Chen Huai’an stared at the screen, half-amused, half-exasperated.
“Seriously? You’re already asking me to recharge?”
He let out a dry laugh. The game developers weren’t even pretending to be subtle about their pay-to-win mechanics.
But then, his gaze drifted to the frail girl on the screen.
Li Qingran sat in a crumbling, rain-soaked hut, her body weak, covered in bruises. She looked pitiful.
For some reason, he saw a reflection of himself in her.
Alone. Helpless. No money for treatment. Abandoned by his girlfriend.
His so-called friends had all cut contact, afraid he might ask to borrow money.
No one had reached out to help him.
But now, at this moment—he could help her.
Even if she was just a digital character in a game designed to drain his wallet.
“It’s only six yuan. Why not?”
For the first time in his life, he clicked Recharge.
[Recharge successful!]
A warm golden light spread across the broken hut, cascading over the fragile girl.
The damp straw mat transformed into a wooden bed, complete with bedding. The cracked earthen walls became sturdy bricks, a wooden window appearing to block out the wind and rain.
As the golden glow enveloped the room, furniture materialized—a sturdy table, chairs, a stove, and an assortment of elegant decorations.
It was like watching a miracle unfold.
“Now this is satisfying!”
Chen Huai’an smirked, looking forward to Li Qingran’s reaction.
But instead of joy, her expression shifted from shock to fear—then wariness.
She curled into the corner, hesitant to move, her trembling fingers brushing against the soft mattress as if she couldn’t believe it was real.
For a long time, she remained cautious, inching around the room like a skittish kitten in unfamiliar territory.
Finally, she sat on the bed, hesitantly pressing her hand against it, confusion flickering in her vacant eyes.
“Damn… this level of detail?”
Chen Huai’an was stunned.
The way the bed sank slightly beneath her weight, the natural folds forming under her touch—this wasn’t just a mobile game.
Even big-budget VR simulations weren’t this realistic!
[Limited Time Offer: Recharge 30 yuan to gift your virtual girlfriend a beautiful outfit!]
Chen Huai’an looked at Li Qingran’s tattered clothes.
His heart softened.
“Recharge.”
A delicate green dress materialized on the bed beside her.
[Today’s Special: Recharge 68 yuan to provide a hearty meal for your virtual girlfriend!]
68 yuan?! His own takeout rarely exceeded 15!
But looking at the girl, frail and starving…
“Recharge!”
[Weekly Offer: Recharge 98 yuan to unlock your virtual girlfriend’s medical report and learn about her condition!]
“Recharge!”
[Monthly Exclusive: Recharge 188 yuan to buy three high-grade Thunderfire Talismans to protect your virtual girlfriend’s home!]
“Recharge, recharge, recharge!”
[Your virtual girlfriend is frightened. Please wait before making further purchases~~]
The system stopped prompting him to recharge.
Chen Huai’an glanced at the screen.
Li Qingran had hidden under the bed, her entire body trembling.
The fresh new clothes remained untouched. The plates of roasted duck, chicken, and fish sat on the table, untouched.
Meanwhile, a countdown in the upper corner indicated that the medical report would be ready in 30 minutes.
Three talismans now adorned the door, window, and roof—barely visible unless zoomed in.
At least… her lifespan had increased to six hours.
“Alright, there’s no urgent danger for now.”
The game’s time seemed to sync with real life, so he didn’t need to panic.
Still, something bothered him.
“Didn’t the system say she had fire poison in her body? What is that?”
The interface showed he could check her status by tapping on her, but since she was hiding under the bed, all he could see was one small, pale foot.
When he tapped on it, she flinched back like she’d been electrocuted.
“Guess I’ll have to wait for the report.”
Chen Huai’an sighed, his stomach growling.
He glanced at the virtual feast on the screen. The oil on the roast duck shimmered enticingly, the dishes looking so realistic that he could almost smell them.
Meanwhile, his own stomach was empty.
“Even my in-game character eats better than I do…”
He sighed again, placing his phone on charge.
Might as well eat something before continuing the game.
Li Qingran’s Story
Name: Li Qingran
Age: 19
Sect: Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak, Fifth Disciple
Life had once been peaceful.
Step by step, she cultivated, completed her tasks, and lived in harmony with her four senior brothers.
Until one day, Senior Brother Lu Changtian brought home a new junior sister—Mu Baishuang.
From that moment on, everything changed.
The eldest senior brother, who had once personally called her to morning practice, stopped visiting.
The second senior brother, an alchemy expert, no longer asked her to test his pills.
The third senior brother, once indifferent to everyone, suddenly started learning love songs for the new junior sister.
And the fourth senior brother, once passionate about taking missions, suddenly stayed behind at the peak every day—to guard Mu Baishuang.
Even their master, usually indifferent, showed special favor to the new disciple.
Why?
Because Mu Baishuang had a tragic past. She was frail, sickly, delicate—someone who inspired the instinct to protect.
Li Qingran didn’t mind.
Her junior sister was cute. It was natural for the others to care for her.
As the senior sister, she, too, should guide and protect her.
So, Mu Baishuang trained under the careful tutoring of four senior brothers, rapidly improving her cultivation.
Then came the sect tournament.
Li Qingran fought Mu Baishuang, intending only to spar, pressuring her just enough to make her surrender.
But halfway through the fight, Mu Baishuang suddenly charged into her blade.
Li Qingran had no time to retract her sword.
The blade stabbed into Mu Baishuang’s shoulder—not a fatal wound.
But in that moment, the damage was done.
She was expelled from Chixiao Peak. Demoted to an outer disciple.
And her senior brothers did not stop there.
They wanted revenge.
Lu Changtian crippled her cultivation.
The second senior brother force-fed her poison, making her experience unbearable pain.
The third bribed the elders to have her expelled from the sect.
The fourth senior brother abandoned her in the monster-infested mountains of Wanqing.
They were obsessed.
All for a minor misunderstanding.
For half a month, she fought to survive, weak and injured.
A few days ago, she barely repelled a demonic wolf, leaving her severely wounded.
Then, as the fire poison spread, her body finally reached its limit.
A storm raged outside.
She curled up in the cold, waiting to die.
At that moment—
A small bird flitted past the entrance.
Then, a voice echoed in her mind.
[Come home.]
In the blink of an eye—
Her broken thatched hut transformed into a sturdy stone house.
