MMORPG: The Elementalist

At the rehabilitation center of a famous hospital in Beijing, Qin Ruo saw Xin Yu’s mother waiting by the entrance once he alighted, with a cute young girl wearing a beanie that covered her entire head standing beside her. When she quickly darted to him when she caught sight of him, who else could she be other than Xin Yu, who was recovering after her surgery?

“Brother Qin!” Xin Yu exclaimed as she ran to him, a sight that conjured memories of the happy, worry-free girl she was when Qin Ruo was first acquainted with her.

Putting down the luggage in hand, he smiled and spread his arms, the pair sharing a tight hug.

“It’s been such a long time—I thought you forgot about me.”

“Been busy,” Qin Ruo explained, grinning as they parted, “Didn’t I expressly apply leave to come?”

Even as they spoke, they drew envious gazes as people around him studied the rather adorable girl. At the moment, Xin Yu appeared to be a little pale as always, but she was clearly better than a month before—her spirit had recovered considerably as well.

( AllNovel )   “You’re recovering well. When will you be discharged?”

“It’s finished. Can’t we leave at once? This place is boring,” Xin Yu complained, tugging his hand as if she could not wait to leave that place.

“Nonsense… shouldn’t you be taking it easy for some time after a major surgery?”

Xin Yu was left slightly dumbstruck by Qin Ruo’s tone; she studied him suspiciously…

“Brother Qin, you’re different from when I left.”

‘Eh?’

Qin Ruo stroked his chin. “How so?”

“I don’t know—it’s a feeling like something changed.” Xin Yu said, taking one step back to puzzledly and studying him thoroughly, before shaking her head, unable to put her finger on that sensation.

That was when Xin Yu’s smiled and went to them, picking up the luggage Qin Ruo had put on the floor.

“Little Qin has become more handsome, more masculine—here, I’ll take your luggage, let’s talk inside,” she said, leading the way.

“Little Qin, did you know that Xin Yu had been waiting for you to come since the surgery? Now that you’re here, do talk to her a little longer… I’ll prepare lunch with one more person’s portion.”

Meanwhile, Xin Yu was pondering upon her mother’s words as she pulled Qin Ruo along.

‘Masculinity?’ She thought as she kept looking at him—it appeared true, however, that he was a little more good looking now.

***

The rehab center had a fine environment: there were green pines, clear flowing water, a standalone mansion, a courtyard, and a public garden, emanating the gentle atmosphere of nature.

After lunch, Qin Ruo was dragged rather mysteriously by Xin Yu into the courtyard.

“Look. What’s this?”

Xin Yu lifted what she had been hiding behind her: a shiny, soft VR helmet.

H&G’s Virtuhelm…

“You…”

After pausing for a moment, Qin Ruo pointed at the helmet. “Why did you bring that out here?”

“Hehe.” Xin Yu slyly waved the helmet in her hand. “It’s not yours—it’s mine. Mother only bought it for me after consulting the doctors with the allowance you gave me. I’m playing with you from now on!”

“Playing games during rehab? Won’t that affect you?”

Qin Ruo took the helmet off Xin Yu’s hands, glancing at the serial number written over it.

“No.” Xin Yu replied, settling into Qin Ruo’s lap. “The doctors said that they have expressly verified that there is no radiation effect. Furthermore, many patients enjoy playing the game to kill the boredom—even other patients at my ward are playing it.”

“As long as there are no side effects.”

Qin Ruo breathed in relief. If the doctors said that there was no issue, he certainly would not mind Xin Yu playing to past the time. “When you’re well,” he said, putting the helmet on a small table, “I’ll give you a present when you return.”

“Really?” Xin Yu’s eyes twinkled. She had learned from Sister Xiaoxiao that Qin Ruo had earned money for her surgery cost in-game, and naturally knew that he had considerable ability in playing, therefore becoming unable to hold back her excitement.

“Can I have a Pet Egg? There’s another kid here in the rehab center who was admitted earlier than us, he loved to show off his pets in our faces…”

“…”

Qin Ruo smiled and nodded. “Whichever you like.”

“Really?”

It appears that Xin Yu was profoundly taken in with H&G—Qin Ruo smiled inwardly at her reaction.

Still, it was fine: he could not give her everything in real life, but in-game would not be a problem…

“Of course,” Qin Ruo nodded determinedly. He had dozens of Pet Eggs in his Ring of Honor: normal, Tier 5, Boss-class… While most of them were obtained recently from specters, there were some of considerable quality which would greatly help novice players level up.

Come to think of it, Devilite had rejected the Galbis Egg, and it was still in Xiaoxiao’s hands.

“Are there any powerful ones? Hmmm, it has to be pretty. Pretty had bought a Blue-winged Butterfly from someone else. I heard that it’s a Tier 4 Miniboss, but it’s so pretty and obedient, and it’s like a firework show when it takes flight at night… No way. Pretty said that it cost her a hundred thousand. Brother Qin, take me to a pet shop to choose, I heard you can choose a beautiful Tier 4 pet from there!”

Excited the more she talked about it, Xin Yu was ready to drag her along to enter the game.

“Now?”

Qin Ruo smiled, shaking his head and holding her back. “Not now. I’ve had a little problem in the game at the moment and couldn’t meet you at the moment… but I’ll get someone to prepare the Pet Egg you want.”

“Eh? Why?”

Most of Xin Yu’s enthusiasm diminished at once when he heard that she could not meet Qin Ruo at once. “How long do I have to wait?”

“I don’t know…”

Qin Ruo shrugged. “You know about the underworld, right? I’m in that place.”

“Underworld? Can I go?”

“…Uh, no. You have to be level 50.”

“Oh, soon then… I’m level 34 now, just another 16 levels to go.”

“Eh?”

This time, it was Qin Ruo’s turn to be surprised. “You’re level 34? After playing just a few days?”

“Hmm… it’s been one—two—three, three days. Pretty Woman escorted me so that I could level up quickly, I’m about to learn Stealth…’

“Wait. Stealth? You’re a Bandit?”

Qin Ruo glanced at the cute girl rather puzzledly, unable to understand why so many girls loved to play Bandit, a class that lurks in the darkness.

“Um-hmm.”

Xin Yu winked her bright, large eyes and nodded firmly.

“Why Bandit?” Qin Ruo asked.

“Hmmm…”

Xin Yu tilted her head in thought. “It’s fun.”

“Really?”

“Um-hmm!”

Xin Yu nodded firmly once more.

Struck, Qin Ruo held his forehead in pain…

‘Bandit class is fun?

‘Really?’

Hiding in the darkness to ambush others, poisoning, stealing, blindsiding spying… but it remained difficult to imagine why Xin Yu would enjoy that class.

“Alright, as long as you like it. Tell me your in-game name.”

Xin Yu’s character name turned out to be her own name.

***

“I’m…”

Just when Qin Ruo was about give Xin Yu his in-game name, a dulcet, unfamiliar feminine voice suddenly rang from within the house.

“Xin Yu!”

When he turned, Qin Ruo almost could not stop himself from whistling.

It was a tall, beautiful mixed-blood girl with long dark-brown hair. Led by Xin Yu’s mother, she entered the courtyard, her high-heels clicking loudly—unwittingly, Qin Ruo glanced sweepingly at her white skin, and her near golden-ratio devilish proportions beneath her black blouse…

“Pretty Woman? You’re here? Let me introduce you, this is the Brother Qin I often mention. Brother Qin, meet Pretty Woman. She once helped me chase off a rascal when I’m admitted—she’s very nice, she often comes to chat with me and ease my boredom.”

‘Very nice?’

To certain crowds, probably.

Qin Ruo could see nonchalance and casualness from Pretty’s eyes. It was remarkably similar to the time he had first met the ice beauty Li Lanlan, but she nodded to him out of politeness.

Able to tell that she had no intent of talking, he did not try to engage her in return.

“Xin Yu, who was that rascal you spoke of? Why haven’t I heard about that before?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Xin Yu said, a dark look in her eyes as she stroked her beanie. “After I shaved my hair for the surgery, he laughed that I have no hair… Thank you, Pretty Woman, for chasing him off.”

Understanding what happened at once, Qin Ruo quickly thanked Pretty, before turning to Xin Yu, whose eyes were showing distinct vulnerability.

“Silly… don’t be sad,” he said mildly. “You’ll be more beautiful than ever before, and that kid’s eyeballs will drop off when he sees you.”

“I’m not sad. I have Brother Qin loving me after all!” Ever volatile, Xin Yu sat down, tugging Qin Ruo’s arm tightly.

“Nice, Xin Yu. You’re pushing me to aside with Brother Qin here?” Pretty the mixed-blood beauty grunted coldly at the sight of their affection, clasping her hands behind her back.

“How could I, Pretty Woman? I know you love me the most. Ah! By the way, Brother Qin just promised me a Pet Egg!”

“Oh?”

The mixed-blood beauty paused slightly, finally leveling her eyes at Qin Ruo’s.

“So, Mr. Qin plays H&G too,” she said in clear surprise. “I’ve thought that you were just a normal salaryman.”

“Heh. Just an afterwork pastime…”

Though there was a distinct sense of distance and a vague sense of enmity aimed at him, Qin Ruo kept smiling since Pretty had been kind to Xin Yu. Even so, he was troubled: he had just arrived in Beijing and should not have wronged her before, and since Xin Yu and her mother would not speak ill of him, could it be that his face was hateful?

Even as he pondered, the mixed-blood beauty’s next words left Qin Ruo resentful.

“Still, Pet quality heavily influences player development. Xin Yu, I’ve already got someone to prepare an Egg of your favorite pet—a Blue-winged Butterfly. Perhaps you could discuss things and ask for another present from Brother Qin?”

“What do you think about my suggestion, Mr. Qin?”

Though he was good-tempered, Qin Ruo was not one to be continuously degraded. In response, he simply nodded and imitated her tone.

“That’s right, a Pet’s quality and level definitely affects a player greatly. How about this? Pretty Woman—if your Pet Egg is better than mine, I certainly wouldn’t mind changing my present for Xin Yu.”