Chapter 189: Bai Xiaoya

Half the fridge was packed with fresh ingredients; the other half was filled with instant meals like self-heating hot pots.

The former could be cooked from scratch; the latter just needed heating before eating.

This—this this this—is this heaven!? This service is perfect!

Fang Yue suddenly thought, having Bai Xiaoya around the house didn't seem so bad—she was far more reliable than Yuan Jie!!

Of course, the main reason was poverty; Yuan Jie was just an office worker who couldn't afford to stock the fridge with so many perishable ingredients that wouldn't be eaten in days.

But Bai Xiaoya, flush with cash, clearly didn't care… wait, I'm flush with cash too!

Damn, I clearly haven't cultivated that nouveau riche vibe yet—next time I'm going all out at the supermarket!!

As Fang Yue carefully examined the ingredients, he suddenly froze.

He noticed every ingredient had a timestamp—each had been delivered today, guaranteed fresh.

Note: every single one!

That meant if Bai Xiaoya did this every day, the fridge's contents were replaced daily!

So… so luxurious!

This is what life with money looks like—eating only fresh ingredients delivered that same day.

With a learner's mindset, Fang Yue took out some ingredients, prepared them, and cooked a few small dishes: braised pork ribs, preserved vegetable and pork belly, spicy and sour cabbage, plus a self-heating rice packet, eating them together.

Comforting!

Eating something like this late at night warmed the stomach and felt wonderful.

Most importantly, my cooking's decent—I can actually make food worth eating!

After finishing his midnight snack, Fang Yue patted his full belly, cleaned the table, and returned to his room.

Fang Yue didn't know that as he closed his door, the neighboring door quietly opened.

In the dark, a pair of eyes carefully observed the traces left by Fang Yue's meal, then slowly closed the door again.

Back in her room, Bai Xiaoya frowned deeply, as if deep in thought.

"Active at night, stays in the room all day, never throws out trash or goes shopping, never leaves the house."

"This… isn't this the classic definition of a shut-in?"

"Doesn't he train his body?"

"What the hell is he doing stuck in his room every day?"

"He's wearing a Game Watch, right?"

"He has that kind of power, yet he doesn't seek fame—instead he hides away here playing games?"

Bai Xiaoya couldn't make sense of it.

She had asked her father about Fang Yue's background.

But her father knew little about Fang Yue.

This was one of her father's many Safe Houses in Jianghai City; to ensure their secrecy, he had recruited two residents with clean backgrounds and stable personalities.

So whether Fang Yue or Yuan Jie, they were both ordinary people who happened to move in.

Yet Fang Yue had revealed that power—and that monster…

The more Bai Xiaoya thought, the more confused she became; she touched the Green Jade Pendant hanging around her neck.

"When I paid ten million to hire him as an escort, he agreed."

"But someone like him—money works once, doesn't mean it works twice."

"Besides… if I asked him to help resolve my father's troubles, he'd definitely refuse—after all, the opponent is a force that controls Jianghai City with a single hand."

"Once he acts, his peaceful life is over. Someone who hides his identity like this won't want his quiet life shattered."

"So… I really need to build my own strength!"

"Should I just ask to become his disciple? Would he teach me? Probably not—our relationship is too distant…"

Bai Xiaoya began to feel a flicker of irritation.

She was never the type to initiate friendships.

Besides, with her status and looks, people everywhere flocked to her, eager to befriend her.

She didn't need to do anything—relationships came to her automatically.

But with someone like Fang Yue, her beauty, status, and position seemed useless—money mattered more.

"So… do I really have to use that method?"

Bai Xiaoya looked at the package on her bed.

Inside were the second batch of Game Watches released in the game.

These were Game Watches bought by scalpers, not used immediately, then resold—valuable stock.

"Indirect approach: since real life offers little chance to interact, I'll cater to his interests—enter the game and deepen our bond!"

She unpacked the package and put on the Game Watch.

Bai Xiaoya lay on her bed and entered the game.

…

"Run! Everyone, run!! The anomaly is coming!!"

"Withdraw! Evacuate! Everyone evacuate Shengshun Village!"

"Abandon the village—head immediately to the neighboring big village for shelter!!"

The first thing Bai Xiaoya saw upon entering the game was a crowd frantically fleeing the village.

What… happened?

Is this the game's tutorial?

Boom!!

The ground sank, leaving behind a massive footprint!

But Bai Xiaoya saw nothing else—only the villagers crushed into bloody, unrecognizable masses.

Her heart lurched; trembling, she followed the tide fleeing beyond the village.

Ahead, the night was pitch black, like a whale devouring all things.

Leaving the village this way would only lead to losing direction in the dark.

Bai Xiaoya looked around and saw some carried torches, others did not.

Those without torches clustered toward those with them; the fleeing mob instantly split into several groups.

"Aaaah!"

"Don't go this way—there's something strange here too!!"

Suddenly, chaos erupted ahead, and the crowd surged en masse to the right.

Bai Xiaoya hurried with the flow, then noticed that some torch-bearers had died—and their torches instantly went out.

Someone would then pick up the torch beside the corpse, and the flame would reignite.

Is that even possible?

Bai Xiaoya was bewildered; she copied the others, rushed forward, and picked up a torch from a corpse—but it showed no reaction, no flame.

Broken?

"Lend me a light!"

Bai Xiaoya ran forward and held her unlit torch to the flame of another's— the man stared blankly, then kicked her away.

"You're insane!"

Ding.

Bai Xiaoya groaned in pain and collapsed to the ground.

A Green Jade Pendant hanging from her neck flew off and struck the ground.

What?!

The moment she saw the Green Jade Pendant, her pupils shrank, her mind rang hollow, and went utterly blank.

It… how could it be in this game?!

"Run! Flee now! The anomaly's coming!"

"Go! Go! Go! Even if you leave the village path, just keep running!"

The shouts around her snapped Bai Xiaoya back to reality.

She examined the Green Jade Pendant closely—it was identical to the one she wore in real life.

Every single detail, as if cloned with perfect precision, no difference whatsoever!

What is this…?

A beginner's item in the game?

Why is a beginner's item in the game identical to the thing my father entrusted me to keep?

Could my real-life Jade Pendant merely be a game merchandise figurine?

Bai Xiaoya found it absurd and ridiculous.

Then, a beast-like growl rose from behind her.

(End of Chapter)