Chapter 1001 - This Game Is Too Realistic

## Chapter 1001: Interlude "...And that's what happened. In short, we don't have to worry about that missile cruiser for now." ### Wasteland OL: Official Forums Ye Shi spent a full hour updating the forum on what happened after the Burning Legion encountered the neutron torpedo. This included Jiang Xuezhou activating the warp engine, the clone of "Luo Yi" stopping the second neutron torpedo preemptively, his own encounter while unconscious with the crew of the Orion from 215 years ago in a "superposition state," and the "Dawn" plan he agreed upon with them. Honestly, as he hammered out those thousand words, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality. Both the computer's calendar and the forum chatter indicated only a few hours had passed since Elder Fang and the others disconnected and he reported back. Yet for him, half a month had gone by! Though it sounded like a daydream, he was certain what happened was no illusion. He had indeed spent half a month aboard the Orion 215 years ago, even if the ship bore no trace of his existence. While this experience could be explained as a game instance, the time dilation left him astounded. It seemed Wasteland OL's technology was even more advanced than he imagined... But still, was it truly just a game? Recalling the lingering sensation on his lips, his cheeks flushed involuntarily. Damn it! Why was a grown man like him blushing like a schoolgirl? Seeing that his well-thought-out post had garnered not a single reply, Ye Shi vented his frustration on the keyboard. "Come on! Give me some feedback!" When he usually relied on clickbait for responses, they would eagerly gather dozens of floors of comments. Now, when he opted not to use clickbait, they acted like freeloaders. Was this fair? Just as he clicked F5 after snagging the top comment, lines of responses finally began appearing, with hundreds of comments popping up in an instant. "Mesmerized..." "Wow." "Bit confused, let me sort this out." "Gosh! Solved already?!" "The Aweisi Star Wars plan just crashed. (Irony)" "I'm already crying." "..." Staring at the sudden influx of comments, Ye Shi was startled. Wow! So many lurkers?! Then, several familiar IDs appeared in his sights. Apparently, during his time offline, his close friends had been quite concerned about him. Fang Chang: "Not bad, buddy. I was worried you might lose it, but it turns out it was your time to carry the game. (Smirk)" Ye Shi: "Heh, it wasn't that big of a deal... I only did a bit." Old Bai: "No need for modesty, well done! Haha, this time we were just along for the ride. (Grin)" Quit Smoking: "Turning the tides is awesome! Winning from a disadvantage feels amazing! (Grin)" Edge Paddle: "Old Bai can say that, but when haven't you just been along for the ride? (Eye roll)" Quit Smoking: "Darn it! I've contributed, okay?! (Angry)" Big Eye Debt: "Like playing a convincing corpse? (Sneer)" Quit Smoking: "@#%$!" The thread was filled with laughter and merriment. Seeing his friends' replies, Ye Shi couldn't help but smile, yet something felt incomplete. As if in response to his anticipation, someone finally noticed the detail he had unintentionally revealed. Gale: "Just finished reading your post... So, you're at South Gate Two now?" Ye Shi: "Heh, more or less." Despite his boasting undertone, other players in the thread couldn't care less. A five-light-year-away colony from the Union era turned out to be true! Upon seeing this reply, almost everyone was astonished by the news! Tail: "!!! Are there three suns over there? (Excited)" Ye Shi: "Uh, maybe? But I'm still on the ship, so I haven't seen the outside yet." Why So Proud: "LOL." Elf King Fu Gui: "What, did your uncle enlist as a soldier at South Gate Two again? (Astonished)" Quit Smoking: "Hahaha." Irene: "Proud: Are you seriously denying the meme now? (Ironic)" Gale: "By the way, I'm really curious about what that hyperspace corridor is." Fang Chang: "Setting-wise, it's a gravitational tie between massive celestial bodies. I can't give a more technical explanation. But literally, hyperspace implies a multi-dimensional space, right?" Gale: "That's true. I'm just curious about what hyperspace corridors look like in Wasteland OL's universe." Ye Shi: "I didn't really notice... In the game, I entered hyperspace while in a sleep pod." Gale: "What about during that time? Didn't you see anything outside?" Ye Shi: "Oh, I did see something, but it wasn't particularly special, just the usual starry sky? But according to Dr. Wu, we might have been stuck in the hyperspace corridor then, meaning time was frozen. Normally, there's supposed to be a flash of white light, the sky would brighten, and the ship would just pass through." Thunder King Professor Yang: "Just passing through? (Baffled)" Gale: "Dr. Wu?" Ye Shi: "Wu Xinghuan from the Department of Research and Technology, or rather, the Fifth Department of the Orion Missile Cruiser... Most of my messy knowledge comes from him. Honestly, I'm a bit confused too, but I kind of get it." Gale: "Do tell me more when you have time!" Spring Commander: "Isn't it funny how Gale's really into these small details?" Fang Chang: "Well, it's his field, after all. (Smirk)" WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "!!! Gale is into warp engine research?! Jaw-dropping!" Meat Mountain Bun: "Gosh! Why do your sentences always end on a down note!" Tail: "!!! You're finishing Tail's sentences; what's Tail supposed to say now?" Gale: "Ahem, not a chance... I'm just interested in the theory part, solely a personal interest." Big Eye Debt: "Actually, what I'm more curious about is the story's continuation. Be honest, what happened after you saved Jiang Xuezhou? (Sneer)" Crow Crow: "Ew, how come something so innocent sounds so dirty when you say it?" Sisi: "+1, your intentions are way too obvious. (Smirk)" Construction Boy With Brick: "Big Eye’s reputation precedes him. (Ironic)" Irene: "What do you mean, reputation precedes? It's already ingrained in us. (Ironic)" Big Eye Debt: "Darn it! It was just a joke; what do you mean it sounds dirty when I say it? And everyone knows he doesn't have the 'tools' for such things in the server! (Angry)" Fang Chang: "Pfft—" Quit Smoking: "Hahaha oh my god!" Old Bai: "You've completely exposed Ye Shi's lack of essentials. (Laugh)" Sitting in front of his computer screen, Ye Shi nearly choked on his own laughter, furiously typing on the keyboard. "What, do you have eyes in my pants or something? Who told you I lack them!" He hit enter, but quickly felt a bit guilty, as his in-game avatar indeed lacked those. However, there's no way he'd admit defeat; after all, everyone was as stubborn as a mule in their youth. In a hurry, he added another line. "Besides, who says you need those to make something happen?" Though his intent was to change the topic, that one-liner caused the thread to explode. Sisi: "???" Fujita: "Wow, starting already?" Tail: "Oh oh oh! Didn't expect you to be like this, Ye Shi!" Macawa Bazi: "Did a wheel just run over my face?" Drum Washer: "Wait, what about Miss Fujita?" WC Really Has Mosquitoes: "Whoa, a two-timer?!" Fujita: "What's it got to do with me!!!" Ye Shi: "What's it got to do with me!!!" The topic about what lay five light-years away veered completely off-course to matters five light-years away from it. Turns out, most players didn't genuinely care about the universe beyond; they were more engrossed in the drama around them. Oh, Gaia. Honestly, it’s still a bit far-fetched. There might not even be a living soul there, just... what, an ancient orb that's been around for who knows how long? Yet hearing that Gaia, beyond those five light years, wasn’t just some pie-in-the-sky dream but was actually integrated into the universe of Wasteland OL, many veteran players felt a great sense of satisfaction. It's like ticking off an item on their bucket list! The forum conversation gradually shifted from the Burning Legion’s crushing defeat to praising the prowess of the big names. Looks like the server won't be shutting down any time soon. The medical miracle was still seeking advice on how to play dumb and infiltrate the Enlightenment Society. Meanwhile, the Battlefield Atmosphere Group was trying to explain to the former why these two tasks were contradictory. As for Fang Chang and Mole, they had once again revised their predictions for the next version, moving their analysis from a pessimistic to an optimistic outlook. As long as Ye Shi continues to "carry" the game and pilots the "Epoch of Prosperity" nuclear arsenal back to synchronous orbit, they could theoretically obliterate the Lagrange Point space station in no time. Of course. That's in theory. The premise being he can fly it back, and the "Celestials" don't have any tricks up their sleeve besides a few androids. After who knows how long, the previously silent Big Eye suddenly dropped a bombshell. “Holy... did Ye Shi actually find someone? (Shocked)” He was just joking around, yet this guy actually had a breakthrough?! No way— Why him?! Nobody wants that stuff! ... "These bastards are so damn boring." Seeing how his post had completely derailed, Ye Wei shook his head and clicked the top right corner. After scrolling through the forums for so long, he felt a bit hungry and decided to head to the kitchen. As he expected, Jiujiu was sprawled on the sofa playing games, with takeout boxes on the coffee table beside her. Once she got into college, she really let herself go, to the point where she forgot to eat while gaming. He couldn't understand why she was so fascinated. She was playing the world's most advanced fully immersive virtual game and yet was still interested in those little mobile games on a small screen. But thinking about it, this might also explain why Brother Mole's game sold so well in Ideal City. The essence of happiness is in the dopamine release. And you don’t need complex stimuli to trigger dopamine. The threshold for happiness keeps rising, but once it reaches a certain point, simple joys become novel again. Plus, Jiujiu is still young... She’s only had her own phone for a couple of years, and it was Ye Wei who bought it for her. So, for her, both the game helmet and phone might be viewed as new things that appeared around the same time, unlike for him. As he pondered, Ye Wei suddenly realized he was getting on in years; after a few more, he'd be an old geezer. Hearing the sound from the doorway, Jiujiu hit pause on her game. "Bro? You're awake, but I didn't order any takeout for you." Ye Wei rolled his eyes. "Thank you so much." "Ehehe, no problem." Jiujiu cheekily replied before diving back into her game with renewed vigor. Just as Ye Wei was about to order takeout on his phone, his sister piped up unexpectedly from the couch. "I never would’ve guessed. I always thought you were totally into Miss Fujita. Who knew you'd end up together?" Ye Wei's mouth twitched. "What nonsense are you talking about..." "Uh-huh, isn't it true?" Faced with her mischievous smile, Ye Wei couldn't help but recall what had transpired two hours ago, causing his gaze to wander. "...Not exactly." Seeing her brother's embarrassment, Jiujiu perked up and sat upright, intensely curious. "Spill the tea. What exactly happened?" Suddenly, she became quite the gossip. Rubbing the back of his head, Ye Wei eventually confessed to his sister what had happened. Let's be real, this was his first experience with romance, so he was also curious about how girls thought. People's tendency towards double standards is evident here. Though he used to joke about 'pixel girls', he couldn't view Jiang Xuezhou as just a mere digital avatar. Instead, he was filled with uncertainty. As for Jiujiu. She always treated Wasteland OL as real-life interactions and thus didn't ridicule him this time. Listening attentively to her brother’s tale, Jiujiu pondered a bit before blurting out. "As I thought, bro, you like girls who care for others." "What nonsense is that? When has she ever looked after anyone? I’m the one who’s more caring!" Ye Wei muttered sheepishly, lacking any semblance of his usual authority in front of his sister. Jiujiu, contrasted starkly, simply raised an eyebrow with a knowing grin. "Is that so?" Ye Wei remained quiet for a moment, uncharacteristically declining to argue, softly conceding. "...Alright, you win." Suddenly, past events flooded his thoughts. Not just aboard the Orion cruiser, but it had always been this way. When he was in danger, she was more anxious than anyone. When she learned he had a crush, she'd sulk and get jealous alone, yet still come to his aid. Of course, he helped her a lot too; they always looked out for each other. From that angle, Jiujiu wasn't entirely wrong, just about half-right. To make it fair, he decided on a half-victory. Looking at her older brother scrutinizing his inner heart, Jiujiu felt content. "Not bad, not bad. Seems like even the stubborn mule has learned to nibble carrots." Ye Wei retorted with an eye-roll. "What's all this carrot talk, you're the carrot! Spit, you’re the stubborn mule! When was I stubborn?" "Oh dear, getting all defensive now, brother! I'm your family; how can you side with outsiders?" Jiujiu feigned heartbreak, her big eyes resembling hurt puppy eyes. Ye Wei wasn’t having it, swatting away with his hand as if to shoo mosquitoes. "Oh, please. Knock it off." "Hahaha, your reactions are always priceless... Oh right." With that playful grin on her face, Jiujiu suddenly seemed to remember something important. "Speaking of, it's just the two of you on that starship, right?" Ye Wei hesitated for a second, then responded. "Why?" Jiujiu’s face turned serious. "Even if I can't grasp how far five light years really is... isn't it a bit cruel to leave someone alone in such a dark place?" Ye Wei's expression froze for a moment, though his mouth quickly parrotted an excuse. "Since the reactor's back online... it shouldn't be dark anymore." Jiujiu sighed, resting her forehead on her hand. "What a dummy." Even as he spoke, Ye Wei's face betrayed his subconscious guilt. A sudden realization hit him during his sister's remark: he had promised to be back in two minutes, and yet, over two hours had gone by. His gaze drifted to the wall clock, and his face transformed. "Oh crap!" With no hesitation, he snatched the unopened takeout from the table and bolted back to his room like a tornado targeting a parking lot. Just as he closed the door, he heard her yell from outside. "That was my takeout! Damn it!" "You eat mine then!" In no time, he scarfed down his food, then quickly ordered Jiujiu's favorite pickled fish via his phone, before grabbing the helmet from the table and placing it on his head. Wasteland OL— Activate! As Ye Shi hastily raced back online, Jiujiu, sitting in the living room, wore a helpless expression. "Sigh, this guy." Oh well. He liked pork knuckle rice the best, and that's the takeaway that had been ordered for him anyway. Her attitude towards things was pretty open-minded. Maybe their parents were more concerned about continuing the family line, but she didn’t care if her sister-in-law was human or cyborg. Wasn't there always a rumor online? They said Wasteland OL was actually developed by aliens, and that the game's world was, in fact, a real world. There were quite a few believers in such rumors, especially after Wasteland OL gained widespread popularity. Some players even delved into it and seriously compiled a list of "evidence." Although she thought those so-called experiments were quite silly, who’s to say it wasn’t a real world? Few could discern the difference between "existence" and "proving existence." They may appear as one issue but are actually questions from two entirely different dimensions. That's not something you learn in textbooks. Regardless, seeing her brother so lively and energetic put her at ease. Her biggest worry was him slipping into a coma with no one to care for him, leaving her to handle all his needs. In any case, as long as he was alright, that was what mattered. More to come...