PTYS Chapter 200

Previously, Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu had considered whether Chen Kaijie and the others would want to stay here, but now that concern was completely gone.

A virtual world with its main control subject experiencing a bug and needing repair had no meaning to stay in.

If they fought, they might survive, but staying here would likely result in vanishing together with the system.

During their days of rest in SkyNet, they were not idle. Shen Qingqiu’s training continued, and part-time jobs had to be done.

However, since they didn’t have to worry about life and death, even though Shen Qingqiu’s training was grueling, they found it both painful and enjoyable.

After experiencing tense and exciting lives in the dungeons, the peaceful time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, their agreed time arrived.

Living here required interacting with others. Since learning the secret of SkyNet, Xiao Muyu and the others observed their surroundings more closely.

They noticed an increase in the number of NPCs around them. Familiar faces were still there, but new ones from other districts appeared. Xiao Muyu couldn’t tell if players had become NPCs or if it was just personnel movement, but she was certain of her guess.

Xiao Muyu saw a familiar face on the street, now an NPC selling accessories.

The girl, with her high ponytail, smiled naturally when she saw Xiao Muyu and the others. “Take a look, these earrings, bracelets, and rings are all beautiful and affordable, and you can try them on.”

The girl was quite different from the reserved and steady girl in Xiao Muyu’s memory, but Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu recognized that face.

Shen Qingqiu stared at her for a long time, making the girl confused. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Shen Qingqiu picked up a pair of earrings, looked closely, and smiled. “You look familiar, like a friend of mine. Do you know Zhang Yangfeng?”

The girl’s expression was calm at first, but upon hearing Zhang Yangfeng, she was momentarily stunned. Her face went blank, then she regained composure, looking confused. “Zhang Yangfeng? I don’t know anyone by that name.”

Shen Qingqiu glanced at Xiao Muyu. Their eyes met, and Shen Qingqiu smiled. “I must have mistaken you.”

After leaving the NPC’s stall, Shen Qingqiu whispered, “Do you think she’s Yang Rui?”

Xiao Muyu didn’t respond, just looked at Shen Qingqiu. When they reached the street corner, Xiao Muyu led Shen Qingqiu back and passed by the stall again.

The woman was still there, still smiling at them, but her face was now different enough from Yang Rui’s to be distinguished.

Xiao Muyu glanced at Shen Qingqiu, who smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Back home, Shen Qingqiu took off her coat and turned on the air conditioner. It was December, and the temperature in the SkyNet world had appropriately dropped below zero.

Watching Shen Qingqiu busying herself with hot water, Xiao Muyu took out a small box from her pocket, her lips curling slightly. Seeing Shen Qingqiu hadn’t noticed, she looked at the box in her hand.

Hearing the water stop, she panicked and tried to put the box back, but in her haste, she hit the pocket edge. As Shen Qingqiu approached from the kitchen, she quickly hid the box behind her back.

Her actions were strange, and although Shen Qingqiu didn’t see clearly, she sensed something was off. She glanced at Xiao Muyu in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Muyu quickly thought and glanced at the coat hanging on the side, replying seriously, “Nothing, just got shocked by static.”

Static electricity in winter was common, so Shen Qingqiu didn’t doubt it, though she frowned. “It’s too dry, being shocked is unpleasant. Drink some water first. You like coffee, but plain water is better.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I really admire SkyNet; it feels so real. If it’s a program, its system must be huge.”

Adjusting her position to avoid being seen, Xiao Muyu felt hesitant. She had to show it to her eventually, but the thought made her indecisive.

Shen Qingqiu, observant of Xiao Muyu’s subtle changes, took a few steps and noticed Xiao Muyu also moved slightly.

Since she came out, Xiao Muyu’s right hand had been behind her. Initially thinking it was from the shock, it was too long to still feel it.

What was she hiding?

“What do you think about seeing Yang Rui today?” Shen Qingqiu changed the subject, moving closer to Xiao Muyu.

Xiao Muyu already had an answer. “Yang Rui gave up and became an NPC. The system bug might have let us see her.”

“Yes, I think so too. But what about Zhang Yangfeng? Is he dead, or also an NPC? And Yang Rui seems to have forgotten who she was.” Shen Qingqiu was now only a step away from Xiao Muyu.

Facing her, Xiao Muyu still had her hand behind her. Shen Qingqiu, tempted to grab it, found Xiao Muyu’s cautiousness endearing and hugged her instead.

Surprised, Xiao Muyu’s hand moved, but Shen Qingqiu held it in place. Looking up at Shen Qingqiu, “What are you doing?”

Shen Qingqiu smiled, gently rubbing Xiao Muyu’s wrist. “What do you think you’re hiding from me?”

If she reached out, Shen Qingqiu could touch what was in her hand, but this mischievous girl wanted her to show it herself.

Xiao Muyu pressed her lips into a line, her eyes shifting. She stood straight, leaning into Shen Qingqiu, and whispered, “Do you really want to know?”

Her sudden change caught Shen Qingqiu off guard. This rare seductive look made Shen Qingqiu’s heart race. “Of course.”

Xiao Muyu lowered her eyes and chuckled. “Then you…” Her closeness, with a smile and affection, made Shen Qingqiu, who had experienced this before, defenseless.

She didn’t expect her own teasing tactics to be used so effectively against her.

Admitting she was tempted, she just wanted to kiss her now.

Xiao Muyu planned to take control, but underestimated Shen Qingqiu’s allure. Even without Shen Qingqiu’s seduction, she would be tempted.

Their passionate kiss nearly escalated until they separated, with Shen Qingqiu pushing Xiao Muyu against the bedroom door.

Regaining some composure, Shen Qingqiu chuckled. “Was it necessary?”

Xiao Muyu touched her lips. “Not necessary, just unexpected.”

She laughed after speaking, finally taking out the box in her hand.

It was a red velvet box, usually used for holding jewelry. Seeing it made Shen Qingqiu’s heart tighten, her delight in her eyes barely concealed but mixed with disbelief, “Is this… for me?”

Xiao Muyu’s gaze flickered away instinctively, a subconscious action when she was embarrassed. After pressing her lips together, she said softly, “Open it and see.”

Shen Qingqiu, still holding Xiao Muyu with her left hand, opened the box with her right hand, which was assisted by Xiao Muyu’s position. Under the light, a pair of rings lay quietly inside, shimmering.

Even though Xiao Muyu felt embarrassed, she didn’t want to miss any of Shen Qingqiu’s expressions. She stared at Shen Qingqiu, who was dumbfoundedly staring at the rings.

Only when the fine light began to glimmer in those grey eyes did Xiao Muyu slowly exhale, speaking softly, “You said before that you were afraid it would be abrupt to buy rings, but I don’t think it’s abrupt. Even in Tianwang, I believe certain rituals are still necessary. So I thought at that time, we should have rings.

However, I didn’t want to use Shen Shiyi’s money for this, and our points had to be saved. Such items are extremely expensive in Tianwang. So, I could only buy silver rings and have them custom-made. I hope you don’t mind their simplicity.”

Shen Qingqiu quickly shook her head, picking up the ring to look closely. It was indeed a simple silver ring, but it was well-polished. Inside the ring, two letters, S & X, were engraved.

“It’s a bit tacky,” Xiao Muyu said, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Who said it’s tacky? It’s beautiful. I really like it. When did you become so romantic? I’m really…”

Probably too excited, Shen Qingqiu was a bit incoherent. Regaining her senses, she hurriedly said, “Put it on me.”

Xiao Muyu couldn’t help but laugh. She then restrained her smile, very seriously and almost devoutly, putting the ring on Shen Qingqiu’s ring finger.

Shen Qingqiu quickly picked up the other ring and put it on Xiao Muyu. The next moment, their ten fingers intertwined, and the red string appeared again, entwining the two silver rings. The interweaving silver and bright red was the most unique sight in the world.

Hugging Xiao Muyu, Shen Qingqiu thought about the copy opening day three days later and closed her eyes.

No matter what they would face, she would not regret her choice nor the love between her and Xiao Muyu. She had gained everything except growing old together.

When the copy opened, they were still received by Shi. Shi looked at them, with a slightly surprised expression, “Are you sure about this? You can wait another year and a half. Among the teams passing through, you are the first to request to open the copy so soon.”

“But this isn’t our first time. Let’s begin,” Xiao Muyu replied calmly.

Shi looked at her, then slowly lowered his gaze to her left hand, the silver ring clearly in his sight despite not being very dazzling.

Shi’s gaze flickered but said nothing more, only reminding, “Take care.”

Xiao Muyu nodded.

As they closed their eyes, waiting to be transported into the copy, Xiao Muyu gently moved her ring finger. Shen Qingqiu, who had already closed her eyes, opened them to look at Xiao Muyu and also curled her finger.

“Loading file, complete! Unzipping, complete! Loading scene, complete! Welcome Xiao Muyu’s team to copy No. 008, ‘The Unreturned People.’ Scene simulation complete, character loading complete, wish you all a successful game!”

Xiao Muyu regained consciousness amidst this mechanical voice. Her vision was blurry, and she couldn’t see any light.

With water mist swirling before her eyes and large raindrops making it hard for her to open them, a strong smell of rotting earth mixed with a familiar stench filled her nose.

This smell immediately made Xiao Muyu alert. Rain hit her body painfully. She propped up her hand to shield her eyes, trying to stand steady. She then stepped on something stiff, which felt like wood but didn’t have the texture of wood.

Just as she hurriedly tried to move away, this “wood” moved. Suddenly, it grabbed her ankle with an ice-cold, stiff grip, and pain shot through her, piercing through the rain.

As Xiao Muyu looked down, a silent lightning bolt flashed, revealing a hand with exposed bones, mud, and decaying flesh holding her leg.

And the thing gripping her wasn’t trying to drag her down but trying to pull itself up!

The mud mixed with rainwater, making a squelching sound, signaling death.

Xiao Muyu immediately pulled out her bronze sword, cutting down quickly and retreating. She nearly tripped over another stiff object, round in shape.

Barely seeing the ground, the rounded object was emerging from it. As another lightning bolt struck, Xiao Muyu quickly scanned the surroundings. Dozens of hands were already protruding from the ground, as if the corpses were being awakened, all rising from their graves.

Author’s note: Too sleepy, will correct mistakes tomorrow. Because the copy has just opened a bit, it’s named after Skynet.