My Unconventional Online Dating - Chapter 34

If she weren’t an NPC, she could have answered Xiao Nianyuan’s questions as quickly as any other player, without making Xiao Nianyuan wait so long. She could have given Xiao Nianyuan everything she wanted, instead of being powerless like this.

After Lian Qiushui spoke, Xiao Nianyuan froze, instinctively turning toward her.

Lian Qiushui’s reaction was still lagging, her mind blank for a long time.

Xiao Nianyuan pressed her lips together. She wasn’t blaming Lian Qiushui—she wanted her to be her usual self, not this cautious version, afraid of being disliked.

The only thing that felt real to Xiao Nianyuan right now was the warmth of their clasped hands.

“I’m not blaming you. You’re fine just the way you are.” After saying this, Xiao Nianyuan didn’t wait for Lian Qiushui’s reply, knowing it would take her a long time to respond.

She continued on her own, “If you weren’t an NPC, I wouldn’t have gotten this close to you.”

Xiao Nianyuan meant it. If Lian Qiushui weren’t an NPC, she would have kept her distance—let alone holding hands like this.

When others got too close, Xiao Nianyuan would feel irritated and find ways to push them away.

It was only after meeting Lian Qiushui that Xiao Nianyuan’s relationship with her roommates improved, no longer avoiding them like before.

In the game, she could release her stress, allowing herself to grow closer to Lian Qiushui, bit by bit. The unspoken tension eased, and she no longer feared acting impulsively in real life.

She had never shared these thoughts with anyone, but Xiao Nianyuan knew better than anyone why she had changed.

Lian Qiushui was different to her—even if she was just an NPC.

“I’m glad you’re an NPC.”

Lian Qiushui didn’t speak after that. Xiao Nianyuan wasn’t sure if it was because they had gone too deep, leaving Lian Qiushui unable to think, or if she had fallen silent after hearing those words.

Xiao Nianyuan tightened her grip on Lian Qiushui’s hand. It was still warm—she was still here.

Before long, a faint light appeared ahead. Xiao Nianyuan brightened and quickened her steps.

After leaving the cave, a burst of light revealed a vast grassland before them. Kites swayed in the wind, the breeze gentle, the sunlight warm, and the rustling grass like waves of green.

Xiao Nianyuan gazed up for a long moment before turning to look at Lian Qiushui.

Lian Qiushui was staring at her intently, just like before—silent, unwavering.

Xiao Nianyuan felt a strange tension under her gaze and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Lian Qiushui suddenly smiled. “Nothing. I’m just too happy—I don’t know what to say.”

Her reaction was quick, with no trace of interference.

Xiao Nianyuan hesitated, then ventured, “Did you hear what I said back there?”

Lian Qiushui didn’t answer, only kept looking at her. That expression told Xiao Nianyuan everything.

“Stop teasing me.” Xiao Nianyuan turned her face away slightly, refusing to meet her gaze.

She had been comforting Lian Qiushui, affirming her. But Lian Qiushui’s reaction was as if she had received the greatest validation—and it came from her alone.

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t dare meet Lian Qiushui’s gaze, but Lian Qiushui wouldn’t let her off. She enunciated each word clearly: “I’m happy—happy that I’m an NPC.”

For the first time, Lian Qiushui felt genuine pride in her identity. Xiao Nianyuan was right—if not for being an NPC, she would never have had the chance to get close to her.

She had to admit, and even felt grateful to whoever had created her.

So what if she wasn’t powerful? So what if not many players wanted her as their mentor? None of that mattered as long as Xiao Nianyuan liked her.

“Alright, let’s check what’s ahead first.” Xiao Nianyuan turned away first—Lian Qiushui was always so good with sweet words.

This place seemed so close to the clouds, as if they were already atop the Sky City. She needed to verify. After taking two steps, she was tugged back, only then realizing their hands were still tightly clasped. She tried to pull free but only found her grip tightened instead. Glancing down, then up at Lian Qiushui—

“Let’s stay like this,” Lian Qiushui said, “so we don’t get separated.”

Xiao Nianyuan chuckled. “How could we possibly get separated here?”

If they were truly destined to part, no amount of closeness would prevent it. But since Lian Qiushui insisted, Xiao Nianyuan didn’t refuse. Holding hands with her filled Xiao Nianyuan with inexplicable joy.

The grassland stretched so near the sky that Xiao Nianyuan almost believed she could touch the clouds by reaching up. If only this were truly the floating Sky City.

Before them stretched a narrow path that disappeared into the horizon. Behind lay the cave—their only viable route forward was this trail.

Venturing into the tall grass never crossed Xiao Nianyuan’s mind. Hidden dangers might lurk there, and she wasn’t reckless enough to take that risk. Besides, with this clear path available, deliberately choosing treacherous terrain made no sense. She had no guarantee the grass concealed anything worth discovering.

No potential reward meant no reason to play the fool.

As they walked the path, a damp, cool breeze brushed past—refreshing against their skin.

Emerging from the cave, Lian Qiushui had returned to her usual self—no more lagging delays between responses. The strange occurrences inside were already forgotten.

In the distance, white feathery reeds dotted the grassland, swaying gracefully in the wind. The verdant expanse gradually transitioned into pale tufts, stirring something in Xiao Nianyuan’s heart.

Noticing her fascination, Lian Qiushui tugged her toward the roadside. Though puzzled, Xiao Nianyuan followed.

Lian Qiushui bent down, plucked two reeds, and pressed them into Xiao Nianyuan’s hands.

“What’s this for?” Xiao Nianyuan asked, smiling at the fluffy stems.

“You liked them,” Lian Qiushui stated simply, as if that explained everything.

If you desire something, take it.

Lian Qiushui saw nothing wrong with picking the reeds.

Examining the soft wisps, Xiao Nianyuan found them irresistibly cute. She accepted them without protest, cradling them carefully.

This was a game, not reality. These were wild reeds—even if she gathered them all day, their numbers wouldn’t diminish. Game resources typically refreshed daily. Had Xiao Nianyuan expressed wanting them all, Lian Qiushui might have uprooted every last one.

Xiao Nianyuan’s delight became Lian Qiushui’s joy.

When Lian Qiushui moved to pick more, Xiao Nianyuan stopped her gently. “These are enough.”

Lian Qiushui nodded in understanding, and the two of them didn’t trouble Baimao further as they continued forward.

Gradually, some buildings appeared on the horizon. These structures resembled those in Sky City, but there were differences. The buildings in Sky City were uniform, while here, they came in many styles.

Xiao Nianyuan stared curiously at the small town, glancing at the sky, then left and right, trying to see if she could spot any boundaries—proof that this was truly Sky City and not just a town close to the heavens.

Lian Qiushui said softly, “I’ll go in and ask. Wait here for me.”

Xiao Nianyuan asked, “You’re going alone?”

Lian Qiushui replied, “I feel like this place is familiar.”

Xiao Nianyuan looked at her in confusion. After a pause, Lian Qiushui explained, “This seems to be the place I saw when I first gained consciousness.”

Unlike a child opening their eyes for the first time, NPCs were born into this world with everything they needed, including memories. She vaguely remembered this as the first place she had seen.

Earlier, when Lian Qiushui had said she knew how to get to Sky City, Xiao Nianyuan hadn’t asked why. Now, she couldn’t hold back: “How did you know this place leads to Sky City?”

Lian Qiushui answered, “I remember seeing Sky City when I first appeared here.”

She gazed into the distance.

Xiao Nianyuan followed her line of sight but saw nothing.

Lian Qiushui then added uncertainly, “But it doesn’t seem to be there now.”

Before, Sky City had been visible from the ground, but after the update, it had vanished.

Now, even though Lian Qiushui claimed to have seen it here before, it was nowhere in sight.

Xiao Nianyuan couldn’t help but wonder—had the game simply hidden Sky City, or had it been deleted entirely? Otherwise, how could it have disappeared without a trace?

After a moment’s thought, Xiao Nianyuan said, “I’ll go in with you.”

“Two people together are safer than one alone.”

Whether that safety was for Xiao Nianyuan or Lian Qiushui, she didn’t want the latter going in by herself.

Lian Qiushui didn’t refuse. As they entered together, the NPCs in the town seemed surprised to see Lian Qiushui, and their gazes turned inquisitive when they noticed Xiao Nianyuan.

One of them ran over and asked, “Did you bring her back?”

Lian Qiushui nodded proudly. Xiao Nianyuan didn’t understand what she had to be proud of, but as long as she was happy.

The NPC then asked, “What’s your relationship?”

Lian Qiushui wanted to say she was Xiao Nianyuan’s master, but before she could speak, Xiao Nianyuan interjected, “Friends. She said her hometown was beautiful and invited me to see it.”

The NPC nodded without suspicion.

Once the NPC had left, Lian Qiushui asked, “Why didn’t you tell him I’m your master?”

Xiao Nianyuan lowered her voice. “Would a normal NPC bring their disciple here?”

Lian Qiushui thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No.”

No matter how many disciples other NPCs had, none would bring them back here. There was nothing to teach in this place. Players were all about power or admiring NPCs’ looks, dragging them around for fun. No one would think NPCs even had a hometown.

“If this is your hometown, do you have your own place here?” Xiao Nianyuan asked.

Lian Qiushui scratched her head, hesitating. “I do, but…”

Lian Qiushui trailed off mid-sentence, prompting Xiao Nianyuan to press, “But what?”

Lian Qiushui steeled herself and admitted, “But… this is my first time coming back.”

As a higher-level NPC, Lian Qiushui wasn’t as attached to this place as the resident NPCs who depended on it. She was born here but quickly moved below to serve as a world NPC.

Her feelings toward this place were faint and ambiguous. She should have felt deeply connected, yet reality made it impossible for her to truly regard it as her hometown—only the place where she was born.

Xiao Nianyuan suddenly asked, “If you could have a home, where would you want it to be?”

Lian Qiushui was puzzled. “A home?”

Xiao Nianyuan replied, “Just curious. Where do you think would be nice?”

After a thoughtful pause, Lian Qiushui answered, “A bamboo grove. I like it there.”

She was referring to the bamboo grove they often visited. Perhaps because it offered no special rewards or opportunities, few players ever went there. During Xiao Nianyuan’s time online, she had never seen anyone else there. If they were to live there, it would indeed be a good choice.

Xiao Nianyuan said softly, “Then when we have time, let’s build a wooden house there.”

Lian Qiushui was surprised. “A wooden house? You’d live there with me?”

Xiao Nianyuan replied, “When I’m online, I can stay with you.”

After all, Xiao Nianyuan wasn’t an NPC in the game and couldn’t accompany Lian Qiushui around the clock. But whenever she logged in, she had grown accustomed to seeking Lian Qiushui out. If Lian Qiushui wanted her company, she was happy to stay—she cherished their time together too.

Lian Qiushui froze for a moment, unable to suppress the smile spreading across her face. Flustered, she clumsily changed the subject, “Let’s go find Sky City first.”

But even as she said this, she had no idea how to proceed.

Xiao Nianyuan asked, “When did you see Sky City before? Morning or night?”

“Night.”

At night, Sky City glowed brilliantly, making it impossible for Lian Qiushui to ignore.

“Then let’s wait until nightfall to check it out.”

Lian Qiushui asked hesitantly, “So for now… are you going to log off?”

Her voice was thick with reluctance. Though she had grown used to Xiao Nianyuan needing to log off, she still didn’t want her to leave.

Xiao Nianyuan couldn’t help teasing, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re like a…”

“Like what?”

“Promise you won’t get mad,” Xiao Nianyuan said, waiting for Lian Qiushui’s nod before continuing with a light cough, “A dog. A clingy, oversized puppy.”

Lian Qiushui shook her head. “No one’s ever said that.”

And truly, no one had. The only person who spent time with her was Xiao Nianyuan. Other players might glance at her in passing, assessing whether she had any value, or ask for directions—as if exchanging even an extra word would waste their precious leveling time. None had ever become her friend.

“Do you want me to log off?” Xiao Nianyuan asked deliberately.

After a brief silence, Lian Qiushui answered, “I don’t want you to go… but you have to.”