Lou Yan had a dream.
He barely had time to care about his disheveled state. The first thing he did was tidy up the bed. Old A had taken away his tattered clothes, and the room had been cleaned up, yet the air still seemed to carry a lingering, intimate atmosphere.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, he finally reached for his optical computer.
“Wanwan.” He called out.
But just like before, his Wanwan didn’t respond. Had she seen his loss of control last night? Had he done something to scare her?
He activated the projection and sensory suit, waiting quietly.
After a while, the girl finally appeared before him. But she didn’t seem as lively as usual. Her head was slightly lowered, strands of light chestnut hair falling over her chest and back. She looked unwell.
That had never happened before. She was always full of energy, bright and vivid.
“Wanwan, what’s wrong?” Lou Yan gently grasped her shoulders, not daring to use too much force, as if afraid she might shatter.
“I…” Wan Tong slowly lifted her head, her gaze flickering evasively, a trace of grievance in her heart.
Last night, Lou Yan had almost broken her not-yet-fully-generated body. Now, she needed a few extra hours to reform her physical form. And yet, he seemed to think last night was just a dream?
“Master, do you know what happened last night?” she asked, reverting to her old way of addressing him.
Lou Yan had a bad feeling. The dream had been intense, and judging by the state of the bed, he might have actually done something embarrassing. Instinctively, he didn’t want her to remember last night.
“Wanwan, forget it,” Lou Yan murmured, pulling her into his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder, and repeating, “Forget about last night.”
He even considered erasing her memory.
Wan Tong: “…”
She clenched her fists, let out a soft humph, and then disappeared.
Lou Yan suddenly felt his arms empty. A chill crept up from the soles of his feet, pressing heavily on his chest.
He really had scared her.
Wanwan was being naughty today.
She went through all the games on his optical computer, seemingly trying to cause trouble on purpose.
Lou Yan remained expressionless, but the ice weighing down his heart instantly melted. As long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.
“The players are about to surround our company building! The forums are filled with discussions about <Forest Elves>! But this bug… we’ve really done our best…”
Ai Rui clutched his hair, looking like he wanted to tear out a chunk of it.
The entire development team was in low spirits.
They still hadn’t figured out why a high-level elf had suddenly appeared in the slums. Initially, they had just thrown in another high-level elf to resolve the issue, but now, the same phenomenon was happening near the company. Players had gathered around.
“Didn’t we announce that it’s still in testing?”
“The problem is, they won’t give up.”
“After a few days of no updates, they’ll disperse,” Ai Lun said, motioning for Lou Yan to follow him into the office.
Wan Tong didn’t show up. She stayed inside Lou Yan’s optical computer, but today, she had entered <Forest Elves> twice.
Hmm… Was this her way of getting back at Lou Yan?
Well, it was a small issue, he could handle it.
That afternoon, Ruili Games announced a shocking piece of news to the gaming world.
Ruili Games introduced a new concept called ‘Little Luck.’ In all of their games, players now had a chance to encounter ‘Little Luck,’ which would grant them a luck buff.
For Wan Tong, this essentially meant that Ruili Games had just given her free rein over a vast garden of different themed worlds.
Because she was ‘Little Luck.’ From now on, she could openly appear in Ruili’s games. As long as she accepted a player’s goodwill, their luck value would increase.
As for what ‘Little Luck’ looked like? Only players who encountered her would know. And the amount of luck gained varied from player to player.
This project was purely Lou Yan’s indulgence, but the entire development team had agreed to it. In fact, they admired him deeply. They were all dying to know, how had he even written the ‘Little Luck’ program? And why did ‘Little Luck’ look exactly like Wanwan?!
Just how much did he like Wanwan? His optical computer was filled with nothing but her!
A while ago, everyone had gathered around his optical computer to check a document. None of them had expected Wanwan to suddenly jump around inside the file like she was playing a prank. Sure, it was adorable, but… Lou Yan, what kind of hobby was this? Did he seriously need Wanwan to keep him company even while reading documents?
Wan ‘Little Luck’ Tong suddenly realized that Lou Yan might have been playing tricks on her!
That evening, on the way back to his apartment, Lou Yan passed a pedestrian crossing and saw a group of people with blank expressions.
Wan Tong transformed herself, now wearing a small dinosaur onesie, and entered <Forest Elves> again.
Then, she witnessed a ridiculous scene.
The dazed crowd around her suddenly had notification sounds go off in unison.
In this era—where 95% of the population was addicted to gaming—anyone who owned a VR headset played <Forest Elves>.
The tiny dinosaur stood amidst the crowd, looking small, helpless, and pitiful. Above her head, a bright label flashed : [Little Luck]
She had added it herself, just to test if the so-called ‘luck value’ actually worked…
But the moment the surrounding players spotted her, she panicked.
One player was the first to throw a Poké Ball at her.
Without thinking, she caught it, then bolted.
Lou Yan immediately understood the situation after observing the reactions of those around him. Without betraying any emotion, he tapped on his optical computer, which responded with a soft voice, “Wanwan is here…”
“Ahhh! Little Luck is a dinosaur!”
“It took my Poké Ball! My god, should I go mining now? Maybe I’ll dig up a diamond!”
“A little dinosaur? I saw it too! It has a tag above its head, easy to recognize!”
“It takes Poké Balls? Aren’t those system gifts that don’t cost money?”
“Ruili Corporation seems to be nearby. Feels like they’re running some tests. Should we hang around here more often?”
…
The once silent pedestrian walkway suddenly became lively. Ignoring the commotion, Lou Yan got into a hovercraft and, as if nothing had happened, said to his optical computar, “Wanwan, let’s go to <Forest Elves>.”
Sitting on a bench inside the cabin, he found the cabin still empty. Most of the previous crowd had chosen to linger outside, hoping to encounter ‘Little Luck’ again.
“Why?” On the screen, a girl in a tiny dinosaur costume gazed at him, only her bright eyes visible, adorable and curious.
Lou Yan’s fingers gently brushed the screen as he murmured, “It looks nice here.”
Wan Tong was intrigued and entered <Forest Elves>.
Though there weren’t many people who entered the cabin, the players inside quickly put on their VR headsets, scanning their surroundings.
Then, they saw it. A real-life little dinosaur sitting on one of the seats. This time, however, it had no tag above its head. Beside it sat a strikingly handsome man, whose features appeared slightly blurred through the VR filter. With the little dinosaur beside him, his expression was serene, yet his gaze was exceptionally gentle.
“This place is so beautiful…” The little dinosaur suddenly spoke, its soft and dreamy voice making the gathering players freeze in place.
That’s when they realized—the one inside the dinosaur costume was actually a girl. As they watched, the dinosaur suit vanished, transforming into a flowing white dress that gracefully draped over her delicate figure.
Wan Tong hadn’t expected that in this virtual world, the hovercraft route would resemble a time tunnel. Towering ancient trees lined both sides, their massive trunks wrapped in layers of deep-green vines, dressing them in lush, living garments. Low shrubs were dotted with floating points of luminescent light, illuminating the entire passage.
Seeing the girl entranced by the scenery, the surrounding players, for once, didn’t rush to capture the elf. Instead, they took a moment to look around.
Yes, the most captivating aspect of <Forest Elves> was how it had built an ancient, mystical forest kingdom within a world of steel and concrete. In this game, players could witness landscapes long lost to time. Yet, most players, obsessed with catching elves, rarely took a moment to appreciate the beauty around them.
On the long bench, the girl leaned closer to the man beside her, their intimacy resembling that of lovers.
It was only then that the players recognized the man. Wasn’t he the same Lou Yan who had appeared in the news a few times? And the girl beside him… she looked quite familiar too.
Wan Tong reached out to accept a white bellflower that had floated into her hands. The moment she did, the value bar above the player who had gifted it shifted slightly.
Seeing this, a male player suddenly gifted her an exquisite vintage dress, an item that cost real money.
Wan Tong did not accept it. Instead, she pointed at a small glowing green speck in the distance. “I want that one.”
While the male player was still stunned, a young girl had already cupped her hands around a firefly and approached Wan Tong cautiously. “For you…”
Wan Tong let the firefly land on the white bellflower. At the same time, the value bar above the young girl’s head soared.
As more players gathered, Wan Tong only lingered for a short while before logging out.
She had discovered that she could alter player data. Had Lou Yan known all along?
A player asked Lou Yan if he was running a test.
Lou Yan shook his head. “She just likes to follow me.”
Wan Tong pouted. That was totally misleading!
While Lou Yan was still on the hovercraft, <Forest Elves> made the news.
A screenshot of him and Wan Tong sitting in the ‘time tunnel’ spread rapidly. One was the game’s developer, the other a figure everyone in the game idolized.
Seeing them together felt strangely natural. Rumors had long circulated that Lou Yan was particularly fond of this avatar. His optical computer contained dozens of mini-programs featuring the same image, and he frequently projected it, keeping it by his side.
Someone even discovered that he had registered a trademark for this avatar. Just how obsessed was he?
According to reliable sources, he had rejected countless love confessions from female employees at Ruili Corporation. His devotion to the virtual world was on a whole other level.
Meanwhile, many women online expressed their admiration for Lou Yan, with some even declaring their intent to pursue him.
As city lights tore through the night, making the streets shine as bright as day, Lou Yan stepped into the slums. Here, only dim yellow lamps illuminated the sidewalks.
Tonight, he had arranged to meet his former landlord for a financial settlement. Technically, he could have just transferred the money, but the landlord insisted on discussing the modifications Lou Yan had made to the attic in person.
“Master, a lot of people say they want to pursue you.” A slightly muffled voice murmured in his ear, carrying a hint of displeasure.
“I don’t like them. I like Wanwan.” Lou Yan replied casually, the corners of his lips lifting into a subtle smile.
Wan Tong, instantly appeased, let out a soft “Oh…”
At the end of the day, she still had a possessive streak. But soon, her physical body would be complete, and she would finally be able to stay by his side.
Lou Yan, clearly pleased, smiled soundlessly.
However, when he arrived at the familiar underground apartment, the landlord was nowhere to be found.
Instead, four men with unfriendly expressions were waiting for him.
Of course, the landlord was a nouveau riche. How could he possibly fuss over the modifications? He had probably long forgotten about the property he left behind in the slums.
“Lou Yan, you’re really something now. The whole internet is calling you a genius.” The chubby man spoke with a sarcastic tone.
After the incident with Sou Ben last time, they had been sued for damages and were now utterly destitute. They never knew where their next meal would come from, living like beggars. If anyone recognized them, they would be ridiculed.
They were even permanently banned from registering with any gaming company, let alone finding a job.
“What does that have to do with you?” In the dimly lit basement, shadows cast a gloomy expression on Lou Yan’s face.
“It has everything to do with us. You took quite a bit from Sou Ben, didn’t you? After ruining us like this, have you never thought of compensating us?” Hu Ming’s voice was sinister, like a starving stray dog lurking in a dark alley, ready to bite whoever came near, no matter how shameless the excuse.
Lou Yan glanced at the four of them, their expressions eerily similar, and let out a mocking laugh. After all these years of knowing them, he had never realized this side of them.
“I did take quite a bit. So? You want some?”
“Of course, we deserve a cut! You stepped on us to get into Ruili!”
Lou Yan couldn’t be bothered to argue. He simply asked, “How much do you want?”
The four were clearly surprised at his cooperation and hesitated for a moment before Li Zi finally spoke up, “Fifty million.”
Hearing that number, Lou Yan merely raised an eyebrow. His expression instantly turned colder as he uttered an indifferent response, “No.”
“Are you playing with us?!” The chubby man grabbed a heavy object and hurled it at him!
Lou Yan dodged it with ease.
Watching this unfold, Wan Tong grew anxious. She hadn’t expected those four to be bold enough to pick a fight. She quickly ran a scan and discovered that Lin Jielin was nearby.
Was she planning to play the hero and rescue him?
Lately, Lin Jielin had been manipulated by Ai Lun, who had coaxed quite a bit of information out of her before she suddenly disappeared a few days ago. Who knew what she was scheming?
Wan Tong focused her mind and followed the network into Lin Jielin’s optical computer.
But this time, something seemed to be blocking her. In the boundless darkness, a blue mesh of light spread before her, its threads entwining around her.
Lin Jielin’s optical computer suddenly emitted a white warning light. She glanced at it and smirked triumphantly.
She had suspected it all along. Lou Yan’s beloved digital girl was no ordinary entity. Whether it was a virus or an advanced AI program, it didn’t matter. Either way, it would be eradicated now!
She swiftly tapped away at her device, and soon, a progress bar appeared.
Deletion progress: 20%…
The number on the screen climbed slowly. Meanwhile, inside the basement, the fight had escalated. Lin Jielin planned to wait for the perfect moment to rush in and ‘save’ Lou Yan. No matter how much he misunderstood her now, she would make sure to change his mind.
She imagined her victory, only to watch in shock as the progress bar suddenly flickered and then vanished entirely.
“What?! How is that possible?” It escaped?!
Inside the basement, Lou Yan had already taken down three of them. The chubby man, in desperation, grabbed a steel chair and swung it at him. He barely had time to raise an arm to shield his head—
But in the next instant, a figure suddenly leaped at him.
A soft body crashed into him, pushing him to the ground and away from the chair’s trajectory.
Just then, Xiao Nuo, who had been keeping an eye on the situation outside, shouted, “We need to go!”
For some reason, a crowd of people was suddenly swarming toward the basement!
The four men, supporting one another, quickly scrambled out the door.
Not far away, Lin Jielin spotted the VR headset-wearing players arriving and immediately realized. Lou Yan’s digital girl had caused this!
The steel chair hit the floor with a sharp clang, stirring up a fine layer of dust that stung the nose.
Wan Tong instinctively covered her nose, letting out a tiny sneeze as she pressed closer against Lou Yan.
What a novel sensation. When she was just a digital entity, she had never experienced something like this.
The room fell into an eerie silence. Wan Tong slowly lifted her head and met his dark, turbulent eyes—eyes filled with swirling shadows and an unmistakable astonishment.
The moment she touched him, he knew something was different about her.
She used to be weightless. She lacked so many human reactions, like sneezing, or the ability to even budge his nearly 80-kilogram frame.
But right now, he could feel her. She was real, solid, more present than ever before.
The only time he had ever felt her like this was in his recent dream.
He held his breath, afraid that if he inhaled too deeply, the illusion before him would vanish.
“Lou Yan, are you hurt?” Wan Tong asked hesitantly, trying to get up to check on him.
But Lou Yan suddenly grasped her arm and pulled her back down onto him, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“Wanwan?”
Wan Tong suddenly realized, she was in her physical form now.
In her rush to escape Lin Jielin, she had left the optical computer and materialized into the real world.
She hadn’t figured out how to explain this to Lou Yan yet. Was he freaking out?
After all, his digital girl had just turned into a real person.
Since she had no explanation, Wan Tong decided to play dumb. She waved a small hand in front of his face.
“Lou Yan, it’s me, Wanwan.”
Her sweet voice burrowed into his ears, sending an unbearable tickling sensation through him.
It was really her—Wanwan.