My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 32

What was this ‘susceptibility period’?

Was this the ‘special gift’ the system had mentioned?

Qi Ying curiously tapped on the Susceptibility Period option, but it didn’t respond.

When she exited her character interface, a countdown of 15 appeared in the upper right corner of the game. Qi Ying squinted at it, calculating the days, and realized it seemed to coincide with Xiao Chu’s birthday.

Was this how birthday reminders worked now?

Qi Ying was full of questions, but she didn’t dwell on it too much, assuming it was just a simple birthday countdown reminder.

In real life, Qi Ying munched on melon seeds while watching Xia Ruoxin and Shi Yu bicker. In the game, Xiao Chu was about to experience her first day of school.

Since it was the first day, Qi Ying logged into the game early in the morning. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Xiao Chu in a blue school uniform, watering the cat grass on the balcony.

The lush green sprouts peeked out, glistening under the spray from the watering can, thriving beautifully.

Xiao Chu looked neat in her well-fitted uniform, her hair tied into a high ponytail that swayed behind her with every movement, lively as a young foal.

“Xiao Chu,” Qi Ying smiled at the heartwarming scene. “Why are you up so early? School doesn’t start for another hour.”

Xiao Chu turned around, surprised to see Qi Ying already awake.

“Sister, why are you up so early too?” Xiao Chu set down the watering can and ran over, looking up at her. “Do you need to leave early today?”

Her black bangs were slightly messy against her forehead. Qi Ying reached out, smoothing them with her fingers before replying gently, “I’m not working today. I woke up early to take you to school.”

Take her to school?

Xiao Chu’s dark eyes sparkled. It had been so long since anyone had offered to walk her to school—not since her mother had done it when she was little.

“I can go by myself,” Xiao Chu said, pointing to the school visible through the window. “It’s so close. You don’t need to take me.”

But Qi Ying placed her hands on Xiao Chu’s shoulders and insisted, “I said I’m taking you, so no arguing. What do you want for breakfast? I’ll make it!”

Xiao Chu tilted her head curiously. “You know how to cook?”

Qi Ying felt slightly offended. “I’m an adult. Cooking isn’t that hard!”

Without further ado, she rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she realized she hadn’t checked it in a while. Xiao Chu had been handling groceries and meals lately, so Qi Ying had no idea what was inside.

Xiao Chu stood behind her, peeking at the fridge and then at Qi Ying before softly suggesting, “There are frozen dumplings.”

Qi Ying shot her a sidelong glance and declared, “I can’t possibly serve you frozen dumplings!”

With that, she pulled out two frozen parathas from the freezer.

If nothing else, Qi Ying knew how to make parathas. It was simple—just cook them in a pan, add some lettuce, fried eggs, and ketchup. Easy!

Seeing Qi Ying brimming with confidence, Xing Xiaochu didn’t want to dampen the mood. The two of them squeezed into the kitchen together, with Xiaochu handing over ingredients and washing lettuce while Qi Ying worked busily like a professional chef.

But it was clear—while Qi Ying excelled at making clothes, cooking was definitely not her forte.

By the time they finally ate, they were both nearly late.

Xiaochu anxiously sat on the bench by the front door, putting on her shoes, when Qi Ying hurried over and pressed a carton of warmed milk into her hands. “Drink this,” she said.

Xiaochu grimaced and refused. “I’m going to be late, sis.”

Qi Ying shoved the milk into her hands, crouched down, and said, “I’ll put your shoes on for you. Drink quickly.”

Xiaochu: “?”

Looking down, she saw Qi Ying holding her white sneakers—the ones Qi Ying had bought for her at the mall not long ago. The shoes were pristine and stylish, with snow-white laces.

At first, Xiaochu had thought they were too white and impractical, but what girl could resist a pair of beautiful white sneakers?

So she had accepted them, determined to take good care of them.

Now, Qi Ying knelt on the floor, gripping Xiaochu’s slender ankle as she slipped the shoe on. Xiaochu, clutching the warm milk, froze in surprise. By the time Qi Ying finished tying the laces and looked up, Xiaochu still hadn’t taken a sip.

“Hurry up and drink, or we’ll really be late,” Qi Ying urged.

Xiaochu snapped out of it, her face flushing red. She tried to pull her other foot back, murmuring, “Sis, I can put my shoes on myself.”

“Stop arguing,” Qi Ying said, grabbing Xiaochu’s calf and pulling her foot forward to finish the job.

Xiaochu felt her ankle and leg burn where Qi Ying had touched them, her face growing even hotter. She watched, stunned, as Qi Ying slipped on her other shoe.

Standing up, Qi Ying noticed Xiaochu still hadn’t drunk the milk and shot her an annoyed look. Fortunately, it was a carton, so Qi Ying quickly grabbed Xiaochu’s backpack and ushered the girl out the door.

In the elevator, Qi Ying stared at Xiaochu until she finally took a sip. For some reason, Xiaochu’s face stayed red, and she kept her head down, avoiding Qi Ying’s gaze entirely.

Once out of the elevator, they picked up the pace. Qi Ying, tall and long-legged, quickly outpaced Xiaochu, who panted as she struggled to keep up. Unable to help herself, Qi Ying chuckled and grabbed Xiaochu’s hand.

“Faster,” Qi Ying said with a grin. “Or we’ll really be late.”

Xiaochu felt her wrist enveloped in warmth before a firm tug pulled her forward. At first, her steps faltered, but soon she was running alongside Qi Ying down the street.

The figure in front of her was radiant, her long hair flying like a bird in flight.

Though passersby turned to look, for the first time, Xiaochu didn’t feel self-conscious or lost under their gaze—because Qi Ying was with her.

That realization stirred something strange in her chest, leaving her flustered yet utterly at ease.

The fifteen-minute walk took them just five minutes to reach the school gate, where the crowd of students had noticeably thinned. Qi Ying turned to look at the panting Xing Xiaochu and patted her back, asking, “Do you still remember how to get to your classroom?”

Xing Xiaochu nodded.

Qi Ying smiled and ruffled the child’s hair. “You really need more exercise. Hurry inside now—I’ll pick you up after school this afternoon.”

Glancing at the time and realizing she’d be late if she didn’t move, Xing Xiaochu immediately waved at Qi Ying. “I’m off to school then, sis!”

Qi Ying waved back, watching as the child entered the school grounds. She didn’t turn to leave until Xing Xiaochu had disappeared into the school building. Having taken the day off, Qi Ying planned to settle matters with the record company after dropping Xing Xiaochu off, then buy some fabric to make pretty clothes for the girl later.

But today, Qi Ying noticed a problem—they lacked transportation. Initially, she’d only focused on raising Xing Xiaochu well, never considering how slow traveling on foot would be. She decided to look into buying a vehicle—a car if possible, but even a scooter or e-bike would do. Walking everywhere simply wasn’t sustainable anymore.

Meanwhile…

Xing Xiaochu carefully checked the classroom number before stepping inside. Arriving late meant most seats were already taken. Her entrance drew only passing glances before classmates resumed their conversations.

Nearly everyone in class had known each other since freshman year, so even after reshuffling, many old friends remained. With no assigned seating yet, students sat wherever they pleased.

Recognizing no one, Xing Xiaochu inhaled the scents of these unfamiliar boys and girls, realizing most were betas—only a handful of alphas and omegas besides herself. Too nervous to greet anyone, she moved toward an empty seat but was stopped by a nearby classmate: “That seat’s taken.”

Startled, Xing Xiaochu apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t know.”

The classmate gave her a look, nostrils flaring slightly as if catching a scent, but said nothing.

After several failed attempts, Xing Xiaochu finally found an apparently vacant seat in the second-to-last row—”apparently” because when she asked nearby students, they merely glanced at it without answering, some even smirking. She took this as confirmation the spot was free.

Settling in, she began unpacking her backpack, arranging stationery and textbooks as the jingling class bell rang. Students returned to their seats but kept chattering—comparing summer vacation spots or wondering which classes old friends had ended up in.

The noise was overwhelming.

With no one to talk to, Xing Xiaochu quietly fiddled with her pen, waiting for the homeroom teacher. But instead of the teacher, she got her seatmate.

The noisy classroom suddenly fell silent as someone entered. Xing Xiaochu initially thought it was the teacher and straightened up, only to see a tall girl with a streak of green-dyed hair walk in through the door.

The girl wore her school uniform carelessly—her jacket tied around her waist, the short-sleeved white and blue-trimmed uniform shirt on her body. Her eyes swept across the room before she strode directly toward Xing Xiaochu.

Then she stopped right in front of Xiaochu’s desk.

Clutching her pen nervously, Xiaochu looked up at her, bewildered as to why this person was standing before her.

Had… had Xiaochu somehow offended her?

Before Xiaochu could figure it out, the girl lifted her foot and kicked Xiaochu’s desk, startling her so badly that the pen flew from her hand and clattered loudly onto the floor.

“Is this your seat?” the girl asked.

Xiaochu’s face paled with fright as she immediately stood up. “I—I just sat here randomly. I didn’t know it was yours…”

The girl gave Xiaochu a sidelong glance, snorted, then moved past her to sit by the window in the inner seat.

Xiaochu stood frozen in place for a long moment.

Growing impatient, the girl leaned against the back desk and frowned at her. “Sit down already. What? Do I need to personally invite you to be my desk mate?”