Author: Ashinyrock

Mentions of torture and cruelty. Nothing explicit 

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When Xi Guican logged into the game, he found that the game had already been fast-forwarded to the end of the Ice Project. Except for the altered variable Number 19, all other subjects had died as they did in reality.

Initially, Xi Guican was unclear as to why No. 19’s mental state was so stable, but since the last time He Ruge sang to Little Rabbit, Xi Guican understood the reason.

He Ruge’s singing voice contained a mysterious and powerful force. Xi Guican could feel that the power was not being fully exerted, but rather only a small portion of it was leaked. However, just that tiny leaked portion could already allow his shattered Spiritual mental consciousness that could have collapsed at any moment to stabilize.

Previously, He Ruge also sang for the Little Rabbit, and the Little Rabbit’s Spiritual Sea was baptized by this mysterious energy. The benefits Little Rabbit gained would not be less than his (XGC) own.

Although Xi Guican’s spiritual mental consciousness was not completely repaired, just allowing the condition to stabilize was already shocking enough.

Before yesterday, Spiraling Mental Consciousness Deficiency^[1] was a baffling disease that made the Medicine Seeking Rat absolutely helpless. At the beginning, Mao Zixie^[2] personally  informed Xi Guican that “Game Therapy” was the real game they created to treat this disease.  

Xi Guican was growing more and more curious about who the divine creator of “Your Exclusive Lover” was, being able to gather all the information pertaining to Starry Sea Orphanage, treat Spiraling Mental Consciousness Deficiency, and create the character “He Ruge”. 

After going offline yesterday, Xi Guican opened up “Game Therapy”. That game simulated the Intergalactic Wars battlefield in extremely high definition, replaying the fighting process between the Interstellars and the Zerg. Xi Guican tried it for only ten minutes before quitting the game because he found that the biggest effect of the game might only be allowing him to vent.　　

Whenever Xi Guican went out of control in the past, only killing could allow him to barely calm down. Mao Zixie’s group made that game based on those past experiences.

For the past him, killing was indeed the best pacifier. But now, it no longer was.

He Ruge.

Even just silently reciting this name in his heart, he could perceive a slight tingle of joy.

The door to room No.20 opened, and Little White Tiger raised his head to see He Ruge carrying an iron cage.　　

Heading to the new experiment site.

The little white tiger of many years ago had struggled frantically, not differentiating between good and bad (strategies) and planned to attack the staff in an attempt to perish together. Finally, after suffering a good deal, he was forced into the iron cage.

However, the little white tiger of the present was so docile that it was touching. Without anyone’s urging, he ran into the iron cage himself and even understandingly helped close the cage door.

The iron cage was picked up by a beautiful hand and, in this moment, Xi Guican suddenly produced a ridiculous illusion–

That his whole world was being embraced in the middle of He Ruge’s palm.

That palm which sometimes carried a hint of the scent of milk.

Xi Guican hated the feeling of being within someone else’s control, but currently he didn’t feel even half an ounce of disgust, and…was even relaxed.　　

The cage began to sway slightly with He Ruge’s motions. Though, it wasn’t bumpy since He Ruge carried it steadily and carefully.

Besides his ears came the sounds of No.19 Little Rabbit’s excited chirps. Xi Guican initially didn’t react to the situation, unable to understand what the Little Rabbit’s enthusiastic gibberish meant.

It wasn’t until he saw He Ruge’s body, face, and strands of hair gilded by the sunlight; those long, curly eyelashes also dyed a golden hue^[3]. Half of the young man’s face was dipped in the middle of gentle sunlight, casting a golden spark in his black eyes.

So bright, so clear, so warm and so dazzling, like a person who had walked out from the light. 　　

Xi Guican watched until his soul had left his body. From beginning to end, he never looked back at the sunlight outside the window which he had once yearned for.

“Chirp~ It’s light~” Little Rabbit shouted gleefully.

Little White Tiger stared widely at He Ruge.

Yes, it’s Light.

It was the Light he wanted to pursue with his whole being.

Even though their next destination was the experiment site of “Death God’s Wings”, Xi Guican didn’t bear much negativity in his heart.

Upon entering Room “214”, Xi Guican saw the familiar Golden Python. Back then, only Xi Guican survived the Ice Project. He was hostile to all the staff of Starry Sea Orphanage, but he didn’t hate the experimental subjects who shared the same fate.

Perhaps it was because the Golden Python didn’t want to die quietly, leaving no trace of its existence after its death, so before its death, that Golden Python talked about his experiences to Xi Guican.

That Golden Python was called Xi Xing^[4].

He said it was because the golden scales on his body were comparable to the stars in the sky^[5]. 

His Zerg wings had been changed four times during the organ transplantation experiments of “Death God’s Wings”.

He explained that he wasn’t actually a failed product. When the Zerg wings were transplanted onto him for the first time, he had assimilated them perfectly. He was happy because he felt that he could survive.

But, Xi Xing did not expect that those people would actually carve out the perfectly transplanted wings from him.

“……’s Zerg wings are too inferior, this experimental subject can try wings of higher quality.”

And so, new Zerg wings were pressed onto Xi Xing’s still-bleeding wound. However, the energy contained in the new Zerg wings was far too domineering, and his body experienced a strong rejection backlash.　

As a result, the new Zerg wings were once again cut out from the same wound, and he was refitted with the inferior wings that he had perfectly assimilated the first time. But, what was most lamentable was that because of the higher-level Zerg energy remaining in the body, he couldn’t even fuse the original Zerg wings, let alone reproduce the first perfect assimilation.

The person who’d performed the transplant operation was disappointed and had to attach the most low-quality Zerg wings onto him.

He’d been abandoned.　　

Yet, he had clearly once touched upon a hope to live. He’d been so close, so close that he actually believed he would survive.

The Golden Python was imprisoned in an iron cage and trapped in a strange, decaying body. His eyes could barely see, but he still raised his head with difficulty and said softly: “Actually… I was overjoyed when the first transplantation experiment succeeded because I thought I could live on – Live to one day leave this cursed place and fly free using those transplanted Zerg Wings……”

“……Fly high and far into the sky and become a star.”

When the Golden Python mentioned “stars”, those turbid eyes suddenly radiated a brilliant light.

A long time later, No. 20 had become so strong that he was no longer “No. 20”. No one dared called him “No. 20”, so he had to have a name.

A name to call his own.

He’d suddenly recalled that Golden Python. It’s said that after a person dies, their soul can turn into a star.

Then let him be called Xi Guican^[6].

No matter what you have experienced in your lifetime, you can always turn into a star after death and shine forever^[7].

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<Author thanks>

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Hi All! Thanks for your patience. This chapter is split into 2 parts because of different warnings. Enjoy!

Warnings: Depictions of death, references to blood and torture. Nothing explicit.

Trigger warnings: Vermiphobia and Septophobia (I will include a warning at the beginning and end of the potential trigger.)

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Organ transplant? Transplant Zerg wings onto the experimental subjects?

　He Ruge suddenly remembered the mutated bat-like monster he saw on the fourth floor when he completed “The Mysterious Infirmary” side task (chapter 13).

It was just a quick glance, but it left a deep impression on him.

Could it be that his Little White Tiger would also have to become such a monster?

　　…… How painful would that be.

Transplanting organs that belonged to a different species like a patched up rag doll, not mentioning that the final appearance would make it difficult for the little white tiger to accept, but just the potential pain from the process of being sewn together was unimaginable.

Looking only at the second experiment’s description, He Ruge already felt it was unbearable. If the second experiment was already this painful, what about the experiments in the future? The third experiment, the fourth experiment…After going through all six experiments, even if the Little White Tiger didn’t die, he’d lose a layer of skin^[1] .

Though he knew that this was only a game, He Ruge still felt a twinge of pain in his heart. If the goal of the game developer was to make the player feel distressed, then this game definitely succeeded.  

Even He Ruge’s joy at the change in Maps^[2] was dispersed by his heartache.

Ferret You opened the door to room No.19 and shoved the curled up rabbit ball into a small iron cage. At the same time, “himself” in the game also put the little white tiger into the iron cage. 

Ferret You was not eligible to participate in “Death God’s Wings”, so he handed over the iron cage with the rabbit inside. Left hand carrying Little Rabbit and right hand carrying Little White Tiger, He Ruge walked out of room B6^[3].  

The guiding staff member did not speak from beginning to end while walking. The other party wore a protective mask and sturdy work clothes, and when they walked down the hallway, it was as though they were a wandering spirit.

The rabbit being carried in the cage by He Ruge was especially excited, chittering non-stop. He looked around hither thither, particularly when passing by the window at the end of the hallway. The little rabbit stared intently at that slice of sunlight, his ruby red eyes sparkling.

Compared to the easily startled and fascinated little rabbit, Little White Tiger’s reaction was very calm. He didn’t stare out the bright illuminated window; instead, he silently watched He Ruge.

The experiment site of “Death God’s Wings” was in Underground Level 2. When He Ruge walked into Underground Level 1, the Little Rabbit suddenly quieted down, nervously shrinking himself into a ball.

The underground floors were very dark, so dark that it seemed to be able to breed ghosts

When He Ruge saw the experiment site for “Death God’s Wings”, he could feel a surging chill even through the screen.

In front of his eyes was a grand lobby. 

Countless iron cages were densely packed together, some large, some small. The large iron cages had more than enough space to contain an elephant, while the smallest iron cages could barely hold a hamster. The ground on which the iron cages sat was a deep shade of red that was closer to black. The original white floor was dyed a repressing new shade.

But, what made He Ruge’s back feel a chill was that inside all the iron cages, there only contained bones, like individual tombstones congregated in a mausoleum. 

The staff who led the way kept their mouth shut and walked down the middle of the lobby without batting an eye. Not a single glance was given to the iron cages piled high like a mountain.

When they walked past the lobby, the staff member stopped, turned around, and pointed his finger in the direction of the lobby.

Crow

　　[That’s a garbage dump. In the future, when you see waste products, just toss them there. Scavengers will come deal with them.]

Past the lobby there was a dark corridor, on both sides of the corridor were tightly closed doors. Crow opened room “214”. Room “214” was a tiny room and He Ruge was surprised to see that in such a small room there was actually a large iron cage that occupied half of the room.  

—- Trigger Warning: Vermiphobia and Septophobia 

An enormous golden python was nestled inside the iron cage. On the snake’s back, there was a pair of extremely discordant fleshy wings. Compared with the huge size of the python’s body, the pair of fleshy wings was ridiculously small, and the area where the wings and the snake’s skin were joined had already began to rot, massed with writhing maggots. 

—- Trigger warning end

Crow

　　[Although the room is a bit small, it will soon have available space.]

Crow’s implication was very clear – this golden python was about to die soon.

Burgundy snake pupils were clouded over with a sheen of gray. Although the space occupied by the golden python was big, it was completely motionless and quiet to the extent that it didn’t give off any presence of life.

When the little white tiger and the little rabbit’s small iron cages were placed in the corner of the room, the golden python suddenly hissed, scaring the little rabbit stiff with its abrupt movement.

The little white tiger glanced at the golden python, his blue eyes carrying traces of obscured pity.

Crow

　　[Fresh, raw materials will arrive tomorrow, and the new round of “Death God’s Wings” will officially start tomorrow. I will bring you to the staff accommodation area first.]

When He Ruge left room “214”, he was a little uneasy. Even if the golden python didn’t have much time left and was also locked in an iron cage, He Ruge couldn’t help but worry that it would act to harm Little White Tiger and Little Rabbit.

The staff accommodations area where Crow brought He Ruge to was at the end of the corridor. Between the two, besides being co-workers, Crow and He Ruge also gained the new relationship of being roommates.

In the “Ice Project”, the game never mentioned “his” own living environment. Why was there suddenly an additional staff housing part in “Death God’s Wings”?

He Ruge’s eyebrows furrowed, and he pushed at his glasses..

Crow

　　[The plans for “Death God’s Wings” will officially launch tomorrow. In the future, whenever you finish your tasks, you can choose to go rest in the staff accommodations area. Or, you can check the various rooms in the corridor, and if you see any dead experimental subjects, throw them into the garbage dump.]

As Crow was speaking, he removed his protective mask. Though the other party had black hair and black eyes, his facial structure was reflective of the three dimensional shape that Westerners had.

Crow

　　[You can open any of the doors along this corridor. Only the door at the other end of the hallway is restricted. You do not have permission, and even if you did, you still wouldn’t be able to open it.]

He instructed He Ruge word by word. There was not a single ripple in his black eyes.

Crow

　　[You must remember, curiosity killed the cat.] 

He Ruge originally didn’t have any intention of seeking death. But, as soon as he saw this sentence, it was like a cat claw suddenly appeared in his heart, scratching at it playfully and making his curiosity overflow.

He Ruge: “……”

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Chapter 22 Part 2 will be Xi Guican’s POV!

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TL note: OOOOK So I guess I made the conclusion way too soon!!!! As of this chapter, HRG still believes himself to be a model straight man (laughs). In that case, ‘Close friends’ really means just ‘close’ ‘friends’. Nothing more. Sorry for the confusion!

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Hangovers are a painful thing, especially so when the first thing He Ruge saw when he woke up was a terrifying game notification:

[Di—— The duration of the shielding monitor is up. It has been detected that the player has failed to exit the room. Automatically consumed Little Heart x1 to extend shielding monitor time.]　　

　　……

[Your Little Hearts balance is insufficient. You have been sent out of room No.20]　　

He Ruge: “!!!”

Is this game a demon?!

The impoverished He Ruge shakily turned off the game. For a moment, his heart was in so much pain (from loss of ‘money’) that he couldn’t breathe.

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Are you sober?”

After opening Penguin, He Ruge went silent.

His muddled and chaotic brain had a faint notion of the things he’d done previously, but the details weren’t very clear.

But, it didn’t matter. Chat histories were the best recorders of dark history. As long as he wanted to, he could go anytime and review all the stupid things he’d said before.

Emotionless Coding Machine: “It’s already noon of the next day. It can’t be that you are still asleep.”

Ruge: “……”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Yo, you’re awake. Can even type ellipses. It looks to me that you can still write. Friend, 10 thousand a day? 10 thousand a day, Friend?”

Ruge: “……Yes.”^[1]

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Not calling me JiJi anymore. I am not used to this, Oh~”　　

Ruge: “……JiJi.”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Shut up! You are not allowed to say that name! Go write for me!”

After he finished writing, He Ruge opened up the game. He looked at his Little Hearts and remained silent for a long while. Without Little Hearts, he couldn’t block out the surveillance. If he were unable to block out the surveillance, then he couldn’t initiate intimate interactions. Being unable to initiate intimate interactions means there would be no more Little Hearts.^[2]

Very nice, a perfect infinite loop.

Other than fast forwarding, He Ruge had no other options. He fast-forwarded another seven days. At the same time that Experimental Subject No.16 passed away, He Ruge obtained a new pink Gacha egg capsule.

When he used the mouse to click open the pink Gacha egg, the red streaks on his legs once again started heating up. He Ruge stared at the red streaks, and after the red streaks glowed and burned, it became dim.

He looked up and saw the new rare prop “Love Horoscope”.

The third time, this is the third time he drew a rare prop. Moreover, he was very much awake, unblinking through the entire process. He confirmed and was sure that the red streaks really emitted light.

Perhaps, probably, maybe I really…… was granted a golden finger?

From now onward, he could embark upon the path of becoming wealthy through selling high-quality equipment? No, it should be winning the lottery and striking it rich overnight?

He Ruge recalled the lottery ticket he purchased yesterday. The lottery draw date is today, if his hypothesis was true, then he ——

Will never have to do 10,000 a day anymore!!!

He would still definitely write words. Writing is a passion and he would write until the world was filled with love. 

10,000 a day is too difficult. 3,000 a day is very comfortable.

The emotionally motivated He Ruge happily opened the (Lottery) webpage, and then expressionlessly exited out.

Didn’t win.

Dreaming is a good thing. In this materialistic society, people’s hearts were cold and ruthless, and only daydreams could retain a trace of warmth.

He Ruge thought back to his previous speculation about the red lines, which was that it could increase his luck but could only be used once a day. He drew props twice in the game yesterday and may have already spent yesterday’s luck. The lottery ticket was also purchased yesterday, thus the red lines did not activate its effects.

If the red streak really had an impact on his luck, then he could buy another lottery ticket tomorrow.

After straightening out the situation with the red streaks, in his heart, the fear of the unknown began to dissipate, instead replaced with a smidgen of uncertain joy.

Luck, this sort of thing, was a vague concept. This was like a gift from the heavens, but do meat pies really fall from the sky?

If there really was a red streak golden finger in this world, then what was the purpose and origin of its existence? What allows it to work? There should definitely be a reason as to why the red streaks can only be used once a day.

Perhaps, it is because it could only absorb enough energy each day for one use. The red streaks were hidden in his body, could it be that it absorbs his own vitality?

He Ruge was frightened by this speculation.

Wealth is valuable, but the value of life is even higher. Before fully figuring out the usages of the red streaks, he should not use it indiscriminately.

He Ruge stopped guessing randomly. He pushed up his glasses and looked at the new rare prop which was a peach-pink colored card.

[Name]: Love Horoscope

【Quality】：Rare

【Evaluation】：This is a compatibility tester, a fortune-telling divination prop. Results may not be 100% accurate, but the heart is sincere. 

[Instructions: Disclose the type of person you like into the screen]

[Restrictions: Can only be used once]

Do the applications of the rare props in this game have such wide range? It couldn’t be another money scamming prop right? In the past, He Ruge had once casually clicked into a marriage compatibility website and seriously filled out his birthday year, month, day, and time^[3], but when he clicked on the ‘measure’ button, a payment interface jumped out.

Poverty had always allowed He Ruge to deny feudal superstition.

He Ruge hesitated for a moment, and the figure of the male god in the military uniform from game’s the opening screen appeared in his mind. He whispered into the screen: “Must be handsome.”^[4]　　

If they weren’t as handsome as his 2D lover, then what was the point of dating them? His 2D lover is great. Sexy and seductive in a military uniform and could even turn into a little white tiger to sell meng.

“The temper doesn’t have to be great” Since his own temper was good.

“But, must be good to me.” Even a person who’d spent many years alone would occasionally be caught off guard by sudden pangs of loneliness.

Just like yesterday, when he became drunk and laid his head on the table for the whole night. He woke up disoriented and sore with back pain. When he was struggling to stand up straight, he experienced a momentary sense of helplessness.

He’d also had extravagant expectations before. A thin blanket placed over his back, a cup of hot tea brought to his side, or even a belated embrace. 

It seems…… he’d never received an embrace before.

Being hugged by another person, how would that feel? Would it be warm? It must be profoundly warm.

“Must like each other.”

The corner of his lips curved upwards, and He Ruge revealed a small smile, “And must have money.”

His mouse clicked on the peach-pink card and the card spun swiftly a few times. When it came to a stop, small pink words appeared on the screen.

[Marriage]: Peach Blossom Luck (very good luck in love)

[Fortune]: Prosperous Wife Life (Individual will bring prosperity to the person they marry)

[Divination]: Your fated person is a world-famous hero, one day you will bring forth seven-colored bubbles in search of him. From then onward, you will be together till your hair turns white.

Clearly, the connotations were very good, but why did He Ruge feel like something was off somewhere. He examined the results inside and out multiple times before he suddenly figured out what was off——

Prosperous Wife Life!

Ultimately, this game was truly prepared for young maidens. Not only was the game’s target population’s gender limited, but even the results of the compatibility test was prepared for the female audience.

He Ruge finished scolding this spicy chicken game, but still felt that something was weird. What exactly was off?

　—— Must be handsome.

In his mind, he recalled his own resolute words from before.

He Ruge: “…?!”

Why was his first response ‘must be handsome’, shouldn’t it be ‘must be beautiful’?!

Sure enough, games have a subtle influence on people’s thinking and perception. He blamed the game for leading him astray. He Ruge believed he was still a steel-straight man.

After He Ruge reassured himself, he re-entered the game. However, because he had no Little Hearts, he could only continue fast forwarding^[5]. Very soon, he had collected 8 unopened pink Gacha egg capsules and had fast-forwarded up to the conclusion of the First Experiment.

[The “Ice Project” has successfully concluded

Total duration of experiment: 91 x 24 hours (91 days)

Survival rate: 10%

Surviving Experimental Subjects: No.19, No.20

Your performance during the experiment: Excellent (did not violate experimental regulations, successfully prevented Ferret Wei’s experimental subject harming behaviors)]

[Your excellent performance in the “Ice Project” was approved by Scorpion, and you received the the opportunity to participate in the second experiment “Death God’s Wings”

This is an evil and insane organ transplantation experiment. The perverted experimenters in Starry Sea Orphanage believe that a Zerg’s wings are the cores of a Zerg’s strength. The low-intellect, high strength Zerg could fight against mechas because their Zerg Wings allowed them to fight against machines with their flesh and blood. If they succeed in cracking the Zerg’s genetic code and understanding their spiritual consciousness, they will be able to create the perfect fighting machine. 

Death God’s Wings. When the God of Death spreads its wings and soars into the sky, even the sun’s glory would be overpowered.]

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Note: Mentions of alcohol in this chapter.

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With one bottle of beer downed, He Ruge was already thoroughly drunk. He dazedly put down the bottle of alcohol and reached up to touch his burning red face.

Very hot.

He Ruge talked to himself: “I… I’ve been roast cooked…”

His nonsense was interrupted by his drunken hiccups and touched his stomach in confusion, while looking hesitantly at his unopened bento box.

So strange. The meal hasn’t been eaten yet, but he already burped? Could he be full on happiness??

He Ruge giggled a little. After laughing, he opened his still-hot bento lunch box. Regardless if he was hungry or not, the lunch box must be eaten. He specially bought the most expensive bento. If he wasted it, his conscience would hurt.

He finished the bento box bite by bite in concentration. When He Ruge stood up, he was completely disoriented and couldn’t stand straight^[1].  

This really isa^[2] very weird. Why is the room shaking, is there an earthquake? He Ruge walked blankly along the wall and staggered to the computer. He saw a bunch of unread messages on Penguin from close friends.

　Emotionless Coding Machine: “Congratulations on entering V!”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Have you prepared the liver exploding (stressful) update for after you enter V? Don’t forget that you said that after entering V, you would do 10,000 a day!”

In the silent room under the noonday sun, a heart soaked in wine somehow became sentimental.

Ruge: “Ji Ji^[3], thank you for always monitoring me, helping me watch over my draft box, and helping me find errors in the text.”

All the bits and pieces of the past reappeared in his mind and He Ruge clickclack ^[4] typed: “Without you there wouldn’t be today’s me. Good friend, let us walk together, one life, one incarnation.” 

Emotionless Coding Machine: “…… Damn, what Ji Ji. Who’s a Ji Ji, Are you that stimulated (from shock of entering V) or are you drunk?”

Ruge: “Ji Ji, I……”　　

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Don’t call me Ji Ji!”　　

Ruge: “Ji Ji, I am not drunk. I only drank a little bit of beer.”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Ah——all drunks say they are not drunk. Listen up, go to bed and take a nap right now.”

Ruge: “But Ji Ji, I want to play the game for a bit.”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Ancestor, you are already drunk to this extent, yet still want to play games ah.”

Ruge: “No one fed my Little White Tiger any milk, he will starve.”

Emotionless Coding Machine: “…… fine, you win. I allow you to play for half an hour. After half an hour, you must go to bed and take a nap. Otherwise, I will make fermented wine pigeon^[5] for your readers.”

He Ruge, who had received approval, was very happy. Being drunk to this extent, he had forgotten to adjust the game’s time .He supported his groggy head with one hand, and used the other hand to click on the mouse and feed milk to the cubs.

Now, there was only 5 cubs left and he very quickly ended up feeding Little White Tiger.

The door to room No.20 opened. When his blurred drunken vision saw Little White Tiger, his eyes immediately widened. He Ruge looked closely at the little white tiger, and the tip of his nose was almost about to hit the screen. He smiled softly and said: “Sweetheart, you are so cute.”

The little white tiger sitting in the cotton nest trembled a bit and looked at He Ruge in shock.

He Ruge didn’t click on the intimate interaction option. He rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling that the glasses frame on his nose bridge was too heavy so he removed his glasses.

Really strange.

Why are there two little white tigers on the screen?

He Ruge rubbed his eyes and looked at it again in concentration. Still two little white tigers. Both little white tigers had the same “Well, fuck” expression, dumbfounded and shocked. Blue eyes flickered and little paws trotted around anxiously^[6].

Too cute.

He Ruge was menged into laughter. Two Little White Tigers, double the cuteness, ah. He likes this.

“Two little tigers, Two little tigers~ Running fast~Running fast~”^[7]

The little white tiger sitting in the cotton nest shook his head like a rattle, seemingly looking to see where there was an extra tiger.

A fingertip lightly tapped on Little White Tiger’s ear, “One without ears~”　　

The bud-like tiger ears drooped down, and blue eyes looked innocently in confusion towards the person in front of him.

“One without a tail~”　　

Slender fingers softly tapped on the tail and conveniently poked a round little butt. Little White Tiger’s fur instantly exploded up, staring at He Ruge with both shyness and annoyance.

He Ruge smiled lowly, “Really strange~Really strange~”　　

He really was extremely drunk, and after persisting in finishing the song, he laid his head down on the table and fell asleep.

　　＊

Since the last time in the bathing room, Xi Guican found that the number of surviving subjects was very small. This time, he had listened to He Ruge feeding the other experimental subjects. Not including him, there were only four experimental subjects left.

The game time should have been adjusted forward. Xi Guican calmly conjectured.

The ice project had lasted for three months. If the time was not fast forwarded, he would have to spend three months being forced to experience his past as an experimental subject. Even if He Ruge was there, he would still suffocate anxiously.

Presumably, the previously encountered bug was also an error resulting from the time acceleration.

A set of slightly trailing footstep sounds stopped, and the iron door was slowly pushed open to reveal a… brightly flushed face?　　

The layer of thin red on his face didn’t fade. It wasn’t the redness caused by heat after exercising, nor from a blush caused by shyness.

It was a difficult to describe color.

His white skin was dyed pink, the color of peach blossoms in March. His neck was a light pink and the shallow pink bloomed upwards, as if overlaid with a halo dye- from his lips to the tip of his nose, and then to his cheeks, as if they’d flown into a brilliant red glow, eye-catchingly gorgeous.

Xi Guican has always known that He Ruge is good-looking, a beauty that was unable to be tainted, transparently beautiful, and seeming as though a single touch would stain that pure white.

But at this moment, the person in front of him gave off quite a different feeling.

It was a juice-dipped red.

Other than white…… red also unexpectedly suited him.

The red-stained body was soft and mushy^[8], and he was having difficulties walking. When he walked into Xi Guican’s field of view, all of his movements played out in a slow-motion fashion. However, when He Ruge was able to stand steadily, his action of leaning over was shockingly fast.

Carrying the scent of alcohol, He Ruge bent down and approached Xi Guican without warning. The moment that flushed face instantly zoomed in, Xi Guican felt a bit helpless. Like a frightened little animal, his whole body turned stiff, and the fur on the back puffed up along with his nerves.

Too close. 

Close enough that he was unexpectedly sucked into that pair of dark black eyes. Those gleaming moist eyes seemed to have become a type of wine, a sweet and irresistible liquor.

A warm breath from the nose hit Xi Guican’s face. It smelled of alcohol but was different from the ordinary alcoholic smell. It was mixed with a subtle fragrance of humidity^[9]. In the middle of the pervading fragrance, Xi Guican saw his red lips purse together and convey frivolous words with inexplicable excitement: “Sweetheart, you are so cute.”: 

Because he was drunk, the words were somewhat slurred, but the word “sweetheart” was said clearly.　　

Sweetheart. 

Xi Guican seemed to hear a loud explosion in his mind, sweetness crashing against the mountains.

Those bright red once once again opened and closed; ethereal and moving words flowed out briskly like alluring wine being poured into a crystal glass. When the sound of singing flowed into his ears, the voice contained a type of peaceful and inclusive energy, gentle like the wind, and embracing like the sea. It poured into Xi Guican’s spiritual consciousness little by little.

His shattered spiritual sea of consciousness shook. All the pain was suddenly swept away, and the damaged areas were gently repaired. Xi Guican never before felt this serene and comfortable.

It seemed as though he had really become very, very small, like a little white tiger who could not even stand steadily as he laid in a gently rocking cradle. Someone was humming an unknown song while pushing the cradle.

A finger touched his ear, and Xi Guican’s touched ear instantly burned red. He was a little angry but couldn’t bring himself to stay angry because the singing voice beside his ears was so beautiful. The feeling of his spiritual sea of consciousness being immersed in this moving singing voice was far too comfortable. 

He had almost forgotten all the troubles in the world…

However, that finger once again poked at his butt.

Xi Guican finally glared at the person who got an inch and asked for a mile. The youth laughed, his wet eyelashes drooping downwards like a butterfly struggling in the net of sleep. He Ruge blinked slowly, and his blinking speed became slower and slower until, finally, his closed eyes no longer trembled. He fell asleep like he had run out of power.

The singing also stopped abruptly.　　

If his spiritual sea of consciousness hadn’t received a long-lost sense of comfort and peace, then everything that happened just then would have seemed like a dream.

In the dim room, the deep yet shallow aroma of wine still hovered in the air and there was a fine layer of dust rising and falling in the silted light.

The young man was lying on his side on the ground, sleeping deeply. Xi Guican saw that the thin red on the other person’s skin had not faded completely. A transparent white carrying tinges of red. It was a warm and soft white that also carried an ambiguous sweet fragrance.

Long, curly eyelashes contrasted against lips that were a brighter red than usual.

The little white tiger was drawn in by the lure of temptation and walked over to him, using his paws to gently pat the young man’s cheeks. It’s warm …… The little paw, as if struck by electricity, immediately shrank back.

But after a moment, the little white tiger carefully lowered his head again. He held his breath, and as if he were possessed ——

Kissed those lips.

It was sweet.

Sweeter than fruit candy and could make one drunk. 

Carrying the not yet dissipated taste of alcohol, it was intoxicating.

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The author has something to say:
The little white tiger stole a bit of alcohol infused chocolates. Ya, tastes really good. Wants to eat more.

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After the bathing task was completed, He Ruge bought a fruit candy for the little rabbit to comfort the rabbit’s broken heart.

As a person, one shouldn’t treat others discriminately. He Ruge also fed Little White Tiger a piece of fruit candy and conveniently checked his status.

[Intimate]: In No.20’s heart, you are considered a more important existence, Goodwill 73

[Unawakened]: No one has discovered that No. 20 is a little monster, except you　　

He Ruge’s eyes stayed a while on the Goodwill 73. Unknowingly, his relationship with Little White Tiger was already at intimate. If emotions could really be measured by statistics, what sort of existence does Little White Tiger have in his own heart?

It should also be a special and important existence.

His fingers touching the smooth screen, He Ruge suddenly wished this game would never have an ending so that he could always continue playing.

This way, Little White Tiger could always be beside him.

Although, currently, there are many readers who like him, there is a saying that “Authors are struck by iron, readers are flowing water”. Many readers, when their emotions are stimulated by words will honestly say “DaDa ^[1] I will always support you” and other similar things.

When He Ruge wrote the first article, he believed these words. He remembered the ID names of those readers. One day the readers disappeared, He Ruge waited until the last chapter, but even when his next work began, those readers still did not return.

No sort of like is everlasting. Even being liked for a brief moment is already a very fortunate thing.

His fingertips that were touching the screen slowly retracted. He Ruge turned off the game and prepared to go to bed after washing up. In the bathroom, He Ruge found that the red lines on his legs had once again become a brilliant red and the area of the red lines had also expanded a bit. It seemed that new lines would appear automatically on his skin.

Exactly what is this disease?

He Ruge washed his face in front of the mirror. The young man in the mirror was brought into a blurry focus, skin without flaws, white with a tinge of red.

His appearance was fine, not like one who had a disease. Since it seemed like he wouldn’t die for a while, then he should just work hard to earn money. After saving enough money, go see a doctor. He shouldn’t think about it regularly so as to not scare himself.

After motivating himself, He Ruge laid down flat to sleep. But, when he recalled that he was going to enter V (VIP status) tomorrow, he turned back and forth and couldn’t fall asleep. Will there be many readers who will read the pirated text? If this book only had high bookmarks and poor income ^[2], what would he do in the future?

What about the rent for next month? Was his decision to do full-time correct? What should he do if he couldn’t save enough for medical expenses? If his illness suddenly flared up and he died alone at home, what would happen? 

With a stomach full of unease, He Ruge didn’t even know when he fell asleep, and because he was worried about entering V, he woke up at six in the morning.

The timer had already been set for the draft box and the V chapter would be posted at noon exact.

He Ruge pushed his glasses once, but then couldn’t help pushing it a second time. The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment. The ratings for this text was very good prior to entering V, good to the point that he began suffering from panic.  He seemed to have returned to the day when the college entrance examination scores came out, and his heart was about to burst through his throat. Even a slight breeze or swaying grass would burst open his unease. 

Without the company of his family, He Ruge learned early on how to swallow these emotions by himself.　　

He took a deep breath and opened up “Your Exclusive Lovers”. On the game screen appeared a prompt that popped out:

[Your waking time today was early. Your exclusive lover isn’t ready to welcome the new day yet. Therefore, intimate interaction will not increase goodwill.]

He Ruge almost choked on the breath he just took. He suspected that this game was intentionally bullying players. Since he couldn’t brush goodwill right now, He Ruge chose to fast forward time. After fast forwarding seven days, No. 10 and No.14 had passed away. Once again, He Ruge completed the seventh day check in and received another pink Gacha egg.

Before twisting open the egg, He Ruge remembered the phenomenon of the red lines burning from last time. He specifically rolled up his trousers and revealed the red stripes.

When his mouse clicked to twist open the egg, He Ruge stared firmly at the red lines. One second passed and it seemed that there was no change. It seems he had become quite paranoid ^[6]. But, just as He Ruge was about to look away, the originally deep-red, red lines became many times more brilliant, both red and bright like slowly flowing magma.

The skin where the red lines were became hot again.

His eyes which were behind the glasses lenses turned  very round. He Ruge blinked hard, suspecting that his vision had blurred.

“Dang Dang Dang~” sounded from the game, but He Ruge didn’t look up to check which prop he had drawn. He held his breath and stared at the red streaks.

Then, the bright red line dimmed, as if its energy had been drained all at once.　　

The glowing and burning was only momentary, but that short time frame had already broken down He Ruge’s worldly views.

This is unscientific!

Who am I, Where am I, What did I just see?!

He Ruge raised his head in a trance, and a brand-new rare prop came into his view.

It was a shiny helmet.

[Name]: holographic gaming helmet

【Quality】：Rare

[Evaluation]: This is a holographic gaming helmet from the intergalactic plane. Although it is an obsolete style, it is still ahead of the existing technology level of the Blue Planet

[Limitations: Only you can use it]

[May the player please fill out their address and contact information and pay the express delivery fee of 8888.88 RMB (~1257 USD).]

【Address:_】

【Method of Contact:__】　　

He Ruge: “…!!!”

Damn, has this broken game gone crazy from thinking about money?!

More than 8000. Right now, on his entire person he didn’t even have eight hundred. He Ruge quickly turned off the payment interface, and the rare item appeared in his backpack, marked with three small words “to be paid”.

Within He Ruge’s heart, there was not an ounce of hope. He even wanted to laugh a bit. Game scams always started with small monetary amounts. Asking players to pay so much money at the beginning, unless the player was silly and rich…　

The poor him would never pay an IQ tax. 

Laughing at the ridiculous game, He Ruge looked at the two rare props in his backpack and fell into contemplation. 

Logically, rare props should be quite difficult to obtain. Why can he draw two in a row? When clicking to open the Gacha egg, why would the lines glow and burn? Perhaps, is there a mysterious connection between the two? 

…… Maybe the glowing of the red lines could increase his luck?

He Ruge suspected that he had written too many webnovels, such that his problem solving reasoning had also been led astray. This was not a novel, nor was he, himself, the protagonist. The red lines were even more so not a golden finger^[3] that fell from the sky.

But, once the seed of suspicion are planted in the heart, it’s hard to prevent it from growing into a towering tree. Actually, it was very easy to confirm his guess ——

Just buy a lottery ticket!

He Ruge remembered that there was a lottery shop near his residential area. He won’t get takeout today. When he’s downstairs buying lunch, he can conveniently buy a lottery ticket.

However, there is still some time before the number draw for the lottery ticket. In order to verify his hypothesis as fast as possible, He Ruge again fast-forwarded 7*24 hours (7 days) in game time. No. 9 and No.15 had passed away, and He Ruge obtained a new pink Gacha egg.

After He Ruge clicked to open the Gacha egg, he focused on the red lines. The dim red streaks shimmered slightly. At this moment, the twinkling glow compared to last time was like fireflies contending with a brilliant moonlight. The dim light shone for a moment and then vanished like a candle in the wind.

The red lines that were originally dull in color were now almost invisible. Perhaps if this was repeated a few more times, the lines might disappear completely.

“Dang Dang Dang~” The pink gacha egg opened and inside was a strawberry-flavored fruit candy.

He Ruge pushed up his glasses. He had a faint guess in his heart. If the red lines was a golden finger that could increase his luck, then it could only be used once a day.

He Ruge was uncertain about the exact extent of its impact on his luck. Buying a lottery ticket might be a good testing method. He Ruge can study the red lines’ impact on his luck according to the amount of money won.

Emotionless Coding Machine: “Good morning, are you up yet? You can start writing!”

The Di Di Penguin notification sound brought He Ruge back to reality. He looked silently at his close friend and suddenly felt that he, who had just treated the red lines as a golden finger, was a fool who had written until he’d lost his way in life^[4].

He Ruge pushed up his glasses expressionlessly. He had a stomach full of fire with no place to expel it, so he opened the author’s forum page and updated a post.

#I caught a never-before-seen illness, but I think this is a golden finger granted to me by God#

No.0 

There are red streaks on my legs, and every time I click on a game lottery, the streaks will glow and burn. Even more amazing is that, as an Asian floor owner^[5], when the lines glowed, I drew 2 rare props in a row. 

No.1

Someone, come. Another one has gone crazy, quickly drag the floor owner out.

No.2

Consecutively drawing 2 rare props QAQ reasonably suspecting this is the Emperor showing off! Trying to beat the Europeans!

No.3

Hahahaha The source of today’s happiness 

No.4

Floor owner, have you finished writing? Quit dreaming, quickly go write.

No.5

Glowing and burning. This post is really green. Floor owner, you need to be more strict in testing the waters. This is too fake, I don’t even know how to answer you sincerely.

No.6

Growing lines? Stretch marks?

……

The publicly ridiculed He Ruge actually felt better in his heart. He shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly: “What were you thinking just then. Writing novels until you’ve become silly.”

He Ruge turned off the game and went to go write with his close friend. He shut himself into the little black room of the writing software and wrote six thousand words in one breath, only exiting at noon.

The timed V chapter in the draft box had already been published. He Ruge took a deep breath and opened the admin page to see the viewing statistics. When he saw the string of numbers, his whole person froze.

So high.

It was higher than what he had expected.

The view rate was very stable. Compared to the view rate of his usual new posts, this rate was not much different, meaning that the readers who were following the novel were mostly not part of the group that supported pirated-text.

Turns out…… most of them were genuine angels who had subscribed to the text.

It felt like he was dreaming.

He Ruge floated as he walked out of the room and went downstairs to buy a bento box – the most expensive box. Then, he meandered around and bought a lottery ticket. When he passed by a convenience store, he couldn’t resist buying a bottle of alcohol.

He moved a chair beside the window. The lunch was yet to be opened, but the alcohol was opened first. Outside the window was the twelve O’clock sun that shone brightly, so bright that He Ruge couldn’t keep his eyes open.

He closed his eyes and took a sip of the alcohol, and the bitter taste of beer permeated his mouth. He Ruge was a little bit unaccustomed to the taste on his tongue. It was obviously a slightly bitter alcohol flavor, but under the warm sunlight, he was able to taste a hint of sweetness.

He Ruge can’t hold his alcohol. His only drinking experience was during the graduation party on the day the college entrance examination ended. He had one sip.

A toast to his teachers, a toast to his hard-fought youth.

A beautiful youth.

His closed eyes opened again, looking straight at the high noon sun (TL Public Announcement: please do not ever do this. It will burn your retinas.)　　

He Ruge smiled and, in large mouthfuls, finished the beer. Due to prolonged staring at the sun, his eyes shed some physiological tears.

However, the tear-moistened black eyes still glanced towards the bright, sunny sky.

This is my future,

Look,　　

An expanse of brightness.

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The author has something to say:

Actually, the red streaks were also working diligently the second time. Yes. The fruit candy is Little White Tiger’s favorite strawberry flavor. This is the outcome of the red lines’ efforts!

There is also another point I forgot to mention. If the Little White Tiger is online but He Ruge isn’t online, the little white tiger can only drink milk through the feeding hole of the room and will not interact intimately with He Ruge, nor increase goodwill. (Basically, HRG will not be an interactable character. Maybe he won’t even be present.)

Small Theater: 

He Ruge: HA, I will not pay for the express delivery.

He Ruge: Oh, the holographic game is so fun. A blast.

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