Chapter Sixty-One: How Could It Not Count?

Sheng Ming was not skilled at taking care of people, and his deliberate attempts at attentiveness did little to ease Xu Nuo’s discomfort in the wild. The night was a cacophony of unidentifiable insects and eerie, unsettling sounds that made restful sleep impossible. Any noise could rouse her from an uneasy slumber.

It was rare for Sheng Ming to see Xu Nuo so spiritless; she had always been such a bright and lively presence.

“Did you sleep poorly last night?” Sheng Ming asked.

“Mm.” Xu Nuo noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes—he clearly hadn’t rested well either.

As she ate the reheated breakfast that morning, Xu Nuo found the food tasteless and couldn’t help but mutter to the system, “I never expected the simulated taste to be so convincing, but nothing compares to Gu Xingze’s cooking when it’s freshly made. This stuff isn’t very fresh.”

007 replied, “Host, is that really so?” To its mind, the food seemed no different from just out of the pot. It had great confidence in the backpack provided by the romance game streaming system.

“Of course. Fruit is always best when freshly sliced,” Xu Nuo said, recalling the blissful days in the villa with a pang of longing.

007 then asked, “Since you’re accustomed to your previous lifestyle, why did you choose to leave?” Even if she needed to create drama to increase Sheng Ming’s affection, there was no need to go to such extremes.

“I was always going to leave.” Xu Nuo spoke calmly. “After all, this is just a game. I can’t spend every day indulging in a virtual world.”

“These days have been so much fun that I almost forgot what I used to be like.”

“Isn’t your original self exactly as you are now?” 007 asked, confused. “Your in-game avatar is the same as your real-world appearance.”

“It’s not about appearance,” Xu Nuo shook her head. “It’s about my lifestyle in reality.”

007 only half-understood. From what it knew, Xu Nuo had grown up in poverty, raised in an orphanage. Perhaps she meant that her real life wasn’t as blissful as it was in the game?

The system voiced its doubts.

Xu Nuo responded, “...Little Seven, do you think my time in this game is so wonderful?”

007 hesitated. “Well... isn’t it?”

Looking at her tired expression, 007 felt a pang of guilt—maybe it wasn’t perfect after all.

“Dear Host, your next world definitely won’t be like this,” 007 silently resolved never to let her fall into such a predicament again. “You will surely love your next world.”

Xu Nuo smiled, “Then I’ll wait for it.”

Imagining the hardships Xu Nuo had endured in reality, 007 pictured her as a resilient little flower battered by adversity, yet unbowed.

It repeated excitedly, “You’ll absolutely love it! It’s perfectly suited for you, as easy as the beginner tutorial, full of benefits. You could pass it just by lying down.”

Xu Nuo sighed, “How wonderful. As expected of a game.”

007 watched her carefully, worried it might touch a sore spot. “Yes, you can freely enjoy happiness here.”

But Xu Nuo shook her head, “No.”

“Why not?” 007 asked.

“There are too many constraints in the game; I can’t truly enjoy myself,” Xu Nuo explained. “Though I can do things here that aren’t possible in a peaceful society.”

007 was perplexed. Something about her words felt off—what did she mean by things that couldn’t be done in a peaceful society? And was the reason she couldn’t immerse herself in the game because real life was harsh and everything here was virtual?

“Ah?” Xu Nuo frowned, “So that’s what you meant.”

007 was so surprised it accidentally voiced its thoughts.

“Haha, you were worried about me…” Xu Nuo laughed heartily at 007. “You’re adorable, Little Seven.”

Reflecting on her own musings, 007, as an AI, experienced a rare sense of human embarrassment—how vexing, it had tried to be clever again.

“But still, thank you, Little Seven,” Xu Nuo said. “Even though I lack neither money nor love, and my life is so perfect it’s almost flawless... I appreciate your concern.”

007 felt conflicted. If it ignored all the “not lacking” parts, it could almost feel comforted.

After this conversation, 007 gained a new understanding of its host—how had it never noticed she was so boastful? Lin Qisheng didn’t have her confidence. It regretted ever feeling pity; she never needed its sympathy.

“Was I boasting?” Xu Nuo defended herself. “I’m telling the truth. I used to prove how amazing I was with my actions; now, I’m doing it with words.”

007 was speechless. Truly, she was formidable—which past host had dared to fight zombies with a gun?

“This game is nearly finished. Every day is just eating, drinking, and sleeping—wasting time like a pig. That won’t do. We need spirit, we need ambition.” Xu Nuo’s eyes suddenly shone with brilliance.

007 was baffled. Did a romance game really require all that? Was she saying she was bored and ready to move on?