Chapter 23: Holographic Game (X)

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter

Chapter 23: Holographic Game (X)

This tavern in Chang’an had an oriental style on the outside, but the drinks offered inside were not limited to Chinese baijiu. Second World was a game world, where enjoyment was valued even more than in real life. Almost any brand name liquor was available, and prices were reasonable. Coupled with the authenticity of the place, many people enjoyed visiting, but high-ranking individuals like Miao Lichen were rare.

Especially someone who had climbed nine levels in a single day and topped the rankings. But this big boss had only appeared to kill an unknown player, then went silent. Now that he appeared in this tavern, his presence became a pleasant surprise for the drinkers. The once-quiet tavern became noisy, but the commotion soon faded.

A woman in red walked past the two of them, holding a gourd. The rich aroma of wine followed her as she passed. She was a “Wine Beauty,” practically the embodiment of wine itself, making her a unique attraction for men.

“Let’s go,” Qi Yingfeng said as he pulled Miao Lichen by the arm and led him upstairs toward the private rooms. He picked up a heavy bamboo slip nearby, covered in intricate traditional Chinese characters. It would have looked more fitting if the back had not been filled with rows of wine names. “What do you like?”

“Anything is fine.” Miao Lichen replied.

“I’m worried you won’t be accustomed to some of the lower-end drinks.” Qi Yingfeng said as he glanced at the familiar names, tracing the words with his finger. He was only familiar with the more expensive ones simply because they were so famously expensive. “Today, I’ll follow the young master and enjoy a life of luxury.”

Almost as soon as they ordered their drinks, someone delivered them, uncorked the bottles, poured each of them a glass, and quietly withdrew. The wine also came with side dishes. Whether it was red wine or white wine, drinking on an empty stomach was harmful.

Miao Lichen raised his wine glass, feeling as if he had stepped back in time drinking modern wine in an ancient setting. Perfection was unrealistic, while reality often fell short of the ideal.

People often chatted over drinks, so Qi Yingfeng clearly had another reason for coming here. He stared at Miao Lichen’s lips as he sipped his red wine, and an image suddenly flashed through his mind, disrupting his thoughts.

“I want to join Cangqiong Palace.” Qi Yingfeng declared. He seemed indifferent to the expensive wine in his hand, which was meant to be savored slowly, yet he drank it in one gulp. The rich aroma of red wine did not suit him at the moment; he preferred the stronger flavor of white wine.

“Are you joking?” Miao Lichen didn’t look up from his drink. “You don’t look like someone who would remain in a guild.”

“I consider myself to be quite serious. It’s rather unfortunate to not have a secure place to stay in the main city,” Qi Yingfeng replied, his gaze lingering on the corner of Miao Lichen’s shirt. “I really enjoy Chang’an.”

“Sure. What position do you want?” Miao Lichen stared at him for a while, then nodded.

“CangChen, did you know trust can sometimes become addictive?” Qi Yingfeng stood up and approached Miao Lichen until he was close enough that he could touch those mesmerizing lips simply by lowering his head. Meeting his blank eyes, he took a step back. Sometimes, gentleness could hurt more than cruelty. “Just give me a random position, I just want a safe spot.”

“Mhm, I’ll make you an elder position. You’ll be an elder of Cangqiong Palace. It won’t require much work, and I believe you’ll do a far better job than Invite2Dream. But if you ever want to quit the guild in the future, you must let me know in advance.”

“As long as you remain in Cangqiong Palace, I won’t leave.” Qi Yingfeng answered, his pale lips stained with the color of red wine, and even his eyes seemed to have a hint of red.

Miao Lichen frowned and set down his wine glass. “My emergency call was triggered. I’ll log off to see what’s going on.”

“Okay,” Qi Yingfeng said as he watched Miao Lichen disappear, then turned his attention to the unfinished wine. He took the glass and drank it. He sat in the private room for a long time, finally going downstairs as the sun set. Downstairs, he saw the woman in red again, sitting alone in the empty tavern. The bright red of her outfit seemed especially gaudy when compared to CangChen, who wore the same color with effortless elegance. There was probably never another person who could wear red so elegantly.

∇ Capture Target Qi Yingfeng Favorability: 90. The capture target is behaving abnormally. Please maintain control and prevent him from escaping.

“Stay and have a drink with me,” the woman in red said, looking at Qi Yingfeng with a distinctive smile. There was no seductiveness, but rather a sense of purity.

“Sure,” Qi Yingfeng, who had initially ignored her, sat beside her and ordered a jar of white wine. They drank together, one guzzling down their drink while the other sipped from a small cup. The sky gradually grew darker…

“Did something happen?” Miao Lichen asked as he pushed open the lid of his game cabin. He was not surprised to see who had activated his emergency call. The butler and other servants were not allowed to enter his room unless it was a serious situation, leaving only his fiancée.

Miao Mengyao’s face was noticeably pale, and the look she gave Miao Lichen was filled with barely concealed disgust and hatred. It seemed that the protagonist halo was dazzling enough for her to betray her fiancé after only a few encounters. Or perhaps she was the problem?

“The ring you wore…” Miao Mengyao tried to keep her tone calm, but couldn’t when she thought of those two similar rings.

“LunarBreeze gave it to me, is there a problem?” Miao Lichen continued to smile with no impatience.

“Why are you wearing it on your middle finger? Don’t you know what a ring on that finger represents? The middle finger is… The middle finger is…” Miao Mengyao stopped herself each time, unwilling to finish the sentence. To suggest that two men were engaged or in love seemed strange. How could two men possibly fall in love?

“Love?” Miao Lichen smiled wider. “Mengmeng, with what identity are you questioning me with? Are you questioning me as my fiancée, or as someone who adores LunarBreeze?”

“A’chen, what are you talking about? How could I fall in love with him? He’s just someone on the internet, you are my fiancé.” Miao Mengyao’s face grew paler, her fingers clenching the hem of her dress so tightly they turned red, but she remained oblivious.

“So you are questioning me with your identity as my fiancée?” Miao Lichen approached Miao Mengyao, hooked a finger under her chin, and brought her close enough that they almost touched face to face. “I really doubt my judgment right now. Why did I choose you as my fiancée among so many children? I had said from the beginning that your title does not give you any rights, it is your shackles. Didn’t that little girl say she would be obedient? Or has the comfortable life eroded your childhood memories?”

“I…” Miao Mengyao kept shaking her head. The life she had forgotten in the orphanage for so long appeared before her eyes again. When Miao Lichen had walked towards her back then, she had thought he was an angel with his white clothing. She had been so cautious when she arrived at the Miao Family, and those exquisite meals she couldn’t even imagine.

But when did things start to change? Was it when Miao Lichen changed? When he changed from wearing white to wearing red, and no longer faced her with his unique gentleness. Instead, he wore the same mask to everyone. He clearly said she was his fiancée and that she belonged to him, so he should only belong to her. So it wasn’t her fault. It was all Miao Lichen’s fault.

“Mengmeng, I have never been a kind person.” Miao Lichen stated. “Not caring about someone or liking them does not mean I will tolerate betrayal. You are my fiancée and will be the future Madam of the Miao Family. Do you think I will tolerate the existence of someone who may lead the family to ruin?” Despite his harsh words, Miao Lichen maintained a gentle smile, his expression unwavering.

“A’chen, I never wanted to ruin this family. I like this family, I like my parents. How could I possibly ruin it?” Miao Mengyao rose to her feet, her tone filled with emotions. “Miao Lichen, don’t impose your thoughts on me. You don’t understand me at all. How could you possibly know what I’m thinking?”

“You like it?” Miao Lichen went silent and just stared at her motionlessly. Those eyes that seemed to see through everything made Miao Mengyao unable to control herself.

“Miao Lichen, what do you want? So what if I like him? I will always treat him as a friend and be a good fiancée, is that not enough? Miao Lichen, can you not be so selfish? I just want to watch over him, I won’t do anything that crosses the line. Do you enjoy seeing me helpless?”

“It’s not that I enjoy seeing you helpless; I simply want you to find your place. You are Miao Lichen’s fiancée, not the eldest daughter of the Miao Family. You will only become a member of the Miao Family after you marry me. Right now, you and An Yi aren’t all that different.”

Miao Mengyao realized for the first time that his gentle smile could be so cruel. She had a feeling that he could hold a knife to her throat with that same smile. “Miao Lichen, what am I to you?”

“A tool. A tool I raised, one that must obey me.” Miao Lichen answered, leaning sideways on the sofa with his thin lips slightly curled up. “I have never engaged in unprofitable business. Since I have raised you, there is no reason for you to leave my family, even if you’re not my fiancée.”

“I am going to rest for a while. I hope you can think it through. Otherwise, finding a qualified fiancée will be a hassle.”

‘Miao Lichen… truly is a genius,’ she thought to herself. Had he been planning his life since the age of five? Had he been planning her life too? As his fiancée, was she just a pawn? Miao Mengyao’s face grew paler. No, she had to escape. She must escape.

Miao Lichen leaned back on the sofa in the living room and listened to the hurried footsteps with a smile. He would be disappointed if she didn’t react. He had used a psychological suggestion he hadn’t employed in many years, even though it was just a basic level one.

He reached out and took a random bottle of red wine from the rack, pouring it into a tall glass. Then he tilted it slightly and let it shatter on the ground with a crisp sound. The red liquid seeped into the carpet, which was the same color as the wine, concealing the spill. He just wasn’t sure what she would do. It couldn’t be too boring. This was her final struggle.

Standing up, he walked upstairs, his footsteps echoing until all returned to silence.

“Can’t ever leave the Miao Family? The An Family will never leave the Miao Family.” Hiding in a corner, An Yi also smiled brightly.

Previous Chapter ∇ Table of Content ∇ Next Chapter