Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Li Bode in the training arena was full of energy, compressing his sleep time to climb towers with relentless vigor—eliminating anyone who stood in his way. Whether it was a bow, dual pistols, or even the large sword he wasn’t particularly fond of, he used each weapon for half an hour to kill enemies. Manipulating air required muscle groups, and once all weapons were mastered, he would shape the air into tools to control them. This was the eighth night of his overnight training since returning from the villa party. After reaching the top of his tower, he exited the training system, took a shower, and sat on his bed to handle emails, typing furiously on his keyboard.
「You have completed the arena training and reached Lv40. The arena cap has been adjusted to 60 floors.」
Sweat trickled down his temple, but Bai Jingchuan didn’t feel tired. Instead, he was brimming with determination. Having reached Level C, he now had access to view Mowu City in the MENU. The gray shadowy building became clearer. Though Mowu City appeared chaotic and cyberpunk, its planning was meticulous. Symmetrically located on the map was the Wish Hotel—a place that likely stored something important. The dice landed on Bai Jingchuan’s shoulder. “Li Bode, are you really not going to sleep?”
“In theory, neither of us needs rest. Are you not feeling any urgency about collecting emotions?”
“Jiang Huan performed so well—it’s only natural you’re smitten. I’ve seen it all as Cupid. The look on your face when she kissed your Adam’s apple was priceless, like an old house catching fire, ready to hand over your heart to her…”
Bai Jingchuan remained silent, forcing his lips into a stern line. He couldn’t deny that he could vividly recall the sensation of Jiang Huan leaning against his chest—the softness of her breath, the sincere sighs when she bared her feelings, the playful tricks to hide her shyness—and that kiss on his Adam’s apple.
“Li Bode.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve already checked your reflection to stare at your lips, touched your Adam’s apple with your fingers, stopped to daydream when you saw a movie preview on the roadside, and sneakily glanced at Jiang Huan during work, especially fixating on the height difference.”
“…I haven’t.”
“I’m your guardian—it’s hard to escape my notice. Your eyes are evolving into ones that can gaze deeply even at dogs. Love is impossible to hide.”
“It’s not possible. A person who truly wants to experience emotions won’t be hindered by feelings.”
________________________________________
Romance Continent was set to make an offline appearance at a 2D exhibition. The night queue stretched long, waiting for the official entry at 9 AM. Jiang Huan woke up early, pushing a small cart loaded with promotional materials. She felt a bit uneasy—they hadn’t printed many holographic tickets or brochures, and some bags had poorly heat-sealed films. While moving the goods, they joked that if the event turned out popular, they could distribute more materials. But deep down, they weren’t confident. This was the hottest gaming hall, hosting blockbuster projects with revenues exceeding hundreds of millions. Famous cosplayers were scheduled to hold meet-and-greets in the afternoon. Even lining up to give away a hundred pieces of merchandise would feel like a miracle for their booth.
On the other side of the exhibition hall, a popular 2D dating game had an impressively long queue. Its new key art was stunning, and many people gathered around the life-sized standees for photos. Jiang Huan had once been one of those enthusiastic fans, but now she stood with a thick stack of promotional booklets, hoping someone would line up. Having worked part-time selling cookies and instant noodles at a supermarket, she was perfectly suited as a salesperson—especially since this was a game she had personally created!
Their booth was designed as a double-sided world. One side featured VR exploration with star-shaped hanging lights; the other had a dreamy pink ceiling. Outside stood five life-sized panels of the male protagonists. Everything was ready. Bai Jingchuan arrived punctually, dressed in a suit (still chosen by Jiang Huan), wearing light beige paired with a white shirt, accentuating his slender neck, broad shoulders, and long legs. With thin-rimmed glasses and a leather-strapped watch, he embodied every otome gamer’s ideal mature man—perfect for turning heads.
Without cosplayers or initial buzz, their booth seemed destined to be the quietest in the exhibition hall. But Jiang Huan couldn’t help but marvel: who needed cosplayers when Bai Jingchuan alone was worth a hundred men? Thank goodness he was on their side. If he stood outside Forbidden Love Zone , he’d look like a protagonist straight out of the game. Even in a world where 2D fans disdained real-life counterparts, Bai Jingchuan’s appearance would make them temporarily abandon reason and judge solely by looks.
Just as she thought this, Bai Jingchuan turned his head toward her. Jiang Huan quickly blurted out, “Is everything ready? I’m in charge of guiding the romance section. Players will start entering at 9 AM, with 10 minutes per person for the VR experience.”
“Relax. I just asked you to get breakfast.”
Was she over-preparing, or was Bai Jingchuan being exceptionally considerate? Their coordination was smoother than ever. Back in the day, he’d berated her mercilessly, leaving her tense and eager to argue daily. Now, several colleagues stood outside the booth eating glutinous rice cakes. Bai Jingchuan ate delicately, seemingly uninterested in the food. Around him, people chatted about last night’s trending topic: when the venue plunged into darkness during the late-night session, bright yellow flower-shaped lamps appeared along the paths, encircling the venue. Many girls, deprived of signals and forced to shut down their phones, found portable chargers and outlets thanks to these “stars.” They captured the romantic scene, posting online: “So many surprises! Could this flower path be an official gesture for the players? Must’ve cost a fortune!”
“Nah, knowing how stingy the organizers are, they wouldn’t do that. Probably another game’s doing. Good deeds without recognition—it’d be epic if included in the game… Jiang Huan, did you and Teacher Bai stay behind? Did you see it?”
Jiang Huan shook her head and glanced at Bai Jingchuan. Memories of the pitch-black exhibition hall flooded back. She had insisted on investigating enemy strategies until 1-2 AM, only to return to find Bai Jingchuan chatting with construction workers, waiting to ensure her safety. Bai Jingchuan either knew about the trending topic in advance or simply didn’t care, casting a meaningful glance at her. Jiang Huan sighed inwardly: “Too rich for us to compete. We’ll have to win through sheer effort. But this must’ve been expensive, right? The venue’s huge…”
“Forget it. I thought you were upset because I delayed us from seeing the flower path.”
“Why would I blame you? I was just curious. What we experienced was much more interesting…” Jiang Huan pointed to his palm but quickly realized the implication and changed the subject: “Never mind. Give me another chance, and I’ll definitely check out the flower path next time.”
Her face flushed as she turned away, only to catch him smirking out of the corner of her eye. What was he smiling about? Fishing for reactions, no doubt. And why did he seem secretly pleased instead of guilty? But whose idea was it anyway? No one had claimed responsibility yet. Making such a flower path anonymously—wasn’t this the era where everyone rushed to post on Weibo after handing out bottled water?
The dice whispered near Bai Jingchuan’s ear: “Sigh… It was actually our producer who worried about the girls camping overnight and transporting goods. Afraid Jiang Huan would feel bored on her way back, he prepared this surprise for everyone. Too bad our Executor doesn’t claim credit for good deeds…”
Before 9 AM, screams and shouts echoed from the entrance. The ground trembled as a massive crowd approached. Jiang Huan thought: Was this the ancient thrill of armies storming a city?
Most people were queuing for other games or coser meet-and-greets. To Jiang Huan’s surprise, a few players voluntarily lined up for their booth—though the line was short. She enthusiastically distributed brochures, unfazed by rejection: “Wanna check it out? An open-world companion app with VR adventures and realistic romance. Totally worth it!”
She greeted every player warmly, guiding them to recline on plush chairs and put on the VR headset. As expected, the moment the screen lit up, players gasped and exclaimed. Outside, live broadcasts showed Yan Zhengyi saying “Good morning” on a pillow. At that instant, exclamations erupted outside.
Predictably, while players ate breakfast, some bent down to peek under tables—just like Jiang Huan had done. Bai Jingchuan noticed and frowned incredulously. Jiang Huan stuck out her tongue teasingly, mouthing “Overreacting”—this was exactly how players should react to meeting hot guys in VR!
An hour later, the line suddenly tripled in length, snaking around the entrance. Someone recorded the VR footage and uploaded it online, garnering thousands of clicks. Everyone was thrilled to see a handsome male character lying in bed. Jiang Huan hovered near the queue, overhearing conversations between players.
“Good thing we queued early, huh? Wasn’t bringing you here a great idea?”
“You’re just a perv.”
“I heard this is Laurie’s all-female team’s open-world project. Pretty excited. I’m kinda over men lately. You don’t know how disappointed I was when my Valentine’s Day card self-promo dialogue sounded oily. I deleted the game immediately. Now I hope this one tests soon—I need a new boyfriend.”
“But I heard their producer is a guy.”
“What? Then forget it. Instant mood killer.”
Jiang Huan felt a flare of anger. How could they dismiss the entire game just because the producer was male? So what if Bai Jingchuan was a man? He wasn’t ordinary—he was polite, humble, brilliant, and forward-thinking. Perfect, almost unreal… And then there was Wen Li, who kept insisting virtual connections were fake. Now a boss herself, she wouldn’t appear here today. Pity—if she saw the male leads, how could she resist?
Jiang Huan fumed silently. Where did Bai Jingchuan go?
Returning from a data-judging mission, Bai Jingchuan spotted Jiang Huan frantically searching for him. The venue was bustling. Materials they thought would remain unused were now running out, including defective batches dragged out for distribution—all within just an hour and a half. Jiang Huan was full of energy, speeding up the small cargo cart. Bai Jingchuan pulled it from the front, ignoring the blood seeping from his ankle. He didn’t care about the pain and simply turned his head: “Hop on.”
Before he finished speaking, Jiang Huan was half-lifted onto the cart. Blushing, she asked, “What?”
“You wanted to speed up, right?”
“But you’ll hurt walking.”
“I don’t feel it.”
Jiang Huan had a peculiar sensation. Bai Jingchuan seemed to enjoy this event immensely, as well as the time spent with her. His expression now was downright enraptured.
This sense of obsession mirrored her own—when creating characters she loved.
「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +100.」
With everyone watching, Jiang Huan was pushed into the venue on the cart. Bai Jingchuan strode briskly, the cart steady and swift. When they reached the booth, the waiting girls cheered—it was worth the wait. Jiang Huan unpacked supplies and handed them to her colleagues. Meanwhile, queued-up girls pointed at Bai Jingchuan excitedly: “Oh my god, who is he? Why is he so handsome?”
“Is he a cosplayer or part of their production team? Looks like he has seniority—is he the producer?”
“The producer wouldn’t come to the venue. Can we take a picture with him later?”
A girl approached Jiang Huan: “Excuse me, is this cosplayer someone you hired?”
“Huh?”
“He’s so handsome! Can I take a photo with him?”
Jiang Huan hesitated but had a flash of inspiration. Dragging Bai Jingchuan to the work area, she knelt to rummage for a wig: “Teacher Bai, we originally planned to hire a cosplayer, but backlash was too intense—they got bombarded with messages and couldn’t come.
Since you’re the producer, you’re definitely not afraid of criticism. And for the sake of Romance Continent , I’m sure you’d be willing to make sacrifices, right? Sorry to trouble you.”
Bai Jingchuan picked up the wig: “Isn’t this just a steel helmet?”
“It’s glue! You’re already wearing a suit—today’s cosplay is perfect for you. If not you, then who?”
「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +200.」
Though it was technically a “steel helmet,” Bai Jingchuan’s sharp features and well-defined bone structure made him stand out. Day-to-day familiarity had dulled their awareness of his striking handsomeness, but now, with the wig on, he walked to the front of the booth and was met with enthusiastic cheers. He was no stranger to being adored, having grown accustomed to such scenes in Mowu City, but this felt purer—driven by curiosity about their booth rather than blind worship. He pulled out a pair of glasses from his pocket, mimicking one of the male leads’ iconic lines: “Please don’t crowd. Don’t get hurt because of me. Keep the main path clear for others. I can’t be this close to you—we’re not familiar yet. It wouldn’t be respectful…”
Even when posing for photos, his hands hovered five centimeters away, maintaining polite distance. A bold young girl asked provocatively: “Are you guys going to run off with the money after launching? After all, your company started with male-oriented games, and you’re a man…”
“We’ve spent nearly four years developing this game to bring it to where it is today. I’m just a new employee, but the true creators of Romance Continent are the girls behind me. Their goal was to create an app that could genuinely accompany women. You can think of it as a game or as a lover on your phone, but we aim to be the closest thing to full immersion.”
“Will playing your game affect my chances of finding a boyfriend?”
Bai Jingchuan paused, then smiled: “Every male lead in Romance Continent exists to uplift your dreams and is born from your love. You deserve freedom—the right to choose, to have your own colors. If it affects your dating life, the fault isn’t yours or Romance Continent’s . It’s the world’s problem…”
「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +500.」
The girls applauded enthusiastically. Photos of Bai Jingchuan began appearing on social media. Akira sighed contentedly: “Why didn’t we model our male characters after Teacher Bai? Look at that face, that physique—he’d top the charts for in-app purchases without question.”
“Right? I never noticed how good his waist looks. He’s always so critical and demanding in the office, but seeing him surrounded by other girls makes me realize—he’s a gem!”
Jiang Huan stayed silent, recalling the rumored ill-tempered producer whose throat she had kissed in the cabinet. After standing for forty minutes and handing out over a hundred photos, Bai Jingchuan turned around: “You all enjoy seeing the boss embarrassed, huh? I get it.”
“No way—this is real handsomeness! There’s no one else in the entire venue who stands out like you!”
“Fine, I’ll humor you.” Bai Jingchuan removed the “helmet”: “But I really don’t have time to play around anymore. I need to attend a meeting. The channel distribution meeting is at 3 PM—if I don’t leave now, there won’t be any payment options for Romance Continent .”
Several colleagues waved him off: “Teacher Bai, safe travels!”
「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +100.」
Bai Jingchuan stepped out into the pouring rain, but he felt invigorated. Climbing into a taxi, he suddenly found the scent of the rain refreshing. Even the gloomy weather seemed pleasant, wrapped as he was in immense affection.
“You have a fever.”
“A fever isn’t a big deal. I’ll take some medicine and recover quickly—I can keep working.”
“Li Bode, I understand that you rarely got sick in Mowu City. But now your body is flesh and blood—you need to let it rest. Can’t you lie down and sleep properly?”
“Sleeping is for lazy people. My achievements at 4.90 weren’t earned by sleeping.” In the taxi, Bai Jingchuan meticulously adjusted his tie and cuffs. “I need to go negotiate channels.”
As the most skilled negotiator among Executors, Bai Jingchuan entered the room with two business directors, radiating confidence. Conversations were layered with hidden meanings, even though channel splits were notoriously difficult to agree upon. With the contract template on the table, he simply smiled faintly, splitting the discussion into two parts to outline Romance Continent’s ambitions: “A high-quality, sparkling romance is the spiritual pursuit of young women. The market for female-oriented love stories has been growing rapidly. Our goal is to provide companionship through mobile and VR platforms—an experience distinct from flat comics or idol worship. If a girl’s spirit can ignite sparks, her potential is limitless. Additionally, Romance Continent offers life-simulation features like customizable avatars, catering to OC enthusiasts or providing companionship for those mourning lost loved ones—a field no one has ventured into before. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider our revenue-sharing terms?”
His temperature had risen slightly, but it wasn’t a concern. Once negotiations concluded and he relaxed, the medicine would kick in. His cheeks flushed faintly as he fought off discomfort: “Though this is just a contract template today, we’ll go through each clause carefully. With such vast potential for collaboration, I’ll ensure every detail satisfies you before leaving.”
Exiting the meeting room, Bai Jingchuan extended his hand to shake with the representative, who remarked with a smile: “President Bai, no wonder you exude such fiery passion—your body temperature is scorching!”
Without further comment, Bai Jingchuan parted ways with the business directors, entering separate elevators. When they reached the first floor, the two waited for a while: “Where’s Teacher Bai?”
The doors on the 14th floor hadn’t opened—he’d used a teleportation item to return home. Collapsing onto his bed, shoes discarded, he muttered: “I might need to lie down for a bit.”
The dice circled nearby: “Didn’t I warn you?”
“As long as I take the medicine, I’ll be fine.” Bai Jingchuan sighed: “But I can’t even pick up my phone right now.”
“I’ve already ordered food delivery for you,” the dice said. “Be grateful I’m here. You can’t take medicine on an empty stomach—how about a sandwich?”
“No thanks. If it tastes like Mowu City, I won’t eat it. My body doesn’t belong to me anymore—do I have no self left in the real world?”
From dawn to dusk, the medicine remained untouched, the sandwich packaging unopened. Bai Jingchuan trembled under the covers. The dice hovered near his face: “Oh, Li Bode looks so pitiful. Where’s the Executor now? You barely resemble a person.”
“If I sleep tonight, I’ll be back to normal tomorrow. I’ll bring news of successful negotiations to the office—let her see how capable I am.”
“You really know Jiang Huan admires strength, don’t you?”
“For the last time…” Bai Jingchuan spoke weakly: “Attraction is natural. I’m not trying to seduce her with conditions.”
“Fine, fine. Stubborn till the end. Being sick is being sick—no need to act tough.” The dice leaned closer: “But Bai Jingchuan, it seems you won’t be able to leave tomorrow.”
“Don’t curse me—I’m fine.” He extended a finger from under the blanket, scratching his cheek lightly: “It’s cold. I should buy an item to warm up.”
“Stop scratching, Li Bode—it’s chickenpox.”
Chi…cken…pox?
________________________________________
PS: Xiao Zhang is here! Each chapter is quite substantial, so sometimes it takes longer to finish, but I promise they’re packed with content. Expect 5-6 updates weekly! Feel free to add this story to your bookshelf and vote for recommendations. Let’s chat in the comments today too!
Google Sites
Report abuse