably also loaded crystal coins to his account.  He smiled helplessly.  Because that possibility was pretty high.

If this amount was converted to real life money then it would be equivalent to 200,000 RMB.  He never had so much money in his life.

So, did he just become a local rich game tyrant?