That heart-wrenching scream of data was like an invisible branding iron, searing the very depths of Jiang Chan's consciousness, its aftershocks still reverberating wildly in the depths of her soul. Then, everything abruptly stopped.
Deathly silence. Pure, absolute nothingness.
Immediately afterwards, my senses were suddenly activated as if a switch had been forcibly pressed, with a "click".
It was not a gradual awakening, but a brutal, all-encompassing infusion.
The blinding white light disappeared, replaced by another kind of light—warm, bright, and with just the right temperature, it fell evenly on the skin. Jiang Chan suddenly opened her eyes.
Her body felt light, like a feather floating, without a trace of the excruciating pain and shattering sensation she had felt before. She breathed rapidly, instinctively reaching up to touch her back. Her spine was smooth and flat, without any wounds, not even a speck of dust.
She stood on a pure white sand beach that stretched to the horizon. The sand was as fine as the finest pearl powder; walking barefoot on it felt only a soft, enveloping sensation, without any sensation of heat or cold.
Before me stretched an ocean of azure blue, as if inlaid with the most expensive jewels. Gentle waves, laden with snow-white foam, kissed the beach again and again, making a soothing rustling sound. A sweet scent filled the air, a blend of sunshine, floral fragrance, and some indescribable sense of satisfaction.
The oversaturated colors and excessively perfect details resemble a carefully woven sweet cage.
"Welcome to the Other Side of the Clouds." A gentle, melodious, and completely calm female voice suddenly rang out. The light in front of Jiang Chan distorted almost imperceptibly, converging into a semi-transparent humanoid silhouette.
It lacks distinct facial features and resembles more of a service guidance model composed of soft white light.
"This is your private introductory zone, 'Azure Shore'. You can customize any environment, items, or experience to your heart's content. Our sole purpose is to fulfill your innermost desires and provide you with eternal tranquility and supreme joy."
Jiang Chan didn't speak, but stared intently at the luminous figure. The memory of that sharp, data-driven scream pierced through the false peace before her like an icicle.
The guiding being seemed unconcerned by her silence, continuing in a flat, sweet voice: "Here, time loses its meaning, aging and disease cease to exist. You can relive your most cherished memories, create unfulfilled dreams, or explore infinite possibilities. Everything is governed by your will. Please relax and fully enjoy your eternal paradise."
Jiang Chan finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse and tense, without her even realizing it: "What about the others? Those who uploaded it before me?" She deliberately avoided the word "heaven".
“All the esteemed residents are immersed in their own perfect worlds,” the Light Man replied smoothly. “Of course, you can also choose to visit the public interaction area and have pleasant social interactions with other residents. Would you like me to open the passage to the social plaza for you?”
“No need,” Jiang Chan immediately refused. She needed time to observe, rather than immediately getting caught up in a group of residents who might also be “data imposters.”
The luminous being nodded slightly: "Alright. You can call me anytime. May you have a perfect day on the other side of the clouds." The luminous being's silhouette rippled like water before dissipating into the air.
Jiang Chan stood alone on the deserted, perfect beach. The sun shone warmly, the sea breeze ruffled her long, black hair, making it smoother and shinier than ever before, and the gentle sound of the waves soothed her. Everything pointed to one word: perfect.
But Jiang Chan felt a chill creeping from the depths of her consciousness. It was too perfect, so perfect it was like a giant, bottomless trap. She raised her hand, looking at her long, flawless fingers. No calluses, no scars. A thought struck her, and she imagined holding a glass of chilled, freshly squeezed orange juice.
Almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind, a glass filled with a golden liquid, its sides condensed with tiny water droplets, appeared out of thin air in her hand. It felt cool and heavy.
She hesitated for a moment, then brought it to her lips and took a sip. The sweet and sour flavor was just right, with a rich fruity aroma, perfectly replicating her favorite taste from memory. But when she swallowed, there was no real swallowing sensation in her throat; the taste of the juice felt like a thin film floating on her taste buds—she could taste it, but couldn't truly "immerse" herself in it.
Beneath the perfect facade lies a massive void.
Jiang Chan began to walk along the "Azure Shore". She tried to change the environment: with a thought, the beach under her feet instantly turned into a secluded valley full of exotic flowers; with another movement, it transformed into a snow-capped mountain peak with sparkling ice crystals.
Every change was seamless and flawless. Yet, no matter how the environment changed, that omnipresent, soothing, and drowsy sense of "satisfaction" remained unchanged, like a greasy film covering all the senses.
She walked towards a huge rock on the beach. The texture of the rock was clearly visible, and she could even see the tiny seashells and seaweed clinging to it. She stretched out her finger and gently stroked the uneven texture.
The touch was hard, rough, and carried the slightly salty scent of seawater—exactly the same feel of real reefs in her memory. However, just as her fingertips traced a deep indentation, the pixels at the edge of the indentation seemed to blur extremely slightly, almost imperceptibly, for a fraction of a second, like the static on an old television screen with a poor signal, so fast that she almost thought it was an illusion.
Jiang Chan's heart sank.
She began to create "chaos" in the environment. She tried to imagine a black rock with sharp edges suddenly appearing in the middle of a smooth beach.
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