《My Exclusive Dream World Adventures》 Chapter 1 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 5: 45 p.m. Inside an enormous, quiet office. Chen Xu leaned against the back of the chair, held a pen under his nose and stared at the computer screen, seeming to mull over a serious issue. In fact, he was just staring blankly. He was about to get off work and was thinking about where he should eat later. Old Tang sitting behind him came over to him and whispered, ¡°Old Wang said that he wants to treat our new colleagues to a meal, don¡¯t forget alright.¡± Another gathering? Chen Xu had a little headache. But after hesitating for a second or so, he still answered, ¡°Got it.¡± Old Wang was their supervisor. Everything about this superior of his was great, except for one thing. He liked to hold gatherings randomly, at least two to three times every month. Basically, Chen Xu would avoid these whenever he could, but as it was to welcome the new colleagues this time, being absent wouldn¡¯t be good. Moreover, he had already turned down the last two gatherings with made-up excuses. If he were to turn this down yet again, Old Wang would probably be keeping a record of him. He felt a little blue having the thought that his two hours after work would be wasted at a boring dinner. It wasn¡¯t that he had any issues with his colleagues; it was just that he preferred to be alone after working hours. The most important thing was that, after sending money home last week, he didn¡¯t have much spending money left, and everyone would be paying separately at these gatherings¡­ He couldn¡¯t help but sigh on the inside. Going to work was already hard enough, and he couldn¡¯t even control his own time after work. He really had enough of this kind of life. When can I put aside these trivialities and live the life I want? ¡°Drip¡ª¡ª¡± ¡°Language calibration complete. Activate Virtual Dream Gear. Commence identity verification¡ª¡ª¡± Chen Xu heard a voice that suddenly spoke in his ears and was startled. His hands jerked, and the pen fell to the ground. What was that? For a moment, a lot of thoughts dashed through his mind. While he bent over to pick up the pen, he tilted his head to examine a few of his colleagues next to him and couldn¡¯t see anything different. It didn¡¯t seem that his colleagues had pulled a prank. Could it be an illusion? Later on, the voice spoke again. ¡°Verification failed. Switching to visitor mode.¡± ¡°Welcome to our product experience. Made by the Xingyu Virtual Equipment Manufacturing Group, our product allows you to experience 100% virtual reality dreams. There are many scenes for you to choose from to have a wonderful dream life.¡± Chen Xu felt thirsty all of a sudden. Aside from the voice, an interface with an icon in the middle appeared. It was just like a virtual computer desktop. To verify what he was seeing, he closed his eyes, reopening them only after a few seconds. The interface was still there, with the high-definition colored icon in the middle still ever so conspicuous. His heart was thumping wildly. ¡­ In a short while, the closing hours arrived. Chen Xu was still in shock, and only came around when Old Tang patted his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s time to get off. What are you doing there staring blankly?¡± Old Tang asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Chen Xu lifted his head and looked around. Seeing that all his other colleagues had left, he quickly packed up and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± A nearby restaurant was selected for the department gathering this time. There was a total of eleven people in the advertising department. After arriving at the restaurant, everyone fit at one table just right. His new colleague was a girl. Everyone was very enthusiastic, but not because of how pretty the girl was. It would soon be the end of the year, and things in the advertising department would soon become very hectic. With an extra person to share the workload, everybody was naturally ecstatic. As most of the people present were young, the atmosphere quickly became energetic. The only area that didn¡¯t fit right in was where Chen Xu was sitting. He wasn¡¯t talking much, appearing to be absent-minded. The others didn¡¯t bother about him. During the past gatherings, Chen Xu had been just as silent, and everyone was already used to it. Everyone left after the meal. They still had to work the next day. They couldn¡¯t hang out too late, or their work performance would suffer the next day. After dismissal, Chen Xu returned to his home, riding in Old Tang¡¯s car. After they got in the car, Old Tang asked abruptly, ¡°Chen Xu, are you okay? Chen Xu, Chen Xu¡­¡± After hearing his own name a few times in a row, Chen Xu, who was in a daze, came to and responded, ¡°Hm?¡± Old Tang became even more worried, and asked, ¡°You seem preoccupied ever since we got off from work. Did anything happen?¡± ¡°Nah, just thinking about some stuff.¡± Chen Xu knocked his own forehead lightly and wound down the window slightly, letting in the wind from outside to make his head a little clearer. Ever since he got out of the office, he had been thinking about that ¡°Virtual Dream Gear¡±, which consequently made him seem absent-minded. Old Tang looked at him and said, ¡°Are you experiencing any difficulties at home? Here is 20 thousand bucks from my secret stash; you can use it.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± Chen Xu quickly explained. ¡°Not that, I¡¯m thinking about other stuff.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Old Tang nodded his head and said, ¡°If you have any difficulties, just say so. There is no need to be more polite than wise.¡± Chen Xu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Old Tang stopped with that and started the car. Chen Xu felt that he was quite lucky to have made friends with someone like Old Tang. Old Tang graduated from the same university as him, five years earlier. The two only got to know each other after he joined the company. It was precisely because of this relationship that Old Tang was rather caring towards him. He was grateful to Old Tang. However, no matter how difficult things were for him, he didn¡¯t want to ask Old Tang for money. Old Tang just got married not long ago. With house loans and car loans, the pressure he was dealing with was not any smaller than Chen Xu¡¯s. ¡­ After more than half an hour, Chen Xu arrived at his rental house. The location was relatively far-off. It would take 10 minutes to walk to the nearest bus stop. The place he rented was a single room of about twenty square meters. There was only one single bed and one computer table. It was small, but it had a separate bathroom. The room was adequate for one to live in. The key was that it was cheap. The cost of living in this city was quite high, and rentals were often the biggest expense. It was not easy to find a place close to the company and with cheap rent. He was lucky to be able to find this place. He put down his briefcase, laid down on the bed, and held his mobile phone while looking at the bank balance indicated in a text message. 499.32 dollars. He felt a little troubled. Still more than two weeks before I get my next pay, and I¡¯m already left with this little money. Gotta make every penny count. Later on, he once again thought of that ¡°Virtual Dream Gear¡±. He was hesitant in his heart. Should I go in? After fumbling about for half a day with this product of some Black Technology, system, or whatnot that appeared inexplicably, he still couldn¡¯t find a manual book. Normally, this gear would not appear on his retina on its own. It would only appear after he ¡°awakened¡± it. There was only one icon on it, displaying ¡°Enter dream ¡®The Apocalypse¡¯. Y/N?¡± When his attention was focused on these words, he could see a short tip saying that he could choose an item or a companion in the dream. Quite a number of items and character templates were provided above. Moreover, he also attentively discovered a hidden option. Instead of selecting the items provided by the dream, he could replicate an item from real life or a real person into the dream. Chapter 2 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu racked his brain for a whole night but was unable to make up his mind. The next day, he woke up to his alarm. Looking at the familiar ceiling, the day he was about to face artlessly floated across his mind. Walk ten minutes to the bus stop, sit on a bus for 45 minutes, reach office, start working on his boring job, all until 6 o¡¯clock when he¡¯d get off from work¡­ Day after day, he has done so for nearly two years. Moreover, within the foreseeable future, such a life would go on for many more years. All of a sudden, he figured it out. Since the Heavens were giving him a chance to break away from this kind of life, what was there to be hesitant about? He sat up on his bed with a bounce, making up his mind to go into the dream world that very night. This dream gear that came from nowhere had an anti-addiction system. It was stipulated that a person could only enter the dream world after midnight. A person couldn¡¯t get in during the day even if they wished to. ¡­ On the crowded bus, Chen Xu awakened the ¡°Virtual Dream Gear¡± and began making preparations for his entry. He was viewing the items provided by the system. More than a dozen items were on display, such as an unlimited power supply with a rated power of 100,000 kilowatts, a multi-function dagger that could cut through everything, a 100-ton truck with perpetual motion, and so on. It would be so cool if he could actually have any one of these items in real life. Unfortunately, all of these items could only appear in the dream world. Later on, he looked at the second option. He could select an assistant. There were many character templates to choose from in the system. These people had all kinds of skillsets, like doctors, field survival experts, tier-eight repairers, chefs, and so on. In the dream world with a post-apocalyptic framework, these objects and assistants would all come in handy greatly. So, which one should he choose? Considering it over and over again, he first ruled out the item category. If the background was a post-apocalyptic world, it would probably be very difficult to run into humans. Being in such an environment all alone ¨C just the thought itself is terrifying enough. I think I¡¯ll be better off choosing an assistant. At least, there would be someone there that I could talk to. So, which character should he select? Chen Xu looked at the figures of the dozens of assistants that he could choose from, still opting for the exclusion method. Hmm, first get rid of all the guys, seven girls left. These two look a bit old, goodbye. These two look very androgynous, so, nope. In the end, Chen Xu looked at the remaining three female characters and stroked his chin. How should I put it¡­ a little unsatisfactory? Which means they were not beautiful enough. From his point of view, these girls were only a six out of ten. If there was a choice, he would certainly prefer a prettier one. Chen Xu turned his attention to the ¡°more¡± option. A new set of characters immediately refreshed before his eyes. They were all a whole level higher in looks, about an eight out of ten. ¡°To select this character, you need to spend 15 universal credits. Please recharge your credits. Directing to the top-up page.¡± ¡°We are sorry. Visitors are not authorized for top-ups.¡± Chen Xu looked at the two messages that popped up. His eyelids twitched. Sure enough, no matter how much technology had developed, all companies were still after money. Looks like I can only choose one of these three. At this time, his bus arrived at the station. He followed the crowd and got off the bus. Lifting his head, he saw bustling office workers everywhere. At a glance, he spotted a tall girl amidst the crowd. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°Anyone on the street is better than those three female characters.¡± ¡°Oh yea.¡± Suddenly, he had a lightbulb as he thought of something, ¡°I could use a person in real life as the template to make a character, right?¡± His eyes sparkled as he became excited. ¡­ ¡°F*ck, I have to use a real person as the template.¡± Chen Xu sat on his desk, feeling a little dispirited. Just now in the elevator, he wanted to recreate a female celebrity at the peak period of her beauty. In the end, it failed ignominiously. The system prompted that the template must be based on someone that truly existed in reality. Moreover, the figure had to be within his line of sight for the system to model it via scanning. How very disappointing. He stared at the computer screen, wondering if there were any suitable candidates among the people he knew. Several of his female colleagues in his department were excluded first because their looks were all very ordinary. Other girls that he was acquainted with were also excluded. There were no particularly beautiful women in his social circle. Whom should I choose¡­ At this moment, a woman in a trench coat and sunglasses came out from the end of the corridor. His eyes sparkled. How could I have forgotten her? Fair skin, beautiful face, long legs, she would be the one. This lady went by the name of Luo Xiyun. She was around 23 or 24 years of age, and just joined the company that year. She was given the position of director right when she came in. Many speculated that she might be a close relative of one of the bosses at the company headquarters. She was an ascertained belle. It could be said that such a woman and him were from two entirely different worlds. In a normal development pattern, the two of them would not intersect at all. She was literally the perfect candidate. Today, Luo Xiyun was wearing a black trench coat to set off her tall figure. From her style of walking, one could feel her confidence. This was the first time Chen Xu carefully observed her appearance. He had to admit that, even with his eyes that had become hypercritical after being bombarded by the images of many ladies who applied makeup, edited their photos, and used beauty camera functions, she was still a woman who could charm him at a glance. ¡°She¡¯s the one.¡± So, he unhesitatingly activated the scanning function of the ¡°Virtual Dream Gear¡±. ¡°Scanning success. Character template has been created.¡± When he heard the prompt, he was extremely excited, wishing that he could enter the dream immediately. ¡­ The time period of a day would seem very short for some people, but for others, it would seem especially lengthy. Chen Xu painstakingly endured through office hours and returned home enthusiastically. After eating and cleaning himself, he laid down on the bed and slowly entered a dream bearing an inexplicable mood. After an unknown period of time, Chen Xu, who was sleeping, heard a voice, ¡°You are about to enter the virtual dream ¡°The Apocalypse¡±. When you are the only person left in the whole world, how would you survive?¡± ¡°This dream world has a difficulty of zero and will last for 180 days. We wish you a wonderful experience in this dream.¡± Wait, 180 days? Chen Xu forcefully opened his eyes and saw the ceiling he was familiar with. After living in this rented house for two years, he has been seeing this yellowish ceiling every day when he woke up. ¡°Did it fail?¡± He was a little confused and despondent. He didn¡¯t know what went wrong. He wanted to summon the console of the ¡°Virtual Dream Gear¡±, but even after yelling a few times, nothing responded. ¡°How could this be?¡± He scratched his head, vaguely feeling that something was off. He fumbled upon his phone beneath his pillow, wanting to look at the time, but discovered that it was unknowingly turned off. After booting his phone, he looked at the time, and saw it was already 7.30 am. He quickly got up and changed his clothes, preparing to go to work. His company was very strict about work attendance. If he was late, not only would his salary be deducted, but also his year-end bonus. He didn¡¯t want to give up all his efforts until now after having already suffered for about half a year. When he went to the bathroom, he discovered that the light couldn¡¯t be turned on. He thought it was a blip and ignored it. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he looked at the electricity panel before going out. It seemed fine, but the power shutters were all up. Chapter 3 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°A power cut?¡± Chen Xu thought it was a little strange. To his knowledge, power failure had never occurred in the past two years since he moved in. Perhaps it began during that year when the environmental agency commenced its operations. Many factories with high pollution and high energy consumption had been shut down. Since then, power rationing was no longer imposed. As he was thinking, he walked down the stairs and was prepared to drop by the cake shop that he often visited to buy some bread and milk. If he had a choice, he would prefer hot food for breakfast. Regrettably, the bun shop on the street moved away a few months ago because the rent increased too much. The moment he arrived on the street, he felt that something was very wrong. Where were all the people? There was no one on the street. It is rush hour now, and of the dozens of apartments on this street, there are at least a couple of hundred people living here if not a thousand. Usually, at this time, many people will be rushing to work¡ª¡ª No! Chen Xu¡¯s mind exploded with the thought of a possibility. Am I already in the dream world? With this thought, he dropped his briefcase on the ground. Staring at the empty streets, he was rendered speechless out of shock. After quite some time, he muttered to himself, ¡°Should¡¯ve guessed it.¡± Sure enough, it was a 100% virtual reality. There was no glamorous lighting effect nor any staggering big scenes. Everything was exactly the same as reality up to the slightest detail. After he woke up, he had been completely unaware that he was already in a dream. He pinched the back of his hand lightly and distinctively felt a slight pain. ¡°Even pain is completely simulated. Is this place really inside a dream?¡± He was a little shaken on the inside. Amidst confusion and disconcertion, he grabbed his briefcase on the ground and ran forward. On the empty street, phones, wallets, and keys could be seen from time to time on the ground. He ignored them all, ran to the end of the street, and turned to the main road. He halted, standing at the street corner and looking at the road in front of him. The road was completely packed with various parked vehicles. Most of the shops on both sides of the road were open, and everything seemed to be no different. The only difference was that there were no people, not even a single person. He gradually arrived at the bus stop. On usual days, it would already be crowded with people who wanted to take the bus. Now, there were only a bunch of mobiles, wallets, keys, and various bags lying on the ground. ¡°So, all humans have disappeared, and only their stuff is left behind?¡± Looking at the items on the ground, his scalp tightened as he guessed at the setting of the dream. At some point in time, perhaps at the moment when he woke up, everyone else vanished, leaving only what they had on them on the ground. Just like pressing the pause button, then wiping out all humans. That couldn¡¯t be right. He looked at the cars parked by the road. It had t be a static button. Otherwise, those cars that were originally in motion would have already collided into a cluster under the influence of inertia after their drivers disappeared. ¡°In any case, I¡¯m going to the office now.¡± He stood there and watched for a while, thinking that he would feel more at ease if he rushed to the company. However, how would he get there? He gazed at the bus parked a dozen meters away and felt a little conflicted. Do I have to go on my two legs? He couldn¡¯t walk the journey of seven or eight stations even with an hour. Abruptly, he got a jolt in his mind. If a person¡¯s belongings stayed at the same place after they disappeared, their car key should still be there. He walked to the nearest car and looked in through the window. Sure enough, the key was still there. ¡­ Chen Xu leisurely drove towards the company in a black Volkswagen. There were too many cars on the road, especially at the intersection of traffic lights. More often than not, they were all clogged by a pack of cars. In this case, he could only drive on the sidewalk. The driver¡¯s license he acquired in his senior year was rarely used, and he was very unfamiliar with cars. When he drove on the sidewalk, the car was scraped several times until even the back door was deformed. But at this moment, he couldn¡¯t care less about that as he was observing the situation around him with undivided attention. When he stopped the car in front of the company building, he was already sure that this place was certainly inside a dream world. Although this place was no Central Business District, there were still a few office buildings nearby and a commercial street next door. Daily visitor flowrate was immense, especially during early peak hours. Now, the entire road was remarkably quiet. There was no one. Apart from the noise generated by the engine of the car he was driving, not even a fragment of another sound could be heard. It was so quiet that it had driven him into a panic. Chen Xu let go of the steering wheel, rubbed his face hard, and sighed, ¡°This is not the same as what I imagined.¡± Shouldn¡¯t there at least have been a ritual-like process when players were about to enter the dream? At the very least, they should have given him some mental preparation. He never expected that this system would follow none of the regular procedure and toss him right into the dream world once he opened his eyes. This was too real. It was so real that it made him a bit confused about whether this was a dream or reality. Honestly speaking, when he was driving on the way, looking at the vacated cars on the road, empty streets, and the empty shops on both sides, he was getting bouts of goosebumps. This was entirely different from what he had imagined. ¡°Oh well, since I¡¯m already here, I should think about how I should get through these 180 days.¡± Chen Xu clapped his own face, chunking away all those messy thoughts. He opened his briefcase and took out a pen and paper. He bent over at the steering wheel and began writing. Now, if he did not find something to do, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out. He focused his mind and began arranging his thoughts. First would be food and water. His utmost priority now would be issues regarding food and water. He wrote these two words in the first line. He doesn¡¯t have to worry about water. There was a lot of bottled mineral water in every supermarket. Just the water in this city alone would suffice for a lifetime. Moreover, the retention period of bottled mineral water was generally one year. There was no need to worry about it going bad. Food was more of a hassle. It was still fine for rice and noodles that had a relatively long preservation time. Both meat and vegetables couldn¡¯t be preserved for a long time, especially meat. In such weather, it would spoil in just one or two days. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll have to scavenge enough meat and store it, or I¡¯ll be eating canned food every day.¡± As a carnivorous person, Chen Xu couldn¡¯t endure days without meat. He jotted down meat and vegetables on the second line and set off for his mission. If someone wanted to find a lot of fresh meat, generally, they would think of food markets and big supermarkets. Chen Xu, however, went to the best restaurant near the company. In his point of view, the best place to find a food supply was neither a luxurious villa nor a big supermarket. It was the restaurant, especially the classier ones. At these places, he would find ready-made ingredients, and even better, a complete variety of them. He wouldn¡¯t have to bother about collecting them from a market. Most importantly, the larger restaurants all had cold storage, which is best for keeping meat. Another point was that it had complete facilities around the vicinity in addition to all the daily necessities that could be found in the few supermarkets. To make such a place a base camp was perfection. Chapter 4 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It didn¡¯t take long for Chen Xu to choose a restaurant at the intersection. It was on the first floor, no need to climb the stairs, and with a big enough freezer. The best thing was that there was a diesel generator inside. He was no stranger to diesel generators. Before he went to college, his parents ran a supermarket in the suburbs. For a period of time, the area was changing power lines and would often blackout. It was precisely with diesel generators that the supermarket used to generate electricity. After wiring up the electricity, he cruised through the dozens of restaurants nearby and brought back all the meat until the freezer could fit no more. Although it was definitely impossible for two to finish so much meat within half a year, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be on the safe side. ¡°Oh yeah, I wonder how Luo Xiyun is doing now.¡± While he was frying a steak and counting the amount of food, he thought of Luo Xiyun who should have appeared long ago. According to the nature of this dream world, this simulated Luo Xiyun might also have woken up at home as in real life. She had not appeared yet, and neither did Chen Xu know where she had gone. He had no idea about where she lived. As enormous as this city was, finding a person would undoubtedly be like finding a needle in a haystack. ¡°The best plan is to make some movements and lure her in.¡± Taking a whiff of the fragrance of the fried steak, he uncontrollably swallowed. After being busy all morning, he was already starving. And so, he spent day one moving supplies. At night, Chen Xu, who had just finished showering, sat in the only office of the restaurant. He was feeling a little guilty as he actually needed to use mineral water for bathing. It was too much of a waste. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, there¡¯s no tap water.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. When there was only one person left in the world, surviving was much more difficult than he had imagined. There were no delivery services, no tap water, and he had to do everything by hand. He could forget about all these, but the most unbearable thing was that there was no internet! He couldn¡¯t surf the web, login into forums, watch videos, swipe through TikTok, catch up on web novels¡­ this was detrimental to him. As he wasn¡¯t into games, he didn¡¯t even have simple games like pattern matching installed on his phone. He could only hold his phone and gaze at it. There was, however, a computer at his office, but a password was needed to access it. ¡°I¡¯ll need to make a trip to the office tomorrow and bring the computer here.¡± With this thought in his mind and a yawn, he slowly fell asleep to the noise of the rotating diesel generator. The next morning, Chen Xu woke up and felt cramps all over his body. It was very tormenting for him. ¡°F*ck this.¡± He held his breath and sat up. His muscles were sour and numb. ¡°Uhh, I¡¯m going to die from this.¡± He had not done physical work for a long time, and he seldom exercised. Having moved so many things yesterday, he was overworked, and the sequelae had now arrived. ¡°Is this really a dream world?¡± This was the nth time he was doubting the authenticity of this incident. It was hard to imagine that everything in this world and the surreal pain and soreness of his body were all simulated in a dream. He took a deep breath and got off the bed. ¡°Either way, I should go stock up on more resources.¡± This suspicion gave him a profound sense of crisis. In case that all of this was not a dream but something happening in reality, that he was the only one person left in the world, in order to get along better, he had to make preparations in advance. Bearing the pain of his sore muscles, he ate some food and went out along with some tools. In addition to food, there was one thing that was very important ¨C medicine. These were life-saving items. Other resources could wait for another time, but medicine had to be collected first. From this moment onwards, he felt that he couldn¡¯t regard this entirely as a game. Instead, he had to seriously think about the ways to survive in such a post-apocalyptic world. It was seven in the morning and the sun had risen. Chen Xu woke up and looked at the poster on the ceiling, depicting a female celebrity whose name he couldn¡¯t remember. Two seconds later, he sobered, sat up, picked up the pen, and wrote the number ¡°31¡± on the wall. The entire wall was filled with numbers from 1 to 30. It would mean that he had been here for a whole month. He put down the pen, went to the mirror, picked up the razor, and carefully scraped the stubble that had just grown out. He then entered the washing closet to brush his teeth and wash his face. After cleaning himself, he came out of the office. There was a table next to the corridor, and on the table there was a rice cooker. Under the lid, there was porridge that was still fuming hot. He had put in the rice last night. The time was set for it to cook automatically so that he could feast upon it the moment he woke up. It saved him a lot of hassle. Paired with crispy fried peanuts, he finished half of the porridge. He felt very comfortable with his stomach full and warm. After finishing breakfast, he cleaned up the utensils and put them back in place. He took out the small book that he carried with him and flipped it open to have a look. Written in it were all the things he had to do. After having a quick glance, he picked up a pen and circled two items on the list. Diesel fuel is almost used up. Look for vegetable seeds. Subsequently, he closed the book, stuck it back in his pocket, took his stuff, and went out. Before going out, he swapped the power source to a battery pack and switched off the diesel generator. In order to extend the life of the diesel generator, he assembled a battery pack as a backup power source. Whenever he left, he would use the battery pack to supply power. ¡°The weather is nice.¡± Walking out of the restaurant and looking at the clear skies, he felt that his frame of mind was also cleared up. On the road outside the gate, there were two rows of cars. There were luxury sports cars like Ferraris and Porsches, vans like the SAIC-GM-Wuling, and medium-sized trucks from Isuzu. He walked into a nearby shop and pushed out a trailer full of oil drums. He had converted the shops facing the street into warehouses for storing various resources. Chen Xu pushed the trailer to the front of a blue Isuzu truck and shifted all the oil drums into the vehicle. After moving back and forth a few times and filling almost half of the car trunk, he departed. He started the car and headed for the road on the right. In the past month, he had cleaned up the surrounding roads. This was by no means a small operation. There were too many cars in this city. Some of the cramped roads were completely sealed off by cars. It took him a lot of work to clear a road that could be used for driving. ¡°There are gas stations everywhere, so no worries about that. Vegetable seeds, however, will not be an easy catch. Maybe I¡¯ll start off at that vegetable market,¡± he thought while driving. Modern urbanites couldn¡¯t do without vegetables for even a single day, but as for growing vegetables on their own, there probably weren¡¯t many who did that. When he was in elementary school, he helped his grandfather who lived by the countryside to harvest rice. Vegetable seeds, however, were something he had never seen before. All meat and no vegetables every day was intolerable. In the past month, the only vegetables available to him, which could barely be considered vegetables at all, were potatoes, tomatoes, and bean sprouts. He was going to puke if he had to eat any more of them. He never thought that one day he would be so hungry for green leafy vegetables. ¡­ Half an hour later, Chen Xu stopped the car a few hundred meters away from the vegetable market. This area had not been cleaned up yet. The road was stuffed with cars and he couldn¡¯t get through at all. He grabbed the tool bag, got out of the car and walked over. Even from afar, he could smell the rotten scent coming from inside the market. He only dared to walk in after putting on a gas mask. After ten minutes, he ran out of the market as if he was fleeing from something. The pungency inside was terrible. It was unbearable even with a gas mask on. There were traces of rotten vegetables and meat all over the place. He went back to the car feeling a little blue. ¡°Must I really go to the suburbs?¡± Not many vegetable patches could be found in modern big cities. All of those were shipped from the suburbs. He even found several vegetable bases in the suburbs on the map. However, the nearest vegetable base was 30 kilometers away from where he was. If he wished to clean up a road, just thinking about the amount of work made his muscles ache. Finally, he took out the notebook that he carried along and jotted, ¡®Go find seeds at vegetable bases¡¯, leaving this matter for a later time. Next, he went to the nearest gas station and filled all the oil drums. Such oil drums had a capacity of about 30 liters. After being filled, they would weigh nearly fifty pounds. He took a total of fifty empty buckets. He filled up all of them and then transported them back to the car, spending more than two hours altogether, and tiring himself out. If it had been a month ago, he absolutely could not have accomplished such work. Moving just a few barrels would already have left him with a broken wrist. This was all courtesy of his training by doing a lot of physical work every day for a month. After finishing his work, he took a chair and a folded table from the car, found a shaded place, and sat down. From the backpack he always carried, he took out a tablet, placed it on the table with a holder, and opened a movie. He leaned back on the chair, loosened up the mug, and leisurely drank tea while watching a movie. After hard physical labor, he would always reward himself in such a way. Moments of relaxation always passed by ever so quickly. In the blink of an eye, he was done with the movie. Chen Xu took a look at the time. 11:40 a.m. About time for lunch. He dragged out a gas-jar, gas stove, pots, and pans from the car, and started to cook on the side of the road. Every time he went out to work, he would bring along a complete set of these things and cook outside at noon instead of running around and wasting time. Washing the rice, cooking the rice, washing the vegetables, cutting the vegetables, tossing them into the pan¡­ After a while, food was ready. He prepared two dishes, potatoes with sliced beef and garlic fried bacon. He sat right in the middle of the road and finished his lunch. After a half-hour break, he hauled down a folding bed from the car, placed it at a cool place, put on headphones, a blindfold, and took a nap while listening to soothing music. ¡­ Chen Xu slept until he woke up naturally. By the time he woke up, it was already three o¡¯clock. He stretched out comfortably. Since he started working, he rarely got to enjoy such leisure. In order to make money, his whole person was like a tightened clockwork spring. Even if it was the weekend, he was just taking a breath. He was never able to relax completely. He packed his things, moved them back into the car, started the engine, and set off once again. He drove all the way to the river, parked the car, walked to the river with a few fishing rods, found a suitable place, fixed the bait, and one by one flung the lines into the water. Subsequently, he fixed the five fishing rods at a distance. He got a stool and sat next to them, watching them float on the river and waiting patiently. Chapter 5 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio More than one hour had gone by since Chen Xu came to the river. His eyes were already sore, but the five floats on the water didn¡¯t move at all. Not to mention big fish, he didn¡¯t even see a single guppy. ¡°Looks like the fish in the river have vanished just like the other animals.¡± He was a little disappointed. He was hoping to find a few catches and savor some fresh fish. In the end, as expected, this didn¡¯t work out. After staying here for a month, he discovered many unreasonable peculiarities about this world. For instance, all living creatures had disappeared. Dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, geese, fish, prawns, even rats¡­ all had disappeared without a trace. Whether it was in supermarkets, food markets, pet houses, aquariums or even zoos, no living animals could be found. Until this point of time, the only living creatures he had discovered were house flies and mosquitoes. Animals had vanished into thin air just like other humans. The second oddity was, the road was full of mobile phones, wallets, bags and so on as those were what remained of humans after they disappeared. However, he never saw clothes. It would imply that clothes had disappeared alongside humans. Why had clothes vanished while mobile phones and wallets were left behind? With a little thought, one could detect the anomalies of the world. Chen Xu felt that these settings were deliberately made this way to remind him that this was a dream to prevent him from being completely lost in it. He looked at the time. It was almost 5.00 p.m. He packed up and drove towards his base camp. Not too far away, he passed by a crossroad. He habitually looked to the right. Down the path was a region that he had not explored. He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a subway station over there. Suddenly, he saw a few unusual cars from the corner of his eye and impulsively pressed on the brake. There were a few black SUVs. On the bodies of these cars, there was the word ¡°SWAT¡± painted in white. Over the past month, his main focus had been placed in transforming the region he was living in. The area he had explored was not large. This was the first time he had seen such a car. Those special police force vehicles were parked over there. Were they on duty? He was very curious. He got down from his van and walked over. Sticking his head by the black glass window, he saw the items inside. His eyes brightened up; there were guns. He pulled the door handle. It was locked. He took out a glasscutter from his backpack, made a few hard strokes on the glass window, and easily made a hole. He reached his hands in, successfully opened the car door, and retrieved the guns inside. From the three cars, he found nine pistols, nine rifles, and many bullets. He was very excited. There were only a few men who didn¡¯t like to play with guns, and he hadn¡¯t gotten to touch one before. Now, he could finally play with one to his heart¡¯s content. He found an empty luggage bag and stashed the guns and bullets inside. He planned to have a good look at it once he got back. Upon zipping up the luggage bag, he abruptly heard a loud bang from behind. He was startled, turning around with a snap. After a month, he was already accustomed to this quiet world. The shock of an unexpected noise that appeared out of the blue was indescribable. At the opposite main road, he saw a black Hummer that knocked over a few cars. Its front bumper was fuming. Creak¡ª A flipped orange-red car slowly fell sideways, emitting the sound of twisting metal that made him cringe. Chen Xu immediately dropped the things in his hand and recklessly dashed over to the black Hummer. Despite not knowing where the car came from, the car was moving, proving that there was someone inside. He had survived for a month in this barren world, waiting for the person who should have shown up much earlier on to appear before him. In the end, he waited for a whole month since the day he started. He always thought of himself as someone who could endure loneliness. Now, he had realized that he was wrong. Humans were social animals. When there was only one left in the world, enduring was much harder than he could have imagined. It was still okay during the day. But when night fell, when it was all pitch-black outside the house, it would be difficult to evade such loneliness. Every day, at that moment in time, he would become very eager to have someone to talk to. In order to find Luo Xiyun, he had thought of many plans. He had set off fireworks, set up high-powered spotlights, and emitted radio broadcasts. However, she never appeared. He had already given up a month in. He guessed that she would¡¯ve already left the city. The world was so big, where should he go in search of one single person? Thanks to the Heavens, she had finally appeared this time. At this moment, Chen Xu was simply ecstatic. He went across the distance of tens of meters in a sprint. The Hummer¡¯s front bumper was a little deformed. Through the shattered windshield, he could see a person the car. It was a woman, leaning over motionlessly at the steering wheel with only the back of her head visible. Chen Xu¡¯s heart thumped vehemently. Please don¡¯t die on me. ¡°Are you okay? Hey! Hey!¡± He yelled and pulled the door. It didn¡¯t budge. The door was locked. The woman in the car heard his voice and moved her head. Seeing her reaction, Chen Xu was overjoyed. He yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll save you right away.¡± Upon finishing, he ran back. The Hummer¡¯s window was shut tight. He had tried it before. The glass windows on that car were very strong. Without a convenient tool, it would be difficult to smash it open. He dashed back to his van, found a box under the front passenger seat, fumbled out for a glass cutter, and promptly sprinted back. He broke the window of the passenger¡¯s seat with a glasscutter, pulled the door open, lugged her through, and finally got the woman out of the car. It¡¯s her! When Chen Xu got her out of the car, her head was dangling downwards. She was indeed Luo Xiyun. Her forehead was covered in a terrifying bloodstain. He quickly brought her to the roadside, placed her down, and examined her injuries. Her eyes were tightly closed, and she had completely fallen unconscious. Chen Xu quickly checked her over. Of her entire body, there was only a wound on her forehead. He was not a doctor, neither did he knew how badly she was injured. However, her breathing was very gentle, and her body temperature and heartbeat were still normal. This soothed him a little. After confirming that she wasn¡¯t in any immediate danger, Chen Xu took her to the car and brought her back to his base camp. He drove very slowly along the way for fear of swaying too much and aggravating her wounds. Back at the base camp, Chen Xu took Luo Xiyun to his room and placed her on his bed. Then, he wiped off the bloodstains on her face with a clean towel, cleaned the wound, disinfected it, and wrapped it in bandages. ¡°Please get well soon,¡± Chen Xu thought in his heart. His stomach began to rumble after half a day of work. Looking at the time, he saw it was already past seven. He took a quick look at Luo Xiyun and gently closed the door. Chapter 6 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu casually made some noodles. After filling his stomach, he went back into the office, picked up a stool, and sat beside the bed while looking at the unconscious woman. He could tell that she wasn¡¯t having the best time. She didn¡¯t have her makeup on, her hair looked rather scraggly due to neglection, and her skin had tanned. What¡¯s more, she was simply wearing a white, long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of light-colored jeans. Compared to her glamorous and dazzling appearance at office previously, her style was that of a completely different person. However, even with no makeup, her beauty didn¡¯t falter. She was without a doubt worthy of being called a natural beauty. Perhaps due to pain from the wound on her forehead, her brows were slightly wrinkled even while unconscious. Even her lips, which were slightly pale, were delicate and stunning. Luo Xiyun completely matched his ideal of beauty. Her features were delicate, her skin was fair, her figure wasn¡¯t too plump or petite, but just perfectly right. She was his type. Moreover, she was his superior and from an uncommonly good family. She was a certified Paris Hilton, the kind of girl that was previously out of his reach. Without a doubt, such a lady was the perfect person to share this dream world with. However, based on his experience over the past month, although the woman before his eyes was virtual, she would be exactly the same as the Luo Xiyun from the real world in both appearance or character. ¡°Ugh, this is different from what I¡¯d imagined.¡± This was the nth time that Chen Xu let out such a sigh. He had originally thought that he would be able to do whatever he pleased in this dream world. In the end, he had to face a fake Luo Xiyun, who was a complete rip off from the one in reality. Him, dating her? This had not been worth the wait at all. From the rumors he had heard, this gorgeous Director Luo wasn¡¯t an easy person to get along with. ¡°Oh well, at least my eyes can relish looking at a true beauty while in this empty world,¡± he comforted himself. ¡­ After a long time, Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyelashes twitched and her eyes opened. Her pupils wouldn¡¯t focus, so she gazed confusedly at the poster of a female celebrity on the ceiling. Where am I? ¡°Ow!¡± As she was about to turn her head, the pain from her forehead made her gasp. She finally remembered that she had accidentally run into a car on the roadside, hit her head on the steering wheel, and then lost consciousness¡­ But, how did I get here? She subconsciously reached out to the position of her wound and felt a layer of gauze. She was shocked as if she¡¯d been electrocuted. Someone had bandaged her. After a few seconds, she sat up with a struggle and put aside the quilt that covered her body. She saw a clean floor, apparently cleaned frequently by someone evidenced by the lack of dust. When was the last time she had seen such a clean floor? Even she couldn¡¯t remember. She lifted her head and took in her surroundings. It was a very ordinary room, a little messy, and there was a pile of clothes on the table at the end of the bed. The owner of this room was clearly a man. Vaguely, she heard a sound coming from outside the door. She couldn¡¯t help but stand up. Over the past month, the whole world had been deathly still. The only thing that could be heard was the occasional breeze. In the past, she had preferred quietness when she was going to sleep. Even the slightest noise would irritate her. Now, she was most afraid of the silence. She had to listen to music to fall asleep. She stood up, grabbed the door handle, pulled it open, and heard the sound more clearly. It was the noise of something like a diesel generator. She noticed that the lights in the hallway were lit. It was a generator. At that moment, she heard another voice. She walked in the direction of the sound. She went past the corridor, descended the stairs one step at a time, and pushed open a door. She looked at the figure chopping some things on a cutting board and burst into tears. Having spent a month in this silent world, Chen Xu was very sensitive to noise. He heard the slight movement behind his back and rapidly turned around. Upon seeing Luo Xiyun standing at the door, his distressed mind finally felt at ease. If she could awaken, it would prove that she was fine overall. He said, ¡°You¡¯ve woken up. Food will be ready soon. Please have a seat.¡± After that, he slid the chopped pork into the pan. In the hot oil, the meat made a sizzling sound. Luo Xiyun turned around to wipe away her tears, walked into the kitchen, and sat down by the table. She looked at Chen Xu¡¯s back and had something in her mind. This kitchen was very big. Since Chen Xu alone didn¡¯t need to use that many types of equipment, he tinkered with the space. There was only one stove left, and the emptied space was used as storage. The dining table was not far to the side. It had been only him before, but now, there was an extra chair and cutlery by the table. Soon, the food was out of the pan. Chen Xu brought the dishes over. There was a total of three entr¨¦es and one soup: tomato scrambled eggs, light fried pork belly, garlic fried beef, and ginseng stewed black chicken. ¡°Dig in.¡± Chen Xu took a seat opposite to her, greeted her, picked up the bowl, and began eating. Luo Xiyun quietly picked up her bowl and chopsticks, grabbed a piece of tomato, and stuffed it into her mouth. Neither of them said anything, eating in silence. Chen Xu had not talked to anyone in a month. He thought that after meeting Luo Xiyun, they would have endless things to say. But after actually meeting her, he didn¡¯t know what to say. Luo Xiyun felt a little standoffish and didn¡¯t want to talk. Just when Chen Xu thought that the meal would end in silence, Luo Xiyun finally spoke, ¡°Are you Chen Xu from the marketing department?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Xu wasn¡¯t surprised. She was the director of the human resource department, and she knew every employee in the company. After a short pause, Luo Xiyun asked, ¡°Have you been staying here this whole month?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Chen Xu responded. After some thought, he added, ¡°The resources here are more complete. I can continue to live off them even if I¡¯m the only person left.¡± Live alone? Luo Xiyun fell into silence once again. ¡°How about you, how did you live for the past month?¡± Chen Xu too raised the question that had constantly been on his mind. In the past month, he had moved around every day. At night, he would shine a high-powered light at the skies. She would have seen it if she was in the city. However, she never appeared. Lu Xiyun¡¯s hand, which was holding her chopsticks, froze for a moment. No matter how slow Chen Xu was, he could tell that something was a little off with her. While he was thinking about how to change the topic, she said, ¡°I went to see my granny. She lives in C city¡­¡± City C belonged to the jurisdiction of this city. It was some tens of kilometers away from the city center, not too far away. But under such circumstances, it would not be easy for her to travel there alone. Chen Xu didn¡¯t know what to say, knowing she definitely wouldn¡¯t have found her grandmother. However, he understood very clearly that this was just a dream; it wasn¡¯t truly happening in the real world. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t feel the same as she did or think of any comforting words. ¡°C City is the same as here. Everyone is gone. At first, I¡­¡± She paused for a while, and continued, ¡°Later on, I heard a radio broadcast while I was driving. So, I came to the address.¡± Chen Xu finally understood that it was his radio broadcasts that worked best. ¡°You¡­ have you met other people?¡± When Luo Xiyun asked this question, she sounded like she was hoping for something. Chen Xu shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re the first person that I¡¯ve met throughout the month.¡± Luo Xiyun was clearly a little disappointed. She muttered, ¡°What¡¯s going on with this world? Why has everyone suddenly disappeared?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it. As long as you¡¯re alive, there will always be a way to get to the truth in the future.¡± Chen Xu could only comfort her this way, saying, ¡°Eat, the dishes are getting cold.¡± Chapter 7 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After dinner, Chen Xu did the dishes, found Luo Xiyun roaming around the base camp, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Luo Xiyun nodded and followed him back to his usual place. After sitting down, Chen Xu asked, ¡°What are your plans for the future?¡± Confusion flashed through Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyes. With a rather low-pitched voice, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± If all humans across the globe had vanished, going anywhere wouldn¡¯t make a big difference. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I suggest you settle down here for the time being,¡± said Chen Xu. Luo Yiyun lifted her head and looked at him. He continued, ¡°Firstly, with both of us together, we can take care of each other if either one of us is sick. Secondly, in the past month, I have worked on a lot of preparations. The living conditions here will certainly be better than that of other places. So, what do you think?¡± ¡°Let me consider it.¡± Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t agree on the spot, ¡°I¡¯ll give you an answer at night.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Chen Xu certainly wished for her to stay so that the following months would be much easier for him. However, even if she was unwilling to stay, it wouldn¡¯t be very difficult to deal with that answer. This was, after all, only a dream world. In five months, he¡¯d be able to return to reality. It wasn¡¯t like he couldn¡¯t live without her. To lower himself and beg her to stay was impossible for him. ¡­¡­ In the afternoon, Chen Xu made a room in a nearby store ready for Luo Xiyun to live in. The room had been empty for a month and had accumulated a lot of dust. It took him quite some time to clean it. Luo Xiyun helped him as well. After cleaning, he moved another bed in, some tables, chairs, and so on. Unknowingly, an entire afternoon went by. For dinner, Chen Xu made two steaks. With no vegetables to match, he got a little bit of leftover green bean sprouts and placed them at the side of the plate. He had grown the bean sprouts himself using green beans, which he regarded and ate as vegetables. After Luo Xiyun sat down, Chen Xu took out a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet and said, ¡°Supposedly, this is the legendary 1982 Lafite. I took it from a rather classy western restaurant. I wonder if it is the real thing.¡± As he spoke, he opened the red wine and poured it in two goblets. ¡°Is this from Cloud Restaurant on the top floor of the XX Edifice?¡± Luo Xiyun asked, looking at the wine bottle. Chen Xu was surprised, ¡°How did you know that?¡± ¡°I used to go there a lot.¡± Luo Xiyun set the bottle down and said, ¡°There¡¯s the logo of the restaurant on it.¡± After working together the whole afternoon, the sense of awkwardness between them had lessened, and they now had more things to talk about. Chen Xu raised his glass and said, ¡°I heard that this kind of red wine needs to be aerated with a specific decanter for it to have a better texture, but I don¡¯t have the right kind here. Let¡¯s make do with what we have.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll do just fine.¡± Luo Xiyun raised her glass to clink his and took a sip. After putting down the glass, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stay. But there are some things that I think would be better off for me to clarify in advance.¡± Hearing that she was willing to stay, Chen Xu felt quite happy. There was still another five months until the end of the dream. Having a companion would still be better than being alone. Not to mention that she was a great belle. Being able to delight in her beauty every day would be a benefit already. He said, ¡°Whatever it is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be straight with you then.¡± Luo Xiyun crossed both of her index fingers and looked at him, ¡°You¡¯re not my type, so I hope that we could keep a little distance between each other in the future¡­¡± The smile on Chen Xu¡¯s face stiffened. He couldn¡¯t control the expression on his face as it hardened. He never expected that this was what she would say. He knew that he was not handsome, not tall, and not from a rich family. Ever since he was younger, he hadn¡¯t been that popular among girls either. However, he never thought that he was that undesirable. Now, within this dream world, there was only him and Luo Xiyun. Under these circumstances, it seemed natural for the two to make a pair. Any man who was placed in such a scenario would¡¯ve thought this way. If it were another woman, she¡¯d probably think the same as well. However, Luo Xiyun told him right off the bat that she wasn¡¯t interested and wanted him to give up. Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to look down on me? Chen Xu¡¯s face was burning. His self-esteem was badly hurt. After Luo Xiyun finished speaking, she did not say anymore. An inexplicable silence. There was only the faint noise of the diesel generator coming from outside the door. Chen Xu swirled the red wine glass in his right hand and stared at the slightly charred steak on the table. After quite a while, he said slowly, ¡°That¡¯ll be fine.¡± His voice was a little raspy. However, after speaking out, his heart calmed gradually. This wasn¡¯t the first time that he had been rejected by a woman. Moreover, this was only a dream world. The woman before his eyes wasn¡¯t even real, only a simulation. He cleared his throat and continued, ¡°Making some things clear in advance will be better for everyone. Regarding your request, I feel that it¡¯s reasonable and entirely acceptable.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s strained expression immediately relaxed. Chen Xu loosened his hand which had been clenching his glass. He took the napkin next to him and wiped off the sweat on his palm. ¡°I also have some things to discuss with you.¡± Luo Xiyun leaned back slightly and asked with her brows furrowed, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Since you are willing to stay, we¡¯ll be living together in the future. I would like to talk about job distribution.¡± Without looking at her, Chen Xu continued, ¡°Now, there¡¯s probably only the two of us left in this city. There¡¯s no electricity, no tap water, no delivery services, and so on. We will have to do everything with our own hands.¡± ¡°Previously, I did everything by myself. Since you are here now, I think it is reasonable for you to share some of the load.¡± Luo Xiyun nodded and said, ¡°It is certainly reasonable.¡± ¡°If we are going to make things fair, we should take turns in doing everything. Like, today I¡¯ll get water while you do the cooking, and vice versa the next day with me doing the cooking while you get water. However¡­ Considering the difference in gender, I think we should opt for another way of distributing jobs. I¡¯ll do things like pumping water, restocking diesel oil, and other heavy physical labors, while you, on the other hand, do things like cooking, doing the dishes, and laundry work. Do you think this allocation is reasonable?¡± Luo Xiyun nodded again, ¡°Quite.¡± ¡°As for the specifics, we¡¯ll talk about those tomorrow.¡± Upon finishing, Chen Xu picked up a knife and fork and sliced his steak that had been cold for some time now. Luo Xiyun said nothing and silently picked up her fork. Chapter 8 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At 7:00 the next morning, Chen Xu woke up on time as usual. In the timespan of a month, he had morphed into a biological clock. He heard some movement outside the window, which was out of ordinary. Without having to guess, he knew that it was Luo Xiyun who had just moved in. After a night¡¯s sleep, his state of mind had stabilized again. In fact, thinking from Luo Xiyun¡¯s point of view, having a more cautious mindset when staying with a male stranger was entirely normal. It was a form of self-protection. She just hadn¡¯t taken into account the feelings of others when giving her speech. Then again, for someone like her, why would she have to care about the feelings of others? Nonetheless, being able to understand her didn¡¯t mean that he was happy about her behavior. He was still felt stung on the inside by her rejection. If he knew from the beginning that this ¡°virtual dream¡± would reach this level of realness, that a person would be exactly the same in both appearance and character, he would never have chosen a woman like Luo Xiyun to come into the dream world with him. In the company, Luo Xiyun had always been a popular topic. In private, there was a lot of gossip about her, and the most talked about was her poisonous tongue which had no sympathy for anyone. She had offended many people. It was said that once, she almost stranded the company¡¯s boss in an embarrassing situation in public. In the end, the boss didn¡¯t reprimand her in any way, but her reputation spread throughout the company. Now, he finally got a taste of it. To be honest, there was an instant last night that he had an impulse to do something. Nevertheless, the thought only stayed within his mind. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do anything yet. Although he often told himself that this was just a dream, the longer he stayed here, the less he could think of all of this as a dream. Out of sight, out of mind. This was what he had in mind and planned to do. After eating breakfast, he went over to Luo Xiyun along with a schedule. She lived next door, originally a coffee shop which he later tidied up and furnished with daily necessities. Yesterday, he vacated the space for her to move in. When he was just about to knock on the door, he noticed that there was a new walkie-talkie doorbell installed on the door. This was specially installed for him. Her intention was also obvious, implying that he should not enter without authorization. ¡°So, she spent the whole morning installing this?¡± With this thought in his mind, he pressed on the doorbell. ¡°Come in.¡± The sound from the intercom was a bit distorted. Chen Xu pulled open the door and walked in. As soon as he entered, he found that the floor was wet, the items inside were tidied up again, and the tables and chairs were neatly arranged. Before moving in, there was an office. Now, that room was her bedroom. The door of the bedroom was open. She was holding a towel, bending over, and wiping the table. Chen Xu thought that was odd, as it was cleaned just the day before. Deciding to leave her odd behavior alone, he didn¡¯t raise any questions. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss work distribution.¡± Luo Xiyun folded the towels neatly, set them aside, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± The two went outside and sat down at a table. Just as Chen Xu took out the schedule, he saw her take out a wet wipe and clean both of her hands assiduously. He was struck, thinking, ¡°She¡¯s a neat freak.¡± He imagined things couldn¡¯t have been easy for her over the past month. Of course, that had nothing to do with him. Now, he only wanted to finish the discussion quickly and get out as fast as he could. ¡°This is the list of daily work that I¡¯ve jotted down. I roughly drafted a plan. This is it. Have a look. If there is no problem, we can further discuss it.¡± The plan he made was very simple, heavy physical work for Chen Xu, and work like doing the laundry, cleaning, and tidying up for Luo Xiyun. Luo Xiyun took the notebook and quickly began reading. After a moment, she asked, ¡°Which areas are included for cleaning?¡± ¡°Just public areas,¡± said Chen Xu, ¡°You don¡¯t have to clean the place I¡¯m living in, including the first floor. I¡¯ll clean those areas myself.¡± Luo Xiyun nodded, agreeing to this component of the plan. She continued reading down the list. After a while, she raised several questions, one after another. Chen Xu answered all of them one by one. Finally, Luo Xiyun finished going through the entire list. She placed the notebook on the table. Chen Xu collected himself and said, ¡°If there isn¡¯t a problem, this will be our work distribution for the time being. If there are any issues in the future, we can talk about them at that time.¡± As he was about the leave, he heard Luo Xiyun say, ¡°I have another question.¡± He had to sit down again, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing cooking and dishwashing on the list,¡± Luo Xiyun inquired. ¡°Are you going to make some arrangements for that?¡± ¡°About this,¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°I thought we¡¯d be better off doing those on our own.¡± Luo Xiyun looked at him. After a moment, she asked, ¡°Why?¡± Why? Was that a question? Chen Xu said directly, ¡°That way, you won¡¯t have to force yourself to interact with me, and I won¡¯t have to awkwardly interact with you.¡± Luo Xiyun stared at him and asked with some disdain in her eyes, ¡°Were you triggered by what I said yesterday? You are a man. Can you at least behave like a gentleman?¡± A moment of silence. ¡°Who the hell you think you are?¡± After a while, Chen Xu opened his mouth. His voice was faint and his tone smeared with a little sarcasm, ¡°Is it because you are a woman that you can ignore my feelings and say things that will hurt my dignity? While I, as a man, am not allowed to even express myself even when I am upset?¡± He continued, ¡°Is it because you¡¯re a woman, born to a rich family, with beautiful looks, and are of a higher position than me at work that I have to always be mindful to respect your feelings, even by hurting myself? If that¡¯s what being a gentleman means, then I¡¯d like to say¡ª¡ª¡± Chen Xu punctuated each word, ¡°F*ck being a gentleman.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡ª¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s face was a little red. He didn¡¯t know if it was because she was angry or annoyed. Since Chen Xu had already said so much, he thought he¡¯d be better off getting everything out of his system, ¡°Of course, although I possess none of the characteristics of the ¡®gentleman¡¯ that you¡¯ve described, I still know the basic principles of being human. Since you won¡¯t like me at all, you won¡¯t have to worry about me doing anything to you.¡± He continued, ¡°However, I am a twenty-six-year-old man who is entirely normal from inside out. So, us not seeing each other, will be good for both you and me.¡± After he finished, Chen Xu felt relieved in both body and mind. There were some things that he had been wanting to say for a very long time. However, in the real world, no matter how troubled he was feeling, he had to keep his emotions inside most of the time. Now, in his own dream world, he would naturally say whatever he wanted to say. He didn¡¯t have to worry about any consequences. It didn¡¯t matter whether or not Luo Xiyun would get mad over what he said and leave. So be it. Having lived through an entire month alone, the remaining five months wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Now, having a positive state of mind would, of course, be more important. Chen Xu turned around and left, not bothering to even have a glimpse at Luo Xiyun¡¯s aghast face. Chapter 9 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It was another sunny morning. Chen Xu woke up and stretched out comfortably. He got out of bed, opened the curtains, and allowed the golden sunshine to shimmer on his face. It felt warm, inviting him to close his eyes and indulge in this relaxing and tranquil moment. He was getting more and more accustomed to such days of leisure. From outside, came the sound of water droplets falling on the ground. Luo Xiyun was watering the vegetables planted on the side of the road. He turned around, picked up a marker, and wrote the number 120 on the wall. This was the 120th day since he entered the dream world. Two-thirds of the time had gone by. It had also been three months since Luo Xiyun¡¯s arrival. As usual, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, shaved, changed his attire, ate breakfast, grabbed his alpine sack, and pushed the door open to go outside. As usual, Luo Xiyun had already finished watering the vegetables and had returned to her home. The street outside was strikingly changed in comparison to three months ago when he was alone. A diversity of plants occupied most of the space, leaving only a narrow route. The plants were, for the most part, a variety of vegetables with some flowers and other plants around the periphery as decor. These vegetables were neatly arranged, giving off the ambiance of a garden. This was naturally Luo Xiyun¡¯s doing. Except for the vegetable seeds that he had collected, she brought in all the flowerpots and soil from the surrounding flower shops. Usually, she was also the one taking care of them. Chen Xu walked out of the vegetable garden and over to the left side of the lane. This area had become his garage. He selected the SUV he most frequently drove. In the past four months, he had already tried out every luxury car that he came by. He drove most of them only once or twice, mainly because they were not practical. He had to bring a lot of things when he went out. For that reason, small cars were naturally not up to the job. Trucks were less comfortable, so large SUVs became his best option. Before leaving, he took out a very simple hand-painted map. It was a treasure map he drew himself. After Luo Xiyun arrived, his usual workload was reduced by half, and his free time had increased. Therefore, he embarked on his treasure hunting journey. The simple map in his hands was the fruit of his expeditions in these last few months. ¡°The surrounding areas are almost covered. I¡¯ll go further this time.¡± With a target already in mind, he drove to his destination. XX Street, the city¡¯s most famous and bustling commercial street. As it was relatively further away, he had not explored it before. After he parked the car, he took his tools and went to the nearest commercial building. It was pitch black at the entrance. He put on a headlight and held another flashlight in his hand. With a glance, he saw a few ¡°lucky box¡± vending machines placed at a corner. ¡°These scam boxes again,¡± he mumbled under his breath but halted anyway. He set down the toolbox in his hand, put on a mask, took out a hammerhead, and with a bash, shattered the outer glass. A gust of dust rose to the air. This place had not been cleaned for several months, and there were thick layers of dust everywhere in the vicinity. With just a meager touch, there would be dust flying around everywhere. He took a few steps backward and waited for the dust to dissipate before he retrieved the boxes inside and opened them one by one. ¡°A facial mask. What brand is this? Never heard of it.¡± ¡°A phone casing. Worth at most a few bucks.¡± ¡°Earphones from a trash brand.¡± ¡°50-dollar coupon for some online shop, huh-uh¡­¡± ¡­ Chen Xu dissed every box he opened. Lucky box vending machines had suddenly raised in popularity as of recently. By scanning a QR code to pay 30 dollars, one could acquire a lucky box. It was said on the ads that there may be a mobile phone, an SLR, a tablet, and so on in the box. However, in the past few months, he had smashed dozens if not a hundred of these machines and had seen not even a single item mentioned in the advertisements. All he ever got were less-valuable commodities. When he picked up the penultimate box, he could feel that it was a little heavier. ¡°Should be perfume,¡± he guessed. He had opened up so many boxes that normally he could roughly guess the item inside just by its weight. After opening the box, he was dumbfounded. It was the box of an iPhone X. ¡°It can¡¯t possibly be empty right?¡± He was very skeptical. An iPhone X cost almost 10 thousand dollars. Why would the owners of these vending machines spend so much money on it? He opened the package arbitrarily. It was really a mobile phone. It looked brand new. After turning it on, it quickly opened the activation page. He followed the prompts, activated the phone, and entered the system. He inspected the serial number in Settings. It matched the one on the packaging box. ¡°Hopefully it¡¯s not a fake.¡± He still had some doubts. Regardless, he slotted the phone into the backpack he was carrying behind and marked down the location of the vending machine and the box number on the treasure map. He was pretty sure that everything in this dream world could be matched to that of reality. Meaning to say, what could be found in this dream world would exist in the same place after he returned to reality. For instance, he opened up a mobile phone in this lucky box. In that way, there had to be a mobile phone in the lucky box of this number in this vending machine in reality as well. With this in mind, he went on expeditions to find things, calling it treasure hunting. In the past few months, as long as he had time, he would go treasure hunting, but it wasn¡¯t very rewarding. To put it bluntly, the wealth of the entire world was at his disposal, but no matter how wealthy he was in the dream world, it wouldn¡¯t bear any significance if he couldn¡¯t bring these riches out into the real world. In the same way, even if he knew which house was stashing a load of cash, or which had the most jewels stored in their safe, it would be equally meaningless. He couldn¡¯t possibly steal them when he woke up. He would be foolish to try to do so. Consequently, there were not many opportunities for him to make actual money. It was entirely a matter of luck. After all, there were too few items like ¡°lucky boxes¡±. He smashed dozens of vending machines before getting only one mobile phone. The chance of winning a prize was certainly exhilarating. He continued opening the rest of the boxes and acquired no other loot. So, he continued moving forward. The entire building was dark, and there was dust everywhere. It looked like a scene straight out of a horror film. Chen Xu strolled around the first few floors and withdrew. The atmosphere of this place was too depressing. As he left the building, he felt relieved. He thought that he should visit such commercial buildings less often in the future. After all, the things inside had little value to him. Next, he went to the pedestrian pathway. Poring over the paved road covered with dust and fallen leaves, he couldn¡¯t help but lament the deterioration. In only a few months, the streets that were originally beautifully decorated were laid to waste. ¡°Grrrrrmmm.¡± After only a couple of steps, he heard a heavy thud and looked up. Unbeknownst to him, a thick black cloud had risen in the skies. It was going to rain soon. Chapter 10 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Crack! Thunder rumbled, accompanied by the sound of pounding rain and gushing winds. It was a little terrifying to listen to. Chen Xu took shelter in a clothing store and watched the skies outside darken. He subconsciously frowned. He glanced at his phone. 13:45. The rain had been going on for more than three hours and showed no sign of stopping. Such an enormous gale had to be at least a magnitude 10. ¡°But, why would there be a typhoon now?¡± He thought something was off. It was September when he had entered the dream. Now that four months had gone by, it should have been January. He had never heard of a typhoon in January. Eh? That couldn¡¯t be right either. January was one of the coldest months, but the current weather was the same as in September. It was very hot. He even had to turn on the air conditioning when he slept at night. When he thought about it this way, he felt relieved. After all, anything that happened in a dream world shouldn¡¯t be considered strange. This could have also been an inconsistency deliberately set up to remind people in the dream that this wasn¡¯t real. ¡°My stomach is rumbling.¡± The hunger in his stomach made him realize that he couldn¡¯t sit around and wait any longer. It seemed the storm wouldn¡¯t be stopping any time soon, and he would be better off finding some food. ¡°I should¡¯ve brought some snacks,¡± he thought dispiritedly. There was food in the car, but it wasn¡¯t realistic to go back now. The car was a far distance away. In such a severe storm, he dared not venture out onto the streets. Earlier, he heard heavy objects falling to the ground several times, maybe from trunks that were blown off, or even billboards. Anyway, it was dangerous out there. Unfortunately, he had already scoured through the store and had found nothing to eat. He certainly couldn¡¯t stay here for long. He would have to find something to eat somewhere else. He remembered there was a convenient store a few lots away. There had to be food there. He slid off his backpack and took out all the items that were not useful to him for the time being to reduce its weight. Then he pushed the door open. Wooosh¡ª¡ª The moment he pulled on the door handle, strong winds thrust him backward and rain droplets violently buffeted his face. He quickly lowered his center of gravity, put his head down, and made his way outside. When he got out the door, the winds intensified. Engulfed in the torrential downpour, he was drenched in seconds. He took hold of the wall and pulled himself forward step by step. It took him several minutes to walk just ten meters. At the convenience store, the door was wide open, unable to keep out the wind. The inside was a mess with goods blown all over the floor. He didn¡¯t stop. He went straight to the warehouse in the back, took shelter inside, and closed the door behind him with a struggle. Following the thud of the door, the sound of wind and rain were shut out. The entire world became peaceful in an instant. Now, he was soaked, and his drenched clothes stuck to his body, making him feel very uncomfortable. He took out spare clothes from his backpack. ¡°A brand name backpack indeed. Its waterproof feature is good quality,¡± he commended. Putting on a set of dry clothes, he felt his energy return to him. He grabbed a torchlight and began looking for food. The warehouse was not big, but there were plenty of goods, all of which were snacks and drinks. He grabbed a packet of biscuits and a box of whole milk, sat on a carton of mineral water, and dug into his lunch while listening to the howling wind just beyond the door. While he was eating, he suddenly thought of Luo Xiyun alone at the basecamp and worried a little, wondering how she was doing. ¡°What is there to worry about her. There¡¯s food in the house, electricity, strong walls to keep out the storm ¨C as long as she stays indoors¡­¡± Then, he suddenly thought, ¡°What day is it today? Wednesday?¡± He remembered that she would go out every Wednesday. He and Luo Xiyun lived next to each other. The two¡¯s existence could be described as ¡®well water not interfering with river water¡¯. As each of them lived their own lives, an unspoken understanding had formed between them. After being neighbors for three months, the number of times they crossed paths could be counted on one hand. However, their living space was only separated by a wall. Even though they didn¡¯t see each other, they could always felt the presence of one another. Waking up in the morning, he could hear the sound of her watering the plants. When he went out, he could see the evidence left behind from the vegetation she harvested in front of his door. On the way to his garage, he saw the garbage that she had thrown out. Even simple things like the sound of the door opening and closing, the fragrance that drifted over when she was cooking, the clothes that she would hang outside every day, and much more continually proved it. All these details made him constantly aware that Luo Xiyun was living next door. After three months, without even deliberately paying attention, he had roughly grasped her routine. He knew that she left on a bicycle every Wednesday morning at nine and wouldn¡¯t return until around eleven. Today was Wednesday. With the great weather in the morning, she would have gone biking as usual. The rain started pouring down at some time after ten. She would have definitely gotten caught in it. ¡°That unfortunate woman, wouldn¡¯t it be great if she stayed at home? Why does she have to go out? Especially on a bike,¡± he shook his head and said with sympathy. He grabbed another biscuit and stuffed it into his mouth. This brand of biscuits tasted good but was a bit too sweet. He finished the whole packet of biscuits in two to three bites and then opened another packet. After downing an additional two boxes of milk, his stomach was finally full. ¡°Why not watch some TV?¡± He took out a tablet from his backpack that had several TV shows downloaded on it. He had specifically prepared the shows for if he needed to kill time. One show was an urban romance drama with a rather idiotic plot. But he had no other options to pick from. Now that the internet was so developed and fast, almost everyone watched movies and TV series online. Only some downloaded them to their computers. After searching through dozens of hard drives in the company building, he had only managed to find a few downloaded shows, most of them being Korean or American dramas. Likewise, romantic action movies set on an island somewhere were in abundance. The winds outside seemed to have further intensified. The movie played for a few minutes, but Chen Xu couldn¡¯t seem to concentrate at all. He was distracted by thoughts of Luo Xiyun. ¡°An adult should know to find shelter during a downpour. She¡¯ll get a little wet from the rain at most.¡± ¡°Maybe she went home earlier than normal today.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± He turned off the video out of frustration and began walking in circles in the cramped little warehouse. At last, he stopped and let out a sigh, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll go back and have a look.¡± If something were to happen to Luo Xiyun, he would really have to spend the remaining two months alone. Determinedly, he put on his backpack, pulled the door open, and walked outside. He braced himself against the wind, lowered his center of gravity, and advanced step by step. The dry clothes he had just changed into became soaked again in seconds. Finally getting to his car, he got in, wiped his face, and immediately started the car and took off. The rain, buffeted by the wind, tempestuously lashed against the windshield. Despite having adjusted the windshield wipers¡¯ speed to the fastest setting, his view was still extremely obscured by the water. He didn¡¯t dare drive too fast because he also had to be careful of the obstacles on the road. If he crashed the car, he would waste even more time. He only dared to speed up when he entered familiar territory. Forty minutes later, he finally saw the outline of a familiar building. He slammed down on the gas and the car accelerated with a growl from the engine. Chapter 11 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Creak! Approaching the garage, Chen Xu forcefully stepped down on the brake pedal and stopped the car. He opened the door and rushed out. ¡°Luo Xiyun!¡± he yelled as he ran. The gardenlike vegetable farm was destroyed. There were flowerpots everywhere, and the entire street was a mess. He rushed to Luo Xiyun¡¯s home, threw the door open, and hurried in, calling, ¡°Luo Xiyun, Luo Xiyun¡­¡± He searched all over, but there was no one there. Even the door to her bedroom room was locked. He yelled for a long time, and yet, there was no response. ¡°If she hasn¡¯t returned yet, she must¡¯ve been caught on the road.¡± It was almost three in the afternoon. That meant that she had been trapped for about four to five hours. He had returned with little hope that she had returned safely, but this was still the worst-case scenario. He couldn¡¯t help but feel extremely worried. He hit the door in frustration, turned around, and sprinted outside once again. He returned to the car, turned it around, and stomped on the gas pedal, peeling off. ¡°Luo Xiyun, please don¡¯t let anything happen to yourself.¡± He didn¡¯t want to spend the remaining two months alone with only his shadow for company. ¡°She takes this road every time she comes back.¡± Chen Xu turned onto a road, all the while holding down the horn. It was still three in the afternoon, but in the middle of the typhoon and heavy rain, his view wasn¡¯t good. Even with his brights turned on, he could only see two to three meters ahead. He hoped to attract Luo Xiyun¡¯s attention with the horn. He didn¡¯t know where she had ridden, nor what route she had taken. He could only search each road, one by one. As time went by minute by minute, the typhoon showed no signs of weakening. The sky was getting darker and darker, and the pressure in Chen Xu¡¯s chest kept growing. All kinds of thoughts were flashing through his mind. ¡°Did I miss any roads? She might just happen to be stuck on one I overlooked.¡± ¡°Has anything happened to her so she couldn¡¯t hear the horn?¡± ¡°Did she hear the horn but was unable to respond?¡± ¡­ Suddenly, he saw a glimmer of light reflected in the rearview mirror. Although it only flashed for a second, he could tell that it wasn¡¯t lightning. He was touched. He slammed on the brakes, spun the steering wheel, hit off the small car parked by the roadside, and forcefully made a U-turn. After driving a short distance, he saw the light again. He saw it clearly this time. It looked like a phone¡¯s flashlight. ¡°There she is!¡± The tension throughout his body released as he drove closer and shined the headlights on her. He finally got a good glimpse of Luo Xiyun. She was standing by the side of the road, drenched. But regardless of her state, she was holding the streetlamp in one hand while waving her phone flashlight with the other. ¡°Looks like she has suffered a lot,¡± Chen Xu thought as he parked the car in front of her. She seemed unable to hold out. She was knocked off balance by the strong winds and sat on the ground, hugging the streetlamp with both of her hands. She looked awful. Looking at her dreadful appearance, he was somewhat amused but thought it would be a bad idea to mock her. He calmed his facial expression, opened the door, got out of the car, and helped her to the front passenger¡¯s seat while straining against the wind and rain. The backseat was full of things and had no room for a person to sit. After getting into the car, Chen Xu found a clean towel and handed it over. Then he started the car and headed home. ¡­ Along the way, Luo Xiyun quietly dried herself off with the towel. She didn¡¯t talk, neither did Chen Xu. There was an awkward silence in the car. First of all, he didn¡¯t want to talk, and secondly, he didn¡¯t know what to say. For him, Luo Xiyun was strange, yet familiar. The last time the two had sat together like this was three months ago when they were assigning tasks. After that, the two never talked again. It was like an unspoken consensus to stagger the time each of them went out to prevent bumping into each other. On the occasional accidental encounter, both would ignore the existence of the other. It was exactly because of this fact that she was very unfamiliar to him. However, he also knew her very well. He knew what she liked to eat, what style of clothes she preferred, and what she did each day of the week. He even knew which day of the month that she started her period. The two lived next door to each other. Since many places were public, he picked up a lot of information naturally without deliberately paying attention. For instance, he knew which meat in the refrigerator was depleting the fastest, which vegetables in front of his door were picked the most often, the clothes hanging outside every day, and so on. By the time Chen Xu drove the car back to the garage, the sky was already in total darkness. He looked at his phone. It was already seven o¡¯clock in the evening. He turned off the headlights and was about to get out of the car when he heard the first sentence Luo Xiyun spoke since she got in, ¡°I sprained my ankle.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He was stunned for a minute before he came to. He turned to look at her. In the light of the car, he could see that there were bruises on her arms and knees. However, he couldn¡¯t see her feet in this light. From the looks of it, she probably fell from her bicycle. He thought for a moment, they were still more than 20 meters away from the house. It would be difficult to help her across such a great distance in the middle of a 10th-degree typhoon. He restarted the engine and drove the car into the former vegetable garden. The flowerpots that had held vegetables before the storm were scattered from the wind. As the wheels of the car ran over them, the entire vehicle quivered for a moment. Fortunately, the frame of the SUV was high enough that it didn¡¯t get stuck on the pots. He slowly drove the car to her residence, got out, helped her down, and opened the door to the coffee shop where she lived. Upon entering, he pressed on the light switch. There was a ¡°pop¡±, but the lights did not turn on. ¡°Are the lights broken?¡± He turned the switch on and off a few times, but the lights still wouldn¡¯t turn on. With no other option, he fumbled for his phone from his pocket, turned on the flashlight, and helped her to her room. Luo Xiyun grabbed a key from the top of a picture on the wall nearby and opened the door. After Chen Xu helped her in, he turned to leave and heard her toggle a switch. Still, the lights did not turn on. He quickly realized that something was wrong. A power failure? When it rains, it pours. Their power supply at home hinged on the diesel generator. If that machine was broken, it would spell trouble. ¡°Hopefully it was just a trip,¡± he thought. Then, he heard Luo Xiyun say something, but her voice was too soft, so he didn¡¯t catch her words. He asked, ¡°Pardon?¡± In the thick darkness, he heard her breathing becoming heavier, and only after a while, her quiet voice spoke again. This time, he heard it clearly. She said, ¡°I want to go to the bathroom.¡± This was the second sentence she had said since he saved her from the storm. Chen Xu could tell that she was very embarrassed when she said this. Chapter 12 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Alright,¡± Chen Xu responded. He helped Luo Xiyun into her bathroom. There was a toilet right inside. He knew that with her personality if she wasn¡¯t desperate, she would never ask this of him. Although he was a little angry with her, he didn¡¯t want to make her feel worse about this moment. He assisted her to the bathroom and nonchalantly placed his phone on the shampoo shelf as a light source for her. After that, he left. After the door of the bathroom closed, he lost his only light source. Chen Xu plunged into sheer darkness, unable to see anything. His other senses, however, seemed to amplify, like his sense of smell. Now, he felt enveloped in a very subtle and pleasant fragrance. It was a sweet scent, like the one he smelled back in high school while he was embracing his first love for the first time in a dark alley. The sound of wind and rain outside seemed like it was coming from a distant place, creating an extraordinary feeling of tranquility. Through the door of the bathroom, he could hear the sound of another stream of water. Wild thoughts spread throughout his mind like wild grass. All of a sudden, Luo Xiyun¡¯s words once again echoed in his mind. He rubbed his face hard and gently felt his way to the door. There was no light. He could only stumble to the entrance based on his memory of its location. Pulling the door open, the chilling raindrops that fell on his face made him shudder. He didn¡¯t dare to stay and hurried next door. Some ten minutes later, Chen Xu, who had changed his clothes, returned in a raincoat with a big bag of supplies. Now, the base camp was out of power. He didn¡¯t know whether it was a generator problem or a circuit problem. Since the winds were still so powerful, it would be very difficult to inspect right now even if he wanted to. A myriad of issues would arise if there was no electricity. What¡¯s more, Luo Xiyun was injured and couldn¡¯t move around well. In any case, at least in this dream world, only the two of them were left. In terms of mutual support, when either one of them was experiencing some difficulties, the other person couldn¡¯t just turn a blind eye. ¡°Out of the spirit of humanitarianism, I should help her.¡± With that thought in his mind, he walked into the coffee shop and took off his raincoat. Then, with a flashlight in one hand and the bag in the other, he walked further inside. He saw a light in the kitchen. He assumed that since she had been trapped since morning up until now and sprained her foot due to the strong winds, she might not have eaten at all and must be starving. Moving to the door, he shined his flashlight into the kitchen, landing on Luo Xiyun. Her back was facing the door, and she seemed to be chopping up something. Since her injured left foot was lifted off the ground, her right foot was her only support, causing her stance to be a little shaky. She had to have heard him come in, but she didn¡¯t look back or say anything, simply chopping her food in silence. There was only the thudding sound of the kitchen knife as it hit the cutting board. Chen Xu took out a desk lamp from the bag. When it turned on, the white light illuminated the entire kitchen. ¡°Let me do it.¡± He took out a food preservation bag containing different ingredients from the big bag, rolled up his sleeves, walked over, and reached out to the kitchen knife she was holding, attempting to take it. Unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t loosen her grip. From the power of her grip on the knife, Chen Xu could sense confrontational emotions from her. He used to have a girlfriend and wasn¡¯t entirely inexperienced with women. He understood that the silence of a woman was an expression of dissatisfaction by itself. As for what she was discontented with, he didn¡¯t understand most of the time. Even if he sometimes knew the reason, he would feign ignorance. His ex dissed him more than once, saying he was a straight man of iron and steel [1]. But since that there was nothing between him and Luo Xiyun, he couldn¡¯t care less. He didn¡¯t say a word, only adding a little more strength to his grip. Luo Xiyun persisted for a second, but let go in the end, resigning to let him take the kitchen knife away. However, she didn¡¯t leave, but instead went to the kitchen cabinet, took out the tableware, and started rinsing them. This kitchen was originally the caf¨¦ kitchen. It was spacious and didn¡¯t seem crowded even with two people here. They did their respective tasks without disturbing each other. So, Chen Xu did not make her stop. ¡­ After ten minutes, steaming noodles were ready in the pot. There was one table in the kitchen, and Luo Xiyun already had the tableware placed. Chen Xu took the pot over, and each of them got their own bowl and chopsticks to begin eating. This was the third time they had eaten together, sitting face to face with each other. Through the white steam that rose from the soup, Chen Xu saw her face clearly and was slightly startled. Because of the power outage, this was the first good look he got of her since he brought her back to her house. She had lost some weight. Her disposition seemed to have changed substantially, becoming calmer and slightly more gentle. The environment could really change a person. He was struck by emotion. In fact, he was also experiencing some changes. He understood that this was just a dream and was in vacation mode. But after spending a few months here, he too had felt that something about him had changed. Of course, such a change was not a bad thing. At least, he had become more patient. Besides, the Luo Xiyun now also seemed more pleasing to his eyes. Since both were starving, they ate with fierce concentration and urgency. Soon, all the noodles in the pot were finished, even the soup. After finishing, Chen Xu took the pot along with everything else to the sink to wash them. He had been used to using tap water, but after arriving in this dream world, all the pipe systems must have stopped working. Naturally, the tap water supply had been run dry. So, he made a reservoir as a water source for himself. The reservoir was only filled with water yesterday. It would suffice for a few days. After washing the dishes, while he was placing the bowls back into the disinfection cabinet, he suddenly realized something. Many of the items were stacked in pairs. There were a pair of bowls, a pair of chopsticks, spoons, cups¡­ even the chairs next to the table were in pairs. He thought to himself, ¡°OCD sure is terrifying, thank goodness I¡¯m not living with her.¡± He didn¡¯t think of himself as a messy person. He cleaned his room once a week, washed his dirty clothes every day, and tried his best to keep his living space clean. But that was it. If he were to clean everything every day and arrange every single item neatly, he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to stand it. Luo Xiyun, on the other hand, was without question a patient with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. It could be seen in the vegetable farm that was organized like a flower garden outside the door. Once he had packed everything up, Luo Xiyun had already returned to her room. He grabbed the bag and lamp, stood in front of the shut door, knocked twice and said, ¡°Let me have a look at your feet.¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Just when he thought that Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t hear him, her icy voice came from inside, ¡°That won¡¯t be needed.¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but frown. He grabbed the door handle and twisted it. To his surprise, it was unlocked. He opened the door and went in, saying, ¡°Let me have a look.¡± She was sitting on the bed with her hands clasping her knees and her long hair let down. When she saw him coming in, she looked away and said stiffly, ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern.¡± 1. Straight man of iron and steel: An insensitive, headstrong, and very direct man who does not understand women. Chapter 13 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio I don¡¯t need your concern.¡± When Chen Xu heard this sentence, he was startled. It was hard to imagine that he had heard Luo Xiyun say such words. His ex-girlfriend had said these exact words to him before in a fit of anger. From his point of view, the phrase also came across a little flirty. Until a certain point in a relationship, a woman would never say such things to a man, especially not a woman like Luo Xiyun who had told him ¡°you¡¯re not my type¡± to his face the day after he had saved her. There was no way she would casually talk to a man with this tone. Yet, the surprise wore off quickly. What followed was a tingling sensation. He had simply wanted to help her with her injuries out of neighborly goodwill. She, however, had responded with such bitter words. It stung just like touching a bare hand to a hot burner. In the past, when his ex-girlfriend first said these words to him, he had turned around and left. He gently turned off the lamp in his hand and closed the door. He deliberately pushed harder to make the door slam, and he stood still in the same position. Luo Xiyun was lying on her stomach and thought he had left. Suddenly, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it away. Then, her shoulders began shaking, and after a while, Chen Xu could hear her crying. ¡°Uhm¡­¡± Chen Xu hadn¡¯t expected her to cry. For a moment, he felt somewhat awkward Even his ex-girlfriend had never been so emotional in front of him. Listening to her sobbing, a thought flashed through his mind, had he gone a little too far? In the past three months, he had never taken the initiative to contact Luo Xiyun. The main reason was that he didn¡¯t want to open the door for her to mock him. Of course, a very small part of it was because of his vengeful mentality. In the real world, whether in work or life, he would always have some bad days once in a while. But even if he was unhappy when he was wronged or had been treated unfairly, more often than not, he could only hold the emotion in. This was the helplessness of reality. However, in this dream world, he naturally didn¡¯t have as many concerns. Since Luo Xiyun had already clarified that she would never like him, if he had still pestered her just because of her pretty appearance, he would have lost too much dignity through those shameful actions. From that time on, he made up his mind to keep his distance from her. Of course, if she were to take the initiative to ask him for help, he would certainly not refuse. However, as if regarding him as a rival, she didn¡¯t approach him whatsoever. And so, the two went on with their own lives for three months. He was sure that if it wasn¡¯t for today¡¯s typhoon, both of them would have remained that way until the end of the dream. From this fact, he could tell that Luo Xiyun had a very stubborn personality. Chen Xu knew that this was just a dream that would end after six months. So, he could live through each day with a relaxed mind as if it were a vacation, leading a rather pleasant life. Things, however, were completely different for Luo Xiyun. According to the way this dream world was set up, for her, all of this was truly happening. Naturally, it was impossible for her to harbor the same calm mentality. In the first few months, her heart must have been severely tormented. Even in this kind of environment, she wanted to defend her ego and had been unwilling to approach him living next door. Such an attitude proved that she was a very stubborn and proud person. Now, Luo Xiyun, who was very proud and stubborn in Chen Xu¡¯s point of view, was crying, and he so happened to be there to witness it all. This placed him in an awkward position. Actually, it wasn¡¯t surprising if he gave it more thought. She was, after all, a young woman. Over the past few months, she had been shouldering so much pressure, not to mention encountering a typhoon, getting herself injured, being trapped in the middle of the road, and dealing with jitters for almost half the day. She had already handled herself well enough by not collapsing on the spot. Listening to her crying, Chen Xu¡¯s heart softened and he said gently, ¡°Does your foot hurt?¡± Upon hearing him, Luo Xiyun¡¯s trembling shoulders froze while she raised her head in shock. There were still tears on her long eyelashes, and her nose was red. She proceeded to shoot him an infuriated and embarrassed look. Her mouth was slightly open, and she seemed to have lost her voice. Chen Xu turned on the lamp again, illuminating the entire bedroom. Then, he took out an ice bag, Yunnan Baiyao, bandages, and other items, and said, ¡°I will check your feet first to see if there is any bone damage.¡± As he was talking, he crouched down and was about to grab her foot. Luo Xiyun only reacted when he touched her. She retracted her feet abruptly and said with a mixed tone of anger and embarrassment, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Chen Xu pulled his hands away immediately so that he wouldn¡¯t accidentally brush her injuries and aggravate them. Frowning, he said, ¡°An injury is no trivial matter. Now isn¡¯t the time for a tantrum.¡± Luo Xiyun stared at him with red eyes and said through gnashing her teeth, ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± At this moment, Chen Xu was too tired to get angry with her. He moved a chair next to the bed and sat down, deciding to reason with her, ¡°In any case, I have never offended you, right? I don¡¯t understand why you are so angry with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also saved your life before, but I¡¯ll not go there. Let¡¯s talk about today¡¯s incident alone. I braved going out into a massive typhoon, drove for several hours, and searched each road one by one just to bring you back. I don¡¯t need your thanks, but raising a temper with me too? Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re overreacting?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s heartbeat rapidly while her eyes became even redder. However, she kept quiet. She turned her head away, no longer looking at him. Seeing her reaction, Chen Xu shrugged his shoulders, stood up, and said, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll place the ointments here. You can do it by yourself.¡± Upon finishing, he took his bag and left, leaving behind the rechargeable desk lamp. Opening the door, he suddenly stopped and added, ¡°I know that you don¡¯t like to see me. Treat your injuries quickly. Then, I¡¯ll definitely not show myself in front of you again.¡± With a thud, the door closed. This time, Chen Xu really left and returned to his house. Although Luo Xiyun¡¯s attitude made him a little upset, having not communicated with another person for several months and for being able to chat with someone today even though there was a little conflict, overall, he still felt quite happy. Chapter 14 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio In the next few days, Chen Xu went over to Luo Xiyun¡¯s place every day. She was now an injured person. He had to take care of her. Caring for her only took cooking for an extra person. He didn¡¯t know whether the words he said that night had gotten through to her. Although Luo Xiyun was still very quiet, at least she wasn¡¯t giving him looks, nor was she saying anything harsh. During a meal, the two sat face to face. The table was not big, and they were very close to each other. A rechargeable desk lamp was placed at the side for lighting purposes. Lifting his head every now and then while chewing his food, Chen Xu could see her face. In those moments, his heartbeat would accelerate. Under the white light, her skin seemed to be sheathed in a halo. This feeling was completely different from seeing photos or videos. Women in photos and videos looked more refined and flawless, but after looking at them for so long through a computer or mobile phone screen, that feeling of a racing heart was lost. Now, Luo Xiyun was sitting less than a meter away from him. He could feel her breath, even faintly smell the fragrance of her body, and see the shadow cast by the light on her long eyelashes. All of this made him a little flustered. Chen Xu quickly looked away, pushing down clamor in his heart. He was not celibate, but if he couldn¡¯t meet the right person, remaining single that way would be just fine. Having experienced a relationship, he felt that an affair between a man and a woman was nothing special. However, once separated from the environment of modern society, when he was truly the only person left, it was indeed no easy feat. Before this, when he was keeping distance from Luo Xiyun, he didn¡¯t feel anything. Now, after close contact, he discovered that his willpower was far from strong. If this were to continue, he felt that it wouldn¡¯t take long for his inner beast to be unleashed. ¡°So¡­ the generator can¡¯t be fixed?¡± Just as wild thoughts were roaring through his mind, Luo Xiyun suddenly spoke. As if waking from a trance, he thought he was having auditory hallucinations. He couldn¡¯t help but look up at her. It took him nearly a second to confirm that she truly had spoken. He said, ¡°Oh¡­ about that, the generator is broken. There¡¯s no way to repair it.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Luo Xiyun responded. Chen Xu thought this must¡¯ve been her attempt at friendliness. Thinking about her stubborn attitude in the past few months, this was probably a very difficult step for her to take. He was considering whether to say a few words himself. ¡°Will we die in this place?¡± Before he could even think of something to say, Luo Xiyun spoke again. She was looking at his mouth, so he couldn¡¯t tell if she was asking him a question or simply muttering to herself. Chen Xu had never expected her to ask such a question. Her face looked very calm, but amid such calmness, he suspected that there was something off with her emotions. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to answer her. He could only ask her a question in return, ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°The rain has been pouring down for a few days. I have never seen such heavy rain that could last so long.¡± Chen Xu knew that she was right. It had been five days since the typhoon. The typhoon stopped after two days, but the rain never ceased. The rain poured for five days and five nights. To Chen Xu¡¯s knowledge, nothing like this had happened before. He assumed many low-lying areas were already flooded. The terrain here was higher, and during summer rainstorms in the past two years since he joined the company, he had never heard of the surrounding areas being flooded. Nonetheless, if the rain were to pour relentlessly, it would be hard to say. This morning, he went around to have a look. A great portion of low-lying areas were already showing signs of accumulating water. In fact, he was already thinking that if the rain didn¡¯t stop after two days, he would start preparing to move away. He had already thought of the location. Chen Xu comforted her, saying, ¡°Rain will always stop.¡± ¡°But what if it goes on forever?¡± Luo Xiyun turned her head towards him and looked in his eyes. Within her bleak eyes was a glimmer of confusion, ¡°Anything could happen at the end of the world, am I not right?¡± For her, the present was the end of the world. All humans had disappeared, and only two of them remained. If this wasn¡¯t the end of the world, what could it be? The unceasing downpour made her pessimistic about the future. Perhaps it was because of this that she had let go of the tension between them so easily. Chen Xu said, ¡°As long as we¡¯re alive, this will not be the end of the world.¡± Luo Xiyun looked at him with a new brightness to her eyes. ¡°However, your concerns are warranted. There is no way of knowing when this rain will stop. Maybe we should get prepared to move away.¡± Chen Xu took the opportunity to share his idea. ¡°Move away?¡± Luo Xiyun had some doubts and confusion. ¡­ Ever since the beginning, Chen Xu had only regarded this place as a temporary base camp. He hadn¡¯t planned to live out the entire six months here. Later, when Luo Xiyun arrived and the two initiated a cold war of sorts, he was denied the chance to ever bring up moving away. So, his plans had been stalled. He had already started making some preparations long ago. In his garage, there was a 12-wheeled truck that was loaded with a ton of supplies. Now, he was very fortunate for his foresight. The rain today became even more intense, making it difficult to transport things. Due to these prior preparations, the amount of supplies he had to move was greatly reduced. It took him an entire day to fill the remaining space in the truck with food and water. In the morning after a night of rest, he immediately left the place where he had lived for more than four months with Luo Xiyun. When Luo Xiyun got in the truck, she seemed reluctant to leave and the fearful of the unknown future. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll come back again if we have the chance,¡± Chen Xu comforted her. He started the engine and began driving towards a brand-new future. His driver¡¯s license was a class C, which was not meant for such heavy vehicles. He learned to drive a truck by himself in the past few months. Initially, it was to clean up the vehicles on the road. It was too much trouble to drive them away one by one. So, he thought of a simple solution: drive a heavy truck to directly hit through the cars in the middle of the road. Sure enough, it was way more efficient. In less than a month, the surrounding roads were cleared. Because of his familiarity with the roads, he was able to bypass the low-lying areas that were likely flooded, thus saving a lot of time on their journey. They reached the destination around noon. Their destination was a villa built on a hill. It was a villa area, the highest place in the district, and not too far from his company. He came to this place once when he was treasure hunting and discovered how suitable it was as a place to live. The most important aspect was that the villa that he had chosen its own generator. It was too inconvenient to have no electricity, especially on such rainy days. He parked the car at the entrance of the villa. After they went in, the first thing they did was a thorough clean of the villa. Chapter 15 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Since Luo Xiyun¡¯s feet hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, he was the one moving most things. He didn¡¯t unload everything off the truck. It wasn¡¯t convenient with this heavy rain. He only unloaded some of the daily necessities. This was a two-story villa, luxuriously furnished, and complete with all kinds of equipment. There was also a large yard outside. In real life, Chen Xu would never be able to afford to live in such a house in his lifetime. Of course, what he cared about more was the commodity of the property, meaning, how much was it worth. Even if somebody asked him to live in this place, he might not have even been willing to. He was a rather lazy person. He didn¡¯t like to go out often, commonly did online shopping, and would often call for takeout. If he lived in this hilltop villa, it would be a big problem for even the courier to get in the gates of this area. If he had to go down the hill to retrieve his takeout, he would be better off eating out. After entering the house, the first thing Chen Xu did was start the generator. It was different from the one back at the restaurant. It was a petrol generator. The noise it would produce was much quieter, and neither did it need as much regular maintenance. There were many benefits to this generator. But at the same time, it had some shortcomings, like smaller power ability and how expensive and exhaustive petroleum was. Of course, this didn¡¯t bother Chen Xu. After turning on the generator and lights in the villa, he felt much more comfortable, as if he had made his way back to modern society. The first day he arrived at the villa was spent cleaning. The next day, Chen Xu went out again. Soon, he came back with a tank truck. Upon returning, he departed again almost at once. It was nighttime before he finally came back driving a large truck. He kept on going out for a few days straight, mainly to collect all kinds of supplies ¨C mostly water and various food. The heavy rain had shown no sign of stopping. The severity of flooding in the city was increasing. More and more road sections were getting flooded. Chen Xu discovered that for every day that went by, accessible routes dwindled, and the time he would spend on the road increased. If there was water accumulation on a certain road section one day, the water would be very deep the next. He didn¡¯t dare to risk driving the car over the water. If the car were to hydroplane, he would be in danger. By the fifth day, he no longer went outside. The resources he had brought back would support them both for a year or so. And so, they settled down in the villa. ¡­ In the morning, Luo Xiyun woke up on time as usual. Getting up from the warmth of her bed, the cold air made her sneeze. This year¡¯s weather was very unusual. The cold winter that should have arrived long ago, swiftly swirled in by surprise after the heavy rain of the typhoon passed after lasting for 20 days. What was more unusual was that in this province, which was located at the southernmost tip of the mainland, it snowed. And once it came, it continued for a week. Now, it was as if the whole world was covered in snow. She didn¡¯t know whether such a heavy snowfall had ever happened in this city before in history. In any case, in her memory, nothing like this had ever happened before. However, after having experienced so much, she was already accustomed to the strangeness, or more accurately, numbed. In the beginning, when she realized that everyone around her had vanished, her world had already crumbled. At that time, her only thought was to go to her granny. On her journey, she didn¡¯t bump into any other people. Back at her grandmother¡¯s, she could only look at the empty house. Even the bracelet her granny always wore was left on the ground. At that moment, all of her hopes were dashed to pieces. She had always thought of herself as a strong person. However, when she discovered that she was the only one left in the whole world that she learned she was much more vulnerable than she thought. If she didn¡¯t hear Chen Xu¡¯s radio broadcast in the car, she would have already driven into the river to end her life. When she knew that there was still someone alive in the world, she was ecstatic. So, she hurried back to the city. The moment she saw Chen Xu, she was very flustered. Being distracted for a moment, she lost control of her car and crashed into the cars parked by the roadside, leaving her injured and comatose. When she woke up from her coma and after having seen a real person, her courage to continue living was rekindled. Thoughts ran through Luo Xiyun¡¯s mind while she put on her thick down jacket. While she was brushing her teeth, she heard two gunshots from outside. She was not at all surprised. She knew that it was Chen Xu practicing with his gun. Gunning was one of Chen Xu¡¯s hobbies. Ever since she became neighbors with him, she heard gunshots every single day. She didn¡¯t know why he was so into it. It was during the period of heavy rain some time ago that he had to suspend this activity. After the rain and snow ceased, he resumed shooting outside every morning. After cleaning herself, she strapped on an apron and went to prepare breakfast. She cooked porridge, pan-fried some luncheon meat, and then fried some peanuts to pair with the porridge. When she first moved to the villa, she always made sandwiches for breakfast. It was when she found out that Chen Xu¡¯s stomach was sensitive and that he had to eat hot food in the morning that she switched to porridge. Speaking of which, before the apocalypse, she had never cooked. She never thought that one day, she would cook for a man. After coming to the villa, everything new seemed to have become normal. When there were only two people left in this world, no matter how they interacted with each other, as days went by, they would become indispensable to one another. However, her attitude hadn¡¯t been that way at the very beginning. She remembered the situation when she first met Chen Xu. After recovering her calm, she recognized Chen Xu, and she was somewhat disappointed. She was the director of the company¡¯s human resource department and was quite familiar with who Chen Xu was. Chen Xu was two years older than her. He graduated from some technical university and had a mediocre working ability. He was able to do his job, but nothing was outstanding. His personality leaned towards introversion, seeming to be not particularly social. To put it bluntly, in her opinion, he was a qualified, yet expendable employee. In terms of his appearance, he was again mediocre. Such a man did not at all equal up to what she looked for in a man. If it wasn¡¯t the end of the world, she wouldn¡¯t even bother to look twice at him. However, this man had become the only one of her kind in this world. What could she do? Even if she was reluctant, she could only submit to her fate. Nonetheless, she had to be vigilant so as not to be harmed. She understood what men were like. Not to mention that in such a post-apocalyptic world, there were no longer legal or moral constraints. What would she do if he turned on her? Therefore, at the very beginning, she projected a tough attitude in order to protect herself. At the same time, it was also a test so she could observe what kind of reaction the other party would have. The result made her feel relieved. Chen Xu didn¡¯t exhibit the dark side of human nature. In spite of that, the following developments were truly beyond her expectations. Chapter 16 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio When Luo Xiyun thought of the three months where Chen Xu deliberately ignored her and entirely disregarded her existence, she couldn¡¯t help but feel anger. During that time, she had thought of leaving more than once. However, such an idea would quickly die. Where could she possibly go? Finally, she focussed all her anger on Chen Xu, itching to see this extremely petty man with a horrible demeanor be torn to pieces. She understood that he was doing this for revenge and that her words back then had harmed his dignity. He was trying to use silence to force her into submission. Despicable. Was he even a man? She had the same urge more than once to denounce him as a man to his face. But she did not. Didn¡¯t Chen Xu intentionally treat her with this attitude in hopes that she would approach him first? If she did that, it would mean that she had surrendered. Her, lower her head to Chen Xu? Dream on. ¡°You ignore me, I ignore you. Let¡¯s see who will surrender first.¡± She stuffed her hard feelings deep in her heart. As time went by, not only did her hatred towards Chen Xu not disappear, it was constantly piling up. In the beginning, she knew that the best way was to entirely overlook his existence. Nevertheless, she promptly realized that it was impossible. In this world, there was no internet and no other person to interact with. In such an environment, loneliness and desolation were constantly eating away at her heart, capable of driving her to insanity at any given time. In the first month, she already had a profound experience. No matter how hard she told herself to think of Chen Xu as air, with the two of them sharing such a small space in an empty world, Chen Xu had left numerous marks on her life. She could never totally ignore him. Then one day, Chen Xu went out. Having not heard any movements from next door for an entire day, for some reason she became a little uneasy and couldn¡¯t seem to calm down no matter what she did. Since then, even if she wasn¡¯t willing to admit it, in the depths of her heart she had realized that she was somewhat dependent on Chen Xu. If something were to happen to that man, she knew she would not have the courage to live in this empty world all alone. Still, she was not willing to admit defeat. She was still holding a grudge in her heart, vowing to duke it out with that bastard. As the days passed, the relationship between the two was maintained by a delicate balance. On the surface, they were ignoring each other, while in fact, they were carrying out their respective tasks with great silent understanding. For three months, Luo Xiyun was looking at Chen Xu, who acted as if nothing happened and leisurely lived his own life. She hated him, so much that she ground her teeth. That was the way it was until the typhoon a month ago when she went out on a bicycle and got stuck in a torrential downpour. Anxious, she fell along with her bike, injured her feet, and became trapped in the middle of the road with nowhere to go. She cowered inside a shop on the side of the road. While watching the rain pouring down, the only thought in her mind was, would the bastard come and rescue her? At that moment, the pain from her injury and the danger of the horrendous typhoon no longer mattered to her. She just wanted to know whether that man would come and save her. Once she started waiting, it went on for eight hours. In such a desperate situation, waiting was a very tormenting thing. However, her mood was remarkably serene. Such calmness exceeded even her own expectations. When two beams of light pierced through the heavy rain curtain, tears immediately came rolling out from her eyes. As if unleashing her pent-up emotions, fear, anxiety, and grief surged in her heart. She fell to the ground as if her whole body was completely drained of energy. Because of her delayed response, the car had already driven some distance away. Upon realizing that, she immediately turned on the flashlight on her phone, limped to the side of the road through the heavy winds, and waved her phone in the direction of the car with all of her might. When Chen Xu got out of the car, she had the urge to ask him why he had arrived so late. Yet, she said nothing, knowing that if she opened her mouth, she would cry. She was reluctant to be vulnerable in front of him and kept silent all the way back home. At the same time, she was very dissatisfied with Chen Xu¡¯s behavior. He was slow to greet her, let alone offering words of comfort. He spoke no more than a single word. ¡°Will you die if you talk?¡± she thought. Her heart was overcome with dismay. She had never met such an iron-hearted man that would remain indifferent even at a time like this. However, she held it in. It was up until that bastard said that he wanted to look at her injuries that she lost herself. The emotions amassed in her heart erupted all at once, resulting in a fight between her and Chen Xu. Over the past few months, she had been calling him a jerk every day in her mind, but never did she expect that he was this bad. After simmering down for a few days, she accepted her fate. She truly had nothing up her sleeve to use against such a man. She knew that Chen Xu would do what he said. After her injuries healed, he would do as he said and ignore her forever. Only two options were in front of her, to leave or to accept her fate. Since she couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave, she could only accept her fate. After she had accepted it, one time when they were eating, she finally took the initiative to ask him a question. That simple sentence melted the thick ice wall between them. She originally thought that Chen Xu would get haughty for a moment, but he didn¡¯t. He replied to her naturally with a decent attitude, as if the cold war that had persisted for three months between them had never happened. She felt even more bewildered by this man. Nonetheless, the two could finally talk, eat, interact, and work together normally. She was already very satisfied with not having to be alone in this post-apocalyptic world. Down a month, she realized that Chen Xu wasn¡¯t that difficult to get along with. He wasn¡¯t as unreasonable as he had seemed previously but was very gentle in his speech, and even more, had a sense of propriety in their interactions. He never made her feel uncomfortable. She also found that Chen Xu was essentially like a donkey. He could only be stroked along his hair, and not directly opposed. As she thought about the past, she finished preparing the food. She took up the wireless walkie-talkie in the living room and said, ¡°Breakfast is ready.¡± Swiftly, Chen Xu¡¯s voice came over, ¡°Be right back.¡± After a while, the door pushed open from the outside. Chen Xu walked in, stood by the porch, and took off the thick snowsuit he was wearing. Luo Xiyun went ahead and took the clothes he had taken off. Suddenly, she said, ¡°Your forehead is bleeding.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Chen Xu took off his gloves and reached for his forehead. Chapter 17 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Don¡¯t touch it.¡± Luo Xiyun grabbed Chen Xu¡¯s hand, stopping him from touching his own forehead and then went into her room. Chen Xu took off his scarf and took a photo with his phone. He saw a very small cut above his eyebrow, perhaps inflicted by ice. After a while, Luo Xiyun came out with a little white container and dragged him to the sofa. As she took out some alcohol and a cotton swab, Chen Xu said, ¡°Is this really necessary, it¡¯s just a little scratch.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bleeding, what if it gets infected?¡± She dipped the cotton swab in alcohol and gently rubbed it on his wound. Seeing the slight frown at his brows, she said, ¡°Put up with it.¡± When she finished applying the alcohol, she leaned over and gently blew on the wound. Then, she could feel the change in his eyes and breathing. She flashed a subtle smile at the corner of her mouth, the grin of successful revenge. Blowing on his wound just now was entirely on purpose. No matter how good Chen Xu was at concealing himself, she could still feel that strange look he gave her from time to time. Women were exceptionally sensitive to men¡¯s eyes. Men, no matter how dignified they might sound, could never hide the filth in their minds. She despised that mentality. One time, when she was cleaning up Chen Xu¡¯s room, she realized that a quarter of the tissues in the tissue box were gone since yesterday, implying a way higher usage than usual. Inside the trash can, however, there weren¡¯t a lot of used tissues. It seemed like a large portion of tissues had just vanished into thin air. She finally knew how to pull off a ¡°revenge¡± plan on that bastard. Since then, she had often pretended to unintentionally brush his skin one way or another. Then, in the following days, she would observe the use of tissues in his room increase dramatically. When she thought of him pretending that nothing had happened in front of her while he was actually suffering on the inside from the effort of restraining himself, she would feel the pleasure of her successful revenge. ¡°Serves you right, jerk,¡± she thought. She had hated Chen Xu for a long time, but she couldn¡¯t go on him hard. Now, she had found a way to mess with him because he couldn¡¯t control his impulses. As soon as she had a chance, she would find a way to entice him. Then, she would watch him suppress the restlessness in his heart and pretend to be calm. It felt so satisfying to her. She could finally expel some of the hatred from her system. This time was no exception. As they ate, Chen Xu seemed quiet and had an absent-minded look. Having lived under the same roof for a month, Luo Xiyun was familiar with his personality. She considered him to be a person who liked to immerse himself in his own world. Now, his mind was in fantasyland. After discovering this about him, it became clear to her how he was able to ignore her in those first three months. Even if he was the only person left in this world, he would be able to live just fine. ¡°Maybe he has no friends, and is used to being alone¡­¡± Luo Xiyun suddenly felt a little depressed. She couldn¡¯t resist and said, ¡°That¡¯s your girlfriend, right?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Chen Xu was confused as he looked at her. ¡°When I was clearing the trash, I accidentally dropped your wallet on the floor. When I picked it up, I saw a picture inside.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s my ex.¡± ¡°Why did you keep a picture of your ex? Couldn¡¯t get over her?¡± ¡°I just think that it¡¯d be a pity to throw it away.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t quite remember why he had kept the photo. Though since he had kept it, he was too lazy to dispose of it. ¡°What about you? Why haven¡¯t I heard you mention your boyfriend?¡± Luo Xiyun looked up and threw a question back at him, ¡°How do you know that I have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Many people know that there was a handsome guy who picked you up in a Ferrari after work one time. Things like that spread like wildfire in the company.¡± Luo Xiyun said with a tinge of sarcasm, ¡°So, you¡¯re into gossiping as well, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary staff member, what makes you think that I¡¯m an exception?¡± Chen Xu questioned her back. ¡°Hmph.¡± Luo Xiyun sighed, evidently very disapproving of the gossip running around in the company, ¡°Not doing their work, commenting on others¡¯ private affairs, spreading malicious gossip ¨C are they deserving of their salary?¡± ¡°If you think that they don¡¯t deserve what you pay them, well, sack them. What¡¯s the point of keeping them?¡± Chen Xu said in a hostile tone. As an employee, such words coming from a well-off person sounded especially harsh. Luo Xiyun was rendered speechless. She had only said it out of a moment¡¯s anger. She was also aware that issues like employees gossiping were very difficult to curb. It was human nature. Things would remain the same even if she replaced everyone in the company. She shifted the conversation topic, ¡°His name is Du Feng, and he is the senior executive of a tech company. He has a Ph.D. from MIT. His family and mine are old acquaintances. He¡¯s 185 centimeters tall, very handsome, and from a wealthy family all while being academically qualified and capable himself. Others say that he¡¯s the perfect beau.¡± Chen Xu nodded and said, ¡°Sounds like the both of you are made for each other, not bad at all.¡± ¡°Really? I thought you would say that I¡¯m not worthy of him.¡± Chen Xu gave her a strange look, ¡°Aren¡¯t you confident about yourself?¡± ¡°Yeah, used to be.¡± When Luo Xiyun was almost finished, she placed down her chopsticks and said, ¡°But after meeting somebody, hmph¡­¡± ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Actually, the reason why I am not tempted by your beauty is not that you are not beautiful enough. It is because I know that you and I are an impossible pair. Since it will never happen, I¡¯ll would rather not think about it at all. ¡± Luo Xiyun asked, ¡°Have you been hurt before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t consider my past experiences as being hurt.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°When you have bumped into a fair share of walls, you will naturally understand how much you weigh. Most of the time, when you reveal even a tiny bit of interest in a girl, she has already sealed off all the roads. Some girls will hook you like a fish on a line and play around with your feelings. There will also be some that reject you straightforwardly before you even do anything.¡± His last sentence was obviously directed at Luo Xiyun. A critical expression once again appeared on Luo Xiyun¡¯s face, ¡°Giving up after meeting rejection, is that how you woo a lady?¡± ¡°When you scratch a scratch card and see the letter ¡®s¡¯, must you see the remaining ¡®orry¡¯?¡± Chen Xu asked. ¡°How could these be thought of as equivalent?¡± Luo Xiyun said agitatedly, ¡°Sometimes, a girl rejects someone because she is being reserved. You need to continue to soften her resolve. Don¡¯t you know how to pursue someone? You deserve to be single for giving up so easily.¡± Chen Xu was unmoved. He said, ¡°Well I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with being single.¡± ¡°Excuses,¡± Luo Xiyun accused. She continued, ¡°Do you dare say that there aren¡¯t moments when you wish you had a girlfriend?¡± Chapter 18 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Do you dare say that there aren¡¯t moments when you wish you had a girlfriend?¡± Luo Xiyun stared at Chen Xu, searching for signs of him lying from his face. Chen Xu put down the chopsticks in his hand, grabbed a tissue, wiped his mouth, and began talking about something irrelevant, ¡°When I was in high school, I studied extremely hard because I was determined to enroll in an excellent university. In my third year, I exercised until midnight and woke up at around five to memorize some vocabulary. Guess how many points I got in the college entrance examination.¡± ¡°520 marks. Forget important universities, my marks didn¡¯t even meet the bottom line for a bachelor¡¯s at ordinary universities. The people around me gave me advice, saying that I was only a few marks away and that I shouldn¡¯t give up. They also said that it would be a good idea for me to repeat a year.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t take their advice. Many of my relatives and friends felt sorry for me. My parents understand that high school had been hard for me. In all honesty, I¡¯m not afraid of hardship. If repeating would¡¯ve guaranteed me a place in an excellent university, I would have done it without hesitation.¡± ¡°But I knew that I was already at my limit. Even if I had repeated the year, I wouldn¡¯t have made any improvements.¡± Luo Xiyun opened her mouth, wanting to say something. But Chen Xu didn¡¯t give her a chance and continued, ¡°Later on, I graduated from college and was lucky enough to join our company.¡± ¡°The year when I first joined the company, I worked very hard and tried my best to establish ties with my other colleagues. It has been almost three years since then. All the people who entered the company at the same time as me, aside from those who resigned, either were promoted or got a raise.¡± ¡°I, on the other hand, just got a small raise on my basic salary. Even those who joined the company a year later than I got promoted faster than me.¡± Having said that, Chen Xu shook his hands, not giving Luo Xiyun the chance to interrupt. He added, ¡°Humans must know their place. You must know the limits of your abilities.¡± ¡°In both studying and working, I use a hundred percent effort just to get a score of 520 and get a raise of a couple hundred dollars on my basic salary. So, even if I were to work harder in my life, at the very most, I would raise my score by a few points and get one or two hundred bucks extra towards my basic salary.¡± ¡°But the question is, what for? What I put in would be disproportional with what I¡¯d get. After I accepted this fact, my life became much easier.¡± At this point, Chen Xu let out a sigh and continued, ¡°The same goes for finding a girlfriend. In our society, men are the disadvantaged party in a relationship between a man and a woman. If you are not handsome, not rich, have no assets, are not skilled at being in a relationship, and don¡¯t know how to win a woman¡¯s favor, it will be extremely difficult for you to woo the girl you like.¡± ¡°You would have to impress the girl with other things, forsake your dignity, spend every single cent you have on her, and give her all your time and energy. You would even gouge your heart out to present it to her if you could.¡± ¡°But even so, she will at most regard you as expendable.¡± ¡°You will finally come to your senses and think it through. Being realistic, you will plan to find a girl who is mediocre in all aspects.¡± ¡°Later on, you¡¯ll discover that she always gets angry for no reason, and when she¡¯s angry, you will have to comfort her because women are animals of emotion.¡± ¡°When the two of you get into a fight, no matter who¡¯s wrong and who¡¯s right, you will have to apologize first. Because she¡¯s a woman, you should humor her.¡± ¡°During special occasions, you must not forget to get her a present, or else there will be grave consequences. If what you got for her doesn¡¯t suit her taste, she will accuse you of having a straight man¡¯s aesthetics.¡± ¡°When you are with her, it will either be eating out or ordering food delivery. She can¡¯t cook because she is a modern woman. Isn¡¯t it entirely normal for modern women to not know how to cook?¡± ¡°Finally, when it is time to talk about marriage, her parents will dish out demands, ask for betrothal gifts, and that the man should buy a house, a car, hand over his credit card after marriage¡­¡± ¡°In order to marry this woman, not only that you will have to submit your everything, but you will also have to expend a huge portion of your parents¡¯ lifetime savings.¡± At this point, Chen Xu spread his hands and said, ¡°Finding a girlfriend will toss my already mediocre quality of life into a free-fall with a hard landing. I am better off being single. As for marriage, I really can¡¯t afford it.¡± After hearing him, Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyes flashed, and she kept quiet for a very long time. After a moment of silence, Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°Of course, you will not experience this kind of trouble. If you wish to be in a relationship, there will be a lot of men lining up for you to pick from.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s expression became a lot gentler as she said, ¡°I think you just haven¡¯t met the right person.¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Luo Xiyun frowned and spoke in an unpleased tone. ¡°Uhm, nothing?¡± Chen Xu also realized that it was a little rude. He put away his smile and got up to clean the dishes. He had explained his honest thoughts. In real life, he had no one to vent to about this. He could only go off about these things without consequences now that he was in a dream world. He was not trying to seek comfort. Especially from someone like Luo Xiyun who would never have to experience the same issues, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her misguided comforting words. ¡­ Seeing that Chen Xu was walking into the kitchen with the dirty dishes, she tagged along and said, ¡°In the end, you are just too comfortable in your current state. To put it in harsher terms, you lack ambition. From what I see, you are no worse than others. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, you can also raise your salary and get promoted in a few years¡­¡± While she was talking, Chen Xu quickly finished washing the dishes. He took off the rubber gloves and turned to look at her, ¡°Firstly, I¡¯m not your subordinate anymore. Secondly, we can¡¯t even be considered friends. We are merely two people forced together by circumstance. When we have time, we can sit down together, chat, have heart-to-heart talks, but please, do not point your fingers at my personal issues. This is the most basic respect we should have between us.¡± Upon finishing, he exited the kitchen and returned to his room. Luo Xiyun stood in the same position as her chest beat rapidly. She was pissed off. ¡­ Half an hour later, Chen Xu slipped on a thick winter jacket, grabbed his backpack, and went out. The moment the entrance door was closed, the door of Luo Xiyun¡¯s room creaked open. She poked her head out. Seeing that he had already left, she quickly slipped out of her room. She went to Chen Xu¡¯s room and opened the door with a mere twist of the handle. His room was never locked. She went straight to his computer and turned it on. Soon, the password login page appeared. She had seen Chen Xu enter the password. As it was four digits and very simple, she just happened to memorize it. So, after entering the four-digit password on the keyboard, she successfully infiltrated his desktop. She picked up the mouse and said while grinding her teeth, ¡°You jerk, I¡¯m going to teach you an unforgettable lesson.¡± She clicked into every partition in his local disk, opening every folder that was over one gigabyte. A few minutes later, she found her target. She right-clicked the mouse over a folder a few hundred gigabytes in size, clicked delete, and finally, cleared the recycle bin. Once she was done, she turned off the computer and left the crime scene. Chapter 19 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The sky was completely dark when Chen Xu returned in his truck. He was returning more than an hour later compared to the last time. When he entered the villa, his brows were wrinkled. He didn¡¯t gain much from this trip. The rain that lasted for nearly a month and the heavy snow that followed had buried most of the city under the snow. He would go out in search of resources once every few days. Most of the resources available nearby had already been brought back by him. They still had a sufficient supply of certain resources, like food and water. The most crucial one they needed was petrol. As the weather was so cold now that even the ground was frozen, they exhausted a much higher amount of petrol than planned to keep themselves warm. Furthermore, most gas stations were covered in snow. The few that had survived had already been drained by him. As a last resort, he had to go further in search of petrol. One of the surviving gas stations that he found was, however, low in reserves. At most, it could be pumped one last time. ¡°There¡¯s still a month until the dream ends. Looks like I¡¯ll have to find another gas station,¡± he thought. He closed the door with the back of his hand, and his wrinkled brows relaxed as he walked inside and took off his thick winter clothing as if he had no worries. Luo Xiyun was not in the living room. Right now, she was probably bathing. On the dining table, there was a stainless-steel heat-insulating lunch box. After changing his clothes, he went to the kitchen to wash his hands before opening the lunch box. The food inside was still steaming hot. The fragrance of the food made his appetite swell. He picked up the chopsticks to the side, pinched a slice of ham and tossed it into his mouth. Compared to one month ago, Lu Xiyun¡¯s culinary skills had much improved. Her cooking wasn¡¯t as inedible as it was in the beginning. After living together for a month, Chen Xu had discovered some of her strong points. At the very least, she possessed a team spirit. She would try her best to accomplish the things that she had to do, and even when there was a little dispute between them both, she never shirked her tasks. After eating, he went to the basement with a flashlight, turned off the big generator, and filled the small generator with petrol. In order to save on petrol, he separated the electrical supply for the heater and other electrical appliances, so that when they slept at night, only the generator responsible for heating would need to be activated. Going back to the first floor, as usual, he took a shower, grabbed his laptop, got into bed, and turned on the television series that he hadn¡¯t finished the day before. It was a clich¨¦ urban romance drama. The actors were bad, the plot had no logic, but he enjoyed it anyway. At least the female protagonist was attractive. He had no other choice because he was so bored. The day time was fine as there were many things to keep him busy and not let him feel tormented. At night, that couple of hours before he went to sleep were the most boring ones. He wasn¡¯t interested in computer games and would only kill time with movies and television shows. By now, he had become less picky. He could watch anything so long as the female actors were pleasing to his eyes. After finishing two episodes, he turned off the video, stretched, and double-clicked on a certain folder as per usual. ¡°Eh?¡± After opening the folder, he discovered that the subfolder named ¡°learning materials¡± was gone. He was stunned for a moment. Why would a folder disappear for no reason? Quickly, he realized that the folder was deleted. The word ¡°Fuck!¡± slipped out of his mouth. Those were the best goods he had filtered from dozens of terabytes of resources. But now, it was deleted! What¡¯s more, he never backed up these resources. Once deleted, it would be gone forever. He was outraged. Without this spiritual food and intellectual stimulation, how would he survive the remaining month? ¡°How dare she!¡± He knew who the culprit was without even having to guess. There were only two people left in this world. Besides Luo Xiyun, who else could¡¯ve done it? The more he thought about it, the more heated he became. He pushed back the covers, slipped on a coat, jumped out of bed, took a rechargeable desk lamp, went to Luo Xiyun¡¯s door, and forcefully knocked a few times. ¡­ Rewinding time to a few minutes before that, Luo Xiyun was curled up in her bed. Her room was dark, with only the light coming from the screen of the mobile phone that was shining on her somewhat nervous face. Her attention was not on her phone but fully channeled through her ears. She was listening to the movements outside the door. She could hear everything that Chen Xu did after he came back. When she heard the door to the next room close, her heart began beating rapidly. How would Chen Xu react after discovering that the folder was deleted? Would he get very angry? Would he start a fight with her at once? She was a little afraid. After she had calmed down, she more or less regretted her actions, feeling that she had acted too impulsively. But what was done, was done. It was too late for her to fix it. She could only hope that he would act as if nothing had happened. From what she had seen in the past month, Chen Xu was truly the only straight man of iron and steel she had ever met in her life. He had mountains of shortcomings. His temper was loathsome and stiff, he was nothing like a gentleman, and he didn¡¯t know how to take care of people nor say anything pleasant. However, he wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person with a bad temper. His self-esteem was particularly strong. Maybe he would think that this kind of conflict was difficult to express and pretend to be oblivious about it? As she was waiting in her anxious state of mind, the door banged. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± she thought, shuddering. Her heart began thumping wildly as she buried her head inside the quilt. She dared not move and was pretending to have heard nothing. Bam bam bam! The door banged even louder. She knew that pretending to not hear would be futile. Biting the bullet, she said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You woke me.¡± Her voice was a little tight, but fortunately, he wouldn¡¯t have heard it through the thick quilt. ¡°Open the door.¡± Through a door and a layer of quilt, Luo Xiyun could still hear the rage in Chen Xu¡¯s voice. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little scared, ¡°W-what¡¯s the matter? C-can we talk about it tomorrow?¡± Bam bam bam. He was smashing on the door now. Now, Luo Xiyun also became heated. She felt that she was already being so condescended to, and yet, he still refused to ease up. This was too much. ¡°I¡¯ll open the door! Do you really think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± she thought. She gathered herself, pushed back the quilt, got out of bed, and opened the door by a crack. A ray of light shone from outside the door on her face. Upon seeing Chen Xu¡¯s somber facial expression, her heart thumped, and her speech became a little stuttered, ¡°I-I-It¡¯s so late already, w-w-what do you want with m-me?¡± Chen Xu reached out to the door and pushed it open. In her terror, Luo Xiyun took a few steps backward. Chen Xu asked expressionlessly, ¡°Why did you touch my computer?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice was a little shaky, and even her body shook. It was only at that moment that Chen Xu realized that she was only wearing a thin pajama. With the cold winds from outside blowing in on her, her whole body was shivering. With a frown, he walked into the room and closed the door with his hand, shutting the cold winds outside. Then, he placed the desk lamp he was holding on the table and took off his coat. ¡°W-what are you t-t-trying to do?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice was already a bit distorted. Chapter 20 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Seeing that terrified look on Luo Xiyun¡¯s face, Chen Xu¡¯s hands froze. After pausing for a second, he placed the coat that he just took off on the table, pulled out the chair beneath it, and sat down. He said, ¡°Have a seat, I have something to discuss with you.¡± Luo Xiyun was somewhat befuddled by his attitude. She fumbled her hands along her bed and sat down. After a moment¡¯s silence, whispering, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Chen Xu¡¯s eyes scanned the room. This was the first time he had entered this room after moving into the villa. The room was clean and tidy, and at the same time, saturated with a faint fragrance. Seeing that he was not talking but looking around, Luo Xiyun felt nervous as if she was waiting to stand for trial. It made her very uncomfortable. When she could stand it no longer and was about to talk, Chen Xu finally spoke, ¡°The heater in my room is broken.¡± Heater, broken? She looked at him dumbfounded with her mouth half-opened. Chen Xu spread his hands and said, ¡°It is some minus tens of degrees outside. There¡¯s no way I can sleep without a heater, so¡­¡± So? Luo Xiyun was still staring at him blankly and had a very bad feeling. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to move in here.¡± When she heard this sentence, she felt only the numbness in her scalp and was stunned for a few seconds before she could understand what it meant. At a loss for words, she stuttered, ¡°B-but¡­¡± Chen Xu had already stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to go get my quilt.¡± When he walked out of Luo Xiyun¡¯s room, a sneer spread across on his face. He had wanted to rage at her just now, but based on that guilty look of hers, if he were to snap, she might have cried on the spot. If that happened, it would seem like he was bullying her. But letting her go just like that and forcing her to suffer in silence? Of course, he wouldn¡¯t let it be that easy either. So, he had thought of this type of revenge. For a neat freak like her, she would quickly be driven into insanity if she were to live in the same room as him. ¡°You ruin my pleasure, I grant you misery.¡± Having thought about that, he returned to his room, unplugged the heater, rolled up his pillow and quilt, and returned to Luo Xiyun¡¯s room. She was still sitting by the bed as if she were oblivious to what was going on. He shut the door with his hand, laid out a quilt on the ground, positioned his pillow nicely, laid down, and tucked himself into the quilt. When he reached his hands out to turn off the lamp, he suddenly remembered Luo Xiyun who was still sitting beside the bed. He looked up and asked, ¡°Are you not going to sleep yet? I¡¯m going to turn off the lights.¡± ¡°Uhm, okay¡­¡± Luo Xiyun responded and moved. Following a tap, the lights went out, and the room fell into darkness. It was pitch black. Since he was young, Chen Xu had been a little afraid of darkness. He felt very unaccustomed to such an environment. After coming into this dream world, he would leave a night light on whenever he went to sleep at night. This night was an exception. Perhaps because he couldn¡¯t see her, his other senses were heightened. He could even hear Luo Xiyun¡¯s slightly strained breathing. Lying down over there and thinking about her all tensed up, he closed his eyes in bliss. As usual, he quickly fell asleep. ¡­¡­ On the second day, Chen Xu woke up naturally. When he opened his eyes, the room was still dark. He reached for his cell phone under his pillow and looked at the time. It was 5:09 in the morning. He was already wide awake. Yet, he doesn¡¯t want to leave his warm blanket immediately. Luo Xiyun was probably still sleeping. He could hear her slow breathing. ¡°What happens to this dream world when I¡¯m asleep?¡± he thought out of the blue. In this world, he never dreamed. It seemed that night would go by in a flash when he closed and opened his eyes. He couldn¡¯t feel the passing of time in its entirety. He got up eventually after staying in bed for a while. He tidied his quilt and left the room. It was not easy to sustain a living with water and electricity in this empty world. A lot of work had to be done. He first went to the basement and topped off the two generators with oil. Then, he filled the water tank next to them. Now that it was freezing cold, keeping the water in the barrel from freezing was already quite troublesome by itself. It took him two hours to finish these trivial matters, which drained him. His whole body was covered in sweat. At this time, the sky was already bright. It was a rare day of good weather. He carried a rectangular box and walked to an open space several hundred meters away from the villa. At one end of the field, there was a pile of glass bottle shards. He took ten intact bottles and laid them on the ground. Moving away for more than ten meters, he opened the rectangular box. There were two guns inside. He took out a pistol, loaded it with bullets, adjusted his stance, aimed, and fired. Bam bam bam¡­ He fired all the bullets in the pistol after stretching and swinging his hands, which were slightly numbed by the vibration. Looking at six empty bottles that were still intact, he shook his head slightly. He was not satisfied with his performance. In continuous firing, recoil had too great of an influence on accuracy. When he came to the last few shots, the muzzle had already adjusted to nobody knows where. In the past few months, he had been practicing with guns almost every morning, firing hundreds of bullets a day. His accuracy was already pretty good. In a case like this with distances at more than ten meters, even if he didn¡¯t hit the target with all the bullets, he would normally still have at least a 90% hit rate accuracy. He was also lucky to have found a firearm storehouse a while back, so he could use a lot of bullets and pull the trigger to his heart¡¯s content. Of course, no matter how good he had gotten at shooting, it would have no use at all after he returned to the real world. He was not a policeman and might very well not get to touch a gun ever again in his life. He practiced with guns purely out of interest. In this post-apocalyptic world deprived of entertainment, this was practically his only source of enjoyment. An hour later, when he had depleted all the bullets he¡¯d brought with him, he reluctantly put the gun back into the box and walked towards the villa. Back in the villa, Luo Xiyun did not come out to greet him this time but was in the kitchen. He snickered in his heart, not caring at all. After changing his clothes, he walked out to the dining table. As soon as he sat down, Luo Xiyun came out with breakfast. Seeing her bloodshot eyes and the slightly swollen bags beneath them, Chen Xu asked deliberately, ¡°Did you sleep well last night? I might snore when I sleep. I didn¡¯t bother you, did I?¡± Then, he saw her spoon pause for a significant amount of time in midair. After a few seconds, she asked, ¡°Can your heater be fixed today?¡± Chen Xu shook his head and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s unrepairable.¡± She paused for another two seconds, and after filling up a bowl of porridge, she said, ¡°Clear up the room at the corner then.¡± There was a total of three rooms on this floor. Aside from the two they were living in, there was another one that had been made a utility room. Chen Xu looked at her and nodded. He said, ¡°Okay, but I¡¯m a bit tired. I want to take a two-day break. Let¡¯s wait another two days.¡± Luo Xiyun said with a blank expression, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can clean it up for you.¡± Chapter 21 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After breakfast, Chen Xu took his laptop and went into Luo Xiyun¡¯s room. After sitting in her chair for a while, he felt very uncomfortable and proceeded to move his own office chair into her room. ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked Luo Xiyun, who had just returned from hanging her clothes, in an utterly annoyed tone upon seeing what he was doing. Chen Xu said, ¡°Moving my chair?¡± ¡°Who allowed you to do so?¡± Chen Xu asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Only with my consent. This is my room.¡± Chen Xu abruptly tuned in, ¡°Oh, so you too know that you can touch other people¡¯s things only with their consent?¡± Luo Xiyun was rendered speechless, and her face somewhat reddened. Her secretly messing around with Chen Xu¡¯s computer had truly come back to bite her. Chen Xu revealed a winner¡¯s grin while he pushed his chair into her room. ¡°Wait.¡± Luo Xiyun stamped her foot and stopped him in his steps, ¡°Let me clean it.¡± As she spoke, she took out a spray used for cleaning, grabbed a rag, and carefully sanitized Chen Xu¡¯s chair from inside out. Chen Xu sat on her chair while he watched. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Can your boyfriend stand you behaving this way?¡± Luo Xiyun ignored him, concentrating on rubbing the armrest. Chen Xu shook his head and said to himself, ¡°If it were me, I definitely couldn¡¯t. Besides fact that it¡¯s troublesome, it¡¯s mainly because you act like you are disgusted with me. In all honesty, it feels uncomfortable¡­¡± Luo Xiyun suddenly stopped what she was doing, turned around, and said chillingly, ¡°Firstly, we are not friends. Secondly, we are not even familiar with each other to begin with. We are just two grasshoppers stranded on the same rope. At leisure, we can sit down together, have a nice chat, talk about our feelings, but, please do not judge my actions. This is the most fundamental respect we must have for each other.¡± Chen Xu¡¯s words choked in his throat. Karma hit him like a bat out of hell. This was what he had told her a few days back, and now when she used it on him, he truly had no counter for it. He quietly turned around, put on his headphones, and went to watch a TV show. ¡­ Chen Xu stayed in the villa all day and never left. He was sitting on the sofa in the living room reading books, leaving Luo Xiyun all by herself to clean up the storeroom. A day went by ever so swiftly. In the evening, Luo Xiyun stopped working and went to cook. Dinner was simple ¨C only noodles. When Luo Xiyun saw Chen Xu¡¯s eyes stuck to the book in his hand even while he was eating noodles, the anger within her rose to the verge of erupting. She thought about how she had been working the whole day to tidy up a room for him, and not only did he not help, he just sat there the whole day reading books. She sneered, ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know you are so into Sci-Fi novels.¡± Without turning his sight away from the book, Chen Xu said casually, ¡°I have wanted to read this book, ¡®Three Dimension¡¯, since a long time ago, but I haven¡¯t had time. Since you have them on your shelf, I helped myself to it. It¡¯s not bad I must say.¡± Seeing that he hadn¡¯t realized the sarcasm in her words at all, she became more depressed. Clenching her jaw, she said, ¡°Can you understand what the book is saying?¡± Chen Xu took a glimpse at her and said, ¡°It is leisure I¡¯m looking for while reading a novel. No matter what the author is trying to say, I¡¯m willing to read it because I find amusement from reading it. What does whether or not I understand have to do with it? Or is it that you can tell a person¡¯s superiority from the way they read a novel?¡± ¡°After everything, aren¡¯t you just afraid of revealing your ignorance?¡± Luo Xiyun said with disdain, ¡°Admitting that you can¡¯t understand a book isn¡¯t something to be ashamed of.¡± Knowing that she was cranky, Chen Xu didn¡¯t provoke her any further and resumed reading his novel. ¡­ After dinner, Chen Xu finally finished reading the book and stretched his arms. He looked at the time; it was almost eight o¡¯clock. He went downstairs, turned off one generator, and topped off the other with gasoline. He went into the room with the book. Luo Xiyun was choosing an outfit by the closet. Upon seeing him, her face turned grim as she said, ¡°You, get out.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Chen Xu shoved the book back on the shelf and asked without looking back. ¡°I am going to take a shower.¡± Chen Xu asked strangely, ¡°You take your shower, and I read my book. Am I even interrupting you?¡± Luo Xiyun gasped, ¡°Get out.¡± Chen Xu shrugged and said, ¡°The heater outside has already been turned off. Could you bear to see me get myself frozen out there?¡± Luo Xiyun stared at him with rage in her eyes. ¡°Best if you die from it.¡± She said that, but she just took her clothes and went into the bathroom. ¡°How pretentious.¡± Chen Xu shook his head, took the third book of ¡°Three Dimension¡± from the bookshelf, sat on his chair, and flipped to the first page. Swiftly, the sound of water came from the bathroom. He hadn¡¯t felt anything at first, but after being slammed by her earlier on, his mind became a little troubled as the scene in the bathroom tempestuously emerged in his thoughts. This room was the master bedroom. The bathroom was separated from the room by a huge glass wall. Of course, it wasn¡¯t transparent. He couldn¡¯t see anything through it. Swuuushh¡­ Chen Xu could feel an invisible hand teasing around his heart and a tight sensation in his throat. He grabbed the cup on the table and took a sip of water, all the while warning himself not to think wildly. He shifted his focus elsewhere and felt that the lights were a little too bright. Over the past few months, he had developed a habit of conserving energy. So, he wished to turn off the bigger lights and leave only a few of the small ones turned on. The owner of this house must have been a rather romantic person. The room was installed with various lighting settings that could create all kinds of effects. He walked to the switches and saw about seven or eight of them. Without knowing which was which, he randomly pressed on a switch that lit up a few lights to his side. It was still too bright. He switched it off and turned on another switch. He tried a few and was not quite satisfied. Moving on to the fifth switch, nothing lit up when he turned it on. Just as he thought it must be broken, his gaze swept across the glass wall of the bathroom, and as if he was hit by a stunning spell, his entire body iced over. ¡­ An eternity went by in an instant. Luo Xiyun, who was in the bathroom, turned off the faucet, dried herself with a towel, walked out of the partition, and began putting on her clothes. She didn¡¯t look over throughout the entire process. For Chen Xu, he didn¡¯t know whether to feel pity or fortunate about it. When she opened the bathroom door, Chen Xu turned off the magical switch as if by reflex. Luo Xiyun who came out wondered, ¡°Why did you switch off the lights?¡± Subsequently, she noticed that Chen Xu was standing by the switches, and as if she remembered something, her expression changed drastically. With a shaky voice, she asked, ¡°D¡­ did you¡­ p¡­ pressed on th¡­ that switch?¡± Chen Xu felt a little guilty, and his face showcased a very unnatural expression. ¡­ Chapter 22 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The lights were off. Chen Xu had been snuggling into his blanket and flipping around for more than an hour, but he couldn¡¯t seem to fall asleep. He was normally quite a deep sleeper; seldom did he suffer from insomnia. Today was a special case. The scene in the bathroom that he had seen through the glass just now was stuck in his head. A blurry figure was still wavering before his eyes. Within his body, there was a burning ball of flame, sweltering and intolerable. When he flipped over, he heard some small movements coming from the bed. She hadn¡¯t fallen asleep. ¡°Am I torturing myself?¡± he wondered. The thought had suddenly emerged in his mind. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh on the inside. This was self-flagellation. Hurting each other and moving into this room could indeed make her suffer some, but in the end, he wasn¡¯t having a great time either. In all honesty, there were a few times recently where he almost lost control and pounced on her bed. But he didn¡¯t have the courage. With that personality of hers, she might very well have hidden a knife under her pillow. It would be one thing to be stabbed to death, but if she sliced downward and cleaved off his penis¡­ Just the thought itself sent chills down his pants. Even if this was a dream and nothing was real, it would cast a shadow over his consciousness for a lifetime. He didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. ¡°It is all because of that virtual dream device. The environment is so realistic. Fine, I understand that. But do they have to clone the characters one hundred percent? This is such a pain in the ass, is it not?¡± He thought drearily. How great it would be if he could do anything he wanted to do as if he was in his own dream. But sadly, that wasn¡¯t the case at all. ¡°In my own dream, shouldn¡¯t it be that I can do whatever I want?¡± Thinking of this, he turned over again and with frustration, grabbed his phone from under the pillow, opened up a novel, and forced himself to read it to divert his attention. All that was saved within his phone were the classics, which were also his favorite web novels. He had gone through each one of them several times. Gradually, his mind sank deep into the story. As he read, exhaustion came over him, and even his eyelids became a little too heavy to lift. Finally, he fell asleep. ¡­¡­ On the second day, Chen Xu woke up an hour later than usual. After doing his work, it was already time for breakfast. He had to call off shooting practice for a day. During breakfast, Luo Xiyun¡¯s expression was icy cold. She didn¡¯t say anything or even look at him. Chen Xu felt the need to explain himself, ¡°I didn¡¯t do that on purpose yesterday. Pressing that switch was truly an accident¡­¡± Following a loud thud, Luo Xiyun plunked down the chopsticks on the table and began cleaning up the dishes without saying a single word. Chen Xu zipped his mouth immediately. Since she didn¡¯t want to listen to his explanation, he wouldn¡¯t bother to bring contempt upon himself. Initially, he had planned to rest at home for an extra day. But with the current atmosphere, he didn¡¯t want to stay back looking at a face full of indignation. After finishing his meal, he drove out in his car. The main purpose of this trip was exploration. He was already very familiar with the roads nearby. It wasn¡¯t until two hours later that he finally arrived in an unfamiliar region. The downpour that had lasted for more than twenty days left half of the city submerged underwater. With temperatures plummeting at night, all the water froze into ice. As he drove, it was all ice beneath him the entire way. He drove very slowly as the ice was slippery and driving too fast would easily land him in an accident. He wasn¡¯t that confident with the snow chains he had made himself. Every ten minutes, he would stop and leave a mark with red paint in case he couldn¡¯t find his way home. There was no end to the ice. All directions seemed the same. Without a compass, he wouldn¡¯t even know where he was heading. He drove for two hours straight before he saw signs of buildings. He was relieved. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t that far away. If he were speedier, he could come back and forth in a day. He could only see the appearance of the buildings clearly when he got closer, and that was when he cursed at his foul luck. It happened to be that, the field of buildings before him were all tall edifices half-submerged in water. As they were very tall, portions of them weren¡¯t drowned in water. What he needed the most now was gasoline, but gas stations couldn¡¯t possibly be built on tall buildings. For him, these buildings were worthless. He drove his car until the nearest building, stopped, grabbed his telescope, and looked forward through it. More and more buildings on the icy surface came into sight. ¡°It is now 1:30. I can get back to the villa in about three hours or more.¡± He took four hours to get here. It took him quite some time just to leave traces behind along the way. If he had driven all the way here without stopping, it would not have taken that long. After some consideration, he decided to advance further for an hour. That way, he would arrive at the villa before eight o¡¯clock at night, not too late. Having decided on that, he hopped in the car and drove on. More buildings came into view as he continued forward. He was feeling a little excited because this meant that the terrain was getting higher. As soon as he hit flat ground, he could quickly find a gas station. Fhuuuush¡ª¡ª Not far out, winds began swirling, whirling up snow grains and smashing them across the windshield. He had to slow down and drive more cautiously. Thud, thud, thud¡­ The noise that came from the roof panel made him feel anything but reassured. These were hailstones. From the looks of it, it was about to snow heavily. ¡°I can¡¯t go any further.¡± He held tight to the steering wheel, made a U-turn on the spot, and drove back. Swiftly, he exited the cluster of buildings and drove back along the road from where he came. Half an hour in, all of a sudden, he felt a violent jolt as the sound of a blast of air came from an unknown location. The car had flamed-out. Shoot! He realized that he was in big trouble. The car glided forward for some distance and stopped. At that moment, Chen Xu got a whiff of a strong scorching stench. Big droplets of sweat involuntarily rose to the surface of his forehead. He twisted the key as he mumbled, ¡°Please don¡¯t die on me now.¡± He turned the key for some seven or eight times, but the engine remained unresponsive. ¡°I¡¯m fucked.¡± He leaned back in his seat and rubbed his face with both his hands. The worst had finally happened. The car broke down, and he didn¡¯t know how to repair it. Moreover, the car was on ice, stranded in the middle of nowhere. What was even worse was that there was a hailstorm going on outside. ¡°What to do?¡± After a while, he regained some of his composure. Gazing at the snow grains that were caught up by the wind, he frowned intensely. No matter how he thought of things, waiting for the hail to cease was his only option. If he were to get out of the car at this moment, he could get pulverized by the hailstones. The unknown variable was when this hail would come to an end. In the car, he had food, water, and gas to keep himself heated. Being trapped for a few days would be no problem. The one he was worried about was Luo Xiyun. What would become of her if he couldn¡¯t return? Chapter 23 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The snow intensified. The windshield was entirely buried in snow, and he couldn¡¯t see the situation outside. Chen Xu broke a piece of chocolate and stuffed it in his mouth. Hearing the howling winds outside, he couldn¡¯t help but think about the typhoon that came without warning a month ago. He already had some grasp over the content of this dream world hidden behind its name. ¡°The Apocalypse doesn¡¯t simply mean the disappearance of all humans in this world, many natural disasters will occur as well. Perhaps, when this dream is about to end, the true apocalypse will arrive.¡± He sighed, opened the lid of the thermos, and poured a glass of hot water. As he looked at the steam rising above the cup, his frowning magnified. Now, he had fallen into a dilemma. If the snowing didn¡¯t halt, he would end up being frozen to death. The food he had brought along could at most last somewhere between three to five days. There were no buildings within a ten-kilometer radius. If he were to leave, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to ski because he had only brought a pair of ice skates, which were useless in the snow. In such a blizzard, he might end up dead even quicker. For him, this was nothing more than a dream. So if he died, it didn¡¯t matter. At most, the dream would end early. But¡ª ¡°If I die, what will become of Luo Xiyun?¡± He mumbled, ¡°And I haven¡¯t banged her, so how can I just die like that.¡± Yeah right, just how much anger had he endured that was caused by this woman over the past few months? How could he answer to himself if he didn¡¯t fuck her? He finished the rest of the chocolate in three mouthfuls, downed the cup of water, and laid down on the seat. He was planning to revitalize himself, and when the hail ceased, he would leave the car and walk back. ¡­ The wait lasted for a whole night. The hail stopped in the evening. But as going out at night was even more dangerous, Chen Xu waited for another night. When the sun had risen, he was already well-prepared. Before departing, he cooked himself a cup of hot instant noodles. With his tummy filled, he pulled open the car door and walked out into the wind and snow without looking back. He was fully armed in a sense. He was equipped with a thick climbing winter jacket, goggles, a hiking pole, and a backpack. ¡°Such a strong wind.¡± At the moment when Chen Xu stepped out, he felt the strong winds that were beyond his imagination. Every step he took was exceptionally difficult. The thick layer of snow on the ground further toughened his advance. At this moment, he could only move forward clenching his jaw. Amidst the blizzard, everywhere was a vast expanse of white, and his direction was hardly distinguishable. Every once in a while, he would glance at his compass to make sure he didn¡¯t lose his way. As he walked, a feeling of loneliness loomed within his heart. Perhaps it was after losing that he learned how to cherish. He was even more eager to see Luo Xiyun. And it was at this moment that he realized how important Luo Xiyun¡¯s company had been for him over the past few months. If she hadn¡¯t appeared, could he have withstood such feelings of loneliness and persisted until this very moment? He was just a regular person. Although he was more of an introvert, didn¡¯t like to make friends, and preferred to be alone, he was still a normal human being, and an inseparable part of him longed for human connection. He simply couldn¡¯t survive being separated from all of society. ¡­ A few hours later, Chen Xu stopped for the fifth time. He strenuously took out a piece of chocolate from his pocket, bit off the outer packaging with his teeth, and gobbled it up in one bite. Then, he grabbed the thermos from the side of his backpack, poured out the remaining water, and guzzled it down. He tossed away the empty thermos, raised his head and looked forward. At present, the blizzard was a little less intense than when he had departed. Visibility was also better to some degree. The surrounding terrain had not changed. ¡°I think I¡¯ve walked about ten kilometers,¡± he approximated. As snow grains continued to fall, the snow on the ground was getting thicker and thicker. Paired up with his physical exhaustion, he was gradually slowing down. ¡°I should be able to get out of this icy plain before the sun sets.¡± He rested for a few minutes. Feeling that his originally heavy legs were losing heat quickly, he dared not delay. He got to his feet and continued on. He continued for a few more hours. All ten pieces of chocolate in his pocket were finished, as well as the hot water in his two thermoses. Fatigue. At this moment, he only had one feeling. It was as if his legs weren¡¯t his as he moved forward like a mechanical robot. He was gasping continuously, and his lungs were scorching. It felt like he would soon breathe fire from his throat. Gradually, he felt his vision turning black. ¡°This can¡¯t go on. I have to stop for a while.¡± He reasoned that his body was already at its limit. But at this very moment, he noticed the outline of some buildings appearing not far ahead. His spirits uncontrollably heightened. He had finally escaped the icy plains. Buildings would make things a whole lot easier. He could hide inside, rest for a while, and eat something to restore his stamina. At the thought, a new source of energy ignited within his body as he advanced towards those buildings. In a few dozen steps, the outline of the buildings became even clearer. ¡°Just a bit more.¡± He took a heavy breath, giving himself encouragement. He took another step forward. All of a sudden, his feet thumped against something, and he lost balance. At that moment, he was already exhausted. As he had no way of regaining balance, he simply slumped down. After falling, his body rolled unremittingly. ¡°Shoot.¡± He was shocked. All the way to this point, the icy surface had been peculiarly flat. He never expected a slope to be here. As he rolled down the slope, a solid object thudded against his forehead. For a time, he was seeing stars. At last, he rolled to the bottom of the slope. He barely opened his eyes, and his vision was all in red. ¡°I¡¯m doomed.¡± He tried hard to stay awake, but his consciousness kept sinking away, and he finally lost consciousness. ¡­ ¡°Why isn¡¯t that jerk back yet?¡± After eight in the evening on the day that Chen Xu left, Luo Xiyun became a little restless seeing that he hadn¡¯t returned yet. Over the past few months, Chen Xu would often drive out, but he had never spent the night outside. He never stayed out overnight even during their cold war. ¡°Is he playing tricks again?¡± she thought in agitation. During the daytime, she had already discovered that the heater in Chen Xu¡¯s room was fine. It was merely unplugged. He had dared to lie to her about the heater being broken, and it had ended up with her cleaning up the storeroom for two days straight. As time went by, the restlessness within her heart grew bigger and bigger. At midnight, she had to swallow the fact that something might have happened to Chen Xu. That night, she was sitting on the bed with a quilt over her body, however, her heart was completely cold. It felt for her like she had returned to the very first month when the darkness around her was like a bottomless abyss that swallowed her bit by bit. ¡°Chen Xu¡­¡± Only this man, who often caused her jaw-clenching exasperation, could give her the power to resist loneliness in this empty world. And so, she sat like the dead for a night. When daybreak came, she stood up forcefully. She was going to find him. Chapter 24 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± Vaguely, Chen Xu could hear a voice coming from an unknown distance. Who¡¯s calling me? He arduously tried to distinguish the source of the voice, but the darkness around him was like the tide pressing down him, rendering him breathless. His subconscious was telling him that this voice was very important to him. ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± The voice spoke again, but it had grown weaker. It was moving away. Struck by anxiety, he forcefully blinked and finally opened his eyes. Puff. His fingers grazed his wound. The stinging pain from his forehead sprinkled some stars in his vision. It took a while before he got himself together. He could finally perceive the sight before him. It was a field of dark clouds. The snow had already ceased. The sky was a little dim, but it hadn¡¯t completely darkened. The time he had been unconscious for couldn¡¯t have been that long. However, he was in a dire state. Half of his body was buried in snow, and his limbs had already numbed from the cold. Fortunately, he had come to early. If it had been another hour or two, he would have frozen to death. ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± From far away, a faint voice was carried in on the wind. Amidst the noise of the whirling winds, the voice was intermittent and unclear. It was Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice. An incomprehensible emotion swelled up within Chen Xu¡¯s heart as he yearned to respond. ¡°I¡ª¡± As he opened his mouth, it felt like his throat was glued shut. His voice was hoarse. He screamed a few times out of desperation, but his voice couldn¡¯t get through at all. This wouldn¡¯t do. His voice was too low. She would never hear him. What to do? His heart was churning anxiously. Suddenly, he remembered that there was an alarm in his pocket. It was an anti-pervert alarm meant for women. The pockets of the winter jacket he was wearing were filled with various miscellaneous items. He would bring all of these with him every time he went out just in case. By this time, he had slightly recovered his stamina, and his hands weren¡¯t that numb anymore. He onerously lifted his right hand, bit his glove to pull it off, and took the alarm out of his pocket. This extremely simple action depleted all his remaining strength and blackened his vision. He gritted his teeth as he held on to his consciousness. He bit the switch of the alarm and yanked it. ¡°Bonk¡ª¡± The sharp and crisp sound of the alarm blared. At close range, Chen Xu felt that his eardrums were being pierced. For him, it was uncomfortable and terrible. He exhausted the last of his energy to toss the alarm in his hand a little further. After doing that, all he had left was the strength to pant. His head was drowsy. With the shrill sound of the alarm, he struggled to not pass out. After a while, he faintly heard the sound of a car¡¯s engine and involuntary let out a sigh of relief. He couldn¡¯t hold onto consciousness any longer. He slowly shut his eyes. At the very end, he saw a blurry figure running towards him. Finally, he passed out. ¡­¡­ ¡°Mmm.¡± After an unknown period of time, Chen Xu regained consciousness. He opened his eyes and gazed at the ceiling above him. ¡°Where am I?¡± He felt an excruciating headache. Just as he was about to move, he felt soreness and debility all over his body. These feelings of discomfort awakened his memories. ¡°Did Luo Xiyun bring me back?¡± He glanced down at the quilt covering his body and finally learned where he was. This was Luo Xiyun¡¯s room, and he was lying on her bed. For a moment, an indescribable emotion surged within his heart. She must¡¯ve been driven crazy that he hadn¡¯t returned for a whole night. She had driven around aimlessly looking for him. Only God knows how long she had spent searching for him. Much earlier on when she was trapped in a typhoon, Chen Xu had gone around looking for her in the same manner. He was well aware of the feeling¡ªa mix of fear, worry, and anxiety that overpowered all five of his senses. There was a creak. The sound of the door opening severed his train of thought. Luo Xiyun walked in with a bowl. As she reached the bed and discovered that he was awake, an expression of awe and felicity sprung upon her face, ¡°You¡¯re awake¡­¡± ¡°Water¡­¡± Chen Xu said with a hoarse voice. Luo Xiyun quickly put aside the bowl in her hand, poured a glass of water, sat next to the bed, held him up with a hand, and brought the cup to his mouth. Chen Xu half-leaned into her arms and gulped down the cup of water. ¡°Do you want more?¡± she asked. Chen Xu nodded, and she went to pour another glass. After drinking two glasses of water, Chen Xu finally regained some strength and sat on the bedside. ¡°I cooked porridge. Do want some?¡± Luo Xiyun asked as she picked up the bowl she had brought in. ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Xu looked at her face and let her feed porridge into his mouth spoon after spoon. His heart throbbed. He had never felt such tenderness from his previous girlfriend. After finishing a bowl of porridge, Luo Xiyun asked, ¡°You want more?¡± Chen Xu suddenly asked, ¡°Did you not rest these two days?¡± ¡°What?¡± Luo Xiyun was somewhat at a loss. She took a step backward and said, ¡°Y-you¡­ Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m taking care of you because you are injured, not because of anything else.¡± Chen Xu gazed at her eyes and said, ¡°Having gone through the gates of hell, it has gotten through to me. Now, our fate is tied together, and neither one can leave the other. So, why must we be angry at each other? We should spend the rest of our days together lovingly instead¡­¡± ¡°Stop imagining things,¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s chest was thumping wildly as she interrupted. ¡°Let me tell you, even if you die, I will survive just fine. Next time, do not touch me casually, or else I¡­ I¡¯ll not go easy on you.¡± Upon finishing, she took the bowl and left the room. Chen Xu said dismissively, ¡°This kind of threat does not deter me at all.¡± That was what he said, but there was still a hint of dismay in his face. Even now, was she still unwilling to accept him? He laid there while his mind wandered off. Gradually, he fell asleep. ¡­ When Chen Xu woke up again, he felt much more recovered. As he was thinking of getting up, he felt a person beside him. He turned around and saw Luo Xiyun sitting beside the bed. She was asleep with her head lying on the edge of the bed and a hand pressed against his body. He felt a little ridiculous. So much for the ruthless speech earlier on. Now, she had fallen asleep beside him. She said one thing and meant another. He reached out his hand, brushed the hair that had fallen across her face out of the way, and gazed at her. The more he looked at her, the prettier she became. Thinking about what she had said earlier, he was still a little angry. He whispered, ¡°You can never escape my palm.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s long eyelashes quivered. She woke up and lifted her head. Seeing him looking at her with blazing eyes, she rubbed her own eyes and said, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she looked at the time and, startled, said, ¡°Gosh, why have I been asleep for so long?¡± As she talked, she left in a hurry. Chen Xu grew a little curious. He pushed back the quilt, hopped off the bed, and followed her outside. Seeing her go to work in the kitchen, he couldn¡¯t help himself and began laughing. Chapter 25 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Why did you come out?¡± Luo Xiyun turned over. Realizing that Chen Xu had emerged, she said hurryingly, ¡°Go back and rest.¡± ¡®She really does care about me,¡¯ Chen Xu thought. From her instant reaction, Chen Xu was absolutely convinced. After entering society and having suffered a few losses, he came upon a principle of dealing with people. Don¡¯t listen to what others say, but rather see how they act. Their actions would help you discover his or her attitude towards you. Moreover, as his life experience built up, he could vaguely understand that sometimes what a person said was entirely different from what they did. Perhaps it wasn¡¯t because they intentionally wanted to deceive somebody else; it was rather that even they themselves don¡¯t know what they truly wanted. People are contradictory, and women are the peak of contradictions. He felt that he had grasped Luo Xiyun¡¯s psychological pattern and was all hyped up. He laughed, ¡°The room is too stuffy. I came out for some fresh air. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m okay now. Look, I can do thi¨Couchhh!¡± Chen Xu hopped twice as he talked. Suddenly, his feet went feeble for a moment and, following a totter, his calf hit the stool on the side. The pain left him sucking in cold air. ¡°Chen Xu¡ª¡± When Luo Xiyun saw him fall, she dropped the pot in her hand, rushed over, helped him up, and asked anxiously, ¡°Are you okay? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chen Xu shook his head while holding in the pain as he slowly stood up with his left hand around her waist. Luo Xiyun sensed something from his eyes and asked, ¡°Did you hurt yourself somewhere?¡± Chen Xu had already come to at that moment. He said with a little embarrassment, ¡°My leg got a little banged up.¡± ¡°Let me have a look.¡± She bent down and carefully pulled up the edge of his pants. Seeing that it was only a tiny bruise and it wasn¡¯t all that serious, she let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Stop showing off. Let me help you back to the room.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t say anything. He repositioned his left hand on her waist and walked towards the room. As they walked, he turned over to look at her face. There wasn¡¯t anything peculiar about her expression. It was like she didn¡¯t at all notice that their current posture was very intimate. In the room, Luo Xiyun helped him to the bedside, asked him to sit down, hauled in a medicine box, grabbed the medication oil, and helped him apply it on his wound. Finally, she said, ¡°You should rest here.¡± After she left, Chen Xu recollected the various contradicting attitudes she showed towards him, and an idea gradually came to his mind. ¡­ During dinner, Chen Xu kept staring at Luo Xiyun. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± Luo Xiyun couldn¡¯t help but lay down her chopsticks and grope around her face. Chen Xu shook his head and said with a deep voice, ¡°It is so great to be able to sit with you for dinner now. I thought I would never get to see you again.¡± Luo Xiyun moved her lips twice before asking, ¡°H-how did you end up there?¡± ¡°The car broke down, so I could only walk. I accidentally tripped when I was at that slope, and my rotten luck got me walloped on the forehead. That¡¯s why I passed out,¡± Chen Xu said in a relaxed tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stay in the car?¡± Luo Xiyun took a deep breath. ¡°It was snowing heavily yesterday, so it would have been very dangerous for you to walk. If it isn¡¯t that I just happened to pass by that place, maybe you¡­ you¡­¡± In the end, her inflection became a little agitated. Listening to her censures, Chen Xu didn¡¯t feel annoyed at all. There was a kind of joy in his heart. He explained softly, ¡°The car stopped too far away.¡± Luo Xiyun frowned hearing that. The place where she found Chen Xu was already the farthest region. Further ahead would be the frozen ground that had no end. Abruptly, something clicked. She had her eyes wide open as she asked in shock, ¡°Did you go into the frozen grounds?¡± The so-called frozen grounds referred to the massive, low-lying region that was flooded by the rain. After the temperature dropped, it was capped under a thick layer of ice. She occasionally went out with Chen Xu and had some understanding of the surrounding environment. The few kilometers¡¯ radius around the villa they were living in was like an isolated island surrounded by the frozen grounds. No matter which direction you looked, one would only see an endless range of ice. As far as she had known, Chen Xu had always been in the ¡°Lone Isle¡± region, never the frozen grounds. Hence, her thinking didn¡¯t go down that direction in the beginning. ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Xu nodded. ¡°You¡­¡± Luo Xiyun bit her lower lip and asked, ¡°Is it because we are low on gasoline?¡± ¡°We can still get by half a month with what¡¯s left in the storehouse. I wanted to explore this time around. Never thought that I¡¯ll run into an accident on the way back.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°We agreed on it back then. I¡¯ll do the work outside the house, and you take care of the inside. This is my responsibility.¡± ¡°That¡¯s you being a male chauvinist,¡± Luo Xiyun said flat-out. After some time, as she was thrusting the rice grains around with her chopsticks, she asked, ¡°How long did you walk in the snow?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°A couple of hours, perhaps.¡± A couple of hours? Luo Xiyun thought of the snow and the fact that the visibility range would have been fewer than ten meters yesterday when she went looking for him in a car. As the snow on the ground grew thicker and thicker, she was forced to slow down, and even after doing that, the wheels of her car would still slip from time to time. Occasionally, she would have to get out of the car and push it when the wheels slithering into soft snow stopped her from advancing. Even driving had been so challenging, let alone walking! She couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of perseverance he had in him to be able to persist for a few hours under such harsh weather. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t have a choice,¡± Chen Xu said. ¡°There is too little food in the car, and I felt that the blizzard would last for a few days. So, I¡¯d have dropped dead anyway if I stayed in the car.¡± Luo Xiyun opened her mouth slightly and glanced at him, but she didn¡¯t expose him. After she¡¯d rescued Chen Xu, she opened the backpack he was carrying. Half of it was filled with chocolate, compressed cookies, and canned food. That was enough food for a week. Even up to this moment, this man was still holding onto his secrets. ¡­¡­ After washing the dishes, Luo Xiyun pushed open the door of the room and saw that Chen Xu had just come out of the bathroom and was apparently wiping his hair with a towel. It was evident that he had just taken a shower. ¡°Your turn,¡± he said. She walked to the closet and found herself a set of clothing, but within her eyes was a hint of hesitation. Chen Xu was seemingly aware of her worries. He said, ¡°Relax, I won¡¯t peek.¡± She didn¡¯t say a word. She took her clothes and walked into the bathroom. After closing the door, she remembered that Chen Xu had just taken a bath here. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a little strange, but she wasn¡¯t that repulsed over it. Back when she was still having a cold war with Chen Xu, even when she was drying their clothes, she had to separate her clothes and Chen Xu¡¯s a few meters apart. Now, she wasn¡¯t that finicky anymore even when they had to share a single toilet. It couldn¡¯t be helped. There was a gasoline shortage now. they had to use less. Having this thought in mind, she began to undress. Chapter 26 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Luo Xiyun came out from the bathroom to see that Chen Xu was already lying on his mattress on the floor. She said, ¡°Your injuries have not recovered yet. Why don¡¯t you come to sleep on the bed?¡± Chen Xu looked up and said while smiling, ¡°It¡¯s okay; it¡¯s the same for me.¡± Luo Xiyun thought, ¡®he¡¯s afraid about me feeling uncomfortable.¡¯ She walked to the bed, snuggled into the quilt, and turned off the lights in an offhand manner. The room plunged into darkness. Lying on the bed, she recollected every drib and drab she had had with Chen Xu over the past few months. After her impression of him changed, looking back at his various behaviors, she could discern many things that she had neglected in the past. He was actually a very considerate person. As she kept on thinking, waves rippled across her heart. His considerateness was out of restraint, hidden behind a social mask that kept him away from others. During their interactions, he never intruded on her psychological comfort zone. Of everything he said and did, he gave her an abundance of space. Previously, she only thought of him as a very decent person. It was only until now that she realized, wasn¡¯t there considerateness behind such decency? By changing perspectives, one could see the other side of a person. It was also at this very moment that she found out she never really knew the man lying a few meters away from her. ¡°Xiyun.¡± In the darkness, Chen Xu suddenly whispered at her. This was the first time she heard him call her name. She felt a slightly strange feeling in her heart when she replied with a somewhat tightened voice, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little cold.¡± The man¡¯s voice was a little shaky amongst the darkness. ¡°Huh? What should I do?¡± She became a little anxious. When she turned around and reached out to the lights, she felt the quilt behind her being pushed away. A person got into the quilt and laid down almost right next to her. Her body became frozen, ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sleep together, it¡¯s warmer this way,¡± the voice of the man sounded at her back. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®He said he is very cold, probably because he got frostbitten in that snowdrift. If it is left untreated, his condition will worsen. He just wants a little warmth. It should be fine I guess.¡¯ Words of refusal rose to her lips but were swallowed back in. She lay on her side with her back to Chen Xu. She felt her heartbeat thumping rapidly. Even when facing away, she could evidently feel that the man behind her was very close, close enough to almost touch her. After some time, the man spoke once again, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep closer to each other, or the heat will be all gone.¡± ¡®No, that mustn¡¯t happen,¡¯ she thought, ¡®But he¡¯s feeling cold only because he¡¯s sick, and he just wanted to stay closer for warmth.¡¯ With that hesitation in mind, she ended up not doing anything. ¡°Why is your body so hot? Are you having a fever?¡± Suddenly, Chen Xu¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± As soon as she wanted to speak, a sizable hand bobbed up at her forehead and proceeded to feel around her face. ¡°It is a little hot; let me have a look.¡± With a click, the table lamp at the bedside illuminated with a gentle orange radiation that was not at all glaring to the eye. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­¡± She reached out her hands, wanting to push Chen Xu away. Instead of budging, that pair of hands grew even stronger. Chapter 27 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After Luo Xiyun entered the bathroom, Chen Xu began wearing his clothes and folded the quilt in an offhand manner. ¡°Hm?¡± All of a sudden, on top of the sky-blue quilt he saw a patch of color and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little strange. ¡°That can¡¯t be¡­¡± His heart suddenly throbbed as he thought of a possibility. As he stared at the stain, the more he was certain of his guess. Was yesterday night¡­? Doesn¡¯t she have a boyfriend? He was struck by disbelief. The color of the stain was too light. Initially, he never thought of that as a possibility. But under normal circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t have been colored. Aside from that, there was no other possibility. Pondering about it, he walked to the trash can¡­ It was as expected. An indescribable feeling welled up within her heart. ¡­ In a while, Luo Xiyun came out after a shower. Noticing that Chen Xu wasn¡¯t in the room, she wanted to go out and look for him. Suddenly, after having a glance at the bedsheet, a gush of heat streamed up to her face. She quickly grabbed the old sheets, took out a set of new sheets from the cabinet, and unfolded them on the bed. As soon as she was done doing that, she saw Chen Xu coming in with a bowl while saying, ¡°I made breakfast. Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± Luo Xiyun got a look at it. There were red dates and wolfberries in the porridge. She felt a little strange, ¡°Aren¡¯t you not really fond of sweetness?¡± ¡°I made this especially for you.¡± Chen Xu got to the bedside, lifted the bowl, ladled out a spoonful of porridge, and brought it to her mouth. Luo Xiyun was a little uncomfortable with his sudden enthusiasm. She blocked his hands and said, ¡°I can do it myself.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t insist on it. He stuffed the bowl and spoon into her hand and said, ¡°Eat any many as you want; there¡¯s still a lot in the pot. I¡¯ll get you another bowl after you finish this one.¡± ¡°You should eat too,¡± Luo Xiyun said to him, feeling a little heat in her face when she saw that he was staring right at her. ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Xu picked up the bowl and began eating. After breakfast, Chen Xu came back after doing the dishes. Noticing that she was wearing a frown and a worried look, he sat down next to her and asked, ¡°What happened? Are you feeling uncomfortable?¡± ¡°No¡­ I¡­¡± Luo Xiyun bit her lip as she was about to speak. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him. She whispered, ¡°U¡­ u-uhm¡­ w-what if I got pregnant? W-what should I do?¡± Chen Xu had never seen her look so shy and timid. It completely subverted his impression of her. The disparity that ensued got his heart itching. He moved his mouth close to her ear and said, ¡°If you really got pregnant, just have the baby.¡± Luo Xiyun felt awfully embarrassed and pushed him away, ¡°Why are you still speaking nonsense?¡± Noticing that she was truly a little on her nerves, he didn¡¯t trigger her any further. He consoled to her, ¡°Relax, you are now in your safe period. You won¡¯t get pregnant.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Luo Xiyun staring at him with a strange look. Feeling a little guilty from it, he asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say anything wrong?¡± She said in a peculiar tone, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°My safe period.¡± It was only then that Chen Xu felt something click. It was this that compelled her into making that strange look. He didn¡¯t know how to answer for a while. Indeed, a man taking note of a woman¡¯s menstruation cycle without them being a pair was strange enough. Luo Xiyun said while gritting her teeth, ¡°You are really a big a*s pervert.¡± Her face was smeared with a coat of blush, and her eyes were drizzled behind a blanket of mist. She was talking in a nasal tone. The words that came from her mouth, which were clearly meant for reprimanding, were, however, full of pathos, and that got Chen Xu¡¯s heart wavering for a moment. He said with a smirk, ¡°Then, how do you feel about rolling in the sheets with a big a*s pervert?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s face was flushing red. She forcefully pushed him away and said viciously, ¡°Disgusting.¡± Chen Xu cackled. He didn¡¯t tease her again, choosing to quit while he¡¯s ahead lest she get even more pissed off. In the end, she would still have to expend her breath on him. ¡­ The relationship between the two welcomed some drastic progression. In the following days, they began living together for real. As the days passed, the snowstorm outside was seemingly getting stronger. On the fifth day, Chen Xu finally made up his mind. He took Luo Xiyun with him on a trip to bring back some gasoline. He had a hunch that, as the end of the dream loomed nearer, the weather would become increasingly harsh. If they did not go out now, there wouldn¡¯t be another chance for it. Presently, the snow on the ground outside was already half a meter thick. There was no way to drive out on a car. Hence, he spent another two days to prepare and set off officially only until the seventh day. On the day of their departure, Chen Xu was driving a shovel loader in front to shovel off the snow, while Luo Xiyun followed behind on a large truck. What they were lacking now was gasoline, but they did have a lot of diesel in the storage. This time, they installed half a carriage of diesel inside the truck. As a result, they would naturally be moving really slowly. They dared not to rest halfway for fear of the vehicles breaking down. If that happened, it would really be the end of them. It took them a whole ten hours¡¯ time to get through the frozen plains and to the building area that Chen Xu had come the last time. Swiftly, they found the first gas station. Having driven for so long, both of them were worn out, and they decided to take a night off and leave everything else for tomorrow. They found a building with a wide enough entrance nearby and drove in both the shovel loader and the truck. This was originally a shop selling tiles. Its door was initially locked, but Chen Xu forcibly pried the door open. The area inside was large enough. He shoved the display tiles in the shop aside with the shovel loader, thus making enough space for the two vehicles. Subsequently, Chen Xu got a small stove meant for picnicking in the vehicle and cooked a pot of noodles. The two gathered around the pot and slurped the noodles until it was empty. Chen Xu only felt alive after eating the noodles. He was almost frozen stiff as there was no heating on the shovel loader. After resting for a while, he started a bonfire at the corner and set up the text next to it. ¡°When will the snow actually stop?¡± After a hectic day, the two sat in front of the bonfire to warm themselves up. Luo Xiyun held her hands around her knees and gazed at the fire, seemingly muttering to herself. Chen Xu looked at her face, reflecting on the redness of the flames, and said gently, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be much longer.¡± Luo Xiyun turned her head and looked at him. ¡°What if it is?¡± For a while, Chen Xu didn¡¯t know how to answer her question because he knew that this snow would perhaps really go on and on without stopping. Chapter 28 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Over the following days, as the snow and wind continued to increase, Chen Xu could tell that Luo Xiyun was becoming more and more restless. Every day at midnight, she would be awakened by nightmares. He had never seen her so vulnerable and helpless. At this time, he could do nothing but give her more physical and mental comfort. He grabbed her hand, looked into her eyes, and said, ¡°No matter what happens, I will always be there for you.¡± Luo Xiyun placed his hand on her face, feeling the coldness of his palm and its slightly rough touch. She slowly closed her eyes, and the anxiety between her eyebrows gradually soothed. Looking at her calm and peaceful expression, a cord within Chen Xu¡¯s heart reverberated. These days, there was a lingering thought in his mind. When this dream ended and when he woke up, what would happen to this dream world? What would happen to the Luo Xiyun who lived in this dream? He wanted to question the virtual dream control that sent him into this dream world, but no matter how he summoned for it, he received no response at all. In his recognition, there were some things that were unreal in this dream world, and it wasn¡¯t too hard to accept those facts. However, Luo Xiyun felt just like a living person to him. Her temperature, her breath, her murmurs, her screaming, her tears, her shivering, her spasms¡­all seemed so real. When the dream ended, would she vanish along with the dream world? Nonetheless, even if this dream world could be preserved, after his departure, the entire world would be left with her alone. For her, perhaps that would feel more terrible than death. His mind was a little jumbled up. ¡°If I die one day and only you are left¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll live well,¡± Luo Xiyun said with a very faint voice without opening her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s so sad. I thought you would die for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself. I never live for somebody else.¡± After she finished speaking, she didn¡¯t hear him talk even after waiting for some time. She opened her eyes and saw him staring at the bonfire. She asked softly, ¡°Your self-esteem got hurt again, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah. Deeply.¡± Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°Go to sleep. We still have work tomorrow.¡± ¡­¡­ The next morning, the two got up to work and spent the whole morning filling up the empty barrels they brought over yesterday. This was physical work, draining the two of them to the brink of collapsing. Hence, they rested here for another night to recover their stamina. It was only on the third morning after they had left and embarked on their way home. They returned via the same route. The path shoveled out when they came was still there, and it made their journey a lot easier. In only five hours¡¯ time, they were back at the villa. Chen Xu was relieved. Fortunately, no accidents had happened along the way. As for the gasoline they brought back this time, if they used it thriftily, lasting for two months wouldn¡¯t be a problem. To celebrate the successful completion of this mission, the two took out the only tomatoes left and stir-fried them. Back then, the downpour came too quickly. When they moved, they had brought with them very little fresh vegetables. For preservation purposes, they had to freeze them. These tomatoes were the last in the stock. Snow grains were all over the sky outside the house. Inside the house, it was as warm as spring. The two were sitting by the dining table and feasting on the steaming food. At least within this small space, there was happiness belonging to them both. Yet, Chen Xu was aware that when this dream entered countdown, such happiness wouldn¡¯t last for long. ¡­ On the fifteenth day before the dream ended, in their sleep, the glass window of the room suddenly burst open. Freezing winds began howling along with snow particles. The room temperature, which was originally over ten degrees, instantly plummeted to lower than minus ten degrees. The two that had awakened wrapped themselves in a quilt and hurriedly escaped the room. Outside, they discovered that all the glass windows in the villa were shattered. None had survived. Their cozy little world could now no longer hold off the freezing cold. At last, they could only seek shelter in the cloakroom next to the master bedroom. The two wrapped themselves in a quilt, listening to the whistling winds outside the house and embracing each other for warmth. Chen Xu had already anticipated that this day would come and thus wasn¡¯t affected. It was only that he was very worried about Luo Xiyun. To his surprise, Luo Xiyun, who was lying in his arms, wasn¡¯t panicking or speechless. Slowly, he closed his eyes, shutting off thoughts about the dream and the extreme cold of over minus ten degrees beyond the door. The goose down quilt isolated them from the outside world and created a tiny little world for them. Within absolute darkness, the two listened to each other¡¯s heartbeat, felt each other¡¯s breath, and tucked into each other¡¯s warmth. They were relishing in this brief moment of warmth and serenity. ¡­ After dawn, the two put on thick winter clothes and sealed all the windows with wooden boards, except the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony in the living room because they couldn¡¯t find such a large piece of wood. Fortunately, there were no windows in the basement, so it was spared. The generators situated over there weren¡¯t affected. As long as the generators could still work, they won¡¯t be in too big of a predicament. At the very least, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about being frozen to death. It took them two days to clean up everything. In spite of that, their lives were still greatly affected. Notably, they had to put on thick clothing every time they went out to the living room. Moreover, Chen Xu could evidently feel the weather getting colder and colder by day, and the heater¡¯s heating effect gradually diminishing. After all, this was the southern region. Temperatures during winter would rarely go below zero. Although some thermal insulation materials were used to build this villa, the builders would not have taken into account temperatures of over minus ten degrees. Luo Xiyun had also become quieter. Entering the tenth day on the countdown, Chen Xu had already put it aside and forgone everything. He didn¡¯t want to think about anything else, but rather enjoy the time with her indulgently. Then came the fifth day on the countdown. In the morning, Luo Xiyun was routinely woken up in Chen Xu¡¯s arms, got up gently, and covered the quilt back on him. After cleaning herself, she put on her thick winter jacket and opened a slit at the door as she usually did. She immediately noticed something different. Opening the door was very easy, and the cold winds usually sipping through the slit of the door didn¡¯t happen. Her heart thumped. She opened the door a little wider and was finally affirmed of one thing. The wind had stopped. She gushed out the door and stood by the balcony. She covered her mouth and burst into tears. It was still the same silver-clad world outside the balcony. However, the snow that had persisted for more than half a month had stopped. At the edge of the world, a golden sun was there at present, giving away its light and heat. Chapter 29 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Luo Xiyun stood in front of the balcony and burst into tears while gazing at the golden sunshine. After standing transfixed for a couple of minutes, she thought of telling the great news to Chen Xu. She rushed back into the room and shook Chen Xu all the while expressing with excitement, ¡°Get up, the snow has stopped and the sun is out, qui-¡­Chen Xu, what¡¯s going on with you?¡± She shook him a few times only to realize that something wasn¡¯t right with Chen Xu. His face was pale, and his eyes were lifeless like he had contracted some serious illness. Luo Xiyun was taken aback. ¡°I might have caught a cold.¡± Chen Xu revealed a smile with strain. Luo Xiyun extended her palm to touch his forehead. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get medicine.¡± Seeing her rummaging through the cabinet, Chen Xu felt a little heavy on the inside. He had a hunch that this was probably not an illness. His entire body was wobbly, and he couldn¡¯t seem to exert any strength. It wasn¡¯t as unbearable as the common cold and fever, and he wasn¡¯t experiencing any discomfort. In a while, Luo Xiyun finally found the medicine box. She poured a glass of water, fumbled upon some cold pills, and helped him with it. ¡°Have a good rest. I¡¯ll go prepare some porridge.¡± Upon finishing, she helped Chen Xu with the quilt, exited the room, and gently closed the door. A moment after lying down, Chen Xu felt his eyelids getting heavier, and swiftly, he closed his eyes. ¡­ When Chen Xu opened his eyes again, he saw Luo Xiyun lying on the bedside just like the last time when he was injured and unconscious. He struggled to lower his head and found out that his clothes had changed. His heart sank. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± Luo Xiyun said with excitement as she awoke. Seeing her bloodshot eyes, Chen Xu asked, ¡°How long have I slept?¡± ¡°Not long.¡± A gentle smile appeared on her face as she shifted the conversation topic. ¡°I made porridge. Come have some.¡± As she spoke, she poured a bowl of porridge from the thermos flask at the side. Chen Xu was very cooperative. He managed to finish a bowl of porridge and chattered with her for a moment. Then, his eyelids grew heavy again, and he quickly lost consciousness. ¡­ The second time he woke up, Luo Xiyun wasn¡¯t in the room. This time, his clothes had changed yet again. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He turned his head around strenuously and glanced at the electronic clock above the bedside. Two days had passed since he first passed out. In other words, he would wake up every other day. ¡°Fuck.¡± After getting the picture, he couldn¡¯t hold back his curses. About ten minutes later, he lost consciousness again. ¡­ The third time he woke up, Luo Xiyun was lying beside him. As soon as he moved, she felt it and looked up at him. The orange lamp on the bedside was lit. She¡¯d decided to keep this lamp turned on. Its glow was gentle, making the atmosphere particularly great. She had different makeup today. Her bright red lips were highlighting a cold and glamorous temperament. She moved to his ear and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve got everything prepared, so when you¡¯re ready¡­¡± Chen Xu struggled as he said, ¡°You get up and let¡¯s chat for a while, okay?¡± All of a sudden, Luo Xiyun grabbed his collar and said furiously, ¡°Are you telling me that you can¡¯t do it now? Are you a man? You jerk, get up now! Get up¡­¡± Chen Xu allowed her to vent as his heart surged in bitterness. Luo Xiyun was an introverted person. He had never seen her as emotionally agitated as she was now. Evidently, over the past few days where he had fallen into unconsciousness, she was already on the verge of collapsing. After a while, Chen Xu¡¯s eyelids were becoming heavy again. Knowing that time was running out, he said quietly, ¡°Sorry.¡± Subsequently, his eyelids grew heavier, and before plummeting into absolute darkness, he faintly heard someone crying. ¡­ It was the last day of the dream. Chen Xu woke up for the last time. He couldn¡¯t seem to open his eyes because of the dazzlingly bright light. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice came from beside. This time, her voice seemed very tranquil. Swiftly, his eye adapted to the surrounding light and he could clearly perceive the scenery in front of him. The blue sky was like a sapphire dome. At the edge of the snowy horizon, a golden sun was rising slowly, smearing all of the icy world in a blanket of golden light. He had never seen such magnificent scenery and was a little overwhelmed with astonishment. At that moment, he was sitting in a wheelchair. The buildings below were familiar, and he soon realized where he was. This was the top of the mountain where the villa was located. The developer had built a viewing pavilion here for people to admire the scenery. He never expected Luo Xiyun to bring him to this place. ¡°The snowing has stopped.¡± He became cheerful as he gazed at the scenery before him. ¡°It already stopped four days ago.¡± Luo Xiyun pushed him to the fence. ¡°These days, the temperature has been rising. At noon yesterday, it was close to zero. I believe that it won¡¯t be long before the temperature rises above zero.¡± As she spoke, she went to his side, squatted down, and continued, ¡°When the snow melts, I plan to drive north to find other survivors. I believe there must be some other people on earth who have escaped this disaster.¡± Chen Xu heard her say ¡°I¡± instead of ¡°us¡±. As to whether she was deliberately stimulating him or it was for some other reason, he didn¡¯t care anymore. He would be leaving soon. In a few minutes, he would have already stayed in this dream for a whole 180 days. When the time came, this dream would end. Perhaps because of all the sleep he had gotten over the past few days, his mind was exceptionally clear. Since he¡¯d entered the dream, he had never felt so sure like he was now that all he had experienced over the past six months was all merely a dream. Subsequently, he once again felt his eyelids becoming heavier. He was aware that the moment he closes his eyes would mark the end of the dream. At this moment, a question arose in his heart, and he was eager to know the answer. He turned around and asked, ¡°Luo Xiyun, have you ever loved me?¡± Luo Xiyun looked into his eyes and seemed to have realized something. She bit her lower lip and said, ¡°No, I never loved you. Why should I love a man like you who is self-righteous, selfish, and only ever cares about himself?¡± As she went on, her tears kept falling like pearls slipping off a thread. Chen Xu¡¯s eyes were already completely shut as his neck frailly declined sideways. With her hands trembling, she reached out to his carotid artery. After a moment, his face had already become pale. ¡°What¡¯s nice about you? You can¡¯t come up with any good words to coax me when I¡¯m angry. You don¡¯t know how to be a gentleman when it comes to good food. You throw stuff all around. You get triggered easily¡­ you¡­ s-snore when you¡­s-sleep¡­¡± As she went on and on, she leaned on Chen Xu¡¯s lap and had already lost her voice in sobs. After a while, her crying gradually stopped. She stood up, pulled Chen Xu on the chair upright, positioned his face in front of hers with several straps, and strapped him firmly in front of her body. She held onto the wheelchair with one hand and stood above the fence. Staring at the ordinary-looking face, she murmured, ¡°How could you leave me alone? You haven¡¯t confessed to me, proposed to me, put a ring on me¡­ and you still wish for me to fall in love with you. Pfff, you jerk.¡± Upon finishing, she closed her eyes, inclined forward, and plunged down the cliff. Chapter 30 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Congratulations. You have completed the mission to survive 180 days in ¡®The Apocalypse¡¯. The difficulty of this dream adventure is zero. Calculating points.¡± ¡°Calculation complete. In this dream adventure, you have acquired 50 points. We hope for you to work harder and obtain a better score in your next dream adventure.¡± ¡°Congratulations on passing your first dream adventure. Your rewards have been sent to your personal backpack. Please check and confirm.¡± ¡°Your next dream adventure will commence in a month. Stay tuned.¡± Chen Xu asked, ¡°What are the ¡®points¡¯ about?¡± ¡°Points are rewards you acquire after comprehensive evaluation based on your performance in the dream. Before the next dream begins, you can use these points to redeem some auxiliary items.¡± After listening, Chen Xu was a little disappointed. From the looks of it, points could only be used to redeem items used in dreams. They could not be used in reality. Because of that, there was nothing he was looking forward to in the reward he had acquired. He opened his personal backpack and saw a card with a strange pattern on its back which immediately attracted his attention. He said, ¡°Open it.¡± The card turned over. On the card was a topless man in a hurler¡¯s posture with a javelin-like thing in his hands. ¡°Congratulations. You have acquired the talent card: Throwing Precision. Do you want to use it?¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t tell the value of this card. He only wondered why they were making this like a game. However, he had to agree after giving it some thought. This was indeed a stand-alone virtual game. He¡¯d just cleared a level and acquired gold coins (points), and a skill book (talent card). There was nothing wrong with it. He said, ¡°Yes.¡± A ray of light discharged from the card, and the javelin in the man¡¯s hands morphed into a shooting star, then flew towards him. The piercing lights forced his eyes to remain shut. Subsequently, a rough voice sounded in his ears. ¡°No matter how great your talent is, it will go to waste without hard training.¡± A few seconds later, everything went back to normal. He was a little surprised, ¡°Those special effects are crazy. Perhaps this talent truly is a strong one. Mm, I¡¯ll test it in my next dream adventure.¡± All was done. He could wake up now. ¡­¡­ Chen Xu felt like he had woken up from a very long dream. His head was a little groggy. He stayed in bed for a few more minutes before waking up completely. He went to the window and opened it. He looked at the pedestrians downstairs and listened to the cacophony of sounds coming from outside. In the past, he always felt that the noise outside was too loud and disturbing. But now, he felt that even the noise was so pleasant. ¡°It is indeed true. One will only cherish something if they lose it.¡± He sighed. After spending so long in the empty world in the dream, he realized how precious the modern convenient lifestyle was. He stood at the window for a few minutes and suddenly felt that something wasn¡¯t right. He had just experienced life and death in the dream. Why wasn¡¯t he sad at all? Why was he still in the mood to leisurely gaze at the scenery? Having that thought cross his mind, he discovered something even more peculiar. His memories of the dream have become very blurry. He could remember the overalls, but he couldn¡¯t recall all the details. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± He was somewhat startled. If he couldn¡¯t remember anything from the dream once he woke up, what would be the meaning of such a virtual dream? ¡°Be rest assured. This is the device¡¯s anti-addiction mechanism to prevent the content of dreams from causing too much psychological shock to the user. For a period of time after waking up, your memories of the dream will become blurred. Over time, they will slowly recover.¡± Chen Xu was somewhat surprised that this dream gear would take the initiative to answer his question. Before this, no matter how he summoned for it, it didn¡¯t respond. Could it be that after acquiring some points, his user authority had increased? This thought merely flashed through his mind. He then asked a realistic question, ¡°How long will it take for me to remember everything?¡± ¡°One month.¡± One month wasn¡¯t all that long. Speaking of which, he felt that the anti-addiction mechanism was very much necessary. Otherwise, the dream would have a massive impact on real life. Within a one-month buffering period, the impact would be less intense. ¡°I think I should find a chance to resign.¡± Such a thought suddenly emerged in his heart. Although he couldn¡¯t remember the details, he was still aware of what happened in the dream. In the dream, he and Luo Xiyun lived together and even rolled in the bedsheets together. But in real life, he and Luo Xiyun were strangers. If they were to meet, things might get a little awkward. What¡¯s more, she had a boyfriend. Just the thought itself was irritating enough. When his memories of the dream completely recovered, it might feel even worse. ¡°I never thought about how I should face her after the dream ends.¡± He was a little dispirited. He was literally giving himself trouble. Nonetheless, it was too late to regret it. He would be better off thinking about where to find a new job. Having thought of that, he gazed at a faraway building. As he kept on thinking, a thought came to his mind. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Hey, is it possible that somewhere within the midst, the Luo Xiyun in reality resonated with herself in the dream and awakened the memories she had in the dream?¡± ¡°The possibility is zero percent. The characters in dreams are AIs with real humans as their blueprints. The hypothesis you mentioned is not possible.¡± Of course, Chen Xu knew that this was impossible. He sighed. ¡°Alert, alert, system database error, entering self-test mode¡­¡± Suddenly, a sharp warning sounded in Chen Xu¡¯s mind that startled him. Various data streams were constantly flashing through his vision. What¡¯s going on? He was bewildered. He finally got his hands on a golden finger, thinking that he was about to reach the pinnacle of his life. Was it going to break so soon? Right after the end of his first dream world adventure? He can¡¯t be that unlucky, right? His heart was crying, but he could do nothing but be anxious. Over ten minutes later, the data stream hopping before his eyes finally vanished and the system reverted to the original interface. ¡°Is it all sorted out?¡± He carefully switched around the interfaces several times. Everything seemed to be fine. It was only that, no matter how he summoned for that voice, it would no longer show up. ¡°Is my user authority lowered again?¡± he smiled bitterly. No matter what, he was already very grateful that the virtual dream gear could still work. ¡­¡­ In a luxurious apartment in the city, Luo Xiyun woke up from her sleep. She touched her face and it was full of tears, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She sat up and held her forehead. Her head was a little drowsy as she felt like she just had an extremely long dream. Abruptly, she remembered something. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. As she was overly nervous, even her knuckles turned a little pale. ¡°Hello¡ª¡± When a hoarse voice sounded from the phone, she turned on her waterworks. Chapter 31 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu checked repeatedly and made sure that the virtual dream gear was still with him before he could be at ease. It was just a false alarm. Looking at the time, it was almost seven. Just when he wanted to cook himself a bowl of noodles for breakfast with the spare time, he suddenly remembered that he had something important to do. At the speed of light, he brushed his teeth and got dressed before heading out. ¡°Hopefully I¡¯ll reach it in time.¡± Scurrying down, he wasted no time and headed straight towards the bus stop without buying breakfast. However, he did not take his usual bus. Instead, he went on another bus. He checked the time multiple times on the bus, looking like a cat on a hot tin roof. 7:26 a.m. The bus reached its final destination. He scooted down, dashing towards the commercial building that was opposite the bus stop and attracting the attention of the pedestrians. Chen Xu could not care less. He took a glance at his phone when he reached his destination and was pleased. ¡°7:29 a.m. Just in time.¡± Hereafter, he saw a couple standing in front of the vending machine that sold the lucky box. He dashed forward immediately, feeling hopeful. ¡­ ¡°So this is the lucky box that took the internet by storm. I didn¡¯t know if I¡¯d find one here. Let me pay for it first.¡± A slightly chubby man scanned the QR code to pay with a phone in his hand while filming with another. ¡°Look, the box is out.¡± The man took out the box and said, ¡°As you all can see, this is the wrapper of the box, which is pretty exquisite. Now, I will open it up.¡± He called his friend over and quickly opened the box. While he was filming, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s in here. Erm, a lip balm.¡± He took out the lip balm and displayed it in front of the camera. ¡°As everyone can see, only the Korean language is written on it. Now, let us search this up on eBao.¡± He found it immediately. He presented his phone and said, ¡°Take a long look, everyone, this brand costs 75 dollars on eBao. Hmm, at least I did not make a loss.¡± He stopped filming afterward and groaned disgruntledly at his lover. ¡°Can¡¯t you lend me a helping hand?¡± The lady beside him snapped, ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise to shop with me? Turns out, you are just here for your business.¡± The man rebuked, ¡°How do I afford your clothes if I don¡¯t think of ways to earn money? Hurry up! Let¡¯s film another one! ¡± This was Xu Ming, a young man in his early twenties. He came across the lucky box coincidentally while watching videos online. He saw the commercial value in that and immediately took the chance. He bought a few vending machines and placed them locations where there were swarming crowds. With the rising trend of such short videos, he was able to earn some revenue. However, trends come and go. The sales of the lucky boxes stagnated recently. As a result, he decided to film some short videos to promote the lucky box. This vending machine was positioned by him. To attract attention, he bought an iPhone X which was placed in the vending machine not long ago by himself. He deliberately arrived early in the morning to avoid the crow so that he would not be exposed. As an avid reader of novels, he knew the importance of creating suspense. Hence, he deliberately picked the boxes which contained consolation prizes. Otherwise, it would have seemed too fake if the first box chosen was an iPhone X. Xu Ming started filming again. ¡°I wanted to scan a box for my girlfriend, but who knew that this is a lip balm for males. Let me scan another one. I wonder what I will get this time. I¡¯m looking forward to it¡ª¡± A man charged forward, pushing Xu Ming aside and scanned the QR code before him. ¡°How can someone beat me to it¡ª¡± Xu Ming was on pins and needles, afraid that the box containing the iPhone X will be chosen. Despite feeling that he would not be so unlucky, he still laughed at the thought. After that, he felt a lump in his throat and was unable to breathe. A ghastly whiteness spread over his face. That person had actually chosen the right box. His heart palpitated against his ribs. How could he have hit the jackpot by chance? Damn it, why that box? Unfortunately, his panic was to no avail. The box was already in the hand of the other. He could only watch the man unwrap the box, revealing the iPhone X. He could not hold himself back anymore. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± Unexpectedly, the man put the phone into his bag and looked at him warily. ¡°Mine,¡± the man warned. Xu Ming scrunched up his face as he watched the man keep the phone. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s¡­¡± he blurted in panic. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me you are going to snatch it from me.¡± The man did not dare to let down his guard and took a step backward. Xu Ming did not expect the man to be so cynical, causing him to be lost for words. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I want¡­¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± The man interrupted him and left immediately. ¡°Wait, hear me out.¡± Xu Ming wanted to stop the man, but to no avail. The man dashed away, disappearing behind the corner. Xu Ming was shocked beyond words. How did it become like this? He felt suffocated by the mere thought that the iPhone X, which cost him 10 thousand dollars, was now in the hands of a stranger. His girlfriend, who still had not figured out the situation, questioned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°The present I prepared for you is now gone.¡± Xu Ming was on the verge of tears. ¡­ On the other hand, Chen Xu was already onboard the subway. Chen Xu felt immensely blissful after successfully acquiring the phone. He could not remember many details from his dream, except for the position and number of the lucky box which contained the iPhone X. This sensitivity to money-related issues was likely due to his penurious habits. Frankly, he was just trying his luck. However, it was exactly a replica of his dream. This brand-new phone, which was still nicely wrapped, would cost a minimum of 10 thousand dollars, and to him, this was definitely a windfall. ¡°No wonder it¡¯s called black technology.¡± He was deeply astonished by its ability to simulate reality and felt much more confident about the Virtual Dream Gear. Unequivocally, his first experience in the dream world was rather ill-equipped. He was overly fixated on the need to survive and thus unable to appreciate the tranquility of the empty city. In gaming terms, he was just a rookie player, who conscientiously followed the tutorial step-by-step without any interest in exploring beyond the maps. ¡°What a waste.¡± He sighed. On the other hand, he was also extremely excited about his next dream world. In a blink of an eye, he reached his stop. He alighted at the stop and called his senior high school friend, who was working at an electronics store, to inform him about the brand-new iPhone X that he was selling. His friend agreed right away and asked Chen Xu to mail him the phone immediately. At the end of their conversation, Chen Xu had already arrived at his company building. He settled down at his desk. It was exactly 8:00 a.m. As he switched on his desktop, the thought of seeing Luo Xiyun made him nervous. Chapter 32 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu quickly realized that he did not have time to bother about other things as he was in a bit of a pickle. Even though only one night had passed in reality, to him, he had been in the virtual dreamworld for almost half a year. He was indeed a little overwhelmed by the fact that he had completed his half-done task, which he had left off almost half a year ago. Sitting in front of his desktop, he was at a loss. He did not know what to do. ¡°Right, my briefcase.¡± He emptied out the items in his briefcase and found a document. He finally knew where to start after scanning through the document thoroughly. Hereafter, he put his items back in his briefcase and opened the computer file, where he used to save his documents for work. He spent his entire morning trying to familiarize himself with these documents and slowly getting back on track. He did not approach anyone for help as he did not want his colleagues to be weirded out by him. He managed to push through until lunchtime when Old Tang called him over for lunch. They went to the restaurant which they regularly patronized. It was just a stone¡¯s thrown away from the company. The moment he entered the restaurant, Chen Xu had some recollections of the restaurant. The food there was cheap and affordable. Hence, they frequently went over for lunch. Both Old Tang and he disliked food delivery as they did not want to spend their entire day in the office. They preferred to take a break outside their office during their lunchtime. ¡°Did something happen? You seemed really out of place recently, ¡°Old Tang said after settling down. Chen Xu knew that his actions in the morning were definitely peculiar, and he would not be able to hide from his colleagues for long. He replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I¡¯m just a little annoyed.¡± While chatting, he suddenly remembered that he could ask Old Tang for some advice regarding his change of job. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m contemplating to change my career.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s so sudden.¡± Old Tang was taken aback. ¡°As you would¡¯ve known, I have been in the same position for the past two years. I shouldn¡¯t continue to muddle along. I may have better prospects if I change my job now,¡± Chen Xu said in a disheartened tone. ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Old Tang asked. Knowing his situation in the company, Old Tang could not persuade him to stay. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you have any jobs in mind?¡± ¡°No, I will be sending my resumes to different companies first. I don¡¯t have any other requirements; I¡¯m just hoping that their salary will be higher than my current one.¡± As they were chatting, the dishes were ready. They continued with their conversations as they dug in. Given his experience, Old Tang was able to give Chen Xu much valuable advice. They returned to the office after their meal, and they did not discuss Chen Xu¡¯s resignation further as he did not want other colleagues to know. They met a delivery man who was making his delivery to the company when they reached the office. Chen Xu immediately handed the iPhone X to the delivery man. His senior high school friend in the neighboring city should receive the phone the next day. Once he sold this phone, the money he received would help to relieve some of his financial burdens. After the delivery man had left, Chen Xu took up his cup to brew himself a cup of tea to freshen up. At the water dispenser, a few of the female colleagues were gossiping. Chen Xu overheard them talking about Luo Xiyun, saying that she was on a business trip. He was in a much lower position compared to Luo XIyun. Needless to say, he definitely would not be notified of Luo Xiyun¡¯s whereabouts. A wave of relief washed over him now that he was aware that Luo Xiyun had gone on a business trip. This meant that he would not be crossing paths with her anytime soon. He returned to his desk after filling his cup. He leaned against the chair while he was pondering and scribbling on his paper. He tried to recall the incidents in his dream, trying to find opportunities to earn money. Even until break time, he still could not remember anything useful. Crumpling the paper he¡¯d scribbled on, he tossed it into the wastebasket in the comer of the room. The paper ball went straight into the wastebasket. He dusted his hands and spun himself around. Taking a sip of tea, he pulled himself together and continued to work on his document diligently. ¡­ Chen Xu returned back to his dull and mundane lifestyle again. Besides the little surprise from his senior high school friend, who transferred him nine thousand dollars after receiving the phone, there was nothing different. He still had not received any replies after sending out his resume. One week had gone by in a breeze. As usual, he always reached the company on the dot. After a week, he had finally adjusted himself and was returning to how he was half a year ago. When he reached the office, his colleagues were flocking together for some discussion as usual. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something happen?¡± he turned and asked Old Tang. ¡°I just reached here, too.¡± Old Tang shook his head, unaware of what was happening as well. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± Cai Hao scooted over to Chen Xu. ¡°There have been rumors going around saying that the company will set up a Marketing Department, and our Advertising Department will be dismissed. Old Wang is trying to find out more information. We still don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on exactly,¡± Cai Hao said worriedly. ¡°What? So sudden? There wasn¡¯t any news of that yesterday,¡± Old Tang gasped in shock. Their company did not manufacture products. The newly set up Marketing Department had responsibilities that were imbricated by the Advertising Department, and Chen Xu was clearly aware of the consequences of setting up this new department. In due time, their department may be deprived of authority, and in the worst-case scenario, the entire department would be suspended. Neither of the situations would be advantageous for the employees working in the Advertising Department. However, it was not a big deal to him considering that he was already prepared to resign. Speaking of which, this company had over 10 supermarket chains under its name and most of them were located in business districts. This was definitely not a small company. Including the supermarket employees, the company had more than 2000 employees. They were definitely a large enterprise. Nominally, the Advertising Department in the headquarters had to oversee the promotion of all the stores. In reality, the Advertising Department had little influence. Each store had its own promotional events independent of one another, and they would send in a report to the department merely to notify them about their events. Every store was governed by a General Manager. Even though they were on equal footing as the Head of Department, they would still disregard the Advertising department, especially when they had greater capabilities, salary, and backing. For the past two years, Chen Xu had been working on report summaries, and during peak periods, he would be assigned to the stores to help out. It was clearly tiring for him. This was also one of the reasons why he wanted to resign. In this industry, it was extremely difficult to be promoted without anyone to fall back on. He had no clue why the company had to choose such timing to set up a Marketing Department. Regardless, it would not concern him. Everyone in the Advertising Department was jittery; none of them was focusing on their work the entire morning. Finally, the Head of Department, Old Wang, brought back some good news. The Advertising Department would not be revoked, and none of the employees will be dismissed. The newly set up department would not have overlapping responsibilities as the Adverting Department as they would only be overseeing the publication on online platforms. The employees were finally appeased. ¡°Chen Xu, meet me in my office.¡± Old Wang stopped Chen Xu after announcing the news. Could it be? Chen Xu was a little depressed. Every time he was called into the office, it was not for something good. ¡°Is he going to reprimand me for sloppy performance recently?¡± Chapter 33 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°You¡¯re transferring me to the new department?¡± Chen Xu initially thought that he would be given a tongue-lashing by Old Wang in his office. Yet, to his surprise, Old Wang suggested to transfer him over to the newly established Marketing Department. Old Wang had really unique features; he had a square face shape and a mole on his left cheekbone area. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare to look down on this new department, it¡¯s of great importance to the CEOs. You are lucky to be selected; you should cherish this chance.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Chen Xu did not want to accept his offer as he was prepared to resign. ¡°Stop,¡± Old Wang interrupted, then whispered, ¡°Vice-Chairman Mr. Liu will personally take over the management of the Marketing Department, and the team members are chosen from various departments. According to Old He from the Human Resources Department, your salary will have a minimum increment of 20 percent after you have been transferred over.¡± His face was painted with envy as he mentioned the last point. Chen Xu swallowed his words of rejections. He would totally consider it if there was a rise in pay. Thinking of which, he said, ¡°Do you mind giving me a day to consider?¡± ¡°Sure, Old He will discuss it with you personally tomorrow anyways.¡± Old Wang finished his sentence and dismissed Chen Xu so that he could get back to work. ¡­ ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Old Tang turned around to ask the moment Chen Xu returned to his desk. He nodded, indicating that everything was fine. Habitually, he took up his pen and started scribbling on his paper. His current pay after subtracting the taxes was around 4000 dollars; even with the increment of 20 percent, it would only be around 5000 dollars. It was not a lot, but neither was it little. He used to think that he was fortunate enough to be even employed by a large company with his level of education. Despite the low wage, he was willing to push through. Truth to be told, he could barely make ends meet in this large city with his measly salary. In addition to his daily expenses, he had to send a portion of his income back home for his parents, making it even more challenging for him. His salary only rose by a tinge after two years, so he really could not persevere any further. This was the root cause of his resignation, and Luo Xiyun was the catalyst. ¡°Discuss it with Old He tomorrow; maybe you¡¯ll be able to request for higher pay.¡± He quickly made up his mind. Recently, he was gradually having recollections of the details in the dreams, and unknowingly they have brought about subtle changes within him. In the past, he would often worry too much, and he also lacked confidence in his capabilities. He was worried that he and his family would be tangled in a financial web due to the loss of income if he were to become unemployed. After experiencing what life would be like if he was the only person left, he had nothing to lose. His encounter in the virtual dreamworld was the most precious experience for him. Clearing his mind, he tore and crumpled the page containing his scribbles. Without looking, he threw the paper ball in the direction of the wastebasket. He turned around after tossing the paper ball and watched it land steadily in the wastebasket. ¡°Wow!¡± He was astonished. He had a habit of scribbling on papers when his mind was flooded, and he would always throw the used papers into the wastebasket. However, he was not always this accurate; more often than not, he would have to retrieve the crumpled paper ball and dispose of it again. Nonetheless, he still enjoyed his way of relieving stress. He was really lucky these days; every throw was a definite goal. However, it was only until the previous throw that he realized that this was not just based on his luck. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± He remembered that the Talent Card, which he received at the end of his dream, had ¡°Throwing Precision¡± written on it. No way, the Talent Card worked in reality too? Thinking of which, he swallowed the lump in his throat. ¡°I¡¯m going to try it again.¡± He tore and crushed another piece of paper. With his back facing the wastebasket, he tossed the crumpled paper ball based on his instincts. Turning around, he saw the paper ball traveling in the path of a perfect arc and landing into the wastebasket precisely. He gawked in shock, knowing that his predictions could be true. ¡°Could this be my golden ticket?¡± He was on cloud nine. He pushed everything to the back of his mind as he could only focus on how he could put his newly acquired talent to use. Unfortunately, he was still in the company, and it was still working hours. He could only wait patiently. ¡­¡­ It was finally time to get off work. Chen Xu dashed home at top speed and began experimenting. From its name, the talent definitely had something to do with throwing. He found a few items of various sizes and weight: a 1.5L mineral bottle that had yet to be opened, a packet of chips, and a book. Next, he positioned a basket by the wall and retreated into his balcony before he threw the heaviest mineral bottle. The mineral bottle landed on the ground. It was a miss. ¡°No way¡­¡± Things started off on the wrong foot. He frowned as he went to retrieve his bottle for a second try. Boom! This time, the bottle went accurately into the basket. ¡°Once more.¡± He retrieved the bottle and threw it again for the third time. It was a goal. He was not satisfied with only scoring twice in a row. He threw with his eyes closed on his fourth try. Boom! The bottle went straight into the basket. ¡°I¡¯m right. The talent card I received in my dreams can be used in reality too.¡± He was overjoyed by his discovery. Before he entered the dream world, he was convinced that the Virtual Dream Gear could only fulfill his dirty little fantasies. After entering the virtual dream world for the first time, he recognized that in his dreams, he could experience what others could not, and this might help to broaden his life experience. However, at this point in time, he realized that he was wrong. He had a huge misconception of the Virtual Dream Gear. The talent that he acquired in his dreams could be put to use in real life. The Virtual Dream Gear was of greater value than what he initially thought. This also meant that the skills he had learned in his dreams could be mastered in real life too. Regrettably, the skill that he practiced the most in his previous dream was marksmanship. It was almost impossible to touch a gun in real life. Hence, there was no way of verifying his hypothesis. Of course, even if he was wrong with his predictions, it would be awesome if he could earn a few more talent cards. Thinking of which, he was already looking forward to the next time he could enter the dreamworld. ¡°I still have to wait for three more weeks. It¡¯s going to be torture.¡± He sighed and turned his attention back to throwing the items. He was like a kid with a new toy, enthusiastically throwing every item in his room, including the ones he prepared initially. Soon enough, he discovered a pattern. Every time he changed an item, the first two throws would often be inaccurate. Nevertheless, he would always find the aim swiftly, and by the third throw, he would never miss the basket. This made him realize that the talent he obtained needed to be perfected through practice. Only then could he truly master it. Chapter 34 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio On the second morning, Chen Xu was still yawning when he walked into the edifice his office was located in. Ever since he discovered his possession of the ¡°Throwing Precision¡± talent, he kept on throwing stuff all night. He literally couldn¡¯t stop. Because he was too excited, he went to bed at some time past three at midnight. He almost couldn¡¯t get up in the morning and was yawning along the way. In his current state, he had an urge to grab every convenient thing he saw and throw it. He walked to the elevator and saw a few of his colleagues chattering in a low voice. It would seem that they were talking about the new department that was about to be established. As he was still sleepy, he didn¡¯t pay attention. After a while, the elevator arrived. When he went in, those several colleagues of his saw him and greeted him. ¡°Morning,¡± he answered with a smile. The door of the elevator closed slowly. Colleague A asked, ¡°Chen Xu, have you heard it? The company is establishing a new department.¡± Chen Xu nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± Colleague B continued, ¡°Is there an inside story about this new department? I see that many people are working hard as they wish to be transferred to this new department.¡± Colleague C said whisperingly, ¡°I heard that this new department was proposed by Mr. Liu at the annual strategy conference. He convinced the other senior executives to make it as next year¡¯s key strategic project and allow him to lead the department himself. This new department will, of course, be popular.¡± Colleague A added, ¡°I heard from my friend in HR that in order to show support for the new department, as soon as somebody is transferred over there, their salary will be raised by more than 20 percent.¡± Colleague B said with envy, ¡°No wonder so many wanted to go there. It¡¯s a 20 percent salary increase after all. The benefits are too enticing.¡± Colleague A sighed, ¡°Yeah right, who wouldn¡¯t want to go there with that instant raise? But too bad that we will mostly not get the chance. Those who have ties with the higher-ups would have booked their slots since ages ago.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be sure about that.¡± Colleague C, who was an information monger, said, ¡°I heard that Director Luo will be the one who decides on the final candidates. It won¡¯t be easy to get past her. Perhaps we really do have a chance.¡± Chen Xu was drowsy, but when he heard them mention the name ¡®Director Luo¡¯, some emotions rippled through his heart, sobering him up. ¡°She¡¯s back from her business trip?¡± In the company, there was only one director with the surname Luo. The Director Luo they mentioned would naturally be Luo Xiyun. Over the past week, she was out on a business trip. The two had yet to have bumped into each other. As more and more details about the dream came back to him, his frame of mind became somewhat subtle. With a ding, the elevator arrived. He put away his thoughts and followed his colleagues out of the elevator. ¡­ Chen Xu walked into the office and saw everyone gathered together discussing the new department. The atmosphere was very enthusiastic. Evidently, the news about the salary raise after transferring to the new department had spread, thus arousing the enthusiasm of his colleagues. He didn¡¯t go and join them. He put his things away, took out some tea leaves, and made himself a cup of tea in front of the kettle. When he returned to his seat, all of a sudden, the whole office plunged into silence. He felt a little strange. Why did everyone stop talking suddenly? He looked up and saw everyone looking behind him. Behind him was a corridor. Before he could turn his head, he heard the click-clacking of high heels tapping on the ground. An extremely familiar figure instantly cropped up in his mind. He turned around and saw Luo Xiyun coming in, wearing a black trench coat. She was wearing light makeup, and her long scarlet hair was fluttering with pride along with her footsteps. ¡°Good morning, Director Luo.¡± His colleagues in the office greeted her warmly. She waved her hands lightly as she walked directly to her office without looking towards his direction. She¡¯d reverted to the unattainable Director Luo. Chen Xu looked back casually, raised his cup, gently puffed on the tea powder floating on the surface, and took a sip. The slightly bitter texture slowly permeated his entire mouth. After seeing her in person, she shattered the only glimpse of fantasy in his heart. There was no miracle. Her attitude was no different from her previously, both of which simply regarded him as air. ¡°Everything that happened in the dream is only a dream,¡± he said quietly in his heart. Deep in his bones, he was a very pragmatic person. He already had a taste in the dream about how difficult it was to woo Luo Xiyun. Even when there were only the two of them left in the world, she didn¡¯t even develop a liking for him in the beginning, let alone in reality. Since he knew that it was impossible, he was reluctant to waste time, money, and emotion. He let out a long sigh. He put down the cup in his hand and shifted his attention to his work. Now, the most important thing for him was to make money and improve his and his family¡¯s lives. Other things would have to wait. ¡­ ¡°Chen Xu, come for a moment.¡± Approaching noon, Old Wang suddenly called Chen Xu over. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Old He from the HR department wants to meet you.¡± Old He was the director of the human resource department. He was in his early forties. He was tall, thin, and bespectacled. When he saw Chen Xu, his expression was a little serious. ¡°I have seen your resume. You came to the company as soon as you graduated and have worked here for almost two years. Director Wang has spoken highly of you. The company plans on transferring you to the new department. Now, the company has the intention of establishing a new department and transferring you over there. Are you willing to go?¡± As soon as he arrived, Director He went straight into business. Chen Xu said straightforwardly, ¡°What adjustments will be made to my welfare if I go to the new department?¡± A tinge of discontent flashed through Director He¡¯s eyes. As he was dealing with human resources, he often talked about welfare with employees. However, he did not fancy the attitude of this young man before his eyes. He didn¡¯t care about the contents of his new job at all and asked directly about welfare, thus leaving a bad impression. His tone became substantially sterner as he said, ¡°The company considers work at new department relatively heavy. In principle, the salary of employees transferred to the new department will be raised by 20% on the existing basis.¡± Chen Xu nodded and said, ¡°Then I have no problem with it.¡± Director He frowned and said, ¡°Are you not going to ask about your job scope at the new department?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°I follow orders.¡± His impression in Director He¡¯s heart became even lower. Reluctant to speak to him any longer, Director He said, ¡°You may go out now. Pack your stuff and go report at the new department in the afternoon.¡± Chen Xu left the office. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t notice Director He had developed opinions about him; he simply didn¡¯t care. After discovering the emergence of the ¡°Throwing Precision¡± talent he had on himself, something changed in his way of thinking. He could acquire more talents and learn more skills from within the dream world. He didn¡¯t really need to go to work. After conditions matured, he could absolutely start his own business or opt for a better career. With this idea in mind, he didn¡¯t want to torture himself any longer. Job hopping would bring forth a heap of troublesome issues. Hence, he would rather stay here for the time being. It just so happened that there was an opportunity for him to get a raise that strengthened his thought of staying back. Chapter 35 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu went to Old Wang and told him about agreeing to transfer to the new department. He definitely had to notify his direct superior first about this sort of thing. Then, he thanked Old Wang for his care over the past year. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m kind of reluctant to let you go.¡± Old Wang patted Chen Xu¡¯s shoulders and said, half-smiling, ¡°It¡¯s almost the end of the year, the busiest time of all. We¡¯ll all be tied up once you leave. But you have a better future that awaits you. I can¡¯t be stalling you from moving forward.¡± Chen Xu smiled, not knowing how to respond. In all honesty, Old Wang was a pretty nice man and was a good superior. Old Wang suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we get everyone together for a dinner party tonight to celebrate you leaving for the new department?¡± Chen Xu quickly dispelled his idea and said, ¡°Mr. Wang, I think we better not. That would be too high-profile.¡± Old Wang agreed after some thought. The whole company was closely watching the establishment of the new department. Doing things in such a big way would have a bad effect on those developments. With a little regret, he said, ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. We must make up for it another time.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Chen Xu could neither cry nor laugh as he had never met someone who liked to party so much. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Go say goodbye to your colleagues.¡± Old Wang took him outside. When Old Wang announced to the staff in the advertising department that Chen Xu was being transferred to the new department, they were all surprised. Some were envious, some were jealous, and all kinds of emotions were expressed by Chen Xu¡¯s colleagues. Everyone congratulated him, whether sincere or not. No one said anything strange. They only bugged him to treat them to a meal. Chen Xu could only say, ¡°I will, next time.¡± After bustling for a while, the crowd dispersed, and only Old Tang stayed by his side. Chen Xu knew that of all people, Old Tang might be the only one who was truly happy for him. Soon, it was lunch break. Chen Xu and Old Tang went to that restaurant they often visited. ¡°So, what is all this about you changing jobs?¡± Seeing that there were no associates around, Old Tang brought up the question in a quiet tone. Chen Xu, ¡°I¡¯m scrapping the plan. I¡¯ll stick to this job for now.¡± Old Tang nodded, then said with some heartfelt emotions, ¡°Both Old Lao and Old Guo went to Old Wang, requesting to be transferred to the new department. Old Wang asked them to write an application, but they were both rejected by the HR department. I never thought that you¡¯d be transferred that abruptly.¡± Only then did Chen Xu understand why those two looked so upset earlier on. He said, ¡°Actually, I find it ridiculous as well. Why me of all people?¡± Old Tang pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because your resume is relatively clean.¡± ¡°Why did you say that?¡± Chen Xu was puzzled. ¡°Well, that¡¯s my guess.¡± Old Tang said, ¡°Mr. Liu came to office just last year. Even back then, there were rumors that he was here to take over Mr. Zhou¡¯s position. This time, the establishment of the new department was courtesy of Mr. Liu¡¯s effort. He is surely aiming to accomplish something. People with a relatively clean resume like you will naturally be his first choice.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s the case.¡± Chen Xu listened to his analysis and felt that it was quite reasonable. ¡°But be careful in the new department.¡± Old Tang reminded him, ¡°The new department¡¯s establishment is in an uproar. I think that something bad might happen.¡± Chen Xu nodded. Some things weren¡¯t hard to guess at. In the past, the company had run solely on Mr. Zhou¡¯s words. But since Mr. Liu came, the situation had changed. That was the rhythm of power seizing. Could Mr. Zhou keep up with it? Nevertheless, these things had had nothing to do with him in the past and would remain so in the present. He didn¡¯t really care. ¡­ After lunch, Chen Xu returned to his office and began packing his personal belongings to report to the new department. His company was made of money. The entire floor belonged to his company alone. The advertising department was located in the most northwest corner, while his new department was in the southeast. He had been working here for almost two years but had yet to explore that area. When he went over, a new signboard had already been hung up. It wasn¡¯t of the rumored marketing department, but the ¡°Electronic Sales Department¡±. There were several people in the office, probably his new colleagues. He knocked on the door, walked in, and introduced himself. Thereafter, new colleagues kept coming in. Chen Xu was observing passively from the side-lines. He found out that most of them were youngsters, and only a few were older than thirty. When everyone had arrived, he did a headcount. Including himself, there was a total of 14 people. After a while, CEO Mr. Liu appeared, and along with him, a person that Chen Xu would never have expected: Luo Xiyun. He suddenly remembered that she had come to the company at about the same time as Mr. Liu. The two of them needing to cooperate as coworkers wasn¡¯t a huge surprise. Mr. Liu took everyone to the conference room and held a meeting. Mr. Liu¡¯s full name was Liu Kun. He was about 34 to 35 years old and was quite handsome. He was certainly blessed with a gift for speaking. He stood and spoke with fervor and assurance. Looking at him, Chen Xu felt a little envious. Previously, what he desired the most was to become a successful person like Mr. Liu. To become a person like Liu Kun was the goal he was still striving for. Unfortunately, the cruelness of reality had made him aware that he could never become someone like Liu Kun. Things like a person¡¯s abilities weren¡¯t notable. But Liu Kun, on the other hand, graduated from a prestigious university and had also studied abroad. Based on this solely, he was already out of Chen Xu¡¯s league. Liu Kun had started at a renowned foreign bank and only came to the company after working there for a few years. He, in his thirties, was already qualified to become the CEO of any large company. Promptly, Chen Xu suppressed these interrupting thoughts and focused on Liu Kun¡¯s speech. After a while, he was able to comprehend what this new department was for. Liu Kun was planning to establish an online channel to expand the customer base within the supermarket. To put it simply, they would be doing e-commerce. Specifically, the first step was to provide home delivery services within a certain range, relying on the company¡¯s ten supermarket franchises. Everyone in the room was a youngster who often shopped online. They could understand the concept with ease. Next, Liu Kun began arranging jobs and positions for everyone. The work that Chen Xu was responsible for was almost the same as what he had before. It was to do with advertising. He was relieved. He was already very familiar with his job and was able to jump right into it. The last person to be assigned was Luo Xiyun. She was still a director but now specifically for the electronic sales department. After all, Liu Kun was the company¡¯s vice CEO. He still had a pile of tasks to complete. He couldn¡¯t always be sitting around looking after the department. When he wasn¡¯t around, Luo Xiyun would have the final say. Although Chen Xu had already been expecting this, he still frowned at the fact that she had ended up being his superior. Next, it was Luo Xiyun¡¯s turn to deliver her speech. As Chen Xu looked at Luo Xiyun, he thought she seemed completely different from who she was in his dream. His self-confidence, strong presence, and concentration slightly wavered his mind. Was she in reality the same person as the version of her in the dream? The meeting went on for the entire afternoon. After work, Liu Kun suggested that the whole department have dinner together to celebrate the new department¡¯s establishment. Naturally, there were no objections. Chapter 36 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Liu Kun left after having a bit to eat, leaving Chen Xu and the group of youngsters at the table. However, everybody continued to restrain themselves because Luo Xiyun was still there. Although she was slightly younger than most of the people at the table, she held the highest position and had a notorious reputation of being hard to get along with. Being unfamiliar with her, everyone seemed very cautious. Chen Xu didn¡¯t speak, shoving his foot in his mouth as far as it would go. He rarely visited high-end restaurants like this one. As many of the dishes were new to him, he focused all his attention on them. The dinner winded up having a somewhat dull atmosphere. After exiting the restaurant, everyone was ready to depart. Those who owned cars went back to the company to retrieve their cars, while the rest were going to call a taxi, take the subway, or take the bus. ¡°Help!¡± All of a sudden, the screams of a lady came across the road. The crowd that had just dispersed looked towards the direction of the voice all at once. A man in a black shirt was dashing across the opposite street, and behind him, was a woman in a dress screaming, all the while chasing the man. The attention of many pedestrians on the street was attracted by the lady¡¯s screaming as they halted their steps to watch the chaotic scene. However, no one was helping her. Some people even pulled out their phones out to take videos. Suddenly, the man in black jumped over the guardrail and crossed the road. ¡°Somebody, help me, please!¡± Seeing that she could no longer catch up, the woman in the dress stood by the guardrail and was on the verge of crying. Having witnessed the scene, Chen Xu, who was standing in front of the restaurant, was reminded of some bad memories. In his freshman year, he used the money he had earned from working over the summer to buy a 3000-dollar phone. At the time, the phone was his treasured love. But in the end, he was robbed on the streets the first time he went shopping with his roommates. He didn¡¯t have the courage to tell his family, and at last, he settled for a second-hand cell phone. Ever since that incident, he felt malice towards robbers. Seeing that the man in black was about to cross the street, he suddenly grabbed the bottled drink from the hands of his female colleague next to him, and said, ¡°Let me have this for a moment.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± His female colleague watched his movements and said in confusion, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are planning to hit him with this.¡± Chen Xu paid no attention to her. He aimed, and for a moment, it was like he had tapped into a magical state of mind. He perceived the man¡¯s movement in slow-motion. What¡¯s more, it seemed as if he could predict the man¡¯s next move. The position of the man a few seconds later instinctively emerged in his mind. Now. He seized the best moment to act and tossed the bottle in his hand without hesitation. At the same time, the man in black had already made it to the guardrail on the street he was at. He held the woman¡¯s handbag under his armpit, held the guardrail with both hands, stepped onto it with one foot, and then hopped on top of it. If he crossed this guardrail, there would be a turn right in front of him. By then, he could escape through any one of the alleys. Thinking of this, he was about to jump down. As soon as he contracted his leg muscles, he felt his knee being hit by something and proceeded to step on air. ¡°Dang it,¡± he thought. He lost balance, and he fell head-first. His hands danced in the air as he wanted to grab on to something, but it was too late. With a thud, his head hit the ground heavily. The people who were watching the drama had never expected such a turn of events. Looking at his tragic state, their eyelids blinked rapidly. The lady who owned the handbag saw everything from across the street as she made her way through the first guardrail. She was overjoyed. She ran over and retrieved her handbag. ¡­ ¡°Does it work that way?¡± Seeing the man fall from the guardrail, his female colleague opened her mouth in an ¡°O¡± shape as she looked at Chen Xu with astonishment. Chen Xu straightened his index finger over his lips, signaling her to keep it a secret. It was highly possible for thieves and robbers like that man to have accomplices. Therefore, it was better to keep a low profile to avoid getting into trouble. Anyhow, when he hurled the bottle just now, nobody should¡¯ve seen him aside from his female colleague. She quickly nodded, expressing that she understood. Just her eyes continued to buzz with bewilderment. After a pause, the crowd dispersed. When Chen Xu boarded the bus, he suddenly thought, ¡°What¡¯s her name again?¡± Today, he had met more than a dozen new colleagues but remembered none of their names. However, the thought left his mind once he turned his head around. He was more intrigued by the magical state he had tapped into just now. Previously, he had thrown many things, but he had never experienced such a feeling. ¡°Could it be that this is the correct way to activate a ¡®Throwing Precision¡¯ talent?¡± He was all wound up. After experiencing that for himself, he realized how powerful this talent was. He could predict his opponent¡¯s movements, and after hurling the bottle, it was as if the man had deliberately run into it. Awesome. ¡°Was it because my target was moving?¡± he speculated silently. He hadn¡¯t tried dynamic targets before. He remembered the talent card. On the card, was the image of a man in a hurler¡¯s stance with a javelin in his hands. This had already revealed the true function of the card. ¡°Hm, maybe, this talent is most suited for a javelin thrower?¡± He thought about it and felt that it wasn¡¯t legit. After all, Javelin players competed on who could throw the furthest. On the other hand, the key to the talent he had demonstrated was precision. Of course, more importantly, he was not interested in becoming a track and field athlete. Training would be too arduous for him. As his thoughts kept rolling, all at once, he felt a heavy rush of fatigue. It was like excessive exhaustion of energy. He didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep on the bus. He braced himself, and when he got home, he didn¡¯t even bother to take a shower. He laid down straight away and fell asleep quickly. ¡­ The next morning, Chen Xu recovered his energy. ¡°This is too depleting. I better use it less in the future,¡± he thought later, feeling a little afraid. Sure enough, powerful skills could not be deployed without paying a certain price. Its consequences were rather serious. When Chen Xu got to his office, his colleagues were already there. In a new department and with a new leader, everyone wanted to perform well. Everyone else had come early aside from him, who had stepped in right on time. ¡°Chen Xu.¡± As soon as he entered, the female colleague from the day before waved her hands and greeted him. ¡°Morning,¡± he replied courteously. Sensitively, he spotted a change in the way that some male colleagues looked at him. Although he addressed his female colleague in a very general manner, in truth, she was quite a beauty, second only to Luo Xiyun in the entire company. Beginning yesterday, several of his male colleagues had already approached her. Her taking the initiative to greet him had made them regard him as a potential rival. He had the urge to tell them, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. Your opponent is Mr. Liu.¡± Within the company, every single ladies¡¯ eyes would glow when they saw Mr. Liu, even some of the taken ladies¡¯ would as well. Chapter 37 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio For the next half month, Chen Xu spent his days working overtime. He was busy until eight, or even until nine o¡¯clock at night. The electronics sales department had just been established, and there were a lot of things that had to be done. Everyone was so busy that their feet rarely touched the ground. In the beginning, he felt a little unaccustomed to the work. Back in the advertising department, daily work content was well-known, and he and his colleagues were already sufficiently versed in it. He only needed to do his job, which could usually be completed within office hours. Now, he was like a wound clock that never stopped. As he finished with one thing, he would have to hop on to another immediately. This happened very frequently. He often ran into situations when he was halfway through something and discovered that it had a very big deviation from the original plan, and he¡¯d have to overturn or redo the whole thing. Chen Xu was certainly tired, but at the same time, he felt very fulfilled thinking that he could learn a lot of things. There was another special characteristic of the new department: a ton of meetings. A regular meeting would be held every morning to get an update on everyone¡¯s progress. No matter how busy Liu Kun was, he would always attend the meeting. Every one of Chen Xu¡¯s colleagues was working very hard as they all had the enthusiasm unique to young people. Chen Xu fancied such a working environment. He had thought more than once that, if he could have gotten into a company with his kind of working environment upon graduation, things would have been very different for him. ¡­ It was another Friday. Just before work, Liu Kun appeared. After entering the door, he clapped his hands, asked everyone to lay down what they were working on, and said, ¡°Everyone has worked hard during this half of the month. Today, everyone will be going home early, and you don¡¯t need to come in tomorrow. Those who want to go on a date, go on a date, and those who want to be with their family, go be with your family. ¡± ¡°All hail Mr. Liu.¡± Everyone cheered. After working for half a month straight, they were finally able to rest. Everyone wholeheartedly supported this decision. Upon finishing, Liu Kun didn¡¯t delay everyone any further and announced that it was time to go home. Everyone hastily left the office. ¡°Chen Xu, are you not leaving?¡± His female colleague by the name of Dai Zixin asked him, seeing that he was still sitting by the computer. Chen Xu waved his hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for a design proposal, you can go home first.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯m gonna leave now. See you,¡± Dai Zixin said and left. Soon, there was only Chen Xu left in the department, Luo Xiyun in the office, and Liu Kun who had just gone into her office. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°I wonder what they are discussing?¡± ¡­ ¡°Xiyun.¡± Liu Kun sat by the office desk with concern in his eyes, ¡°Yumeng told me that you¡¯ve been working until midnight every day.¡± Luo Xiyun put down the pen in her hands and said resignedly, ¡°That mouth of Yumeng¡¯s, I shouldn¡¯t have let her stay in my house.¡± ¡°What she did was for your own good. How could your body keep up if you stay up late like that every single day? You don¡¯t have to come for the next few days. Have some good rest.¡± ¡°No,¡± Luo Xiyun rejected straightforwardly. ¡°The department needs me here.¡± Liu Kun revealed a helpless expression, ¡°If you wear yourself down, how could I answer to Mr. Luo?¡± Even after hearing him say her father¡¯s name, she still had no intention of compromising. She said, ¡°Relax, I know my own body. I won¡¯t push too far when it¡¯s time to rest.¡± Liu Kun didn¡¯t try to persuade her any further. Suddenly, his sight fell on a potted plant on the table. He thought it was a little strange. She had mysophobia and had never put such things in her office because she hated muddy water and bugs. He pretended to ask inadvertently, ¡°What kind of plant is this? It looks very chic.¡± ¡°Just some random plant,¡± she answered vaguely. Liu Kun distinctively captured some kind of emotional ripple from her eyes and became even more curious. He connected it with another thing. Thinking about this connection, he said to her, ¡°I heard that you turned down Zhou Hao.¡± Luo Xiyun frowned unconsciously when she heard the name, ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°A few days ago, Zhou Hao drank too much, and he nagged me to find out who the bastard is that snatched his woman. He said that he wants to break his legs,¡± Liu Kun said. ¡°Now, everyone is curious about who exactly that man is.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s face became solemn. Knock knock. At that moment, someone knocked on the door from outside. ¡°Come in,¡± Luo Xiyun said. The person who came in was Chen Xu. He first greeted Liu Kun, ¡°Mr. Liu.¡± Then, he passed Luo Xiyun a USB flash drive, ¡°Miss. Luo, this is the new proposal from the advertisement company.¡± ¡°Just leave it there,¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Chen Xu gave Liu Kun a nod out of courtesy. Before leaving, he had a glimpse at the buds inside the flowerpot on the desk. He was puzzled, ¡°Why does it look like tomatoes?¡± In the dream, he had grown tomatoes so that he could eat fresh vegetables. Therefore, he could recognize what tomatoes look like when they had just sprouted. Immediately after thinking that, he felt that it couldn¡¯t be the case. Why would someone plant tomatoes in their office? The thought only flashed through his mind. He wasn¡¯t committed to the thought, and he left the office. Liu Kun wasn¡¯t paying much attention to this employee either, until the moment he left. All at once, his eyes caught Luo Xiyun looking at the employee¡¯s back, displaying an extremely complicated emotion. That look of hers put some sort of suspicion in his mind. However, was his guess a little too ridiculous? He felt the need to confirm it. Looking at the closed door, his vision almost seemed to penetrate through the door and land right on that employee. ¡°If I remember correctly, his name is Chen Xu. A very common name, just like his appearance,¡± Liu Kun thought. ¡­ As Chen Xu was leaving, he gave Old Tang a phone call. He wanted to grab this opportunity to treat him to a meal, to thank him for taking care of him over the past year. Old Tang asked him to save his money and invited him to his house for dinner instead. So, Chen Xu went to the supermarket, bought several ingredients, and went straight to Old Tang¡¯s house. Old Tang¡¯s house was a little far from the office. When he was moving there, Chen Xu had gone over to help, so he knew its location. He called a cab and arrived in less than an hour. Old Tang¡¯s wife wasn¡¯t all that pretty, but she could withstand scrutiny. She was the kind mother type. Frankly speaking, Chen Xu was always envious of Old Tang. After working so hard, he had settled down in this city and found a good woman like her to marry. At night, he became even more envious of Old Tang after tasting his wife¡¯s cooking. Nowadays, it was just too difficult to find a woman who knew how to cook well. That same night, Chen Xu had a dream. He dreamed that in his second dreamworld, he replicated Old Tang¡¯s wife and went into the dream together with her. When he woke up the next day, he remembered what happened in the dream, and he unconsciously shivered. Fortunately, it had just been a dream. He hurried to the bathroom and took a cold shower to calm down. Then, he gave himself a rule, ¡°I must never replicate someone I know in real life into my dream adventures.¡± Chapter 38 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It was a rare day off, and Chen Xu initially thought about going out for a walk. He walked to the window. A gust of cold wind breezed in, sending shivers all across his body and immediately dispelling his idea. ¡°It¡¯s winter already.¡± In the blink of an eye, it was already December. This year, the cold had come unusually late. It only felt like winter a little over a month before the Lunar New Year. Thinking about the Lunar New Year, he frowned unconsciously. Two years ago, something had happened to his family, and they ran into a hundred-thousand-dollar debt, all of which they had borrowed from their relatives. Although his relatives never urged his family to pay their debts, it didn¡¯t feel good to owe money. After working, he would send a thousand dollars out of his salary home every month to help pay off the debt. Although the amount was little, he still insisted on doing so. He was afraid that if he became sluggish, as time went on, perhaps the debt would never get paid off in full. For the past two years, going to his relatives¡¯ houses had become the most uncomfortable thing for him during the Lunar New Year. His relatives had never mentioned anything about his family paying back their money, but Chen Xu still felt uncomfortable whenever he was facing them. Now, his biggest wish was to quickly pay off the debt. Otherwise, he would always be unable to lift his head in front of his relatives. Where could he find the money? He focused on thinking about the biggest problem in his life. After getting a salary raise, he could take out 2000 dollars every month to pay off the debt. But it was still too little. It was still only around 20 plus grand each year. If his family depended on him alone, the time when they would become debt-free would be a long way off. It would be too slow. Therefore, he still had to figure out a way to earn more money. For some people, earning money was as easy as eating and drinking. Some relied on their family background and their abundant resources, some relied on their brains, while some relied on their boldness and fine luck. But for most people, it was very, very difficult. For instance, someone like him that came from a poor family wasn¡¯t blessed with extraordinary intelligence nor talents, and even more so, he was timid and afraid of being conned. He could only earn money through dumb ways and accumulate money with hard work and time. Most ordinary people in the country were the same way. However, Chen Xu was luckier than most people. With the virtual dream gear at hand, he had many more options in life. Chen Xu sat on the computer chair, held a bouncy ball in his hand, and threw it over the balcony. The ball hit the bottom bar of the stainless-steel burglar mesh squarely, bounced back, and landed right in his hand. Then, he threw it out again. This time, the bouncy ball hit the second bar from the bottom of the burglar mesh. On the third time, he hit the third bar from the bottom. This bouncy ball was his new toy. Playing with it in this way was especially relaxing. Last week, during lunch break, when he was playing with his bouncy ball in the office, he was spotted by Dai Zixin, who then bugged him and insisted on shooting short videos of him throwing his bouncy ball. He was helplessly pestered and could only agree to her. The thing that played a key role was the lunch that Dai Zixin had treated him to. Since then, Dai Zixin had been pestering him every day to shoot a short video. Every time she took a video, she would treat him to a meal. For the sake of the free lunch, he naturally agreed to her joyfully. After all, shooting a short video wouldn¡¯t take him much time. After playing with the bouncy ball for a while, thinking that today was a rare day off, he thought that he should play a match. In his phone, there was a game app called ¡°Werewolves¡¯ of Miller¡¯s Hollow¡±. This was a kind of board game whose company later developed a corresponding application that allowed its players to play online. He would usually play a match when he was free. However, he had been working overtime recently and had no time nor energy for it. After all, a match would take at least ten minutes. Sometimes, it wouldn¡¯t end even after an hour. Just as he picked up his phone, his WeChat buzzed. The message was from Dai Zixin, ¡°Chen Xu, come to XXX, quickly! This is an emergency!¡± ¡°???¡± Chen Xu replied with a few question marks, asking her about what had happened. Promptly, Dai Zixin sent him a voice message, ¡°I was live streaming, and all of a sudden, many people started leaving replies about me being a phony, and that those videos are all fake. I¡¯m so pissed! Please come here quickly and help me redeem my name.¡± Chen Xu replied, ¡°I¡¯ll pass. This is a rare day off. I want to rest at home.¡± Another voice message came, pleading with him, ¡°Please just help me. I worked so hard to gather so many fans. If you don¡¯t come, my fans will all be gone.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t budge, ¡°The weather is so cold now. Isn¡¯t it too inhumane of you to ask me to go outside?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll reimburse your round-trip ticket. Lunch and dinner as well.¡± Chen Xu sent another message, ¡°I haven¡¯t had supper in a very long time.¡± ¡°Including afternoon tea and supper.¡± From this voice message, one could tell how desperate she was. Chen Xu had his spirits raised as he said, ¡°Send me your location.¡± ¡­ After half an hour, Chen Xu arrived at the destination. It was on a street not far from the company. Dai Zixin went live streaming outdoors in such cold weather. She was a capricious person indeed. ¡°Over here.¡± Dai Zixin was waiting for him in front of a shop. Upon seeing him, she waved her hands agitatedly, ¡°You finally came, boohoo¡ª¡± Chen Xu ignored her melodramatic expression. Having known her for two weeks, he was already familiar with her personality. She was very cheerful, she liked to be funny, and perhaps she could best be described as ¡°childish¡±. Once, she had wanted to mimic some short videos of people pranking their superiors, and she went on to tease Liu Kun. In the end, Liu Kun gave her a solemn look, and she got so terrified that she dropped her phone on the ground right on the spot and cracked her screen. Towards her dauntlessness in seeking death itself, Chen Xu could only express his admiration. Fortunately, Liu Kun had only been joking with her, and he even tried to comfort her. But of course, he reminded her, in the end, to not shoot the videos during office hours. Seeing that she had nothing in her hands, he asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you live streaming?¡± ¡°I am, inside. I came out just to greet you alright.¡± Dai Zixin grabbed his hands and pulled him into the shop. It was a specialty bar. Chen Xu hadn¡¯t been to this kind of place before. He felt that it was refreshing and kept on looking around. He could tell that the shop owner had been very attentive in decorating the shop. He thought that it was classy and comfortable from the moment he went in. ¡°Quick, the pro is here. Scram.¡± Next to the counter, a mobile phone was mounted on a tripod, and several girls were talking in front of the phone. Following a loud whoop, Dai Zixin squeezed in, dragging Chen Xu along. The few girls looked at Chen Xu curiously and asked, ¡°Is this the master in your videos?¡± ¡°Yup, this is him.¡± As Dai Zixin talked, she glanced at her mobile phone. Seeing that the number of viewers had dropped substantially, she looked at Chen Xu with pleading eyes, ¡°It¡¯s all up to you now.¡± Chen Xu nodded to the girls and promised to let Dai Zixin shoot a short video. His request had been to not reveal his face, and even if she did, it had to be pixelated. However, since it was a live stream now, it was a little unrealistic for him to not show his face. Seeing that she was so sincere, showing his face wasn¡¯t be that big of a deal. However, how should he prove that those videos were real? Live streaming wasn¡¯t like pre-shooting. Many effects could not be included. He looked at Dai Zixin¡¯s face that was longing for help. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head on the inside. It seemed that he couldn¡¯t count on her to come up with an idea. As his eyes swept across the restaurant, he saw a dartboard hanging on the left wall. An idea popped into his mind. Chapter 39 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu pointed at that dartboard and asked one of the girls who looked like a shop employee, ¡°Do you have darts in the shop?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll go get them.¡± The shop employee went to the counter and brought out a box of darts. Chen Xu took it, thanked her, and walked to the front of the phone¡¯s camera. ¡°Holy moly.¡± When Chen Xu looked at himself on the screen, he was startled. ¡°Is this really me?¡± he wondered to himself. He had heard that the beautifying filter in short-video-making apps was very powerful. This was the first time he was shooting one, and it was overkill. His eyes were bigger, his face was smaller, and his skin became much fairer and smoother. Absolutely no one would be able to tell that it was him. ¡°No wonder all girls look pretty good in short videos. So, this is what¡¯s happening.¡± He grinned inwardly. In this way, his previous worries all became superfluous. Even if people who knew him saw this short video, he was sure that people would not recognize that it was him. Having appeared for a few frames on the stream, a wave of replies flooded the chat room, filling up the entire screen. ¡°Your fans are enthusiastic.¡± Chen Xu was a little surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Dai Zixin to have that many fans. In all honesty, he felt rather novel standing in front of the camera for the first time and facing that many viewers. He said, ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Zixin¡¯s friend. I¡¯m the one throwing all the things in the previous videos. It is 100% real.¡± Subsequently, he saw a bunch of replies with similar content. Although the font size was small, because everyone was sending the same content, it still caught his attention. Looking at the replies closely, they said, ¡°Bouncy man is finally here.¡± The corner of Chen Xu¡¯s eyes twitched. He asked Dai Zixin beside him, ¡°The hell is bouncy man?¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s eyes flickered sheepishly as she explained, ¡°That is the nickname they¡¯ve given you. You know, girls holding a watermelon fan are called watermelon girls, guys selling pomegranates are called pomegranate man, and you play with a bouncy ball, so, viewers will naturally call you bouncy man,¡± as she went on, the firmness in her speech gradually dwindled. The girls to the side were already cackling. What the hell was this nickname? Chen Xu was cursing at Dai Zixin on the inside. But in front of the camera, he had to contain himself. He had decided that he would toss the bouncy ball in his pocket into the trash can when he got back. He dismissed the godforsaken nickname, took a dart, and got to the real business, ¡°I heard from Zixin that some of you here are doubting the authenticity of those videos. Hence, I¡¯ll be performing for all of you some dart throwing.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go over there.¡± Chen Xu asked Dai Zixin to bring her phone to the dartboard. He observed for a while and settled at about three meters away from the dartboard. He hadn¡¯t played darts before. He had more confidence at this distance, and it was convenient for shooting as well. The live stream would become unclear if the distance was too far. At the side, Dai Zixin was holding her phone and dutifully following his movements. ¡°You guys tell where you want me to throw the dart, and I¡¯ll do just that.¡± As Chen Xu continued, he thought he needed to be more specific and added, ¡°But of course, there are too many of you leaving comments. So, I¡¯ll listen to whoever that donates to the channel.¡± Following his statement, he saw the screen bombarded with messages like ¡°He¡¯s tryna scam us¡­¡± His face twitched slightly. He was a little tired. Live streaming wasn¡¯t all that easy. He was surprised by one of the replies he noticed, ¡°We will donate if you hit the target. But what if you don¡¯t?¡± His heart shuddered, and he said, ¡°Of course, if I can¡¯t hit the target, I¡¯ll have to receive some punishment. As for what it should be¡­¡± Before Chen Xu could finish his sentence, he saw various suggestions in the chat room. As the list went on, the suggestions got more and more extreme that even had his face darkened. ¡°That will do!¡± ¡°You can live stream yourself eating those darts.¡± ¡°Eat a tire.¡± ¡°Live steam yourself spinning your dick like a fan.¡± These viewers¡­ they truly had rotten characters. ¡°If I can¡¯t hit the target, I¡¯ll admit that I¡¯m a fraud,¡± Chen Xu said quickly before more bizarre comments could appear. Subsequently, seeing many of the replies agreeing to his suggestion, he finally felt relieved. ¡°Let me warm up before I begin.¡± Upon finishing, Chen Xu held a dart, aimed at the red center circle, and threw the dart. The dart hit the target, but it deviated to the edge, and jabbed right on the number ¡°6¡±. He frowned, evidently not satisfied with his performance. This was his first time throwing a dart, and it felt very different from throwing other things. He had to hold the frontal region with three fingers. He hadn¡¯t ever tried this posture before. Dau Zixin had been filming him the whole time, including this moment. All in an instant, oodles of comments appeared on the screen: ¡°Is this a giant rollover scene?¡± ¡°LMAO, welcome, you¡¯re now tuning in the omega rollover stream¡­¡± The stares the few girls at the side had been directing at Chen Xu turned into weird glances. Even Dai Zixin, who had the most confidence in Chen Xu, looked flustered. If he really did miss, her account would be done for. She was nervous. It so happened that Chen Xu spotted Dai Zixin¡¯s facial expression. An idea sprouted in his mind. He had been initially aiming at the red center circle, but this time, he deliberately aimed at the number ¡°20¡± at the uppermost corner. A dart hurled out and landed right on the number ¡°20¡±. He even purposely knitted his eyebrows. Looking at Dai Zixin¡¯s miserable look, he secretly felt amused. In the next few minutes, he took a few more shots. They became more and more outrageous, even missing the dartboard several times. Dai Zixin¡¯s expression was getting increasingly bitter, and she looked grief-stricken in the end, ¡°Chen Xu, maybe you should stick with the bouncy ball.¡± Chen Xu was just beginning to feel bad, but hearing her mention the bouncy ball again, his sympathy flew out the window. He said deliberately, ¡°That¡¯s no good. We already told the viewers that we will be playing with darts, how could we change it so suddenly? Besides, I bet they wouldn¡¯t allow it either.¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s face collapsed as she said with a downturned mouth, ¡°I¡¯ll go to hell with you if you screw this up.¡± Chen Xu said peculiarly, ¡°Even if I screw up, I¡¯m the one who will be embarrassed, alright.¡± Dai Zixin said frantically, ¡°This is my account. My. Account.¡± At this moment, the chat room of the live stream became even livelier: ¡°Another one has gone crazy¡­¡± ¡°Poor streamer¡­¡± ¡°Shocking news, beautiful streamer gone crazy because of a man who likes to play with bouncy balls¡­¡± Feeling that the anticipation was almost there, Chen Xu coughed lightly and announced, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m gonna begin.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be first. Hit a 60.¡± Swiftly, people began donating. Chen Xu was slightly taken aback. There were only numbers from one to twenty on the board, so where was 60? Upholding his principle to ask when he didn¡¯t understand, he asked, ¡°What area should I hit to score a 60?¡± The chat room was once again filled with replies. It had turned into an ocean of joy. Dai Zixin gave him a look and said in despair, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ have you not played with darts before?¡± It was the girl in the uniform that told him, ¡°See those two round circles on the target? The outer ring is the double area. The middle ring is the triple area. The area overlapping with the number 20 will be 60 points.¡± With that explained, Chen Xu hit the target right away. Chapter 40 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio According to Chen Xu¡¯s observations, the diameter of the dartboard was around 50 centimeters. The area he would have to hit was less than one percent of that size, probably a little smaller than a bottle cap. He aimed and threw the dart in his hand. Dai Zixin held the phone as her heart thumped right up to her throat. Seeing the dart with its red tail tightly stuck in the triple-zone of the number 20, she shrieked excitedly, ¡°He got it! He hit the target!¡± After squealing a few times, she remembered that she was live streaming. She pointed the camera towards herself and said, ¡°Did you guys see that? He shot the dart right on target.¡± ¡°The camera is too shaky, and I can¡¯t see shit.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t count!¡± ¡°Yeah, we didn¡¯t see a single thing. Who knows if you guys placed the dart by hand when we weren¡¯t paying attention? Do it again.¡± All at once, there was this tsunami of replies saying, ¡°Shoot again¡­¡± Dai Zixin argued back with her logic, ¡°He is the one who hit the target, I saw it with my own eyes.¡± Chen Xu went over and told her, ¡°Forget it. So be it. Go stabilize the rack.¡± After he said that, he caught a glimpse of someone¡¯s reply on the screen that said, ¡°Bouncy man is an honest person¡­¡± The corners of his eyes twitched. Why were there still people mentioning that unfortunate nickname? ¡°Today, I will prove to you the truth.¡± His heart was enraged as he thought about getting rid of this nickname as soon as possible. ¡°But he really did hit it¡­¡± Dai Zixin kept on muttering as she placed her phone back on the rack and adjusted the shooting angle. ¡°Here I go.¡± Chen Xu once again picked up a dart and hurled it at the dartboard. From a distance of three meters, hitting a bottle cap-sized target was no big deal for him. If it were a bouncy ball, he wouldn¡¯t even have to aim¡ª ¡°Ugh, why did I think of that god-forsaken bouncy ball again?¡± he wondered. The dart firmly stuck in the position where the previous dart had landed. ¡°He hit it again!¡± Dai Zixin jumped in excitement. She went in front of the camera and said, ¡°See that? Can¡¯t deny it anymore, right?¡± Immediately, someone else donated, ¡°Number 2 in the triple area.¡± Chen Xu took a dart, aimed, and threw it all in a single breath. ¡°He hit it!¡± Dai Zixin cheered. After that, several more people donated, and Chen Xu landed every request without any wasted darts. After a while, Dai Zixin realized that no one was donating anymore. Instead, her screen was full of exclamation marks. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She thought something was wrong. ¡°People living in cities surely are cunning.¡± ¡°Hello, is this 110? We have con artists here fooling people into donating. They are utterly devoid of a sense of conscience.¡± ¡°Bouncy man¡¯s dart throwing is so-so, but his acting skills, on the other hand, I have to commend him for that.¡± ¡°And the streamer as well. Their collaboration is too friggin professional.¡± ¡°That question of skepticism, in particular, is really profound. Miss streamer, you have wasted your talent here live streaming. You would be better off being an actress.¡± ¡­ The replies in the chat room were all ridiculing them. Dai Zixin was bewildered seeing these replies. Were they implying that she was acting the same as Chen Xu? Had that ever happened? At that moment, Chen Xu came over, and after reading the replies for a while, his mouth fell wide open, ¡°It seems that all of you aren¡¯t very impressed with my dart throwing. Alright then, let¡¯s make things a little more difficult.¡± ¡°Sit tight everybody, bouncy man¡¯s gonna do some bouncy acting again.¡± ¡°Waiting for bouncy man to perform his new tricks.¡± ¡°Well, it is true that your dart throwing isn¡¯t all that impressive. You better work on your acting skills.¡± Having glanced at the replies, Chen Xu felt powerless to speak up for himself. He felt that he couldn¡¯t ever get into the streaming industry because he would get so angry with the viewers. He went to ask for something from the shop employee he¡¯d spoken with before, ¡°Do you have blindfolds here? Or any clean cloth?¡± The girl said, ¡°Yep, I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± After a while, she came with a black blindfold that had a pair of cartoon eyes on it, ¡°This is my personal blindfold.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Chen Xu took the blindfold and tested it out by placing it over his eyes. He walked in front of the phone, positioned the blindfold in front of the camera, and said, ¡°This is a completely opaque blindfold. You can have a look.¡± After a few seconds, he took the blindfold away and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to blindfold my eyes with this. I¡¯ll still be standing at that position with you guys telling me my target. If I hit the target, you people should donate to the channel, and if I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Having said that, he glanced at Dai Zixin next to him and said, ¡°I will publish Dai Zixin¡¯s WeChat account and make sure that everyone here who have donated can add her as a friend. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Hello?¡± Dai Zixin, wanting to escape the situation, said, ¡°But what if you can¡¯t hit your target, and then my WeChat gets exposed?¡± Chen Xu shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Well you said it yourself just now, this is your live stream.¡± Dai Zixin was rendered speechless. ¡°Hell yeah, I like this idea.¡± ¡°What an interesting way to ask for donations; I will allow it.¡± ¡°Is this even a thing?¡± The chatroom was barraged with another wave of ridicules. Evidently, nobody believed that Chen Xu could hit the target whilst blindfolded. They thought that he was just using this as a pretense to bait donations for the streamer¡¯s WeChat. Anyway, Dai Zixin was a certified belle. Nobody would be losing out. After a viewer pointed this out, others also reacted, and another wave of replies flooded the chatroom. Chen Xu went to the position where he had thrown the darts previously and said, ¡°I¡¯m only gonna do three shots. Chances are limited. Tell me your requested positions quickly.¡± Dai Zixin quickly reported the targets suggested by the first three people who donated, ¡°Number 19 in the triple area, number 1 in the triple area, and a 25.¡± Chen Xu quickly found the first two positions, but where was 25? Before he could ask, the waitress next to him already answered his question, ¡°The green ring just outside the red center.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks.¡± Chen Xu engraved these three positions in his mind, put on the blindfold, and picked up the first dart. At that moment, the activity attracted many of the shop¡¯s customers, especially when they saw Chen Xu putting on the blindfold. These customers couldn¡¯t contain their curiosity and came over to watch. Chen Xu held the dart with three fingers and aimed based on memory. Throughout the entire process, the people around him were all infected by the atmosphere and became tense. Nobody made a single sound. ¡°First to go. Number 19 in the triple area.¡± Immediately after Chen Xu reported the position, he threw the dart in his hand. ¡°Wow,¡± the customers watching exclaimed in unison. ¡°He got it!¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s voice was a little shaky as her heart surged with excitement. Then, Chen Xu picked up another dart. Promptly, the people around him became quiet once again. ¡°Number 1 in the triple area,¡± he reported the position and did his thing again. ¡°Wow¡ª¡± The exclamation he harvested this time was much louder than the one before. Not only those customers, but even the girls who had been there the whole time were startled. Dai Zixin held her hand over her mouth as her pupils enlarged to their maximum diameter. It didn¡¯t end there. Chen Xu once again picked up another dart and yelled, ¡°A 25.¡± Before his voice even faded, the dart in his hand warped into a bolt of lightning and hit firmly on the green ring area around the red center. Clap clap clap¡­ Everyone around him applauded for his wonderful performance. On the phone, the chatroom had unknowingly become empty. There was not even a single reply. After a few seconds, oodles of replies poured in all at once with numbers exceeding that of any time before. Chapter 41 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Listening to the applause coming from all around, Chen Xu took off the blindfold and looked at the people¡¯s startled expressions. He finally understood why so many people liked to be in the limelight. The feeling truly was awesome. His expression was calm. He secretly told himself that he had to strive to control his expression. He couldn¡¯t smile or be perky. At this time, the more indifferent and less concerned he was, the smugger his image would be in the eyes of others. Of course, however, he couldn¡¯t just stand there like an idiot. He walked to the waitress and passed her the blindfold, ¡°Thanks for the blindfold.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The girl was slightly flustered and was looking at him with entirely new eyes. It was like they were glowing. A crisp sense of pleasure rose within Chen Xu¡¯s heart. To be frank, the girl looked kind of common just like any other passerby. But when she was blushing and all the while looking at him with admiration, it truly gave him a special feeling. This was the first time a girl had looked at him in this way. For him, it was worthy to be remembered. ¡°Chen Xu, they are asking you to perform again.¡± Abruptly, Dai Zixin shouted as her tone became somewhat flustered, ¡°There are so many donations.¡± Chen Xu shook his head and said, ¡°Nah, I haven¡¯t had breakfast.¡± He knew that at this moment, he would have to steal away for a bit. He couldn¡¯t just perform randomly, otherwise, his performance wouldn¡¯t be worth much. ¡°Oh. Then, um, Jiajia, entertain him for me. Ask him what he wants to eat, and I¡¯ll pay for it later.¡± Dai Zixin was evidently a little disappointed but still went to join her friend. The waitress greeted Chen Xu warmly, ¡°Come here and have a seat.¡± ¡­ ¡°What do you like to eat?¡± asked the girl by the name of Jiajia after bringing over the menu. ¡°What about you two?¡± Chen Xu asked the two other girls out of courtesy. The two girls ordered drinks, and Chen Xu asked for a sandwich. Jiajia left after taking their orders. Chen Xu chatted with the two girls for a while and found out that they had quite a good relationship with Dai Zixin. They were probably best friends. When Dai Zixin was still in college, she came here to work during summer break, and that was when they had all met each other. He wasn¡¯t surprised. With Dai Zixin¡¯s personality, it made sense that she had a bunch of friends. Throughout his two weeks in the new department, she had definitely been the most sociable person. Even Luo Xiyun was particularly sweet and light with her. After chattering for a while, Jiajia came with their orders. After setting them down, she conveniently sat down and asked curiously, ¡°You must be a professional dart athlete, am I right?¡± Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Then how did you practice? It was amazing for you to shoot while blindfolded.¡± Jiajia said with adoration, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing for a few months, and I still can¡¯t shoot with my eyes open.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a talent I perhaps,¡± Chen Xu said out of honesty. He wouldn¡¯t have done it without that talent card. ¡°Your acting was truly impressive just now. Even I was fooled at the beginning. You acted like you didn¡¯t know where the triple area is. I was really worried about you back there.¡± Chen Xu laughed and said nothing, not mentioning that this was his first time with darts. Nobody would believe in him anyways. The others would only think that he was tryhard acting. He grabbed the sandwich and had a bite. Mm, it¡¯s tastes pretty good. ¡°Oh yeah, since you¡¯re so good in the game, why not you go for some competitions?¡± Jiajia also seemed like a very talkative person. She couldn¡¯t stop once she began. Hearing the word competition, Chen Xu stopped eating and asked, ¡°Darts has competitions?¡± ¡°Of course there is.¡± Seeing that he was genuinely oblivious, Jiajia said, ¡°Dart throwing is an indoor sport. It is very popular abroad and thus there are more competitions out there. However, it is getting increasingly popular here in our country. Quite a number of competitions are held each year. There are the professional ones and the amateur ones.¡± Chen Xu asked again, ¡°Do the winners of these competitions get a cash prize?¡± Jiajia said naturally, ¡°Of course they do. Cash prizes are in the millions at the highest international level competition. In our country, the cash prizes are also generally more than a hundred thousand. Oh, by the way, there was an amateur competition last week. The first place winner walked away with 5-grand.¡± Chen Xu fell into silence. He thought that he couldn¡¯t get any stupider. Even after realizing his talent, dart-throwing had never crossed his mind. Wasn¡¯t dart-throwing the most compatible sport with this talent? If he had thought of it earlier and had gone to the amateur competition that Jiajia had mentioned, wouldn¡¯t he have been able to get the 50-grand with a snap of his fingers? And maybe, there would even be other competitions. Thinking about this, it was like his heart was bleeding as he felt that he had lost a hundred million. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiajia thought something was off when he suddenly became quiet. ¡°Are there any more amateur competitions like that that will happen soon?¡± ¡°Do you want to participate in one?¡± Jiajia asked in surprise as she took out her phone, ¡°Let me ask around in the group.¡± Chen Xu patiently waited. It was until he finished his sandwich that Jiajia got the replies and said, ¡°The people in the group told me that there aren¡¯t any competitions at home now that it is already the end of the year. The soonest will be after the Lunar New Year. There are some abroad, but it is quite difficult to get the qualifications.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chen Xu felt disappointed. He needed to wait at least after the Lunar New Year. He had been thinking about joining a few competitions before the Lunar New Year to earn himself some money. ¡°Let¡¯s be friends on WeChat. If you come across any news about dart-throwing competitions, let me know.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡­ Dai Zixin treated him to lunch. She was very generous, and they went to an upscale restaurant. Only the two of them went for the meal. The two other girls went to see their boyfriends, and Jiajia still had to work. Chen Xu wasn¡¯t modest with her either. He ordered three dishes and one soup. He could pack them away if they couldn¡¯t finish them anyway. ¡°Chen Xu, why don¡¯t we do a collab,¡± Dai Zixin suggested out of the blue halfway through the meal. ¡°You will be responsible for performing, and about the money earned through this account, we can each take half of it.¡± ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m already outta gas after one time. I¡¯m not made for this.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t even lift his head as he was more interested in the dishes on the table. Because he had refused without hesitation, regret flashed over her expression. She took a few more bites, and said, ¡°Anyway, I received a lot of donations today, mainly because of you. I think I must give you half of the money.¡± Chen Xu was a man of principle. He shook his head and said, ¡°Forget it. You already treated me to a meal, so how can I still take your money?¡± ¡°No no, a yard is a yard.¡± Dai Zixin was resolute as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve done some calculations. The donations I¡¯ve received should be over 2000 dollars. I can get 30 percent, which is 600 dollars. I¡¯ll transfer to you 300 dollars on WeChat later.¡± Suddenly, Chen Xu¡¯s chopsticks halted in midair, and he looked up at her, ¡°Why did you say?¡± Dai Zixin was a little baffled. After some thought, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer to you 300 dollars on WeChat?¡± ¡°Before that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you half of the money?¡± ¡°Before that.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do a collab?¡± Chen Xu extended his hands and said, ¡°Happy cooperation.¡± Chapter 42 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Happy¡­ cooperation.¡± Dai Zixin was a little speechless at Chen Xu¡¯s rapid change in attitude. However, as soon as she thought about how him joining would hike up her number of fans, she immediately got excited again and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s do a live stream again at noon tomorrow.¡± Chen Xu said after some thought, ¡°Nah, we won¡¯t be worth a cent if we do it too frequently. Hunger marketing, you know. We need to maintain our style and hook onto our fans¡¯ appetites, and that¡¯s how we can better harvest donations.¡± Hearing him say that, Dai Zixin was a little disappointed. She valued her number of fans more. Donations were, contrary to Chen Xu, the second on her list. Nevertheless, she could only abide by him in this. Hence, she asked, ¡°Then, when will be our next stream?¡± After some consideration, Chen Xu said, ¡°I think twice a week would be more appropriate. Let¡¯s put the next stream on Thursday and another one on the weekends. Let¡¯s discuss the specific time later.¡± Feeling that there were no issues with that, she concurred, ¡°Okay.¡± After they finished talking about their cooperation, the two felt gleeful. As the two were discussing what would they be performing on the next live stream, Dai Zixin, who was sitting facing the entrance, suddenly yelled, ¡°Eh? The director?¡± Luo Xiyun was here? Thinking about how coincidental it was, Chen Xu turned and glanced around. However, he didn¡¯t see Luo Xiyun. He asked, ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°I definitely saw her just now. How did she disappear so quickly?¡± Dai Zixin wondered, ¡°Am I seeing things?¡± ¡°You must have got the wrong person.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t put any extra thought into it and continued to discuss with her, ¡°Where are we now¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°W-what is this about?¡± Liu Yumeng gave Luo Xiyun a puzzled look as she was dragged away from the restaurant entrance. ¡°I don¡¯t like this place.¡± Luo Xiyun said simply, let go of her hand, and hopped right into the car. Liu Yumeng got in the car with her and said, ¡°Well, how about we go to that restaurant from last time?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Luo Xiyun responded. She was resting her cheek on her hand as she looked out the car window. Coincidently, she saw the figures of a man and woman through the restaurant¡¯s glass window. Something felt inexplicably irritating to her, and she forcefully shut the car window. Some music sounded. It was her phone ringing. ¡°Aren¡¯t we done yet?¡± When she saw the number, her emotions boiled to the surface. She hung up the call and then blocked the number. Liu Yumeng looked at her, ¡°Was it Zhou Hao again? Hasn¡¯t he given up on you?¡± ¡°Forget about that guy. Let¡¯s go.¡± Luo Xiyun held back her temper and put her phone back in place. Listening to her, Liu Yumeng started the car. After driving for a while, she asked, ¡°Are you still having nightmares? You don¡¯t look quite well these days. Why don¡¯t I accompany you to the hospital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± In Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice, there was exhaustion that she couldn¡¯t hide. ¡°Stop holding on. When did you ever put on such thick makeup? Your dark circles can hardly be concealed. I¡¯m warning you, once a woman¡¯s skin ages, it is irreversible. Once your skin texture becomes bad, it will be hard to revert it to what it was previously.¡± Luo Xiyun subconsciously touched her face. She was a little worried, ¡°Does my face really look that bad?¡± ¡°You look horrible, and even your temper is horrible. You can¡¯t keep on being like this. Your endocrine will be affected, and it will bring forward your menopause.¡± Liu Yumeng continued, ¡°Listen to me, alright. Ask for a day off tomorrow and I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. You need some prescribed medicine.¡± Luo Xiyun hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t sprout any words of refusal. She pulled out a mirror from her bag and carefully looked at her face. Liu Yumeng continued driving for a while, but she couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Speaking of which, you are usually very bold. What kind of nightmare could torture you into insomnia?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s hand movement froze. She put away the mirror, laid back on the car seat, and asked, ¡°Have you ever had a dream that is especially lengthy?¡± ¡°A dream that is especially lengthy?¡± Liu Yumeng shook her head and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure. I usually forget about them when I wake up.¡± As she went on, Liu Yumeng asked out of curiosity, ¡°How long is the dream you had?¡± Luo Xiyun murmured, ¡°I was in the dream for several months. I can¡¯t quite remember what happened in the dream at the beginning. I only know that this dream lasted very, very long.¡± ¡°Mm, what happened next?¡± ¡°Since then, I¡¯ll remember something from the dream every morning I wake up. Those things are so, distinct, and it felt so¡­ real. It is like I¡¯ve really lived in the dream for a few months.¡± Liu Yumeng became even more curious and asked, ¡°What happened in the dream?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyebrows knitted together slightly. She paused for a while before saying, ¡°I dreamed of a man.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Liu Yumeng¡¯s eyes instantly glowed as she felt the spirit of gossip within her igniting all at once, ¡°What kind of a man is he?¡± Luo Xiyun said, ¡°I already knew that man before that.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Liu Yumeng whooped, and following a squeak, she abruptly stopped the car at the roadside and turned around to look at Luo Xiyun with a face full of excitement, ¡°Who is it? Do I know him?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know him.¡± Luo Xiyun shook her head and said softly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t familiar with him before that. We didn¡¯t even talk before. Even I do not know why it would be him¡­¡± Liu Yumeng saw the struggle and pain flashing between her friend¡¯s eyes, and a bold conjecture abruptly emerged in her mind. She asked whisperingly, ¡°Is he a married man?¡± Luo Xiyun shook her head and didn¡¯t say a word as her eyebrows knitted together intensely. Seeing her miserable appearance, Liu Yumeng was guessing about why the man¡¯s identity would make Luo Xiyun feel so upset. She advised, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think too much about it, either. No matter what, it was only a dream. Things will pass after some time.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Luo Xiyun murmured, but she didn¡¯t explain any further. These days, her memories of the dream were becoming clearer and clearer. She could already remember the smell of formaldehyde of the newly renovated villa, the cold winds that sent chills down into her bones, and the taste of canned fish, ham, luncheon meat, ham sausage, fruits, and all the other nauseating food she had been eating for a few months straight¡­ Everything in everything, felt too real. What was tormenting her the most was that it was like her memories with that man in the dream were etched into her sea of thoughts and wouldn¡¯t ever go away. She could hardly accept that the person in the dream was herself. This was also the source of her pain. ¡°Are you in a predicament in which the dream has left an impression too deep in your mind?¡± Suddenly, Liu Yumeng opened her mouth and suggested, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why not you go verify the person.¡± Luo Xiyun raised her head and asked softly, ¡°How should I verify him?¡± ¡°Does the man in your dream have a birthmark or anything else? Find a chance and see if the real person has those. Won¡¯t it become clear in that way?¡± Luo Xiyun said nothing. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you.¡± Liu Yumeng sighed, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you done something about it when it has been torturing you to this extent?¡± Luo Xiyun froze for a long time before sighing, ¡°You are right. This matter must be resolved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Liu Yumeng finally smiled and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t wish to show up personally, I can help.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Chapter 43 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After a whole day¡¯s rest, Chen Xu came to work fully energized. It was like the fatigue he had experienced in the previous half month was completely swept away, and he had been revived to full health. Even he hadn¡¯t realized that all the hardships that he had gone through during that half a year time-period in the post-cataclysmic world had toughened his spirit and will, which was why he didn¡¯t feel that exhausted even after half a month of OTs. When he got upstairs, he bumped into Director He of the human resource department who was escorting four to five people. He said they were his new colleagues at the department. All members of the electronic sales department applauded enthusiastically. The only thing they didn¡¯t do was shout ¡°Long live Mr. Liu.¡± Now, there were so many things that had to be done in the department. Absolutely nobody would say no to a few extra hands coming to share the workload. Speaking of Liu Kun, he then arrived, gave them some words of encouragement, and conveniently made an announcement, ¡°To speed up the integration of our new members into the group and enhance the tacit understanding between each of you, after discussing with Ms. Luo, it has been decided that we will have a team-building activity held sometime this week.¡± This time, the energy of everyone¡¯s applause was much weaker. Not everybody liked to partake in team-building activities. Chen Xu, for example, preferred to be alone. Even for vacations, he didn¡¯t like for too many people to be involved. Since he joined the company, he had participated in such activities twice, each of which involved the whole company. It hadn¡¯t been a wonderful experience. After all, the higher-ups of the company were relatively older and were somewhat out of touch with youngsters like them. The events were too formal and were simply a disappointment. Moreover, the weather was freezing outside. Were they supposed to go out and get frozen in the cold? ¡°A team-building activity. Hmm, I wonder where we will be going?¡± Dai Zixin said with hope, ¡°I hope we go to a fun place.¡± Chen Xu glanced at her. He thought that everyone in the department was young, and even Liu Kun, who was the oldest, was less than forty. He was more of an open-minded person as well. By all means, this trip seemed like it would be more enjoyable than in the past. This matter didn¡¯t trigger too much of a splash. Subsequently, work that could see no end came to drown them, completely stealing away their time to think about the trip. On Wednesday, after the regular meeting in the morning, Liu Kun announced that the time for the team building activity would be the following day, and the location would be in a county more than 100 kilometers away from the city. ¡°The weather is cold now, just right for some bubbling hot springs. Everyone can loosen up and relax for a while.¡± Chen Xu was a little surprised, once again feeling the distinct difference of a department taken care of by a person of authority. Visiting the hot springs ¨C such welfare would make the advertising department a few streets away jealous. Someone asked, ¡°Mr. Liu, aren¡¯t you going with us?¡± ¡°I have to stay at the company. Miss Luo will be leading the trip this time. Besides, Miss Luo is the one that planned this team building activity. She even chose the location herself,¡± Liu Kun finished his sentence smiling. Then, he declared that the meeting had ended and left. When Chen Xu heard that Luo Xiyun would be leading the trip, he knew that it wouldn¡¯t be anywhere near relaxing. In everyday life, Luo Xiyun placed everything around her in order. The same went for her life at work. She imposed strict demands on her subordinates and wouldn¡¯t allow even the slightest flaw. Everything had to be perfect. Over the past half a month, she had been martyrizing her group of subordinates. Besides, he thought it was odd that the trip set on a Thursday. Weren¡¯t these things usually on weekends? He couldn¡¯t seem to come up with the logic to answer every question that cropped up in his mind. He felt that, more or less, something wasn¡¯t quite right about this. ¡­¡­ Thursday morning, Chen Xu arrived at the rendezvous point at the agreed time. Luo Xiyun had rented a bus, and after everyone arrived, they immediately set off. On the bus, in addition to the people in their department, there were several people he didn¡¯t know. Luo Xiyun introduced them as the team building hosts she had invited who would be responsible for leading the team building activities. These few people were experts in energizing the atmosphere. After an hour on road, they had already managed to make everyone let go of their restrained attitudes. Many had gotten into the mode of having fun. There was laughter all along the way. Eventually, the bus stopped at a four-star hotel, and everyone got off. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help getting struck by his feelings again. Having a generous leader was great. Yesterday, Luo Xiyun had mentioned that the team building would last for two days and one night. He had never expected Luo Xiyun to book a four-star hotel for them to stay in. The room allocation was two people per room. After everyone had moved their luggage into their rooms, they returned to gather downstairs, and the team building activities officially began¡­ Everyone had to acknowledge that hiring the hosts was worth every single cent. Professionals were, after all, professionals. After a couple of games, even Chen Xu was well-engaged in them. He started to feel that the team building activities weren¡¯t all that bad. In the afternoon, they even had a basketball game with his department going against the host team. The few hosts often exercised. Although they did not have too much of an advantage in height, their skills weren¡¯t something office workers could compete against. Swiftly, the hosts bested them miserably. Even Chen Xu couldn¡¯t stand to watch anymore. How could he watch his own department get defeated so badly after he had only just established a sense of pride towards his team? Seizing the opportunity when the host team scored and his side was about to put the ball back into play, he held the person who would be throwing it in and said, ¡°Swap me in for a while.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± This colleague of his was obviously not an active person. He was already a little breathless. Hearing Chen Xu say that he wanted to get on the court, he agreed to let him. ¡°Swap.¡± Chen Xu shouted, stood at the baseline, and passed the ball in. ¡°Go get ¡¯em, Chen Xu!¡± Dai Zixin was the first to shout when she saw him on the court. Chen Xu waved at her and ran to the opponent¡¯s side of the court. Back in high school, his only hobby had been basketball. But of course, he was the amateur among the amateurs. He hadn¡¯t touched basketball for a very long time and probably couldn¡¯t even dribble well. However, nothing mattered as long as the ball went into the hoop. Earlier on when everyone else was warming up, he had gone over to shoot a few balls and had already gotten the hang of it. He stood outside the three-point line and saw that the defenders were farther away. This was normal. On the court, there were usually fewer three-point shooters. He shouted, ¡°Pass me the ball.¡± The abilities of his point guards were also limited. Seeing the enemy defenders getting into formation, they felt that they were incapable of dribbling through, and neither were they confident in shooting at that distance. They heard what Chen Xu said and passed the ball to him. Chen Xu took the ball, took a second to aim, and shot the ball. Woosh! The ball swished into the basket. Thereafter was his time to shine. For every basket the opponent acquired, he would score a three-pointer. After scoring three three-pointers in a row, the morale of his team immediately rose. Everyone began to trust him and would pass the ball to him whenever they could. The opponent too came to realize the threat he posed. When he received the ball for the fourth time, his defender came hurtling over to him. If it were him during high school, he could¡¯ve still got through. Now, he wasn¡¯t even bold enough to dribble as he would¡¯ve lost the ball at any time. In such a situation, he couldn¡¯t even get into his shooting posture. ¡°I bet you¡¯re just lucky with those three-pointers,¡± the defender who was guarding him couldn¡¯t help but taunt. Judging on his reaction after receiving the ball, he was no more than a rookie who couldn¡¯t even dribble. However, sometimes, as unrealistic it might seem, when a rookie tapped into the adrenaline of the atmosphere, they could score no matter how they shot the ball. ¡°You think I can¡¯t shoot in this way?¡± Chen Xu grinned. He blocked the defender with his left shoulder and hurled the ball out with a right-handed hook shot. For such a hook shot, unless his defender was another 20 centimeters taller, he would never have blocked it. He could only watch as the ball flew past him. ¡°Wait for the rebound!¡± he shouted. A hook shot beyond the three-point field goal was no different from a random hurl. His first reaction was to snatch the ball. Woosh. Another ball in the basket. ¡°What the heck?¡± The guy froze, dumbfounded. ¡­ The fifth time Chen Xu received the ball, that person was still reluctant to believe in heresy. He once again came to put a body on Chen Xu, ¡°I do not believe that your luck is that good.¡± Chen Xu took a glance at him and shot the ball in the same exact posture. Wooosh. ¡°Fifth!¡± Dai Zixin screamed all of a sudden, and the others followed. The defender opened his mouth slightly, and his eyes were a little blank. ¡­ It was the sixth time. The same guy went to guard Chen Xu without saying a word. It was another hook shot. Woosh. ¡°Sixth!¡± This time, all his colleagues screamed together. ¡°What the hell? What is this sorcery?¡± the defender wondered, shocked. Three high difficulty shots in a row. How was that possible? Later on, people no longer cared about losing or winning. Everyone wanted to know how many balls Chen Xu could get into the hoop. ¡°Seventh!¡± ¡°Eighth!¡± ¡­ ¡°Tenth!¡± Aside from the person who was guarding Chen Xu, the other hosts were looking at Chen Xu like they were looking at a deity. ¡°What a real eye-opener today,¡± one of them murmured. Chapter 44 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio This basketball match had evolved to where people no longer care about the outcome of the match. When the hosts¡¯ team was in possession, they would simply throw the ball. Regardless of whether they scored or not, the possession would change back to the office team. Subsequently, the ball would be delivered to Chen Xu¡¯s hands. ¡°Another one, another one¡­¡± His colleagues watching at the sidelines and the spectators who came to watch the fun shouted along. The most energetic person was Dai Zixin. Her face was flushing with excitement and her voice even cracked. Chen Xu scoring more than ten high difficulty three-pointers consecutively had already heightened the atmosphere. Everyone was on the edge of their seat, watching him perform. After receiving the ball, he dribbled the ball to the centerline like he was strolling. He raised his left hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been playing all day, and I¡¯m all worn out. This will be the last ball.¡± As he spoke, he waved to the person who was guarding him all along, signaling him to come over. Shooting from half court? The guy froze for a second and then understood what he meant. The blue veins of his forehead twitched as he thought, ¡°Very arrogant he is.¡± Chen Xu was calling him over to guard him. How could he possibly tolerate this? Showing Chen Xu absolutely no mercy, he viciously defended him, blocking him with his might and even raising both of his hands to disturb him. He didn¡¯t believe that Chen Xu could be lucky eleven times in a row. Chen Xu still went for the same technique, blocking the opponent¡¯s chest with his left hand, finding some space for himself, and when he found the right time to strike, he hurled the ball forcefully towards the hoop. When the basketball was shot, not only the spectators around the court but everyone else on the court looked up to watch the ball. The entire basketball court abruptly plunged into silence. The guy who was guarding him also looked up. Watching the ball¡¯s projectile arc that was way too high, a thought flash through his mind: ¡°He will finally miss, right?¡± The basketball passed over his head. His gaze followed the ball as it rotated slightly, and unbeknownst to him, his head was leaning more and more backward. When the ball reached the highest point in the air and was about to go down, his lost balance and fell backward. Woosh¡ª When the basketball flew into the hoop, his butt crashed into the ground. Amidst the pain of falling, he thought, ¡°You must be kidding me. That ball got in?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Voices shouted from the sidelines, followed by enthusiastic applause. Chen Xu moved forward, extended his hands, and helped up the guy sitting on the ground with a puzzled expression. He threw him a friendly smile. Then, he told everybody else, ¡°I think that¡¯s all for today. Everyone must be tired already.¡± ¡°Well, I do want to see you make a few more shots.¡± The one who was the leader among the hosts said, smiling, ¡°It has indeed been an eye-opener today. Your shooting skills are impeccable. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a feat after playing basketball for many years.¡± Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°It was all luck.¡± Everyone else told him that such luck would carry him through an entire lifetime. No one believed that he was actually that great of a shooter, as even the best shooters among professional athletes couldn¡¯t guarantee that they could score like that every single time. After returning to the hotel, Chen Xu could feel that his colleagues were all talking about him. He had never received such treatment, not back in school or after he began to work. It was unprecedented. He had to admit that this sensation felt awesome. ¡­ Back at the hotel, everyone went back to their respective rooms to rest. Chen Xu was very lucky. Each room was initially meant for two, but as there were 13 guys in the department, he was able to use a room alone. When it was almost seven o¡¯clock, a notice was issued in the group chat, calling for everyone to gather at the eating location. Luo Xiyun had a private room booked and two tables set up, which was just the right size for all of them. The dishes were sumptuous, once again allowing Chen Xu to witness her generosity. After beer was served, the atmosphere became even more fervent. It was just like a party with friends. After this day¡¯s activity, Chen Xu was impressed by Luo Xiyun. Despite being very strict at work, she wasn¡¯t a rigid person. This team-building activity could be deemed successful. Especially after the basketball match, Chen Xu could feel that he and his colleagues had developed a sense of identity and now had a more tacit understanding between each other. Taking him as an example, previously, aside from being familiar with Dai Zixin, his relationship with his other colleagues were purely based on work. A barrier had always existed between them. After today, the barrier between him and his colleagues had diminished a lot. After having some beer, they could even crack jokes about each other. After everyone finished eating, Luo Xiyun stood up and announced, ¡°Gather at Chen Xu¡¯s room at 8 o¡¯clock. Our next activity is soaking in the hot spring. You are all dismissed for now.¡± Nobody was surprised. When everyone was notified yesterday, they had all been reminded to bring along their swimsuits. As all of them were young people, they were all very satisfied to comply. Back in his room, seeing that there was still time, Chen Xu called Dai Zixin out to do a live stream in the hotel lobby. Their original plan for the live stream had been to do it on Thursday, and Dai Zixin¡¯s fans were already informed about it. But as it clashed with the team building activity, they had to make use of the time gaps. At this time, there weren¡¯t many people in the hotel lobby. Chen Xu was at the side setting up the props, while Dai Zixin was already there live streaming to warm up the crowd. When Chen Xu was ready, he gestured at her, and the camera turned right over. ¡°Hello, everyone. We meet again.¡± Chen Xu paid the viewers a simple greeting and said, ¡°I performed dart-throwing for everyone a few days ago. I believe you still remember it well. However, I heard Zixin say that many people are still skeptical about the authenticity of my performance back then and think that I somehow cheated ¡°Well, I do think that this is entirely normal. After all, if I was the one who was watching such a performance, I would have thought: what the hell, how can such a person possibly exist in this world? This doesn¡¯t follow the laws of science. This is definitely fake. He definitely cheated.¡± Dai Zixin who was holding the phone in front of him almost burst out in laughter. In the past few days, she would go live whenever she could. When she saw the replies in the chatroom questioning the authenticity of Chen Xu¡¯s blindfolded dart-throwing, she felt very angry on the inside. Because there were so many people leading discussions in the chatroom, she was immensely bothered and had also talked to Chen Xu about it before. Back then, he didn¡¯t seem to care much. Who would have thought that the moment he appeared on screen, he would directly call out those nonbelievers? At that moment, on the screen, she saw many replies like: ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Why is there such a despicable person in this world?¡± Chen Xu continued, ¡°Nevertheless, my understanding doesn¡¯t mean that I will let everything slide. You know, I have my own tiny little emotions as well. I was quite happy to receive so many donations the last time and was actually planning to perform again. But after knowing that people are doubting me, I became unhappy, so, there will be no performance today.¡± Dai Zixin who was in charge of shooting saw that the chatroom was once again flooded with messages and countless donations. The account¡¯s popularity was also constantly on the rise. A broad smile bloomed on her face, and she gave Chen Xu a big thumbs up. Chapter 45 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Following a change of tone, Chen Xu said, ¡°And so, I told Zixin: don¡¯t ask me to do any lives again, you better do it yourself. I have a straightforward personality, and I can¡¯t take those viewers.¡± ¡°Then, Zixin advised me and said: yo bro, calm down. What do those people know? They¡¯re just toads living under the well who have no knowledge of this world. Besides, they are also especially uncivilized. They bark around and bite like a mad dog without any clue. Why are you arguing with those people? You¡¯re just lowering yourself to their level.¡± Dai Zixin, who stood directly opposite him, was a little confused. When had she ever said these things? Bam. Chen Xu slammed the table next to him and said, ¡°When I heard her saying that, I was extremely angry. I said: Zixin, how could you say that about your fans? Even if they are toads under the well, even if they are uncivilized, even if their brains are rotten black, they are still supporting you, and you must at least have some respect for them.¡± As Dai Zixin listened, her mouth opened wider and wider. The skies in the chatroom had already flipped. ¡°Don¡¯t you guys think that something is off about what he¡¯s saying?¡± ¡°He sounds like he¡¯s helping us, but why do I feel that he¡¯s actually attacking us?¡± ¡°And it is with his nose in the air.¡± ¡°My, that¡¯s very rude of him, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What the hell, this is the first time I see a streamer indirectly coming at his viewers.¡± ¡­ Chen Xu who couldn¡¯t read the replies was still talking, ¡°Back then, I gave her a lesson. But in the end, she wasn¡¯t convinced. She even told me that: those doubting followers have never donated, when have they ever supported me? ¡°Then I told her: you have to understand, these people aren¡¯t not donating because they are too young, they are simply too poor to donate, and it is not right for you to discriminate against them. You need to have a tolerant heart.¡± At that moment, Dai Zixin finally came to her senses. She stared at him while gritting her teeth. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the stream was going on right then, she would have gone over and choked him to death. That bastard, how dare he frame her like that during the stream? He had gone overboard. Chen Xu wasn¡¯t paying attention to her glare. After finishing, he only felt revitalized. He had held a grudge in his heart from back when Dai Zixin had told him that people in the chatroom were defaming him. He had long planned to strike back against them during the next live stream. The problem was that it was hard to prove himself innocent about this kind of thing. He would never be willing to expend the amount of effort needed to do that. But if he were to call out the viewers directly, he could easily get the account reported, and it would be troublesome. Hence, he conducted it in this manner and finally got some of the anger out of his system. This time, he had become smarter. He didn¡¯t read the replies in the chatroom lest people trigger him any further. Having in mind that they would soon need to gather at the hot spring, he decided to kick off today¡¯s performance. ¡°After that, I thought, Zixin¡¯s not having an easy time herself. She has to work overtime until seven or eight every single day and has to stream for you guys at night just to earn some cash for a living. Nowadays, it is rare to see girls who work as hard as her, and I as a friend should help her whenever I can. ¡°Today, I¡¯ve prepared something new. If you guys think that it¡¯s okay, give us some more donos.¡± As he talked, he took out a white radish and said, ¡°What I¡¯ll be performing today is cutting a radish. When I was young, I liked to visit my grandma¡¯s house. She had lots and lots of radishes in her yard, so much that she never ran out. Every time she was cooking, I would always ask her to let me chop the radishes. You know that crisp sound when the knife goes through the radish? It is really, really satisfying. ¡°Now, I will let you guys listen to it. Zixin, bring the camera forward,¡± Chen Xu waved at Dai Zixin. Hearing that he wanted to cut a radish, Dai Zixin gave him a doubtful look. Before this, Chen Xu hadn¡¯t revealed what was he going to perform, and even she was oblivious about it. However, she had a lot of faith in him, so she brought the camera closer. A wave of replies once again rippled through the chatroom: ¡°Holy moly, of my many years roaming across various streaming platforms, I¡¯ve never seen someone perform the cutting of a radish.¡± ¡°Are you serious Mr. Streamer? Are the ten thousand people over here just gonna watch you chop up some radish?¡± ¡°You seem like you¡¯re teasing us.¡± ¡°Well, I think that it can¡¯t be that simple.¡± ¡°This streamer is a bad guy. He must be pulling some tricks on us.¡± ¡­ Pretending to be serious, Chen Xu asked, ¡°Do you guys know how one should cut a radish to make it delicious? ¡°You must cut it into even sizes of equal length. It mustn¡¯t have even a millimeter of difference. In that way, you can ensure that every chunk of radish tastes exactly the same.¡± As he spoke, he took out a ruler and a pen. He did some measurements with the ruler and drew some lines on the radish. Dai Zixin wanted to laugh looking at him talking gibberish with a serious face. She had to admit that Chen Xu was like an entirely different person in front of the camera. He didn¡¯t talk so much usually. Chen Xu kept the pen and ruler and said, ¡°Alright, we are all set. We may begin cutting it up now.¡± He pretended to touch around his body. His expression changed and he said, ¡°Dang it, I forgot my knife. What should I do now?¡± ¡°I have one over here.¡± Unbeknownst to him, an audience had gathered around him. One of them suddenly spoke and dished out a miniature folding knife for him. In that moment, Chen Xu¡¯s facial expression froze. With the showstopper¡¯s sudden appearance, how should he continue his performance? Dai Zixin, who was filming him, almost died laughing. She knew that she shouldn¡¯t be, but she simply couldn¡¯t help herself. Afraid that she might affect Chen Xu, she was painstakingly holding back her laughter. ¡°Just take the knife. You¡¯re welcome,¡± the kind person said enthusiastically. Chen Xu looked at him expressionlessly as he finally spoke, ¡°Nah, I only use my own knife, but thank you anyway.¡± The person was startled as he quietly backed off. Chen Xu managed his expression and said to the camera, ¡°When, um, when we don¡¯t have a knife, how should we cut this radish?¡± He paused for a while, and finally got his words straightened. His speaking became fluent, ¡°At such times, what you need is a deck of poker cards.¡± As he went on, he took out a deck of poker cards from his pocket, opened it up, shuffled the cards several times, and said, ¡°Coincidently, I just got myself a deck of poker cards as I passed by the convenient store just now.¡± ¡°Most certainly, some of you will ask, how are poker cards that are made of paper supposed to cut through a radish? Let me show you how it is done.¡± Chen Xu took a few cards from the deck and put the rest back into his pocket. Then, he backed off a few steps. ¡°Firstly, you have to back off a little, about five meters. Then, use two fingers to hold the card and hurl it out like that.¡± With that, following a flick of his wrist, the card between his index and middle finger flung out and jabbed right on the radish a few meters away. The thrust was so strong that it almost severed the radish. ¡°Can you see it clearly? Let me do it again.¡± As he spoke, he flicked another card which spiraled, and then attached to the radish. ¡°The key is wrist strength. Look.¡± Immediately, another card sliced into the radish. ¡°Last card.¡± After Chen Xu threw out the last card, he signaled Dai Zixin to give a close-up. Dai Zixin moved to the radish and was taken aback after seeing it. She saw four-poker cards, each jabbed accurately into the lines that Chen Xu had drawn. When the camera moved closer, the chatroom went silent for a few seconds, and then came the horde of crazed chatroom residents. ¡°What the actual fart? Am I seeing things correctly?¡± ¡°My mom asked me why I was kneeling while watching the stream.¡± ¡°Honey, quickly come into the presence of a god¡­¡± Chapter 46 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Clap clap clap clap¡­ There were seven to eight onlookers in the lobby of the hotel. They applauded enthusiastically, especially the young man who had offered his knife to Chen Xu. He clapped his hands eagerly, and his eyes were glowing. Chen Xu was very content with this outcome and was confident that the audience watching the live broadcast would be equally awed. He had spent many nights perfecting his skill and accuracy at card throwing. The playing cards were very thin and soft, and it was only when spun with high speed and force that they were able to cut through the radish. Making the cards spin wasn¡¯t a feat in itself. The difficulty lay in hitting the mark. The slightest deviation in force and angle would result in the cards flying off-course. Moreover, airflow easily disturbed the direction of the thin cards. There could be no wind, so this could only be done indoors. For the past few days, after returning home from work, he had been practicing tirelessly. He had worn through a dozen decks of poker cards, and cuts lined his hands before he had finally achieved his current skill level. Within a distance of five meters, his throwing accuracy had exceeded 90 percent. He walked over and was very pleased with the shocked expression he saw on Dai Zixin¡¯s face. The audience watching the live broadcast would probably be equally astonished. ¡°I¡¯d like to see how else you¡¯re going to slander me now,¡± Chen Xu thought inwardly. On the surface, he pretended to be carefree and blas¨¦ as he said, ¡°Did everyone see that? That¡¯s how it¡¯s supposed to be cut! Every portion should be of the same length! The secret to achieving this is¡­ ¡­To measure it with a ruler!¡± At that point, no one in the broadcast room or at the scene was listening to his nonsensical monologue. Their attention was focused completely on the radish with the four cards sticking out of it. Even the hotel staff on duty in the lobby approached out of curiosity. One by one, they raised their cell phones and began to snap shots of that radish. Chen Xu continued to speak, ¡°If everyone thinks that I¡¯ve done a good job cutting the radish, please leave a donation.¡± On the other side of the broadcast, Dai Zixin saw the number of people eagerly swiping the ¡®donate¡¯ option, and her face lit up with elation. She gave a thumbs-up to Chen Xu before suddenly recalling what he had just said moments ago and grimaced. Judging from her expression, Chen Xu could tell that they had received many donations this time around and felt very pleased. All his hard work and practice over the last few nights had paid off. After some time, Dai Zixin looked through the responses from the live stream, and she couldn¡¯t contain the expression on her face. She looked at Chen Xu hesitantly before biting the bullet and saying, ¡°They want to watch you perform again.¡± Chen Xu looked as if he was faced with a dilemma. ¡°Well¡­¡± Dai Zixin could see through his awkward pretense and had the urge to laugh. She cleared her throat and cajoled, ¡°They are sincere. Just perform once more for them.¡± Chen Xu got the message immediately, and replied, ¡°Since you asked, we¡¯ll continue.¡± With that, he picked up another radish¡­ ¡­ After the live stream, the two coworkers went to Chen Xu¡¯s room to split the loot. ¡°There are more than 3000 donations this time!¡± Dai Zixin took out a small booklet and flipped through it. ¡°Last night, I did a live stream on my own and received more than a thousand donations. Added together, they come to a total of almost 5000. Thirty percent of that is 1500. That comes to 750 for each of us.¡± Chen Xu heard her words and watched as the expression in her eyes turned serious. He said, ¡°After knowing you for so long, there¡¯s something that I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you.¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s face turned red, and she grew oddly embarrassed. ¡°Well, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re a really good person,¡± Chen Xu said from the bottom of his heart. Dai Zixin¡¯s face froze, and she felt her blood gush to her head. She looked at his sincere expression and grew disheartened. She suddenly felt very tired. She was worried that continuing to interact with him in this manner would drive her crazy sooner or later. After some time, she recalled another important matter and spoke again. ¡°I might have to wait until I receive my salary before I pass you your share. I just bought a camera lens yesterday and have no money with me at the moment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll just keep it in mind.¡± Chen Xu waved his hand without a care. She was a pretty trustworthy person after all. He brought up a question, ¡°Oh right! I heard that if we joined the guild, our share could increase to 50 percent. Is that true?¡± Over the past few days, he had begun to understand a little regarding the industry of online streaming, and now he possessed some knowledge. Dai Zixin frowned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like the guild.¡± Chen Xu nodded his head. Upon knowing her stance, he didn¡¯t try to convince her otherwise. After all, in this stint of theirs, she was the main streamer, while he was merely a sidekick. It was fine for him to offer his opinion, but the final call depended on her, and he had nothing but respect for her decisions. Dai Zixin looked at him, and explained, ¡°Although there are many benefits to joining the guild, including many more opportunities for exposure, an increased share, and having the administrative chores taken care of, the streamers will lose a lot of their freedom. I do not like that.¡± She toyed with her cell phone as she continued, ¡°I do live steaming out of interest. I feel happy seeing my number of fans increase. And I am free to broadcast anything I want. If we join the guild, everything will be controlled, and it won¡¯t be the same anymore. It will suck all the fun out of it.¡± Indeed, this was the passion of youth. Chen Xu thought to himself that she looked like she came from a well-to-do background. The closest she¡¯d probably ever come to having money troubles was perhaps when she couldn¡¯t afford the newest model of a cell phone. However, he had to admit that he felt a little envious. What a privilege it was to be able to be passionate. He stood up and ended the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s almost time.¡± Dai Zixin checked the time. It was a few minutes to eight, and they had to gather soon. She jumped up, ¡°Oh my god! I need to go back to my room to retrieve my bathing suit!¡± Chen Xu grabbed a bag containing his bathing suit and opened the door. He saw a woman standing on the other side about to knock, and he jumped back in shock. ¡°Miss Guo? What are you doing here?¡± The person was Luo Xiyun¡¯s secretary with the family name of Guo. Chen Xu interacted with her regularly. ¡°I¡¯m looking for you regarding something,¡± Miss Guo said, but her eyes were focused behind him. Behind him was Dai Zixin, and she felt unnerved by Miss Guo¡¯s gaze. ¡°Go ahead and talk. I¡¯ll return to my room,¡± she volunteered and slipped away. Chen Xu had noticed Miss Guo¡¯s meaning-laden expression too, but he paid it no heed. He had a close relationship with Dai Zixin and was long used to the rumors about them that swirled around the company. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to set the record straight. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come in to talk?¡± he invited. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I don¡¯t want to cause any misunderstandings,¡± Miss Guo replied meaningfully before she got to the main point. ¡°Miss Luo hopes to foster camaraderie among the colleagues during the team building exercises. That way, work productivity will increase. Later, at the hot springs, we¡¯ll need someone to enliven the atmosphere and initiate the conversations. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here for you.¡± Had she gotten the wrong person? Chen Xu was a little confused. He usually kept a low profile in the office, and hardly spoke more than a few sentences at a time. Why was Miss Guo looking for him for this? He had never been known as the life of any party! As he tactfully tried to explain that he wasn¡¯t a good candidate for that, Miss Guo laughed and replied, ¡°You did a pretty good job of it while playing basketball in the afternoon. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you out later on.¡± With that, she walked off without giving Chen Xu the chance to turn her down. Pushing him to do something like that was akin to forcing a duck to roar! It was beyond his ability! Chapter 47 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio In the luxurious suite, only a small white light was left shining. Luo Xiyun sat by the window with a book in her hand, clearly engrossed in what she was reading. There was a small gap left open in the window, and it let the night breeze blow in. A soft howl accompanied it. The curtains fluttered from time to time as the chilly gust wafted through. She didn¡¯t seem aware of it. She seemed lost in thought every now and then, before looking down again to continue her reading. ¡°Ring ring!¡± The alarm clock suddenly sounded from her cell phone on the coffee table. She moved her eyes away from her book and checked the time on her phone. Her eyes flickered for a moment, and a trace of a frown appeared between her brows. ¡°Yumeng was right. This matter has to be resolved as soon as possible,¡± she muttered to herself and switched the phone alarm off. She closed her book and placed it by her bedside. The title of the book was ¡°The Interpretation of Dreams¡±. She pushed the door open and headed towards the elevator. As she approached the corner, she heard a familiar voice. It was her secretary. Suddenly, she heard a name and stopped in her tracks immediately. ¡°¡­I went to look for Chen Xu just now. Guess who I saw in his room?¡± It was her secretary¡¯s voice. ¡°Who?¡± someone asked curiously. Luo Xiyun recognized the person¡¯s voice. It was the department¡¯s accountant. ¡°Dai Zixin.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you? I saw her come out of Chen Xu¡¯s room with my own eyes!¡± ¡°So they are in an illicit relationship!¡± ¡°Why do you have to put it in such horrible terms? They¡¯re both single! There¡¯s nothing wrong with two single people falling in love.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, Dai Zixin looks very pretty. I heard that she has no lack of suitors in the company. Why would she choose Chen Xu?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± A ¡®ding¡¯ rang out, signifying the arrival of the elevator, and conversation between the two individuals ended. Only then did Luo Xiyun walk out. ¡°Miss Luo.¡± Just as the doors of the elevator were about to close, Miss Guo saw out the corner of her eye that Luo Xiyun was approaching, and quickly pressed the doors open. ¡°Miss Luo,¡± the other person greeted. Luo Xiyun nodded her head in acknowledgment and entered the elevator. The two people behind her cautiously took a step back. Miss Guo didn¡¯t even dare breathe too loudly. She¡¯d been working for Luo Xiyun for close to half a year and was very familiar with her temperament. She was very strict when it came to work matters, and there was no room for errors, no matter how small. When it came to lecturing subordinates, she pulled no punches. If anyone chanced upon her when she was in a bad mood, the outcome would be even worse. Because of this, Miss Guo had developed the ability to identify Luo Xiyun¡¯s mood and read her emotions. Now, she noticed that Luo Xiyun was in a terrible mood, and couldn¡¯t help lamenting inwardly to herself. Who could have offended Her Royal Highness this time? Fortunately, Luo Xiyun wasn¡¯t one to lash out at the innocent for no reason. As long as it wasn¡¯t a work error, there was no danger. Therefore, at such a time, the subordinates had to take infinite care to ensure that no mistakes were made. The other person standing beside Miss Guo possessed the ability to discern this as well. When she felt the air in the elevator become oppressive, she naturally grew nervous as well. ¡°Ding!¡± The elevator finally reached the ground floor, and the doors opened. Both women heaved a sigh of relief. All their colleagues were already there. They were the last two to arrive. Once everyone had gathered, the hotel staff led the group to the hot springs behind the hotel. The hotel was on the mountainside and had been built around the natural hot springs. There, at the back, was an outdoor hot springs bathhouse. This was Chen Xu¡¯s first time coming to a hot spring. After changing into his swimming shorts, he walked out of the changing room covered in a white bathrobe. A cold gust of wind blew, and he shivered. Perhaps it was because they were up on the mountain, but the temperature outdoors was a little lower. It was below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The entire bathhouse was shrouded in a layer of orange light. Four walls surrounded it, isolating the area from the external environment. The hot spring pool was in the middle and was shaped like the number eight. One side was bigger than the other, and there was no separation in the middle. The water flowed freely between both sides. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t be bothered to observe the pool in detail. He took off his bathrobe and followed his colleagues into the hot spring. When he first entered the water, he found the temperature to be a little too hot, but after a while, his body adjusted to the temperature, and it felt especially comfortable. A dozen young men, all bare from the waist up, leaned against the edge of the pool and chatted with each other. After ten minutes, seven ladies appeared, fashionably late. They acted differently. When entering the pool, none of them removed their bathrobes and remained modestly attired. They entered the other smaller pool. The men and women had segregated themselves each in a different pool. Chen Xu lay on the edge of the pool lazily and leaned his head back. He gazed through a thick layer of mist and looked up into the black sky. The temperature was exceptionally cold tonight. In this environment, he couldn¡¯t help but think of the last month in the dream and the days he had spent with Luo Xiyun in the freezing world. Her body had been especially warm¡ªas warm as the feeling of being covered in double goose down quilts. If the dream world was able to continue going, she would probably have been able to live well even on her own. She was so strong. Since she had promised that she would do her best to survive, she would definitely have kept her word. When the snow finally melted, she would be able to drive her car and travel all over. He imagined Luo Xiyun driving a large truck under the rays of the bright sun, and he felt a sharp twinge in his heart. At that very moment, in reality, Luo Xiyun wasn¡¯t far off and could be seen as soon as he turned his head. Alas, he didn¡¯t look over because he knew that the Luo Xiyun in the hot spring was not the one in the dream. ¡­ Luo Xiyun was immersed in the hot spring, and the hot water strangely intensified her frustrations. She saw everyone absorbed in their own private conversations. It was completely contrary to the purpose of this activity that she had organized, and she glanced at her secretary beside her. Miss Guo lamented inwardly. From the moment she had entered the hot spring, she had wanted to signal Chen Xu with her eyes. However, he lay on the other side of the pool without looking over. She had no idea if he was deliberately ignoring her. She recorded this grudge firmly in her mind. Summoning up her courage, she said, ¡°Just soaking in the hot spring is so boring! Why don¡¯t we all play a game together?¡± ¡°What shall we play?¡± someone asked cooperatively. ¡°Moment of Truth,¡± Miss Guo replied. ¡°Sure!¡± everyone agreed. Miss Guo was Luo Xiyun¡¯s personal secretary. Many a time, it was she who relayed the boss¡¯s instruction to everyone. Her position in the company was very high, and no one dared to refuse her. Miss Guo exited the pool and returned a moment later with a bag. She retrieved something that looked like a turntable. On it was written everyone¡¯s name. She said, ¡°Whoever the turntable picks will have to answer a question, and it has to be answered truthfully. The next person the turntable picks will have the question asked by the previous person.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When everyone saw how prepared she had come, no one dared to comment otherwise. The ladies moved over to the bigger pool, and the group of nearly 20 people formed a circle. Chen Xu finally remembers what Miss Guo had informed him of earlier. He had completely forgotten about it and didn¡¯t give it any further thought. He looked at the turntable and wasn¡¯t surprised to see that Luo Xiyun¡¯s name wasn¡¯t included in it. ¡°We¡¯ll start now.¡± Miss Guo spun the turntable and watched as the dial finally settled on Chen Xu¡¯s name. Chen Xu groaned inwardly, but had no choice but to cheer up and ask, ¡°Who would like to ask me something?¡± Miss Guo said, ¡°Miss Luo, why don¡¯t you ask the question?¡± Chapter 48 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At both ends of the walls surrounding them hung a light. It had been specially modeled after a lantern. That was where the orange light emanated from. ¡°Miss Luo, why don¡¯t you ask the question?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s first intention was to refuse, however, she suddenly caught sight of Chen Xu¡¯s face through the swirling mist. It was the first time since the dream was over that she had gazed at his face this way. Under the light, his face looked like it was covered with a golden glow. It reminded her of the last day in the dream when he was sitting in a wheelchair and staring at the sun rising from behind an iceberg. A wave of emotion rushed through her, and her heart began to throb. At that moment, all the frustration and vexation that had been suppressed inside burst forth. Why was it him? How was it him? Why did it have to be him? No, that had only been a dream. She clenched her fist tightly around the towel and opened her mouth to speak. ¡°You, come closer,¡± she ordered. Everyone could tell that her demeanor had turned stern. Even the newcomers who weren¡¯t too familiar with her could feel the tension in the air. At that moment, the mood changed. Chen Xu did as she had asked and made his way to the middle of the pool. The water wasn¡¯t very deep and only reached his waist. When he stood up, his entire upper body was exposed above the water. Luo Xiyun kept her eyes fixed firmly on a random point on his chest. When the four somewhat inconspicuous moles came into view, her vision began to sway before the scene in front of her suddenly distorted and spun around. Her ears began to ring, and she felt as if the world was disappeared beneath her feet. Indistinctly, she heard a familiar voice. ¡°There isn¡¯t even a single mole on your body. You¡¯re indeed a natural beauty.¡± ¡°Why did you poke me here? These four moles didn¡¯t exist when I was a kid. It was only after I became an adult that they appeared. If you connect them together, don¡¯t they look like a square?¡± ¡­ The conversation seemed to have taken place in a different time and space. The present world slowly materialized before Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyes again. She looked at Chen Xu¡¯s oblivious expression, and an uncontrollable fury bubbled in her chest. ¡°Are you in a romantic relationship with Dai Zixin?¡± From everyone else¡¯s point of view, she had stared at Chen Xu for a good few seconds before asking such a question. Although they couldn¡¯t decipher what she was thinking, they felt the pressure solely from her tone alone. The temperature surrounding them instantly plunged even lower than the temperature outside. Everyone had their eyes on Chen Xu who was standing in the middle. They were all anxious on his behalf. As for Dai Zixin, the other individual who had been mentioned, her face was etched with worry. ¡­ When Chen Xu saw that he had been picked, he swore under his breath. Did Miss Guo not have anything between her ears? Why had she suggested such a game? They weren¡¯t close friends, and their workplace superior was present! The questions couldn¡¯t be too personal, but at the same time, they couldn¡¯t be too formal either. Wasn¡¯t she making things difficult for them? Wait a minute¡­ Was she out of her mind? Why was she getting Luo Xiyun to ask the question? Luo Xiyun was now asking him to come closer? Something wasn¡¯t right. Her tone didn¡¯t sound right. Who was she angry with this time? All sorts of thoughts surfaced in his mind. He stood up in the water and walked over, only stopping when he could finally see her face clearly. This was an appropriately safe distance from her. Based on the current relationship between the two of them, going any nearer would only draw her ire and resentment. She was looking a little wan and haggard. Had she not been sleeping well recently? She was far too stubborn. She could always delegate the work at the company to someone else. She was a female after all. Why was she working herself to the bone? It wasn¡¯t as if her family was poor. Why wasn¡¯t she saying anything now? Hm, judging from her demeanor, was she on her period? That couldn¡¯t be right. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be now. If he remembered correctly, it was currently supposed to be the ovulation period. Oh, right. His ex-girlfriend used to complain of discomfort during her ovulation period. Was she suffering from the same thing? Perhaps it was something even more severe. He had to be careful in his answer. They weren¡¯t in the dream now. If she were to reprimand him in front of everyone, he wouldn¡¯t be about to counterattack. How embarrassing that would be! She was speaking now. What was this she was asking? She seemed to be asking if he was in a romantic relationship with Dai Zixin. That was weird. Since when did she concern herself in the private lives of others? He didn¡¯t recall the company having any prohibitions against employees dating each other. Chen Xu was lost in his thoughts. After Luo Xiyun voiced her question, it was quite a few seconds before he recovered his wits and replied, ¡°No. Dai Zixin and I are just normal colleagues.¡± Although he had stated his answer very straightforwardly, Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t feel her anger dissipate at all. Her tone remained cold, ¡°Is that so? Someone saw her come out of your room. How do you explain that?¡± Chen Xu fought the urge to turn his head and look at Miss Guo. Although he knew that his colleagues liked to gossip, he was still appalled that the news had already reached Luo Xiyun¡¯s ears when it had only occurred less than half an hour ago! This was extreme! He explained succinctly, ¡°We were only discussing something.¡± Luo Xiyun watched as he continued looking down. He didn¡¯t dare to face her. She felt as if she was going to explode with fury. However, in front of so many subordinates, she controlled her expression and tone. Her words were icy when she said, ¡°You should know that the company has a policy forbidding office romances. Offenders will be fired immediately upon being discovered.¡± Everyone present was uncomfortable. Was there really such a policy? Chen Xu felt doubtful. He didn¡¯t recall the existence of any such thing. But it wouldn¡¯t be wise to contradict her at this moment. Times weren¡¯t the same anymore. If this had been in the dream, she would never have dared to speak to him this way. He sighed inwardly. He knew that living in real society meant that he had to recognize and accept reality. This Luo Xiyun before him right then wasn¡¯t the same Luo Xiyun in the dream who had accepted her fate. At work, she was merciless to everyone. So be it, if she said so. He didn¡¯t utter a word. Luo Xiyun observed his demeanor, and her chest heaved as she struggled to control her emotions. ¡°Even if you aren¡¯t in a romantic relationship, you have to watch your actions. Don¡¯t do anything that can give others the wrong idea. Don¡¯t let me hear of such rumors again.¡± She finished her monologue in one breath and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she said and got out of the pool to leave. ¡­ Only when Luo Xiyun finally disappeared past the door did everyone heave a sigh of relief. ¡°That was so scary! All the rumors about her are true!¡± ¡°What an imposing scene that was. I was so nervous that my heart was about to jump out of my mouth.¡± ¡°Chen Xu, your luck must have been really bad to encounter that!¡± ¡­ The group started discussing what had just transpired, echoing each other¡¯s sentiments that they had received the fright of their lives. ¡°Miss Luo is really scary when she¡¯s angry. Is she usually like that?¡± a female administrator asked who was sitting on the other side of the pool close to Miss Guo. Miss Guo shook her head in a daze. She was about to speak when a thought suddenly occurred to her, and she kept her mouth shut. She glanced at Chen Xu, who was leaning by the edge of the pool, with a weird look in her eyes. In the six months that she had been working with Luo Xiyun, she had never seen her get so angry before. Furthermore, Luo Xiyun had never concerned herself with the private lives of others. Such rage was unusual in and of itself. Just what was the reason for that? Chapter 49 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Luo Xiyun staggered back to her room and slammed the door shut with a bang. With her back leaning on the door, she slowly slid down and sat on the ground. She put her feet together and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. She buried her face between her knees and didn¡¯t pay any attention to her wet hair that fell forward. Water droplets rolled down her strands of hair and landed on the floor, leaving water stains behind. She sat motionless. She had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the faint sound of music coming from her handbag. After a minute, the music stopped. A few seconds later, it sounded again. This pattern repeated itself for at least four or five times before she finally moved. She reached her hand out and retrieved her cell phone from her handbag. She accepted the call and held the phone to her ear. ¡°Why did you take such a long time to answer the phone? How did it go? Did you manage to verify if the guy was the same as the one in the dream?¡± Liu Yumeng¡¯s eager tone was obvious over the phone. Luo Xiyun was quiet for a moment before replying, ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh. Well, isn¡¯t that a good thing? Why does it sound like you¡¯re unhappy about it?¡± Liu Yumeng asked. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up,¡± as she said that, Luo Xiyun disconnected the call and turned her phone off. She flung the phone into a corner. After some time, she repeated the statement to herself, ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± Gradually, a sense of fatigue overcame her. Her eyelids began to feel heavier, and in the blur, she once again saw the Chen Xu who had uttered, ¡°F*ck gentlemanliness!¡± It was the Chen Xu who possessed a heart harder than ironstone. He could easily ignore her for a few months simply because of something she had said¡­ It was the Chen Xu who could never lower his pride, and who was selfishly oversensitive. He was a scumbag who was only mean to her. It was the irresponsible asshole who had refused to say a kind word to her even when he was at death¡¯s door. He abandoned her, left her all alone, and had the nerve to hypocritically ask her to live well. ¡°He isn¡¯t you¡­¡± her almost inaudible voice whispered in the room. ¡­ As Luo Xiyun left, Chen Xu stared at her back. For some unknown reason, his heart ached, and the urge to rush up to her suddenly sprang forth. Was she sad? He suppressed that urge, but a nagging feeling lingered in his heart. For that brief moment, he had sensed that she was feeling very sad. He was probably hallucinating. When she finally disappeared out the door, he felt a sense of despair and loss. Everyone else around him finally let their hair down, and at Miss Guo¡¯s guidance, started the game officially. Without the boss present, everyone was able to relax, and very soon, laughter and merriment abounded. To a certain extent, Luo Xiyun¡¯s original goal for the activity had been achieved. However, Chen Xu remained absentminded and was apart from the crowd. Everyone could sympathize with him. After all, it was only normal for him to be in low spirits after being reprimanded by Miss Luo in public. Someone suggested that he go back to rest. He agreed readily and returned to his room ahead of everyone else. He lay on the bed and, after calming himself down, reflected on his actions thoughtfully and felt that his sense of concern was overshadowing his rationality. Even though he had spent a lot of time convincing himself that it had all been a dream¡­ ¡­He found that over the few months that they had spent together in the dream world, the relationship and feelings that he had developed for her couldn¡¯t be forgotten and abandoned at the drop of a hat. It usually wasn¡¯t a problem because they hardly interacted with each other. However, when they finally came face to face with each other in a scenario like today¡¯s, he finally realized that the defenses he had built around his heart were all useless. He couldn¡¯t help caring about her. When he finally accepted that fact, he sighed and muttered to himself, ¡°I must have been out of my mind back then. Why on earth did I replicate someone I knew in the real world for the dream?¡± They had been lovers joined at the hip in the dream, but strangers upon waking up. Having to see each other every day after that was an unimaginable undertaking! ¡°No, I can¡¯t remain in this company anymore. I guess I¡¯ll submit my resignation when this month is over.¡± He was determined to resolve this mess quickly and cleanly. As long as he didn¡¯t have to see her, everything would fade into a beautiful memory after time passed. ¡°Stop entertaining foolish thoughts. She¡¯s not the one in the dream.¡± He muttered to himself and slowly drifted off to sleep. ¡­ The next day, Chen Xu woke up punctually. After a good night¡¯s sleep, he had regained his calm. After washing up, he went to the restaurant on the second floor. That was their meeting point today. Upon reaching the second floor, he bumped into a colleague and found out that Luo Xiyun had fallen ill. Miss Guo had taken her to the hospital during the night and hadn¡¯t returned yet. This information had been sent to the group chat, but Chen Xu had not seen it yet. ¡°Is she alright?¡± Chen Xu panicked and asked without thinking. The colleague replied, ¡°From what I heard, she had a high fever. After being put on an IV drip, her fever abated. Right now, Miss Guo is taking Miss Luo home. You can read about it in the group chat.¡± Chen Xu took out his cell phone and scrolled through the messages in the group chat. He was just in time to read the latest message the Miss Guo had sent. After reading that she had taken Luo Xiyun home, Chen Xu managed to calm down. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen with today¡¯s activities?¡± The question had suddenly occurred to Chen Xu. ¡°Let¡¯s ask.¡± A colleague picked up his cell phone and texted Miss Guo to ask. Miss Guo¡¯s reply came speedily, ¡°Free and easy.¡± The workplace leadership in the Electronic Sales Department was a little unusual. In theory, Liu Kun was supposed to be the main person-in-charge. However, in reality, Luo Xiyun was responsible for daily management and operation. It could be said that all the decisions in the department were in their hands. Below them was Miss Guo. She was Miss Luo¡¯s secretary and right-hand woman. Most times, it was up to her to pass the boss¡¯ instructions to everyone else. And that was all. All the other colleagues were ordinary employees with no distinction in level. Chen Xu speculated that Liu Kun and Luo Xiyun wanted a flat organizational structure. Their intentions were good, but once Liu Kun and Luo Xiyun were not around, the department became a herd of sheep without a shepherd. No one knew who to listen to. Right now, Luo Xiyun and Miss Guo had left, and there wasn¡¯t anyone who could act as the spokesperson. Everyone had no choice but to settle their own schedules for the day. Chen Xu didn¡¯t look up Dai Zixin. After what had transpired the night before, Dai Zixin was keeping her distance from him. Luo Xiyun must have scared her pretty badly last night. To be honest, he felt quite relieved. Reality had taught her a lesson, and she was now unlikely to be as thoughtless and cavalier as before. He didn¡¯t want to remain in the hotel. When he noticed that the weather was good, he strode outdoors and took a walk around. The surrounding scenery was pleasant. Without realizing it, he walked to the basketball court where the team building activities had taken place yesterday. He looked over and saw the same few hosts in the middle of a basketball game. When they noticed him, they paused their game. ¡°I heard the others calling you Chen Xu yesterday,¡± the leader took the initiative to walk over and greet him. ¡°My name is Zhao Gang.¡± Chen Xu gave him a friendly smile, ¡°You haven¡¯t gone back yet?¡± ¡°We¡¯re waiting until the afternoon to take the bus back with you guys.¡± Zhao Gang pointed towards the basketball court, and asked, ¡°Would you like to play a few rounds with us?¡± Chen Xu shook his head and replied, ¡°Nah. Given my small body size, I won¡¯t be able to endure being bumped around by you guys.¡± ¡°Come on! We¡¯re competing with our skills. We won¡¯t use our body sizes to bully anyone,¡± Zhao Gang said enthusiastically. Chen Xu refused to give in. His basketball skills were horrible, and he didn¡¯t want to embarrass himself. At that moment, the man who had been utterly defeated by Chen Xu yesterday spoke up. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just compete in shooting the ball?¡± Chen Xu glanced at him and thought to himself, ¡°Is this guy asking for it?¡± Chapter 50 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu was free anyway and agreed to the competition. As long as it wasn¡¯t a basketball match, he could easily defeat anyone in shooting hoops. After a few rounds, everyone readily conceded defeat, including Zhao Gang. As he uttered words of false humility to them, his mind thought otherwise. If he had revealed his true ability, wouldn¡¯t they have been terrified? He had gone easy on them in the game and deliberately missed a few shots. Although his ego had risen by a lot recently, he still held on to his principles of not being too arrogant and made it a point to leave some leeway in whatever he did. Streaming, on the other hand, was a moneymaking opportunity, and therefore, it didn¡¯t warrant the same considerations. Naturally, he had to go all out. ¡°What a pity. Given your talent in shooting hoops, if only you were taller by 20 centimeters, you¡¯d stand a chance to play in the NBA,¡± Zhao Gang commented with a hint of regret. Chen Xu laughed but didn¡¯t take him seriously. After chatting with Zhao Gang for a while, he learned that the group of them were fans of streetball and had gotten to know each other while playing the game. Later on, they had come together and formed a team, mainly to train together and whatnot. On the side, they filmed short videos. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Filming short videos was indeed the in thing now. So many people were doing it. The number of fans Zhao Gang and his team had exceeded Dai Zixin¡¯s by far. However, their method of monetizing their popularity was different. They did not engage in live streaming. Instead, they sold fitness products. While chatting and playing basketball, time flew. Before they realized it, it was already afternoon. ¡°Let¡¯s end it here. It¡¯s almost lunchtime,¡± Chen Xu suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Gang and his team packed up their belongings, and they walked back to the hotel together. As they were about to approach the hotel, Zhao Gang suddenly said, ¡°Chen Xu, I would like to invite you to join our video team.¡± ¡°What?¡± Chen Xu was caught by surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Gang to extend such an invitation and was momentarily at a loss for how to reply. Zhao Gang added, ¡°We usually shoot our videos during the weekends and public holidays. It won¡¯t interfere with your day job.¡± Chen Xu thought for a moment and replied, ¡°Give me two days to think about it before I give you a reply.¡± ¡°Sure. Just contact me via WeChat when you have your answer.¡± When they reached they reached the hotel, Chen Xu parted ways with them. He had said that he needed time to think about it. In reality, he already knew the answer was a ¡°no.¡± The reason he had asked for time to consider was that he didn¡¯t want to make the situation awkward. He didn¡¯t have anything against Zhao Gang. Contrarily, he had a pretty good impression of the group of them. They were pretty lighthearted and easy to converse with. He was more than happy to befriend them. However, becoming business partners was another matter altogether. Zhao Gang had not mentioned anything regarding remuneration. How much money would he receive each time he filmed a video with them? Zhao Gang hadn¡¯t volunteered that information, and Chen Xu could only wait and see when the time came. If Zhao Gang gave too much, Chen Xu would feel bad about it. If he gave too little, Chen Xu would feel taken advantage of. Even if Zhao Gang were similar to Dai Zixin, and didn¡¯t care much about money, did the same go for the others in the team? Money always complicated matters. If he joined them, was there a quantifiable standard to gauge his marketing effect, the number of fans he attracted, and his role in any sales increase? There wasn¡¯t. The pay distribution was a question that could never be answered clearly. Chen Xu wasn¡¯t willing to enter such a muddy pool of water. His collaboration with Dai Zixin was different. There were only two of them, making communication and negotiation simple. Furthermore, the money after every live steam was divided there and then. The accounts were clear and neat. If a day ever came when Dai Zixin was no longer satisfied with the terms of their collaboration, they could simply put a stop to it without any hard feelings. There wouldn¡¯t be any messy entanglements. Chen Xu was absorbed in his thoughts as he made his way to the restaurant on the second floor. All his colleagues were already present and waiting for him. After lunch, everyone headed back to their rooms to pack their bags. They boarded the bus and started on their return journey. ¡­ After returning from the hot springs hotel, Chen Xu did not see Luo Xiyun for several days. According to Miss Guo, Liu Kun had forced her to stay home to recuperate. When Luo Xiyun finally returned, Chen Xu¡¯s errands hardly allowed him to be in the office. Most of the department¡¯s advertising had been outsourced to an advertising company that had been personally picked by Liu Kun. Chen Xu¡¯s main job was to act as the liaison between the two companies. Previously, before the advertising proposal had been put on the table, he stayed in the office and helped out with other miscellaneous chores whenever he was free. Now that the advertising project had finally been finalized, he frequently had to leave the office. Miss Guo was generous and had provided him with a car to use. He was finally able to put certain information that he had acquired in the dream to good use; it was his familiarity with the roads. Unfortunately, that didn¡¯t exactly help him to save much time. This city was constantly congested. Furthermore, he was rarely able to find a parking spot. He parked the car in the parking lot below the office and returned the car key to Miss Guo. It was faster to take the subway. Of course, it was only faster if he avoided the rush hour crowds. He was so busy and occupied that one week passed very quickly. A month had passed since the last dream. This morning, Chen Xu woke up before dawn. He eagerly reawakened his virtual dream gear. The familiar interface appeared in his field of vision, and a prompt appeared on the top right-hand corner. ¡°It indeed has appeared,¡± he remarked to himself. Excitement shot through him, and as he focused on the top corner, the prompt popped open. ¡°Would you like to enter the ¡®Alien Invasion¡¯ dream?¡± The sound of this name¡­ He stroked his chin. The name of this dream sounded like it had a similar theme to the ¡®Apocalyptic Survival¡¯ dream. But it was definitely more dangerous. Judging from the name itself, it was likely that there would be monsters in this dream. Was this really a virtual game? He continued looking at the prompts that were provided. They were similar to the first dream. There were also three options. However, the items provided weren¡¯t the same. The characters were the same. Finally, when he got to the scanning option, he found himself faced with a dilemma. Honestly, he was still inclined to replicate a person from reality to accompany him in the dream. After all, it was a very lonely prospect to have to stay alone in the dream for half a year. Only through experience could one realize how difficult that really was. The time came for him to choose a companion, and he felt that he lacked the courage to share the complex feelings of companionship with a completely unreal NPC. His requirements for the companion were naturally that she had to possess high values, a good figure, and an elegant temperament. Even if nothing could develop during that period, it didn¡¯t hurt to have some eye candy. In any case, it was only a dream. There was nothing that bothered his conscience. ¡°One rule. Never find someone you know or may know in the future.¡± The easiest method to find someone who met those standards was to pick a famous star. However, the domestic exposure of these people was too high, and personal information regarding them and their companions was easily leaked. It was probably safer to find someone foreign. He wasn¡¯t interested in a Caucasian companion. The ladies in Korea all looked like they were from the same mold. The most ideal candidate would be a female star from Japan. Even if she wasn¡¯t as pretty as the local stars in China, she would possess an outstanding temperament. Unfortunately, it was now too late to apply for an international visa. He couldn¡¯t wait that long. He could always simply pick a companion off the streets! He made his decision cheerily. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Approachable and Easy-going Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The Virtual Dream Gear had a regulation that one could only enter the dream world during the night. In other words, he still had the entire morning. Chen Xu was thrilled and no longer sleepy, so he got up from the bed. After washing up, he cooked some noodles and ate them lifelessly. He did not have the motivation to do anything at the moment, and he felt a little suffocated at home, so he grabbed his briefcase and left the house. It was around 5:40 AM. The skies were still dark. Chen Xu strolled around the empty streets as the chilling wind hit his face, but he did not feel cold at all. Occasionally, he would meet pedestrians, who were either rushing to work or heading home to rest. He wandered around aimlessly, and after a short while, he reached an unfamiliar street. Frankly, he had been living in this area for more than a year, but he had not had the chance to explore. Unconsciously, he reached a small square nearby. Many people were doing their morning exercises; most of them were elderly with a small number of young people. He stayed at the square, trying to kill time before it was finally time for him to leave. Then, he started to walk towards the bus stop. On his way to the company, he was diligently scrutinizing everyone, hoping to find the next suitable candidate. Despite coming across a few good-looking ones, he was not satisfied as he always felt that there was something amiss. He reached the company earlier than usual. While he was waiting for the lift, he met Lu Xiyun coincidentally. A thought flashed across his mind: ¡°Why not bring her along into my second dream world?¡± He was thrilled at the idea. Basing just on looks, Luo Xiyun was the best-looking one among all the females he had met before. Maybe it was because he had spent too much time with her, he would unconsciously compare every girl he met against her when he was selecting his second candidate. Nonetheless, he still brushed off the thought after more consideration. He was aware of Luo Xiyun¡¯s temper, and he certainly did not want to experience that all over again. That would be looking for trouble unless she was able to retain the memories from their first dream. However, that was impossible. ¡­ Chen Xu left the company after his meeting ended. The department¡¯s advertising project was outsourced to an advertising agency. He was just an errand runner with no authority to make any decisions. He would have to submit every photo to the higher-ups for selection. Exiting the company¡¯s lobby, he headed towards the subway station. Just when he walked past an intersection, a Mercedes-Benz stopped abruptly in front of him, and the rear window was lowered. It was Liu Kun. ¡°Vice-chairman Mr. Liu?¡± Chen Xu was flabbergasted. ¡°Why did you stop me?¡± ¡°Chen Xu, where are you heading towards?¡± Liu Kun smiled warmly. Chen Xu replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to the store on XX road.¡± ¡°Let me take you there since it is on my way. Get in!¡± ¡°Thank you, vice-chairman, Mr. Liu.¡± After expressing his gratitude, Chen Xu got in the car from the opposite side, but he was very cautious. ¡°Start the car,¡± Liu Kun told his chauffeur. After the car started, he turned to Chen Xu and asked, ¡°Are you coping well in the new department?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine except that we have to work overtime quite frequently, and I couldn¡¯t get used to it initially.¡± ¡°Yes, there is a lot of stuff to do as this department is newly set up. Thank you for your hard work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all worth it since the company pays us overtime fees.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Liu Kun burst out laughing, ¡°You are really honest.¡± They chatted during the entire journey. Liu Kun was unexpectedly approachable. He asked about Chen Xu¡¯s daily life without making him feel uncomfortable. ¡°I will get out here,¡± Chen Xu said as they approached an intersection. After the car had stopped, he thanked vice-chairman Mr. Liu once again before exiting the car. He stood on the pavement as he watched the car disappear from his view. He was confused. He did not understand why a busy man like Liu Kun would take notice of a nobody like him? So much so that he would stop to give him a ride to his destination. Was he trying to show his subordinates that he was approachable? Or did he see something in Chen Xu and was preparing him for a place of importance? Liu Kun had just been chit-chatting with him during the car ride, and there was nothing really important that he revealed, so Chen Xu could only make wild guesses. He couldn¡¯t have been just bored, right? After a while, Chen Xu still could not come into a conclusion, so he just threw the thoughts out of his mind and walked toward the store. ¡­ ¡°Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu¡­¡± After Chen Xu got out, Liu Kun was deep in thoughts. He did not even hear the chauffeur calling for him. ¡°Mr. Liu!¡± the chauffer called louder. ¡°Yes?¡± Liu Kun was snapped out of his thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± The chauffeur asked cautiously, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°Nothing, let¡¯s go.¡± Liu Kun returned to normal and exited the car. He was meeting a very important person, so he could not afford to be distracted. They were in the basement parking lot. Liu Kun led the chauffeur to an elevator and up to the highest level. Once the elevator doors opened, they were greeted by the front desk. Liu Kun adjusted his tie before exiting the elevator, and he said to the staff at the front desk, ¡°I am Liu Kun, I¡¯ve got an appointment with Chairman Yang.¡± The staff at the front desk smiled and said, ¡°Chairman Yang has informed us. This way please.¡± Liu Kun signaled to his chauffeur, asking him to wait outside. He followed the staff up a spiral staircase until they reached a door. He stopped in his steps for a brief moment and took a small unnoticeable breath before entering the room. There was an office inside. The wooden racks on the wall facing the door were filled with potted plants. On the right side was a glass wall, providing a panoramic view of the sky and the eight-lane highway beneath the building, which stretched into the distance. There was no building taller than this one in the vicinity. Liu Kun took a glance at the view outside. Despite the fact that this was not the first time he had come to this office, he was still astonished by the breathtaking view. ¡°Will I ever be able to own such an office one day?¡± he wondered silently. ¡°Chairman Yang, Chairman Liu is here.¡± A lady¡¯s voice pulled him back into reality. Looking over, he saw the owner of the office sitting in front of his desk while holding a kettle in his hands and pouring hot water into a purple clay teapot. ¡°Take a seat.¡± She looked like she was 27 or 28 years old with delicate makeup and her hair tied up into a bun. She was wearing a plain yellow blouse and was in total concentration as she stared intently at her tea-tray. When Liu Kun saw the lady, his eyes lit up. But soon after, he lowered his eyes and sat on the chair next to the desk with a very respectful attitude. The lady poured a cup of tea and used the wooden tweezers to put the cup of tea in front of him. Liu Kun lowered his head and received the cup with both of his hands. ¡°I understand your reason for this visit.¡± The lady put down the tweezers and took a cloth to clean the water droplets on the table. ¡°However, you should understand that I¡¯m just an investor. I will not interfere with the management of the business.¡± Liu Kun said carefully, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the company, I would never dare to bother you. Yu Xi has worked so hard for this project. She¡¯s exhausted. Please help her¡­¡± The lady stared a plant next to her for a moment or two before replying, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Liu Kun was relieved. He took a sip of the tea and left. The moment he stepped out of the door, a wave of disappointment washed over him. From the start until the end, the lady had not even looked at him. He wanted to turn back to take another look, but his neck was locked in position. Bam. The office door was shut. He let out a small sigh as he walked out. Chapter 52 Chapter 52: First Meeting Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It was close to 1 PM, and Chen Xu had finally left the store after being busy the entire morning. He was feeling famished and wanted to find a fast-food restaurant nearby for lunch. ¡°Chen Xu?¡± He walked a short distance before he heard someone called his name. He turned around and recognized that it was his university friend. Surprised, he said, ¡°Liu Xiaoshang? Why are you here?¡± ¡°My company is nearby. What about you? Are you working around the vicinity as well? Why have I not seen you around before?¡± Liu Xiaoshang was very excited and asked a chain of questions all in one go. Chen Xu smiled and replied, ¡°I have some work to do around here.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I was just about to find a place to eat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, let¡¯s go together! My treat. You are not allowed to fight with me on this.¡± Chen Xu went ahead since Liu Xiaoshang had been the vice-chairperson in class, and he was always generous. They were also on good terms with each other. They found a restaurant and started reminiscing over past events. Chen Xu had been added to the class WeChat, but he had never sent any messages because he did not know what to chat with them about, so he just muted the group. Occasionally when his close friends sent messages, he would open to read the chat to get to know their current situations. He knew Liu Xiaoshang had experienced a smooth sailing life after graduation. He had already bought a house and a car on top of having a girlfriend. He had even sent a picture of her into the group chat, and she was quite pretty. However, this was not something others could achieve with envy in their hearts. Life was unfair. He was born into a rather well-off family and looked dashing. After chatting for a while, Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s phone rang a few times. ¡°It¡¯s my girlfriend,¡± he explained and listened to the voice message that had been sent. Although the volume was not loud, Chen Xu could vaguely hear the conversation was regarding why Liu Xiaoshang had not replied to her messages. Liu Xiaoshang sent a voice message whispering, ¡°I am still out.¡± Before he put the phone down, a new message was sent by his girlfriend. ¡°On your GPS.¡± This time, it was louder than before. Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s hands stopped abruptly, rubbing his fingers on his temples. He sighed and said, ¡°Sometimes, my girlfriend is just too clingy.¡± While saying that, he sent his location to her. Chen Xu smiled. Not knowing how to reply, he picked up the cup and pretended to drink water. ¡°I am eating out with my friend, my university friend¡­¡± Liu Xiaoshang reported to her softly, while taking careful glances at Chen Xu, ¡°a male!¡± Chen Xu could only act as if he had not heard anything. He took out his phone, unlocked it, and proceeded to play with the pages of the home screen by swiping it around. Ding ding dong ding¡­ Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s phone rang again immediately, this time it was a video call. Chen Xu could not keep up with the act any more after seeing how Liu Xiaoshang was so embarrassed and did not accept the video call. He said, ¡°Is that your girlfriend? Hurry up and pick it up! I heard you found a really pretty girl. I have wanted to see her for a long time. Don¡¯t tell me you are hiding her from me.¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Liu Xiaoshang smiled, but it was an awkward smile. He picked up the phone and accepted the video call. The girl in the video call was indeed very pretty. When the screen was turned to face Chen Xu, he gave her a warm greeting. ¡°Only the two of you?¡± his girlfriend asked over the video call after greeting them both. At this time, Liu Xiaoshang became embarrassed. Without saying a word, he rotated his phone 360 degrees to show her that there was no one sitting in the tables adjacent to them. ¡°Continue eating with your friend then, and come home earlier after work. Love you.¡± After saying that, the video call ended. Liu Xiaoshang did not say anything at all, placed his phone down, and picked up a cup of water. Chen Xu initiated the conversation, ¡°The two of you are staying together?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Liu Xiaoshang had lost the enthusiasm he had shown at the start, and only elaborated briefly, ¡°We intend to get married after celebrating the new year.¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± Then, Liu Xiaoshang smiled and said, ¡°You must come on the day of my marriage.¡± Chen Xu nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Liu Xiaoshang looked at him. ¡°Do you have a girlfriend now?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°No, I had one last year, but we broke up quite quickly. It was too stressful, and we could not handle it.¡± Liu Xiaoshang could relate to him and nodded his head, ¡°My girlfriend spends a lot. If I did not earn this much, I would not be able to finance her expenditures.¡± Chen Xu laughed, ¡°I can tell that you love her a lot.¡± This sentence seemed to stir up feelings as Liu Xiaoshang looked out of the window and said, ¡°I wooed her for two years.¡± ¡°I guess you don¡¯t know yet. She was from our school too, but she was in the class after us. At that time, she had a boyfriend. They only broke up after graduation¡­ It was not easy for her to become my girlfriend.¡± Chen Xu hadn¡¯t known that they had such a past. It could only be called true love then. He could understand these feelings. Most people had met someone they were willing to go that extra mile for. However, due to many reasons and difficulties, they would give up. A small portion of people would persevere and end up hurting themselves. Very few people could get what they wanted and be lucky enough to stay together forever. In this kind of relationship, even if they did not end up together, at least there would not be any regrets. It felt like the emotions hidden deep in his heart were aroused. Suddenly, he heard Liu Xiaoshang exclaim, ¡°Wow.¡± He raised his head and saw Liu Xiaoshang staring out of the window with shimmering eyes. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He turned his head, looked out of the window, and immediately knew what he was looking at. A lady dressed in a light-yellow shirt was standing at the side of the road making a call. At first glance, she looked stunning. ¡°It shall be her,¡± he thought. His eyes brightened, and he took a glance at the car parked beside her, it was a foreign car plate number. ¡°Not a local, perfect candidate,¡± he thought. Without thinking twice, he woke up the Virtual Dream Gear, activated scanner, and locked the target as this lady. Scan successful. At this point, the lady had finished her call and gotten into her car, leaving quickly. Chen Xu and Liu Xiaoshang looked at one another and gave each other a knowing smile, but they did not mention anything about the lady. Instead, they chatted about their lives after graduation and their situations. When working hours were going to resume, they paid the bill and left. They arranged to go for a drink at a later time before parting ways. Chen Xu had to rush to another shop in the afternoon and worked until after 7 PM before rushing back to the office. He passed the final product to Miss Guo and finally ended work for the day. He used the shortest route possible to return to his rental house. Throughout the entire afternoon, he had been constantly reminded of the lady in the yellow shirt. The more he thought about her, the more he looked forward to his dream that night. It was like choosing a mysteriously coded film after looking at the cover. After downloading it, one would find it difficult to contain their excitement to watch it. While he was looking forward to it, he also had feelings of anxiety. What if it turned out like clickbait? Some ladies looked perfect from a certain angle, but overall they were very ordinary. This situation had happened to him before. To Chen Xu, his dream was personal. It revealed his deepest secrets, those that could not be shared. Those were the dirty little secrets that everyone had. In today¡¯s context, would anyone condemn a man for watching pornography in his room? Similarly, if he fantasized over a woman in his dream, who had the right to judge his character? Chapter 53 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After returning home, Chen Xu cooked some noodles and finished eating quickly to fill his stomach. He sat down to rest after his meal and awoke the Virtual Dream Gear. A window popped up in the new dream world interface that allowed props to be bought along. This was an option that was not available in the first dream world experience. He guessed that it was because he had completed the mission for the previous dream world experience and accumulated fifty points. Hence, he could unlock new experiences in his second experience. After clicking it open, many small images appeared in front of him. When his attention was on a certain image, the image would automatically enlarge and become three-dimensional. They were all weapons such as guns, daggers, axes, medications, and even big things like trucks and other vehicles. There were approximately ten to twenty different items. Chen Xu felt that this experience was becoming more akin to a game. The props were not considered expensive ¨C a normal pistol only needed two points, and a hundred bullets would merely require one point. From the name of this world, the probability of encountering a monster was high, so there was a need to use weapons to protect himself. He exchanged his points for a pistol and rifle. Coincidentally, the models were the same as the ones used in the previous dream world experience. He also bought two sets of bullets for both the pistol and rifle he had chosen. Just like that, he spent five points. Next, he bought a left exoskeleton arm worth forty points. With his remaining five points, he bought a backpack, water, food, and some medication. After much thought, he felt that the props were all quite powerful, be it guns or rocket missiles. However, they could only be useful when the target was hit. On the other hand, the exoskeleton arm could directly enhance his power and was more useful. The only downside was that it was so expensive. A single exoskeleton arm was worth forty points, and to get the full set would require eighty points. He did not have enough points, so he could only afford one. This exoskeleton arm had built-in energy and weighed thirty kilograms, but his power could reach up to ten tons. It was advanced technology. After spending all his points, he exited the interface. He lay on his bed, preparing to sleep. ¡­ ¡°Preparing to enter the virtual dream world ¡®Alien Invasion¡¯. This is a one-star difficulty dream level, lasting one hundred and eighty days. Wishing you the best experience in this dream world.¡± After listening to that voice, he opened his eyes. He saw the dark sky covered by dark yellow fog, causing people to feel oppressed. ¡°This time it is not in a room?¡± He smelled a thick burning smell and stood up, realizing that around him were stones of different sizes, causing him to feel uncomfortable. He was in a daze after standing up and scanning his vicinity. All around was quiet and piled up debris, just like what was seen in a movie, a city razed to the ground. There were collapsed buildings, and he was just standing in the middle of bricks and cement pillars that were abandoned with some very old, rusty rebar. This was a city where no life form could grow. Woosh. A gust of wind blew, and he could hear a faint voice. Chen Xu looked at the building that was far ahead and felt a chill run down his spine, ¡°What happened to this world exactly?¡± Could it be that the aliens had invaded and destroyed the world? If that was the case, it would be way too dangerous. To survive here for one hundred and eighty days was mission impossible. Even though he had had the dream experience before, facing this kind of environment still caused him to be anxious. ¡°Oh right, where are the props I purchased before?¡± He had nothing on him, the props he spent fifty points for were nowhere to be seen. ¡°It can¡¯t be.¡± He searched everywhere in a state of panic, turned around, and found a headless corpse in a pool of blood. It was a gory scene. ¡°The game is going to this extent?¡± He took a deep breath. No wonder there was a burning smell. It was the smell of hair and meat being charred. The thought of that gave him the urge to vomit. Still uncomfortable, he walked towards the corpse. From the color of the blood, the person had died not long ago. This meant that danger was lurking nearby. His first instinct was to get his weapons so that he could protect himself. The type of clothing that the corpse was wearing was very unique. They seemed like a soldier, so there was a high possibility that there would be weapons on it. After Chen Xu walked up to it, he found a pistol, and his eyes lit up. He immediately picked it up. ¡°It¡¯s this model?¡± He was surprised. It was the model he always used. Taking out the magazine, he found that it was filled with bullets. No matter what, with a pistol in hand, he felt reassured. If there was a dangerous situation, he would have something to defend himself with. He looked around and found a new problem. A rather well-preserved building around ten meters opposite had something burning in it. ¡°I shall go and take a look.¡± He loaded the pistol and inched his way to the building while being cautious of his surroundings. When he saw the interior of the building, he could not help but sigh. When he had seen the first corpse, he already had a hint of what was to come, but he had not expected it to be such a dire situation. There were both human and alien corpses. Signs of a fierce battle were everywhere, with blood splattered all around. He hesitated for two seconds but still walked in. He took the risk because he saw an exoskeleton piece of armor that looked familiar. The model was exactly the same one as the one he used his points to exchange for. He could not believe that it was a coincidence. ¡°Just some NPCs and monsters. They can¡¯t scare me.¡± He kept repeating the sentence in his heart and avoided looking at all the corpses. Near the building, he picked up a rifle. As expected, it was exactly the same as the one he had traded points for. He carried his guns on his back and walked to the corpse with the exoskeleton armor. He realized that its right arm was heavily wounded, but its left arm was as good as new. It was evident that these were all the props he had exchanged points for. He had not started with them but had to acquire them in different ways. ¡°Is this a strategy to make the game more realistic?¡± He did not know whether to laugh or cry. Just as he thought all his props that were exchanged were lost and his heart ached, they were all there waiting for him to pick them up. ¡°If I was careless and left, would I have missed these?¡± He could only sigh. Visitors had no rights. Hints were not even given when playing a game. Everything depended on himself. Next, he recalled the operating procedures for the armor, removed the exoskeleton arm from the corpse, and put it on himself. It was not only a mechanical arm as the legs were included as well. Without support from the legs, a human would easily get tired from carrying a thirty-kilogram arm around. This mechanical arm was half-covered. When he put it on, it seemed like half a piece of armor. He tried to move it around, and its resistance was not bad. His arm was still as nimble as before. ¡°Let¡¯s try the strength.¡± He saw a cement pillar that was two meters long and held onto one end. He used some force, and the cement pillar, which weighed a few tons, was lifted off the ground. ¡°Advanced technology, indeed.¡± He placed the cement pillar down and sighed, ¡°Looking at this, the technology in this world is of a higher level than that of reality.¡± At that moment, he heard some noises behind him and turned around. He saw a green monster as tall as a normal human standing less than five meters from him, drooling. Suddenly, he felt a chill down his spine. Chapter 54 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Bam! Chen Xu hadn¡¯t fired the gun in his hands before. Discovering that a green-skinned beast was standing behind him, his shock was out of this world. He raised his hands and let off a shot immediately. Blobs of green blood splashed out of the creature¡¯s head. Bam bam bam bam¡­ He kept pulling the trigger, not stopping even after all the bullets in the gun were used. The sound of blasts turned into the soft empty strikes of the firing pin. ¡°Pant¡­ pant¡­ pant¡­¡± His chest was throbbing wildly as he looked at the creature lying on the ground with an almost deformed head and pale green liquid oozing out from its wounds. It was already deader than dead. ¡°Holy shit. That really scared me,¡± he mumbled to himself as he gradually relaxed. At that moment, his right hand still felt a little sloppy, and he couldn¡¯t even reload nimbly. He never thought that his performance would be so atrocious when faced with danger. Earlier on, his mind was absolutely blank. Firing the gun was purely his subconscious reaction. Fortunately, his skills with the gun were well-trained, so he could instinctively land headshots. Otherwise, judging on the size of the creature, hitting its body probably wouldn¡¯t have killed it. ¡°Just a green-skinned ape, isn¡¯t it? What is there to be afraid of?¡± In his heart, he was a little ashamed of his performance. He shook out his hands that were still shaking to vent his emotions. That creature¡¯s form and walking posture slightly resembled an ape, only uglier and fiercer because of its mouth full of sharp teeth. ¡°I need to leave this place quickly. The gunshots just now might have attracted other creatures.¡± Finally, he reloaded the magazine. He didn¡¯t dare to stay any longer. He quickly scoured through the scene and retrieved the resources he had traded for before he came in. Then, he looked at the large barrels of water. He felt a little troubled. Bullets, medicine, and compressed food were all fine as they were not that big. He could still manage to fit them all inside his super large backpack. The water, however, wouldn¡¯t cut it. There were a thousand liters of water over there, filling ten 100-liter barrels. He¡¯d need at least a truck to haul them all. ¡°I¡¯ll leave them here for now.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t hesitate for long. He gritted his teeth, packed everything he could bring with him, and left this place. Wearing a one-side exoskeleton robotic arm, his center of gravity was slightly shifted. He felt very awkward as he was left with a strange walking posture. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t have time to worry about that. He didn¡¯t go far and headed straight to a nearby ten-story building that had fortunately survived. Aside from attracting creatures, the gunshots just now might have also attracted that woman. Thus, he couldn¡¯t go too far, or he could miss her. ¡°I must find that woman before the skies darken, and then find a place to settle down.¡± He felt a sense of pressing urgency in his heart. This place was different from the last dream world. Vile creatures existed, and it was much more dangerous. That woman, on the contrary, wasn¡¯t like him. She couldn¡¯t come in with weapons. Unarmed, she would be done for if she bumped into creatures like that green-skinned ape. If the companion he had chosen were to die on the first day into the dream, that would be some foul luck. After a while, he entered the building and ascended the stairs. He didn¡¯t dare to go too fast as he needed to constantly be alert of his surroundings to ensure his own safety. The structure of the building was still intact, but the walls were severely damaged. He couldn¡¯t imagine what had happened here. It took him ten minutes to get to the rooftop. After confirming that there was no potential threat on the rooftop, he put away his pistol, replaced it with a rifle, walked to the edge to look around. ¡°Nothing?¡± He made a circle on the rooftop and looked in all four directions. However, he found nothing, neither humans nor creatures. ¡°Could they have gone into hiding?¡± He frowned. This building was the tallest in the nearby vicinity. Looking out from here, the scene below was fully laid out. However, there were still some low-rise houses underneath. She might have hidden herself. ¡°Logically speaking, she should be nearby,¡± he thought to himself. Otherwise, the function of bringing in a companion wouldn¡¯t be necessary at all. If they were too far away, how would they meet each other? Hence, he was pretty sure that the woman would be just around his periphery. ¡°She must¡¯ve been frightened by the gunshots.¡± He realized that the question before him was how to convince her that he bore no malicious intent after he found her. Cloning a non-acquaintance into the dream was also quite troublesome. Anyone who had ridiculously popped up in such a dangerous place would probably be on full guard towards a stranger. He sighed. Sure enough, things didn¡¯t turn out to be perfect on all ends. If he cloned an acquaintance, that person would be relatively easier to approach, but if they developed feelings in the dream world, it would be difficult for him to face the person after he woke up. But a non-acquaintance was hard to approach. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll just play it by ear when the time comes,¡± he thought to himself. As for cloning a male friend into the dream, the thought had never once crossed his mind. Who¡¯d want to spend half a year in a dream world with a friend of the same gender? That would simply be too weird. After some thought, he walked to face the location where he first entered the dream and stood guard over there. That would be the area she would most likely be hiding. Now, he would first have to confirm the location she was hiding. ¡­ Chen Xu adjusted the exoskeleton robotic arm to rest mode. By doing so, he could save more energy and be less tired. Watching the ruins in front of him, a feeling of forlornness gradually emerged in his heart. He couldn¡¯t help but think of the last dream world. He felt exactly the same as when the torrential downpour that lasted for 20 days had submerged half of the city underwater. As a member of humankind, the feeling of watching the destruction of the modern civilized world was indescribable. ¡°Too bad that I can¡¯t use any of my ideas to earn money.¡± He sighed out of the blue, feeling that it was too much of a pity. After waking up from the first dream, he intentionally went to a forum that he frequently visited and asked about how to make money given similar situations. It was on this exact forum that he learned about something called the ¡°scratch-off lottery¡± for the first time. After learning that it was a kind of instant redemption and that it was a legal welfare lottery issued by the national lottery department, he was literally stomping his own feet and pounding his own chest. That was a big opportunity he had just barely missed. If he had known about it before, he would have been rich for a long time. Maybe not in terms of buying a house or a car, but It should still be easy for him to pay off his family¡¯s debt. It was because he had let such an opportunity slip that he had come well-prepared into the dream this time. If the situation was something like that of the first dream, he had made it compulsory for himself to round up all the lottery stations in the entire city in one swoop. But in the end, he had come into a freaking field of ruins. Moreover, from all indications, the probability was high that he wasn¡¯t even on earth. All his money-making plans naturally went down the drain. All of a sudden, he heard some movement by the stairs. His nerves were all clenched as he held up the gun in his hands. A green shadow appeared at the stairway entrance. He was about to pull the trigger as if it was his conditioned reflex. The next moment, he finally got a clear view of the opponent. His pupils immediately constricted. Bam! Following a gunshot, the green shadow collapsed to the ground. Chapter 55 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Bam! Chen Xu¡¯s left hand firmly grasped the gun. With the support of his robotic arm, he did not feel even the slightest recoil at his shoulders that was supporting the butt of the rifle. At this moment, he didn¡¯t pay any attention to that in entirety. His body became a little stiff in his terror. He kept the position he had at the time he fired the rifle and gazed at the woman dressed in green who was lying on the floor. He felt that his entire back was drenched in sweat. That was way too close. Earlier on, if he hadn¡¯t raised the muzzle that tiny little bit before he fired the shot, that woman would already have her head splattered off. He wasn¡¯t usually that reckless. But in such a dangerous environment, he became a little squeamish. Seeing the green figure, he had subconsciously thought of it as another green-skinned ape, almost leading to a tragedy. Fortunately, the bullet flew by the woman¡¯s head. She was merely terrified, and that¡¯s why she fell to the ground. Why was she wearing green of all colors? Apart from being scared, he couldn¡¯t help but complain. His eyes met the woman¡¯s, and his heart pounded. He could see no fear on her face. It was more like anger. Her eyes were sharp, radiating some kind of deterrence. A strange feeling rippled through Chen Xu¡¯s heart. His gut feelings were telling him that she was no simple woman. ¡°Are you alright?¡± He finally remembered to put away the rifle as he asked while trying to sound gentle, ¡°I thought you were a monster just now. That¡¯s why I fired. I¡¯m sorry. Did that scare you?¡± As he talked, he extended his hand with the intention of pulling her up in an act of friendliness. The woman didn¡¯t grab his hand. She helped herself up by holding the wall and patted off the dirt on her skirt. Seeing that she still dared to care about whether her clothes were dirty, he felt even more peculiar about the situation. Think about it. A woman woke up and discovered that the city she was in had become a wasteland. Then, she bumped into a man that fired a gun at her. After cheating death, her first reaction was to pat her skirt clean? In any way, this reaction didn¡¯t seem normal. Seeing that there was still a stain after patting the skirt a few times, she didn¡¯t bother with it any longer. She looked up at Chen Xu, her vision clearly passing over the fancy-looking exoskeleton robotic arm. She asked, ¡°What is this place?¡± Chen Xu had his eyebrows slightly knitted. He didn¡¯t like the way she spoke. It was casual, but with a strong domineering presence. He was very sensitive to this. She could turn out to be a woman who was possibly more difficult than Luo Xiyun. This was his first impression of her. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t someone who judged on appearance. Her real personality completely matched the brief, stunning glimpse he had of her in the morning. For a moment, many thoughts went through his mind as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her eyes flickered slightly and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t answer but questioned her back, ¡°And who are you?¡± The woman kept quiet for two seconds and said, ¡°Xia Jinse.¡± ¡°Chen Xu.¡± Chen Xu initially thought of shaking hands with her, but remembering that she would rather stand up herself than let him help her, he dispelled the idea and said, ¡°We are probably experiencing the same thing ¨C ridiculously appearing in this world.¡± ¡°How did you know that?¡± asked Xia Jinse. ¡°Your clothes. They do not match this place.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°I could tell based on my own experience.¡± Xia Jinse looked at the rifle in his hands. Chen Xu explained, ¡°I scavenged all these. There¡¯s a battlefield over there, but everyone is dead, unfortunately.¡± ¡°And that gunshot from just now, did you fire it?¡± she asked again. ¡°I bumped into a monster that looks like an ape with green skin. I shot it down. That¡¯s why I subconsciously fired at you when you appeared. The color of your clothes is so similar.¡± Chen Xu explained why he pulled the trigger and then asked, ¡°What are your next plans?¡± Xia Jinse¡¯s delicate eyebrows frown deeply, saying slowly only after a while, ¡°To survive.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s make a team. We can take care of each other with both of us together. Our chances of surviving in this dangerous world would also be higher.¡± Xia Jinse kept silent for a moment and asked, ¡°Can you take me to the scene of battle?¡± Chen Xu knew that she didn¡¯t trust him and wasn¡¯t angry about it. It would seem abnormal if she were to agree to him straightaway. After all, they were strangers without any foundation of trust, and would, of course, need to have a high level of suspicion and vigilance to survive. He looked up at the sky. It was still grey, the same as when he woke up. He couldn¡¯t see any changes nor see the sun, so he was unable to tell the time. Based on feeling, somewhere around an hour had probably passed since he woke up. The two left the rooftop and went downstairs. ¡­ Xia Jinse was in front while Chen Xu followed behind. The two didn¡¯t talk along the way. Although Chen Xu almost peed his pants during his first encounter with the green-skinned ape, after killing it with a gun, his courage had marginally increased. The green-skinned ape had an awful appearance but wasn¡¯t as scary as he thought. It was a creature of blood and flesh, the same as him, that could be shot down by a handgun, let alone a rifle. Even if one got close to him, he still had his exoskeleton robotic arm which could easily allow him to smash it into pieces. He just had to be careful to not get ambushed. Hence, to win Xia Jinse¡¯s trust, he decided to take a risk and make a trip back to the scene. Arriving at the location, Chen Xu watched Xia Jinse carefully observe the entire battlefield. The corpses of humans, monsters, and even the scars on the wall left behind by shootings weren¡¯t overlooked. In all honesty, it wasn¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t thought of surveying this place, particularly the corpses of the few monsters. It was only because he was anxious to look for Xia Jinse that he had set aside this thought. After more than ten minutes, Xia Jinse stood up beside the corpse of the last monster and said, ¡°We need to take all that water away. We will not last long without clean drinking water.¡± Chen Xu nodded, agreeing with her view. He previously observed for some time on the rooftop. This city¡¯s destruction was arrant. Of every place he could perceive, he couldn¡¯t see any water. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the transport vehicle was badly damaged,¡± Xia Jinse said with regret. Without a transporting tool, moving so much water wouldn¡¯t be an easy job. ¡°Leave this to me.¡± Chen Xu flexed the exoskeleton robotic arm enwrapping his left arm. Then, he said, ¡°I think we should stay at that building tonight. I¡¯ve looked around. They have a few considerably intact rooms. We don¡¯t have to worry about monsters ambushing us if we stay there.¡± Xia Jinse nodded in agreement. Subsequently, they returned to the building with a bucket of water, found themselves a room on the third floor, and had it cleaned up. After working for a while, the two got hungry. Chen Xu opened a pack of compressed biscuits, gave her half of it, and ate while sitting. Xia Jinse took the biscuit, had a bite, frowned, and said, ¡°I agree to team up with you. However, you must promise me one thing.¡± Chapter 56 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu chewed carefully. The dried bread was very hard and had an unpleasant texture. The taste, on the other hand, was unexpectedly good. It tasted of chives. He swallowed the cracker in his mouth and spoke up, ¡°Say it.¡± Xia Jinse took a bite out of the cracker in her hand and slowly said, ¡°I need my personal space. You¡¯re not allowed to come close at any time.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t contain his laughter, and he didn¡¯t bother to hide the ridicule in it either. ¡°What¡¯s so laughable about that?¡± Xia Jinse¡¯s expression turned cold, and the look in her eyes gave Chen Xu a very strange feeling once again. It felt as if he were facing his superior at work. He was curious as to what this woman did for a living. The ability to emanate oppressive vibes solely with one¡¯s eyes was out of the ordinary. However, they were in his dream. Even if Trump appeared, he wouldn¡¯t be fazed and would display his contempt all the same. ¡°Your request is a little laughable.¡± The sneer on Chen Xu¡¯s face intensified. ¡°Take a good look at our current circumstances! We¡¯re surrounded by ruin and may run into monsters anytime. We can¡¯t even guarantee our survival, and you¡¯re talking to me about personal space?¡± After the previous dream, he had gained some experience. A woman coming from such an illustrious background who was this beautiful and motivated wouldn¡¯t yield easily. In his younger days, he had naively assumed that as long as he treated someone sincerely, he¡¯d receive the same sincerity in return. However, reality had slapped him in the face over and over again. Experience had shown him that the better he treated someone and the more he tried to earn favor, the less seriously they took him. It was common practice for people to take advantage of others all the time. However, as long as he toughened up his attitude and remained steadfast, he found that others would treat him with more respect. At the very least, they wouldn¡¯t belittle him. At times, a thought would cross his mind¡ªthese people were despicable! Once he had learned this principle, his circle of friends shrunk. However, life became a lot easier. When it came to a woman like Xia Jinse, he knew that she was used to having her way. The urge to call the shots was etched in her bones. If he took a step back and gave in, she¡¯d probably only grow even more absurd in her demands. Therefore, at that moment, his demeanor was extremely discourteous. He said, ¡°What happens if you¡¯re assaulted by a monster while asleep or taking a shower?¡± Xia Jinse coldly replied, ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t need to you save me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t sit by and watch you die,¡± Chen Xu stated. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to reason with her and continued to munch on his cracker. Xia Jinse stared at him for a while and finally spoke up, ¡°There¡¯s room for discussion regarding exceptional circumstances. But on a normal day, you¡¯ll have to comply.¡± Chen Xu swallowed his second mouthful of crackers and nodded his head. ¡°Alright,¡± he replied. ¡°However, I have a condition of my own as well.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Respect has to be mutual. Treat me with the same attitude that you want to be treated with.¡± Chen Xu looked into her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care what or who you were before this. Regardless of how high your status may have been or how many people revolved around you. Here with me, we are equals. ¡°Also, it is commonly said that a man should give way to a woman and that a woman should be taken care of. But none of that exists here with me. If you want to live, you¡¯ll have to contribute your share. Don¡¯t expect me to carry the full load on my own.¡± Xia Jinse observed his somber expression. A stunned look appeared on her face, and she was rendered speechless for a moment. When Chen Xu was done talking, he didn¡¯t bother himself with her any longer. He took a gulp of water and finished the rest of his cracker before standing up. He said, ¡°Hurry and finish your food. We¡¯ll get moving immediately after you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Get moving?¡± Xia Jinse asked suspiciously. Chen Xu replied as he packed up his belongings, ¡°Just now, in the vehicle, I saw on something that looked like a navigator that there is a settlement not far from here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Xia Jinse asked in surprise. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything back then?¡± Chen Xu turned his back to her as he replied, ¡°You weren¡¯t my companion then.¡± Xia Jinse stared back and didn¡¯t move her gaze for a long time. ¡­ The sky remained gray and depressing. Chen Xu took all his belongings and left together with Xia Jinse. Their first stop was to look for the transportation vehicle. They turned on the navigator and quickly recorded the route to the settlement. The destination wasn¡¯t far from where they were. The whole journey was 12.3 kilometers. The route wasn¡¯t complicated either. The navigator charted the route live, and they just had to remember a few iconic buildings as their landmarks along the way. When their preparations were complete, they began their journey. Chen Xu was on the left, while Xia Jinse walked on the right. There were approximately 2 meters of separation between them. The two of them made their way quietly and didn¡¯t say a word. He was constantly inspecting his surroundings defensively in case any monster suddenly attacked. Occasionally, his gaze would sweep past her, causing his thoughts to veer. The virtual dream world gave him a sense of contradiction. On one hand, the details were perfect, and it was impossible to differentiate it from reality. On the other hand, in some instances, it left loopholes behind, serving as a constant reminder that this wasn¡¯t real. He had experienced that thoroughly in the previous dream. This feeling was now back. The most significant aspect was the fact that it was able to create a world with the kind of advanced technology sufficient to produce exoskeleton manipulators, while at the same time maintaining a level of architecture in the cities was comparable to that of earth. When he saw the map on the GPS navigator, he was wondering why it looked so familiar. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was the very city he lived in! The place he had woken up at was where his rental apartment was located. At first glance, he hadn¡¯t been able to recognize it because most of the buildings had collapsed. When he finally managed to connect the dots, he was suddenly able to map many places against reality. He found the battle scene of the exoskeleton manipulators; it was in a Chinese supermarket. The only building left standing was a newly built residential building. The people were similar too. Regardless of whether it was Luo Xiyun or Xia Jinse, they were both very intelligent. However, they never displayed any curiosity regarding the inconsistencies in the dream world. And they never dug deeper. Until now, Xia Jinse had never mentioned why she had appeared in this world, and how everything had come to pass. The entire situation was bizarre in itself. The first reaction of any normal person, when presented with such an occurrence, would have been to question what was going on! However, Xia Jinse had never made any remark of that sort. It was as if she had accepted the setting in advance. Chen Xu had experienced this nagging unease when he had been with Luo Xiyun as well. Of course, after time had passed, and he grew accustomed to it, that nagging discomfiture had slowly been forgotten. He guessed that this was put in place to prevent the overuse of the dream world. After all, to most people, their lives in the dream world were a lot better than their lives in reality. It was precisely because of this that although he constantly reminisced of his early days in the first dream world, he was never saddened by it. Chapter 57 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Dong!¡± His left leg bearing exoskeleton support stepped on a dark red brick and gave off a muffled clang. Chen Xu stopped in his tracks and gazed into the distance for a moment. He turned around to Xia Jinse who was falling behind and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a few more kilometers to go. Let¡¯s take a break here for a while.¡± As he spoke, he retrieved a fragment of a cement beam from the rubble and placed it on the ground with the flat side up. He sat at one end of the beam, took out his water tumbler and poured some water into the lid. He took a few sips before placing the water tumbler in the middle of the cement beam. The convertible backpack had many functions and came with many gadgets, including a water tumbler. However, there was only one tumbler, and the two of them had to share it. Xia Jinse was breathing rapidly, and droplets of perspiration continuously appeared on her forehead. She couldn¡¯t be bothered with the dust and sat down on the other side of the cement beam. Panting, she leaned over and took the water tumbler. Tilting her head back, she positioned the water tumbler a few centimeters away from her lips and carefully poured the water into her mouth. Although Chen Xu was seated, he kept his eyes roving around their surroundings. He had deliberately chosen this place to rest because of the relatively wider view it presented. The two of them had been walking for close to three hours and had covered approximately ten kilometers. It was mainly because they had rested too much. Xia Jinse wasn¡¯t one who engaged in exercise frequently and was therefore of a weaker physical disposition. After walking for merely half an hour, she would be too exhausted to continue, and they would have no choice but to rest. Other than that, while threats lurked about, they hadn¡¯t encountered many dangers. Along the way, he had come across the trace of a monster. When he¡¯d raised his gun to shoot at it, it had escaped under the cover of the terrain. With Xia Jinse by his side, he hadn¡¯t dared to give chase. He¡¯d been worried that the monster might return with a horde of others and had instead quickened his pace anxiously. After walking for half an hour, he finally relaxed when he saw that there wasn¡¯t a swarm of monsters chasing them. After that encounter, he grew even more vigilant. As often as possible, he picked the routes with the widest views. That previous monster wasn¡¯t the same as the green apes he had confronted before. It was a different kind; it had a small stature and a strange speed. He supposed that it would be good at sneak attacks. ¡°We¡¯ve covered almost ten kilometers.¡± Xia Jinse suddenly spoke after drinking her water and placing the water tumbler back in its original spot. Chen Xu was surprised. She had not said a single word since the start of their journey. He had thought she was deliberately giving him a cold shoulder. ¡°Have you realized that we haven¡¯t come across a single live plant throughout our entire journey?¡± Xia Jinse¡¯s expression was tinged with worry, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that the soil here has all become desert-like. I¡¯m worried that this will be the case for the whole city.¡± Chen Xu hesitated for a moment. He had noticed the problem with the plants but had assumed that it was merely an issue with the dream setting. However, after hearing her words, he realized the seriousness of the matter. He stood up and walked over to where the concrete on the floor was bare and exposed. He raised his bionic arm and hit it hard on the ground. After a few punches, a pit appeared in the concrete floor. After picking out the bigger stones on top, he grabbed a handful of sand, and the expression on his face turned grave. If all the soil in the whole city had become like that of a desert, that meant this city had truly become a ghost town that wasn¡¯t suitable for living in. There was already foreshadowing evidence of that fact. Throughout their whole journey, other than the singular monster they had encountered, there hadn¡¯t been any other living creatures. Xia Jinse walked over, and when she saw the state of the soil beneath the ground, she asked him, ¡°How much food do you have left with you?¡± Chen Xu answered without a second thought, ¡°It¡¯ll be enough to last us both for ten days under normal circumstances. If we eat it sparingly, it¡¯ll extend to two weeks. Xia Jinse sighed again and said, ¡°I hope we¡¯ll be able to get some food supplies at the survival base.¡± Otherwise, they would be in big trouble. Chen Xu quickly braced himself and consoled her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If there are still transportation vehicles passing by here, and monsters are living here, it means the situation hasn¡¯t deteriorated to that extent.¡± ¡°We can only hope,¡± Xia Jinse muttered. Chen Xu looked at her, but all he could see from her expression was worry and a single ounce of fear. He couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be afraid.¡± ¡°What use is there being afraid?¡± she asked in return. Chen Xu shook his head and said, ¡°Well, that does make sense, but not many people would actually be able to keep calm. Fear is a normal psychological reaction. It¡¯s not something that can be controlled at will. Not for most people, at least.¡± Xia Jinse suddenly smiled, and her exquisite face softened and gentled as she asked, ¡°Are you giving yourself an indirect compliment?¡± The implied meaning of that statement was that Chen Xu himself had not displayed any hint of fear. Chen Xu laughed. The change in her attitude was something he could get used to. The tone and content of her speech were no longer arrogant and bossy. She had finally gotten her position right, which was a pretty good start. ¡­ The two of them rested for close to half an hour before they resumed their journey. The desertification of the soil had given them a sense of urgency and the motivation to rush to the settlement as soon as they could to see the situation there. On the navigator, the name of the settlement was numbered G5232. It was located on a low hill. They were already in another district, and it was one that Chen Xu wasn¡¯t familiar with. He had no idea how it corresponded with reality. Forty minutes later, they could see a fence. Knowing that they were about to reach the settlement, their spirits rose. However, when they neared and saw the condition of the main entrance, their hearts sank, and they froze in their tracks. The main entrance of the settlement was open, and at the door were several green apes fooling around. ¡°What shall we do?¡± Xia Jinse asked. Chen Xu replied grimly, ¡°It seems to me that this settlement has fallen. Most of the people inside are probably¡­ I just wonder how many more monsters there are inside.¡± ¡°There are five small ones at the entrance. In the best-case scenario, there¡¯ll be two fully-grown ones inside. In the worst case, it¡¯ll be a whole horde of them.¡± Chen Xu concurred with her speculation. In the case of these green apes, it could very well be a lone family unit, or it could be an entire herd living together. It all boiled down to their luck now. Xia Jinse looked at him, waiting for him to come to a decision. Chen Xu gripped the gun in his hand tightly and thought for a few seconds before saying, ¡°We¡¯ll kill our way in. You must follow me closely.¡± Xia Jinse gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Give me a gun.¡± ¡°Have you ever fired one before?¡± Chen Xu asked. ¡°No. Teach me.¡± She looked at him earnestly and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get myself get eaten by monsters.¡± ¡°I object.¡± Chen Xu grabbed the rifle with his left mechanical arm and held a pistol in his right hand. He stood up slowly and said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die in front of me. Keep up.¡± Xia Jinse took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and rushed out to follow behind him. Chapter 58 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Jinxia¡­ What are you doing¡­?¡± ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t catch my breath¡­ cough¡­¡± ¡°Cough¡­ Cough¡­¡± Yang Jinxia stood in the dark, quietly looking at the young girl on the sickbed with tears falling from the corner of her eye. The scene suddenly zoomed away into the distance and disappeared into the darkness. She opened her eyes and immediately felt that something was amiss. This wasn¡¯t her room. Where was this? What was she doing here? Had she been abducted? She looked at the gray sky above her, and her heart sank. In the few seconds that it took her to sit up from the ground, she had prepared herself for the worst. However, the sight surrounding her shattered all her previous predictions, and her face turned white at that moment. These were the ruins of a city. A building had collapsed, becoming nothing more than a pile of bricks and rubble before her eyes. At her feet stood an aluminum window frame that was deformed at an odd angle, swaying gently in the howling wind. This was a deathly apocalypse! That thought suddenly jumped into her mind, and for that moment, she could only feel a deep chill rising from her heart. Fear poured out of her eyes uncontrollably and her body began to tremble. ¡°Thud!¡± A sound of stone colliding suddenly sounded behind her. Wha¡­ what¡­ That light sound was like a thunderbolt to her ears, and she whipped her head around. Not far behind her, she saw a man on the ground climb to his feet. There was somebody else there! The appearance of this person saved her from the bottomless pit of her fear. To her, living alone in a dead and quiet world was the most frightening prospect. At that moment, she recovered her wits and immediately weighed her pros and cons. Seeing that the man was standing motionless with his back towards her, she silently scurried over to hide behind a half-fallen brick wall and continued to watch him through a thin gap. Given that the man¡¯s identity was unknown, she didn¡¯t want to rush to make contact. He was dressed very ordinarily and was approximately 1.75 meters in height. He didn¡¯t look very strong. She appraised him in her mind and was somewhat disappointed. Wait a minute! Considering how quickly he had recovered his wits after the shock, it was clear that his receptive abilities were pretty high. What was he looking for? There was a corpse? She looked in the direction the man was facing and was surprised to find out that she hadn¡¯t realized them earlier. She thought about it for a while and found that the corpse was right in her blind spot. It was only normal that she hadn¡¯t seen it. She saw the man pick up a gun that had been lying next to the corpse. He opened the magazine and took a look at it before putting it back. The way he cocked the gun next made it look like it was second nature to him. Was he a policeman? She rejoiced inwardly. Based on the individual¡¯s skilled movements, he had to be someone familiar with a gun. In China, policemen and army personnel were the only two groups who fit that description. This man did not look like he came from the army. She felt infinitely lucky to be able to meet a policeman under such circumstances! However, she did not rush out to meet him impulsively. Instead, she decided to observe him for a little longer. The man then held the gun and walked vigilantly towards a building ahead. Seeing this made Yang Jinxia even more confident in her speculation. The man was very likely a police officer indeed! She followed behind the man quietly. His attention was focused in front of him, and he hadn¡¯t realized her presence. Later, she found that that traces of a battle lined the whole building. Evidently, a fierce battle had just taken place here. From where she stood, she could see a few corpses. The man in front of her searched around for a while. He was wearing a strange mechanical armor. Half of it was broken, and only half remained on him. Next, he displayed the power of his mechanical armor by lifting a concrete pillar off the ground. She was flabbergasted. That concrete pillar weighed at least a few tons! He had lifted that weight solely with half of that strange armor? She was fairly certain that the world¡¯s technology was not at the stage to be able to create such a thing! Her company had invested in some high-tech industries. As a result, she had some knowledge of cutting-edge technologies. If such a product existed, it was impossible for her not to know of it. Just as she was caught in a confusion of thoughts, the man suddenly turned around and fired the gun with a bang. What had happened? She was taken aback. Why had he shot for no reason? What followed next was a series of gunshots. She couldn¡¯t resist sticking her head out a little, and finally saw a monster in front of the man. They had run into danger. Rightfully speaking, he shouldn¡¯t have had any experience firing against enemies. She noticed some things in the man¡¯s reaction and guessed that he was a new recruit. Judging from his side profile, he looked relatively young as well. However, his marksmanship was extremely good. Although his actions looked unsophisticated, every shot hit the monster in its head. He had to be a recently graduated recruit who had just joined the police force not too long ago. He was a policeman who possessed good marksmanship but lacked experience dealing with major crises. Yang Jinxia silently profiled the man in her mind. After some time, the man finally defeated the monster. He seemed to find something on the scene before leaving swiftly. She hurried to catch up with him but didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. She had concluded that this man wasn¡¯t a threat to her. However, she surmised that his nerves would still be in a state of heightened sensitivity. In such a condition, it was possible that he might shoot her out of reflex, and she didn¡¯t want to waste her life that way. The man¡¯s running posture was very unusual. He was limping, but at the same time, he was very fast. In the blink of an eye, he entered another building. She followed him into the building, and at the entrance to the stairs, she heard the thundering sound of footsteps rise before disappearing to the roof. Why was he running to the rooftop? She found it bizarre, but after giving it some thought, she decided not to rush after him. Instead, she looked around the building. Finally, she found a mirror that was fairly in one piece in one of the rooms. She blew the dust away from it, faced it, and began to organize her appearance. She was wearing a pair of green pajamas and didn¡¯t have an ounce of makeup on her face. She had taken off all her makeup before going to bed, and her face was now bare. However, her little chase had resulted in a face full perspiration that was marred by dirt. She carefully wiped the dirt off her face and straightened her clothing. In her mind, she simulated the scene of meeting the man in her mind. She knew that under the current circumstances if she wanted to have a chance of living at all, she would have to rely on the man on the rooftop. It was fortunate that he was a young police officer, and she didn¡¯t have to worry that he would do her any harm. The only skill she possessed to help her convince him now was the female wiles that she had been born with. Her target was a low-ranking, ordinary-looking police officer who had been born to a common family. She began to formulate her plan¡ªwhat she was going to say when she finally met him, and what her attitude and tone were going to be. She had gotten them all down pat. After rehearsing the meeting scene twice in her head, she made her way up the stairs. The roof was on a very high level. She took a few breaks along the way up; she didn¡¯t want to perspire too much and have the perspiration affect her image. Finally, she reached the last flight of stairs. She stopped to primp herself for the last time and headed out. Chapter 59 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Yang Jinxia had never expected to be greeted with the bang of a gun. Her mind went blank, and her feet gave way. She fell to the ground in a very ungracious heap. A few seconds later, she realized that she hadn¡¯t been shot, and fury erupted within her. Had she almost been killed by a bullet? Fear lingered on the man¡¯s face as he asked, ¡°Are you alright? I thought you were a monster just now. That¡¯s why I fired the gun. I¡¯m sorry. I hope I didn¡¯t scare you.¡± As he spoke, he offered her his hand. She suppressed the anger in her heart. Unfortunately, her premeditated entrance had been disrupted by the shot from the gun. Naturally, her engineered conversations could no longer be carried out either. As her mind whirred, she got to her feet. She stalled for time to think by dusting the dirt off her skirt, and asked, ¡°Where is this place?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She asked another question, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°And who are you?¡± he asked in reply. She was taken aback. She could clearly sense a hint of resentment and slight confrontation in his tone. ¡°Yang Jinxia, have you gotten so used to your comfortable life that you¡¯ve forgotten how to deal with a crisis?¡± she asked herself silently. She calmed herself down immediately, and replied, ¡°My name is Xia Jinse.¡± She instinctively gave him a fake name. Although she had never given an interview and usually kept a low profile, in ensuring that her name was not public knowledge, she still chose to hide her identity. Next, she finally knew what the man¡¯s name was. It was just as ordinary as his looks¡ªChen Xu. She pretended that this was her first time encountering him, and after chatting with him for a while, she was able to make him lower his defenses towards her. Thereafter, Chen Xu proposed that they form a team. She didn¡¯t agree to it immediately but instead said she wanted to think it through. She calmed herself down and analyzed her current situation. Amidst the ruins, she needed to rely on him to survive. On the other hand, this individual possessed guns and supplies, which meant that he held the upper hand in this alliance. In other words, she was at an absolute disadvantage. This was by no means what she wanted, and she needed to balance the odds in her favor. The only thing she could make use of at the moment was her innate female charm. ¡­ When mealtime approached, as Yang Jinxia chewed on her pilot bread, she suddenly voiced her demand for personal space and privacy. This was a litmus test in itself for her to gauge what his attitude was towards her. Chen Xu¡¯s subsequent reply made her understand that this was a straight man that was also an anti-feminist. This was a tricky situation indeed. Next, when she found out that Chen Xu had been hiding a very important secret, she was even further taken aback. Was he really a police officer? She suddenly began to second-guess her previous judgment. It was highly unusual for a normal young man to be so guarded against a seemingly harmless, beautiful woman. If he were indeed a policeman, that would have been even more unlikely. When she pieced that information with the memory of how adept he was with the gun, she suddenly felt a huge sense of crisis. Throughout their journey to the settlement, she hadn¡¯t uttered a word at all. She kept thinking back to Chen Xu¡¯s words and actions in an attempt to analyze his personality. This man was either not interested in women¡­ Or he was a straight man with an unbreakable sense of self-control. Her intuition told her that it was the latter. She had noticed that the expression in his eyes when he looked at her was just like other men. The only difference he displayed was his sense of restraint. The fact that he was able to maintain such a high level of restraint given the apocalyptic environment they were in meant that he either possessed very high moral standards or that he was weird. In any case, he wasn¡¯t a normal man. After walking for more than ten minutes, she started to feel tired. Her feet were beginning to feel like they¡¯d been rubbed raw. Without a word of protest, she clenched her teeth and soldiered on. She knew well that this individual was immune to her beauty. That meant that she was completely dispensable to him, and it put her in a very precarious situation. In any team, if a member wasn¡¯t able to demonstrate their usefulness, they could be abandoned at any time. She couldn¡¯t allow herself to become a burden to him. Fortunately, Chen Xu initiated a break a few times along the way, and that helped to make the journey more endurable for her. Even so, her feet had been rubbed raw and were covered in blisters. Each step she took was accompanied by a stinging pain. Most of the perspiration on her forehead was due to the pain. At long last, they made it to the settlement, only to find out that it had already been overrun by monsters. ¡°What shall we do?¡± she asked. Chen Xu finally came to a decision, ¡°We¡¯ll kill our way in.¡± At that moment, she spotted a great opportunity and stated, ¡°Give me a gun.¡± A gun was a symbol of might. With a gun in her hand, the balance of power would be shifted. ¡°Have you ever fired one before,¡± Chen Xu asked. Indeed, she hadn¡¯t, and could only say, ¡°I don¡¯t want to get myself eaten by monsters.¡± Chen Xu turned her request down, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die in front of me.¡± Her plan had failed. She was utterly vexed. This man was impenetrable! She watched as Chen Xu approached the settlement. She summoned up her courage and followed closely behind with a stick in her hand as a weapon. It was better than nothing at all. Bang bang bang bang bang! When they were about 20 meters in, Chen Xu suddenly fired his gun. Five green ape-looking monsters at the door each crumbled to the ground. Yang Jinxia had witnessed the whole scene clearly from behind Chen Xu. All five monsters had been shot in the head. Such outstanding marksmanship had her stunned. The reality was not a movie. It was impossible for perfect marksmanship to exist in actual combat. Just what were Chen Xu¡¯s origins? Yang Jinxia suppressed her curiosity and followed closely behind Chen Xu. This wasn¡¯t the right time to be wondering about such questions. Besides, the more accurate a shooter he was, the higher her chance of survival! She should have been rejoicing! They entered the settlement, and Chen Xu pushed the heavy door with his mechanical arm and closed it with a clang. ¡°Chen Xu, there¡¯s a complete map here.¡± Yang Jinxia hadn¡¯t been idle. She had run over to the window of the guardroom beside him and looked inside. When she found something valuable, she called out to him. Chen Xu walked over when he heard her words. He saw the map on the wall, and commended her, ¡°Good job!¡± ¡°Where shall we go now?¡± she asked. Chen Xu copied the map as he replied, ¡°The control center.¡± The overall layout of the settlement wasn¡¯t complicated. The control center was situated in the middle and could be reached through a straight road from the entrance. The duo left immediately. Chen Xu remained in front with Yang Jinxia following behind. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t have to follow me in,¡± Chen Xu suddenly said. ¡°We¡¯re a team, aren¡¯t we?¡± Yang Jinxia retorted. All of a sudden, her sixth sense tingled, and she raised her head to look up in time to catch a dark shadow pouncing over. Its target was Chen Xu in front of her. ¡°Watch out!¡± she yelled out and quickly pushed Chen Xu out of the way. She felt a gust of wind swish past her head, and before she could dodge, she was caught by something. She could feel a huge force pulling her and lifting her off the ground. Bang! A gunshot rang out. A stream of warm liquid spurted onto her face. Then, she lost her balance and fell to the ground. Chapter 60 Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Watch out!¡± Chen Xu heard Yang Jinxia¡¯s warning and raised his guard immediately. He was pushed violently from the back and stumbled a few steps forward. He felt a gust of wind whoosh behind his head and understood immediately that they were under attack. He turned around and saw a gigantic black monster holding Yang Jinxia¡¯s hands in its two talons. Almost instinctively, without having any time to aim, he drew his pistol and pulled the trigger. Bang! The gigantic monster struggled for a moment before falling to the ground, bringing Yang Jinxia to the ground along with it. Damn it! He saw that her left arm with dripping with fresh blood, and anger shaded his face. He walked up to the creature that was still convulsing and shot a few more bullets into its body. He could now tell that the body of this gigantic monster resembled that of a giant eagle. It was gray all over with a huge body. Its wingspan was over 2 meters long. He wasn¡¯t as angry at the monster¡¯s sudden attack as he was annoyed by his own complacency. How could he not have anticipated that threats could come from above too? If it hadn¡¯t been for Yang Jinxia who warned him and pushed him away in time, he would have been the one injured now. He unzipped his backpack, took out the first-aid kit, and helped her tend to the wound. There were four bloody puncture wounds on her left forearm. The wound was deep, and blood oozed out in a steady flow. Chen Xu took out a small bottle of alcohol, and unscrewed the cap. He said, ¡°Brace yourself,¡± and poured the alcohol over her wound. He glanced at her face and saw that her lips were pursed tightly and her nostrils flared. It was obvious that she was in a lot of pain. However, her eyes never stopped scanning the surroundings behind him. Even at such a time, she didn¡¯t neglect to keep a watchful eye out for threats! His hand holding the bottle of alcohol trembled imperceptibly. Just what sort of life experiences would result in such a pretty lady developing such a sense of vigilance? He quietly took out a few pieces of hemostatic tape and carefully pasted them over her wounds. He had never used hemostatic tape before. This product was probably exclusively created for the dream world, just like his exoskeleton robotic arm. After scrutinizing the wounds and pasting the tape over it, the bleeding stopped immediately. It was very effective. ¡°This tape can¡¯t be left on for too long. It has to be peeled off after half an hour,¡± he said. After a second thought, he added, ¡°Remember to remind me if it slips my mind later.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Yang Jinxia didn¡¯t say anything unnecessary. She rose, picked up the stick that she had dropped, and resumed her position behind him. When Chen Xu saw her actions, his jaw dropped slightly. But he didn¡¯t say a word in the end and continued to move forward. ¡­ This road was very wide and would probably have easily accommodated four cars driving side by side. The road was lined on both sides with buildings that looked like warehouses, and some of them had their front entrances wide open. They could see that the insides were a mess and that the damages were very severe. Some withered plants could be seen on the ground. Based on the information on the map that they had just obtained, this was a designated planting area. In other words, these buildings were greenhouses. Chen Xu squinted his eyes and looked into the distance. He saw that the line of greenhouses extended to the end of the road. There were at least a few hundred of them. He made a visual estimate¡ªeach building had an area of at least a thousand square meters. From the looks of it, this settlement was much bigger than he had imagined it to be. Among the greenhouses, some had their doors tightly shut. They had not sustained any damage and made up about one-third of the buildings. ¡°I wonder what is planted inside. As long as one greenhouse has grain in it, that will be enough to last the both of us for half a year. He had to resist the urge to open one of the greenhouses. Their priority at the moment was to destroy all the monsters in the settlement. Bang! Through the crosshair of his gun, Chen Xu saw the green ape in the greenhouse keel over before he lowered his gun and muttered to himself, ¡°Number five.¡± Upon entering the settlement, he had kept his pistol, and relied solely on the rifle. The damage from the rifle was greater, and it was easier to aim. Adding the five small ones at the entrance to the count, he had already killed 10 monsters in total. He had fired a total of 10 times. Every bullet he shot had been fatal. The farthest target had been 50 to 60 meters away and had received a headshot. ¡°Since when did I possess such outstanding marksmanship?¡± Even he found it hard to believe. In the first dream, he had practiced for a few months, and his standard had been rudimentary at best. He had been able to hit a fixed target. He had also been able to hit a target within a distance of 10 meters. However, Chen Xu knew his hit rate was greatly reduced once the distance extended beyond 20 meters, not to mention if it was a moving target! It seemed that overnight, the rookie had suddenly become an expert. He thought about it and could only come to one conclusion¡ªthe talent that he had obtained after the last dream had been responsible for this. However, he was still very surprised, ¡°Would a talent in throwing precision have such an exaggerated effect in the improvement of his marksmanship?¡± At that moment, he also realized that there was a lot more that he could explore with that talent. For the past month, while he had been busy with work, he had spent his free time throwing all kinds of things. However, he hadn¡¯t really worked to unearth the potential of his new talent. Although talent was called ¡°throwing precision¡±, it did not mean that the talent was limited to the act of throwing. He felt like knocking himself on the head at that moment. How had this not occurred to him earlier? This had been a shortcoming in his mindset; he had subconsciously treated the talents he had gained in the dream as a game reward. In games, when a player chose a certain talent, it could only be utilized within the perimeters of that particular skill. But reality and the game world was different. This wasn¡¯t a case where if you had the skill of throwing precision, you¡¯d be able to hit a target the size of a table-tennis ball from over 10 meters away, but you wouldn¡¯t even be able to hit your shoe when shooting with a gun. Upon further consideration, he concluded that there were two prerequisites when it came to achieving the skill of throwing precision. The first was an accurate estimate. It was important to be able to tell the distance of the target, the size, and how much strength was needed, all in one glance. The other was an extremely precise control of strength. It stood to reason that he now possessed these two skills as well. A gun had comparatively fewer factors to consider, and difficulty wise, wasn¡¯t that much different from throwing. He had practiced marksmanship before, now with the addition of his skill in precision, he had become a legendary shooter overnight. Upon figuring this out, he suddenly felt as if his horizons had widened. He couldn¡¯t wait to put his theory to the test. ¡°This isn¡¯t the right time yet.¡± He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his impulse. It was of utmost importance that he neutralized all the threats in the settlement first. As he was engrossed in his thoughts, his step subconsciously quickened. He had discovered the reason for the vast improvement of his marksmanship and had gained a boost in confidence. As long as the green ape monsters didn¡¯t draw close, and that he encountered would no longer incite fear. As for the gray eagle species, as long as he was prepared beforehand, they didn¡¯t pose much of a threat either. The entire sky was visible at a glance, and that gave him more than enough opportunity to spot the monster ahead of any attack. The pair walked for another ten minutes and killed off another four green apes along the way. The entrance of the control center finally came into view. At the same time, two extraordinarily humongous green apes also came into view. Chen Xu stopped in his tracks and did a visual estimate. He couldn¡¯t help sucking in his breath as he remarked, ¡°King Kong?¡± Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: 001 Virtual Dream Device Chapter 1: 001 Virtual Dream Device Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At 5:49 p.m., the spacious office was silent. Chen Xu leaned back in his chair, a pen resting under his nose, staring at the computer screen as if pondering some difficult problem. In fact, he was in a daze, about to get off work, thinking about where to eat later. Old Tang, who was sitting behind him, leaned over and whispered, ¡°Old Wang said he wants to take the new colleague out for dinner, don¡¯t forget.¡± A dinner gathering again? Chen Xu felt a bit of a headache, hesitated for a second, and still said, ¡°Got it.¡± Old Wang was their supervisor, a good boss in every way, except that he liked arranging dinner parties all the time, at least two or three times a month. He usually avoided it if he could. But this time it was to welcome a new colleague, so it wouldn¡¯t look good if he didn¡¯t go. Besides, he had found excuses to skip the last two gatherings; if he didn¡¯t go this time, Old Wang would probably mark it in his little notebook. He felt a bit depressed at the thought that his two hours after work would be wasted at a dull and tedious dinner gathering. It wasn¡¯t that he had any issues with his colleagues; rather, after work, he preferred to be alone. Most importantly, after sending money home last week, he didn¡¯t have much left for his living expenses, and they always split the bill for dinner gatherings¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 With a sigh in his heart, he thought it was bad enough that work was tough; after work, he couldn¡¯t even control his own time. He¡¯d had enough of this life. When could he get rid of these trivial things and live the life he wanted? ¡°Beep¡ª¡± ¡°Language calibration complete, virtual dream device activated, starting identity verification¡ª¡± Chen Xu was startled by the sudden voice in his ear, his hand trembled, and the pen fell to the floor. What was that sound? In an instant, many thoughts crossed his mind; while bending down to pick up the pen, he glanced sideways at the colleagues around him, seeing nothing unusual. It didn¡¯t seem to be a prank his colleagues had conspired. Could it be an illusion? Then, the voice sounded once more. ¡°Verification failed, entering visitor mode.¡± ¡°Welcome to experience this product, manufactured by Xingyu Virtual Device Manufacturing Group, enabling you to experience one hundred percent virtual reality dreams. Numerous scenarios are available for you to choose from, allowing you to enjoy a splendid dream life.¡± Suddenly, Chen Xu felt parched, and besides the voice, a page appeared before his eyes, with an icon in the center, like a virtual computer desktop. To verify it, he closed his eyes, counted a few seconds, and reopened them. The page was still there, and the high-definition color icon in the middle was so conspicuous. His heart raced. ¡­¡­¡­ Before long, it was time to get off work, and Chen Xu was still caught in shock until Old Tang patted him, snapping him back to reality. ¡°Work¡¯s over, why are you spacing out?¡± Old Tang asked, puzzled. ¡°Nothing.¡± He looked up; all the other colleagues had left. He quickly packed his things and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± This time, the department¡¯s dinner gathering was at a nearby restaurant. The advertising department had a total of eleven people, just enough to fill a table. The new colleague was a young woman, and everyone was enthusiastic, not because she was particularly pretty but because with the year-end approaching, the advertising department would soon be extremely busy, so everyone was naturally happy to have another person to share the work. Most of those present were young people, and the atmosphere quickly became lively. The only discordant part was Chen Xu; he hadn¡¯t said much, appearing somewhat absent-minded. The others didn¡¯t mind. During previous gatherings, Chen Xu had never been very talkative, so everyone was used to it. After dinner, everyone dispersed as they still had work the next day and couldn¡¯t stay out too late. After it ended, Chen Xu caught a ride back with Old Tang. In the car, Old Tang suddenly asked, ¡°Chen Xu, are you alright? Chen Xu, Chen Xu¡­¡± He called several times before the dazing Chen Xu reacted, confused, ¡°Huh?¡± Old Tang looked more concerned and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve seemed preoccupied since after work. Did something happen?¡± ¡°No, just thinking about things.¡± Chen Xu gently tapped his forehead, lowered the window a bit to let the outside breeze clear his mind. From the end of the workday until now, he had been contemplating the ¡°virtual dream device,¡± which explained his distracted appearance. Old Tang looked at him and said, ¡°Is it something at home? I have twenty thousand yuan in savings. You can use it first.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­¡± Chen Xu quickly clarified, ¡°It¡¯s not that; I¡¯m thinking about something else.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Old Tang nodded, saying, ¡°If there¡¯s really a problem, just let me know. Don¡¯t let pride make you suffer.¡± Chen Xu felt warmth in his heart and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Old Tang didn¡¯t say more and started the car. Chen Xu felt quite lucky to have a friend like Old Tang. They graduated from the same university; Old Tang was five years ahead. They only got to know each other after Chen Xu joined this company. Due to this connection, Old Tang usually took good care of him. For Old Tang, he felt grateful, but even in difficult times, he didn¡¯t want to ask Old Tang for help. Old Tang had just gotten married not long ago and was paying off a mortgage and car loan every month, facing no less pressure than he did. ¡­¡­¡­ Over half an hour later, Chen Xu reached his rental place. The location was somewhat remote, requiring a ten-minute walk to the nearest bus station. He rented a single room, about twenty square meters. It had only a single bed and a computer desk. Small as it was, it had its own bathroom and was sufficient for one person. The key was its affordability; in this city, living costs were quite high, and rent was often the largest expense. Finding a place close to the company with cheap rent wasn¡¯t easy. He was lucky to find it. He put down his briefcase, lay on the bed, and checked his phone, seeing the bank balance notification: 499.32 yuan, giving him a bit of a headache. There was still more than half a month until payday, and this was all he had left, which meant he could only tighten his belt to get by. Then, he thought of the ¡°virtual dream device¡± once more, a bit hesitant about whether to enter it. This inexplicably appearing product, seemingly some kind of black technology or system, had no manual even after searching for a long time. Normally, this device wouldn¡¯t appear on his retina but would show up only when he ¡°activated¡± it, featuring only an icon that indicated, ¡°Do you want to enter the dreamscape ¡®Survival Scenario¡¯?¡± When he focused on this line, a brief prompt appeared: one could choose an item or a companion to enter the dreamscape. It provided numerous items and character templates. Additionally, he keenly noticed a hidden option to opt out of the dreamscape-provided items and instead copy an item from the real world or a real person to enter the dream. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: 002 When the Whole World Only Has You Left Chapter 2: 002 When the Whole World Only Has You Left Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu thought about it all night, but still couldn¡¯t make up his mind. The next morning, as the alarm clock woke him, he stared at the familiar ceiling, and the routine of the day ahead naturally came to his mind. First, a ten-minute walk to the bus stop, followed by a forty-five-minute bus ride to the company, starting the dull and tedious work until getting off at six o¡¯clock¡­ This repetitive life had already been going on for nearly two years. Moreover, such a life seemed likely to continue for many years to come. Suddenly, he figured it out. Since fate offered him a chance to break this routine, why hesitate? He sat up abruptly from the bed, deciding to enter the dream world that very night. This dream device, origin unknown, had an anti-addiction system allowing entry only after midnight. Even if one wanted to enter during the day, it was impossible. ¡­¡­ On the crowded bus, Chen Xu activated the virtual dream device, preparing for entry. He checked the system-supplied items, showing a dozen types, like a power source with a rated power of 100,000 kilowatts and unlimited electricity, a multi-function knife capable of cutting through anything, a perpetually moving truck with a load capacity of 100 tons, and so on. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If he could have any one of these in reality, that would be fantastic. Unfortunately, they could only exist in the dream world. Next, he looked at the second option, which was to choose an assistant. The system offered many character templates, each possessing various skills like doctor, wilderness survival expert, Level 8 Mechanic, chef, etc. In a post-apocalyptic dream world, these items and assistants could be of great aid. So, which one to choose? After much thought, he first ruled out the items. If the background was a post-apocalypse, it might be hard to encounter other humans. Staying alone in such an environment sounded terrifying, better to choose an assistant, at least someone to talk with. So, which one to choose? Chen Xu looked at the dozen assistant avatars, using an elimination method. Hmm, first remove the males, leaving seven females. These two looked a bit older, remove them. These two were too androgynous, no. Finally, Chen Xu looked at the remaining three female characters, scratching his chin. How to say, their appearances were somewhat disappointing. They simply weren¡¯t pretty enough. From his perspective, they¡¯d only score a sixty. If he had a choice, of course, he would prefer to choose someone more attractive. Chen Xu glanced at the ¡°more¡± option, instantly refreshing a new batch of characters before his eyes, whose looks took a step up, all scoring above eighty. ¡°Choosing this character requires spending fifteen general points. Please recharge first. Transferring to the payment page.¡± ¡°Sorry, as a guest, you don¡¯t have the permission to recharge.¡± Chen Xu saw the two prompts pop up and his eyelid twitched as expected, regardless of how advanced technology became, these companies always wanted money. It seemed he could only choose from these three characters. Just then, the bus reached a stop, and he got off with the flow of people, raising his eyes to see hurried office workers everywhere. He glimpsed a tall girl in the crowd and couldn¡¯t help but think that any random person on the street was better than the three female characters. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head, recalling something, ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible to create a character based on a real-life person as a model?¡± His eyes brightened, and he became excited. ¡­¡­ ¡°Damn, it needs a real-life model after all.¡± Chen Xu sat at his desk, feeling a bit annoyed. Earlier in the elevator, he wanted to recreate a certain actress at her peak beauty. In the end, he shamefully failed. The system prompted that it required a real person as a model, who had to be within his sight for scanning to build a model. Extremely disappointing. He stared at the computer screen, contemplating whether there was a suitable candidate among the people he knew. The few female colleagues in his department were first ruled out; their looks were average. Other known girls were also excluded; in his social circle, there was no one particularly beautiful. Who to choose? At that moment, a woman wearing a trench coat and sunglasses emerged from the corridor¡¯s end. His eyes lit up, how could he have forgotten about her? Fair skin, beautiful face, long slender legs, she was the one. This woman was Luo Xiyun, around twenty-three or twenty-four, joined the company this year, directly becoming a director. Many speculated she was a direct relative of some big shot from the head office, a classic rich and beautiful woman. A woman like her was like someone from a different world, according to a normal course of events, there would never be any interaction. Simply the perfect choice. Currently, Luo Xiyun was wearing a black trench coat, accentuating her tall figure. Her confident stride was evident. It was the first time Chen Xu observed her appearance closely. He had to admit, even his picky eyes, worn out by various beauties in photoshopped images and beauty cameras, found her instantly stunning. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± Thus, without hesitation, he activated the scanning function of the ¡°virtual dream device.¡± ¡°Scan successful, character template established.¡± Upon hearing the prompt, he felt highly exhilarated, eager to enter the dream immediately. ¡­¡­ A day¡¯s time could pass by fleetingly for some, while for others, it stretched endlessly. For Chen Xu, enduring work until the end was arduous. Eagerly returning home, after dining and freshening up, he lay on the bed, feeling extraordinarily thrilled as he gradually drifted into slumber. He didn¡¯t know how long it had been before he heard a voice in his sleep, ¡°About to enter the virtual dream ¡®Doomsday Survival,¡¯ when the whole world is left with only you, how would you survive?¡± ¡°This dream difficulty is level zero, lasting 180 days. May you have a pleasant experience in this dream.¡± Hold on, 180 days? Chen Xu suddenly opened his eyes, seeing the familiar ceiling. It¡¯d been two years since he moved into this rental, and every morning he woke up to this somewhat yellowed ceiling. ¡°Failed?¡± He felt puzzled, a bit frustrated, unsure where something went wrong. He tried calling out the ¡°virtual dream device¡± page, but received no response. ¡°How could this happen?¡± He scratched his head, feeling something was amiss. He groped for his phone under the pillow, intending to check the time, only to find his phone had turned off at some point. He powered it on to see it was already half past seven, hurriedly got up for work. Company¡¯s attendance was strict, tardiness not only resulted in pay cuts but also deduction of the year-end bonus. He didn¡¯t want his hard work over many months to go to waste at this critical juncture. Heading to the bathroom, he noticed the light wouldn¡¯t turn on, thinking it had tripped, but ignored it. After brushing teeth and washing his face, he glanced at the circuit breaker before leaving. It was fine, not tripped. ¡°` Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: 003 Not what I expected. Chapter 3: 003 Not what I expected. Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°The power¡¯s out?¡± Chen Xu was somewhat surprised. In the two years since he¡¯d moved here, there hadn¡¯t been a power outage. It seemed to have started the year they checked for environmental compliance. Many high-pollution and high-energy-consuming factories were shut down. Since then, there had been no power restrictions. As he thought about this, he went downstairs, intending to buy some bread and milk at the cake shop on the street corner. If he had a choice, he preferred eating something hot for breakfast. Unfortunately, a bun shop down the street had moved away a few months ago because the rent went up too steeply. As soon as he stepped onto the street, he felt something was off. Where was everyone? The entire street was deserted. It was the peak hour for commuting, and with over a dozen buildings on this street, there must be at least a few hundred, if not a thousand people living here. Normally, at this time, many would be rushing to work¡ª Something was wrong! Chen Xu¡¯s mind exploded with the realization of a possibility. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Could this be inside a dream? Thinking of this, the briefcase in his hand dropped to the ground with a thud. He stared at the empty street before him, too shocked to speak. After a while, he murmured, ¡°I should have thought of this sooner.¡± It was indeed a hundred percent virtual reality. There were no dazzling light effects or breathtaking grand scenes. Yet everything, in every way, was indistinguishable from reality. Upon waking, he had no idea he was already inside a dream. He pinched the back of his hand lightly, feeling the slight pain clearly. ¡°Even pain was fully simulated. Was this truly inside a dream?¡± His conviction wavered a little. His mind in turmoil, he grabbed his briefcase off the ground and ran forward. On the empty street, he occasionally saw phones, wallets, and keys on the ground. Ignoring them, he kept running to the end of the street, turning at the corner to reach the main road. He stopped, standing at the street entrance, staring at the road ahead. Various cars were parked along the road. Most of the shops on either side had their doors open, seemingly no different from usual. The only difference was the absence of people, not a single one. He walked step by step to the bus stop. At this time of day, it would be crowded with people waiting to take the bus. Now, only a pile of phones, wallets, keys, and various bags remained on the ground. ¡°The people had vanished, but the things remained?¡± Seeing the items littering the ground made his scalp tingle as he guessed the dream¡¯s setup. At some specific moment, perhaps right when he woke up, everyone here vanished simultaneously, leaving their belongings in place. It was as if someone had pressed a pause button and then erased the people. No, that wasn¡¯t right. Eyeing the parked vehicles on the road, he thought it should have been more like a freeze button. Otherwise, these vehicles, in motion when the drivers disappeared, would have crashed into each other due to their inertia long ago. ¡°No matter what, I should get to the company first.¡± After standing there for a while, he felt it would be more reassuring to head to the company. But how to get there? Glancing at the bus parked a dozen meters away, he felt perplexed. Would he have to walk the whole way? Seven or eight stops, and it would take him over an hour. Suddenly, a thought struck him. If people disappeared and things remained, then the car keys should still be there. Approaching a nearby car, he peered inside through the window and, sure enough, the keys were still in the ignition. ¡­ Chen Xu was driving a black Volkswagen, slowly heading in the direction of his company. There were too many vehicles on the road, especially before intersections with traffic lights, where cars often clogged the way entirely. In such cases, he could only drive onto the sidewalk. He had obtained his driver¡¯s license during his senior year of college but rarely drove, leaving his skills very rusty. As he drove on the sidewalk, the car scraped several times, and the back door got scratched out of shape. However, at that moment, he was too preoccupied with observing the surroundings to worry about that. When the car stopped in front of the company building, he was certain this was indeed a dream. Though not in the CBD, there were several office buildings nearby, a commercial street next door, and a few large shopping malls with massive foot traffic daily, especially during the morning rush hour. Now, the entire road was silent, not a single person in sight. Besides the engine noise from the car he was driving, there wasn¡¯t a hint of any other sound. The silence was unsettling. Chen Xu released the steering wheel, rubbed his face vigorously, and sighed, ¡°This isn¡¯t what I imagined.¡± Entering a dream should at least involve some sort of ritualistic process. At the very least, there should have been some mental preparation. Who would have thought this system wouldn¡¯t play by the rules, throwing him right into the dream as soon as he opened his eyes? It was so realistic, so real that he couldn¡¯t discern whether he was in a dream or the real world. To be honest, driving over here and seeing the empty cars on the road, the empty streets, and the empty shops on either side, truly made his hair stand on end. It was completely unlike what he had imagined. ¡°Never mind, since I¡¯m here, I might as well think about how to get through the next 180 days.¡± Chen Xu patted his face, dismissing these chaotic thoughts. He opened his briefcase, taking out paper and pen, and began writing while leaning on the steering wheel. If he didn¡¯t find something to do at this moment, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold up. He focused his mind, organizing his thoughts. First was water and food. The most pressing issues were eating and drinking. He wrote these two words on the first line. The water problem was nothing to worry about. Every supermarket had loads of bottled mineral water, and he wouldn¡¯t use up all the water in this city in a lifetime. Besides, bottled mineral water usually had a shelf life of about a year, so there was no concern about it going bad. The hassle was with food. Staple foods like rice and flour, which had a long shelf life, were manageable. Meat and vegetables couldn¡¯t be preserved for long, especially meat, which spoiled in a day or two in this weather. ¡°Right, I need to gather enough meat to preserve first, otherwise I¡¯ll be stuck eating canned food every day.¡± As a carnivore, Chen Xu couldn¡¯t tolerate days with no meat to eat. He wrote down ¡®meat¡¯ and ¡®vegetables¡¯ on the second line and began taking action. To find a large quantity of fresh meat, one might generally consider a meat market or a supermarket. However, Chen Xu went to the finest restaurant near his company. In his view, the best place for a base of operations wasn¡¯t a high-priced villa or a supermarket but a restaurant. Ideally, it should be a higher-end restaurant, as it would have ready-made ingredients and a complete variety, saving him the trouble of seeking them out at a market. More importantly, larger restaurants had cold storage rooms, perfect for preserving meat. Additionally, the surrounding facilities were complete, with several large supermarkets nearby where all daily necessities could be found. Such a place was simply perfect for a base of operations. ¡°` Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: 004 Thirty-One Days Chapter 4: 004 Thirty-One Days Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` It didn¡¯t take long for Chen Xu to choose a restaurant at the corner; it was on the first floor, so he wouldn¡¯t have to climb stairs, the freezer was big enough, and best of all, it even had a diesel generator. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with diesel generators; before he went to college, his parents ran a supermarket in the county. For a while, when the county was changing power lines and had frequent outages, the supermarket used diesel generators for power. After getting the power running, he scoured more than a dozen nearby restaurants, bringing back all the meat until the freezer couldn¡¯t hold any more. Although, with just the two of them, they definitely couldn¡¯t consume all this meat in six months, there was no harm in being prepared. ¡°By the way, I wonder how Luo Xiyun is doing.¡± As he was frying a steak and calculating the amount of food, he thought of Luo Xiyun, who was originally supposed to have appeared by now. According to the nature of this dream, this virtual Luo Xiyun might have awakened at home just like in reality. She hadn¡¯t shown up until now, and he had no idea where she had gone. He didn¡¯t know where her home was; this city was so big that trying to find someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack. ¡°The best way would be to make a commotion and draw her over.¡± He smelled the aroma of the steak frying and couldn¡¯t help but swallow; after working all morning, he was starving. The first day was spent hauling supplies. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 At night, freshly showered, Chen Xu sat in the restaurant¡¯s only office, feeling a bit guilty about using bottled mineral water for a shower¡ªit was such a waste. ¡°No choice, the tap water¡¯s stopped.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but sigh; when the world was left with just one person, surviving was much harder than he had imagined. No take-out, no running water, everything had to be done by himself. Those were tolerable enough¡ªwhat was unbearable was that there was no internet! He couldn¡¯t surf the web, log onto forums, watch videos, browse TikTok, or chase novels¡­that was deadly. He usually didn¡¯t play games; he didn¡¯t even have the simplest puzzle game on his phone, so he could only stare at his phone in a daze. There was a computer in the office, but it was password protected. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ve got to go to the office and bring the computer back,¡± he thought, yawning. As the sound of the diesel engine filled the air, he gradually drifted into slumber. The next morning, when Chen Xu woke up, he felt sore all over, utterly uncomfortable. ¡°Damn it.¡± He sat up, inhaling sharply. Every muscle in his body was sore and numb, an achingly painful sensation, ¡°This is really deadly.¡± He hadn¡¯t done physical labor in a long time, nor had he exercised much. After moving all those things yesterday, he was exhausted, and now the aftereffects were hitting. ¡°Is this really a dream?¡± He questioned the reality of this matter for the umpteenth time. It was hard to imagine that everything in this world, along with the tangible soreness and numb pain in his body, was simulated within a dream. He took a deep breath and climbed out of bed. ¡°No matter what, I¡¯d better stockpile some more supplies.¡± That doubt gave him a deep sense of crisis. In case all this was not a dream but truly happening, with him being the only person left in the world, he had to be prepared to live better. Despite the muscle soreness, he forced himself to eat something and then set out with tools. Besides food, there was something else very important, and that was medicine. It¡¯s life-saving, and other supplies could be put off, but a stockpile of medicine must be gathered first. From that moment, he realized he couldn¡¯t treat all of this entirely as a game. He began seriously thinking about how to survive in such a post-apocalyptic world. At 7 a.m., the sun had already risen. Chen Xu awoke, looking at a poster of an unremembered female celebrity on the ceiling. Two seconds later, he came to his senses, sat up, picked up a pen, and wrote the number ¡°31¡± on the wall. The entire wall was filled with numbers from 1 to 30, indicating he had been here for a full month. He put down the pen, walked to the mirror, picked up the razor, and carefully shaved off the emerging stubble. Then he headed to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. After freshening up, he left the office. There was a table beside the corridor, and on it was a rice cooker. He lifted the lid to reveal steaming porridge inside. This was rice put in last night, set on a timer to cook automatically; he could eat as soon as he got up, very convenient. With savory, crispy fried peanuts, he finished half a pot of porridge, feeling a comforting warmth in his stomach. After breakfast, he washed the pots and plates, put everything in place. Then he took out a small notebook he carried with him, opened it, and glanced through the list of pending tasks. He glanced quickly, picked up a pen, and circled two items. ¡°Diesel stock running low.¡± ¡°Look for vegetable seeds.¡± Then he closed the notebook, tucked it back into his pocket, gathered his belongings, and went out. Before leaving, he switched the power supply to the battery bank and turned off the diesel generator. To extend the life of the diesel generator, he had assembled a battery bank as a backup power supply; he used it for power when he left. ¡°The weather¡¯s nice.¡± He stepped out of the restaurant and, looking up at the clear sky, his mood seemed to brighten up as well. Outside, the road was lined with two rows of cars, with luxury sports cars like Ferraris and Porsches, minibuses like Wulings, and mid-sized trucks like Isuzus. He walked into a nearby store and pushed out a cart full of oil barrels. All the street-front shops along this road had been converted into warehouses by him to store various supplies. Chen Xu pushed the cart to a blue Isuzu truck, loaded the barrels onto it, and after a few trips, he loaded half the truck before setting off. He started the car and drove down the road on the right. Over the past month, he had cleared out the surrounding roads¡ªit wasn¡¯t a small project. This city had too many cars. Some of the more congested roads were completely blocked by vehicles, so it took him quite some effort to clear a road wide enough for one car to pass. ¡°Gas stations are everywhere¡ªthat¡¯s not a concern. But finding vegetable seeds is tricky. I¡¯ll check out the market first,¡± he mused while driving. In modern cities, people almost can¡¯t do without vegetables every day, but few may have actually planted vegetables. When he was in elementary school, he helped his grandfather in the countryside harvest rice, but he had never seen what vegetable seeds looked like. Eating meat daily without any vegetables was unbearable too. Over the past month, the closest things he could count as vegetables were potatoes, tomatoes, and bean sprouts, and he was almost sick of them. He never imagined he would have such a yearning for leafy greens one day. ¡­ Half an hour later, Chen Xu parked his car several hundred meters away from the market; this area hadn¡¯t been cleared, and the road was choked with cars, making passage impossible. He grabbed a tool bag and walked over. From a distance, he could smell the rotting stench emanating from the market. Only after putting on a gas mask did he dare to enter. Ten minutes later, he almost fled from the market. The stench inside was unbearable; even with the gas mask, it was hard to tolerate. Signs of rotted vegetables and meat were everywhere. Back in his car, he was somewhat frustrated, ¡°Do I really have to go to the outskirts to find some?¡± In a modern big city, there wasn¡¯t much vegetable cultivation; it all came from the surrounding countryside. He had even found a few suburban vegetable bases on a map. However, the nearest vegetable base was over thirty kilometers away. Clearing a road to reach it seemed like an intimidatingly daunting task, just imagining it made his scalp prickle. Finally, he took out his handy notebook and noted down, ¡°Go to a vegetable base to find seeds,¡± leaving this task for another time. Next, he went to the nearest gas station to fill up all the oil barrels. The iron barrels had a capacity of about thirty liters each when full, weighing nearly fifty pounds. He had brought fifty empty barrels in total, and filling them all and loading them onto the truck took over two hours, exhausting him. A month ago, he couldn¡¯t have handled such work; even moving a few barrels would have worn him out. It was only through performing a large amount of physical labor every day for the past month that he had built up his strength. After the work was done, he unloaded a folding chair and table from the truck, found some shade, and sat down. Then he took a tablet from his backpack, set it up on the table, and began watching a movie. He reclined in the chair, unscrewed a thermos, and leisurely sipped tea while watching the film. After labor-intensive work, he always rewarded himself in this way. Leisure time always passed quickly; the movie was over before he knew it. Chen Xu glanced at the time, 11:40, nearly lunchtime. He fetched a gas cylinder, a gas stove, and various cooking utensils from the truck, and began cooking by the roadside. Each time he went out to work, he brought these items along, cooking lunch outside to avoid running back and forth and wasting time. Washing rice, cooking, cleaning vegetables, chopping, into the pot¡­ Within a short time, the meal was ready¡ªtwo dishes, stir-fried sliced potatoes with beef and stir-fried cured pork with garlic sprouts. He sat right in the middle of the road and finished his lunch. After resting for half an hour, he pulled a folding bed from the truck, set it up in a shady spot, put on headphones to play soothing instrumental music, covered his eyes with a mask, and took a nap. ¡­¡­ Chen Xu slept until he naturally woke up at 3 p.m. He stretched comfortably. Ever since he started working, he rarely had such leisurely moments. To make money, he was like a tightly wound spring, even on weekends, it was just enough time for a breather¡ªnot truly relaxing. He packed everything back into the truck, started the engine, and set off again. He drove all the way to the riverside, parked the truck, and with several fishing rods in hand, walked to the riverbank. Finding a suitable spot, he set up the bait and cast each line into the water. Then he spaced out the five rods at intervals and secured them. He brought over a chair and sat by the river, watching the bobbers float on the water, patiently waiting. ¡°` Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: 005 Luo Xiyun Chapter 5: 005 Luo Xiyun Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu sat by the river for more than an hour, and his eyes grew tired from watching. The five bobbers on the water didn¡¯t move at all, not even a single fish, not even a tiny shrimp in sight. ¡°It looks like the fish in the river, like other animals, have all disappeared.¡± He was a bit disappointed. Originally, he thought he could catch some fish to eat fresh fish meat. As expected, this route didn¡¯t work. Having stayed here for a month, he discovered many illogical things about this world. For example, all the living animals had disappeared, from dogs, to cats, chickens, ducks, geese, fish, shrimp, and even rats¡­ none to be found. No matter if it was at the supermarket, food market, pet store, aquarium, or even the zoo, no living animals could be found. So far, the only living creatures he discovered were mosquitoes and flies. Clearly, these animals had disappeared into thin air, just like other humans. The second illogical thing was that everywhere on the road were cellphones and wallets, bags, and other such items left behind after humans disappeared. But oddly enough, he¡¯d never seen any clothes. That is, clothes disappeared with them. Why did clothes disappear with them, yet cellphones and wallets remained? Just a little thought is enough to notice the anomalies of this world. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Chen Xu thought this must be intentionally designed this way, meant to remind him that this was a dream, preventing him from losing himself completely in the dream. He checked the time; it was almost five o¡¯clock. He packed up his things, got into the car, and hurried in the direction of the base camp. Driving not far, when passing an intersection, he habitually glanced to the right, a region he hadn¡¯t yet explored. He vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a subway entrance here. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw several unusual vehicles and instinctively hit the brakes. They were several black SUVs, with the words ¡°SWAT¡± painted in white on the body. This month, he focused mainly on renovating his living space; the area he explored was not large. It was the first time he¡¯d seen such vehicles. Not sure if the SWAT vehicles parked here were on duty. He was very curious, got out of the car, and walked over. Peeking into the deeply tinted windows, he saw something inside. His eyes lit up; there were indeed guns inside. He tugged the door handle; it was locked. From his backpack, he took out a glass-cutter, used it on the window a few times, easily making a hole, reached inside, and managed to open the car door. He took the guns from inside. From the three vehicles, he found nine handguns, nine rifles, and quite a bit of ammunition. He was very excited; hardly any man doesn¡¯t love playing with guns, though it was impossible to have contact with them before. Now, finally, he could satisfy his craving. He found an empty suitcase, packed the guns and ammo into it, planning to study them carefully after returning. Just zipped up the suitcase when suddenly he heard a loud bang behind him. He jolted, whipped around. For the past month, he had gotten used to the silence of this world. The sudden unexpected noise brought him indescribable shock. He saw on the main road opposite him, a black Hummer had crashed into several cars, the hood continuously emitting smoke. Screech¡ª An overturned orange car slowly tipped over, making a teeth-grinding metallic twisting sound. Chen Xu suddenly dropped what he was holding and rushed toward the black Hummer disregarding everything. Although he didn¡¯t know where the car came from, the fact that it moved proved there was someone inside. In this desolate world, he had survived for a month, each day waiting for the person who should have appeared long ago to appear before him. And he waited a full month. He always thought he could withstand loneliness; now, he realized he was wrong. Humans are social animals. When the entire world has only one person left, it is tougher than imagined. Daytime was tolerable; when night fell, and darkness surrounded outside, the loneliness and solitude were unbearable. At such times, he desperately wished he had someone to talk to. To find Luo Xiyun, he tried many methods, set off fireworks, shone powerful searchlights, broadcasted radio signals. But she never showed up. A month passed; he had given up hope. He figured she must have left the city. The world is so big, where would he find anyone? Thank heavens, at this moment, she finally appeared. At this moment, Chen Xu was beside himself with joy. In a sprint, he covered the several dozen meters distance. The Hummer¡¯s front was somewhat deformed; through the shattered windshield, he could see inside¡ªa woman lay motionless over the steering wheel, only the back of her head visible. Chen Xu¡¯s heart sank, hoping she wasn¡¯t dead. ¡°Are you okay, hey, hey¡ª¡± He shouted loudly while trying to pull the car door, but it didn¡¯t budge; it was locked. The woman inside the car moved her head slightly upon hearing the noise. Seeing her respond, Chen Xu was delighted and called out, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I¡¯ll get you out right away.¡± After saying this, he ran back. The Hummer¡¯s windows were completely shut. He had tried before; the car¡¯s windows were very sturdy, hard to break open without proper tools. In just a few strides, he was back to the truck, where he found a box under the passenger seat. From it, he retrieved a glass cutter and rushed back. Using the glass cutter, he opened the passenger side window and got the door open. Half carrying half dragging her, he finally got the woman out of the car. It was her! When Chen Xu carried her out, her head drooped down; it was indeed Luo Xiyun. Her forehead was covered with alarming blood stains. He hurried to the roadside, laid her down, and began to check her injuries. Her eyes were tightly shut, thoroughly immersed in unconsciousness. Chen Xu checked her briefly; all over her body, only her forehead had a wound. He wasn¡¯t a doctor and didn¡¯t know how serious her injury was. Luckily, her breathing was calm, her body temperature and heartbeat relatively normal, relieving him a bit. Confirming she wasn¡¯t in immediate danger, Chen Xu carried her into the car and returned to the base camp. On the way back, he drove slowly, fearing too much shaking would worsen her injury. Back at the base camp, Chen Xu carried Luo Xiyun into his room, laid her on his bed, cleaned the blood from her face with a clean towel, then treated, disinfected, and bandaged her wound. ¡°I hope you get well soon.¡± Chen Xu thought. After being busy for a long time, his stomach began to growl. Glancing at the time, it was already past seven. He took another look at Luo Xiyun lying on the bed and gently closed the door. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: 006 Stay Chapter 6: 006 Stay Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu casually made some noodles, filled his stomach, and then returned indoors, moving a chair to sit by the bed and watch the woman who lay unconscious. It was clear that she hadn¡¯t been doing well lately. Without makeup, her hair was slightly dry from neglect, and her skin was noticeably tanned. She wore a simple white long-sleeved T-shirt and light-colored jeans. Compared to her glamorous style at the company before, she was like a completely different person. However, with her bare face, her beauty hadn¡¯t collapsed. She could absolutely be described as naturally beautiful. Perhaps the wound on her forehead was slightly painful, even in her unconscious state, her brows were slightly furrowed, and her slightly pale lips gave an impression of pitiful vulnerability. Luo Xiyun perfectly matched his aesthetic taste, with delicate features, fair skin, and a figure that was not exaggerated, yet just right¡ªexactly his type. What¡¯s more, she was his superior, from an extraordinary family background, the perfect example of a rich and beautiful woman out of his league. No doubt, such a woman was the ideal object for daydreams. However, from his month¡¯s experience, although this woman in front of him was a virtual creation, she was most likely exactly the same as the real Luo Xiyun, whether in appearance or personality and temperament. ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s not what I imagined.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t know how many times he had sighed this way. He initially thought he could do whatever he wanted in a dream world. The result was he had to face Luo Xiyun, just as she was in reality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Was he supposed to fall in love with her? That didn¡¯t seem worth looking forward to at all. From the rumors he overheard, this Director Luo, although beautiful, didn¡¯t seem to be particularly easy to get along with. Oh well, in this empty world, having a beautiful woman to accompany him wasn¡¯t bad. He comforted himself in this way. ¡­¡­¡­ After an uncertain amount of time, Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyelashes fluttered briefly, and she opened her eyes. Her pupils were unfocused as she dazedly stared at a poster of a female celebrity on the ceiling. Where is this? ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± She wanted to turn her head, but a sharp pain from her forehead caused her to take a deep breath, and she finally remembered. She had accidentally crashed into a car by the roadside, hitting her head on the steering wheel, and then lost consciousness¡­ But why was she lying here? She instinctively reached to touch the spot of the wound, feeling a layer of gauze. Her body was as if struck by lightning¡ªsomeone had tended to her wound. A few seconds later, she struggled to sit up, throwing off the quilt that covered her. She noticed the clean floor, regularly swept, with little dust. How long had it been since she¡¯d seen such a clean floor? She couldn¡¯t quite remember herself. She raised her head, examining everything here. It was an ordinary room, somewhat messy, with a pile of worn clothes on the desk at the foot of the bed. The room¡¯s occupant was clearly a man. Faintly, she heard sounds coming from outside the door, and she stood up instinctively. In the past month, the world was steeped in deathly silence, with only the occasional sound of wind to be heard. Previously, she relished silence when sleeping, becoming irritated at the slightest noise. Now, she feared the quiet, needing music to fall asleep. She stood, gripped the door handle, and opened it, hearing more clearly now, the sound resembling a diesel engine. She noticed the light on in the hallway. So it was a generator. Then, she heard another sound. She moved in the direction of the noise, passing through the hallway, down the stairs step by step, pushing open a door to see the figure slicing something on the cutting board. Tears welled up in her eyes. In this silent world, Chen Xu had been there for a month, exceptionally sensitive to sound. Hearing the faint movement behind him, he turned abruptly to see Luo Xiyun standing at the doorway, finally allowing his suspended heart to relax. Waking up meant her body was likely okay. He said, ¡°You¡¯re awake, the food will be ready soon, just sit.¡± With that, he placed the sliced pork belly into the pan, sizzling in hot oil. Luo Xiyun turned away, wiping her tears, then walked into the kitchen and sat down beside the table, watching Chen Xu¡¯s back, uncertain of her thoughts. The kitchen was large; Chen Xu didn¡¯t require so much equipment on his own, so he had restructured it, leaving only one stove, and used the space for storage. The dining table was nearby. Previously, it was just him, but now there was an additional chair and a set of tableware. Soon, the meat was out of the pan. Chen Xu brought the dishes over, three dishes and a soup: tomato scrambled eggs, stir-fried pork belly, stir-fried beef with garlic shoots, and American ginseng stewed black chicken. ¡°Eat.¡± Chen Xu sat across from her, prompted her to eat, then picked up his rice and began eating. Luo Xiyun silently picked up her chopsticks, picked a piece of tomato, and put it into her mouth. Both remained silent as they quietly ate their meal. Having not spoken to anyone for a month, Chen Xu thought there would be endless things to talk about when he met Luo Xiyun, but he found himself at a loss for words upon actually seeing her. Luo Xiyun seemed a bit cold, not appearing to enjoy talking very much. Just when Chen Xu thought the meal would end in silence, Luo Xiyun finally spoke, ¡°You¡¯re Chen Xu from the marketing department, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Xu was not surprised; she was the personnel director, familiar with every employee in the company. After a pause, Luo Xiyun asked again, ¡°Have you been staying here this whole month?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Xu responded, then after a moment¡¯s thought, added, ¡°The supplies here are quite complete; even if alone, I could survive.¡± Survive alone? Luo Xiyun fell silent again. ¡°How about you, how have you been this past month?¡± Chen Xu asked the question that had been on his mind all along. Throughout the month, he would make some noise every day, shining a powerful searchlight into the sky at night. Staying within the city, he thought she¡¯d surely see it. Yet she never appeared. Luo Xiyun paused, holding her chopsticks. Even with his slow wits, Chen Xu could tell something was off in her emotions. As he pondered changing the topic, she spoke, ¡°I went to find my grandmother; she lives in C City¡­¡± C City was within the district of this city, dozens of kilometers from the city center, not too far. But in such a situation, it was not easy for her to reach there on her own. Chen Xu was at a loss for words. She probably didn¡¯t find her grandmother. However, he knew clearly that this was merely a dream, not reality, hence the usual empathetic sentiments were absent; comforting words were hard to come by. ¡°C City was just like here; everyone was gone. Initially, I¡­¡± At this point, she paused before continuing, ¡°Later, while driving, I received a radio broadcast and traced the address here.¡± Chen Xu realized it was his radio broadcast that had done the trick. ¡°Did you meet anyone else?¡± Luo Xiyun asked, her tone laced with hope. Chen Xu shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve met in the past month.¡± Luo Xiyun was visibly disappointed, muttering, ¡°What on earth is wrong with the world? Why did everyone suddenly disappear?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it for now; as long as we¡¯re alive, we¡¯ll eventually find a way to discover the truth.¡± Chen Xu could only comfort her this way, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, before the dishes get cold.¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: 007 Embarrassed Chapter 7: 007 Embarrassed Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio After finishing the meal, Chen Xu washed the dishes and found Luo Xiyun, who was walking around in the base camp. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Luo Xiyun nodded and followed him to the usual living area. After they sat down, Chen Xu asked her, ¡°What are your plans for the future?¡± A hint of confusion flashed in Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyes, and her voice was somewhat low, ¡°I don¡¯t know either¡­¡± If all humanity in the world were to disappear, it seemed there wouldn¡¯t be much difference. ¡°In that case, I suggest you stay here for now,¡± Chen Xu said. Luo Xiyun looked up at him. He continued, ¡°First, with the two of us together, if one of us gets sick, we can look after each other. Secondly, over the past month, I¡¯ve made quite a few preparations, and the living conditions here are undoubtedly better than elsewhere. What do you think?¡± ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t agree on the spot, ¡°I¡¯ll give you an answer this evening.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Chen Xu certainly hoped she would stay, as it would make the next few months much easier. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But, even if she didn¡¯t want to stay, it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t accept. This was just a dreamscape; in five months, he would return to reality. It wasn¡¯t as if he couldn¡¯t survive without her. Begging her to stay was out of the question. ¡­ In the afternoon, Chen Xu cleared out a room in a nearby store for Luo Xiyun to live in. The room had been empty for a month, gathering quite a bit of dust, and it took a lot of time to clean thoroughly. Luo Xiyun helped as well. After cleaning, they moved a bed into the room, along with some tables, chairs, and so on. Before they knew it, the afternoon had passed. For dinner, Chen Xu simply pan-fried two steaks. With no vegetables to pair with them, he added a bit of leftover mung bean sprouts on the side of the plate. He had sprouted the bean sprouts himself, using them as a vegetable substitute. After Luo Xiyun sat down, Chen Xu took out a bottle of red wine from the wine cabinet and said, ¡°This is supposedly the legendary ¡¯82 Lafite. I got it from a pretty upscale Western restaurant. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s genuine or not.¡± As he spoke, he opened the wine and poured a glass for each of them into goblets. ¡°Is this from the Cloud Top Restaurant on the top floor of the XX Building?¡± Luo Xiyun picked up the wine bottle and examined it, asking. Chen Xu was a bit surprised, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°I used to go there often.¡± Luo Xiyun put the bottle down. ¡°It has the restaurant¡¯s logo on it.¡± Working together in the afternoon had dispelled the sense of unfamiliarity, and they began to talk more. Chen Xu raised his wine glass and said, ¡°I heard that this wine should be decanted with a special decanter to bring out the best taste. However, we don¡¯t have one here, so we¡¯ll just have to make do.¡± ¡°This is fine too.¡± Luo Xiyun also raised her glass, clinked it with his, and then took a sip. After setting the glass down, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stay. However, there are some things I think it¡¯s better to say upfront.¡± Chen Xu was very pleased to hear she was willing to stay. With five months left in the dreamscape, having a companion was certainly better than being alone. Moreover, having a beautiful companion was quite pleasing to the eye, he said, ¡°Whatever it is, feel free to say it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be straightforward.¡± Luo Xiyun intertwined her fingers and looked at him, ¡°You¡¯re not the type I like. I hope that in the future, we can maintain some distance between us¡­¡± The smile on Chen Xu¡¯s face froze, and he found it hard to control the expression on his face, which became stiff. He never imagined that what she wanted to say was actually this. He knew he wasn¡¯t handsome or tall and didn¡¯t come from a wealthy family. Women had never been particularly interested in him. But he never thought he was that bad. Here in the dreamscape world, with only Luo Xiyun and him left, forming a pair seemed like the natural thing to do. If any other man were in his situation, he would probably think the same. If it were another woman, she would likely think the same way. Yet, Luo Xiyun bluntly told him she wouldn¡¯t like him, asking him to let go of any such hope. Who did she think she was, to reject him like this? Chen Xu¡¯s face burned, feeling that his self-esteem was harshly wounded. After finishing her speech, Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t speak again. A difficult silence ensued. The faint rumble of a diesel generator could be heard from outside the door. Chen Xu clasped the wine glass in his right hand, staring at the steak on the table, its surface slightly charred. After a while, he slowly said, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± His voice was a bit hoarse. After he spoke, his mind gradually calmed down. It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d been rejected by a woman, besides, this was just a dreamscape. Even the woman before him wasn¡¯t real, she was virtual. He cleared his throat softly and continued, ¡°It¡¯s best to clarify some things in advance; it¡¯s good for everyone. I find your request quite reasonable and entirely acceptable.¡± The tension eased from Luo Xiyun¡¯s face. Chen Xu released his grip on the glass, took a clean towel from beside him, and wiped off the sweat from his hand. ¡°Just so happens, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡± Luo Xiyun leaned back slightly, her eyebrows visibly furrowing, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve agreed to stay, we¡¯ll be living together from now on. I¡¯d like to discuss the division of tasks.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t look at her, but continued, ¡°Currently, it seems like we might be the only two left in this city. There¡¯s no electricity, no running water, no takeout. Everything needs to be done by ourselves.¡± ¡°In the past, I did all these things alone. Now that you¡¯re here, it seems reasonable to share some of the work, right?¡± Luo Xiyun nodded, saying, ¡°That indeed seems reasonable.¡± ¡°In all fairness, the duties should be rotated. Perhaps today, I fetch water and you cook, and tomorrow we switch roles. But¡ª¡± ¡°Considering the differences between genders, I think a different allocation would be best. Tasks like fetching water, moving fuel, and other heavy lifting will be mine. Tasks like cooking, dishwashing, and laundry will be yours. Does that distribution sound fair to you?¡± Luo Xiyun nodded once more, ¡°It¡¯s quite fair.¡± ¡°We can discuss the specific allocation tomorrow.¡± Chen Xu finished speaking, picked up the knife and fork, and cut into the steak that had long since cooled. Luo Xiyun remained silent, quietly picking up her fork. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: 008 Why Chapter 8: 008 Why Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` The next morning at seven, Chen Xu woke up on time as usual. Over the past month, he had developed a biological clock. There was some unusual noise outside the window, and without guessing, he knew it was definitely the new move-in, Luo Xiyun, making it. Upon waking up, his temper had calmed down a lot. Actually, from another perspective, standing in Luo Xiyun¡¯s shoes, it was quite normal to have a strong defensive mindset when living with a man who was virtually a stranger. This was also a form of self-protection. It meant she didn¡¯t consider other people¡¯s feelings when she spoke. Of course, for someone like her, why bother considering other people¡¯s feelings on a regular basis? However, understanding didn¡¯t mean accepting. He still felt somewhat displeased in his heart. If he had known from the start that this ¡°virtual dream¡± could be so real, from appearance to personality being exactly the same, he would never have chosen a woman like Luo Xiyun to accompany him. In the company, Luo Xiyun was always a topic of conversation. There were quite a few discussions about her in private, with the most talked-about being her sharp tongue, sparing no one¡¯s feelings. As a result, she had offended quite a few people. There was a rumor that once, she almost embarrassed the company boss in public. In the end, the boss didn¡¯t do much to her, but her reputation spread thoroughly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He now had experienced it for himself. To be honest, there was a moment last night when he really felt an urge. However, it was just a thought; he couldn¡¯t actually do such a thing. Although he often told himself that this was just a dream, the longer he stayed here, the less he could completely treat it all as just a dream. At most, avoiding it would be for the best. This was what he thought and planned to do. After breakfast, he took the schedule and went to find Luo Xiyun. She lived next door, which was originally a coffee shop. He had tidied it up, placing some household items there. After clearing it out yesterday, it was given to her to live in. He was just about to knock on the door when he noticed a new intercom-style doorbell installed. Apparently, it was installed specifically for him. The intention was obvious, hinting at not entering without permission. ¡°So she spent the entire morning putting this up?¡± Thinking this, he pressed the doorbell. ¡°Come in.¡± A distorted voice came from the intercom. Chen Xu opened the door and walked in. As soon as he entered, he found the floor wet, with things inside having been reorganized, and the tables and chairs neatly arranged. Going further in was an office, now serving as her bedroom. The bedroom door was open, and she was bent over, wiping a table with a towel. Chen Xu felt a bit puzzled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just clean it yesterday?¡± Odd as it was, he didn¡¯t ask anything and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the division of tasks.¡± Luo Xiyun folded the towel neatly, put it aside, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± They went outside and found a table to sit at. Chen Xu had just taken out the schedule when he saw her take out a wet wipe and meticulously clean her hands, making him realize, ¡°So she¡¯s a neat freak.¡± He thought that her month must have been quite tough. Of course, this had nothing to do with him. Now, he just wanted to finish the discussion quickly and leave. ¡°This is the list of daily tasks I¡¯ve put together. I¡¯ve made a general plan, which is this. Look it over, and if there are no issues, we can discuss it further.¡± His plan was simple; heavy labor went to Chen Xu, and tasks like laundry, cleaning, and organizing went to Luo Xiyun. Luo Xiyun took the notebook and quickly glanced through it. Soon, she asked, ¡°What does the cleaning cover?¡± ¡°Just the public areas,¡± Chen Xu said. ¡°Where I live, including the first floor, you don¡¯t need to plan for. I will take care of it myself.¡± Luo Xiyun nodded, acknowledging this point. She continued looking down and soon posed several questions, which Chen Xu answered one by one. Finally, Luo Xiyun finished reading through the entire list and placed it on the table. Chen Xu felt a sense of relief and said, ¡°If there¡¯s no problem, our job distribution plan will be temporarily set. If there are any issues later on, we can discuss them together.¡± After he finished speaking and was about to leave, Luo Xiyun said, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± He had no choice but to sit back down. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t seem to see cooking and doing the dishes on the list.¡± Luo Xiyun raised her question. ¡°How do you plan to arrange this?¡± ¡°You mean that.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°After considering it, I think it¡¯s best for each of us to handle our own.¡± Luo Xiyun looked at him, and after a while, she asked, ¡°Why?¡± Why? Did that even need asking? Chen Xu straightforwardly said, ¡°That way, you don¡¯t have to force yourself to face me, and I don¡¯t have to awkwardly face you.¡± Luo Xiyun stared at him intently, with a hint of disdain in her eyes, and said, ¡°Are you mad because of what I said yesterday? As a man, can¡¯t you have a bit of gentlemanly conduct?¡± A silence fell. ¡°Why should I?¡± After a while, Chen Xu spoke again, his voice small and slightly mocking. ¡°Just because I¡¯m a man, and you¡¯re a woman, so you can disregard my feelings and say things that hurt my self-esteem. And even if I¡¯m upset, I can¡¯t show it?¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re a woman, your family has money, you¡¯re beautiful, and your position is higher than mine, I have to always accommodate your mood and make myself uncomfortable to please you?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what gentlemanly conduct means, then I¡¯d like to say¡ª¡± Chen Xu said each word distinctly, ¡°To hell with gentlemanly conduct.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s face turned a bit red, not knowing if it was from anger or anxiety. Chen Xu had already gone this far, so he decided to speak his mind completely, ¡°Of course, I may not have the ¡®gentlemanly conduct¡¯ you mentioned, but I still have basic principles of being human. Since you look down on me, you don¡¯t need to worry about me doing anything to you.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯m a twenty-six-year-old man, and I¡¯m perfectly normal inside and out. So not seeing each other is good for both you and me.¡± After saying this, Chen Xu felt thoroughly relieved. He had long needed to vent some things, but in reality, despite any displeasure in his heart, he often had to hold it in. Now, in his dream world, naturally, he could say whatever he wanted without having to consider other consequences. Whether Luo Xiyun would leave because of his words didn¡¯t matter anymore. Leave if you want or stay if you wish. A month had passed, and with five more months left, it wasn¡¯t an issue. At this point, having peace of mind was more important. Chen Xu didn¡¯t look at Luo Xiyun¡¯s unpleasant expression and turned to leave. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: 009 Treasure Hunt Chapter 9: 009 Treasure Hunt Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` It was another sunny morning when Chen Xu woke up, stretched lazily, and got out of bed. He pulled the curtains open, letting the golden sunlight wash over his face, warming him up and making him close his eyes in contentment. He savored this moment of relaxation and tranquility. He was growing more accustomed to such leisurely days. Outside, he heard the sound of water hitting the ground; it was Luo Xiyun watering the vegetables planted by the roadside. He turned back, picked up a thick marker, and wrote the number 120 on the wall. This marked the 120th day since entering the dreamscape, with two-thirds of the time already passed. It had been three months since Luo Xiyun had arrived. As usual, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, shaved, changed clothes, and had breakfast. Then, he slung a hiking backpack over his shoulder, opened the door, and stepped out. As usual, Luo Xiyun had already finished watering the plants and returned to her own room. The street outside had undergone a dramatic transformation compared to three months ago when he was alone. Various plants now occupied most of the space, leaving only narrow pathways. Vegetables were the main plants, complemented by some flowers and greenery around them. They were arranged quite neatly, giving the garden a landscaped appearance. This was undoubtedly Luo Xiyun¡¯s work. Except for the vegetable seeds, which he procured, the flowerpots and soil were all items she had moved over from local flower shops, and she took care of them regularly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Chen Xu walked out of this vegetable garden and arrived at the alley to the left, which had become his garage. He chose the SUV he drove most frequently. Over the past four months, he had driven any luxury car he could find, most of them just once or twice because they were impractical. He had to carry a lot of things whenever he went out, so naturally, a small vehicle was unsuitable. The comfort level of trucks was somewhat lacking, making a large SUV the best choice. Before setting off, he took out a simple hand-drawn map, his self-made treasure map. Since Luo Xiyun¡¯s arrival, his workload had decreased by half, giving him more free time. Thus, he embarked on a treasure-hunting journey. This crude map in his hand was the result of these past few months. ¡°I¡¯ve explored nearly everything around here; this time, I¡¯ll go farther,¡± he thought. With a destination in mind, he drove there directly. XX Road was the city¡¯s most famous and bustling commercial street. Because it was relatively far, he hadn¡¯t explored it until now. After parking the car, he grabbed his tools and walked toward the nearest commercial building. Upon entering the door, everything was pitch black. He put on a headlamp and held another flashlight in his hand. He immediately saw several ¡°lucky box¡± vending machines placed nearby. ¡°Another one of these scammy things.¡± That¡¯s what he said, but he still stopped. He put down his tool bag, slipped on a mask, then took out a hammer and shattered the outer glass with a bang. A puff of dust rose up. After months without cleaning, a thick layer of dust covered everything here, and any movement sent it billowing into the air. He stepped back a few steps, waiting for the dust to settle before stepping forward to take out the boxes inside, opening them one by one. ¡°A face mask, what brand is this? Never heard of it.¡± ¡°A phone case, worth a few bucks tops.¡± ¡°Earphones, some no-name brand.¡± ¡°A 50-yuan voucher from some online store, ha ha¡­¡± ¡­ With each box Chen Xu opened, he made a snide remark. These lucky box vending machines had recently surged in popularity. Scan a code for thirty yuan and you¡¯d get a box; according to the promotion, it could contain a phone, a DSLR, a tablet, and so on. However, over the past few months, he¡¯d smashed open maybe a hundred if not dozens of these machines, and never found any of the advertised goods. It was all inexpensive merchandise. When he picked up the second-to-last box, he felt it was a bit heavier. ¡°Must be perfume,¡± he guessed. Having opened so many boxes, he could roughly tell what category of item it was just by its weight. Once he opened the box, he was a bit surprised to find an Apple X phone packaging box inside. ¡°Could it be an empty box?¡± He was highly skeptical, considering an Apple X cost about ten thousand yuan. Would the people stocking these machines really be willing to spend that much? He swiftly unboxed it, and to his surprise, it was indeed a phone. It looked brand new, and upon powering it on, it quickly went to an activation page. Following the prompts, he activated the phone and entered the system. He checked the serial number in the settings, and it matched the one on the outer packaging. ¡°Hopefully it¡¯s not some knockoff,¡± he still had his doubts. Nonetheless, he packed the phone into his backpack and noted the position of this vending machine and the number of the box on the treasure map. He was quite certain that everything in the dreamscape aligned with reality. In other words, anything found in the dreamscape had to exist in the same place in reality once he woke up. For example, if this lucky box yielded a smartphone, then in reality, the lucky box of the same number in this vending machine must also contain a smartphone. That¡¯s why he called this kind of expedition a treasure hunt. For the past few months, he went treasure hunting whenever he had the time. However, the harvest was not substantial. Technically, the wealth of this entire world was there for him to take. But no matter how great the wealth in the dreamscape might be, it was meaningless if he couldn¡¯t bring it out. Similarly, even if he knew which house had large caches of cash or whose safe was packed with the most jewelry, it was also pointless. He couldn¡¯t exactly go stealing just because he knew once he woke up. That would be utterly foolish. Real opportunities to make money from this were scarce, and it completely relied on luck. After all, projects like the ¡°lucky box¡± were far too rare. He had smashed and opened dozens of vending machines yet only got one phone. Such odds were touching, to say the least. Then he opened the remaining boxes, finding no other treasures, and continued on his way. The entire building was dark, covered in dust, and looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Chen Xu took a casual stroll through the first few floors before leaving, finding the place too oppressive. Upon leaving the building, he felt a sense of relief, thinking to himself that he should avoid these commercial buildings in the future. After all, they held little value for him. Next, he walked onto the pedestrian street, gazing at the dust-laden and leaf-strewn paths, feeling somewhat sentimental over how, in just a few months, the once beautifully decorated street had fallen into such disuse. Boom. He had barely taken a few steps when there was a dull rumble. Looking up, he saw a thick layer of dark clouds looming in the sky. It was about to rain. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: 010 Sudden Typhoon Chapter 10: 010 Sudden Typhoon Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Boom! A clap of thunder rang out, accompanied by the sound of rain and the howling wind outside. It felt a bit unnerving. Chen Xu hid in a clothing store, staring at the increasingly dark sky outside, and frowned involuntarily. He glanced at his phone, 1:45 p.m. The rain had been going on for over three hours, showing no signs of stopping. With wind this strong, it had to be at least a category ten. ¡°But how could there be a typhoon at this time?¡± He found it a bit strange. When he entered the dreamscape, it was September, and now four months had passed; it should be January. He¡¯d never heard of a typhoon in January. Huh? That couldn¡¯t be right. January was one of the coldest months, yet the weather now felt no different from September, very hot, to the point that he needed the air conditioner on at night. Thinking this way, he was reassured. After all, nothing was surprising in a dream. This was likely an intentionally illogical setting to remind those in the dreamscape that this wasn¡¯t reality. ¡°My stomach is so hungry.¡± He patted his stomach, realizing he couldn¡¯t just sit there waiting, as the rain didn¡¯t seem like it would let up any time soon. He needed to find something to eat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? He regretted not bringing any snacks with him. He thought dejectedly. Though there was food in the car, returning to it wasn¡¯t realistic under these circumstances. The car was several hundred meters away and with such strong winds, he dared not venture onto the main road. Earlier, he heard the sound of heavy objects falling several times, unsure if it was broken branches or signboards. In any case, it was dangerous outside. However, he had already searched this shop and found nothing to eat. He couldn¡¯t continue staying there; he had to find some food elsewhere. He remembered there was a convenience store a few shops away, it was bound to have food. He took off his backpack, removing items he wouldn¡¯t need temporarily to lighten the load, and then pushed open the door. Whoosh¡ª As soon as he pulled the door, the powerful wind pushed against him, forcing him to step back. Raindrops pounded against his face, making him lower his center of gravity, lower his head, and head out. Once outside, the wind became even stronger, laden with rain, quickly drenching him from head to toe. He clung to the wall, inching forward with difficulty. A mere dozen or so meters took him minutes to traverse. Upon reaching the convenience store, its open door let in the wind, leaving everything in chaos, with goods strewn everywhere. He didn¡¯t linger, heading straight to the back warehouse, pulling open the door to hide inside. Then he set about closing the door with effort. With a thud, the sound of wind and rain was shut out. Everything seemed to fall into a peaceful silence. By then, he was thoroughly soaked, his wet clothes clinging uncomfortably to his body. He pulled out spare clothes from his backpack. ¡°The backpack really is high-quality, waterproof performance is excellent.¡± He praised as he changed into dry clothes, feeling rejuvenated. Then he picked up a flashlight and began searching for food. The warehouse wasn¡¯t large but was packed with snacks and drinks. He grabbed a pack of cookies and a carton of milk, sitting on a crate of mineral water, listening to the whirring wind seeping through the door cracks, and started eating his lunch. As he ate, he suddenly worried about Luo Xiyun, who was still at the base. He had no idea how she was doing. ¡°Why worry about her, when she has food, drink, and electricity at home, a far better environment than this, as long as she doesn¡¯t go out¡­¡± Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered something, ¡°What day is it today? Seems like Wednesday, isn¡¯t it?¡± He recalled she went out every Wednesday. He and Luo Xiyun lived next door to each other, and they pretty much lived their own lives, without interfering with each other, as if forming a mutual understanding. After three months as neighbors, they had only run into each other a handful of times. But their places were only separated by a wall. Even if they didn¡¯t meet, in life, he was constantly aware of her presence. Waking up in the morning, he could hear watering sounds, upon leaving, he¡¯d see traces of vegetables being picked at the door, and on the way to the ¡°garage,¡± he¡¯d see the trash she threw out. Moreover, the sound of opening and closing doors, the smell of food while cooking, the clothes hung out to dry every day, all vividly reminded him a woman named Luo Xiyun lived next door. After three months, without deliberately paying attention, he had a rough understanding of her routine. Knowing she went out every Wednesday morning at nine on her bicycle and returned around eleven. Today was Wednesday, and with such nice weather in the morning, she must¡¯ve gone out as scheduled, and this rain started after ten, so she¡¯d undoubtedly run into it. ¡°That unlucky kid, staying at home wouldn¡¯t have been better? Why did she have to go out? And on a bicycle, no less.¡± He shook his head sympathetically, saying. He grabbed another cookie and stuffed it into his mouth. This brand of cookies tasted pretty good, though a bit too sweet. He finished the whole pack in a few bites, tore open another pack, and with two cartons of milk, finally filled his stomach. ¡°Let¡¯s watch some TV.¡± He took a tablet out from the backpack, preloaded with several series, specifically prepared to pass the time. This was an urban romance series, and the plot was quite silly. But he had no choice. Now that the internet was so advanced and fast, everyone watched online, rarely downloading movies and series onto a computer. He¡¯d dismantled dozens of hard drives at the company building and only found a few dozen series, most of which were Korean or American dramas. However, there were loads of romantic action films from a certain island nation, measured in terabytes. The wind outside seemed to pick up. A few minutes into the series, Chen Xu found himself unable to focus, his mind drifting to Luo Xiyun. ¡°She¡¯s a grown woman. When caught in heavy rain, she¡¯ll naturally find somewhere to hide. At most, she¡¯ll get a bit soaked.¡± ¡°Maybe she went back home early today.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± He restlessly turned off the video, pacing the small warehouse, finally coming to a stop with a sigh, ¡°Fine, I better go back and check.¡± If she really faced trouble, he¡¯d be alone for the next two months. Thinking so led to action. He slung on the backpack, opened the door, and stepped out. He struggled against the wind, lowering his center of gravity, taking one laborious step after another. His newly clean clothes quickly got soaked again. With much difficulty, he reached the parking area, got in the car, wiped his face, then started the engine and drove away. Rain, carried by the wind, drummed against the car¡¯s windshield. He adjusted the wiper speed to its fastest but still had a blurry view. He dared not drive too fast, carefully watching for obstacles on the road. If the car got wrecked, it would just waste more time. Once on familiar roads, he finally felt comfortable speeding up. Forty minutes later, he finally saw the outline of that familiar building. He slammed the accelerator, and with the roar of the engine, the car sped forward. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: 011 Find someone Chapter 11: 011 Find someone Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Squeak! As he was about to reach the garage, Chen Xu slammed on the brakes to stop the car, flung open the door, and dashed out. ¡°Luo Xiyun!¡± He shouted as he ran. The vegetable garden that was arranged like a garden had been completely destroyed, with flowerpots scattered everywhere and the whole road in disarray. He rushed to Luo Xiyun¡¯s house, violently pulled open the door, and barged in, ¡°Luo Xiyun, Luo Xiyun¡­¡± He searched everywhere, but no one was there. The room doors were locked, and no one responded to his calls. ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned at this time, she must be trapped on the road.¡± It was almost three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, meaning she had been trapped for four to five hours. He had come back with a glimmer of hope to see if she had safely returned home, but things had developed for the worse. He felt a heaviness in his chest, gave the door a forceful pat, and turned to run back out. He got back into the car, turned it around, slammed the accelerator, and drove off. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Luo Xiyun, please, please, don¡¯t have an accident.¡± He did not want to spend the remaining two months all alone. ¡°She always took this road whenever she came back.¡± Chen Xu drove down a road, honking the horn loudly. It was still three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, but in such weather, with a typhoon and heavy rain, visibility was poor, and even with high beams, he could only see a distance of two to three meters ahead. He only hoped that the sound of the horn would attract Luo Xiyun¡¯s attention. He didn¡¯t know where she had gone on her bicycle or which routes she might have taken, so he could only try every possible branching road. Time passed slowly, and there was no sign of the typhoon weakening. The sky grew darker, and Chen Xu¡¯s anxiety increased, with various thoughts flashing through his mind. ¡°Did we miss a road, and she¡¯s trapped on it?¡± ¡°Has something happened to her, so she can¡¯t hear the horn?¡± ¡°Did she hear the horn but has no way to respond?¡± ¡­. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a flash in the rearview mirror, and although it was fleeting, he saw clearly that it wasn¡¯t lightning. He shuddered involuntarily, slammed on the brakes, then turned the wheel and collided with a small car parked by the roadside, forcibly turning the car around. After driving just a little further, he saw that flash again, and this time he could see clearly, it was the light from a phone¡¯s backlight. ¡°Found it!¡± He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he drove closer. When the headlights illuminated the scene, he finally saw the current state of Luo Xiyun. She was standing by the roadside, soaked through, yet disregarding everything else, with one hand holding onto a lamppost, the other waving a phone with its backlight on with effort. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s had a rough time.¡± Chen Xu thought to himself as he parked the car in front of her. At this moment, it seemed she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, swayed by the strong wind, she collapsed to the ground, clinging to the lamppost, looking extremely wretched. Looking at her wretched appearance, he found it a bit funny, but felt it wasn¡¯t right to gloat. He adjusted his expression, opened the door, got out, and braved the wind and rain to help her into the passenger seat. The back seat was full of stuff with no place for people to sit. After getting into the car, Chen Xu handed her a clean towel, started the car, and headed home. ¡­. All the way, Luo Xiyun wiped the water off herself with the towel, remaining silent. She didn¡¯t speak, and Chen Xu didn¡¯t utter a word either. There was an awkward silence in the car. He didn¡¯t really feel like talking, and he honestly didn¡¯t know what to say. To him, Luo Xiyun was both unfamiliar and familiar. The last time the two of them sat together like this was three months ago when they were assigned work. Since then, they hadn¡¯t spoken. They seemed to have an unspoken agreement to stagger their times leaving home to avoid running into each other. Whenever they did encounter each other, they acted as if they didn¡¯t see the other, as if the other didn¡¯t exist. Because of this, she felt very unfamiliar to him. Yet, at the same time, he also knew her well, knowing what dishes she liked, what style of clothes she favored, what she did on certain days, and even when her period started. Living next door to each other, many areas were shared, and without paying special attention, many things just came to be known. Like which meats in the freezer were consumed the fastest, which vegetables in front were picked the most, and what clothes were hung outside each day. By the time Chen Xu drove the car back into the garage, it was completely dark, and when he glanced at his phone, it was already seven in the evening. He turned off the car¡¯s engine and was about to open the door when he heard Luo Xiyun speak for the first time since getting in, ¡°I sprained my foot.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He was startled for a moment before turning to look at her, aided by the car¡¯s interior light. It was only then that he noticed she had scratches on her arms and knees, though he couldn¡¯t see her foot because of the angle and lighting. It seemed she must have fallen while riding her bicycle. He thought for a moment; it was still twenty meters to the house, and getting her there in the force of a level ten typhoon seemed difficult. He decided to restart the car, driving it into what was once the vegetable garden. The flowerpots once used for growing vegetables were scattered everywhere by the wind, and the car would occasionally bump when a wheel rolled over one. Luckily, the SUV had a high enough chassis that nothing would get stuck. He slowly drove to her house, then got out and helped her down, leading her into the coffee shop where she lived. Once inside, he flicked the light switch, but with a ¡°click¡± sound, the light didn¡¯t come on. ¡°Is the light broken?¡± He flicked it a few more times, but the light remained off. He had to rely on his phone¡¯s flashlight to help guide her to the room door. Luo Xiyun reached up to a hanger beside her and retrieved a key to open the door. After helping her inside, Chen Xu felt he should leave, but then he heard the sound of a switch being flipped, though still no light inside. He immediately realized something was wrong, a power outage? It seemed trouble hadn¡¯t arrived singly. The home¡¯s power supply depended on a diesel generator. If it broke, there¡¯d be trouble. Hopefully, it was just a tripped circuit breaker. He thought to himself. Then, he heard Luo Xiyun say something, but her voice was too soft, and he didn¡¯t catch it, so he asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± In the darkness, he sensed her breathing become heavier, and after a moment, her faint voice came again. This time, he heard it clearly; she said, ¡°I want to go to the bathroom.¡± This was the second sentence she had spoken since they met. Chen Xu could tell that she was probably feeling quite embarrassed when she said it. ¡°` Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: 012 Misfortunes never come singly Chapter 12: 012 Misfortunes never come singly Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Xu responded and supported Luo Xiyun as they walked into the room, where there was a bathroom. He knew, given her personality, that she would never have said this to him unless it was urgent. Although he was somewhat displeased with her, he was unwilling to make things difficult for her in this situation. He escorted her into the bathroom and casually placed his phone on the shelf where the shampoo was, using it as a light source. Then, he left. After the bathroom door closed, losing the only light source, Chen Xu was plunged into darkness. His eyes could not see, but his other senses seemed amplified, like his sense of smell. He could feel himself enveloped by a faint, pleasant fragrance. It was a sweet scent, much like the fragrance he smelled when he hugged his first love in a dark alleyway back in high school. The sound of wind and rain from outside seemed to come from a distant place, providing an unnaturally serene feeling. He could still clearly hear another kind of water sound through the bathroom door, as if the stray thoughts in his mind grew like wild grass. Suddenly, Luo Xiyun¡¯s words echoed in his mind again. He rubbed his face vigorously and began to feel his way toward the entrance, moving gingerly. Without lights, everything was pitch black, so he could only rely on his memory from when he first came in, inching his way to the front door. Opening the door, the cold rain splattered on his face, making him shiver. He dared not linger and quickly ran back next door. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 About ten minutes later, having changed his clothes, Chen Xu returned wearing a raincoat and carrying a large bag of supplies. Now the base was experiencing a power outage, and it was unclear whether it was a generator issue or a line problem. In such strong winds, checking things out was very difficult. Without electricity, many inconveniences would arise. Luo Xiyun was also injured, making her mobility limited. Regardless of the situation, in this dream world, where only the two of them remained, one could not simply stand by while the other faced difficulties. ¡°Even if it¡¯s just out of humanitarian spirit, help should be offered.¡± He thought this as he entered the caf¨¦, removing his raincoat. Holding a flashlight in one hand and carrying the bag in the other, he walked inside. He saw a light in the kitchen and thought that since she had been stuck there since the morning and had twisted her foot in such strong winds, she might not have eaten anything and must be starving. Reaching the doorway, the flashlight¡¯s beam illuminated Luo Xiyun. Her back was to the doorway, seemingly cutting something. Her injured left foot was lifted off the ground, relying solely on her right foot for support, making her stance a bit unsteady. She certainly knew he was there but did not turn around or speak; she merely continued silently cutting. Only the rhythmic thud-thud of the knife striking the cutting board could be heard. Chen Xu took a table lamp from the bag, and after turning it on, the white light illuminated the entire kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He took out a bag of ingredients from the bag, rolled up his sleeves, and walked over, reaching to take the knife from her hand. To his surprise, she did not let go. From the force of her grip on the knife, Chen Xu sensed a feeling of resistance. Having dated before, he was not inexperienced in getting along with women and fully understood. A woman¡¯s silence was itself an expression of dissatisfaction. As for the source of this discontent, he often did not understand. And even when he did, he would sometimes pretend not to. His ex-girlfriend had more than once complained in his presence, calling him a ¡°steel straight man.¡± Now, since Luo Xiyun had nothing to do with him, he cared even less. He did not speak, just applied a bit more force. Luo Xiyun held on for a second but eventually released the knife, letting him take it. However, she did not leave, instead going to the cupboard, retrieving tableware, and washing it. This kitchen was originally the caf¨¦¡¯s back kitchen, with ample space, so with two people here, it would not feel crowded, and their separate tasks did not interfere with each other. Therefore, Chen Xu did not stop her. ¡­¡­ A dozen minutes later, the steaming noodles were ready. There was a table in the kitchen, and Luo Xiyun had already set the tableware. Chen Xu brought the pot over, and they each picked up their utensils and began to eat just like that. This was their third time sitting down together for a meal, both seated face to face. Across the rising white steam from the noodle soup, Chen Xu could see her face clearly, and he was slightly dazed for a moment. Because of the power outage, from the moment he brought her back until now, it was the first time he had gotten a full look at her. She was visibly thinner. Her entire demeanor had changed quite a bit, becoming more docile and somewhat frail. The environment really could change a person. He thought with a sigh. In fact, he was no different. Knowing full well that this was just a dream world, he adopted a vacation mentality, yet after spending several months here, he also felt changed in some respects. Of course, this change was not necessarily a bad thing. At the very least, he had become more patient. And now, Luo Xiyun seemed more pleasing to the eye. Both were hungry and ate with focus and speed. In no time, they finished the pot of noodles, leaving not even a drop of soup. After finishing, Chen Xu picked up the pot and bowls and went to wash them. He was used to running water, but after arriving in the dream world, the waterworks facility stopped working, and naturally, running water was unavailable. So, he made his own reservoir, using it as a water source. The reservoir had just been filled yesterday, sufficient for a few days¡¯ use. After washing, he placed the bowls back in the sterilizer, suddenly noticing something. Many items here came in pairs, two bowls, two pairs of chopsticks, two ladles, two cups¡­ even the chairs by the dining table, there were two. He thought, ¡°Obsessive-compulsive disorder is really scary. Thankfully, I don¡¯t live with her.¡± He did not consider himself a sloppy person, cleaning his room weekly and doing laundry daily, trying his best to keep his room tidy. But that was about the extent of it. If he had to keep everything spotless daily, arranging every item perfectly, he felt he would be unable to handle it. And Luo Xiyun was undoubtedly a heavy case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, as seen from the vegetable garden outside the door arranged like a garden. After tidying up, Luo Xiyun had already returned to her room. Picking up the bag and table lamp, he went to the closed door, knocked twice, and said, ¡°Let me see your foot.¡± There was no response from inside. Just as he thought Luo Xiyun hadn¡¯t heard, her cold voice came from within, ¡°No need.¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help frowning. He reached for the doorknob, turned it, and found it unlocked. He opened the door and walked in, saying, ¡°Let me take a look.¡± She sat on the bed, hands wrapped around her knees, her long hair cascading down. When she saw him enter, she turned her face away, stiffly saying, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to care.¡± Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: 013 Temperament Chapter 13: 013 Temperament Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°I don¡¯t need you to care for me.¡± Chen Xu was momentarily taken aback when he heard these words. It was hard to imagine that such words would come from Luo Xiyun. Only his ex-girlfriend had ever said this to him¡ªit was a fit of pique, with a hint of coaxing. A woman wouldn¡¯t say it unless the relationship had reached a certain level. At least, not someone like Luo Xiyun, who told him face-to-face the day after he saved her, ¡°You¡¯re not my type.¡± She certainly wouldn¡¯t speak to a man in such a tone casually. His surprise lasted only a moment. What followed was a bit of displeasure. He had kindly wanted to help her with her injury, yet she said something like that. It felt like offering warmth only to be met with cold indifference. In the past, when his ex-girlfriend said this for the first time, he really did turn around and leave. However, no matter what, Luo Xiyun was injured, so he couldn¡¯t entirely ignore it. He gently turned off the light in his hand, closed the door with a backward motion, deliberately using a bit of force, making a ¡°bang¡± sound, yet he stood still. Luo Xiyun, lying there, thought he had really left. Suddenly, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it out forcefully. Her shoulders started shaking, and soon, the sound of sobbing emerged. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°Uh¡ª¡± Chen Xu hadn¡¯t expected her to cry and was momentarily awkwardly at a loss. Even his ex-girlfriend had never lost control like this in front of him. Hearing her sobs, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind¡ªhad he gone too far? In the past three months, he had never proactively initiated contact with Luo Xiyun. The main reason was not wanting to seek rejection. Of course, there was a tiny bit of spite in his mindset. In reality, whether in work or life, one would invariably encounter some dissatisfaction, endure grievances, and receive unfair treatment. Even if upset, often all one could do was bear it, which was a helpless reality. But in this dream world, naturally, there were fewer concerns. Since Luo Xiyun said she¡¯d never fancy him, if he shamelessly continued forward, wouldn¡¯t he be utterly spineless? From that time, he decided to keep his distance from her. Of course, if she sought his help, he wouldn¡¯t refuse. However, she seemed intent on clashing with him, never taking the initiative to contact him, so they went three months without crossing each other¡¯s paths. He believed that if it weren¡¯t for today¡¯s typhoon, they would maintain this state until the dream ended. From this, it could be seen that Luo Xiyun had a very stubborn nature. Chen Xu knew this was just a dream, one set to end in six months. So, he could approach every day with a relaxed, almost vacation-like mindset and enjoy it pleasantly. Luo Xiyun was entirely different. According to this dream setting, to her, everything was happening in reality, so naturally, she couldn¡¯t have his mindset. The initial months must have been an agonizing ordeal. Even in such an environment, she insisted on holding her ground, refusing to initiate contact with him living next door. This resolve showed she was very stubborn and very proud. Now, this Luo Xiyun¡ªwho in his impression was proud and stubborn¡ªwas crying, and by chance, he happened to see it, which was a little awkward. In truth, thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t surprising. Ultimately, she was a young woman, having borne so much pressure these past months. Today, facing the typhoon, being injured, stranded on the road, spending the whole day in fear, it¡¯s already commendable she hadn¡¯t collapsed on the spot. Hearing her cries made Chen Xu somewhat soft-hearted, and he gently asked, ¡°Does your foot hurt a lot?¡± Hearing this, Luo Xiyun¡¯s trembling shoulders froze, and she shockingly raised her head. Tears clung to her long eyelashes, her nose was red. She looked at him with a gaze filled with a mix of anger and embarrassment, her mouth slightly open as if lost for words. Chen Xu turned the desk lamp back on, illuminating the entire bedroom, then took out an ice pack, Yunnan Baiyao, bandages, and other items from the bag, saying, ¡°Let me check your foot first and see if there¡¯s any bone damage.¡± As he spoke, he crouched down, reaching for her foot. When Luo Xiyun¡¯s foot was grabbed, she reacted and jerked it back abruptly, saying with shame and anger, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Chen Xu immediately let go to avoid inadvertently touching her injury and causing further harm. He frowned and said, ¡°An injury isn¡¯t a small thing. Now isn¡¯t the time to be willful.¡± Luo Xiyun stared at him with eyes red, gritting her teeth and said, ¡°What business is it of yours?¡± At this point, Chen Xu couldn¡¯t be bothered to be angry with her. He moved a chair from the side to sit down, decided to reason with her, ¡°No matter what, I¡¯ve never offended you, right? You don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re so angry with me.¡± ¡°Previously, I even saved you. Let¡¯s not mention that for now. Just today, I braved such a big typhoon, drove for hours, searched road by road, and finally managed to bring you back. You didn¡¯t say a word of thanks, which is fine. But throwing a tantrum at me¡ªisn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s chest heaved rapidly, her eyes turned even redder, but she didn¡¯t say another word, turned her face away, and wouldn¡¯t look at him again. Seeing her reaction, Chen Xu shrugged, stood up, and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave the medicine here for you to handle yourself.¡± With that, he intended to leave, taking the bag but leaving the rechargeable lamp behind. As he opened the door, he suddenly paused and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like seeing me. So hurry and get your injury healed. By then, I promise I won¡¯t appear in front of you again.¡± With a ¡°bang,¡± the door closed. This time, Chen Xu truly left, returning to his own room. Luo Xiyun¡¯s attitude, although slightly disheartening, was contrasted by the lack of social interaction for months. Finally, having someone to chat with today, even if it involved a bit of conflict, overall, he still felt quite happy. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: 014 Moving Chapter 14: 014 Moving Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The next few days, Chen Xu visited Xiyun every day, since, after all, she was now injured and needed some care. Taking care of her really meant just cooking for an extra person. He wasn¡¯t sure if what he said that night had made a difference, but although Xiyun remained quiet, at least she didn¡¯t show him a cold face or say anything harsh. During meals, the two of them still sat face to face. The table was not big, and they sat close to each other. There was a rechargeable lamp beside them for lighting. Occasionally, while eating, Chen Xu would look up and see her face. At those moments, his heart would skip a beat. In the white light, her skin seemed to have a soft halo. This feeling was completely different from looking at photos or videos. In photos and videos, women might appear more refined and flawless. But after seeing so much through a computer or phone, it didn¡¯t feel the same. Now, Xiyun was sitting less than a meter away from him. He could feel her breath, even faintly smell the fragrance from her body, and see the shadows cast by the light on her long eyelashes¡­ All of this left his heart somewhat stirred. Chen Xu quickly averted his gaze, suppressing some restless emotions inside. He wasn¡¯t an ascetic, but if he hadn¡¯t met the right person, being single was just fine. He was experienced enough to understand that relationships between men and women were just that. However, once removed from the modern environment and truly left with just one person, it wasn¡¯t easy. Before, maintaining a distance from Xiyun, he didn¡¯t feel anything. Now, after close contact, he realized his willpower was far from strong. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? At this rate, he felt it wouldn¡¯t be long before his desires got the better of him¡­ ¡°Is the generator broken, unable to be fixed?¡± Just as his mind was wandering, Xiyun, across from him, suddenly spoke softly. For a moment, he thought he was hallucinating and couldn¡¯t help but look up at her. It took him nearly a second to confirm she had indeed spoken, so he said, ¡°Uh¡ªthe machine is broken, can¡¯t be fixed.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Upon hearing his answer, Xiyun simply responded with ¡°oh.¡± Chen Xu thought that this might be her way of extending an olive branch. Considering her stubbornness over the past few months, it must have been a challenging step for her. He pondered whether he should also take the initiative to say something. ¡°Are we going to die here?¡± Before he could think of anything to say, Xiyun spoke again. She looked at him, sounding like she was asking him or perhaps speaking to herself. Chen Xu hadn¡¯t expected her to ask such a question. Seeing her calm demeanor, he felt there was something off about her emotions in that calmness. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to respond and could only ask back, ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± ¡°The rain has been falling for several days. I have never seen such heavy rain lasting so long.¡± Chen Xu knew she was right. It had been five days since the typhoon hit. The storm lasted two days and then stopped, but the rain showed no signs of letting up. Heavy rain for five days and nights. It was unprecedented, even in Chen Xu¡¯s memory. He believed many low-lying areas were already flooded. This place was on higher ground. At least in the two years he had been with the company, he had never heard of any nearby areas being flooded during the summer rains. But if the rain didn¡¯t stop, it was hard to say what might happen. This morning, he went out to look around. Several low-lying areas already showed signs of water accumulation. In fact, he had been considering that if the rain didn¡¯t stop in a few days, they should prepare to move. He had already decided on a place. Chen Xu comforted her, ¡°The rain will eventually stop.¡± ¡°What if it never stops?¡± Xiyun turned her head to look into his eyes. In her dim eyes, there was a hint of confusion. ¡°In an apocalyptic scenario, anything is possible, isn¡¯t it?¡± For her, it was now the end of the world. Humanity had disappeared, with only the two of them left. If that wasn¡¯t the end of the world, what was it? The continuous rain made her pessimistic about the future. Perhaps it was for this reason that she chose to overlook the ¡°grievances¡± between them. Chen Xu said, ¡°As long as we are alive, it isn¡¯t the end of the world.¡± Xiyun looked at him, and her eyes brightened slightly. ¡°However, your concerns aren¡¯t wrong. We don¡¯t know when the rain will stop, and I think we should prepare to move ahead of time,¡± Chen Xu suggested, taking the opportunity to express his view. ¡°Move?¡± Xiyun was initially puzzled, then surprised. ¡­ Initially, Chen Xu only considered this place a temporary camp and didn¡¯t plan to stay here for six months. But after Xiyun arrived, and the two of them started a ¡°cold war,¡± he hesitated to bring up moving and just postponed it. He had prepared for this long ago. In his garage, there was a twelve-wheeled truck filled with gas, and inside the compartment were many supplies. Now, he was grateful for his foresight. The rain that day was heavier, making it very difficult to move things, but thanks to his prior preparations, there was much less to move. He spent a day filling the remaining space in the truck with food and water. After resting for a night, he left the place where they had lived for more than four months with Xiyun early the next morning. When Xiyun got in the car, she seemed a bit reluctant and fearful of the unknown future. ¡°Let¡¯s go; we can always come back if we have the chance in the future,¡± Chen Xu reassured her, starting the vehicle and driving towards a new future. He had an ordinary C-class driver¡¯s license, and initially, he couldn¡¯t drive this kind of heavy rig. During these months, he taught himself, initially just to clear the road of vehicles, as it was too cumbersome to move them one by one. So, he came up with a simple solution: driving a heavy rig to directly push the cars blocking the road out of the way. It turned out to be much more efficient, and in less than a month, the surrounding roads were cleared. Familiar with the roads, he avoided the low-lying areas likely to be flooded, which took quite a bit longer. Near noon, they finally reached their destination. It was a villa built on a hilltop. This area was a villa district and the highest point in the neighborhood, not too far from his company. He had discovered this place during a treasure hunt and found it highly suitable as a residence. The main thing was that the villa he chose had a generator. Being without electricity was extremely inconvenient, especially on rainy days like this. He parked the truck at the entrance of the villa. After they went inside, they started with a major cleanup. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 015 Days Chapter 15: 015 Days Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°`plaintext Luo Xiyun¡¯s foot was still not healed, so it was mainly Chen Xu who did the moving. He didn¡¯t bring everything down, as it was inconvenient in the pouring rain. He only took some daily necessities. It was a two-story villa, luxuriously decorated and fully equipped, with a sizable yard outside. A house like this, Chen Xu could never afford to live in for his entire life. Of course, what he cared more about was the commercial value of this villa, namely, how much it was worth. If asked to live here, he wouldn¡¯t want to. Essentially, he was quite a lazy person, not fond of going out; he usually shopped online and often ordered takeout. Living in this mountaintop villa would pose a big problem, as getting deliveries past the community gate would be difficult. If he had to run down the mountain to pick up packages himself, he might as well go out to eat. The first thing Chen Xu did after entering the house was to turn on the generator. This generator was different from the one in the previous restaurant. It was gasoline-powered, much quieter, and didn¡¯t require frequent water refills, offering many advantages. However, it also had some downsides, like low power output and the fact that gasoline was more expensive and less efficient in burning. Naturally, this didn¡¯t have a major impact on Chen Xu. Once the generator was running and the lights in the villa were on, it seemed like they were back in modern society, feeling much more comfortable. The first day in the villa was basically spent cleaning. The next day, Chen Xu went out again and swiftly returned with a tanker truck as a reserve. After coming back, he didn¡¯t linger and went out again, returning in the evening with a large truck. For several consecutive days, he went out mainly to scavenge various supplies, the most of which were water and various foods. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï The heavy rain showed no sign of stopping, and the urban flooding became increasingly severe. More and more road sections were submerged, and Chen Xu found that with each passing day, the routes he could use were decreasing, and he was spending more time on the road. If a section showed signs of water accumulation, the next day the water would become very deep, and he didn¡¯t dare to risk driving through it. If the car stalled in the flood, it would be dangerous. By the fifth day, he stopped going out, as the supplies he had brought back were enough for the two of them to survive here for a year and a half. And so, they settled down in this villa. ¡­¡­ In the morning, Luo Xiyun awoke on time, as usual, getting out from the warm bed, shivering involuntarily due to the bone-chilling air. This year, the weather was extremely abnormal. The winter that should have arrived long ago came sweeping in at a startling pace after a continuous twenty-day heavy rain brought by the typhoon. More bizarrely, this province at the southernmost tip of the mainland actually saw snowfall, lasting for a week, now making it seem as if the entire world was covered in ice and snow. She didn¡¯t know if such heavy snow had ever fallen in this city in history. Anyway, in her memory, this had never happened before. However, after experiencing so much, she had gotten used to it, or perhaps she had become numb. Five months ago, when she discovered that the people around her had disappeared, her world had already collapsed. At that time, her only thought was to find her grandmother. Throughout her journey, she didn¡¯t encounter a single person. Returning to her grandmother¡¯s place, she found the empty house and the bracelet her grandmother always wore was left behind. At that moment, she was in utter despair. She always thought she was a strong person. But when she realized she was the only one left in the world, she knew she was much more fragile than she had imagined. If she hadn¡¯t heard Chen Xu¡¯s broadcast on the car radio, she would have driven into the river to end it all. However, when she knew there was still someone alive in this world, she was overjoyed. So she rushed back to this city, and the moment she saw Chen Xu, she was overwhelmed with excitement. In a moment of distraction, her car went out of control, crashed into a roadside vehicle, and she was injured and fell unconscious. When she woke up from unconsciousness and saw someone, she finally reignited the courage to survive. As she thought about this, Luo Xiyun put on a thick down jacket. While washing up, she heard two gunshots, ¡°Bang, bang,¡± from outside the house. She wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She knew it was Chen Xu practicing shooting. Shooting was one of Chen Xu¡¯s hobbies. Ever since she became his neighbor, she had been hearing the bangs of gunfire every day. She didn¡¯t know why he was so interested in it. It was only during the recent heavy rain that he had to pause this activity. When the rain and snow stopped, he would go outside to shoot every morning. After finishing washing up, she tied on an apron and went to make breakfast. She made porridge, fried some luncheon meat, and prepared fried peanuts to accompany the porridge. When they just moved to the villa, she would make sandwiches for breakfast until she discovered that Chen Xu¡¯s stomach wasn¡¯t very good and he needed to eat something hot in the morning, so she switched to making porridge. To be honest, before the apocalypse, she had never cooked and had never thought she would one day cook for a man. Since moving to the villa, everything seemed to happen naturally. When there were only two people left in the world, no matter how they got along, over time, they would both become indispensable to each other. However, initially, that was not her mindset. Inevitably, she remembered the situation when she first met Chen Xu. After calming down, she recognized Chen Xu, and there was a bit of disappointment in her heart. She was the Director of Human Resources at the company and was quite familiar with Chen Xu¡¯s profile. Chen Xu was two years older than she was, graduated from a vocational college, and had average work ability. He could perform his duties well but had no particularly outstanding qualities. He was somewhat introverted and seemed a bit unsociable. Frankly speaking, in her view, he was a competent but dispensable employee. As for his looks and demeanor, the word ¡°ordinary¡± could describe him. A man like this did not meet her criteria for a partner at all. Before the apocalypse, she wouldn¡¯t even have glanced at him. However, this man became her only peer in the world. What could she do? Even if she wasn¡¯t very willing, she could only accept it. But one must be cautious of others, and she was well aware of men¡¯s nature, especially in such an apocalyptic world where there were no legal or moral constraints. What if he went insane? So, at the beginning, she expressed a slightly firmer attitude to protect herself while also testing to observe how he would react. The result was reassuring; Chen Xu didn¡¯t display any of the dark sides of human nature. However, what happened next was beyond her expectations. Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: 016 Resigned to Fate Chapter 16: 016 Resigned to Fate Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Luo Xiyun recalled those three months when Chen Xu deliberately ignored her, acting as if she didn¡¯t exist, and couldn¡¯t help but grind her teeth in hatred. At that time, she thought more than once about simply leaving. But soon, she lost her courage. Where could she go? In the end, all her anger turned toward Chen Xu, and she wished she could tear this petty, graceless man into pieces. She knew very well that he was trying to get back at her, his initial words had hurt his pride. He wanted to force her to bow to him in this way. It was so shameless. What kind of man are you? More than once, she wanted to rush to Chen Xu and berate him like this. But she didn¡¯t, because Chen Xu had deliberately used this attitude toward her, just to make her go to him first. If she did that, it would mean she¡¯d surrendered. She would never bow down to Chen Xu. In his dreams. You pretend I don¡¯t exist, and I¡¯ll ignore you too. Let¡¯s see who gives in first. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï She held onto a breath of anger in her heart. Over time, her resentment toward Chen Xu not only didn¡¯t dissipate but continued to accumulate. At first, she knew the best way was to completely ignore the other person in her heart. But soon, she realized that it was simply impossible. In this world, without the internet and no one else to communicate with, loneliness and solitude were constantly gnawing at her heart, driving people insane minute by minute. In the first month, she already had a firsthand experience. No matter how much she told herself to regard Chen Xu as air. However, in this deathly still world, with two people living together in such a small place, Chen Xu left countless marks in her life that she couldn¡¯t ignore. Until one day, Chen Xu went out, and she didn¡¯t hear any movement from that side all day. For some reason, she became a little uneasy and couldn¡¯t focus on anything. From that moment on, even if she didn¡¯t want to admit it, deep down, she realized that she was somehow dependent on Chen Xu. If something happened to this man, she knew she didn¡¯t have the courage to live alone in this deserted world. Even so, she was unwilling to surrender. She still held onto a breath of anger, determined to fight this jerk to the end. Days passed, and the two of them maintained this delicate balance, outwardly ignoring each other while actually completing their tasks with great tacit understanding. For three whole months, Luo Xiyun watched Chen Xu act as if nothing had happened, leisurely living his life, and it made her grind her teeth in hatred. Until the typhoon a month ago, when she rode her bicycle out and encountered a heavy rain, in a moment of haste, she fell with the bike and hurt her foot, trapped halfway, unable to advance or retreat. At that time, she huddled in a roadside shop, watching the torrential rain pouring down, and the only thought on her mind was, would that jerk come to save her? At that moment, the pain from the injury, the dangers brought by the terrifying typhoon, she didn¡¯t care about any of it. She only wanted to know if that man would come to rescue her. She waited like this for eight hours. In such a desperate situation, waiting was an excruciating ordeal, yet her mood was extremely calm, a calmness that even surprised herself. Until those two beams of light pierced through the heavy rain and shone over, her tears immediately burst out. As if belatedly realizing it, fear, anxiety, and grievance surged in her heart, and she felt like all her strength had been drained as she sank to the ground. Just as she was delayed, the car had already driven some distance. When she realized it, she quickly turned on her phone¡¯s flashlight, and despite the strong wind, she limped and stumbled to the roadside, vigorously waving the phone¡¯s light toward the car. When Chen Xu got out, she wanted to question him as to why he came so late. But she said nothing, knowing that if she spoke, she would break down crying. She didn¡¯t want to show any weakness in front of him and kept silent the entire way back. Meanwhile, she was very dissatisfied with Chen Xu¡¯s behavior. He didn¡¯t offer a single word of comfort, or even a casual greeting. He remained silent. Would it kill you to say something? Her heart was filled with grievance, she had never encountered such a cold-hearted man, unmoved even at a time like this. However, she still held on. Until that jerk suggested checking her injury, she couldn¡¯t hold back anymore. The emotions that had been building up inside burst forth, leading to a confrontation with Chen Xu. For these months, though she cursed him in her heart every day as a jerk, she never imagined he could be so outrageous. After calming down for a few days, she figured it out or rather, accepted it. With a man like this, there was nothing she could do. She knew that Chen Xu was true to his word. Once her injury healed, he would truly ignore her, just as he¡¯d said. The only choices she had were to leave or resign herself to fate. Since she couldn¡¯t leave, resignation was her only option. Once she understood this, she finally asked a question during a meal, just one simple question that melted the thick ice wall between them. She originally thought Chen Xu would put on airs, but he didn¡¯t at all. He responded naturally, asked questions, and his attitude wasn¡¯t hostile in the slightest. It was as if the three-month-long cold war between them had never occurred. She found herself even more unable to understand this man. However, they could finally speak normally, eat together, communicate, and work together. In this end-of-the-world setting, she was no longer alone, and she was very satisfied. After a month of interaction, she found that Chen Xu wasn¡¯t difficult to get along with and wasn¡¯t as unreasonable as he¡¯d initially seemed. He spoke gently and kept appropriate boundaries during their interactions, never making her feel offended. She also realized that he had the temperament of a mule, only to be coaxed and not opposed. As she thought about these past events, the meal was ready. She picked up the wireless intercom in the living room and said, ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Soon, Chen Xu¡¯s voice came through, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Shortly after, the door was pushed open from the outside. Chen Xu walked in, standing at the entryway, and removed his thick snow coat. Luo Xiyun stepped forward, took the clothes he had just taken off, and suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯re bleeding on your forehead.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Chen Xu took off his gloves and reached up to touch his forehead. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: 017 Revenge Chapter 17: 017 Revenge Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Luo Xiyun grabbed Chen Xu¡¯s hand to stop him from touching it, then went into the room. Chen Xu took off his scarf and used his phone as a mirror, noticing a small cut above his eyebrow, probably scratched by ice shards. A moment later, she brought out a small white box, pulled him to sit on the sofa. As Chen Xu saw her taking out alcohol and cotton swabs, he said, ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch, isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bleeding, what if it gets infected?¡± She dabbed alcohol on a medical swab, gently wiping it on his wound. Seeing his slight frown, she said, ¡°Bear with it.¡± After cleaning, she leaned over and gently blew on his wound. Then, she clearly sensed the change in his gaze and breath. A slight, barely noticeable smile appeared on her lips, a smile of successful revenge. She had blown on purpose. No matter how well Chen Xu usually hid it, she could still occasionally feel his strange looks directed at her. Women are always exceptionally sensitive to men¡¯s gazes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Hmph, men, no matter how righteous they speak, can¡¯t hide the dirtiness of their hearts. She felt a strong disdain. Until one time, while helping Chen Xu clean his room, she inadvertently noticed that the tissue box had one-fourth less than the day before, an amount way beyond normal use, yet the trash bin barely had any used tissues. It was as if that portion of tissues had vanished into thin air. She finally knew how to ¡°get back¡± at this jerk. From then on, she would often unintentionally have some skin contact with him, and then the next day, she would notice a significant increase in the tissue usage in his room. Whenever she thought of how, in front of her, he acted as if nothing happened, while in reality he was suffering immensely inside, she felt a victorious sense of revenge. Jerk, now it¡¯s your turn. She had been annoyed with Chen Xu for a long time, yet couldn¡¯t tackle him head-on. Now, having found a way to make him suffer, she couldn¡¯t suppress her impulses. Whenever there was a chance, she would try every way to tease him a little. Then, seeing him suppressing his inner turmoil, pretending to be calm, she felt an indescribable satisfaction. Finally, she had vented a bit of her pent-up anger. This time was no exception. During dinner, Chen Xu seemed a little quiet, as if his mind was elsewhere. Having ¡°lived together¡± for a month, Luo Xiyun was familiar with his character, defining him as someone who liked to immerse himself in his own world. Now, he was clearly lost in thought again. Realizing this, she wasn¡¯t surprised by how he had ignored her for those three months. Probably if he were the last person left on Earth, he would still manage just fine. ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t have many friends and has gotten used to being alone all this time¡­¡± Luo Xiyun suddenly felt some pressure in her heart, finding the atmosphere somewhat dull, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is that your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Mm?¡± Chen Xu looked at her in confusion, not quite reacting. ¡°When I was taking out the trash, I accidentally knocked your wallet off the table. When I picked it up, I saw a photo inside.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s my ex-girlfriend.¡± ¡°Why keep a photo of an ex-girlfriend, can¡¯t let go?¡± ¡°Just seemed a bit wasteful to throw it away.¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t quite recall why he kept the photo. Since he did, he was too lazy to throw it away. ¡°What about you, why haven¡¯t I heard you mention having a boyfriend?¡± Luo Xiyun looked up at him, not answering, and instead asked, ¡°How do you know I have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°Many at the company know, some handsome guy with a Ferrari picks you up after work. News like this spreads especially fast in the company.¡± With a hint of sarcasm, Luo Xiyun said, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect that you also love gossiping about others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary employee, why would you think I¡¯m an exception?¡± Chen Xu countered. ¡°Hmph.¡± Luo Xiyun snorted coldly, clearly annoyed by the gossip at the company. ¡°They don¡¯t work properly and gossip about others¡¯ private lives every day, spreading malevolence. Do they deserve their salary?¡± ¡°If you think they don¡¯t deserve their salary, fire them, why keep them?¡± Chen Xu retorted impatiently. Such words, from the perspective of a capitalist, were exceptionally grating to the ears of a worker. Luo Xiyun was at a loss for words. She had only spoken in anger, knowing full well that employee gossip was hard to eliminate; it was human nature. Even changing employees wouldn¡¯t solve it. She immediately changed the topic, ¡°His name is Du Feng, a senior executive at a technology company with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our families know each other. He¡¯s six-foot-one, very handsome, wealthy family, well-educated, capable. People say he¡¯s the perfect match.¡± Chen Xu nodded, ¡°Sounds like you two are a perfect match, indeed.¡± ¡°Really? I thought you¡¯d say I don¡¯t deserve him.¡± Chen Xu looked at her in surprise, ¡°Aren¡¯t you usually quite confident?¡± ¡°I used to be.¡± Luo Xiyun finished eating, put down her chopsticks, and said, ¡°But after meeting someone, hmph.¡± ¡°You mean me?¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Actually, the reason I haven¡¯t been tempted by your beauty isn¡¯t because you¡¯re not pretty enough; it¡¯s because I know it¡¯s impossible between us. Since it¡¯s impossible, why bother?¡± Luo Xiyun asked, ¡°Did you experience any heartbreak before?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°Having hit walls enough times, you naturally recognize your own worth. Often, just a hint from you, and the other person has already sealed all routes. Some just keep leading you on, playing you around. Others, you haven¡¯t even done anything, they just reject you outright.¡± The last sentence clearly referred to Luo Xiyun. A sneer once again appeared on Luo Xiyun¡¯s face, ¡°You give up after one setback, is that how you pursue women?¡± ¡°When scratching a lottery ticket, if you see ¡®Thanks,¡¯ do you insist on scratching the remaining characters?¡± Chen Xu countered. ¡°Is that the same thing?¡± Luo Xiyun said, somewhat agitated, ¡°Sometimes women reject you out of modesty. Keep pursuing, don¡¯t you know how to be persistent? Giving up so easily, you deserve to be single.¡± Unfazed, Chen Xu said, ¡°I think being single isn¡¯t so bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse to avoid it,¡± Luo Xiyun sneered, ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ve never desperately wanted a girlfriend?¡± PS: Seeking a few recommendation votes. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: 018 Unforgettable Lesson Chapter 18: 018 Unforgettable Lesson Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°You dare say you¡¯ve never desperately wanted a girlfriend?¡± Luo Xiyun stared at Chen Xu, as if trying to spot a lie on his face. Chen Xu put down his chopsticks, took a napkin to wipe his mouth, and started talking about something unrelated, ¡°In high school, I was determined to get into a prestigious university, so I studied extraordinarily hard. By senior year, I was working on exercises until midnight and getting up at five in the morning to memorize vocabulary. So, guess what score I got on the college entrance exam?¡± ¡°520. Forget a prestigious university, it didn¡¯t even meet the regular college admission line. Everyone around me said, ¡®You¡¯re so close; it¡¯s such a pity. Why not repeat the year?''¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t agree. Many relatives and friends felt sorry for me, and my parents understood how hard I studied during my senior year. Actually, I wasn¡¯t afraid of hard work. If repeating a year would get me into a top university, I¡¯d have done it without hesitation.¡± ¡°But I knew I had reached my limit. Even if I repeated a year, there would be no progress.¡± Luo Xiyun opened her mouth as if to say something, but Chen Xu didn¡¯t give her the chance and continued speaking to himself, ¡°Later, I graduated from university and, luckily, joined a company.¡± ¡°In my first year at the company, I worked diligently and tried my best to maintain good relationships with my colleagues. One year, two years, and now it¡¯s almost three. Among those who joined with me, the ones who didn¡¯t quit have either been promoted or have gotten raises.¡± ¡°As for me, only my basic salary went up a little. Even colleagues who joined the company a year after me were promoted faster.¡± On saying this, Chen Xu waved his hand, not giving Luo Xiyun a chance to interject, and said, ¡°One must have self-awareness. You need to know where your capabilities¡¯ limits lie.¡± ¡°Just like studying and working, I gave one hundred percent of my efforts to score 520 and to see my basic salary rise by a few hundred. So, even if I gave it my all, at most, I could only increase my score by a few points or see my salary rise by another hundred or two.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s the point? The input and output are completely disproportionate. Once I understood this, my days got a lot easier.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Chen Xu took a breath before continuing, ¡°Finding a girlfriend is the same reason. In today¡¯s society, in the realm of relationships, men are naturally at a disadvantage. If you don¡¯t have looks, money, a house, or a car, and you don¡¯t know how to please, it¡¯s really very difficult to win over the woman you fancy.¡± ¡°It means you have to win that woman over in other ways, sacrifice your dignity, spend all your money on her, give all your time and energy, practically carving out your heart for her to see.¡± ¡°Even so, she¡¯ll most likely just see you as a backup.¡± ¡°You finally wake up, accept reality, and decide to find a woman who¡¯s practical in all aspects.¡± ¡°Then you find that she loses her temper at the drop of a hat. Whenever she¡¯s mad, you have to sweet-talk her, because women are emotional creatures.¡± ¡°If you argue with her, no matter who¡¯s in the wrong, you¡¯re the one who should apologize first. Because she¡¯s the woman, and you should give way to her.¡± ¡°Those important holidays, never forget to give gifts; otherwise, the consequences are severe. If your gift isn¡¯t to her liking, she¡¯ll even call out your ¡®lack of taste.''¡± ¡°When two people are together, it¡¯s either eating out or ordering takeout. She doesn¡¯t cook because she¡¯s a modern woman, and isn¡¯t it perfectly normal not to know how to cook?¡± ¡°Eventually, when marriage comes up, her parents put forward demands: a dowry, the man has to buy a house, a car, and hand over the salary card after marriage.¡± ¡°To marry this woman, you not only have to give up everything you have but also spend your parents¡¯ life savings.¡± Chen Xu spread his hands and said, ¡°Having a girlfriend would make my already low living quality plummet. It¡¯s truly better to remain single. As for marriage, I really can¡¯t afford it.¡± After listening, Luo Xiyun¡¯s gaze flickered, and she didn¡¯t speak for a while. After a brief silence, Chen Xu slightly smiled and said, ¡°Of course, you definitely wouldn¡¯t understand this kind of frustration. If you want to date, there are tons of men lining up for you to choose from.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s expression softened considerably; she said, ¡°I think you may just not have met the right person.¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Luo Xiyun frowned, sounding somewhat displeased. ¡°Nothing.¡± Chen Xu realized being like that was a bit disrespectful and stopped laughing, getting up to clear the table. What he said were his true feelings. In reality, there were no outlets to pour out his thoughts. Only here in the dreamscape could he speak without reservation. He wasn¡¯t looking for sympathy. Particularly from someone like Luo Xiyun, who could never truly understand such a predicament, hearing comforting words from her seemed entirely off the mark, making him involuntarily laugh out loud. ¡­¡­. Luo Xiyun saw Chen Xu take the dishes into the kitchen, so she followed him, ¡°In the end, you¡¯re just too complacent. To put it harshly, you lack ambition. You aren¡¯t much worse than anyone else; as long as you work hard, in a few years, you can also get promoted and get a raise.¡± While speaking, Chen Xu had already washed the dishes, removed his rubber gloves, and turned to look at her, ¡°First, I¡¯m not your subordinate now. Second, we aren¡¯t even friends. We¡¯re just two grasshoppers tied together on the same rope. When we have free time, we can chat, open up a bit, but please don¡¯t interfere with my matters. That¡¯s the most basic respect between us.¡± After saying that, he walked out of the kitchen and returned to his room. Luo Xiyun was left standing there, her chest heaving violently, clearly furious. ¡­¡­. Half an hour later, Chen Xu put on a thick winter coat, slung a backpack over his shoulder, and went out. Just as the door clicked shut, Luo Xiyun¡¯s room door opened. She peeked out, saw Chen Xu was gone, and slipped out. She went to his room door, turned the handle, and it opened easily since he never locks it. She headed straight for the computer, turned it on, and quickly reached the password login screen. Having seen him type it before, a simple four-digit password, she remembered. So she typed the digits and successfully entered the desktop. She grabbed the mouse, gritting her teeth, ¡°This bastard, I¡¯ll make sure you never forget this lesson.¡± She clicked on each drive on the hard disk, opening any folder that exceeded 1 GB. A few minutes later, she found her target, a folder with several hundred gigabytes. Right-clicking, she deleted it, then emptied the recycle bin. After doing all that, she shut down the computer and left the scene of the crime. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: 019 What do you want to do? Chapter 19: 019 What do you want to do? Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Night had fallen completely by the time Chen Xu drove back in a truck, over an hour later than last time. As he entered, his brow was furrowed; the haul this time was not much. The month-long heavy rain, followed by snow, had buried most of the city under ice and snow. Every few days, he would go out searching for supplies. He had almost exhausted what could be gathered nearby. Other things were manageable. Food and water were still in supply. The most pressing need was gasoline. In this freezing weather, they consumed much more than planned for warmth. Many gas stations were buried under snow and ice. The few nearby surviving stations had already been drained by him. Out of necessity, he had to go farther in search. He finally found a surviving gas station, but its stock was running low, enough for only one more take. ¡°There¡¯s still a month until the end of this nightmare; looks like I¡¯ll need to find another gas station,¡± he thought to himself, closing the door behind him and letting the furrowed brow relax as he casually walked to the entrance and took off his thick cold-weather gear. There was no sign of Luo Xiyun in the living room. At this time, she was likely taking a shower. On the dining table was a stainless-steel thermal lunchbox. After changing clothes, he went to the kitchen to wash his hands before opening the lunchbox, where the food was still steaming. Smelling the aroma, he felt his appetite grow and picked up a slice of ham with chopsticks, sending it into his mouth. Compared to a month ago, Luo Xiyun¡¯s cooking had improved; it was no longer as inedible as it was initially. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 To be honest, this month of ¡°cohabiting,¡± he had noticed some of her good qualities. At the very least, she had a cooperative spirit; she completed her tasks diligently. Even when there were minor frictions, she wouldn¡¯t throw a tantrum and refuse to work. After eating, he picked up a flashlight and went to the basement to turn off the large generator and refuel the smaller one. To save gasoline, he separated heating and other daily electricity uses, so at night, only the generator for heating needed to be on. Returning to the first floor, as usual, he took a shower and then climbed into bed with a laptop, resuming the drama he hadn¡¯t finished the day before. It was a cheesy urban romance drama, with terrible acting and no logic, yet he enjoyed it. At least, the lead actress was attractive. He had no choice. He was too bored. The day was fine; there were various things to do to keep busy. But the few hours before sleep were the dullest. He wasn¡¯t interested in computer games, so he passed the time with movies and dramas. By now, he wasn¡¯t picky about shows; as long as the female lead was pleasant to look at, he could watch. After two episodes, he turned off the video. Stretching lazily, he habitually opened a certain folder. ¡°Huh?¡± As soon as he clicked it open, he found that the folder named ¡°Study Materials¡± was gone. He was stunned. How could a folder just disappear without reason? Quickly, he confirmed that the folder had been deleted, and a ¡°Damn it!¡± slipped out of his mouth. Those were the top picks he had sifted through from dozens of terabytes of data. Now, it was deleted! And he had never had the habit of backing up these files; once they were deleted, they were gone forever. At that moment, he was utterly furious. Without this mental sustenance, how could he endure the coming month? ¡°How could she dare?¡± He didn¡¯t need to think to know who did it. There were only two people left in this world, and besides Luo Xiyun, who else could it be? The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He threw off the covers, put on a coat, jumped out of bed, grabbed a rechargeable desk lamp, and walked to Xiyun¡¯s door, knocking forcefully. ¡­ A few minutes earlier, Luo Xiyun was curled up in her bed. The room was pitch black, except for the glow of her phone screen reflecting her anxious face. Her attention wasn¡¯t on her phone; she was listening intently for any sounds outside. Every move Chen Xu made after returning home was crystal clear to her. When she heard the door to the next room close, her heart started to race. What would Chen Xu¡¯s reaction be when he discovered the deleted folder? Would he be very angry? Would he confront her directly? She felt a bit uneasy and, once she calmed down, slightly regretful, thinking she might have acted impulsively. But what¡¯s done is done; it was too late to say anything. She could only hope he would pretend nothing had happened. Based on the past month¡¯s interactions, Chen Xu was indeed the most typical ¡®tough guy¡¯ she had ever seen¡ªflawed with a foul temper, no gentlemanly demeanor, unable to care for others or say pleasing words. However, he wasn¡¯t the kind of person to lose his temper irrationally. It¡¯s just that his pride was particularly intense. Who knows, he might find it too embarrassing to mention and pretend not to know anything? In restless anticipation, the pounding on the door suddenly sounded. Here it comes! Her heart raced as she pulled the covers over her head, not daring to move, pretending not to hear. Bang, bang, bang! The door was hit even harder. She knew it was futile to avoid it, so she stiffly said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I¡¯m already asleep.¡± Her voice was a bit tight, luckily masked by the thick covers. ¡°Open the door.¡± Even through a door and a layer of bedding, Luo Xiyun could detect the anger in Chen Xu¡¯s voice, causing her heart to skip a beat. ¡°Is, is there something that can¡¯t wait till tomorrow?¡± Bang, bang, bang! These knocks were almost like pounding. At this, Luo Xiyun began to get a little angry herself. She thought, I¡¯ve tried so hard to compromise, and yet he refuses to let it go; it¡¯s too much. Fine, I¡¯ll open it. Do you think I¡¯m really afraid of you? Resolutely, she tossed off the covers, got out of bed, and opened the door a crack. A beam of light shone on her face through the gap, and she could see Chen Xu¡¯s somewhat grim expression, causing a leap in her heart and making her words falter. ¡°This¡­this¡­so late, you¡­what do you want?¡± Chen Xu reached out and pushed the door open, startling Luo Xiyun, who retreated a few steps as if frightened. With a blank expression, Chen Xu asked, ¡°Why did you mess with my computer?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice trembled. Not only her voice, but her whole body shook. It was only then that Chen Xu noticed she was wearing nothing but a thin nightgown, shivering in the chilling breeze from outside. He frowned, walked into the room, closed the door behind him to block out the cold wind, then set the desk lamp on the table and took off his coat. ¡°What¡­ are you¡­ doing?¡± At this, Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice became distorted. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: 020 Living Together in One Room Chapter 20: 020 Living Together in One Room Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu saw Luo Xiyun appearing somewhat frightened. His hand froze, and after a second of hesitation, he casually placed the jacket he¡¯d just removed on the table, pulled out the chair in front of the table, and sat down, saying, ¡°Sit down, I have something to tell you.¡± Luo Xiyun found his attitude somewhat puzzling. She touched the edge of the bed and, after sitting down, softly asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Xu¡¯s gaze scanned around the room. Since moving into the villa, this was the first time he had entered this room. It was tidy, with a faint, elusive fragrance lingering in the air. Seeing him silent and looking around suspiciously, Luo Xiyun felt uneasy, almost as if awaiting judgment. This sensation made her uncomfortable, and just as she couldn¡¯t help but speak up, Chen Xu finally spoke, ¡°The heater in my room broke.¡± The heater broke? Her mouth half-open, she dumbfoundedly looked at him. Chen Xu spread his hands and said, ¡°The temperature outside is already minus several tens of degrees; without heating, there¡¯s simply no way to sleep, so¡­¡± So? Luo Xiyun still looked at him blankly, suddenly having an extremely ill premonition. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to move over.¡± Upon hearing this, she felt a tingling sensation on her scalp, stunned for a few seconds before she realized what those words meant, stammering, ¡°But¡­¡± Chen Xu was already standing up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go get the bedding.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? As he walked out of Luo Xiyun¡¯s room, a slight cold smile appeared on his face. He indeed wanted to lose his temper earlier, but seeing her guilty look, if he really did, she might cry on the spot. By then, it would seem like he was bullying her. But if he let it go just like that, swallowing his pride, he had a hard time accepting it. Hence, he thought of this method of revenge. Someone like her, with a compulsive cleanliness disorder, would probably be driven mad by living in the same room with him. If you won¡¯t make it easy for me, I won¡¯t let you off lightly, either. Thinking this, he returned to his room, disconnected the heater, rolled up his pillow and blanket, and went to Luo Xiyun¡¯s room. She was still sitting by the bed, seemingly in a daze. He closed the door with a backward motion, spread a layer of blankets on the floor, arranged his pillow, then lay on it, covered himself with the blanket, and was about to turn off the lamp when suddenly he remembered Luo Xiyun, still sitting by the bed, and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping? I¡¯m going to turn off the light.¡± ¡°Uh, oh¡­¡± Luo Xiyun replied and moved. With a click, the light went out, plunging the room into darkness. It was a pitch-blackness where one couldn¡¯t see their hand in front of them. Chen Xu had been somewhat afraid of the dark since childhood, not accustomed to such environments. After entering this dream world, he always slept at night with a small night light on. Tonight was an exception. Maybe because he couldn¡¯t see, his other senses became more sensitive; he could even hear the slightly uneasy sound of Luo Xiyun¡¯s breathing. He lay there, thinking of her conflicted demeanor, joyfully closed his eyes, and, as usual, quickly drifted into slumber. ¡­ The next day, Chen Xu naturally woke up. When he opened his eyes, the room was still pitch-black. He fished out his phone from under the pillow and checked the time: 5:09 in the morning. At this point, he was completely awake and didn¡¯t want to leave the warm covers immediately. Luo Xiyun should still be asleep; he could hear her long, even breaths. ¡°What is the state of this dream world when I¡¯m asleep?¡± he suddenly wondered. In this place, he had never dreamed. It seemed that closing his eyes and opening them again made the night pass, with no sense of time transpiring. Lingering in bed for a while, he finally got up, tidied the bedding, and left the room. Maintaining a life with water and electricity in this empty world wasn¡¯t easy; there were many tasks to do. First, he went to the basement and filled both generators with fuel, then filled the nearby water tank. Now, in this freezing weather, preventing barrel water from freezing was quite troublesome. He spent two hours finishing these chores, working up quite a sweat. By then, it was broad daylight. It was a rare good day, and he carried a rectangular box to a clearing a few hundred meters away from the villa. At one end of the clearing lay piles of shattered glass bottles. He took ten intact bottles and arranged them on the ground. Retreating a dozen meters, he opened the box, revealing two guns inside. He took out a handgun, loaded it, stood firm, aimed slightly, and fired. Bang, bang, bang¡­ He emptied the rounds in the handgun in one go, shaking his hand, which was slightly numb from the recoil. Looking at the six intact bottles remaining, he shook his head gently, clearly dissatisfied with his performance. Continuous shooting made the recoil significantly affect his aim, and by the last few shots, he didn¡¯t know where the muzzle was pointing. Over the past few months, he had been shooting nearly every morning, firing hundreds of rounds each day. His aim had improved significantly; from such a distance, hitting glass bottles almost nine times out of ten if not every time. Luckily, he had found an armory back then to have so much ammo to spare, allowing him to indulge. Of course, no matter how well he practiced, there would be no use for it in reality. Since he wasn¡¯t military or police, he¡¯d probably have no chance to touch a gun in the rest of his life. He played with guns purely out of interest. In this entertainment-lacking post-apocalyptic world, it was almost his only source of amusement. An hour later, having used up all the ammunition he brought, he reluctantly put the gun back into the box and walked back toward the villa. Returning to the villa, this time, Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t come out to greet him but stayed in the kitchen. He chuckled inwardly and didn¡¯t mind it. After changing clothes, he went to the table. Just as he sat down, Luo Xiyun came out carrying breakfast. Chen Xu noticed her bloodshot eyes and slightly swollen eyelids, deliberately asking, ¡°How did you sleep last night? I might snore when I sleep; did it disturb you?¡± Then he noticed her hand pause noticeably while holding a spoon. After a few seconds, she asked, ¡°Can your room¡¯s heater be repaired today?¡± Chen Xu shook his head, saying, ¡°Probably won¡¯t be fixed.¡± She paused for another two seconds, finished ladling a bowl of porridge, and then said, ¡°Then, let¡¯s tidy up the room in the corner.¡± There were three rooms on this floor in total, aside from the two they occupied, one used as a storage room. Chen Xu looked at her, nodded, and said, ¡°Sure. But I¡¯m a bit tired, and I¡¯d like to rest for a couple of days. Let¡¯s do it in a few days.¡± Luo Xiyun, expressionless, said, ¡°No matter, I¡¯ll clean it myself.¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 021 Mutual Harm Chapter 21: 021 Mutual Harm Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` After breakfast, Chen Xu took his notebook and went into Luo Xiyun¡¯s room. He sat on her chair for a while, feeling uncomfortable, and then moved his own computer chair over. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Luo Xiyun asked, a bit furious when she returned from drying clothes and saw the scene. Chen Xu replied, ¡°Moving the chair.¡± ¡°Who told you to do that?¡± Chen Xu asked incredulously, ¡°Can¡¯t I move it?¡± ¡°At the very least, you should ask for my permission. This is my room.¡± Chen Xu realized, ¡°Oh, so you do know that you need someone¡¯s permission before touching their things.¡± Luo Xiyun was left speechless, her face turning somewhat red. It was an undeniable sore point that she had tampered with Chen Xu¡¯s computer without his permission. Chen Xu smiled triumphantly and pushed the chair back into the room. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Luo Xiyun stomped her foot, stopping him, ¡°Clean it first.¡± With that, she took out a bottle of cleaning spray and a cloth and meticulously cleaned Chen Xu¡¯s chair inside and out. Chen Xu watched from her chair and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°How does your boyfriend put up with you like this?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t respond, focusing on wiping the armrests of the chair. Chen Xu shook his head and continued, ¡°If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t stand it. Never mind the hassle, it¡¯s just that you act like I¡¯m filthy or something, honestly, it makes me feel quite uncomfortable¡­¡± Luo Xiyun suddenly paused her hand movements, turned her head, and said coldly, ¡°First, we are not friends. Second, we¡¯re not even acquaintances. We are merely two grasshoppers tied on the same rope. We can chat and share our thoughts when we have spare time, but please refrain from interfering in my affairs. This is the most basic respect between us.¡± Chen Xu was at a loss for words, feeling the consequences of his actions arriving swiftly. It was what he had told her the day before yesterday, and now she threw it back at him word for word, leaving him speechless. He silently turned around, put on his headphones, and started watching a TV drama. ¡­ All day, Chen Xu stayed at the villa, didn¡¯t go out, and kept sitting on the living room sofa reading a book. He let Luo Xiyun busily tidy up the storage room, going in and out. The day passed by quickly. In the evening, Luo Xiyun stopped her work and began to cook. Dinner was simple, just some noodles. When Luo Xiyun saw Chen Xu eating noodles without taking his eyes off the book in his hand, she was about to burst with anger. She thought to herself that she had been busy all day tidying the room for him, and he hadn¡¯t helped at all; he just sat there reading all day. She sneered, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you read Sci-Fi novels.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t take his eyes off the book, casually saying, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to read this ¡®Three-Body Problem¡¯ for a long time, just never had the time. I saw it on your bookshelf, so I took it to read. It¡¯s quite good.¡± Luo Xiyun felt even more depressed since he couldn¡¯t detect the sarcasm in her words, gritting her teeth she said, ¡°Do you even understand it?¡± Chen Xu glanced at her and said, ¡°Reading a novel is just a pastime. Whatever the author wants to convey, the fact that I¡¯m willing to read on shows I¡¯ve found enjoyment in it. What does understanding have to do with it? Can reading a novel really give someone a sense of superiority?¡± ¡°So much talk, aren¡¯t you just afraid of exposing your ignorance?¡± Luo Xiyun said dismissively, ¡°Admitting you don¡¯t understand is nothing to be ashamed of.¡± Chen Xu knew she was in a bad mood, so he didn¡¯t provoke her further and continued reading his novel. ¡­ After dinner, Chen Xu finally finished reading the book and stretched vigorously. Glancing at the time, it was almost eight o¡¯clock. He went downstairs to turn off one generator and refuel another. He took the book to his room. Luo Xiyun was in front of the wardrobe, picking clothes. When she saw him, her expression turned serious, and she said, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Chen Xu put the book back on the shelf without looking back. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a bath.¡± Chen Xu said curiously, ¡°You take your bath; I¡¯m in my room reading my book. How does that bother you?¡± Luo Xiyun said angrily, ¡°Get out.¡± Chen Xu spread his hands, saying, ¡°The heater outside is off. Do you really want me to go outside and freeze?¡± Luo Xiyun glared at him furiously, ¡°Freezing you to death would be best.¡± Despite the words, she took her clothes and went into the bathroom. ¡°So pretentious.¡± Chen Xu shook his head, took the third volume of ¡®The Three-Body Problem¡¯ from the shelf, and sat in his chair, opening to the first page. Soon, the sound of water flowing was heard from the bathroom. Originally, he hadn¡¯t thought much of it, but after her previous words, his mind became restless, and he couldn¡¯t help but picture the scene in the bathroom. The room was the master bedroom, separated from the bathroom by a huge glass wall. It wasn¡¯t transparent, so nothing could be seen. Whoosh¡­ Chen Xu felt an invisible hand stirring inside him, his throat tightening. He picked up the water cup on the table and took a sip of water, warning himself not to let his imagination run wild. He tried to focus elsewhere, finding the lights a bit too bright. Over the past few months, he had developed a habit of conserving energy and thought about turning off the main lights, leaving only a few small ones. The owner of the house must have had quite a flair for aesthetics, as there were all kinds of lights in the room, capable of creating various effects. He walked over to the switches, which numbered seven or eight, not knowing which was which, and randomly pressed one. A few spotlights came on nearby. Still too bright. He turned it off and tried another switch. After trying several, none were satisfactory. When he reached the fifth switch, he turned it on, and while the light didn¡¯t come on, he noticed something peculiar as his gaze brushed past the glass wall of the bathroom, and he froze entirely, as if struck by an immobilization spell. ¡­ It seemed like a long time passed, yet also just an instant, before Luo Xiyun in the bathroom turned off the faucet, dried herself off with a towel, stepped out of the partition, and began to get dressed. Throughout the whole process, she didn¡¯t turn around, leaving Chen Xu unsure whether to feel regretful or fortunate. When she opened the bathroom door, Chen Xu reflexively switched off that magical switch. Luo Xiyun came out, puzzled, ¡°Why did you turn off the main light?¡± Then she saw Chen Xu standing by the switch, seemed to recall something, and her face changed dramatically, her voice trembling, ¡°Which¡­ which switch did you press?¡± Chen Xu, ultimately a bit guilty, had a rather unnatural expression. ¡­ Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 022 Encounter Difficulties Chapter 22: 022 Encounter Difficulties Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` The lights had been turned off. Chen Xu lay in his bed, tossing and turning for over an hour, unable to sleep. He usually slept well and rarely experienced insomnia. Today, though, was a special case. The scene he had glimpsed through the glass in the bathroom lingered in his mind, and a pale silhouette seemed to keep flashing before his eyes. It was as if a fire was burning inside him, making him unbearably restless. He had just flipped over when he heard a slight sound from the other side of the bed. She wasn¡¯t asleep either. Was I just asking for trouble? Suddenly, he had such a thought and couldn¡¯t help but sigh in his heart. It was like inflicting a thousand wounds on the enemy and suffering eight hundred himself. Hurting each other, moving into this room did indeed make her uncomfortable. But in the end, it didn¡¯t do him any good either. To be honest, several times he almost couldn¡¯t help himself from jumping onto the bed. But he didn¡¯t dare, given her personality. She might have a knife hidden under the pillow. If he got stabbed, that¡¯d be the end of it. If she decided to completely sever ties with him¡­ Just thinking about it sent a chill through him. Even if this was a dream, not reality, it would leave a lifelong shadow in minutes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? How could he dare to act recklessly? ¡°It¡¯s all the fault of that virtual dream device. Making the scene so realistic would be one thing, but even replicating the characters to be one hundred percent true to life is just too much trouble.¡± He thought somewhat gloomily. If it really were like a dream of his own, where he could do as he pleased, it would be so nice. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the case at all. ¡°In my dream, shouldn¡¯t it be however I want it to be?¡± Thinking this, he turned over again, and in his frustration, simply took out his phone from under the pillow, opened a novel saved on it, and forced himself to read it to divert his attention. What he had saved on his phone were the most classic, and his favorite, online novels. He had read each one several times. Gradually, his mind became immersed in the story. As he read, he began to feel sleepy. His eyelids grew heavy, and he finally fell asleep. ¡­¡­ The next day, Chen Xu woke up an hour later than usual. By the time he was done with all his tasks, it was already breakfast time, so he had to pause his shooting practice for the day. While eating, Luo Xiyun¡¯s face was cold, not saying a word, not even looking at him. Chen Xu felt it necessary to explain, ¡°Last night, it wasn¡¯t intentional. I really accidentally hit that switch¡­¡± With a bang, Luo Xiyun slammed her chopsticks onto the table and silently began cleaning up the dishes. Chen Xu fell silent. Since she didn¡¯t want to hear his explanation, he wouldn¡¯t make things unpleasant for himself. Originally, he planned to take another day of rest at home, but given the current atmosphere, he didn¡¯t want to stay and face a sour face. After finishing his meal, he drove out. The main purpose of this trip was to scout the road. He was already very familiar with the nearby roads, and after two hours, he finally reached an unfamiliar area. The torrential rain that lasted over twenty days had flooded most of the city, and as the temperature plummeted, the waters turned to ice. The roads were entirely covered with ice. He drove very slowly because the ice was slippery, and driving too fast could cause accidents. He wasn¡¯t too confident in the anti-skid chains he had made. Every ten minutes or so, he stopped to mark the way with red paint to avoid getting lost on his way home. The ice stretched as far as the eye could see, with identical surroundings in all directions, making it impossible to discern directions without a compass. He drove for two hours straight before spotting any buildings, letting him breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too far away. If he moved quickly, he could make a round trip in one day. When he drove closer and saw the structures up close, he exclaimed inwardly, what bad luck. The scene before him was of high-rise buildings half submerged in water, and due to their height, some parts were not inundated. What he needed most was gasoline. But gas stations couldn¡¯t possibly be built on skyscrapers, could they? These structures held no value for him. He drove the car up to the nearest building and stopped, took out a pair of binoculars, and looked ahead, spotting even more structures on the ice. ¡°It¡¯s one-thirty right now. Returning to the villa from here would take a little over three hours.¡± It had taken him four hours to get here. In fact, he spent quite some time marking the way on the journey. If he drove continuously, it wouldn¡¯t have taken this long. After considering for a moment, he decided to drive ahead for another hour. That way, returning to the villa before eight in the evening wouldn¡¯t be too late. Having decided, he got back in the car and drove forward. The further he drove, the more buildings appeared. He felt a bit excited, as this meant the terrain ahead was getting higher. As soon as he reached flat land, he¡¯d quickly find a gas station. Howling¡ª Not long after setting out, the wind picked up outside, carrying snowflakes and pounding against the windshield. He couldn¡¯t help but slow down, driving even more cautiously. Thud, thud, thud¡­ The sound from the car roof made him feel uneasy. It was hail. By the looks of it, it was going to snow heavily. ¡°I can¡¯t go forward anymore.¡± He decisively turned the steering wheel, made a U-turn, and headed back. Soon, he left the cluster of high-rises and drove back the way he came. Half an hour later, suddenly, he felt the car shake violently; some hiss of air came from somewhere, and the car stalled. Damn! He realized he was in big trouble. The car slid forward for a distance before coming to a stop. At this moment, Chen Xu smelled a strong burnt odor. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he twisted the key, mumbling, ¡°Please don¡¯t let me down now.¡± He turned it seven or eight times, but the engine remained completely unresponsive. ¡°This is bad.¡± He leaned back against the seat, rubbing his face vigorously with both hands. The worst case had happened; the car broke down, and he didn¡¯t know how to fix it. Moreover, the car was stalled on the ice, far from any settlement. Worse yet, hail was falling outside. ¡°What should I do?¡± After a while, he calmed down a bit. Watching the snowflakes being whipped up by the wind outside, his brow furrowed deeply. Thinking it over, the only option was to wait for the hail to stop. Getting out now might get him killed by the hail. But how long would this hail last? There was food, water, and gas for heating in the car. Being stranded for a few days wouldn¡¯t be a problem. His main worry was about Luo Xiyun: If he couldn¡¯t make it back, what would she do? Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: 023 Accident Chapter 23: 023 Accident Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` The snow was getting heavier, and the windshield of the car was completely covered, making it impossible to see outside. Chen Xu broke off a piece of chocolate and stuffed it into his mouth, listening to the howling wind outside. He couldn¡¯t help thinking of the unexpected typhoon a month ago. He had begun to understand the hidden content behind the name of this dream world. ¡°So, ¡®Surviving the Apocalypse¡¯ doesn¡¯t just refer to the disappearance of humans in the world. There are also many natural disasters. When the dream is about to end, it might really be the end of the world.¡± He sighed, unscrewed the cap off his thermos, and poured a cup of hot water. Watching the steam rise from the cup, his brow furrowed deeper. Now, he was caught in a dilemma. If the snow continued incessantly, the final outcome would be freezing to death. The provisions he had would last three to five days at most. There were no buildings within ten kilometers. Leaving would mean that, since he couldn¡¯t ski and only had ice skates, he would be ineffective in the snowy terrain. In such heavy snow, he might even die faster. For him, this was just a dream. If he died, he died. At most, it would just mean the dream ended early. But¡ª ¡°If I die, what will happen to Luo Xiyun?¡± He mumbled, ¡°Besides, I haven¡¯t even slept with her yet. How can I die just like that?¡± Indeed, in the past few months, he had endured so much from her. How could he feel at ease without sleeping with her? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He quickly finished the remaining chocolate and drank the water, then lay down in his seat, preparing to rest up. When the hail stopped, he would leave this place and walk back. ¡­ He waited the whole night. The hail stopped at dusk, but it was more dangerous to go out at night. Chen Xu waited another night. In the morning, he was ready. Before setting off, he cooked a steaming bowl of instant noodles, ate and drank plenty, opened the car door, and left against the wind and snow without looking back. He was fully equipped, wearing thick mountaineering cold-weather gear, goggles, holding a trekking pole, and carrying a backpack. ¡°What a strong wind.¡± As soon as Chen Xu stepped out, he felt the wind was unimaginably strong. Each step was exceptionally strenuous. A thick layer of snow on the ground increased the difficulty of moving forward. At this time, all he could do was to grit his teeth and forge ahead. Amid the windswept snow, everything was a vast expanse of white; direction was hard to discern. After walking for a while, he would glance at the compass to avoid losing his way. As he walked, a sense of loneliness crept over him. Perhaps it was only after losing something that one learned to cherish it. He increasingly longed to see Luo Xiyun. It was at this moment that he realized how important her companionship had been to him over the past few months. Without her presence, could he really have borne such immense loneliness and endured until now all by himself? He was just an ordinary person, even if somewhat introverted, not very sociable, and preferred being alone. He was still a normal person, an inseparable part of human society. To separate him entirely from society, he simply couldn¡¯t survive. ¡­ A few hours later, Chen Xu stopped for the fifth time, struggling to pull out a piece of chocolate from his pocket, using his teeth to tear off the wrapper, and gulping it down. Next, he took the thermos from the side of his backpack, poured the remaining water, and drank it all in one go. He casually tossed the empty thermos aside and looked ahead. The wind and snow had diminished somewhat since he set out, and visibility had increased a bit. The surrounding terrain had not changed at all. ¡°I must have walked about ten kilometers by now,¡± he roughly estimated. With the snow continuously falling and the ground cover deepening, coupled with his dwindling physical strength, his speed was slowing down. ¡°I should be able to get off this icy surface before dark.¡± He rested for a few minutes, feeling the heat rapidly seeping from his legs, and didn¡¯t dare delay further. He lifted his feet and continued onward. After walking for a few more hours, he finished all ten pieces of chocolate in his pocket, and the water in the two thermos flasks was gone. Exhaustion. At this moment, he had only one feeling. His legs felt as if they weren¡¯t his own; they just mechanically moved forward. He gasped continuously, with his lungs burning as if they¡¯d burst out of his throat at any moment. Gradually, his vision began to darken. ¡°No, I have to stop and rest for a while.¡± Reason told him that his body had reached its limit. Just then, he noticed something: a silhouette of some buildings not far ahead. His spirits lifted; he had finally gotten off this icy expanse. Buildings meant he could take shelter inside, rest for a while, and eat to regain his strength. Thinking of this, a new wave of energy surged within him, and he headed towards the buildings. After another dozen steps, the outline of the building became clearer. ¡°Just a bit more effort,¡± he panted heavily, encouraging himself. He stepped forward again, when suddenly something caught his toe, throwing him off balance. At that moment, his energy was exhausted, making it impossible to regain his balance. He fell headlong, body rolling continuously downhill. ¡°Damn it.¡± He was startled. The path had been an unusually flat ice surface all along. He hadn¡¯t expected there to be a slope here. Rolling downhill, his forehead struck something hard with a thud, making stars dance in his eyes. Finally, he rolled to the bottom of the slope. Struggling to open his eyes, his vision was entirely filled with red. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± He tried hard to stay conscious, but his mind kept sinking till he finally lost awareness. ¡­ ¡°Why hasn¡¯t that bastard returned yet?¡± When Chen Xu hadn¡¯t returned by eight o¡¯clock that evening, Luo Xiyun began to feel uneasy. For months, Chen Xu had often driven out but had never stayed out overnight, not even during their cold war. ¡°Is he up to some new trick?¡± She thought begrudgingly. During the day, she had discovered the heater in Chen Xu¡¯s room was fine¡ªthey simply unplugged it. He had had the nerve to trick her into thinking the heater was broken, causing her to tidy up that storeroom for two days. As time wore on, her unease grew until, at midnight, she had to face that something might indeed have happened to Chen Xu. That night, she sat on her bed, covered in blankets, feeling icy cold inside. She felt as if she had returned to the first month. The surrounding darkness felt like an abyss, gradually consuming her. ¡°Chen Xu¡­¡± Only this man, who often infuriated her to the point of gritting her teeth, could give her the strength to resist loneliness in this empty world. She sat sleepless through the night. When dawn broke, she suddenly stood up. She had to go find him. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 024 Saying one thing and meaning another Chapter 24: 024 Saying one thing and meaning another Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± In a faint whisper, Chen Xu heard a voice reaching him from an unknown distance. ¡°Who is calling me?¡± He struggled to identify the source of the voice, surrounded by darkness that pressed against him like a tide, making it hard for him to breathe. An instinct told him this voice was crucial to him. ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± The voice rang out again, but it grew fainter, moving away. In a panic, he jerked awake and finally opened his eyes. ¡°Ugh.¡± With a movement, he tugged at his wound, and the sharp pain on his forehead made stars dance before his eyes. After a while, he caught his breath and finally saw the scene in front of him: a mass of dark clouds. The snow had stopped, and the sky was dim, not completely dark yet, so he hadn¡¯t been unconscious for too long. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, his current situation was not good, with half of his body buried in snow and his limbs numb from the cold. Luckily, he woke up early; if it had been another hour or two, he might have frozen to death. ¡°Chen¡­ Xu¡­¡± From afar, a voice faintly drifted over, intermittently swallowed by the howling wind, making it hard to hear clearly. It was Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice. A surge of indescribable emotion welled up within Chen Xu, urging him to respond. ¡°I¡ª¡± As he opened his mouth, his throat felt stuck, and his voice came out hoarse. He tried calling out several times, but no sound could pass through. No, the voice was too weak; she couldn¡¯t possibly hear him. What to do? His mind was in a frenzy, and suddenly, he remembered the alarm in his pocket, a self-defense siren meant for women. His winter gear was filled with various small items for emergencies. At this moment, his strength had recovered a bit, and his hands were less numb. He painstakingly raised his right hand, bit his glove off using his teeth, and took out the alarm from his pocket. These everyday simple actions drained nearly all his remaining strength, causing dizziness to blacken his vision. Gritting his teeth to stay conscious, he bit the alarm switch and tugged it hard. Whooo¡ª A piercing alarm went off, so loud at this proximity that Chen Xu felt as if his eardrums would burst. It was unbearable. With the last bit of energy, he tossed the alarm a little further away. Having done this, he was left with only the strength to breathe, his mind cloudy. Amid the shrill alarm, he barely managed to keep from passing out. After a while, he vaguely heard the sound of a car engine. Relaxing, he could not hold on any longer, slowly closed his eyes, and the last thing he saw was a staggering figure running towards him. Then he lost consciousness. ¡­¡­¡­ ¡°Ugh.¡± Who knows how long later, Chen Xu awoke, opening his eyes to stare blankly at the ceiling. ¡°Where is this?¡± His head ached terribly, and when he tried to move, he felt weak all over. These pains jolted his memory awake. Was it Luo Xiyun who brought me back? He glanced down at the blanket covering him and finally recognized the room as Luo Xiyun¡¯s, and he lay on her bed. Instantly, a wave of indescribable emotion surged within him. He hadn¡¯t come back all night; she must have been out of her mind with worry. She drove aimlessly searching for him, with no idea how long she¡¯d been looking. Last time, when she was trapped by a typhoon, Chen Xu did the same, knowing well the mixed sense of fear, worry, and anxiety that it consumed him. The sound of a door opening snapped him from his thoughts. Luo Xiyun entered with a bowl, surprised and happy to see him awake, ¡°You¡¯re up¡­¡± ¡°Water¡­¡± Chen Xu croaked, his voice hoarse. Luo Xiyun quickly set the bowl aside, poured a cup of water, sat by the bed, propped him up with one hand, and brought the cup to his lips. Chen Xu lay half-leaning against her, gulping down the water. ¡°Do you want more?¡± she asked. Chen Xu nodded. She went to pour another cup. After drinking two cups of water, Chen Xu finally regained some strength, sitting up against the headboard. ¡°I made porridge, want some?¡± Luo Xiyun asked as she picked up the bowl she had brought. ¡°Yeah.¡± Looking at her face, Chen Xu let her spoon-feed him porridge, his heart fluttering. Such tenderness he had never felt from his ex-girlfriend. After finishing the bowl of porridge, Luo Xiyun asked, ¡°Do you want more?¡± Chen Xu suddenly asked, ¡°Have you not rested these past two days?¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Luo Xiyun seemed flustered, taking a step back, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m taking care of you because you¡¯re hurt, not for any other reason.¡± Looking into her eyes, Chen Xu said, ¡°This brush with death made me think. Our fates are tied together now; neither can do without the other. Why keep arguing? Why not spend the rest of our time lovingly together¡ª¡± ¡°Stop dreaming,¡± Luo Xiyun interrupted, chest heaving angrily. ¡°Even if you die, I will live well. Next time, don¡¯t touch me. Otherwise, I¡­ I¡¯ll not be polite.¡± With that, she left the room with the bowl. Chen Xu disdainfully said, ¡°Such a threat really lacks any deterrence.¡± Although he said this, his expression betrayed dissatisfaction. Even after reaching this point, she was still unwilling to accept him? He lay there, lost in thought for a while, then gradually drifted to sleep. ¡­¡­ When Chen Xu woke again, he felt much better. He was about to get up when he realized someone was beside him. Turning his head, he saw Luo Xiyun, sitting by the bed, asleep with her upper body leaning on the side and her hand resting on him. Amused, he thought she¡¯d just been so heartless with her words and now was asleep right beside him. Truly, her words did not match her actions. He reached out, brushed aside her fallen hair, and looked at her face. The more he looked, the more beautiful she seemed. Thinking of her earlier words, a hint of annoyance lingered in his heart as he softly said, ¡°You can¡¯t escape my grasp.¡± ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s long lashes fluttered as she woke up. Seeing him staring at her, she rubbed her eyes, saying, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Suddenly she remembered something, checked the time, and exclaimed, ¡°Oh no, how did I sleep so long?¡± With that, she hurried out. Curious, Chen Xu pulled the blanket aside, got out of bed, and followed her out, watching her busy in the kitchen. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: 025 To save face at all costs Chapter 25: 025 To save face at all costs Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Why did you come out?¡± Luo Xiyun turned her head and found that Chen Xu had come out. She urgently said, ¡°Hurry back to rest.¡± [She really does care about me.] Chen Xu was absolutely certain from her immediate reaction. After suffering a few setbacks in society, he realized a principle for dealing with people: don¡¯t listen to what others say, but watch what they do. What others say is just something to hear, not to take seriously. By observing their actions, you can understand their attitude toward you. Moreover, with his growing experience, he vaguely understood that sometimes what someone says and what they do are completely opposite, not necessarily because they deliberately want to deceive others. Rather, they themselves might not know what they truly want. People are just this contradictory. And women, even more so, are collections of contradictions. He felt he grasped Luo Xiyun¡¯s psychology, his mood brightening, he said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s too stuffy in the room, so I came out for some air. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine now, look, I can¡ªah!¡± As Chen Xu spoke and jumped twice, suddenly his foot slipped, and he staggered, banging his shin against the bench beside him, sucking in cold air from the pain. ¡°Chen Xu¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Luo Xiyun saw him fall, dropped the pot in her hands, and rushed over to help him up, asking anxiously, ¡°Are you okay, did you hurt yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Chen Xu shook his head, forcing himself to remain composed, and wrapped his left arm around her waist, slowly standing up. Luo Xiyun saw something in his expression and asked, ¡°Did you get hurt somewhere?¡± By now, Chen Xu had recovered and awkwardly said, ¡°I banged my shin.¡± ¡°Let me take a look.¡± She bent down, carefully pulled up his pant leg, saw it was just a small bruise, not a serious injury, and was relieved, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself. Let me help you back to the room.¡± Chen Xu said nothing, placing his left hand back on her waist, and walked toward the room. As they walked, he turned his head to look at her face. He saw nothing unusual, as if she was completely unaware of how intimate their current posture was. When they reached the room, Luo Xiyun helped him sit at the edge of the bed, took out a medical kit, and applied some ointment to the injured area, finally saying, ¡°You should rest well here.¡± After she left, Chen Xu reflected on her contradictory attitude towards him, and slowly a thought formed in his mind. ¡­¡­ During dinner, Chen Xu kept staring at Luo Xiyun. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Luo Xiyun couldn¡¯t help but put down her chopsticks and touched her face. Chen Xu shook his head and said in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s really nice to be able to sit and have dinner with you again. I originally thought I would never see you again.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s lips moved slightly before she asked, ¡°How did you faint there?¡± ¡°The car broke down, and I could only walk. When I got to that slope, I accidentally tripped and, unfortunately, hit my head and passed out.¡± Chen Xu said in a relaxed tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stay in the car?¡± Luo Xiyun took a deep breath, ¡°It was snowing so heavily yesterday, walking was very dangerous. If I hadn¡¯t happened to pass by, you might have¡­ you might have¡­¡± By the end, her tone grew somewhat agitated. Chen Xu listened to her reproach without a hint of impatience, feeling a sense of joy. He gently explained, ¡°The car was too far away.¡± Luo Xiyun heard this and frowned. Where she found Chen Xu was already the farthest area. Beyond that, it was an endless expanse of ice. Suddenly she realized something, her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, ¡°You went beyond the ice area?¡± The so-called ice area is a large, low-lying region flooded by rainwater, forming a thick ice layer after the temperature dropped. She would occasionally go out with Chen Xu, so she knew a bit about the surrounding environment. The villa they lived in was surrounded by a few kilometers of what seemed like an isolated island, encircled by the ice area. No matter which direction one looked, the edge of the ice was nowhere in sight. To her knowledge, Chen Xu always moved within the ¡°island area¡± and never went to the ice area, so at first, she didn¡¯t consider it. ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Xu nodded. ¡°You¡­¡± Luo Xiyun bit her lower lip and asked, ¡°Was it because you ran out of gasoline?¡± ¡°We have enough stock for half a month. I intended to scout the road first. I didn¡¯t expect an accident to happen on the way back.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°Back then, we agreed: I handle the outside, you handle the inside. This is my responsibility.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a chauvinist.¡± Luo Xiyun said, irritated. After a while, she poked her chopsticks into the rice grains and asked, ¡°How long did you walk in the snow?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°Just a few hours.¡± A few hours? Luo Xiyun recalled driving to find him yesterday in that blinding snowfall, with visibility less than ten meters. As the snow on the ground piled up, she had to slow down, and yet, the car wheels kept slipping. Sometimes, the wheels would get stuck in soft snow, needing her to get out and deal with it. Driving was so difficult, let alone walking. She couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of perseverance it would take to endure for several hours in such harsh weather. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Actually, I had no choice.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°There was too little food on the car. I thought the snow would last for several days. Staying in the car meant certain death too.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s mouth opened slightly. She glanced at him without exposing his lie. After rescuing Chen Xu, she opened his backpack, half of which was full of chocolate, compressed biscuits, and canned food. Enough for him to last a week. Even at this point, this man was still so stubborn. [So proud.] She thought to herself. ¡­¡­¡­ After washing the dishes, Luo Xiyun pushed open the door to the room and saw Chen Xu just coming out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. He had obviously just taken a shower. ¡°Your turn.¡± He said. She walked to the wardrobe, found a set of clothes, and looked somewhat hesitant. Chen Xu seemed to understand her worries and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t peek.¡± She said nothing, took the clothes, walked into the bathroom, and closed the door. She thought about how Chen Xu had just showered here, and felt a bit strange, but not repulsed. She remembered that when she and Chen Xu were still in a cold war, she would separate their clothes by several meters even when hanging laundry. Now, even sharing a bathroom didn¡¯t bother her. [No choice, we need to conserve fuel now.] She thought this way as she started undressing. ¡°` Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: 026 A bit cold Chapter 26: 026 A bit cold Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Luo Xiyun came out of the bathroom after taking a shower and saw that Chen Xu had already laid out his bedding on the floor and was asleep. She said, ¡°You¡¯re still injured. Why don¡¯t you come and sleep on the bed?¡± Chen Xu lifted his head and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s the same anywhere.¡± [He must be worried that I wouldn¡¯t be comfortable.] This thought surfaced in Luo Xiyun¡¯s mind. She walked to the bed, slipped under the covers, and turned off the light. The room plunged into darkness. Lying on the bed, she reminisced about these past months, reflecting on the little moments with Chen Xu. After her impression of him changed and she looked back at his various behaviors, she could discover many things she had overlooked before. [Actually, he¡¯s a very considerate person.] As she thought about this, waves rippled through her heart. His consideration was restrained, hidden behind the social mask he used to keep his distance from others. In their interactions, he never intruded into her psychological comfort zone. The things he said and did always left her with plenty of space. Previously, she merely felt that Chen Xu had a good sense of boundaries. Now, she realized that such boundaries also concealed a type of consideration, didn¡¯t they? A different perspective allowed her to see a different side of a person. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï It was at this moment she realized she had never truly understood the man lying a few meters away. ¡°Xiyun.¡± In the darkness, Chen Xu suddenly called her softly. It was the first time she heard him say her name, and there was a slight strange sensation in her heart. When she replied, her voice was a little tense, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit cold.¡± In the darkness, the man¡¯s voice was slightly trembling. ¡°Huh? What should we do then?¡± She was a little anxious, turned her body to the side, and reached out to turn on the light. Suddenly, she felt the quilt behind her lifted, and a body slipped in, lying close beside her. Her body stiffened, ¡°What, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sleep together. This way, it¡¯ll be warmer,¡± the man¡¯s voice sounded from behind her. [What should I do?] [He said he was cold, possibly from being in the snow. If ignored, his condition might worsen.] [He just wants to be warmer. It should be fine, right?] The words of refusal reached her lips but were swallowed back. Thus, she lay facing away from Chen Xu, on her side. She felt her heart racing. Even though she was facing away, she could clearly feel the man behind her was very close, almost touching her. After a while, the man spoke again, ¡°Let¡¯s sleep a little closer, otherwise, all the warmth will escape.¡± [No, I shouldn¡¯t do this.] [But he is just sick, feeling cold, and wanting to cuddle for warmth.] This hesitation led her to do nothing. ¡°Your body is so hot. Do you have a fever?¡± Suddenly, Chen Xu¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°No¡­¡± She was about to speak when a large hand reached her forehead, then touched her face. ¡°It¡¯s a bit warm. Let me check.¡± With a click, the bedside lamp turned on. The soft, orange light was warm and not at all harsh. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± She reached out to push Chen Xu¡¯s hand away, but couldn¡¯t, as those hands only increased their grip. ¡­ Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: 027 What Feeling Chapter 27: 027 What Feeling Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` After Luo Xiyun went into the bathroom, Chen Xu also got up to put on clothes, casually folding the quilt. ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly, he noticed a mark on the sky-blue sheet¡­ it made him feel strange. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± His heart skipped a beat as he considered a possibility. The more he looked at the mark, the more he thought his suspicion was right. Last night¡­? Didn¡¯t she have a boyfriend? He found it hard to believe. The mark was too faint in color, initially he hadn¡¯t thought in that direction, but under normal circumstances, there was no reason for it to be colored. Apart from that possibility, there was no other explanation. He thought for a moment, then walked over to the trash can¡­ As expected. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï A surge of indescribable feelings welled up inside her. ¡­ After a while, Luo Xiyun came out of the shower and saw that Chen Xu was not in the room. She was about to step out to look for him when she suddenly noticed the sheet, her face flushing slightly. Quickly, she went over to gather up the sheet and replaced it with a new one from the cabinet. Just as she finished, Chen Xu came in with a tray, saying, ¡°I made breakfast, come and eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Luo Xiyun noticed that the porridge contained dates, goji berries, and red beans, which seemed a bit odd. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like sweet things?¡± ¡°This is specially made for you.¡± Chen Xu pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed, picked up a bowl, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and brought it to her mouth. Luo Xiyun, feeling a bit uneasy with his sudden enthusiasm, blocked him with her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯d rather do it myself.¡± Chen Xu did not insist and handed the bowl and spoon to her, saying, ¡°Eat a bit more, there¡¯s still a lot in the pot. After you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll serve you another helping.¡± ¡°You eat too.¡± Luo Xiyun, noticing his intense gaze on her, felt her face heat up and said to him. ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Xu picked up a bowl and started eating as well. After breakfast, Chen Xu washed the pot and bowls and returned to see her with furrowed brows, looking worried. He sat beside her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?¡± ¡°No¡­ I¡­¡± Luo Xiyun hesitated, lowered her head, and dared not look at him as she softly said, ¡°What if¡­ what if I get pregnant? What will we do?¡± Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it was almost inaudible. Chen Xu had never seen her so shy and reserved, completely overturning the image he had of her, the difference making his heart itch. He leaned closer to her ear and said, ¡°If you really are, then just have the baby.¡± Luo Xiyun, flustered and embarrassed, pushed him away. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to be spouting nonsense.¡± Seeing that she was really a bit anxious, Chen Xu stopped teasing her and comforted her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are in the safe period now, you won¡¯t get pregnant.¡± Just as he finished speaking, he noticed Luo Xiyun looking at him with a strange expression, making him feel a bit guilty. He asked, ¡°Why are you looking at me like this? Am I wrong?¡± She used an odd tone to say, ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°Safe period.¡± Only then did Chen Xu realize that this was why she had such a strange expression. He suddenly didn¡¯t know how to answer. Indeed, under normal circumstances, for a man to pay attention to a woman¡¯s menstrual cycle when they¡¯re not in a relationship would be quite peculiar. Luo Xiyun gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I knew it, you¡¯re such a pervert.¡± Her face was tinged with a layer of blush, her eyes seemingly covered with a layer of mist, and she spoke with a nasal voice. Although it was a reproachful remark, it came out as entangled and affectionate, stirring Chen Xu¡¯s heart. With a mischievous smile, he said, ¡°So, how does it feel to roll in the sheets with a pervert?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s face turned completely red. She pushed him away forcefully and said hatefully, ¡°Disgusting.¡± Chen Xu laughed heartily and stopped teasing her, lest she fly into a rage and take it out on him in the end. ¡­ Their relationship had made a breakthrough, and in the days that followed, they began to truly live together. Day by day passed, and the wind and snow outside seemed to grow increasingly more violent. By the fifth day, Chen Xu finally made up his mind to take Luo Xiyun out for a trip to get some gasoline. He had a premonition that as the time approached for the dream to end, the climate would become more and more severe. If they didn¡¯t go, they wouldn¡¯t be able to go at all. By now, there was more than half a meter of snow outside, making it impossible to drive. So, he spent another two days preparing, and on the seventh day, they finally set off. On the departure day, Chen Xu drove a bulldozer in front to clear the snow. Luo Xiyun followed behind in a large truck. They were in need of gasoline, although they still had a large stock of diesel. This time, they loaded half a truckload of diesel. This naturally slowed down their speed. They dared not rest on the way, fearing that if the vehicle broke down, they¡¯d be stuck for sure. It took a full ten hours to traverse that icy area and reach the construction area Chen Xu had been to before. Soon, they found a gas station. After driving for so long, they were exhausted and decided to rest for the night and continue the next day. Nearby, they found a building with doors wide enough, moved the bulldozer and truck inside. Originally a tile store, the door had been locked, but Chen Xu pried it open. The space inside was large enough. He used the bulldozer to push the displayed tiles to one side, making room for two vehicles. Then, Chen Xu took a small camping gas stove from the truck and cooked a pot of noodles. The two ate voraciously around the pot until nothing was left. After eating the noodles, Chen Xu finally felt alive again. The bulldozer had no heating, and he had almost been frozen stiff. After resting for a while, he built a fire in a corner and set up a tent nearby. ¡°When will this snow finally stop?¡± After their work was done, the two sat in front of the fire for warmth. Luo Xiyun hugged her knees and stared at the flames as if talking to herself. Chen Xu looked at her face, glowing red from the fire, and said gently, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t last much longer.¡± Luo Xiyun turned to look at him, ¡°What if it never stops?¡± For a moment, Chen Xu didn¡¯t know how to answer, because he knew that this snow might indeed never stop falling. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 028 Brief Warmth Chapter 28: 028 Brief Warmth Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` These days, as the snowstorm grew stronger, Chen Xu could feel Luo Xiyun becoming more restless and uneasy. Every midnight, she woke up from nightmares. He had never seen such a fragile and helpless side of her. At this moment, all he could do was offer her more physical and emotional comfort. He held her hand, looked into her eyes, and said, ¡°No matter what happens, I will always be by your side.¡± Luo Xiyun placed his hand on her face, feeling the cold yet slightly rough texture of his palm. She slowly closed her eyes, the worry between her brows gradually easing away. Chen Xu looked at her calm and peaceful face, and something inside him was stirred. These days, a thought had lingered in his mind and refused to leave. When this dream ended and he woke up, what would become of this dream world and Luo Xiyun, who lived in it? He desperately wanted to ask the virtual dream device that brought him to this dream world, but no matter how he called, there was no response. To him, this dream world felt somewhat unreal, yet accepting it was not difficult. However, Luo Xiyun felt like a living, breathing person. Her body warmth, her breath, her murmurs, her screams, her cries, her trembling, her spasms¡­ all seemed so real. When the dream ended, would she disappear along with it? But even if this dream world could be preserved, after he left, she would be left all alone. To her, it might be more terrifying than death, right? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He was a bit lost. ¡°If one day, I die, and you¡¯re the only one left¡­¡± ¡°I will live well,¡± Luo Xiyun said softly, without opening her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s too sad. I thought you would die for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself. I won¡¯t live for anyone.¡± After finishing, Luo Xiyun waited for a long time without hearing his response. When she opened her eyes, she saw him staring at the fire and gently said, ¡°What, hurt your pride?¡± ¡°Yeah, hurt deeply.¡± Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°Alright, you should go to sleep first. We have work tomorrow.¡± ¡­.. Early the next day, the two of them got up to work, spending the morning filling all the empty barrels they brought. It was hard work, leaving them almost exhausted. So, they rested here for another night to recover their strength. On the third morning, they left and started their journey home. They returned the same way they came. The path they shoveled earlier was still there, making the journey much easier, and they reached the villa in just five hours. Chen Xu breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, nothing unexpected happened along the way. The gasoline they brought back this time, if used sparingly, could last for two months without any issue. To celebrate the successful completion of this mission, they took out the last few tomatoes they had and cooked them. The torrential rain had come too quickly before, and they brought very few fresh vegetables when moving. To preserve them, they could only freeze them. These tomatoes were the last of their stock. Outside, the wind and snow raged. Inside, it was warm like spring. The two sat at the dining table, eating steaming-hot food. At least in this small world, it was a happiness that belonged to just the two of them. However, Chen Xu knew that when the countdown to the end of the dream began, such happiness wouldn¡¯t last much longer. ¡­.. On the fifteenth day of the countdown, as they slept, the room¡¯s glass window suddenly shattered with a bang. The biting cold wind swept in with snowflakes, and the temperature, originally around ten degrees, dropped instantly to minus dozens of degrees. The two, awakened, wrapped themselves in blankets and hurriedly fled the room. Outside, they found that all the glass windows in the villa had shattered, leaving not one intact. The once-warm small world could no longer resist the onslaught of the cold. In the end, they could only hide in the wardrobe next to the master bedroom, wrapped in a single quilt, listening to the roar of the wind outside, holding each other for warmth. Chen Xu had already anticipated this day and was not too badly affected. He was just worried about Luo Xiyun. To his surprise, Luo Xiyun in his arms seemed calm, not panicking, and remained silent. Slowly, he closed his eyes, no longer thinking about the dreamscape, no longer worried about the subzero cold outside the door. A duvet separated them from the outside world, creating a small, isolated world. In this pitch-black darkness, the two of them listened to each other¡¯s heartbeats, felt each other¡¯s breathing, and borrowed each other¡¯s warmth. They reveled in this brief warmth and tranquility. ¡­.. After dawn, Chen Xu and Luo Xiyun put on thick protective clothing and used wooden planks to seal all the windows except for the living room¡¯s floor-to-ceiling window since they couldn¡¯t find a board big enough. Fortunately, the basement had no windows, so it escaped damage. The generator stored there was unaffected. As long as the generator still worked, it wasn¡¯t too big of a problem. At least, they didn¡¯t have to worry about freezing to death. They spent two days cleaning everything up. However, their lives were still severely impacted. At the very least, every time they went to the living room, they had to put on heavy clothing. Moreover, Chen Xu clearly felt that the weather was getting colder by the day. The heating system¡¯s effectiveness was decreasing. After all, this was the south, where winter temperatures rarely drop below zero. Although the villa used some thermal insulation materials, it wasn¡¯t originally built to withstand temperatures of minus dozens of degrees. Luo Xiyun also grew increasingly silent. As the countdown entered the tenth day, Chen Xu let go of everything, freed himself of worries, and wanted only to enjoy their time together. On the fifth day of the countdown, in the morning, Luo Xiyun, as usual, woke from Chen Xu¡¯s embrace, got up quietly, and covered the quilt. After washing up, she dressed in thick protective clothing, opened the door a crack. She immediately sensed something unusual. Opening the door was effortless, and the chilling wind she anticipated did not rush in from the crack. Her heart pounded as she pulled the door open further, finally confirming one thing. The wind had stopped. She rushed outside, stood in front of the balcony, covered her mouth, and tears gushed from her eyes. Outside the balcony, the world was still cloaked in white, but the snow that had persisted for over half a month had stopped. At the edge of the world, a golden sun was spreading its light and warmth. ¡°` Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: 029 Ugh, scumbag! Chapter 29: 029 Ugh, scumbag! Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Luo Xiyun stood in front of the balcony, tears streaming down her face as she gazed at the golden sun. After standing dazed for a few minutes, she remembered to tell Chen Xu the good news, rushed back to the room, and shook Chen Xu awake, saying excitedly, ¡°Wake up, the snow has stopped, the sun is out, quick¡ªChen Xu, what¡¯s wrong?¡± She shook him a few times before realizing something was wrong with Chen Xu. His face was pale, and his eyes were lifeless, as if he were seriously ill, which shocked her. ¡°Maybe I caught a chill.¡± Chen Xu forced a smile. Luo Xiyun reached out to touch his forehead and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get some medicine.¡± Chen Xu watched her rummage through the cabinet, feeling a heaviness in his heart. He suspected this might not be an illness. His body felt weak, but it didn¡¯t feel like the usual discomfort of a cold or fever, nor did he feel any specific pain. After a short while, Luo Xiyun finally found the medicine box, poured a glass of water, found some cold medicine, and fed it to him. ¡°You rest well, I¡¯ll go make some porridge.¡± After speaking, she helped Chen Xu tuck in the quilt and left the room, quietly closing the door. Chen Xu lay there for a while, his eyelids grew heavier and soon he closed his eyes. ¡­ Chen Xu opened his eyes again to see Luo Xiyun resting her head by the bedside, just like the last time when he was injured and unconscious. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 With some effort, he lowered his head and noticed his clothes had been changed, feeling a weight in his heart. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± At this moment, Luo Xiyun woke up, and said joyfully. Chen Xu noticed the bloodshot in her eyes and asked, ¡°How long did I sleep?¡± ¡°Not long.¡± A gentle smile appeared on her face, and she diverted the topic, ¡°I made some porridge, have a little.¡± As she spoke, she poured a bowl of porridge from a thermos beside her. Chen Xu cooperated, forcing himself to eat a bowl while chatting with her for a while before his eyelids grew heavy again, and he soon lost consciousness. ¡­ Upon waking the second time, Luo Xiyun was not in the room. This time, he had changed into another set of clothes. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, laboriously turning his head to look at the perpetual electronic clock on the bedside table. Two days had passed since he first fainted. In other words, he woke up only every other day. ¡°Shit.¡± After understanding, he couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. About ten minutes later, he lost consciousness again. ¡­ The third time he woke, Luo Xiyun was lying beside him. The moment he moved, she noticed, raising her head to look at him. The orange table lamp by the bedside was on; she liked to have this lamp on because its light was soft, creating a great atmosphere. Today, she wore different makeup: those bright red lips highlighted her icy beauty. She moved to his ear and whispered, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready, just waiting for you¡­¡± Chen Xu said with difficulty, ¡°Get up, let¡¯s talk for a bit, alright?¡± Suddenly, Luo Xiyun grabbed him by the collar, angrily said, ¡°At this moment you¡¯re saying you can¡¯t? What kind of man are you? You pervert, get up, get up for me¡­¡± Chen Xu let her vent, feeling a pang of bitterness in his heart. Luo Xiyun was typically a reserved person, and he had never seen her so emotionally agitated; clearly, his collapse over the past few days had brought her to the brink of breaking down. After a little while, Chen Xu¡¯s eyelids began to grow heavy again, knowing there wasn¡¯t much time left, he said hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Following this, his eyelids became progressively heavier, and before he was engulfed in complete darkness, he vaguely heard the sound of crying. ¡­ The last day of the dream. Chen Xu woke for the last time, the bright light blinded his eyes, making it hard to open them. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice came from beside him; this time, her voice sounded very calm. Soon, his eyes adjusted to the surrounding light and he could see the scene before him clearly¡ªa brilliant blue sky like a giant blue dome, with the snow-white horizon and a golden sun slowly rising, coating the entire icy world with a layer of golden light. He had never seen such a magnificent view, feeling somewhat dazzled. At this moment, he was sitting in a wheelchair, the buildings below seemed familiar, and soon, he knew where he was. This was at the top of the mountain where the villa was located; the developers had built a viewing pavilion here for people to enjoy the view. Unexpectedly, Luo Xiyun had brought him here. ¡°The snow has stopped.¡± Looking at the scenery in front of him, his heart brightened. ¡°Stopped four days ago.¡± Luo Xiyun pushed him to the railing, ¡°For the past few days, the temperature has been rising; yesterday at noon, it was almost zero degrees. I believe it won¡¯t be long before the temperature rises above zero.¡± As she spoke, she squatted beside him, continuing, ¡°Once the snow melts, I¡¯m planning to drive north to find other survivors. I believe there must be others on Earth who survived this disaster.¡± Chen Xu listened to her say ¡°I¡± instead of ¡°we.¡± Whether she was deliberately provoking him or for some other reason, it no longer mattered to him. Because he was about to leave. In just a few minutes, he would have spent exactly one hundred and eighty days in this dream. Once the time was up, the dream would end. Perhaps it was the days of sleep that had made his mind exceptionally clear. Since entering the dream, he had never been so unmistakably aware that everything he experienced over these six months was just a dream. Then, he once again felt his eyelids grow heavy; he knew that when he closed his eyes, the dream would end. At this moment, a question surged through his heart, an urgent desire to know the answer. He turned his head and asked, ¡°Luo Xiyun, did you ever love me?¡± Luo Xiyun looked into his eyes, seeming to realize something, biting her lower lip, ¡°No, I never loved you. Why would I love a self-righteous, selfish, and self-centered man like you?¡± As she spoke, her tears fell like pearls from a broken string, continuously streaming down. Chen Xu¡¯s eyes were already completely closed, his neck limp as it tilted to the side. She reached with trembling hands to feel his carotid artery, and a moment later, her face turned pale. ¡°What¡¯s so great about you? When I¡¯m upset, you don¡¯t say sweet words to comfort me. You don¡¯t save the good food for me, and when I criticize you for being messy, you¡­ snap back. When you sleep¡­ you even snore¡­ wailing¡ª¡± As she spoke, she lay over Chen Xu¡¯s legs, already sobbing uncontrollably. After a while, her sobs gradually subsided. She stood up, pulled Chen Xu up from the chair, and used some straps to tie his face firmly against her chest. Supporting herself on the wheelchair, she climbed over the railing. Looking at his unremarkable face, she murmured, ¡°How could you leave me alone like this? You haven¡¯t confessed to me, proposed to me, or put a ring on my finger¡­ yet you want me to love you? You scumbag.¡± After saying that, she closed her eyes and fell forward. Plunged off the cliff. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 030 Grade Settlement Chapter 30: 030 Grade Settlement Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Congratulations on completing the ¡®Apocalyptic Survival¡¯ dreamscape mission, surviving one hundred and eighty days. The difficulty of this dreamscape was zero, settling now.¡± ¡°Settlement successful. In this dreamscape, you earned 50 points. We hope you continue to strive for better scores in the next dreamscape.¡± ¡°Congratulations on experiencing a complete dreamscape for the first time. Your reward has been issued to your personal backpack, please check it.¡± ¡°The next dreamscape will commence in one month, please look forward to it.¡± Chen Xu asked, ¡°What are these points?¡± ¡°Points are rewards evaluated based on your performance in the dreamscape. They can be exchanged for auxiliary items before the start of a dreamscape.¡± Chen Xu listened, feeling somewhat disappointed. It seemed that points could only be exchanged for items used within the dreamscape, not in reality. Consequently, he also had little expectation for the reward he received. He opened his personal backpack, saw a card, and was drawn to the odd pattern on the back. He said, ¡°Open it.¡± The card flipped over, revealing a shirtless man holding something like a javelin, poised to throw. ¡°Congratulations on obtaining the Talent Card¡ªThrow Precision. Would you like to use it?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Chen Xu was unable to determine the card¡¯s value, just felt like it was turning into some game. However, after giving it a thought, this really was a standalone virtual game. He had just completed a mission, after which he gained Gold Coins (points), and a Skill Book (Talent Card). No problem. He said, ¡°Use it.¡± The card shone brightly, and the javelin in the man¡¯s hand turned into a meteor that flew toward him. His eyes were dazzled by the light, and then a rough voice sounded in his ears, ¡°No matter how powerful a talent is, if you don¡¯t train hard, it will go to waste.¡± A few seconds later, everything returned to normal. He was a bit surprised, ¡°These effects are quite impressive. Perhaps this talent is really strong, huh, I can give it a try in the next dreamscape.¡± All right, everything was sorted out, he could wake up now. ¡­ Chen Xu felt himself waking up from a long dreamscape, his mind slightly foggy. He lay still for a few minutes before fully waking up. He went to the window, opened it, looked at the pedestrians below, and listened to the various sounds coming from outside. In the past, he always disliked the noise outside, finding it irritating. Now, he found the noise to be so pleasant to the ears. ¡°Indeed, it takes losing something to know its value.¡± He sighed, realizing that after spending so long in the desolate dreamscape world, he could appreciate how precious the conveniences of modern life were. He stood by the window for a few minutes, suddenly feeling something was amiss. He had just experienced life and death in the dreamscape, so why didn¡¯t he feel sad at all, and still had the mood to leisurely enjoy the scenery here? With this thought, he discovered something even stranger. His memories of the dreamscape became very blurry. He remembered the general content, but couldn¡¯t recollect any details. ¡°What is going on?¡± He was a bit shocked. If he couldn¡¯t remember the content of the dreamscape after waking up, what was the point of such a virtual dreamscape? ¡°Please do not worry, this is the anti-addiction mechanism of this device, designed to prevent the dreamscape content from causing too much psychological impact on the user. The memory of the dreamscape becomes blurry momentarily upon waking up, but over time, the memory will gradually recover.¡± Chen Xu was somewhat surprised that this dreamscape device would actively provide him with answers. Previously, no matter how he summoned it, it never responded. Could it be that after gaining points, his authority increased? This thought flashed past his mind, and he asked about the real-world problem, ¡°How long will it take to completely recall?¡± ¡°One month.¡± A month wasn¡¯t long. Speaking of which, he thought this anti-addiction mechanism was necessary. Otherwise, it could have a huge effect on real life. With a month as a buffer, the impact seems less intense. ¡°Perhaps I should find an opportunity to resign.¡± This thought suddenly popped into his mind. Although he couldn¡¯t remember the details of what happened in the dreamscape, he still knew. In the dreamscape, he lived with Luo Xiyun, and they shared a bed. But in reality, he and Luo Xiyun were strangers, and meeting her might be awkward. Moreover, she had a boyfriend, and thinking about it was uncomfortable. By the time the memory of the dreamscape completely returned, it might be even more distressing. ¡°I didn¡¯t consider how to face her after the dreamscape ended initially.¡± He was a bit depressed as if creating trouble for himself. Though, it¡¯s too late to regret it now. He should try to find a new job. As he thought of this, he stared at a tall building in the distance, lost in thought, and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible that the real Luo Xiyun has an inexplicable resonance with her dreamscape self, awakening the dreamscape memory?¡± ¡°The possibility is zero. The characters in the dreamscape are AI based on real humans. The possibility you mentioned cannot occur.¡± Chen Xu knew it was impossible and sighed. ¡°Alert, alert, system data error, entering self-check mode¡­¡± Suddenly, a sharp warning rang in Chen Xu¡¯s mind, startling him, and various data streams flashed rapidly in his vision. What was going on? He was dumbfounded. After finally gaining a Golden Finger, he thought he was about to reach the pinnacle of life. But the Golden Finger would break right after the first dreamscape ended? Could it really be this unlucky? He lamented inwardly, but had no choice but to wait anxiously. After more than ten minutes, the data stream jumping before his eyes finally disappeared, returning to the original interface. ¡°Is it done?¡± He cautiously switched the interface a few times, and it seemed there were no issues. However, no matter how he called, that voice didn¡¯t reappear. ¡°Could it be that the authority has been lowered again?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly. Regardless, he was very thankful that this dreamscape device was still functional. ¡­ In a luxurious apartment in the city center, Luo Xiyun awoke from sleep, touched her face, and found it covered in tears, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She sat up, massaging her forehead, only feeling her mind slightly foggy. She sensed she had an incredibly long dream. Suddenly, she remembered something, hurriedly picked up the phone, and dialed a number. Her knuckles turned pale with tension. ¡°Hello¡ª¡± When an elderly voice sounded on the other end of the line, she burst into tears. ¡°` Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: 031 Small Fortune Chapter 31: 031 Small Fortune Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°`html Chen Xu repeatedly confirmed that the virtual dream equipment on him was still there, and only then did he temporarily relax. It was a false alarm. He looked at the time. It was almost seven o¡¯clock. He was thinking about cooking some noodles for breakfast since he had time. Suddenly, he remembered something very important, hurriedly brushed his teeth, dressed, and went out. ¡°I hope I can make it in time.¡± After getting downstairs, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to buy breakfast and headed straight to the bus stop. He didn¡¯t take the usual bus he took but got on another one. On the bus, he kept checking the time, looking anxious. At 7:26, the bus reached a stop, and he was the first to rush off, sprinting toward the commercial building across the bus station, attracting the attention of many passersby. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t care less. As he reached the destination, he glanced at his phone and felt a burst of joy, ¡°7:29, just in time.¡± Next, he saw a man and a woman standing in front of the lucky box vending machine. His heart tightened, and he rushed over immediately. ¡­ ¡°This is the trending lucky box recently. I didn¡¯t expect it to be here. I¡¯ll go scan one.¡± A slightly chubby man was filming with one hand and using another phone to scan and pay. ¡°Look, the box came out.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The man took out the box and said, ¡°This is the packaging of the box. Everyone can see, it¡¯s quite exquisite. Now, let¡¯s open it.¡± He called his companion for help and soon opened the box, filming and speaking, ¡°Let¡¯s see what is inside. Hmm, it¡¯s a lipstick.¡± He picked up the lipstick and showed it to the camera, ¡°Everyone can see, it¡¯s all written in Korean. Now, let¡¯s search it on Taobao.¡± Shortly after, he found it, showed his phone, and said, ¡°Everyone, take a look. This one is priced at seventy-five yuan on Taobao. Hmm, not too bad, at least I didn¡¯t lose.¡± Then he stopped filming and, dissatisfied, said to the female companion beside him, ¡°Can¡¯t you come over and help?¡± The girl next to him impatiently said, ¡°You said you would go shopping with me, and it¡¯s all for your business.¡± The man sulkily said, ¡°If I don¡¯t find ways to make money, where¡¯s the money for your clothes? Quickly, film another one.¡± This man was Xu Ming, a young man in his early twenties, who, while watching short videos one day, spotted this lucky box and immediately realized the business opportunity. He quickly got several machines and placed them in crowded areas. Riding the wave brought on by short videos, he made some pocket money. However, the wave of short videos came fast and went fast. These days, his lucky boxes weren¡¯t selling well. So, he decided to shoot his own short video to promote it. This machine was placed there by him. To ensure it attracted attention, he bought an iPhone X. He had just placed it inside moments ago. To avoid being exposed by onlookers, he specifically came early in the morning to film. And, as a novel enthusiast, he understood the importance of buildup. So, he deliberately scanned a box with an ordinary gift first. Otherwise, if he immediately revealed an iPhone X, it would be too abrupt and not realistic. Xu Ming started filming again, ¡°Originally intended to get one for my girlfriend, but it¡¯s a men¡¯s lipstick. Let¡¯s scan another one and see what we¡¯ll get this time. I¡¯m a little excited¡ª¡± Just then, someone suddenly rushed over, pushed him aside, and scanned the QR code first. ¡°Someone actually beat me to it¡ª¡± Xu Ming¡¯s heart skipped a beat, worried that the box containing the iPhone X was selected, then thought it couldn¡¯t be that unlucky, joking around with his mouth. Then, his throat felt like it was being grabbed, and his expression changed dramatically. That person actually chose that box. He was anxious inside; how could it be so coincidental? Just his luck to pick that box? However, the box was in someone else¡¯s hand. No matter how anxious he was, it was useless. He could only watch as the person opened the box and revealed the iPhone X packaging box. Finally, he couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°Um¡ª¡± To his surprise, the person quickly stuffed the phone into a bag, looking at him vigilantly, saying, ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± Xu Ming watched him pack the phone away, his face twitching, and urgently said, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing¡­¡± ¡°Are you trying to rob me?¡± The person became even more cautious, stepping back. Xu Ming hadn¡¯t expected the other person to be so cautious, stammering a bit, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, I just wanted to¡­¡± ¡°Sorry, no time.¡± The person interrupted him and turned to leave. ¡°No¡­listen to me¡­¡± Xu Ming wanted to stop that person, but saw him sprint away and vanish at the door in the blink of an eye. He was dumbfounded; how could this happen? Thinking of that phone he had bought for ten thousand yuan just yesterday ending up in someone else¡¯s hands, he felt so distressed that he could hardly breathe. His girlfriend beside him still didn¡¯t grasp the situation and asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°The gift I prepared for you was taken by someone else,¡± Xu Ming said, on the verge of tears. ¡­ On the other side, Chen Xu had already boarded the subway, smoothly obtaining the phone, and felt delighted. He couldn¡¯t recall many details of the dream, only remembering clearly the lucky box¡¯s location and number that contained this phone. After all, being accustomed to poverty, he was particularly sensitive to money matters. To be honest, he had just been trying his luck, and it turned out to be just like the dream. It was a brand-new, unopened phone, worth nearly ten thousand at once. To him, it was a small fortune. ¡°It really is black technology.¡± He felt a bit emotional inside and had more confidence in the virtual dream equipment. It could perfectly simulate everything in reality within dreams. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t prepared at all the first time entering the dream and didn¡¯t realize the value of that empty world, only thinking about how to survive. If I were to compare it to a game, he was like a newbie player, following instructions step by step for tasks, with no thought of exploring hidden maps. ¡°What a pity.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, meanwhile becoming extremely excited for the next dream world. Soon, the subway arrived at the station. He got off, took out his phone, and called his high school desk mate who sells phones in the digital city, saying he had a brand-new iPhone X to sell. The other party immediately agreed and asked him to send it over. After finishing the talk, Chen Xu had already arrived at the building where his company was located. He went to his seat, just in time for eight o¡¯clock. While turning on the computer, he thought that he would soon see Luo Xiyun, and his heart suddenly became inexplicably nervous. PS, although I know with so few collections, asking for votes doesn¡¯t make much difference. But it¡¯s Monday, and it seems a bit out of place not to ask for votes, so let¡¯s ask anyway. ¡°` Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: 032 New Department Chapter 32: 032 New Department Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Very quickly, Chen Xu found himself in a bind, with no time to think about anything else. In reality, although only a night had passed, he had spent a whole six months in his dream. After such a long time, being suddenly asked to continue work he had left unfinished six months ago would likely leave him bewildered. Now, sitting in front of the computer, he didn¡¯t know where to start. ¡°Oh right, the briefcase.¡± He opened the briefcase, pulled out the contents, found a document, and carefully went through it, finally getting some ideas. Then, he stuffed everything back into the briefcase. Picking up the mouse, he opened a certain document. He vaguely remembered that he habitually stored all his work materials there. He spent the entire morning arduously familiarizing himself with these materials, slowly regaining his work state. He didn¡¯t dare to ask others, as that would be too suspicious. He barely made it to the lunch break. Old Tang invited him to go eat together. They went to the restaurant they frequented, which was two streets away from the company. Upon arriving at the store, Chen Xu remembered that the food there was pretty good and reasonably priced. They often came here for lunch. Neither Old Tang nor he liked ordering takeout, mainly because they weren¡¯t willing to stay in the company all day. They took the opportunity during lunch to get some fresh air. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Did something happen?¡± After sitting down, Old Tang suddenly asked, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve been acting a bit strange these past two days.¡± Chen Xu knew his odd behavior this morning couldn¡¯t be hidden from a coworker he worked with every day, so he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just feeling a little troubled inside.¡± Saying this, he suddenly thought about changing jobs and figured he could ask Old Tang for some advice. ¡°Actually, I want to change jobs.¡± ¡°Why so suddenly?¡± Old Tang was quite surprised. Chen Xu replied helplessly, ¡°You know my situation in the company well. It¡¯s been almost two years, and I¡¯m still in the same place. I feel like I can¡¯t keep drifting along like this. I might as well change jobs. There might be better opportunities.¡± Old Tang looked at him, thinking about his situation at the company, and couldn¡¯t find words to persuade him otherwise, so he asked, ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Have a target?¡± ¡°Not yet, I¡¯ll start by sending out resumes. I don¡¯t have many other requirements, as long as the pay is higher than now.¡± As they talked, the food arrived, and the two ate and chatted. Since Old Tang had more work experience, he offered a lot of useful advice. After lunch, they returned to the company and didn¡¯t bring up the matter again, as the resignation wasn¡¯t something to let other colleagues know. Just as they returned to the company, they happened to run into the delivery guy who came to pick up a package. Chen Xu quickly handed him the Apple X phone. His high school desk mate was in the neighboring city and should receive the phone by tomorrow. Once the money from selling the phone was in hand, it would greatly ease his economic pressure. After the delivery guy left, Chen Xu picked up a cup, ready to brew some tea to refresh himself. In front of the water dispenser, several female colleagues were gathered gossiping, and Chen Xu suddenly heard them mention Luo Xiyun, only then realizing she was on a business trip. He was a few levels below Luo Xiyun and naturally didn¡¯t know her whereabouts. Hearing she was on a business trip gave him a sense of relief. At least he wouldn¡¯t run into her in the next few days. After filling his cup, he returned to his seat, leaning back in his chair, thinking and doodling on paper. He was trying to recall things from his dream, hoping to find another opportunity to make money. Until the break was almost over, he didn¡¯t recall anything useful. Casually, he tore the scribbled paper, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it to the wastebasket in the corner. The ball of paper flew accurately into the basket. He clapped his hands, turned his chair around, took a sip of tea, and revived his spirits, continuing to struggle with the documents on the computer. ¡­ Afterward, Chen Xu returned to his usual mundane life, and it was only when his high school desk mate received the phone and transferred him nine thousand yuan that he got a delightful surprise. The resumes he sent out hadn¡¯t received any responses yet. A week later. Just like before, he arrived at the company on time. After a week of adjustment, he finally regained the work state from six months ago. Upon arriving at the company, he found his colleagues unusually gathered, discussing something. He turned his head and asked Old Tang, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did something big happen at the company?¡± ¡°I just got here too.¡± Old Tang shook his head, showing he didn¡¯t know. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard?¡± At that moment, Cai Hao, a colleague next to Chen Xu, leaned over and said worriedly, ¡°There¡¯s news that the company is planning to establish a marketing department. When that happens, it¡¯s very likely our advertising department will be dissolved. Right now, Old Wang has gone to find out what¡¯s going on. We don¡¯t know the situation.¡± Old Tang was surprised, ¡°How did this happen so suddenly? There wasn¡¯t a hint of this yesterday.¡± Chen Xu also realized what this news implied. Their company didn¡¯t produce products, and the newly established marketing department seemed redundant with the advertising department¡¯s functions. When the time came, the new department would certainly be stripped of a lot of power, or more seriously, directly abolished. No matter which result, it wouldn¡¯t be good news for the members of the advertising department. However, for someone who was already prepared to resign, it didn¡¯t affect him. In fact, the company he worked for wasn¡¯t a small one, with nearly ten large chain supermarkets, all located in commercial centers. Including the employees of those large supermarkets, the company had over two thousand employees, a classic large enterprise. As the advertising department of the headquarters, it nominally managed the promotion of all the stores. However, in reality, each store had significant independence. Every time there was a promotional activity, they did their own thing, at most sending a report up to notify, and the advertising department couldn¡¯t intervene. The reason was simple. The manager of each store was a local power. Nominally on par with the minister of the marketing department, they were actually more capable, earning more, and having a deeper background, not considering the advertising department at all. Chen Xu had worked here for nearly two years, primarily doing summary reports. During the peak season, he was also transferred to the stores to run errands, which was truly unpleasant. This was one reason he planned to resign. In such a traditional industry, without backing, the path for advancement was too narrow. As for why the company wanted to set up a marketing department at this time, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. Either way, it had nothing to do with him. The entire advertising department was in a bit of a panic that morning, and everyone was not focused on work. Finally, the supervisor, Old Wang, returned with news, assuring that the advertising department wouldn¡¯t be dissolved and no staffing cuts would occur. The new marketing department would handle online sales, and its functions didn¡¯t overlap with those of the advertising department. This finally reassured the employees. ¡°Chen Xu, come to my office for a moment.¡± After announcing the news, Old Wang called Chen Xu. No way. Chen Xu felt a bit frustrated. Every time Old Wang called him to the office, it was never for anything good. ¡°Could it be because of the recent poor performance, he wants to reprimand me?¡± ¡°` Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: 033 Talent Chapter 33: 033 Talent Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°You want to transfer me to a new department?¡± In the manager¡¯s office, Chen Xu originally thought Old Wang wanted to give him a talking-to, but unexpectedly, Old Wang said he wanted to transfer him to the newly established marketing department. Old Wang had a square face, with a mole on his left cheekbone that was quite distinctive. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this new department. The executives are paying a lot of attention to it. Being transferred is your luck and your opportunity.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Chen Xu was already planning to resign, so he naturally didn¡¯t intend to accept. ¡°No buts.¡± Old Wang interrupted him, whispering, ¡°This new marketing department is directly managed by Vice President Liu, and the staff are being selectively pulled from various departments. I heard from Lao He in the personnel department that those who transfer to the new department get a certain salary increase, at least twenty percent.¡± Toward the end, there was a clear tinge of envy on his face. The refusal that Chen Xu initially intended to give was immediately swallowed back. If transferring could increase his salary, then he could consider it. Thinking of this, he said, ¡°Give me a day to think about it.¡± ¡°Alright, anyway, Lao He is going to personally talk to you tomorrow.¡± After saying this, Old Wang let him go back to work. ¡­¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Is everything okay?¡± As soon as Chen Xu returned to his seat, Old Tang turned his head to ask. He shook his head to indicate everything was fine and habitually picked up a pen, doodling aimlessly on paper. His current salary, after tax, was barely over four thousand. Even with a twenty percent increase, it wouldn¡¯t reach five thousand. It wasn¡¯t a lot, but not too little either. Previously, he felt that with his educational background, getting into a large company was already fortunate, and he could accept low pay, enduring it as it was. However, such a small salary wasn¡¯t really sufficient in the big city. He had to send money home every month, making life even more financially stressed. After nearly two years, his salary had only increased slightly, and he couldn¡¯t endure it any longer. This was the fundamental reason for his resignation, and Luo Xiyun was merely a trigger. ¡°Have a talk with Mr. He tomorrow and see if you can negotiate a higher salary.¡± He quickly made up his mind. These days, he slowly recalled many details from his dreams. This brought about subtle changes in him. At least, he was no longer as afraid of changing jobs as before, and he had the courage to negotiate with the head of the personnel department. Previously, he had too many worries, not confident enough in his own abilities, fearing that after unemployment, without a source of income, his survival would become an issue, and his family would fall into hardship. Now, after experiencing a life where he was the only person left in the whole world, he wasn¡¯t afraid of anything. Just that experience in the dream was an incredibly valuable asset for him. With this in mind, he tore off the piece of paper he had doodled on, crumpled it into a ball, and without looking, tossed it toward the trash basket. After throwing it, he turned his head to see the paper ball steadily fly into the basket. ¡°Huh?¡± He was somewhat amazed. When thinking about things, he always had a habit of scribbling on paper and would throw it away afterward. However, his hit rate wasn¡¯t high. He often missed, forcing him to make a trip to pick up the paper and throw it back into the basket. Even so, he never tired of it. It was also a way for him to relieve stress. These past few days, his aim had been impeccable. Each time he managed to make the shot, until just now, when he felt that this couldn¡¯t just be luck. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± He recalled the talent card he obtained at the end of the dream, aptly named ¡°Precise Throw.¡± Perhaps this talent card wasn¡¯t only effective in the dream world? With this thought, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow down a gulp. ¡°Let¡¯s try again.¡± He tore off another piece of paper, crumpled it into a ball, and then, facing away from the basket, threw it with intuition. When he turned his head, he saw the paper ball drawing an arc and landing precisely in the basket. His heart trembled with excitement, knowing his speculation was likely true. ¡°Has my Golden Finger finally activated?¡± In a moment, he was beside himself with joy. Then, thoughts of transferring to the new department and finding a new job were forgotten. His mind was entirely focused on what this talent obtained from the dream world could achieve. Unfortunately, this was at the office during work hours. He could only exercise patience. ¡­¡­.. Finally, when it was time to leave, Chen Xu returned home as quickly as possible and began experimenting. From the name of the talent, it was evident that it was related to throwing. He gathered a few items of varying weights and sizes: an unopened 1.5L bottle of mineral water, an empty cigarette pack, a packet of potato chips, and a book. Then, he placed a bucket by the wall, stepped out onto the balcony, and started by testing with the heaviest item, the bottle of mineral water. Thud. The bottle hit the ground, missing its target. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± The initial failure made him frown. He walked over to pick up the bottle, returned to the balcony, and tried again. Thud. This time, the bottle securely landed in the bucket. ¡°Let¡¯s try once more.¡± He picked the bottle up again and threw it for a third time, landing it once more. Hitting twice in a row still wasn¡¯t convincing enough for him. Before the fourth throw, he closed his eyes and threw it again. Thud, the bottle flew accurately into the bucket. ¡°It seems there¡¯s no doubt. The talent card obtained in the dream can work in reality as well.¡± The result was so exhilarating that he trembled with excitement. Before entering the dream, he thought the virtual dream device was merely to indulge some daydream fantasies. After the first dream entry, his opinion changed. In the dream, he could have experiences unimaginable to others, adding to his life experience. Now, he realized he had been completely wrong. The talent acquired in the dream actually manifested in his real body. The value of the virtual dream device was far greater than he had imagined. This meant that the skills he learned in the dream could also be mastered in reality. Unfortunately, in the last dream, he had practiced shooting the most, a skill not easy to test in real life since getting his hands on a gun wasn¡¯t feasible at the moment. Of course, even if his guess was wrong, as long as he acquired a few more talent cards, he would be impressive enough. With that thought, he couldn¡¯t wait to start the second dream immediately. ¡°Three more weeks, such a long wait.¡± He sighed, quickly shifting his focus, trying to throw the other items. He felt like he had obtained a novel toy, enjoying it endlessly. Besides the initial few items he prepared, he threw everything throw-able in the room once over. Soon, he discovered a pattern. Each time he switched items, he usually missed on the first couple of tries. But he could quickly find his aim, and by the third attempt, he wouldn¡¯t miss. This made him understand that what he gained was just a talent, requiring practice to master perfectly. ¡°` Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: 034 Awake Chapter 34: 034 Awake Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The next morning, Chen Xu walked into the building where the company was located, still yawning. Ever since he discovered he had a talent for ¡°precise throwing,¡± he spent the entire night tossing things nonstop. His excitement kept him up until past three in the morning. He almost couldn¡¯t get up in the morning, yawning all the way. In this state, whenever he saw something handy, he felt an urge to grab it and throw it. He walked to the elevator and saw a few company colleagues ahead, chatting in low voices, seemingly discussing the establishment of a new department. He was still a bit sleepy and didn¡¯t pay attention. Before long, the elevator arrived. As he entered, those colleagues greeted him. ¡°Morning,¡± he replied with a smile. The elevator door slowly closed. Colleague A asked, ¡°Chen Xu, did you hear that the company is establishing a new department?¡± Chen Xu nodded, ¡°Yeah, I heard.¡± Colleague B chimed in, ¡°Is there something behind this new department? I see many people trying to get transferred there.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Colleague C whispered, ¡°I heard that the new department was proposed by Mr. Liu at the annual strategy meeting. He persuaded other top executives to make it a key strategic project for the next year, with Mr. Liu personally in charge. Of course, the new department is popular.¡± Colleague A added, ¡°I heard from a friend in HR that to show support for the new department, once you¡¯re transferred, your salary increases by over twenty percent.¡± Colleague B said enviously, ¡°No wonder so many people want to transfer. A twenty percent salary increase, that¡¯s such a good benefit.¡± Colleague A sighed, ¡°Yeah, a salary increase once you move; who wouldn¡¯t want to go? Unfortunately, it¡¯s unlikely for us. Those with connections have probably already reserved their spots.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡± Colleague C, who seemed more informed, said, ¡°I heard that the final candidates are screened by Director Luo. It¡¯s not easy to get past her. Maybe, we really have a chance.¡± Chen Xu, initially drowsy, felt a stir of emotion when they mentioned Director Luo and became more alert. ¡°Is she back from her trip?¡± In the company, there was only one director with the surname Luo, and the Director Luo they mentioned was naturally Luo Xiyun. This week, she had been on a business trip. The two hadn¡¯t met yet. As more details about the dream came back to him, his emotions became somewhat complex. With a ding, the elevator arrived. He set aside his thoughts and followed his colleagues out of the elevator. ¡­ Chen Xu walked into the office and saw everyone gathered, discussing the new department enthusiastically. Obviously, the news about the salary increase after transferring had spread, sparking enthusiasm among colleagues. He didn¡¯t join in but instead arranged his things, took out some tea leaves, and went to the hot water dispenser to make a cup of tea. Just as he sat back at his desk, the entire office suddenly went quiet. He found it odd, wondering why everyone had suddenly stopped talking. Looking up, he saw everyone gazing toward him from behind. Behind him was the corridor. Before he turned around, he heard the tapping sound of high heels on the floor. An incredibly familiar figure immediately popped into his mind. As he turned, he saw Luo Xiyun walking in, clad in a black trench coat. She wore light makeup, and her auburn hair proudly fluttered with her steps. ¡°Morning, Director Luo,¡± the office staff enthusiastically greeted. She waved gently, her eyes not glancing in this direction, walking straight into her office. She became that unattainable Director Luo once again. Feigning nonchalance, Chen Xu withdrew his gaze, raised his cup, gently blew away the tea leaves floating on top, and took a sip. The slightly bitter taste slowly spread throughout his mouth. Seeing her in person completely shattered the last illusion he had. No miracle occurred; her attitude was no different from before, treating him like air. ¡°Let¡¯s just consider everything that happened in the dream a dream,¡± he thought silently. Deep down, he was a pragmatic person. He had already experienced how hard it was to pursue Luo Xiyun in the dream. Even if the world consisted only of the two of them, she initially found him unappealing, let alone in reality. Knowing it was impossible, he was unwilling to waste time, money, or emotions. He let out a long breath, put down his cup, and focused his attention on work. Right now, the most important thing for him was to make money and improve his and his family¡¯s life. Everything else could wait. ¡­ ¡°Chen Xu, come out for a moment.¡± Approaching noon, Old Wang suddenly called Chen Xu over, ¡°Come on, Mr. He from HR wants to see you.¡± Mr. He was the HR supervisor, in his early forties, tall and thin, wearing glasses. He had a somewhat serious expression when he met Chen Xu. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed your resume. You¡¯ve been with the company right after graduation, working for almost two years. Supervisor Wang speaks highly of you. The company intends to assign you to a new department. Now, the company plans to establish a new department and transfer you there. Are you willing?¡± Mr. He got straight to the point. Chen Xu replied straightforwardly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the adjustments in terms of benefits in the new department.¡± Mr. He showed a trace of displeasure in his eyes. He dealt with salary discussions with employees frequently due to his HR work, but he disliked the young man¡¯s attitude, seemingly uninterested in the new job¡¯s content and directly asking about benefits, which left a bad impression. His tone turned colder, ¡°Considering the new department¡¯s heavy workload, the company generally offers a twenty percent raise on the existing salary for employees transferring to the new department.¡± Chen Xu nodded, ¡°Then I have no issues.¡± Mr. He frowned slightly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about the new department¡¯s work?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°I follow arrangements.¡± Mr. He¡¯s opinion of him declined further, unwilling to talk more, ¡°You can leave now. Pack your things and report to the new department this afternoon.¡± Chen Xu left the office. He had noticed Mr. He had issues with him, but he simply didn¡¯t care. After discovering that the talent for ¡°precise throwing¡± had appeared in him, his thoughts shifted. He realized he could gain more talents and learn more skills from the dream world, not necessarily needing a job. Once conditions were ripe, he could fully embark on entrepreneurship or choose a better profession. With this mindset, he didn¡¯t want to fuss anymore. Changing jobs would lead to a host of troubles. It was better to stay for now, especially with a salary increase opportunity, which reinforced his intent to stay. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Old Tangs Reminder Chapter 35: Old Tang¡¯s Reminder Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu first went to find Old Wang to talk about agreeing to transfer to the new department. For this kind of thing, he definitely had to tell his direct supervisor first. Then he thanked Old Wang for taking care of him over the past year. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m quite reluctant to let you go,¡± Old Wang said while patting his shoulder, half-jokingly. ¡°It¡¯s almost the end of the year, the busiest time. If you leave, we¡¯re going to be really busy.¡± ¡°But since you have better prospects, I can¡¯t hold you back.¡± Chen Xu smiled, uncertain of what to say. To be honest, Old Wang wasn¡¯t a bad person; he could be considered a good boss. Old Wang suggested, ¡°How about this, to celebrate you moving to the new department, let¡¯s have a dinner gathering tonight, everyone¡¯s invited.¡± Chen Xu quickly dismissed the idea, persuading, ¡°Supervisor, let¡¯s not. That¡¯s too high-profile.¡± Old Wang thought about it and agreed. The whole company was watching the establishment of the new department, and making such a big fuss wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. He said a bit regretfully, ¡°Too bad, we¡¯ll have to make up for it next time.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Chen Xu felt a little amused and helpless. He¡¯d never met someone who loved dinner gatherings so much. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s say goodbye to the colleagues,¡± Old Wang said, leading him outside. When Old Wang announced to the colleagues in the advertising department that Chen Xu was being transferred to the new department, they were all surprised. Some were envious, some were jealous, there were all kinds of reactions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Everyone congratulated him, whether genuinely or not, and no one said anything strange. They just made a commotion, asking him to treat them to a meal. Chen Xu could only promise to remember this for next time. After some fussing, everyone dispersed, with only Old Tang remaining by his side. Chen Xu knew, among these people, Old Tang was probably the only one truly happy for him. In a while, lunchtime arrived. Chen Xu went to a familiar restaurant with Old Tang. ¡°About changing jobs?¡± Old Tang whispered when he saw there were no familiar faces around. Chen Xu said, ¡°I¡¯m not changing for now, I¡¯ll just work like this.¡± Old Tang nodded, and then, with some feeling, said, ¡°Lao Liu and Lao Guo both went to see Old Wang to apply for the new department, but Old Wang asked them to write an application, and it was rejected by the HR department. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d get it done quietly.¡± Chen Xu finally understood why those two looked so bad earlier. He said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m also baffled, how did they choose me?¡± Old Tang pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because your background is relatively clean.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chen Xu asked, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m just guessing,¡± Old Tang said. ¡°Mr. Liu parachuted in from above last year. There were rumors that he was here to take over Mr. Zhou¡¯s position. This new department¡¯s establishment was pushed strongly by Mr. Liu. He definitely wants to achieve something. Someone like you, with a relatively clean background, is naturally the best choice.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Chen Xu felt that Old Tang¡¯s analysis made quite a lot of sense. ¡°But be careful when you get to the new department,¡± Old Tang reminded, ¡°the news of the new department¡¯s establishment is all over the place. I have a feeling something might happen.¡± Chen Xu nodded. Actually, some things weren¡¯t hard to guess. Before, Mr. Zhou called the shots in the company. However, since Mr. Liu parachuted in, things were different. Over the past year, many departmental heads have been replaced. It seemed like a struggle for power. Would Mr. Zhou endure that? However, these matters weren¡¯t related to him before, and now, they had even less to do with him. He wasn¡¯t very concerned. ¡­ After lunch, Chen Xu returned to the company and started packing his personal belongings to report to the new department. The company was wealthy, occupying an entire floor, with the advertising department in the far northwestern corner and the new department in the southeast. He had worked here for almost two years and had never been to this side. When he arrived, the new sign was already up. It wasn¡¯t the rumored marketing department but the ¡°Electronic Sales Department.¡± There were a few people in the office, who were presumably his new colleagues. He knocked on the door, entered, and introduced himself. Soon, new colleagues kept coming in. Chen Xu observed silently, noticing that most were young people, rarely anyone over thirty. Once everyone arrived, he counted and found, including himself, there were fourteen people in total. After a while, Mr. Liu also showed up, along with someone Chen Xu didn¡¯t expect, Xiyun. He suddenly recalled that she parachuted in around the same time as Mr. Liu, so it wasn¡¯t surprising they¡¯d cooperate. Mr. Liu led everyone to a meeting room for a meeting. Mr. Liu¡¯s full name was Liu Kun, and he was thirty-four or thirty-five years old. He was quite handsome and eloquent, speaking confidently. Chen Xu watched somewhat enviously. Previously, he most aspired to become a successful person like Liu Kun. Someone like Liu Kun was his goal. Unfortunately, harsh reality made him realize that he couldn¡¯t become someone like Liu Kun. He couldn¡¯t tell about abilities, but Liu Kun was a graduate from a prestigious university and even studied abroad. Just from that, Chen Xu couldn¡¯t compare. To be aware, Liu Kun¡¯s starting point was with a famous investment bank abroad. After working for a few years, he jumped to corporate work, and, now in his thirties, was already qualified to take over as CEO of a large company. Soon, Chen Xu set aside these random thoughts and listened carefully. Before long, he understood what this new department was about. Liu Kun planned to establish an online channel to expand the supermarket¡¯s customer base. In plain terms, it was about doing e-commerce. Specifically, the first step was to rely on the company¡¯s ten chain supermarkets to provide home delivery services within a certain range. Everyone, being young people who frequently shopped online, found it easy to understand. Liu Kun then started assigning work and positions to everyone. Chen Xu¡¯s responsibilities were similar to his previous ones, still in advertising. This made him relieved, as he was familiar with these tasks and could quickly get to work. Lastly, there was Xiyun. She remained the director, just becoming the director of the electronic sales department. After all, Liu Kun was the company¡¯s vice president and had other large responsibilities and couldn¡¯t always be there. In his absence, Xiyun would be in charge. Although Chen Xu had expected it, he still frowned. She actually became his immediate supervisor. Then it was Xiyun¡¯s turn to speak. Chen Xu saw a completely different Xiyun from his dreams: confident, assertive, and focused. This made him somewhat uncertain in his heart. Was the person in reality truly the same as the one in his dreams? The meeting lasted the entire afternoon. After work, Liu Kun suggested that the whole department should go out for dinner to celebrate the establishment of the new department. Naturally, no one opposed. PS: Thank you all for your votes and support. ¡°` Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: 036 Correct Opening Method Chapter 36: 036 Correct Opening Method Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio At the dinner table, Liu Kun ate a little and then left, leaving Chen Xu and the other young people. However, everyone still felt a bit restrained because Luo Xiyun was still there. Although she was younger than most of those present, she held the highest position and was known for being difficult to get along with. Everyone was rather cautious around her since they weren¡¯t well-acquainted. Chen Xu hardly spoke, burying himself in his food. He rarely visited such high-end restaurants, and since he hadn¡¯t tried many dishes, his attention was entirely on the food. The meal concluded in somewhat of a stifling atmosphere. As they left the restaurant, everyone was about to go their separate ways. Those who had cars went back to the office to retrieve them, while the rest considered taking taxis, the subway, or a bus. ¡°Robbery!¡± Suddenly, a woman¡¯s scream echoed from across the street, and those who were just dispersing all turned to look in the direction of the sound. A man in a black top was sprinting across the opposite road, with a woman in a dress chasing after him and shouting. Many passersby were drawn by the woman¡¯s screams and stopped to watch the commotion. However, not a single person stepped in to help. Instead, a few had already taken out their phones and were recording. Suddenly, the man in black jumped over the barrier and started crossing the road. ¡°Someone help me¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï The woman in the dress, seeing she was about to lose the chase, stood in front of the barrier, nearly in tears with anxiety. Standing at the restaurant entrance, Chen Xu witnessed this scene and it stirred a not-so-pleasant memory. In his first year of college, with money he had earned from a summer job, he bought a phone worth over three thousand; he cherished it deeply back then. But on his first outing with a few dorm mates, someone snatched it from him right on the street. He didn¡¯t dare to tell his family and ended up buying a second-hand phone with basic functions to use. Since then, he detested these muggers greatly. Seeing the man in black about to cross the street, he suddenly grabbed a bottled drink from a female colleague beside him, saying, ¡°Just borrowing this.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± The female colleague watched his actions in amazement, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of throwing it at him, are you?¡± Chen Xu ignored her, aimed for a moment, and in an instant, seemed to enter a mystical state. The man¡¯s movements appeared to slow down in his eyes. He even seemed able to predict the man¡¯s next move. The image of the man¡¯s posture a few seconds later naturally arose in his mind. This was the moment. He seized the best opportunity to strike and threw the bottle without hesitation. At that moment, the man in black had already reached the barrier. He tucked a woman¡¯s purse under his arm, braced his hands on the barrier, stepped onto the bar, and stood up. Once he crossed the barrier, there was a turn ahead, and he could escape into any alley. Just as he was about to leap, he felt something hit the back of his knee, and his foot instantly slipped. Damn. He lost his balance entirely and fell headfirst. His hands flailed in the air, trying to grab something, but it was too late. With a heavy thud, his head hit the ground. The onlookers hadn¡¯t expected this development, and seeing his miserable state, their eyelids twitched heavily. The woman whose purse had been snatched had just climbed over the first barrier and seeing this from across the road, was delighted and ran over to retrieve her bag. ¡­ ¡°Is this even possible?¡± The female colleague, seeing the thief tumble down from the barrier, made an O shape with her mouth and looked at Chen Xu in astonishment. Chen Xu held a finger to his lips, signaling her to keep it a secret. Such thieves and muggers likely had accomplices. It was best to keep a low profile to avoid trouble. Anyway, except for this female colleague, no one else seemed to have seen him throw the bottle. The female colleague nodded quickly, indicating she understood, her eyes a little excited. After this incident, everyone went their separate ways. Once on the bus, Chen Xu suddenly thought, what was the name of that female colleague again? He had met over a dozen new colleagues today and hadn¡¯t remembered any names. However, he turned his thoughts away from this and was more interested in that mysterious state he had just experienced. He had thrown so many objects before, but this feeling had never occurred. ¡°Could this be the ¡®precision throwing¡¯ talent¡¯s true potential?¡± He felt a rush of excitement in his heart. Experiencing that state, he realized how powerful this talent was. He could anticipate the opponent¡¯s movements, and when he threw the bottle, it was as if the man purposely ran into it. Impressive. ¡°Was it because the target was dynamic?¡± He speculated internally. Before, he had never really tested it on moving targets. He couldn¡¯t help but recall that card with the image of a man holding a javelin in a throwing stance. It had already revealed the card¡¯s true purpose. ¡°Hmm, could it be that this talent is best suited for a javelin thrower?¡± He thought for a moment and realized that it didn¡¯t seem feasible. After all, javelin throwers are judged on distance, whereas the key to this talent was precision. And, most importantly, he wasn¡¯t very interested in becoming a track and field athlete; the training was too exhausting. As he thought about it, he suddenly felt a deep fatigue, like he had overexerted himself. He didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep on the bus, so he pushed through until he got home, didn¡¯t even want to shower, and lay down, falling asleep quickly. ¡­ Early the next morning, Chen Xu finally felt recovered. ¡°This consumes too much energy; it¡¯s better to use it less often,¡± he thought with a bit of lingering fear. Indeed, powerful skills definitely come with a cost. The main issue was how severe the aftereffects were. When Chen Xu arrived at the company, his colleagues were already there. It was a new department, with a new leader, and everyone wanted to make a good impression, so they all arrived early. He was the only one who, as usual, arrived just on time. ¡°Chen Xu.¡± As soon as he entered, the female colleague from yesterday waved and greeted him. ¡°Morning.¡± He responded politely, sensitively noticing that a few male colleagues nearby had odd looks in their eyes. Although he used the very generic term ¡°female colleague¡± to refer to this woman, in actuality, her appearance was quite striking, second only to Luo Xiyun in the entire company. Since yesterday, a few male colleagues had been gravitating towards her. Clearly, her initiative to greet him made them see him as a potential rival. He wanted to say, you¡¯re overthinking it, your competition is Mr. Liu. In the company, every single woman, upon seeing Mr. Liu, had stars in her eyes¡ªeven some who weren¡¯t single. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: 037 Liu Kuns Discovery Chapter 37: 037 Liu Kun¡¯s Discovery Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Over the next half month, Chen Xu spent his time working overtime, staying busy until eight or even nine in the evening every day. The electronic sales department had just been established, and there was an overwhelming amount of work. Everyone was so busy that their feet barely touched the ground. At first, he found it a bit hard to adjust. In his previous department, every day had a clear set of tasks, and the team worked well together. By simply doing his part, he could finish within working hours. Now he was like a tightly wound spring that never stopped. As soon as one task was completed, another one awaited, and unexpected issues kept arising. Often, while halfway through, he realized things deviated significantly from the plan, and he had to scrap it and start over. These occurrences were frequent. Of course, he felt exhausted, but Chen Xu also found it fulfilling. He felt he was learning a lot. One distinct aspect of the new department was the frequent meetings. Every morning, there was a routine meeting to report each person¡¯s progress, and Liu Kun attended daily, no matter how busy he was. Every colleague worked diligently with a unique youthful drive. Chen Xu really enjoyed this work atmosphere. More than once, he thought that if he had joined a company with such an environment right after graduating, things would have been quite different. ¡­¡­ Another Friday came, and as the end of the workday approached, Liu Kun showed up. Upon entering, he clapped his hands to get everyone¡¯s attention and said, ¡°For the past half month, everyone has worked hard. Today, head home early, and there¡¯s no need to come to the office tomorrow. If you have a date, go ahead and have it. If you have family, spend time with them.¡± ¡°Long live Mr. Liu.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Everyone cheered, finally able to rest after half a month of non-stop work. They wholeheartedly embraced this decision. After Liu Kun finished speaking, he didn¡¯t delay, announcing it was the end of the workday. Everyone couldn¡¯t wait to leave the office. ¡°Chen Xu, aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± The colleague named Dai Zixin noticed Chen Xu still at his computer and asked. Chen Xu waved his hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for a design proposal; you go ahead.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll head out first,¡± Dai Zixin said and left. Soon, only Chen Xu was left in the department, along with Luo Xiyun and Liu Kun in the office. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°What are they talking about?¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°Xiyun.¡± Liu Kun sat at the desk, his eyes filled with concern, ¡°I heard from Yumeng that you¡¯ve been working late into the night these days.¡± Luo Xiyun put down her pen, sighed, ¡°Liu Yumeng and her big mouth; I shouldn¡¯t have let her stay at my place.¡± ¡°She means well. How can your body handle working late every night? You don¡¯t have to come to the office for the next few days; take a good rest.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Luo Xiyun refused decisively, ¡°I¡¯m needed here.¡± Liu Kun rarely looked helpless, ¡°If you seriously wear yourself out, how am I supposed to explain it to Mr. Luo?¡± Even upon hearing him bring up her father, Luo Xiyun showed no signs of compromise, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know my own body. When it¡¯s time to rest, I won¡¯t push through it.¡± Liu Kun didn¡¯t persuade her further; his gaze suddenly fell on a potted plant on the desk. It struck him as odd since she had a cleanliness obsession and never kept such things in the office, hating dirt and bugs. He casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s this plant? It looks rather unique.¡± She vaguely replied, ¡°Just planted it randomly.¡± Liu Kun distinctly caught a flicker of emotion in her eyes, making him more curious. His thoughts connected it to another matter, wondering if it was related, and he tentatively asked, ¡°I heard you turned down Zhou Hao.¡± Hearing the name, Luo Xiyun unconsciously furrowed her brow, ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°A few days ago, Zhou Hao got drunk, shouting about finding the bastard who stole his woman and saying he¡¯d break his three legs.¡± Liu Kun shared an amusing tidbit, ¡°Everyone¡¯s curious about who that man is.¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s expression turned a bit cold. Knock, knock. Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside. ¡°Come in,¡± Luo Xiyun said. Chen Xu entered, first greeting Liu Kun, ¡°Mr. Liu,¡± before handing over a USB drive, ¡°Mr. Luo, this is the new proposal from the advertising company.¡± ¡°Just leave it there,¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off.¡± Chen Xu nodded to Liu Kun, and before leaving, he noticed the potted plant on the desk had sprouted new buds, wondering, ¡°It looks like a tomato?¡± In his dreams, he once grew tomatoes to have fresh vegetables and recognized what they look like when they first sprout. But then he thought it improbable. Who would grow tomatoes in a pot in the office? The thought quickly passed, and he didn¡¯t dwell on it, leaving the office. Liu Kun didn¡¯t pay much attention to the employee either until the moment he left, catching a glimpse of the extremely complex emotions flickering in Luo Xiyun¡¯s eyes as she looked at the employee¡¯s back. This look brought a certain suspicion to his mind. But, was this suspicion too far-fetched? Feeling the need to confirm, he cast his gaze toward the now-closed door, as if his eyes penetrated it to see the employee. If he remembered correctly, the man¡¯s name was Chen Xu. An ordinary name, just like his appearance. ¡­¡­ As Chen Xu left the company, he called Old Tang, wanting to take this opportunity to treat him to a meal to express his gratitude for the past year of guidance. Old Tang told him not to go to any expense and invited him to dine at his place. So, Chen Xu went to the supermarket, bought a bunch of ingredients, and headed for Old Tang¡¯s house. Old Tang¡¯s home was a bit far from the company. Chen Xu had helped out when he moved, so he knew the location. He hailed a cab and got there in less than an hour. Old Tang¡¯s wife wasn¡¯t particularly pretty but very pleasing to the eye, embodying the gentle wife and good mother type. Truth be told, Chen Xu had always envied Old Tang for establishing a home in this city through hard work and marrying such a good woman. That evening, after tasting the meal made by Old Tang¡¯s wife, his envy grew even more. Nowadays, finding a woman who cooks well was so hard. That night, Chen Xu had a dream. He dreamed he replicated Old Tang¡¯s wife into the dream during the second dream realm. When he awoke the next day and recalled the dream¡¯s content, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Thankfully, it was only a dream. He quickly rushed to the bathroom to take a cold shower to calm himself. After that, he laid down a rule for himself, ¡°From now on, when entering a dream realm, never replicate anyone I know in reality.¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: 038 Emergency Assistance in the Martial Arts World Chapter 38: 038 Emergency Assistance in the Martial Arts World Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` It was rare to have a day off, and Chen Xu was thinking about going out for a stroll. As he walked to the window, a cold breeze blew in, making him shiver, and he immediately dismissed the idea. ¡°It¡¯s already winter.¡± In the blink of an eye, it was already December. This year, the cold air arrived particularly late. New Year¡¯s was more than a month away, and it finally felt like winter. Thinking about New Year¡¯s, his brows furrowed involuntarily. Two years ago, something happened in his family, leaving them in debt by hundreds of thousands, all borrowed from relatives. Although they never urged for repayment, owing money to others was an unpleasant feeling. After starting work, he would send home one thousand yuan from his monthly salary to pay off the debt. Although this amount was small, he persisted. He was afraid that if he slacked off, maybe he would never be able to repay that debt. Over the past two years, visiting relatives during New Year¡¯s had become the most distressing thing for him. Those relatives never mentioned the money, but Chen Xu still felt uncomfortable facing them. His biggest wish now was to pay off the debt quickly. Otherwise, he would always feel like he couldn¡¯t hold his head high in front of his relatives. Where could he find money? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He focused on considering this biggest challenge in his life. After a raise, he could put aside two thousand each month for the debt, but it was still too little¡ªjust over twenty thousand a year. Relying solely on him, who knew when it would be paid off? Way too slow. So, he still needed to find a way to make money. For some people, making money was as simple as eating and drinking. Some relied on family background and abundant resources; others relied on intellect and ability, or boldness and luck. But for most people, it was as difficult as climbing a mountain. Like him, with no family money, no outstanding intellect or talents, and a timid nature, afraid of being cheated, he only had the clumsy way of hard work and accumulating over time. Probably most ordinary people in this country survived this way. However, Chen Xu was luckier than most people. With that virtual dream device, he had many more options in life. Chen Xu sat on the computer chair, holding a bouncy ball in his hand, and threw it out of the balcony. The ball accurately hit the bottom horizontal bar of the stainless-steel security screen, bounced back, and fell into his hand. Then, he threw it again. This time, the bouncy ball hit the second horizontal bar of the security screen. The third time, it hit the third horizontal bar. This bouncy ball was his new toy, and playing like this was really stress-relieving. Last week, during lunch break, while he was playing with the bouncy ball in the company, Zixin saw it and made a fuss, insisting on filming short videos of him throwing the bouncy ball. He was pestered so much that he had to agree. The critical factor was the lunch Zixin treated him to. Since then, Zixin would pester him every day to film a short video. With each video, she would treat him to a meal. Considering the free lunch, he happily agreed. Anyway, filming a short video didn¡¯t take much time. He played with the bouncy ball for a while, then thought that with a day off, he might as well play a game. On his phone, there was only one game app, and that was Werewolf. It¡¯s a board game, and later, a company developed a corresponding app for playing online. He would play a round when he had free time. However, he had been working overtime recently and lacked the time and energy. After all, one game takes at least dozens of minutes, and sometimes it could last over an hour without ending. Just as he picked up his phone, WeChat rang. The message was from Zixin, ¡°Chen Xu, hurry to XXX, it¡¯s an emergency.¡± ¡°???¡± Chen Xu replied with a few question marks, asking what was going on. Soon, Zixin sent a voice message, ¡°I¡¯m live streaming, and suddenly, many comments are calling me a fraud, saying the videos are fake. I¡¯m furious. Hurry over to clear my name.¡± Chen Xu replied, ¡°No way, I finally have a day off. I need to rest at home.¡± Another voice message arrived, pleading, ¡°Please help me out. I worked so hard to gather these followers, and if you don¡¯t come, they¡¯ll all unfollow me.¡± Chen Xu remained unmoved, ¡°Isn¡¯t it inhumane to go out in such cold weather?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll reimburse your round-trip ticket, and lunch and dinner are on me.¡± Chen Xu sent another message, ¡°I haven¡¯t had a supper in ages.¡± ¡°How about afternoon tea and supper?¡± In this voice message, she sounded as if she was gritting her teeth. Chen Xu¡¯s spirits lifted, and he said, ¡°Send me the location.¡± ¡­¡­ Half an hour later, Chen Xu arrived at the destination, on a street not far from the company. In such cold weather, Zixin had actually gone outside to live stream, how reckless. ¡°Over here.¡± Zixin was waiting in front of a store, waving excitedly when she saw him, ¡°You finally made it, boohoo¡ª¡± Chen Xu ignored her exaggerated expression. After a fortnight of interaction, he was familiar with her character. She was cheerful and liked to joke around; perhaps ¡°quirky¡± was a more accurate description. Once, she imitated some prank videos targeting superiors and went to tease Liu Kun. As a result, Liu Kun¡¯s face turned stern, scaring her so much that her phone fell to the ground, and the screen cracked. For such daredevil spirit, Chen Xu could only say he admired her. Fortunately, Liu Kun was just joking with her and even comforted her a bit. Of course, he ultimately gave her a piece of his mind, telling her not to film such things during work hours. Seeing her empty-handed, Chen Xu asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you live streaming?¡± ¡°It¡¯s being filmed inside. I came out to greet you,¡± Zixin said, pulling his hand into the store. Inside was a themed restaurant-bar, and Chen Xu hadn¡¯t been to such a place before, finding it novel and looking around. It was clear the owner put a lot of effort into the decoration, and it felt quite tasteful and comfortable upon entering. ¡°Make way, the expert has arrived.¡± By the counter, a phone was mounted on a tripod, and several girls were chatting excitedly in front of it. At Zixin¡¯s shout, she pulled Chen Xu over. The girls looked at Chen Xu curiously, asking, ¡°Is this the expert from your videos?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, this is the man himself.¡± As Zixin said this, she glanced at the phone, seeing that the number of viewers had dropped considerably. She looked at Chen Xu with pleading eyes, ¡°Now, it¡¯s all up to you.¡± Chen Xu nodded in acknowledgment to the girls. He had agreed to let Zixin film short videos with the condition that he wouldn¡¯t show his face, and if he did, it had to be pixelated. However, it was a live stream now, and not showing his face was a bit unrealistic. Seeing how sincerely she pleaded, it didn¡¯t matter if he showed his face a little. But how to prove those videos were real? Live streaming wasn¡¯t like pre-shooting; many effects couldn¡¯t be captured live. Seeing Zixin¡¯s pleading face, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. It seemed he couldn¡¯t rely on her for ideas. His gaze swept the dining area and noticed a dartboard hanging on the left wall, and he had an idea. ¡°` Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: 039 Large-scale Car Crash Scene Chapter 39: 039 Large-scale Car Crash Scene Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu pointed at the dartboard and asked one of the girls who seemed to be a store employee, ¡°Does the store have darts?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get them.¡± The employee went to the counter and brought back a box of darts. Chen Xu took it, thanked her, and then walked in front of the phone¡¯s camera. ¡°Damn.¡± Chen Xu glanced at the screen and was startled, ¡°Is that really me?¡± He¡¯d heard that beauty filters on short video apps were quite powerful. This was his first time filming, and it was indeed exaggerated. His eyes were bigger, his face smaller, and his skin turned whiter and smoother¡ªtotally unlike himself. ¡°No wonder every woman looks pretty on short videos, so this is how it works.¡± He marveled in his heart. This way, his previous worries were completely unnecessary. Even if someone he knew saw this short video, they definitely wouldn¡¯t recognize him. After just a few glances, a flood of comments surged, filling the entire screen. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Your fans are really enthusiastic.¡± Chen Xu was a bit surprised, not expecting Zixin to have so many followers. To be honest, standing in front of the camera for the first time with so many viewers opposite him felt quite novel. He said, ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Zixin¡¯s friend. Those videos of things being thrown were all thrown by me, 100% real.¡± Then he noticed a bunch of comments with the same content. Though the text was small, the fact that everyone posted the same content caught his attention. Looking closely, it was, ¡°Bouncy Brother finally appeared on camera.¡± Chen Xu¡¯s eye twitched. He asked Zixin beside him, ¡°What the heck is Bouncy Brother?¡± Zixin¡¯s gaze was a bit evasive as she explained, ¡°Well, that¡¯s the nickname they gave you. The girl with the watermelon fan is called Watermelon Girl, the guy selling pomegranates is Pomegranate Guy, and the one playing with a bouncy ball is naturally called Bouncy Brother.¡± The more she spoke, the weaker her confidence became. Several girls nearby were already laughing uncontrollably. What a ridiculous nickname. Chen Xu silently cursed Zixin in his mind but kept his composure in front of the camera. He decided to throw the bouncy ball in his pocket into the trash later. Ignoring that annoying name, he took out a dart and got to the point, ¡°I heard from Zixin that someone doubts the video¡¯s authenticity. Let me demonstrate throwing a dart for everyone.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go over there.¡± Chen Xu had Zixin carry the phone and walked over to the dartboard. He observed and stood about three meters away from the dartboard. He hadn¡¯t played darts before, and this distance was manageable and convenient for filming. Too far, and it wouldn¡¯t be clear. Beside him, Zixin held up the phone, closely following him while filming. ¡°Later, whoever tells me which spot to hit, I¡¯ll throw there,¡± Chen Xu said, then added, ¡°Of course, there are too many people commenting. How about this: whoever sends a gift, I¡¯ll listen to them.¡± Then he saw the phone screen fill with words saying ¡°tricking for gifts¡­¡± once again filling the screen. His face twitched slightly; it was a bit exhausting. Streaming wasn¡¯t easy either. Suddenly, he saw a comment, ¡°If you hit the spot, sending gifts is no problem. But what if you miss?¡± His mind stirred, and he said, ¡°Of course, if I miss, I¡¯ll accept punishment. As for what punishment¡­¡± ¡°This can be done.¡±¡±If you miss, eat a dart on stream.¡±¡±Live eating you-know-what.¡±¡±Lick a fan live.¡±¡­¡­ Before Chen Xu finished speaking, he saw comments suggesting various punishments, getting more outrageous as they went along, making his face darken. This audience was really unbelievable, their standards too low. ¡°If I miss, I¡¯ll admit I¡¯m a fraud.¡± Chen Xu quickly said, to avoid more outrageous comments. He then saw many comments agreeing and finally sighed in relief. ¡°Before we officially start, I¡¯ll warm up a bit first.¡± After he spoke, Chen Xu grabbed a dart, aimed at the red bullseye in the center, and threw. The dart hit the board but veered to the edge, landing right on the number ¡°6.¡± He frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the result. This was his first time throwing a dart, and it felt completely different from throwing other things. He had to hold the dart between three fingers, a technique he hadn¡¯t used before. Zixin kept filming him, capturing this moment as well. Instantly, a lot of comments floated by, all saying things like ¡°Isn¡¯t this a fail?¡± and ¡°666, welcome to the epic fail scene¡­¡± The nearby girls looked at Chen Xu with strange expressions. Even Zixin, who had the most confidence in Chen Xu, looked anxious. If this went wrong, her account would be ruined too. No wonder she was nervous. Coincidentally, Chen Xu noticed Zixin¡¯s expression. His mind shifted, initially aiming at the red center, but this time he purposely aimed at the top number ¡°20.¡± A dart flew out, hitting the number ¡°20¡± dead center. He purposely frowned, seeing Zixin¡¯s worried face, secretly amused. Then, he tried a few more darts, getting more off-track, missing several times. Zixin¡¯s face grew worse, finally almost looking like she was about to cry, ¡°Chen Xu, maybe stick to the bouncy ball.¡± Chen Xu felt a bit of guilt at first, but when she mentioned the bouncy ball again, his guilt vanished, and he intentionally said, ¡°That¡¯s not good, we agreed to darts, we can¡¯t change at the last minute, can we? Besides, they won¡¯t agree, right?¡± Zixin¡¯s face fell, pouting, ¡°If you mess this up, you¡¯re not getting away with it.¡± Chen Xu exclaimed, ¡°Even if I mess up, it¡¯d be my embarrassment, right?¡± Zixin looked frustrated, ¡°This is my account, my account¡­¡± At that moment, the comments in the live stream went wild, ¡°Another gone crazy¡­¡±¡±Poor host¡­¡±¡±Shocking, beautiful streamer driven crazy by a man who likes to play with bouncy balls¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to perform now.¡± Feeling it was time, Chen Xu cleared his throat and announced. ¡°I¡¯ll be the first, aiming for sixty points.¡± Soon, someone sent a gift. Chen Xu paused, there were only numbers one to twenty; where was sixty? Going with the principle of asking when unsure, he asked, ¡°Which spot is sixty points?¡± Once again, the live stream was flooded with comments, turning it into a sea of joy. Zixin¡¯s head spun, despairingly saying, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never played darts?¡± It was still that girl in uniform who told him, ¡°See the two circular rings on the board? The outer one is the double zone; the middle one is the triple zone. Overlapping with the twenty-point area, that¡¯s sixty points.¡± With that explanation, Chen Xu understood. P.S. Thanks to the few readers for the tips. ¡°` Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 040 Deep Schemes Chapter 40: 040 Deep Schemes Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu estimated that the dartboard was about fifty centimeters in diameter. The area he needed to hit was less than one percent of its size, probably smaller than a bottle cap. He aimed briefly, then threw the dart in his hand. Holding the phone, Dai Zixin¡¯s heart was in her throat as she filmed. She saw the dart with the red tail firmly embed itself in the triple scoring area of the twenty-point zone and excitedly shouted, ¡°Hit it, hit it¡ª¡± After shouting a few times, she remembered she was live streaming and pointed the camera at herself, ¡°Did you see that? It hit.¡± ¡°The host¡¯s camera is shaking so much I couldn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t count, doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Right, couldn¡¯t see it. Who knows if you stuck it in there by hand while we weren¡¯t looking? Do it again.¡± Soon, there was a flood of messages, ¡°Do it again¡­¡± Dai Zixin argued, ¡°He clearly hit it; I saw it with my own eyes.¡± Chen Xu came over to persuade her, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s do it again. Just fix the stand properly.¡± After saying that, he noticed someone typing on the phone screen, ¡°Still, Bouncy Brother is so kind¡­¡± His eye twitched. Why were people still calling him by that damned nickname? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Today, I must leave a lasting impression on you.¡± He vowed inwardly, determined to shake off that nickname as soon as possible. ¡°He clearly hit it¡­¡± Dai Zixin muttered, repositioning the phone on the stand and adjusting the filming angle. ¡°We¡¯re starting.¡± Chen Xu picked up another dart and threw it again. At a distance of three meters, hitting a target the size of a bottle cap was a piece of cake for him. If it were a bouncy ball, he wouldn¡¯t even need to aim¡ª Ugh, why did he think of that wretched bouncy ball again? The dart landed firmly in the same spot as the previous one. ¡°Hit again.¡± Dai Zixin jumped excitedly in front of the phone, ¡°Did you see that? Did you see that? You can¡¯t deny it now, can you?¡± Immediately, someone sent a gift, ¡°Triple score of two points.¡± Chen Xu retrieved the dart, aimed, and threw it all in one go. ¡°Hit!¡± Dai Zixin cheered. After that, more people sent gifts, and Chen Xu hit every single target with perfect accuracy. Before long, Dai Zixin noticed no one was sending gifts anymore, but instead, there were screens full of exclamation marks. ¡°What happened?¡± She was a bit puzzled. ¡°The city is full of tricks indeed.¡± ¡°Hello, 110? Someone¡¯s pretending to be a fool to snatch gifts here, utterly shameless.¡± ¡°Bouncy Brother¡¯s dart skills are so-so, but his acting this time, I must admit, is top-notch.¡± ¡°And the host, this ventriloquism act, is professional as hell.¡± ¡°Especially that questioning tone, truly exceptional. Host, doing live streams here is a waste of your talent; you should switch to acting.¡± ¡­¡­ Those messages were all teasing. Dai Zixin was bewildered. Did they mean she and Chen Xu were just performing for them here? Was that the case? At this moment, Chen Xu also came over, watched for a while, and spoke, ¡°Everyone seems unimpressed with my dart skills. How about I make it a bit more challenging?¡± ¡°Everyone sit tight, Bouncy Brother is about to show off again.¡± ¡°Waiting for Bouncy Brother to showcase his acting.¡± ¡°Indeed, nothing exciting about the darts. Keep refining your acting skills instead.¡± Chen Xu saw a few such messages and was at a loss for words. He felt he truly wasn¡¯t suited for this live streaming business, and these people could really drive him mad. He went over to ask the previous waitress, ¡°Do you have a blindfold or a clean piece of cloth?¡± The girl said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± In a moment, she brought a black blindfold with cartoon eyes on it, ¡°This one¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Chen Xu took the blindfold, tried it on, then walked over to the phone and covered the camera with it. He said, ¡°This is a completely opaque blindfold. You can take a look.¡± After a few seconds, he removed the blindfold and said, ¡°I¡¯ll cover my eyes with it, still stand in the same spot, and you call out a position. If I hit it, you send gifts. If I miss¡ª¡± He glanced at Dai Zixin beside him and said, ¡°I¡¯ll share Zixin¡¯s WeChat, guaranteeing that every person who sent a gift can add her as a friend. How about that?¡± ¡°No way.¡± Dai Zixin protested, ¡°Why should my WeChat be shared if you miss?¡± Chen Xu shrugged, ¡°You said earlier that this is your stream.¡± Dai Zixin was speechless. ¡°Awesome, I¡¯m impressed by this brilliant plan.¡± ¡°This gift-taking trick is original. I¡¯m awarding it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a tactic, huh?¡± On the screen, there was another wave of teasing, clearly indicating no one believed Chen Xu could hit the dart blindfolded. They thought he was just using it as an excuse. In reality, it was a ploy to use the host¡¯s WeChat to lure people into sending gifts. Anyway, Dai Zixin was undoubtedly a beauty. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn¡¯t a loss. Once a viewer pointed this out, the others caught on quickly and flooded a wave of comments. Chen Xu walked to the spot where he had thrown the dart before and said, ¡°I¡¯ll only attempt three shots, limited chances. If you¡¯re interested, report the positions quickly.¡± Dai Zixin quickly called out the positions from the first three people who sent gifts, ¡°Triple score of nineteen points, triple score of one point, and the twenty-five-point zone.¡± Chen Xu quickly located the first two positions, but where was the twenty-point zone? Before he could ask, the waitress beside him said, ¡°It¡¯s the outer green ring around the very center bullseye.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks.¡± Chen Xu etched those three positions in his mind, put on the blindfold, and picked up a dart. By now, the commotion had drawn quite a few customers. Especially when they saw Chen Xu was about to put on the blindfold, curiosity got the better of them, and they gathered around. Chen Xu held the dart with three fingers and, relying on memory, aimed in his mind. Throughout the process, the people nearby were swept up in the atmosphere, becoming tense. No one made a sound. ¡°The first one, triple score of nineteen points.¡± Chen Xu announced the position and released the dart in his hand. ¡°Wow.¡± The onlooking customers collectively gasped in amazement. ¡°Hit!¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s voice trembled with immense excitement. At this point, Chen Xu picked up another dart. Instantly, the surroundings fell silent again. ¡°Triple score of one point.¡± He announced the position and took the shot again. ¡°Wow¡ª¡± This time, the exclamation was even louder than before. Not only were the customers amazed, but even those few girls from earlier were also stunned. Dai Zixin covered her mouth, her eyes as wide as they could be. And it didn¡¯t stop there. Chen Xu once again picked up a dart and shouted, ¡°Twenty-five-point zone.¡± Even before the words were out of his mouth, the dart in his hand turned into a flash of lightning, landing squarely in that green outer ring around the center. Clap, clap, clap¡­ Everyone nearby applauded vigorously, celebrating his incredible performance. On the phone, in the live stream room, it had become eerily empty at some point, with not a single comment. After a few seconds, suddenly countless messages flooded in, far surpassing any previous moment. ¡°` Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: 041 It Smells So Good Chapter 41: 041 It Smells So Good Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu listened to the applause surrounding him, took off the blindfold, and looked at the astonished expressions of those around him. He finally understood why so many people liked to grab the spotlight. This feeling wasn¡¯t bad at all. He held it together. He silently told himself, trying hard to control his expression. He couldn¡¯t smile, and he definitely couldn¡¯t look smug. At this moment, the more indifferent and unconcerned you appeared, the more impressive you seemed in others¡¯ eyes. Of course, he couldn¡¯t just stand there like a fool; he walked over to the waitress and handed her the blindfold, ¡°Thanks for the blindfold.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The girl looked a bit excited, and the way she looked at him was completely different from before; it was as if she was glowing. A tingly and refreshing feeling welled up in Chen Xu¡¯s heart. To be honest, the girl¡¯s looks were average, just at passerby level. But when her face turned red and she looked at him with a slightly admiring gaze, it indeed gave him a unique feeling. It was the first time he had received such a look from a woman, which was quite memorable for him. ¡°Chen Xu, they want you to perform again.¡± Suddenly, Dai Zixin shouted excitedly, ¡°They¡¯ve sent a lot of gifts!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Chen Xu shook his head and said, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet.¡± He knew that at this time, it¡¯s best to hold back. He couldn¡¯t perform casually; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be valuable. ¡°Oh. Then, Jiajia, you guys help me take care of him, ask him what he wants to eat, and I¡¯ll pay the bill later.¡± Dai Zixin seemed a bit disappointed but still instructed her friends. The waitress warmly invited Chen Xu, ¡°Come sit over here.¡± ¡­ ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± the girl named Jiajia asked while holding the menu. ¡°What about you?¡± Chen Xu politely asked the other two girls. The two girls ordered drinks, and Chen Xu asked for a sandwich. After Jiajia placed the order, she left. Chen Xu chatted with the other two girls for a while and learned that they had a good relationship with Dai Zixin, probably as best friends. When Dai Zixin was in college, she had worked here during the summer, and that¡¯s how they met. He wasn¡¯t surprised. With Dai Zixin¡¯s personality, she surely had a lot of friends. In the half month since joining the new department, she had gotten along with everyone the best, even Luo Xiyun was particularly kind to her. After chatting for a while, Jiajia came over with the items, put them down, and then sat down out of curiosity, ¡°You must be a professional darts player, right?¡± Chen Xu laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not, actually.¡± ¡°How did you practice? You hit the target with your eyes covered; that¡¯s really amazing.¡± Jiajia said with a face full of admiration, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing for months, and even with my eyes open, I still miss a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably a talent,¡± Chen Xu spoke honestly. Without that talent card, he definitely couldn¡¯t do it. ¡°You acted so well. At the start, you had me fooled. You pretended not to know where the triple area was; I really thought you were a newbie and was worried about you.¡± Chen Xu just smiled and said nothing. He didn¡¯t mention that it was indeed his first time playing darts; no one would believe it anyway, and they¡¯d think he was just bragging. He picked up the sandwich, took a bite, and found that it tasted pretty good. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re so amazing, why don¡¯t you participate in competitions?¡± Jiajia seemed to be someone who talked a lot and couldn¡¯t stop once she started. Hearing the word ¡°competition,¡± Chen Xu paused his eating and asked, ¡°Darts also have competitions?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jiajia said, seeing that he seemed genuinely unaware, ¡°Darts is an indoor sport that¡¯s very popular abroad, with many competitions. But nowadays, more and more people play it here too, with quite a few tournaments held annually, both professional and amateur.¡± Chen Xu asked again, ¡°So, in these competitions, if you win, there¡¯s prize money, right?¡± Jiajia, unsurprisedly, said, ¡°Of course, the highest international prize can be millions. The usual prize in the country is tens of thousands. Oh, last week there was an amateur tournament, and the first prize was fifty thousand.¡± Chen Xu fell silent. He thought he was truly foolish; discovering his talent yet he hadn¡¯t thought about darts as a sport. Wasn¡¯t this the sport that best matched his talent? If he had thought about it earlier, he could have participated in that amateur tournament Jiajia mentioned. The fifty thousand prize would have been within easy reach, and maybe there were other competitions, too. Thinking of this, it felt like his heart was bleeding, as if he missed out on a million. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiajia found it strange when he suddenly went silent. ¡°Are there any other amateur tournaments coming up?¡± ¡°You want to participate?¡± Jiajia asked with some excitement, pulling out her phone, ¡°I¡¯ll ask in the group.¡± Chen Xu patiently waited until he finished a sandwich. Jiajia then checked and said, ¡°The group members said that now it¡¯s the end of the year, there aren¡¯t many competitions domestically. The soonest would be after the Spring Festival. There are abroad ones, but the qualifications are pretty hard to obtain.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chen Xu felt very disappointed that he had to wait until after New Year. He initially thought of entering a few competitions before the year¡¯s end to earn some money. ¡°Let¡¯s add each other on WeChat. If there¡¯s any news about darts competitions, let me know right away.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± ¡­ Lunch was on Dai Zixin, and she was generous, choosing a rather upscale restaurant. It was just the two of them at the meal, as the other two girls were meeting their boyfriends and Jiajia had to work. Chen Xu didn¡¯t hold back with her, ordering three dishes and a soup, as he could pack up anything he couldn¡¯t finish. ¡°Chen Xu, why don¡¯t we partner up?¡± Halfway through the meal, Dai Zixin suddenly suggested, ¡°You handle the performances, and we split all the earnings from this account half and half.¡± ¡°Forget it, live streaming is tiring after just doing it once. It¡¯s not my thing.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t even lift his head, showing more interest in the dishes on the table. Seeing him refuse without hesitation, Dai Zixin seemed a bit regretful, took a few more bites, and said, ¡°No matter what, today we received a lot of gifts, mainly thanks to you. I think you deserve half of the money.¡± Chen Xu was a principled person; he shook his head and said, ¡°Forget it, you¡¯ve already treated me to a meal; how can I still take your money?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do, they are two different matters,¡± Dai Zixin said firmly, ¡°I calculated: the gifts received today should be worth more than two thousand yuan. I can get thirty percent of that, which is six hundred. I¡¯ll WeChat transfer you three hundred in a bit.¡± Suddenly, Chen Xu stopped his chopsticks, raised his head, and looked at her, ¡°What did you just say?¡± Dai Zixin seemed puzzled, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°That I¡¯ll transfer you three hundred on WeChat?¡± ¡°Go a little further back.¡± ¡°You deserve half of the money?¡± ¡°A bit further.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s, partner up?¡± Chen Xu extended his hand and said, ¡°Pleasure working with you.¡± ¡°` Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Luo Xiyuns Dilemma Chapter 42: Luo Xiyun¡¯s Dilemma Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Collaboration¡­ pleasant.¡± Dai Zixin was somewhat speechless at how quickly Chen Xu¡¯s attitude changed. However, thinking about his joining and how her fan base would skyrocket, she immediately got excited again and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s do another live stream tomorrow at noon.¡± Chen Xu thought for a moment and said, ¡°No, if we stream too frequently, it won¡¯t be worth much. It¡¯s about scarcity marketing, you know? We have to maintain our image and keep the fans hungry to harvest gifts better.¡± Dai Zixin felt a little disappointed at his words. She valued the number of fans more, and gifts were secondary. But she had to listen to him about this, so she asked, ¡°When¡¯s the next stream then?¡± Chen Xu considered for a moment and said, ¡°I think twice a week is more appropriate. Let¡¯s schedule it for Thursday and the weekend. We can decide the specific time later.¡± Dai Zixin didn¡¯t see a problem with that and agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± After discussing the collaboration, both felt quite happy. ¡°Huh, Director?¡± As they were discussing what to perform on the next live stream, Dai Zixin suddenly called out while facing the door. Luo Xiyun was here? Chen Xu thought how coincidental this was and turned to look, glancing around, but he didn¡¯t see Luo Xiyun¡¯s figure anywhere, so he asked, ¡°Where?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°I definitely saw her just now, how did she disappear so quickly.¡± Dai Zixin was puzzled. ¡°Could I have seen it wrong?¡± ¡°You must have mistaken her for someone else.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t pay much attention and continued discussing with her, ¡°What were we talking about just now¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°What¡¯s wrong here?¡± Liu Yumeng was pulled out from the restaurant entrance by Luo Xiyun, looking at her with a face full of confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t like this place.¡± Luo Xiyun threw out a sentence, let go of her hand, and got straight into the car. Liu Yumeng followed into the driver¡¯s seat and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s go to that place we went last time, how about it?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Luo Xiyun responded, propping her face with her hand and looking out the car window. She just happened to see the reflection of a man and a woman from the restaurant¡¯s glass. A sudden inexplicable irritation filled her heart, and she forcefully closed the car window. A burst of music sounded; it was her phone ringing. ¡°When will this end?¡± Seeing the number, her emotions slightly erupted, and she hung up the call, then immediately blocked the number. Liu Yumeng glanced at her, ¡°Was it Zhou Hao calling again? This guy is still unwilling to let go.¡± ¡°Just ignore him, let¡¯s go.¡± Luo Xiyun controlled her temper and put the phone back to its place. Liu Yumeng heard this, started the car, and after driving for a while, she asked, ¡°Have you been having nightmares lately? You haven¡¯t been looking well these days. How about I accompany you to the hospital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± In Luo Xiyun¡¯s voice, there was an unconcealable fatigue. ¡°Stop pretending to be okay. When did you start wearing such heavy makeup? Concealer can hardly hide your dark circles now. I¡¯m telling you, once a woman¡¯s skin starts aging, it¡¯s irreversible. Once it gets bad, it¡¯s hard to regain youth.¡± Luo Xiyun instinctively touched her face, hesitating a bit, ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± ¡°Not just your complexion; your temper is explosive too. This won¡¯t do, it will affect your endocrine system and might lead to early menopause.¡± Liu Yumeng continued, ¡°You should listen to me. Take a day off work tomorrow, and I¡¯ll go with you to the hospital for some medication.¡± Luo Xiyun hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she didn¡¯t voice her refusal. She rummaged through her bag for a mirror and looked closely at her face. After driving for a while, Liu Yumeng couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°By the way, you always seemed so fearless. What kind of nightmare torments you into sleeplessness?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s hand paused, she put away the mirror, rested her head on the seat¡¯s back, and asked, ¡°Have you ever had a particularly long dream?¡± ¡°A particularly long dream?¡± Liu Yumeng shook her head, saying, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. Usually, after dreaming, I forget most of it upon waking.¡± Saying this, she curiously added, ¡°How long was your dream?¡± Luo Xiyun murmured, ¡°In the dream, it felt like several months had passed. At first, I couldn¡¯t remember the contents, only knowing it went on for a long time.¡± ¡°Yeah, and then?¡± ¡°Since then, every morning when I wake up, I recall the things in the dream. Those things were too vivid, too real, as if I had really lived in the dream for several months.¡± Liu Yumeng grew more curious and asked, ¡°What happened in the dream?¡± Luo Xiyun¡¯s brow slightly furrowed, and after a moment of pause, she said, ¡°I dreamt of a man.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Liu Yumeng¡¯s eyes lit up, with gossip fire burning intensely, ¡°What kind of man was he?¡± Luo Xiyun responded, ¡°The man, I actually know him.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Liu Yumeng exclaimed, suddenly stopping the car by the roadside, turning to look at her, her face full of excitement, ¡°Who? Do I know him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not someone you know.¡± Luo Xiyun shook her head and softly said, ¡°Him, I wasn¡¯t familiar with him before, we hadn¡¯t even spoken. I don¡¯t even know why it was him¡­¡± Liu Yumeng noticed a flash of struggle and pain in her eyes, and a bold speculation arose in her heart. She softly asked, ¡°Could it be¡­ he¡¯s a married man?¡± Luo Xiyun shook her head without speaking, but her brow furrowed deeply. Seeing her discomfort, Liu Yumeng pondered over that man¡¯s identity and why it troubled her so. She advised, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it; it¡¯s just a dream, and it will pass with time.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± Luo Xiyun seemed to murmur but didn¡¯t elaborate further. In recent days, the memories in her dream had become clearer and clearer. She could remember the recently renovated villa¡¯s formaldehyde smell, the bone-chilling cold wind, and the nausea of canned fish, ham, luncheon meat, sausages, fruit cans eaten for months¡­ Everything felt too real. The most unbearable was the memories with that man in the dream, as if etched into her mind, inerasable. She couldn¡¯t accept that the person in the dream was herself. That was also the source of her pain. ¡°Are you struggling because the dream left such a deep impression?¡± Suddenly, Liu Yumeng spoke up, suggesting, ¡°If so, why not verify it?¡± Luo Xiyun raised her head and softly asked, ¡°How to verify?¡± ¡°In the dream, does that man have any birthmarks or distinct features? Find a chance to see if he has them in real life; then you¡¯ll know.¡± Luo Xiyun didn¡¯t respond. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you.¡± Liu Yumeng sighed, ¡°This issue is tormenting you so much, yet you don¡¯t take any action?¡± Luo Xiyun was startled; after a long pause, she sighed, ¡°You¡¯re right, this matter needs resolving.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Liu Yumeng finally smiled and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to show up, I can help.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°` Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: 043 Eye-opening Chapter 43: 043 Eye-opening Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Taking a day off, Chen Xu went to the company with renewed energy, as if all the fatigue of the past half month had vanished, and he was fully recharged. Actually, he hadn¡¯t realized it himself, but the half-year experience in the apocalyptic dream, with all its hardships, had toughened his spirit and willpower. That¡¯s why, despite half a month of continuous overtime, he didn¡¯t find it very exhausting. As he went upstairs, he happened to run into Mr. He from the HR department, leading four or five people over, saying they were new colleagues for their department. The entire electronic sales department applauded enthusiastically, almost chanting ¡°Long live Mr. Liu.¡± With so much work piling up in the department, having more people to share the load was welcome by everyone. Just then, Liu Kun came over, encouraged them with a few words, and conveniently announced something, ¡°To accelerate the integration of new colleagues into the team and enhance everyone¡¯s sense of camaraderie, Mr. Luo and I have decided to hold a team-building activity this week.¡± This time, the applause was much less enthusiastic than before. Not everyone enjoyed participating in team-building activities. People like Chen Xu preferred being alone; even when going out, he would rather not have too many people around. Since joining the company, he had attended two such events involving the whole company, and those weren¡¯t exactly pleasant experiences. In the end, the company¡¯s executives were older and somewhat out of touch with young people like them. It all seemed too formal, not at all down-to-earth. Besides, it was quite cold now; did they really want to go out and freeze? ¡°Team-building, huh? Wonder where we¡¯ll go,¡± Dai Zixin said somewhat expectantly. ¡°Hopefully, somewhere fun.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Chen Xu glanced at her, thinking that since the department was full of young people, with the oldest, Liu Kun, not even forty, and having an open mind, it should be interesting. This matter didn¡¯t stir much excitement as they soon drowned in endless tasks that left them no time to think about anything else. By Wednesday, after the morning meeting, Liu Kun announced that the team-building would take place the next day, in a county over a hundred kilometers away from the city center. ¡°With the cold weather now, it¡¯s perfect to soak in hot springs. This time, everyone can relax.¡± Chen Xu was a bit surprised, again feeling that departments with a big boss overseeing them were indeed different. They could actually go to hot springs, a luxury far beyond what the previous advertising department could offer. Someone asked, ¡°Mr. Liu, aren¡¯t you going?¡± ¡°I have to stay at the company. This time, Mr. Luo will lead the team. Besides, the team-building activity was planned by Mr. Luo, and she chose the location,¡± Liu Kun said with a smile, then announced the end of the meeting and left. Upon hearing that Luo Xiyun would lead the team, Chen Xu knew it wouldn¡¯t be an easy trip. In life, Luo Xiyun kept everything around her orderly. The same was true for work, where she was extremely demanding of her subordinates, insisting on perfection and not tolerating any flaws. The past half month had been an ordeal for their group. Moreover, he found it odd that the timing was set for Thursday. Wasn¡¯t it usually on weekends? It seemed extremely spontaneous to him. He felt somewhat indifferent in his heart. ¡­¡­ On Thursday morning, Chen Xu arrived at the meeting point at the agreed time, where Luo Xiyun had directly rented a bus. Once everyone had arrived, they set off. On the bus, besides their department colleagues, there were a few unfamiliar faces. Luo Xiyun introduced them as professional team-building facilitators she¡¯d arranged, responsible for hosting this team-building exercise. These people were experts at creating atmosphere. During the hour-long journey, they helped everyone relax and many people clearly got into the spirit. The bus was filled with laughter and chatter. Finally, the bus stopped at a four-star hotel, and everyone got off. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but marvel again at having a generous leader. The day before, Luo Xiyun had mentioned the team-building would last two days and one night. Unexpectedly, Luo Xiyun had booked a four-star hotel for them to stay in. The room allocation was two people per room. After everyone settled their luggage, they gathered downstairs, and the activity officially began¡­ It had to be said, hiring those facilitators was well worth it. Professionals are just different. After a few games, even Chen Xu got really into it, surprisingly enjoying the team-building experience. By the afternoon, they played a basketball game, with their department facing the facilitator team. The facilitators regularly exercised. Though they didn¡¯t have a height advantage, their skills far surpassed those of the office workers, and they soon had them well beaten. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t stand it. He had recently developed a sense of team honor and couldn¡¯t just watch his department suffer defeat. When the opponent scored, he held the ball, grabbed the ball-handler, and said, ¡°Let me play for a bit.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the colleague, who was hardly exercising and already gasping for air, agreed when Chen Xu expressed his desire to play. ¡°Substitution.¡± Chen Xu called out, standing at the baseline, and threw the ball out. ¡°Chen Xu, go for it,¡± Dai Zixin shouted first when she saw him enter the game. Chen Xu waved at her and ran to the opponent¡¯s half-court. In high school, his only extracurricular hobby had been playing basketball. Of course, his level was amateur at best. He hadn¡¯t played in a long time, and his dribbling skills were likely rusty. But it didn¡¯t matter, as long as he could score. Earlier, during the warm-up, he had thrown a few balls and already had his eye in. He stood outside the three-point line and noticed the defender was relatively far away. This was normal; on amateur courts, three-point shots were rare. He shouted, ¡°Pass it to me.¡± The colleague handling the ball also had limited skills. Seeing the defender before him well-positioned and feeling hesitant about a long shot, he heard Chen Xu¡¯s call and passed the ball. Chen Xu caught it, took aim, and shot. Swish, it went through the hoop clean. Next, it became his time to shine. For every shot the opponents made, he countered with a three-pointer. After scoring three in a row, the morale on his side instantly lifted. His teammates started trusting him, always passing the ball his way. The opponents also realized his threat. When he received the ball for the fourth time, his defender stayed close. Back in high school, he might have been able to get past them. Now, he didn¡¯t even dare to dribble, for fear of losing the ball right away. Under such circumstances, he could hardly settle into a shooting stance. ¡°Were those three just luck?¡± The defender couldn¡¯t help but tease, seeing Chen Xu¡¯s reaction. He seemed like a ball-handling novice, but sometimes, beginners magically get into a rhythm and make unbelievable shots. ¡°You think that stops me from shooting?¡± Chen Xu chuckled, using his left shoulder to hold off the defender, while making a big hook shot with his right hand. With this hook shot, the only way the defender could block it was if he were twenty centimeters taller. All he could do was watch it sail overhead. ¡°Rebound,¡± he yelled mid-air. A hook shot beyond the three-point line was akin to a wild throw, and his first instinct was to grab the rebound. Swish. The ball went through the hoop again, perfectly clean. ¡°No way,¡± the defender froze, dumbfounded. ¡­ By the fifth ball, the defender couldn¡¯t believe it, sticking close again, ¡°I refuse to believe your luck is that good.¡± Chen Xu glanced at him and, using the same stance, took the shot. Swish. ¡°Fifth one,¡± suddenly, Dai Zixin shouted, and the rest of the team cheered. The defender stood there slack-jawed, looking bewildered. ¡­¡­ The sixth ball. This time, the defender remained silent, sticking closely. Again, Chen Xu made a hook shot. Swish. ¡°Sixth one,¡± this time, the colleagues shouted in unison. ¡°Damn, this is just crazy,¡± the defender was starting to question his reality. Making such difficult shots in succession, three in a row, how was this possible? After that, nobody cared about winning or losing anymore; everyone just wanted to see how many shots Chen Xu could make. ¡°Seventh one!¡± ¡°Eighth one!¡± ¡­¡­ ¡°Tenth one!¡± Other than the guy defending Chen Xu, the facilitators looked at Chen Xu as if he were a deity. ¡°Today I truly had my eyes opened,¡± one of them murmured. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: 044 I also have little emotions Chapter 44: 044 I also have little emotions Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` A basketball game played out like this, no one cared about winning or losing anymore. When the host got the ball, he just tossed it, not caring whether it went in or not, and passed the possession. Then, the ball was passed to Chen Xu. ¡°Make another one, make another one¡­¡± The colleagues watching, along with the bystanders who came for the excitement, shouted loudly. The most enthusiastic was Dai Zixin, whose face was flushed with excitement and whose voice cracked a little. Chen Xu had already hit ten difficult three-pointers in a row, setting the atmosphere alight. Everyone waited to see his performance. After receiving the ball, he walked leisurely to the midline, raised his left hand, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been playing all day and have no energy left; this is the last shot.¡± As he spoke, he beckoned to the person who had been defending him, signaling him to come over. Shooting from the midcourt? The man was first stunned, then understood his intention, the veins on his forehead throbbing. Such arrogance! To actually invite him over to defend. How could this be tolerated? Without hesitation, he fiercely stuck close to him, squeezing him with force, and raised his hands to try to interfere. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï He didn¡¯t believe it could happen; how could someone make eleven luck shots in a row? Chen Xu used the same move, pressing the opponent¡¯s chest with his left hand to create space, found the right moment, and hurled the basketball towards the hoop with effort. As the basketball left his hand, not only the surrounding spectators but everyone else on the court looked up at the ball. The entire basketball court abruptly fell silent. The man defending him also looked up, watching that absurdly high arc of the ball. He thought to himself, Surely this time it won¡¯t go in, right? Soon, the ball passed over his head. His gaze followed that slightly rotating basketball, unknowingly tilting his head further and further back. When the ball reached its peak and began to fall, he lost his balance and fell backward. Swish¡ª When the basketball swooshed through the hoop, he happened to sit on the ground, a dazed look on his face. No way, it actually went in? ¡°Wow¡ª¡± A chorus of amazement came from the sidelines, followed by warm applause. Chen Xu walked over and extended a hand to lift the confused man off the ground, showing a friendly smile. Then, he said to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day, everyone must be tired.¡± ¡°I wanted to see you make a few more miracle shots.¡± One of the leading people among the hosts said with a laugh, ¡°Today was truly an eye-opener. Truly awesome, I¡¯ve played for so many years and never seen anything like it.¡± Chen Xu laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s all luck.¡± Others chimed in, saying that such luck was worth bragging about for a lifetime. No one believed he had such accuracy; even the best shooters among professional athletes couldn¡¯t guarantee to make such shots every time. On their way back to the hotel, Chen Xu clearly felt he had become the topic of conversation among his colleagues. Such attention, whether back in school or after starting work, was something he had never experienced before. He had to admit, this feeling wasn¡¯t bad at all. ¡­¡­ Back at the hotel, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Chen Xu was lucky; originally two people were supposed to share a room, and there happened to be thirteen men in the department. He got a room to himself. Near seven o¡¯clock, there was a notice in the group chat to gather at the place for dinner. Luo Xiyun booked a private room with two tables, just enough to seat everyone. The dishes were rich and varied, once again showing Chen Xu her generosity. When the beer was served, the atmosphere became warm, just like a friend¡¯s gathering. After the day¡¯s activities, Chen Xu was surprised by Luo Xiyun; she was strict at work but not rigid personally; this team-building event could be considered a great success. Especially after that basketball game, Chen Xu felt that his colleagues had gained some sense of belonging to the team, and there was a bit more rapport among them. For instance, besides being quite familiar with Dai Zixin before, his interaction with other colleagues was mostly work-related, with a bit of a barrier. After this day, that sense of barrier with his colleagues lessened considerably. After a few drinks, they could even joke with each other. Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Luo Xiyun stood up and announced, ¡°At eight o¡¯clock, everyone gather at Chen Xu¡¯s place. The next activity is a group hot spring bath. For now, let¡¯s disperse.¡± No one was surprised, as they were reminded yesterday to bring swimwear. Being mostly young, they were quite receptive. Returning to his room, Chen Xu saw he still had time, so he called Dai Zixin to do a livestream together in the hotel lobby. They originally set the time to stream on Thursdays and had already informed Dai Zixin¡¯s followers. But with the team-building overlapping, they had to make do as best they could. At this time, there were few people in the hotel lobby. Chen Xu began setting up the props on one side. Meanwhile, Dai Zixin had been livestreaming there already, warming up the scene. Once Chen Xu was ready, he gave her a hand signal, and the camera turned to him. ¡°Hello everyone, nice to see you again.¡± Chen Xu greeted simply and said, ¡°A few days ago, I performed some darts for you. I believe you remember. However, as Zixin told me, many still doubt the authenticity of that performance. They think I cheated.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s understandable; seeing such a performance, most would think, ¡®Wow, how could someone be that amazing? It¡¯s not scientific, must be fake, a cheat.''¡± Dai Zixin, holding the phone in front of him to film, almost couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter. She had been doing live streams regularly these days and saw many comments questioning the authenticity of Chen Xu¡¯s blindfolded dart throw, which made her very upset. Due to too many setting the tone in the livestream room, she was quite worried and mentioned it to Chen Xu. At the time, he didn¡¯t seem very bothered, and she didn¡¯t expect he would address it so directly upon starting. At this moment, she saw comments flying by on the screen like ¡°666¡± and ¡°There truly are shameless people like this in the world¡­¡± Chen Xu continued, ¡°But you know, understanding aside, it doesn¡¯t mean I can pretend nothing happened. I have my little emotions too, alright? Originally, I received quite a few gifts and was planning to perform again for you all, very happily. But, knowing some doubted me, I became unhappy. So, this performance is canceled.¡± Dai Zixin, in charge of filming, saw the screen flooded with comments again, with many people starting to shower them with gifts, and the popularity kept increasing. She beamed with delight and couldn¡¯t help but give him a thumbs up. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: 045 You need a deck of playing cards (seeking recommendation votes) Chapter 45: 045 You need a deck of playing cards (seeking recommendation votes) Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu changed the topic and said, ¡°So, I told Zixin not to ask me to do livestreams anymore. You better handle it on your own. I¡¯m the straightforward type and can¡¯t stand this kind of nonsense.¡± ¡°Then, Zixin tried to persuade me, saying, ¡®Bro, calm down. What do these people know? They¡¯re just a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well, with no insight at all, yet they act like mad dogs, biting without evidence. Why bother with such people? It¡¯s beneath us.''¡± Directly across from him, Dai Zixin looked confused. When had she ever said these words? Bang. Chen Xu slapped the table beside him and said, ¡°When I heard that, I was furious. I told her, ¡®Zixin, how can you talk about your fans like that? Even if they are like frogs at the bottom of a well, even if they lack quality, even if they are brainless attackers, they are still your bread and butter. You owe them basic respect.''¡± Dai Zixin¡¯s mouth gaped wider and wider as she listened. Meanwhile, the comments in the livestream chat had already exploded. ¡°Why does this sound so off the more I listen?¡± ¡°It sounds like he¡¯s speaking for us, but why does it feel like he¡¯s scolding us?¡± ¡°And he¡¯s doing it right to our faces!¡± ¡°Wow, this guy is really something else!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a host insult the audience in a roundabout way.¡± ¡­¡­ Chen Xu couldn¡¯t see the chat and continued speaking, ¡°At that time, I lectured her. In the end, she wasn¡¯t convinced and argued that those critical trolls never send gifts, so they¡¯re not really her bread and butter.¡± ¡°I told her, you have to understand, the reason these people don¡¯t send gifts might not be because they¡¯re stingy, but because they¡¯re poor. Discriminating against them like that is wrong. You need to have a tolerant heart.¡± At this point, Dai Zixin finally regained her composure, glaring at him angrily. If it weren¡¯t for the fact they were livestreaming now, she would¡¯ve gone over to strangle him. This jerk was actually slandering her live. It was just too much. Chen Xu didn¡¯t notice her expression and, having finished speaking, felt relieved. When Dai Zixin told him that someone was slandering him during the livestream, he was already irked and had planned to retaliate the next time they streamed. However, proving his innocence in such matters wasn¡¯t easy, and he wasn¡¯t willing to put in that effort. But directly scolding them could result in being reported and cause trouble. So he used this method as a way to vent his frustration. This time, he had learned his lesson and didn¡¯t look at the chat comments to avoid irritating himself further. Thinking about having to gather at the hot springs later, he decided to start his performance for the day. ¡°Later, I thought about it, and Zixin really has it tough. The company has her working overtime until seven or eight every day. At night, she still has to livestream for you. And she¡¯s doing it just to earn a little living wage. Girls who work as hard as her are really rare. As a friend, I try to help out where I can.¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯ve prepared something new. If everyone finds it entertaining, please send more gifts.¡± With that, he took out a white radish and said, ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to perform slicing a radish. When I was young, I liked to visit my grandma¡¯s house. She grew a lot of radishes, more than we could eat. Every time we cooked, I would rush to help slice the radishes. When the knife slices through, the crisp sound is really delightful.¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯ll slice it for you. Zixin, zoom the camera in a bit,¡± Chen Xu gestured to Dai Zixin. Dai Zixin looked puzzled when she heard he was going to cut a radish. Chen Xu hadn¡¯t revealed what he was going to perform beforehand, so even she didn¡¯t know. However, she had full confidence in him and moved the camera closer anyway. In the livestream room, a wave of comments flooded in again, ¡°Unbelievable! In all my years on various livestream platforms, I¡¯ve never seen a radish-slicing performance.¡± ¡°Is the host serious? Are you really slicing a radish for thousands to watch?¡± ¡°It feels like you¡¯re joking with us.¡± ¡°Yet, I feel things aren¡¯t that simple.¡± ¡°This host is sly; he must be tricking us.¡± ¡­¡­ Chen Xu asked with an air of importance, ¡°Do you know how to slice radishes to make them taste good?¡± ¡°They must be cut to a uniform size and length, with no more than a millimeter of difference. Only then can the texture and flavor of each piece be exactly the same.¡± As he spoke, he took out a ruler and a pen, measuring and drawing four or five lines on the radish. Watching him speak seriously while half-joking, Dai Zixin almost burst into laughter. It must be said, once Chen Xu was in front of the livestream camera, he became a different person. Usually, he wasn¡¯t so talkative. Chen Xu put away the pen and ruler, saying, ¡°Alright, now we can start slicing.¡± He pretended to search his body, then his expression changed, and he said, ¡°Oh no, I forgot to bring a knife. What do we do now?¡± ¡°I have one here; you can use it.¡± From nowhere, a few audience members had gathered, and one of them suddenly spoke and indeed took out a folding pocket knife, offering it up. For a moment, the expression on Chen Xu¡¯s face froze. Someone had actually disrupted his scheme, leaving him at a loss for what to do next. Dai Zixin, who was filming, almost burst into laughter; although she knew she shouldn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t help it, stifling her urge so as not to provoke Chen Xu. ¡°Here, take it. Don¡¯t be shy,¡± the well-meaning viewer said. Chen Xu looked at him expressionlessly and finally spoke, ¡°No, thank you, I only use my own knife.¡± The person was taken aback and awkwardly withdrew. Maintaining his expression, Chen Xu addressed the camera, saying, ¡°Uh, um, when we don¡¯t have a knife, how do we slice this radish?¡± He stumbled for a moment but eventually got through the sentence smoothly, his tone becoming fluent, ¡°In this case, what you need is a deck of playing cards.¡± With that, he pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket, opened it, shuffled the cards several times, and said, ¡°By coincidence, I bought a deck of cards from a convenience store earlier.¡± ¡°Of course, some might ask how paper playing cards can slice through a radish. Let me show you.¡± Chen Xu drew several cards from the deck, putting the rest back in his pocket. He then stepped back a few paces, ¡°First, you have to step back, about five meters. Then, hold it between two fingers and flick it out like this.¡± With those words, he flicked his wrist, and the card between his index and middle fingers flew out, piercing the radish several meters away with force, almost slicing it in half. ¡°Did you see that clearly? Let me do it again.¡± As Chen Xu spoke, he tossed another card, spinning it to embed in the radish. ¡°The key is wrist strength; watch.¡± Soon, another card was lodged in the radish. ¡°The last one.¡± After flicking the last card, Chen Xu motioned for Dai Zixin to give a close-up. Walking over to the radish, Dai Zixin gasped as she looked closer. Four playing cards, each perfectly aligned with the lines Chen Xu had drawn earlier, were embedded precisely in the radish. As the camera zoomed in, the entire livestream fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted with a storm of comments. ¡°Holy crap, I¡¯m not seeing things, am I?¡± ¡°My mom asked why I¡¯m watching the livestream on my knees.¡± ¡°Honey, come quick and see the miracle¡­¡± PS, with the new book¡¯s final week underway, we¡¯re aiming to climb the new book rankings. Please, I beg for your recommendation votes. ¡°` Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: 046 Young and Reckless (Seeking Recommendation Votes) Chapter 46: 046 Young and Reckless (Seeking Recommendation Votes) Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Clap, clap, clap¡­ In the hotel lobby, seven or eight onlookers stepped closer and all applauded vigorously. Especially the young man who had volunteered to lend Chen Xu a knife; he clapped particularly hard, his eyes still glowing. Chen Xu was quite satisfied with this effect, believing that the audience in the livestream room must be equally impressed. To practice throwing cards with pinpoint accuracy, he spent several evenings. Playing cards are thin and soft; only when spinning at high speeds can they cut through a carrot. It¡¯s easy to make a card spin, but keeping it accurate is difficult. A slight deviation in force or angle means the card could fly anywhere. Furthermore, the thin card is easily influenced by airflow, so there can be no wind; it can only be done indoors. Over the past few days, after returning home from work, he had been practicing constantly. He went through over a dozen decks of cards and cut his hands several times before reaching this level. Within five meters, his accuracy had exceeded 90 percent. He walked over, feeling very satisfied with Dai Zixin¡¯s shocked expression. Those watching the livestream should also have similar reactions, right? Let¡¯s see how you criticize now. On the surface, he pretended to be calm and casual, saying, ¡°See that? You have to cut it like this, each piece the same length. To achieve this, the secret is¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Measure with a ruler.¡± At this moment, whether in the livestream room or on-site, no one was listening to his serious nonsense. All attention was on the carrot with four cards inserted into it. Even the hotel staff on duty in the lobby curiously gathered around. One by one, they took out their phones and started taking pictures of the carrot. Chen Xu continued, ¡°If everyone thinks I sliced this carrot well, give some gifts, please.¡± On the other side, seeing people continuously sending gifts in the livestream room, Dai Zixin looked delighted and gave Chen Xu a thumbs up. Then, recalling what he had just joked about her, her face instantly fell. From her reaction, Chen Xu knew he must have collected quite a few gifts this round and was quite satisfied that his efforts over several evenings had paid off. After a while, Dai Zixin, looking at the comments in the livestream room, couldn¡¯t hold her expression anymore. She looked at him hesitantly and finally spoke, ¡°They want to see you perform again.¡± Chen Xu looked a bit troubled, ¡°Well¡­¡± Dai Zixin felt like laughing at his poor acting, cleared her throat, and said, ¡°They are pretty sincere. Just perform one more.¡± Chen Xu understood immediately, ¡°Since Zixin asked, let¡¯s continue.¡± With that, he picked up another carrot¡­ ¡­ After the livestream ended, the two of them went to Chen Xu¡¯s room to split the gifts. ¡°This time we got more than three thousand in gifts.¡± Dai Zixin took out a notebook, opened it, and glanced, ¡°Along with my own livestreams over the past few nights, I received more than a thousand in gifts. Altogether, it¡¯s about five thousand. Thirty percent is fifteen hundred; that¡¯s seven hundred and fifty each.¡± Hearing her, Chen Xu looked at her seriously and said, ¡°I¡¯ve known you for so long, and there is something I¡¯ve always wanted to tell you.¡± Dai Zixin blushed a little, feeling inexplicably shy, ¡°You, don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re really nice.¡± Chen Xu said sincerely. Dai Zixin¡¯s face froze, her mind a little fuzzy, and seeing his earnest face, she deflated instantly. Suddenly, she felt very tired. She suspected that if she continued to interact with him like this, she would soon have a breakdown. After a while, she remembered something important and spoke again, ¡°This money might have to wait until after the payroll to give you. I just bought a lens yesterday and have no money left.¡± ¡°No problem, just keep track.¡± Chen Xu waved it off, unconcerned. Her character was still trustworthy. He asked about something, ¡°By the way, I heard that if you join a guild, the share is much higher, like fifty percent. Is that true?¡± These days, he had done a bit of homework on the streaming industry and learned a bit. Dai Zixin frowned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like guilds.¡± Chen Xu nodded, understanding her stance, and didn¡¯t press further. After all, the livestreams were mainly her affair, he could only be considered a partner. It¡¯s fine to offer suggestions, but he needed to respect her decisions fundamentally. Dai Zixin glanced at him and explained, ¡°Joining a guild does have many benefits, like more exposure opportunities and a higher share, plus they help operate the streamers. But this way, streamers lose a lot of freedom, I don¡¯t like that.¡± She toyed with her phone and said, ¡°I¡¯m streaming purely out of interest. Seeing the number of followers increase makes me happy. I want to stream whatever content I please. If I join a guild, I¡¯d have to manage everything, and it would lose its charm. It wouldn¡¯t be fun anymore.¡± So young and willful. Chen Xu thought to himself, it was evident her family background wasn¡¯t poor, and her worries about money likely only stayed on the level of not being able to buy the latest phone model or something. However, why did he feel a bit envious? Having the capital for such willfulness, nice indeed. He stood up to end the conversation, ¡°Come on, it¡¯s about time.¡± Dai Zixin checked the time. It was just a few minutes till eight, and they were just about to assemble. She jumped up, ¡°Oh no, I still need to go back to my room to grab my swimsuit.¡± Chen Xu grabbed the bag with the swimsuit, opened the door, and saw a woman standing outside about to knock, which startled him, ¡°Secretary Guo? Why are you here?¡± It was Luo Xiyun¡¯s secretary, named Guo. Chen Xu usually had quite a bit of interaction with her. ¡°I need to talk to you about something.¡± Secretary Guo said, her eyes looking past him. Behind him was Dai Zixin, who felt a little uneasy getting stared at by Secretary Guo. She said, ¡°You two talk, I¡¯ll go back to my room.¡± After saying that, she slipped away. Chen Xu also noticed Secretary Guo¡¯s ambiguous expression but didn¡¯t care much. Normally, his closeness with Dai Zixin had already sparked rumors at the company. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to clarify. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come in and talk?¡± he invited. ¡°No need, I wouldn¡¯t want anyone to misunderstand.¡± Secretary Guo laughed, hinting at something, then got to the point, ¡°It¡¯s like this, Mr. Luo hopes that through this team-building activity, colleagues can open up to each other, so there is more camaraderie at work. So during the hot spring session, someone needs to spice things up, steer the conversation a bit. So, I came to find you.¡± You¡¯ve got the wrong person, haven¡¯t you? Chen Xu was a bit stunned. Normally in the company, he kept a low profile and rarely spoke much. How did Secretary Guo end up finding him? He didn¡¯t have this talent for liveliness at all. When he politely expressed his lack of this skill, Secretary Guo laughed and said, ¡°This afternoon when playing basketball, didn¡¯t you do quite well? Don¡¯t worry, I will assist you then.¡± Saying that, she walked away, not giving Chen Xu any chance to refuse. Seriously, this is just pushing a duck onto a perch, isn¡¯t it? P.S.: Almost made the rankings, asking for recommendation votes! ¡°` Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: 047 Games in the Hot Spring Pool Chapter 47: 047 Games in the Hot Spring Pool Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` In a luxurious suite, there was only one milky white lamp turned on. Luo Xiyun sat by the window, holding a book, completely absorbed. The window was slightly ajar, allowing the night breeze to blow in with a faint rustling sound and occasionally lifting the curtains, bringing a chill to the room. She seemed oblivious, occasionally pausing in deep thought before continuing to read. Ring¡­ The alarm on the phone placed on the coffee table suddenly rang. Her gaze shifted from the book to the phone¡¯s time display, and a flicker of unease crossed her face. ¡°Yu Meng was right, this matter needs to be resolved.¡± After a while, she muttered to herself, turning off the alarm. She closed the book and placed it at the bedside. The book¡¯s title was ¡°The Psychology of Dreams.¡± She pushed the door open and walked toward the elevator, stopping abruptly when she heard a familiar voice: her secretary¡¯s. Suddenly, she heard a name, causing her to pause. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°¡­I just went to find Chen Xu; guess who I saw in his room?¡± The voice was her secretary¡¯s. ¡°Who?¡± another person asked curiously, and Luo Xiyun recognized this voice as belonging to someone from the finance department. ¡°Dai Zixin.¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you? I saw her coming out of Chen Xu¡¯s room with my own eyes.¡± ¡°So they¡¯re really involved.¡± ¡°Why say it so harshly? They¡¯re both single; having a proper relationship is nothing to hide.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Dai Zixin is quite beautiful. I¡¯ve heard she has many admirers in the company. Why did she choose Chen Xu?¡± ¡°Who knows¡­¡± Ding, the elevator arrived, and their conversation ended. At this moment, Luo Xiyun proceeded to walk out. ¡°Mr. Luo.¡± Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Secretary Guo, with sharp eyes, noticed Luo Xiyun approaching and quickly opened the door. ¡°Mr. Luo,¡± the other person also addressed her. Luo Xiyun nodded slightly and walked into the elevator. The two people behind her retreated awkwardly. Secretary Guo did not dare to breathe audibly. After following Luo Xiyun for nearly six months, she knew her temperament well. In work, she was extremely strict; even the smallest mistake was unacceptable. When reprimanding, she never held back. If you caught her in a bad mood, the consequences would be even worse. Because of this, Secretary Guo had honed her ability to perceive emotions, using subtle expressions to gauge Luo Xiyun¡¯s mood. Earlier, she had sensed that Luo Xiyun was in a very bad mood, and she mentally sighed, wondering who had provoked this lady. Fortunately, Luo Xiyun was not one to vent her anger indiscriminately; as long as no work errors occurred, everything would be fine. Thus, at such times, one had to be extremely cautious. Making no mistakes was crucial. The person beside her, also observant, noticed the oppressive atmosphere in the air, becoming tense as well. Ding, the elevator reached the first floor, and when the doors opened, the two women both let out a sigh of relief. The other colleagues had already arrived; they were the last ones. Once everyone was gathered, they followed the hotel¡¯s staff to the hot springs at the back of the hotel. The hotel, built halfway up a hill, specialized in hot springs, with an outdoor bath area behind it. It was Chen Xu¡¯s first time at a hot spring. After changing into swimming trunks in the changing room, he draped a white robe over himself and stepped outside, shivering as the cold wind hit him. Perhaps because it was located on a mountain, the outdoor temperature was relatively low, below ten degrees. The entire bath area was bathed in a layer of orange-yellow light, surrounded by walls isolating it from the external environment. In the center was the hot spring pool, shaped like a figure eight, with one side larger than the other, not divided in the middle, allowing the water to circulate freely. Chen Xu, not bothering to observe, followed his colleagues, removing his robe, and stepped into the hot spring. Upon entering the water, he found it slightly hot, but after soaking for a while, his skin gradually adapted to the temperature, and he felt particularly comfortable. Over a dozen young men, bare-chested, gathered around the pool¡¯s edge, chatting together. Almost ten minutes later, seven women finally arrived, and unlike the men, they kept their robes on when entering the water, showing some restraint. The women went to another smaller pool, with the men and women tacitly occupying separate pools. Chen Xu lazily reclined against the pool¡¯s edge, tilting his head back, and gazed at the pitch-black sky through the dense white steam. Tonight¡¯s temperature was particularly cold, and in this environment, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the last month in his dream, spending those cold, frozen days with Luo Xiyun. Her body was especially warm, under two layers of down blankets, creating that cozy feeling. If the dream world could continue, she probably would have lived well on her own, right? She was so strong-willed that anything she promised she would achieve. She would strive to live on. Once the snow melted, she could drive around, traveling everywhere¡­ He imagined Luo Xiyun driving a big truck in the bright sunshine, a slight pang of bitterness welling up in his heart. At this moment, the real Luo Xiyun was nearby, just a glance away. But he didn¡¯t look in that direction, because he knew that the Luo Xiyun in the hot spring wasn¡¯t the one from his dream. ¡­¡­ Luo Xiyun soaked in the hot spring, and the hot water inexplicably made her feel a bit annoyed. Seeing everyone engaged in their own conversations, which completely went against her purpose for organizing this event, she glanced at the secretary beside her. Secretary Guo inwardly groaned; since entering the hot spring, she had wanted to make eye contact with Chen Xu, but he just floated there, not looking in their direction. She wondered if he was pretending not to see. She mentally noted this issue and braced herself to speak up, ¡°Just soaking in the hot spring is really boring; why don¡¯t we all play a game?¡± ¡°What game?¡± someone nearby asked, playing along. Secretary Guo said, ¡°Truth or dare.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± everyone agreed. Secretary Guo, being Luo Xiyun¡¯s personal secretary, conveyed many work tasks on her behalf, had a high status in the department, and no one would decline her suggestion. Secretary Guo got out of the water and, after a while, returned with a bag containing a spin-the-bottle device with everyone¡¯s names written on it. She explained, ¡°Whoever the arrow points to must answer a question, and they must answer honestly. The next person chosen will then be asked by the previous one.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± everyone, seeing her thorough preparation, had no objections. The women moved to the larger pool, forming a circle of nearly twenty people. Chen Xu finally remembered the task Secretary Guo had entrusted to him, which he had just forgotten about. He didn¡¯t think much of it either. Looking at the spin-the-bottle, he noticed Luo Xiyun¡¯s name wasn¡¯t on it, which didn¡¯t surprise him. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Secretary Guo spun the arrow in the center of the device, and after several turns, it finally stopped, pointing at Chen Xu¡¯s name. Chen Xu silently cursed his luck but had to brace himself and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s going to ask?¡± Secretary Guo said, ¡°Mr. Luo, would you like to ask a question?¡± P.S. Please vote for recommendations. ¡°` Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: 048 Does it look like a square (asking for recommendation votes) Chapter 48: 048 Does it look like a square (asking for recommendation votes) Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` At both ends of the wall, a lamp hung, each specially crafted to resemble a lantern. The amber glow came from there. ¡°Mr. Luo, what do you think?¡± Secretary Guo asked for guidance. Luo Xiyun wanted to refuse, but through the misty steam, she saw Chen Xu¡¯s face. Since that dream, it was the first time she¡¯d looked so intently at his face. Under the light, his face seemed to be coated with a golden aura. It was just like the last day in her dream, where he sat in a wheelchair, gazing at the rising sun at the end of the icy mountain. A wave of emotion surged in her heart and instantly ignited the irritation inside her. Why him? How could it be him? Why did it have to be him? No, it was just a dream. She squeezed the towel in her hand and said, ¡°You, come a little closer.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Anyone could see that her demeanor had turned serious. Even the new colleagues who didn¡¯t know her well sensed the pressure. Quietly, the atmosphere changed. Chen Xu obeyed and walked to the middle of the pool. The water wasn¡¯t very deep, only reaching his waist. When he stood, his whole upper body emerged from the water. Luo Xiyun stared intently at a spot on his chest. When those four not-so-obvious moles came into view, her vision blurred, then distorted, twisted, and spun. In a ringing noise in her ears, the entire world seemed to drift away from her. In a daze, she seemed to hear a familiar voice. ¡°You really don¡¯t have a single mole on your body, you¡¯re naturally beautiful.¡± ¡°Why are you poking me here? These four moles, I didn¡¯t have them as a kid, they appeared when I grew up¡­ Don¡¯t they look like a square when connected?¡± ¡­ It seemed like an instant, yet like a century had passed. The world before Luo Xiyun became clear again, and she looked at Chen Xu¡¯s unsuspecting face. An uncontrollable flame of anger surged from within her chest. ¡°Are you and Dai Zixin dating?¡± To others, it appeared that she had stared at Chen Xu for several seconds before asking such a question. Even if they couldn¡¯t clearly see her expression, just from her tone, they could feel the overwhelming pressure. For a moment, the surrounding atmosphere seemed colder than the temperature outside. Everyone looked at Chen Xu standing in the pool, worried for him. As for Dai Zixin, the other person involved, she appeared visibly uneasy. ¡­ Chen Xu felt unlucky when his name was drawn. ¡°Secretary Guo must be out of her mind, suggesting such a game. We¡¯re not even friends, and there¡¯s a superior present. Can¡¯t ask too personal, nor too formal questions. Isn¡¯t this putting people in a tough spot?¡± ¡°No way, Luo Xiyun gets to ask questions?¡± ¡°She¡¯s calling me over?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s not right, her tone is off. Who¡¯s she mad at now?¡± His mind was a flurry of thoughts. He stood up from the water and walked over. When he could see her face clearly, he stopped. This was her psychological safe distance. Given their current relationship, getting any closer would provoke her irritation. ¡°She looks a bit haggard, hasn¡¯t she been resting well lately?¡± ¡°She¡¯s too determined, others can handle company affairs. Why is she working so hard? It¡¯s not like her family lacks money.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t she saying anything?¡± ¡°Odd, is it that time of the month?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not this time. These days should be her fertile period.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, my ex got a bit uncomfortable during ovulation too. Could she be the same? Maybe even more severe.¡± ¡°I should answer carefully, this isn¡¯t a dream. I can¡¯t fight back. If she scolds me in public, it¡¯d be embarrassing.¡± ¡°She started talking, what did she ask again?¡± ¡°Seems like she asked if I¡¯m dating Dai Zixin. Odd, since when does she care about others¡¯ personal lives?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall there being a company rule against employees dating.¡± Chen Xu habitually zoned out. After Luo Xiyun finished asking, it took him several seconds to react. He said, ¡°No, Zixin and I are just normal colleagues.¡± He said it frankly, but Luo Xiyun¡¯s anger didn¡¯t diminish and her voice remained icy. ¡°Really? Someone saw her coming out of your room. What do you say to that?¡± Chen Xu wanted very much to turn and look at Secretary Guo, although he knew these people loved to gossip. But in less than half an hour, it had already reached Luo Xiyun¡¯s ears, wasn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? He explained briefly, ¡°We were just discussing things.¡± Luo Xiyun looked at him, lowering his head, unable to meet her eyes, and felt that the anger in her heart was about to explode. However, in front of many subordinates, she instinctively controlled her expression and voice. Nevertheless, her tone became more frigid, ¡°You should know the company rules state that office romances aren¡¯t allowed. Once discovered, you¡¯re immediately fired.¡± For a moment, everyone¡¯s heart was in their throats. ¡°Is there really such a rule?¡± Chen Xu felt somewhat doubtful. He seemed to recall that there wasn¡¯t. However, confronting her right now was clearly unwise. ¡°Times are different now, huh? If it were in the dream, how dare she speak to me like this?¡± He felt a bit rueful inside. But, living in this society, one must face reality. The Luo Xiyun in front of him wasn¡¯t the one in the dream who had resigned to fate. In work matters, she showed no mercy to anyone. ¡°If you say so, then it must be.¡± He kept silent. Seeing him like this, Luo Xiyun¡¯s chest heaved violently for a few moments before she forcibly suppressed it. ¡°Even if you aren¡¯t dating, be mindful of the impression you give. Don¡¯t act in ways that cause misunderstandings. Next time, don¡¯t let me hear such rumors again.¡± Saying these words in one breath, she stood up. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired,¡± she said, and then left the poolside. ¡­ It wasn¡¯t until Luo Xiyun¡¯s silhouette disappeared through the doorway that everyone nearly simultaneously exhaled a sigh of relief. ¡°How frightening, the rumors turned out to be true.¡± ¡°What a powerful aura, I felt my heart was about to jump out.¡± ¡°Chen Xu, you¡¯re so unlucky; you just happened to be in the line of fire.¡± ¡­ A group of people whispered among themselves, all expressing how scared they were. ¡°Mr. Luo getting angry is terrifying. Is she always like this?¡± A female accountant, who was closer to Secretary Guo, whispered to her. Secretary Guo shook her head dumbfoundedly. Just as she was about to speak, she thought of something and closed her mouth immediately. Looking at Chen Xu leaning by the pool¡¯s edge, her gaze turned odd. She had worked with Luo Xiyun for six months and had never seen her so angry. Moreover, Luo Xiyun never concerned herself with others¡¯ personal lives; such anger was unusual in itself. Why exactly was this? PS: Thank you all for the rewards, I¡¯m truly flattered. Thank you, everyone. ¡°` Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: 049 He is not Chapter 49: 049 He is not Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°`plaintext Luo Xiyun staggered back to her room, shutting the door with a bang. She leaned against it, her body slowly sliding down until she was seated on the floor. She tucked her feet in, wrapped her arms around her knees, and buried her head in her legs. Her wet hair hung down, with water droplets dripping onto the floor, gradually forming a puddle. She sat there motionless. After an unknown period, a faint melody began to play from her handbag. A minute later, the music stopped. After a few seconds, it rang again. It continued like this, ringing and stopping, stopping and ringing. After four or five times, she finally moved, reached out to grab her phone from the bag, answered it, and put it to her ear. ¡°Why did it take so long to answer? So, have you confirmed it, is that person the same one from your dream?¡± From the other end, Liu Yumeng¡¯s anxious voice came through. She stayed silent for a moment before saying, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that a good thing? Why do you sound unhappy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± She finished speaking, hung up, turned off her phone, and tossed it aside. After a while, she repeated once more, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Gradually, a deep weariness washed over her, her eyelids growing heavier, and in her haze, she saw again the Chen Xu, who had once said word for word, ¡°To hell with gentlemanliness.¡± The Chen Xu, whose heart was harder than stone, who could ignore her for months over a single word from her. The Chen Xu, who couldn¡¯t stand the slightest grievance, whose heart was smaller than the tip of a needle, always scolding her, a complete jerk. The Chen Xu, who, even on the verge of death, refused to say one kind word, leaving her all alone, hypocritically telling her to live well¡­ ¡°He¡¯s not you¡­¡± In the room, her barely audible voice echoed. ¡­¡­ When Luo Xiyun left, Chen Xu watched her back, feeling a sudden urge to chase after and support her. Was she feeling sad? He restrained this impulse, yet a bit of doubt lingered in his mind. Just a moment ago, he had actually felt as if she were really sad. It must have been an illusion. Once her figure disappeared by the doorway, a sense of loss swept over him. The others completely relaxed, and under Secretary Guo¡¯s guidance, officially started the game. Without any leaders present, everyone loosened up, and before long, laughter filled the room. In a sense, it achieved the purpose Luo Xiyun initially had in mind. Only Chen Xu remained absent-minded, detached from the group. The others understood, though. After all, being publicly reprimanded by Mr. Luo would put anyone in a bad mood. Someone suggested he go back and rest, and he agreed, going back to his room. Lying on the bed, he calmed down and seriously reflected for a moment. He realized it was the concern that had confused his mind. Even though he had spent considerable time preparing himself, treating everything as though it were just a dream. Yet, in the dream, months of emotions with her, how could they be forgotten, severed just by saying so? Not interacting often wasn¡¯t a big issue. But like today, face-to-face, he discovered that his psychological defenses were incredibly fragile. Unconsciously, he would find himself concerned about her. Understanding this, he sighed and mumbled to himself, ¡°At the time, I must¡¯ve been out of my mind. Why did I have to replicate someone I knew in reality into the dream?¡± In the dream, they were like inseparable lovers, only to wake up as strangers. Having to meet every day, anyone would find that unbearable. ¡°No, I can¡¯t stay at the company anymore. After this month, I¡¯ll resign.¡± He made up his mind to make a clean break. As long as he didn¡¯t see her, after a while, all this would become a fond memory in his heart. ¡°Stop overthinking it, she¡¯s not her from the dream.¡± He silently told himself, gradually drifting into sleep. ¡­¡­. The next day, Chen Xu woke up on time. After a night¡¯s sleep, his mood had mostly settled. After washing up, he headed to the restaurant on the second floor, where everyone was supposed to meet today. Upon reaching the second floor, he ran into a colleague, who told him that Luo Xiyun had fallen ill, and Secretary Guo had taken her to the hospital overnight. She hadn¡¯t returned yet. This news was posted in the work group, but Chen Xu hadn¡¯t seen it. ¡°Is she alright?¡± Chen Xu asked instinctively, his heart tightening. The person replied, ¡°She had a high fever, but it went down after an IV. Now, Secretary Guo is taking Mr. Luo home. You can see it in the group.¡± Chen Xu picked up his phone, scrolled through the group messages, and just then saw Secretary Guo¡¯s message saying Luo Xiyun had been taken home. Only then did he feel relieved. ¡°What about today¡¯s activity?¡± Chen Xu suddenly remembered. ¡°Let me check.¡± The person picked up the phone and sent Secretary Guo a message asking about it. Soon, Secretary Guo replied, ¡°Free activities.¡± Their electronic sales department had a peculiar structure. In theory, Liu Kun was the primary person in charge, but in practice, daily management was all done by Luo Xiyun. The entire department seemed to revolve around the two of them. Beyond that, it was probably Secretary Guo. She was Luo Xiyun¡¯s assistant, and many orders were passed down to everyone through her. Then there were no more levels, the rest of the colleagues were all ordinary employees, with no hierarchical distinction. Chen Xu guessed that Liu Kun and Luo Xiyun wanted a flat management style. The idea was good, but if both Liu Kun and Luo Xiyun weren¡¯t around, it could easily become chaotic, with no one knowing who to listen to. Even now, with Luo Xiyun and Secretary Guo gone, they couldn¡¯t find anyone to lead, and could only have free activities. Chen Xu didn¡¯t look for Dai Zixin, after what happened last night, she seemed to be avoiding him. Surely, last night, Luo Xiyun must have scared her quite a bit. Honestly, he felt somewhat reassured. After reality taught her a lesson, she was no longer as carefree and thoughtless as before. He didn¡¯t want to stay in the hotel either. Seeing that the weather outside was nice, he strolled outside for a walk. The surrounding scenery was lovely. Unknowingly, he found himself at the basketball court where yesterday¡¯s team-building activity was held. Seeing those hosts playing basketball, he stopped by. They noticed him too and paused their game. ¡°I heard them call you Chen Xu yesterday,¡± the leading man came over, greeting him, ¡°I¡¯m Zhao Gang.¡± Chen Xu showed a friendly smile, ¡°You guys haven¡¯t left yet?¡± ¡°Waiting for the afternoon, we¡¯ll head back with you all,¡± Zhao Gang said, pointing to the court, ¡°Want to join us for a few rounds?¡± Chen Xu shook his head, saying, ¡°No, thanks, my small frame can¡¯t handle your bumps.¡± ¡°Come on, we¡¯re all about skill, we won¡¯t use our bodies to bully,¡± Zhao Gang invited warmly. Chen Xu wasn¡¯t going to fall for it; his skills were poor, and he didn¡¯t want to embarrass himself on the court. ¡°How about a shooting contest?¡± suggested the man Chen Xu had nearly beaten into disbelief with his shooting yesterday. Chen Xu looked at him, thinking, isn¡¯t this asking for trouble? PS: Seeing so many rewards, it¡¯s really stressful. Enough said, back to typing and stocking up. ¡°` Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: 050 The Second Dream (Request for Recommendation Votes) Chapter 50: 050 The Second Dream (Request for Recommendation Votes) Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu had nothing else to do, so he started competing with them. As long as it¡¯s not one-on-one, just shooting hoops, everyone would kneel before him. After several rounds, everyone, including Zhao Gang, conceded defeat. He humbled himself, but in his heart, he thought, if I showed my true skills, wouldn¡¯t you all be scared to death? He had held back earlier, intentionally missing a few shots. Although he had become a bit smug lately, he still remembered the principle of not being too arrogant, leaving some room in everything he did. As for live streaming, that was for making money, how could it be the same? Naturally, he¡¯d give it his all. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, with your shooting talent, if you were twenty centimeters taller, you¡¯d surely have a chance to play in the CBA,¡± Zhao Gang remarked with a hint of regret. Chen Xu chuckled and didn¡¯t take it seriously. After chatting with Zhao Gang, he already understood that they were all streetball enthusiasts who met while playing streetball. Later, they gathered to form a team, primarily focusing on training and the like, with a side business of shooting short videos. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Nowadays, short videos were really popular, with so many people making them. Zhao Gang and his team¡¯s followers were much more than Dai Zixin¡¯s. It¡¯s just that their monetization method was different; they didn¡¯t do live streaming but focused on selling sports goods. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï While chatting and playing basketball, time slipped by, and it was already noon. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here; it¡¯s lunchtime soon,¡± Chen Xu suggested. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhao Gang and the others packed up and walked back to the hotel together. When they were almost at the hotel, Zhao Gang suddenly said, ¡°Chen Xu, I¡¯d like to invite you to join our short video team.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Chen Xu was surprised, not expecting such an invitation, and didn¡¯t know how to respond for a moment. Zhao Gang added, ¡°Our team usually shoots videos on weekends and holidays, so it won¡¯t affect regular work.¡± Chen Xu thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll think about it for two days and then get back to you.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s discuss it on WeChat then.¡± At the hotel, Chen Xu parted ways with them. He said he¡¯d think about it, but in reality, he had already rejected the idea in his heart. He just didn¡¯t want to make things awkward, so he said he¡¯d think about it. It wasn¡¯t that he had anything against Zhao Gang; in fact, he thought these people were quite nice, very sunny, and talkative, potential friends even. But partnering was not that simple. Zhao Gang didn¡¯t talk about remuneration. If he went to shoot once, how much would he earn? He couldn¡¯t bring up money himself. He¡¯d have to wait for Zhao Gang to decide. If they gave him more, he¡¯d feel guilty. If they gave less, he¡¯d feel shortchanged. Even if Zhao Gang, like Dai Zixin, didn¡¯t care much about money, what about the others in his team? Once it involved interests, things would get quite complicated. Think about it: after he joined, what impact did it have, how many fans were attracted, how much did product sales increase, was there a quantifiable standard? There simply wasn¡¯t one. Division of profits then becomes a convoluted issue. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in such a mess. It was different with Dai Zixin; it was just the two of them. Once the terms were settled, it was done. Also, they split the money after each live stream, with clear accounts. If one day Dai Zixin felt it wasn¡¯t worth it, they could directly end the partnership, parting ways amicably without too many entanglements of interest. While thinking about these things, Chen Xu reached the second-floor restaurant where his other colleagues were waiting for him. They had lunch, packed their luggage, boarded the bus they came on, and began the journey back. ¡­¡­ After returning from the hot spring hotel, Chen Xu didn¡¯t see Luo Xiyun for several days. Secretary Guo mentioned that it seemed Liu Kun forced her to stay home to recuperate. When Luo Xiyun started working at the company again, he was busy running around every day. Most of the advertising business in the department was outsourced to an advertising company, and this company was personally selected by Liu Kun. Chen Xu¡¯s main job was to liaise with the people from the ad company. Before, when the advertising plan wasn¡¯t finalized, he stayed in the company. In his free time, he helped with other tasks. Now, with the advertising plan finally set, he had to frequently go out, and Secretary Guo was kind enough to allocate a car for him. A bit of knowledge he learned in the dream was finally useful, which was becoming familiar with the surrounding roads. However, this didn¡¯t save him much time. This city was just too congested. Plus, he often couldn¡¯t find parking. After a few days, he parked the car back in the company¡¯s underground parking and returned the keys to Secretary Guo. Taking the subway was more convenient and quicker, of course, provided he avoided rush hour. Amidst such busyness, a week quickly passed. It had been a month since the last dream. That morning, before dawn, Chen Xu woke up early. He eagerly activated the virtual dream device, and in his vision appeared that familiar interface, with a new prompt in the top right corner. ¡°It appeared as expected.¡± He felt a surge of excitement, and when he focused on it, a prompt popped up immediately. ¡°Would you like to enter the dream ¡®Alien Invasion¡¯?¡± That name¡­ He stroked his chin. It seemed to be in the same vein as ¡°Doomsday Survival,¡± but definitely more dangerous. The information revealed by the name suggested a high likelihood of encountering monsters. Was it indeed a virtual game? He continued to read the subsequent prompts. They were similar to the first dream, with three options, only the items provided were different, but the characters remained the same ones. Finally, he looked at that scan option and felt a bit of a headache. To be honest, he still preferred to copy someone from reality to accompany him, considering that he¡¯d have to stay inside for half a year. Being alone would be too lonely. Only those who¡¯ve truly experienced it would know how tough it is to bear. As for choosing a companion from inside the system, he felt he didn¡¯t have the courage to develop indescribable feelings with a purely NPC companion. If he were to find a companion, he¡¯d naturally want someone with good looks, a great figure, and an elegant demeanor. Even if nothing could happen during the period, at least it¡¯d be pleasing to the eye. After all, it was just in the dream, so he felt no burden in his heart. ¡°One principle: never choose someone I know. Also, they should have no intersection with me in the future.¡± In fact, to find someone who met his standards, the simplest way was to look for a celebrity. Domestic ones had too high of an exposure rate, with scandals all over. It¡¯d be best to find someone from abroad. He wasn¡¯t very interested in white women. Koreans all looked the same; the best fits were female celebrities from Neon. He couldn¡¯t say their level of beauty surpassed domestic stars, but at least their demeanor was quite unique. Unfortunately, it was too late to apply for a visa now. He couldn¡¯t afford to wait that long. Hmm, maybe he should scout for someone on the street today. He pleasantly decided on this. PS: Regarding updates, there will be two updates a day before it goes on sale. I¡¯ll notify in advance if there will be additional updates. Starting today, I¡¯ll try to update on time, so please pay attention to the timing. Lastly, thank you all for your support. ¡°` Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: 051 Easygoing Chapter 51: 051 Easygoing Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio The virtual dream device had a rule that one could only enter the dream at night. This meant there was still a whole day ahead. Chen Xu felt a bit restless and completely awake, so he got up, washed up, and casually cooked some noodles, eating a bowl without much taste. At this moment, he felt like he couldn¡¯t focus on anything, feeling slightly suffocated at home, so he simply grabbed his briefcase and went out. It was five-forty-something in the morning, and the sky had not yet lightened. Chen Xu walked down the empty street, the cold wind blowing against him, yet he felt no chill. Occasionally, he encountered a few pedestrians, all walking briskly. They were either rushing to work or hurrying home to rest. He strolled aimlessly, and before long, he reached a street completely unfamiliar to him. Truth be told, after living here for over a year, he hadn¡¯t really explored the neighborhood. Unconsciously, he found himself at a nearby small plaza, where quite a few people were exercising in the morning. Most were middle-aged or elderly, along with some younger people. He spent some time there, waiting until it was about time, then headed toward the bus stop. On his way to the company, he kept looking around to see if there was someone suitable. He did pass by a few who were rather attractive but wasn¡¯t completely satisfied, always feeling something was slightly off. He arrived at the company a few minutes earlier than usual, and while waiting for the elevator, he unexpectedly ran into Luo Xiyun. A thought suddenly popped into his mind, ¡°Maybe I should bring her into the second dream?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This thought tempted him. In terms of looks, Luo Xiyun was definitely among the top women he¡¯d seen. Perhaps because of the long time he had spent with her, anyone else he considered subconsciously got compared to her, and would inevitably fall short. However, upon calming down, he abandoned the idea. He had already experienced Luo Xiyun¡¯s personality and absolutely did not want to go through that again¡ªit was pure torment. Unless she could retain memories from the first dream. But, obviously, that wasn¡¯t possible. ¡­ After the meeting, Chen Xu left the company. The advertising business in the department was entirely outsourced to an advertising company. He was merely an errand runner, without any decision-making power; everything from pictures to materials was handed up for selection. Leaving the company building, he headed toward the subway when, just past a corner, a large Mercedes stopped in front of him. The back window rolled down¡ªit was Liu Kun. ¡°Mr. Liu?¡± Chen Xu was very surprised. Why did he specifically stop to intercept him? ¡°Chen Xu, where are you headed?¡± Liu Kun had a very gentle smile on his face. Chen Xu replied, ¡°To that store on XX Road.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going the same way, let me give you a ride. Hop in.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Liu.¡± After thanking him, Chen Xu got in the car from the other side, looking somewhat reserved. ¡°Drive,¡± Liu Kun told the driver. Once the car started, he turned to assess Chen Xu and asked, ¡°Getting used to the new department?¡± ¡°Pretty good, it¡¯s just a lot of overtime. It took some getting used to at first.¡± ¡°Yes, as the department has just been established, there are indeed a lot of things to manage. We appreciate your hard work.¡± ¡°Mainly, the company offers overtime pay, so it¡¯s worth the effort.¡± ¡°Haha,¡± Liu Kun couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You really are quite candid.¡± Along the way, the two chatted casually, with Liu Kun being unexpectedly approachable. He even asked about some personal life matters, which was not off-putting at all. ¡°I can get off here,¡± Chen Xu said as they reached an intersection. The car stopped, and he thanked Liu Kun again, opened the door, and got out. He stood by the roadside, watching the car drive away, his face holding a hint of puzzlement. He couldn¡¯t quite understand why someone as busy as Liu Kun would notice someone as insignificant as him and even stop to give him a ride. It couldn¡¯t be just to show a friendly side to a subordinate, could it? Or perhaps he had a discerning eye, planning to invest in him? Earlier in the car, Liu Kun only engaged in small talk without providing any useful information, leaving Chen Xu to guess wildly. It was unthinkable that he was simply bored. After pondering for a while without a clue, he chose not to dwell on it and headed briskly toward the store. ¡­ ¡°Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu¡­¡± After Chen Xu got out of the car, Liu Kun sat there in deep thought, not hearing the driver calling him a few times. ¡°Mr. Liu!¡± The driver had to raise his voice. ¡°Hmm?¡± Only then did Liu Kun snap out of it. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± The driver cautiously asked, ¡°Is there an issue?¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s go.¡± Liu Kun returned to his usual demeanor and got out of the car. Today he was meeting a very important person and couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted by anything else. This was an underground parking lot. Liu Kun led the driver to an elevator, which headed straight to the top floor. As the elevator doors opened, they were directly opposite a reception desk. Liu Kun adjusted his tie slightly and walked out of the elevator, telling the receptionist, ¡°I¡¯m Liu Kun, here for my appointment with Mr. Yang.¡± The receptionist smiled, ¡°Mr. Yang has informed us. Please follow me.¡± Liu Kun gestured for the driver to wait outside and followed the receptionist up a curved staircase, arriving at a door. Before entering, Liu Kun paused slightly and took a discreet breath before walking in. Inside was an office, with a wooden rack against the wall opposite the doors, displaying various delicate potted plants. The right side was an entire glass wall, offering a full view of the sky. Below lay an eight-lane road leading straight into the distance. From here, no building was taller than this one. Liu Kun glanced outside. Even though it wasn¡¯t his first time in this office, he was still awed by the setup. Would he ever have an office like this one day? ¡°Mr. Yang, Mr. Liu is here.¡± A woman¡¯s voice brought him back to reality. He looked up to see the owner of the office seated at a desk, holding a kettle and pouring hot water into a purple sand teapot. ¡°Have a seat.¡± She appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wore delicate makeup, had her hair up, and wore a light yellow top, focused on the tea set in front of her. Seeing this woman, a trace of heat flashed in Liu Kun¡¯s eyes. He quickly lowered his gaze and sat on a chair next to the desk with extreme deference. The woman finished pouring a cup of tea and handed it to him with a wooden clip. Liu Kun lowered his head, receiving it with both hands in midair. ¡°I understand your intention.¡± She laid down the clip, picked up a cloth, and wiped the water stains on the table, ¡°However, you should know, I only invest. I never involve myself in specific operations.¡± Liu Kun cautiously replied, ¡°If it were for the company, I wouldn¡¯t dare disturb you. It¡¯s just that Xiyun has been exhausted by the project, and I only want to help her¡­¡± The woman gazed at a plant nearby before speaking, ¡°Just this once.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Liu Kun felt a sense of relief, finished his tea, and took his leave. As he walked out the door, a gigantic sense of loss washed over him. Throughout the encounter, the woman hadn¡¯t once looked directly at him. He wanted to turn back for another glance, but his neck felt unbearably stiff. Bang. The door to the office closed, and he sighed silently, walking away. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: 052 First Encounter Chapter 52: 052 First Encounter Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio It was nearly 1:00 p.m. when Chen Xu finally left that store. After a busy morning, he was starving and was thinking of finding a fast-food restaurant nearby. ¡°Chen Xu?¡± Not far out, he heard someone calling his name, and when he turned around, he was surprised to recognize a college classmate. ¡°Liu Xiaoshang? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°My company is nearby. How about you? Do you work around here too? I¡¯ve never run into you before.¡± Liu Xiaoshang was also quite excited and fired off a series of questions. Chen Xu smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m just here to take care of some business.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± ¡°I was just about to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, let¡¯s go together. My treat, and don¡¯t even think about arguing.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t stand on ceremony. Liu Xiaoshang had been the vice class president and was always generous, and Chen Xu had a good relationship with him. They found a restaurant and caught up for a bit. Chen Xu had joined the class WeChat group but never spoke there, primarily because he didn¡¯t know what to talk about, so he set it to Do Not Disturb. Occasionally, when he saw messages from closer roommates, he¡¯d open it to check their updates. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? He knew that after graduation, Liu Xiaoshang did quite well for himself, buying a house and a car and getting a girlfriend. He even posted her pictures in the group; she was pretty good-looking. However, it was something that couldn¡¯t be envied; he was born lucky, with a wealthy family and good looks. They had just started chatting when Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s phone rang several times. ¡°It¡¯s my girlfriend,¡± he explained, putting the voice message to his ear to listen. The voice was soft, but Chen Xu vaguely heard something about why he hadn¡¯t replied to her messages in a while. Liu Xiaoshang quietly sent a voice message back, ¡°I¡¯m out right now.¡± Before he could put his phone down, another message came through. ¡°Location.¡± This time, the voice was louder. Liu Xiaoshang froze, pressed his fingers against his forehead, and sighed, ¡°My girlfriend can be too clingy sometimes.¡± Saying this, he sent his location. Chen Xu smiled, not knowing what to say, and pretended to drink from his cup. ¡°I¡¯m having a meal outside with a friend, a college classmate¡­¡± Liu Xiaoshang quietly reported, sneaking a glance at Chen Xu, ¡°A guy!¡± Chen Xu pretended not to hear, pulled out his phone, and swiped through it as if he were busy. Ding ding dong ding¡­ Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s phone rang again; it was a video call. Chen Xu couldn¡¯t keep up the pretense anymore. Seeing the awkward expression on Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s face and his hesitance to take the video call, Chen Xu said, ¡°Is that your girlfriend? You should answer it. I heard you found a particularly beautiful girl, and I¡¯ve been wanting to meet her. You¡¯re not planning to keep her from me, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Liu Xiaoshang forced a smile, though it was somewhat stiff. He picked up the phone and connected the video. The girl on the screen was indeed quite pretty. When the camera turned, Chen Xu politely greeted her. ¡°Is it just the two of you?¡± the woman in the video asked after the greeting. At this point, Liu Xiaoshang¡¯s expression turned a bit sour. He wordlessly spun the phone around three hundred sixty degrees to show that there was indeed no one else at the table. ¡°Go ahead and finish your meal with your classmate. Come home early after work. Love you.¡± With that, the video call ended. In the end, Liu Xiaoshang didn¡¯t say anything, put down the phone, and held the water cup. Chen Xu took the initiative to start a topic, ¡°Are you living together?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Liu Xiaoshang didn¡¯t have the same enthusiasm as before, and after a moment, he added, ¡°We¡¯re planning to get married after the New Year.¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± Only then did Liu Xiaoshang truly smile and said, ¡°You must come on my wedding day.¡± Chen Xu nodded. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°How about you?¡± Liu Xiaoshang looked at him. ¡°Do you have a girlfriend now?¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°No, I had one last year, but we broke up quickly. Too much pressure, couldn¡¯t afford it.¡± Liu Xiaoshang nodded with understanding, ¡°My girl, she spends a lot too. If I didn¡¯t earn quite a bit, I¡¯d really struggle to keep up.¡± Chen Xu laughed, ¡°It¡¯s clear you love her.¡± This sentence seemed to touch him. He looked out the window and said, ¡°I chased her for two years.¡± ¡°You might not know this, but she was from our school, one year below us. Back then, she had a boyfriend, and they only broke up after graduation¡­ It wasn¡¯t easy for me to win her over.¡± Chen Xu hadn¡¯t expected such a story from him and could only say it was probably true love. He could understand such emotions. Many people have encountered someone they were willing to go to any lengths to be with; however, due to various real-world reasons and difficulties, they gave up. A small number of people persevered for a long time and eventually ended up battered and bruised. Only a few lucky ones achieved their wishes and ended up together. Such love, even if it didn¡¯t result in success, at least wouldn¡¯t leave regrets. It seemed to rekindle that buried emotion within him. ¡°Wow¡ª¡± Suddenly, he heard an exclamation from Liu Xiaoshang. Looking up, he saw him staring out the window, eyes seemingly shining. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He turned around and looked out the window, immediately understanding what he was looking at. A woman in a light-yellow dress was standing by the roadside making a call, stunning at first glance. ¡°There she is.¡± His eyes lit up, and he glanced at the car parked next to the woman. It had an out-of-town license plate. ¡°Not a local, a perfect choice.¡± He unhesitatingly ¡°activated¡± the virtual dream technology, turned on the scanning function, and set the target as this woman. Scanning successful. At that moment, the woman finished her call, got in the car, and drove off in no time. Chen Xu and Liu Xiaoshang shared a smile and didn¡¯t mention the woman, instead talking about their lives after graduation. As it was almost time to return to work, they paid the bill and left, agreeing to get together for drinks next time. Chen Xu rushed to another store in the afternoon, didn¡¯t finish until past 7 p.m., and then hurried back to the company to hand the finished product to Secretary Guo, finally wrapping up his day. He hurried back to his rented place as fast as possible. The whole afternoon, he kept recalling that fleeting glimpse at noon; the more he thought about it, the more he looked forward to the night¡¯s dream. It was like choosing a mysterious codename movie and seeing an exceptionally stunning cover. After downloading, there was that impatient eagerness. The anticipation was mixed with a bit of unease; what if it was just a cover tease? Some women looked flawless from certain angles, but overall were pretty average, a situation he had encountered before. For Chen Xu, his dreams were entirely private. They allowed him to face the deepest corners of his heart, those secret places everyone owns but never speaks of. Just like when a man closes the door to watch an adult film. In modern society, who would accuse him of being morally corrupt? By the same principle, if he fantasized about a woman in his dreams, who could accuse him of having low character? Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: 053 Waking Up in the Ruins Chapter 53: 053 Waking Up in the Ruins Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Chen Xu returned home, cooked some noodles, and hastily ate a bowl to fill his stomach. After eating, he sat down to rest, ¡°waking up¡± the virtual dreamscape device. In the interface prompting a new dreamscape world, there was a small window labeled ¡°props.¡± Such a window did not exist in the first dreamscape. He guessed that he must have completed the previous dreamscape¡¯s task and received fifty points, reaching the condition to unlock it. When he clicked it open, a dense array of small images appeared before him. As his attention focused on a particular image, it would enlarge, forming a three-dimensional figure. They were all equipment, like guns, daggers, axes, medicine, and even vehicles and other transportation tools, totaling dozens of kinds. Chen Xu felt it was becoming more and more like a game. The items above weren¡¯t considered expensive; a regular pistol only cost two points, and one hundred bullets cost just one point. Judging from the name of this world, there was a high probability of encountering beasts, so weapons were needed for protection. He exchanged for a pistol and a rifle; coincidentally, the model was the same he used in the last dreamscape world. He got two units of each kind of bullet. In this way, he spent five points. Then, he bought an exoskeleton mechanical arm (left), which cost forty points, and with the remaining five points, he got a backpack, drinking water, food, and some medicine. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? He had thought it through. The props, whether machine guns or rocket-launchers, sure had powerful impacts. But they were only useful if he could hit the target. Only the exoskeleton machinery could directly enhance his strength and be more useful. It was just too expensive; a single mechanical arm required forty points. To gather a full set, it needed eighty points. His points were not enough; he could only afford one. The exoskeleton mechanical arm had a built-in power source; the entire piece weighed only thirty kilograms, yet its maximum power reached ten tons, definitely high-tech. After spending all his points, he exited. Lying on the bed, he prepared to sleep. ¡­ ¡°You are about to enter the virtual dreamscape ¡®Beast Invasion.¡¯ The difficulty level of this dreamscape is one, lasting one hundred eighty days. Wish you a pleasant experience in this dreamscape.¡± Chen Xu heard the voice again, and it made him open his eyes. What he saw was a murky sky, seemingly covered with a layer of dark yellow fog, creating a heavy feeling in his heart. ¡°This time, not in a room?¡± He smelled a thick burning stench, tried to stand up, and found that he was lying on uneven stones, which were uncomfortable. Standing up to look around, he was somewhat bewildered. All around was a dead silence, like the scenes only seen in movies, of a city razed to the ground. Collapsed buildings were everywhere. He was now standing on a pile of broken bricks and fractured concrete pillars, occasionally seeing a severely rusted piece of rebar. This was a city ruin with no signs of life. Woo¡ª A gust of wind blew, making a creepy sound. Chen Xu looked at the building broken in half in the distance, feeling a tingle at the back of his neck, ¡°What exactly happened in this world?¡± Could it be the invading beasts that destroyed the world? If that¡¯s the case, it would be too dangerous. Surviving here for one hundred eighty days seemed like an impossible task. Even though he had ventured in a dreamscape once before, facing such an environment made him somewhat nervous. ¡°Right, where are the items I exchanged?¡± He had nothing on him; the items he exchanged for fifty points were nowhere to be seen. ¡°Really?¡± He anxiously searched around and, upon turning, discovered a headless corpse, blood spread everywhere, looking extremely gory. ¡°This is so intense?¡± He gasped, no wonder the burning stench he smelled before was so reminiscent of burnt hair and flesh. Thinking about this made him somewhat nauseous. He forced himself to overcome the discomfort and approached the corpse. From the color of the blood, he could tell this person hadn¡¯t been dead long; it meant there might be lurking dangers nearby. His first reaction was to get a weapon for self-defense. The corpse was dressed in a peculiar style that looked like a soldier, so there was likely to be a weapon on it. As Chen Xu got closer, he saw a pistol by his feet, his eyes lit up, and he picked it up. ¡°Why is it this model?¡± He was very surprised; it was exactly the model he was used to. He removed the magazine, finding it filled with bullets. No matter what, having a gun in hand made him much more secure, allowing him to stand a fighting chance against danger. He glanced around again and quickly noticed something new: something was burning in a relatively intact building about a dozen meters away. ¡°Let¡¯s go check.¡± He loaded the bullet, slowly approaching while keeping an eye on the movements around him. When he clearly saw the scene inside the building, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He had some speculation when seeing the corpse outside, but he hadn¡¯t expected the scene to be so tragic. Inside were human corpses as well as monster corpses. Signs of fierce battle were everywhere, with blood sprayed all over. He hesitated for two seconds but still went in. Because he saw an exoskeleton armor, very familiar. It was exactly the style of the one he exchanged his points for. He wouldn¡¯t believe it was a coincidence, even if beaten to death. ¡°They¡¯re just some NPCs and monsters, won¡¯t scare me.¡± He muttered in his heart, consciously avoiding looking at those corpses. Upon entering the building, he picked up a rifle, unsurprisingly, the same as the one he exchanged for. Silently, he slung the gun over his shoulder, walked to the corpse wearing the exoskeleton armor, and found its right arm severely damaged, though the left arm was intact. It was obvious these were the props he exchanged for, just that they didn¡¯t appear directly in his hands, but came to him in this way. ¡°Is this to increase the sense of realism?¡± He was a bit helpless, having earlier thought the exchanged items were lost, feeling incredibly upset, only to find them waiting here. ¡°If I had been a little careless and left directly, wouldn¡¯t I have missed them?¡± He could only lament that as a guest, he had no rights, playing a game without even a hint. He had to rely entirely on himself to explore everything. Then, he recalled the operation process and removed the exoskeleton mechanical arm from the corpse, putting it on himself. It was called a mechanical arm, but it included leg components. Without foot support, the weight of thirty kilograms alone could tire a person out. This set of mechanical arms was semi-enclosed; wearing it was like donning half a suit of armor. He tried moving and felt it didn¡¯t make much of a difference, retaining his usual flexibility. ¡°Test the power.¡± He noticed a fallen two-meter-long concrete pillar on the ground, grabbed one end, and with a force, the heavy concrete pillar weighing several tons left the ground. ¡°Truly high-tech.¡± He released the concrete pillar, feeling amazed, ¡°In this way, the technology in this world seems much higher than in reality.¡± Just then, he heard some movement behind him, turned around abruptly, and saw a green-skinned monster taller than a human, drooling, no more than five meters away from him. All of a sudden, his hairs stood on end. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: 054 A Shot With a Raise of the Hand Chapter 54: 054 A Shot With a Raise of the Hand Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Bang! Chen Xu¡¯s hand never left the gun. When he discovered a green-skinned monster standing behind him, he was startled, raising his hand and firing a shot. A burst of green blood splashed from the monster¡¯s forehead. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!¡­ He continuously pulled the trigger until the bullets were empty, resulting in the faint sound of the pin striking nothing. ¡°Hu¡ªhu¡ªhu¡ª¡± His chest rose and fell violently. He looked at the monster, lying on the ground with its head nearly deformed, light green liquid gushing from the wound. Clearly, it was dead beyond revival. ¡°Shit, scared me to death.¡± He said, gradually relaxing. Even his right hand was still trembling; he struggled to change the magazine. He had never thought that he would perform so poorly when facing danger. Moments ago, his mind went completely blank. Firing the gun was purely an instinctive reaction. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Fortunately, he had trained his shooting skills well, instinctively aiming at the head; otherwise, given the creature¡¯s size, hitting the body might not have been fatal. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a green-skinned gorilla? What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± He felt a bit ashamed of his previous performance, shaking his still-trembling right hand in frustration. The creature¡¯s body shape and walking posture were somewhat gorilla-like, but its face was uglier, and its teeth looked much fiercer. ¡°Must leave here quickly. The gunshots just now likely attracted other monsters.¡± He finally managed to reload his handgun. Without daring to stay any longer, he quickly searched the area and found the supplies he had exchanged before coming here. Then, he looked at several large barrels of water, feeling troubled. Bullets, medicine, and compressed food were manageable due to their small size and could barely fit into a large backpack. But the water was impossible. There were a thousand liters, packed in ten one-hundred-liter barrels, requiring at least a van to transport. ¡°Leave it here for now.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t hesitate long, gritting his teeth and taking whatever he could carry before leaving. Wearing a half mechanical exoskeleton arm, his balance was slightly off, making him walk awkwardly. But at this point, he couldn¡¯t afford to worry. He didn¡¯t go far, heading straight for the nearest surviving building with more than a dozen floors. Those gunshots might have attracted not only monsters but also that woman. So he couldn¡¯t go too far and risk missing her. ¡°Must find that woman before dark, then find a place to settle.¡± He felt an urgency. Unlike the last dream, this place had monsters, making it far more dangerous. That woman couldn¡¯t exchange weapons to bring here either. Unarmed, she¡¯d be dead if she encountered green-skinned gorillas. If the companion he selected on the first day died, it would be extremely unfortunate. Soon, he entered the building and started climbing the stairs. He didn¡¯t dare move too quickly, constantly observing the surroundings to ensure his own safety. The building¡¯s structure was mostly intact, though the walls were severely damaged. He couldn¡¯t imagine what had happened here. After about ten minutes, he reached the rooftop. Confirming no potential danger on the rooftop, he holstered his handgun, switched to a rifle, and moved to the edge to look outwards. ¡°Nothing?¡± He circled the rooftop, checking in all four directions, but found nothing, neither people nor monsters. ¡°Could she be hiding?¡± He frowned. This was the tallest building nearby, offering an unobstructed view of the ground below. However, there were still some low-level buildings below. It was highly possible she was hiding. ¡°Logically, she should be nearby.¡± He thought, otherwise, the feature to bring a companion wouldn¡¯t make sense. Too far apart, how could they meet? So, he was confident that the woman was in the vicinity. ¡°Was she scared by the gunshots?¡± He realized the issue was convincing her he meant no harm after finding her. Bringing in a stranger was troublesome too. Anyone suddenly thrown into a dangerous place would be wary of a stranger. He sighed. Things truly weren¡¯t perfectly balanced. Bringing in someone he knew would make contact easier, but what if they developed feelings in the dream world? It¡¯d be hard to deal with upon waking. But with a stranger, contacting them was difficult. Forget it, he¡¯d see how things went. He had never thought about bringing a male friend. Who¡¯d want to spend half a year in a dream with a same-sex friend? That would be too weird. He thought for a moment and moved to the direction where he had first appeared, standing guard in what was likely her hiding area. Now he needed to confirm where she was hiding. ¡­ Chen Xu set his exoskeletal arm to rest mode, conserving energy and saving effort. Gazing at the ruins before him, a wave of melancholy filled his heart. He couldn¡¯t help recalling the last dream, when a twenty-day continuous rain submerged half the city, leaving him with a similar feeling. As a member of humanity, watching modern civilization be destroyed was an indescribable sensation. ¡°Such a pity, all those money-making ideas I prepared are useless.¡± He sighed regretfully. After waking from the first dream, he went to a frequently visited forum to ask how to make money in similar situations. It was there, for the first time, he learned about ¡°Scratch-offs.¡± Upon learning it was an official lottery issued by the state, he was pounding his chest over the missed opportunity. If he had known earlier, he¡¯d have already made a fortune. Buying a house or car was uncertain, but settling his family¡¯s debts would¡¯ve been easy. Having missed that opportunity, he came fully prepared this time, determined to raid every lottery station if it were like the first dream. Instead, he arrived at a damn wasteland. And from various signs, it was likely not even Earth. All those money-making plans were naturally thwarted. Suddenly, he heard sounds from the stairway. His nerves tensed up, and he raised his weapon. A green figure emerged from the stairs. Almost reflexively, he was about to pull the trigger. In the next instant, he finally saw it clearly, his pupils contracting. Bang! A gunshot rang out, and the green shadow fell. ¡°` Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: My name is Xia Jinse. Chapter 55: My name is Xia Jinse. Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio Bang! Chen Xu¡¯s left hand firmly grasped the gun¡¯s grip. With the assistance of the mechanical arm, he felt no recoil at the shoulder. At that moment, he wasn¡¯t focused on this; his body was somewhat stiff from the lingering fear. He held the shooting posture, watching the green-clothed woman fall to the ground, feeling his entire back drenched in sweat. Too close. Just now, if he hadn¡¯t raised the gun barrel slightly in the instant before firing, she would have been shot in the head. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t have been so reckless. It was just that in such a dangerous environment he became a bit paranoid, instinctively mistaking the green figure for another green-skinned gorilla, almost causing a tragedy. Fortunately, the bullet flew over her head; she was merely frightened and fell. Why wear green clothes in this situation? While feeling the aftershock, he couldn¡¯t help but complain. His gaze met hers, his heart skipped a beat. Her face didn¡¯t show fear; rather, it seemed more like rage, her eyes sharp and commanding. A strange feeling surged in Chen Xu¡¯s heart. He instinctively felt this woman was not simple. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°Are you okay?¡± He finally remembered to put the gun away while asking as gently as possible, ¡°I thought you were a monster just now, that¡¯s why I shot. Sorry, did I scare you?¡± As he spoke, he extended his hand, wanting to help her up as a sign of goodwill. The woman in green didn¡¯t take his hand. She supported herself against the wall to stand up, patting the dust off her skirt. Seeing her concerned about the dirt on her clothes, Chen Xu found it even stranger. Think about it, a woman wakes up to find her city turned into ruins and then encounters a man shooting at her, escaping death. Yet, her first reaction is to clean her skirt? No matter how one looks, such a reaction isn¡¯t quite normal. After a few pats, she noticed a muddy imprint still on the skirt, ignored it, and looked at Chen Xu. Her gaze swept over the oddly shaped exoskeleton mechanical arm and asked, ¡°Where is this place?¡± Chen Xu frowned slightly. He didn¡¯t like her tone, casual yet with an overbearing demeanor, to which he was sensitive. This might be a woman even more difficult to handle than Luo Xiyun. That was his first impression of her. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t just a pretty face, matching the stunning appearance during their brief daytime encounter. In an instant, many thoughts flashed through his mind, and he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her eyes flickered slightly, and she asked again, ¡°Who are you?¡± Chen Xu responded with a question, ¡°And you?¡± The woman was silent for two seconds and said, ¡°My name is Xia Jinse.¡± ¡°Chen Xu.¡± Chen Xu had intended to shake hands with her, but recalling how she preferred to stand up by herself, he abandoned the idea and said, ¡°You must have, like me, inexplicably arrived in this world.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Xia Jinse asked. ¡°The clothes you¡¯re wearing don¡¯t match this place,¡± Chen Xu said. ¡°From my own experience, I could guess.¡± Xia Jinse looked at the gun in his hand. Chen Xu explained, ¡°These things were picked up. There¡¯s a battle site over there, but everyone was dead.¡± ¡°Was the gunshot just now your doing?¡± she asked again. ¡°I encountered a monster, something like a green-skinned gorilla, and shot it dead. That¡¯s why when you appeared, I instinctively fired¡ªthe color was too similar.¡± Chen Xu explained the reason he fired and then asked her, ¡°What are your plans next?¡± Xia Jinse¡¯s delicate brows furrowed deeply. After a while, she slowly said, ¡°Survive.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s team up. With two people, we can look out for each other and have a better chance of surviving in this dangerous world.¡± Xia Jinse was silent for a moment and then asked, ¡°Can you take me to see that battle site?¡± Chen Xu knew she didn¡¯t trust him and wasn¡¯t angry. If she immediately agreed, it wouldn¡¯t be normal. After all, they were strangers without any foundation of trust and would naturally be highly guarded. He looked up at the sky, still a gray haze, unchanged since he woke up. Without seeing the sun, he couldn¡¯t tell the time. By feeling, from waking up to now, it should have been about an hour. The two left the rooftop and headed downstairs. ¡­ Xia Jinse led the way, with Chen Xu following. The entire way, neither of them spoke. Although, the first time he encountered a green-skinned gorilla, Chen Xu was almost scared to wet his pants. But after personally shooting it dead with a gun, he gained some courage. The green-skinned gorilla looked ferocious but wasn¡¯t as terrifying as imagined. It was also flesh and blood and could be killed with a handgun, let alone a rifle. Even at close range, he had the exoskeleton mechanical arm, which could easily smash it. As long as he was careful not to be ambushed. So, to gain Xia Jinse¡¯s trust, he decided to take a risk and return to the scene. When they arrived, Chen Xu watched Xia Jinse carefully examine the entire battlefield, human corpses, monster bodies, even the bullet marks on the walls, leaving nothing unchecked. Honestly, he considered investigating here, especially the monster bodies. But he was anxious to find Xia Jinse, so he abandoned the idea. Ten minutes later, Xia Jinse stood up from beside the last monster¡¯s corpse and said, ¡°We need to take those water supplies. Without clean drinking water, we won¡¯t last long.¡± Chen Xu nodded, agreeing with her assessment. Earlier, he had observed from the rooftop¡ªthey had destroyed the city thoroughly, with no water sources in sight. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that transport truck is severely damaged.¡± Xia Jinse said with some regret. Without transportation, moving that much water was no small task. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Chen Xu flexed the exoskeleton mechanical arm wrapping his left hand and said, ¡°I think we should still stay at that building tonight. I¡¯ve checked; there are a few decent rooms there. Staying there means we won¡¯t worry about being suddenly attacked by monsters.¡± Xia Jinse nodded in agreement. Afterward, they carried a barrel of water back to the building, found a room on the third floor, and cleaned it up. After a while of work, both were hungry, so Chen Xu opened a pack of compressed biscuits to share with her, sitting and eating. Xia Jinse took a bite of the biscuit, frowned, and suddenly said, ¡°I agree to form a team. But you have to promise me one condition.¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: 056 I also have one condition. Chapter 56: 056 I also have one condition. Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Chen Xu chewed carefully. The compressed biscuit was very hard, and the texture was quite poor, but the taste was unexpectedly good. It was scallion flavored. He swallowed the biscuit in his mouth before speaking, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Xia Jinse held the bitten biscuit in her hand and slowly said, ¡°I need private space, at any time. You can¡¯t come close.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, not hiding the sarcasm in his laughter. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Xia Jinse¡¯s face turned somewhat cold, and at that moment, her gaze gave Chen Xu an odd feeling again, as if he was facing a company leader. He was a bit curious about what this woman did in real life. Anyone who could create a sense of oppression with just a glance surely wasn¡¯t ordinary. However, this was his dreamscape. Even if Trump showed up, he would fearlessly go head-to-head. ¡°Your request is kind of ridiculous.¡± The sarcasm on Chen Xu¡¯s face deepened, ¡°Look at our current situation. This place is a wasteland, with monsters possibly appearing at any moment, making survival difficult to guarantee. You¡¯re still demanding personal space?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? After the previous dreamscape, he had learned some lessons. With women like this¡ªpretty, from a good background, and full of ambition¡ªone should never try to ingratiate or accommodate. In his younger, more naive years, he had once innocently believed that as long as you treated others sincerely, you would receive the same sincerity in return. But reality gave him slap after slap. The result was often that the more you tried to please or accommodate others, the less they took you seriously. Many times, if you showed a little bit of color, they would open a dye shop. As long as you held a firm stance and could stick to your principles, others might actually respect you more. At least, they wouldn¡¯t dismiss you. Sometimes he felt, are these people just a bit mean-spirited? Understanding this, he had fewer friends, but felt more at ease in life. As for women like Xia Jinse, who were probably used to being strong, with innate arrogance, he figured that if he relented a bit, she might even make more bizarre demands. So, his attitude was blunt, ¡°What if you¡¯re attacked by a monster while you¡¯re sleeping or bathing?¡± Xia Jinse replied coldly, ¡°Even in that case, I wouldn¡¯t need your rescue.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t just watch you die,¡± Chen Xu said, unwilling to ramble on, and continued eating his biscuit. Xia Jinse stared at him for a while before she finally said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk again under special circumstances; in normal times, you must comply.¡± Chen Xu swallowed the second bite of biscuit, nodded, and said, ¡°Alright. However, I also have a condition.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Respect is mutual. If you want to be treated a certain way, you have to treat me with the same attitude.¡± Chen Xu looked into her eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t care what your previous status was, how superior you were, or how many people revolved around you. Here, it¡¯s just you and me; no one is more noble than the other.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t say that men should yield to women or that women should be taken care of. It doesn¡¯t exist with me. If you want to survive, you have to contribute your strength. Don¡¯t expect me to take care of everything.¡± Xia Jinse looked at his serious expression, showing a look of astonishment, and was speechless for a long time. After finishing, Chen Xu ignored her, drank some water, and finished his biscuit before standing up and saying, ¡°Hurry up and eat. We¡¯ll set out once we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Set out?¡± Xia Jinse asked, puzzled. While packing up, Chen Xu said, ¡°Just now, on that car, I saw a place marked as a settlement on a machine that looked like a navigation device. It¡¯s not far from here.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Xia Jinse asked, surprised, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention it earlier?¡± Chen Xu, with his back to her, said, ¡°Earlier, you weren¡¯t my companion yet.¡± Xia Jinse watched his back for a long time. The sky remained gray, casting a sense of oppression on their hearts. Chen Xu, carrying all their belongings, took Xia Jinse and set out just like that. They first went to find the transport vehicle, opened the navigation device, and both of them noted down the route to the settlement. The settlement wasn¡¯t far from there, a total distance of 12.3 kilometers. The route wasn¡¯t complicated; the navigation device displayed a live-action route, so they only needed to remember a few landmark buildings. Once they were ready, they officially set out. Chen Xu was on the left; Xia Jinse was on the right, keeping a distance of about two meters from him. They silently moved forward, progressing wordlessly. He constantly observed their surroundings to prevent a sudden monster attack. Occasionally glancing at her, he couldn¡¯t help but ponder a lot. The virtual dreamscape world gave him a kind of split personality feeling. On the one hand, in terms of detail, it pursued extreme realism, making it impossible to distinguish from reality. On the other hand, it would leave obvious loopholes in certain places, constantly reminding you that this was not real. In the previous dreamscape, he had felt this deeply. Now, too, he had this feeling. The most noticeable thing was that in a world capable of producing cutting-edge technology like exoskeleton mechanical arms, the city¡¯s architectural level was surprisingly the same as Earth¡¯s. When he looked at the map on that navigation device earlier, he found it so familiar. Upon closer inspection, he realized this was his city. The place where he had woken up was just where he rented an apartment. He hadn¡¯t recognized it at first because most of the buildings had collapsed. Once he figured this out, he matched many locations with reality. The site of the exoskeleton mechanical arm battle was a medium-sized supermarket. The surviving building was a newly constructed residential complex. The same was true for people, whether it was Luo Xiyun or Xia Jinse, they were inherently intelligent. Yet, they never found the inconsistencies in the dreamscape world strange, nor did they delve into it. Up to now, Xia Jinse hadn¡¯t mentioned anything about why she appeared in this world or how it all happened. This was already very bizarre. Under normal circumstances, anyone encountering such a thing would first wonder, what happened? But Xia Jinse hadn¡¯t even brought it up, as if she accepted her setting in advance. Chen Xu had felt this sense of discord with Luo Xiyun as well. Of course, over time, the more they interacted, the more he gradually overlooked this point. He guessed that this must be to prevent users from getting too immersed in the dreamscape. After all, for most people, dreamscape life was far more abundant than reality. Because of this, although he often reminisced about days in the first dreamscape, he didn¡¯t feel sad about it. ¡°` Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: 057 Crisis Chapter 57: 057 Crisis Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Thud! With a dull clang of metal, Chen Xu¡¯s left foot, encased in an exoskeleton, stepped on a dark red brick. Chen Xu halted, gazed into the distance for a moment, then turned and said to Xia Jinse, who was walking unsteadily, ¡°We have a few more kilometers to go. Let¡¯s rest here for a bit.¡± As he spoke, he pulled out a cement beam from the rubble pile, turning its smooth side upward. He sat on one end, took out a water bottle, poured some into the cap, and took a few sips before placing the bottle in the middle of the beam. The points-exchanged backpack was multifunctional, equipped with many small tools, including the water bottle. There was only one, forcing them to share. Xia Jinse breathed heavily, sweat continuously beading on her forehead. Regardless of the dust, she sat heavily on the other end of the cement beam, panting as she reached out to grab the water bottle. She tilted her head back, keeping a few inches between the bottle¡¯s mouth and her lips as she sipped gently. Although Chen Xu was sitting, his eyes continuously scanned his surroundings. He had intentionally chosen a spot with an expansive view to rest. They had been walking for nearly three hours, covering around ten kilometers. Primarily due to frequent breaks; Xia Jinse clearly wasn¡¯t accustomed to exercise, her stamina lacking. After walking for over half an hour, she was too exhausted to continue, necessitating a rest. Other than that, they had endured without incident. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 On the way, he had once spotted signs of a monster. As he raised his gun to shoot, it quickly took advantage of the terrain to escape. With Xia Jinse beside him, he didn¡¯t dare to give chase. Worried that the monster might return with others, he quickened his pace, feeling anxious all the way. After another half hour without a horde of monsters appearing, they finally relaxed. Since then, he became even more cautious, choosing routes offering better visibility. The monster wasn¡¯t the green-skinned gorilla he¡¯d seen before but another species. Smaller in size, with strange speed, it likely specialized in ambushes. ¡°We¡¯ve walked nearly ten kilometers.¡± After drinking, Xia Jinse returned the water bottle to its spot and unexpectedly spoke. Chen Xu was somewhat surprised. Since their departure, she hadn¡¯t said a word. He thought she was giving him the silent treatment for a while. ¡°Have you noticed we haven¡¯t encountered a single living plant along the way?¡± Xia Jinse looked worried. ¡°I observed that the soil here has turned to sand. I¡¯m worried the entire city is like this.¡± Chen Xu felt a shiver of alarm. He had noticed the plant issue earlier, initially attributing it to the dream setting. Only after hearing her did he realize its severity. He stood up, walked to a patch of exposed concrete, and swung his mechanical arm down hard. After several punches, the concrete was broken, revealing sand beneath, making his expression grave. If the city¡¯s land had turned to sand, it meant it had become a true dead city, unsuitable for survival. In fact, there had been precursors. Along their journey, aside from one monster, they hadn¡¯t encountered any other life forms. Xia Jinse approached, seeing the situation beneath the ground, and asked, ¡°How much food do you have left?¡± Without thinking, Chen Xu replied, ¡°Under normal circumstances, it¡¯s enough for both of us for ten days. If we¡¯re frugal, we can stretch it to two weeks.¡± Xia Jinse sighed, ¡°I hope at the survival outpost, we can get some food supplies.¡± Otherwise, they were in trouble. Chen Xu quickly regained his composure, reassuring her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since transportation vehicles still pass through here and there are monsters living around, things aren¡¯t as bad as they seem.¡± ¡°Hopefully,¡± Xia Jinse murmured. Chen Xu looked at her, noting her worried expression but no visible fear, and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°You don¡¯t seem scared.¡± ¡°Would being scared help?¡± she retorted. Chen Xu shook his head, ¡°Your reasoning is sound, but few can manage that. Fear is a natural reaction, not something you can control at will. At least, most ordinary people can¡¯t.¡± Xia Jinse suddenly smiled, and her delicate face softened, ¡°Are you subtly complimenting yourself?¡± She implied that Chen Xu himself didn¡¯t show any signs of fear. Chen Xu laughed, satisfied with her change in attitude. The tone and content of their conversation were devoid of former arrogance. She finally understood her position correctly, which was a significant start. ¡­ After resting for half an hour, they set off again. The city¡¯s sandification had instilled in them a sense of urgency to reach the outpost and assess the situation. On the navigator, the outpost was labeled G5232. It was positioned atop a low hill. This area was unfamiliar to Chen Xu; he didn¡¯t know what it corresponded to in reality. Forty minutes later, they glimpsed a wall, realizing they were close to the outpost, and their spirits lifted. However, as they neared and discerned the state of the main gate, their hearts sank, and they simultaneously halted. The outpost gate was open, with several small green-skinned gorillas fooling around at the entrance. ¡°What should we do?¡± Xia Jinse inquired. Chen Xu replied sternly, ¡°It seems this settlement has fallen. The people inside are likely¡­ The issue is we don¡¯t know how many monsters there are inside.¡± ¡°Five small ones at the gate, best-case scenario; there are two large ones. Worst-case, it¡¯s a horde.¡± Chen Xu agreed with her assessment. The green-skinned gorillas could either live in family units or entire clans together. It was down to their luck. Xia Jinse looked to him, waiting for his decision. Chen Xu gripped his gun tightly, pondering for a few seconds before saying, ¡°We¡¯ll fight our way in. Stay close to me.¡± Xia Jinse gritted her teeth, ¡°Give me a gun.¡± ¡°Have you ever shot before?¡± Chen Xu questioned. ¡°No, teach me,¡± she stated earnestly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to watch myself get eaten by a monster.¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± Chen Xu took hold of the rifle with his left mechanical arm and the handgun in his right, slowly stood up, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die in front of me. Stay close.¡± Xia Jinse took a deep breath, clenched her jaw, and charged forward behind him. ¡°` Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: 058 Her Response Chapter 58: 058 Her Response Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` ¡°Jinxia¡­ what are you doing¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t breathe¡­ cough¡­¡± ¡°Huh¡­ huh¡­¡± Yang Jinxia stood in the darkness, quietly watching the tears slide down the cheek of the girl on the sickbed. Then, the scene quickly faded away, disappearing into the distant darkness. She opened her eyes and immediately noticed something wrong. This wasn¡¯t her room. Where is this? How did I get here? Kidnapping? She looked at the gray sky above, and her heart sank. In the few seconds it took her to sit up from the ground, she had already prepared for the worst. The sight before her shattered all her previous assumptions and made her face turn pale as paper in an instant. This was a city in ruins. A collapsed skyscraper, and all she saw was heaps of bricks and rubble. At her feet, a deformed aluminum window frame stood at a strange angle, gently swaying with the whistling wind. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was a world of deathly silence. The concept jumped into her mind, and for a moment, she felt a deep chill rise from her heart, her eyes involuntarily showing fear, and her body began to tremble slightly. Tap! Suddenly, a faint sound of pebbles colliding came from behind her. What is this¡­ In her ears, this faint sound was like a thunderclap. She abruptly turned her head. She saw a man not far behind her, rising from the ground. Someone! The presence of this person pulled her out of the endless fear. To her, surviving alone in a world of silence was the scariest thing. In an instant, she composed herself and quickly assessed the situation. Seeing the man standing motionless with his back to her, she quietly hid behind a half-collapsed brick wall, observing him through a gap. The man¡¯s identity was unknown; it was best not to rush into contact. His clothes were ordinary, around 1.75 meters tall, not particularly strong-looking. She assessed in her mind, slightly disappointed. Hmm? Recovering from the shock so quickly, his ability to accept the situation was not bad. What is he looking for? Is there a body? She followed the man¡¯s line of sight and was a little surprised. She hadn¡¯t noticed before. In hindsight, she realized the body was in her blind spot, so it was normal for her not to have noticed. Next, she saw the man pick up a gun next to the body, check the magazine, put it back, and pulled the slide. That seemed like a chambering action. Could he be a policeman? She felt a surge of joy. His skilled movements suggested he was someone who often handled guns. In this country, only police and military personnel belonged to such groups. His demeanor didn¡¯t suggest he was military. Encountering a policeman in such an environment was incredibly lucky. However, she didn¡¯t impulsively rush out to meet him, planning to observe further. Then, the man held the gun and cautiously walked toward a building ahead. This further convinced her that he was likely a policeman. She quietly followed the man from behind, his attention focused ahead, unaware of her presence. Subsequently, she noticed that the building bore scars of battle, evident of a fierce fight having just occurred. From her angle, she could see several bodies. The man searched inside for a while and unexpectedly put on a strangely shaped mechanical suit, half of which was damaged, only half a set. Then, he demonstrated the suit¡¯s power by lifting a concrete pillar from the ground. She was astonished. That concrete pillar weighed at least several tons. Could it be lifted with just a half-set, oddly shaped mechanical suit? Current Earth technology couldn¡¯t possibly create such a thing, right? Her company also invested in some high-tech industries, giving her some understanding of cutting-edge technology. If such a product existed, she would know about it. While she was feeling a bit puzzled, the man suddenly turned around and fired a shot. What happened? She was stunned. Why did he fire for no apparent reason? What followed was a series of gunshots. She couldn¡¯t help but peek out a little and finally saw a monster not far in front of the man. So he encountered danger. He probably didn¡¯t have experience dealing with enemies using a gun. From this man¡¯s reaction, she could tell something. She guessed he was a novice. From his profile, the man looked quite young. Yet, his marksmanship was exceptionally good. Even though he seemed so panicked, every shot hit the monster¡¯s head. A new policeman, not long out of training, joined the force for a while, had excellent marksmanship, but lacked experience handling major cases. She had painted a rough image of him in her mind. After a while, the man composed himself, found something else at the scene, and then hurriedly left. She quickly followed but didn¡¯t dare to call out impulsively. Although she judged that this man wouldn¡¯t mean her harm, his nerves were probably still tense. If he reacted reflexively, giving her a shot, it would be a wrongful death. The man ran with an odd gait, limping but moving quickly. Before long, he entered a building. She followed into the building, walked to the stairwell, and listened to the thumping footsteps until they disappeared on the rooftop. Why did he go to the rooftop? Baffled, she pondered but didn¡¯t rush to follow. Instead, she began searching around inside the building. Finally, she found a relatively intact mirror in a room. She blew off the dust and started tidying up in front of the mirror. She was wearing a green nightgown without any makeup. She had removed her makeup before sleeping, so she was completely bare-faced. However, after the small run earlier, she had sweated a bit and picked up some dust. She carefully wiped away the dust and straightened her clothes. At the same time, she ran through the scenario of meeting the man in her mind. She knew that for now, to survive better, she must rely on the man on the rooftop. Fortunately, he was a young policeman. She didn¡¯t need to worry too much about him harming her. And what she could use now was only the inherent weapon of a woman. The target was an ordinary-looking, grassroots policeman from a regular family¡­ She gradually formulated a plan in her mind. She knew what to say and how to express it when meeting him. After rehearsing the meeting scenario twice in her mind, she headed up the stairs. The building was quite high. She rested a few times along the way; otherwise, sweating too much would affect her appearance. Finally, she reached the last flight of stairs. She paused to adjust herself and then went up. PS: After some consideration, I decided to bring her perspective into the story. Focusing solely on the protagonist¡¯s perspective made it challenging to fully shape this character. ¡°` Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: 059 Reflecting Value Chapter 59: 059 Reflecting Value Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°` Yang Jinxia never imagined that what awaited her was a sudden gunshot. Her mind went blank, and she stumbled, falling to the ground in a very awkward manner. A few seconds later, she realized she hadn¡¯t been shot, and a surge of anger rose within her. Had she almost gotten killed by gunfire? The man appeared somewhat frightened too, asking her, ¡°Are you okay? I just thought you were a monster and fired. Sorry, did I scare you?¡± Saying this, he extended his hand to her. She suppressed the fury in her heart; however, her intended dramatic entrance had been completely shattered by that gunshot, and the planned conversation naturally couldn¡¯t proceed. Thinking this, she stood up and, while brushing the dirt off her skirt, she began to think, asking aloud, ¡°Where is this place?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She then asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°And you?¡± he responded with a question instead of an answer. She felt a chill in her heart. From his words, she clearly sensed a kind of dissatisfaction and a slight sense of confrontation. Yang Jinxia, has your prolonged life of comfort made you forget how to face a crisis? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï She calmed down instantly and said, ¡°My name is Xia Jinse.¡± She instinctively used a false name, even though she never accepted interviews and usually kept a low profile, her name not known to the public. But in such an environment, she chose to hide her identity. Then she finally learned the man¡¯s name, as ordinary as his appearance, Chen Xu. She pretended to meet him for the first time and chatted for a while to ease his vigilance. Later, Chen Xu proposed the idea of teaming up, but she didn¡¯t agree immediately, saying she would think it over. After calming down, she analyzed the current situation. In this wasteland, she had to rely on him to survive. And since he had a gun and supplies, it meant he held the absolute advantage. She was at an absolute disadvantage. This was not what she wanted; she must regain some initiative. The only thing she could leverage was the inherent advantage of being a beautiful woman. At mealtime, Yang Jinxia ate the hard, stale compressed biscuits and requested to have some privacy. This was also a test, to probe his attitude toward her. In the end, Chen Xu¡¯s words made her realize she had encountered a straight man with anti-feminist tendencies, which was quite tricky for her. Later, she learned that Chen Xu had hidden an important piece of information, which shocked her even more. Was he really a cop? Suddenly, she began to doubt her judgment. Why would a normal young man have such guarded thoughts toward a beautiful, seemingly harmless woman? If he were a cop, it would be even less likely. Thinking about his familiarity with the gun, a significant sense of crisis arose in her heart. On the way to the settlement, she remained silent, recalling every word and action of Chen Xu to analyze his personality. This man was either uninterested in women. Or he was a very disciplined iron-man straight guy. Instinctively, she leaned toward the latter because his look at her was the same as any normal man¡¯s, just more restrained. In an apocalyptic environment like this, he still maintained such self-control; either he had high moral standards or he was a weirdo. Either way, he wasn¡¯t a normal person. After walking for over ten minutes, she was a bit tired, and the soles of her feet began to hurt. She said nothing, gritting her teeth to keep going. Internally, she understood that her beauty didn¡¯t affect him at all. This meant she was completely dispensable to him, which was very dangerous. In any team, if someone cannot be useful, there is always the risk of being abandoned. She couldn¡¯t be his burden. Fortunately, during the journey, Chen Xu suggested resting a few times, allowing her to keep up. Even so, her feet got blistered, and with every step, there was a burning pain. More than half of the sweat on her forehead was from the pain. Finally, they arrived at the settlement, only to find it already overrun by monsters. ¡°What should we do?¡± she asked. Ultimately, Chen Xu made a decision, ¡°Fight our way in.¡± It was at this moment that she realized it was an excellent opportunity and demanded, ¡°Give me a gun.¡± A gun is a symbol of power. Having one changes everything. ¡°Have you ever fired a gun?¡± Chen Xu asked. However, she hadn¡¯t, so she could only say, ¡°I don¡¯t want to watch myself getting eaten by monsters.¡± Chen Xu refused her, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die in front of me.¡± Still a failure. A sense of frustration rose in her heart. This man was absolutely impenetrable. Watching Chen Xu head toward the settlement, she had no choice but to follow, holding a stick as a weapon, better than nothing. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! At about twenty meters away, Chen Xu started firing, and the five green-skinned monsters looking like gorillas at the entrance all fell to the ground with shots to the head. Behind him, Yang Jinxia saw clearly, five monsters, each shot in the head. Such formidable marksmanship shocked her. Reality isn¡¯t a movie; in actual combat, hitting the target every time with such accuracy is impossible. Who on earth was this Chen Xu? She suppressed this doubt tightly and kept close behind him. This wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on this; besides, the better his shooting, the safer she¡¯d be. She should be thankful instead. Once inside the settlement, Chen Xu used a mechanical arm to push the heavy door closed, hearing a click as it locked. ¡°Chen Xu, there¡¯s a map of the entire layout here.¡± Yang Jinxia wasn¡¯t idle. She ran to the nearby security room¡¯s window, observed inside, and quickly found something valuable, calling out. Hearing this, Chen Xu hurried over and, seeing the map on the wall, praised, ¡°Well done.¡± She asked, ¡°Where should we go first?¡± While memorizing the map, Chen Xu said, ¡°The control center.¡± The layout of the settlement wasn¡¯t complex. The control center was in the middle, and a straight path from the entrance led directly to it. They set off immediately, with Chen Xu leading and Yang Jinxia following. ¡°Actually, you didn¡¯t have to come in,¡± Chen Xu suddenly said. Yang Jinxia replied, ¡°We¡¯re teammates, aren¡¯t we?¡± Suddenly, a sense of forewarning rose sharply in her heart. She looked up to see a dark shadow swooping down, targeting Chen Xu ahead. ¡°Watch out,¡± she shouted, pushing Chen Xu aside forcefully. The next moment, a rush of fierce wind hit her, and before she could pull back her arm, something hooked it. Then, with a mighty pull, she was lifted off the ground. Bang, a gunshot rang out. A warm liquid splattered on her face, and she lost her balance, falling to the ground. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: 060 Control Center Chapter 60: 060 Control Center Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio ¡°Watch out.¡± Chen Xu heard Jinxia Yang¡¯s warning and became cautious. Suddenly, he was pushed hard from behind, causing him to take two steps forward as a strong gust of wind swept down on the back of his head, making him instantly aware that he was under attack. He turned around and saw a giant black creature whose two claws were gripping Jinxia Yang¡¯s hands. Almost instinctively, without having time to aim, he swung his gun and pulled the trigger at the precise moment. Bang! The massive creature flapped once and fell, dragging Jinxia Yang down to the ground as well. Damn it. He saw her left arm covered in blood, a trace of anger on his face. He walked forward, and fired a few more shots at the still-flapping beast. By now, he had clearly seen the creature¡¯s form. It looked like a giant eagle, its entire body gray and white, extremely large in size, with a wingspan extending over two meters. Rather than being angry at the giant eagle¡¯s sudden attack, he was more annoyed at his own carelessness for not considering the potential threat from the sky. If it wasn¡¯t for Jinxia Yang¡¯s timely warning and push, it would have been him who was injured now. He opened his backpack, took out a medical kit, and began treating her wound. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Her left forearm was scratched with four bloody holes, the wounds deep and continuously bleeding. Chen Xu took out a small bottle of alcohol, unscrewed the cap, and said, ¡°Bear with it,¡± then poured the alcohol onto her wound. He looked at her face and noticed her lips trembling and her nostrils flaring, clearly an indication of immense pain. Yet her eyes were scanning behind him. She was still observing her surroundings at this moment? His hand holding the alcohol bottle trembled slightly. What kind of life experience led such a beautiful woman to develop such a vigilant mindset? He silently took out a few pieces of hemostatic tape and carefully stuck them onto her wound. These hemostatic tapes, which he had never used before, were most likely products of this world, just like the exoskeleton mechanical arm. He observed that once applied, the bleeding stopped, showing great effectiveness. ¡°You can¡¯t leave this on for too long. It needs to be removed in half an hour.¡± He instructed, then added after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°If I forget later, remind me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jinxia Yang said no more unnecessary words, stood up, picked up the stick she had dropped earlier, and stood behind him again. Watching her actions, Chen Xu¡¯s mouth opened slightly. Eventually, he said nothing and continued forward. ¡­¡­ The road was very wide, enough for four cars to drive side by side. On both sides of the road were buildings resembling warehouses, with some of the doors wide open. Inside was a scene of chaos and severe damage, with some withered plants visible on the ground. From the overall layout map, this was all part of the cultivation area. In other words, these were essentially agricultural greenhouses. Chen Xu looked as far as he could see and noticed that the greenhouses stretched to the end of the road, counting at least hundreds of them. He estimated that each had an area of about a thousand square meters. This indicated that this settlement was much larger than he had imagined. Some of the greenhouse doors were tightly closed, showing no signs of damage, roughly accounting for one-third of them. ¡°I just don¡¯t know what they are growing inside. As long as one of them has food crops, it would be enough for two people to eat for half a year.¡± He resisted the urge to open those greenhouses. The priority was to eliminate all the monsters within the settlement. Bang. Through the sight, Chen Xu saw the massive green-skinned gorilla inside the greenhouse fall, then lowered the muzzle, silently thinking, ¡°The fifth one.¡± Upon entering the settlement, he had put away his pistol and used only the rifle, which had greater power and was easier to aim. Including the five smaller ones at the entrance, he had already eliminated ten monsters, taking ten shots in total, all of which were one-hit kills. The one at the farthest distance, about 50 to 60 meters away, had its head blown off with one shot. ¡°When did I develop such shooting skills?¡± He himself found it unbelievable. In the first dream, after practicing for several months, he was only at the beginner¡¯s level, suitable for shooting stationary targets. His accuracy was acceptable within ten meters but dropped significantly beyond twenty meters. Let alone hitting moving targets. It was as if overnight, he had transformed from a novice into a sharpshooter. After thinking long and hard, he could only come to one conclusion: the talent he received after the last dream ended. Nonetheless, he was still very surprised, ¡°Is the enhancement of this ¡®Throwing Precision¡¯ talent on shooting so exaggerated?¡± It was at this moment that he realized there was much more potential to explore with this talent. During the past month, he had been busy with work while indulging in throwing all sorts of objects, without truly digging into this talent¡¯s potential. Although named ¡°Throwing Precision,¡± it did not mean the talent was limited to just the action of ¡°throwing.¡± He really felt like knocking on his head, wondering why he hadn¡¯t thought of it sooner. He fell into a blind spot in thinking, subconsciously treating the talent obtained from the dream as a kind of game reward. In a game, you can set a talent to only work within a certain scope. But reality was not a game; it couldn¡¯t be that you were exceptionally accurate when throwing things, hitting a target as small as a ping-pong ball from over ten meters away, but couldn¡¯t hit a target with a gun. A little more thought led him to deduce that achieving ¡°Throwing Precision¡± required two prerequisite conditions. One was marksmanship, the ability to judge at a glance the distance to the target, its size, the required force, and so forth. The other was extremely precise control over force. Taken this way, he essentially had two talents. In comparison, using a gun involved far fewer factors, nowhere near the complexity of throwing. He had previously practiced shooting skills, and with the boost from the precision talent, he suddenly became extraordinarily skilled. Realizing this, he felt as if the whole world opened up. He was eager to immediately verify his thoughts. ¡°Now is not the time.¡± He took a deep breath, suppressing his urge. Regardless, he needed to eliminate the threats within the settlement first. With this thought, his steps unconsciously quickened considerably. He understood his marked improvement in shooting skills made him more confident. As long as he avoided getting too close, the green-skinned gorillas he had encountered so far posed no threat. As for those gray eagles, as long as there was prior vigilance, they posed no great threat either. The sky was wide open, allowing ample time to spot them in advance. After ten more minutes of walking, during which he eliminated four green-skinned gorillas, they finally saw the door to the control room. Simultaneously, they also saw two particularly massive green-skinned gorillas. Chen Xu stopped and assessed the situation, couldn¡¯t help but gasp, ¡°King Kong?¡± PS: I think this chapter allows me to really use feedback from my readers to adjust my writing style, sometimes even broadening my perspective. I hope everyone will eagerly comment and actively engage. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: 061 Dont come over Chapter 61: 061 Don¡¯t come over Far off, Chen Xu and his companion saw a bald stone mountain, the door leading to the control center was embedded in the mountainside. It seemed that the control center was built inside the belly of the mountain. Boom! Suddenly, a huge green shadow leaped from a tall tower nearby, landing on the roof of a greenhouse with a loud crash, collapsing the entire roof. Chen Xu focused his eyes and couldn¡¯t help but gasped, ¡°King Kong?¡± It was a gigantic green-skinned gorilla, nearly five meters tall, towering over the greenhouse, its size astoundingly large. It bared its sharp teeth, looking extremely ferocious. The green-skinned gorillas he had encountered before were like Chihuahuas compared to this beast, which resembled a Tibetan Mastiff. He highly doubted whether the gun in his hand could penetrate its muscles. Boom! Then, another one jumped down, landing on another greenhouse. This one was slightly shorter, much slimmer, and more agile. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The two four-and-a-half-meter-tall giant gorillas roared as they sprinted. Their forearms pressed against the ground, hopping with a somewhat comical look, yet their speed was incredibly fast. Each hop covered a few meters. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°They¡¯re coming for us.¡± Chen Xu saw the two building-sized beasts charging towards them, felt an immense pressure, and his breathing became unstable. Yet, his hands didn¡¯t slow down, he braced the gun against his shoulder and aimed at the leading giant gorilla. He didn¡¯t even have time to inform Yang Jinxia before he pulled the trigger. Bang bang bang¡­ Bullets poured out, striking the smaller gorilla in the knee of its left leg, bursting into a spray of blood. ¡°Ow!¡± It screamed miserably, lost balance, and smashed a large hole in a greenhouse nearby, tumbling inside. By then, the larger gorilla was already less than twenty meters away from them. Having temporarily dealt with one threat, Chen Xu quickly pivoted the gun, still aiming. He saw it hit the ground and then leap high. Watching a two-story-high gorilla smash towards him, he felt a tremendous shock, his heart clenched, and he gasped, instinctively raising his gun. Unfortunately, its forearm protected its head. In a moment of life and death, his instincts responded faster, franticly pulling the trigger. Bang bang bang bang¡­ Blood burst continuously from the chest of the giant gorilla. Click click¡­ Chen Xu¡¯s gun was out of bullets, only making empty sounds, but he didn¡¯t realize it and kept pulling the trigger nonstop. Bang! The gorilla that leaped into the air suddenly plummeted down, smashing right in front of Chen Xu, shaking the ground. Its limbs twitched powerlessly, its huge head hanging near his feet, those green eyes staring right at him. No matter how strong, it was still flesh and blood. A single bullet couldn¡¯t penetrate, but a barrage tore apart its muscle tissues, pulverizing its heart. Chen Xu watched its pupils shrink, eyelids droop, and knew it was finally dead. His tense nerves suddenly relaxed, feeling his limbs go weak. He had never experienced such a scene from childhood to adulthood. Just a few hours into this dream, and he had already faced it twice. It was truly terrifying. Boom. Suddenly, the wall of a nearby greenhouse collapsed, filling the air with dust. A green-skinned gorilla, limping, charged out, emitting a piercing shriek and madly rushing towards them. Chen Xu then remembered there was one more creature yet to be dealt with. Just as he raised his gun, his face changed color. He had emptied the bullets in his gun earlier. The moment¡¯s delay allowed the limping gorilla to close the distance to just a few meters. The overwhelming pressure made his heart nearly leap from his chest, and his adrenaline surged. By then, it was too late to reload. There wasn¡¯t even time to draw the pistol at his waist. Could it be that he would die on his very first day inside? He looked at the ferocious, hideous face of the green-skinned gorilla, and his suppressed emotions exploded. It was just a green-skinned monster, wasn¡¯t it? He used all his strength to hurl his empty gun. Whoosh¡ª The flying gun struck the gorilla¡¯s face, shattering upon impact. Dazed, the gorilla¡¯s head snapped back and it wailed miserably, retreating while waving its arms. Driven wild, Chen Xu forgot he still had another gun and charged at the beast, jumped onto its shoulder, and swung his mechanical arm, smashing down on its head. There was a splat as his entire arm sank into its head. The gorilla¡¯s scream abruptly stopped, and it fell stiffly. Its massive body hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Under the several-ton force of the mechanical arm, the muscles and skull of its face were as fragile as paper, completely crush through. The shattered pieces of bone instantly turned its brain into pulp. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Chen Xu felt nauseated and quickly withdrew his hand. Dark green blood sprayed all over him, the strong stench of blood nearly choking him. ¡°Chen Xu, are you alright?¡± At that moment, Yang Jinxia ran over, saw him standing unsteadily atop the gorilla¡¯s body, and asked anxiously. Chen Xu, struggling, jumped down from the body and stretched out a hand, signaling her to keep her distance. She stepped closer, her face visibly changing. Holding her breath, she asked, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°Stinks.¡± Chen Xu¡¯s face turned bright red as he managed to utter one word before running towards the greenhouse that was close to collapsing. He saw water flowing, likely from a broken water pipe. He needed to wash it off, or he might well pass out. Knowing he wasn¡¯t injured, Yang Jinxia sighed in relief but followed him anyway. Entering the greenhouse, they quickly found the leak at a low corner wall, which was hard to access directly for washing. Chen Xu had to scoop water with his hands to wash his face. Yang Jinxia looked around, found a few intact containers, and came over to help scoop the water. Each container was the size of a washbasin. Once Chen had filled one, he poured it over his head, feeling revived as he breathed in deeply, though the air still carried a faint scent of blood. He turned to look at Yang Jinxia who was holding a container under the leak, her neck muscles near the jaw tensed as she seemingly held her breath, appearing like she might vomit but enduring. ¡°It¡¯s full.¡± She moved the filled container away and grabbed another empty one to continue. ¡°Thank you.¡± Chen Xu looked at her intently, picked up the basin, and poured water over his head again. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: 062 Shelter Chapter 62: 062 Shelter Chen Xu had not removed his exoskeleton arm while washing because the danger had not been completely eliminated; it wasn¡¯t the time to let down his guard. He rinsed back and forth seven or eight times until the nausea-inducing stench finally began to fade significantly. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± said Chen Xu as he set down the container and wiped the water off his face, signaling her to stop fetching water. Only then did Yang Jinxia release the water container, washed her hands, and ran outside the greenhouse to take a deep breath. ¡°Thank you,¡± Chen Xu followed her out. Yang Jinxia smiled and said, ¡°At times like this, we should support each other. I can¡¯t help with fighting, but at least I can pass you water.¡± While wringing out his clothing, Chen Xu silently thought that not everyone possessed such awareness. Often, you know what you should do for the greatest benefit, but some inner conviction prevents you from doing it, or rather, from being able to do it. Like in the workplace where it¡¯s known that maintaining a good relationship with your boss is essential, yet you¡¯re reluctant to indulge in flattering words. If he were in her shoes, he doubted he could have acted to that extent. Reflecting on several hours ago when he first met her, the pride unintentionally emanating from her contrasted with now; she had quickly adjusted to the reality, changed her mindset, and taken action without putting on airs. Such a tremendous change sent a chill through his heart. In this world, mediocrity predominates. He had seen successful individuals lose their fortunes and statuses, either collapsing or becoming degenerate ¡ª none maintained a balanced mentality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Among the people he knew, Liu Kun seemed the most formidable. Strong in capability and tactful, he could also lower himself to show a relatable side to those beneath him. Chen Xu was convinced of Liu Kun¡¯s ability to rise in rank. But if Liu Kun were in this situation, could he have managed to this extent? Chen Xu suddenly felt a gaze to his side, drew himself out of his thoughts, and drew his pistol from his waist, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± They approached a massive door embedded in the mountainside. The door was large, over five meters tall and nearly ten meters wide, suggesting the inside was not small. There were numerous dents and scratches on the door, with rubble scattered at its base. Imagining two angry Apes pounding the door with stones, Chen Xu said, ¡°It seems those two beasts tried to break this door but failed, which means there could still be survivors inside.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Yang Jinxia nodded. ¡°But how do we open the door?¡± Chen Xu was also somewhat perplexed; the door was entirely metallic, and given the two Apes¡¯ size and strength, which clearly wasn¡¯t diminished, a brute force approach seemed unwise, and he was reluctant to damage his exoskeleton arm by smashing the door. ¡°Let¡¯s move these stones first and then look for a switch,¡± he said, starting to clear the rubble in front of the door. Yang Jinxia joined in, and together they quickly cleared the stones. There seemed originally to be a switch-like device beside the door, but sadly it was smashed open. They stood in front of the door, somewhat at a loss. Suddenly, a synthetic electronic voice sounded, ¡°The door will open soon, please retreat beyond the safety line¡­¡± Instinctively, Chen Xu pulled the woman beside him behind him, stepped back several paces, and watched the slowly rising metal door with his gun aimed inside, ready for any imminent threat. The woman clutched his clothing tightly behind him, clearly very nervous. ¡°The door is opening, please retreat beyond the safety line¡­¡± As the electronic synthesized voice continued, the metal door rose to a meter high and Chen Xu bent down to finally see inside. The lighting was bright and initially, all he could see was a cylindrical object which, at a glance, might be mistaken for a vacuum cleaner. Beyond that, there were no other people or objects. Chen Xu, not having a good handle on the situation and maintaining his alertness, aimed his pistol at the cylindrical object. Once the metal door rose two meters, it stopped. ¡°Welcome, survivors, to Refuge G5232,¡± the cylindrical object suddenly spoke. Chen Xu, startled, stared at it and asked, ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°I am an L9 model chef robot, number 2003,¡± the cylindrical object spoke again. By this time, Chen Xu¡¯s eyes had adjusted to the brightness inside and he could see it clearly. Atop its head were two eye-like components glowing with a pale green light, and it had a display screen on the front that showed a fluctuating green bar as it spoke. On either side of the cylinder were short stretches of metal that looked somewhat uncoordinated, likely having been broken off. A robot? Chen Xu was even more surprised, but given its primitive appearance, he didn¡¯t rush inside. First, he decided to understand the situation better and asked, ¡°Where are the people from the control room?¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead, everyone is dead,¡± the tone of the cylindrical object deepened. Chen Xu actually felt a sense of sorrow in its words, though he knew it was probably simulated, he was still somewhat shocked by its level of intelligence. ¡°You mean, there¡¯s no one left in this settlement?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°How did they die?¡± Chen Xu continued. ¡°On the fifth day after the main troop withdrew, Mutated Ape Beasts broke in. Those who couldn¡¯t hide in the refuge in time were killed. Only five managed to get in successfully.¡± ¡°And then? How did those five die?¡± ¡°There was no food left; most of it was taken by the main troop. On the day the Mutated Ape Beasts arrived, everyone was harvesting in the planting chambers. They fled without taking much food back to the refuge. Three months later, everyone starved to death.¡± Chen Xu listened without much emotion, as for him, all this was just a setup. Being cautious, he didn¡¯t fully trust the robot¡¯s words and continued to probe, ¡°There must have been more than one robot in the refuge, right?¡± ¡°After consuming the food supplies, the order was given for all the robots in the refuge to attack the Mutated Ape Beasts. Eventually, all the attacking robots were destroyed by the Mutated Ape Beasts.¡± ¡°And you? How did you survive?¡± ¡°My arms were destroyed in an accident, leaving me a damaged product. I was tossed into storage and never received the attack order. That¡¯s how I survived.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t find obvious flaws in its story, pondered for a moment, and said, ¡°You knew we were outside, the control room must have surveillance, right?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I saw your fight with the Mutated Ape Beasts. You are the bravest warrior I have encountered,¡± it praised. ¡°How long can the surveillance footage be stored?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have access to the control center, so I am not sure.¡± ¡°Let us in,¡± decided Chen Xu, feeling he understood enough to risk entering. Whether true or false, he needed to get inside to unravel the truth. PS: Remember to vote for your favorite chapters. Chapter 63 03-25 - Chapter 63: 063 Chen Xus Disappointment Chapter 63: 063 Chen Xu¡¯s Disappointment After entering the main door, there was a hallway. Chen Xu looked around. Whether it was the floor, the walls on either side, or the ceiling above, everything was made of the same material, shining with a metallic luster. He asked, ¡°Could it be that this shelter was built entirely out of metal?¡± The cylindrical robot replied, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, but my database does not contain that information.¡± Chen Xu saw it walk to the wall, tilt its body, and touch something. The door then slowly descended. He asked, ¡°Is that the control for opening and closing the door?¡± ¡°Yes. The top is for opening, the bottom for closing, and the middle to pause,¡± the robot explained. Chen Xu took note and asked, ¡°What should I call you?¡± ¡°You can call me 2003,¡± said the cylindrical robot as it waited for the door to close completely before leading the way. He then noticed the wheels at its base. The two followed behind it, walking further inside. The lighting at the top of the hallway was very bright. Chen Xu lagged two steps behind, with Yang Jinxia closely following him. Neither of them spoke, both observing their surroundings and on guard. Along the way, 2003 briefly introduced them to the situation of the shelter. After walking for a few minutes, they finally exited the hallway through another door, which led to a desolate hall. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Chen Xu saw that there were doors in three different directions in the hall, each leading to unknown places. ¡°This is the door to the control center,¡± 2003 spoke up, opening the door right in front. It led to a slightly narrower corridor. After passing through three more halls, it finally stopped in front of a door, ¡°This is the control center of the shelter. I do not have access rights.¡± Chen Xu said, ¡°We are outsiders. Are we allowed to enter?¡± The robot explained, ¡°The purpose of the shelter is to provide a refuge for surviving humans. Everyone in the shelter has died, and the mainframe has automatically entered hibernation mode. The first person to enter the control center will automatically acquire control rights.¡± ¡°How do I open the door?¡± Chen Xu could only take a gamble. Following 2003¡¯s instructions, he placed his palm on a control console next to the door. Soon, a screen appeared on the wall, displaying his photo. ¡°Scan successful, welcome, survivor,¡± a pleasant female voice sounded, and the door swiftly opened. Chen Xu turned back to look at Yang Jinxia and gestured for her to come in. The control center was not large and was equally empty. Upon entry, one could see a corpse next to the seats in the middle. Just before, Chen Xu had learned from 2003 that the few survivors in the shelter had died a few days ago. Four others died outside, whose bodies it had already disposed of. And there was one who died in the control center. He felt somewhat relieved. If they had arrived a few days later, when the body started to decompose, the scene would have been terrifying. Chen Xu dragged the body out of the control room and left it outside the door, planning to deal with it later. He then walked to the console, and a screen in front of him lit up. ¡°Confirming rights, current rank 01 survivor, welcome to Shelter G5232. Please select the operation you wish to perform. You can use voice commands.¡± At this moment, Chen Xu finally let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°I would like to access the surveillance footage.¡± Immediately, several folders appeared on the screen, ¡°Please select a date.¡± Seeing the screen indicating that today was May 7, he said, ¡°Surveillance from before May 3 of this year.¡± That was the date when the last person in the shelter had died. He wanted to see if things were as 2003 had said. ¡°There is no surveillance footage for that day.¡± He was surprised, ¡°How could there be none?¡± ¡°It has been deleted.¡± Hearing this, Chen Xu suddenly had a foreboding feeling, ¡°What about the surveillance from before then?¡± ¡°Surveillance footage before May 3 has all been deleted.¡± ¡°Then, what about other data?¡± Chen Xu still clung to a faint hope. Soon, a line of text appeared on the screen, ¡°System hard drive has been formatted; all data repositories are empty.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± Chen Xu couldn¡¯t help but curse loudly. Yang Jinxia hurriedly asked him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chen Xu slapped the chair beside him and said angrily, ¡°That bastard, before dying, deleted all the data.¡± Yang Jinxia paused for a moment before she understood that he was referring to the corpse they had just moved out. In reality, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand; that person had been trapped in the shelter, food had run out, and death was inevitable. In such despair, it wouldn¡¯t be strange to do something crazy. She also felt a great sense of regret. Neither of them understood the situation in this world, and the robot was clueless too. The information on the main computer was an excellent way for them to get up to speed. Now that it was all deleted, no wonder Chen Xu was so angry. However, she still tried to console him, ¡°What¡¯s done is done, no use getting angry.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Chen Xu looked at the screen and sighed deeply, thinking to himself, they really don¡¯t give you an inch to squirm through. If he considered this dream to be a game, then this shelter would be the first instance and the pair of gorillas, the first level bosses. After beating them, the reward was this emptied-out shelter. But while those gorillas were tough, they were not insurmountable. The reward couldn¡¯t be too generous either¡ªan assistant robot and a shelter to stay in sounded about right. Had they added the various data from the main computer, it would be unbalanced. Though he understood this logic, it still stung a bit. He wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about beating the game. To him, the main objective was to find a way to make money. The technological level of this world was clearly higher than Earth¡¯s. If he could get the data from the main computer, select some useful knowledge, and master it, he might have the chance to make a fortune and reach the pinnacle of life once he woke up. Now that chance was gone, and who wouldn¡¯t be frustrated? ¡°That¡¯s not right.¡± Suddenly, a thought sparked in his mind, ¡°What about the system disk? You were able to reboot, so that means the system disk is still here, right? What about the data on it?¡± ¡°System data cannot be deleted.¡± ¡°What kind of data is in there?¡± Chen Xu eagerly asked. Immediately, many folders appeared on the screen. His spirits lifted as he looked through each one until he noticed a folder labeled, ¡°Knowledge Seed Project.¡± ¡°Open it,¡± he commanded. More folders appeared on the screen. ¡°The Knowledge Seed Project is an endeavor to pass down human scientific knowledge. It includes most of the knowledge from basic disciplines,¡± the main computer¡¯s voice explained. Chen Xu skimmed through quickly until he found a folder on computer software programming and opened it. From memory, he knew artificial intelligence was a promising field, and the AI here seemed more advanced than in reality. Although he knew nothing about software programming now, he could learn. With that thought in mind, he began reading the directory. As he read, something felt off. During his university years, he took basic computer science courses, familiar with languages like C++ and Java. However, when he opened the subdirectory of programming languages, none of the programming languages he knew were there. Their names were completely unfamiliar to him. He asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t there any programming languages like C++ included in here?¡± ¡°The Knowledge Seed Project only collects the most mainstream knowledge, and the programming languages do not include the C++ language you mentioned.¡± Hearing the computer¡¯s response, Chen Xu gave up. Screw it, even the programming languages are different; what¡¯s there to learn? Chapter 64 03-25 - Chapter 64: 064 The Sorrow of a Poor Student Chapter 64: 064 The Sorrow of a Poor Student Chen Xu quickly collected himself and remembered something, asking, ¡°If you get scratched by the monsters outside, do you need to get something like a rabies vaccine?¡± ¡°If scratched by an ordinary mutated beast, please proceed to the medical room for a Z13 type antiviral serum injection,¡± appeared on the screen. Then, a map appeared, marking the location of the medical room. It wasn¡¯t far from here, just past two doors. Chen Xu and Yang Jinxia left the control center. 2003 was still standing at the doorway, next to a corpse. He asked, ¡°How are corpses usually dealt with?¡± ¡°All corpses must be cremated; there¡¯s an incinerator on the third sub-level.¡± ¡°Can you handle it?¡± 2003 answered, ¡°Please fasten his belt to the hook on my back.¡± Chen Xu looked behind it and indeed saw a hook that had popped out. He fastened the corpse¡¯s belt to it. And just like that, 2003 dragged the corpse away. Chen Xu then took Yang Jinxia to the medical room where they found the Z13 type antiviral serum at the self-service terminal. ¡°Lucky they didn¡¯t destroy these medicines,¡± he said somewhat relieved, as he took a syringe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï After injecting the serum into Yang Jinxia, the two discussed their future plans and quickly agreed to temporarily settle down in this shelter. That thick and heavy door gave them a huge sense of security. It was so much better than the ruins outside. Moreover, though the shelter was almost empty, the equipment was still very complete, able to provide electricity, heating, air conditioning, clean water, food, and so on. Having these guaranteed in the apocalypse was nothing short of a blessing. With a consensus reached, the two promptly sprang into action. First and foremost was food. They needed to harvest the crops from the planting warehouse as soon as possible and store them in the shelter. Every day delayed meant the potential for one more greenhouse to be wrecked by those green-skinned gorillas. Chen Xu got to the control center and did a quick inventory; besides 2003, the disabled robot, the only thing they could use was a small transport vehicle. According to 2003, the vehicle¡¯s battery was old and could only travel a few kilometers on a full charge, and since there were no spare batteries in the shelter, it just gathered dust in the warehouse. To Chen Xu and his companion, as long as it was operational, that was enough, so they hurried to the warehouse and drove the vehicle out. Calling it a small transport vehicle was a bit of an understatement; its size was nearly that of a ten-wheeled truck. Chen Xu gave it a try and found the controls were not complicated. However, to be on the safe side, he enabled the autopilot function. Once outside the shelter¡¯s door, Chen Xu¡¯s nerves tightened once more. It was quite lamentable that they couldn¡¯t find a single weapon in the entire shelter. All he had was the pistol he brought along, which might not even kill an ordinary green-skinned gorilla at a distance. If they ran into a group of green-skinned gorillas, that would be quite dangerous. They started harvesting from the nearest planting warehouse. The planting warehouses seemed quite advanced, all using soilless cultivation, with each container growing a single plant. There were three levels altogether, with very small gaps between containers on each level. It could be said that the space was used to the maximum. Plus, he had seen an introduction in the control center¡ªthese planting warehouses were fully automated, with light, temperature, humidity¡­ all regulated automatically. They only needed to come over regularly to make sure the system wasn¡¯t malfunctioning. Such a timesaver. Chen Xu thought to himself, it would be great if he could take this technology back with him. But that was just wishful thinking. Even with a mature plan, implementing it in reality would likely require a huge investment, and using it to grow grain would definitely not pay off. The first warehouse they came to had wheat, which was already mature. The shelter originally had several machines specifically for harvesting, but sadly, they could no longer be found. They were said to be lost outside, yet they hadn¡¯t seen any when they arrived. Given the two giant gorillas¡¯ irritable temperaments, they were most likely tossed aside as toys. There was no other way; the two had to harvest manually. They didn¡¯t gather even a fifth before darkness fell, and the pair stopped work to return to the shelter. After eating some compressed biscuits casually, they went to rest. The shelter was considerably large, designed to accommodate up to five thousand people at its limit. It was divided into five levels, with the control center located on the first floor. They found two adjacent rooms next to the control center, one for each of them. Chen Xu, after a day filled with scares, battles, and labor, was quite weary. He lay down and quickly fell into a deep sleep. ¡­¡­ In the following days, the two continuously harvested various grains and crops: wheat, rice, millet, sorghum, mung beans¡­ all kinds of crops with completely different maturity periods could be adjusted to ripen at the same time in the planting bay. Aside from the staple grains and cereals, there were all sorts of fruits, vegetables, spices, and so on ¨C they had everything imaginable, which amazed them both. It was just a pity about those planting bays that had been destroyed. Chen Xu had searched the main terminal but did not find any data on constructing these planting bays, which meant that for each one destroyed, one fewer remained. During this time, he encountered two green-skinned gorillas, which he took down with his gun. The two of them carted the harvested grains to the shelter, where there were machines specifically for processing them. Otherwise, just dealing with these harvested grains would take too much time and energy. There would be drying, threshing¡ªvery troublesome tasks. Luckily, these machines were large and difficult to move, sparing them from being sent out to meet their demise. After more than ten days, both had lost weight but finally finished harvesting all the mature crops in the planting bays. Some were left untouched, as they had not yet ripened. Next, Chen Xu spent entire days in the control center, rifling through the main terminal¡¯s data, looking for knowledge that could be used in reality. Mathematics, even the names of theorems were completely foreign to him; as a self-admitted poor student, he was helplessly out of his depth. Language, that at least was largely consistent. However, there were no novels in the database? He couldn¡¯t even copy literature for personal enjoyment. Physics, chemistry, biology¡­ He flipped through subject after subject, gradually feeling a sense of sorrow. As a self-confessed poor student, faced with such a treasure trove of knowledge, he was utterly unable to make use of it. Just think, if he had managed to achieve a Ph.D. in any of those subjects¡ªmath, physics, chemistry, biology or any other science specialty¡ªand had access to these data, he could be publishing papers relentlessly after returning to reality. Winning a Nobel Prize would be almost guaranteed. Climbing to the pinnacle of life couldn¡¯t be easier. Yet now, all he could do was stare blankly at the data. Such frustration was unbearable. ¡°Chen Xu.¡± At that moment, Yang Jinxia came in holding a bowl, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve been sitting here for a long time. Have something to eat.¡± Chen Xu was about to say he had no appetite when he caught a whiff of something and looked at the bowl in her hand. It was a bowl of noodles, ¡°Smells delicious, did you make this?¡± ¡°Try it,¡± she said as she handed over the bowl and chopsticks. Chen Xu¡¯s appetite was piqued, and he couldn¡¯t help but take it and tasted a mouthful, ¡°Mmm, this is good.¡± With that, he quickly polished off the bowl of noodles, even drinking the soup. ¡°Burp¡­¡± He let out a satisfied burp and praised, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize your cooking skills were so impressive. I¡¯ve never had such delicious noodles.¡± His compliment was sincere. Hailing from the south, his staple food was rice; he usually ate beef brisket noodles and had not tried many other types. This bowl of noodles offered him a completely different experience; he couldn¡¯t quite describe it, only that it was delicious. Yang Jinxia laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t make this.¡± ¡°If not you, then who?¡± he wondered, surprised. ¡°Guess,¡± she teased, playing coy. ¡°2003?¡± Chapter 65 03-25 - Chapter 65: 065 Learning makes me happy Chapter 65: 065 Learning makes me happy ¡°2003?¡± Chen Xu said, then remembered that the first time they met, it had mentioned that it was a robotic chef. He hadn¡¯t cared much at the time, but unexpectedly, the food it made was delicious, ¡°But it has no hands, does it?¡± Yang Jinxia said, ¡°I¡¯ve been idle these past few days, so I stayed in the repair room and tried to fit it with a pair of arms, and to my surprise, I actually succeeded. From now on, with 2003 handling the cooking, we won¡¯t have to eat nutrient meals anymore.¡± Chen Xu thought about those bland and tasteless nutrient meals and nodded in agreement. There was a food synthesizer in the shelter which could produce a nutrient meal by just pouring in ingredients; that¡¯s what they had been eating these past few days. The taste was barely palatable. He was capable of cooking, but he was entirely devoted to the control center and did not want to waste time doing it. Besides, he was not picky about food; as long as the nutrient meals could fill his stomach, it was fine. As for Yang Jinxia, she probably wouldn¡¯t. ¡°These days, you¡¯ve been staying here, have you discovered anything?¡± Yang Jinxia took the bowl and chopsticks from his hand, didn¡¯t leave, but asked instead. ¡°Come, sit.¡± Chen Xu felt a sudden impulse, gestured with his hand, and invited her to sit on the seat next to him, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s chat.¡± Yang Jinxia sat down as told and asked, ¡°What about?¡± ¡°Suppose, I give you a chance, in a few months, you could return to Earth. But then, you would become an ordinary office worker, earning a four-digit salary, with no savings, and your family couldn¡¯t provide any support.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°If you wanted to make money, even make a career. Which area of knowledge do you think would be the most useful?¡± Yang Jinxia seemed very surprised; had he really been pondering this question all these days here? Surprised as she was, she didn¡¯t show it, but instead thought it over seriously and asked, ¡°Can I only learn knowledge, is it impossible to bring things back?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t bring things.¡± Yang Jinxia pondered for a while, then shook her head with a wry smile and said, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything. The knowledge on the main computer is all basic theory, too advanced for anyone not in the field to even understand. If it¡¯s not from a related professional background, the proofs of a few formulae won¡¯t even make sense, and even if you published them, no one would believe you derived them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Xu listened to her and nodded. He had realized this from the first day and just wanted to hear her opinion. However, even if he couldn¡¯t understand those professional terms and various proofs, just grasping the general concepts and some developments in cutting-edge technology had enormous potential benefits. For instance, artificial intelligence¡ªif one could know the future direction of its development in advance. Even without the capital to directly invest, buying stocks of related companies would surely yield profits. Knowledge is wealth. In the information age, this is even more so. Now, an opportunity to master the knowledge of future technologies was in front of him, and naturally, he had to firmly seize it. Even if it was extremely difficult, he still forced himself to continue studying. Yang Jinxia spoke again, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve never really worked precisely, and if I were to go to work or start a business, I surely wouldn¡¯t do as well as you.¡± Chen Xu remembered a long-standing question and asked, ¡°What did you do before?¡± She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and said, ¡°I worked at an investment company, officially as a secretary, but actually I didn¡¯t need to handle anything, just there to draw a salary. My family has some connections.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t quite believe her, feeling she was either not telling the truth or withholding something. Her performance on the first day had left a deep impression on him. A young woman from a family that was rich or noble, beautiful and without having to worry about livelihood, would typically have developed quite a princess syndrome. How could she have that kind of performance? He didn¡¯t call her out on her words, just chatting with her was a kind of relaxation. ¡­¡­ Since then, Chen Xu devoted himself entirely to studying. Every day, he spent a great deal of time studying the data on the main computer. When he really couldn¡¯t continue, he would exercise in the gym, sweat it out, rest for a while, and then continue the battle. He felt as if he had returned to the intense study period of his final year of high school, unfortunately, neither his energy nor learning efficiency were as good as back then. Studying for six to seven hours a day was already his limit, and the efficiency was very low. He and Yang Jinxia met less often, only sitting together during meals and casually chatting a bit. At other times, he was almost out of sight, and it was unclear what she was busy with. He casually asked a few times and then stopped asking. ¡­¡­ Before he knew it, a month had passed. ¡°Lunch time. Please proceed to the dining hall.¡± In the control center, a voice reminder rang out. Chen Xu shifted his gaze from the screen, rubbed his somewhat stiff head, stood up from his seat, and left the control room. Walking towards the dining hall, his head kept flashing with those difficult professional terms and abstract definitions. Not until he entered the dining hall and smelled the enticing aroma did his spirits lift, revealing a smile as he asked, ¡°2003, what new dishes have you made today?¡± ¡°Sir, there are soybeans stewed with ribs, chicken stomach, tubular pasta, and American ginseng stewed with chicken soup,¡± 2003 responded from beside the dining table. Chen Xu praised, ¡°Your database really has a rich variety of recipes. It¡¯s been a month, and you haven¡¯t repeated a single dish.¡± Yang Jinxia was already waiting there and said, ¡°Come over and sit, I have something I want to discuss with you.¡± Chen Xu was somewhat surprised, this month, they each had been busy with their own things, and their mealtime was just casual chat, this was the first time she used such a formal tone. Yang Jinxia seemed not in a hurry. She replied, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after we eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Xu didn¡¯t rush her, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and started eating. He was expending a great deal of mental energy on his studies, and his appetite had increased significantly, needing three to four bowls of rice per meal. Right now, he was exceptionally hungry. Once the two had finished eating, 2003 cleaned the table spotlessly. Yang Jinxia somehow brought over a tray with various tea sets, all complete. She started making tea and said, ¡°This is Dragon Well tea I made yesterday. I luckily found the seeds in the seed storage, thankfully they weren¡¯t all spoiled.¡± ¡°That is indeed fortunate,¡± Chen Xu said with a smile. The five people who had starved to death before had been driven mad with hunger; the seeds in the seed storage had not survived the ordeal and had been completely consumed. After Yang Jinxia finished making the tea, she placed a cup in front of him and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s time to get in touch with the other shelters.¡± Chen Xu paused with his teacup in hand, looking at her with surprise. PS: Please vote for recommendation.