It Turns out that I am Beautiful, Strong and Miserable [Quick Wear] - 192

 

ITOTIABSAM | Infinite Flow | 192

There was once a dazzling display of daytime fireworks in the Infinite Game.

On that day, players were busy with their own affairs. Some were nervously preparing for the next dungeon, some were gathering with friends, and some were stumbling out of the bar with huge dark circles under their eyes...

Suddenly, like an earth dragon rolling over, the transfer station that had been stable for many years began to shake violently. The game system connecting all players, for the first time, angrily shouted in a fragmented and intermittent manner:

【Xie Ye!】

【You...】

It didn't get to finish its sentence.

Crackling, the sky shattered, revealing the ugly black hole behind it, exposing countless dense and slender, insect-like passages.

High above, the sun split into four or five pieces, along with the dim red orbs surrounding it—the eerie moon in the eyes of countless players—burst open simultaneously, spraying hundreds of huge sparks flying outward, rapidly descending.

Compared to the fireworks ignited by the system at every festival and timed event, this display was more intense, more wild, and more bizarre. Interwoven with light gold and deep red, it resembled small asteroids colliding and vanishing.

In the face of such a magnificent spectacle, many players even forgot to panic. They sat down, their eyes wide open, staring blankly up at the sky.

The repeated malfunction sounds echoed, and the handcuff-like wristbands restraining the players fell off one by one with a clatter, shattering like glass.

Immediately following were countless players, who suddenly emerged and nearly overwhelmed the station.

They had obviously just come out of different instances, fighting ghosts and monsters just a second ago. Some were injured, some were missing limbs, and others were wearing eerie white paper funeral clothes. But fortunately, they were all still alive.

Even though there was no announcement, a thought emerged in the minds of all players at the same time:

The infinite game was over.

The weapons bought from the score shop turned into strings of deep green garbled code, floating and drifting in the air like jellyfish along the cracks of the pure black wristbands.

The body enhancements granted by the system quickly faded away at a noticeable speed, returning many to a state of weakness that matched their slender appearance. Yet, nobody felt afraid.

Because as all connections to the game were expelled, the presence of another world became increasingly dominant, with a vortex-like force that was hard to resist. It seemed determined to pull them desperately, back home.

Boring lectures, tedious meetings, spousal arguments, parental nagging...

The distant clamor of human voices.

That was the familiar hustle and bustle of reality.

The only ones who felt anxious were those players who had signed contracts with the system, like the owner of the Fate Roulette. He ran the largest casino in the entire transit station, using rhetoric and environment to incite the most fervent atmosphere, helping the system squeeze the pockets of its kind in exchange for his own "get out of jail free card" without having to enter a dungeon.

But in doing so, they were also permanently trapped in the game.

Surrounded by players who seemed like pencil sketches being slowly erased by an eraser, smiling as they logged out of this crumbling game world, only the solid-bodied casino owner remained, collapsing in a disheveled heap, staring crazily at the black mist spreading out towards the outer city, laughing and crying.

In a hotel room with the best view of the outer city, someone else had not left either.

He had the same amber eyes as Jiang Chuan, but his overall appearance was vastly different. Standing by the clean floor-to-ceiling window, he quietly watched everything happening outside, as if enjoying a truly magnificent fireworks display.

The mechanical voice, completely different from the game system, sounded hesitant, "Who would have thought he..."

0028 hadn't figured out how to continue, especially after last night's "enthusiastic" kiss that led it to activate privacy protection, fearing it might inadvertently stumble upon another "good deed" and get locked up in the penalty box. So, it sank deep into the subconscious, particularly unguarded against Xie Ye.

And indeed, Xie Ye had not harmed the host, circumventing its defense mechanism by sheer coincidence.

"Do you think his actions were foolish?" Gu Cong asked, appearing much calmer than 0028 had anticipated, now that his real appearance had been restored.

0028 was momentarily at a loss for words. Purely analyzing the data, perhaps they were. "Jiang Chuan" was a role played by the host, and the real Gu Cong didn't need saving, nor did he long for or cling to any notion of reality.

If this were a novel with an author's perspective, there might already be someone in the comments section scolding Xie Ye for not knowing any better:

"A pair of devoted partners, with nothing but each other's company in a tiny penalty box – what a charming setup. The host had already agreed to stay with him forever in the game, to be a happy little couple. But Xie Ye just had to go the extra mile, rejecting the chance to stay together and instead, selfishly sacrificing himself. He even prematurely ruined the Infinite Game, causing the host's mission to utterly fail."

But 0028 couldn't offer any negative commentary.

Having seen too many novels with characters turning dark, yandere tendencies, and possessiveness, it understood just how rare it was for someone like Xie Ye to earnestly offer their heart, only wishing the best for the host.

"Almost there," it sighed, saying, "Almost there."

Rebelling against the world and blowing up the game was a manifestation of NPC awakening. Unfortunately, in the end, Xie Ye didn't break through that barrier and realize he was a character in a novel.

If Xie Ye were to awaken completely, no longer just a simple set of data, then there would still be many possibilities for him and the host to explore. However, as it stands, Xie Ye remains clouded, obligated to take responsibility for the destruction of this square little world.

Especially since the Infinite Game, as a transit station, also connects to countless lower-level paranormal planes.

The worst-case scenario... might involve data destruction.

But Gu Cong said, "It's okay."

【0028, contact the Quick Transmigration Bureau.】

【I want to make a wish.】

A wish that exhausts all his accumulated points.

---

【So, at that time, you were just rolled back, with all memories related to this event sealed, and placed into a new small world,】 1101 finally managed to contact the host, unable to conceal his excitement, "No wonder I couldn't find any reason why Gu Cong kept accompanying you through reincarnation after reincarnation. It turns out it's all classified information."

Due to the restrictions imposed by the Quick Transmigration Bureau, even if Xie Ye were to awaken successfully in the end and recall every life he had experienced, he would naturally miss this deeply buried past.

Sitting on the steps of the station, Xie Ye, for once, didn't bother about cleanliness. He simply said softly, "Thank you for your hard work."

【Yao Yao】

In fact, at the moment when the system awakened him, Xie Ye's missing memories fell into place, yet he patiently listened to everything the other party had to say.

1101, nearly hoarse from shouting in the host's consciousness, was instantly moved to tears.

God knows how much it feared the host repeating the same mistakes. Even though it knew this place was an illusion, it didn't want the host to experience the pain of perishing with the Infinite Game again.

Moreover…

【Gu Cong's memories are also in this illusion.】1101 sniffed and reminded him.

Xie Ye was astonished, "He... Did he get punished because of me?"

Anticipating the host's unfinished thoughts, 1101 promptly denied, "It should be his own choice."

Carefully and subtly hiding its anticipation, it asked, "Should we go find him?"

Xie Ye hesitated unusually for a long time. 

But in the end, he stood up, slowly brushing off the light gray stains on his coat, wearing this young and unfamiliar shell, and stepped towards the direction he came from.

Although his mind was complex, there was no doubt that he wanted to see Gu Cong.

Very much so.

Perhaps it was telepathy, or perhaps it was a fortunate coincidence, but in the entire world submerged in sleep, Xie Ye, riding on the black mist, arrived at the brightly lit hotel downstairs in the outer city. He looked up and coincidentally saw his "Sleeping Beauty" standing on the "tower," with gentle eyes behind the transparent floor-to-ceiling window.

His amber-colored, drooping puppy eyes, naturally harmless in appearance, but when serious, they seemed to take on a different demeanor, sharp in temperament, even the handsome appearance that pleases the eye appears aggressive.

Those were Gu Cong's features.

Not Jiang Chuan's.

The vision of ghosts couldn't be judged by common sense; he could clearly see the man make a "wait" gesture to him and then turn away from the window.

The elevator that once carried Xie Ye's heavy descent lit up again.

One floor, another floor, his heartbeat accelerated along with it.

1101, who hadn't chatted in a long time, couldn't hold back: "Host."

【You seem nervous.】

Xie Ye remained expressionless. "I'm not."

"Well, that’s for the best," 1101 chuckled, "Anyway, he loves you so much that he's chased after you across hundreds of small worlds. What's there to worry about?"

—— Governed by the Quick Transmigration Bureau, the small worlds were as numerous as the stars. To accurately locate Xie Ye's whereabouts, then send his amnesiac self inside, and considering his peculiar constitution that could heal the host, would definitely require a corresponding price.

Such profound emotions seemed to defy accurate description even by the word "love."

But Xie Ye didn't respond to 1101's well-intentioned teasing.

Because the elevator door in front of him opened.

After experiencing life after life, different identities, the same soul. Even though they had been married several times, Xie Ye suddenly didn't know how to react or what to say.

Until the smiling man with twinkling eyes stepped forward, bent down, and hugged him tightly.

"Xie Ye." The warm breath brushed past his ear, and Xie Ye heard Gu Cong softly say, "Finally, I've waited for you."

In this daring gamble where they both yielded the initiative entirely, he finally waited for his lover to be rolled back, once again falling deeply in love with him, finding this gift he had left for him in the end.

Then, he successfully awakened him.

As memories from past small worlds flooded back one by one, in that moment when Gu Cong opened his eyes amidst the swirling black mist, he almost thought he had been having a long and beautiful dream.

Fortunately, he seized his dream in that moment.

With an itching sensation on his neck and the difference in height due to their age gap, Xie Ye staggered slightly and felt as though he was being firmly hugged by an affectionate, large dog.

He didn't dodge.

Instead, he raised his hand and ruffled Gu Cong's head, imitating the way Gu Cong had comforted him before. He ran his hand smoothly along the back of Gu Cong's neck, then gently hugged him back, not too lightly and not too heavily.

Having regained his memories, he couldn't be as straightforward as the version of himself in the infinite game. At first glance, he looked like a different person compared to the original Gu Cong.

But fortunately, no matter how the world changes...

Resonant souls will always love each other.

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Author's note:

The mystery is revealed, and some details will be explained later.

Finally, I've written this scene of intertwining timelines and sweet moments —

End of Volume Eight.