Chapter 3

The sword's light flashed like a shadow, swift as lightning.

In Keqing's field of vision, she couldn't track Nathan's movement trajectory at all.

With just a flash of light, her arm felt an intense vibration.

The sword hilt gripped by her delicate hands was sent flying the next second.

"Thud!"

The wooden sword flew several meters away, finally planting itself straight into the soil.

"Nate... is this your true strength?" Keqing asked, her eyes vacant with disbelief.

"Well... it's really nothing special..." Nathan responded sheepishly to the girl's shock.

After all, not long ago, he had been nothing but a complete novice.

It was all thanks to the life simulation system that had poured sword techniques and experience directly into his mind.

This method was, in truth, no different from cheating.

"Qing, are you alright?"

Nathan looked on with concern. Keqing's current state seemed completely deflated by his displayed prowess.

Her dejected mood was a stark contrast to her earlier vibrancy during their sparring match, as if she'd become a different person entirely.

"Nate, I need to rest in my room. Let me be alone for a while!"

Facing his inquiry, Keqing merely waved her hand and walked toward her room in a daze.

Nathan was left alone, staring at her retreating figure, unsure whether to follow.

......

Time shifted to evening.

During these half-day hours, Nathan experienced life in a wealthy household for the first time.

Whatever he wanted to do, there were servants ready to prepare it.

This feeling was incomparably more pleasant than being a working-class laborer.

Unfortunately, this was just a simulated life, destined to become nothing but a bubble upon waking.

However, Nathan currently didn't know how to end the simulation.

Still, since his identity was Keqing's childhood friend, surely all the key triggers would center around the Yuheng Star.

But perhaps the impact of their sparring match had been too great—until he retired to his room, he hadn't caught another glimpse of the girl.

......

Night fell swiftly, with a full moon hanging high in the sky.

Even the usually bustling Liyue Harbor had fallen silent in the deep night.

Under the cold moonlight, a petite figure opened a door.

With utmost speed, she entered the dim room.

"..."

Nathan, deep in slumber, suddenly felt pressure against his body.

Following that came the sound of soft sobbing.

Struggling to open his eyes, in the faint moonlight, he made out the scene before him.

It was Keqing, whom he hadn't seen since the afternoon, now lying beside him on the bed.

The girl pressed against him with zero distance between them, gently resting her head on his chest.

"Wuu-wuu!"

Whimpers escaped from the girl's lips.

The soft contact, the warm breath, almost made Nathan unable to distinguish reality.

The current Keqing was like a helpless kitten.

Compared to the future's efficient and commanding Yuheng Star, she seemed like an entirely different person.

This adorable young girl made Nathan unconsciously stroke her back in comfort.

But upon noticing his movement, Keqing immediately stopped crying.

"Sorry, Nate, I woke you up!"

Raising her head from his chest, the moonlight fell upon Keqing's tear-stained face.

Looking at this pitiable kitten, Nathan's heart felt squeezed, unable to describe his current emotions.

"It's okay. Are you feeling better, Qing?"

This question only made Keqing bury her face back into his chest.

"Nate, am I too useless?"

"Ah, why would you say that about yourself?"

"I want to bring glory to the Keqing family, but I can't even master our family's sword techniques."

Keqing was utterly dejected. At this moment, she was just a helpless fourteen-year-old girl.

"Take it slow, Qing. Don't rush yourself!"

Nathan could only offer such consolation, following her train of thought.

The pressure on his chest increased; clearly, this comfort hadn't worked.

"No, time waits for no one. The Keqing family needs me to step up now!"

As Keqing said, the Keqing family had been wealthy real estate merchants in Liyue.

But since her parents' accidental death, she had to take up the position of family head.

In Liyue, the city of commerce, if Keqing couldn't stand firm, their family assets would be divided up by those with ulterior motives.

Now, Keqing wanted to overcome her long-standing mental barrier.

This barrier stemmed from her parents' disappearance, as well as her guilt towards Nathan.

After all, on that fateful night of the accident, his parents had also been present.

[After long contemplation, the girl, who had been suffocating under the weight of her heavy burden, prepares to extend you an invitation...]

The simulator's voice flashed through his mind.

Just as indicated, the girl raised her grief-stricken face.

"Qing... you?"

"Nate... would you come somewhere with me?"

[Regarding the girl's invitation, what is your choice?]

[Choosing to refuse will directly unlock the ending---Iron-Hearted Virgin!]

[Choosing to accept will continue the simulation...]

Author's note - How is the story guys ?