My Virtual Wife From my Phone Has Come to See Me - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: It’s clearly just a game…

After hanging up the phone, Qi Ying couldn’t calm down for a long time.

She stared at her phone, only snapping out of it after several minutes. She realized the customer service representative was right: she was playing a game, not actually raising a child. Xing Xiaochu was a game character; she was generated by code, not cells.

Xing Xiaochu wasn’t a person, so there was no need for Qi Ying to be so emotionally invested.

Even if the girl ran out in the middle of the night to find her out of worry, that was simply data implanted by a programmer. Without that data, Xing Xiaochu was just a collection of ordinary numbers. It wasn’t worth Qi Ying climbing out of bed in the dead of night to enter the game and search for her like a madwoman.

But the clearer this realization became, the more uncomfortable Qi Ying felt.

The image of the well-behaved, pitiful Xing Xiaochu constantly flickered in her mind: Xiaochu in her oversized pajamas; Xiaochu wearing an apron to cook for her; Xiaochu shedding “small pearls” at her desk because she got too many questions wrong.

And the Xiaochu who ran out late at night, terrified, just to find her.

All of these versions of Xiaochu were game data—programs set by a stranger, emotionless code.

It left Qi Ying feeling a stifling weight in her chest.

Perhaps the customer service agent was right; she cared a bit too much. It was clearly just a game…

…

Early the next morning, as soon as Xing Xiaochu woke up, she heard the sound of the kitten. She scrambled out of bed and ran to the study. Pushing the door open, she saw the tiny orange kitten wailing and trying to climb onto her feet, its voice already hoarse from crying.

Xing Xiaochu hurried to scoop it into her arms. The kitten’s tragic cries immediately softened into little whimpers as it burrowed into her embrace. Xing Xiaochu laughed softly, coaxing the kitten as if it were a small child.

Once the kitten quieted down, Xing Xiaochu headed to the kitchen to find something for it to eat. She remembered that kittens could eat egg yolks; perhaps she could boil an egg for it.

However, once in the kitchen, she spotted a sticky note on the refrigerator. It was Qi Ying’s handwriting.

I’ve headed out for work. Don’t wander around while you’re home alone. If you want to keep the cat, keep it, but remember to take good care of it. Your phone broke, so I bought you a new one. I left a bank card on the coffee table; that’s your allowance, spend it however you like.

At the very bottom, Qi Ying had left one final line:

Call me if anything happens.

Xing Xiaochu stared at the note, lost in thought. It was 6:50 AM. What kind of job required her to leave before 7:00?

And the new phone—what mobile store opens at 6:00 in the morning?

Xing Xiaochu bit her lip. She knew she had caused trouble for Qi Ying by running out yesterday. Qi Ying had been wearing pajamas, and her jacket had smelled of that sweet peach pheromone. Now, she was out again first thing in the morning.

What was she doing?

Xing Xiaochu didn’t dare ask.

She clutched the note tightly, feeling a deep sadness, yet she knew she couldn’t ask anything. If Qi Ying didn’t tell her, she had to pretend she didn’t know.

If she’s at work, she’s at work. If she doesn’t come back, she doesn’t come back.

Qi Ying was just her mother’s friend, the person her mother had entrusted her care to. Qi Ying deserved to have her own life; she shouldn’t have to revolve around Xing Xiaochu.

But… why did it still hurt so much?

Xing Xiaochu’s eyes welled up. She wiped her damp eyes with her sleeve and looked down at the bewildered kitten, forcing a smile onto her face. She reached out to tap the little creature’s wet nose and whispered, “Little kitty, it seems like neither of us is wanted. But it’s okay, I can take care of you.”

The kitten pressed its tiny paw against Xing Xiaochu’s chest and let out a soft “Meow.”

…

“…A-Ying, A-Ying!”

Xia Ruoxin gave her friend a nudge, frowning. “Did you hear a word I just said?”

Qi Ying snapped back to reality, glancing at Xia Ruoxin. “What?”

Xia Ruoxin looked at her with concern. “What’s wrong with you today? I was saying that the shirt you designed earlier has become a massive hit. We’ve sold 100,000 units this month alone. A factory wants to discuss a partnership with a very good price. What do you think?”

Qi Ying took a sip of her iced Americano. “The factory we’re currently working with is fine, and we’re making a profit. There’s no need to switch.”

Xia Ruoxin laughed. “I knew you’d say that, so I already turned them down.”

Qi Ying nodded.

“However, our current factory was brought back from the brink of bankruptcy thanks to your designs, but their machinery is old. They can’t produce many of your more complex designs. I’m thinking we should finish this year out and try a different one next year,” Xia Ruoxin said, holding her own iced coffee. “We can raise our prices and find some high-end manufacturers to partner with. Your designs aren’t exactly hurting for buyers.”

Qi Ying responded with a lack of interest, “Just handle it however you see fit.”

Xia Ruoxin was curious. Since early this morning, Qi Ying had been acting as if she had something heavy on her mind.

“A-Ying, what is actually going on?” Xia Ruoxin asked. “Did something happen?”

Qi Ying initially wanted to deny it, but after a long hesitation, she turned to face Xia Ruoxin with clear, searching eyes. “Ruoxin, I have a question for you.”

Xia Ruoxin’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t look so serious! We’re friends; if you have a question, just ask.”

Qi Ying nodded and began, “I have a friend…”

Xia Ruoxin: “…”

“This friend is addicted to a game. It’s quite serious—she’s starting to lose track of the line between reality and the virtual world.” Qi Ying frowned. “In that situation, what do you think she should do?”

Xia Ruoxin scratched her head, peering at Qi Ying curiously. “Usually when someone starts a story like that, it’s about a relationship problem. Your… ‘friend’… how did she end up with an internet addiction?”

Qi Ying blinked, not quite following Xia Ruoxin’s implication.

Fortunately, Xia Ruoxin didn’t press the point. “Internet addiction isn’t really a problem these days. Who hasn’t played a few games? It’s just an obsession; it’s not a big deal. Life is already so full of troubles; what’s wrong with sinking into a virtual world for a bit?”

Then, she asked curiously, “What game are you—I mean, your friend—addicted to? Is it really that fun?”

Qi Ying’s face flushed. She pushed the encroaching Xia Ruoxin away. “It’s not me, it’s my friend.”

Xia Ruoxin burst out laughing. “Right, right, right. So what game is this friend addicted to? Is it really that good? I want to play too—let me try it!”

Hearing this made Qi Ying feel an inexplicable prickle of discomfort. But Xing Xiaochu was just a game; surely, in other parallel worlds, there were many other people interacting with her. There was no reason for Qi Ying to feel possessive.

But she didn’t care about “others.” At least for her, Xing Xiaochu belonged only to her.

So, Qi Ying said to Xia Ruoxin, “Only I can play that game. Even if you ask, I won’t tell you.”

Xia Ruoxin cackled, teasing Qi Ying for being an “internet-addicted girl.” When Qi Ying swatted her with a measuring tape, Xia Ruoxin swatted back, and the two of them laughed together.

Ding-ling—

The shop door opened. Shi Yu, seeing them playing around, her eyes curved into smiles. She stood at the door, smiling gently. “A-Ying, Boss Xia, hello there~”

The two turned simultaneously to see the beautifully dressed and lovely Shi Yu. Xia Ruoxin glanced at Qi Ying and proactively took a step back to give them some space.

Qi Ying cleared her throat awkwardly and greeted her, “Miss Shi, you’re here.”

“Yes.” Shi Yu walked up to Qi Ying and looked up at her. From Qi Ying’s height, she could even see the woman’s fair, soft décolletage, causing her to quickly avert her eyes. Shi Yu’s eyes were full of warmth as she whispered, “Is my birthday gown ready? I’d like to try on my mermaid dress.”