On the computer screen, the pink female channel page left a faint scarlet tinge on Li Shuoxing’s face.
The corners of his mouth slightly raised, he slid his mouse to pick the novel he needed from the dense array of novels in the female channel website.
It’s an open-ended love nurturing game. It takes a fine penmanship and an empathetic heart to capture the little person’s heart through words.
I get it, I get it all.
Professional work should be left to the professionals.
It’s the female channel writers who are best at writing emotional drama!
Li Shuoxing usually opened a mini account to secretly read female channel novels and was no stranger to female channel writers.
He began to select authors based on his little person’s characteristics.
“First of all, the cub’s personality is quite independent.”
So, all the soft, helpless, dodder flowers were deleted.
“Secondly, the cub gets very angry when forced.”
So, all the domineering presidents’ little runaway wives were also deleted.
“Next, whenever I communicate or agree to his request, he’s very happy. Thinking about it like this, the cub’s personality is very aggressive…”
So, the most suitable were—
Li Shuoxing looked at the four books he had circled.
Empress XX , Marquise XXX , Female Major General XXXX , War Goddess XXXXX .
He looked at the screen again. Shortly after he finished typing, a large +50 appeared on the screen, and, under the double effect, it turned into the number 100 and entered the favourability pool.
First battle victory!
Li Shuoxing was so pleased with himself that he drifted off for a moment. Failing to control himself, he sent another message to the little person.
“[love you][rub][love you][rub].”
The string of expressions was very intimate. Practically the moment it was sent, Li Shuoxing saw a tangled little expression of a tangled twine ball leap out from the little person’s forehead.
Li Shuoxing was shocked.
Oh no.
In this courtyard, added favourability was doubled, and so was deducted favourability…
Before he could come up with something to write to remedy the situation, a line of small numbers popped out of the little person’s head.
-1+1-1+1…
The little person remained calm and collected on the surface, but his mind was once again wrestling left and right.
Li Shuoxing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Cub, you always think about so many deep things every day, does the game maker know?
Just as the courtyard was completely decorated, Li Shuoxing closed the chat box for the time being and started admiring the new courtyard.
The Pumpkin Party Starts Today skin seemed to have a constant night effect.
It was only 2:30pm in the game, but the courtyard was already completely dark. The pumpkins bouncing on the lawn were splashed with the orange light of fireflies. Silver foil like moonlight fell between the opening and closing of the wings of the upside down owls. Gold and silver mixed with other vibrant colours, erasing the gloomy horror of Halloween and leaving only fantasy and magnificence.
And the little person standing in the middle of this courtyard.
Li Shuoxing looked at Su Mingqian.
Misty dots of light scattered the courtyard, surrounding Su Mingqian even more.
After struggling alone for a while, he seemed to give up the struggle and just looked at the dots of light around him, then opened his hands, spread them in front of him, and quietly waited for the embers of light drifting in the air to fall onto his palms.
Li Shuoxing not only saw light in the little person’s hands, but also in his eyes.
When he was in this courtyard filled with dots of light, his grey eyes, which had always been cold and introverted, seemed to finally reflect the brilliant neon of the world.
It was a bit of a beautiful scene.
“If only there were clothes to go along with the courtyard…”
Li Shuoxing murmured as he looked at the crude clothing on the little person.
Hmm?
Wait a minute.
I’ve only heard of games scamming money, but I’ve never heard of games stopping people from giving money.
A courtyard skin with a 24-hour time limit is 100% a money trap. Is there really no little trap to go along with this big trap?
Li Shuoxing didn’t believe it.
He scanned the courtyard decorations and quickly locked his eyes onto the carriage stopped in the corner of the courtyard.
The carriage in the corner was very eye-catching.
Its compartment was pumpkin-shaped, but the outer walls were so sparkling that they looked as if they’d been carved from crystal, shimmering the colours of a starry night under the red velvet curtains.
Li Shuoxing tapped on the carriage.
As expected.
A sign popped up on the carriage, which read:
Cinderella’s Dressing Room.
Emm?
Could it be…
Li Shuoxing looked down expectantly and saw two outfits hanging under the sign.
The prices were clearly marked next to them.
[Limited Time Event]
[Halloween Costume Gift Bag Discount Price]
Little Devil Prince Costume: 68 contribution points
Little Devil Princess Costume: 68 contribution points
Little Devil Prince Costume & Little Devil Princess Costume: 128 contribution points
[It’s Halloween! The pumpkins take their places and the party is about to begin. So don’t you plan to get your lover a new outfit to make him shine on this festive occasion?]
Li Shuoxing drew a breath.
Little prince in men’s clothing, little princess in women’s clothing.
What are you hesitating about!
It’s better to act than to imagine <sup>1</sup> 心动不如行动 [xīn dòng bù rú xíng dòng] is a book that introduces the idea that only action can transform heartfelt ideas into reality. .
128, just buy it home!
The shopping desire was so strong, so impulsive, so unstoppable!
Succumbing to his desire, Li Shuoxing opened the top-up interface on the spot, grabbed his wallet and prepared to top up.
However, there was a small problem when he entered the top-up interface.
He hadn’t used up this game’s first top-up double event.
There were many levels of topping up, but the first top-up double was only once. Which one was appropriate…
Of course, the most economical way to top up is to top up 50 yuan, double it to get 100, and add it to the 38 I have left to get a total of 138, and I’ll still have 10 contribution points left after buying the clothes.
But, I feel like it’s not very cost-effective to use the only one-time double on 50 yuan.
It’d be too much of a loss if I still put money into this game after this.
He thoughtfully looked at the top-up interface, and his finger crossed over the various values in the top-up interface, finally resting on 648.
Let’s go with this!
It seems like it’s now popular to pay 648. This number must’ve been tested by many players.
Li Shuoxing paid.
After he paid, he was a little distressed, but when the contribution points turned into two small clothes, the distress turned into joy.
Li Shuoxing took a closer look at what had gotten into his hands.
Despite how this game was full of pits, the skin system and clothes were still very exquisite.
The little devil prince costume set had a pair of horns that grew on the head, a monocle on a gold chain, a long cane, a large cloak and a suit with an oval ruby set into the collar.
As for the little devil princess costume, Li Shuoxing looked at it more attentively. There were no horns on the head, but there was an extra pair of devil wings on the back, tiny and cute, flapping from time to time in Li Shuoxing’s gaze. In addition to the small wings, there was a small crown, a pair of shoes with long ribbons, and a little gothic dress with a cut-out back.
Li Shuoxing gazed deeply at the little dress, and then at his cub.
He wanted to—
But—
Under the effect of the courtyard skin, adding favourability is doubled, and deducting is also doubled.
Under the effect of the courtyard skin, adding favourability is…
Li Shuoxing closed his eyes, chanted hypnotically several times, and finally got his sinful thoughts under control for the time being.
He first selected the clothes basket in the bathroom. When Su Mingqian hadn’t mentioned the need for a wardrobe, there was no wardrobe for sale in the store and all the clothes were stored here temporarily.
Fortunately, the usage of the clothes basket and the wardrobe were similar. Both automatically displayed the clothes they contained when tapped on, which could be selected as he wished.
Li Shuoxing selected the little devil prince costume set and placed it on the bed before chatting to Su Mingqian, “Cub, I’ve brought you an outfit and put it on the bed. Wanna go into the room to have a look?”
Su Mingqian was walking up to the crystal carriage when the light screen flashed out again.
The prominent and eye-catching carriage had not only attracted Li Shuoxing’s attention, but also Su Mingqian’s.
However, when he saw the Watcher’s message, Su Mingqian abandoned the carriage a step ahead and walked to the room following the instructions.
Even the most beautiful dead things were no match for a living person, even if he couldn’t see them yet.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw the clothes on the bed.
Su Mingqian was stunned at the sight. This outfit was really a little complicated.
He pondered for a moment and sorted things out. First, he picked out all the accessories and put them on the table. Then, he took the outfit’s shirt and pants and, like before, hid under the blanket and rustled for a while before coming out with the brand new clothes on his body.
He straightened out the clothes he had put on, then put on the vest, coat and cloak one by one.
Finally, there were the monocle, cane, and horns.
When he touched the horns, Su Mingqian asked, because he felt it was a bit childish, “This too?”
The light screen flashed. “Mm-hmm!”
Looking at this tone, she really wants me to wear it.
It was just a costume. Su Mingqian had nothing to be rebellious about, so he just put it on.
The light screen flashed again. “It’s really cute. Really! Super! Cute!”
Su Mingqian was a little unsure of what to say. “Mm… that’s good.”
Outside the screen, Li Shuoxing, who was originally slumped on the couch, couldn’t help but sit up straight after seeing the little person finish changing clothes.
The smile on his mouth became even stranger.
He began to impatiently instruct the little person to return to the courtyard, stand under the tree, take a picture; sit on top of the swing, take another picture; hold a pumpkin head, take another picture; then get on the carriage, take another picture.
While taking pictures, Li Shuoxing didn’t forget to do some other interactions with the little person.
For example, the pumpkin heads growing in the ground could actually escape. Once the little person touched a pumpkin with his hand, the pumpkin would start bouncing to dodge, and its movements were quite nimble. Li Shuoxing took a lot of effort to get the pumpkin into the little person’s arms.
And when the little person got into the carriage, the crystal-like pumpkin compartment became translucent.
Li Shuoxing could see the inside of the carriage: a small table with some refreshments, a few cushions around it, and two or three books hidden away. It was a small and cosy lounge.
The little person sitting in the carriage began to flip through the books. Li Shuoxing tapped on the horse pulling the carriage and found that he could control the big black horse, so he brought the carriage around the courtyard.
Rolling lightly, the light like a floating shadow.
Su Mingqian: “…It’s really beautiful.”
“I think so too. It’s worth it!” Li Shuoxing felt rather regretful. “Unfortunately, there’s a time limit.”
Su Mingqian wasn’t very surprised. Halloween was originally a holiday that happened only once a year.
He looked around.
This was a fading falsehood.
And the only truth hidden in this falsehood…
His eyes focused on the light screen, looking at it and through it at the Watcher who never appeared.
Su Mingqian suddenly said, “You…”
The words that appeared at the same time on the light screen interrupted his words.
“Well, it’s a little late today. I should get going. You have fun. I have something to do tomorrow, and I won’t be able to come here tonight to keep you company. I’ve already bought some food and put it in the fridge. Don’t wait for me tonight.”
Li Shuoxing was looking at the time as he typed this.
Before he knew it, it was already 4pm. Two-thirds of an afternoon had passed.
He was going to release his novel tomorrow. He should seize the last of this time to write some stock.
Li Shuoxing got a headache. He reluctantly put down his phone, and before he did, he didn’t forget to ask again, “Cub, what did you want to say just now?”
Can you make a sound?
I want to hear your voice.
This was what Su Mingqian wanted to say. But he swallowed the words back.
The Watcher is busy now.
Let’s find a time when she’s more available before making the request, so that there’ll be a higher chance of success.
He simply said that he was fine and said goodbye to the Watcher. The light screen faded away in Su Mingqian’s eyes.
After the light screen disappeared, Su Mingqian moved freely around the courtyard for a few moments before returning to the room to change clothes. It was also then that he accidentally found a woman’s outfit in the clothes basket that was as complicated as the one he was wearing.
Su Mingqian: “…”
This…
Matches the outfit on me. Did she buy it for herself?
A woman who would wear a dress like this shouldn’t be very old.
But the past few days she keeps calling me cub, as if she’s raising me as a son.
Also, I’m not baby-faced.
Why would the Watcher say cute to a man who should be an adult?
Wouldn’t it be more normal to say hot or handsome?
But no one was there, and Su Mingqian’s questions were certainly not answered.
He wasn’t exactly angry, just a little confused.
“What a strange person…”
However.
Su Mingqian held the clothes in his hands, folded them carefully, and placed them in the corner of the bed for the time being before straightening up and looking around the room.
“I still feel like I need a wardrobe.”
***
Ten o’clock the next morning.
The promised opening date of Li Shuoxing’s novel had finally arrived.
After three updates on the first day, he opened Weibo and weeded the account that hadn’t posted a new Weibo post in almost half a month.
Caramel Ximu v: “ Nine Crossings has opened, three chapters on the first day [link]; a new journey, a new mission.”
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心动不如行动 [xīn dòng bù rú xíng dòng] is a book that introduces the idea that only action can transform heartfelt ideas into reality.