So This Is How You Help Me?

"

Shen Nian stood downstairs at the apartment building on Maple Leaf Avenue, looking up at the construction team repairing the exterior walls, her face full of helplessness.

Today she was wearing a business suit, a light gray suit with a narrow skirt, her shoulder-length short hair was neatly combed, round-framed glasses sat on her straight nose, and her long, straight legs were covered by a thin layer of black stockings under the narrow skirt. She looked gentle and lovely, and in short, she was very presentable.

But this dignified and mature woman's back view at this moment exuded an indescribable desolation.

Just yesterday.

When she finished her thrilling mission at Prison Rock, exhausted but overjoyed, she thought about finally being able to return to her warm little home, take a nice hot bath, and get a good night's sleep.

I went downstairs and looked up.

My home is gone.

After she moved to Chen Capital, her cozy apartment, which she had kept spotless, had a huge hole blasted into one of its exterior walls by a terrifying force, and the cold wind howled and rushed in.

It's clearly uninhabitable.

At that moment, Shen Nian completely broke down.

However, when he learned that the culprit who bombed his house was his benefactor, Lu Xiu...

Shen Nian's feelings became even more complicated.

She didn't even know who to reason with.

Shen Nian in a hotel for one day yesterday.

But I'm not used to it at all.

The hotel was clean.

But for her, that unfamiliar, standardized space devoid of any personal touch was more unbearable than a dirty, chaotic environment.

Because that environment would repeatedly remind Shen Nian that she was still in a state of instability and displacement.

She was terrified of this feeling of instability and displacement.

After being gamified, she experienced that sense of instability every day while struggling to survive in the Old Sea with her mother.

At that time, the only place she could control was her small 30-square-meter room.

After moving to Chen Capital and receiving the apartment allocated by the Coordination Bureau, she spent two whole weeks gradually transforming the new space into a familiar one.

She also felt that it was the only place she could control.

So she misses her little home terribly right now.

Thinking of this...

Shen Nian sighed, then raised her voice slightly and asked the Sifu about the specific completion time.

After receiving a definite answer.

She was somewhat frustrated.

It will take quite some time.

But she really didn't want to stay in a hotel anymore.

So what should I do next?

Shen Nian lowered her eyelids, deep in thought—when suddenly a familiar, slender figure entered her field of vision.

It's Jian Li.

The silver-haired girl was still wearing her exquisite and beautiful pleated skirt today, and her signature long silver hair was very eye-catching in the sunlight.

She was walking towards the apartment building, taking small bites of a chocolate wafer biscuit.

It's like the Crispy Shark of this world, and in her hand, she's still tightly clutching another unopened one.

Although her delicately sculpted face remained expressionless.

But I don't know if it's just my imagination.

Shen Nian sensed that the silver-haired girl seemed hesitant at that moment.

The decisive and efficient approach of the past was gone.

Although I only took two steps, I stopped for a moment.

But he exuded a rare sense of unease.

"Miss Jian Li."

Shen Nian thought for a moment, then took the initiative to go up and greet her.

Upon hearing the sound, Jian Li paused in her steps.

She slightly raised her snow-white chin, glanced at Shen Nian, paused her small bite of the wafer biscuit, and then nodded gently, which was her way of greeting him.

Shen Nian asked curiously, "Are you going back?"

Logically speaking, this shouldn't be the case.

Although she had only been with the Coordination Bureau for a short time.

But she also knew that Jian Li was among the top players in the Strategy Group, and besides Lu Xiu's dungeon, there were countless other system dungeons waiting for her to try.

It's not even dusk yet.

Why are you back?

Jian Li looked up at Shen Nian again, then hesitated for a moment, gently squeezed the wafer in her hand, and said, "Lu Xiu."

Shen Nian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized.

They're looking for Lu Xiu.

etc.

Shen Nian looked up again at the room she couldn't stay in, and Lu Xiu's face appeared in her mind.

If there's anywhere in the world besides her little home that can give her a sense of control—or more accurately, a sense of security.

That must be someone close to Lu Xiu.

She didn't know why, but that's just how she felt.

Perhaps it was because her fate was changed by beating Sekiro.

Shen Nian really didn't want to stay in a hotel anymore.

Could I stay with Lu Xiu for a few days?

It should be okay since we're all girls, right?

And I promised my boss yesterday that I would do some kind of psychological evaluation----

Thinking about this...

Shen Nian extended her slender, white fingers and gently pushed up her thin-rimmed glasses. She blinked her peach-blossom eyes and then asked softly, "Can I come along?"

Jian Li looked at Shen Nian, a thoughtful look flashing in her beautiful eyes, and then slowly nodded.

More people are better.

The two walked into the apartment building side by side, took the elevator up to the top floor.

Step out of the elevator.

The corridor was quiet.

The two arrived at the door of Lu Xiu's residence, Shen Nian just raised her hand to knock.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious curse, tinged with embarrassment and frustration, rang out from the room.

"Ah----"

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Shouldn't this age-increasing stat increase upon death be removed? He's inexplicably forty years old—and those seven or eight guys tried to beat the Sifu to death with a flurry of punches! No sportsmanship whatsoever!"

"That's outrageous!"

Outside the door, Shen Nian, who was about to knock, hesitated slightly, sensing something was wrong, but still knocked.

Death occurs with increasing age.

This sounds so familiar...

Jian Li, on the other hand, didn't react much. She just stood there quietly, still taking small bites of the remaining wafer biscuit, while gently squeezing the biscuit in her hand.

----Knock knock knock.

The frustrated cursing coming from inside the room suddenly stopped.

About ten seconds passed.

Click.

The door was pulled open from the inside.

A beautiful and charming young girl appeared before them.

For once, she wasn't wearing her usual loose and casual loungewear. Instead, she changed into a smart sportswear outfit: a pair of tight-fitting yoga pants that perfectly outlined her long, straight legs, with full, shapely thighs and slender, toned calves. She paired it with a matching sports vest, casually layered a loose, thin sweatshirt over it, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing a section of her fair and slender forearms.

Her long, flowing black hair was casually tied into a high ponytail, looking neat and capable.

It looks great.

that is----

Her exquisite face was covered in fine beads of sweat, and a few strands of hair were damp with perspiration, clinging to her graceful swan neck and cheeks. Her full chest was still rising and falling slightly.

Is this exercise?

"Shen Nian? Jian Li?"

Lu Xiu was somewhat surprised. "----Why are you here?"

Jian Li looked up, tilted her head, and seemed curious as to why Lu Xiu had ended up like this.

"Miss Lu Xiu."

Shen Nian then asked directly, "What is this—"

"It's alright, we're building a new instance, but breaking through an instance is proving to be much more troublesome than expected."

"Copy—understood."

"Um, is there something you need?"

Lu Xiu let out a long sigh and casually wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Shen Nian couldn't help but look at the few strands of hair on Lu Xiu's face, damp with sweat and sticking to her cheeks in a messy way.

Lu Xiu had indeed gotten used to her body, but she was also quite careless about details in many ways.

The more she wiped, the more those strands of hair stuck to her face. Out of her usual thoughtfulness, Shen Nian subconsciously raised her hand, wanting to help her benefactor tuck her hair behind her ear.

"You're sweating so much, don't let your hair..."

However.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch Lu Xiu's cheek...

Lu Xiu had been ganged up on countless times in the dungeon, and the muscle memory she had honed through countless attempts to Neutralize the situation suddenly erupted at this moment.

When faced with a sudden, direct attack.

Before her brain could even process the message that it was Shen Nian and there was no danger, her body had already acted on instinct.

Shen Nian didn't even see what happened.

Lu Xiu's movements were so fast that only Afterimage could be seen.

She instinctively raised her left hand, her wrist moving with fluid precision to touch Shen Nian's outstretched forearm, then gently flicked it downwards and diagonally.

Neutralize!

Shen Nian felt a tremendous force strike her, accompanied by pain, and her arm was already flung to the other side.

She was stunned and instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

But Lu Xiu had already taken a step forward and lunged forward, instantly grabbing her arm with his right hand. With a burst of strength from his waist, he executed a perfectly executed grappling and pressing maneuver!

Sizzle.

Bang.

Accompanied by the intense friction of high heels scraping against the ground.

Shen Nian felt a sudden dizziness and was spun around halfway by the pressure.

Then his arms were firmly handcuffed behind his back, and his upper body was pressed against the door frame, unable to move.

They were immediately detained.

----Just like a forced delivery.

The entire process took less than a second.

Jian Li with her beautiful eyes slightly, her red lips parted slightly, and the wafer biscuit lingered between her teeth, uneaten for a long time.

Shen Nian: "----"

Her gentle and charming face was filled with astonishment.

Wow, so fast!

There were no visual or auditory effects of any skill activation! Nor were there any signs of an explosion!

Suddenly I was pinned down!

How did she do that? Is Lu Xiu really that strong in hand-to-hand combat?

in addition.

What's going on here?

The air seemed to freeze for a full two seconds.

Lu Xiu suddenly came to her senses, and the expression on her beautiful face, which had instantly switched to battle mode, changed.

"Ah----"

Lu Xiu looked at Shen Nian, whom she had pinned firmly against the doorframe, and a rare hint of embarrassment flashed across her face. She quickly released her grip as if she had been electrocuted. "Sorry, I was ganged up on for too long in the dungeon—it's muscle memory, I couldn't stop."

Shen Nian didn't rush to speak, but instead rubbed her arm, which was a little numb from being pressed, and moved her wrist.

In that instant, she felt like a small boat in a storm. Faced with Lu Xiu's fluid and instinctive movements, she didn't even have the slightest chance to resist.

This wasn't just a matter of superior attributes; it was pure skill-based dominance—which only made her more apprehensive.

Thinking of this...

Shen Nian's eyes held curiosity and amazement as she asked, "Nothing wrong—a dungeon? What type of dungeon is this one? That set of movements was so fast, so impressive."

Lu Xiu blinked her beautiful eyes and asked, "Is that what you think?"

"Yes." Shen Nian nodded.

A definite answer was obtained.

I know my efforts haven't been in vain.

Lu Xiu immediately broke into a bright smile, "That's good. As for what the dungeon is—you'll find out later."

After all, the rain she got soaked in during the dungeon will affect her appearance after the official release.

Players need to get wet too, no rush.

Shen Nian looked at Lu Xiu's smile, not knowing why.

I became even more uneasy.

It couldn't be the one Lu Xiu had mentioned before—

"So, you two came all the way up here to find me, is there something you need?"

Lu Xiu casually brushed a strand of hair stuck to her cheek behind her ear and asked again.

This interrupted Shen Nian's thoughts.

Shen Nian realized what was happening.

There's no point in her thinking about these things; who can stop Lu Xiu anyway—as long as Lu Xiu doesn't say it was her idea.

Thinking of this...

She looked at Jian Li.

She just happened to come along.

It was Jian Li who originally intended to find Lu Xiu.

Jian Li squeezed the chocolate cookie in her palm, not speaking immediately, seemingly hesitant.

Shen Nian waited for a while and found that Jian Li still hadn't spoken. Lu Xiu blinked her beautiful eyes, her face full of doubt. After hesitating for a moment, she could only speak first.

She glanced at the spacious, bright, and reassuring apartment behind Lu Xiu, then asked, "Is that so—"

Miss Lu Xiu, the exterior wall of my residence was bombed and is still under repair. I'm not really comfortable staying in a hotel. Could I stay at your place for the next few days?

"Ah?"

Upon hearing this request...

Lu Xiu was slightly taken aback.

Immediately afterwards, she raised her hands, crossed them horizontally in front of her chest, and made an "X" gesture.

"Damn."

Lu Xiu replied without hesitation, "The new instance I'm currently building is in its most crucial stage, and I want to finish it as soon as possible. I estimate that the verification and completion will be soon as well. I can't let you stay here, and besides, I'm not used to living with other people—unless you can wear a maid outfit, then that's a different story."

In conclusion...

Lu Xiu couldn't help but smile.

That was originally a very obvious joke.

Normally, Shen Nian would definitely have noticed.

But at this moment, Shen Nian, dominated by homelessness and a lack of security, actually lowered his head and began to seriously consider the feasibility.

However, she didn't have time to think about it for long.

Because it happened suddenly.

Shen Nian felt a chill run down her spine, as an extremely oppressive gaze fell upon her as if it were a physical object.

She turned her head away somewhat stiffly.

Jian Li, who had been standing quietly to the side like a delicate porcelain doll, had lost Jian Li sparkle in her beautiful eyes and was now staring at her listlessly.

Killing intent!

At this moment, Shen Nian even sensed killing intent.