The conversations among girls were always so wonderfully unpredictable, flowing effortlessly from discussions of height and weight, to individual preferences and daily habits, then shifting from real-world skincare routines to amusing anecdotes gleaned from their gaming adventures.
Likely due to her undeniably adorable appearance, in this world so fixated on looks, both Qian Qiao and Dream Butterfly lavished Bai Xia with fervent enthusiasm. Yet, for Bai Xia, who wasn’t entirely a “pure” girl, their overwhelming attention felt almost unbearable.
Thankfully, their gathering wasn’t solely for the purpose of drinking tea, eating, and indulging in idle chatter. Thus, after a brief exchange, they swiftly arrived at a collective decision…
To go for a relaxing soak in the baths.
“Hold on,” Bai Xia interjected, “weren’t we supposed to be clearing dungeons and leveling up?”
It wasn’t until she found herself dazedly propelled into a hot spring resort that Bai Xia finally grasped the situation.
Beside her, Qian Qiao, already clad in a yukata, blinked innocently. “Dungeons can be cleared any time,” she declared, her tone utterly self-evident, “but a hot spring isn’t something you get to enjoy just any time. And this is an in-game hot spring, no less! Aren’t you curious, ‘Little One’?”
“…And who exactly is ‘Little One’?”
Bai Xia cast a glance at Qian Qiao, whose “one-click outfit change”—a marvel of gaming convenience—had unfortunately precluded any accidental glimpses of “benefits.” A faint note of resentment tinged Bai Xia’s voice.
Despite the fact that Qian Qiao was considerably younger than her, both in physical and soul age, she had previously been addressed as “Little Bai Xia.” Now, this peculiar moniker, “Little One,” had surfaced.
Seriously, where exactly was she “little”?!
“It’s just a nickname, silly! And honestly, you’re such a tiny little thing, doesn’t ‘Little One’ just suit you perfectly?”
As she spoke, the girl leaned in, playfully pinching Bai Xia’s cheek. Her eyes held the exact same gleam one might see in a child who had just spotted an exceptionally adorable plush toy.
Bai Xia, her face a mask of indifference, swatted Qian Qiao’s hand away, then let out a weary sigh.
At that moment, Dream Butterfly, who had also changed into her attire, drew near. Catching Bai Xia’s expression, she chuckled. “Alright, ladies,” she announced, “it’s bath time!”
“…Must I really bathe?”
While the prospect of sharing a hot spring with several adorable girls would be an utterly irresistible temptation for nearly any man, Bai Xia, claiming her sensibilities were far too delicate, found herself retreating at the last moment.
Alas, the other two clearly had no intention of allowing her to resist. Each seizing one of her hands, they enthusiastically tugged her toward the hot springs nestled at the back of the resort.
Bai Xia attempted to struggle, but within the confines of a hot spring resort where player-killing was strictly prohibited, her strength proved severely limited. Ultimately, with a resounding ‘plop,’ she was unceremoniously tossed into the steaming pool.
“Cough… you two are far too rough!” Bai Xia sputtered, “I haven’t even changed out of my gear!”
Having swallowed several mouthfuls of water in the hot spring—though one couldn’t truly drown in the game, Bai Xia, being a poor swimmer, instinctively scrambled back to her feet. She then cast a look of indignant protest at the two girls lounging at the edge of the pool.
Yet, Qian Qiao and Dream Butterfly appeared utterly deaf to her complaints, serenely locating comfortable spots and settling into the warm embrace of the spring.
Watching them completely disregard her, Bai Xia could only sigh. Then, a sudden realization struck her: this hot spring was actually rather well-made.
Though not particularly expansive, its dimensions were exquisitely crafted. Several cherry blossom trees, their branches heavy with delicate pink buds, adorned the poolside. A gentle mist mingled with the fresh scent of blossoms, and while merely an illusion of light and shadow, it undeniably imparted a profound sense of relaxation.
“Fine,” she conceded.
Since she was already immersed in the hot spring, Bai Xia had no intention of leaving. She would simply consider it an experience of something novel.
With this thought in mind, she hesitated briefly before deciding to change into the yukata provided by the resort. After all, it would be absurd to soak in a hot spring while still clad in leather armor, wouldn’t it?
While there was no fear of getting soaked or damaging her gear in the game, the sight of armor in a hot spring was, by any measure, utterly bizarre.
However, just as Bai Xia had finished changing and before she could even begin to discern the differences between the game’s hot springs and those of reality, a pair of hands suddenly snaked under her armpits, pressing firmly against her chest. “…Hm!?”
Bai Xia froze, then instinctively pulled away, spinning around to find Qian Qiao’s face etched with an expression of utter despair.
The girl, her face pale and drawn, clenched her hands, then spoke in a voice imbued with the desolation of one abandoned by the world. “T-traitor!” she wailed. “I always thought you were as flat as me! Why… why is this happening? And why does it feel so incredibly good?!”
Her lament was answered by a dagger that whizzed past her ear, narrowly missing.
“My hand slipped,” Bai Xia stated flatly.
****
The near-death experience had a remarkably calming effect on Qian Qiao; at the very least, she no longer dared to act so wantonly.
Bai Xia leaned against the edge of the pool, immersed in the hot spring, her eyes narrowed to lazy slits. She didn’t even bother to open them when Qian Qiao cautiously edged closer.
“Um, I was just kidding earlier, please don’t be mad,” Qian Qiao pleaded softly.
Noting Bai Xia’s indifferent demeanor, Qian Qiao offered a slightly ingratiating smile before raising the cup in her hand. “Here,” she coaxed, “have a drink.”
Bai Xia’s small nose twitched imperceptibly. The faint, sweet aroma of fruit, distinct from the floral fragrance, prompted her to open her eyes. “What is this?” she inquired.
It was Dream Butterfly, lounging opposite her, who replied. She, too, was leaning against the pool’s edge with eyes narrowed, though her posture caused the system-provided yukata to strain precariously, barely containing her ample bosom. One couldn’t help but worry the garment might burst open at any second.
“Fruit wine? How can children be allowed to drink alcohol!”
She took the glass, draining it in a single gulp, and a spark of delight ignited in Bai Xia’s eyes.
While she had learned that tastes could be discerned in the game back in the newbie village, from curiously sampling grass, she had never imagined such a wealth of deliciousness existed within this virtual world.
It was a remarkably light fruit wine, yet its subtle fruitiness, intertwined with a gentle alcoholic kick, lingered on her palate, leaving an exquisitely long and satisfying aftertaste.
“It’s delicious,” she declared.
Bai Xia was already thoroughly impressed that the game could achieve such a level of realism. Seeing her enjoyment, Qian Qiao promptly produced an entire bottle and placed it before her. “It’s good, isn’t it?” she chirped. “But don’t drink too much, or you’ll get drunk.”
Drunk? Bai Xia’s heart swelled with utter disdain. What an absolute absurdity!
Who was Bai Xia? She was once revered in the world of social drinking as the “Little Prince of Libations.”
A true connoisseur, she could consume a hundred cups without faltering, a thousand without succumbing to intoxication. Indeed, from her earliest memories, she had only ever witnessed others fall beneath the table, never herself.
What’s more, this fruit wine, with its mere sweet and sour notes, couldn’t possibly compare to true hard liquor. Even in the real world, she could easily down three large bowls of it in a single breath!
And then, she got drunk.
****
****
“What exactly is happening here?”
Tian Zheng and Qian Zhong had not joined the three girls at the hot springs. Thus, when they entered their previous tavern booth and beheld Bai Xia, her face flushed crimson and her body slumped like a puddle of soft mud, both men were understandably astonished.
Qian Qiao, who was awkwardly supporting Bai Xia, rubbed her nose with a guilty air. “Um,” she mumbled, “it seems she’s gotten drunk.”
“You can actually get drunk in a game?” Tian Zheng questioned, incredulous.
“As it turns out,” Qian Qiao explained, “this game does indeed feature a ‘drunk’ status effect, much like being poisoned.”
“…”
Noticing the sudden, inexplicable silence, Qian Qiao promptly deposited Bai Xia directly into Tian Zheng’s arms. “Ahem, well, she’s in your hands for now,” she said, a hint of awkwardness in her voice. “It’s just a game; she should return to normal fairly quickly.”
十八章Gazing down at the girl slumped against him, seemingly attempting to stir and rise, Tian Zheng found himself utterly speechless.
In truth, Bai Xia was currently the one feeling the most wretched. It wasn’t until a system notification flashed before her eyes that she finally grasped a crucial truth: drinking alcohol within the game evidently bore no relation whatsoever to her real-world tolerance!
Two bottles of the special fruit wine had gone down, and initially, she’d felt absolutely nothing. Then, abruptly, she plummeted into a state of severe intoxication, manifesting as blurred vision and a complete inability to control her own body.
Consequently, while Bai Xia’s mind desperately urged her to break free from Tian Zheng’s embrace, her physical movements were pathetically feeble. Not only could she not escape, but she couldn’t even manage to stand upright.
Were she to be laid directly on the ground, she might well perform an impromptu “carp jump” (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to a person flopping around like a fish out of water, trying to get up.) or similar antics.
However, Tian Zheng evidently had no intention of simply discarding Bai Xia onto the floor. Instead, he subtly adjusted her position, allowing her to lean against him more comfortably.
Meanwhile, observing their affectionate closeness—a situation she had, admittedly, engineered herself—Qian Qiao declared herself thoroughly “sour” (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘suan,’ meaning to feel jealous or envious). The next instant, she took a few steps forward, her legs suddenly giving way, and she collapsed dramatically into Qian Zhong’s arms. “Ah, I’m drunk too!” she slurred.
“…”
Though he knew perfectly well she was feigning intoxication, Qian Zhong clearly couldn’t evade her or simply push her away. The inevitable result was…
“Perhaps I should step outside for a bit, and return once you two have… recovered?”
Dream Butterfly wore a smile, yet for some inexplicable reason, that smile sent a shiver down one’s spine. Even Bai Xia, whose back was turned, couldn’t help but tremble, despite her desperate urge to declare her utter innocence.
Compared to Bai Xia, Qian Qiao’s survival instinct was evidently rather low. Upon observing Dream Butterfly’s “lone wolf” status, she didn’t hesitate to unleash a taunt. “Pfft haha… Dream Butterfly, this won’t do!” she chortled. “How can you still be single in our [Couple Squad]? You ought to hurry up and find someone to marry!”
“What in the world is a ‘Couple Squad’…?”
As the minutes ticked by and her drunken haze began to gradually recede, Bai Xia muttered a soft complaint. Judging by Qian Qiao’s tone, it sounded as if she was deliberately trying to pair her with Tian Zheng! But they shared no such relationship whatsoever.
Regrettably, her voice was too soft; no one heard her aside from Tian Zheng.
Qian Qiao’s words, without a shadow of a doubt, utterly infuriated Dream Butterfly. The girl curved her lips into a dangerous smile, then seized Qian Qiao by her collar, effortlessly hoisting her upwards.
“Hey! I was just joking, Dream Butterfly, what are you doing?! I’m still drunk, you know… Wah, Ah-Zhong (TL Note: A common Chinese nickname prefix, ‘A-,’ used to address a younger person or a close friend, often implying familiarity or endearment), quickly control your sister, she’s going to hit your sister-in-law!”
Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Dream Butterfly, after declaring that while Bai Xia was “sobering up” they would go out to see if they could find any special quests or dungeons, simply lifted Qian Qiao by her collar and departed.
Qian Zhong reached out a hand, then, saying, “I’ll go check on them,” followed them out.
The previously boisterous room instantly fell silent.
The sudden quiet made Bai Xia feel unaccustomed, even. Because they were so close, she felt as if she could hear Tian Zheng’s heartbeat, though whether heartbeats even existed in the game remained an unknown.
This continued for a while, and just as Bai Xia was beginning to feel inexplicably awkward, Tian Zheng suddenly spoke.
“Feeling better?”
Bai Xia was about to answer when she felt her face being gently pinched, causing the words on her tongue to be swallowed halfway. Ultimately, only a short, muffled, “…Mm,” escaped her lips.
The air fell silent once more, though not for long.
“Nice feel.”
Bai Xia froze, then, incensed, snapped, “Go to hell!”