The Gloomy Paper-Man Came to My Door to Pursue His Love - Chapter 2

Once the 2D character was created, the game rebooted. The login screen changed as the camera acted like a firefly, dancing around the character from the bottom up. His sturdy, long legs were encased in fabric, their proud dimensions hinting at his power. His waist was narrow yet firm, and his pectoral muscles filled his shirt into a vigorous shape. His neckline was smooth and sharp. A stray firefly lingered on his broad shoulder, illuminating the Alpha gland hidden beneath the skin of his neck. Under Qin Fei’s gaze, it gave a strong, rhythmic throb.

Qin Fei closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.

When he had calmed his emotions and looked up again, he did not expect the character to suddenly snap his eyes open. Qin Fei’s gaze met the character’s eyes unexpectedly.

The surroundings seemed to fall silent in an instant. Qin Fei did not look away; he clearly saw that the character was frozen in a daze.

Qin Fei waved his finger in front of the character’s eyes. “Can he see me?”

The terminal replied, “Your 2D lover can see you through the device’s camera.”

Qin Fei nodded, preparing to greet him.

Suddenly, the character’s body swayed violently. He struggled to stand firm, propping his palm against his forehead. His expression became distorted, as if he were enduring immense agony.

Qin Fei was puzzled. “What is wrong with him?”

The terminal explained, “It should be a specially designed animation. According to player shares on the game forum, the character’s movements are closely linked to the main storyline. Seeing him like this, there is likely a painful main plot.”

Qin Fei raised his voice. “A painful main plot?”

The terminal said, “Yes, it is a storyline generated based on your questionnaire.”

Qin Fei, feeling guilty, fell silent.

He looked at the character again. The man’s hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles glowed white from the exertion, as if he wanted to crush the pain in his palms. However, this was not a good way to alleviate the suffering. Instead, the pain intensified, and he could only punch his own forehead.

Pain.

His skull felt as if it were being chiseled open by a blunt knife, only to be crudely stuffed with data. These were the setting parameters:

3S-Rank Alpha; Pheromone: Scorching Sun; Height: 192cm; Age: 24; Personality: To fit the player’s questionnaire, gentle and sunny; Identity in the main plot.

No.

A low moan escaped his throat.

His fierce reputation rang throughout the galaxy. Every time he went to war, he carried the momentum of ten thousand soldiers. He was the invincible God of War of the Empire. His pheromones were a Mimic Deep Sea, not some Scorching Sun.

That explosion happened when he was 22. His age was forever frozen at 22.

He was Xi Li.

The game detected the character’s resistance and attempted to fix the bug. The pain escalated, multiplying until Xi Li’s legs gave way. At the moment he was about to collapse, Xi Li suddenly reached out to prop himself up on the ground. The inertia caused his wrist to let out a sharp crack.

Repairing the bug was no different from correcting his soul. After all, Xi Li’s soul was now nothing but a pile of flowing data.

The sensation of pain, as if his whole body would ignite at a touch, reminded Xi Li of the day he was shredded into a data stream. The cockpit of the mecha was locked, the wings were already emitting thick smoke, and flickering flames danced beneath the haze.

【Your Highness, it has been an honor to fight by your side.】

His mecha was making its final statement.

【Regrettably, you have only three minutes of life remaining. I can do one last thing for you. Please issue your command.】

The firelight illuminated half of Xi Li’s face. He tapped the control console nonchalantly, his pace steady as if three minutes were as long as a year. “Clear the terminal.”

【Understood.】

Xi Li stretched his neck, then leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes. He pressed the knuckles of his index finger firmly against the space between his eyebrows, as if preparing for the upcoming long sleep.

【All data in the terminal has been cleared for you, including 448 messages and 87 voice notes in the blacklist inbox.】

His hand paused for a breath. At this inappropriate moment, Xi Li remembered that there was only one person in his terminal’s blacklist. After a moment, he continued rubbing his brow.

【Deeply sorry to disturb you in your final moments.】

【Received a new message from your fiancé. Should it still be deleted?】

The pressing gesture paused for a much longer time. His eyes narrowed. Driven by an unknown impulse, he said, “Read it.”

A clear, gentle voice immediately echoed in the cockpit, the tone filled with deep affection: “Your Highness, this is Qin Fei. The temperature at the border has dropped today; please take care of yourself. I will wait for your triumphant return at the Imperial Star. I miss you.”

Pain blurred his consciousness. Xi Li remained in a kneeling position, gasping for air. Every hurried breath seemed to inhale more agony.

Xi Li knew something of his fiancé. Ten minutes after the compatibility test report was sent to his terminal inbox, all of his fiancé’s information was also bundled and transmitted right under his nose. In every photo attached to the files, his fiancé maintained the same elegant posture, like an exquisite ornament. But even so, the young prince, who had no talent for aesthetics, could not deny that his fiancé had a face one would never forget after a single glance.

According to the data, the fiancé came from the wealthiest family, the Qin family. It was common for merchants to cling to the powerful. There were many ways to skyrocket to the top, and the most frequently used method was to send weak, beautiful Omegas to their beds. The Qin family was particularly skilled in such tactics.

That 100% pheromone compatibility was suspicious. Xi Li’s pheromones were too aggressive; when he released them, even Alphas would feel suffocated, let alone Omegas. A fragile Omega would easily drown in the Mimic Deep Sea. In this world, there was no Omega who could be compatible with his pheromones.

Xi Li smelled a conspiracy. The Emperor had been wary of him for more than a day or two. Was the Emperor not afraid that Xi Li could use his father-in-law’s support to recruit soldiers and pick a good day to usurp the throne? Yet, he had specifically sent the Marriage Ministry to the border to discuss the details of the wedding.

They must be in league, plotting some dark, unspeakable secret. His fiancé was also a participant. And now he had fallen into his fiancé’s hands.

Xi Li gritted his teeth. “Qin Fei.”

Qin Fei paused, not expecting the 2D character to know his name. Soon, Qin Fei understood why. He had performed real-name authentication.

Xi Li suddenly snapped his heavy head up. Amidst the intense suffering, he stared fixedly at that unforgettable face outside the light screen. “You had better kill me.”

Qin Fei frowned slightly.

The terminal noted, “It seems the main plot is not only painful but also heart-wrenching.”

Qin Fei asked, “Can it be changed?”

The terminal replied, “Why do you think the login screen took so long? The internal game has already generated the main plot. Once generated, it cannot be changed unless you delete your account and start over. However, there is no need to worry too much. Once you enter the plot, every action you take will affect its direction.”

The character was still gasping for breath, his broken aura almost overflowing from the screen. [Login] floated at the bottom of the screen.

Qin Fei clicked [Login]. The main plot could wait. The priority was to change the character’s name.

With Qin Fei’s operation, the colors on the screen slowly faded. The character, still gasping and maintaining his posture, slowly sank into the closing darkness. Soon, glowing white text appeared on the dark screen:

【Finally, you have arrived here.】

The white letters slowly melted, dripping into the black screen. The entire screen shook from the heatwaves being baked in the air. The sun hung in the sky, waves rolled, and the island situated in the middle of the sea was painted with a layer of golden lacquer.

Though he did not know the current situation, Qin Fei’s expression relaxed. Such a view was rare. The eight major star systems of the Empire were all filled with the light of technological civilization. Aircraft moved in an orderly fashion in the sky, maglev trains glided silently overhead, and holographic billboards swayed and floated. On the ground were rows of skyscrapers with dazzling curtain walls, reflecting the faint light from the energy core devices on Central Street. Passersby were forced to reveal every expression on their faces under the lights.

【You look out at the castle hidden deep within the island, remembering the classified document you obtained a month ago.】

In the screen, the hull of the ship pushed the sea into huge white sprays. The sound of waves crashing echoed softly in the room as the castle gradually revealed more of itself.

【Earl Avis is the master of the castle. There is a prophecy that his son will end the chaos of the galaxy and become the supreme ruler.】

【Recently, Earl Avis has been selecting a suitable wife for his adult son.】

【There are many people on the ship; they are the brides sent to the island castle by various factions.】

【You have blended in among them.】

Seeing this, Qin Fei’s heart skipped a beat. He seemed to have a premonition. Then, the text shifted again.

【Your homeland is beautiful and peaceful, but in the prophecy, your home becomes the uprising site for Earl Avis’s son.】

【Your home will be devastated.】

【Therefore, carrying the mission to kill Earl Avis’s son, you resolutely infiltrated this group of brides.】

Qin Fei noted the period.

The terminal remarked, “Following the development of most stories, Earl Avis’s son should be your 2D character. It really is a painful and heart-wrenching plot.”

Qin Fei thought of the phrase the character had rasped out. You had better kill me, the character had said.

He rubbed his forehead. “Which question on the questionnaire was this plot adapted from?”

The terminal answered, “The game does not generate a plot based on just one question, but the most influential one should be Question 231. The question was, ‘Which type of romance do you prefer?'”

Qin Fei had no memory of it. “Oh? What was my answer?”

The terminal stated, “You chose both D and E: Unforgettable and Angst-filled Love.”

Qin Fei asked, “Could I choose more than one?”

The terminal replied, “It is clear that you must have touched the screen accidentally on this question.”

“Fine,” Qin Fei conceded. “So, how do I change the character’s name?”

The scene continued as waves rolled and the cruise ship prepared to dock.

The terminal said, “Apologies. Upon confirmation, the game modified its gameplay in the last update. New players must first complete the prologue, which is the opening story, to have a basic understanding of the character before they can return home. This is also known as the main game interface. Changing the name must be done on the main interface.”

Qin Fei frowned slightly. He was still inside the Imperial Palace. The reason he had not left immediately after the memorial service was simply to use the Imperial network to avoid affecting the creation of the game character. Because every jump of a starship would cause the mobile network to briefly disconnect, he needed a stable connection.

“Forget it.” Qin Fei was tired of staying at the Palace. He did not want to stay a moment longer. By comparison, changing a name was a small matter that could be handled later.

The terminal confirmed, “Game progress saved.”

The screen was retracted by the terminal. Whether it was the sea, the island castle, or the 2D character, they all disappeared from the room.

Qin Fei quickly packed his things. It was not that he had not prepared in advance, but today was, after all, the anniversary of Xi Li’s death. He could not appear too eager to leave. However, he did not have much. During the two years waiting for his late husband’s return and the three years of widowhood, a total of five years, all his belongings fit into a single small suitcase.

He had already subtly said his goodbyes to the other members of the Imperial family, so he could leave right now. No guards stopped him along the way, likely by the Emperor’s order, and Qin Fei left the Palace smoothly.

The Imperial Palace was the grandest building on the Capital Star, yet Qin Fei did not look back once. He wrapped his coat tightly, stepped into the colorful night, and buried his face in his scarf. He did not let the intersecting neon lights illuminate the determination on his face.

The Qin family would not come looking for him again. In their eyes, he was a useless person who could not even handle Xi Li in two years. The Imperial family no longer needed him either. By staying a widow for three years, he had given them enough face.

He was going to Obsidian Star. It was the most remote planet in the Seventh Star System, very far from the Capital Star of the First Star System. There were not many flight routes from Capital Star to Obsidian Star. The next starship would not leave until 8:00 AM the next morning.

Qin Fei sat in the waiting hall and waited. As he waited, he thought that he would buy a house on Obsidian Star. Since it was a necessity, it would be best to buy one that was already decorated and ready for move-in.

Oh, and he had to order a gaming pod. He still needed the 2D character to deal with the Marriage Ministry.

Qin Fei woke his terminal. “Order a gaming pod for me.”

The terminal suggested, “I recommend the LR-96926334 gaming pod. In many reviews, this model is the most compatible with Exclusive ABO.”

Qin Fei agreed. “Mm.”

The terminal asked, “Where would you like the gaming pod to be sent?”

Qin Fei said, “To any hotel on Obsidian Star that can receive packages. Also, book a room at that same hotel.”

The terminal confirmed, “Processed for you. The port has a high volume of people. Since this is your first time traveling alone, please be sure to pay attention to your personal safety.”

“Mm,” Qin Fei replied. The surroundings were noisy, and his voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

The waiting hall hung with eight holographic clocks, each representing the time of a different star system. The moment the hour and minute hands on the First Star System’s dial both pointed to 12, a new day arrived silently. Just as the minute hand passed 12, the terminal buzzed.

In an outdoor environment, the terminal did not project the message. Qin Fei pulled up his sleeve and looked at the terminal worn on his wrist. It was a system message from the Marriage Ministry:

【Warm reminder: You have been marked as single by the Marriage Ministry. According to Article 12 of the Imperial Marriage Law, if one party in a marriage contract unfortunately passes away and the other party’s second gender is Alpha or Omega, they must not remain widowed for more than three years. After the three-year period, the single Omega/Alpha will re-enter the Marriage Ministry’s matching pool, and the Ministry will continue to match you with high-compatibility Omegas/Alphas. Please be advised. If you are not single, please contact the Marriage Ministry promptly to update your status. A partner is an important part of life; the Marriage Ministry wishes that in the near future, you will find an excellent partner to walk through life with.】

Qin Fei deleted the message without expression. He knew the true purpose behind the Marriage Ministry’s hypocritical rhetoric. The Empire needed the union of Alphas and Omegas to produce superior genes. The Empire needed those genes to serve and help plunder interstellar resources and expand its territory. In the Star Calendar year 328, human society had already become distorted. Whichever country possessed more superior genes would be the hegemon of the galaxy. From an Empire that initially only owned three star systems to one that now sat on eight, the Empire had tasted the sweetness brought by superior genes.

At 8:00 AM, the starship to Obsidian Star took off on time. It was expected to reach its destination in twenty-one days. Qin Fei did not like suffering, so he chose the highly private first-class cabin. Because it was an unpopular and remote route, the mission was carried out by a medium-sized starship. Within this small ship, Qin Fei had 60 square meters of private space.

He caught up on sleep first, then went to the restaurant for a meal. When he returned to the cabin, Qin Fei was about to contact the Marriage Ministry when a call from Bardis, the Minister of Marriage, came in first.

The terminal projected Bardis’s short, plump figure in the cabin. He was dressed in a suit, sitting in his office at the Marriage Ministry. Because he worried about the marriages of every Omega and Alpha in the Empire, the top of his head had gone bald in a Mediterranean shape.

“Good afternoon, dear Mr. Qin Fei.”

Sitting in a soft chair, Qin Fei returned the greeting. “Good afternoon, Minister Bardis. Your hair looks a bit thicker than before.”

Bardis sheepishly smoothed the hair on his forehead. “Thank you for the hair growth liquid you recommended.”

Qin Fei smiled. “You are welcome.”

Bardis looked at Qin Fei in the projection. The little prince’s fiancé was still so beautiful and graceful. No, the three-year widowhood period was over; Mr. Qin Fei no longer had any connection to the little prince. That was exactly why he had called.

“Mr. Qin Fei, please accept my condolences.” Bardis glanced at his prepared script and delivered an emotional speech. “His Highness was the pride of the Empire. His passing is a loss for the Empire. We will not forget his illustrious military achievements; we will remember him forever. But we need to look forward, Mr. Qin, do you not agree?”

Qin Fei nodded. “Correct.”

“I know that after loving an S-rank Alpha, it is difficult to love another.” Bardis then realized, “Mr. Qin, did you just say correct? I did not hear wrong, did I?”

Bardis was somewhat in disbelief. He did not think the ideological work for Mr. Qin, who was willing to stay widowed for three years for Prince Xi Li, would be so easy. To that end, he had specifically prepared a long-winded consolation and practiced it through the night.

Qin Fei nodded. “Yes, Minister Bardis. You did not hear wrong.”

Bardis asked half-doubtingly, “You received the message from the Marriage Ministry, right?”

Qin Fei nodded. “I did.”

Bardis scratched his head. “Then the Marriage Ministry will continue to match you with a high-compatibility Alpha?”

Qin Fei shook his head.

Bardis continued reading his script. “I understand very well, Mr. Qin Fei. You and the little prince were a talented and beautiful couple, deeply in love. Having loved so deeply, how could you easily forget? But, Mr. Qin, according to research by the Ministry of Health, if an Omega goes without an Alpha’s mark for a long time and survives every sensitive period only on suppressants, it will cause irreversible damage to the body. I believe that His Highness, in heaven, would certainly not want you to suffer both physically and mentally. You are still so young. For the sake of His Highness, please pay attention to your health!”

Qin Fei adjusted his sitting position and nodded. “Yes.”

Bardis stared at him suspiciously for a moment, then asked, “Do you mean you are willing to let the Marriage Ministry match you with a high-compatibility Alpha?”

Qin Fei sneered inwardly but did not tear down the facade. He said softly, “Minister Bardis, I completely agree with what you said. Just as an Omega who has been protected by a lion would never fall in love with a wild dog.”

Bardis coughed. “But you must also look forward.”

Qin Fei blinked. “I am looking forward.”

Bardis stared at Qin Fei, his round eyes darting in their sockets. He had a sudden realization. “Do you mean you already have a new Alpha? But you have only just finished your widowhood period. Could it be that during the widowhood period… no, that is not right either. You were clearly so heartbroken at the memorial ceremony yesterday; I was even worried you would follow the little prince.”

Qin Fei nodded with a large motion. He remembered Bardis’s eyesight was not very good. “The sudden heartbeat happened early this morning. I fell in love with a 3S-rank Alpha.”

“…” Bardis said, “As far as I know, in the entire Empire over the last hundred years, the little prince was the only S-rank Alpha.”

“Minister Bardis,” Qin Fei said, “my mental state is very good; you do not need to look at me with that kind of expression. If you do not believe me, I can send my latest physical examination report to your terminal later.”

Bardis frowned in confusion. Seeing Qin Fei’s certain manner, he tried to convince himself. Perhaps this 3S-rank Alpha came from another country. If that were the case, it would be normal for him not to have heard of it. If a 3S-rank Alpha were born in the Empire, they would indeed hide the news to ensure the Alpha grew up safely without being assassinated.

Bardis stared at Qin Fei’s face again. He was too good-looking; he fully believed Qin Fei had enough ability and charm to captivate a 3S-rank Alpha. Then, could the 3S-rank Alpha be won over by the Empire and serve them?

Bardis hurriedly sat up straight. He had to persuade Qin Fei. He could not let Qin Fei marry into another country. Instead, he had to make that 3S-rank Alpha marry into the Empire.

“Mr. Qin Fei,” Bardis asked nervously, “is that 3S-rank Alpha currently in the Empire?”

The sofa on the starship was a bit hard, and Qin Fei adjusted his position several times. He was not the fragile type of Omega; at 1.8 meters tall, he was considered exceptionally tall among Omegas, and his long legs were a bit cramped. After adjusting one last time, he looked back at the projection. Bardis was looking at him expectantly.

“Oh, yes.” Qin Fei coughed lightly and said, “He is in the Empire, right by my side.”

Bardis looked at Qin Fei’s background in the projection. It was empty; there was not a second person. He asked, “The 3S-rank Alpha is by your side?”

Qin Fei confirmed, “Yes.”

Bardis fell into silence. After a long while, Bardis mused, “Mr. Qin Fei, I do not mean anything else.”

Qin Fei faced Bardis’s pitying gaze directly. “Do you still suspect there is something wrong with my head?”

“Ah, well, no, no, that is not what I mean. I just.” Bardis did not expect Qin Fei to guess his thoughts so easily. He reflexively tried to explain but eventually went quiet under Qin Fei’s innocent gaze.

“Fine.” After another silence, Bardis said, “I am just worried, you know. For the Marriage Ministry, the health of an Omega is above all else.”

Qin Fei curved his lips noncommittally.

“Minister Bardis,” Qin Fei said, lifting his eyelids, “he really is right beside me. I can let you two meet.”

Bardis was shocked. “Meet!?”

“You mean,” Bardis was somewhat apprehensive, but mostly in disbelief, “letting me meet your 3S-rank Alpha!?”

Qin Fei said softly, “Yes, but not right now. Maybe tomorrow? Or this evening? When I have made sure, I will contact you myself.” He said considerately, “That way, both you and he can be fully prepared.”

Although Bardis was impatient, Qin Fei’s words were not without reason. He could not just hastily meet a 3S-rank Alpha. His goal was to recruit him, and he needed ample preparation. If he truly succeeded in recruiting him, his political stage would become even larger.

“Mr. Qin Fei,” Bardis requested, “concerning this meeting, can you notify me half an hour in advance?”

Qin Fei readily agreed. “Minister Bardis, I also have a small request. Can my relationship status be changed to not single? If it is inconvenient, it does not matter. I know changing information requires some documents; I am just worried my 3S-rank Alpha will be unhappy about it.”

Bardis said, “I will change it for you right now.”

Qin Fei thanked him. After ending the call, Qin Fei told the terminal to start the game. He could not let Bardis watch the game plot, especially just the prologue. He had to rush through the opening story and then show the 2D character to Bardis.

The terminal said, “Are you not worried he will fly into a rage then?”

Qin Fei did not care. “But for now, I am out of the matching pool.”

The terminal replied, “May you have your wish.”

The terminal opened the game program. The sky, ocean, and island appeared before Qin Fei again via projection. Then the camera locked into a first-person perspective, and the content presented by the camera became Qin Fei’s field of vision. However, transparent icons floated in the upper right corner of the screen. Qin Fei could use these icons at any time to pause, save, or rewind the story, as well as check tasks.

The cruise ship drew closer and closer to the island pier, and many people could be clearly seen standing there. They wore uniform attire and were lined up neatly. The brides on the cruise represented various factions and did not communicate much with each other. Now that they were about to arrive at the pier, the ship became even quieter. Only the sea breeze made everyone’s clothes flutter loudly. If Qin Fei were using a gaming pod, he could also clearly smell the saltiness of the sea breeze.

Finally, the cruise ship reached the pier and docked in the berth. The gangway was lowered, and the brides stepped off in an orderly fashion. The screen shook slightly, indicating that Qin Fei had walked from the gangway to the pier.

“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.” The captain of the guards offered courtesy before laying down rules for the hundred brides. “Avis Island welcomes your arrival, but this is predicated on your following the rules. Avis Island does not have many rules. The three most important are: one, do not wander around; two, do not disturb the Earl or the Viscount; three, do not attempt to transmit any information about Avis Island to the outside world. And a fourth rule specifically for Omegas: no releasing pheromones. I do not think you would want to try the consequences of breaking the rules.”

The guard captain walked from one end of the bride line to the other. “The Avis family has a long history and its own unique etiquette; teachers will instruct you one by one later. Every Sunday is Selection Day. As the name suggests, I believe you understand the meaning of Selection Day. The one who remains at the end will be the Viscountess.”

With a ding, Qin Fei saw an icon in the upper right corner light up. He opened it; there were two tasks in the [Tasks] list: 1. Kill the Viscount. 2. Become the Viscountess.

The terminal sighed, “What contradictory tasks.”

Qin Fei yawned and nodded in agreement. “It is okay.”

The guard captain’s gaze fell precisely on him. “Do you have any questions?”

The terminal said, “I am very sorry to remind you that your current expressions and voice will be recorded into the game. If you wish to speak with me, you can pause the game first.”

Qin Fei did not pause. He spoke. “My apologies.”

The guard captain looked at Qin Fei for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. “Now, groups of ten, free distribution. Once you have your group, follow your teacher.”

As the guard captain’s voice fell, the guards separated to both sides, and ten teachers stood behind the line. Qin Fei raised his eyes and froze for a moment. The 2D character he had created was actually among the ten teachers, scrutinizing him with a dangerous gaze.

Qin Fei was confused. Was his 2D character not the Viscount of Avis? But as expected of the character he had meticulously created, just by standing there, his aura reached over two meters. Compared to the models of other game characters, he seemed to be on a different layer entirely.

The groups were quickly formed, and the guard captain assigned teachers. The guard captain ran to Xi Li’s side and pointed to Qin Fei’s group. “Teacher Xi Li, please lead them to their residence.”

Xi Li turned a deaf ear. He stared silently at his fiancé’s face. Waves crashed onto the pier, splashing high sprays. In the pervasive mist, he suddenly let out a laugh.

It was so damn ridiculous.

Xi Li ground his back teeth hard. He had been shredded into a string of data by an explosion, and his fiancé had uploaded him into a romance game. In this romance game, his identity was his fiancé’s teacher, specifically tasked with teaching his fiancé how to become another Alpha’s wife.