The world’s most popular holographic game had recently been exposed for its wildly unstable server performance. Sometimes it ran as smoothly as a wild horse breaking free, other times it lagged so badly it moved like a snail. And occasionally, it would simply go on strike, kicking all players out at once.
Online comments were as diverse as they were chaotic—some players were furious over the terrible experience, some praised the game despite its issues, and others were just there to watch the drama unfold.
The CEO of the gaming company had lost his temper countless times, believing that he was throwing money at the technical department for nothing, while the tech team was equally bewildered. They had upgraded the system countless times, so why were these minor issues still unresolved?
Everyone jokingly referred to the game’s AI system as some kind of sentient mastermind.
Lying on the soft grass, Wei Xicheng scrolled through the comments, laughing uncontrollably. That nickname really didn’t suit Yu Beiyan at all.
“What are you looking at that’s so funny?”
Just as he was thinking that, a shadow loomed over him. Lying down, he had to tilt his head back to see Yu Beiyan standing above him, making the man seem even taller and more distant.
He patted the grass beside him, gesturing for Yu Beiyan to lie down as well.
Yu Beiyan frowned, squatted down, and brushed the grass clippings off Wei Xicheng’s hands. “There are bugs on the ground.”
“Aren’t you the all-powerful mastermind? You could get rid of them with a single thought.”
“That wouldn’t be realistic.”
“Since when does a game care about realism?”
Wei Xicheng had only meant to tease Yu Beiyan, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly felt himself being lifted as if an invisible hand had grabbed him, forcing him to stand upright in front of Yu Beiyan.
He glanced at Yu Beiyan’s expressionless face, and in the next second, he was pulled into a firm embrace.
“Didn’t you feel ‘realism’ last night?”
Yu Beiyan’s hand rested on his shoulder while his other arm wrapped around his waist, keeping him from collapsing after losing his balance.
With his entire weight now leaning against Yu Beiyan, Wei Xicheng simply gave in, adjusting his position and resting his chin on Yu Beiyan’s shoulder. Mimicking Yu Beiyan’s tone, he murmured teasingly, “It wasn’t real anyway. In reality, could you really go all night… hmm?”
His gaze subtly flickered to Yu Beiyan’s waist, the implication unmistakable.
A low chuckle rumbled from Yu Beiyan’s chest. “Then I’ll let you experience it properly next time.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting.” Wei Xicheng cast a suggestive glance at Yu Beiyan and tightened his arms around the man’s neck. “What you said before—about going back—was it true?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wei Xicheng quickly withdrew his hands, struggling a couple of times to free himself from Yu Beiyan’s embrace. He stood properly in front of him, sensing that things were heading in a dangerous direction. If he didn’t start talking seriously, he might end up spending another languid, energy-drained day.
“It’s possible to return, but it’s a bit troublesome.” Yu Beiyan understood Wei Xicheng’s thoughts and curved his lips into a faint smile. “I need your cooperation.”
Wei Xicheng nodded, signaling for him to continue.
“First, we need a sufficient amount of energy. You probably already know how to collect it.”
“Wait.” Wei Xicheng immediately sensed something shady about this first condition. “Why do you have energy in you?”
“Accumulated from completing missions. Later, when the system was damaged, all the energy was stored in my mental consciousness. You need to transfer it into your system.”
Wei Xicheng grabbed Yu Beiyan’s hand. “You’re conscious now, can’t you just transfer it directly?”
“No.”
“…”
“A large-scale transfer like that would be…” Yu Beiyan pointed toward the sky, his eyes narrowing in amusement. “It would be detected by the rules of the parallel world. You have the system as a cover, but I…”
“Alright, alright, keep going.”
Wei Xicheng waved a hand, reluctantly accepting the explanation. It was hard to handle when a usually serious person suddenly started playing the innocent and pitiful act.
“Second, your system needs to be upgraded to the highest level in order to establish a connection with the real world. Using the collected energy, we can transfer our consciousness back to reality the moment the system binding is complete.”
“So, the most important thing right now is still gathering energy?”
“Yes.” Yu Beiyan smiled. “This world won’t last much longer. The data I brought in is too overwhelming, and the energy is too great. I have to leave early, or else the game’s AI will collapse, and my memories and energy will disappear along with this world.”
He continued, “Don’t rush, Xicheng. Let’s take our time. Staying in a parallel world like this for a while… isn’t it kind of interesting?”
Wei Xicheng sighed and nodded. “It’s fine, I guess. I just want to go home and see my parents.” He paused before asking, “So, in the next world, you’ll lose your memory again?”
“I won’t make you wait too long. Don’t worry, I will find you.”
Ever since Yu Beiyan admitted that he wouldn’t be staying in this world for much longer, their relationship dynamic had changed significantly.
To Wei Xicheng, being with a lover who had all his memories versus being with one who didn’t remember him at all were two completely different experiences. While a forgetful Yu Beiyan would unconsciously reveal adorable little habits, only the Yu Beiyan who carried their shared history felt like his true companion.
This left Wei Xicheng with conflicted feelings—on one hand, he wanted to delay leaving this world for as long as possible; on the other, he looked forward to reuniting with his lover in the next one.
Yu Beiyan’s words—“I will find you”—ignited a competitive spirit within him. In this world, his restrictions had been too severe. He was unable to move freely until he met Yu Beiyan. This didn’t sit well with him at all. He made up his mind—next time, he would find Yu Beiyan first and prove something to himself.
Upon hearing this, Yu Beiyan merely smiled, ruffling Wei Xicheng’s hair. “Good luck.”
That dismissive response only irritated Wei Xicheng further. Ever since meeting this man, he had discovered a side of himself that was far more childish than he ever expected.
“Why are you still here?” Wei Xicheng nudged the man beside him. The two of them were sitting in a shabby little tavern, each with a bowl of sake in front of them.
For the past month, Wei Xicheng’s daily task had been nothing but talking to Yu Beiyan, collecting energy through their conversations. He was beyond speechless—were they seriously just flirting endlessly? They were both grown men; how could they act so clingy in a relationship?
Yu Beiyan, however, seemed to enjoy it. At this moment, a mission prompt hovered above his head: [Mission in progress: Listen to the Detective’s Thoughts (1/5)]
The game world bustled with players, and some curious newcomers would occasionally glance their way. Whenever this happened, experienced players would quickly drag them aside and offer a piece of advice—
Not everyone can encounter such a ridiculous yet overpowered hidden mission. And not everyone can run into such a ridiculous yet overpowered NPC.
Also, when the server’s top player is doing a mission with his NPC, it’s best not to stare too much. Otherwise, you might just get one-shot.
Every time Wei Xicheng saw someone whispering about them from the street corners, occasionally sneaking glances, he would roll his eyes at Yu Beiyan. He just didn’t get it—Yu Beiyan wanted to openly flaunt their relationship but also didn’t want people watching. What kind of contradictory behavior was that?
“Are you that eager for me to leave?” Yu Beiyan swirled the sake in his bowl before setting it down. He actually liked their current interactions—spending every day together yet never getting tired of it.
Whatever Wei Xicheng desired, he would create it for him within this world. Every breathtaking sight, every wondrous experience—it all existed for one person alone. In Yu Beiyan’s world, Wei Xicheng was his everything.
But in reality, Wei Xicheng belonged to himself. He was an independent individual. No one could truly claim him completely.
That night, the game’s servers crashed entirely, preventing all players from logging in.
Wei Xicheng had only one thought—Yu Beiyan had lost his mind. No matter how indulgent he had been before, tonight was on a completely different level. He was relentless, giving Wei Xicheng no chance to catch his breath.
“Xicheng, say it. Say you love me.”
The man’s rough voice rang in his ears. Wei Xicheng opened his mouth but clenched his teeth shut. The word “love” triggered an unexpected clarity in him, even in the most intense moment.
Did he love Yu Beiyan? The answer was obvious—yes.
But why, now that they fully knew each other, was he unable to say it? The answer to that was also clear. After spending so many lifetimes within this endless cycle of missions, his heart had become cautious and guarded.
His first instinct in any situation was always self-preservation. Only after ensuring his own safety could he allow himself to act on emotion.
Yu Beiyan had never explicitly said “I love you” either. Did that mean he didn’t love Wei Xicheng? Wei Xicheng asked himself honestly—he knew Yu Beiyan couldn’t live without him. But when it came to love, he wasn’t entirely certain.
They had simply spent too much time together, existing side by side through countless worlds. Wei Xicheng had always been confident, but at this moment, for reasons he couldn’t pinpoint, he hesitated.
When Yu Beiyan didn’t receive a response, his actions became even more frenzied. Wei Xicheng wanted to see his face, but a hand covered his eyes.
“Just feel me.”
Wei Xicheng parted his lips slightly, but in the end, no words came out.
The next morning, Yu Beiyan was gone.
Days passed, but he never returned. Wei Xicheng knew—he had left.
He smiled faintly.
I wonder if I’ll see him again in the next world.
“Transfer.”
…
“Transfer to the next world.”
This time, the system didn’t respond.
