Chapter 3
The current situation on Earth is one of one superpower and many strong nations.
Xia is a superpower, while An and Jiang are developing nations. To combat Xia, Jiang orders a female doctor named Bai Tiao to research biological viruses. She succeeds, developing a plant called "Yingzhi."
This plant quickly became localized and eventually became more and more prevalent, spawning the two toxic substances of Fruit Smoke and Poetry Powder. Because they were new, they weren't immediately controlled.
The situation was serious. The fluorescent mushroom had strong vitality and no natural enemies. In just a few months, it even occupied the earth and released "miasma" in a mutated way, causing humans to suffer from a skin disease called "fluorescent disease".
Only at this time did Dr. Bai realize the extent of the impact her action had brought. Even though she was essentially carrying out a mission for Jiang State, it brought a huge disaster to people all over the world.
She began to feel regretful and unable to sleep or eat. After all, although political positions exist, all lives are equal and peace is everyone's earnest wish.
At this time, Bai Tiao sadly discovered that she was being monitored. She didn't know who was monitoring her, but the news reports about the growing number of patients tormented her conscience day and night. She was mentally exhausted and even wanted to find a reporter to make it public.
She then went to talk to a friend, and was stabbed to death when she returned home that night. She could not contact her son who was still in college.
That friend is Lu Chao's mother, an expert in the field of computer life sciences.
Mother Lu is from Xia country and she happens to have a project on hand, about the "Undersea Base Blue Continent". After listening to Dr. Bai's experience, Dr. Lu felt that the leadership of Jiang country was simply mean-spirited, so he contacted an insider that night and planned to send Bai Tiao away from Jiang country.
The truth was revealed, Mother Lu was shot dead on the way, and Dr. Bai disappeared at the beach.
On this side, Lu Chao's father, who worked in the Intelligence Bureau, lost his job and all his titles were revoked. Lu Chao, who was studying at university, was summoned and never returned to the university campus.
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Zhan Mu listened, swallowed, and asked cautiously: "So how did you die?"
"Car accident." Lu Chao smoked a cigarette in front of the computer screen. There was hidden hatred and endless resentment in his dim eyes.
"I remember it very clearly. I called my mother several times with my phone, but it kept showing that the call was ongoing. I had no idea where she was..." Lu Chao sighed and said:
"It was such a mess. It was such a chaotic day. I was having a barbecue with my roommates when the counselor called me to his office. I went, and he looked terrified. Then a group of uniformed officers asked me who I was, and then took me to a car and told me I was going home to see my dad... On the way, they even chatted with me and were very nice. They told me not to be nervous and asked me to call my mom, but she didn't answer."
Confused, puzzled, and unbelievable, Zhan Mu had never seen Lu Chao like this before. That was a pain and struggle that did not belong to the game settings. This was the real him.
He died in mysterious circumstances and was burdened with deep hatred.
"I made three calls, and the last one that got through was her message. Deduct 1 for work, 0 for everything else... As soon as I pressed 0, the car I was in was hit. Then, my mind went haywire. It felt like something had run me over. I smelled something burning, and when I woke up, I was a digital being."
Zhan Mu propped up his face with one hand, half-lying on the table as he chatted with him, saying, "What you're talking about is now public knowledge. Bai Tiao later went to Blue Continent and became a member of the underwater base. She also developed wyh acid to treat 'fluorescein disease'. Just a few months ago, she jumped to her death because her development of artificial plants was exposed."
"In short, fluorescent disease is a thing of the past."
"Did my mother die in vain? My father's whereabouts are still unknown!" Lu Chao suddenly cried out excitedly, as if he was filled with rage and had nowhere to vent. He choked with sobs and said angrily, "Me? And me! Am I going to be treated as a monster in this game for the rest of my life?!"
When he gets angry, he is very vivid, just like a living person.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't worry, buddy." Zhan Mu comforted him. At the same time, he moved his head closer to the computer screen so that he could appreciate the model's face from a closer distance. The distant look in his eyes had faded away and turned into a simple admiration of the face.
Her skin is so good, oh no, it's so white. How can someone be so perfect? Especially the mole on the bridge of her nose, it's the finishing touch, as if it was deliberately carved there, like a freckle kissed by God.
"Well, since you can't come out, why don't I chat with you and go shopping? This game is pretty big and the scenery is nice."
Zhan Mu said this and immediately logged in, put on the brain-computer helmet, and in minutes he traveled through the second dimension to Lu Chao's side.
He appeared at the teleportation point, walked over, and stared straight at Lu Chao. Amid the layers of NPC crowds, every step he took closer was like dancing on the tip of Zhan Mu's heart.
The street lights were dim. Lu Chao was dressed simply. He had a delicate face, a leather jacket and jeans, and a tattered gray scarf hanging around his neck. His outfit was very rustic, but he made it look very fashionable.
Ah, Zhan Mu admitted that he was Lu Chao’s dream man.
Lu Chao was surprised and a little speechless when he appeared. He looked at Zhan Mu who was laughing. He had short hair and bright eyes. He was as thin and tall as the one on the other side of the camera.
"I've been in this game for almost two years, and I've already..." Before Lu Chao could finish his words, Zhan Mu pulled his arm. He raised his eyebrows at him with a familiar and friendly look, just like a good buddy who had met again after a long separation and felt sorry for not meeting earlier.
"Come on, I'll take you to fight the boss." Zhan Mu pulled Lu Chao and started clicking on the map, selecting a colorful fluorescent forest, a beautiful geographical wonder that was imitated from reality.
We've arrived at the Fluorescent Forest, which, as the name suggests, glows. The plants, resembling Ganoderma, are tall yet dense, multicolored and radiant. It's beautiful, akin to the vibrant colors of Pandora from Avatar.
The fact is, there is no boss here, only dancing transparent butterflies, so players who come here usually come to take pictures.
When Lu Chao looked at Zhan Mu, his expression suddenly changed.
Zhan Mu didn't take it seriously. He paced with his hands in his pockets, whistling, and pretending nothing happened. He would kick the gravel under his feet from time to time, hinting at him:
"Is it beautiful? The scenery here is the best. How about taking a photo with me? Don't be nervous, I won't tell anyone that you are the real Lu Chao."
A gangster, a social guy.
These two adjectives suddenly popped up in Lu Chao's mind.
"I'd like to ask you to buy me a Cyber Data ID card." Lu Chao took a deep breath, his voice humbly flattering and apprehensive. He approached Zhan Mu and said, "I know it's a bit expensive, but if you help me, I'll not only pay you back the original price, but I'll also give you a bonus."
Zhan Mumeng turned around and asked, "Do you want to live in society again through the cyber data identity card?"
Lu Chao nodded.
Zhan Mu leaned in closer to look at him, "But that requires guardian certification. If the Civil Affairs Bureau runs away, can they say that I have an extra son?"
This is so indecent.
Lu Chao was so angry that he wanted to chop him into pieces.
However, a friend request popped up in front of him. Zhan Mu put on a meaningful and obscene smile and said, "Well, you know I'm a game streamer. Just think of Lu Chao as me and stream with me. We'll talk after I make some money."
"Why should I trust you? What if you go back on your word?" Lu Chao took two steps back, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Live streaming. Yes, I'm a top-tier ACG star now. If you piggyback on my popularity, your traffic will definitely skyrocket. But if you try to get close to me, what will happen to you?"
"..." Zhan Mu was stunned for a moment, coughed twice, and then solemnly promised: "I won't, really, I will respect you."
Lu Chao was fooled by the sincerity in his eyes. He turned his face away, suppressed the irritation in his heart, and said, "To be honest, you are not the first person I seek help from, so I can't trust you wholeheartedly."
"I am now a digital being, connected to the game 'Extremis'. This means that any device with this game installed is fully accessible to me. I can do almost anything, and I'm even considered part of the entire internet."
Lu Chao raised his eyes, becoming reserved and calm, and said, "I want to be friends with you. Don't betray me, okay? Otherwise, I will make you pay a terrible price."
Zhan Mu raised his eyebrows, but did not seem flustered. Instead, he was full of curiosity and wanted to uncover his mystery even more.
"Really? Show me what you can do." He raised his chin to act cool.
Lu Chao sighed, stretched out his hand, and snapped his fingers. At the same time, the entire fluorescent forest suddenly dimmed, the sky and the earth were colorless, and it was pitch black as if the lights were turned off.
There was no one around, and it was so quiet that the only sounds were the wind and Lu Chao's breathing, which was not too far away.
Zhan Mu was about to speak when, the next second, the sky was filled with stars. The two closest clusters of fluorescent mushrooms suddenly glowed like multicolored, glowing mushrooms. Then, like night flowers blooming, the entire forest of plants lit up for his eyes.
Lu Chaoze stood still, his hair disheveled and his temperament calm.
Very beautiful, like stars in the dark night.
Lu Chao put his hands in his pockets and replied calmly, "It belongs only to you."
This man was also in the painting, leaning nonchalantly against a yew tree next door, looking very much like the one who got drunk in the tavern, with unknown loneliness and sadness hidden in his tipsy eyes.
Zhan Mu's heart was moved. He finally understood why he had been so tireless in being his substitute coach. He had also been dreaming about him a lot recently. It turned out that he liked him.
After his heartbeat quickened, Zhan Mu glanced at him sideways, suppressing the smile on his face, but he couldn't sense any other meaning from his expression, so he could only purse his lips and nodded, saying, "Okay, brother."
"Do you want to take a photo? I'll help you." Lu Chaoqing coughed twice, as if to avoid the ambiguity, and clicked on the interface.
Zhan Mu had already stepped over, hooked his arm around his neck, and said with a bright smile, "Let's go together."
In the brain-computer game Desperate Situation, players can even use their own images as the original skin. Lu Chao then keenly discovered that Zhan Mu had increased his height by 10cm, making it look like he was being hugged in someone's arms.
“…” I’m impressed by this gay guy’s competitive spirit.
Yes, although Lu Chao didn't say it directly, Zhan Mu's browsing history had already hinted at him. This hot-blooded boy in his twenties never watched beautiful women shaking their buttocks in short videos, but only paid attention to muscular men showing off their bodies.
Help, I'm homophobic. Lu Chao was about to cry but couldn't.
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