[In today's world, cancer is no longer a death sentence with a hundred percent fatality rate. We have cutting-edge technology and skilled medical teams. As long as you have insurance, a supportive family, or even just yourself…]
Chen Huai'an turned off the TV, a bitter smile crossing his face. "I've got nothing."
The critical condition notice came two days ago. His girlfriend left yesterday. And today, he was falling apart.
He was just a freshman in college. His parents, forest rangers, died in a wildfire years ago, burned to ashes, leaving him only a modest compensation payout.
Over the years, Chen Huai'an had moved past their deaths, choosing to face life head-on. With that money, living frugally and picking up odd jobs, he could've made it through college without much trouble.
His grades were decent, enough to get him into a good university with rumors of guaranteed job placement after graduation. Even if the pay was low, he figured he could survive. But two days ago, a hospital visit for a nagging ankle pain revealed mid-stage cancer.
Knowing he couldn't afford treatment, Chen Huai'an left school and rented a place near the city's wetland park for a year, planning to spend his remaining days there. What if he couldn't pay rent after the lease was up?
Heh, he doubted he'd live that long.
He checked his bank balance on his phone: a little over 30,000 yuan.
"Food's maybe 500 or 600 a month. Add another 1,000 for miscellaneous expenses, and I'd still have around 20,000 left after a year," Chen Huai'an mused, staring at the numbers. These past years had been tough—while other students traveled, he was working odd jobs. While they played games, he was working. While they dated… his girlfriend was cheating on him.
For the time he had left, he decided to live for himself.
Play some games, catch up on the TV shows he'd saved over the years, and maybe, if his body held up, take a trip to the beach.
[Installation Complete]
[Come claim your virtual girlfriend!]
Normally, Chen Huai'an would've ignored or swiped away a pop-up like that.
But today, his finger paused.
On his phone's home screen, a new app icon had appeared—a chibi-style character in ancient attire, a girl in a green robe with a sword, her clothes flowing gracefully.
"Auto-installed game? Probably some kind of virus…"
In the past, he'd have deleted it instantly and run a scan with his phone's security app. But today, he was curious to see what this so-called virus was all about.
He had nothing left to lose, no money for treatment, and a terminal illness. Barefoot and fearless, he'd also never had time for games, too busy with work and school. Now, he wanted to give it a try.
He tapped the app, and the screen went black, a prompt appearing:
[This game is for players 18 and older. Starting the game will bind it to your identity. Your account cannot be deleted or transferred. By beginning, you agree to these terms.]
"Ha, calling your own terms unfair?"
Chen Huai'an smirked, shaking his head, and hit "Start Game."
He was now certain this was a virus.
What would it do? Steal his identity? His messages? If whoever was behind this app found out he was a broke, mid-stage cancer patient, they'd probably uninstall it themselves.
[Select your virtual girlfriend!]
The game's visuals were surprisingly polished.
The app icon was chibi and stylized, but the interface was strikingly realistic.
A selection of virtual girlfriends appeared, each with detailed profiles. The one currently highlighted was:
[Neon Yakuza Heiress: Kirishima Koto]
[Age: 22 | Height: 158 cm | Measurements: 89-55-86]
Her live2D model was curvaceous, her kimono barely concealing her figure. With a sweet face and the title of a yakuza heiress, this petite, busty character with a rebellious streak was probably a lot of guys' type.
But her blonde hair and foreign background didn't interest Chen Huai'an.
He scrolled through a few more options. The characters came from different eras, some not even from this world—wildly imaginative, including a transforming robot girl.
Finally, his attention settled on a woman in a green robe.
[Qingyun Sect Disciple: Li Qingran]
[Age: 19 | Height: 169 cm | Measurements: 90-60-91]
This was the same character as the app's chibi icon, now rendered in stunning detail. Her skin was fair, her features delicate, with long dark hair cascading behind her. Dressed in a flowing green robe with a sword at her side, she was beautiful without a trace of makeup. What struck Chen Huai'an most were her eyes—cold, detached, with a hint of brokenness and emptiness, as if she were gazing at him through the screen.
"Whoa, a small studio putting in this kind of effort?"
He started to doubt this was a virus.
"This detailed for a scam? Are they aiming for a PhD or something?"
She was the one.
[Confirm selection of 'Li Qingran' as your virtual girlfriend?]
[Warning: This choice is permanent!]
[If your virtual girlfriend dies, she cannot be revived and will be permanently lost!]
"That's intense," Chen Huai'an frowned, realizing this was likely the developer's hook.
He could already guess how the game would try to milk money from players.
In the past, he'd have backed off. But today, he tapped "Confirm."
[You have 132 days of life remaining.]
A message flashed across the screen.
The game began.
Chen Huai'an expected a generic setup: a low-budget interface, spawning in a fantasy world's starter village, auto-pathing through quests, collecting gear and mounts, and mindlessly grinding dungeons—the usual cheap mobile game formula.
But that wasn't what he got.
The screen showed a dilapidated thatched hut, wind whistling through the gaps. The only thing resembling a bed was a straw mat, soaked by leaking rainwater.
In the corner, a girl in tattered clothes huddled, clutching her knees. Her messy hair, like tangled weeds, hid her face, but her exposed arms and legs were covered in bruises and cuts, a centipede-like gash standing out starkly against her pale skin.
"Is this Li Qingran?" Chen Huai'an stared, stunned.
He noticed a broken sword near the straw mat—the same one Li Qingran held in her profile.
['Li Qingran' is starving and freezing, growing weaker.]
['Li Qingran' is afflicted by fire poison, suffering intense pain.]
['Li Qingran' has half an hour of life remaining.]
As these messages popped up, the girl in the corner let out a pained groan.
She lifted her head slightly, revealing those empty, numb eyes and pale lips.
Even seeing only half her face, Chen Huai'an knew it was her.
"What do I do?"
A sudden pang of urgency hit him.
The character's expressions and voice were so lifelike, the wounds so vivid, that he instinctively felt if he didn't act before the timer in the corner ran out, she'd really be gone.
Just then, a new prompt appeared:
[Ding! Recharge 6 yuan for a limited-time home renovation gift pack and give your virtual girlfriend a cozy home!]
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Brain Storage Notice
Disclaimer: All events in this story take place in a fictional world. Any similarities are purely coincidental. The content is entirely imaginary and should not be taken as real or imitated. By reading, you agree to these terms.
Click Confirm to start your fantasy journey.
And hey, add it to your bookshelf while you're at it!
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