My Virtual Wife Stepped Out of My Phone to Find Me - Chapter 58

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Xing Xiaochu tried purchasing tickets for the scenic spot using her phone, tablet, and computer, but found she couldn’t complete the transaction. Staring at the error message, she couldn’t understand why she was unable to buy tickets when they were clearly available.

Refusing to give up, she checked tickets for other attractions. While she could purchase tickets for city venues like zoos and aquariums without issue, any destination outside the city limits consistently showed purchase failures.

Why was this happening? Why couldn’t she buy tickets for locations beyond the city?

Picking up her phone, she saw Chen Dongdong and Xin Ya already discussing what outfits to wear for photos. Her fingers moved across the screen as she typed a message.

Xing Xiaochu: “Dongdong, can you buy tickets for Gucheng Mountain scenic area?”

Chen Dongdong: “?”

Chen Dongdong: “Let me try!”

Five minutes later, Chen Dongdong sent a screenshot of a successful purchase in the group chat: “No problem at all. What’s wrong?”

Xing Xiaochu replied: “That’s so strange. Why can’t I buy them?”

Chen Dongdong said: “That can’t be right. I got mine instantly.”

Encouraged by Dongdong’s success, Xing Xiaochu tried again, only to encounter the same purchase restriction. Her brows furrowed deeply—something was definitely wrong here.

Xing Xiaochu: “Dongdong, could you transfer that ticket to me? I want to visit during the holiday.”

Chen Dongdong: “Sure thing! Sending you the QR code now.”

But when Xing Xiaochu opened the transferred ticket, a notification popped up: Transfer Invalid.

Xing Xiaochu: “…”

Her fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the message. Chen Dongdong expressed equal confusion in the group chat, repeatedly asking “Why was I refunded?” and “I didn’t cancel anything!”

A growing unease settled in Xing Xiaochu’s mind as pieces began falling into place. After reassuring Chen Dongdong, she closed her phone, the unsettling realization expanding within her.

She needed to test something tomorrow while Qi Ying was away.

The next day, after seeing Qi Ying off, Xing Xiaochu began her investigation.

First stop was the train station. While most tickets were purchased online nowadays, a few counters remained for elderly passengers unfamiliar with mobile purchases. After thirty minutes in line, it was finally her turn.

“I’d like a ticket to Gucheng Mountain, please,” Xing Xiaochu said, sliding her ID and student card through the window. The attendant processed the request before returning her documents.

“Sorry, you’re unable to purchase tickets,” the attendant stated flatly.

Xing Xiaochu pressed, “Why? Are there no tickets available? Any time would work. Or if there are tickets to nearby cities?”

The attendant shook her head. “I’m sorry, you cannot purchase tickets.”

Xing Xiaochu froze. The clerk’s tone mirrored the cold, impersonal rejection from the online system the night before—both delivering the same unspoken message: she wasn’t permitted to leave this city.

The people behind her were growing impatient, urging Xing Xiaochu to move along. Reluctantly, she took her documents and stepped out of the queue.

Next, Xing Xiaochu went to the bus station, only to face the same issue—she couldn’t purchase any tickets that would take her out of the city. A chilling sensation crept over her entire body.

Why was this happening?

Why couldn’t she leave?

Xing Xiaochu had lived in this city her entire life. Even school-organized outings had only been to local attractions within the city limits. It dawned on her that she had no memories of ever leaving this place—not even to the suburbs.

It was as if she were trapped here.

This realization frightened her, yet she found the thought absurd. After all, through her phone and TV, she knew other cities existed. Even her classmates occasionally brought back local specialties for her to try and showed her photos from their travels.

So, Xing Xiaochu refused to believe it.

If trains and buses were out of the question, she’d take a public bus instead.

Determined, she checked the bus route map and decided to take a two-hour ride out of the city. Surely that would work, right?

As the bus rattled along, the scenery outside the window grew increasingly unfamiliar. Her navigation app showed she was nearing the city limits, about to enter the neighboring county.

But the moment the bus crossed the city boundary, it suddenly screeched to a halt, stopping right in the middle of the road.

Jolted by the abrupt stop, Xing Xiaochu gripped the handrail and looked out the window, expecting to see an accident. Yet there was nothing—just cars passing by as usual.

Just as she began to wonder what was happening, the bus abruptly turned around. Xing Xiaochu shot up from her seat. “Driver, why aren’t we going forward?!” she exclaimed.

She hurried to the front, where the driver remained expressionless, calmly executing the U-turn as if it were routine. “Driver, stop the bus!” she pleaded. “Isn’t this route supposed to go to the countryside?”

“You can’t leave this place,” the driver replied flatly. “We have to take you back where you belong.”

Xing Xiaochu’s pupils constricted. A dreadful suspicion took hold, snapping the last thread of her composure.

“Why can’t I leave?!” she shouted. “Why is everyone else allowed to go, but not me?!”

Why couldn’t she buy a ticket? Why was even a bus ride forcing her back?

Who—or what—was stopping her from leaving?

As the driver prepared to turn back, Xing Xiaochu rushed to the door, pounding and demanding to be let out. Seeing her agitation, the driver reluctantly opened the door.

With a hiss, the doors parted, and Xing Xiaochu leaped out. She sprinted toward the city limits—she was determined to leave today, no matter what.

But the moment her foot crossed that unmistakable boundary line, a deafening buzz exploded in her head.

The clear sky suddenly turned red, and alarm sounds echoed from all directions. Xing Xiaochu was shocked to find a dialog box abruptly popping up before her eyes—

Warning! Warning!

World map not yet constructed. Game characters are not permitted to leave this area!

Warning! Warning!

Please return to your designated location, romanceable character ‘Xing Xiaochu’!

Warning! Warning!

Erasing today’s memories of romanceable character ‘Xing Xiaochu’. Modifying worldline…

Qi Ying watched as the bride was carried into the car by the groom before following Xia Ruoxin into their own vehicle. They trailed behind the procession of wedding cars moving leisurely forward—today’s destination was the couple’s new marital home.

The two newlyweds must have come from well-off families, judging by the lively fanfare along the way. According to tradition, the couple would first visit their new home to toast the groom’s parents before heading to the hotel for the wedding ceremony.

Qi Ying’s role was to follow along and handle miscellaneous tasks.

Xia Ruoxin drove with her, Shi Yu, and two bridesmaids squeezed into the backseat. Shi Yu, dressed in a white bridesmaid dress, chatted animatedly with the other two while Xia Ruoxin focused on driving. Bored, Qi Ying could only gaze out the window.

The more she looked, the more something felt off.

Why did everything seem so familiar?

Squinting slightly, Qi Ying’s eyes widened when their car entered the residential complex.

“Where is this?” Qi Ying asked in astonishment at the familiar scenery. Xia Ruoxin glanced over and said, “Jinyu Mingcheng. It’s a decent neighborhood with pricey real estate.”

Jinyu Mingcheng?

Qi Ying frowned slightly—wasn’t this the same complex where she and Xing Xiaochu lived?

Noticing her troubled expression, Xia Ruoxin asked curiously, “What’s wrong? I pointed it out to you last time we drove past here. Don’t you remember?”

There might have been such an occasion.

With a deep frown, Qi Ying murmured, “Maybe I forgot.”

After getting out of the car amidst showers of confetti and balloons, the newlyweds were ushered into the elevator surrounded by well-wishers. In no hurry to go up, Qi Ying wandered around the new home’s vicinity until Xia Ruoxin called, then leisurely made her way upstairs.

The layout was strikingly similar to her in-game home, yet somehow different.

Qi Ying dismissed it as high-end complexes probably sharing the same designer.

The new home was festively decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the cityscape and a school in the distance. Qi Ying stood by the window, gazing intently at the school with profound eyes.

Could such coincidences truly exist in this world?

“Ah-Ying,” Xia Ruoxin approached curiously, seeing her lingering by the window. “What’s up? Jealous of their big house?”

Qi Ying shot her a glance and chuckled, “Why would I be jealous? Hey, Ruoxin.” She pointed at the school outside the window. “What school is that?”

Xia Ruoxin had to check her map before replying, “No. 27 High School.”

Not No. 3 High?

If not, then it really was just Qi Ying’s imagination.

Of course—game world designs drawing references from reality was perfectly normal. She was overreacting.

After a busy day, Xia Ruoxin and Shi Yu finally finished everything before the afternoon and were about to drive to the airport. They asked Qi Ying if she needed a ride home, but since the airport was in the opposite direction of her house, Qi Ying declined and took a taxi instead.

Upon arriving home, Qi Ying took a shower first, tidied up the house, closed the shop, and hung the “Closed” sign with the hours before finally logging into the game.

As she entered from outside, Qi Ying saw Xing Xiaochu sitting on the sofa in outdoor clothes, lost in thought. She seemed deep in contemplation and didn’t react when Qi Ying came in. It wasn’t until Qi Ying called her name that Xing Xiaochu startled and looked up.

“Sister?” Xing Xiaochu looked at her curiously. “Why are you back? Didn’t you have plans to go out today?”

Amused, Qi Ying sat down beside her and said, “I’ve already finished my work and came back. What’s wrong? You look like you’re half-asleep. You changed your clothes… did you go out?”

Xing Xiaochu looked down at her jacket and pants and also wore a puzzled expression, asking Qi Ying in return, “Did I… go out today?”