The Gloomy Paper-Man Came to My Door to Pursue His Love - Chapter 12

“I bow my head in gratitude to all the stars in the universe for allowing me to meet you.”

A voice, laced with a hint of suppressed humiliation and a trace of endurance, echoed through the quiet first-class cabin. As the 2D character snapped and crushed a seashell in his palm, the login screen finished loading.

The starship sailed through the Milky Way. Outside the porthole lay the vast, boundless cosmos. Looking closer, galaxies appeared like giant whirlpools, each spiral embedded with clusters of tiny, diamond-like planets.

In space, there is no distinction between day and night, but there is in the game. It was currently 4:00 AM, the same time zone as the Empire’s First Star System.

Upon logging in, Qin Fei appeared in his “Home.”

The game provided a “Home” for every player. The initial area, decor, and furnishings were identical. Players could customize it to their liking, though most changes beyond rearranging furniture required microtransactions. This “Home” was not even as large as the rooms the Qin family used to educate Omegas.

However, Qin Fei was in no hurry to decorate. After all, his Intimacy level with his 2D character was still at a disappointing “0.” Because the Intimacy was not high enough, the character would neither invite him over nor visit his house. Outside of the main plot, this level of Intimacy only allowed Qin Fei to send messages.

Qin Fei opened the Terminal. On the light screen, his conversation with the character was sparse.

Qin Fei: I changed your name. I really like this meaningful new name, and I hope you like it too.

Sha Bei: Whether you are truly ignorant or just pretending, you had better not let me out of here.

Sha Bei: Otherwise, I will tear you apart.

Qin Fei: Do you mean my clothes?

The last message remained on Qin Fei’s reply, and the character never responded. Qin Fei read through the chat logs several times. A look of understanding flickered across his slightly excited face, which then turned into confusion.

Noticing the change in his expression, the Terminal asked caringly, “Do I have the honor of knowing what you are thinking and feeling right now?”

There was no need for secrecy. Qin Fei said, “I am certainly not an honest person.”

The Terminal was relieved that Qin Fei finally realized this, only to hear him add in a puzzled tone, “The guide says that communicating with the character increases Intimacy.”

The Terminal understood his dilemma. In the main storyline, Qin Fei had not shown his true self, but in the messages, he had revealed his authentic side. Yet, the Intimacy remained at 0. Since this was a romantic interest he had personally shaped, the lack of progress was disheartening.

“Honey is rich in fructose and glucose, and these components can promote the decomposition and absorption of alcohol,” the Terminal suggested gently. “Would you like me to order a glass of honey water for you?”

Qin Fei declined. He stared at the messages for a while, pondering, before finally reaching a conclusion. “It must be because I am being too reserved.”

The Terminal fell silent for a moment. “That is reasonable.”

Qin Fei rolled up his sleeves and clicked on the Main Story.

Prologue: Encounter, 1-1: The Beautiful You, 1-2.

Without further hesitation, Qin Fei entered the 1-2 story node.

“There are twelve hours until the next starship jump,” the Terminal said. “Please enjoy your game. I wish you a pleasant time.”

Following the Terminal’s blessing, the floating image shifted, and soon the scene for node 1-2 materialized.

In the room filled with multiple soft single beds, five of the original ten had been removed. Last night’s banquet had eliminated nearly half the candidates. This morning, the remaining prospective brides would begin learning Avis etiquette. The lessons took place within the old castle, with one etiquette teacher assigned to each group.

Since his etiquette teacher was his own 2D character, Qin Fei chose the seat closest to the podium. With one look up, he could clearly see the character’s features. Noticing Qin Fei’s gaze once again, the character looked up and glared. Qin Fei simply smiled at him.

Feeling the frustration of punching a cloud, the character turned his head away and reluctantly recited the information in his mind. “Blood stained the battle flags. It was through the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors that the Avis family exists today. To commemorate them, the Avis family crest uses a deep red background with two double-edged swords suspended above. This dark red has become a symbol of the Avis family’s nobility and solemnity.”

Small whispers began to ripple through the classroom. Though they had only arrived at Avis Island yesterday, the dark red color was everywhere, from the hanging flags to the family crests. It proudly proclaimed the family’s glory and honor. In any formal Avis occasion, participants were required to wear a touch of dark red. Those eliminated at the banquet were precisely those who had overlooked this detail. The Avis family had no need for a bride who lacked observation.

So that was it.

Qin Fei played with his dark red fan-shaped brooch as he heard his character speak again. “Today, I will teach you the Avis greeting etiquette.”

Qin Fei watched as the character’s lips, thin on top and full on the bottom, parted. “The Shoulder-Bump Rite.”

Interstellar greetings included handshakes, bowing, and pressing palms together. Qin Fei knew them all by heart, but he had never heard of a Shoulder-Bump Rite. Did they touch with their hands? Or with another part of the body? Just from the name, it sounded like there would be physical contact. He really was restless.

Qin Fei stopped playing with his brooch and looked up with great interest.

Xi Li’s face was ashen. The game program had sent a movement command, requiring him to demonstrate the rite.

“You use your own shoulders to touch the other person’s shoulders. Specifically, stand facing each other. The initiator first touches the other’s right shoulder with their left, then touches the other’s left shoulder with their right.”

Even if he resisted, the program would force him to complete the action. Xi Li took a deep breath. As he spoke, he leaned forward and bumped his sturdy left shoulder against the empty air. Having humiliated himself to complete the command, Xi Li turned back only to see Qin Fei’s expression.

Xi Li said nothing. He instantly lost his cool and hissed through gritted teeth, “What is that look on your face?”

Qin Fei replied, “My apologies.”

He tried hard to stifle his laughter, but the ritual was just too cute. It was clearly a deliberate way for the game to create physical contact between the player and the character.

Just as Qin Fei expected, a prospective bride asked a timely question. “Teacher Sha Bei, what if there is a size mismatch? For example, if the other person is a head taller and half a shoulder wider, how do you perform the rite gracefully?”

Qin Fei thought, What a perceptive NPC. Xi Li thought, I am going to tear this NPC to shreds.

The description of being a head taller and half a shoulder wider described the exact physical difference between Qin Fei and Xi Li.

Qin Fei nodded and asked curiously, “Yes, what should we do then?”

As soon as Qin Fei finished speaking, a new game command flashed in Xi Li’s mind: Demonstrate the Shoulder-Bump Rite with a size difference and If Qin Fei is willing, Qin Fei is the only demonstration target.

He was definitely going to destroy this game that treated him like an object. Xi Li took a deep breath. Whatever. Qin Fei would not be willing to touch anyone anyway.

Among Qin Fei’s many labels, Xi Li believed that “aloof” was merely a mask. On the contrary, Qin Fei actually tried to act kind, but his disdain for certain people was so palpable that it resulted in that reputation.

At the Environmental Charity Gala, Qin Fei’s furrowed brow had not been out of concern for the desert planet. It was because the seating was cramped and his arm was forced to touch someone else. Later, he had donated that entire suit to the desert planet. At a Royal Banquet, someone kissed the back of Qin Fei’s hand, and he spent two hours in the washroom scrubbing it. At a funeral, Qin Fei had picked up a handkerchief offered by another Alpha by its very corner and dropped it into the trash with visible disgust.

Xi Li had seen these things with his own eyes.

Snapping back to the present, Xi Li said, “Is anyone willing to demonstrate with me?”

He looked over, only to see Qin Fei’s eyes sparkling with eagerness. “Teacher, may I?”

Xi Li was speechless.

The two stood facing each other with a few onlookers below the podium. Qin Fei’s gaze fell on Xi Li’s shoulders. The character had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. If Qin Fei tried to bump him, he would have to tilt his body significantly. That would look ridiculous and not at all like a formal rite.

Qin Fei asked humbly, “Teacher, what should I do?”

Xi Li said, “Turn sideways.”

Qin Fei obediently turned to his left. He remembered what Teacher Sha Bei said: left shoulder to right shoulder. “Is this angle okay?”

At this point, Qin Fei was turned at a 45-degree angle, but it was still difficult to reach Xi Li’s shoulder gracefully. He asked, “Can I come closer?”

Receiving no response, Qin Fei took it upon himself to move closer. This made his own heart race a little faster. This was the real him, a person who craved a handsome, young Alpha’s body. He was being himself. The realization gave Qin Fei a rush of excitement.

“Can I get even closer?” Qin Fei moved a bit more. “Teacher?”

Xi Li snapped, “Then why are you even asking me?!”

They were so close that in the game screen, he could no longer see the character’s handsome face. He could only see his tensed jawline. An authoritative command dropped from above. “That is enough! You are practically glued to my face!”

The character was very tall, a height of 192 centimeters that Qin Fei had personally customized. Qin Fei stood on his tiptoes and tried to bump the character’s right shoulder, then turned to his right and bumped the left shoulder while still on tiptoe.

As their shoulders lightly collided, the dark red fan-shaped brooch on Qin Fei’s chest brushed against the other’s clothing, snagging a tiny thread of silk. Due to equipment limitations, he could not actually feel the texture of the character’s shoulder, but Qin Fei tasted the sweetness brought by this young, handsome body. Or perhaps it was the comfort of finally being himself.

Qin Fei looked up at his 2D character. The starship was traveling at ten times the speed of light. After two days of flight, they were already 54.77 light-years away from the Capital Star. Had the thin strings controlling him already snapped across that vast distance? Was his suppressed nature only a small spark away from returning to its proper orbit?

He did not know. But Qin Fei had opened the 1-2 story node for exactly this reason. He brushed away the frost weighing on his heart and shouted toward Xi Li with total abandon.

“Husband, you are so handsome! Husband, I love you! I want to be with my husband forever!”