As soon as the 4.0 version of Genshin Impact was released, Zhongli, a calm and somewhat pretentious character, appeared in the card draw pool again, as if every player’s heart was gently twisted by this news. Zhongli, this god dressed in rock, seems to always have an indescribable charm that makes people want to get close. On September 5th, Zhongli’s re-engraving caused quite a stir as always, especially for those players who had never owned him. It was like the first rain after a long drought, and the desire in their hearts surged at this moment.
Card draws are always so complicated and simple. The guaranteed mechanism set by miHoYo gave players a little comfort, saying that Zhongli’s arrival will probably come after 80 to 90 card draws, as if secretly reminding you not to rush, and the result will come sooner or later. But who knows, luck is sometimes more unpredictable than human heart. If you draw other permanent five-star characters, the unlucky players may have to wait another 150 times, or even more. This uncertainty is like being in a war without gunpowder, with ups and downs in mood, as if every click moment, time is extended a few minutes.
Card drawing is not just a game experience, it involves deeper desires, behind which are vivid figures, those who are addicted to it. Two 6480 crystals of creation, three hundred dollars, are the tickets to Zhongli. Some people say that this is just a virtual world, and money is just an illusory number, but it is the close connection between this number and reality that makes people unable to give up. Recharge again and again, not only brings an increase in numbers, but also a secret expectation. You know that all this cannot be easy, but you are still willing to gamble and try. If fate is not on your side, maybe you can prepare another 6480 and gamble back a result.
The payment of three hundred dollars seems to be proportional to the appearance of a virtual character, but the real value is more than that. You will find that you seem to have some kind of inseparable relationship with this number. Every payment will make people take a deep breath, and then confirm repeatedly with a certain depressed mood. Three payments, three hesitations, three heartbeats. Then, wait. Waiting for Zhongli to come, waiting for the heartbeat to accelerate, waiting for the flashing five-star card on the screen.
Perhaps, Zhongli is not just a character in the game. He is like someone in life, standing there silently with an unapproachable coldness, giving you an irresistible attraction. You may not need him, but you are always chasing him, as if to fill a gap, to find a sense of reality in this vast virtual world. Drawing cards is a tug-of-war between fantasy and reality. In that short moment, players will cry with joy because of the appearance of a card; and in another moment, if they fail, the sense of loss in their hearts will spread and last for a long time.
In the dead of night, the light of the mobile phone screen sprinkled on the table, illuminating the slightly tired face. Slide your fingers again, click the button, and wait again, as if waiting for not only the rotation of the card, but also some kind of confirmation in your heart. All the joys, sorrows, anger and happiness are gathered on a small screen. Whether it is for Zhongli or for those things that can never be obtained in life, we all find ourselves in this game.
Life and games always have subtle similarities. You expect a certain result, but you can never foresee what you will get. Zhongli is like a symbol, symbolizing the unspeakable desire in people’s hearts. You know that the ending may not be what you want, but you still pursue it passionately. Every click is an acceleration of your heartbeat, and every wait is a test of yourself. Drawing cards is just a microcosm of life. In this virtual world, we throw hope to our heart’s content, and those hopes are like floating bubbles, short and beautiful.
In the end, whether Zhongli comes or not, the process of drawing cards is also a reflection on life. It makes people think about the meaning of expectation and loss, and makes people understand that every wait in life is a kind of annotation to the future.