Chapter 52 Online Dating 19

Brilliant fireworks burst across the starry night sky, turning it into daylight in an instant. Starlight fell in all directions, and the wedding banquet venue, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, was bustling with people.

The crimson fairy robe accentuated Fei Xing's slender waist and long legs, and the flowing ribbons made him look like a god descending to earth. The celestial garment he created was about the same height as Fei Xing, and the system's setting of a petite and dependent interaction made the celestial garment exude a certain air of forcefully embracing men.

Congratulations echoed endlessly. Amidst the fluttering ribbons, a celestial phenomenon occurred: a bluebird brought the Milky Way, forming a magpie bridge to allow those destined to meet to cross the vast distance together…

Everything was like a wedding in a dream.

Yuan Ying opened her eyes.

Sunlight streamed into the room, bright and dazzling. The sounds of washing up came from the bathroom; the dormitory wasn't well soundproofed, so the laughter and playfulness in the hallway and the clanging of bicycles downstairs were all crystal clear.

I gently touched her forehead with my palm; her temperature was normal, and she didn't have a fever.

He actually indulged in his dream even though he wasn't sick, and woke up later than Li Wen and Du Chengfeng.

The fat man burst out of the creaky, old bathroom door and casually joked, "What sweet dream you had that you slept so soundly?"

Normally, these noises would have woken Yuan Ying up long ago.

Knowing Yuan Ying's character well, he didn't expect a response. He lifted the hem of his T-shirt to wipe the water off his face, grabbed his backpack, and was about to leave with Li Wen when Yuan Ying got out of bed, drank some water, and suddenly said, "It's a good thing."

"ah?"

Du Chengfeng was startled and instinctively looked at Li Wen—was this man possessed?

Li Wen gently shook his head. The two looked at each other for a moment, then chuckled and left. During the break, Yuan Ying was described by Du Chengfeng as a fool who had gone mad from dreaming of getting rich and thought she could get rich in reality.

Yuan Ying didn't care about their opinions.

I opened my phone and saw 99+ pinned messages in the guild group, all about weddings and red envelopes.

There was still no word from the other person who had pinned her message, so Yuan Ying cautiously sent her a greeting via text.

Luo Ying: Good morning.

Fallen Petals: [A puppy peeks out]

I casually clicked into the other person's Moments, and it was still showing photos taken a few days ago.

"..." I thought Lai Si would post the photos taken at their wedding.

So I went back to the guild group to confirm, and last night's wedding wasn't a dream. The uploaded video went viral, and among the comments that hadn't been cleaned up yet, some were sincere congratulations, some were insincere blessings, some were jealous, some were angry and resentful, and many were asking: Why?

Why him?

What do you see in Lai Si about a low-class person who uses a cheap voice changer, accepts gifts from anyone and whose gender is ambiguous?

The video plays, and the camera focuses on the couple at the wedding.

"The Daoist Companion of Lai Si"—the newly awarded title has broken the defenses of countless people.

"It's not a dream."

Yuan Ying was unaware that a faint yet happy smile had quietly appeared on the corners of his usually sharp eyes.

He married Lai Si.

A joyful cry of a hawk echoed in her chest, dispelling the lingering sense of unease that had haunted her since birth. In its place was a sense of security, a feeling that everything had finally found its place, and her empty heart was filled with happiness. Yuan Ying went to the window, where everything was vibrant with color, unlike the gray and gloomy atmosphere of the past.

It was as if... he was born for this purpose, and came into this world for that one moment last night.

This idea is too bizarre and extreme, too "love-struck," but the massive release of dopamine keeps reaffirming the truth of everything.

Yuan Ying breathed a sigh of relief, just then the special reminder bell rang.

Lai Si: Good morning! [peeking]

Lai Si: Have you had breakfast yet? I had corn this morning, it was super sweet.

The accompanying picture is of a plump, round ear of yellow corn, but in Yuan Ying's eyes, it pales in comparison to her fingers, which only appear in the corner of the frame. Her nails are a healthy, pearly white.

Yuan Ying replied: I just finished eating a big meat bun, it's a bit greasy^^

The eager anticipation of Lai Si's reply, the curiosity about him, the attention and subconscious analysis of him... Yuan Ying had seen this state in the film and television analysis she had come across, commonly known as "liking".

However, his initial intention in approaching Lai Si was revenge, to expose the true face of the big shot on the list.

Despite countless self-reminders, his rationality was still teetering on the brink of collapse, and his actions were completely different from his thoughts—from beginning to end, he did not deliberately explore the other side of Lai Si, and he did not even take screenshots of the chat when Lai Si repeatedly revived and killed him.

When did he succumb?

Even though Lai Si was two-faced and hypocritical, he was still beyond redemption, consciously sinking into depravity.

He couldn't explain why.

Could it be that monsters, out of place in this world, harbor base intentions and subconsciously seek out their own kind?

But Lai Si comes from a prominent family and has a bright future; for him, games are just a pastime, unlike his dark, rat-like nature.

His thoughts were a jumbled mess, but Yuan Ying put them aside and stopped thinking about them. He followed his instincts and logged on. The first thing he saw was the couple's outfit they had changed into after the wedding. Before, he had always thought it was gaudy and garish, but now it looked perfectly pleasing to the eye. The place he landed on was the shared home that the star official had assigned to them, "Laisi and Luoying's Home." He had done some emergency renovations before logging off last night, so it didn't look so empty. In fact, it was simple yet beautiful, with a unique freshness and charm.

Before Lai Si could log on, Yuan Ying teleported back to the guild headquarters alone, bearing the title of Daoist Partner.

[Guild] Hook Silk Side Slide: Good morning, come join the PvP!

[Guild] Seven's Will: Vice Guild Leader's Wife! So touching! Now we can walk out with our heads held high. We, the players of Endless Return, are not cowards; we also have a Vice Guild Leader's Wife!

[Guild] Pink Snow: I'm asking you, does Lu Tian exist? I'm asking you, does Lu Tian exist? Your vice guild is so disgusting and hateful that even if it closes down, you still can't have a romantic relationship. LOL.

[Guild] Bibidou: Above the Heavens, We Win!

Everything made Yuan Ying feel incredibly good.

Especially—

"Baby." Lai Si came online on YY and called out to Yuan Ying, making her dizzy. "Come and do your daily tasks. We continued our romance quest last night."

After saying that, he chuckled to himself: "Is it a little inappropriate to call you that? If you're not used to it, let's stick to our old way of addressing each other in private?"

Yuan Ying: "No need, this is fine. Very good."

Although the marriage stemmed from his shameful, opportunistic, and coquettish pleas, Lai Si still changed how he addressed her. Perhaps there was some ill intent behind this, but Yuan Ying accepted it without question.

Baby, baby, baby.

Yuan Ying found the feeling wonderful and was completely captivated. He used to scoff at people who got carried away by online romance, but now he finally realized that sometimes it's not a matter of whether you can control yourself, but rather that when the other person casually says "baby," your body moves unconsciously.

Happiness is like whipped cream on a drink, sweet yet light; things without weight are hard to satisfy. Greed, on the other hand, is a monster born almost instantly, peering into the future with scarlet eyes—too far away through the screen.

He did not know Lai Si's real name, where he lived, his joys and sorrows, whether he was eating well, or his physical condition.

Marriages in games are too fragile.

Thinking back to those online dating posts I used to see mocking, I can't help but recall their endings. Of those, only one in a hundred actually made it to the end. The carefree and joyful days of youth are ultimately short-lived, and in the end, they always return to the cold reality.

Therefore, a valid marriage certificate is still missing.

Yuan Ying's fingers twitched slightly.

In an instant, these possible developments floated into my mind.

[Dedication Points +10]

[Dedication Points +5]

[Dedication Points +2]

[Dedication Points +2]

...

[Dedication Points +5]

Ever since she agreed to marry him, her dedication points have been jumping around like crazy. Lu Xuejin had become numb to it and told Dongyao to turn off the growth notification.

"[Already 79, that goes by so fast.]" Dong Yao said, a hint of confusion in his cold, mechanical voice. "[It's just a marriage in a game, virtual and legal, and can be dissolved anytime one party wants. Why are you so happy?]"

These scattered fragments of the soul often most directly reflect the emotions that the original person deliberately conceals. If one is so happy to achieve a virtual marriage, one can imagine how overjoyed one must have been when the real wedding was held.

In the afternoon, team 33 started, and the atmosphere became a little awkward because of the addition of a couple. Although they matched as usual, Lu Xuejin and Fox were responsible for focusing fire, and Yuan Ying was responsible for keeping the team alive, Tianyi always seemed to favor Flying Star when using skills, and Fox was almost killed by Yuan Ying's constant spamming.

He laughed and said, "Luoying, you can't just think about your love life. If I die, you won't have a good ending either."

A mouthful of milk slowly dripped onto him, pulling up the bloodline that was about to plummet to the bottom.

Four matches resulted in three wins and one draw. The three players' scores were just enough to overflow, and they all advanced in rank after the last match, achieving the initial goal of Team 33.

"Baby," Yuan Ying called shyly, "would you like to exchange for the Love-Sickness Essence too? I heard that using it to forge weapons in the Romance Realm gives an extra bonus."

Lu Xuejin had nothing in mind about changing it, and replied, "Mm."

He didn't know when, but the fox that had been laughing and talking with him just moments before fell silent.

Yuan Ying then said, "Thank you for your hard work, Guild Leader. Would you like to continue playing?"

Although it was a question, the implication was that Squad 33 should be disbanded immediately.

Continuing to fight would only make the ranking look better, but the guild leader in the sky doesn't need such embellishments. The fox said, "If I stay any longer, wouldn't I just become an annoying third wheel?"

He lazily offered his blessings: "Congratulations on your marriage."

After saying that, he decisively left their private time together, along with YY.

With the third person in the squad finally disbanded, Yuan Ying breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of exhilaration, like getting rid of cockroaches after a thorough cleaning.

"Shi, Bao, Baobao..." When there were no outsiders around, he stumbled a couple of times, seemingly unaccustomed to such titles, but he adapted exceptionally well and quickly got the hang of it.

Even though it was only their first day of marriage, he showed unprecedented initiative, decorating the house and greeting visiting relatives and friends... He was as skilled as if he had been married to Lu Xuejin for a long time, acting like the proper wife.

Weapons crafted using the Love-Scented Essence are called Star-Moon Essence. The extra attribute bonuses are practically useless, but when a pair of weapons meet, they will have a special interaction.

Yuan Ying manipulated the character, making Tianyi stand close to Feixing, and boundless starlight overflowed from their shoulders, while a pair of small stars lit up above their heads. Lu Xuejin froze the camera at this moment.

All morning, they spent their time together taking photos at various scenic spots. Although the onlookers couldn't hear the affectionate "baby" voices on YY microphone, they could still tell how much they loved each other from the frequent and intimate interactions between the characters.

Not to mention that Luo Ying flaunted her Daoist partner title in public and sent out huge red envelopes in the guild group under the guise of thanking everyone for their blessings, which made some people envious.

"Will you die if you don't show off, you bastard?"

: Does this show-off mean he only has a year to live? [eye roll]

I don't understand what he's so proud of. Lai Si clearly doesn't like him much; most of the interactions are one-sided, initiated by him.

This guy must be ecstatic.

...I'm really devastated. How can they be so intimate and happy? I can't even imagine what my wife calls Ying Gou in private. [crying][crying] Does he call Ying Gou baby? Do they video chat? Do they meet up in person? Do they...? My heart is bleeding.

Little did he know that all the comments that broke his defenses had been seen by Ying Gou himself. Yuan Ying closed the interface, his eyes showing disdain. He had never taken these rats hiding in the anonymous area seriously before, and now, there was even less need to look at them.

Returning her thoughts to Lai Si, Yuan Ying, though immediately wanting to take their relationship into reality, knew it was too terrible to do so. Barely suppressing her burgeoning greed, she patiently and casually asked, "Baby, may I know your name?"

Luo Ying: Yuan Ying.

Fallen petals: These are mine^^

It is perfectly normal for couples to exchange names three times.

Lai Si: Lu Xuejin.

“Lu Xuejin,” Yuan Ying murmured slowly, “a good name.”

Snow.

A cold and frigid image.

On the one hand, it seems to say that Lu Xuejin herself is as pure and cold as snow, unapproachable; on the other hand, it seems to suggest that Lu Xuejin's personality is not so gentle.

The snow is pure white and beautiful, but it is cold, dangerous, and filled with murderous intent.

Only he knew what Lu Xuejin really looked like.

Yuan Ying realized this fact and immediately felt a sense of indescribable surprise and joy.

Therefore, one can look down on those players who have broken their defenses on various platforms with even greater contempt—you people keep saying you love him, but you don't really understand him at all.

Lu Xuejin has been in poor health since childhood. According to the fox, he didn't seem to have attended school normally. Given how much his family valued and doted on him, they must have kept a close watch on him to prevent him from getting into overly stimulating games and entertainment. Just thinking about how dull and boring his childhood must have been makes Yuan Ying's heart ache.

Therefore, it's only natural to find enjoyment in one's own way. Even if Lu Xuejin is wicked, he hasn't truly hurt anyone; he just enjoys deceiving people with a facade. Yuan Ying thought to herself, a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. So what if the smile is fake? Didn't those "victims" benefit?

These shallow people, following the crowd, shout "Wife, wife," but not one of them discovers the true face of his wife.

A bunch of idiots.

Now, it exudes a different kind of tender warmth. Words related to "now," "today," and "future" always bring Yuan Ying many positive hints.

No one will ever see his other side again.

Lu Xuejin's good and bad can only be enjoyed by him at the same time.

...

"Wow, it's Star Moon Guiding. Lai Si and the others have finally made the weapon from Love Guiding." Someone said in a small group chat with friends and family, and then posted a screenshot. The picture showed two people embracing intimately, and the weapon's encounter effect was particularly eye-catching.

"Emmm, this effect is a bit rough on the texture. Could you please optimize it? If you can create a delicate flying bird, I don't believe your game's technical capabilities are lacking."

Dating Assistant: "The game planners really know how to make money. I would have thought this was too expensive even if it were sold directly for 6 yuan, but now they've stuffed it into the couples' gameplay, added a title, and so many people are buying it. It's so easy to make money off couples!"

"People aren't buying special effects; they're buying a status, a sense of superiority. You don't understand."

"I'm so envious! Who will grant me a destined love? Heaven, can you hear my voice? I don't ask for much, just a surname and a given name like Si."

"Old Fei is dreaming again!" the assistant mocked mercilessly. "Does Lai Si even know who you are? You're already getting cocky. You're not even as good as Zhu Lin. Sigh, I thought if our Zhu Lin worked harder, she could marry into a wealthy family. Back then, I could go out and brag that I had Lai Si as a friend."

"Gem Guy is so boring. He just fiddles with his gems all day without saying a word. They say you have to take the initiative to start a story. Bamboo Forest... umm, will he ever find a girlfriend?"

"It's unlikely."

Bamboo Forest listened silently, not uttering a word even when its relatives and friends were openly chirping crickets.

He's feeling a bit down, and he's still feeling a bit down and uncomfortable.

On the private chat channel, his blessings had not yet been replied to, and the gems he sent had not been received.

Indeed, after this wedding, Lai Si's private messages are probably already overflowing. He has so many relatives and friends to respond to, and his message is definitely inconspicuous among the many players on the leaderboard.

This is the consequence of not participating in PvP or PvE and only focusing on gem research: utter mediocrity.

In contrast to him, Lai Si is like a gemstone, pure and clear, with a dazzling brilliance even without polishing. Every angle reflects a breathtakingly beautiful color, forever radiant and dazzling.

He didn't have high hopes, but he couldn't help but think that one day he could bring such a gem home and admire and play with it up close.

Then I learned that Lai Si was already married.

He was working overtime that day and missed the wedding ceremony, so he could only experience the excitement and sensation through a screen recording.

It would be a lie to say I have no regrets.

But the obsession wasn't that deep.

You can view it up close or look up at it from a distance.

Zhu Lin lowered his head and continued studying the formula diagram.

The gemstone I'm making now is intended as a wedding gift for Lai Si.

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!" Suddenly, screams came from YY, each one louder than the last.

The matchmaking assistant picked at his ear: "What's wrong? Did you get terrified by the robbery? Who dares to kill you? I'll come and watch."

"Hey, I've never formally become a disciple or taken on an apprentice. Anyone who's ever played the master-disciple role, can you tell me if your original title is still retained if your master-disciple relationship is unilaterally terminated?"

The assistant, confused, said, "Yes, but the color turns gray. This stuff is disgusting."

"...A person suddenly appeared here, bearing the title of 'Laisi's disciple'."

"ah?"

"ID is slower in the past."

More people joined in: "Huh??"

Almost everyone in the Endless Chapters has heard about the gossip surrounding Lai Si and his disciples, and he knows each of their disciples like the back of his hand.

"It's the one I'm thinking of, isn't it? That Green kick."

"It's him, it's him. Wasn't he offline for a while? Why is he online now? I'm suspicious..."

The group of people started talking, then stopped at the same time, and a meaningful silence fell over them.

After exchanging bewildered glances, the Cybers realized that this server was about to witness another chaotic battle.