Chapter 2 – Paper Man (Part 1)
The system was momentarily stunned. After a few seconds of silence, it asked nervously, “Host, do you still not want to complete tasks?”
Su Tang smiled, spreading his hands. “You can’t expect a horse to run without feeding it grass, can you? If you’re making me do tasks, you should at least give me some perks to keep me motivated. Even regular jobs pay wages! I’ve suddenly been turned into a paper-thin character, stuck in this tiny room, unable to go anywhere. How pitiful and lonely is that? And you won’t even let me play with computers or phones. What if I develop depression?”
The system considered this logic, yet felt something wasn’t quite right. It pressed on, “… So if I give you those things, you’ll be willing to do tasks?”
Su Tang’s smile widened, his expression radiant like a little sun. “If I’m happy, I wouldn’t mind helping you out. You’re so cute and powerful, System. I just want to add some small items in the game—it’s really simple. Please?”
The Q-version of Su Tang was excessively adorable. His short black hair had a slight curl, his round almond eyes with downward-pointing tails exuded natural innocence. His red lips, shaped like peach petals, curved into a charming smile. When pleading with the system, he even clasped his chubby hands together and bowed slightly, eyes sparkling as if playfully begging.
It was just like that “little kitten begging” meme.
The praised system, a bit flustered, remained silent: “…”
Just wanna pet it!
Overwhelmed by cuteness, the system gave in completely. Here you go, everything is yours.
Computers, phones, air conditioners, Wi-Fi, potato chips, shrimp sticks, duck necks, squid threads, ice cream… Whatever you want, it’s all yours.
Thus, Su Tang acquired his own little house. Though not bought through hard-earned savings, nothing beats the thrill of using something gifted for free!
After pleading with the system, the small house underwent remarkable changes. It filled with homely items—curtains, desk lamps, teacups, carpets, bean bags, and storage cabinets. Now it felt like a cozy little nest.
This reminded Su Tang of a casual game he’d played before, “Raising a Frog Son.” He’d always envied his froggy companion’s carefree life, never imagining he’d experience such comfort himself.
Now, Su Tang lay sprawled on a soft breadstick-shaped pillow, his short legs swinging in the air as he played with his phone. Occasionally, he’d tilt his head to take a sip of ice cream or munch on a biscuit stick.
He didn’t just play alone; he often called on the system to team up and dominate. At first, the system had no gaming experience, but being a system, it had its advantages. With Daddy backing him, he never had to struggle as a lone wolf against multiple opponents. He could even coast through wins effortlessly. “Big win tonight, we’re eating chicken!”—child’s play.
Though Su Tang was already skilled, playing with the system’s expertise transformed his gaming experience. Their combined lethality doubled their kill count, turning headshot competitions into fierce rivalries. When enemies lost so badly they resorted to cursing, Su Tang would smile sweetly before unleashing a barrage of insults that made opponents question their very existence, tempting them to punch through the screen.
But alas, even if they tried, they’d never reach him. You’d never guess whether your online opponent is human, dog, or even a paper-thin character… especially when it’s his adorable system =v=
Sometimes, Su Tang and the system would engage in friendly rivalry, competing to see who could take more enemy heads. Victory brought exhilaration, defeat bitterness, but either way, the system’s relentless training pushed Su Tang’s already impressive gaming skills to new heights.
Su Tang grabbed a large bag of potato chips, munching loudly. Accidentally, his canine teeth pricked his lip, making him touch them. These canines are quite sharp, he thought. I’m already 20—can teeth still grow at this age?
Su Tang licked his itchy gums and furrowed his brow slightly. Could it be that because he’d been bitten by a vampire, he was destined to become one too?
As these thoughts crossed his mind, he munched on two more crispy potato chips. They tasted absolutely delicious. He could eat and drink normally without any craving for blood, so he naturally concluded he wasn’t turning into a vampire.
Then, he lazily leaned back and sank into the soft, plush sofa, sighing contentedly. “This place is truly amazing. I could stay here for a lifetime!”
The system, which had been idling with its host for days… felt utterly frustrated, even a bit tearful, regretting that it had provided such an ideal environment for its host.
The system pleaded pitifully, “Dear host, you haven’t forgotten about the mission, have you?”
Feeling slightly guilty, as if he were a heartless scoundrel, Su Tang gave a sheepish smile. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But I’m just a paper-thin character. How can I actively approach Luo Yuan? He doesn’t play games, so there’s nothing I can do about it, right?”
The system declared confidently, “I can handle this. The app is already installed. He’ll definitely open it and play. Host, you must interact with him when the time comes.”
Su Tang touched his face with a finger, genuinely unable to promise wholeheartedly that he’d complete the task. To be honest, he couldn’t even say how well he was living by himself—how could he possibly bear the responsibility of curing and saving another person? It was too difficult.
After a moment’s hesitation, Su Tang suggested, “Why don’t you convert the task completion into points? I could accumulate points to exchange for things I want. That way, I’d have motivation to complete tasks.”
The system quickly adopted this suggestion and worked with him to list a pile of prizes, most being things Su Tang liked. The system had a soft and cute personality, and it was very clever. To increase the host’s interest, it added a lottery pool. Su Tang could use points to draw prizes, possibly winning something he really wanted with just a few points. Of course, he might also only get a consolation prize—a small pack of tissues.
Su Tang raised his eyebrows. “System, you’re quite adaptable.”
Just thinking about it made him a bit excited. Now, in his eyes, the villain wasn’t just a name symbol, but an attractive lottery ticket!
Cure the villain? He could do it! He really could! He was going to be a lucky guy!
In the CEO’s office, a cold voice cut through the air, pinpointing every problem with ruthless precision.
The department manager who had come to report felt his face burn crimson, wishing he could vanish into the floor.
Their ultimate boss, the group’s heir Luo Yuan, rarely lost his temper or raised his voice. Yet this icy tone proved more terrifying than any outburst. The overwhelming pressure and that casual glance made one feel utterly worthless, overwhelmed by shame.
Though several managers were significantly older than their young CEO, none dared question Luo Yuan’s blunt criticism of their work. Of course, there had been resistance before, but after witnessing his ironclad methods, exceptional insight, and leadership that continually expanded the company’s reach, they could no longer deny his authority.
When all managers had left, an assistant brought in a steaming coffee, set it down, and exited the office. Luo Yuan propped his elbow on the desk’s edge, massaging his temples. A hint of weariness showed on his otherwise impassive face.
Luo Yuan took a sip of coffee, then pressed his finger against the phone’s screen. The fingerprint unlocked it, and his practiced fingers swiped across the display.
A pink app appeared before his eyes, shaped like a heart.
Luo Yuan frowned. What was this?
He recalled asking his assistant to download several popular games yesterday, just to understand what features made them successful in the market. While he could have delegated this task, Luo Yuan’s meticulous nature as a workaholic wouldn’t allow him to rely on others’ analyses without first hand knowledge.
Luo Yuan had always been the model student since childhood, excelling in every aspect yet rarely engaging with games. He would never have voluntarily played if not for the need to understand players’ needs and psychology.
Having confidence in his handpicked assistant’s capabilities, Luo Yuan suppressed his distaste for the garish pink color and examined the app.
The vibrant heart shape glowed with a soft halo, beneath which appeared the app name: Your Exclusive Lover.
A dating simulation game?
Convinced of the massive potential in the female gaming market, Luo Yuan tapped the heart with his finger.
The screen flashed with a meteoric light, and within two seconds, the game launched.
Even Luo Yuan, who didn’t play games, was surprised. That fast? Is this game really that small?
But then the image that appeared on the phone screen was incredibly realistic and detailed, not at all crude. He could even see the content on the computer screen on the bedroom desk clearly.
This paper-thin character… is playing a shooting game?
Luo Yuan’s expression turned slightly complicated.
Looking closer, he saw the quilt on the bed was messy, a body pillow carelessly placed on the floor, half-empty cola, cookie boxes, and chip bags.
Luo Yuan frowned, his fingers twitching, wanting to tidy everything up neatly.
At that moment, the little figure standing in the middle of the screen interrupted his thoughts.
It was a three-headed Q-version character, looking very cute. The character lifted its pale little face, blinking its eyes, and looked at him with a curious expression. Its lips curved into a smile, revealing adorable little canines. A bubble appeared above its head: “Hello, I’m Su Tang. You are…?”
A pink window popped up:
[Please enter your name. This will also be how your lover addresses you.]
Below it was a small input box.
Luo Yuan rested his cheek on one hand, while the other hand lightly tapped the table.
At this point, most players might choose an affectionate nickname. Some who prefer realism might even use their real name. But Luo Yuan wasn’t like that.
He was here solely to study what made the game engaging. Since he wasn’t actually playing for fun, there was no need for a serious name. Yet randomly typing gibberish into the name field wasn’t his style either. Luo Yuan certainly wasn’t going to roleplay as a lover. If anything, he felt this digital character was more akin to an electronic pet from his childhood.
So, he typed two simple characters into the name field:
[ Master ]
Author’s Note:
Su Tang: …Hey! Are you listening?! I’m talking to you!
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