Chen Huaian chuckled in disbelief when the top-up prompt popped up again.
"This game doesn't even bother to pretend anymore, huh? Just straight-up asking for money."
Still, when he looked at the girl huddled in the corner of the broken straw hut, something inside him stirred.
She reminded him of himself—helpless, broke, abandoned.
He couldn't afford his cancer treatment, his girlfriend had dumped him, and even the friends he once trusted now avoided him like a plague, afraid he'd ask for a loan.
Who would ever reach out a hand to save someone like him?
But right now… he could reach out a hand to save her.
Even if she was nothing more than a string of code—created just to drain his wallet.
"It's only six yuan. Let's do it."
This was Chen Huaian's very first time spending money in a game. He'd never even played one before—just seen others do it.
[Recharge Successful!]
A golden shimmer burst from the prompt and swept toward the broken hut in the game interface.
The moment the light touched the straw mat, it transformed into a proper wooden bed, complete with thick blankets. The cracked mud walls were replaced with solid bricks, and a window appeared, shutting out the wind and rain.
As the golden light washed through the room, antique-style furniture materialized—wooden floors, a table, chairs, a stove… Everything felt both ancient and elegant.
"Now that's more like it," Chen Huaian sighed in satisfaction, turning to look at Li Qingran's reaction.
After all, it was just a mobile game. He expected a basic animation—maybe a smile to show she was happy.
But what he saw next stunned him.
Her expression shifted—from shock to fear, then to wariness.
She shrank into the corner, trembling, as if she couldn't believe what was happening.
Only after a long moment did she cautiously crawl out like a kitten exploring a new environment.
She circled the room, then sat on the bed, gently touched the mattress—and stared blankly ahead, completely lost.
"Holy moly… this feedback system, this level of interaction—"
Chen Huaian was speechless.
When Li Qingran sat down, the bed even sank slightly under her weight. The fabric wrinkled where she touched it.
For a mobile game to simulate this level of realism?
He'd gladly pay more—just to support such insane development.
Just as he was thinking that…
[Limited-Time Offer: Only ¥30 for a beautiful outfit for your virtual girlfriend!]
"…Ugh."
He looked at Li Qingran's tattered clothing, and his heart softened.
"Fine. Top up."
Swish!
A folded green robe appeared neatly on the bed—elegant and traditional in design.
[Daily Deal: ¥68 for a full-course nutritious meal for your virtual girlfriend!]
"Sixty-eight? I don't even spend fifteen on myself."
"...Whatever. Top up."
Poof!
A table appeared, filled with steaming dishes—roast duck, vegetables, soup. The food looked so real that Chen could almost smell the rich aroma.
[Weekly Deal: ¥98 to receive a detailed background and medical report of your virtual girlfriend!]
"Top up!"
[Monthly Special: ¥188 for three high-grade Thunderfire Talismans to protect her home!]
"Top! Up! Now!"
[Your virtual girlfriend is frightened. Please wait before continuing further operations~]
The recharge prompts finally stopped.
Chen blinked.
Li Qingran had crawled under the bed and was now curled up, trembling.
She hadn't touched the new clothes or the food.
A new report countdown appeared in the corner of the screen—it would take 30 minutes to generate.
Three talismans had been quietly placed on the door, windows, and roof—but unless zoomed in, they were barely visible.
Still, one thing gave him some peace of mind:
Li Qingran's life had been extended to six hours.
"Not bad. Looks like things are stable for now."
The in-game time matched real-world time, so he didn't need to rush things.
"Right… she had some kind of fire poison, didn't she? What's that about?"
He figured he could tap on her to check her status, but now she was hiding under the bed.
All he could see was one pale foot, which instantly jerked back when he tried to tap it.
"Guess I'll have to wait for the report."
Chen's stomach growled.
He glanced at the dishes on the in-game table—the roast duck glistening with golden oil looked unbelievably appetizing.
"Dang. My virtual girlfriend eats better than I do."
He sighed and stood up.
"Guess I'll fry up something quick. Honestly, sixty-eight yuan for a meal like that isn't bad…"
Letting the phone charge, he decided to eat before checking on Li Qingran again.
---
Li Qingran, female, 19.
Fifth disciple of Chixiao Peak, Qingyun Sect.
Her life had once been quiet, structured—routine cultivation, routine sect missions.
She had four senior brothers, each talented in their own ways, who protected her.
Then one day, her eldest brother Lu Changtian returned from the outside world with a new sixth junior sister—and swore on his life to have her accepted into Chixiao Peak, even though she had no spiritual roots or talent.
From that moment, everything changed.
Lu Changtian stopped calling her for morning practice.
Xiao Yifeng, the alchemist, no longer asked her to test pills.
Cold, stoic Yun Zimo… started learning love songs?
And Zhang Hanxiao, who loved to go out on missions, now stayed on the peak every day—just to accompany the new girl.
Everyone surrounded Mu Baishuang.
Even their cold master began to favor her.
She was an orphan, sickly, fragile—her presence seemed to scream, "Please protect me."
Li Qingran wasn't bothered by this at first.
Baishuang was sweet, polite, and clearly well-loved.
As her senior sister, it was only right that she cared for her, too.
With guidance from all four brothers and endless resources, Baishuang's cultivation quickly caught up.
Half a month ago, during the sect's tournament, Li Qingran faced her in a fair match.
Baishuang's foundation was unstable—propped up by pills and shortcuts. Her combat experience was minimal.
Li Qingran planned to go easy. Exchange a few dozen moves, push her back gently, let her surrender with pride.
But Baishuang attacked with deadly force—every strike aimed to kill.
Li Qingran had no choice but to defend seriously.
Then, out of nowhere, Baishuang suddenly stopped attacking and dove into Li Qingran's blade.
It struck her shoulder—not fatal.
But to outsiders… it looked intentional.
And that was enough.
Li Qingran was expelled from Chixiao Peak and demoted to an outer disciple.
It didn't end there.
Her senior brothers wanted revenge.
Lu Changtian crippled her cultivation and begged their master to sever her spiritual roots.
Xiao Yifeng fed her a toxic pill—so she could "understand Baishuang's pain."
Yun Zimo bribed elders to cast her out of the sect.
Zhang Hanxiao tricked her into following him down the mountain—only to abandon her in a ruined hut deep within the beast-infested Wanquing Mountains.
All over a misunderstanding.
All over a girl who was never supposed to be part of their world.
For the past half month, she had survived through sheer will.
She fought off a spirit wolf just days ago, barely surviving.
Her cultivation gone, fire poison in her veins—what should've been a minor illness had become a death sentence.
Then the rain came.
She curled up in a corner, waiting to die.
Just as she was about to lose consciousness, a mountain sparrow flew past her door…
And then, a voice echoed in her mind:
[Home, delivered!]
In the blink of an eye, her broken shack had become a warm, stone cottage.