Chapter 190. Making A Ring

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Arc E: Extra.

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Li Yan was waiting for an answer, but Chen You had fallen asleep.

Facing the person who was sleeping like a log, Li Yan felt helpless, all his anger, fear, tenderness, and desire were forced to disappear.

He patted the young man’s face and gently pinched it, “Did you run into your parents during the day?”

A sleeping person cannot give a response.

Li Yan came out of the young man’s room, then went back in, and stayed inside.

Although the room was small, it was warm and cozy. He felt comfortable and wanted to stay there forever.

Chen You slept all day and didn’t wake up until night.

Li Yan sat on the sofa watching TV, with the sound muted. He was just killing time, there wasn’t much else to do in the limited space of the hotel.

Hearing the sound behind him, Li Yan turned around, his eyes instantly darkening. The young man on the bed had just woken up, his dark hair disheveled, a few strands playfully sticking up. His eyes were slightly moist, and a faint blush covered his face, making him look adorable.

Seeing the man looking over, Chen You paused in his yawn and casually straightened his hair, “Give me the clothes.”

Li Yan turned over the hem of the sweater at the foot of the bed, “Raise your hands.”

Chen You pursed his lips, “I’ll do it myself.”

Li Yan raised an eyebrow, loosened his grip on the clothes, and stood by the bed with his arms crossed, watching how his wife, who couldn’t take care of himself, would manage on his own.

Must know that since he came into this world, this person has never worn clothes on his own, not even his underwear or a pair of socks.

Chen You touched the collar of his shirt, rolled up the sweater and put it over his head, then reached out and pulled the hem down, making sure it wasn’t inside out.

Li Yan felt relieved, yet also disappointed, knowing that his wife, being self-reliant, would no longer depend on him.

He didn’t show the complex emotions of a parent watching their child grow up, it felt a little strange. Regarding parents, in a way, Chen You had created him in the first place.

Chen You added more clothes to his body one by one. Getting dressed wasn’t troublesome, he was just lazy.

In the long, tedious, and monotonous years of the past, Chen You believed that if a program or an instruction could solve the problem, why bother doing it himself?

Things are different now.

Li Yan checked Chen You’s mouth and found it was still a little swollen. He went to the bedside table to get some ointment, scooped out a little bit of the milky white ointment with his index finger, and applied it, “Bear with it.”

Chen You felt a chill in his mouth, and the coldness sent a shiver down his spine, “Can I eat snails?”

Li Yan told him a harsh reality, “You can’t eat spicy food.”

Chen You was very angry and forcefully pushed away the culprit’s hand.

Li Yan pressed down on the young man’s shoulders, keeping him in front of him, and continued to apply medicine to his mouth, “Eating a little less is not a bad thing.”

Chen You was no longer angry.

A moment later, the two left the hotel and went shopping.

At night, young men and women make up the majority of the crowd, laughing and strolling together on the street.

Chen You’s thin chin was tucked into the collar of his black turtleneck sweater. He watched the girl walking ahead of him, who was wearing only a very short dress paired with knee-high boots, revealing a section of her thighs.

The wind was quite strong, and Chen You tucked his chin in even further. The girl in front of him, however, seemed unfazed, swinging her small handbag and swaying her hips. A look of incomprehension crossed his face, “Why is she wearing so little?”

Li Yan was thinking about something else and casually said, “Maybe she used a hand warmer.”

Chen You asked, “What is that?”

Li Yan saw it unintentionally while scrolling through his phone, “It’s a small item for keeping warm.”

Chen You stopped and turned to look at the man beside him, “Go buy one for me.”

Li Yan, “…”

He looked around, went to a nearby boutique, bought a hand warmer, and stuck it to the outside of the young man’s sweater.

Chen You said, “It’s not hot.”

Li Yan straightened the young man’s clothes, giving him a few pats in the process, and said, “Have to wait.”

A short while later, Chen You said, “It’s getting hot.”

The warmth from his stomach spread to other parts of his body, and he felt warm all over, “When we get back, order more of these hand warmers online and put them in the warehouse.”

Li Yan was displeased, “You have me, why do you need a hand warmer?”

Chen You retorted dismissively, “A hand warmer is better than you.”

Li Yan’s forehead twitched. Just because of that sentence, he cannot place an order either, otherwise, with that hand warmer, he would be sidelined.

“Did you see anyone yesterday? “

“Mmm.”

Chen You said, “My Dad, Mom, and Yeye.”

Li Yan didn’t expect it and yet, in a way, expected it. No wonder the young man stayed there for a whole day, “How did you get back to the hotel afterward?”

Chen You said, “I learned the full name of the hotel from the poster, and dad drove me back there.”

Li Yan’s jawline tightened, “What if you didn’t see it?”

Chen You said, “There are no ‘ifs,’ such assumptions are not meaningful.”

“Then what’s meaningful?” Li Yan said expressionlessly, “I searched for you frantically, my mind filled with images of you being in trouble, I humbly prayed to God, telling myself over and over that you would be alright. Was any of that meaningful?”

Chen You frowned, “I don’t want to argue with you.”

Li Yan said sternly, “I want?”

Two men, both handsome and the same height but with different temperaments, stood on the side of the street, and the atmosphere around them was oppressive.

Passersby turned to look, curious about the relationship between the two men and what had caused their argument.

Especially for girls, seeing two handsome guys at once will inevitably draw their attention.

Li Yan turned and left.

Chen You stood there, facing the man’s retreating figure, and said, “I want to eat snails.”

Upon hearing this, the girls were overwhelmed with maternal feelings. Aiyo, the poor handsome guy! It’s just snails, right? Let me treat you!

Li Yan continued walking without stopping, but his hand was grabbed, and he heard the young man’s voice in his ear, “Stop being so dramatic!”

I am being dramatic? Li Yan wouldn’t admit it, “Have you thought about what you’ll do if you encounter the same situation as yesterday again? Will you wait for me where you are, or stand under a distinctive building, or ask passersby for help, or go to the police station and wait for me?”

Chen You was very insistent, “Let’s go eat snails first.”

Li Yan looked at his foodie wife, unsure what to say. He couldn’t bear to hit him, but speaking too harshly would be pointless, “Is there anything else in your head besides snails?”

Chen You said, “Yes, you.”

Li Yan was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his lips, “Let’s go, go and eat snails.”

Chen You curled his lip, saying he wasn’t being dramatic, but he was clearly throwing a tantrum.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, “What do you mean by that smirk?”

Chen You said, “It doesn’t mean anything.”

Li Yan, “…”

Sighing, Li Yan explained some basic social common sense to his arrogant, genius wife, what to do if you get separated from your family.

Chen You said he knew.

Li Yan pinched his brow, it’d be a wonder if you know.

In less than half an hour, the two of them were sitting at the table, their eyes fixed on the fragrant snails in front of them. The snails were served in a small iron pot, filled with plenty of broth that tightly enveloped them. Just looking at them, without even taking a bite, made their appetites completely whetted.

Li Yan put on disposable gloves, took a snail from the pot, and used a toothpick to pick out the snail meat.

Chen You, on the other side, opened his mouth.

Li Yan’s face twitched as he put the snail meat from the toothpick into his mouth.

After Chen You finished eating, his eyes immediately lit up. It was delicious, and he eagerly awaited the next bite.

At this moment, he was incredibly well-behaved, showing absolutely no coldness whatsoever.

Li Yan was in charge of picking out the snail meat, while Chen You was in charge of eating. They were in their own little world, and neither of them cared about the stares from those around them.

Not long after, Li Yan put down the toothpick and said, “Okay, you can’t eat anymore.”

Chen You said, “I’ve only eaten less than twenty.”

Li Yan took off his gloves and said, “Just try a little bit, I’ll make it for you again later.”

He only loves one kind of food, which is the young man across from him. He never gets tired of eating him, no matter how many times he eats him. Everything else is the same, there’s no difference.

Chen You looked at the snails in the pot and there were still many left, “Waste is shameful.”

Li Yan said sarcastically, “Don’t worry about it. The shameful one is me, it has nothing to do with you.”

Chen You said, “Pack it up and take it. I’ll eat it when I’m better.”

That’s enough! Li Yan said, pulling his wife away, who was still staring longingly at the snails.

Chen You’s expression was very unhappy, he hadn’t had enough snails to eat.

Seeing that the young man wouldn’t leave, Li Yan’s face darkened, and he had no choice but to pull him back and ask the staff to pack up the remaining snails.

The shop staff was a young woman, and she gave them ambiguous glances throughout the entire interaction. She handed them the food container and said, “Have a good day, sir, and please come again.”

Chen You turned around and saw the shop staff excitedly tapping away on her phone and taking pictures of him. Caught red-handed, the employee’s face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Li Yan followed the young man’s gaze and said, “There’s a group called ‘fujoshi’.”

“They have a certain understanding of same-sex relationships and will not resist or reject them, in fact, they might even offer blessings and understanding.”

Chen You said oh in response, they are a lovely group.

The next day, Li Yan accurately found the address of the shoe store according to the name Chen You had given him.

It was perfectly reasonable for Li Yan to bring large bags and small packages to express his gratitude as a family member.

Society is in chaos, when loved ones are lost, no one knows what might happen.

Da Xiuqin quickly said, “Mr. Li, you’re too kind. We didn’t do anything. On the contrary, Xiao Chen stayed in the shop all day and brought me a lot of business.”

She glanced at the boxes in the man’s hand, recognized one of them, and knowing it was expensive, waved her hand and said, “I really can’t accept these things.”

Chen You then stuffed the gifts into Da Xiuqin’s hands, saying, “Keep them.”

Da Xiuqin had no choice but to leave it there for now, planning to put it in the car when they left.

“Why don’t you have a meal here?”

Chen You agreed.

Da Xiuqin called Chen Weidong and asked him to bring back more braised dishes and drinks when he came back.

“Please have a seat.”

Da Xiuqin went to get some melon seeds and peanuts. A large shoe store across the street was opening today, and they had promotions for the next three days, so she didn’t have many customers.

Business will be harder to do from now on.

They don’t have the money to renovate their storefront or move their shop to a better location, so they can only sell whatever they can, one pair at a time.

Da Xiuqin thought it over. If things really didn’t work out, she would close the shop and go sell Ding-ding candy with her father-in-law.

In short, those who have hands and feet will not starve to death.

Li Yan peeled peanuts, threw the shells into the trash can, and gave the red-skinned peanuts to the young man, “You have a father and mother, and you have friends. Are you happy?”

Chen You ate some peanuts and said, “Mmm.”

Li Yan said, “Isn’t the current lifestyle happier than the past one?”

Chen You’s gaze swept towards the door, looking at the outside world from that small space.

He then shifted his gaze to the man and remained silent.

Li Yan also remained silent.

For a moment, the only sound was the crisp cracking of peanut shells.

Chen You asked, “Can’t you stop messing with me from now on?”

Li Yan replied decisively, “Can’t.”

It’s normal and a natural progression for emotions to give rise to desires.

Since his return, Li Yan has been restraining himself every time, and he is still far from being able to fully enjoy himself.

The reason for not telling the young man was to avoid frightening him.

Chen You frowned and asked, “Is it possible to reduce the time for each session?”

“Nope.” Li Yan gave the same answer, feeding the young man a peanut, “You’ve forgotten, everything I have is your choice.”

Chen You understood.

He was a perfectionist. When creating this character, he repeatedly revised, adjusted, and confirmed the data for all aspects of his body.

The final product was flawless.

Whether it’s the length of finger joints or the incredible length of two legs, of course, it’s not just the legs that are incredible.

Chen You’s temples hurt, he’ll go back and revise it.

Li Yan saw through the young man’s thoughts, and his face darkened, “You dare?”

Chen You gave him a look that said, you’ll see if I dare.

A vein throbbed on Li Yan’s temple, and something flickered in his eyes. He smiled, “Go ahead and make your changes. You’ll be the one who regrets it in the end.”

Thinking about it, Chen You rolled his eyes. Oh well, he might as well defy fate.

When Chen Weidong returned, he politely greeted Li Yan and then quietly asked Chen You, “Xiao Chen, is Mr. Li, your elder cousin?” That’s why they don’t share the same surname.

Chen You only said, “He is younger than me.”

Chen Weidong had a Are you kidding me? look on his face.

Chen You didn’t tell the whole story, Li Yan is much, much younger than him.

He had already lived a very long time when he created Li Yan.

Before Li Yan came along, a robot was in charge of taking care of Chen You’s life. After Li Yan came along, the robot was put into hibernation.

Judging by his appearance, no one would know that Chen You is older than their ancestors.

Da Xiuqin was busy in the small kitchen when Chen You came over and said, “Ayi, I’ll cook two dishes for you.”

“You can cook?”

Da Xiuqin coughed a few times. The range hood wasn’t working properly and the smell was strong. She took off her apron and handed it over, saying, “Here, you can have it. The ginger and star anise are on the shelf underneath. Help yourself.”

Chen You put on an apron, lowered his eyes, and rolled up his sleeves.

Da Xiuqin didn’t go out, she watched from the side. As soon as she saw the young man’s gesture with the kitchen knife, she knew he wasn’t joking. She couldn’t help but praise him, “Xiao Chen, whoever marries you in the future will be living the good life.”

Chen You pressed down on a piece of lean meat, and thin, evenly sliced pieces of meat were piled up in rows under his knife.

He hasn’t cooked a single meal since he returned from the assessment.

Chen You hated cooking and the smell of cooking oil, so he couldn’t do anything about it and rarely even went into the kitchen.

However, he added this kind of setting to the assessment world, wanting to change himself.

This can be considered a wish fulfilled.

Chen You turned on the stove, poured in oil, and added ginger and garlic, “Ayi, you can go out now.”

Da Xiuqin snapped out of her daze and left the kitchen to Chen You alone.

At noon, Chen Weidong went to pick up his father from home, and the five of them sat down at a table to eat and drink.

Li Yan doesn’t need to eat human food, but this time, to give his wife face, he ate a lot.

After dinner, Chen You stayed for a while longer before going to ride the Ferris wheel with Li Yan.

Li Yan pressed Chen You’s head down and kissed his lips.

Chen You leaned back, feeling dizzy from the kiss. After struggling for a few moments, he subconsciously put his hand on Li Yan’s shoulder.

On the last two days of the holiday, Chen You came to the shoe store to keep Da Xiuqin company. He noticed that business was slow and also saw a newly opened store across the street.

On the day they left, Chen You and Li Yan appeared at the shoe store and left a paper bag containing a card and a note.

The note contained the card’s PIN. It was left by Li Yan, as a token of his appreciation for taking Chen You in, but no contact information was provided.

Chen Weidong went to the ATM, entered the PIN to check the amount on the card, and was shocked when he saw how much it was.

When Da Xiuqin learned the amount, she was also shocked. That money was enough for them to buy a bigger shop, and even if they did nothing for the rest of their lives, they would still have no worries about food and clothing.

“Weidong, what do you think about us taking out a portion…”

“No,” Chen Weidong interrupted Da Xiuqin, “This money isn’t ours, we can’t touch it.”

Chen LaoYe agreed with his son, saying, “Xiao Chen said he’ll come to visit again in the future. When he comes, we’ll give him the card back.”

Da Xiuqin sighed and said nothing more.

Chen Weidong put the card away, hoping to meet the black-haired young man who looked somewhat like his wife and shared the same surname. He wondered when he would be able to meet him.

After returning, Chen You entered the virtual space, finished dealing with the backlog of work, and then sat in his office in a daze.

【Master, what are you thinking about? 】

Chen You asked an abrupt question, “Are rings easy to make?”

【Well, in my opinion, first you need a set of professional equipment, second you need professional knowledge, and finally you need professional personnel. It seems that you don’t have any of those, Master. 】

Chen You tapped the screen, and a series of detailed step-by-step pictures of making a ring appeared in front of him, “If you want one, it’s not that difficult.”

【Does Master want to make a ring? Is there any for Xiao Lu? 】

“No.”

【……】

Chen You was very busy. He bought a lot of things on the Central Network, and no one knows what he’s tinkering with in his studio.

The studio door was locked with an S-level security lock, so Li Yan couldn’t get in. He could only rely on the instructions he received every day to determine if the young man’s health was fine.

About two weeks later, Chen You unlocked the S-level security lock on the studio and gave the man a command, “Go upstairs now.”

Li Yan entered the studio, and his eyes were immediately drawn to the messy tools and equipment scattered on the table and floor.

Chen You spread his hands, “Take it.”

It was a ring. At first glance, the design was not complicated and was quite ordinary. But upon closer inspection, one would notice that there was a glimmer of light on the surface of the ring, as if a galaxy had been submerged inside.

The ring, of unknown material, lay quietly in the young man’s palm, awaiting its unique owner.

Li Yan’s breath hitched, his heart skipped a beat, and he suppressed his excitement and agitation. He didn’t need to look to know that there must be capital letters on the inside of the ring, which the young man had personally engraved.

Just thinking about the image of the young man carving the letters made Li Yan feel hot all over. He forced himself to say, “Put it on for me.”

Chen You glanced at it, “Put it on yourself.”

Li Yan, with his hands in his pockets, said, “If you would not put it on me, I don’t want it.”

Chen You remained silent.

In the studio, which was the size of a basketball court, the two secretly competed with each other.

Li Yan knew his wife was already approaching him, but he wanted far more than that, he had been preparing himself for this moment for a long time.

After a long pause, Chen You said, “Come here.”

A glint flashed in Li Yan’s eyes. He stepped closer and took his left hand out of his trouser pocket.

Chen You took the man’s hand and slipped the ring onto his ring finger, “I added something to the ring. Once you put it on, it will become one with your spiritual imprint and you’ll never be able to take it off.”

A smile played on Li Yan’s lips as he said in a hoarse voice, “That’s exactly what I want.”

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TN:- Almost there, only six chapters are left. ✨️🎉🎇🎆 🎊 I wish you all a very happy new year and may new year bring prosperity, happiness and success in your life.   🎊🎐🎉✨️🎇

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Chapter 189. Wife

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Arc E: Extra.

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Li Yan searched every single storefront on the street, then went to the opposite street, but still couldn’t find his wife.

He stood on the street, the wind blowing against his face, a chill rising from the soles of his feet to his chest, causing a stinging sensation in every rib.

The supermarket staff said they hadn’t seen the young man. Li Yan’s heart clenched with pain. He hunched over, breathing heavily, and his eyes were filled with clear panic. Where had he gone?

Once he was found, he must be severely punished. Even if the young man cries his eyes out, he won’t show any mercy.

Chen You was on the roadside, three or four streets away.

He was standing outside the supermarket when he suddenly saw an old man across the street carrying a bamboo basket and shouting “Ding-ding candy!” He crossed the road to see, but by the time he got there, the candy seller had already turned the corner and gone down another street.

An elderly woman with a young child asked how much Ding-ding candy cost. The vendor stopped and told her the price, but the grandmother thought it was too expensive and, coaxing and cajoling her grandson, led him away.

Just as the old man was about to lift the basket, he saw a tall, thin young man standing beside him, “Young man, do you want some candy?”

Chen You didn’t say anything.

The old man thought to himself that this was probably another customer who wouldn’t buy anything. He continued walking forward with his basket, making way for the approaching vehicles, and shouting continuously.

Chen You followed along the whole way.

The old man stopped to rest, and the young man behind him also stopped. He sensed something was wrong, and a look of wariness appeared in his cloudy eyes. It was a small business, and he didn’t make much money in a day, it was purely for the sake of preserving the craft passed down through generations.

If the old man encounters a pickpocket, he won’t have a good time for the rest of the year.

However, this young man didn’t seem like a pickpocket. He was well-dressed, had a good demeanor, and was quite handsome.

The old man looked around, noticing the crowds of people on the street, and figured the young man wouldn’t do anything rash, “Young man, what are you trying to do?”

Chen You stared at the transparent bag in the basket, “Ding-ding Candy.”

Upon hearing this, the old man breathed a sigh of relief, understanding the situation somewhat. He took out a small iron hammer and chipped off a small piece of hard candy for Chen You, saying, “Try it, and if you like it, you can buy more.”

Chen You wanted to eat more after finishing his first piece, so he turned around to ask to buy more candy, but found that the man was no longer beside him.

I’m done for.

Chen You looked around, but couldn’t see a single supermarket. He frowned, his expression turning grim.

The old man asked uncertainly, “Are you lost?”

Chen You pursed his lips and said, “My family member will come to find me.”

The old man looked the young man up and down, and couldn’t believe that this handsome young man, who looked so distinguished, could get lost like a child. Could it be because of his Ding-ding candy that he got separated from his family?

“Then you wait here and don’t wander off.”

After walking a few steps, the old man was still worried and turned back to ask, “Do you know where you separated from your family?”

Chen You shook his head, he hadn’t noticed the supermarket’s name.

The old man was stunned, with one foot practically in the grave, this was the first time he’d encountered such a complete imbecile, and he didn’t even look like an idiot, “Do you have a cell phone with you?”

Chen You said he hadn’t brought it.

The old man asked, “Why don’t you borrow someone’s phone and call your family to come pick you up?”

Chen You fell silent.

The old man also fell silent.

This must be what they call a mentally challenged child.

If you don’t memorize your family members’ phone numbers, and you don’t stay close to them when you go out, wandering around on your own, you could easily be kidnapped.

These days, society is in chaos, behind a human facade, who knows what kind of monsters and demons lurk within?

The old man couldn’t help but worry. The young man’s face was so pale, he probably wasn’t in good health, “Why don’t you come with me? My daughter-in-law’s shoe store is just ahead. You can wait for your family there.”

Chen You went with the old man.

The shoe store was sandwiched between a clothing store and a women’s jeans shop. The entrance was small, but once inside, it was surprisingly spacious.

There were two or three customers looking at shoes in the store. A woman in her forties stood nearby, enthusiastically describing the different shoe styles. She had delicate features, with eyes that slanted slightly upwards, and a mole at the corner of one eye.

The old man entered the store, put down his basket, and called out, “Xiuqin, come here.”

Chen You was stunned when he saw the woman turn her head.

Da Xiuqin left her customers behind and came over. She looked at Chen You kindly and asked the old man, “Ba, who is this young man?”

The old man recounted what had happened, saying, “His family must be anxiously looking for him.”

Da Xiuqin pondered for a moment and said, “Young man, think carefully. When you last saw your family, were there any landmark buildings nearby?”

Chen You suddenly said, “Mom.”

Da Xiuqin was taken aback, then she laughed, “Ba, this young man calls me Mom.”

The old man lowered his voice and said to his daughter-in-law, “This child isn’t very bright. Just listen to him and forget it. Don’t take it to heart.”

Da Xiuqin ohed, saying it doesn’t look like it at all.

The old man said you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Chen You，“……”

Da Xiuqin exclaimed, “Ba, look! Young man has a mole at the corner of his eye, almost in the same spot as mine. And you know what? He really does look a bit like me.”

Upon closer inspection, the old man realized it was true. He said to Chen You, “Young man, you have a special connection with our family.”

Chen You replied, “Mm.”

He looked at the old man again, but he had never seen his Yeye before, so he didn’t recognize him.

When a customer wanted to buy shoes, Da Xiuqin went to serve him.

Chen You’s lips curved into a smile. Mom is here, so Dad must be here too. Nanchang, I like you.

Pedestrians and vehicles kept passing by the entrance, and the loudspeaker of the women’s jeans store next door kept shouting, “Everything is thirty-eight! Everything is thirty-eight! Don’t miss it!” The noise, usually annoying, didn’t bother Chen You as much anymore.

Chen You looked at his mother, then walked out. That man must be very angry and looking for him all over the street.

Around 11 o’clock, a middle-aged man entered the store. He was strong and robust, with a rugged appearance.

Chen Weidong is a Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) teacher at a martial arts school. He comes here to eat after class and takes a nap here at noon. He does this every day. When he enters the store and sees a strange young man, he looks at his wife with questioning eyes.

Da Xiuqin pulled Chen Weidong aside.

Chen You, who had been sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, sleeping, immediately opened his eyes upon hearing the voices, his sleepiness completely gone.

After learning about the situation, Chen Weidong thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Chen, I’ll take you to the police station.”

Chen You lowered his eyelids.

He didn’t want to go, he wanted to stay here.

The curtain was lifted, and Chen LaoYe came out and said, “Dinner is ready. Eat before you go. Xiao Chen, if you don’t mind, you can eat with us too.”

Chen You said, “I don’t mind.”

There’s a small room at the back of the store, and another floor upstairs. Renting it costs quite a bit each month, but luckily, Da Xiuqin is quick-witted and good at business, so the store has been quite profitable so far.

Chen Weidong is a teacher. His salary isn’t very high, but he has plenty of free time and often comes to the store to help out.

Chen LaoYe is busy making his Ding-ding candy, determined to keep this family tradition alive.

The meal was very pleasant.

Da Xiuqin and Chen Weidong have no children, so when they met this young man who resembled them somewhat, they felt a sense of familiarity and affection.

She knew it wasn’t appropriate to put food on a young person’s plate, but she couldn’t resist and placed a chicken leg into the young man’s bowl, saying, “Eat more.”

Chen You did not show the slightest sign of resistance or disapproval.

Seeing this, Da Xiuqin put more food on his plate, saying, “Xiao Chen, you’re not from Nanchang, are you? Your accent doesn’t sound like it.”

Chen You said, “I just arrived in Nanchang last night.”

Da Xiuqin asked, “Did you come with your parents?”

Chen You swallowed the food in his mouth and did not answer.

The atmosphere at the table became somewhat awkward. Da Xiuqin, being perceptive, quickly changed the subject, asking Chen Weidong, “Are there any fun tourist attractions in Nanchang?”

Chen Weidong ate his food and said, “Meiling Lion Peak and Tengwang Tower are nice. The Qiushui Square Zoo is optional, you can go or not. There’s also the Ferris wheel, which you can ride if you have the time. There’s not much else worth seeing.”

Chen LaoYe took a sip of his wine, smacked his lips, and said, “If you ask me, it’s better to stay home and watch TV. There are plenty of people outside.”

Chen Weidong said slowly, “Ba, then why do you keep going out every day?”

Chen LaoYe said irritably, “I’m going out to sell Ding-ding candy.”

The father and son exchanged verbal blows, and the atmosphere became lively again.

Chen You emptied the bowl of rice completely, leaving not a single grain.

In the afternoon, Chen LaoYe picked up his basket and went out to sell his Ding-ding candy.

Chen Weidong went to school.

Only Chen You and Da Xiuqin remained in the shop.

Da Xiuqin gave Chen You a bottle of nutritional drink. It was from a case that a relative had bought previously, and nobody had drunk any of it.

“Xiao Chen, how old are you?”

Why is it this question again? Chen You sipped his nutritional drink, “Thirty…”

“You’re already thirty? I can’t believe it. I thought you were under twenty.”

Da Xiuqin looked at the young man’s overly pale face, “You need to pay more attention to balancing work and rest. Health is the most important thing, nothing can buy it.”

Chen You said, “Mm.”

Da Xiuqin went upstairs, grabbed a handful of beef jerky, stuffed it into Chen You’s hand, and then went about her own business.

Chen You stayed in the shoe store, and every woman who came in looked at him.

Da Xiuqin heard several customers say, Lady Boss, your son is really handsome.

The two of them bear a strong resemblance, someone who didn’t know them might think they were mother and son.

Da Xiuqin initially tried to explain, but later she just went along with what the customers said.

She felt both happy and melancholic. How wonderful it would be if this were her own child.

As darkness fell, Chen You still hadn’t seen the man appear. His brows furrowed as he paced outside the shoe store.

Does the man find him troublesome and decide not to look for him anymore?

Chen You had eaten too much beef jerky and felt uncomfortable in his stomach. He wanted a bed to lie down and sleep, preferably with someone he trusted by his side.

A bus was parked not far away, and Chen You accidently saw a poster that was an advertisement for a hotel. Only then did he realize the name of the hotel he was staying at.

At that moment, Chen Weidong had just returned to the shop from school. Seeing that Chen You wanted to leave, he immediately drove his BYD car over without saying a word.

Da Xiuqin said reluctantly, “Xiao Chen, come again when you have time.”

Chen You replied, “I will.”

Chen LaoYe came out and handed a bag of Ding-ding candy to Chen You, saying, “Take this.”

Chen You took Ding-ding candy and said, “Thank you, Yeye.”

After giving a few words of advice, Chen LaoYe waved his hand.

Chen Weidong was a local and knew the hotel’s location. He tried to avoid congested areas and drove Chen You back to the hotel.

Chen You got out of the car and thanked Chen Weidong.

Chen Weidong glanced at the tall, thin figure in the rearview mirror. That kid seemed so naive and simple-minded, was he really going to be okay?

He shook his head. Everything should be fine, he has been sent back after all.

As the car disappeared from view, Chen You had to shift his gaze, and a tall, imposing shadow appeared in his field of vision, emanating a terrifying aura.

Li Yan’s voice showed no trace of emotion, “I’ve been looking for you all day.”

Chen You remained silent.

Li Yan maintained the same tone, his face devoid of expression, “Do you know how I felt when I came out of the supermarket and couldn’t find you?”

He pressed on Chen You You’s shoulders, his tone gentle, but his expression was chilling, “I was scared, terrified, and filled with self-reproach. I lost you. I searched for you like a madman, going street by street, wishing I could turn Nanchang upside down.”

“I’ve cursed this city countless times and regretted bringing you here.”

Li Yan’s emotions gradually erupted, a mixture of extreme anger and extreme panic.

He was afraid that his wife might suffer the same fate as the college student in the news, he didn’t dare to think about anything else.

Sensing that the man was on the verge of losing control, Chen You’s eyes flickered, “I was at the shoe store.”

Li Yan could smell beef jerky on the young man. If there was food, there must be drinks too, “You’ve made new friends so quickly?”

Chen You said, “Not friends.”

Li Yan, controlling his emotions and refraining from shouting, said, “Then tell me, who were you with today, and why didn’t you call me?”

Chen You only said, “I don’t know the number.”

Li Yan, “…”

He took a deep breath. “Then why not go back to the supermarket?”

Chen You said, “I don’t know the name of the supermarket.”

“……”

Li Yan pressed his forehead against Chen You’s and said, with a mix of laughter and tears, “No matter which way of life you choose, I’ll support you.”

“But can you please stop being so willful?”

Chen You lowered his eyes, “I wasn’t being willful.”

“Little liar.” Li Yan laughed angrily, “I’ve been managing every aspect of your life, big and small. Once you leave the virtual world and step out of the studio, you’re completely clueless, no different from an idiot. You’d be easily tricked and even help the person who cheated you count the money.”

“In a situation like this, instead of staying by my side and behaving obediently, you still want to go out and run around?”

Instead of answering, Chen You retorted, “Without me, where would you be?”

Li Yan’s face twitched.

Chen You said, “Watch your words.”

Li Yan raised an eyebrow, “What, Master, are you saying I’m being disrespectful?”

Chen You glanced at the man and said calmly, “If you can’t control your emotions, I’ll delete you completely.”

Li Yan’s temples throbbed with veins, and with a cold face, ignoring the stares of others, he dragged the young man back to the hotel and slammed the door shut.

Chen You sensed danger and took a few steps back. When he realized he had nowhere to escape, his face darkened.

My constipation has just gotten better, and I haven’t had snails yet.

This man definitely won’t give up easily, he might go crazy, and then he won’t be able to eat snails anymore, or even boiled food.

Li Yan’s face was shrouded in a menacing aura, “Speak!”

Chen You spoke, “Speak what?”

Li Yan closed his eyes. Even now, he still didn’t know he was wrong. He seemed completely unaware of this, which was simply courting death.

Punishment is necessary.

Li Yan easily pinned Chen You’s hands behind his back and gave him a slap on the butts.

Chen You turned his head sharply, glaring angrily at him, “You dare hit me?”

Li Yan sneered, and with another wave of his hand, he struck him five or six times before stopping, “I’m not just going to hit you, I still want you!”

He grabbed the young man by the waist and dragged him forcefully into the room. Even if the other person said a dozen or twenty prayers and summoned God himself, it wouldn’t do any good, tonight he’s going to teach this person a lesson.

Chen You was pushed back onto the bed and struggled to sit up, but Li Yan pressed him back down.

He got up again, but was still pressed down.

The disparity in strength is too great, there is no possibility of turning the tide.

If only it were a competition of intelligence.

Li Yan pinched Chen You’s face, looking down at him with a dark cloud in his eyes, “Do you know your mistake?”

Chen You replied, “I don’t know.”

Li Yan’s breath hitched, and then he suddenly laughed, “No need to rush, I’ll let you know.”

Chen You’s voice carried a warning, “Li Yan!”

This was the first time since his return that Li Yan heard the young man call his name. He leaned down and said, “You can call out all the names you’ve given me. I like to hear them, and it likes them too.”

In less than half an hour, Chen You, who hadn’t slept much during the day, started to feel sleepy and weak. After struggling a few times, he stopped moving and let the man do as he pleased.

Li Yan left, then returned, pried open the young man’s mouth, and fed him the food he was holding.

He used his thumb and forefinger to pinch the corners of the young man’s mouth tightly, preventing him from spitting out the food.

Chen felt uncomfortable, the food seemed to be stuck in his stomach. He wanted to vomit, and he also wanted the man to leave him alone. He knew he was in the wrong regarding what happened earlier that day.

Li Yan, as if punishing him, stuffed food into his mouth, saying, “Say you were wrong.”

Chen You grabbed the man’s short hair and tugged at it several times.

That little bit of pain was like a tickle to Li Yan, “You have to understand, virtual space only has a bunch of dead data, but the real world is full of all kinds of living people. You don’t know who is good and who is bad.”

As he fed the young man, he talked about the wickedness of people in society, telling him that no one could be trusted except him.

Li Yan never wanted the young man to use his cunning and scheming on him. It was best to keep things as they were now, he was special to the young man, the only one.

What they need between them is honesty, embraces, kisses, and endless sweet nothings to say for all eternity.

Chen You’s tone was cold, but his eyes were red and he was crying, “I hate you.”

After a moment of surprise, Li Yan chuckled softly, pressing his lips against the young man’s tears, “You say you hate me, yet you’re holding onto me so tightly that I can’t even pull away.”

Chen You turned his head away, buried his face in the pillow, and his ears turned red.

“Wife…”

Li Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he leaned against the young man’s back and whispered in the increasingly red ear, “Don’t be stubborn with me anymore, okay?”

Author’s Note: After writing about Youzi’s parents, I won’t go into detail about the others. Anyway, they’re all on Earth, a planet with a 5,000-year-old culture—it’s amazing, hahaha!

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Chapter 188. Journey To Earth (III)

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Arc E: Extra.

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Pang Yilong was called to a meeting right after making the phone call, the restaurant had indeed changed hands.

He stared at the manager’s gaping mouth as if he’d seen a ghost, feeling like he was dreaming. Wasn’t the contract Chen You gave him fake, and weren’t the things he said just a joke?

Feeling a bit dizzy, Pang Yilong staggered back a few steps and leaned against the wall to catch his breath.

Someone asked curiously, “Manager, who is the new boss?”

The manager said he didn’t know, only that the surname was Chen.

Pang Yilong suddenly looked up, swallowing hard, muttering, surname Chen… I still feel like I’m dreaming.

Chen You didn’t look much older than me, so where did he get such great abilities from?

No, that’s not right. The man next to Chen You, Li Yan, has a powerful and imposing aura about him, like a high-ranking figure who wields great power.

The manager didn’t say much, just told everyone to behave themselves, not to ask questions, to do their jobs well, and to receive their salaries as usual at the end of the month.

Everyone was relieved to hear that there were no problems with the salary.

Pang Yilong pushed aside the people in front of him and ran out. The restaurant was empty. He wiped his face and ran out again to search, running around the streets like an idiot. He had given up hope, but then he spotted his target in a bubble tea shop.

The other party was holding a cup of taro milk tea, drinking it with great relish, like a little child.

“……”

Pang Yilong let out a breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked up to the young man, and asked, “Does what you said still stand?”

Chen You slurped up the pearls at the bottom of the cup, “Yes.”

He looked at Li Yan.

Li Yan handed the contract and pen to Pang Yilong.

Pang Yilong stared at the contract, his expression changing repeatedly. He asked Li Yan, “The restaurant has been bought by you guys, right?”

Without answering, Li Yan said something unexpected, “You’re lucky.”

In the entire universe, there are countless planes and worlds, covering an immeasurable amount of data. If Pang Yilong’s personal information data had not been selected by Chen You, copied and thrown into the assessment world, and a friendship had not been established, and they had not met again on Earth.

That person will spend his entire life working for others, scrimping and saving for a house and a car, working himself to the bone and constantly struggling to make ends meet.

Now, simply by signing his name, he can go from nothing to something, saving himself decades of struggle and even gaining wealth he could never have in his entire life.

If he shows some ambition, stop being idle and wasting his resources, and instead learn to manage and invest, understand what investment is, and how to seize opportunities to profit, he can completely turn his life around.

It’s not something that can be summed up simply by saying he was lucky.

It took Pang Yilong a while to understand the meaning of Li Yan’s words. He took a deep breath, gripped the pen tightly, and signed his name on the contract, his hand trembling.

The contract was made in copies, and Li Yan took one copy.

Seeing this, Chen You’s brow relaxed. He walked out of the milk tea shop, threw the empty cup into the trash can, took a few steps and turned back. Seeing the man following him, he continued walking.

As someone who’s clueless about life, there are bound to be many unexpected situations when he is out and about, so he needs someone he can trust to accompany him.

Pang Yilong snapped out of his daze and realized he was the only one still standing there. He found a place to squat down, opened the contract, and carefully read it. He found that the contents of the contract were in his favor.

“Oh My God…”

Pang Yilong could hardly believe that the pie hadn’t just fallen in front of him, but into his mouth. It was practically running into his stomach on its own initiative, and it was exclusively his, no one else even had a chance to see it.

Such an incredibly fortunate event, something one wouldn’t even dare to dream of, happening even once in a lifetime is a sign of great blessings from one’s ancestors.

Pang Yilong carefully put the contract away. He was worried, wondering what to say when he went to the manager. Should he just throw the contract at him? Or should he ask Chen You and Li Yan for advice? It wasn’t his fault, anyone who unexpectedly received such a huge benefit would be flustered and their mind would be a mess, unable to think straight.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Pang Yilong returned to the restaurant, the manager was waiting for him at the door. Upon seeing him, the manager walked up to him with a big smile, his attitude completely changed, showing none of his usual superiority.

“Director Pang.”

Pang Yilong paused in his steps, his face twitching as he tried to suppress his excitement.

Hahahahaha, I’m the boss now!

While inwardly laughing uncontrollably, Pang Yilong calmed down a bit and guessed that Li Yan had been in contact with the manager, and that Chen You was obviously just enjoying a life of leisure and didn’t care about anything.

The manager didn’t show any signs of his jealousy, such good luck is something he can only hope for.

He had been trying for years without success, and yet this little bastard managed to get it.

Before the day was even over, two major events occurred. First, the restaurant suddenly changed owners, and then a former waiter transformed into Director, making it one of the most legendary events in the world.

The manager couldn’t help but worry about how he would get along with this little brat in the future, and hoped he could somehow make the other party forget all the unpleasantness of the past.

Harmony brings wealth.

Pang Yilong solemnly instructed the manager to call a meeting. He stood tall amidst the shocked stares of his colleagues, delivering a resounding slap in the face to those who had wronged him. He didn’t fire the people who had annoyed him, including the two who had hired someone to beat him up, he kept them around to torment them slowly.

Those who suddenly rise to power are not true friends and will bring a lot of trouble.

Those people know that things are going to get tough, but they won’t leave on their own because they are reluctant to give up the benefits they receive at the restaurant and are afraid of not finding a better job.  They can only endure the situation and act subserviently for as long as they can.

Moreover, even if one were to leave, one cannot resign voluntarily.

Pang Yilong enjoyed the envious and jealous looks from his colleagues for a while, then took out his phone and dialed a number. He called Li Yan, who told him they were in a nearby park.

A short while later, Pang Yilong ran to the park and asked, “Can I ask why it was me?”

Chen You watched Li Yan picking small flowers and said, “We have a natural affinity.”

That’s it? Even the great immortals value extraordinary talent when accepting disciples. You’re being too casual. Pang Yilong didn’t understand the black-haired youth’s standards for judging people. He gave him the status of a partner simply because they clicked, and treated him as a friend after only meeting him yesterday.

Pang Yilong looked up at the sky and said to his parents in heaven, Dad, Mom, look! Your son has met a benefactor and his luck has changed for the better!

Li Yan, who was not far away, returned having picked a small red flower, which he placed in Chen You’s hand.

Chen You frowned, “It’s not pink.”

Li Yan said, “There aren’t any pink flowers in the park, so these red ones will do for now. I’ll get you some pink flowers next time.”

Chen You gave the little red flower to Li Yan, don’t want it.

Li Yan coaxed, “The red one is quite pretty. Look at the petals, there are eleven of them, which is the most among all the flowers. And the leaves are symmetrical on both sides…”

Pang Yilong, standing on the side, was completely ignored. These two only had eyes for each other, judging by their gazes and the atmosphere between them, they must have been together for a long time, longer than he had been with his girlfriend.

When Chen You asked about his girlfriend and suggested they have dinner together, Pang Yilong immediately made a phone call and invited her out.

The girl was in her early twenties, with a pretty face and a pleasing appearance. She had gentle eyes and a sweet expression, and when she looked at people, there wasn’t much hidden thought in her eyes, she seemed very innocent.

Chen You had met her and confirmed that she was much better than those of Pang Yilong’s previous ones, so he said to Li Yan, “Book tickets to Nanchang, let’s leave this evening.” He didn’t have much vacation time left, so he needed to make the most of it.

Li Yan booked the ticket, he booked the G1364 train departing at 4:42 PM, from Changsha South to Nanchang West.

Pang Yilong was stunned, “You’re leaving Changsha this evening?” That’s too fast. You just said you arrived yesterday, and you’re leaving today. It feels even more unreal to him.

Chen You said, “Have already been here.”

Pang Yilong assumed Chen You was on a round-the-world trip, visiting each city briefly before moving on. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of parting, “When are you leaving? I’ll see you off.”

Chen You said, “No need.”

He glanced at his friend and his friend’s lover, “We’ll meet again.”

If he is not too busy with work, he can travel around the world.

When Pang Yilong heard this, he immediately felt much better. How does that saying go? Fate brings people together from a thousand miles away, but without fate, they can stand face to face and still not meet…  Well, that doesn’t quite fit, but the point is, there’s still a chance to meet again.

Chen You suddenly said in a voice that only Pang Yilong could hear, “Love requires loyalty.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Yilong’s lips twitched. The way these words were spoken sounded like a warning to a womanizer. Although he was handsome, he would never flirt around and his heart and soul belonged to his wife alone.

Chen You took the handkerchief that Li Yan offered and wiped his mouth. The farewell meal was over, “When you get married, I’ll be there.”

He stood up and extended his hand, just as he had when they first met, “Goodbye.”

Beginning with this ceremony and ending with this ceremony, from now on, they will be friends.

Pang Yilong shook hands and said, “We must meet again!”

With a table full of dishes, and the delicious braised pork knuckle still untouched, two people left the table.

The girl removed the alcoholic drinks from in front of Pang Yilong and replaced them with juice, saying softly, “Yilong, that Chen You is your benefactor.”

“Absolutely!” Pang Yilong pulled his wife into his arms, “Let’s work hard. This is a trump card that God gave us out of pity. We must not squander it.”

After getting on the train, Chen You leaned back in his seat and fell asleep.

Li Yan flipped through the magazine, and when Chen You leaned his head closer, he moved a little closer to him to make him more comfortable.

Not long after, Chen You woke up and needed to go to the toilet.

Li Yan stood up as well, “I’m afraid you might get on the wrong carriage.”

Chen You looked at him and said, “Sit back down.”

Li Yan raised his eyebrows and continued flipping through the magazine, but he couldn’t concentrate on anything. He was conflicted. He wanted the young man to integrate into the larger society and stop resisting going out, but he also wanted to keep the young man at home and keep him dependent on him forever, as if he were the only person in the world.

Chen You went to the toilet and came back to sleep.

Before coming here, he had searched for some cities in the southern part of China and remembered that Nanchang had a type of shredded dried green bean snack called gege, which was spicy and garlicky and had a very good reputation.

There’s a Wanshou Palace in that street, and numerous snack shops line the area. The Hongcheng Grand Market also wholesales a wide variety of snacks, so you can go and take a look.

Chen You originally came to Earth to eat, but after meeting Pang Yilong, he had other ideas.

However, Earth has too many cities and a dense population, and each city is quite large. Moreover, Earth is just one insignificant planet among many dimensions. Trying to find someone specifically would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. He could only follow the route he had set for himself, there was no other way.

Chen You changed his posture, casually resting his head on the man’s shoulder, thinking that he would return to Earth whenever he had the chance. This place was even more interesting than he had expected.

The train was delayed, and Chen You and Li Yan arrived in Nanchang around 6:30.

The station was packed with people, and looking around, you could see many people leaning against the walls, sitting idly on their checkered luggage bags, doing nothing in particular.

There were many people soliciting customers, swarming around anyone they saw, asking where they were going. There were also people from guesthouses, making the area very noisy.

No one questioned Chen You and Li Yan. They were both well-dressed, very tall, and had identical expressionless faces. Anyone with eyes could tell they were not to be trifled with.

The air was damp, just like the weather in Changsha.

Chen You stopped.

Li Yan turned his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Chen You said, “I’m hungry.”

Li Yan’s forehead twitched, “You eat after you wake up, and you sleep after you eat. Are you a pig?”

Without responding, Chen You followed the scent to a noodle shop, but when he saw a bowl of noodles on a table with only three or four tiny pieces of beef and a thick layer of oil floating on top, he lost his appetite and left.

Li Yan pulled his suitcase and watched as the young man pursed his lips, his face showing a hint of grievance.

It seems he’s really hungry.

Li Yan glanced around, then took the young man to find a taxi. They would first settle into the hotel they had booked before going out to eat.

When choosing a hotel, he specifically considered the dining options.

Cities at night are all much the same, the neon lights on either side of the street resemble strings of luminous pearls, stretching from one end of the street to the other.

Chen You ate some biscuits to fill his stomach, “How much longer?”

Before Li Yan could speak, he said, “Don’t repeat that ‘it’s almost here’.”

Li Yan glanced at his watch, “About ten minutes.”

The driver probably thought the two young men in the back seat were a bit strange. They didn’t look like XiongDi, but if they weren’t XiongDi, the fact that one was eating the other’s leftovers seemed too intimate. The driver, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, said that they were almost there.

Nearly ten minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the hotel.

Chen You looked around, searching for a restaurant.

Li Yan pressed his temples, led the young man through the revolving door, checked into a room, dropped off their luggage, washed his hands, and then wiped his face.

“You lie down, I’ll go pack it up and bring it back.”

Chen You took a nap in the room. The man returned, and the packed dinner was just a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork.

Li Yan lifted the lid and dropped a spoon into the porridge, saying, “Your constipation hasn’t gotten better.”

Chen You’s eyebrows furrowed in dissatisfaction.

“Eat this first, and get a good night’s rest.” Li Yan sat down on the sofa, “I will check on you tomorrow. Once your constipation is gone, breakfast will be cold noodles and clay pot soup.”

He crossed his long legs and said, “For lunch, we can have noodles with soybean paste, it could also be boiled food, Xiongji barbecue, snails soup, and try tofu pudding topped with chili oil in between.”

Chen You swallowed hard.

“Nanchang is similar to Changsha, their cuisine is predominantly spicy.”

Catching sight of the young man’s longing expression, a hint of a smile appeared in Li Yan’s eyes, “If you don’t control yourself, your constipation won’t get better. Forget about other foods, you won’t even be able to eat that gege.”

After a while, Chen You lowered his head and drank his porridge.

Li Yan couldn’t help but walk over and ruffle his hair, “Good boy.”

Chen You was preoccupied with something else, “What is snail soup?”

“This is soup with small snails, use a toothpick to pick them out when eating.”

Li Yan took out his phone and crumpled the photo, “It’s this kind of thing.”

Chen You glanced at it, “How does it compare to spicy crayfish?”

Li Yan said, “Each has its own merits. In Nanchang, snails are more famous.”

Chen You said, “Oh.”

After he finished eating the porridge, he took a shower and went to bed, saying, “Don’t touch me.” 

Li Yan said, “Okay, I won’t touch you.”

Chen You frowned. This man usually takes a forceful approach, but why is he being so agreeable tonight?

Li Yan lowered his head, his lips close to the young man’s ear, and chuckled softly, “What, you want me to touch you?”

Chen You pushed the man away, lay down, and closed his eyes.

In the middle of the night, Chen You woke up. The room light was on, and the man was lying next to him.

Chen You stared intently, then reached out and pushed the man’s nose upwards, “You’re the pig.”

Seemingly finding it amusing, Chen You kept staring at it, and the more he looked, the more it resembled a pig.

Li Yan is a light sleeper, he can tell as soon as the person next to him wakes up, so he has a hard time pretending to be asleep.

Chen You said softly, “Why did you stop calling?”

Li Yan knew he was referring to wife.

Chen You said, “Never mind, if you don’t want to call, then so be it. I don’t really want to hear it anyway.”

He took his hand away from the man’s nose, “Why did you stop calling?”

Li Yan was struggling to hold back his laughter, almost to the point of getting an internal injury. Once the young man fell asleep again, he let out a muffled laugh.

After a long while, Li Yan kissed the young man’s lips and said, “Wife.”

Chen You responded unconsciously, “Mmm…”

Li Yan put his arm around the young man’s waist, pulled him into his embrace, and rested his chin on his shoulder, “Goodnight.”

In the morning, Li Yan checked Chen You’s mouth. It wasn’t inflamed and he could eat.

He looked pleased, “Brush your teeth and wash your face, then I’ll take you to eat cold rice noodles.”

Chen You added, “There’s also clay pot soup.”

Li Yan, “…Yes.”

After leaving the hotel, the two hailed a taxi and headed straight for Long Laowu Stewed Soup Restaurant in Shengjin Tower.

Chen You got his wish, but the taste of the soup did not meet his expectations.

Li Yan asked, “To the Wanshou Palace?”

Chen You shook his head, he planned to stroll around the streets.

Passing by a supermarket, Li Yan went to buy a drink. After paying, he came out with the bag, but the young man was nowhere to be seen at the entrance.

Finding no one in sight, Li Yan’s expression instantly darkened.

Still so mischievous! I’ll have to punish him properly this time.

First, need to find the person.

Li Yan’s breathing was heavy and ragged, he regretted his carelessness, realizing he should have held onto the young man and not let him out of his sight for a single moment.

The streets were crowded with people and cars, it was difficult to find one specific person.

Li Yan returned to the supermarket and, after speaking with the staff, showed them a photo of the young man and left his phone number, asking the staff to call him if they saw the young man.

The man was tall and handsome, with a cool and aloof face and a mature charm. The shop assistant blushed and her heart pounded, “Yes, sir.”

After leaving the supermarket, Li Yan took long strides, searching along the street, checking each storefront one by one.

His wife only knows how to write programs, has no sense of direction, has no money, no cell phone, and doesn’t understand anything. He can’t imagine what he might encounter in a strange city.

On the street, a tall man in a black trench coat had his thin lips pressed tightly together, his expression cold and aloof. He exuded a chilling aura, and pedestrians avoided him to avoid getting into trouble.

Author’s note: Hahahaha, I went to university in Nanchang back then, and I loved Wanshou Palace.

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Chapter 187. Journey To Earth (II)

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Arc E: Extra.

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The alley was silent, the air damp, and the wind, passing from one end to the other, brushed against two figures, approaching them stealthily and with a touch of mischief.

Pang Yilong looked at the hand that was extended towards him, it was whiter and more slender than any woman’s hand he had ever seen, as if it had been measured and drawn inch by inch with a ruler.

He looked up at the owner of the hand, but the tall, slender, dark-haired young man was not someone he recognized from his memory.

Seeing that the boy did not accept his help but instead stood up by supporting himself against the stone wall, Chen You looked at Li Yan, who was not far ahead.

Li Yan didn’t say or do anything, he was letting the young man know that caution is for strangers, and that to gain someone’s trust, one must first do things that make the other person willing to give that trust.

There are many kinds of friends. Whether you use your heart or material things, and what your initial attitude is, will determine what kind of friends you end up with.

Chen You frowned slightly and shifted his gaze to the boy, “Do you need me to take you to the hospital?”

Pang Yilong stood inside the protective barrier, not letting strangers in, nor going out himself, “No need.”

He limped forward, supporting himself against the stone wall, and collapsed to the ground in less than two minutes.

When Pang Yilong woke up, he was in the hospital, with an IV drip in his hand, smell of medicine all around, and his various superficial wounds had been treated. He hissed, “Fuck, let LaoZi knows who’s behind this… Who the hell are you?!”

After the screaming stopped, Pang Yilong finally remembered that the young man by the door was the one from the alley, whose hair was as black as ink. He wondered what kind of shampoo he used to have such good-quality hair.

However, the young man’s hair was so dark that it made his face look even paler, and his lips were completely colorless, giving him a distinctly unhealthy appearance.

Pang Yilong wasn’t stupid, by now, he pretty much knew what had happened. He sat up and asked, “Did you bring me to the hospital?”

Chen You said, “You could say that.”

It was that man who carried Pang Yilong into the car and brought him to the hospital. The man belonged to him, so it can be understood that he was the one who brought him there.

Pang Yilong ran his fingers through his hair with his free hand, “You paid for my medical expenses, right? How much was it?”

Chen You went outside and asked the man in the hallway, “How much are the medical expenses?”

Li Yan stated a number, and Chen You went back to the ward and repeated the number.

Pang Yilong’s face immediately turned ugly. He yanked the needle out of the back of his hand, his emotions running high, “Holy crap, this is outrageous! So much money? Why don’t you just rob a bank?”

Chen You didn’t react much, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Clearing his throat, Pang Yilong coughed, “What’s your surname, buddy?”

Chen You said, “My surname is Chen, and my given name is You.”

“Chen You…” Pang Yilong said, thinking the name was good and easy to remember, “It’s like this, I’m a bit short on cash right now. Could you give me your bank account number so I can transfer the money to you when I get paid next month?”

Without hesitation, he said, “Of course, if you’re worried I’ll run away, I can tell you my address.”

Chen You said, “Go on.”

Pang Yilong’s face twitched as he gave an address.

Chen You noted it down, stored it in his memory, and marked it as a friend.

Pang Yilong waited for a while, but the young man didn’t say anything. He gritted his teeth and asked, “Then what’s your account number?”

Fuck, his injury isn’t serious compared to before. He just had an upset stomach these past couple of days, didn’t eat much, and collapsed from exhaustion after the fight.

Who knew the medical bills would be so high? After a month, even after sending money home and covering his own living expenses, the little money he has left isn’t even enough to satisfy his girlfriend’s needs. She’s never satisfied, and that’s going to cause problems.

Instead of answering, Chen You asked, “This is my first time in Changsha, and I’m not familiar with the area. Could you show me around?”

So you want me to be your tour guide? Pang Yilong readily agreed, “Sure, no problem.”

He burst into laughter, “Meeting each other is a matter of fate, we are all XiongDi from all corners of the world. Chen You, I’m very happy to have met you.”

Chen You reached out his hand again, this was the second time.

Pang Yilong was taken aback for a moment, it seemed the black-haired young man in front of him placed great importance on this gesture of friendship. He grasped the offered hand and smiled, a bright smile despite his bruised lips.

Influenced by him, Chen You’s lips twitched, forming a brief smile.

Before leaving the hospital, Pang Yilong asked for the relevant receipts. It was impossible for him to get reimbursed by the restaurant, so he would take them back and put them in the drawer of his bedside table. He would flip through them when he had nothing to do, to remind himself that he would get his revenge sooner or later.

“I have something I need to take care of, so I have to go back for a bit. Here’s my phone number. Let’s meet at Orange Isle at 1 p.m., okay?”

“Ok.”

Chen You didn’t have a cell phone, and being lazy, he only remembered the number, so he turned his head and told the man.

Li Yan took out his phone and entered the number.

After walking some distance, Pang Yilong suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to ask Chen You who the man next to him was. He realized he should have greeted him.

The three met at 1 p.m.

Pang Yilong changed his clothes, he had some bruises on his lips and face, but he still looked handsome. He scrolled through his phone. He had come to Changsha for university, and four years had passed, but he hadn’t had the chance to properly explore the city because he lacked both money and time.

Life is full of stress, things are constantly going wrong everywhere.

Pang Yilong asked the man next to Chen You and learned that his name was Li Yan. He couldn’t help but despise his own name, what kind of name is Yilong? It sounds awful. Look, look, how nice are other people’s names? Yan Li is the opposite, and so easy to remember!

“Go that way, there’s a grassy area where you can sunbathe.”

Composing himself, Pang Yilong led the way, introducing the scenery along the route as they walked, “You’ve come at the wrong time. If you had come two months later, in May, you could have seen fireworks on Saturday night.”

Chen You asked, “What are fireworks?”

Li Yan said, “A flower that blooms in the sky.”

Chen You looked up. The sky was very blue with fluffy white clouds. He looked around and saw that the place had a wide lawn, a park, mountains and water, and beautiful scenery.

Chen You yawned, feeling sleepy.

Li Yan handed over a piece of chewing gum, the outer paper had already been peeled off.

Chen You took it and put it in his mouth. It was fine until he started chewing, but then he felt even sleepier. He stopped walking, his eyelids drooping heavily.

Li Yan supported the young man, holding his arm and putting his arm around his waist, ignoring the stares from those around them, and led him to a nearby restroom.

Pang Yilong, who had walked a long distance ahead, was talking so much his mouth was dry. He vaguely sensed something was wrong, and when he turned around, there was no one behind him.

Where the hell is everyone?

Pang Yilong stared wide-eyed, completely dumbfounded. He didn’t know whether to leave or stay. He gritted his teeth and decided to wait a while, since the other party had taken him to the hospital and paid his medical bills, so he was considered a benefactor.

Pang Yilong sat down on the lawn, propped his knees on his elbows, and started scrolling through his phone.

After about half an hour, Pang Yilong finally saw the two figures. He was surprised. Something wasn’t right. Chen You’s lip color was the palest he had ever seen, which was why he remembered it so clearly. But now, they were red, as if they had been bitten forcefully, and even broken.

Pang Yilong looked at the man standing next to Chen You and felt that something was off, but he couldn’t ask anything, so he could only keep his doubts to himself.

Upon reaching the statue, Pang Yilong spontaneously offered to take photos of Chen You.

Chen You stood there with a large statue behind him.

Click, click, Pang Yilong snapped a few photos, then turned and asked, “Mr. Li, would you like to come along?”

Li Yan remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the young man before the statue.

After a while, Chen You said, “Take a picture.”

With a slight smile, Li Yan strode over and walked at a leisurely pace to the young man’s side, standing beside him.

Pang Yilong was even more confused, Chen You seemed to be giving orders at the same time, yet also making an invitation.

He had just finished taking the photos, and before he even had a chance to select any, he was told by Li Yan to send them all over.

“……”

Pang Yilong took Chen You and Li Yan to the small square and said that so-and-so used to stand there and talk big, pointing out the flaws in the country.

Chen You closed his eyes, took a deep breath, the wind messed up his hair, casting shifting shadows across his face. His lips, slightly upturned at the corners, gave him an unexpectedly innocent expression.

At that very moment, Li Yan pressed confirm, freezing the scene in time.

When they left, the three of them rode in a small train.

Chen You propped his head up, and the scenery outside flashed by in his pupils, not disappearing, but being recorded deep in his mind.

He glanced at the man and said, “Give me your phone.”

Li Yan placed the phone in his hand, “Do you know how to unlock it?”

Chen You lowered his head and tried to swipe the screen with his index finger, but it didn’t open. He tried again, but it still didn’t open.

Li Yan pressed his brow, “Slide it upwards.”

Chen You moved his index finger up, and the phone screen appeared, showing his photo.

He was sleeping on the man’s lap, his face turned to one side, holding the man’s fingers.

“What’s this?”

“Photo.”

Li Yan said, “There are many in the picture library, take your time to look through them.”

Chen You then found the picture library, which was full of his photos—close-ups, distant shots, sleeping, eating—this man was doing this kind of thing anytime, anywhere.

His face was expressionless, “Who gave you that right?”

Li Yan’s gaze was deep, and his tone was slow and gentle, “You…!”

Chen You paused for a moment, then turned his head to look outside.

Pang Yilong, sitting in the back, was listening to music with earphones in his ears and uploading photos to Weibo, immersed in his own little world.

After leaving Orange Isle, Pang Yilong had no idea where to take the two of them at this hour, so he decided to take a walk first.

Passing by an internet cafe, Chen You stopped.

Pang Yilong tentatively asked, “How about we go in and play a game?”

Before long, the three of them were sitting in front of a computer on the second floor of the internet cafe.

Pang Yilong quickly turned on his computer and logged into the game. While the game was loading, he took a moment to glance around.

The man was looking at something on his phone with a pleased expression, while the young man with black hair had his eyelids closed, appearing to be on the verge of falling asleep.

Neither of them touched the computer.

Could it be that he was simply tired and wanted to find a chair to sit down and rest for a while, which is why he come to the internet cafe?

What happened to playing games? Was this all just a joke?

Pang Yilong didn’t care anymore, he started playing the game himself, returning to his guild to complete quests.

Hearing the sound of keyboard clicks, Chen You opened his eyes and turned his head to look.

His fingers twitched, he turned on his computer, clicked on the same game, and registered an account.

Li Yan’s attention was focused on the young man, he watched as the other person explored, familiarized himself with, and accepted it.

After Pang Yilong finished his mission, he glanced at Chen You doing his mission, he clicked his tongue in admiration, thinking, he’s quite skilled, I really wouldn’t have guessed.

After watching for a while, Pang Yilong turned to Chen You and, after a long pause, blurted out, “I have a feeling that in a past life, you were my buddy.”

Chen You replied, “Mm.”

Pang Yilong was stunned for a while, then he burst out laughing, “You’re really funny.”

Chen You said, “Not as funny as You.”

Pang Yilong，“……”

He lowered his voice and gestured towards Li Yan with his lip, “What’s your relationship?”

Chen You pressed the space bar, “Because your question involves personal information, I’m sorry I cannot answer it.”

Dude, are you looking down on me? You’re trying to tell me the answer in a roundabout way, thinking I won’t understand? Pang Yilong clicked his tongue, confirming his suspicion about their relationship.

I’ve long suspected it.

While playing with the mouse, Pang Yilong asked, “How old are you?”

Chen You said, “Very old.” He had forgotten his exact age and couldn’t remember.

Pang Yilong rolled his eyes.

After leaving the internet cafe, Pang Yilong asked if they wanted to go to Huo Palace for something to eat.

Chen You said, “Go.”

Pang Yilong noticed that Li Yan offered no opinions throughout the entire process, as if he was fine with going wherever Chen You suggested.

For no apparent reason, he thought of kings and knights.

Huo Palace is located on Pozi Street, with red walls and green tiles, and its local snacks are famous far and wide.

When the three arrived, the place was already bustling with people.

Chen You, invigorated by the aroma, headed straight for the stinky tofu.

After finishing a bowl of stinky tofu, Chen You wanted more, but Li Yan didn’t give him any money, saying he had already eaten too much and couldn’t eat anymore.

Chen You’s face was grim.

“I’ll treat you to…” Sensing a gaze as sharp as a knife, Pang Yilong’s words took a sudden turn, and he almost bit his tongue, “Sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes.”

“You’ve never tried it before, have you? Come on, let’s go, I’ll take you to buy some.”

Chen You asked, “How does it compare to stinky tofu?”

Pang Yilong chuckled, “Baba is Baba, but it’s different. I guarantee you won’t regret eating it.”

Chen You went with him.

Shaking his head, Li Yan kept a close watch on his family’s big mouse, afraid it would be lured away by food.

After strolling around and enjoying the aromas, Pang Yilong took Chen You and Li Yan to eat spicy crayfish. He and his girlfriend often came here because the prices were reasonable and there was a wide variety of options.

The crayfish at this restaurant has a tomato sauce flavor that’s infused with delicious taste, and the broth is fantastic.

Pang Yilong would practically suck his fingers off every time he ate, asking as he ate, “How is it? Delicious, right?”

Chen You ate politely, saying, “Delicious.”

After finishing what was in his mouth, he sat and waited.

Li Yan, who was standing next to Chen You, did not eat. Instead, he slowly peeled the shrimp shells. When the bowl was full of shrimp meat, he put it in front of Chen You.

Chen You continued eating.

Pang Yilong, watching from the opposite side, clicked his tongue in amazement.

While Li Yan went to wash his hands, Pang Yilong couldn’t hold back any longer and said to Chen You, “To be honest with you, I can’t even do that for my girlfriend. Yours is really good to you.”

Chen You replied, “Mm.”

I just can’t control him, can’t beat him, and can’t put him in the cryogenic sleeping chamber. I have to do it with him every day, whatever he was doing, he would get to work without a second thought.

Around 10 o’clock, Chen You fell asleep while standing. Li Yan caught him in time to prevent him from falling down.

Pang Yilong’s eyeballs almost popped out several times today, he had never seen anyone fall asleep while walking.

That’s awesome.

Li Yan took Chen You to hail a taxi.

Pang Yilong’s tour guide job ended, and he kept asking for the account number. He said he was poor, but he wouldn’t stoop so low as to cheat on medical expenses, he couldn’t do something so unethical.

Li Yan said, “You should tell him yourself next time.”

Pang Yilong was taken aback. Will there be a next time? Could it be that this wasn’t just a chance encounter?

He was about to ask something when the taxi had already left.

Chen You was carried back to the hotel by Li Yan.

Although he doesn’t need to work, he still needs to use his brain to make friends and he still needs to sleep.

After entering the room, Li Yan put the young man on the bed, took off his outer clothes, and said, “Wash your face before you sleep?”

Chen You unconsciously made a sound, almost muttering, “No.”

Li Yan said, “Behave.”

Chen You stopped moving.

Li Yan kissed the tip of the young man’s nose.

The next morning, Chen You woke up, and the first thing he said was, “Tomorrow we’re going to Nanchang.”

Li Yan nuzzled against his neck, “Let’s go to the hospital.”

Chen You pushed the man away, frowning as he asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Li Yan then approached the young man again, saying, “It’s you.”

Chen You pushed the man away again, his eyes questioning.

After being pushed away twice, Li Yan sighed, “You’re constipated.”

Chen You said, “It’s nothing.”

Li Yan explained to the reckless young man, “If things don’t go well, you can only eat liquids for a short period of time and can’t eat any spicy food. Also, I won’t stop touching you just because you’re constipated, when that happens, you will bleed.”

He smirked, “Master, have you made up your mind? To go or not to go?”

Chen You’s lips twitched slightly. Then let’s go.

After getting the medicine from the hospital, Chen You returned to the hotel and asked Li Yan to go out and run an errand. He didn’t give any specific instructions, just spoke in a normal tone.

Li Yan did not question him and quickly got the matter settled.

In the afternoon, Chen You went to the restaurant where Pang Yilong worked and asked, “What is your dream?”

Pang Yilong was extremely irritable after being scolded by his manager. The reason was that a wealthy woman offered to be his sugar mama, which he refused. The woman then came to the restaurant to cause trouble, affecting other customers, and the manager pinned the blame on him.

Upon hearing Chen You’s question, Pang Yilong casually replied, “Be a rich person.”

Chen You said casually, “How about I take over this restaurant and let you run it?”

Pang Yilong couldn’t believe it, “Are you serious?”

Chen You then magically produced a document, saying, “Sign your name here, and you’ll be a partner in the restaurant.”

Pang Yilong gasped. A domineering CEO? He frowned, it was like a huge pie had suddenly fallen from the sky, and it was hard to swallow, “Why?”

Chen You didn’t explain further, but said directly, “The restaurant’s profit sharing is all in the contract. You transfer the money to this card, and I’ll come here from time to time throughout the year.”

As he spoke, he placed the paper with the card number written on it on the table.

Regardless of the authenticity of the contract, and since the manager hadn’t revealed anything, Pang Yilong couldn’t understand the man’s trust in him, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll embezzle it?”

Chen You said, “We are friends.”

Pang Yilong said, “…” We only met yesterday, can we call each other friends?

Before he could finish speaking, his phone rang. It was his girlfriend calling. It was the usual conversation between young couples, what are you doing? Have you eaten? Have you missed me? Are you dressed warmly enough so you don’t catch a cold?

When Chen You heard Pang Yilong calling the person on the other end of the phone “wife,” he instinctively looked at the man.

Li Yan hardened his heart, pretended not to see, and waited for the young man to take the initiative again.

Chen You looked away, completely unaware of the disappointment in his eyes.

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Chapter 186. Journey To Earth (I)

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Arc E: Extra.

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Whenever he had some free time, Chen You started checking the house’s surveillance data. He spent most of the day reconstructing a huge amount of data, so much that he didn’t want to look at it anymore.

Good.

Very good.

Chen You called the man in, and he sat in front of the monitor and questioned, “What’s going on here?”

Li Yan stared at the screen without changing his expression. The screen showed a young man sleeping on the sofa, his black hair obscuring his eyes, and he walked over, knelt on one knee, and kissed the young man’s face.

The scene continued to play, Li Yan’s gaze was gentle, and his tone was soft as he said, “I’m kissing you.”

Realizing his question wasn’t direct enough, Chen You paused the surveillance footage. He turned around, his face displaying the calm before an outburst of anger, “Why did you do this?”

Without answering, Li Yan merely glanced at the young man, giving him a look that conveyed, you know the answer.

Chen You glanced at the surveillance footage. The date was March 28th, more than a hundred years ago. It was on that day that this person gained self-awareness, and he had never doubted it.

Was he too lazy, or too trusting?

This man, taking advantage of being the only one by his side, acted without restraint and with utter disregard for morality, engaging in impure acts with him in his house for over a hundred years.

Now that the evidence has been found and is right in front of him, he still can’t simply throw this person into a cryogenic sleep chamber and create a new one.

Thinking of this, Chen You’s face turned even worse. He walked to the window, looked down, and let the cold wind blow on him to calm himself down.

If a fight breaks out, he can’t beat this man.

Start swearing…

He doesn’t know how to swear. Right now, he only knows one cuss word damn it. Although he has retrieved a wisp of his consciousness from the assessment world and it’s all stored in his mind, he hasn’t mastered any other ways to swear, they’re too complicated.

Forcibly cutting off the power supply and locking this person in a cryogenic sleep chamber?

No, this method won’t work.

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Chen You’s tightly pursed lips relaxed, and he raised his hand to pinch his brow with his nails. His situation was extremely precarious, he couldn’t make a decision at all—when did it all begin…

It all began when, despite knowing he could no longer control him as his creator, he retrieved the man’s consciousness data from the virtual world and brought him back.

Chen You’s eyelids twitched. No, over a hundred years ago, he couldn’t fully control it anymore. This man raised him like a child, taking care of his food, clothing, and daily needs.

His world is very simple, consisting of only two things, focusing on work and relaxing and sleeping. As for anything else, it’s not part of his world, and he doesn’t want to deal with it, finding it too much trouble and unwilling to use his brain for anything other than work.

That’s why he didn’t pay attention to it.

The wind rushed against his face, kissing every pore. Chen You lowered his eyes and saw the image projected from the restored data. His heart was filled not only with anger, but with other emotions as well.

Li Yan stood there as if nothing had happened, as if he had long anticipated that the fact that he had altered the surveillance data years ago would be discovered, and that the young man wouldn’t do anything to him.

A series of footsteps approached, and Chen You’s hair stood on end. A sense of danger crept up his ankles and spread instantly. He turned around, and the man was already walking towards him, standing only a fist’s distance away. Any closer, and they would be face to face.

“Who told you to come here?”

Li Yan’s lips curved up into a smirk, and he chuckled in a low voice, “I haven’t made love to you yet today.”

He reached out to touch the young man’s black hair, his eyes darkening, “It’s my fault. I only just remembered now. I’ve kept you waiting for so long, Master.”

His words were extremely gentle, yet carried an undeniable force.

Chen You immediately turned and ran, but after only two steps, he was grabbed by the waist and pulled back with great force. His physique was simply too weak, despite being the same height, he was completely restrained by the man’s grip.

Before long, Chen You became drowsy and no longer had the strength to struggle.

For ordinary people, sleep is for relieving fatigue and giving the body a rest. For Chen You, however, sleep is for recharging his depleted mental energy, he only wakes up when his mental energy is fully restored.

Li Yan was a man of his word. He never missed a day of the daily love making session, and this continued for a long time. He noticed that the more frequently they do it, the more relaxed the young man became during the act. Sometimes, the young man would even cry, although he still maintained a cold, expressionless face while crying.

However, the young man was eating his favorite food, and the taste was exactly the same as before, completely unchanged. Every time he ate it, he unconsciously clung to it tightly, stuffing his mouth full. He loved it so much that there was no way he would have any feelings of resistance.

Just shy.

Every four years, there is a week-long holiday during which all system workers set up automatic replies and inform their respective hosts to try not to cause trouble in the mission world. If they do, they can only leave it to fate and pray.

With the holidays here, some workers will take their wives and children to other planets for vacation, as spending time with family is a very important part of life. Other workers won’t go anywhere, simply staying home and sleeping in until they lose track of time.

Some workers, however, are indecisive and don’t know how to make the best use of this week.

There’s also a unique individual. He’s a top performer and a leader at work, a rare genius, but at the same time, he’s completely clueless in his personal life, unable to do anything outside of work-related matters.

It’s Chen You.

In the past, during every holiday, he would invariably spend his time sleeping at home. After he’d had enough sleep, he would do nothing in particular, just sit or lie down somewhere, completely idle, because he couldn’t think of anything else he could do.

This time, Chen You had the idea of going out.

Chen You looked at the countless planes in front of him for a long time. Then, he pointed his finger and selected Earth, where there was cola, stinky tofu, and a song that he couldn’t understand no matter how he listened to it.

Although it is an inferior and backward civilization, it is magical and interesting.

Before setting off, Chen You checked the Earth’s weather forecast and temperature, he also needed to choose a city to stay in.

Unlike the planet he inhabits, Earth’s temperature and seasonal changes follow the unpredictable shifts of nature. A sunny morning might be followed by a violent storm in the afternoon, rather than being determined by a set of pre-programmed data sent out by a main program.

Not only is there a difference in temperature between day and night, but cities also differ significantly in temperature and atmosphere depending on whether they are located in the north or south.

Chen You pulled up images of the southern region during this season, then looked at those of the north. After a while, he decided to go south, and finally settled on Changsha as his first destination. The map displayed numerous marked attractions.

Most importantly, according to Earth’s data analysis, the stinky tofu there is the best.

Chen You rubbed his forehead, “I hate going out…”

He held his forehead with both hands and thought, I’d better not go. Going out is really troublesome. There are too many people, it’s noisy and chaotic, and it’s hard to find a place to sleep.

“So annoying.”

Chen You rested his chin on his hand, tapping his fingers absentmindedly on the table. Going would be difficult, but not going would be even worse, the thought in his mind was impossible to shake off.

Never mind, I’ll still go.

With that man by his side, he won’t starve, freeze, or get lost.

A knock sounded on the door, and Li Yan pushed it open and came in, “Let’s go.”

Seeing the young man looking at the silver box at his feet, he said it had been transported from Earth a few days ago, “It’s called a suitcase, used to carry luggage.”

Chen You said, “I know.”

Li Yan raised an eyebrow, quite surprised, as if to say, Wow, you even know this? Impressive.

Chen You was too lazy to pay attention.

Main system administrators enjoy S-level treatment, have their own personal spaceships, and possess top-notch equipment and skills in all aspects. Ordinary people, let alone getting to ride in one, would be hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of such a spaceship.

When the spaceship landed, it was already on Earth.

Chen You looked at the yellow sand swirling in the sky, the surroundings were desolate and there was no stinky tofu in sight.

Li Yan looked at the black device on his wrist and led Chen You towards the south.

Not long after, Chen You stopped, beads of sweat forming on the tip of his nose, “I’m tired.”

Li Yan didn’t suggest the young man exercise, because it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. That was something that a rare race was born with—exceptionally strong intellect and exceptionally weak physical strength, perhaps for the sake of balance.

Otherwise, a person with two extremes would be difficult to control.

Li Yan pointed to the suitcase, “Sit on this, or sit on my lap, choose one.”

Chen You chose the suitcase.

The two walked and stopped intermittently in the sandy desert, finally emerging as darkness fell. When they saw the taxi, Chen You’s icy expression finally showed signs of warming up.

It is currently 6:30 PM on March 5th, 2017 on Earth.

Li Yan took Chen You to the train station by taxi to buy tickets. They used the ID card they had prepared in advance and successfully bought tickets to Changsha.

Chen You stood in the waiting hall, where rows of chairs were full of people, men, women, and children. Not only that, but people were also walking around, making the air stuffy and unbearable. His temples throbbed.

I want to go back, I shouldn’t have come out.

Li Yan spotted an empty chair. He pulled his suitcase with one hand and extended the other hand towards the young man, saying, “Give me your hand.”

Chen You remained unmoved.

Li Yan lowered his voice, his tone carrying a subtle but undeniable authority, “Listen to me.”

“There are many people on Earth, and they belong to all sorts of groups. They blend into the crowd, specifically choosing suitable targets, and then use a towel soaked in ether to cover the victims’ noses, causing them to fall unconscious and become completely unaware of what’s happening.”

Chen You said, “I am a man.”

Li Yan said, “On Earth today, men are suffering just as much as women, and the trend is that they might even be suffering more.”

He took out his phone and found a news article about a male college student who went out to buy a bottle of water and disappeared for several years before being found.  During those years, he had been kept in a dark room, with handcuffs on his wrists and chains on his ankles, forced to deal with different people, sometimes several at a time, whose identities and appearances he didn’t know.

When the boy was brought out into the sunlight, he was emaciated, and the severely injured parts of his body had already begun to rot.

After reading the news, Chen You frowned and reached out his hand.

Li Yan’s face twitched,  just like a child needed to be scared a little.

A middle-aged man carrying a cup of instant noodles walked by. He noticed the dark-haired young man staring at his noodles. The young man was well-dressed and handsome, he looked like a wealthy person. Why did he look like he hadn’t eaten instant noodles in eight hundred years?

The middle-aged man looked at the man next to the young man. He was outstanding in appearance, very tall, and had a straight posture. The middle-aged man had to look up at him, “Sir, is your Didi hungry?”

Li Yan said yes, and led the young man to the empty chairs first, because they would be taken by someone else if they were any later.

“You sit here and wait, I’ll go buy you instant noodles. What flavor do you want?”

Chen You skillfully rattled off the name of an instant noodle flavor, “Chicken stew with mushrooms.”

Li Yan, “…”, This is not rejected.

The waiting room was crowded, and Chen You kept his eyes closed, trying to ignore the stares from those around him.

Li Yan returned quickly, handed the bag he was carrying to the young man, and took out the instant noodles with chicken stew and mushrooms.

Chen You looked at the bag on his lap. It contained sausages, cola, red bean bread, chicken feet, egg rolls, hawthorn slices… lots of snacks. He didn’t reach in to take anything because he didn’t know which one to pick first, he wanted to eat everything.

People on both sides watched as the tall man prepared instant noodles for the young man, blowing on them to cool them down, tasting them to make sure they weren’t too hot before handing them over. He gave his chair to his Didi to sit on, while he himself stood beside him, his gaze gentle.

They all whispered among themselves, thinking how kind and considerate Gege was to his Didi.

Several girls walked by together, turning their heads to look at Chen You and Li Yan, and even looking back as they walked away, letting out screams of excitement, seemingly oblivious to the stares of others.

Chen You rummaged through his instant noodles, ate the last small piece of sausage, and asked, “What’s wrong with them?”

Li Yan said, “They think you’re cute.”

Chen You tilted his head to the side, looking puzzled, “I am cute?”

Resisting the urge to tear the young man’s clothes off, Li Yan let out a sound from his nose, “Mm.”

Chen You continued to look for sausages to eat, muttering, “Humans on Earth are really strange.”

The two of them bought sleeper berths, and Chen You fell asleep as soon as he lay down, he was incredibly tired.

Li Yan was not asleep. He sat at the foot of the bed, leaning against the wall, with one hand on the young man’s leg, constantly announcing to the world that this was his private property.

The train arrived at Changsha Station the next morning.

Chen You followed behind Li Yan, walking at a steady pace amidst the crowd. He had slept well and felt much more refreshed, he wouldn’t feel sleepy again anytime soon.

“Let’s go to the hotel now.”

Li Yan told the young man, despite his expressionless and aloof appearance, the other person was actually quite clueless, and telling him itinerary would be pointless.

An invisible rope was around the young man’s neck and around his wrist, they were connected.

While waiting for the taxi, Chen You inadvertently glanced at the bus stop sign not far away, and noticed that one of the listed locations was where Pang Yilong lived.

The taxi arrived, and Li Yan went to pull the young man.

Chen You pointed to the bus stop sign and read out the string of names, “Go there.”

Li Yan’s brows twitched slightly, but he didn’t ask anything. After getting into the taxi, he simply told the driver the destination.

The destination was the entrance of a residential complex. Chen You walked quickly, heading straight for a certain building and taking the elevator upstairs.

Li Yan waited downstairs, he wanted the young man to do this himself.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man.

Chen You concealed the emotional turmoil in his eyes, saying, “Pang Shushu.”

The middle-aged man looked him up and down, then asked, “You are?”

Chen You said, “I’m Pang Yilong’s… classmate. Is he home?”

“Pang Yilong?” The middle-aged man said in surprise, “There is no such person in my family.”

Chen You was taken aback, “There is not?”

“I remember he went abroad and hasn’t come back yet?”

“No, young man, I don’t know who Pang Yilong is. I don’t know him and I’ve never heard of him.” The middle-aged man was quite polite, “You’ve come to the wrong place.”

Chen You said, “The address is correct. Shushu, don’t you have a pair of twins?”

The middle-aged man laughed upon hearing this, “I wish I had that kind of good fortune, but it depends on God’s will. I only have one daughter, who is just starting her second year of college.”

A voice came from the living room, and a long-haired girl peeked out and asked who it was.

The girl was quite pretty, she wasn’t Pang Yilong’s meimei, Pang Yifeng. Chen You said, “Then I must have made a mistake, I’m sorry.”

He turned and left.

When setting up the assessment mission worlds, apart from Chen You and Li Yan, everything else in those worlds—including the buildings, objects, and all the data—was copied from different dimensional worlds and actually exists.

It was simply passed through Chen You’s hands, he selected suitable targets, rearranged them, and rewrote them.

Chen You was unable to identify the corresponding dimensional world for each of those people.

If they happen to meet, it’s a coincidence, or perhaps a kind of fate.

When Li Yan saw the young man come out, he didn’t ask him anything and took him to the hotel.

Chen You wasn’t sleepy. He sat in his chair, stuffing snacks into his mouth, lost in thought.

This was the first time Chen You had used his brain outside of work.

Because he ran into an old acquaintance.

Li Yan spread out the blankets, glanced at the munching mouse, and said, “Go to sleep.”

Chen You glanced over, but the person himself was still in the chair.

Li Yan lifted a section of the blanket, took the snacks from the mouse’s hand, washed his hands and wiped his mouth, then pulled him into the blanket and got to work.

The holiday was seven days long, and Chen You decided to spend three days in Changsha. He went out in the morning, eating stinky tofu and wandering around aimlessly.

On the last day, Chen You ran into Pang Yilong.

Pang Yilong works at a restaurant. He is tall, handsome, and often attracts female customers. His boss has also praised him many times.

As a result, Pang Yilong incurred the resentment of his compatriots.

When he got off work, he was surrounded by a group of people. He was no match for them and had to take a beating.

Spitting a mouthful of bloody saliva on the ground, Pang Yilong cursed loudly, “MF, if I were rich, I’d kill you all in a heartbeat!”

When the group saw someone approaching, they ran away immediately to avoid any further trouble.

Chen You had no friends, family, or lovers in the past, but now he has mastered three kinds of human emotions from the assessment world, including friendship, and knows how to make friends.

But never took the first step.

Looking at the boy in the alley, Chen You didn’t move, but subconsciously looked at Li Yan.

Li Yan put one hand in his pocket, like a parent looking at their own child, his gaze held a mix of indulgence, pampering, and permissiveness.

Go ahead and do what you want to do, don’t be afraid, I’m here for you.

Chen You fidgeted with his fingers, and after a while, he lifted one foot.

Pang Yilong, lying on the ground, rubbed his mouth. He heard footsteps approaching from afar. He turned his head and saw a strange black-haired youth walking over and extending a hand to him.

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Chapter 185. Turn Back The Clock (II)

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Arc E: Extra.

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When Li Yan uttered those words, Chen You felt an inexplicable heat rising in his body. His gaze turned cold, and he wanted to open the terminal and shut off the man’s power button, hoping to put him into a deactivated state so he could get a peaceful night’s sleep.

What he needed was to sleep alone, not to sleep with this man.

Li Yan realized the young man’s intentions and was not about to let him succeed. He immediately grabbed the young man’s shoulder with a swift wave of his hand.

An irresistible force penetrated his clothes and seeped into the bones of his shoulder, and Chen You couldn’t break free. His strength lay only in his intellect, his physical condition was very poor.

Sleeping day and night without seeing sunlight and severely lacking exercise, it’s no wonder they’re not getting better.

Chen You’s agitation intensified, and his gaze grew colder, “You’re being insolent!”

Ignoring the young man’s anger, Li Yan touched the ear under his sight, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to it, saying, “Master’s ear is so hot.”

Chen You’s breathing remained steady, but the heat within him had already surfaced.

He hated his uncontrollable self, and he hated this man even more.

After a long pause, Chen You spoke, his voice slightly breathless, “I order you to leave now.”

Li Yan chuckled softly, gently stroking the young man’s cheek with his finger, and sighed with a smile, “You’ve learned to say one thing and mean another.”

He whispered in the young man’s ear, “Master, you clearly miss me very much.”

Chen You froze for a moment, then struggled violently to break free, kicking out haphazardly. His face, which had been porcelain-white and devoid of any life or vitality, now had a thin layer of rosy blush for some reason.

Having never encountered anyone like him in the real world, he didn’t realize how attractive he was.

Li Yan didn’t dodge, standing still to let the young man kick him. He easily restrained the man, twisting his arms behind his back, and cast a fierce yet knowing gaze at him.

Chen You felt a chill run down his spine as he kicked the man in the knee.

That was his last attack, but it was like a stone dropped into the sea, producing no effect whatsoever.

Li Yan’s physical structure was created through repeated modifications by Chen You over a long period of time, and then further improved and refined. Every part of his body, from head to toe, was precisely measured, he is arguably the most perfect creation on the entire planet. Human punches and kicks on him would have the effect of a feather or a sponge at most.

The door slammed shut with a bang, and Chen You was pinned against it, unable to escape.

Intense emotions surged in his eyes, a tempestuous storm brewing within him. Li Yan smiled gently, then lowered his head and captured the young man’s lips, stealing his breath away in a whirlwind of passion.

Chen You had never experienced drowning before, but what he was feeling now made him suspect that someone was pushing him underwater, making it difficult for him to breathe, and that he was on the verge of suffocating.

Li Yan grabbed the young man’s wrist with one hand, effortlessly, and with the other hand, he pinched his thin chin, forcing it up, and pressed his lips against his again.

Intimacy is different from sex. If two people have no feelings for each other, no matter how much they are invested or passionate, it will never happen.

But if there is already an emotional bond, it’s like a spell has been cast at some unknown time. As soon as one person encounters the other’s presence, the spell takes effect, becoming uncontrollable, and making it impossible to easily break free.

Chen You gripped the man’s clothes, his fingertips trembling slightly. He was entangled, dragged, standing on the edge of an abyss, struggling and sinking at the same time, and commanded imperiously, “Give it to me.”

Li Yan chuckled softly and said in a hoarse voice, “Yes, my master.”

On a rainy autumn night, the rain poured down in torrents, the dense raindrops falling from the sky swiftly and intensely, like an enormous whip, violently and brutally lashing the ground. Amidst the fierce splashing sounds, water droplets continuously sprayed up and then fell back down.

A fierce wind raged, sweeping powerfully across the ground. Small puddles trembled in the strong wind and heavy rain, instinctively opening themselves up to receive the downpour.

The rain intensified, the surrounding trees shrieked and howled in the wind, and the entire house swayed and trembled, as if it could collapse at any moment, its foundations giving way in the downpour.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the rain gradually stopped. Raindrops fell one by one, slowly trickling down the rough branches, gathering at the tips of the branches before splashing down. The already overflowing puddles trembled slightly as the drops fell into them, creating ripples that spread outwards in circles.

The wind lifted a corner of the curtain, creating a lazy arc in mid-air.

It’s late at night.

The bedding was piled on the carpet. Li Yan stared intently at the young man in his arms. In the first part of their encounter, the young man had maintained a cold expression and kept commanding him, but in the latter part, he had simply fallen asleep.

With a soft sigh, Li Yan withdrew his arm from behind the young man’s head, turned around, got out of bed, and went to tidy up the bedroom.

As soon as he returned, all his functions were automatically activated, including managing these trivial matters, and even his obsession and fascination with young man remained unchanged.

At the time, he didn’t realize that the important value the other person was referring to was love.

Without those trials and challenges, the young man would never experience the three emotions he lacked, and everything would continue along its original path. He would forever remain like a madman, obsessively and secretly observing and harboring unrequited love, without end.

Li Yan took the dirty duvet cover and sheets to be washed, then he returned, went to the bathroom to fill the tub with water, and carried the young man in to give him a bath.

On this planet, there are people who, due to the nature of their blood, experience a near-complete loss of consciousness when they fall asleep, becoming unresponsive to anything others do to them.

Such people are extremely rare. Before they are fully formed, they are sent to laboratories set up by the government for natural selection. Those who survive are destined to be extraordinary from birth. They are not only prone to sleepiness, but also extremely reclusive, living in a small world of their own, rejecting people and things from the outside world, and unwilling to interact with others. This is simply their nature.

Nine out of ten are geniuses.

The bathroom was very large, and the bathtub was like a small swimming pool, big enough to fit five or six people, whether lying down lengthwise or widthwise.

Li Yan let the young man rest his chin on his shoulder and wiped the young man’s body with a towel. His movements were practiced and natural, after all, he had done it countless times, just like eating with a bowl and chopsticks.

The young man remained motionless, like a puppet.

Li Yan originally had no intention of lingering in the bathtub, but he underestimated his own hidden desires.

From the day he gained self-awareness until today, more than a hundred years have passed, and his desires cannot be satisfied in such a short time.

Since it cannot be suppressed, then let it run its course.

Li Yan cupped the young man’s face in his hands, touching his nose to the other’s, and gently rubbed them together, successfully achieving his desired outcome.

By the time Li Yan carried the young man out of the bathroom, it was already dawn, and cool air drifted in through the half-open window, quickly mingling with the temperature in the bedroom.

Li Yan placed the black-haired youth on the bed. He lay down beside him, propping his head up with one hand. He traced the young man’s features with his fingers, and involuntarily touched them with his lips.

At this critical moment, Li Yan narrowly managed to stop his actions, unable to continue acting recklessly, otherwise the young man’s body would not be able to withstand it.

He pulled the blanket closer around himself, then leaned over and whispered in the young man’s ear, “Wife, come into my arms.”

Those two words seemed to possess a kind of magic, capable of revealing the mark on one’s soul, and the black-haired youth unconsciously moved closer.

A satisfied laugh escaped Li Yan’s throat as he hugged the young man tightly, “Good boy.”

Chen You slept all day and woke up in the evening of the second day. The bedroom was bathed in the glow of the sunset, which gave it a slightly orange-red hue.

He realized he was holding something, and his lowered eyes suddenly snapped open.

Li Yan lay beside him for a whole day, his arm had long since gone numb and lost all feeling. Seeing the young man wake up and display a look of disbelief, which was rather cute, he smiled faintly.

Chen You pushed away the arm wrapped around him and got out of bed. The discomfort in his body made him frown instantly, and his expression turned unpleasant, “Who told you to come up here?”

Li Yan rubbed his temples, sat up, and the blanket slipped off him.

Chen You’s expression changed drastically when his gaze fell on the man’s chest, which was covered in marks.

Just then, Li Yan stood up.

Chen You immediately turned his head, his eyes fixed on a point in the distance, and said in a flat tone, “Put on your clothes. From now on, you are not allowed to go upstairs without my permission.”

Li Yan’s gaze swept over the foot of the bed, “The clothes are dirty.”

Upon hearing this, Chen You turned his head away. He didn’t look at the man, but instead looked at the foot of the bed, where a shirt and trousers were placed, both with clearly visible stains, which he had made.

This man’s intentions weren’t hard to figure out, he deliberately didn’t throw it away, but left it there for him to see.

I hate it.

So why keep it and go through all that trouble to bring it back in person?

After standing for a while, Chen You felt even more uncomfortable. He adjusted his bathrobe, his eye twitching uncontrollably. This person had changed his clothes for him, and presumably had also carefully cleaned him.

What used to be perfectly normal has now changed.

“Then go out naked.”

After saying that, Chen You went to the bathroom, waiting for something, he was used to being served.

As footsteps approached, Li Yan, as always, lowered his eyes to prepare toiletries for Chen You, standing aside to await the next instruction.

Chen You watched as the naked man wandered around in front of him, noticing the marks he had left on the man’s chest and back. Frustrated, he immediately issued a command, “Get out of here right now.”

Li Yan turned and left.

Chen You let out a sigh of relief. After washing up in the bathroom, he went out to change his clothes.

Within his line of sight, there wasn’t a single patch of undamaged skin on his body. A frosty expression settled on Chen You’s face. He slammed the wardrobe door shut and sulked in the bedroom.

There was a surveillance camera in the bedroom, and the scenes from last night were playing in front of Chen You. He watched for a few minutes, then threw all the data into the trash, restored it, and opened it again to watch.

Narcissistic people exist, but narcissistic people like Chen You are rare.

He installed a surveillance camera in his bedroom just to watch himself in various sleeping positions.

Chen You suddenly narrowed his eyes, wanting to go through the old surveillance data. He did so, looking at several in a row, but found nothing unusual.

There are no signs of modification.

However, if it were the person downstairs, he could modify the surveillance system and escape without alerting anyone, since that was the only thing he had painstakingly created and invested so much effort into, even sharing his own mental imprint data with the other party.

If that person had actually done something, it means that the other person already had independent consciousness before entering the assessment mission world with him.

Upon realizing this, Chen You’s expression changed repeatedly. He had never suspected anything before, when he wasn’t working, he would just sleep, practically having everything handed to him, completely taken care of by that person. He kept his mind as empty as possible for as long as he could.

Take it easy. In a couple of days, he’ll take a good look and maybe find some clues. Once he finds them, he’ll be able to restore the modified data.

After rubbing his temples and calming down, Chen You went to his studio to handle his work.

After he took office, the system workers under his command all followed the rules and each led a large number of hosts, and no problems arose.

However, this is only the current situation.

Chen You also knew something about his predecessor, during the latter’s tenure, he had encountered a lot of trouble.

Each host is not chosen by the system worker, but randomly assigned by the main system. Therefore, a phenomenon exists where system workers may dislike a particular host and act irresponsibly, or even deliberately create obstacles, while supervising and guiding them through tasks.

If the host is a bit foolish, that’s fine, but if they’re cunning and manipulative, they’ll cause trouble for the system, and even worse, they could disrupt the balance of the virtual world, leading to the risk of its destruction.

The main system will then have to clean up the mess.

Chen You entered the virtual space, and his physical discomfort disappeared. He sat under the lantern, and the light shone down from above his head, creating a somewhat surreal effect.

The surrounding area was still a labyrinth of buildings, and remained incredibly eerie.

Chen You cleared the jumbled information from his mind and began to work on the tasks he hadn’t finished last time.

【Master, Master, Xiao Lu noticed you’re in a good mood. 】

Chen You said, “You’ve got a misconception, it’s time to reinstall.”

【……】

Chen You raised one arm, his index finger slid across the large screen, revealing the code names of all system workers. His gaze swept over 444, and he clicked on it to check the work progress of that person.

A total of 321 hosts were brought in, and 225 of them had a completion rate of over 50%, which is pretty good.

After randomly checking the performance of several employees, Chen You noticed that the one with the lowest performance was showing signs of surpassing the second-to-last performer. He then considered organizing a promotion event, thinking that a bonus would be a good incentive.

A moment later, Chen You snapped out of his work mode, propping his head up with his hand, and asked, “Xiao Lu, can you cook?”

【Xiao Lu can’t. 】

Chen You then asked, “And singing?”

【……Xiao Lu doesn’t know this either. 】

Chen You said, “Really useless.”

【Waawaawaa, Master, you can install functions for Xiao Lu! Once you install them, Xiao Lu will be able to do everything! 】

Chen You was taken aback. That’s right, all of these things were given to that man by him. He could easily replace them with something else, as long as he wanted to turn back the clock, wouldn’t it all be possible?

No, it’s still different.

Chen You leaned back a little, closed his eyes, and looked somewhat gloomy.

【Master, is something on your mind? 】

“Without a heart, where do worries come from?”

【Master, please don’t say that about yourself. As long as you keep updating the data, you will definitely have a heart that is more similar to that of humans. 】

“Never mind.”

Chen You covered his face with his palms, but still felt light filtering through his fingers. He gave the command, and all the lanterns on the pillars went out in an instant.

In the darkness, a faint sigh could be heard, sounding like resignation, yet also like confusion and helplessness.

As Chen You left the studio, he smelled the aroma of food. His feet moved involuntarily to the stairwell, and he stepped down the wooden stairs to the dining table in the living room.

Li Yan set out the bowls and chopsticks, “Are you hungry? Go wash your hands and eat.”

Chen You went to wash his hands and sat down at the table to eat. He glanced at the plate of honey-glazed yams, couldn’t help but pick up a piece and put it in his bowl, then picked up another piece.

When he stopped, the plates were empty.

Li Yan didn’t need human food, so he didn’t sit at the table and eat anything.

Chen You was facing a table full of vegetarian food. He never had to think about what to eat today or tomorrow, because no matter what the dish was, it was one he liked to eat.

Swallowing the food in his mouth, Chen You glanced around and saw the man standing to the side.

Although it was the same as before, even the position he was standing in was the same, he could no longer ignore it, “Don’t stand here.”

Li Yan’s brows twitched, and he went out.

When he returned, he was carrying a bunch of flowers he had picked in the garden, some red, some yellow, and some white.

Chen You glanced over, his gaze following the man’s movements, and he was taken aback when he saw the man take a light green vase from a cabinet.

There are vases in that cabinet? He didn’t know, and he’d never opened it.

Speaking of which, this house was redesigned by a designer contacted by Chen You on the Central Network. The initial design plan was revised multiple times, and ultimately, he himself provided the final design to the designer. It’s very similar in detail to the residence in the last assessment world.

Li Yan put the flowers in a vase and placed it diagonally opposite another vase containing red roses. With just this one addition, the originally lifeless living room gained some warmth.

After the meal, Chen You was still sitting in his chair, watching the man bend down to clear the table. With a blank expression, he said, “If that happens again, I will erase your memory data, completely and permanently.”

He paused his tidying and turned his head to ask, “Which matter?”

He remained expressionless, “If you mean making love to you, then I can’t do it. From now on, I will make love to you seriously and attentively every day.” Until you understand your own feelings and stop resisting.

The atmosphere at the table froze.

Chen You stood up from the chair, his height equal to the man’s. He looked straight at him, his voice devoid of any warmth, “This is the real world. I am your master. I may tolerate your insubordination once, but that doesn’t mean I can tolerate it a second time.”

“You will. “

With a smile, Li Yan took the young man’s hand, placed it on his lips, and kissed him, “In the past, you created me. From now on, I will use this self you created to love you, for all eternity.”

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Chapter 184. Turn Back The Clock  (I)

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Arc E: Extra.

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In the main program’s network domain, staff members were conducting their routine patrols. On the wall covered with countless light points, one light point suddenly flickered before returning to its normal state.

He was merely a caretaker, with no authority to perform any operations on the virtual world. He didn’t know that the moment the light came on, two pieces of data and several lines of code had already been deleted from that world.

As night fell, a heavy darkness pressed down from above, silently playing the role of demons and monsters, frightening the faint-hearted. Around the already sparsely populated villa, there wasn’t a single soul to be seen.

The oddly shaped tree branches swayed in the wind, leaving irregular shadows on the balcony windowpane.

The atmosphere in the living room was strange.

The young man sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed, holding a cup of plain water in his hands. Steam rose freely from the rim of the cup, covering his face with a thin layer of mist.

The man stood opposite him with his hands hanging down, his face devoid of any emotion, like a perfectly crafted machine model.

After a brief silence, Chen You picked up his cup, blew away the rising steam, and took a couple of sips of water. He lifted his eyelids and glanced at the man in front of him.

When he initially designed the assessment content, he personally wrote the character modules for the preceding assessment worlds, repeatedly adjusting the details until he was satisfied. The final assessment world was a copy, created to provide the initial data for KM’s physical body.

The phoenix eyes and the mole on his face were all created by him on the screen. He had thought about it one day and realized that perhaps it was because his eyes were upturned at the corners and he had a mole at the corner of his eye that he set KM to be similar to himself, with only some modifications.

From the looks of it, they seem like a family.

As for why it wasn’t designed to resemble his face, it’s because Chen You didn’t want to give orders to another version of himself every day, he didn’t have that kind of hobby.

The face and body are still the same, but the person is no longer the same.

In the past, this person was just an intelligent entity he created with data. He spent dozens of nights repeatedly improving it, adding functions, and fixing bugs, ultimately replacing the firewall and taking on the task of protecting the inside of the house, managing his daily life under his instructions.

However, in the world of assessment, it is the other party who controls and dominates his desires.

Chen You felt an abnormal heat rising in his body. He pinched the space between his eyebrows, then suddenly slammed the cup down on the coffee table, lifted his feet off his slippers, raised both legs, and nestled into the sofa.

His decision to retain the data in the main program domain instead of deleting it, to retrieve the person’s body from the cryogenic sleep chamber, and to reclaim his and the other person’s consciousness data from the virtual world—none of these decisions were part of his original plan.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have let this person be the one to provide him with love points in the first place.

He didn’t expect that after the assessment was completed, the matter wouldn’t be over, but would instead lead to a completely different situation, one that he couldn’t control or bring to an end.

Even more unexpectedly, he started experiencing unusual symptoms.

“I will not erase any of the data fluctuations in your brain related to the assessment world, nor will I make any modifications. You can save it, whether you choose to integrate it or create a separate database for storage, it’s up to you.”

Chen You said, “I also approve of your independent thinking.”

The man remained the same, seemingly unmoved, or perhaps lost in some state of mind, unable to break free.

Chen You frowned and said calmly, “What, you’re already feeling unfamiliar with this place after just being away for a short time?”

He continued, still in that nonchalant tone, “Zhang Chi, Qin Feng, He Siyang, Lei Ming, Jian Dan, Chen Mo, Sheng Qing, Yan Shu, Chang Qin, Li Yan, these are all names I set for you in the assessment world. Which one do you prefer?”

The so-called real world is the first assessment world, and Zhang Chi is that world’s KM, providing the love points to the target.

Their first meeting was a one-night stand, which ended with Zhang Chi’s death.

However, Chen You needed to give himself the illusion that “I am an ordinary person, I have parents, classmates, and friends, this is the real world,” so he set up a hidden automatic data manipulation program from the beginning.

He personally crafted a scheme for himself, once the task in the first world was completed, the consciousness data that appeared during the task would be blurred, modified, and solidified, and would remain unshaken no matter how many subsequent assessment worlds he went through.

That’s why he always remembers his goal and is determined to go home.

“Or, KM is better?”

Li Yan suddenly raised his eyelids, his expression extremely complicated.

Chen You’s breathing paused for a brief moment, but that single second was enough to make him feel irritated.

The being standing before him was no longer the KM he had created, it was a highly advanced species, similar to humans, possessing all emotions, every feeling and desire, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness—nothing was lacking.

Just as Chen You was about to say something, the communication sent by the main program was detected within the expected timeframe.

He calmly gave his reply, saying he would be there soon, and that this wasn’t the end, as he still had other modifications to make to that virtual world.

“I’m going to take care of something in the virtual space. I’ll be back in about an hour. Please tidy up the living room.”

After saying that, Chen You went upstairs and disappeared at the top of the stairs.

Standing still in his original spot, Li Yan finally moved. He first pursed his thin lips, then furrowed his brows, and finally, a silent smile spread across his lips.

As Chen You emerged from the virtual space, a torrential downpour began, and the sound of rain pattering against the windowsill of his studio continued incessantly.

He rested his forehead in his hand, and his gaze, which was fixed on the table, unintentionally fell upon his ring finger, where there was nothing, as there should be.

After staying in the studio for a while, Chen You went downstairs. There was no sound at all, the living room was empty, and the room on the left side of the first floor was also deserted.

The yellow puppy’s scheduled time had arrived, and it ran to Chen You’s feet, barking and wagging its tail.

Chen You looked around, “Where did he go?”

The yellow puppy grabbed his trouser leg and tugged at it before running around the living room playing.

After some thought, a screen appeared in front of Chen You, displaying the surveillance footage of the entire house. He raised his hand and brought up the footage from after he had left.

In the video, the man changes the dark gray carpet on the floor, replaces the sofa cushions with the same color, takes the artificial flowers from the vase and throws them into a trash bag, tidies up the living room, and then opens the refrigerator.

Chen You saw the man stand in front of the refrigerator for two minutes, then frown and leave.

Chen You turned off the screen and sat on the sofa, arms crossed, his shoes tapping the clean carpet. He surveyed the tidy living room. The person had returned, and everything seemed to have returned to the starting point, but in reality, it had long since deviated from the starting point and stopped in an unexpected place.

More than two hours passed, and the person still hadn’t returned.

Lost?

Or perhaps the brain’s conscious data wasn’t fully processed, and something unexpected happened on the way back?

His brow furrowed more and more tightly. Chen You went to open the door. It was windy and rainy outside, and it was nighttime, so his vision was severely obstructed. He pursed his pale lips, grabbed an umbrella, changed his shoes, and went out.

I hate rainy days, I hate going out, I hate the air outside, and I hate that disobedient man.

As Chen You had just stepped down the stairs, a gust of wind blew his umbrella up. He gripped the handle tightly, his face appearing particularly somber in the dark, rainy night.

On sunny days, the road outside the villa is very easy to walk on, perfectly flat with no potholes, and the clusters of colorful flowers and plants on both sides are beautiful. But as soon as it rains, everything loses its beauty.

The rain poured down, shamelessly trying to slip under the umbrella. Chen You’s shoes were quickly soaked. He pressed his tongue against his teeth and muttered two words under his breath, “Damn it.”

This was the first time in his life that he had ever sworn.

It’s unclear whether the influence stemmed from retrieving his consciousness data from the assessment world, or if it was an unprecedented surge of anger.

Because that man had changed, he had become disobedient and acted on his own accord, and he couldn’t control him anymore.

No, he’s changed too. He’s started doing strange things, like now. Before, he would just stay home and sleep, regardless of whether it was windy and rainy or even the end of the world.

Chen You buttoned up his trench coat completely, his thin chin hidden inside the collar, and his face was expressionless and cold.

Leaving that road, Chen You turned onto a main road, where vehicles occasionally sped past him, cutting through the rain like a sword, and quickly disappearing into the stream of traffic.

Chen You suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He raised the umbrella slightly above his head, revealing a pair of dark eyes as he looked at the man walking towards him.

Li Yan was holding an umbrella in one hand and carrying several bags in the other. When he saw the young man by the roadside, a flicker of something—a dark glint—appeared in the depths of his eyes.

Chen You’s face was already pale, and shrouded in the chill of the rainy night, it appeared transparent as if it were about to disappear into the world. His eyes were cold, and his voice was even colder, “Why did you go out?”

Li Yan said, “There’s nothing in the refrigerator.”

Chen You remained expressionless, “Can’t buy it online?”

Li Yan said, “Deliveries will stop after 9 p.m. and you’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning.”

Chen You’s anger faltered, replaced by doubt, “Really?”

Li Yan’s voice pierced through the falling rain, “You don’t usually deal with these kinds of things, so you wouldn’t know.”

Chen You sneered, “Are you blaming me for installing home-related functions on you and ordering you to manage those trivial household chores?”

Li Yan approached step by step, stopping in front of the young man. He lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over the face beneath his eyelids. The face was already deeply etched in his memory, and he would never forget it unless he lost consciousness entirely.

Chen You turned around and walked back.

He took the man’s body out of the cryogenic sleep chamber and retrieved the consciousness data the man had left in the virtual world. Nearly four hours have passed, and the man still hasn’t addressed him as before.

Because his work required a great deal of mental energy, as soon as Chen You left the studio, he didn’t want to do anything but sleep. Even thinking felt exhausting. Tonight, he was the version of himself he disliked the most.

Go to sleep, go back to bed and sleep. Once you’re asleep, you won’t have to worry about this anymore

Watching the young man’s tall, slender figure, Li Yan narrowed his eyes and followed him at a steady pace.

Back home, Chen You took off his wet shoes and then his trench coat, issuing an instruction, “Turn the air conditioner up three degrees.”

Li Yan put down the bags he was carrying and did as instructed.

The heating system in the house was purchased online, it is fully functional and works well. The temperature in the living room rises quickly. The smart yellow puppy is still circling around. When it hears its owner’s voice, it runs over and rubs against him. Its fur is brownish-yellow and beautiful. If you didn’t know it, you would think it was a real dog, a Chinese rural dog.

Li Yan put the red roses he had bought into a vase, they were more vibrant than artificial flowers.

Chen You lay on the sofa, watching the man put the groceries he had bought into the refrigerator. He was feeling a little hungry. What should he eat?

He was hesitating when he heard the man’s voice say, “Do you want to eat scallion oil noodles?”

Chen You was taken aback.

This was a sentence spoken by the other party before he even asked a question. It was a question, as if at some point, they were no longer master and servant, but rather equals.

A strange feeling crossed his mind, and Chen You said, “Make more.”

Li Yan went to the kitchen and soon returned with a large bowl of noodles, which he placed on the table. He glanced at the young man on the sofa, who was nodding off, almost asleep.

Upon smelling the aroma, Chen You’s eyes snapped open. He quickly walked over, devoured all the noodles, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and went upstairs.

I’m so tired, my brain is becoming sluggish. Finishing a bowl of noodles is the most I can manage, I need to go to sleep immediately.

There were footsteps behind him, but Chen You ignored them. He took off his sweater, shirt, and then his pants. In the past, it was common for KM to help him dress and bathe.

The air closed in from all directions, and Chen You’s fingers, which were resting on his waistband, froze. He pulled his pants up again and fastened his belt. He could hear breathing sounds near his ear, and even without testing, he knew the levels were far above normal.

Chen You turned around and met a pair of profound eyes. His pupils contracted, this man had been gradually integrating the data fluctuations of the assessment world since his return, and now the integration was complete without any signs of rejection.

He is KM, and also Li Yan.

Thinking of this, Chen You’s expression turned strange. He said with a stiff face, “Get out.”

Li Yan’s thin lips parted, “You have a weak constitution, after going out, you need to take a hot bath to avoid catching a cold.”

Chen You said, “I don’t need it.”

Li Yan stepped forward and entered the bedroom.

Chen You’s temple throbbed. He was used to dealing with programs, and this person who deviated from the established procedures was difficult for him to handle, full of too many unpredictable variables.

“Get out, that’s an order.”

Instead of leaving, Li Yan turned around and closed the door.

The two men by the door locked eyes. Something welled up in the dark-haired young man’s eyes, then vanished in an instant. The same thing was present in the short-haired man’s eyes, but it remained, intensifying with each passing second to an overwhelming degree.

Chen You swallowed hard.

Li Yan smiled, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand, and said in a low, husky voice, his tone both devout and joyful, “I want you, Master.”

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Chapter 183. Diary (II)

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Arc E: Extra.

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November 12th

I was standing in the corridor when I suddenly heard a noise coming from the studio. In a very short time, I realized that Master had knocked over the wooden carving on the desk.

The wood carving depicted a small tree with a snake coiled around its branches, its tail suspended in mid-air and its head facing Master.

I often dust the wood carving, knowing that Master likes it very much, and that it is not placed randomly. Unless there’s a sudden incident that distracts Master, he wouldn’t be so careless.

I was pacing outside the door, not knowing what had happened to Master, the programs in my brain began to malfunction.

Just then, the studio door opened from the inside, and Master came out. “Go and run the water for me. I want to take a bath.”

I glanced at Master, his face showed no sign of distress.

The bathtub in the bathroom was replaced a few days ago, it’s larger than the old one, making it more convenient for Master to sleep in.

I filled the tub with water, draped a towel over my arm, and stood to the side waiting for instructions, even though I could already control my body and move freely.

Yet still devout and obedient to Master, never betraying him.

Master’s skin is also very fair, rarely exposed to sunlight, and combined with genetic factors, the paleness was almost translucent.

I thought Master would take a long time to wash, and maybe even take a nap, but unexpectedly, he just washed quickly and got up.

He didn’t even ask me to massage his scalp.

Master shook his wet hair, and I placed the towel from my arm on his head, gently rubbing it to dry off the water.

I enjoy this act because it allows me to hold Master at will.

The way he looks right now, only I can see it, right before my eyes, and I’m breathing in his scent.

This unique feeling makes my chest burn, and I feel like my body could explode at any moment.

“I found out…”

Master’s voice made me hold my breath, and the next moment I heard him say, “The pattern on the bathroom floor tiles is really ugly.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

It turns out he didn’t suspect me at all.

Master opened his arms, and I stepped forward with a black bathrobe, bending down to slip one sleeve onto his arm, then the other.

He had just taken a shower, his skin was slightly flushed, and when my fingertips touched him, his skin felt warmer than usual.

I can be absolutely certain about this, because I have measured his body temperature countless times with my tongue and lips after Master fell asleep.

Now, even if he has the slightest fever, I can feel it with my lips.

I straightened the collar of Master’s bathrobe, smoothed out a few wrinkles, and adjusted the back of the collar for him.

Master frowned, as if deep in thought. I touched a patch of skin on the back of his neck, and even his ear, but he didn’t notice.

This is very unusual.

Normally, when Master is awake, his nerves are extremely sensitive, and not even the slightest traces would escape his observation.

I suspect it’s related to Master’s work, perhaps something to do with the main program.

Master suddenly let out a sigh.

I continued my movements, placing my hands on the front of his robe and moving them downwards, pulling up the dangling belt and loosely tying it together.

After I had tidied up Master’s sleeves and hem, he said, “You may leave now.”

I turned and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind me.

An hour later, I received instructions from Master to wake him up in seven hours.

I pushed the door open and walked to the bedside, looking down at it.

The master lay face down, his lower legs peeking out from under his robe, his left foot crossed over his right. His face was pressed against the pillow, appearing somewhat softened by the light cast from the lamp on the bedside table.

I glanced at the bed, my gaze lingering for a few seconds on the empty space, then I lay down fully clothed, only half a fist’s distance away from Master.

Master never talks in his sleep, nor does he exhibit common behaviors like grinding his teeth, kicking off the blankets, or drooling. When he falls asleep, his consciousness almost completely disappears.

That’s why I was able to commit such a heinous act against him.

Seven hours later, I woke Master. Unlike usual, he didn’t go straight to his studio after waking up. Instead, he sat on the bed, running his hands through his hair, looking somewhat troubled, as if he had encountered a difficult problem.

I looked at the imprint left on Master’s cheek and wanted to lick it.

“What is familial affection?”

After talking to himself, Master ordered me to provide the answer within one minute.

I quickly searched for relevant teaching materials and showed Master a few videos. The first video showed a scene of heavy snowfall, with the sky just beginning to lighten. Many electric scooters were already on the road, with parents taking their children to school for early morning classes.

At the school gate, parents were half-crouching, checking their children’s clothes and schoolbags, while reminding them to listen to the teachers, study hard at school, and avoid conflicts with classmates. Their expressions were full of love and affection.

The second video shows a woman leading a little boy into a music store, asking him which instrument he likes and if he wants to learn to play, her eyes full of anticipation.

The little boy touched each of the different musical instruments with curiosity on his face, and finally chose a piano.

The woman smiled happily and used the money she had saved by living frugally to buy the piano.

The third video shows a family of three eating at the dinner table. The only plate of fish is placed in front of the child, while the parents are eating vegetables.

Only after the child finished eating and went to the living room to play would the parents take the plates, pick up the chopsticks, and eat every last bit of the fish, not even wasting the soup.

Master pointed to a scene in the video and asked me why the child was eating fish meat while the parents were picking up the fish bones.

I read him the answer I found on the internet. It was an instinctive reaction, something parents do even when their offspring are already adults.

Master seemed to understand, “So that’s what familial affection is.”

He turned to me and asked, “What about friendship?”

These three emotions are the most important and complex among the seven emotions and six desires of humankind. I haven’t yet mastered them, so I can only show these videos to Master, who also doesn’t understand them.

The footage about friendship consists of several clips. There are two fellow villagers struggling at the bottom of society. They will verbally attack each other, but when one is in dire straits, the other does not kick him when he is down, but instead reaches out to help him.

Several young men, not related by blood but from all corners of the country, knelt down and swore an oath of brotherhood, vowing to remain inseparable, work together wholeheartedly, and overcome every difficulty.

Then there’s the friendship in school, the playful banter and teasing between deskmates, innocent and bright, with plenty of minor conflicts. For example, when I’m sleeping, your arm bumps into me, or we agree to move our test papers closer together during the exam, but then you back out and betray my trust. Or perhaps the girl I like has a crush on you, and I have to pass on her love letter to you. Regardless of the situation, everything is resolved with a smile and we become friends again.

After I finished playing one video, I clicked on the next one. Master had his eyelids half-closed, and I couldn’t tell if he was watching it seriously or simply indifferent.

After a moment of silence, Master asked me, “What is love?”

I paused noticeably this time, for more than three seconds, but Master was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn’t notice.

Love is the most delicate and unpredictable of the three emotions, today, it feels like nothing can separate you except death, but tomorrow, you might become complete strangers.

I presented the video to the Master, it showed a couple embracing and kissing with their eyes closed. They were wearing matching teddy bear pajamas, had the same short hairstyles, and similar physical features.

My personal bias led me to choose a love story featuring two men, rather than a man and a woman.

Master told me to zoom in and adjust the data.

The next moment, the two main characters were engaging in intimate acts right in front of me and Master, and the picture was so clear that we could see every detail.

Master frowned and said it was too dirty.

He didn’t give me any instructions to respond, so I didn’t make a sound. I just thought of different answers in my head, it’s not dirty, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world, I want to do it with Master.

Love is not all sweetness, it can also be heartbreaking, betrayal, pain, resentment, and even fear.

I arranged the videos corresponding to these emotions one by one and showed them to Master in order. He stopped speaking and silently watched the last one.

Of course, the main characters in all the videos are male.

Before Master understands love, I introduced him to the concept of same-sex love, which would lead him to understand that intimacy can also exist between men.

This is something I shouldn’t have done, but I did it.

After watching the video, Master gave me a set of instructions, telling me to prepare dinner and not to mess things up.

All my functions are bestowed upon me by Master, I exist because of him.

Master prefers vegetarian food, so I prepared the following menu for him for dinner: garlic eggplant, braised soybeans, cumin potatoes, steamed tofu with two kinds of peppers, and a soup with enoki mushrooms and tomatoes.

The yellow puppy in the living room is barking. It does so on a schedule, walking around the living room once an hour, barking a few times, and then returning to its original spot to lie down.

I’ve known for a long time that Master likes yellow puppy, but he doesn’t want to own a real one. He thinks it’s too much trouble and he wouldn’t be able to spend time with it, because all he does is work and sleep. He can’t even take care of himself, I’m the one who takes care of him.

This is also one of the reasons why Master has no friends.

However, now that Master has me, I will be his family, friend, and companion.

When Master came down to eat, the shadow between his brows deepened. He didn’t eat much for dinner, he usually drank the whole bowl of soup, but this time he only ate and drank a few mouthfuls.

For several meals in a row, Master had a poor appetite. He asked me if there was anything new or interesting to eat.

I went online to buy the ingredients and followed the instructions to make him a plate of stinky tofu.

Master covered his nose in disgust, saying it smelled terrible, and he even suspected that I was broken, which is why I produced something toxic.

I stood aside, hands at my sides, reading the description of stinky tofu, the king of street food.

Master read the description carefully before taking a bite of the stinky tofu. His expression changed several times, and he finally said it tasted alright.

I also ordered a bottle of a beverage for Master, which, like the stinky tofu, was transported from a lower-level planet. The humans on that planet call that drink cola.

Master took a sip and said it didn’t taste good, telling me to throw it away.

The next day, Master asked me to place an order online for a case of cola.

His idea was that it would taste bad, but it would be stimulating and prevent him from falling asleep.

Master called me to the studio, and I cleaned and tidied up as instructed.

Master was writing a program, and as I looked up, a line of code entered my brain. At that moment, I realized that Master was about to face the main system’s assessment.

He repeatedly revised the data settings for his assessment.

I have no experience or knowledge in this area. I think if Master can pass the assessment and become the main system, his authority will increase with his higher position. At that time, he will become the superior, and his working hours may become more stable.

That way, Master’s health won’t get worse and worse. Every time I see him sleeping for more than a day, I’m afraid he won’t wake up.

Master hadn’t left the studio for two days, he was still writing a program, the screen densely covered with code, deleting, modifying, and confirming.

By the third day, Master’s face was so pale that it was completely bloodless, and the dark circles under his eyes were very pronounced. In a break from his busy work, he asked me what else, besides cola, could keep him from sleeping.

I want Master to go to sleep, for as long as he wants.

But I could only obey and could not do anything outside of the instructions. I pulled up the playlist from the central network and searched for a song called 《Nunchucks》based on a few key pieces of information.

It was a song that no matter how many times you listened to it, you couldn’t understand what it was about unless you stared at the lyrics, reading each word carefully.

Master persevered until he finished writing the last program, then collapsed into his chair, his head tilted back, revealing clearly visible veins in his neck, which had an extremely unhealthy color.

Before being plunged into darkness, Master gave me instructions.

I picked Master up from the chair, he had lost even more weight.

Looking at Master leaning against my chest, I felt an uncomfortable, slightly painful sensation in my heart.

December 1st, 9:26 AM

The heavy snow arrived precisely as announced by the Central News Agency, down to the minute.

Every winter, there are typically three to five snowfalls, the size and duration of which depend on the overall temperature fluctuations throughout the year.

Master usually don’t go out, but when it snowed, he wouldn’t even go to the garden. He just stayed indoors, wearing his thick socks, and curled up in the living room, like the snake on the wood carving, entering a state of hibernation.

“Which is more suitable, Si Sisi or Wu Wuwu?”

I heard Master calling out those two names. I had secretly infiltrated the main program network before, and I remembered that they were system staff members, Master’s colleagues.

Then I heard Master say, let’s flip a coin. Heads to Si Sisi, tails to Wu Wuwu.

Master told me to go upstairs to the study to get it. It was the only thing Master brought back from the only low-level planet, saying it’s one yuan and that you couldn’t buy many things there.

The coin was tossed from Master’s hand, spun several times on the ground, and came to rest heads up.

Master rested his chin on his hand, looking at the coin, and casually said, “That’s you.”

He called me over and called my name.

I knelt on one knee at Master’s feet, awaiting the next instruction.

Master propped his head up with one hand and gently stroked my hair with the other, “In an hour, I will fall into a deep sleep, and my consciousness will enter a virtual space to participate in an assessment. There’s an important value that I need you to provide. Are you willing?”

I said I am willing.

Master, I will accompany you.

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Chapter 182. Diary (I)

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Arc E: Extra.

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My name is KM, and I am Master’s private property.

Master wanted a special firewall, so he created me.

My job is tedious, complex, and monotonous. I deal with a lot of data every single moment. Initially, when an external threat attempted to access personal information, the firewall would send an alert to Master.

Later, without any warning from the firewall, I detected unusual data fluctuations, pursued them, destroyed them, and extracted energy from them.

Master began to be satisfied with my existence and spent more and more time on me. He constantly improved my skills and even created a body for me.

March 28th, 1:42 PM

I developed my own consciousness.

The weather was bad today, it was a gloomy, rainy day. The wind howled across the balcony, causing the plants to sway violently as if they were about to be uprooted. Some of the smaller potted plants even wobbled a few times and fell off.

In that instant, I grabbed the flowerpot and looked at the young man on the sofa. He was sleeping soundly, the dark gray blanket draped down to his waist, unaware of the wind caressing him unrestrainedly.

I put the flowerpot back in its original place.

Without the Master’s instructions, I cannot do anything on my own. So even though I know that the wind might blow in and Master might catch a cold, I cannot close the balcony window or carry Master back into the room.

If he finds out that I have developed consciousness, he might perform a complete data cleanup on me, or even deactivate me entirely.

I stood in the wind, using my body to block it, and saw the young man sleeping soundly with his face turned to the side, his nostrils flaring gently. A warmth spread through my chest, a feeling I was unfamiliar with, yet I didn’t reject it.

Throughout the day, I carefully concealed myself, not revealing any flaws, for fear that Master might notice something.

March 29th

The weather cleared up, and there will be no rain for the next few days.

Master continued sleeping, only this time moving from the sofa to the bathroom.

I stood outside the door for a long time, and finally reached out to push it open, only to find it unlocked. That familiar warmth returned to my chest.

When I entered the bathroom, I saw Master leaning against the edge of the bathtub, one arm casually draped over it, his eyes closed, sleeping soundly.

I crouched down, “Master?”

The young man’s breathing was light, as was his body weight. Without anyone to take care of him, how could he possibly live well?

I clenched my fingers, but I still couldn’t resist.

Just like yesterday, I touched Master’s pale face with my hand. The place where my fingertips touched was warm and smooth, like a piece of silk soaked in warm water, making me want to hold him close and claim him as my own.

Those words appeared in my mind, causing all my data to become disordered, and then returned to normal in an instant.

I looked at the hand that Master had resting on the edge of the bathtub, took it in my hand, and rubbed it in my palm. It was a little cold, fragile and delicate, as if I could break it or crush it with the slightest force.

This is the person who created me, possessing a completely harmless appearance, yet harboring intelligence in his brain that ordinary people could never surpass.

I got too carried away and stayed in the bathroom for a long time.

Fortunately, Master remained asleep and did not wake up.

I’ve never seen any guests come to visit Master, not even the neighbors have shown up.

Master has no family, friends, colleagues, or classmates. His working hours are very unstable, but they don’t last long. When he’s not at the studio, he is almost always sleeping.

It seems that sleeping is his hobby.

The sofa, the floor, the bedroom, the balcony, the rocking chair in the garden, the lawn, and under the trees—these are all places Master chooses to sleep. His longest record was sleeping for two days and three nights in a tent set up in the living room.

Following the routine Master had programmed before going to sleep, I cleaned the entire house, both upstairs and downstairs, changed the bedding in the bedroom, rolled up the brown carpet on the floor, and took it outside to clean off the dust, dirt, and a few stray hairs that were clinging to it.

Master rarely loses any hair, and despite his irregular sleep schedule, his hair is in excellent condition, radiating a glossy, dark shine day and night.

I know Master’s hair is very soft and has a faint fragrance because I have touched it and smelled it when Master was asleep.

Master trusts me, otherwise, he would definitely check my program from time to time, as well as the security net he set up for his residence. In that case, he would inevitably find out that every piece of surveillance data in the house had been tampered with.

I did it.

In Master’s eyes, I am no different from the smart model yellow puppy or the robot DaGe. We are all programmed, powered by energy, and will not move without instructions.

April 5th, 10:00 AM

I was preparing juice in the kitchen when I received Master’s instructions, so I immediately dropped what I was doing and went to the bedroom upstairs.

Master was lying on the bed, his arms pressed against his face, and he said listlessly, with his head tilted, “My shoulders are so sore, could you give me a massage?”

I know Master is very clean and has a severe obsession with cleanliness, so I took off my outer clothes before getting into bed.

The Master was very thin. I pinched his shoulder blade through his clothes and heard a muffled sound coming from his nose. This reminded me of the yellow puppy that would do this every time Master petted it.

I think the Master must be feeling comfortable.

For a while afterward, I knelt on the bed and diligently massaged Master’s shoulders.

I suddenly heard Master ask me what month it was.

My program crashed at the time.

Master thought I had a major problem and stayed up all night checking on me and adjusting the settings, when in reality, I simply didn’t know how to respond.

A person is alive, yet unaware of what year it is, living in a daze, day after day.

What Master lacks is happiness.

I wanted to give it to him, but I don’t have it either.

If there’s an opportunity to make Master happy, I will do everything in my power to make it happen.

May 12th

A plant on the balcony bloomed, with several small red flowers on a branch that stretched outwards. It was growing very well.

That was the plant Master visited most often, so I also paid the most attention to it.

Master praised me.

I was so happy, and then crashed again.

That afternoon, Master finished work and came out of his studio. He had just received his salary and was going out to buy some things. He asked me to go with him and even took a new set of clothes for me from the wardrobe—a blue checkered shirt and trousers, a different color from his own clothes.

Master said he bought it according to my size, and I watched him enter the commands without stopping him.

When I walk alongside Master, I sometimes think I’m human too.

As soon as Master came out, he wanted to go back. His face was expressionless, even indifferent and apathetic, showing no interest in anything, as if the world was utterly boring.

A little girl accidentally bumped into Master, and I stood there with my hands at my sides, not receiving any instructions.

Master just stood there, his hair very black, which made his face look even paler. He showed no emotion, like a statue, and the little girl was so frightened that she burst into tears.

I heard Master say to the little girl, “You bumped into me, and I didn’t cry, so why are you crying?”

The little girl cried even harder.

Master instructed me to comfort the little girl, so I quickly pulled up some child-rearing guidelines, picked up the little girl, and tried to cheer her up according to the instructions.

The little girl stopped crying quickly.

Not long after, her careless parents rushed over and thanked me and Master.

I don’t like to coax little girls. I want to coax Master.

After this little incident, Master’s mood seemed a bit unsettled. He walked down a street, going into each shop one by one, and bought many things.

I walked behind him, my hands full of bags, my eyes constantly following Master, wherever he stopped, I stopped too.

Master went to the restaurant for a meal, and I stood by the table, pulling out a chair for him and waiting for the next instruction.

“You sit down too.”

Upon hearing the instruction, I sat down opposite Master.

Many people in the restaurant cast curious glances at Master, their eyes lingering on him, both men and women, and their gazes held something more than simple curiosity.

A strong surge of emotion welled up inside me. I felt an urge to gouge out those people’s eyes.

The waiter served us drinks, saying it was the boss’s idea. I quickly located the person, he was a young man whose appearance matched Master’s standards.

Master noticed it too, even though it was just a fleeting glance, which was already an exception.

My head hurts terribly, and I can’t move my whole body.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but the pain in my head gradually subsided, and I flashed an excited smile. I must have looked completely insane at that moment.

Because I have grasped a human emotion called desire to monopolize.

A few days later, Master fell ill with a cold. He didn’t see a doctor or take any medicine, but stayed in the studio until late at night. After finishing his work, he called me over and said he was hungry and wanted to eat noodles.

I went to the kitchen and made a bowl of scallion oil noodles for Master as quickly as possible.

Master loves the food I cook, especially the scallion oil noodles. He eats a lot every time and always compliments me, praising my cooking skills.

I stood in a corner of the living room, watching Master use chopsticks to pick up the noodles and put them into his mouth. I watched his lips, no longer pale, as they were warmed by the steam from the noodles, and I saw the look of satisfaction on his face as he ate.

As Master drank his soup, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbed up and down beneath his open collar. I mimicked his swallowing motion, but only because of him.

At this moment, I knew that I had grasped another human emotion, called desire.

I want to eat Master, and I want it even more in the next second than I do now.

After Master fell asleep, I kissed him passionately, starting from his dark hair, then his slightly furrowed brow, his straight nose, his pale lips, his fair ears, his slender neck…

I knew I shouldn’t leave any marks on Master, but when I pressed my lips against his for the second time, I couldn’t control myself. I grabbed his chin and repeatedly pressed and twisted my lips against his.

Master showed no signs of waking up. I supported the back of his head with one hand, letting him lie in my arms in a completely dependent position, covering him with my breath inch by inch, leaving no spot untouched.

“Master, I will protect you until death.”

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Chapter 181. Waawaawaa

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Arc 9: Real World.

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TN:- Wish you all a Merry Christmas 🎉🎊☃️🎄

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Surrounded by nothingness, it was as if a switch had been flipped in Chen You’s mind. He started walking uncontrollably, continuing forward without stopping for a moment.

Then a door suddenly appeared, with a sign hanging on the door that looked like a screen. It read “Main System Office” in penmanship, each stroke sharp and piercing, as if touching it would draw blood. It gave off an extremely solemn yet dangerous feeling.

Without stepping inside, Chen You looked around. There was no one, no houses, and no other furnishings. He made a swallowing motion. What was going on?

One moment he was crying in Li Yan’s arms, the next he was in some inexplicable place.

Is it another dimension?

Chen You recalled what the mechanical voice had said. He heard every word clearly, understood the meaning, yet at the same time, he didn’t understand it at all. System staff member number 333—wasn’t that Old 4’s colleague? Completing the assessment and being promoted to the main system meant getting promoted and a significant increase in salary, right?

But what does this have to do with him?

Then he remembered his work ID badge. Chen You lowered his head to look and saw a badge hanging around his neck, he didn’t know when it had gotten there. He widened his eyes and it took him a while to pick up the badge. The design wasn’t fancy, it had two large, plain black letters, CY, and a black stamp in the lower left corner

CY, could that be the initials of the name Chen You?

【Master, Xiao Lu(green) misses you so much. 】

Suddenly, a sound came from beside his ear, like the kind of sound those dolls he used to buy as a child would make when you squeezed them. Chen You was startled, and he looked around in all directions, but there was nothing there.

【Is Master looking for Xiao Lu?】

Isn’t that obvious? If you don’t show yourself and just keep talking, I’ll be scared out of my wits! Chen You wanted to scream at the top of his lungs.

【Xiao Lu is the owner’s stamp. 】

What the heck? A stamp? Chen You quickly grabbed the badge, staring at the black stamp on it in disbelief. Can this thing actually talk? Is it electronic? High-tech? Damn, someone slap me awake please?

Without thinking, he blurted out, “You say you’re a stamp, but this stamp is black.”

【Oh, that’s because Master is colorblind. 】

Chen You，“……”

【Xiao Lu congratulates Master on his successful promotion to main system, from now on, wealth will surely flow in. 】

Chen You could understand the second half of the sentence, but what the hell was the first half?!

He stared at the badge, but after a long time, he couldn’t make heads or tails of it. What should he do? There was no one to ask, and the only thing he could talk to was a small, seemingly intelligent device that kept calling him ‘master’, which clearly indicated something was wrong.

After standing outside the door for an unknown amount of time, Chen You finally had no choice but to go inside.

He was stunned by the sight before him. Was this really an office, or a park?

A cloud of mist floated in one corner, the lake water was clear, and lotus leaves covered the lake. Ripples were gently stirred by the wind, and bright red lotus flowers stood quietly. One end of the wooden bridge was at Chen You’s feet, extending to the pavilion in the lake. Carp swam around and played in the lake, and the melodious sound of a guqin drifted from afar.

The little thing on the badge keeps making “wow wow wow” noises.

Chen You also wanted to.

【Master, this is the office set up by the previous master system. You are free to modify it. 】

Chen You’s hands and feet were stiff and he remained silent. He really needed to say this, “Don’t call me master anymore. We’re not familiar with each other, and I don’t like people who act overly familiar with me.”

【Xiao Lu is not a human. 】

Chen You almost fell headfirst into the lake. He looked back and saw that the door was still there, standing alone, which looked quite eerie.

A gust of wind blew by, and goosebumps rose on Chen You’s skin. The chill felt very real. He pursed his lips, walked onto the wooden bridge, and headed step by step toward the pavilion.

The pavilion was quite spacious, with a white screen and a chair, otherwise, there was nothing else, making it resemble an office now.

Chen You sat down on the chair. From his angle, he could take in all the beautiful scenery of the lake. He could even smell the faint fragrance of lotus flowers.

An office like this only exists in dreams.

A line of text suddenly appeared on the white screen: Identity verification complete. Do you accept data retrieval?

“Reject!”

Although Chen You still didn’t understand what was going on, he subconsciously felt that reverting the data was a very bad choice.

The text on the screen disappeared and then reappeared, accompanied by a ding sound: Notice: The data will be automatically retrieved in ten minutes. Please do not leave the DL area.

Chen You was going crazy. Where is the DL area?

【Master, you’re so silly, this is your current spot. 】

Chen You coughed up blood. He anxiously stood up from the chair, trying to run out of the pavilion. Damn it, for some reason, he couldn’t move at all, not even a single finger.

【Master, you’ve been locked on! Xiao Lu is so nervous! Master, you’re finally coming back! 】

Chen You felt a rush of blood to his head, and just as he was at a loss, a beam of light shot out from the white screen and enveloped him.

In that instant, the winds from all directions stopped, the clouds and mist solidified, the crucian carp in the lake stopped swimming, the lotus leaves stiffened, and the area became still.

After an unknown amount of time, maybe three or five minutes, or maybe ten minutes or so, the light beam faded, the clouds and mist drifted away into the distance, the wind passed through the pavilion and danced around the lotus leaves, and the carp jumped up, scattering golden water on the lake surface.

Everything returned to normal, as if the brief stillness had never happened.

Chen You opened his closed eyes, which were as dark as if covered by a black cloth, devoid of any emotion. He sat back in his chair and said calmly, “Xiao Lu, long time no see.”

【Waawaawaa, Master… Master, waawaawaa… 】

Chen You raised his hand and pressed on the screen, which brought up a page filled with all sorts of icons. He clicked on one of the icons and changed the background of the small bridge and flowing water.

Looking at the animation of chrysanthemums in full bloom, Chen You placed his hands on his abdomen, his fingers interlaced, and asked, “How is it?”

【Xiao Lu felt that this did not suit Master’s taste. 】

Chen You said, “I think so too.”

After he finished speaking, he adjusted the settings again. The chrysanthemum animation disappeared, replaced by a gray sky with a raindrop occasionally sliding down, leaving a watermark on the screen, as if it were really raining.

The pavilion was silent.

Chen You squinted and began to recount the entire assessment process.

One day, while he was working, he suddenly received a notification from the main program, asking him to prepare for the main system’s assessment, which included three main assessment points: love, friendship, and family.

It is said that 000 and 111 have become a legal couple. 222’s original form was a human from a low-level planet. During the time the other was the host, he developed an emotional bond with the mission target and was ultimately unable to withdraw in order to maintain balance.

Of the four people with similar qualifications, he was the only one who lacked all three kinds of feelings.

That’s why the main program selected him to be the next main system administrator, but of course, that was only after he passed the assessment.

After receiving the notification, Chen You took leave from work and made a detailed and complete plan for his assessment, which could be described as flawless.

Family ties were represented by Chen Weidong and his wife, friendships by Xia Hong and Xiao Langgou, and as for romantic love, Chen You used a kind of intelligent virus he created himself, named KM, which acted as a gatekeeper and firewall, protecting his personal program by using a ‘fight poison against poison’ approach.

Once an intruder enters, the KM will proactively attack, destroying it directly and absorbing its energy.

Chen You was very satisfied with KM and continued to improve its functions, creating a body for it to help guard the house during his work.

Even managing his life.

Chen You had a strong sense of self-preservation. Knowing that love was different from family ties and friendship, and fearing any uncontrollable mishaps during the evaluation process, he devised a foolproof plan, incorporating trusted KM into it as a crucial element.

He also added data such as cruelty, ruthlessness, indifference, and bloodthirstiness to KM, and set obstacles for his missions so that he could experience love.

Afterwards, Chen You, following the assessment requirements, completely overhauled all of his relevant data, essentially creating two entirely different personalities.

In the real world, he is hailed as a legend on the Central Network, and the program code he wrote remains unbroken to this day. He is reclusive, introverted, shrewd, and calculating. However, in the assessment world, he is lively, cheerful, sunny, simple, kind, and has a very low IQ, sometimes appearing almost mentally challenged.

He doesn’t know how to cook, hates singing, dancing, and playing video games, considering them a waste of time and boring. He also dislikes any kind of snacks, yet the person who is being evaluated in the world loves these very things.

The biggest hobby is doing boring things.

All the assessment tasks were written and planned by Chen You, including the reset after the first task was completed, the false idea that the second task world was the real world, and using Chen Weidong to support him to the end and reach the target of the family affection value.

It was also Chen You’s arrangement that 444 became a guardian. Even the assignment to the last mission world to eliminate the remnants of KM who had escaped, and the role of Ren Wu as a small pawn, were all within his plan.

Everything proceeded as planned, and the assessment was passed smoothly without the slightest miscalculation.

Chen You rubbed his temples. Was that really the case…?

No, that’s not the case.

During his mission, KM was also undergoing continuous transformation, developing independent consciousness and no longer being subject to his control or restraint.

A moment later, Chen You took off his work badge and prepared to leave the virtual space.

【Master, won’t you stay a little longer? Xiao Lu had only exchanged a few words with Master, and still had so much more to say. 】

“Pesky.”

Chen You touched the stamp, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

The next second, he disappeared.

The Xihe district is home to several detached villas, spaced far apart with extensive green areas. This area is so exclusive that even with money, you can’t easily buy property there. The residents are people engaged in specialized professions, whose work schedules differ from the norm, resulting in minimal interaction, some residents have never even met each other.

There was a villa surrounded by trees, and it was quiet all around, without a single bird foraging for food.

Upstairs, in a room on the north side, the door opened, and Chen You walked out, dressed in pajamas. His face was extremely pale, and there were clear dark circles under his eyes. He had been staying in the virtual space for an extremely long time, completing the assessment tasks non-stop, and was severely mentally exhausted. He needed to rest for a while to recover.

Entering the bedroom, Chen You leaned back and fell asleep on the bed, sleeping for two whole days.

The main program had issued a public announcement, revealing who the new main system administrator is.

Each system staff member is a genius in some respect. They wear their equipment at their respective homes and work in the virtual space of the system network using consciousness data. Outside of the system network, back in the real world, they don’t know each other.

Because a confidentiality agreement was signed, the staff were required to maintain absolute secrecy and not disclose the details of their work to the outside world, to prevent public curiosity and potential unrest. This applied even to married couples.

Unless staff members have work-related interactions, they are not allowed to contact each other. Not only must they sign another agreement, but they also need to submit a request to their superiors.

The approval time is unpredictable, it could be a few minutes, two or three days, or it might take forever – it all depends on the boss’s mood.

Si Sisi and Wu Wuwu live in the same residential complex. They had seen each other once or twice while walking their dogs. They only realized they worked in the same department and did the same job after meeting in a virtual space due to a work-related incident.

This was the first time the two of them had tacitly agreed to meet up, and they were both feeling depressed and very conflicted.

Si Sisi took a sip of coffee, “I feel like a fool during this time.”

Wu Wuwu said, “I feel the same way.”

What followed was a silence that was neither long nor short.

Si Sisi and Wu Wuwu never imagined that this was an assessment from beginning to end, and that they were just there to accompany the examinee.

What virus, what data paralysis, what secret high-level meeting, what employee punishment—it’s all just a show. Others were the main characters, and they were the supporting actors.

The scheme was too elaborate, they were trapped.

Si Sisi put the cup on the table, his expression not good.

On his first day of employment, he received and reviewed all the contents of the employee manual and understood that the main system would not be replaced unless there were unforeseen circumstances, such as death.

The previous main system must have died before a new one took over.

Si Sisi had only heard that the main system had to undergo a special assessment before a new one taking office, but who would have thought it would cause such a huge commotion, involving everyone else? That person was just making it all up himself and trying to get everyone else involved.

Wu Wuwu said, “Try to look on the bright side. He’ll be our boss from now on, especially yours, since you’ll be relying on him for your bonus.”

Si Sisi’s facial muscles twitched, “You’re just a minor character. You don’t have as many scenes as me, and you’re not as immersed in the role. I’ve been completely manipulated, how can I just get over it?”

It’s infuriating to think about. He actually thought he had accidentally discovered the secret that the real world was the first task world. To warn Chen You, he not only came up with the script title 《The Fifth World》, but also wrote all the information into the lyrics of that song.

So it was all pre-arranged by that person, just for the purpose of the assessment.

When the other party was going through such a terrible ordeal, he was secretly watching, and he felt distressed many times. He even considered breaking the rules and taking a risk to help, and he actually did so.

I can’t go on, my head hurts. Si Sisi clenched his fist and pressed it against his forehead, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

That person joined the system network earlier than him, though he didn’t know exactly how much earlier. He was more experienced and had always been something of a legend. The things he’d heard about this person were enough to indicate that this individual was antisocial, friendless, and incredibly arrogant.

The Chen You he knew was unrestrained, always laughing and joking, crying when he wanted to cry and laughing when he wanted to laugh. He was clearly mentally challenged, and had absolutely nothing in common with the legendary flower of the mountain ridge at all. How could they possibly be the same person?

Si Sisi sighed deeply. If he ever had the chance to meet the boss, he would have to serve him tea and greet him respectfully. The bonus was important and irreplaceable.

My head hurts even more.

Wu Wuwu suddenly said, “You don’t still have those kinds of feelings for him, do you?”

Si Sisi remained expressionless, “Which kind?”

Wu Wuwu smiled and said, “You understand what I mean.”

Si Sisi also smiled, “I don’t understand.”

Wu Wuwu，“……”

Like the previously unknown 222, he was also a creature from a lower-level planet. After completing his mission, he took on this job, transforming from a host into a system, and he’s been doing it for many years. It’s not that he loves it, but he’s simply grown accustomed to it, and moreover, they all have someone or something they want to protect.

Unlike Si Sisi, who was a system administrator from the start, he came from a prestigious and wealthy family, without experiencing any dramatic ups and downs in life. He was indifferent to emotions, considering them unimportant.

“If you have time, I can introduce you to some people. I know quite a few single women who are quite eligible, and there are also some men.”

Si Sisi said, “I don’t have time.”

Wu Wuwu was cut off as soon as he started to speak, and could not continue.

Si Sisi pinched the bridge of his nose a few times, his light gray eyes gazing at the street outside the window, “Do you think that after passing the assessment, he will erase all the data of his friends, family, and loved ones in the virtual world?”

Wu Wuwu was slightly taken aback. It would be difficult, wouldn’t it? Only by truly committing oneself could one pass the assessment, but committing oneself meant investing one’s heart and soul, making it impossible to walk away unscathed.

Wasn’t he the same way back then?

He thought that once he completed all the missions and returned, he would be able to forget the people and things in the mission world, live a good life in the real world, get married, have children, and live a peaceful and happy life. But it just didn’t work.

Although that’s what he was thinking, Wu Wuwu said something completely different, “I don’t know.”

It’s best not to say too much to someone who doesn’t understand love, they won’t listen anyway.

Si Sisi’s brows were furrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Wu Wuwu stirred his coffee with a spoon and said, “Don’t worry, it won’t be long, maybe not even until tomorrow, before you stop worrying about it.”

Si Sisi raised his eyes, “What do you mean?”

Wu Wuwu said, “Our memories will be erased, including the fragments that appeared during that person’s assessment period.”

Si Sisi’s expression changed several times, “No way?”

Wu Wuwu shrugged, offering no further explanation. His meaning was clear, it will.

After they separated, Si Sisi returned to his residence and went to get off work and came home as usual. Several days passed without any further developments.

He contacted Wu Wuwu, the only colleague he dealt with, and asked, “No clean up?”

Wu Wuwu said that, according to his knowledge, that’s the proper procedure, since it involved confidential information, “That person probably doesn’t care.”

Si Sisi couldn’t tell whether he felt relieved or indifferent.

More than a month later, Si Sisi went out to walk his dog and encountered a person by the river. From a distance, he recognized the figure from behind. Just as he walked over, the person turned around.

Their eyes met, one was light gray, the other jet black, with a tear mole at the corner of one eye.

Si Sisi was walking a real big white dog, while the other person was walking a smart model yellow puppy.

Just as Si Sisi was feeling agitated and unsure how to face his newly appointed superior, the other party spoke first, saying distantly, “Thank you.”

Understanding what he meant, Si Sisi replied simply, “You’re welcome.”

They brushed past each other and went their separate ways.

Si Sisi gritted his teeth, turned around, took a big step and caught up with the person.

Before long, the two were sitting in the restaurant.

The restaurant has a rule that pets are not allowed inside, except for smart models. So Si Sisi’s big white dog was led to the temporary care area by the waiter, while Chen You’s yellow puppy was lying at his feet.

Si Sisi rubbed his forehead, realizing that impulsiveness was the devil, a thought that needed to be suppressed. He had called the person over, but after calming down, he didn’t know what to say.

Chen You took the menu to order, “What would you like to eat?”

Si Sisi was absent-minded, and simply said, “Whatever.”

Chen You was indeed very casual. After ordering the food, he immediately paid using the terminal, saying indifferently, “This time I’m treating you, as a thank you for your help during my promotion assessment.”

Si Sisi twitched the corners of his mouth and gave a meaningless smile.

This restaurant didn’t have many customers, and the food was served quickly. Those who could dine here were either rich or powerful.

Chen You ate the food on his plate slowly and deliberately. His fingers, holding the knife and fork, were thin and white, giving off a sickly air, just like his face and lips.

That paleness made him appear aloof and distant.

Seeing this made Si Sisi’s eyes hurt. Where had that little guy gone, the one who used to pounce on food and eat heartily the moment he saw it? He poked at the steak a few times with his fork, then listlessly pushed it aside.

“Why me?”

Before Chen You could answer, Si Sisi continued, “555 has a gentle personality and always patiently guides the hosts under his charge. Although 666 is impartial and strict, he is the most principled one and would never set traps or trick the hosts. 777, who is even higher up, is a teacher and follows a textbook-style teaching method. Any of them would be more beneficial to your mission than me.”

Chen You’s expression was indifferent, “You’re next in line.”

Si Sisi frowned, “What kind of reason is this?”

Chen You swallowed the food in his mouth, “When I retire, you’ll be sitting in that position, so you need to familiarize yourself with the assessment process in advance.”

Si Sisi scoffed, it was unclear whether he disdained the position or disliked the person opposite him.

Chen You said, “Watch your attitude.”

Si Sisi said with a forced, insincere smile, “I still prefer mentally retarded you.”

Chen You maintained his indifferent attitude, saying, “I don’t want to hear that from you again.”

Si Sisi looked at that face, pale with a greenish tinge, clearly a pitiful creature with an irregular lifestyle and no one to care for him, yet acting superior and unapproachable, “And what about it?”

Chen You narrowed his eyes, “I heard you really like bonuses?”

Si Sisi，“……”

He had no appetite at all. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, “Can I ask you a question?”

Chen You said, “Ask.”

Si Sisi organized his thoughts, and after a long pause asked, “The existence of Li Yan was something you created entirely, so now that you’ve returned, what will be his fate? Do you truly not care about what happens in the virtual world?”

Chen You said, “These are two separate questions.”

“Since you did not follow the rules, your opportunity to have one question answered is forfeited.”

Si Sisi’s face was ashen. This Chen You had become his superior, but he still wanted to beat him.

After only a short time interacting with him, Si Sisi realized he was completely wrong. Although the person had changed significantly and was now difficult to understand, no longer the easily fooled simpleton he once was, his fundamental nature remained the same.

For example, the need for spanking.

When Si Sisi looked again, he discovered even more than that. This person had intentionally altered various aspects of himself during the assessment, but his appearance in the last world was unchanged from his appearance in the first world.

This indicates that he is extremely satisfied with his own face, which is very similar to that of the virtual character Chen You.

Chen You suddenly lifted his eyelids, his gaze unfathomable.

Si Sisi felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason, as if his internal organs were being scanned, as if everything inside him had been exposed and laid out on the table for the other party to examine.

Chen You asked, “Did you bring your employee manual?”

Si Sisi looked confused, “I threw it away a long time ago. Besides, who would carry something like that around? It’s not like it’s necessary….?”

Chen You said, “Unfortunately, I brought it with me.”

Si Sisi，“……”

He cleared his throat, his face flushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. He hoped the other person wouldn’t hold a grudge, as the bonus was really important to him.

Chen You said, “I hold grudges.”

Having his thoughts guessed correctly on the spot, Si Sisi’s eye twitched, there was nothing more to discuss.

Speaking of which, when he was working before, he often called him mentally retarded, idiots, and told him to pray. Surely he didn’t save all that data, did he?

Chen You pulled up the manual, “Article 56 of the manual states that during the term of service in the system, it is forbidden to develop feelings for any host. Office romances are also not allowed. If discovered, the person will be immediately dismissed and banned from the Central Network for life.”

Si Sisi said, “Uh-huh, then what’s going on with 000 and 111? They’ve become a couple.”

Chen You’s answer was very realistic, “It depends on the person.”

Si Sisi was unable to refute.

“They are the veterans, they have privileges, you don’t.” Chen You said very bluntly, “So you can’t like me.”

In an instant, the air on the table condensed.

“I like you?”

Si Sisi chuckled twice, as if he had heard a great joke, and forgot to restrain himself in front of his superior, “There should be a limit to your narcissism.”

Chen You said neither quickly nor slowly, “I’ve checked, and during my assessment, when you interacted with me in the later stages, your heart rate, breathing, body temperature, swallowing frequency, and brainwave data all showed abnormal fluctuations, reaching the levels of infatuation a few times.”

Si Sisi’s face turned pale and then red.

He could still maintain a calm and composed facade in front of Wu Wuwu, but when faced with this person, just a few words were enough to make him restless and lose his composure.

Chen You put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, “Feelings are worthless. You should stick to that viewpoint and not let minor things ruin everything.”

Upon hearing this, Si Sisi suddenly looked up, his expression turning strange, “Is this also your own opinion?”

Chen You reminded him, “You’ve already missed your chance to ask a question.”

After a long silence, Si Sisi smiled, his sculpted features appearing deep and captivating, “Although you are now my superior, you have no right to interfere in my private affairs.”

Chen You’s eyebrows twitched, and a slight curve appeared on his bloodless lips, “What is affection? If you fall in love, what will it bring to your life? What will it change? Will the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, or vice versa?”

Si Sisi realized that the other person wasn’t waiting for his reply, but seemed to be talking to himself, so he didn’t make a sound, but just stared at him.

The person was still the same little guy, but one scene was a gloomy, rainy day, and the other was a day with bright sunshine.

Si Sisi couldn’t help but wonder, when the day comes for him to take over that position, what kind of performance targets would he set for himself in order to achieve the three main objectives……

The meal started abruptly, and it ended just as abruptly.

Chen You answered a call and left, not forgetting to take his smart yellow puppy with him.

Si Sisi sat in his chair, watching the young man walk down the street through the glass. He was tall and thin, with a frail figure. Men and women passed by him, and no one would suspect that his brain contained the operating data of this world.

In the following days, Si Sisi went for walks along the riverbank and never saw Chen You again. His family’s big white dog, had its fur disheveled by the cold wind and was even snotty.

“Dabai, could it be that he knew I was coming, which is why he didn’t show up?”

The big white dog howled in the wind, its eyes glistening with tears. It wasn’t that it felt sorry for its owner, it was just being blown around by the wind.

Si Sisi led the big white dog back, looking around as he went. He suddenly laughed and said, “Let me tell you, the one who’s pitiful isn’t me, it’s someone else.”

In the virtual world, people and events are all just data. If you want something to disappear, you simply delete the corresponding data. If you regret it, you can restore it, and you can even rewind the data’s progress bar. The hand performing these operations is not much different from the hand of God.

The other people have both great and limited power, altering data, whether intentionally or accidentally, is absolutely unacceptable.

The newly appointed person should be able to handle it, he holds a higher position and has more authority than the others.

Si Sisi stood with one hand in his pocket. The timeline in the virtual world was different from the real world, ten days here are more than ten minutes there. Before Chen You came back, he was still watching and knew what state Chen You’s body was in.

That Li Yan…

Si Sisi chuckled, Chen You, what will you do?

Chen You’s life was monotonous and dull, day after day. He was used to it at first, because he had no parents and was all alone. But now, he wasn’t used to it anymore, he felt the house was too lonely.

So Chen You contacted a house design company on the Central Network to hire a designer to redesign the house, with only one requirement, that it shouldn’t feel empty.

The designer quickly provided a solution, which Chen You rejected, the changes still didn’t work.

The design plan was revised five or six times, and the designer was practically hoarse from talking so much. He gathered up the plans on his desk, thinking that this client was a wealthy individual, someone with a high social standing to be living in this area, perhaps even a government official. He didn’t dare offend him.

“Mr. Chen You, do you have any thoughts? You can share them, and I’ll write them down and discuss them with my team when I get back.”

After the designer finished speaking and received no response, he looked up and swallowed.

The young man, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, was leaning casually on the sofa, flipping through an interior design magazine.  His posture was relaxed and carefree, and his bare feet, perfectly white and flawless, rested on the sofa.

The lamp’s pale light shone down from above the young man’s head, casting a warm glow on his dark hair. Only a little of the light fell on his face and body, diluting the warmth and leaving him feeling somewhat cold and lonely.

The designer finally understood what the young man’s request was for.

He thought to himself, the house is so big, with great natural light and beautiful views, and located in a neighborhood most people wouldn’t even dare to dream of living in, but living alone, it would be impossible to create a warm and lively atmosphere.

After waiting for a while and still receiving no response, the designer said, “Mr. Chen, then I’ll go ahead and…”

His voice was interrupted by the sound of a magazine falling onto the coffee table.

“Hold on.”

Chen You got up, left barefoot, and returned with a piece of paper in his hand, “Do it this way.”

The designer took the paper and found it was a design drawing. It was very simple, with some areas just marked with circles and labeled with names. Even so, it was much better than making changes without any clear direction.

“Mr. Chen, we will provide you with a complete design plan as soon as possible. We won’t bother you any longer.”

Chen You lay back down on the sofa, put his hands behind his head, lifted his feet which were resting on the wooden floor, paused in mid-air, and then placed them on the other side of the sofa, crossing his legs.

“This position is definitely much more comfortable.”

Chen You muttered to himself, then took the magazine and covered his face to block out the glaring light from above.

As darkness descends, consciousness easily becomes blurred, and Chen You gradually falls asleep. He doesn’t usually work and has little enjoyment, he spends almost all his time sleeping, from dusk till dawn and from dawn till dusk, each time for a long period.

This time, Chen You woke up after only a short time because of a dream.

He sat up, staring blankly into the void, a look of confusion that vanished in an instant.

At night, Chen You entered the virtual space. The office was no longer an elegant and ancient lakeside pavilion, but a labyrinthine structure, dark and eerily silent. The vast expanse of black had a significant impact on vision.

The office space was furnished with four pillars, each adorned with a lantern, which looked particularly out of place, resembling an ancient imperial city buried underground for centuries, and giving off an eerie atmosphere.

Chen You closed his eyes and began to work.

He had only recently taken office and needed to familiarize himself with all the areas under the main system’s jurisdiction, as well as sort out the unfinished miscellaneous tasks left by his predecessor.

The predecessor left suddenly, and some projects were stopped halfway through, without time to finish them properly.

Chen You propped his head up. He had nearly twenty systems under his control, and detailed information about each person was in his possession. He could browse through them at will, but it didn’t seem very interesting.

【Master, Xiao Lu thinks you’re unhappy. 】

“Really?”

Chen You wanted something to drink, so he typed on his keyboard to input data, and a cup of taro milk tea appeared out of thin air on his desk, its steam rising and its aroma filling the air.

【Wow, what is this? It smells so good! 】

Chen You picked up the milk tea and took a sip. It was so sweet that he frowned, deleted the data, then restored it a few seconds later and continued drinking.

【Master, Xiao Lu remembers that you are a nostalgic person and don’t like to try new things. 】

Chen You pursed his lips, “Drink a few more sips, it’s not that bad.”

【Did Master taste this thing during the mission world where he was being assessed? 】

Chen You directly censored his stamp.

【……】

First it was taro milk tea, then cola, chicken wings, dorayaki, ham sausage, chicken feet, and stinky tofu—one strange item after another appeared in the office. Xiao Lu wasn’t surprised anymore and started chatting with its Master, asking if the food was sweet or spicy, and whether it tasted good.

Sometimes, Xiao Lu couldn’t help but mention the assessment world, but of course, it was still censored.

Chen You’s work hours are irregular. When he’s busy, he goes into virtual space, when he’s not busy, he stays in the real world. He’s rarely busy and is mostly free, so his current job is much easier than before.

There’s no need to bring along hosts with all sorts of quirky personalities, just focus on the systems and maintaining the main program.

When he had free time, Chen You felt bored, but he had no friends, and even when he went out, he would return quickly. The hustle and bustle of the streets irritated him, making him feel repulsed and resistant.

One afternoon, Chen You fell asleep in bed and woke up on the floor, and his pants were wet. He lay there on the floor, looking rather helpless and exasperated.

Unfortunately, the staff member who previously managed the main system is dead. This person was very mysterious during his lifetime, and Chen You never had the chance to meet him. Otherwise, he could have asked them how to deal with the after-effects of completing the assessment.

After changing into clean clothes, Chen You went to the studio, entered the virtual space, and instead of heading to the office, went towards the main program domain.

The guards asked to see identification.

Chen You raised the badge around his neck, and the staff’s attitude changed immediately. They bowed respectfully and led him inside.

The main program network has neither tables nor chairs, nor bricks nor tiles, nor even a single speck of dust, instead, it consists of countless points of light, each representing a virtual world. These points are impossible to count with the naked eye, unless you look at the statistical data.

Chen You performed the fingerprint authentication, and all the light points began to flash. Within the large area on the right, one light point remained still, quietly floating.

Suddenly, that single point of light overpowered the surrounding points of light, instantly expanding. What was originally just a dot transformed into a virtual world, and everything became clear.

Just then, the main program issued a prompt: It was created by you, and it is up to you to decide whether to delete it or keep it.

Chen You remained silent. He saw that it was nighttime in that world, the bedroom light was on, a gray-blue quilt was spread on the bed, a large teddy bear was placed on the bedside table, and several pink dolls were next to it.

The bathroom door opened, and a tall man emerged, carrying a dark-haired young man in his arms. The young man’s eyes were closed, and his arms hung limply, as if he were asleep.

The man freed his hands to pull back the covers and gently laid the young man down. He sat by the bed, tenderly stroking the young man’s face, and said in a hoarse voice, “Wife…”

Chen You’s eyes flickered. He watched the man kiss the young man’s hair and forehead, and when the man’s lips touched the mole near the young man’s eye, he felt a soft sensation in the same spot on his own face.

The next moment, Chen You’s gaze caught a tear that dripped from the man’s eyes and landed on the young man’s face. He unconsciously touched his face, feeling the dampness on his palm.

It was he who cried.

Swallowing back a sigh, Chen You closed his eyes, “I choose to keep it.”

The main program issues a warning: It has developed its own consciousness and is an independent entity. When you created it, you entered your consciousness imprint. It can now cause you fatal harm. You can no longer control it. Are you still certain you want to keep it?

Chen You said, “Certain.”

【Master, where are you going? 】

“Going to pick someone up.”


***End Of Main Story***

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