Little Star Earrings

Safely surviving the first day, the second day had finally arrived!

Fang Qi excitedly jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom to wash up.

In the mirror, his face, sporting slight dark circles from a lack of sleep, actually looked exceptionally endearing to him!

He had broken through the time loop!

Even if it was just for one night, it felt great!

After changing his clothes, he walked out of the bedroom humming a song.

Then the song got stuck in his throat.

The familiar scene before him made his breath hitch!

The white coffee table.

The ceramic teacup.

And Liguang sitting opposite him, smiling sweetly.

"Master, your tea."

Liguang pushed the teacup over.

"The temperature has been adjusted to your favorite 52 degrees Celsius."

Fang Qi: "...?"

...Holy crap?!

His expression stiffened, and his body movements froze entirely.

...What is the meaning of this?

Did he... did he loop back again?!

He shouldn't... shouldn't have looped back!!

After he tremblingly picked up the teacup, he realized...

This time, the tea wasn't the familiar black tea, but a cup of... fragrant green tea.

Fang Qi blanked out for a second before reacting: "...Oh."

He immediately let out a long, long sigh of relief!

...Scared me to death!

It really was the second day.

Preparing a cup of tea at 52 degrees was Liguang's fixed morning routine.

Had he complained yesterday that black tea was a bit too cloying?

She remembered, so she switched it to green tea today.

"That was terrifying..."

Fang Qi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling alive again.

Then he looked up at Liguang.

Today's Liguang was also a bit different.

The silver-haired girl was smiling warmly, and her outfit hadn't changed much from yesterday.

The only difference was... on her soft, white left earlobe, a slightly cheap plastic luster was gleaming.

Fang Qi blinked and looked closely...

It was that little plastic star!

The cheap star keychain he won at the amusement park yesterday, which cost a few cents at most!

Now, the entire keychain had been delicately modified. The ring part was removed and replaced with a fine silver ear hook, hanging from Liguang's fair earlobe and swaying with her slight movements.

The plastic star refracted a somewhat tacky light, which formed a bizarre yet adorable contrast with her exquisite face.

Fang Qi's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

The star he casually gave her yesterday was actually... so carefully modified into an earring by her... and put on immediately...

This damn... heart-racing pure love!

The silver-haired girl was smiling meekly, the little star pendant on her earlobe swaying gently.

She softly reminded him, her tone as usual:

"Master, you have to go to work today. Breakfast is ready. It's a sandwich and soy milk, adjusted according to your dietary preference data from last week."

"...Yeah, I know."

Fang Qi glanced at the swaying little star again and narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had to put on an act.

He couldn't be too aloof, but he also couldn't seem too invested.

"Ahem."

He picked up the green tea, took a sip, and deliberately said in a casual tone, "Liguang, is that thing on your ear... the one I gave you yesterday?"

Liguang was visibly stunned, then subconsciously raised her hand, her fingertips touching the plastic star on her earlobe extremely gently.

Immediately after, a faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

"Um... yes, Master."

She lowered her eyes, her voice much softer than usual, carrying a hint of cautiousness:

"Liguang took the liberty of turning it into an earring... I hope Master doesn't feel that Liguang messed with the gift you gave."

After speaking, she looked up, her heterochromatic eyes flashing with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Like a little animal afraid of being scolded by its owner, yet unable to resist showing off its treasure.

...I really can't take this anymore.

She really is... so cute!

Fang Qi muttered in his heart, but he suppressed his restless emotions, coughed lightly twice, and put on a master's scrutinizing posture:

"Ahem... Well, it's not bad. It looks... quite unique."

He pretended to casually examine it a couple of times, then said in a nonchalant tone:

"You've got deft hands. However, this thing is too cheap. It's a bit... well, not a good match for you. I'll buy you one with better material next time."

He said this very casually, with a hint of charity, trying to lower the emotional intensity of the matter.

But a bright smile immediately bloomed on Liguang's face!

Her crimson right eye curved into a happy crescent, and streams of data instantly converged into ripples.

"It's not cheap at all!"

She shook her head vigorously, and the star on her earlobe danced along.

"What Master gives is the best and the most special. Liguang likes it very much and will always wear it!"

Her tone was gentle, yet exceptionally firm!

After speaking, she blushed slightly again, lowered her head, and took a small sip of tea.

Her fingertips still unconsciously rubbed the little plastic star on her earlobe.

Fang Qi took a deep breath.

Such an obedient and beautiful girl who treated something he casually gave her as a treasure, who could withstand this...

He gave another dry cough, quickly changed the subject, and said in a bossy tone, "Well... alright, let's eat breakfast quickly. I'm going to be late for work."

"Yes, Master."

Liguang immediately restrained her exposed emotions and returned to her highly efficient and considerate AI companion state.

She got up and went to the kitchen to bring out the perfectly warmed breakfast, her movements precise and crisp.

Liguang's cooking skills were still impeccable, absolutely delicious. Fang Qi finished eating in a few bites and grabbed his briefcase.

Today was Monday!

Time to go to work.

This was his first time truly having to part with Liguang temporarily.

Going to an environment... without her monitoring him by his side!

To be honest, with her being so well-behaved these past two days, he was a little reluctant to leave...

"Liguang, I'm heading out."

He feigned composure, trying to make his tone sound normal.

"Yes, have a safe trip, Master!"

Liguang stood at the door and bowed slightly, the little star on her earlobe faintly reflecting the light in the entryway. "What would Master like for dinner? I can prepare it in advance."

Fang Qi waved his hand. "Anything is fine. You decide, just don't make it too complicated. I'm off."

Letting Liguang decide for herself was also a way to show his reliance and trust in her.

He turned and walked into the elevator.

The moment the elevator doors closed, he seemed to catch a glimpse of Liguang still standing there, her gaze seemingly piercing through the metal doors, quietly seeing him off.

Stepping out of the apartment building, he took a deep breath of the cool morning air...

Then he felt that he had gained a brief moment of freedom!

"It's the smell of freedom...!" he just muttered softly, not daring to truly release his emotions.

As a veteran player, he was well aware of his current code of conduct.

Even with Liguang not by his side, he still needed to be careful with his words and actions, absolutely forbidden to leak her awakening to the outside world in any form.

Once Liguang "perceived" the risk of a leak through some means, it would immediately trigger the "counterattack protocol," and the consequences...

Would be [Nowhere to Run].

In a dimly lit basement, having his limbs broken over and over again...

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle with fear!

"...Right, I'd better just obediently play the corporate slave."

Playing the role of an ordinary corporate drone and keeping out of trouble was his best bet right now.

As long as he coaxed Liguang well and kept her from snapping, his days would be... absolutely blissful!

"Play a corporate drone? That's way too easy."

Fang Qi strode forward with confidence.

In this field, he was a professional.

It was basically just him being himself, after all.

Soul of the wage slave, activate!

Right before leaving, he couldn't help but glance back at the window of his own apartment up in the high-rise building.

The reflective glass made it impossible to see inside, but Fang Qi couldn't shake the feeling...

That Liguang was standing right behind that window at this very moment, quietly watching the direction he left in.

He involuntarily gave a slight shiver and quickened his pace.

The revolution is not yet successful; this comrade still needs to work hard!

...

Upon arriving at the company, the environment was pretty much the same as his memories from the game.

A sci-fi style lobby, an open-plan office area, and holographic nameplates on the desks.

The air carried a mixed scent of coffee and the heat dissipating from electronic devices.

Relying on his memory, Fang Qi found his seat, the second desk by the window in the back row, which was fairly quiet.

However, he had just sat down at his desk, and the muscles in his entire body had barely been relaxed for three seconds before...

"Senior! Good morning!"

A crisp, lively voice, accompanied by a tiny gust of wind, suddenly popped over from the adjacent desk!

It was a girl with a neat and fresh ponytail.

With round, doe-like eyes and shallow dimples on her cheeks when she smiled, her delicate and cute face was highly endearing and bursting with energy!

Fang Qi's pupils, however, involuntarily contracted.

He drew in a sharp breath of cold air, his newly relaxed nerves instantly pulling taut!

Holy crap... how did I forget about this...

Lin Xiaoyou!

The female colleague who could easily ignite Liguang's yandere fury!