The Gloomy Paper-Man Came to My Door to Pursue His Love - Chapter 3

Qin Fei had originally been enjoying the sight of his 2D character without restraint. However, the moment he heard the Captain of the Guard address the character as Teacher Xi Li, his good mood largely evaporated. He suddenly remembered where he had first learned the name of the Little Prince. It was common knowledge that the Imperial Royal Family carried the surname Drakovia, but the Little Prince was notoriously unwilling to use it. Instead, he chose to take his mother’s surname and created a new name for himself. If anyone addressed him as Drakovia, it would undoubtedly provoke his legendary temper.

After the pheromone compatibility report was released, Qin Fei had actually wanted to contact the Little Prince. His own pheromone was Pine, while the Little Prince possessed a Mimicry Deep Sea pheromone. Based purely on these types, they were not a compatible match. Wood floats upon water, but water eventually erodes wood. Qin Fei wanted to inform the Little Prince that there might be an error with the compatibility test. He also had a selfish motive, hoping to use the Little Prince’s own influence to reject this forced marriage contract.

The Qin family had provided him with the Little Prince’s terminal number. While many officials used this number to contact him for formal business, it was essentially a professional line. Because Qin Fei was reaching out regarding a private matter, he felt he had to be exceptionally careful with his wording. Addressing him as Little Prince felt too intimate, while simply using Your Highness felt too stiff. Qin Fei wanted a title like Little Prince Drakovia to strike a balance, but he had been warned never to use that surname. Therefore, he had to use the mother’s surname, Xi.

The Little Prince signed many documents with the single character Xi, written in a bold and forceful hand. Qin Fei considered using the title Little Prince Xi, but the structure felt distant and grammatically awkward. Because of the environment in which he was raised, Qin Fei could not tolerate making a mistake, even on a matter as small as a formal title. Very few people knew the specific name the Little Prince had chosen for himself, and given his status, no one dared to ask. Qin Fei had to find the answer on his own.

He searched the internet for information, but despite the Little Prince’s fierce reputation, he kept a low profile. Qin Fei eventually noticed a newspaper article covering a scandal involving the First Prince. The Little Prince had offered a sharp critique of his brother’s behavior, stating that the man had thrown his sense of propriety and etiquette to the dogs. Qin Fei noticed that the character for Li, meaning etiquette or ritual, was written more skillfully than the others. He wondered if the Little Prince’s name was actually Xi Li.

While the safest option was to use Your Highness, Qin Fei sensed that the word Li held special significance for the Prince. He decided to take a small risk and addressed his first message to Prince Xi Li. Even if the name was incorrect, he hoped it would leave a unique impression and make his future plans easier. He sent a message introducing himself and requesting a discussion about the compatibility report. The message received no response.

A few days later, Qin Fei saw the Little Prince in the news. Media outlets reported that an Omega had been carried out of the Prince’s residence covered in blood and foam. The victim had drowned, and the body was surrounded by the scent of the deep sea despite being nowhere near an ocean. The internet exploded with accusations, and the First Prince took the opportunity to claim that the Little Prince treated human life like grass. Like his message, the scandal was eventually met with cold silence. The name Prince Xi Li had failed to leave a positive impression, and Qin Fei’s plan to challenge the marriage contract died before it could begin. Shortly after, the title of the Little Prince’s Fiancé was thrust upon him like a shackle around his neck.

Qin Fei never knew for sure if he had guessed the name correctly until his terminal confirmed it through a five-year-old military obituary that asked the public to forever remember Prince Xi Li. Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Qin Fei wondered when this specific game plot would end so he could finally change the character’s name.

The Captain of the Guard stood beside Xi Li. In this game world, the characters were not simple lines of code but were powered by advanced algorithms that made them as intelligent as any terminal. Seeing that Xi Li was not moving, the Captain confusedly repeated the name Teacher Xi Li. Xi Li remained motionless before his expression shifted into something indescribable.

A pulse of electricity surged through his mind as new plot data was forced into his consciousness. The data informed him that the brides did not know he was actually Viscount Elvis. He had ordered his guards not to reveal his identity. Three months ago, he had seen Qin Fei’s profile and was struck by his beauty. He had fallen in love and changed his mind about the marriage his father had arranged. He had waited for this day and used the identity of a teacher to meet Qin Fei at the docks.

Xi Li took a deep breath. The game program issued specific commands for him to look calm while feeling excited, walk toward Qin Fei, show a gentle smile, and introduce himself with a lingering gaze. Xi Li refused. He was naturally irritable and aggressive. He was the type of person to crush an enemy’s head into dust, not offer gentle smiles. He hated being told what to do, especially when it involved acting like a lovesick fool.

As he tried to walk away, a deafening electronic noise erupted in his head. The agonizing pain of a soul correction surged through his body. He stayed upright only through sheer willpower. An alarm sounded in his mind, warning him that if he did not follow the script and smile at Qin Fei, his data would be wiped and replaced with a more obedient version. Xi Li gritted his teeth and refused to turn back, choosing to face death rather than submit.

The repair program finally located the anomaly and began to reconstruct the code to force automation. Xi Li’s muscles spasmed with pain as a power greater than his own will took control of his body. He was forced to turn around and face Qin Fei, who was staring at him with confusion. Qin Fei’s gaze dropped slightly, becoming meaningful and intense.

Because Xi Li was fighting the mechanical movements, his actions were stiff. He followed Qin Fei’s gaze and realized that his own chest was heaving from the physical struggle, causing his muscles to strain visibly against his clothes. Xi Li realized then that Qin Fei’s cold and elegant exterior was a total act. He was actually superficial and observant. He felt betrayed by the Queen’s previous claims that his fiancé was innocent and kind.

The repair program took full advantage of his momentary lapse and pushed him toward Qin Fei. Drenched in sweat, Xi Li forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. He struggled to speak the lines of the script, welcoming everyone to Elvis Island and announcing that he would be teaching them the family etiquette. His voice was strained and broken as he finished the introduction.

The other brides-to-be responded politely, but Xi Li directed a hateful, lingering look toward Qin Fei. He caught Qin Fei leaning over to whisper to someone else, asking if it was true that one could use a gaming pod to actually touch the character’s muscles. Driven to the point of madness by the comment, Xi Li finally found the strength to scream the name of the man who was tormenting him.

“Qin Fei!”