Chapter 67 Unknown Crash is loading...
That night, Shen Mi tossed and turned in bed, wondering why he hadn't received any rewards or new task instructions even though he had already met the system's requirements for unlocking the task.
Shen Mi summoned the system, intending to inquire about the matter in detail.
[System! System! Wasn't this mission completed? Why haven't I received the reward yet?]
A few seconds later, an unfamiliar mechanical voice sounded. Unlike the usual banter, this time it was a real human-machine interaction.
[Task detection in progress, please wait...]
Chen Mi: ?
[System? What's wrong with you?]
What's going on? Chen Mi, not believing in superstition, called out several more times, but the only response she received was the same cold, monotonous sentence.
Each time I called, the system's response remained unchanged, as if it had been infected by a recurring virus—it was extremely bizarre.
Shen Mi sat up abruptly from the bed, her heart skipping a beat.
She wasn't unfamiliar with system glitches, but this one was different. In the past, even when she felt guilty and tried to cheat, she always managed to retain a semblance of humanity, either proactively admitting her mistakes or shamelessly trying to please and charm her. But this system, with its unfamiliar voice and stiff tone, sounded like a completely mindless program executor.
Shen Mi hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked in a low voice, "Are you still the same system?"
The only response she received was silence. Even the unchanging "Please wait" had disappeared.
Shen Mi's face darkened.
The system is malfunctioning.
What disturbed her even more than the "problem" itself was that it didn't seem like a simple bug or a temporary delay, but rather more like a "crash" state after an intrusion, like a computer forcibly cutting off the command path after being maliciously attacked, just to avoid deeper control.
She tried to bring up the strategy panel, but the result made her feel a chill.
The entire task list had turned gray, as if the entire map had suddenly become a blind spot. But strangely, the progress bars for the three targets—Dan Heng, Jing Yuan, and Ren—were still lit up. Only at the very bottom, a gray progress bar she had never seen before appeared, with three question marks in the name field.
When did this appear? Shen Mi had no recollection of it.
She instinctively reached out to click on it, but found that no matter what she did, the system didn't respond at all—there were no text prompts or voice feedback. The cursor hovered over that mysterious progress bar, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Shen Mi frowned, his unease growing stronger.
She didn't know who to consult with for a while, and the only system that knew her secrets and could be consulted was now "uncertain of its fate."
What is now certain is that the strategy values of Danheng, Jingyuan, and Ren were not affected by the "crash".
Calm down, Shenmi, think it over carefully, think about why this happened.
She repeatedly told herself not to be frightened by the unknown.
Especially at times like these, it's crucial not to panic.
From the very moment I transmigrated into this world, I've been thinking... about whether there's any information I've overlooked.
Thoughts are like a school of fish trapped in the deep sea, struggling painfully in a dense net, desperately searching for a way out.
The strategy points were normal, but the system suddenly crashed and the task list turned completely gray... right after she and Jingyuan reached an important milestone.
Is it a coincidence? Or was it triggered by some specific condition?
Shen Mi was completely baffled.
She slowly lay back down on the bed, wide awake.
The ceiling was a silent white, like a vast, empty sky, and she seemed to be floating alone on the sea, with the empty sky above her head and the vast, desolate sea below, feeling helpless and alone.
She felt a long-lost sense of powerlessness, as if she had suddenly fallen into an abyss, with everything in darkness before her eyes, not knowing where the bottom was.
This feeling is all too familiar—
Just like on that desolate planet, in order to survive, to steal the ledger, and to deal with Cullen, her nerves were constantly on edge. Back then, every night before falling asleep, she would ask herself the same question:
What will happen tomorrow? Will I even be alive?
She thought that these days would end after she left that place.
But now, she is in the same predicament again—only this time, there are no enemies, no gunshots, but instead, the system that has always been guiding her from behind.
Shen Mi slowly closed his eyes, but he couldn't fall asleep at all.
The words Jingyuan said to her tonight kept flashing through her mind:
"I hope you can always be free and at ease in Xianzhou."
What a tender promise! Yet, just as she was beginning to feel a sliver of warmth, reality plunged her back into the depths of despair.
"...We still don't even know what went wrong, it's really tragic."
Shen Mi chuckled softly to himself, but he was not defeated by those words.
She opened her eyes, her gaze calm.
Even if she were to return to the darkness, she would not shrink back as she had when she first arrived.
Even if she can't find an "exit," she can hold on as long as she doesn't encounter any danger.
At least her strategy points haven't reached zero, and her character progress is still going strong. That means she's still alive, still exists in this world, and the game is still ongoing, just in a different way.
From scratch to where she is now, didn't she get here through her own abilities?
It was she herself who, step by step, met Dan Heng on the desolate star, and then met Jing Yuan in Luofu... Didn't she personally resolve every crisis she encountered?
Every key moment, every conversation, every relationship established—it wasn't a "system's" handout, but a response she earned through trust and courage.
Even without task prompts or reward incentives, she would continue on.
Thinking of this, Shen Mi slowly lay back on the bed, closed her eyes, and seemed to hear their voices echoing in her ears.
"Shen Mi, I believe in you..."
"Chen Mi, no matter how long it takes, I'm willing to wait for you..."
"I'm just a passerby, why bother asking my name..."
She gently clenched her fist and pressed it against her chest. Shen Mi let out a long breath, as if expelling all the pent-up frustration in her chest.
"Fuck this shitty world! Come on, try and kill me!"
After yelling, she closed her eyes, and her heart finally calmed down. A few minutes later, she finally fell into a deep sleep.
The night outside the window had not yet faded, but the wind had quietly shifted its direction.
*
The next morning, Shen Mi found her electronic driver's license on the official website of the Immortal Ship's Starship Registration Center. Her name and identification number were printed on the light gold background, along with a high-resolution system-reserved ID photo, which she had taken at the Earth Balance Division when she first arrived at the Immortal Ship.
The person in the photo not only had a smaller face than they do now, but also had dark circles under their eyes and didn't look as energetic.
Shen Mi sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Suffering makes people progress, while happiness makes people decadent."
She unconsciously pinched her waist, where a thin layer of "spare tire" hung.
It seems I need to strengthen my training in a certain area.
While electronic versions are convenient, paper verification is still required for many transactions on Xianzhou Island, especially when verification is needed, requiring the two certificates to be combined into one.
So Shen Mi promptly sent Jing Yuan a leave request.
[Jingyuan, I'd like to ask for leave this morning to pick up my paper driver's license from the Tianbo Company, and also to visit Master Baixuan.]
Jingyuan replied quickly, his concern still gentle yet restrained:
Okay, no rush. Be careful on the road.
[By the way, you need to take another photo of the printed version. Don't be too nervous when taking the photo; a smile will make you look better.]
Shen Mi stared at the line of text for a moment, then burst out laughing.
[From what you're saying, it seems like there's a story behind it?]
【some. 】
Shen Mi put away his phone and decided to go back and have Jing Yuan tell him the story in detail.
Saturday and Sunday are the unified rest days in Luofu. Today is Friday, and if he doesn't hurry up and get the paperwork done, he'll have to wait two more days. To make the most of the 8,000 patrol points he received, Chen Mi got up early in the morning, determined to be the first person to go in and complete the process.
The morning in Xianzhou was quieter than she had imagined. The streets were bathed in the gentle light of the morning sun, and there were not many pedestrians. However, long queues had already formed in front of the various government offices.
When Shen Mi arrived at the service hall, there were still fifteen minutes before it opened. Although she wasn't the first one, she still managed to get to the front of the line.
She stretched her wrists, took a deep breath, and freely breathed in the air.
Shen Mi watched as the staff stamped the small booklet with a red seal, and the paper driver's license was smoothly handed to her. Everything went smoothly, and even the ID photo turned out well—her eyebrows and eyes were calm, and her expression was natural. It was just a pity that her smile was a little crooked, but it was much better than the listless photo that the system had reserved.
She glanced at her new documents with satisfaction, and her mood lightened considerably.
She took out her phone and checked the time; it was only 9:30. There was still plenty of time before noon. After hesitating for a moment, Shen Mi remembered the congratulatory gift that Master Bai Xuan had given her yesterday, and decided to go to the nearby driving school on her way.
Firstly, I wanted to thank him, and secondly, I wanted to talk to Master Baixuan about the Spring Bathing Festival in person, and I happened to have some free time now.
The journey from the office to the driving school wasn't far. Shops along the way were open to customers, and the streets were clean and tidy despite the lingering morning mist. As Chen Mi walked, he pondered the menu for the Spring Bathing Festival, secretly thinking: I can't bring cold steamed buns, can I? The atmosphere of the Spring Bathing Festival, a kind of outing and recreation, should at least have some sense of ritual.
I wonder if Jing Yuan will take a vacation then? If he does, why not invite him to come along?
When she stepped into the driving school gate, there were hardly any people in the courtyard, but Master Bai Xuan was already sitting on the podium.
Upon seeing Shen Mi, Bai Xuan smiled kindly. "You're here already? Have you finished getting your documents?" He put down what he was looking at and walked over.
“Master, you went to great lengths yesterday, giving me so many things. Here are some delicious treats I saw on the way.” Shen Mi handed the treats he had bought along the way to Bai Xuan. “I’ve decided, I’ll go with everyone on the Spring Bathing Festival.”
Bai Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, her tone revealing no obvious emotion: "Bai Qi told me you weren't too keen on getting involved?"
Recalling what happened last night, Shen Mi said somewhat awkwardly, "No... it's possible that there was some misunderstanding last night, which made Bai Qi mistakenly think that I wasn't going."
"Misunderstanding? Then Bai Qi must be acting childish again. I'll make her apologize to you another day."
Upon hearing the word "apology," Shen Mi immediately realized it was a bit much and quickly waved her hand, saying, "No, no, it's not that serious."
Ultimately, this is Bai Qi's own business, and anyone who interferes will make her feel embarrassed.
Shen Mi didn't want to dwell on this matter too much, so she simply asked everyone if they had any food restrictions.
She had nothing of value, but she was quite interested in cooking and was actually quite good at it. She felt indebted to Master Bai Xuan for the many gifts she had received; if she went empty-handed at the Spring Bathing Festival, she'd probably call herself an ingrate.
"I'm preparing lunch for everyone's trip that day. I'm a pretty good cook. Could you please ask everyone if they have any dietary restrictions? I'd like to prepare in advance."
Bai Xuan pondered for a moment: "You've thought of everything. Wait for me a moment."
He then took out his terminal and sent a few short messages. Within a minute, he began to receive responses.
As he flipped through the document, he relayed it to Shen Mi: "No one has any dietary restrictions. We'll probably be eating by the stream or on the grass that day, so complicated dishes might not be suitable to bring."
Shen Mi smiled and nodded: "Okay."
"That's good," Bai Xuan sent her a string of notes, and then said, "We'll set off in the morning on the day of the Spring Bathing Festival, and the afternoon is free time. There will be fireworks later. I'll send you the details later."
"Oh, right." Bai Xuan seemed to have thought of something. He looked up and gave Shen Mi a teasing smile, saying, "You can bring your friends over."
Shen Mi was taken aback, and immediately understood who Bai Xuan was referring to as "friend," which was exactly what she had in mind.
“Received.” Shen Mi’s smile widened. “Then I’ll prepare it the night before and carry it over.”
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
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Author's Note: We've finally arrived at this point, and various questions will soon arise. Those things we overlooked, those things we dreamed about—were they well-intentioned reminders, or omens of the ending? Stay tuned for the next chapter—"The Keychain," another sweet chapter.
[Sunglasses][Sunglasses][Sunglasses] Make a bold guess!!!
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