There Must Be Something Wrong With This Game!

"Jinghong, keep me company!"

"What color underwear do you like?!"

Duan Fei stared at his phone, confused. He felt like he and Jinghong were on completely different wavelengths.

’What does my preference in underwear color have to do with you?’

’Besides, do people even pick colors for underwear?’

’As long as the three holes don’t turn into two, isn’t it good enough?’

Before Duan Fei could even react, Jinghong shouted, "Never mind, just wait for me!"

"Wait a second..."

"I’ll be right over! Go take a shower and clean yourself up first!"

Staring at the disconnected call, Duan Fei grew even more bewildered.

’What in the world is going on?!’

Just seven minutes later, Duan Fei saw his front door burst open. Jinghong appeared in the doorway, panting for breath. Her bangs were stuck to her forehead with sweat, giving off a decadent, almost seductive, aura.

"How did you get here?!" Duan Fei exclaimed in surprise. "How were you so fast?!"

"I ran from the university."

"Isn’t your campus two kilometers from here?! You ran two kilometers through the city in seven minutes!"

"I have a special Talent. Anyway, enough chit-chat. Why haven’t you showered yet?!"

"I already asked, why do I need to shower?!"

"Isn’t it common sense to shower before you ask someone to... keep you company?"

"Is it really common sense to shower before going out on the street?!"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

A few minutes later, after she had calmed down, Jinghong looked at the email Duan Fei showed her and finally understood why he had called.

Taking a deep breath, Jinghong forced herself to calm down, trying to forget this mortifying moment. Feigning composure, she said, "Please be more specific next time."

"Where was I... Never mind. So, that’s the situation."

The content of the email from the development team was simple. It congratulated Duan Fei and the others for being the first players to clear the long-form dungeon.

Additionally, they invited Duan Fei to come to the Abyss development team’s office tomorrow to claim his prize: a gaming pod jointly released by the developers and the Federation. Playing inside it would provide a more realistic and comfortable experience.

After reading it, Jinghong inferred his intentions based on her understanding of him. "So," she asked, "you mean you have to meet the developers, so you wanted me to go shopping with you to buy a suitable outfit, right?"

"Exactly. My clothes are too casual for a trip to claim an award."

"So, be clearer next time. Otherwise, it’s easy for people to get the wrong idea."

"The wrong idea about what? What part of that could possibly be misunderstood?!"

"That’s not important. Can I use your bathroom? I’m covered in sweat from running. I’ll take a quick shower before we go. I didn’t bring a change of clothes, is it okay if I wear yours?"

"No problem."

Deftly finding a suitable outfit in his closet, Jinghong carried the clothes into the bathroom, then immediately buried her face in them and inhaled Duan Fei’s scent to ease her embarrassment.

’Nope, I still want to die.’

The thought of how badly she had misunderstood made her blush crimson. She wished she could just use the clothes to smother herself to death right then and there.

"By the way, Jinghong, there’s been a problem with my plumbing lately, so... what are you doing?" Duan Fei asked quizzically from the doorway.

"...There’s a cockroach. I’m too scared to look."

"Weren’t you the one who enthusiastically told me that cockroaches are edible?!"

"That’s not important. I’m going to shower now."

"On second thought, I should probably wash up too. So, maybe we could together..."

Jinghong narrowed her eyes at him, and Duan Fei felt a murderous aura wash over him.

Wisely shutting the door, Duan Fei obediently returned to his computer and started browsing the forums for information.

Meanwhile, Jinghong looked at herself in the mirror and let out a soft sigh.

Sigh...

An unobstructed view, and a story too sad to tell.

「Half an hour later.」

The two of them were cleaned up and ready to go. Although she was wearing Duan Fei’s clothes, Jinghong skillfully used the loose fit, a result of their different body types, to create a lazy, fashionable style.

Putting on a hat, she walked beside Duan Fei, chewing on bubblegum. "You have a medium build, a small face, and broad shoulders, so most clothes look good on you," she said. "I’d suggest a simple white shirt with white sneakers. Black and white always works."

"Whatever you say."

Duan Fei had expected Jinghong to spend a long time helping him pick out clothes, but she just dragged him to a nearby mall and, after a few minutes, handed him an outfit that was inexpensive but made of decent fabric.

Within half an hour, his entire getup had been replaced. The new clothes made Duan Fei look much more refreshed.

Seeing it was only 10 o’clock, Duan Fei felt that asking Jinghong to come out was definitely the right call.

"Thanks, Jinghong. That was fast. Let me treat you to a meal. You can have whatever you want."

"...The not-too-expensive and not-too-terrible chicken drumstick combo at the aquarium."

"Don’t they have chicken drumstick combos everywhere?! Why does it have to be at the aquarium?!"

"But that’s the combo I want to eat right now."

Duan Fei frowned at Jinghong. He felt like she had been acting stranger and stranger lately.

But since he was the one who offered to treat her, Duan Fei didn’t want to go back on his word.

The nearest aquarium happened to be near the mall. Grabbing ice cream cones, they slowly walked over.

The admission tickets for this aquarium weren’t expensive, and it didn’t have many shows. Most of it consisted of underwater tunnels, allowing visitors to leisurely walk through a cool environment and see fish they rarely got to observe.

With a "might as well since we’re here" attitude, Duan Fei and Jinghong decided to stroll through the aquarium after their meal and admire the fish.

Since it was a weekday, there weren’t many visitors, not even many children.

Wandering through the underwater tunnels, Duan Fei watched sharks swim overhead, touched the sea moss in a touch tank, hugged a penguin in the Antarctic exhibit, and said hello to a polar bear cub in the Arctic exhibit.

They toured the aquarium until it was nearly closing time, finally arriving at the last viewing spot.

Behind a glass wall swam countless sea fish. The brightly colored fish shimmered under the lights, creating a dazzling and mesmerizing spectacle.

Looking at the fish, Duan Fei couldn’t help but say, "They’re beautiful."

Jinghong, however, turned to look at Duan Fei, her eyes filled with the sight of him.

"Yeah," she said. "So beautiful."

After leaving the aquarium, they had dinner outside, browsed a night market, and bought a few small trinkets.

It wasn’t until the city lights began to glow that Jinghong received a phone call. She said reluctantly, "I have to go back now."

"Okay. At nine, let’s play Abyss together after you get back."

"I can’t. Something came up at home. Maybe next time."

Seeing her family’s car pull up behind them, Jinghong sighed, stepped forward, and gently hugged Duan Fei.

Pressing close to his earlobe, Jinghong whispered, "I’m leaving. Goodbye."

"Yeah. Goodbye."

After watching Jinghong leave, Duan Fei returned home.

He had planned to play another round of the game before bed, but for some reason, he suddenly recalled Jinghong’s hug, and his desire to play faded.

Her slender arms were filled with Power, her soft hair had a moonlit sheen, and her lonely smile made her look like a fragile butterfly that might vanish at any moment.

Her whisper still lingered in his ear. When he closed his eyes, the image of her leaning in was crystal clear, and he could even recall her scent.

He didn’t know why, but the Jinghong from that moment stirred a powerful urge in him to protect her.

’That’s weird, why am I acting so strange? And what’s wrong with Jinghong? Did something bad happen?’

Meanwhile, inside the private car, Jinghong watched Duan Fei on a monitor, taking in the sight of him, restless and conflicted.

She nodded in satisfaction and clenched her fists in excitement.

’Grandma, the things you taught me really work!’

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