Chapter 37 p1: The Aloof Movie Queen is Flirting with Me Again Today
After each mission, the hosts return to the system space for a short rest.
Xin Yao was no exception.
She opened her eyes, standing in a pure white space. The whiteness stretched endlessly in every direction, like a world after destruction, or perhaps a blank canvas waiting for creation.
It was silent and lonely.
Looking at the desolate whiteness, for a moment, Xin Yao felt like she was back on the snow-capped mountain with Pei Yu.
They had been happy in that lifetime.
But the events of Pei Yu’s past had left deep scars, and her love had been tinged with a touch of anxiety, a fear of loss.
She had needed to see Xin Yao every moment, to hold her close as they slept, to keep their hands intertwined.
As if afraid that Xin Yao would vanish before her eyes, she had never let her go, their connection almost suffocating.
If she couldn’t see Xin Yao, her eyes would flicker with panic, her pupils trembling.
But Pei Yu had never asked why Xin Yao had seemed so ready to leave, her words and actions hinting at an inevitable departure.
Xin Yao, curious, had asked Pei Yu why she never mentioned it.
Pei Yu had told her it was because she was afraid.
Afraid that asking the question would make Xin Yao disappear.
The snake demon, who had once claimed to be emotionless, had finally learned what it meant to be afraid.
But overall, they had been happy together, their love lasting a lifetime.
A lifetime stolen by Xin Yao.
A lifetime longer than her own 25 years, filled with unfulfilled dreams.
And yet, so short, a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things, a memory she would cherish forever.
[That’s why I told you not to get attached.]
[Even if you stay, it’s just a temporary reprieve. In the end, you’ll be alone.]
[Alone with your memories, alone with your grief.]
[It’s a lonely feeling, losing someone you’ve only had for a short time. The rest of your life will be filled with sadness.]
Xin Yao turned to look at the speaker.
A small, brown and white dog, sitting on the floor of the white space, its posture elegant, its expression serious, a pair of glasses perched on its nose, looking like a scholar.
It was Liu Nuan Nuan.
Seeing Xin Yao look at her, she sneered.
[Feeling sad now, are you? Serves you right!]
Her harsh words, however, lightened Xin Yao’s mood. She scoffed.
[Don’t you ‘tsk’ me!]
[Fine, fine. At least change this place. It’s depressing.]
The system space was a perk for the hosts, a space they could customize to their liking.
Some transformed it into a sunny beach, others into a luxurious mansion.
And some, as a reminder of their unfulfilled wishes, recreated their childhood homes.
During her first visit, Xin Yao hadn’t stayed long, having been quickly dragged off on a mission by Liu Nuan Nuan. She hadn’t had time to personalize the space.
Now, reminded by Liu Nuan Nuan, she closed her eyes, imagining the scene she wanted.
The white space shifted and swirled, colors bleeding into the blank canvas.
The next moment, the empty space transformed into an elegant hotel room.
—The room where she and Pei Yu had first met.
The beginning of their love story.
And a hotel, a temporary dwelling.
Xin Yao remembered their encounter, but she also wanted to remind herself that she was just a passing traveler.
Every host, every system in the Bright World, had their own lingering regrets and unfulfilled wishes.
Xin Yao was no exception.
Her previous life had been a stolen moment of happiness.
She would cherish those memories as she continued her journey.
[Well, it’s an improvement.]
[Now, let’s see… mission summary. With some points in hand, I won’t have to worry about you so much. If you fall in love again, you’ll be able to stay.]
“Nonsense. I’m a one-woman kind of girl.”
But Liu Nuan Nuan’s words piqued her interest.
Every host cared about points.
In the Bright World, to fulfill a wish, a host needed one million points to exchange for a chance to resolve their deepest regret.
And earning points wasn’t easy.
Saving a world on the brink of destruction earned a host 10,000 points. This meant that a host had to perfectly complete one hundred missions to earn a chance to fulfill their wish.
And that didn’t include the cost of purchasing items and tools.
Of course, these were just the base points. If a host triggered a hidden side quest, they could earn even more points.
In short, fulfilling a wish was a long and arduous journey.
As Xin Yao pondered this, the mission summary appeared, a translucent blue screen floating in mid-air.
[Mission Summary]
[Host: Xin Yao]
[Mission World Difficulty: D]
[Mission Completion: SSS]
[Points Earned: 100]
[Side Quest: Triggered side quest [Cursed Child], earning 200 points]
[Items/Tools: None]
[Total Points: 300]
Xin Yao hadn’t expected the bonus points from the side quest.
Looking at her meager earnings, she almost cried.
She had been the first to leave that lifetime.
And she hadn’t left anything for Pei Yu.
She had even donated the three hundred million Pei Yu had given her to charity, using Pei Yu’s name to help trafficked children, support impoverished communities, and aid those suffering from illness and hardship. She hadn’t kept a single cent for herself.
She had intended to return the beautiful ruby necklace, but after they got together, it had become a symbol of their love, a cherished memento.
Pei Yu had been surprised when she learned that Xin Yao had donated all the money, not keeping any for herself.
Xin Yao had laughed. “Is that so strange?”
Pei Yu had nodded. “A little. You seemed so eager for the money.”
“Did I?” Xin Yao had asked, tilting her head. “Was I that obvious?”
Pei Yu had smiled. “So, you didn’t keep any of it for yourself. I’m surprised. I don’t understand why you accepted the money in the first place. Humans are so strange.”
Xin Yao had smiled. “Helping others is its own reward. And humans are complex creatures.”
Then, she had looked up at the sky, her eyes shining. “I just wanted to do something good.”
Pei Yu had taken her hand. “I don’t need to understand humans. Understanding you is enough.”
[Back to reality. Save the sentimental reminiscing for later.]
[It’s rude to daydream when you’re with a beautiful lady.]
[The shop is open. Go claim your newbie gift pack.]
Liu Nuan Nuan’s voice snapped Xin Yao out of her reverie. She scoffed.
Then, urged by the dog system, she opened the shop interface, her eyes scanning the contents of the newbie gift pack.
-
A 30% off coupon.
-
A Thunderbolt Pill.
-
One system assist.
-
A steel pipe.
-
100 adult films / 100 jokes / a bag of caramel sunflower seeds / a pack of fruit candy.
Xin Yao nodded. “As expected, a bunch of junk.”
She scrolled through the shop’s offerings, her eye twitching as she scanned the items, her finger moving faster and faster, until she finally slammed her hand against the screen.
“What is this?”
Her finger pointed at two particular items:
[Creamy Corgi Butt Petting Session (1 hour) (20 points)]
[Sale Item / Haha’s Overalls (5 points)]
Liu Nuan Nuan, after examining the items carefully, offered her expert opinion.
[I recommend Haha’s overalls.]
Xin Yao: “Get out!”
Liu Nuan Nuan giggled.
[Alright, now that the serious business is done, let’s go somewhere.]
Xin Yao closed the shop interface, her brow furrowed.
“Where?”
Liu Nuan Nuan, despite her usual harsh demeanor, was actually quite motherly.
She was worried about Xin Yao’s emotional state, afraid that she would be lonely and heartbroken after leaving Pei Yu.
So, she decided to take her out for some fun!
Without answering Xin Yao’s question, she summoned a teleportation circle and stepped inside, her little butt wiggling as she walked.
“So mysterious,” Xin Yao muttered, following her.
As she stepped into the circle, the scene before her shifted, and she found herself in the hallway of a luxurious apartment building, resembling employee housing.
Xin Yao looked around curiously. “Where are we?”
Liu Nuan Nuan, walking ahead, didn’t turn back. “Just follow me. You’ll see.”
Xin Yao couldn’t help but stare. The system’s true form was so small.
As she looked down, her gaze inevitably fell on the dog’s wiggling butt.
After walking for a while, Liu Nuan Nuan stopped and glanced back at Xin Yao, a sneer on her face.
[Woman, put away that worthless look.]
Xin Yao, embarrassed, quickly averted her gaze.
They stopped in front of a door.
Xin Yao had noticed that all the doors in this building were strange.
Each normal-sized door had a smaller door built into it, about knee-height, complete with a doorknob.
As if…
Nuan Nuan knocked on the small door.
Yes, as if designed specifically for small animals. Was this a pet dorm?
The door opened, and Xin Yao instinctively looked down, her eyes widening in surprise.
A small, fluffy, cream-colored corgi, its short legs and round body resembling a loaf of bread, waddled out, its tongue lolling out in a cheerful grin.
Liu Nuan Nuan nodded.
[I brought her.]
The corgi looked up, its voice soft and gentle.
[Alright, leave her to me.]
Liu Nuan Nuan nudged Xin Yao with her paw.
[Go inside.]
Xin Yao: What kind of strange animal trafficking was this? Had she been sold?
But she obediently followed the corgi inside.
The room was large, similar to a human’s apartment, complete with a bed and blankets.
The only difference was the abundance of dog beds and toys.
The corgi, its gait elegant, led her to a large beanbag chair and sat down, politely greeting Xin Yao.
[Hello, I’m Creamy Corgi.]
Xin Yao instantly remembered the “butt petting session” in the shop. So, it was you!
And it cost 20 points! So expensive!
“So,” Xin Yao blinked, “why did Nuan Nuan bring me here?”
[Have a seat,] Creamy Corgi gestured towards the beanbag chair.
Xin Yao hesitated, then sat down, sinking into the soft cushions. Creamy Corgi immediately climbed onto her lap, snuggling against her, nuzzling her head against Xin Yao’s chest, then gently patting her with its paws.
[It’s okay, it’s okay. Relax and get some sleep.]
Xin Yao, holding the soft, warm puppy in her arms, almost cried. “This is so therapeutic!”
Creamy Corgi giggled.
[It was Nuan Nuan. She was worried about you, so she asked me to comfort you. She might not show it, but she cares about you.]
“Then why won’t she let me pet her?”
[She’s just shy. She never lets anyone touch her.]
Xin Yao, stroking Creamy Corgi’s fluffy butt, cooed, “I love you so much, baby!”
Creamy Corgi patted her again.
[Auntie, that’s the 108th confession I’ve received today.]
After spending some time with Creamy Corgi, Xin Yao returned to her own system space, the hotel room, the weather outside gloomy and overcast.
She actually liked rainy days. The gentle patter of raindrops was soothing, the world quiet and peaceful, perfect for sleeping.
But she didn’t sleep in the bed.
She rolled up the blanket, walked onto the spacious balcony, spread the blanket on the floor, and curled up, drifting off to sleep.
As she drifted off, images flashed through her mind.
Nuan Nuan’s worried expression, Creamy Corgi’s gentle comfort, and the memories of her past life.
The last image was Pei Yu’s gentle smile.
Xin Yao fell into a deep sleep.
Goodbye.
My love, Pei Yu.
As Xin Yao slept, in a distant, empty, and infinitely dark space, a figure floating in the void suddenly opened its eyes. Its gaze, cold and indifferent, held no trace of emotion.
Then, after a long while, a flicker of confusion appeared in its beautiful eyes, its lips softly murmuring a name.
“Xin… Yao?”
….
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