"In this modern era, cancer is no longer a 100% fatal disease. We have advanced technology and experienced medical teams. As long as you have insurance, a supportive family, or even just yourself..."
Chen Huaian turned off the TV and let out a bitter laugh. "But I have nothing."
The critical illness notice came the day before yesterday. His girlfriend left him yesterday. And today, he felt completely broken.
He was just a freshman in college. His parents, who were forest rangers, had died in a forest fire a few years ago, leaving nothing behind but a modest compensation. Over the years, Chen Huaian had moved on from their deaths and tried to live positively. With the compensation money, frugal living, and part-time jobs, he managed to scrape by and get into a decent university.
His grades were decent, and he even got into a first-tier university with a guaranteed job after graduation. He thought that even if the salary was low, he could at least survive. But then, two days ago, he went to the hospital for a persistent pain in his ankle and was diagnosed with mid-stage cancer.
Knowing he couldn't afford treatment, Chen Huaian left school and rented a place near the city's wetland park, planning to spend the rest of his life there. As for what would happen when the rent ran out?
Well, he didn't think he'd live that long.
He checked his bank balance on his phone. A little over 30,000 yuan remained.
"Food costs about 500 to 600 yuan a month. Add in other miscellaneous expenses, let's say 1,000 yuan. In a year, I'll still have about 20,000 yuan left." Chen Huaian stared at the balance, lost in thought. These past few years had been tough. While other students traveled, he worked part-time jobs. While others played games, he worked. While others dated... his girlfriend cheated on him.
Now, he decided to live for himself.
Play some games, catch up on the TV shows he'd saved over the years, and if his health allowed, maybe even visit the beach.
[Installation Complete]
[Come Claim Your Virtual Girlfriend!]
Normally, Chen Huaian would ignore or swipe away such pop-up ads. But today, his finger paused.
On his home screen, a new app icon appeared—a chibi-style ancient-themed character. It was a girl in green robes, carrying a sword, her sleeves fluttering in the wind.
"A game that installed itself? Is this some kind of virus?"
In the past, he would've deleted it immediately and run a virus scan. But today, he felt curious. What exactly were these virus apps up to?
Now that he had nothing left, terminally ill and with nothing to lose, he figured he might as well give it a try. After all, he'd been too busy working and studying to ever play games.
He tapped the app, and the screen went black, followed by a prompt:
[This game is for players aged 18 and above. Starting the game will bind your identity. Your account cannot be deleted or transferred. By starting the game, you agree to these terms.]
"Wow, even you know these are unfair terms?"
Chen Huaian smirked and clicked "Start Game."
He was now 100% sure this was a virus. But what would it do? Steal his identity? Chat logs? If the app's creator found out he was a broke, mid-stage cancer patient, would they uninstall it themselves?
[Please Choose Your Virtual Girlfriend!]
The game's visuals were surprisingly polished.
The app icon was chibi-style, but the in-game graphics were hyper-realistic. Before him were over a dozen "virtual girlfriends" to choose from, each with basic information. The one currently on screen was:
[Yakuza Princess: Kiriko Misushima]
[Age: 22, Height: 158 cm, Measurements: 89, 55, 86]
From the Live2D model, the character was curvaceous, her figure barely concealed by her kimono. With her sweet face and the contrast of being a yakuza princess, she was probably many men's dream girl.
But she was blonde and Japanese, and Chen Huaian wasn't interested.
After browsing a few more characters, he noticed they came from different eras and even different worlds, some not even on Earth. The creativity was wild—there was even a transforming robot girl!
Finally, his gaze settled on a girl in green robes.
[Qingyun Sect Female Disciple: Li Qingran]
[Age: 19, Height: 169 cm, Measurements: 90, 60, 91]
Li Qingran seemed to be the girl from the app icon, but now she looked more three-dimensional. Her skin was pale, her features delicate, her long black hair cascading down her back. Dressed in green robes and carrying a sword, she looked like a painting come to life. What struck Chen Huaian most were her eyes—cold, vacant, with a hint of破碎 (brokenness) and emptiness, as if she was staring right through the screen.
"Damn, this small workshop really went all out!"
He began to doubt if this was really a virus.
Who puts this much effort into a virus? Are they trying to get a PhD or something?!
"Alright, I choose you."
[Are you sure you want to choose 'Li Qingran' as your virtual girlfriend?]
[Warning: Once chosen, this cannot be changed!]
[If your virtual girlfriend dies, you cannot revive her. She will disappear forever!]
"So serious?" Chen Huaian frowned, realizing this was probably the developer's way of hooking players.
He could already predict how this game would milk players for money. In the past, he would've backed out immediately. But today, he clicked "Confirm."
[You have 132 days of life remaining.]
A message flashed by.
The screen transitioned.
Chen Huaian expected the game to start with a low-quality scene in some fantasy world's beginner village, followed by auto-pathing, quests, gear, mounts, and the usual mobile game tropes.
But that wasn't the case.
The screen showed a dilapidated thatched hut, its walls full of holes. The only thing resembling a bed was a straw mat soaked by rainwater.
A girl in tattered clothes huddled in the corner, her knees pulled to her chest. Her hair, tangled like weeds, covered her face, but her arms and legs were visible—bruised and covered in scars, some fresh and bleeding.
"Is this Li Qingran?" Chen Huaian was stunned.
He noticed a broken sword near the straw mat, the same one Li Qingran had been holding in the character selection screen.
['Li Qingran' is starving and growing weaker.]
['Li Qingran' is suffering from fire poison, enduring unbearable pain.]
['Li Qingran' has half an hour of life remaining.]
As these messages popped up, the girl in the corner let out a pained groan.
She lifted her head slightly, revealing her hollow, lifeless eyes and pale lips.
Even with only half her face visible, Chen Huaian recognized her as the character he'd chosen.
"What do I do?"
A sense of urgency washed over him.
The game's visuals and audio were so realistic—the wounds, the girl's expression, her voice—that he felt compelled to act. If he didn't do something, the countdown in the corner would reach zero, and this girl would die.
Just then, a prompt appeared:
[Ding! First recharge of 6 yuan grants a limited-time home renovation package, giving your virtual girlfriend a comfortable home!]
...
...