Let Me Game in Peace Chapter 1905 - END - Bonus Chapter: Antelope’s Gift

Everyone in Guide Ancient City knew Carpenter Zhou by name.

His ancestral carpentry techniques were beyond reproach. With them, he crafted beds, cabinets, and even entire houses using precise tenon-and-mortise joints, never relying on a single nail or nail gun.

Old families often called upon Carpenter Zhou for new homes or weddings.

Carpenter Zhou's work was top-notch, and he was straightforward. He never argued prices. Wealthy customers paid extra, and he'd smile gratefully. Those with less could pay accordingly, and he'd accept it cheerfully without complaint.

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When neighbors faced hardships, he'd feed them without a grumble.

Such a kind soul, yet fate was unkind. In their early fifties, he and his wife remained childless. This was Carpenter Zhou's sole sorrow.

Guide Ancient City had seen recent makeovers. Officials aimed to revive its historic splendor. Thus, leaders hired Carpenter Zhou to mend old houses and timber structures. While clearing an aged courtyard, he and workers unearthed a shattered wooden box from a disused well.

Workers first thought they'd struck gold, but opening it revealed only sludge and water.

Once emptied, a dead phone appeared alongside assorted junk, mostly corroded. Something resembled a rubber ball too.

Spotting the phone dashed hopes of treasure. They figured someone had dumped trash into the forsaken well.

Carpenter Zhou took interest in the box, cleaned its contents, and took them home. He stowed the odds and ends in storage, fixating on the box itself.

This box used no nails or glue, showcasing masterful craft. A lifetime carpenter, he'd never encountered such skill. He examined it endlessly that day.

That morning, Carpenter Zhou readied for work. Living in Ancient City, he could've lingered in bed. A master like him needn't arrive at dawn; many tasks didn't require his hands.

Yet Carpenter Zhou's lifelong diligence made idleness unbearable while others toiled.

Unfinished work kept him restless. He rose with the sun, dressed, fixed breakfast for his wife, set it out, then shoved open the door toward the site to plan ahead.

But upon opening it, Carpenter Zhou froze.

A plump, pale antelope stood at the threshold, radiating a divine aura.

Its snowy, curly wool gleamed like fresh cotton. Towering, robust, striking, and spotless.

Carpenter Zhou had viewed antelopes on TV, but none boasted such lengthy curls or pristine beauty. More shocking, the curly antelope clutched a baby, mere months old, in its jaws.

The infant wore overalls; the antelope gripped the strap. Its wide dark eyes locked with Carpenter Zhou's.

Ow!

The white curly antelope abruptly released its cry, dropping the child. Then it spun and bolted, vanishing instantly.

The baby hit the ground and wailed in distress. Carpenter Zhou scooped him up, inspecting for harm.

Luckily, just a tumble; no real injury.

Carpenter Zhou brought the child inside, had his wife mind him. Come daylight, he visited the station for police aid in locating kin. Yet no missing child reports surfaced despite checks. Hearing of the curly white antelope delivery, all found it bizarre.

Ancient City was compact; tales of the antelope gifting a child to the childless pair spread like wildfire. Folks claimed heaven rewarded Carpenter Zhou's goodness with a son via antelope. Initially skeptical, as months passed claimless, they nurtured the boy. The elders adored him and sought adoption.

Months without parental claimants, plus official aid, let the couple adopt him legally. They named him Zhou Yangyang; their trio began anew.

Under a year old, Zhou Yangyang rarely fussed or wept. Adorably handsome. Save laziness and fussiness, he shone in all ways.

At that age, kids eat and romp. The couple spared no treats, cherishing him like gold, doting ceaselessly, terrified of mishaps.

One night, Carpenter Zhou worked late. His wife lulled Zhou Yangyang to sleep. Seeing her deep in slumber, he stealthily rose, crept off the bed, eased open the yard door, then the main gate. Insiders knew a babe under one year; outsiders might peg him a sly burglar. Door ajar, an antelope head peeked in. Scanning empty save the boy, it slipped inside swiftly. “Darn you, you actually have the cheek to return? You didn’t bring me along when you fled,” Zhou Yangyang muttered softly. His clear speech and poise belied an infant.

“Ahem, you can’t blame me. You know my current situation. I don’t have any Essence Energy at all. I’m not much different from an ordinary antelope. If I’m really captured, I might be roasted into lamb skewers. How can I not run?” the curly-haired antelope said awkwardly.

“Hmph, why are you back?” Zhou Yangyang said angrily.

“Hehe, didn’t we agree that if we find something, we’ll do fifty-fifty? You can’t have it all for yourself. You’ve infiltrated for a few months. Have you found anything?” the antelope asked with a chuckle. “What’s there to find? That couple watches over me 24 hours a day. I don’t even dare to speak. How am I to find anything?” Zhou Yangyang rolled his eyes. Just as the antelope was about to say something, it heard a voice from the back room. It turned and exited, reminding Zhou Yangyang, “Don’t forget who saved you when you first arrived. Remember to give me half of what you get.”

The antelope slipped out. Moments later, Carpenter Zhou’s wife rushed from the house. Spotting Zhou Yangyang perched meekly on a stool in the yard, she sighed in relief. “Yangyang, why did you run out by yourself? My baby, I was so worried.” She scooped him up, planting loving kisses on his cheek. Zhou Yangyang looked utterly helpless. Back in the house cradled, he sat forlorn in the crib. She even handed him a puppet toy.

Waiting till she snored, Zhou Yangyang clambered out cautiously, rummaging the room. From months of watching, he knew the prize hid in storage.

He padded silently to the storeroom door, but the handle loomed high. Gloomily muttering, “That darn b*tch. It’s fine if you exile me, but you even made me an infant. I’ll teach you a lesson when I get back.” No options, he eyed a nearby stool, dragged it over wearily.

As he positioned it, her snores halted; rustling suggested rising. He yanked the stool away, plopped down innocently. Soon snores resumed—she'd merely shifted. How can a woman snore like that? Grimacing, Zhou Yangyang hauled the stool back. His puny frame lacked power; even this taxed him.

Poised to mount and twist the knob, snores cut off anew—wakefulness loomed. He retreated the stool, sat primly.

Then snores returned from the inner room. Zhou Yangyang seethed near explosion. Teeth clenched, he repositioned it.

This time, resolve hardened to breach.

I’m just a child anyway. What’s wrong with being curious? So what if I’m found out? It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to put up an act anymore. I want to open the door! Zhou Yangyang mounted furiously. Who cares about that woman? I just want to open the door.

Hand on knob, twisting, a firm grip seized his waist, hoisting him.

“Yangyang, what are you doing here?” Carpenter Zhou, fresh off night shift, had returned. He lifted Zhou Yangyang, smooched his cheek. Damn Earthlings, why do you like the faces of your loved ones so much? Don’t you have a face yourself? Zhou Yangyang's face twisted in reluctance and despair.

“Yangyang, you can’t open this door. Otherwise, you’ll be in big trouble,” Carpenter Zhou pointed at the storeroom door and said.

Zhou Yangyang mused, As expected, the item should be inside. It seems that this human has discovered that those things are unusual. Carpenter Zhou’s words fueled Zhou Yangyang's storeroom quest. But the pair hovered protectively, dreading accidents.

In their fifties with a long-awaited son, how could they not watch vigilantly?

Any noise summoned them instantly. They stuck close, foiling schemes repeatedly. Zhou Yangyang neared madness. Were he not babied, he'd have stunned them senseless.

Enduring days more, Zhou Yangyang seized the ideal chance.

Carpenter Zhou worked out; wife laundered in yard. Feigning sleep, Zhou Yangyang rose covertly, lugged stool to storeroom, climbed, gripped handle. Glancing out confirmed her absence, so he yanked it open. My babies… here I come… Eh…

A mere crack, yet the door flung wide. Cardboard boxes teetered inside, overflowing.

Previously jammed shut with effort, now unleashed, boxes avalanched, burying Zhou Yangyang.

“Ah… Yangyang…” Hearing clamor, the woman dashed in, shoved boxes aside frantically. She grabbed the battered, bruised Zhou Yangyang, heart aching: “Yangyang, good Yangyang… Yangyang, don’t cry… It’s all Mommy’s fault… Mommy shouldn’t have bought so many things online…”

The plan failed again!

Damn female Earthling… Why did you buy so much useless junk… You already bought it… so why didn’t you even open it… It hurts so much… Boohoo… Zhou Yangyang was devastated.

Days of tender nursing healed Zhou Yangyang.

Yet the fiasco tightened vigilance; they padlocked storage against repeats. Do you think that you can stop the number one military advisor in the universe, Fengling? Earthlings, you are too naive. Zhou Yangyang gripped a key, smirking wickedly. He eyed the soundly sleeping woman. Prepared this time, he'd plugged her ears while she dozed from exhaustion. Unaware, she slumbered deeply.

Atop stool once more, key unlocked door. He leaped aside gracefully as boxes tumbled, bowing theatrically like post-performance.

A genius is a genius. Even if he becomes a baby, he’s still a genius baby. How can such a small matter stump me? Zhou Yangyang scaled box-mountain into depths.

There gleamed his quarry: deepest corner held grand wooden box with his desire.

Babies, I’m here! Zhou Yangyang reached it, strained to lift lid.

Bang!

A red blur burst forth, slamming his face. He toppled amid boxes, nose gushing blood.

In box, red boxing glove quivered atop massive spring.

Why did you buy such a thing… Zhou Yangyang sprawled despairing amid boxes. Tears trickled.

“Baby…” The woman's anguished wail echoed again.

Thus, Zhou Yangyang recuperated further.

Repeated flops made him suspect the couple knew his secret, toying deliberately.

Yet scrutiny showed otherwise. Plans crashed, wounds mounted.

As despair peaked, convinced of curse, delight struck. Carpenter Zhou offered wooden box for play. Opening it, Zhou Yangyang's eyes blazed. Ecstatic, he felt heaven's favor at last.

Box held dreamed treasures: phone, Earth Companion Egg, Cosmic coin…

That night, couple asleep, Zhou Yangyang prepped escape.

Door eased open silently; antelope lurked outside. Seeing him emerge, it darted from alley shadows, querying eagerly: “Did you succeed?”

“What do you think?” Zhou Yangyang patted his trash bag smugly.

“Everything is inside. Let’s go.” Without another word, the antelope scooped Zhou Yangyang onto its back and dashed for city gates.

I’m finally free. Fengling gazed at fading courtyard. Unaccountably, reluctance tugged.

Zhou Yangyang was lost!

Carpenter Zhou and wife wept rivers, scouring everywhere, pleading passersby.

Searches yielded zilch; police aided fruitlessly.

Zhou Yangyang evaporated.

The pair wandered soulless, aging visibly, graying swiftly.

The woman mistook similar-aged kids for him repeatedly, lunging hopefully only to slump in dashed hopes.