Chapter 40: No Regrets in This Life, Embracing the Second Dimension

In a certain male dormitory at University A in S City, the air was as usual pervaded by the stench of decay. Yes, this was the reality for over ninety percent of male dorms in any university, and Dorm 414 was no exception. If there was anything that set them apart, it was the presence of a single, impeccably dressed individual among this group of slovenly young men.

That well-groomed fellow was scrutinizing a file in his hands, his expression growing grim. “Do you all even know what you’ve done?” he asked, tossing the file to a slightly chubby boy leaning against the wall, engrossed in his phone. “Xie Liu, see for yourself.”

“Vladimir, I swear, nothing you hand me ever brings good news.” Xie Liu took the file, shot a glance at the sharp dresser, then at the document, and his face instantly turned a shade greener. “Honestly, you heartless capitalists.”

“What do you mean, ‘you’re responsible for the damages’? With the fight that broke out, we’re lucky to have made it back alive!” Xie Liu slapped the file into Gong Hou’s face. “An S-Class Special Forces soldier from the Alliance—did they think we could handle that?”

“I’m already mediating with those higher up for you, but this time, you went too far. You leveled half a district in T City. We might have managed to pass it off as a chemical plant explosion, but the damages run into the billions. There’s no way this is getting swept under the rug.” Vladimir shrugged, “They’ve pulled out the blueprints for an energy compression array developed a hundred and forty years ago and handed them over as compensation. Every country has its eyes on the city’s tech—if we weren’t centuries ahead, they’d have already tried to take it by force.”

Gong Hou glanced at the file, then tossed it to Lin Yang. “Well, tell us, what do those rotting higher-ups want from us?”

Vladimir scratched his chin. “It’s complicated. Some say you should be stripped of your Hunter Squad title for reckless destruction, others think you should be rewarded for stopping that S-Class soldier.”

“Honestly, we didn’t stop anything,” Xie Liu couldn’t help but retort. “It was us getting pummeled from start to finish.”

“So what’s the final verdict?” Lin Yang handed the file to Xu Xiong, who, without so much as a glance, tossed it straight into the trash. Li Shizhu, munching on spicy strips while reading manga, fished it out, wiped his mouth, crumpled it, and threw it into the corner.

“Long story short, all your permissions are temporarily revoked pending investigation. No missions for a month. Also, since you’ve drawn the Alliance’s attention, the higher-ups want you to lay low for a while, so…” Vladimir pulled out a gold card. “Don’t say I’m stingy—this is your travel allowance. Pick a destination.”

“Topping up my internet by ten grand.” “Buy me ten thousand manga volumes.” “I want ten thousand wings!” “I’ll take… ten thousand dresses…”

“How about ten thousand trips to the spa!”

Everyone turned to look at Xie Liu, whose hand, half-raised, slowly dropped. “Ahem, perhaps we should think this through.”

A golden light shone outside the window as Ye Ling appeared. “What are you all plotting in there?”

…

After the Ace incident, Ye Ling had more or less become part of their little group, and her visits to 414 grew ever more frequent. After hearing the whole story, she nodded. “I’ve decided: let’s go to the Aegean.”

“Why?” came the unanimous question. Ye Ling put her hands on her hips, “You disgusting bunch, it’s about time you learned what it means to be a real man. You lot—” She snatched Li Shizhu’s manga and tossed it at Xie Liu. “All you ever do is fantasize about these two-dimensional girls. Doesn’t it make you sick?” Then, hugging her arms, she muttered under her breath, “And here I am, a real-life beauty…” She shook her head and declared, “Listen up! It’s time to experience what it means to truly live, to find out what love is! All this awaits in the Aegean! Go out and fall in love with real women in the real world!”

“What are you on about?”

“Falling in love?”

“Three-dimensional?”

“Women?”

“Hmph!”

The five all jeered at once. Ye Ling ground her teeth in frustration. “These idiots… It’s time to teach them a lesson.” How could they ignore her charm? Well, they always did, and Ye Ling was nearly fuming. Why couldn’t she win over these five layabouts?

“I know where we should go,” Xie Liu’s eyes sparkled. Gong Hou chimed in, “So do I.” The five exchanged glances. “That’s right—Akihabara!”

“They’re hopeless,” Ye Ling muttered, massaging her forehead. Vladimir chuckled, “If that’s your decision, go wild.” He tossed the gold card to Xie Liu, who handed it to Xu Xiong. “You’re in charge now.”

“We’ll leave this afternoon,” Xie Liu thought gleefully. Ye Ling glared at their excited faces, inwardly vowing, “Just wait. One day, I’ll show you what true passion for life is.”

…

When the five arrived at the holy land of otakus, their excitement was palpable. Before Ye Ling could react, the five had scattered into the city’s alleys.

“Hey… you…” Ye Ling began, only to find herself alone amid the throngs. Nearly losing her cool, she sighed.

“Ojousama, would you like to visit our maid café?” A girl in a maid outfit handed her a flyer. Ye Ling’s head throbbed—she wasn’t an otaku!

Forget it. She’d find a quiet spot to wait for them. Determined, she entered the maid café from the flyer.

“Welcome, milady.” The greeting was in the local language, but the global unlimited translation system made it clear. Ye Ling shook her head. When it came to maids, only those in her own home were the real deal. These café maids were but the fantasy of perverted men obsessed with erotic culture. She lost interest and picked a window seat.

“Why did I even come here with them?” Chin in hand, Ye Ling gazed at the bustling crowds, yet felt a peace she’d never known, so far from S City.

“Perhaps… it’s nice to be ordinary.” She smiled softly. As the heiress of the S City Tianzhao Consortium, her life was never her own. She could have attended a better university, but her father forbade her from leaving S City, so she ended up at this third-rate school—and met Xie Liu and the others. “It’s not so bad.” She was already content; just getting into college was a hard-won opportunity for her.

“This place really is wonderful.” She glanced at the menu and flashed a devilish smile. “Since Vladimir’s paying, I’d better make the most of it…”

…

When the others finally found Ye Ling, she was waiting at the entrance of a department store. She’d changed into a brand-new white dress, carried several colorful shopping bags, and idly kicked her pale legs. For the heat, she’d bought a white felt hat, looking every bit the little angel.

“You’re here!” Ye Ling smiled, clearly in a great mood—though it was obviously the afterglow of a shopping spree, thought the boys silently.

Seeing them approach, Ye Ling tilted her head, hands clasped behind her back, and bent over to peer at the group of hulking men, flashing a mischievous smile. “You’re so slow.” She lifted her chin, lips curling into an innocence only a young girl could muster. “I’m starving.”

“I know a great place nearby,” Xu Xiong volunteered, but Xie Liu shot him a look. “Not another ramen shop.”

“Alright, alright. Knowing you all, you’d never come up with anywhere decent. I’ve already scouted out a spot.” Ye Ling sighed, plucking a novel from Gong Hou’s hands. “‘My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute?’” She frowned at the cover, the local language already translated by the unlimited system. “Ugh, disgusting.” She tossed the book back. “Will you ever graduate from this stuff?”

“What do you know?” Gong Hou retorted. “You’ll never understand what a true holy land is. The gap between us isn’t distance—it’s dimension!”

Ye Ling felt her good mood evaporate. What was wrong with these guys? Couldn’t they see the real beauty right in front of them?

No, this couldn’t go on. She couldn’t let these five waste away. She had to open their eyes—there was no happy ending in two dimensions. Following behind the group, who were happily discussing their latest manga haul, Ye Ling resolved to bring them back to reality.

But first… maybe she should fill her stomach.

Following Ye Ling’s lead, they ended up at a dessert shop. The boys grimaced—this wasn’t their usual scene. Usually, it was cheap fast food or ramen, ten bucks or less, guaranteed to fill them up.

“We should just find a ramen shop…” Gong Hou eyed the tiny cake—barely the size of his fist—and wondered if he’d starve before making it out the door.

“Do you know why you can’t get girlfriends?” Ye Ling pointed her fork at Gong Hou’s nose. “You’re too uncouth. Girls don’t like country bumpkins—especially not otakus. What’s the point of living in two dimensions? Can you find two-dimensional girls in the real world?”

“Girls are dreamers but also practical. With your habits, no girl would ever look your way.” As Ye Ling lectured, the boys wolfed down their cakes, nodding eagerly, just hoping she’d finish soon so they could head back to the hotel—or maybe grab a late-night snack. But Ye Ling wasn’t about to let them off so easily. “First of all, you need to know: there are no two-dimensional girls in this world!”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh…” They nodded, and Ye Ling, seeing their apparent compliance, was about to continue when she realized all five were staring, awestruck, at the window.

“Who says there aren’t two-dimensional girls?” Gong Hou murmured. Ye Ling followed their gaze—and her jaw dropped.

Clinging to the window was a little girl, about ten years old, as flawless as a porcelain doll, as elegant as a European figurine.

More than that, she seemed to have stepped straight out of a painting—amethyst eyes sparkling with intoxicating light, hair a silvery violet that begged to be touched.

Her delicate features and pale cheeks were the epitome of cuteness. Dressed in gothic black, clutching a brown teddy bear, a frail hand pressed to the glass, her breath fogged the pane as she stared longingly at the cake before Ye Ling, practically drooling.

In that moment, it was as if all matter faded to dross. Her beauty and adorableness were overwhelming, a sudden, violent charm that breached every heart in an instant.

“Whose lost child is that?” Ye Ling was startled. Seeing the little girl’s hungry gaze, she felt a surge of tenderness and beckoned her over, pointing at the cake.

“Mm, mm, mm…” The little girl nodded enthusiastically, humming with excitement. The five boys clutched their chests. “I can’t take it. Too cute!”

…

Ye Ling brought the little girl in. With no adults in sight, she seemed to be lost. Seating her at her side, Ye Ling ordered her a fruit cake.

“Where’s your family?” she asked softly. But the child’s eyes were fixed on the cake. Eager, but cautious, she waited for Ye Ling’s nod before daring to touch it.

Ye Ling smiled. “So well-behaved. Go ahead, it’s yours.”

The little girl beamed, stars sparkling in her eyes, and dove into the cake. Ye Ling stroked her hair, then glared at the five boys, all of whom seemed transfixed.

“Heavens, she really did step out of an anime,” Gong Hou nearly squealed.

Ye Ling shot him a look, then watched as the little girl polished off her cake in no time, giving a cute little burp. Smiling, Ye Ling asked, “What’s your name? Where are your parents?”

The girl looked at Ye Ling, her violet eyes now softening, and the initial shyness melting away under Ye Ling’s gentle smile.

“Mama…” the little girl suddenly said. Ye Ling was dumbfounded. One piece of cake and now she had a daughter? The five boys nearly spat blood.

“What about me?” Gong Hou shamelessly leaned in.

“Uncle…” the girl replied sweetly, and Gong Hou looked utterly content.

“And me?” Lin Yang pressed. The girl blinked. “Sister…”

“Pfft…” Everyone nearly choked. Xie Liu almost doubled over.

“And me?” Xie Liu managed, pointing to himself. The girl, seeing him, instinctively clung to Ye Ling’s sleeve, wary. “Creepy uncle.”

“I might as well die,” Xie Liu groaned, banging his head on the glass as everyone laughed.

Finally, she turned to Li Shizhu and Xu Xiong. “Big brother…” The two beamed, satisfied to finally get a normal title.

Ye Ling patted her little head. “What’s your name? Where are your parents?”

“Mama?” The girl hesitated, then hugged Ye Ling tight. “Mama, mama.” Ye Ling winced. Though the child looked eleven or twelve, she seemed to have the mind of a much younger child—five or six, perhaps even less.

“Is this the imprinting effect?” Xie Liu mused, rubbing his chin.

“Let’s at least get some information,” Ye Ling sighed.

“What’s your name?” Xie Liu forced a smile. The girl shrank behind Ye Ling, but after glancing up at her, whispered, “Angel…”

“Angel?” Xie Liu frowned. That was the English pronunciation for “angel,” but who would name their child that? Clearly, she wasn’t local, but figuring out her nationality would be tough. Stranger still, she spoke the local language.

“Is she a mixed-blood?” After activating the translation system on her, Xie Liu sensed she seemed to feel something—was it possible she was connected to the City of Phantoms?

Perhaps the translation system’s aura made her uneasy. Was it just a coincidence to meet a child from the city here?

“What now?” Ye Ling asked, looking at the little one, now fast asleep on Gong Hou’s back.

“Let’s try the police,” Xie Liu decided.

…

“There’s no missing person report,” the police told them. “We don’t know her background, so we can’t find her parents. We’ve logged her information; if her parents see it, they’ll come to us.”

So Xie Liu and the others left the station with the sleeping Angel.

“What do we do?” Ye Ling asked, looking at the girl slumped on Gong Hou’s back. “Should we take care of her until her parents turn up?”

“That’s all we can do,” Lin Yang shrugged, gazing fondly at the sleeping Angel. “It’s not so bad. I hope she doesn’t get scared.”

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Xie Liu laughed. “Angel is so adorable—if I were her parent, I’d be frantic! She really is a little anime girl come to life!”

“Long live two dimensions!” Xie Liu shouted, fist raised, drawing stares from passersby. Gong Hou nodded solemnly, joined by the others. “No regrets for the two-dimensional life!”