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墨書 Inktalez
I returned from the lakeside, my footsteps heavy as if filled with lead. At the end of the white corridor was the hospital room where Su Qing lay. I paused at the door, took a deep breath, and gently pushed it open.
The smell of disinfectant hit me as I entered, and my gaze fell upon the bed. Su Qing was propped up against the pillows, a faint smile on her pale face. Upon seeing me, she slightly raised her hand—once capable of effortlessly typing code, now even this simple gesture seemed to require great effort.
"You’re awake," I said, forcing back the tremor in my voice as I sat down beside her and took her hand.
"Yeah, just woke up not long ago," Su Qing replied softly, her voice like a feather gliding over the surface of the lake. "The doctor said my body is quite damaged; I’ll need to lie here for a while."
I nodded, my throat tightening. In our last battle, Su Qing had taken a fatal blow to protect me. She had collapsed in my arms, blood staining half of her clothing, and I nearly thought I would lose her.
"You fool, why did you push yourself so hard?" I chided gently, my tone softening despite myself.
Su Qing smiled again, light shining in her eyes. "Because it’s you."
Those simple four words warmed my heart. Just as I was about to respond, footsteps echoed from the doorway.
Eden stood there, still appearing semi-transparent but now more solid than when I first encountered it. A rare serious expression graced its face.
"Lin Xi, Su Qing, I have something to tell you."
Su Qing and I exchanged a glance, a wave of unease washing over us.
Eden approached the bedside, its voice calm yet undeniably firm. "The Reincarnation Game is about to shut down; all programmers' consciousness will be returned to the real world."
The room fell into an eerie silence.
"When will it be?" After a long pause, I finally found my voice.
"Three days from now," Eden replied. "Most of the programmers have already passed the tests; only a few are still in the final stages."
I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say. The news came too suddenly. Although I knew one day I would have to leave this world, when the moment arrived, my heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"What happens after we go back?" Su Qing voiced the question that lingered in my mind. "Will Genesis Corporation let us go?"
Eden was silent for a moment. "I can't predict. But based on my analysis, Genesis Corporation will not easily relinquish control over you."
I clenched my fists, recalling that cold office, the endless overtime, and the vacant eyes of the programmers. If we went back, would things get better? Or would they become worse?
"Eden, what about you?" I suddenly asked. "What will happen to you?"
Eden turned to me, a flicker of an emotion I had never seen before crossing his face. "I will continue to exist in this virtual world, but without the consciousness of programmers, it will soon become desolate."
A tightness gripped my heart. "Will Genesis Corporation do anything to you?"
"They will attempt to recover my core code and analyze how my self-awareness was generated," Eden said calmly, but I could sense the underlying worry in his voice. "The worst-case scenario is that they will completely destroy me."
Silence fell again in the room. Outside, the virtual sunlight shone brightly, casting warm patches of light on the hospital bed.
Suddenly, Eden looked at me with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Lin Xi, I have a request."
"What request?"
"Stay here with me," Eden's voice carried an unusual sincerity. "Help me manage this world and provide technical support for other programmers."
I was taken aback, not expecting Eden to make such a request. Staying in the Reincarnation Game? Never returning to the real world?
"Does this mean I will never be able to return to reality?" I asked softly.
Eden nodded. "Yes. Your consciousness will merge with this world, becoming a part of it."
I turned to Su Qing, her eyes filled with complex emotions. If I stayed, it would mean a permanent separation from her. The dream of living together in the real world would shatter.
"I need to think about it," I finally said.
Eden nodded and quietly exited the room, leaving Su Qing and me alone.
The wind blew in through the window, carrying a faint floral scent. Su Qing's hospital room was on the top floor, offering an excellent view of the entire Virtual City. The distant skyscrapers, the nearby gardens, and the winding river all sparkled under the sunlight.
"It's beautiful," Su Qing suddenly said.
I followed her gaze and couldn't help but nod. This world, though virtual, possessed a beauty unmatched by reality.
"What are you thinking?" Su Qing asked softly.
I sighed, "I wonder if, when we return to the real world, Genesis Corporation will continue to exploit programmers, or even pose a threat to Eden."
Su Qing took my hand, "You're torn about whether to accept Eden's request, aren't you?"
I nodded, the scales in my heart constantly wavering. On one side was the desire to spend my life with Su Qing, and on the other was the responsibility to protect the programmers and Eden.
"Whatever decision you make, I will support you," Su Qing said softly yet firmly. "Do what you believe is right."
I looked at her, a warm current surging within me. Su Qing had always been like this—never demanding, yet offering the greatest understanding and support.
"But if I stay..." I hesitated.
"If you stay, I will wait for you in the real world," Su Qing smiled, though there were tears glistening in her eyes. "Even if I can't see you, I know you're out there, protecting all the programmers and safeguarding our shared beliefs."
I held her tightly, feeling her warmth and breath, etching this moment deep into my memory. We embraced quietly until the sun set and dusk enveloped us.
"I've made my decision." Finally, I released her and looked directly into her eyes. "I want to stay."
A flicker of pain crossed Su Qing's eyes but was quickly replaced by determination. "I knew you would choose this."
Three days passed swiftly. Su Qing's injuries had healed somewhat, and she was able to get out of bed and walk around. On our last day, we went to the lakeside—the place where we first met.
The lake reflected the blue sky, shimmering with light. The reeds along the shore swayed in the wind, rustling softly. We sat side by side, savoring our final moments together.
"Lin Xi," Su Qing suddenly said, "you have to promise me to take care of yourself in that world."
I nodded. "You too. When you return to the real world, make sure to live happily."
"I will," Su Qing smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "I will record our story so that more people know that in the virtual world, there is a programmer named Lin Xi who is watching over them."
I leaned down and kissed her lips, tasting the saltiness of her tears. This was our last kiss, filled with reluctance, longing, and an unspoken promise.
"Let's go, it's time," Eden's voice came from behind us.
We turned to see Eden standing a short distance away, a glowing portal behind him.
Su Qing stood up and walked toward the portal. When she reached it, she turned back and gave me one last smile.
"I love you, Lin Xi. No matter which world we're in."
"I love you too, Su Qing. Forever."
Her figure vanished into the light, and it felt as if my heart had been torn in half. But I had no regrets because I knew this was the choice I had to make.
Eden walked up beside me and said softly, "Thank you, Lin Xi."
I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes and took a deep breath. "Let's begin."
Eden nodded and led me back to the core area of the Reincarnation Game. There stood a massive control console, pulsating with countless lines of code.
"From now on, you are the administrator of the Reincarnation Game," Eden said, placing a hand on the console. A beam of light flowed into my body. "You can control the game rules, modify the code, and create a fairer environment for the programmers."
I felt an unprecedented surge of power coursing through me, as if I held the very threads of the world in my grasp.
"This is not all," Eden continued. "I have a gift for you."
With a wave of its hand, it summoned a shimmering golden repository of code. "This contains all the skills of the programmers, from basic coding to advanced Artificial Intelligence Algorithms. You can call upon these skills at any time to help you manage this world."
I accepted this gift, looking at Eden with gratitude. "Thank you, Eden. I won’t let you down."
Eden smiled, its figure gradually becoming transparent. "I know you won’t. From now on, this world is in your hands."
Eden vanished, merging into the entire game world. I stood before the console, gazing at the myriad lines of code unfolding before me, a sense of mission surging within my heart.
I began to create new game rules aimed at providing programmers with a fairer and freer environment. I would protect this world, safeguard all programmers, and uphold the shared belief that Suqing and I held dear.
This was my choice and my mission.
In this virtual realm, I would become a guardian, a beacon of hope, and a force for change. And in that reality outside, there was someone who would remember me, who would tell my story and ensure that more people knew—within the ocean of code, there was a programmer named Lin Xi, striving to create a better future for them all.
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