章節 2: This Is The New Reality

Wu Mei felt Mo Shuai lips press into a curve as she backed away. Looking at his charming smile, a burning blush adorned the cheeks of her face. Seeing her cute expression, Mo Shuai mimicked it teasingly.

"You were so confident just moments ago..." He grabbed a hold of Wu Mei's arm and spun her into an embrace, "How cute."

"I-"

Before Wu Mei could reply, a pair of lips jammed them shut and once again the couple kissed. In the midst of passionate action, Wu Mei barely noticed the pixelation of the surrounding scenery. However, when she did the bright sky flashed into a white speckled blackboard. The darkness shot over like a blanket and Wu Mei felt a surprisingly cold wind against her skin.

Wu Mei's thoughts branched quickly. Had her actions speed up time? She blinked repeatedly in speculation, urging to check her phone. Could it be that major events cannot be changed? After all her recollection is notifying her that this kiss did in the game happened under the same night sky.

Shivering, her grip on Mo Shuai's coat tightened. Seeing the girl in his arms shaking, he took off his coat and enveloped her up like a burrito.

"Let's go home."

Wu Mei laughed, "How cliched."

"What are you? A parrot? Do you love me so much, you copy my words?"

"Hey! You copied me first!"

Mo Shuai took a moment to think before raising his eyebrows in agreement. Taking Wu Mei by the hand, he opened the door of the car and invited her in welcomingly. Seeing the harem of lonely and heartbroken third wheels, Wu Mei almost giggled in amusement.

If Wu Mei had the personality of the main heroine within the game, she definitely wouldn't have noticed the other handsome men's loving glances towards her. The main heroine throughout the entire story, unless confessed to or selected, would never recognize that they all love her. Fortunately, Wu Mei wasn't that naive and oblivious.

She knew these fellows liked her, not only because she had played the game but more due to their fixed jealous glares towards Mo Shuai. When Wu Wei saw them as she entered the car, a soft sorry nearly escaped her lips.

Feigning oblivion, Wu Mei inquired whether they had been in the car the whole time whilst bearing a red layer across her face. Awkwardly, they all pretended as if they weren't in an attempt to prevent Wu Mei from feeling embarrassed.

"We're going back to the apartment." Mo Shuai informed, turning on the engine of the car. The apartment he referred to was where they had met and then all rented after graduating, this way they could remain together. Despite stating it was because they wanted to maintain their friendships, Wu Mei always believed it was because they all fancied the heroine and simply wanted to court her.

The ride home was abnormally silent, especially since the vehicle was filled with people who all classified as talkative.

Truthfully, Wu Mei found it comfortable, she had enjoyed the night's silence often alone; admiring the view outside the window, as houses brushed pass in a blur. Looking at the moon, her heart experienced a familiar thud - a feeling that often brought her to realize reality. Letting the circular jewel's light hit her eyes reminded her to check her phone.

Wu Mei reached in her pocket. If she remembered correctly, the kiss should have occurred on the seventh of April - Mo Shuai and Wu Mei's anniversary date. However, since she acted on her own desires and kissed him before then, it shouldn't be the seventh today.

The screen blinked white, projecting a pale square of light onto the car's roof. The Seventh Of April. It was weird, but Wu Mei didn't think any deeper.

This was just a dream, what's the point?

When they arrived at the apartment, like the heroine, Wu Mei bid goodbye to each of them individually. Praying she would remember they're names properly. After all, it's been a while since she played this dating simulator. She shifted to gaze at them, slowly waving.

"Bye Yang Zhi!"

Yang Zhi was the oldest of the bunch, he was mature, studious and hard-working. Within the game, he was often portrayed as kind but secretive, which in contrast to Mo Shuai's relatively tsundere character did not attract as many players.

"See you, Zhang Wei."

There is always that one cold, stone-faced character, and Zhang Wei was it. Despite his cold exterior, his interactions were considerably affectionate and warm and for some strange reason regularly attracted cats. Out of the group, he was the tallest, standing at a height of more than six feet.

"Mu ZhiQiu, bye!"

Mu ZhiQiu was the most promoted character and designed specifically for youthful players who possess unrealistic ideals - he was the hot, rich CEO character. Using his money, he would often defend the heroine from debt and purchase elaborate dresses for her.

Mu ZhiQiu also had a typical stern, judgemental step-mother who frowned upon his relationship with the player. Wu Mei found his route the most cliched.

"Cai Xu! Bye."

Cai Xu the younger brother character, who the heroine never seemed to take seriously. He constantly struggled to prove himself as a man without being overshadowed by the other men. His route, despite being the least popular, probably contained the largest character development.

Wu Mei presumably could have appreciated his route the most if not for Cai Xu's job. Cai Xu worked as a musician and was quite successful, which accumulated to a ton of unnecessary drama.

Finally turning towards Mo Shuai, Wu Mei deliberated before hugging him.

"See you in another dream."

Mo Shuai patted her head, "Goodnight."

Wu Mei made her way into her apartment and laid motionlessly on her bed. Closing her eyes she thought how ironic it was for her to sleep despite already being asleep. Next morning this dream would end, and she would most likely forget the details.

However, when light breathed through the room and the sun had risen over the horizon. The sleeping Wu Mei could not realize that nothing had changed. She was still stuck in this world.

This was the new reality.