Chapter 82: Anything to Please You
Xu Nuo watched the unfolding scene before her with amused interest.
When she showed no inclination toward the piles of gold and jewels, mountains of food appeared next—everything from delicate pastries and snacks to sumptuous feasts, ingredients of every kind imaginable. Yet Xu Nuo remained unmoved.
The vision vanished in an instant, replaced by a crowd of men—all sorts of men: handsome and dashing, rugged and striking, delicate and androgynous... A single glance revealed every possible type, each one an extraordinary beauty, so attractive they scarcely seemed real.
Xu Nuo admired them with particular appreciation and addressed the system, “Little Seven, your game designers are truly remarkable. So many handsome men, each with his own distinct charm—looking at them, there’s not even a hint of aesthetic fatigue.”
He Luo Jade Book sensed a clear shift in Xu Nuo’s mood, yet she still made no move, her eyes filled with admiration and delight—everything except possessiveness.
Soon, the crowd of brilliant, unique men faded away.
Xu Nuo sighed to the system, “Such excellent character models—surely they won’t only appear once? Will we encounter them again in future gameplay?”
A trace of reluctance surfaced, and He Luo Jade Book was momentarily moved, nearly conjuring the vanished beauties once more—only for a fleeting instant, as Xu Nuo’s emotions quickly returned to calm.
Her face wore a relaxed smile, free of tension, her posture at ease—as if she were merely sightseeing. Neither the gold and jewels nor the beautiful men stirred her deepest longing.
007 replied: [Probably not.]
“Oh, I really can’t tell if your game is earnest or rigid. All these handsome men relegated to NPCs—it’s such a waste! Let me suggest: pick a few and make them romanceable targets; it would add so much richness and appeal to the gameplay.”
After a moment, new scenes appeared, not tangible items but a slideshow of various visions.
Pink bubbles filled the screen, with Xu Nuo as the protagonist. She wore a lovely yet luxurious dress, the grand skirt swirling after dancing butterflies. The small crown atop her head made her look even more noble as she smiled with innocent delight.
Exquisite cakes and sweets were displayed at her side, along with adorable, dreamlike toys and lively little animals gathered around her. Xu Nuo’s smile was so innocent and beautiful, as if she knew nothing of the world—happiness untouched by worry, a little princess without cares.
Xu Nuo regarded her idealized self with greater amusement, but made no further gestures, merely praising, “So pretty—worthy of being me.”
The vision failed to move her. He Luo Jade Book fell silent for a while, then the dissipated scene gathered once more, determined to try again.
In a magnificent palace, Xu Nuo wore a golden dragon robe, a jade crown upon her head, surrounded by handsome men. At times she stood in a lofty position, tens of thousands of subjects bowing below; at others, she sat on the dragon throne, overlooking the assembled officials.
Clearly, He Luo Jade Book was striving to fulfill the grandest dreams of womanhood, elevating from wealth and food to status and power.
“Pfft…” Xu Nuo couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The live comments scrolled with waves of laughter.
[Help, why is this so funny!]
[What’s wrong with this silly He Luo Jade Book, actually making Xu our emperor.]
He Luo Jade Book finally realized that, although Xu Nuo seemed interested, it wasn’t the gold, jewels, or any material thing that truly attracted her.
“Do you not want anything?”
“Gold and jewels?”
“Glory and riches?”
“Or something else?”
“Whatever you desire can be granted.”
The childish, genderless voice was tinged with defeat—its greatest failure yet. Could there really exist such a person, without wish or hope? Impossible. To conjure so many visions and fail to move her could only mean its own inability, unable to uncover her true longing.
Xu Nuo asked, “Truly anything?”
“Yes, anything you wish for—just say it, and it will be yours.”
He Luo Jade Book’s voice carried an enchanting power, luring one in without resistance.
“I don’t yet know what I want,” Xu Nuo replied. “Could you let me leave in a while?”
He Luo Jade Book was thoroughly dissatisfied with this answer. No one else ever entered wanting to leave; only this woman was such an anomaly—wanting nothing, and thinking only of escape.
“No,” it refused stiffly.
Xu Nuo, still good-tempered, said, “Then can I look at the books here?”
He Luo Jade Book replied in a dull voice, “Go ahead.”
Perhaps, while reading, she would finally develop the desire to obtain something, or at least boredom might drive her to want something.
Xu Nuo truly entered the sea of books and began to read.
Only then did she realize the bookshelves, appearing quite proper, actually contained all sorts of content, meticulously categorized for easy searching.
The richness of the material prompted her to joke, “Did you just upload an entire library?”
“‘Postpartum Care for Sows’—don’t laugh, it’s really here.”
“The complete ‘Five Three’ series, anyone interested?”
The comments accompanied her browsing with laughter, making it an entertaining affair rather than a dull one. 007 watched in despair as the number of viewers in the live stream soared with frightening speed.
Why does even browsing books attract so many people?
“‘The Overbearing CEO Falls for Me,’ deluxe collector’s edition,” Xu Nuo said, flipping to the book with a touch of reverence. She took out her phone to snap photos. “I wonder if I can photograph these.”
“It works!”
Not just this CEO story—any book could be photographed. Xu Nuo was genuinely delighted.
No longer just joking around, Xu Nuo photographed many books, filling up her phone’s memory before switching to a new camera.
He Luo Jade Book had no idea what Xu Nuo was up to, but she was clearly enjoying herself, with no intention of leaving.
007 couldn’t take it anymore: [Host, do you remember Lu Ciyuan outside?]
Xu Nuo replied, “Huh?”
Outside He Luo Jade Book.
After Xu Nuo’s aura vanished, Lu Ciyuan followed the last traces. When he placed a black stone with his fingertip, the barrier finally faded, revealing the reality within.
By the spring, a white-haired figure in plain clothes gave him no glance, the Jade Book quietly floating in his palm.
“He Luo Jade Book?” Lu Ciyuan exclaimed, then urgently asked, “She entered the book?”
The white-haired figure finally looked at him. “You recognize this book?”
“He Luo Jade Book, so it is within Dongtian Sect.” Lu Ciyuan searched every corner, unable to find Xu Nuo’s presence, and asked again, “Did she go inside the book?”
“Indeed.” Xu Qingyin’s gaze was unfriendly toward the intruder, but he no longer wished to kill. “What is your relationship with her?”
“She…” Lu Ciyuan was speechless, hesitated, then said, “She is my benefactor. I must take her away from here.”
Xu Qingyin’s tone was cold. “She cannot come out.”
Lu Ciyuan replied instantly, “Impossible.”
Xu Qingyin did not elaborate, but simply swept his sleeve, reclaiming the Jade Book and turning to leave.
Lu Ciyuan hurried after him, “Give me the book!”
Inside the book, Xu Nuo was no longer as leisurely as before.
He Luo Jade Book said helplessly, “Without fulfilling your deepest desire, you cannot leave.”
Xu Nuo replied, “I desire to go out.”
He Luo Jade Book coldly rejected, “That is not your truest longing.”
Xu Nuo answered seriously, “Actually, I am a sage without desires.”
He Luo Jade Book: “…Do I look that easily fooled?”
007: [Host, things are bad! Lu Ciyuan is fighting the big cultivator again!]
Xu Nuo was on the verge of tears. “Let me out!!”
He Luo Jade Book gloated, “But that is not your greatest wish.”
Xu Nuo: “Aaaaah!!!”
“Oooh oooh oooh oooh…”
“Waa waa waa waa…”
“If you don’t let me out, I’ll make a scene!”
He Luo Jade Book: “How old are you, imitating a child’s tantrum?”
The surroundings filled with Xu Nuo’s cries and bizarre shouts. 007 was thoroughly annoyed, and He Luo Jade Book was no better off, eventually admitting defeat.
“Enough, enough, stop crying.” He Luo Jade Book was truly intimidated—someone could shamelessly cry without care for their dignity.
“There is a way you can leave.”
Xu Nuo: “What way?” Her crying halted instantly.
“Why insist?” Xu Qingyin said, rare frustration in his voice. “She is without desire or hope. Entering He Luo Jade Book, she cannot leave.”
“What?” Lu Ciyuan was stunned. “How could she possibly be trapped?”
Xu Qingyin had no patience for explanation. “I’ll spare your life, but if you persist, you’ll leave it here with hers.”
Lu Ciyuan remained steadfast. “Give me the book. I will bring her out.”
Xu Qingyin sneered, “It’s futile. Do you know her situation now?”
He Luo Jade Book: “It’s simple for me, but almost no one passes the test. For humans, it seems extremely difficult…”
“Difficult?” Xu Nuo wondered, watching as her surroundings began to change, all fitting the ancient cultivation game’s setting—a humble clay hut, simple furnishings. She had become… a mother?
In her arms was a hungry infant, and those around her only hurled insults.
A man, eyes full of hatred and disappointment, slammed his palm on the table repeatedly, cursing through gritted teeth, “Damn woman, another useless child?”
“Ai, what a calamity!” An old woman, her face twisted with grief and fingers gnarled, trembled as she pointed at Xu Nuo’s nose. “How could our family marry a barren woman like you!”
“Waaa waaa…” The baby in her arms cried even harder, its wrinkled face flushed red.
Xu Nuo instinctively held the child closer, quickly grasping the situation. She was now a miserable daughter-in-law, just after childbirth, despised by her husband and mother-in-law.
Mother and child were still weeping, their accusations continuing—from blaming the barren wife to cursing unjust fate. Xu Nuo ignored them, reaching for the cold egg custard on the table and feeding the child small spoonfuls.
“Eat! You still have the nerve to eat?!”
The old woman exploded in rage, snatching the egg custard from Xu Nuo’s hand and smashing it to the ground.