Ben10: A Romantic Adventure with a Gender-Swapped Class

"I remember later when we played that upgraded version, we were playing it on Xiaowen's laptop," he pointed to Xiaowen, "and somehow, all three of us ended up in the game."

"I was fighting monsters in there, completely absorbed in the game," he said, scratching his head a little embarrassed. "Although my specific memories of the game world are a bit hazy, like I had a bizarre dream."

"You've entered a video game?" Kevin looked at him with a "you're kidding me" expression, leaning forward and spreading his hands exaggeratedly. "Please, could you be any more blind?"

Just as Mo Bai was about to turn around and explain in detail to prove that what she said was true, Xiao Wen had already crossed her arms and walked slowly to Kevin's side, speaking clearly in a "let me tell you the truth" tone.

"It's true," she said firmly. "Back then, Xiao Ban transformed into a shapeshifter, and unfortunately, it happened to be during a thunderstorm. The three of us were really 'sucked' into the game world." She recalled the chaotic scene with a hint of lingering fear on her face. "We almost got trapped inside and couldn't get out. If it weren't for Shi Shan Heng Gang finding a shortcut..."

After Xiaowen finished speaking, she naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Kevin.

Xiao Ban, clutching his game console, plopped back down on the sofa next to Mo Bai and started searching for the connecting cables.

"Shapeshifters have this function?" Kevin's eyes lit up instantly after hearing Xiaowen's explanation, sparkling with the light of "discovering a new continent." He stroked his chin, his face full of imagination, "If only I had known, I would have done more research before, and gone into the game to get all the gold equipment and rare items..." He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had seen mountains of gold and silver.

"Ahem! Kevin?" Xiaowen coughed loudly twice, her sharp eyes sweeping over him with a clear warning—don't get any funny ideas!

Kevin's enthusiasm deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon, when Xiaowen glanced at him.

He immediately sat up straight, cleared his throat, and forced an awkward smile as he tried to explain.

"Uh... I mean... before! When I was younger and didn't know any better! Of course I wouldn't be like that now!" His cowardly "henpecked" appearance made Xiao Ban and Mo Bai unable to help but laugh.

Sure enough, one thing comes down to another.

At this point, Xiao Ban had successfully connected the game console to a backup power outlet in the old, dilapidated car.

The screen lit up, and the familiar startup music (though a little off-key) started playing!

"Wow! I didn't expect the batteries to still have power!" Xiao Ban exclaimed in surprise, picked up one of the controllers and weighed it in his hand, then waved the remaining two controllers at the other three, extending an enthusiastic invitation.

"Come on, come on! Who wants to play? Sign up now! Let's relive the classic!"

"Uh... I..." Mo Bai looked at the controller, and just as she subconsciously raised her hand, she hadn't finished speaking—

Snapped!

A slightly dusty handle was swiftly shoved into his hand by Xiao Ban, his movements as fast as lightning.

"Okay! One for Mo Bai!" Xiao Ban announced happily, then held up the last controller, his eyes darting between Kevin and Xiao Wen. "There's one more controller, who wants it?"

Mo Bai gripped the handle that had been shoved into his hand, feeling the familiar matte texture of the plastic casing. He looked down at his empty other hand, muttering to himself as if he were about to cry, his voice almost drowned out by the engine of the old, beat-up car.

"Actually... I just wanted you to move aside... I needed to use the restroom..."

Before the words were even finished, Xiaowen spoke up.

"You guys play, I just need to study for a bit."

Upon seeing this, Kevin almost immediately reached out and scooped up the last game controller on the table without any hesitation. The plastic casing lightly touched the tabletop, making a soft click.

He grinned, his eyes gleaming with a youthful, slightly defiant fire.

"I was originally going to let you two off the hook, but since that's the case, I won't be polite." He weighed the controller in his hand, his fingertips nimbly sliding across the buttons, his posture like he was holding a decisive weapon.

"Who will release whom is still uncertain!" Xiao Ban had already picked up his controller, a smile playing on his lips, a smile full of confidence, even with a hint of deer-like agility.

Her slender fingers tapped across the keys a few times, producing a light, rhythmic click, as if war drums had already sounded, and even her tied ponytail seemed to sway gently.

Mo Bai stood to the side, watching the silent, crackling electricity between the two, like watching a firework about to be lit.

He was never one to compete, and feeling he couldn't get a word in edgewise, he simply pressed the rounded "A" button on his controller silently and gently. The cursor on the screen acknowledged, indicating that preparation was complete.

Thus, in the small carriage space, only the rapid tapping of buttons, the short shouts of teenagers, and the exciting symphony of game sound effects remained.

Outside the window, the city's outline blurred, stretched, and faded rapidly under the wheels, being left behind by the ever-extending roads.

Twilight, like slowly poured thick ink, spread from the horizon, first dyeing the clouds yellow, then permeating the sky, and finally enveloping everything in a deep blue velvet curtain.

One by one, the streetlights lit up, casting trails of light like fireflies on the car windows, illuminating the three focused faces inside—Kevin's seriousness, Mo Bai's composure, and Xiao Ban's eyes sparkling with competitiveness. The light and shadow danced and flowed between their young brows and eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, the wheels rolled over the familiar gravel road, and a slight bumpy feeling came over me.

Outside the car window, the familiar forest stretched out in the thick, almost solidified outline of night.

Grandpa Tian's car finally came to a smooth stop, the engine's hum subsided, and only the chirping of insects in the summer night suddenly became clear, flooding into the car window like a tide.

The fierce battle inside the car came to an end at that moment. The final score on the game screen froze.

: : .

The name of the youngest student was at the top of the list, followed closely by Mo Bai, while Kevin's name was at the bottom, looking somewhat aggrieved.

The scores were extremely close, as if someone had missed pressing the attack button in the midst of the melee, or had taken an extra sneak attack from an inconspicuous monster.

"Yay! I'm number one!" Xiao Ban practically jumped up from his seat, the handle cable taut.

Her eyebrows danced with delight, her face radiating an undisguised, dazzling pride, like the rising sun. Turning to Kevin, her voice was clear and loud, with the lighthearted tone characteristic of a victor, "How about it, Kevin?"

Kevin stared at the glaring score on the screen, his brow furrowed, and slammed the controller onto his lap with a dull thud. He looked up, his eyes filled with resentment and an accusation of "you're all ganging up on me."

"You two are so shameless!" He pointed at Xiao Ban and Mo Bai, raising his voice several decibels. "Who passes props to each other and blocks my spot?"

Hearing this almost shameless accusation, Xiao Ban showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, she playfully stuck out her tongue at Kevin.

Her nimble tongue flickered in the dim light, complementing her raised eyebrows and the cunning glint in her eyes, making her look like a smug little fox who had just won a game of hide-and-seek.

"Lel lel lel—" she drawled, each syllable leaping with triumphant joy, a few unruly strands of hair on her forehead swaying gently with her movements, "As long as I win, the process doesn't matter!"