Hoo—

A gale swept in from the distance, kicking up a swirl of dust and producing a sound that seemed chaotic but was actually rhythmic.

The weather in the lower levels of the hive city was as awful as ever.

Once, Li Chen really hated this terrible climate.

Not because it contained toxic substances but because whenever the wind and sand blocked his view, he would always be reminded of the peaceful everyday life he had before he transmigrated and that would leave him feeling lost.

But now, Li Chen realized he had started to like this annoying weather a little.

Pa-da.

A face mask was pulled straight over him.

In the corner of his eye, that graceful figure carrying a faint fragrance leaned in close to his side.

“Honestly, how old are you already and you still don’t know how to take care of yourself?”

Even though the literal meaning of her pleasant voice sounded like a complaint, the bright and moving features that could still be vaguely seen through the protective mask were full of concern.

In an instant, the loneliness and chill Li Chen felt from the violent wind and sand of the lower hive were chased away by those eyes.

He really did not hate this wind and sand.

Because back then, it was precisely because of a windstorm that he met Bai Wei.

Shua shua shua!

The scene from that time surfaced in Li Chen’s mind.

Back then, he had long since lost the grand ambition he’d had right after transmigrating into a game world, fantasizing that he would rely on foreknowledge of the plot to meet all the heroines, change their tragic fates and achieve a legendary story.

All that remained was despair and resignation.

No golden finger, average talent and born in a slum.

Aside from his looks, which were shockingly good because he had downloaded a paid character-creation mod when he made his face back then, he basically had no strengths at all.

In this cruel post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world, Li Chen was nothing more than a common piece of cannon fodder.

And that was the truth.

Even if he poured everything he had into those bad women, what he got back was nothing but cold distance and their silent disappearance.

‘As expected… I really am from a different world than them…’

Wrapped up in the only valuable thing he owned, a worn-out combat suit, Li Chen shivered in the violent winds of the lower hive, able only to watch in despair as the suit’s energy supply was about to run out.

Only despair awaited him.

Deng deng.

Just as he watched his life hanging by a thread, Bai Wei appeared.

Wearing a Security Bureau uniform, with no protective gear at all, she simply held an umbrella and calmly patrolled the street.

She noticed Li Chen.

“Hey, are you alright?”

A flawless white hand pulled him up.

“Big brother, what’s wrong?”

Right before he passed out from exhaustion, all that remained in Li Chen’s mind were Bai Wei’s eyes, bright as stars.

“So beautiful… too bad I’ll never see them again...”

But this time, Li Chen guessed wrong.

“I see, so you’re not only buried in debt but you were also kicked out of the mercenary group?”

Arms crossed, in a clean and tidy bedroom filled with a warm atmosphere, Bai Wei showed a sympathetic expression after hearing Li Chen’s story.

“That woman really doesn’t know how to cherish you, does she?”

Indignant on his behalf, Bai Wei looked at him.

Even though his face was smeared with mud, it still could not hide his handsome features and her eyes were full of tenderness.

“These days, where are you supposed to find a good man like you? So what if you’re weak? In the first place, in this world, women are supposed to take care of men.”

While scolding the woman who kicked Li Chen out of the mercenary group, Bai Wei carefully tucked him under the blanket and comforted him.

“How about you stay at my place for the next few days?”

“Uh...” Li Chen lowered his head awkwardly and an involuntary blush rose to his cheeks.

He did not dislike Bai Wei.

But in this cyber world, because of genetic mutations caused by the catastrophe virus, the male-to-female ratio had become an extreme 1:5, making it a female-led world.

Correspondingly, the role men played was always that of someone weak and in need of care.

Yet Li Chen was still a transmigrator and as a man, falling to the level of being a kept pretty boy was honestly embarrassing.

That said, after what he had been through, he had also somewhat accepted his fate.

After a bit of thought, Li Chen suddenly lifted his head.

“I won’t stay for free.”

From that day on, Li Chen became Bai Wei’s personal housekeeper, handling household affairs for this senior Security Bureau employee—though for upper-hive residents who had automatic robots, the work he did was really just better than nothing.

But Bai Wei did not mind at all.

She cared for him in every possible way, even though he was a “useless person.”

Over time, Li Chen gradually fell for her.

She was not one of those earth-shattering heroines from the game world, but maybe this kind of plain and steady happiness was what was real?

Li Chen withdrew his gaze and stared at the ring on his finger that shone brilliantly.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Chen?” [TL: Xiao is used as an affectionate nickname.]

Noticing the change in Li Chen’s expression, Bai Wei asked guiltily, “Did you think of something unhappy? It’s my fault. I just wanted to understand a little about Xiao Chen’s old home...”

“It’s nothing.”

Li Chen smiled and shook his head.

“Let’s go back to the Security Bureau.”

Bai Wei took Li Chen’s hand and the two of them walked off into the distance shoulder to shoulder.

‘Let the past stay in the past.’

At the instant he was about to leave the lower hive, Li Chen turned back and looked at the filthy slum, his eyes full of resolve.

Pa.

He closed the door, boarded the hovercar and fresh, sweet air flooded back into Li Chen’s nose.

“Hoo...” Taking off the mask, Li Chen drew in several deep breaths.

‘My constitution wasn’t this delicate before. Even if my talent is average, I still trained painstakingly for ten whole years and at the very least I was an apprentice-level martial artist.’

Watching the scenery flash past the window, Li Chen’s lips curled in helplessness.

Maybe it was because of that apocalypse virus.

In the game settings, male martial artists were rare to begin with and high-level martial artists were even fewer.

Uh, or maybe the game company’s paying players were mostly male?

Ding-dong—

[Entered the Upper Hive District, connecting to the Sky Net...]

When the hovercar entered the upper hive, the view outside changed abruptly.

An endless flow of neon lights and floating screens interwove to form an airtight skyline, dazzling to the eye.

Ding-dong ding-dong!

A lot of information began appearing across Li Chen’s retinal display.

[Solares Consortium officially announces that the family successor, the renowned business genius Ms. Daili, will assume the position of company president. Following this favorable news, the group’s market value has reached a new high.]

[The legendary mercenary group [Judicators] has captured another pre-civilization ruin, suspected to have discovered new Singularity technology. Several consortiums have already sent representatives to participate in the auction.]

[Five-star wanted criminal, the so-called “Underworld Empress,” the Psionic Empress, is suspected to have appeared in the upper hive. The Security Bureau Chief states that material controls will be implemented in the following areas. Local citizens are advised to take note.]

From silent to brilliantly colorful in an instant, Li Chen irritably skipped the news.

“Why does it have to be news about those bad women again?”

“It’s alright now, Xiao Chen.”

Seeming to catch the fleeting irritability on Li Chen’s face, Bai Wei opened her arms and pulled him into her embrace.

The softness against her chest instantly washed away his annoyance and gloom, leaving only endless longing.

“It’s all in the past now. And now, Xiao Chen, you belong to me alone.”

Bai Wei’s voice was like heavenly music, instantly dissolving the last trace of unwillingness in his heart.

‘Yeah. Why should I care about them? We were never related anymore anyway.’

Thinking that, Li Chen regained his spirit.

“You’re right. They… have nothing to do with me anymore.”

He casually updated his status.

Ding-dong!

[Detected that you have updated your personal status to Married. Please confirm whether to apply this change.]

Li Chen chose yes without hesitation.

Zzzzt.

A white light flashed.

‘Hm?’

Li Chen blinked.

For some reason, after he reset his personal chip information, a familiar yet unfamiliar panel abruptly appeared in his field of vision.

[Player login detected, activating daily log.]

This, this is...

‘Ten years. I was already planning to wash my hands of it all. And now you’re telling me my transmigrator perks only show up now?’

Li Chen blinked.

* * *

Meanwhile, the uppermost hive.

Sola Consortium Headquarters, President’s Office.

Bang.

‘It’s been years.’

The newly appointed company president closed the office door.

Alone, she silently admired the highest hall of power, something countless people dreamed of and tirelessly tried to infiltrate by any means.

Yet there was not the slightest joy of victory in her eyes.

‘I finally went from a worthless illegitimate daughter to the top leader of the consortium.’

Pulling out a chair, the new consortium president, Daili, paced back and forth with a dark expression.

‘But why is my heart still filled with emptiness?’

Of course, she knew the answer.

“Li Chen.”

Softly speaking the name of the person she longed for most in her life, Daili’s lips lifted slightly and an intoxicated look appeared.

‘Now I finally have the chance to recognize you again…’

She opened the screen, yet the consortium president hesitated, thinking about what she should say to that man.

Back then, to keep him from being dragged into the danger of the succession war, she had used the harshest methods to drive him away from her side.

‘I have to apologize properly, don’t I?’

Daili began planning how she would make it up to the man who, when she was cast out of her home and had no hope, reached out a warm hand and gave her the last shred of hope.

“...”

However, just as Daili kept recalling those past moments, a shocking message appeared before her eyes.

[Your friend has changed their personal status to Married. Please send a message to congratulate him～～]

Looking at the bright smiling face in the prompt interface produced by her own company, Daili’s body stiffened slightly.

Beep.

[Call the person in charge of the social system.]

She gave the order with killing intent, her gaze terrifying, like a lioness who had spotted prey and was ready to pounce.