If: Romance Strategy Game-Wuma Xiu (Part 1)
This story features a unique premise: Wuma Xiu has amnesia.
He was Wuma Xiu, who recently died suddenly while playing a game.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a completely unfamiliar world.
He initially thought this was just a technologically advanced future. But one day, he suddenly realized...
Something seems off about this world.
In this age of science, how can Gods still sit upright in the sky?
God? Who believes in that?
However, Wuma Xiu doesn't believe in all the gods and Buddhas, but he holds a certain degree of reverence for the God of Wealth.
Or rather, seven parts hope.
At this moment, he was kneeling in the Fortune God Temple, his expression so sincere it couldn't be more earnest, his hands clasped together, his back bent perfectly, silently repeating the same sentence over and over in his heart:
"Grandpa God of Wealth, I don't ask for anything else, please bless me with wealth."
After reciting it several times and respectfully kowtowing three times, Wuma Xiu finally straightened up.
But when he looked up, he was stunned.
The God of Wealth enshrined in this hall was not the usual kind-faced, white-bearded old man.
That face was young, and its features still exuded a handsome charm.
Wuma Xiu couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
It's truly the Interstellar age; even the God of Wealth is keeping up with the times, to the point that even the Deity Statue are competing in terms of appearance.
He withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
Just then, a person walked towards them from the palace gate. He wore a veil that covered most of his face, but judging from his figure, he was a man.
Although this is a future Interstellar, people in this era have already taken clothing and dressing to the extreme.
On the street, there are people wearing traditional Chinese style with wide sleeves, trendy and cool styles, conservative and dignified styles, and bold and flamboyant styles...
There are all sorts of things, everything imaginable, so nothing seems strange to anyone.
Yet this person stirred something within Wuma Xiu, giving rise to an inexplicable sense of closeness.
However, that's all.
He was never the type to strike up a conversation, and before he could stop walking, he was about to brush past the person.
Just as they brushed past each other, a gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, suddenly lifted the person's draped veil.
A corner of the veil fluttered, and that face fell into Wuma Xiu's eyes.
Wuma Xiu froze, his feet seemingly rooted to the spot.
He never imagined that one day he would be so mesmerized by a man's face.
That face was just too much.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains covered in snow, her eyes like a starry river fallen to night, and her nose and lips looked as if measured by some Gods. To call her an absolute beauty would be an understatement; it was more as if someone had secretly placed the face that heaven should never have descended to earth upon her.
As the wind subsided, the gauze curtains fell again, obscuring half of that fleeting glimpse of her face.
The person suddenly chuckled softly, stopped in their tracks, and looked at Wuma Xiu through the thin veil.
"Young master, it seems we have some kind of connection. Would you do me the honor of having a drink with me later?"
The voice wasn't loud, but the ending note rose, making one's heart itch.
Wuma Xiu suddenly snapped out of his daze.
Anyone else, invited by such a face, would probably have already agreed without hesitation. But instead of feeling happy, he reflexively took a big step back, his feet tensing as if ready to slip away at any moment.
Based on his years of experience, the more proactive someone is in offering themselves up, the more dangerous they are; the more attractive they are, the more deadly they are.
This guy even struck up a conversation with me. Could he be trying to scam me? Like, maybe he had a couple of drinks, they drugged his drink, he collapsed, and was immediately dragged away by the other guy's gang. When he woke up, his kidneys were gone.
The more Wuma Xiu thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine.
Besides, while it's true that he's attracted to beautiful women, Wuma Xiu is a genuine straight man.
No matter how good-looking the other person is, they are still a man.
He's not interested in men. Thank you, thank you so much.
Once the thought was made up, Wuma Xiu didn't hesitate and took off running.
He'd only been in this world a short time, and he'd finally found a sucker. He was just starting to enjoy life, and he couldn't afford to lose his life over it.
Behind him, the person did not chase after him, but stood there, watching his fleeing figure, a smile spreading across their lips.
"I've finally found you."
"But... you don't seem to remember me."
"That's wonderful."
Wuma Xiu boarded the Interstellar bus and swayed back to where he was now.
When he first transmigrated to this world, he was a complete illegal immigrant, penniless and so poor that he couldn't even touch a fraction of Star Coin. In order to get money as soon as possible, he sneaked into an Interstellar casino, hoping to gamble a little and make some money.
Not only did I win a bunch of Star Coins,
The most outrageous thing was that the casino owner, in the end, bet his entire life on him.
Yes, they lost everything to him, including the venue.
In other words, that boss is now one of his men.
Wuma Xiu still remembers the other person's expression; it was utterly utterly hopeless. Later, the person seemed to try and probe his background, but what background did Wuma Xiu have anyway?
He doesn't even own a house.
Wuma Xiu directly instructed the other party to take him home.
Since the person belongs to him, the house naturally belongs to him as well.
And so, he settled down there openly and legitimately.
At this moment, he stood at the entrance of the residential area, looking up at the four large characters – [Home of the Rich] – and was filled with emotion.
People these days are so straightforward when it comes to naming their children; they don't beat around the bush at all.
However, to be fair, this neighborhood truly lives up to its name, unlike those neighborhoods in my previous life that sounded impressive but turned out to be a trap once you moved in.
This place is inhabited by truly wealthy people.
Wuma Xiu walked into the residential area and rented a small, self-driving spaceship for one person nearby. Heaven knows how excited he was when he first came here and saw this little spaceship.
This is a small spaceship!
Where in modern times has he experienced such a small spaceship?
Wuma Xiu set up the navigation inside the small spaceship, and the spaceship then set off on autopilot.
He only needs to sit inside and wait a while to reach his doorstep. The small spaceship also provides some pastries and drinks, as well as a small screen monitor.
If you get hungry, thirsty, or bored, just press the corresponding button.
This luxury residential area was ridiculously large, covering a vast area. Even with Wuma Xiu riding in this small, self-driving spaceship, it still took him quite a while to fly there.
We arrived at his house.
The machine on the door scanned his face, and only after confirming that he was a normal person was he allowed to go in.
This small house belonged to the person he won the casino prize in. Although it was small, if such a large house had fallen into his lap in his previous life, even Wuma Xiu felt he would have laughed himself to death on the spot.
As for that person, they are certainly not here now.
Otherwise, it would be too strange for two grown men, especially strangers, to live under the same roof and see each other every day.
Wuma Xiu had asked the other party to bring him here, but then he turned around and kicked them out.
The person stood at the door and kept banging on it.
Of course, the other party wasn't after his body.
What I'm after is his gambling skill.
That guy surnamed Shen clearly hadn't had enough at the casino and wanted to have another match with him in private.
But Wuma Xiu had absolutely no interest in this thing; to him, it was like a game.
You'll get the hang of it after playing a couple of rounds.
What he's really interested in now is games.
In this Interstellar age, holographic games are perfectly normal. VR headsets, brain-computer interfaces, gaming pods...
It has everything you could want; it's practically paradise.
Wuma Xiu had inadvertently stayed inside for months, only venturing out today.
I heard there was a Fortune God Temple nearby, so on a whim, I went to pay my respects.
Who knew that I would run into such an incredibly handsome man?
Logically speaking, how could someone of this caliber be completely unknown online in this era of advanced Star Networks?
Even if it were just a casual snapshot, it would probably have gone viral online by now.
Despite having surfed the Star Network for so long and seen hundreds, if not thousands, of celebrities, Wuma Xiu had never seen that face before.
So that person is really suspicious.
But none of that matters to him now.
Anyway, he rarely leaves his house, and that person was just a face he bumped into on the street; it's impossible for him to even know where he lives.
"So now..."
"It's game time."
Wuma Xiu grabbed the game helmet, put it on his head, and comfortably slumped into the Sofa, beginning his day's dose of happiness.
Six hours flew by, and it was completely dark outside the window. His stomach started to rumble right on time. He took off his helmet, casually opened a food delivery app, and started ordering.
Now he has plenty of Star Coins, and he orders takeout without batting an eye, only picking the most expensive items to stuff into his shopping cart. He'll order a deluxe sushi platter, a sea urchin seafood donburi, and also foie gras, beef, and the like.
There's no need to worry about him wasting food; he can actually finish it all, especially since he has a late-night snack to tide him over.
In the Interstellar age, everything is fast, even food delivery is ridiculously fast.
Wuma Xiu had only waited about ten minutes when the doorbell rang.
"Hello, Interstellar Delivery, Young Master Wu, your order has arrived. Please open the door and sign for it."
Wuma Xiu glanced at the surveillance screen next to the door.
There was a person standing outside the door, dressed in an orange-red uniform, with a helmet and mask covering his face, so his face was not visible at all.
He opened the door while mentally complaining.
What Young Master Wu? His surname is Wuma.
Some people find names with the character "Ma" (马) unpleasant to hear. But you've probably all heard of the compound surname Sima (司马), right?
Is this also unpleasant to listen to?
If it doesn't sound unpleasant, is there a problem with his surname, Wuma?
As Wuma Xiu opened the door, he felt that the voice he had just heard sounded very familiar, extremely familiar.
By the time he realized what was happening and tried to close the door, the other person had already reached in and blocked it.
"Young Master Wu, you haven't picked up your takeout yet, why are you closing the door?"
The sounds outside the door were incredibly pleasant, but to Wuma Xiu, they were no less deadly than the ringing of a death knell.
He strained with all his might, but the door didn't budge.
--It's over.
When the voice rang out again, Wuma Xiu was completely certain that the other party was the incredibly handsome man he had bumped into in the Fortune God Temple not long ago.
However, what Wuma Xiu didn't expect was that this person would actually be able to find his home.
Moreover, it was done through food delivery.
Could it be that the other person was following him the whole time he left?
But if that's the case, Wuma Xiu can't understand what the other party is after.
Color, definitely not for the sake of it.
After all, although Wuma Xiu didn't want to admit it, that super handsome man was indeed more beautiful than him.
The word "handsome" is usually used to describe men, but he subconsciously used the word "beautiful."
"Brother, please let me go! If you want this takeout, you can have it, but you'd better leave now, or I'll call the police."
Wuma Xiu braced himself against the door while reaching for the emergency call button.
Security in this kind of neighborhood, which is full of wealthy people, is naturally many times better than in ordinary neighborhoods.
After all, money makes the world go round.
"Sweetie, what are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you."
The man laughed again.
However, to Wuma Xiu, these words were no different from "Little bunny, open the door," utterly ridiculous.
In this situation, unless he's completely out of his mind, he wouldn't believe what the other person says.
If the other person were truly normal, they could have found their way all the way to his doorstep.
If the other person were truly normal, why would they not just leave the takeout on the ground and walk away, but instead try to block the door and come in?
Therefore, this person is absolutely, positively problematic.
The man sighed, seemingly somewhat helpless.
"Why are you so afraid of me now? You weren't like this before. You were so bold, and of course, your face was soft and nice to touch. Why don't you open the door and let me touch you again?"
These words sent chills down Wuma Xiu's spine, making his hair stand on end.
This pervert talks like he knew the other person before, and he even wanted to touch his own face.
That's inhuman, absolutely inhuman.
The other person was a man, okay? And he actually wanted to touch another man's face. As a super straight man, Wuma Xiu looked down at his arm and found that he had a bunch of goosebumps.
Besides, she's so beautiful, yet she's gay.
Wuma Xiu felt very sorry about this.
--What a pity.
"By the way, where's Qingci? Is he still with you?"
Upon hearing the question, Wuma Xiu was taken aback again.
What kind of Qingci?
How did the other person end up on him?
Putting aside the fact that he had just transmigrated and had no idea what Qingci was, the other person was probably referring to more than one person; otherwise, how could one person be embodied in him?
"Qingci is your leader."
As soon as he finished speaking, the man withdrew his hand.
Wuma Xiu tried to close the door, but was shocked to find that it still wouldn't close.
What the heck?
What's wrong with this broken door? That person clearly pulled their hand back, so why can't it close?
Is it broken?
That shouldn't be the case; the quality shouldn't be this bad.
Wuma Xiu, the other person's words suddenly replayed in his mind.
Is Qingci his system? What system? Is it a whole system?
According to the standard trope of time travelers, they all come with a cheat code, such as a system. Perhaps he has a system within him, but he just doesn't know it.
Wuma Xiu began to have doubts, and he couldn't help but try shouting in his mind:
"System, system, are you there?"
"Golden-finger dad, grandpa, mom, older sister, younger brother, younger sister, older brother..."
Wuma Xiu called out for a long time, but there was still no response in his mind.
He remained silent for a full five seconds.
Good heavens, what was he just doing?
I actually believed a stranger's nonsense. I woke up early this morning, and the system came through.
That's ridiculous. If he really had a system, it should have appeared the day he transmigrated.
"Hey delivery guy, I suggest you go to the mental hospital downtown and make an appointment. Also, I'm warning you, I just pressed the alarm button, security will be here soon, so you'd better watch yourself."
However, Wuma Xiu's threat was ignored by those outside. His tone remained as calm as a cat toying with a mouse, and he even extended a game invitation, saying:
"If you're nervous, we can play a game together."
Wuma Xiu refused without even thinking, replying:
"No, I don't like playing games with you. Besides, I prefer playing alone."
The security system in this upscale residential community is top-notch.
Just four or five minutes after Wuma Xiu pressed the alarm button, five small spaceships roared in and completely surrounded his villa. It seemed that not even a flying insect could easily escape.
These security guards are elite retired Federation soldiers.
They quickly locked onto their target, but when they came down, they were all stunned.
The person who was just in their sight a moment ago now seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Where are they?
--How could they, such big people, just disappear?
"That's strange. Team One, did you see that? Team Two, Team Three, Team Four, where are you?"
The voice of the fifth team leader came through the communication channel, but after asking around, no one could say when or how the other person had disappeared.
If all five teams hadn't seen that person, they might have thought they were hallucinating.
This is like encountering a ghost.
With security personnel on all five spaceships in place, they accessed the nearby surveillance cameras and examined them frame by frame. Strangely, from beginning to end, only Wuma Xiu's figure appeared in the footage; the other two seemed to have never existed.
The security guards exchanged glances, and suddenly, another possibility occurred to them, causing their hearts to sink.
You must understand that in this era, the Gods' Revival, and the world is no longer the same. The Gods' Creations, retinues, Divine Scion, Demigods, and the like are emerging in endless numbers.
Or perhaps the other party is an incarnation of a Gods?
Regardless of their identities, the other party seemed to be someone they could not afford to offend.
This matter warrants the utmost vigilance.
Wuma Xiu stared at the monitor, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
Something's not right.
Could it be that incredibly handsome man, or a hidden top-tier hacker, erased his image from the surveillance footage? Or perhaps the other person possessed some kind of signal jammer, allowing them to completely disappear from the camera's view?
After all, in this technologically advanced era, nothing is impossible.
Yes, nothing is impossible.
He's just new here and doesn't know any of this yet.
"Mr. Wuma, we apologize for the unpleasant experience this has caused you. This matter is extremely serious, and we will report it to our superiors. Furthermore, we will have a patrol team patrolling outside your villa. If you encounter that person again, please shout loudly."
Wuma Xiu indicated that he understood.
The Master said, "I do not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits," but if these things really exist, then these precautions are actually useless.
It's just about finding peace of mind.
The security captain immediately arranged for a team to patrol the area around Wuma Xiu's villa.
These services are naturally offered free of charge.
After all, it's already factored into the monthly property management fee, which outsiders consider exorbitant.
After the security guards left, Wuma Xiu reheated the takeout, laid it out, and started eating.
These foods had already been checked by security and hadn't been tampered with in any strange way. A more vigilant person might have simply ordered an extra portion.
But Wuma Xiu didn't think so.
If the other party really wants to tamper with it, ordering another serving won't prevent it. So why not just eat the one in front of you?
However, it seems that this world is indeed a little bit unsafe now.
As Wuma Xiu stuffed sushi into his mouth, he pondered to himself.
Despite the safety concerns, it didn't stop him from continuing to play. After dinner, Wuma Xiu went for a half-hour run. After returning, he took a shower, put on his gaming helmet, and went back into the game.
He hadn't even cleared the previous level yet; there was a boss at the end, tough and resilient, very difficult to deal with.
But for Wuma Xiu, who was well-fed, watered, and had plenty of exercise, this challenge was utterly insurmountable.
In just over ten minutes, he had the BOSS completely crushed and easily cleared the level.
Wuma Xiu took off his helmet, picked up the project plan beside him, and crossed out the name of the game he had just played. The plan contained a long list of game names, all of which were his goals for completing in the near future.
These games are considered god-tier games by Players on the Star Network, and these god-tier games are generally ridiculously difficult, with extremely demanding operation requirements. Countless Players have been tortured and complained endlessly, and the forums are filled with wails of despair.
But in Wuma Xiu's eyes, these were just so-so.
Yes, it's really just so-so.
Ultimately, it all boils down to considering one's control over Psychic Power and familiarity with various skills. Other than that, there's really nothing special.
Speaking of Psychic Power...
Indeed, upon arriving in this Interstellar era, Wuma Xiu could feel an additional power within his mind, enabling him to control many things.
For example, right now, Wuma Xiu can use this Psychic Power to lift the water in the glass in front of him, making it detach from the glass and float in the air, condensing into crystal-clear water droplets of the same size, or arranging them in a circle, slowly spinning around.
The overhead light shone through the water droplets, refracting them into tiny specks of light that fell onto the table, like a handful of scattered stars.
At first, Wuma Xiu was quite excited. He thought that as a transmigrator, he was at least a part of the protagonist, so he should have some decent skills, right?
Later, he tested his Psychic Power level and found that he was extremely weak. All those privileges that a transmigrated protagonist should have, such as starting with a 3S-level character or extraordinary talent, were nowhere to be found.
At that time, Wuma Xiu comforted himself, thinking that maybe he was some kind of protagonist in a "trash-to-hero" story.
He practiced for a month.
A month later, Wuma Xiu successfully proved himself to be a complete waste. His Psychic Power was at a C-level, barely passable, and at this point he could only manipulate the water in a glass.
Although he could control it with great precision, he couldn't even move a large rock, let alone use his Psychic Power to attack others.
That seems to be it.
Besides, the Federation he belongs to has very strict control over Psychic Power. It is not allowed to use in public places unless there is a special situation such as a crisis.
The streets are filled with Psychic Power monitoring devices; once Psychic Power exceeds the limit, an alarm will sound.
Of course, these things were destined to be none of his business.
After all, Wuma Xiu rarely goes out.
Unfortunately, I finally managed to go out today, only to run into a pervert.
Wuma Xiu lay in bed, glanced at the digital clock on the wall, and realized it was only 9:30, an hour and a half before his 11 o'clock bedtime.
What could he possibly do during such a long period of time?
Wuma Xiu replied, "Then of course I'll keep grinding the game."
After all, for him, many things in life are unexpected, but games are his true love.
Wuma Xiu began flipping through his project proposal, scrolling through a list of game titles, and he discovered a very strange game.
The strange thing is that he had no recollection of the game whatsoever, nor did he remember when he added it.
Could it be that it was copied accidentally without being noticed?
Judging from the name, it seems to be a dating sim.
Wuma Xiu wasn't unfamiliar with dating games; he basically didn't play any games at all, so he wasn't picky. However, in his opinion, these so-called dating games were too simple, so simple that he couldn't muster any desire for a challenge.
Therefore, in his previous life, after completing a dating simulation game that was widely considered to be extremely difficult online, he never touched any other dating simulation games again.
Those so-called characters in games are really just the same old thing, coming and going.
Simply choosing the right option will increase your favorability; it's incredibly easy.
Besides, he's a man, and men always prefer the kind of action-packed, bloody fighting. For him, that's what's truly exhilarating—fist to fist, blade to draw blood.
However, Wuma Xiu realized that there was only one and a half hours left. If he played those games again now, it would be too late to reach the boss.
Most importantly, once he starts playing the game, he won't stop until he finishes it.
Unless you need to use the restroom or are hungry, even sleep cannot stop you from doing so.
Therefore, for the sake of his health, Wuma Xiu usually tries to time things carefully and rarely gets up at night to start a new game or level.
But this is a dating simulation game.
This kind of game shouldn't take much time, right? Just click through the options and skip the story; an hour and a half should be more than enough, right?
Wuma Xiu thought for a moment and then downloaded the game. The progress bar moved incredibly fast; the internet speed in the Interstellar era was truly amazing.
After the download was complete, Wuma Xiu put on the game helmet, turned it on, and his expression was as disgusted as if he had eaten chocolate that tasted like shit.
In this dating sim game, the protagonist is male, which is fine, but why is the person he's trying to woo also male?
Wuma Xiu declared that his sexual orientation was perfectly straight, okay? He was about to quit, but after searching around and poking around with his fingers for a long time, he discovered that this damn game didn't even have an quit button.
Moreover, there's no exit button, not even a return menu or close button.
At the same time, a square pop-up appeared on the game panel in front of Wuma Xiu with a "ding".
[Dear Player, a friendly reminder: Please complete the game before you wish to exit.]
Wuma Xiu stared at that line of text, his eyelids twitching.
He instinctively started looking for the complaint button again, but there was nothing there.
This game is terrible; it doesn't even have a complaint button.
And forget about complaints; there's no customer service portal, feedback system, or reporting channel whatsoever.
Good heavens! How did this game even get released?
Sigh, at this point, all I can do is finish this game as soon as possible before talking about anything else.
Wuma Xiu thought that once he finished the game, he would report the game developer to death.
What game is it?!
That's incredibly unfair! You have to complete the game before you can quit!
"It's just a dating game, right? So what if I beat it? Who's afraid of who?"
However, the thought of having to seduce a man made Wuma Xiu feel a little disgusted.
But what game hasn't he mastered? Even that hellish dating sim game, he crushed it. What's there to be afraid of in a little game like this?
It took Wuma Xiu a full ten minutes to mentally prepare himself.
A man is a man, then!
The words on the panel gradually faded, and a hazy mist appeared.
When the light and mist dissipated, an antique-style house was revealed.
The carved wooden window was half-open, and outside, a peach tree was in full bloom. Petals were swept by the wind and drifted into the room, landing on the table.
And at the other end of the table sat a person.
The man was dressed in white, his dark hair loosely tied up, and he held a scroll in his hand. Hearing the noise, he looked up.
Wuma Xiu's expression froze instantly.
He recognized the man's face.
With features as beautiful as a painting, and an ethereal, otherworldly beauty, he was none other than the incredibly handsome man who had smiled at him through the veil in the Fortune God Temple earlier that day, offering to buy him a drink.
He was also that food delivery rider who tried to play some kind of game with him outside his door, but instead became a pervert.
Wuma Xiu stared at the face, and the more he looked, the more it resembled the person.
By the end, they looked exactly like they were made from the same mold.
He stood frozen in place.
Just then, another line of text appeared on the panel.
[Dear Player, please select the target's nickname.]
[A. Baby.]
[B. My dear.]
[C. Husband.]
[D. Husband.]
[E. Others, please add them yourself.]
The first four options were like dancing on Wuma Xiu's sensitive spots. Even though he wasn't the one calling others those things, hearing a grown man call him that was still pretty disgusting.
If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't quit this lousy game, he would have thrown his helmet down and left right now.
--Damn game.
Wuma Xiu cursed inwardly again, but ultimately still obediently chose E.
He typed five words in a flurry: I am a big idiot pig.
Click OK.
The next second, the text was displayed again.
[Dear Player, please refrain from being mischievous and re-enter the information.]
Wuma Xiu stared at the line of text and ground his back teeth.
Okay, so we won't let him be naughty?
He typed a few more words: I'm a big dumb dog.
[Dear Player, please refrain from being mischievous. Please re-enter.]
Okay, looks like this won't work either.
Wuma Xiu tried several other names, but in the end he honestly chose his own.
Click OK.
This time it passed.
However, during this time, he also figured something out. Perhaps it was because the character in this game had a grotesquely fused face.
Being beautiful is really an advantage; even game companies are willing to pay money to have his face on their hands.
A confirmation message appears on the panel.
Immediately, the antique-style room lit up again, and the white-robed man's gaze fell upon him, as if he were truly looking at him.
Wuma Xiu's heart skipped a beat.
Well, as expected of the Interstellar era, even a simple dating simulation game is incredibly realistic. The eyes, the hair, and even the rustling sound of turning pages made him feel as if he were in the real world.
Then another selection box popped up on the panel.
[Please select your first opening line.]
[A. Young master, you look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?]
[B. Young master, may I ask your name?]
[C. Who are you? What are you doing in my house?]
[D. Other (Please add your own details)]
Wuma Xiu thought for a moment. Since he was going to complete this game, he couldn't do anything reckless.
A is obviously too greasy, and C is too impolite.
This little game must have some kind of favorability system. If you offend someone right from the start, it'll probably be even harder to beat later on.
Therefore, Wuma Xiu chose option B.
Upon hearing this, the white-clad man on the screen smiled slightly, put down the book in his hand, and slowly stood up.
"My name is [my name]. May I ask how you are addressed, sir?"
Wuma Xiu was stunned.
He thought the four nickname options he had just encountered were bizarre enough, but he never expected that something even more bizarre was waiting for him here.
There really are people who call each other "darling"!
He called out to himself, as if he'd been taken advantage of, or rather, offered up eagerly.
"... Wuma Xiu."
He suppressed his discomfort and stiffly gave his name.
Right now, he only had one thing on his mind: to quickly boost the other person's favorability, finish the story as soon as possible, leave, uninstall the game immediately, and go to sleep.
I'll play a few more fighting games tomorrow and completely erase this lousy game from my mind, making me forget about it forever.
Upon hearing this, the man opposite Wuma Xiu, who was called "darling," repeated his name with a half-smile.
"Wuma Xiu..."
Those three words rolled out of his mouth with extreme intimacy.
The other person smiled slightly at Wuma Xiu and said, "Then I'll call you Xiu; it sounds more intimate that way."
"What ever."
Wuma Xiu shrugged dismissively.
It doesn't matter what you call him, whether it's Xiu or Wuma Xiu, he can't possibly fall for a man.
No matter how fancy the game is, he's just going through the motions, accumulating goodwill, and then he's done.
Then, the panel popped up again.
[Dear, current affection level: 5]
Wuma Xiu stared at the number, raising an eyebrow.
It's already 5? It's already 5?
He didn't do anything special, just gave his name and added "whatever," and his popularity score jumped up?
This game seems surprisingly easy to beat.
It's so easy it's unsettling.
It's easy, that's good.
If it's easy, he can just play through it all in one go, clear the game, and leave, everyone happy.
Wuma Xiu recalled the options from earlier, and judging from the meaning of option C, this house should be "his" home.
I just don't know how this man called "darling" ended up here.
Just as I was pondering this, another pop-up window appeared.
[A. Honey, do you have a boyfriend?]
[B. Honey, do you have a girlfriend?]
[C. Honey, do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?]
Wuma Xiu raised an eyebrow and rolled it down.
[D. Do you have a lover?]
[E. Do you have a partner?]
[F. Do you have a lover?]
[G. Do you have a partner?]
[H. Do you have someone you like?]
As you scroll down, you'll find everything from people you like and love to people you admire. The options are arranged neatly, like they came off an assembly line—all just different words on the same template.
Wuma Xiu patiently scrolled down until he reached L.
[L. Darling, will you be my husband?]
[M. Darling, will you be my wife?]
[N. Honey, will you be my girlfriend?]
Further down, there's a long list of terms like boyfriend, lover, partner, and couple, which can be quite overwhelming.
Wuma Xiu was amazed.
Impressive, truly impressive.
As expected of a dating simulation game, they've listed so many relationship categories, as if afraid Players won't have enough options.
This time, the options left Wuma Xiu absolutely no room for maneuver; there wasn't a single "other" option from beginning to end.
He can only choose one from this long list.
Wuma Xiu patiently flipped through the pages from beginning to end, finally picking the one that looked the most conventional.
[B. Honey, do you have a girlfriend?]
As he uttered those words, Wuma Xiu felt as if his integrity had shattered into pieces. He sighed, thinking to himself, "There's no going back, there's no going back. I actually called a man 'darling,' even if it was just a male character in a game."
What should I do? I feel nauseous.
After making his selection, the white-clad man, whose given name was "Dear," smiled and shook his head, replying, "No."
As soon as those two words were spoken, the favorability bar twitched slightly.
[Dear, current affection level: 8]
Wuma Xiu raised an eyebrow.
Just answering "no" and it went up by 3?
The affinity system in this game is the easiest he's ever seen to raise, bar none. Does that mean he can just chat with the other player and automatically break 100, then beat the game?
Etc.
If he had chosen the most disgusting one, would he have received even more?
Wuma Xiu fell into deep thought, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he had just missed out on a fortune.
Yes.
Since all these options are more and more cheesy than the last, why not just pick the most disgusting one? Wouldn't that instantly boost the other person's favorability and allow for a speedrun?
Once the thought was made up, it was as if his entire body had been opened up, and his fingers began to tap rapidly on the panel.
Darling, will you be my husband?
Select.
On the screen, the white-robed man paused slightly in the hand holding the book, looked up, and a very slight surprise appeared in his eyes. Then, that surprise was overwhelmed by a smile, turning into a soft chuckle held in his throat.
"Repair it, so directly?"
On the panel, the favorability bar suddenly jumped up.
[Dear, current affection level: 15]
Wuma Xiu's eyes lit up.
Sure enough! Choose the most cheesy one and add the most! His spirits lifted, and his fingers moved even faster.
Darling, will you be my wife?
Select.
This time, the man even put down his book, leaned forward slightly, propped his chin on one hand, and looked at him across half of the table. His lips were curved, and the smile in his eyes was as deep as a pool of water.
"I can be a husband, and I can be a wife. Which role does Xiu want me to be?"
Wuma Xiu was taken aback by these words, and his ears inexplicably felt hot.
Regardless of whether he was hot or not, the panel showed that his favorability bar had jumped up again.
[Dear, current affection level: 22]
[Darling, I love you.]
Select.
Upon hearing this, the man in white's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if he had been burned by those words.
He lowered his head, his eyes downcast, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, and even the tips of his ears turned a light red.
"Xiu, you can't just say things like that."
[Dear, current affection level: 31]
My dear, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Select.
When Wuma Xiu uttered those words, a crack finally appeared in the composure on the man's face. He abruptly raised his eyes and stared straight at Wu Maxiu, as if he couldn't believe it or was afraid he had misheard. He looked at Wuma Xiu for a long while before taking a breath.
"To spend the rest of our lives together..." he repeated the words, then his eyes crinkled into a smile, a genuine joy in them. "Okay. I've got it."
[Dear, current affection level: 40]
Wuma Xiu stared at the number, wondering if the game was malfunctioning. With just a few words, the favorability rating skyrocketed like a rocket, making him feel a little dizzy.
He decided to go all out and spam every possible phrase on the panel that could increase favorability.
[Darling, you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.]
--45.
[Darling, I want to see you every day.]
--52.
[Honey, you look so beautiful when you smile.]
--58.
[My dear, I want to hold your hand and walk with you forever.]
--66.
[My dear, you are special in my heart.]
--73.
On the screen, the white-clad man called "Darling" smiled higher and higher. His gaze softened inch by inch, as if it had been warmed little by little by Wuma Xiu. If he were a block of ice, he would be melting away by now.
The peach blossoms outside the window were still falling, petals drifting down, landing on the desk, on his hair, on his shoulders, and on his sleeves.
The man in white was completely unaware; his gaze towards Wuma Xiu seemed to be filled with the warmth of spring.
That look made Wuma Xiu inexplicably a little scared.
He was a little scared.
The games in the Interstellar era are incredibly realistic.
This is clearly just a virtual game character.
But he always felt that the other person was a bit too genuine, too sincere.
After that, he stopped playing those kinds of games; killing monsters was much more fun.
Wuma Xiu continues the storyline.
His only consolation was that the game had a skip button; whatever plot point he encountered, he could skip it all...
One hour later
The white-clad man, whom they called "Dear," sat in Wuma Xiu, holding him shyly and saying:
"Xiuxiu, you're so naughty, but I like you so much."
Hearing this and feeling the hand around his waist, Wuma Xiu felt utterly disgusted. But he had no choice but to keep his arm around the other person, forcing a smile as he said:
"Yes, I like it too."
As for why Wuma Xiu called this man "De De," well, of course. If he didn't call him that, what else could he call him—"Kiss," "Ai Ai," or just "Ai Ai"?
For a straight man like him, this was absolute torture.
Help! Who would want a man to do this?!
Skip, skip, skip, keep skipping the plot.
[Darling, can I hug you?] -- 79.
[Darling, may I kiss you?] -- 84.
When he selected the last sentence, Wuma Xiu was stunned. Damn it, he seemed to have just selected something ominous.
He probably wouldn't actually try to kiss him, would he?
The man in white silently watched Wuma Xiu.
He looked at the other person for a long time, then leaned in and placed a kiss on Wuma Xiu's cheek.
"Repair, is this okay?"
[Dear, current affection level: 95]
Wuma Xiu stared at the number, and his heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
I'm 95.
It's just a hair's breadth away from reaching the maximum value.
He should have been happy.
He could clear the game by grinding, then leave, then go to sleep, play a few fighting games tomorrow, and forget all about this junk. But he stared at the face so close to his on the screen.
Wuma Xiu had to admit that this face was truly stunning. Moreover, he always felt an inexplicable closeness to that person, as if someone was whispering in his ear that the other person would never hurt him.
However, Wuma Xiu could only explain this feeling as either a surge of hormones or his mind being clouded by that face. Otherwise, why would he have such a strange sensation?
It's impossible that I've lost my memory, right?
Wow, just a little bit more!
If you just skip a few more plot points and exchange a few more lines, the other person's favorability will be maxed out, and you can consider this stupid game complete.
Wuma Xiu raised his hand and pressed the skip-scene button again. However, he didn't expect that this jump would suddenly change the scene in front of him.
Everything was red.
The red candles, red curtains, and red silk made his eyes dazzled by the red. Also, the characters "" were posted one after another on the surrounding windows, doors, desks, and beds.
Embroidered with gold thread, cut from red paper, in all shapes and sizes, the festive atmosphere was almost excessive.
"What the heck? How did they get married?"
Wuma Xiu was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses.
No, following the typical path of dating simulation games, the ending is marriage, right?
Reaching this point is normal, perfectly normal.
He composed himself and turned his gaze back to the screen.
The man who had previously been dressed in white, exuding an air of refined elegance, had now changed into a bright red wedding gown.
Her hair was bound with a golden crown, and she wore a red robe, which made her face even more stunning. The coolness between her brows and eyes was warmed by the red light filling the room, giving her a touch of radiance.
The other person was sitting right next to Wuma Xiu, very close, so close that Wuma Xiu could see his fingers hanging at his sides.
She was slightly curled up, as if she were a little nervous.
"Build."
The other person turned their head to look at him, the familiar smile still on their lips, but their eyes were filled with red light and candlelight, and something glittering.
He reached out and took Wuma Xiu's hand.
The palm was warm, the knuckles were distinct, and it perfectly enveloped Wuma Xiu's hand.
The other party took out a Red Thread, which appeared almost blindingly Red Thread in the reflection of the red candle.
This is Love God's Red Thread. Once tied, you can never escape the other person for life. Are you willing?
Wuma Xiu scoffed at that statement.
Is this all you can ever get rid of?
He decisively reached out his hand without even hesitating for a moment.
Based on his understanding of these kinds of games, once the Red Thread is tied, the favorability will inevitably be maxed out, the ending will be triggered on the spot, and this stupid game will come to an end.
He was already mentally deciding whether to uninstall the game first or go to the forums to rant after completing it.
But at that moment, the man in white did not act as hastily as he had expected.
The man's hand stopped moving.
The smile on his face gradually faded away.
"Xiu, are you really sure?"
Wuma Xiu nodded repeatedly, without hesitation.
He had already tolerated so much cheesy, mushy nonsense.
He keeps saying things like "darling," "husband," "let's spend the rest of our lives together," and "I love you," one after another, he's practically shameless.
If I disagree now, wouldn't all the suffering I've endured have been for nothing?
"OK, OK, a hundred times OK."
Upon hearing this, the white-robed man's smile returned, but this time, it seemed tinged with something else. He lowered his head and began to wrap the Red Thread, circle by circle, around Wuma Xiu's wrist.
The moment the Red Thread touched his skin, Wuma Xiu felt a heat on his wrist.
He instinctively looked down.
The Red Thread is gone.
There were no marks left on my wrist.
Wuma Xiu raised his head and met the gaze of the man in white.
The person was laughing.
That smile held satisfaction, contentment, and something deeper and more profound.
It's like someone who has been waiting for a long time finally seeing their prey walk into the cage on its own.
Wuma Xiu's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
That smile looked so much like someone who had "achieved their goal."
For some reason, he felt as if he had stepped into a pit.
But then I thought, it's just a game.
The game was over. He took off his helmet and uninstalled the game. What could the opponent do then?
Could we possibly trace our actions through the internet into the real world?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when Wuma Xiu suddenly paused again.
For some reason, he suddenly thought of that person again.
The person who smiled at him through the gauze curtain Fortune God Temple, the person who stood at his doorstep pressing against the door panel and said they wanted to "play a game" with him.
Could it be this game?
No way.
Wuma Xiu shook his head, banishing the absurd thought from his mind. This was a single-player game, not an online one.
Even if the other party is incredibly resourceful, they wouldn't go so far as to sneak into a single-player game to ambush him, would they?
You're overthinking it. You're definitely overthinking it.
He composed himself and looked at the screen again.
The room was filled with flickering red light, and the wedding candles crackled softly. A man dressed in white, wearing a bright red wedding robe, sat beside him, their fingers intertwined.
"Repair," he suddenly said.
"Um?"
"Do you remember me?"
Wuma Xiu was taken aback.
That's a completely nonsensical question.
It's just a game, what does he remember?
"Remember what?"
The man in white smiled upon hearing this and said nothing more.
"It's okay. It's okay if you don't remember."
Anyway, there's plenty of time in the future.
On the panel, a line of golden characters slowly appeared.
[Congratulations Player, you have achieved the "Eternal Union" ending.]
[The Love God's Red Thread has taken effect and the bond cannot be broken.]
May you be destined for each other, for a lifetime.
Fireworks exploded, gold dust fell, joyful music rose, and the screen was filled with red, a red that blanketed the sky.
Wuma Xiu raised an eyebrow as he looked at the line "Bound and cannot be unbound".
What the heck? It's even linked?
"Fine, I've already finished the game, so be it. I can just delete the account and start over." He raised his hand and finally found the long-awaited exit button, pressing it without hesitation.
The moment the helmet was removed, the red light filling the room vanished, and I was back in my own room.
Wuma Xiu let out a sigh, threw the helmet aside, and collapsed onto the bed.
I cleared the level.
I finally beat the game.
He stared at the ceiling for a while, then suddenly looked up at his wrist.
It was spotless, with nothing on it.
But whether it was his imagination or not, he felt that there was still a faint warmth lingering on the skin around his wrist.
"What are you thinking about?"
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then got up to wash up.
Looking at myself in the mirror, my ears were a little red, and my eyes looked a little unsettled.
He turned on the tap, splashing cold water on his face, washing away all those messy thoughts.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'll play a few rounds of fighting games, every punch and slash feels real, and I'll completely forget about tonight.
With that thought in mind, he turned off the light and crawled into bed.
But even with my eyes closed, what I see still lingers before me: those eyes filled with candlelight and red shadows, and those heavy words.
Anyway, there's plenty of time in the future.
Wuma Xiu rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.
Damn it.
He cursed and forced himself to fall asleep.
As night deepened, the house became quiet.
On the inside of Wuma Xiu's sight, a faint red light flickered with his breath.
The next day, Wuma Xiu was awakened by the light coming from outside the window.
He opened his eyes and realized that he had slept so soundly last night that he hadn't even had a dream.
What's even more surprising is that he didn't feel tired at all; on the contrary, he felt refreshed and invigorated.
He ate a quick breakfast of cream bread and milk, finishing it off in no time, then sat down in front of the game pod, rubbing his hands together.
Today's big plan is to beat a brand new game.
--The Doomsday Crisis.
He had just picked up his helmet and hadn't even had time to fasten it when the doorbell rang.
Wuma Xiu sighed regretfully, put the helmet back in its place, and got up to walk to the monitor screen.
There was a person standing on the screen, someone he didn't recognize.
The person was dressed plainly, but had an unexpectedly handsome face with delicate features and fair skin. He stood quietly at the door, looking as if he had wandered onto the wrong movie set.
But don't get me wrong, this person isn't the same one from yesterday.
Wuma Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, casually opened the door, and leaned against the door frame to look him over.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
The moment he finished speaking, the man looked up, his gaze falling on his face, and his eyes instantly reddened.
The next second, the man knelt down with a thud, grabbed his leg, and howled at the top of his lungs.
"Host, I've finally found you! Waaah--"
Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual.
Wuma Xiu looked down at the boy who was hugging his leg, and tried to pull his leg out, but couldn't.
I tried pulling again, but it still wouldn't budge.
The boy held him tightly, his ten fingers gripping his trouser leg like a koala clinging to a tree trunk, impossible to shake off no matter how hard he tried.
Wuma Xiu couldn't help but sigh, "These days, are all good-looking men not very bright?"
The last one, who clearly had a face that could charm the world, ended up becoming a perverted delivery rider who would block his door late at night.
This one, with delicate features and fair skin, could be considered a handsome young man anywhere, but he immediately knelt down and hugged someone's leg, wailing as if his father had died.
"Get out of here, get away from me!" Wuma Xiu shouted, struggling to free himself. "I don't know you! Are you after my money? One failed, so you come back to harass me? Dude, I'm a man, you know? I like men... ugh! I like women!"
He was so angry that he almost blurted out his true feelings, but luckily he managed to change his mind at the last moment and pull back.
After saying that, he raised his hand and slapped the alarm button by the door.
The security in this upscale neighborhood is truly exceptional.
He pressed the button yesterday, and the security team clearly took it seriously, keeping a small team patrolling around the villa.
The moment the button was pressed, before the alarm had even finished sounding, the engine noise of the small spaceship approached rapidly from afar.
But just as Wuma Xiu turned his head to look at the spaceship, the heavy force on his leg suddenly disappeared.
He looked down.
The boy who was just clinging to his leg and howling like his life depended on it has vanished without a trace.
Not a single hair was left on the ground; it was as clean as if the farce had never happened.
Wuma Xiu stood there, his leg still in the position of being pulled outwards, and it took him a long time to recover.
Where are they?
He looked left and right, but only the wind was blowing in from the open door, making his trouser legs sway.
The small spaceship landed, and several security guards quickly ran over.
The captain, who was in the lead, glanced at the doorway, then at Wuma Xiu, and frowned.
"Mr. Wuma, were you the one who called the police? What happened?"
"There was someone hugging my leg," Wuma Xiu gestured, "And then, in the blink of an eye, they were gone."
The security captain turned and ordered his men to check the surveillance footage.
The surveillance footage was quickly brought up.
In the scene, Wuma Xiu stands in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, looking down at his thighs. His expression shifts from confusion to impatience, and he mutters to himself. Then he raises his hand and presses the alarm button, and then he looks up at the sky.
From beginning to end, there was nothing in front of him.
The surveillance footage only showed Wuma Xiu, who was cursing at thin air and even raised his leg towards the air.
To be honest, if it weren't for what happened last night, the security captain would definitely think that Mr. Wuma Xiu was mentally ill, or that he hadn't been getting enough rest and was hallucinating.
But they happened to witness what happened last night.
A perfectly healthy person vanished into thin air right under their noses, without even a trace being captured on the surveillance footage.
In this situation, there was indeed little they could do to help.
"Mr. Wuma, please wait a moment regarding this matter."
"We reported this matter to the authorities last night and asked for help. An Archbishop from the Church of the Goddess of Beauty quickly took on the request. He'll be here soon today. Rest assured, this Archbishop is very capable."
When the words "the Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty" were mentioned, the security captain's tone changed noticeably, and his eyes revealed a genuine sense of envy.
You should know that in the Church of the Goddess of Beauty, regardless of anything else, everyone's appearance is undoubtedly outstanding.
Those who can sit in the position of "Archbishop" must be of exceptional appearance and their abilities are certainly not lacking.
"The Church of the Goddess of Beauty?" Wuma Xiu frowned.
He had never believed in gods or religions before.
These so-called Goddess of Beauty and ugliness are nothing more than a group of good-looking people getting together to pretend to be gods and ghosts and fool people. This Archbishop is probably a master at fooling people too.
But now, he's starting to have some doubts.
Perhaps there really are gods in this world.
"Yes, the Cult of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty, a sect belonging to the Goddess of Beauty." The security captain's eyes lit up as soon as he mentioned it, and he couldn't stop talking once he started. "The Goddess of Goddess of Beauty is just too beautiful... It's a pity that I never had the chance to see her in person in my entire life."
He spoke with a tone full of regret, as if he had missed out on some tremendous blessing.
"I've heard that Goddess of Beauty Athena's beauty is universally acknowledged as the most stunning. Everyone who has seen her is captivated. Our Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty, while not as Goddess of Beauty as Lady Athena This Venerable, is still top-tier in any setting..."
Wuma Xiu listened as he talked on and on, from the Goddess of Beauty's appearance to Goddess of Beauty clothes, and from Goddess of Beauty clothes to Goddess of Beauty words and actions. He became more and more engrossed in his talk, his eyes shining and a smile playing on his lips, looking exactly like a die-hard fan.
He silently labeled the security captain in his mind.
--Goddess of Beauty Duwei, severe.
"Alright, alright," Wuma Xiu waved his hand, interrupting him, "When will that Archbishop arrive?"
The security captain snapped out of his daze and glanced at the communicator:
"It's on its way, in about ten minutes."
Wuma Xiu nodded, turned and went back into the house, closing the door behind him.
He leaned against the door and let out a long sigh.
The Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty.
His mind raced, and for some reason, he remembered the person who smiled at him through the veil yesterday, and the "darling" in the game, dressed in a wedding gown and tying Red Thread around his wrist.
The two faces, when superimposed, were exactly the same.
Wuma Xiu shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off the absurd thought.
Impossible.
What could the Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty possibly have to do with a character in a game? He walked to the game pod, picked up the "Doomsday Crisis" helmet, and then put it down again.
In his current state, he has no interest in playing games.
Ten minutes.
He wanted to see just who this Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty really was.
Ten minutes is neither a long nor a short time.
Wuma Xiu leaned back on the Sofa, idly scrolling through the Star Network. His eyes were fixed on the screen, but his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts were racing, filled with the strange things he'd encountered these past few days, and that haunting face.
This is clearly a technologically advanced era, how could such a supernatural or inexplicable thing happen?
When the doorbell rang, Wuma Xiu stood up from the Sofa.
They've arrived.
He got up, walked to the door, and glanced at the security camera footage first.
There was indeed someone standing outside the door.
With just one glance, Wuma Xiu was stunned again. The other person had their head down, so he couldn't see their face, but their aura was simply incomparably noble.
You don't even need to look to know he's another handsome man.
He's seen so many handsome men these days.
But there are so many handsome men in the world, what's one more?
Why isn't he handsome at all?
Wuma Xiu reached out and pinched his soft cheek.
His face wasn't as thin as other handsome men's.
They are indeed chubby.
He's not fat at all, but his face is just chubby.
Wuma Xiu opened the door.
The man was dressed in a plain white Robe with silver patterns embroidered on the hem, and his long hair was half-tied up and hung down behind his shoulders.
But when he saw the other person's face clearly, he froze again.
He had seen that face before, three times in total.
The first time, Fortune God Temple, she smiled softly at him through the gauze curtain.
The second time, it was that pervert delivering takeout to him outside the door.
The third time, in the game, he was dressed in white and holding a scroll. Later, he changed into a bright red wedding robe and tied Red Thread around his wrist.
"Mr. Wuma, Archbishop Xie Linyuan of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty, has been ordered to come and handle the matters of last night for you."
"... you."
"Um?"
This time, Wuma Xiu simply opened the door wide and, without inviting anyone in, began circling around the other person.
One lap, two laps, three laps...
He walked very slowly, his gaze sweeping back and forth from head to toe.
That face, viewed up close and from afar, from left and right, is exactly the same.
But their demeanor is like that of two different people.
The Archbishop before me wore a plain white Robe, stood upright, his hands hanging naturally at his sides with his fingertips together, and even his breathing seemed measured, even and restrained.
His expression was calm, his gaze gentle yet distant.
He exuded an aura of asceticism, seriousness, restraint, and indifference, like a jade statue enshrined in a temple—beautiful, yet one that made people hesitant to touch.
He's nothing like the freak he was yesterday.
That rider, that "darling" in the game, had an unserious laugh, spoke in a sticky, indistinct way, and always had something indescribable hidden in his eyes.
Wuma Xiu finished his last lap, stopped in front of him, and squinted.
Do you have a twin brother?
He tentatively asked the question.
This was a bit rash, but Wuma Xiu really had no other choice.
If this matter isn't clarified, he probably won't be able to sleep tonight.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Archbishop's previously calm and unwavering gaze suddenly shifted. For the first time, a genuine human emotion appeared on his face.
"Mr. Wuma, why... why do you ask that?"
"My mother told me that I originally had a twin brother. But he went missing when I was little and has not been found to this day."
"Mr. Wuma Xiu, you asked about this because... do you have any news about my twin brother?"
If it is true, then please tell me.
On behalf of my whole family, I thank you.
After hesitating for a moment, Wuma Xiu recounted everything that had happened yesterday.
The Archbishop listened with a serious expression.
"Mr. Wuma, I've already heard about what happened last night from security. Someone vanished into thin air right outside your door, and the security footage doesn't show any such person, is that right?"
"Right."
"Has anything similar happened before this?"
Wuma Xiu nodded. "Yesterday, a food delivery person had the same problem."
Upon hearing this, the Archbishop pondered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to notice something, his gaze falling on Wuma Xiu's wrist.
His gaze lingered on that spot longer than elsewhere.
"Mr. Wuma, may I take a look at your wrist?"
Wuma Xiu was taken aback and subconsciously pulled his hand behind his back.
Why are you looking at my wrist?
"Routine check. Some things are invisible to the naked eye, yet they can remain on a person. Now that I've taken this request for help, I should investigate it for you."
He made a valid point, and Wuma Xiu couldn't find a reason to refuse.
He reached out his hand.
The Archbishop stepped forward, reached out, and lightly supported his wrist. His fingertips were slightly cool, but there was only a thin layer of air between them; they didn't actually touch.
But Wuma Xiu felt that the skin around his neck, which was being supported, was inexplicably burning.
The Archbishop looked down at the inside of his wrist, his gaze focused.
That area of skin was fair and clean, with nothing on it.
He stared at him for a long time, so long that Wuma Xiu felt something was amiss and was about to pull his hand back when the Archbishop suddenly raised his eyes, looked at him, and slightly curved the corners of his lips.
"Really."
"As expected what?"
The Archbishop released his hand, took a half step back, and resumed his usual businesslike and gentle demeanor.
"Mr. Wuma, there is indeed something on you. A thread. Very thin and faint, not noticeable by ordinary means."
Wuma Xiu's heart skipped a beat. If there was any thread on his wrist, it could only be the Red Thread that the person called "darling" had tied on his wrist when they were playing the game yesterday.
"... What line?"
"Red Thread."
Wuma Xiu's mind went blank for a moment; he knew it was true.
Isn't this all too absurd?
It's just a game, okay? How can you bring things from a game into real life?
But the other party does seem a bit unusual?
The Archbishop, observing his shifting expression, said calmly:
"This thread connects you to another person's heart, and also to the cause and effect between you and that person."
Can it be solved?
"No. This thread is the Red Thread of the goddess of Love God, and I am merely a minor bishop under the Goddess of Beauty; I cannot untie it."
Love God's Red Thread?
When Wuma Xiu heard this again, his heart skipped a beat.
He looked at his right wrist.
He couldn't see the Red Thread; it disappeared when that person tied Red Thread to their wrist.
Was that Red Thread from back then also real?
Wuma Xiu felt a little dizzy.
But now that he's reached this point, he finally understands completely.
That game had problems back then.
A game name that appeared out of nowhere in the project proposal, and an unfair clause that only allows players to exit after completing the game...
It's over.
It seems that when the other person said "playing games," they really just meant playing a game with him.
My goodness! But whoever that person is, if they're so powerful, why are they bothering me?
Wuma Xiu was just a shut-in who loved playing video games. He had no money, no looks, no power, and no influence—he was utterly useless.
What are they after?
The Archbishop waited patiently to the side, and only spoke when Wuma Xiu finally looked at him:
"This is a complicated matter. Would you suggest I stay with you for a few days? If it really is my twin brother whom I've never met, I'll make him leave."
"Sure, come in."
Wuma Xiu stepped aside from the doorway with almost no hesitation.
In his view, the other party was, after all, a high-ranking Archbishop of the Church of the Goddess of Beauty; his status was undeniable, and he figured the other party wouldn't be interested in his meager assets. As for appearance, there were plenty of people more attractive than him; if the other party really wanted to rob him of his virtue, they wouldn't have chosen an ordinary otaku like him.
As long as they don't rob you of your money or sexually assault you, everything else is fine.
The Archbishop nodded and stepped in.
The hem of a plain white robe brushed gently across the threshold, carrying with it a faint, cool fragrance.
He stood in the center of the living room and looked around.
"Excuse me," he said softly.
Wuma Xiu closed the door, turned around and looked at the Archbishop's back, and suddenly had a feeling he couldn't quite describe.
The Archbishop then settled into Wuma Xiu's house.
A figure in pure white moved back and forth in the room, tidying up the guest room until it was spotless, even folding the bedding into neat squares.
Wuma Xiu stood at the doorway, watching, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
If this Archbishop ever loses his job, he'd be in high demand as an Interstellar housekeeper.
Everything is settled.
The Archbishop walked out, his gaze sweeping across the living room before finally settling on the gaming helmet on the coffee table.
"Mr. Wuma."
"Um?"
"May I see that helmet?"
The Archbishop stood up, pointed to the game helmet, and looked at Wuma Xiu, asking a question.
Wuma Xiu walked to the Sofa, sat down, and nodded. "See?"
The Archbishop took out the game helmet, held it in his palm, and examined it closely.
Wuma Xiu sat on the Sofa, watching the other person's movements, when suddenly he remembered something.
This helmet does look a bit old.
There are some minor scratches on the outer shell, and a small piece of paint has chipped off the edge, making it look dusty.
Perfect timing, he'd been wanting to switch for a while now.
He took out his phone and casually placed an order on Star Network Mall.
In the Interstellar era, logistics are ridiculously fast; the doorbell rang in less than half an hour.
The new helmet arrived; it has a silver-gray shell, a streamlined design, and a faint, pleasant fragrance when I unpacked it.
Wuma Xiu placed the new helmet on the coffee table; the other person was still looking at the old one.
After a while, the Archbishop finally put down his helmet, looked up at Wuma Xiu, and showed a sincere apology on his face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wuma. I couldn't see anything wrong with it."
"Perhaps it's because my own Divine Power is insufficient."
Wuma Xiu didn't think anything of it.
He waved his hand:
"It's nothing, Archbishop. I'll order if you're hungry tonight."
Upon hearing this, the Archbishop shook his head.
He took out his terminal, tapped the screen a few times, and actually placed an order right in front of Wuma Xiu.
Wuma Xiu leaned over for a look and saw a neatly arranged pile of green vegetables in the shopping cart.
-- Broccoli, spinach, asparagus, lettuce, and a few other leafy greens he couldn't name.
"I prefer to cook myself." The Archbishop put away his terminal, looked up at him, and added casually, "I just happened to buy a lot, Mr. Wuma, would you like to eat together?"
Wuma Xiu naturally agreed.
Why not get something for free?
When it was time to eat, Wuma Xiu watched as the other person tied on a small apron, went into the kitchen, and began washing and chopping vegetables.
The plain white sleeves were rolled up to the forearms, revealing fair skin.
Water flowed through the other person's fingertips, and green leaves gradually unfurled in the basin.
The knife moved up and down on the cutting board, making a rhythmic, thumping sound.
It's clear that this skill isn't something that can be developed overnight.
Wuma Xiu suddenly felt a great sense of novelty. He had been in this world for some time now.
This is the Interstellar age; most people no longer cook, not only because vegetables are expensive, but also because it's too much trouble.
When they get hungry, they just drink a bottle of nutrient solution, which takes only 3 seconds to finish. The flavors are even categorized, such as braised beef, spicy hot pot, and pickled cabbage with shredded pork.
If all else fails, just order takeout.
With a simple swipe on the Star Network, you can place an order and have it delivered to your door in about 10 minutes, without even having to wash the dishes.
In this day and age, cooking for yourself is like an incredibly ancient hobby.