Chapter 89: Aurora Dance, Where

Ji Ming prepared the things he might need tomorrow, downed two swallows of Rejuvenation Pill Fourth Generation, and calmly lay on his bedroom bed.

Just as he was about to activate the teleport, he suddenly thought…

Is this considered starting a game inside the game?

Clam.

He tossed the strange thought out of his mind, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already behind the sanctuary's curtain.

Logically, the evening prime time is certainly not the peak period for playing virtual‑reality games.

But the allure of "Code: Sun Month" is so strong that many players still rushed into the game.

Grinding monsters, doing commissions, harassing villagers, busy and delighted.

Meanwhile, Gun Brother and Snow Leopard and other streamers were busy live‑broadcasting self‑validation, and some enthusiastic players were helping argue on camera.

Overall everything is progressing steadily, and Ji Ming no longer needs to conduct high‑intensity surveillance.

Just as he was about to join the fun as a player, the system suddenly notified him of a message.

When he opened it, it turned out to be Aurora Dance, who had been missing for a day and a night.

The kid, for once dropping his usual tough talk, said something soft.

【Sorry, something came up in reality, couldn't finish playing yesterday, are you still online?】

Ji Ming thought for a moment, felt he couldn't indulge the internet pigeon, and replied coldly with just two words.

【Here】

【Um, I'm not done yet, just taking a moment to log on, might not be able to play long.】

【It's okay】

The moment the sentence was sent, Ji Ming noticed a new skeleton being moved in the resurrection pool.

Seeing that the Holy Seat Performing Arts Troupe's show yesterday was fairly successful, Ji Ming actually recorded it and made a broadcast clip.

Since character customization and watching cutscene CG both take time, he sat on the bench, patiently waiting for Aurora Dance to appear.

Hmm, should my attitude later be more serious or more lively?

A formal greeting, or a lame meme opening?

Considering it's a half offline meet‑up, Ji Ming is still a bit nervous.

Damn, I have no experience!

During this time, players kept logging in, or reviving after death, so shadows of people would flash in the sanctuary from time to time.

Look at one, not him; look at another, also not him.

Fearing his own heart might act up, he simply stared at the player list.

After about ten minutes, a new player appeared in the list.

Ji Ming gulped a breath, chose the lesser of two evils, and brazenly teleported.

"Aurora Dance, you dare stand me up!"

"Ugh…"

The figure before him startled, his footing gave way, and he fell straight onto a nearby sculpture.

"Hey!"

The sanctuary's sculptures were made of a very hard white stone, with many sharp edges and spikes.

Ji Ming sensed something off, quickly reached out and grabbed him, preventing the newcomer from rolling back into the spring right after logging in.

"Sorry, sorry, I…"

While he was busy apologizing, he looked closely and realized he was holding a woman.

His gaze flickered between the panicked face and the straightforward nickname, and Ji Ming scratched his head.

"Hey, why do you have 【Aurora Dance】 perched on your head?"

She pulled her hand away; the black long‑straight‑hair girl frowned and adjusted her cuff.

"Because I am Aurora Dance."

"Oh~"

Ji Ming suddenly understood, and bowed his hands.

"Sorry, I mistook Aurora Dance, maybe he's still customizing a character, truly sorry…"

Having said that, he turned to sprint away at light speed.

But before he could take a step, someone grabbed his collar.

"I am the Aurora Dance you're looking for!"

"Impossible!"

Ji Ming flatly rejected.

"Aurora Dance said that as soon as we meet we have to duel, and you… you have no weapon!"

The girl, expressionless, produced a long sword out of thin air.

"Just dueling, it can be taken literally."

Ji Ming stuck out his tongue.

"But he also said that the loser of the duel has to become a beautiful girl, so…"

She sighed, turned her face away, and avoided his gaze.

"I didn't log in yesterday, so I automatically concede defeat."

Ji Ming's eyes began to tremble.

"But he shared many lewd pictures with me, all featuring anime girls who are frugal and wholesome."

"Right."

Then, we swapped URL bookmark folders and even discussed each other's XP in depth.

…Right.

He said he, like me, likes the big ones, and more than once said he wants to ruthlessly push me.

........ Right.

Ugh—

He took a deep breath, Ji Ming groped around and lay down on a bench nearby.

He closed his eyes peacefully.

"I get it, I didn't sleep well last night, I was dreaming and hallucinating."

A girl's lowered voice sounded from above his head.

"Then tell me, how could you believe that I am Aurora Dance?"

Ji Ming pressed his palms together.

"Anyway, you're open‑hearted; if you now say I'm a long‑haired handsome guy, I'll believe… ah!"

He quickly sat up, dodging the sword sheath that Aurora Dance slashed down.

"Believe it, believe it, believe it, believe it!"

He kept waving his hands, then finally covered his head.

"I... I just can't accept it."

"What's so unacceptable?"

Aurora Dance sheathed her weapon, and smoothly sat beside him, a look of disbelief on her face.

"Everyone in the group likes to imagine the members as cute girls, so why are you stunned when it's really you?"

Ji Ming let out a light hum.

"The new‑era internet Ye Gong is just a thing; they even each claim to be a male Tong, truly thinking an offline meet‑up would be a passionate start?"

…

"Isn't that so?"

Ji Ming opened his mouth slightly, recalling a few tough guys in the group.

"Well, it's indeed hard to say..."

As the words fell, the two, now calm, fell into an odd silence.

At this moment, with his mind settled, Ji Ming finally had time to observe Aurora Dance's appearance.

She was tall, similar to him, at least about 1.7 meters.

With long straight black hair, a pair of long legs, and when silent, she looked like a cool, aloof beauty.

Come on, this appearance is way off from her internet persona!

While sighing, he couldn't help recalling his first meeting with Aurora Dance.

It was an ordinary night; following the spirit of internet sharing, he posted the latest resources in the group.

Having eaten and drunk enough, he was about to sleep soundly, but was interrupted by a private message.

【Quick, quick, boss, I can't operate at the crucial moment, please send a tutorial!】

【???】

【Are you an elementary student? How can you not know this?】

…

Wait.

Only realized later.

Damn, why is everything suddenly falling into place!?

Countless topics jammed at his lips, yet he couldn't utter any; Ji Ming clenched his collar, for a long while.

"Um, you really aren't..."

"You!"

She clenched her fists, Aurora Dance gritted her teeth.

"Wai Shu, I *you*, you *** are you especially trying to make me..."

Listening to a string of cyber‑tanked language mixing WWII telegrams with bird songs and floral scents, Ji Ming instantly felt comfortable.

It hits the spot, hits the spot, now it hits the spot!