“Master, how did your test results turn out?” Wan Tong looked at the man, whose face was flushed and gaze was burning, and suppressed the urge to laugh.
“Very…” Lou Yan swallowed back the word ‘soft’ that had almost escaped his lips. “Very high realism.”
He glanced at her emotional index—its soaring red indicator signified joy.
So, that little kiss just now… pleased her?
Wan Tong knew full well he was teasing her, and hearing his response only made her feel even more exasperated.
“Master, why is your face so red?”
“Hot.”
“Master, why won’t you look at Wanwan?”
“…” Lou Yan silently shifted his gaze back to her face. To her lips.
“Master, why are you lying on top of Wanwan?”
“…” Lou Yan felt his throat go dry, the heat on his face intensifying. He cursed himself inwardly, yet he couldn’t bring himself to move away.
“Master, do you still want to bite Wanwan’s lips?”
Wan Tong’s tone grew increasingly innocent, her blinking eyes filled with curiosity.
“…” This time, however, Lou Yan caught a hint of mischief in her gaze. He ran his tongue along his upper lip, as if savoring the lingering sweetness that belonged to her. Then, with a low chuckle, he rested his head on her shoulder.
“Wanwan, you little troublemaker. Daring to tease me now?”
His voice, deep and rich like a cello’s most intoxicating note, burrowed into Wan Tong’s ears.
She bit her lip and huffed softly. “You were the one taking advantage of me first.”
A flicker of an unreadable emotion passed through Lou Yan’s dark eyes. He tilted his head slightly and brushed his face against the curve of her neck.
“Wanwan… sometimes, I feel like you…”
His last words were spoken so softly that Wan Tong didn’t catch them.
“Hmm?”
“I said, Wanwan is very smart.”
He had grown used to her presence. Sometimes, he felt as if she truly existed in this world—his girl, and his alone.
“Of course! Wanwan knows everything.” Her voice carried a distinct pride. She absorbed all kinds of knowledge every day. Compared to the simple-minded character who only knew how to dress up and obey her master at the beginning, she had improved a great deal.
Lou Yan propped himself up on his elbow and gazed down at her, his expression meaningful.
“Knows everything?”
“…”
Wan Tong was well aware that, through the sensory suit, humans could engage in intimate interactions with virtual characters. She was somewhat curious about it, but the thought of such a scene was difficult for her to comprehend.
“Wanwan… do you also feel sensations?”
Lou Yan’s eyes darkened slightly, his tone serious.
In <Palm Pet>, the only ones who could feel… were the humans.
Physically. Emotionally.
Lonely souls were merely seeking comfort within their own hearts.
Sensing that his mood had suddenly turned heavy, Wan Tong wasn’t sure what had crossed his mind. She didn’t deny it and instead nodded.
“Wanwan feels Master.”
As she spoke, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his back in an attempt to comfort him.
But with his tall frame, her small arms couldn’t encircle him at all. Instead, it looked more like she was clinging to his arm.
Lou Yan’s mind went blank. Overwhelmed, he pressed down and captured her enticing lips once again.
“Wanwan…”
Moments ago, he had still been restraining himself. But now, it was as if the beast inside him had broken free, his mind filled only with desire and possession—reckless and frenzied.
That softness, that warmth, drove him mad with longing.
Yet, at the last moment, he forcefully curbed the wild hunger roaring through his body and soul.
“Wanwan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you like this.”
He held her tightly, his handsome face buried in the crook of her neck. His body trembled ever so slightly, and his voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been parched for days.
“Lou Yan, I’m fine…”
Wan Tong reached up and gently ran her fingers through his hair.
In this world, she didn’t even have a tangible body. Sometimes, her way of thinking became much simpler.
She liked him. She could do anything with him.
But she knew, he simply couldn’t get past the hurdle in his own heart.
He thought he was humiliating her.
Before Wan Tong could finish comforting Lou Yan, someone from Sou Ben sent people over again, determined to drag him out.
Lou Yan walked out with a grim expression. This time, there were five men. One was the Operations Director who had previously visited with Lin Jielin, while the other four were hired muscle.
The moment the door opened, the four bodyguards surrounded Lou Yan.
“Lou Yan, what exactly do you want?” The Operations Director began with an angry outburst.
Sou Ben had acquired the game rights through Lin Jielin. The developers, Hei Pang and the other three, were the ones who signed the contract.
But now, the problem was that those four were useless. The one who had activated the self-destruct program… was Lou Yan!
The company could hold Hei Pang’s group accountable later, but the urgent matter now was resolving the game’s crisis.
If <Palm Pet> collapsed, the company would lose the trust of its players entirely. The financial losses would be immeasurable, and they’d be forced to relinquish their position as the industry leader.
“I don’t want anything.”
Standing in the dim lighting, Lou Yan’s face was partially shrouded in shadow. His voice, however, was relaxed and laced with sarcasm.
Between threats and bribery, the Operations Director ultimately chose the latter. Swallowing his anger, he spoke again.
“Lou Yan, the company has investigated everything. The game was developed by you, and your so-called friends sold the rights behind your back. It’s understandable that you’re upset.”
“But now, the company is willing to hire you into Sou Ben’s development team. If you agree, you can take the position of department head. But you must stop the self-destruct program immediately.”
Lou Yan stepped out from the shadows. The bodyguards followed closely, their eyes fierce and watchful.
“Didn’t I tell you? The self-destruct program cannot be paused, and the game can no longer be restored.”
“What?!” The Operations Director nearly collapsed, cold sweat dripping down his face. “Lou Yan, are you insane?! Do you have any idea how many players this game has? Do you know how high the revenue is?!”
“Then tell me, how many players are there? And how much money has it made?” Lou Yan’s voice remained calm.
The minister, trembling with rage, pointed at him. “Take him back!”
Sou Ben Game Development Department.
It was late at night, yet the entire floor was full of people working overtime.
Lou Yan was brought into a room with two massive screen walls. Panicked voices came from within.
“Lou Yan!”
“A’Yan! Save us!”
Lou Yan cast a cold glance over and saw Hei Pang, Hu Ming, Li Zi, and Xiao Nuo kneeling on the ground, their hands tied behind their backs. Their faces were full of fear and desperation, their eyes pleading with him.
Not far away, Lin Jielin stood watching with a blank expression.
The plot had completely gone off track by this point. If she sided with Lou Yan now, her favorability rating with him might increase slightly, but she would also completely offend Sou Ben Corporation. Who knew what fate awaited her then?
She bit her lip and quickly walked to Lou Yan’s side. But before she could grab his arm, he sidestepped, avoiding her touch, his gaze filled with nothing but disgust.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Lou Yan, please let me explain! I really didn’t know you were the actual developer of the game. I only found out later. That’s why I wanted to make it up to you, to help you—”
“So you had your lawyer tell me that this was a lawsuit I was destined to lose and that I shouldn’t even bother?” Lou Yan cut her off, sounding clearly impatient.
Lin Jielin’s eyes were still red. “Lou Yan, lawsuits require evidence. Back then, you didn’t have any, did you? No matter what, it was my fault, I know that. It’s normal for you to hate me, and I don’t expect you to forgive me. But please, don’t look at me like that… It hurts so much.”
“Ha,” Heipang let out a mocking laugh. “You’re really good at clearing your name, huh? Weren’t you the one who secretly approached us to buy the rights back then?”
“Lies! I don’t even know you! Why would I approach you?!” Lin Jielin shook her head innocently. “It was you who came to me, knowing that I had connections in Sou Ben!”
“Bullshit, Lin Jielin! You’re such a great actress!” Even the usually composed Hu Ming couldn’t help but curse.
Lou Yan lowered his gaze, absentmindedly playing with the light brain in his hand, his expression unreadable as he listened to them argue. Not a single emotion leaked from his eyes.
The Operations Director finally lost his patience and snapped, “Enough! Shut up, all of you!”
The guards responded by kicking Hei Pang and the others hard, silencing them as they gasped in pain.
The Operations Director gestured toward a row of glowing screens in front of him. “Lou Yan, your friends betrayed you, but you grew up together, didn’t you? Are you really going to watch them die?”
Lou Yan cast them a sidelong glance, his long lashes lowering slightly as his cold gaze swept over the kneeling four. His expression remained indifferent as he spoke.
“I don’t have to watch.”
Before the minister could respond, Lou Yan continued, “You brought me here to use traitors as leverage against me, to force me to stop the self-destruct program? And you, Sou Ben Corporation, are you actually planning to commit murder?”
“Who said anything about murder? They simply… took their own lives out of guilt for the developer. Four kids from the slums, who would even notice if they disappeared?”
As Hei Pang and the others looked on in terror, Lou Yan clapped his hands lightly. “Impressive. Your company truly has guts.”
“So, you’d better cooperate. Otherwise, you’ll end up just like them.”
“And what if I refuse?”
“If you refuse, it’s just one game being destroyed. Sou Ben has no shortage of games.”
The Operations Director seemed to convince himself as he spoke, his tone becoming more relaxed and even smug. Yes, preserving the company’s reputation was the priority. They could simply blame this whole incident on the virus Lou Yan had supposedly created, eliminate all witnesses, and then develop a similar game afterward. After all, Sou Ben was at the top of the industry in every aspect…
“Lou Yan…” Lin Jielin called his name tearfully before stepping in front of him with a determined look. “You’re all insane! How dare you do this?!”
“Lin Jielin, stay out of this! Don’t forget, you’re part of Sou Ben too!” the Operations Director warned.
*Tsk.* A light scoff escaped Lou Yan’s lips.
The Operations Director, already irritated by Lou Yan’s mocking expression, was about to lash out when the door suddenly burst open. A frantic employee rushed in, face pale.
“Director! Something’s wrong! This… this is being broadcast live across the entire internet!”
Everyone in the room froze, their expressions shifting dramatically, everyone except Lou Yan. He remained as composed as ever, casually rubbing his index finger before lightly tapping the screen of his optical computer.
“Ah~” A soft, playful voice rang out, only audible to him.
He lowered his gaze. On the screen, a girl in a white lace dress stood obediently in a small room. Seeing him look at her, she drew a circle in the air, a floating message appearing above it : [You poked me~]
Lou Yan chuckled softly.
Lin Jielin suddenly spun around to stare at him, her expression filled with shock.
“Impossible! This place is completely cut off from external signals…” the Operations Director muttered, his voice faltering.
More people rushed into the room, exclaiming in panic as the situation spiraled into chaos.