Mini World Game Console-Chapter 758 - 759: Escaping is Shameful, But Useful

"I really saw Goddess Qiao yesterday! Really, but it was so crowded, and her boyfriend was the one buying stuff, so I had no chance to ask for an autograph!"

In Lemon Cinema, where Mili had just started her shift, she shared her experience from last night with a colleague, saying regretfully, "I remember they ordered a couple's combo, and both chose the captain's cup. And though Goddess Qiao's boyfriend was wearing a mask, he had a really nice voice…"

"Take care of yourself," said her colleague, who knew how much Mili adored the Deputy Director of the Lian River Countermeasure Bureau. In fact, Qiao Muyi was already subtly known as 'the most beautiful Tactical Cultivator in Mysterious Country.' Looking at Mili with concern, she advised, "You worked the night shift last night, why are you on the morning shift as well?"

"Jia Min's boyfriend came today, and she took a last-minute leave, so I swapped shifts with her," Mili waved off her concern, saying, "It's okay, I got six hours of sleep last night, which is enough. Besides, I don't have a boyfriend, so I'd just be playing with my phone at home."

The colleague was about to say something but hesitated, stopping herself. Still, seeing Mili's 4 feet 11 inches stature, she thought Mili might really be used to less sleep, so she didn't persist, simply saying, "Set up the cups, we're about to open."

Lemon Cinema opened at nine-thirty in the morning. Starting today, cinemas were riding the wave of the latest Superhero movie craze, stocking up on fan merchandise and launching a new rip-off combo—the drinks in the combo all came in fan cups embedded with Superhero models. Because of these cups, all combo prices had gone up by 20 to 30 yuan.

From the reactions at last night's premiere, the response was pretty good; almost one-third of the audience was willing to buy. And because there were four different Superhero models, a couple couldn't collect them all in one viewing, and single folks even had to buy four times. However, Mili felt that people who bought these combos to watch Superhero movies were out of their minds—not because the cups were overpriced, but because with a movie running for three hours, who would drink and not worry about having to hold it in...

It was almost nine-thirty, and people had already started coming in for self-service ticketing and buying food. Mili, responsible for the snack selling area, also started getting busy.

"Bro, look at those cups, I want the Little Spider one!"

A youthful, coquettish voice rang out, and Mili knew another couple had arrived, so she immediately hit the button for a couple's combo.

"Okay, please give me a couple's combo with the Little Spider one."

A familiar, pleasant voice that made one feel good sounded next to Mili. She looked up and saw a man wearing a mask standing at the counter.

It was him! Goddess Qiao's boyfriend!

Mili almost instantly recognized the man—it was mainly because not many men in southern Lian River wore masks, and this mask-wearing man was someone she had noticed last night, not even ten hours ago!

Who was that flat-chested pretty girl behind him? She seemed to call this man 'bro'? A 'brother' who's actually a lover?

Goddess Qiao's boyfriend was cheating!

Mili almost blurted it out, but she restrained her shock, handed over the purchases to this cheating couple, and as they left, she took out her phone to stealthily take their photo.

Humph! Even though I don't know what to do, let's save the evidence first!

The scheming Mili was already losing interest in work, planning to hurry home to find a way to contact Goddess Qiao to expose the scumbag's true colors!

Later, Mili was distracted at work. After returning to her post at around two o'clock after lunch, she heard that familiar voice again, "Please give me a couple's combo."

Mili looked up, taken aback. How was this man here again? Still wearing a mask! Still that voice! The only difference was that the girl by his side had changed to a prettier girl with bigger breasts!

"Which one would you like?"

The man looked at the girl beside him, who thought for a moment and said, "Iron Man, I guess. I appreciate these science fiction heroes more."

After foolishly giving them their order, Mili also stealthily took another photo of them, watching them walk into the IMAX hall. Then she suddenly asked her colleague, "How many more IMAX screenings are there today for that Superhero movie?"

"There's one at eight and another at eleven," her colleague replied.

At five in the afternoon, Mili got off work. She browsed around the nearby shopping center for a while, had dinner, and then returned to Lemon Cinema to wait.

Persistence paid off. Around eight, that man showed up again with another stunningly attractive woman, and they also bought a couple's combo, choosing the Green Giant cup!

Mili stealthily snapped another photo, utterly shocked. When she went home that night after a shower, after a lot of thinking, she decided to check Goddess Qiao's Weibo and send her a private message: "Goddess Qiao, you watched that Superhero movie, right? Can I point out three Easter eggs for you?"

Actually, Mili didn't expect Goddess Qiao to reply to her. Firstly, Goddess Qiao might not check Weibo, and secondly, Goddess Qiao might not respond to an ordinary fan like her.

However, Goddess Qiao actually replied, "How did you know I watched it? I didn't post anything about it on Weibo! What Easter eggs?"

Mili: "The Easter eggs are that I saw your boyfriend going to see this movie with three beautiful girls."

***

At eleven o'clock at night, Ren Suo, with practiced ease, led Dong Chengling away from the cinema.

It was indeed curious. Arranging movie tickets had nothing to do with Ren Suo, yet all four of them had booked different times at this cinema!

That was why Ren Suo decided to tell them about his plan for the quadruple movie dates today—it was too easily exposed.

However, Ren Suo understood when he looked at the map: in the bustling commercial district closest to Heavenly Lotus Academy, Lemon Cinema was the only cinema that had a couple's discount and an IMAX hall, which naturally made it their first choice.

Ren Suo disassembled the Green Giant model from the cup and threw the cup away.

Ren Suo did not have a habit of collecting such items, but since it was something purchased during a date, throwing it away directly might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

However, when Ren Suo checked his pockets, he realized he had unconsciously collected a complete set of four Superhero models.

I'll take them back for Lin Xianyu; she might like this kind of thing.

"Should we have a late-night snack or go home?" Ren Suo asked.

"Go home," Dong Chengling directly expressed her thoughts. "I don't like eating late at night, and there's only barbecue nearby, which I find too greasy. If you want to eat, I can accompany you."

"Then let's go back. I'm not hungry either," Ren Suo paused and then added, "Or should we walk a bit? Though it might be a waste of time."

Dong Chengling affirmed, "It is a waste of time."

Though he said this, Ren Suo still held Dong Chengling's hand and walked down the street.

At 11 p.m., even in a bustling downtown area, many large building plazas were gradually turning off their lights, leaving only the street lights on. The dim street lights illuminated the path home, where couples were hailing taxis, and exhausted office workers who had worked overtime until now were catching the last subway.

For Ren Suo and Dong Chengling, who neither liked going out nor going out at night, this sight was relatively unfamiliar.

However, neither of them were the type to be melancholic.

Dong Chengling soon had a thought: Ren Suo probably wanted to talk to her about something.

The next second, Ren Suo spoke softly, "Cheng Ling, are you happy today, unhappy, or both happy and unhappy?"

Dong Chengling did not conceal her thoughts. "Both happy and unhappy."

"Happy because I dated you today, unhappy because I also dated other people today?"

"Mhm."

"Will this affect your Cultivation?"

"No... At least not in the Cultivation process that I can control. As for whether the Qi Cyclone's absorption rate of Spiritual Energy will change due to mood, I don't know."

"Then I apologize in advance. Though I can't change this situation, if you think there's something I can do to make you feel better, you can tell me."

Dong Chengling slightly raised her eyebrows. "Suo, you've changed a bit lately."

"You've changed too. Compared to when we first met, you've become more beautiful, powerful, determined," Ren Suo said. "If it had been the old me, I probably wouldn't have dared to approach you."

"You've come so far, so I can't just stand still. So... do you think I've changed for better or for worse?"

Dong Chengling thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I don't know."

Ren Suo was slightly surprised, and Dong Chengling continued, "I won't directly judge whether a change is good or bad. As long as it's not illegal, doesn't go against universal values, then it's only for the person themselves to judge whether it's good or bad. Just like drinking water, only the drinker knows whether it's cold or warm."

"The only thing I can be sure of," Dong Chengling glanced at a couple kissing in a dimly lit corner nearby and said softly, "is that you like me."

"Suo, you just said that if it would make me feel better, I could ask you to do anything?"

"Mhm." Ren Suo agreed without imposing any conditions. He wouldn't have been this confident if it were Lin Xianyu or anyone else.

But reason told him that Dong Chengling wouldn't make an unreasonable request.

Indeed, Dong Chengling said, "Then... don't fall for other girls, okay?"

"No problem."

Dong Chengling slightly smiled. "You agreed so quickly. Are you serious?"

Ren Suo said, "Promises made spontaneously in love are always sincere, just like the fruit that forms on the branches when the season comes."

"But you also know that fruit starts to spoil the moment it leaves the tree. No matter how fragrant, if it isn't eaten in time, it will turn bad and rotten. So, if promises made in love are broken later, it's not because they were false at the beginning. They were genuine; they just expired."

At that moment, Ren Suo suddenly remembered what Lin Xianyu and Xiao Ren said about him during their chat.

Expired, no longer fresh, spoiled and foul-smelling.

Dong Chengling glanced at Ren Suo. "So when does this promise expire?"

"Before my feelings change."

Ren Suo placed his hand over his heart and softly said, "Unless I become that foolish, reckless, clueless, useless person again, I will never fall for someone else."

Something that has expired can't expire again.

Although it wasn't the kind of resolute promise men usually make, Dong Chengling accepted Ren Suo's roundabout declaration. "That's good, Suo. Xiao Qiao and the others are already quite upset. If you continue to be fickle... it might lead to unprecedented consequences."

Underneath the streetlight, Ren Suo stood still and looked at Dong Chengling, asking, "What about you?"

Dong Chengling said, "I'm also dissatisfied, and it has nothing to do with today."

"I've done my best to be good to you," Ren Suo asked seriously, as if discussing an academic problem with Dong Chengling, "Where exactly are you dissatisfied?"

"As good as you can be to me, you can be to others." Dong Chengling looked at Ren Suo and calmly said, "What lovers want is not 'the best', but the only one."

"Women are quite sensitive about this; having several people in your heart at once is something that can be felt."

"Is that so..." Ren Suo murmured, not particularly surprised. "It truly is an irreconcilable conflict."

He lifted his head, gazing at the lofty, dim street lamp, and asked, "Then Chengling, what if I could give you 'the only one'?"

Dong Chengling paused slightly, then quietly stared at Ren Suo.

Wearing a mask, Ren Suo's expression was indiscernible, but his gaze contained no impulsiveness, only a natural, extreme Calmness.

Could it be... just as Qiao Muyi had said, he was finally forced to make a choice? Was it true, as Cha Xian'er said, that his only wish was related just to me? Had he finally turned this into a single-choice question? Would patience reveal the moon through the clouds? Would a prodigal who returns be more precious than gold?

Dong Chengling was both shocked and delighted, but immediately worry followed—this wasn't like Ren Suo. Although she was happy that Ren Suo chose her, she had to admit that his entanglement wasn't due to indecision, but because he was inherently greedy.

Dong Chengling naturally felt dissatisfied, but she was also prepared to share her boyfriend; these two feelings did not conflict.

However, the change in Ren Suo was so great that he felt somewhat unfamiliar to her.

"What about Xiao Qiao and the others?" Dong Chengling asked.

Ren Suo seriously answered, "They have their own 'only ones'; each of your 'only ones' is different."

Dong Chengling's somewhat sensitive heart settled down again—good, it was still the same Ren Suo.

"Are you playing a word game with me?" Dong Chengling was exasperated. "That's not what I meant; I want to become your only partner."

Seeing that Ren Suo wasn't anxious, still interested in playing a word game with her, this time Dong Chengling, following Qiao Muyi's instructions, intensified her tone to press Ren Suo—if Ren Suo got angry, she could just soften a bit; conceding to him wasn't embarrassing.

"Not even like this? I assure you, they're all different." Ren Suo was making his final struggle.

"No," Dong Chengling said seriously.

Ren Suo shrugged and said, "I asked them the same question, and they also said no."

In this regard, except for Luna, everyone else had naturally aligned on the same front. Unless he made up his mind to take only one scoop from the three thousand Weak Waters, those not chosen might just flip the table...

Ren Suo smiled, "Let's go back."

Dong Chengling Teleported back home with Ren Suo. After Ren Suo affectionately spent some time with Little Jiu and Luna, he took his leave.

Dong Chengling actually wished he would hold her hand as he had the previous night and stay to sleep with her—she had slept more peacefully that night than any other.

However, it seemed Ren Suo had launched an offensive against all four of us today, only to be repelled by everyone. Now he probably needs to reflect deeply on his own. Then he'll realize I'm his only choice.

After returning home, Dong Chengling immediately went to take a bath. While drying her hair, she casually picked up her phone and saw a message from Ren Suo—

"From today onward, until the battle training duty nine days later, I have decided to engage in closed-door Cultivation at home. Under normal circumstances, I will not go out, and meals are self-managed. Do not disturb. Mass message."

Dong Chengling paused slightly.

Right after our date, Ren Suo sent such a group message. Xiao Qiao, Xing Mei, and Yue Yan must have received it too. What did this mean? Was he avoiding us? Did he overplay his hand this time? And 'meals self-managed'... is that aimed at me?

***

After sending the message, Ren Suo pulled down the curtains, locked the door, put on Pandora's Magic Box, and entered the "Door of Truth."

Opening the affection list, Ren Suo checked the changes in affection.

As expected, except for Luna, the emotional value from his other four girlfriends had decreased by 100 to 200 points each.

Because Ren Suo's relationships with them had already reached a very high peak under rather extreme, non-everyday environments, even if Ren Suo now tried his best to please them, their emotional value would naturally decline due to everyday, unresolved frictions.

As long as Ren Suo continued to interact with them, there was no stopping this decline.

After passing the third level, the Door of Truth had ignited the Primordial Substances "Radiance" and "Victory," causing all items in the emotional list to appreciate by 20%, and this appreciation happened twice consecutively.

The emotions of Ren's father and Ren's mother were already valued at 17,400 points.

The emotional values of Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Gu Yueyan, and Ren Xingmei had also reached around 13,000 points.

Ren Suo had to make a decision.

Therefore, there was only one answer.

Ren Suo swiped to select all the high-value emotions, not just his girlfriends' but also Ren's father's and Ren's mother's, as well as Bai Ji's and Lin Xianyu's. Then—

"Deposit in the Truth Bank."

Emotions, totaling nearly 90,000 points in value, were all deposited into the Truth Bank!

The game popped up a message:

"Truth Bank principal: 117,000 points, of which emotions are 106,000 points, Truth Points 3,000, and Skill props 8,000 points."

"Daily interest: 1,170 points."

Excellent.

After passing the third level of the "Door of Truth," the trading permissions had updated a major feature—the Truth Bank!

As long as Ren Suo stored his temporarily unnecessary props, Truth Points, and emotions in it, he could receive a perpetual daily interest!

But there were many restrictions. First, after depositing, he had to wait a full 24 hours before interest began to accrue. Additionally, during the storage period, Ren Suo would essentially lose access to these emotions and Skills.

Meanwhile, the next level of the "Door of Truth" also had a time limit for completion; it was impossible for Ren Suo to wait indefinitely to complete it.

But it was enough.

With the interest from the Truth Bank, Ren Suo could become unimaginably stronger while playing the next level!

The only problem was that Ren Suo, temporarily devoid of his emotions, was highly likely to be exposed if he interacted with others again, and could easily cause their emotional value towards him to decrease.

However, after thinking it through, he believed the combined value of his four girlfriends had reached a standard he couldn't easily abandon. Furthermore, with the emergence of the Truth Bank and the foreseeable increase in value, he wouldn't so easily sell off these emotions completely. Most importantly, all his goals were to clear the levels. However, clearing the "Door of Truth" would take as long as a month, or as short as half a month. For such a short period, he only needed to run away and hide, and that would temporarily stop their emotional value from decreasing! Escaping might be shameful, but it was effective. And now, he had no sense of 'shame' whatsoever. As long as it was effective, that was enough.

Another very important point was his realization that he could no longer fall for anyone else. This was not a flaw; it was an advantage. Entrusting the future, hope, and trust to others was a very irrational and foolish act.

However, the emotions inherited from the past had not disappeared. He still loved them, but this love now contained more calculations, rationality, and planning; it was no longer pure.

Therefore, for him, love was an unrenewable resource. Although he didn't think this unrenewable resource had any value to him personally, the Door of Truth recognized this resource. Therefore, he thought it was wise to lower the priority of selling these emotions. The conclusion he finally reached was to escape and use Concealment to stop further losses, deposit emotions to earn interest, and focus on clearing the game. I can't let women disturb my gaming anymore.

However, this alone wasn't enough. Even though he had fled, conflicts still existed among the four of them. Mutual friction could further worsen their relationships, consequently causing their emotional value towards him to decline. He needed to create a diversion, some bait to draw their attention. Ideally, it would deepen their bonds with each other, shifting their focus from him and their mutual conflicts onto this bait. And he had already prepared this bait.

Meanwhile, his clone was cleaning outside while using his phone to send great news to friends under the name "Xiao Ren"—

"I confessed!"