Chapter 122: Sorry to put you through this, child

The announcement released by the authorities this time was strange and hard to believe; soon someone stood up to accuse the authorities, recounting an experience like yours, personally witnessing large numbers of residents slaughtered, witnessing relatives forgotten, witnessing all these strange changes.

As his words spread, more and more people came forward to corroborate him, and not long after, the authorities issued another announcement.

Those were several segments of surveillance footage, recording from start to finish how this accident occurred.

The footage's content was eerie; the strange Nightmares kept attacking the air, a few residents took advantage of the chaos to flee, and then Management Bureau staff were defeated one by one, sacrificing...

Once the footage was released, it immediately caused an uproar; countless people speculated about it, and discussion surged to unprecedented heights.

Mom, do you really not remember anything about Dad?

Zhang Jie suppressed his grief and asked his mother, but the result remained the same.

Mom really doesn't remember what you're talking about.

Hearing her son's earnest explanation, Zhang Jie's mother also sensed something was wrong, but no matter how Zhang Jie brought up past events, she knew nothing about them.

Zhang Jie let out a long sigh, gazing at the familiar home, but missing the figure that usually lounged on the sofa scrolling on a phone.

He couldn't believe that his robot father, who would always praise that one phrase, had vanished completely, even his everyday belongings gone.

This feeling... was like a program, as if a person had been thoroughly deleted.

A sense of despair and helplessness welled up; Zhang Jie felt as if he had been abandoned by the world, becoming an outsider outside it.

Only he knew and remembered his father, recalling his appearance, his daily routine, and his robot-like remarks.

Just then, a knock sounded, pulling Zhang Jie's consciousness back from its gradual descent into the abyss.

The visitor was Yu Xiaomo, who had come specially to see Zhang Jie.

Auntie, hello.

She greeted Zhang Jie's mother, while her eyes continually scanned the room, as if searching for something.

Seeing her, Zhang Jie's eyes suddenly lit up with hope, and he hurried over to Yu Xiaomo.

Yu Xiaomo!

Yu Xiaomo jumped in surprise at seeing Zhang Jie rush over in a disheveled state, and she blinked slightly.

She had never seen Zhang Jie like this, never seen him so disheveled, sorrowful, urgently seeking something.

Do you still remember my dad, right!

This question made Yu Xiaomo instantly understand; looking at Zhang Jie eagerly seeking affirmation, she nodded.

I remember Uncle; I saw him just a few days ago.

Mom! Look!

Zhang Jie excitedly grabbed Yu Xiaomo and shouted loudly at his mother.

I'm not lying! Look! Yu Xiaomo also remembers!

Hope rekindled in Zhang Jie's eyes; at least, there was still someone in this world who, like him, hadn't lost their memory.

Seeing both children say this, Zhang Jie's mother's doubt deepened, as if she were recalling something.

But... it was useless; Zhang Jie's father's disappearance was now a foregone conclusion, and even though Yu Xiaomo hadn't lost her memory, that robot father who could only say one phrase would not return...

And then another announcement from the authorities pushed the event to a new height, as they admitted the online speculation and admitted that these Nightmares capable of 'deleting' humans were real.

In the authorities' announcement, this kind of Nightmare that kills without leaving a blank was listed as extremely dangerous; residents without player abilities would be affected, losing all memory of that person, and those who were 'deleted' would have everything disappear in a reasonable way, forgotten by people.

After learning the whole matter, your mother remained silent for a long time; finally, based on your and Yu Xiaomo's words, she barely pieced together the person she had already forgotten, but she could not feel sorrow—for how can one grieve for someone one never remembered?

Zhang Jie.... don't be sad.

This isn't your fault.

Yu Xiaomo, this little girl, is not an idiot; in this situation she wouldn't stoop to teasing Zhang Jie, calling him trash or the like, but simply sat with him on the steps, quietly comforting him.

Mm.

Zhang Jie is now sitting where the Nightmare previously appeared, and this place was also where he often played as a child.

Here, things have been restored to how they were before, as if those brutal killings had never happened.

He doesn't even know where his father was killed, or which Nightmare did it.

Now, all these various aspects continually intertwine in his mind, forming many questions.

'Those Nightmares... what exactly are they, and why do they appear?'

'Moreover... they look so much like my Nightmare; is this really a coincidence?'

'Things from the Dream World... why would they intertwine with reality? This itself is unreasonable.'

The more Zhang Jie thought, the more doubtful he felt; he always sensed that behind Dream Online lay some great secret.

Seeing Zhang Jie lost in thought, Yu Xiaomo didn't interrupt him, just quietly sitting beside him to keep him company.

And above Zhang Jie, his pretty mother stood by the window, silently watching the two.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from behind, clasped her waist, and placed a chin on her shoulder.

Zhang Jie's mother startled, quickly stepped back a few steps, pulled the bed curtain in front of her, afraid someone would see.

How did you come back?

Just checking on how you two are doing.

And beside Zhang Jie's mother stood, none other than that robot father whose fate and manner of death were unknown!

Now he is not only alive, but appears here as lively and unharmed as an ordinary person.

Your acting is so good; how did I not know before?

Zhang Jie's mother pushed him away with some disdain; her earlier panic and despair had all been an act.

You just came back like this, aren't you afraid Xiao Jie will find you?

Isn't it that he hasn't noticed?

Zhang Jie's father grinned, pulled back the curtain, and furtively glanced at Zhang Jie in the distance.

For the coming period, I'll have to trouble you.

It's fine, what's so hard about this?

Zhang Jie's mother also pulled back the curtain to peek, and after a long while, the two let out a sigh.

This poor child.

This is a necessary sacrifice; if possible, I also don't want to do this to force him.

Zhang Jie's father spoke slowly, and on Zhang Jie's mother's face appeared a trace of reluctance and heartache.

Really, can't we change it a bit?

There's no way, it can't be changed...

This is... his fate...