In today’s world, cancer is no longer a terminal illness with a 100% mortality rate. We have advanced technologies and mature medical teams. As long as you have insurance, or a family willing to support you, or even yourself…
Chen Huaian turned off the television with a bitter smile. “But I have nothing.”
The critical illness notice came two days ago; his girlfriend left yesterday, and the person collapsed today.
He was just a college freshman, his parents were forest rangers, and they died a few years ago in a wildfire that left nothing behind, only a meager compensation.
Over the years, Chen Huaian had managed to move on from his parents’ death, choosing to face life positively. Relying on the compensation, budgeting carefully, and doing odd jobs, finishing college was not a problem.
His grades were decent; he at least got into a respectable university, and it was said that there would be job placement upon graduation. He thought even if the salary was low, he could at least get by. However, two days ago, a check-up for his frequently painful ankle revealed he had terminal cancer.
Knowing he had no money for treatment, Chen Huaian decided to drop out of school, renting a house near the city’s wetland park for a year, planning to spend the rest of his life there. As for what would happen when the rent was due and he had no money?
He chuckled to himself, thinking he probably wouldn’t live to see that time.
He checked his bank account balance on his phone, still with over thirty thousand.
“Food costs about five to six hundred a month, and with other miscellaneous daily expenses, let’s say a thousand a month. A year later, I should still have at least twenty thousand left.” Chen Huaian pondered over the balance. The past few years had been too hard. While other students traveled, he worked odd jobs; while others played games, he worked odd jobs; while others dated… his girlfriend was cheating on him.
From here on, he planned to live for himself.
Play some games, watch the dramas he had accumulated over the years, and if his physical condition allowed, maybe visit the beach.
【Installation Complete】
【Come claim your electronic girlfriend!】
Usually, when Chen Huaian saw such advertisements pop up on his phone, his first reaction was to ignore them or swipe them away.
But today, his finger paused.
He returned to the main screen of his phone to find a new app icon, a chibi-style ancient-themed figure.
It looked like a girl, wearing a blue outfit with a sword on her back, her clothing fluttering.
“An automatically installed game? It can’t be a virus or something…”
In the past, he would have just deleted it immediately and checked for viruses with his phone’s security manager, but today he felt like seeing what these so-called viruses were all about.
After all, he had nothing to lose; those who walk barefoot have no fear of shoes.
He opened the app, the screen darkened, and a prompt appeared.
【This game is only allowed for players aged 18 and above. Starting the game will bind to your identity, your account cannot be destroyed or transferred, and starting the game means you agree to these draconian terms.】
“Oh? So you know this is draconian terms?”
Chen Huaian rolled his eyes, clicked to start the game.
He was now 100% certain this was a virus.
So what would this entity do? Steal identity information? Chat logs? If they knew he was a broke poor guy with terminal cancer, would the operator behind this app even think about uninstalling it?
【Please choose your electronic girlfriend!】
The game graphics were unexpectedly exquisite.
The app looked chibi-style, but once you entered, it was very realistic.
In front of him were over a dozen ‘electronic girlfriend’ options he could choose from, and he could even see their basic information. For instance, the option currently displayed was:
【Neon Underworld Heiress: Kiriko Mistushima】
【Age: 22 Height: 158 Measurements: 89, 55, 86】
From the live 2D model, this character could be described as curvaceous, and her kimono couldn’t conceal her figure. Plus, she had a sweet appearance and a neon gangster background; such a contrasting tall girl would likely be the type most men liked.
Unfortunately, she had blonde hair and was Neon, which didn’t interest Chen Huaian.
Looking through a few more characters, he found they came from different eras, and some didn’t even belong to this world—it was truly outlandish! There was even a transformation princess!
Ultimately, Chen Huaian’s choice landed on a girl in a blue outfit.
【Bluecloud Sect Female Disciple: Li Qingran】
【Age: 19 Height: 169 Measurements: 90, 60, 91】
This Li Qingran seemed to be the chibi character on the app icon, but she appeared more three-dimensional now. She had pale skin, delicate features, long dark hair cascading down her back, wearing a blue shirt over her sword, and though she wore no makeup, she looked as beautiful as a painting. What struck Chen Huaian most was her pair of eyes—cold, vacant, with a trace of fragility and emptiness, as if she were gazing through the screen.
“Wow! Such detail from a small studio?”
He was starting to doubt whether this was really a virus.
If they go to such lengths, do they want a graduate degree or a Ph.D?!
You’re the one.
【Confirm selection of ‘Li Qingran’ as your electronic girlfriend?
【Caution! This choice cannot be changed afterward!
【If your electronic girlfriend dies, you will not be able to resurrect her; she will disappear completely!
“That serious?” Chen Huaian frowned, realizing this seemed to be the game developers’ intent.
He could almost predict how this game would profit off players.
In the past, he would have stopped himself, but today he clicked confirm directly.
【You have 132 days of life remaining.】
A message flashed.
The screen unfolded.
Chen Huaian expected the game to be filled with low-quality graphics set in a fantasy world, constantly pressing one button for tasks, gear, mounts, and all the same old recycled mobile game mechanics.
But it was not at all like that.
The screen revealed a ramshackle thatched hut, the only thing resembling a bed was a grass mat already soaked by rain.
A ragged girl huddled in the corner, hugging her knees, her long, tangled hair obscured her face, and the exposed skin on her arms and legs bore bruises and cuts, vividly apparent against her pale complexion.
“Is this Li Qingran?” Chen Huaian was bewildered.
He noticed a broken sword near the grass mat, which was indeed the weapon Li Qingran had in the character page.
【‘Li Qingran’ is starving and freezing, becoming increasingly weak.
【‘Li Qingran’ is suffering from fire poison, enduring excruciating pain.
【‘Li Qingran’ has half an hour of life remaining.
As these three messages popped up, the girl in the corner immediately let out a muffled groan of pain.
She slightly lifted her head, revealing her hollow, numb eyes and pale lips.
Even from just half of her face, Chen Huaian confirmed this was the character he had chosen.
“What to do?”
A sense of urgency surged within Chen Huaian.
The expressions and sounds of the game character felt too real, including the gaping wounds that seemed incredibly vivid, causing him to instinctively believe that if no action was taken, by the time the countdown in the upper right corner ended, this girl would truly die.
At that moment, a prompt popped up:
【Ding! Initial recharge of 6 yuan grants a limited-time home renovation gift pack, providing your electronic girlfriend with a comfortable home!】
…
…
—— Brain Storage ——
Disclaimer: All content within this article occurs in a fictional world. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental! The content of the novel is entirely imagined, please do not translate this into reality, and do not imitate! Reading this book means you agree to the above terms.
Click <Confirm> to begin your journey of fantasy.
And by the way, add it to your bookshelf!
