Wife, Your Secret Identity Is Exposed - Chapter 3

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: This time, I’m ready!]

[Yan Yu: Mm.]

Under the cover of night in the desolate wilderness, countless zombies swarmed from all directions. The urgent BGM, paired with the low growls of the undead, made one’s heart tighten instinctively.

Song Tiantian’s health bar was low; she could be taken out in just two swipes from a zombie. Fearful, she didn’t dare to lead the charge, instead hiding behind Yan Yu, occasionally tossing a grenade to blow up clusters of enemies.

Yan Yu was the complete opposite, all offense, no defense. Swapping between long and short-range firearms, every shot was a headshot, never missing a mark. Though her health dropped, she replenished it just in time.

Halfway through the progress bar, the grenades ran out. Alone against the horde, Yan Yu began to struggle. Song Tiantian quickly picked up an axe to guard Yan Yu’s back.

As long as they didn’t die, even if it took longer, there was always a chance to clear the level.

The two stood back to back, stubbornly enduring until their ammunition and weapons were exhausted. Fighting bare-handed against the zombies, they finally cleared the stage after half an hour.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: That was so hard! My hands are sore!]

[Yan Yu: It’s a pity we didn’t make the top ten; we can’t level up.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: It’s okay, we’ll try again tomorrow!]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: You were amazing. I can’t hold you back, starting tomorrow, I’m going to practice hard too!]

[Yan Yu: Thank you for your hard work.]

For a novice, improving operational proficiency in a short time is no easy feat. Song Tiantian spent her days grinding in the newbie zone and her nights trapped in the life and death struggle of the zombie arena with Yan Yu.

Finally, seven days later, she and Yan Yu teamed up to kill 3,000 zombies, becoming the top daily clears. Their level jumped by 15, reaching Level 22, the level required to unlock the “Affinity” (CP) system.

[Yan Yu: Congratulations, you’ve finally left the newbie zone.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Congratulations to us! Now we can unlock the Affinity Zone. Hehe, I’m so excited to see what it’s like.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: You’re curious too, right?]

[Yan Yu: I already know what it’s like.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: How do you know? What’s it like?]

Ding!

[System: Your friend “Yan Yu” has sent you an invitation to form an Affinity bond. Your current level meets the requirements. Please choose to accept or decline.]

Looking at the selection button that popped up, Song Tiantian pressed “Accept” without a moment’s hesitation. Instantly, peach blossoms and heart-shaped halos drifted across the screen, and both characters were simultaneously dressed in pure white wedding gowns.

[System: Please proceed to the Cathedral to complete the wedding ceremony.]

Seeing the prompt, Song Tiantian’s heart skipped a beat. The game felt incredibly sophisticated, the immersion was instantaneous.

After clicking “Agree,” a sacred cathedral appeared before her eyes. The BGM shifted to the familiar Wedding March, lively and celebratory.

To Song Tiantian’s surprise, it wasn’t a lonely wedding for two. The cathedral was filled with other players acting as guests, sitting on benches, clapping, or throwing flower petals into the air. Some even sent congratulatory messages in the chat.

Never having experienced anything like this, Song Tiantian found it fascinating. When Yan Yu sent a request to hold hands, she quickly clicked “Accept.”

Ding!

[System: Pine Drops on Green Mountain, do you take Yan Yu to be your wife?]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Yes, I do.]

[System: Pine Drops on Green Mountain, whether the apocalypse comes or not, will you never let go of Yan Yu’s hand?]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Yes, I won’t.]

[System: Pine Drops on Green Mountain, regardless of how fierce the zombies are, will you never leave Yan Yu to run for your life alone?]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Yes, I won’t.]

[System: Pine Drops on Green Mountain, no matter what happens in the 3D world (real life), will you promise never to leave without a word, leaving Yan Yu to wait alone?]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Yes, I won’t.]

[System: Congratulations, Pine Drops on Green Mountain. Your partner Yan Yu has made the same choices. You have passed the test and successfully become the 10,520th couple in this server.]

As the subtitles faded, the two figures in white gowns walked onto the ceremonial stage and shared an embrace and a kiss amidst the blessings of the crowd.

For some reason, even though it was just a screen, Song Tiantian felt as if she were being kissed. Her face grew red and hot, making it hard to look at the display.

Ding!

[System: Say hello to your wife.]

Seeing the “One Click Greeting” pop up, Song Tiantian clicked it without thinking.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Darling wife, I love you, love you, love you! I will cherish you forever just like this moment. Please cherish me too!]

Song Tiantian’s face turned even redder. She hadn’t expected the automated greeting to be so… embarrassing.

[Yan Yu: Okay.]

[Yan Yu: Let’s do the missions first.]

Looking at Yan Yu’s reply, Song Tiantian’s chaotic heart settled. she quickly accepted Yan Yu’s invitation to enter the Affinity missions.

The sky was a brilliant blue with a long rainbow stretching across it. Beneath it were rolling green hills and a vast meadow filled with vibrant roses. Song Tiantian picked a rose, held it out to Yan Yu, who was busy looking for objectives and started dancing.

Whether it was lag or just a lack of reaction, Yan Yu froze for a moment, clutching her gun, staring blankly as Song Tiantian finished her dance.

Before Yan Yu could respond, Song Tiantian accidentally touched a nearby windmill, triggering a “Dance Together” quest. The bright sky instantly turned into a starry night, and a bonfire roared to life. Hand in hand, they danced around the fire. The light BGM seemed to carry the scent of a summer breeze and the sweetness of romance, making one sink into the atmosphere.

Is this a survival game or a romance game? Song Tiantian wondered privately, yet she found herself intoxicated by the vibe, wishing time would slow down.

The sudden roar of a zombie shattered the moment. Both players shifted into combat mode instantly, moving with practiced ease to clear the area.

Song Tiantian had made great progress. Whether in missions or the arena, she could keep up with Yan Yu’s pace. This cycle repeated day after day, month after month, until their unspoken chemistry reached its peak.

Even after unlocking most locations and reaching the server’s top rankings, Song Tiantian never felt bored. She waited for Yan Yu to log on every single day.

Until one day, Yan Yu didn’t log on for three days straight.

For the first time, Song Tiantian wandered the game alone. Her heart felt a void of loneliness and confusion she hadn’t known before. Standing in their Affinity Space, watching the digital stars alone, she felt a profound sense of loss.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Wife, what are you doing? Are you not coming online today either?]

The message bar remained silent. No reply.

Feeling even more dejected, Song Tiantian was about to log off when the other’s avatar suddenly lit up.

[Yan Yu: Sorry, I’ve been busy these past few days and didn’t have time to log in. How is your building level?]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: It went up two levels! I can add another floor now. You mentioned you wanted a small balcony. I think I can finish it in two days!]

[Yan Yu: Good.]

[Yan Yu: Kiss kiss, I’m going offline now.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Leaving so soon? What time will you be on tomorrow? We can…]

Before she could finish typing, the avatar went dark. Song Tiantian’s heart felt blocked. She silently deleted the unsent words and exited the game, unhappy.

That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The next day was Sunday. Yan Yu was online early. Despite the dark circles under her eyes, Song Tiantian beamed when she received an invitation to go sightseeing.

However, the good times didn’t last. A few days later, Yan Yu vanished again. Although she apologized before logging off, citing work, Song Tiantian still felt empty, as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.

She stood in the familiar city center, watching the crowds of players, feeling utterly isolated.

A stranger sent a friend request. Without thinking, Song Tiantian accepted. She thought that perhaps she was just too lonely and finding another friend might help.

The new friend was high-leveled and very generous. When fighting zombies, he would give the loot to Song Tiantian and bravely charge ahead to block the Bosses for her.

Yet, Song Tiantian found it meaningless. There was no spark. She began to find the game dull and uninteresting, almost wanting to uninstall it right then and there.

[Daisy Waiting for a Bus: Hey, I don’t have a CP partner yet. Want to pair up?]

[Daisy Waiting for a Bus: Oh, sorry, I didn’t see clearly. I thought you were single, but you already have a partner. Forget I said anything.]

Song Tiantian looked at Yan Yu’s avatar. It was still grey. Their last chat was 20 hours ago.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Wife, are you coming on today? I finished the balcony! But I ran out of coins. If you log on, remember to buy some roses to plant there, it’ll look great.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Wife, I’m sleepy, I won’t wait for you. Going offline.]

However, Yan Yu’s “Last Online” status said “3 hours ago.”

This meant she had seen all the messages but hadn’t replied. She hadn’t bought the roses. She had done something else and then logged off.

Song Tiantian was fuming all afternoon. Seeing “Daisy Waiting for a Bus” asking to be her partner, she replied impulsively.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Okay!]

She unilaterally dissolved her bond with Yan Yu and formed a new Affinity with the stranger, going through all the ceremonies she had once shared with Yan Yu.

The difference was that this time, her heart felt nothing. She treated the whole process as a chore.

She expected Yan Yu to be angry or outraged when she saw it. She expected a confrontation. But nothing happened.

When Yan Yu logged on again, there was no reaction. The message bar remained silent.

Song Tiantian gave a bitter, frustrated laugh and typed furiously.

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: I’m not your partner anymore. I’m with someone else. Go find someone else yourself.]

[Pine Drops on Green Mountain: Sorry.]

After sending the message, she joined a battle with her new partner. Yet, the new friend couldn’t fill the void. The more she thought, the angrier she got, until she finally burst into tears.

Unable to take it anymore, she crawled out of bed in the middle of the night and uninstalled the game.