My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 15

Qi Ying’s eyelid twitched at the man’s words. She turned her head and said, “Stop talking nonsense. No one’s waiting for me. I was just playing a game earlier.”

Xia Ruoxin widened her eyes. “What kind of game involves phone calls?”

Ignoring her, Qi Ying retrieved her measuring tape from Xia’s neck and got back to work. Even when Xia left for home after her shift, she still hadn’t found out what game Qi Ying was playing. With a fox-like expression, she departed, leaving Qi Ying to finally relax and continue with her tasks.

By the time she closed the shop, it was already past ten at night.

Exhausted after a long day, Qi Ying yawned while tidying up the worktable. The heavily embroidered wedding dress for the bride was finished, and the groom’s suit had also met with satisfaction. She just needed to make one final visit on the wedding day to check everything and handle any minor issues with the dress, and this order would be complete.

The customer who ordered the trench coat requested it to be mailed, so Qi Ying scheduled a courier pickup for the next morning. After finishing these tasks, she brushed her teeth, washed her face, and went to bed.

In the middle of her sleep, the phone beside her pillow rang—someone was calling.

Qi Ying didn’t wake up, merely tilting her head to continue sleeping soundly.

Meanwhile, Xing Xiaochu was walking anxiously down the street, clutching her phone tightly.

Qi Ying had promised to return after work, so why hadn’t she come home even though it was already one or two in the morning?

Why wasn’t Qi Ying’s phone getting through?

Could something has happened to her?

Xing Xiaochu was worried, but she didn’t dare wander too far. Unfamiliar with the area, she could only pace back and forth near the neighborhood, hoping to spot Qi Ying returning from somewhere.

But the streets in the dead of night were completely empty, with only the glow of storefront signs stretching her shadow long and thin.

The farther she walked, the fewer signs she saw. Unsure of where she was, Xing Xiaochu dialed Qi Ying’s number again while preparing to turn back. Just as the call connected, two figures staggered out from an alleyway.

Xing Xiaochu froze, her heart tightening.

From a distance, the two figures were indistinct, but their build and height suggested they were alphas.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably around the phone. She was afraid of alphas, especially in situations like this.

As the figures drew closer, the pungent smell of alcohol reached her. The phone rang for what felt like an eternity—so long that Xing Xiaochu thought no one would answer—until Qi Ying finally picked up.

“Hello?”

Still half-asleep, Qi Ying answered without checking the caller ID, pressing the phone to her ear. She only heard Xing Xiaochu urgently cry out “Sister!” before a loud “thud” echoed—likely the sound of the phone hitting the ground—instantly jolting Qi Ying awake.

She sat up in bed, glancing at the phone to confirm it was Xing Xiaochu. After calling out a few times with no response, she knew something was wrong.

Qi Ying immediately leaped out of bed, throwing on a jacket before launching the game.

Upon entering, she found herself at the doorstep of her in-game home. She quickly searched the house but couldn’t find Xing Xiaochu anywhere. Noticing a pair of shoes Xing Xiaochu often wore missing from the entryway, she realized the girl must have gone out.

In that moment, cold sweat broke out down Qi Ying’s back.

In the dead of night, what was a kid like Xing Xiaochu doing out so late?!

Qi Ying hurriedly rushed downstairs when, as if telepathically, the game sent a notification—

‘Ding—’

Dear designer, your Xiaochu has encountered a bit of trouble in the alley across the south gate. Go help her~

Qi Ying frowned and immediately took off running.

What kind of lousy system was this? If Xiaochu was in trouble, why did it sound so nonchalant—even adding a tilde!

Qi Ying felt like giving the system a piece of her mind!

The streets were empty in the late hours, so Qi Ying vaulted over the railing and sprinted toward the opposite alley. From a distance, she spotted Xiaochu cornered by two men, the three of them shoving and pushing. Her temper flared instantly.

“What are you doing?!” Qi Ying shouted at them.

The two drunkards turned to look at her, faces blank with confusion. Only when Qi Ying reached them did she finally understand why the system had called it a ‘bit of trouble.’

“Meow—meow—meow—”

Xing Xiaochu was cradling a tiny kitten the size of a palm in her arms. The little cat was mewling fearfully, and Xiaochu looked up at Qi Ying, softly calling her ‘sister.’

Drunkard No. 1 turned back to the kitten and slurred, “Stop crying… See, someone’s here to take you home… hic.”

Drunkard No. 2 added, “Kittens… kittens should be raised by girls… hic hic, little girl, you gotta take this kitten… you gotta take it…”

Qi Ying: “…”

She pushed the two aside, pulled Xiaochu away, and asked with a frown, “What’s going on?”

Xiaochu hugged the kitten, unsure how to explain.

This was what had happened.

Xiaochu had called Qi Ying in a panic, crying out “Sister!” before accidentally tripping over some clutter and falling. Her phone flew out of her hand and shattered.

Then, the two drunk men had stumbled over. Terrified, Xiaochu curled up, frozen in fear. Drunkard No. 1, cheeks flushed red, leered as he unzipped his jacket. Xiaochu squeezed her eyes shut—but the next moment, she heard a tiny meow, followed by something warm and small pressing against her face.

After that, the two drunkards started shoving the kitten at her, insisting she take it.

Hearing this, Qi Ying was stunned. She looked down at the little kitten nestled in Xiaochu’s arms. It seemed about two months old—weaning age—with soft, fluffy fur and a tiny orange tail sticking straight up as it meowed warily.

When Qi Ying reached out to pet its head, the kitten hissed at her in a tiny, squeaky voice.

Adorably fierce.

The drunkards shuffled closer again.

Drunkard No. 1 said, “Its mom’s a cream tabby.”

Drunkard No. 2 added, “From the bar next door… hic… We kinda stole it.”

Drunkard No. 1 shushed him, “Don’t tell its mom, though… she’s super mean…”

Drunkard No. 2 giggled between hiccups, slurring at Xiaochu, “Kittens… hehe, kittens belong with little girls… hehehe… hic.”

Qi Ying: “…”

Speechless, she stepped between the drunkards and Xiaochu, glaring coldly. “Get lost.”

Unfazed, the two staggered off arm in arm, leaving Qi Ying, Xiaochu, and the mewling orange kitten alone in the alley.

Xing Xiaochu lowered her head to soothe the little kitten, which was clinging to her chest trying to burrow into her arms. She timidly looked up at Qi Ying while gently comforting the kitten and whispered, “Sister, I’m sorry… I’ve caused you trouble again…”