Chen Huaian couldn't help but laugh in frustration when he saw the top-up reminder.

The game developers didn't even bother to disguise their intentions; they just wanted players to spend money right from the start.

But looking at the pitiful expression of the girl on the screen, he couldn't help but think of himself—alone, without support, unable to afford medical treatment, and even his girlfriend had left him. How much better off was he compared to Li Qingran? His former friends were all afraid he'd ask to borrow money, and he couldn't reach any of them.

Who would lend him a helping hand?

But now, he could extend a helping hand to this girl.

Even though she was just a program, a game designed to drain his wallet.

"Just six bucks, top up!"

Chen Huaian had never played games before; he'd only watched others play.

This was definitely his first time spending money in a game.

[Top-up successful!]

He watched as the notification turned into golden light, flowing towards the dilapidated thatched hut where Li Qingran was.

The golden light fell on the straw mat, transforming it into a wooden bed with bedding. The crumbling earthen walls turned into brick walls with a window that kept out the wind and rain. As the golden light enveloped the entire room, the floor, table, chairs, stove... all sorts of antique furniture appeared.

"That's more like it!" Chen Huaian felt satisfied and looked at Li Qingran, curious to see her reaction.

But it was just a mobile game; it probably wouldn't be that detailed, at most showing a bit of happiness.

However, he was surprised to see Li Qingran's expression change from bewilderment to terror, then to vigilance. The girl seemed incredulous about what was happening, cowering in the corner, too afraid to move. After a while, she cautiously circled the room like a cat in a new environment.

She sat back on the bed, touched the soft mattress, and her eyes were filled with confusion.

"Oh my God, the expression feedback, the interaction system..." Chen Huaian was dumbfounded by the series of reactions from the game character. When Li Qingran sat on the bed, it naturally sank a little, and the places she touched even left wrinkles.

Could a mere mobile game achieve this level of detail?

Even if it meant spending more money, he felt it was worth it, as a way to reward the game developers.

But just as this thought crossed his mind...

[ Top up 30 yuan to get a beautiful outfit for your virtual girlfriend!]

"Uh..." Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran's tattered clothes and felt a pang of sympathy. "Top up!"

Whoosh! An antique-style blue dress appeared at the bedside.

[ Top up 68 yuan to set a sumptuous nutritional meal for your virtual girlfriend!]

68 yuan for a meal? Chen Huaian usually spent no more than 15 on takeout!

But so what? Top up!

[ Top up 98 yuan to receive a background report and health check form for your virtual girlfriend, to better understand her status!]

Chen Huaian: "Top up!"

[ Top up 188 yuan to equip your virtual girlfriend's home with three Immortal Grade Thunderfire Talismans for protection!]

Chen Huaian: "Top up, top up, top up!"

[Your virtual girlfriend is frightened, please wait before proceeding~~]

The game stopped showing top-up prompts.

Chen Huaian noticed that Li Qingran had hidden under the bed, trembling all over.

The new clothes on the bed remained untouched, as did the table full of chicken, duck, and fish.

A countdown for the inspection report appeared in the upper right corner, set to be ready in half an hour.

The room's door, windows, and ceiling now had three talismans, barely visible unless zoomed in.

He felt slightly relieved that Li Qingran's lifespan had been extended to six hours.

"Not bad, no major issues for now."

The game's time was synchronized with real time, so he didn't need to be too anxious.

"By the way, didn't Li Qingran have some kind of fire poison before? What was that?"

It seemed like he could check her status by tapping on her, but unfortunately, the girl was now under the bed, with only a small, white foot visible. Tapping it had no effect, and it quickly retracted as if shocked.

"Guess I'll have to wait for the inspection report to get a clearer picture."

Chen Huaian rubbed his stomach and glanced at the food on the table in the game. The oil from the roast duck seemed to be dripping down, looking so realistic that it didn't feel like just a texture; he could almost smell it.

It was already afternoon, and he hadn't had lunch yet.

"I'll just whip up something simple. The game character is eating better than I am."

Chen Huaian sighed, but thinking about how 68 yuan bought such a feast, it seemed quite a bargain.

He felt at ease.

He placed his phone on the table to charge,

planning to have lunch before checking on his virtual girlfriend again.

***

Li Qingran, female, 19 years old, Fifth Disciple of Crimson Sky Peak of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Her life had been relatively peaceful, following a routine of cultivation and sect missions. She was protected by four senior brothers, each with their own strengths, until one day, First Senior Brother Lu Changtian brought back a Sixth Junior Sister from outside, vouching for her with his life to allow the talentless Sixth Junior Sister to join Crimson Sky Peak, and everything changed.

The First Senior Brother, who used to call her for morning lessons every day, stopped coming.

Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng, who was skilled in pill refining, no longer asked her to test medicines.

Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo, who was always cold to everyone, even learned love songs for the little junior sister?

Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao, who was keen on taking missions, stopped going out and stayed at Crimson Sky Peak to guard the little junior sister every day.

Everyone revolved around Sixth Junior Sister Mu Baishuang, even the usually indifferent Master favored her, simply because her tragic background, broken family, and frail health gave the impression that she might shatter if not carefully nurtured.

Li Qingran had no objections to these changes.

It was normal for the sweet-talking and lovable little junior sister to be favored.

As a senior sister, she should also take care of the little junior sister.

Under the careful guidance and resource allocation from the four senior brothers, Mu Baishuang's cultivation level gradually caught up with hers.

At the sect's grand competition half a month ago, adhering to the principle of respecting opponents and stopping at the right moment, she engaged in a normal duel with Junior Sister Mu Baishuang.

Although Mu Baishuang's cultivation had improved, her foundation, built through medicinal means, was unstable, and her combat experience was severely lacking.

She intended to exchange a few dozen moves to make a point, then apply pressure to make Mu Baishuang concede.

This way, Mu Baishuang would save face, and it wouldn't affect rankings or fairness.

But Mu Baishuang relentlessly aimed her sword at vital points, forcing her to defend with all her might.

However, at a certain moment, the aggressive Mu Baishuang suddenly switched to defense and even lunged towards her sword. By then, it was too late to withdraw her sword, making it seem as if she deliberately aimed for Mu Baishuang's vital point...

The sword merely pierced Mu Baishuang's shoulder.

Yet it nearly cost her half her life.

She was expelled from Crimson Sky Peak and demoted to an Outer Disciple.

Did she think it was over? No, her four senior brothers had no intention of letting her go.

They wanted to avenge Mu Baishuang.

First Senior Brother Lu Changtian crippled her cultivation and pleaded with the Master to remove her spiritual root.

Second Senior Brother made her consume a waste pill, saying it was to let her taste the pain of the little junior sister.

Third Senior Brother bribed the Outer Sect Elder to expel her from the Azure Cloud Sect, and Fourth Senior Brother, claiming to take her down the mountain, abandoned her in a dilapidated thatched hut surrounded by demonic beasts on Evergreen Mountain, leaving her to fend for herself... They seemed possessed, turning a misunderstanding, a trivial matter, into a life-threatening vendetta for the little junior sister!

For the past half month, she had done her best to protect herself, having recently fought off a demon wolf with great effort, sustaining serious injuries. Moreover, with her cultivation crippled, the previously non-lethal fire poison had become a life-hastening talisman, and she was already at the end of her rope.

Coincidentally, a heavy rainstorm hit the mountain, as she cowered in the corner, awaiting death.

A mountain sparrow flew swiftly past the rain-soaked entrance.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in her ear: [Home is here!]

In the blink of an eye, the dilapidated thatched hut she was in transformed into a stone-built house!