On the Road

The summer night revealed everything in its truest light, softer and more tranquil compared to the intensity of the daytime heat.

The dark night served as a backdrop, casting its reflection on the windows.

Cheng Jun stared at her own face, feeling a heavy weight in her heart, as if a great stone were pressing down, impossible to shift.

She wasn't afraid, nor did she shy away from any confrontation. She had the courage for it.

But even with her determined spirit, Shen Yi had already surrendered.

It was as if the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu had stopped fighting and simply shook hands in peace, unifying the world. From then on, they were all one nation, no longer separate.

"Stop fighting."

"Liu Bei, you are the rightful empress. Cao Cao, you are also the rightful empress. Sun Quan, since you arrived later, you can be the noble concubine."

To her, this all seemed so surreal. Cheng Jun had fought her way to where she was, not to share the spoils of victory with others.

This made her feel tired—not physically, but her weary heart needed rest.

Cheng Jun had survived alone, sleepless and relentless, for a year in the apocalypse, relying on her inner strength to keep going.

Now that she had no more reason to hold on, she immediately felt utterly exhausted.

"It's late... I need to go back and rest," she said softly, not looking at Shen Yi, and turned to leave.

Shen Yi instinctively grabbed her arm.

"Don't go."

He had a premonition that if he let her leave like this, he might lose her forever.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

This was the first time in reality that Shen Yi had actively hugged her. It felt nostalgic, warm, and comforting.

Cheng Jun suddenly didn't hate the world anymore and even hoped to return to the past.

"If that were all real, how wonderful it would be."

In that small Western-style house, with only Shen Yi and herself in the entire world, undisturbed by anything irrelevant, they could live happily together.

"Fate is cruel..."

What had once been the most agonizing moment had now become the most nostalgic. Fate really knew how to play jokes, she muttered to herself.

Though the embrace tempted her to sink into it, Cheng Jun quickly regained her composure.

She broke free from his arms.

"Let go."

"My heart is in turmoil, and I'm exhausted. I need some rest, let me be alone for a while."

With that, she ignored his pleas and resolutely pushed the door open, leaving Shen Yi's outstretched hand suspended in the air.

Returning to her own home, she shut the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily.

"It's all wrong."

"You don't owe me a debt of gratitude for saving your life, and I don't need your guilt or pity. What we should have is love."

"Whatever it is, thank you."

Back then, Shen Yi was fearless, full of confidence, and always full of vitality.

Cheng Jun had felt an enduring spirit from him, something that surpassed everything in the mundane life.

...

The door shut.

Shen Yi chuckled bitterly.

"I failed..."

The more resolute the belief, the quicker the defeat.

Every individual's thoughts are independent, not like NPCs generated in a game. Completing a task doesn't necessarily grant a reward.

Cheng Jun had left, and though only a wall separated them, their hearts were far apart.

His bold thoughts had extinguished the passionate fire in Cheng Jun's heart.

Everything had to be achieved through one's own efforts. The simulator had only provided an opportunity.

The system hadn't imposed any mandatory favorability bindings or handed out magical pills that could make someone obedient.

"The road is long and challenging."

Shen Yi sighed, bent down, and scooped the dirty clothes from the lazy sofa into a basket, then turned off the lights and entered the bedroom, throwing himself onto the bed.

In two different rooms, two people lay tossing and turning, far from the calm exteriors they had shown.

Shen Yi pondered over many things, writhing in bed until 3 a.m. before finally falling asleep.

Before 7 a.m., Shen Yi opened his eyes on time.

He didn't need any time to wake up and got up to wash.

His full-level energy meant he only needed a short sleep to fully recharge.

After getting ready, Shen Yi stepped out of his room.

Across the hallway, Cheng Jun's door remained closed. Shen Yi paused briefly at her door before going downstairs.

He bought some breakfast from the aunt downstairs, then got into his car, ready to pick up Fu Nanzhi.

He drove to Songping Garden and, after greeting the security guard, finally gained entry.

He circled to building 114 and took out his phone to message Fu Nanzhi.

Soon the door opened, revealing Fu Nanzhi sneaking out with large bags.

The moment she turned around and saw Shen Yi, she lit up and, with a smile, dashed over.

Shen Yi got out of the car to take the bags and asked her,

"Why are you carrying so much stuff?"

Fu Nanzhi quickly covered Shen Yi's mouth.

"Shh!"

"Quiet, my mom's still asleep. I told her I was going for a hike."

Then she pushed Shen Yi's back and said,

"Hurry, hurry! There's wine at the door, let's grab it and let's go."

Opening the trunk, Shen Yi put the bags inside, and they both got into the car to leave the neighborhood.

In the passenger seat, Fu Nanzhi was happily nibbling on a tofu-filled bun with both hands.

"Tofu fillings are the best, even tastier than meat."

Seeing this, Shen Yi freed one hand to poke a hole in the soy milk and handed it to her.

"Slow down, be careful not to choke. Here's some soy milk, it's not hot anymore, drink directly."

"Mmm, mmm..."

She hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so Fu Nanzhi happily sipped the soy milk with her bun in hand.

After finishing her meal with great satisfaction, she pulled out some tissue to wipe her mouth, then quickly opened the tiny mirror on her dash to check her makeup.

Shen Yi glanced over and said,

"You look great already, no need to check."

Fu Nanzhi rolled her eyes and pouted.

"Not acceptable. First impressions are crucial when meeting your parents. Even the slightest thing could affect my image in front of them."

Shen Yi laughed helplessly.

"You don't realize your own charm."

"With that face of yours, you don't need to do anything. Just standing in front of my mom would make her disown me for your sake."

Fu Nanzhi was flattered and giggled, covering her mouth.

"You exaggerate."

"Hmph, don't you remember? The first time you came to our house, my mom thought I'd kidnapped you from somewhere."

Shen Yi smirked, teasing her.

Since his mother had Fu Nanzhi as a daughter-in-law, she barely spared a thought for her own son, constantly ordering Shen Yi around until his feet practically smoked.

Shen Yi made up his mind that this trip home, he would act like a king for once.

"And wasn't I the one you 'kidnapped'?"

Fu Nanzhi laughed mischievously, looking at Shen Yi pretending to be oblivious.

"Once I 'kidnapped' you, you're mine. There's no running away now."

Shen Yi joked with her,

"That's slander. Tell me, how did I 'kidnap' you? I didn't even sell you off."

Fu Nanzhi lifted her chin proudly.

"Hmph, no one but you could afford me~"

"Listen, don't get too cocky. When you see my parents, don't slip up and call them mom and dad right away. Remember to address them as uncle and aunt first."

Shen Yi turned onto the highway, his attention still on the road, but he couldn't help but remind her.

If she called his parents mom and dad right away, it might shock them.

"Am I that clueless?"