While Gao Liang was still in stunned silence, Chen Yuting pulled and pushed him at the same time. At that moment, Ying'er immediately shouted, "The Ever-Shining Box! The Ever-Shining Box! Quick, open your time tunnel!" Gao Liang watched as Zhang Yuping walked away, only leaving behind a voice: "Yuping, wait for me!" Zhang Yuping watched helplessly as Gao Liang and Chen Yuting departed, gently shaking her hands and saying, "Husband, take care!" Gao Liang and Chen Yuting entered the time tunnel. After just one minute of darkness, they fell down from the sky, "Ah!" they both cried out simultaneously, quickly closing their eyes. Then, a loud thud, and they felt themselves landing softly on a lush grassy field. Fortunately, they were unharmed. When they opened their eyes, wow! Where were they? The Beijing Haidian Innovation Technology Park—this park is well known nationwide! Within this park, many enterprises are located, serving as the cutting-edge technological hubs of Beijing. Domestic brands of computers, home appliances, digital products, and IT companies are all concentrated here. However, these enterprises weren't as numerous back then, and they were much smaller in scale. Gao Huang took Chen Yuting's hand and walked toward a computer shop. Upon arrival, they were deeply disappointed—how come every computer here ran on Windows 98? Nowadays, shouldn't all computers come equipped with Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7? "Gao Huang! Look!" Chen Yuting pointed to a brand-new computer in the shop. Gao Huang immediately turned to it—wow! The date on the taskbar at the bottom right corner of the screen read June 19, 2001. "We've returned to childhood! The time tunnel has brought us back to our youth!" Gao Huang and Chen Yuting laughed. Now let’s look at Chen Yuting and herself again. Though still appearing to be 17 and 18 years old, their attire had taken on the simple, modest style of 2001—back then, fashion options were far less diverse, and most people dressed quite plainly. Chen Yuting and Gao Liang went to a large internet café called Kongsu Xingheng. Chen Yuting gasped, “Gao Liang! So many people are playing the Counter-Strike (CS) game!” Gao Liang looked over—wow! Over a hundred computers, all running Windows 98, and the café was completely full. In 2001, a game emerged, known as Counter-Strike. The enthusiasm of players was so intense that it could be described as fervent. Within a short period, nearly every internet café had installed the game. It's no exaggeration to say that at least 95% of computers nationwide—either installed it then or still have it today—were running Counter-Strike. Across streets and neighborhoods, the sound of intense gunfire filled the air, and players everywhere were discussing the same topics—gun drops, blind shots, positioning, precise kills, and bullet trajectories. If the years 2001 and 2002 are called the "Counter-Strike years" in the world of computer gaming, it would certainly be an accurate description. In fact, the origins of Counter-Strike were a set of custom gameplay modules developed as an expansion system for Half-Life, a first-person shooter game. According to legend, two international players, driven by personal interest, created this self-sustaining, recreational project using Half-Life's system. At the time, no one could have imagined that this unofficial, modest addition would quickly gain global popularity and become the most sought-after game in 2001. Counter-Strike's success once again underscores a fundamental truth in the gaming industry: only players themselves truly know what kind of games they want. Only game developers who are deeply connected to players—or who are players themselves—can genuinely create games that resonate with them. While Counter-Strike's visuals were not particularly striking at the time and featured almost no narrative or music, it achieved remarkable success for one simple reason: it was fun. When we were young, especially boys, each of us probably played a game like this: a group of children split into two teams, each holding toy guns—some even made out of folded paper. The kids would run around the streets, mimicking gunshots with their mouths and acting out the motions of firing. More advanced players would even simulate being hit, showing expressions and gestures of being wounded. Hengao thought this must have been the original form of Counter-Strike. Modern computer technology has transformed this game into a more realistic experience on our computers—the version we see today. With its clear, engaging gameplay and highly realistic gun mechanics, Counter-Strike brings back the team spirit of childhood games, captivating players and making them utterly immersed, unable to put it down. This, Hengao believes, is precisely why Counter-Strike is so enjoyable. While emphasizing entertainment, the game has never overlooked its commitment to authenticity. During intense engagements, players die immediately if bullets strike vital body parts—such as the chest or head—even if they are wearing bulletproof vests or helmets. Once a player dies in combat, they cannot "revive" during the game and must observe from the sidelines until the game ends or one side achieves victory. In other words, if all members of one team are eliminated, the opposing team automatically wins. After each game concludes, all remaining online players transition into the next mission scene or re-enter the previous battle scene. Players who won the previous battle receive monetary rewards—reward amounts depend on their performance during the match—while the losing team receives a modest sum to purchase equipment. The side with more money naturally secures better weapons and armor, while the side with less money... This design philosophy—where "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer"—is intended to encourage players who are naturally ambitious and competitive to think strategically rather than simply charging ahead and dying aimlessly, thereby fundamentally enhancing the game's playability and strategic depth. "Ha! I've won!" a player with yellow hair bursts into excitement, waving his hands enthusiastically at the computer. Chen Yuting isn't convinced. She's played Counter-Strike at home before, and now, back in 2001—the year of Counter-Strike—she doesn't believe she can't shine. Soon, Chen Yuting engages the yellow-haired player with her modern intelligence. Hurry! Switch gear! Shoot! Aim! Playing the role of a female police officer, she confronts the yellow-haired assailant in a dynamic and compelling duel.