Chapter 26: Holographic Game (XIII)

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Chapter 26: Holographic Game (XIII)

The Miao Group was a highly prominent commercial building in the city, known to all.

Qi Yingfeng stood in front of it, gazing up for a long time. His lips were slightly curled, and his eyes were hidden behind large black-rimmed glasses. He did not regularly trim his hair, so it had grown to its current shoulder length. Despite its length, it looked neat and added to his carefree demeanor.

He wore simple casual clothes, unlike the all-black outfit he wore in the game. His black bottoms were paired with a white top accented with black patterns, highlighting his pale, sun-deprived skin and giving him a somewhat fragile appearance. At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary homebody.

Adjusting his sun hat, Qi Yingfeng turned and made his way to the nearest cafe, casting one last glance at the top floor of the Miao Group. If that person was in the building, he would be up there. But he knew it was impossible, as Miao Lichen was still asleep in Second World. Even if Miao Lichen woke up shortly after he left, he wouldn’t be able to appear in the company so quickly. Squinting, he dismissed the fleeting sense of familiarity as an illusion.

Miao Lichen leaned against the glass window, lightly rubbing the edge of his telescope. In that moment, his sharp eyes mirrored the charm of his in-game character.

“A’chen, are you sure you don’t want Mengyao to be your fiancée anymore? You two have been together for so long, and even if there is no romantic love, there should still be family affection. It’s okay for the two of you to spend your lives together.” Father Miao said as he tapped the table. Though he expressed this sentiment, there was no outright rejection in his tone. Miao Lichen was his biological son, and it was clear that Mengyao had not been paying attention to him recently. Her absent-minded demeanor was reminiscent of a girl in love.

“Dad, I don’t lack a fiancée. And even if I did, she wouldn’t be suitable, would she? A fiancée who doesn’t know her future husband’s preferences will become tiresome. Since nothing has happened yet, wouldn’t it be better to let it go?” Miao Lichen lowered the telescope and walked two steps closer to the large glass windows. His fair fingers gently slid across the surface, his demeanor calm and relaxed.

“Since this is your choice, we won’t say anything. Our family has raised her for so many years and we owe her nothing. Since she’s no longer your fiancée, it is unreasonable to let her continue living with the family. If we were to adopt her as our daughter…” Father Miao frowned. Giving her the title of “adopted daughter” would merely be a way to explain the situation to the outside world.

In reality, after losing her status as Miao Lichen’s fiancée, no other family in their circle would accept her. Being born in an orphanage was already considered a dishonorable background. The sudden change in her status could violate certain taboos within their circle. Despite claims that there is no longer an aristocracy these days, the reality is far from perfect. Families that claim to be nobles can be even more conservative than they were a thousand years ago.

“You don’t have to do so much, she will give us an answer soon. Dad, I hope you will be happy and accept it.” Miao Lichen said. His once warm gaze gradually dimmed, replaced by a chill as he contemplated his possible fate in this world.

“What does she want to do?” Mother Miao entered, unknowingly overhearing their conversation. Her black professional attire made her look younger and gentler, but with the passage of time, she became more dignified and solemn. A large part of Miao Mengyao’s temperament came from her.

“She just wants to leave the family. Perhaps she can’t accept that I don’t like her at all. Girls her age tend to fantasize about unrealistic things.” Miao Lichen answered as he sat next to his mother. It was rare for the three of them to sit together in the company, and their conversation wasn’t about the company.

“Oh my. As long as you wish for it, your dad and I will naturally support you unconditionally. It looks like I need to carefully find another daughter-in-law. If I wait for you to find one, who knows when I will hold my grandson.” A glint flashed through Mother Miao’s eyes, her gentle demeanor fading slightly as she looked rather impatient.

…

“Invite2Dream?” The cold voice, with a slight rise at the end, was a question, but it held a certainty. This was likely Qi Yingfeng’s unique charm and the reason why he always seemed exceptionally steady.

Miao Mengyao looked identical to her character in the game, except for her hairstyle and clothing. The game allowed for a 10% appearance adjustment, but there was no way she would make herself uglier. With her unwavering self-confidence, she wouldn’t adjust it any higher either. Therefore, maintaining her original appearance was the only option for her. Because of this, she didn’t believe they needed a secret code to confirm each other’s identity.

Miao Mengyao calmed her erratic heartbeat. Though she tried to convince herself that she was just meeting a trade partner, she couldn’t stop her uncontrollable heart. He was, after all, the first person she had fallen in love with, and perhaps the only one. Her fingers dug into her palm before she looked up and put on the perfect smile. She applied all the etiquette she had learned at the Miao Family to the fullest.

She saw an ordinary homebody, someone she would never look twice at if she passed them on the street, but she could clearly sense his uniqueness. Just like in the game, even though he wasn’t talkative and was indifferent to others, he still managed to be the center of attention. Despite his seemingly ordinary appearance, his aura made him stand out amongst other homebodies like a crane among chickens.

“Allow me to introduce myself, I am Miao Mengyao. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She extended her smooth hand, its well-maintained skin shimmering alluringly in the sunlight.

“Qi Yingfeng.” Qi Yingfeng barely touched her fingertips and withdrew before she could shake his hand. “I wonder if you brought the things?”

“I brought it. Would you like something to drink? The coffee here is excellent; you won’t find it anywhere else.” Miao Mengyao said, clearly holding this shop in high regard likely due to its close proximity to the Miao Group. Whenever she craved coffee, it had to come from here. It was even comparable to the ones made by the professional servants of the family.

“No need, I want this done as quickly as possible. I’m sure you don’t want A’chen to know you came out to see me.” Qi Yingfeng said, frowning slightly. There was obvious dislike in his eyes as he looked at the smiling girl in front of him.

“A’chen usually doesn’t come to my room. I had someone watch him when I came out, so I’m sure he won’t suddenly show up.” Miao Mengyao replied, smiling wider. She could still trust An Yi. No matter how much she pushed him away, he would still stay by her side, because he loved her and would never betray her.

Qi Yingfeng met Miao Mengyao’s bright eyes head-on, and she finally abandoned the idea of drinking with him. A meticulously sealed document was placed in front of him.

Qi Yingfeng flipped through it casually, his fingers brushing against the characters, his thoughts obscured to outsiders. The corners of his lips rose slightly as he turned the pages one by one, the smile reaching his eyes.

“Well, I didn’t lie to you did I? I hope you can help me leave the Miao Family,” Miao Mengyao breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his good mood and felt more at ease. “After I leave here, Miao Lichen will have nothing to do with me anymore. If you don’t help me, I don’t mind finding someone else.”

“Can I take that as a threat?” Qi Yingfeng closed the documents and returned to his impassive look. However, the hand holding the documents tightened; he placed great value on them.

“No, it is better to threaten you in other ways. Like putting some stuff in the red wine A’chen likes to drink. It might be simpler too, you know he values responsibility. If another woman really had a relationship with him…” Miao Mengyao suddenly stopped talking. The cold aura around Qi Yingfeng made it impossible for her to speak. Wasn’t this the real world? The person in front of her was not a real assassin, he was just a normal person.

She mentally hypnotized herself and finally subdued her fear. She didn’t expect him to have such momentum out of the game too. Should she say he was worthy of being the one she liked?

“That person can only be mine, whether it is his heart or his body.” Qi Yingfeng declared as his pale fingers left a clear mark on the document. Standing up, he gazed down at her, who was already sweating. “I agree to your terms. Just remember, no one but me can touch him.”

“I get it… Hah.. I really don’t know what you see in him, or rather, what you love about him. How can that man, who is always so insincere, deserve your love? Why not me? I am a woman, and a fairly outstanding one. How can I not compare to a man?” Miao Mengyao’s eyes grew increasingly misty, as if tears would fall at any moment, but she held them back.

Qi Yingfeng’s possessiveness of Miao Lichen couldn’t be explained solely by love. She had only ever imagined this expression, never thinking she would see it in person. However, she wasn’t the one who caused him to look this way.

“Besides your gender advantage, how are you better than him? No, what right do you have to compare yourself to him?” Qi Yingfeng turned to leave the cafe, only to be hugged around the waist by someone the next moment. The sweet fragrance almost made him nauseated.

‘It looks like… it has to be him..’ understanding flashed through his eyes.

∇ Capture Target Qi Yingfeng Favorability: 100.

∇ Main Mission: Capture the Male Protagonist, Qi Yingfeng (Complete).

∇ The System is working diligently, cleanup in process…

“Can I hug you for a moment? Just a moment…” Miao Mengyao’s tears dripped onto Qi Yingfeng’s clothes. The thin summer fabric couldn’t contain her tears or the warmth of her breath as it passed through.

“I don’t want to hit a woman.” Qi Yingfeng said as he pried Miao Mengyao off of him and walked out. The lingering scent on his body made him want to wash it off immediately.

As soon as he left the cafe, his pupils widened. The unpleasant sound of car brakes echoed in his ears, and someone kept laughing. He approached the red figure step by step, bent down, and touched his favorite temperature. The man in red still wore the same smile that captured his heart. Even in such a situation, he smiled. “Miao Lichen, has anyone ever told you that smiling can be quite cruel?”

“Heh…”

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