Click.

Bai Xing sent this week's translating request to his client. It took a couple of hours for them to reply to him, expressing their satisfaction.

There were many websites and applications these days that provided a convenient and secure job request platform for freelancers like him. Thanks to that, even without taking a step out of his apartment, he could still earn his living just fine.

Stretching his body, he did his daily evening exercise routine before taking a shower. You might think a shut-in like him doesn't exercise, but he understood how important it is to keep his body fit and healthy.

After all, he would need to go out if he got sick. He was preventing that from happening.

He trimmed his bangs that started hindering his vision. He subconsciously touched the vertical scar below his left eye before leaving the bathroom. His phone vibrated and showed a job request notification.

The client asked him to translate their drama script. Reading the title, it was based on one of the classic fairytales, Little Red Riding Hood. The author tweaked the story here and there, adding a spoonful of adventure, thriller, and romance.

Truth be told, he didn't hate fairytales, but he couldn't help but feel slightly jealous of their happy endings. Finding true love right off the bat required a crazy amount of luck. It could probably happen if you're a saint or a hero in your past life.

But wasn't that why they were called fairytales? They were tales told by the fairies, non-existent creatures of fantasies.

It was also for educational purposes most of the time.

He told the client the price and delivery time. After they made the transaction, he started his work.

Bai Xing was peacefully typing, accompanied by the music in his headphone, when his computer screen suddenly glitched.

"!"

He quickly saved his work before anything happened. He then stopped typing to see what was wrong, but the glitch didn't happen again.

"?"

Was it his imagination?

Just as he finished his thought, the screen glitched again with much more intensity. He hesitantly stood up from his chair and backed away with his phone in hand.

It wouldn't explode, would it? He knew he should've changed it to a new one sooner.

To his surprise, instead of exploding, the glitch gradually formed a word on the screen.

[I need your help]

Blinding white light flashed in Bai Xing's room. He closed his eyes and covered them with his arm in reflex.

Once he lowered them, he wasn't in his room anymore. Instead, he was standing in front of a fountain in an unfamiliar vast garden. The full moon hung on the sky, hazily lighting the gorgeous palace across the garden.

"???"

His phone suddenly vibrated, startling the life out of him. He realized he brought his phone with him to wherever this is and quickly checked it.

When he unlocked his phone, he was stunned to see that all of his applications are gone. Instead, there was only a single app icon on the center of the screen. It showed he got one notification from it.

He opened it and a chat room with the name 'M' appeared. He got three messages.

[M: Good evening, Bai Xing]

[M: I know you are shocked and confused, but you need to calm down]

[M: You see that white gazebo behind you on your right? Go there first and we'll talk]

Bai Xing turned to where M said and indeed saw a white gazebo. He quickly went there and messaged M.

[Who are you? What is happening?]

[M: You are currently inside my world. The Fairytale World. It's not a fancy name, but it gives you a clear understanding, doesn't it?]

[M: If my previous messages reached you, it is just as it said]

[M: I need your help]

[M: I'll be direct. A virus is currently corrupting my world. I have reached out to many other humans from your world and other worlds, but all of them failed to exterminate it. It has corrupted 95% of my world and all that is left to corrupt is my last 5 stories]

[M: You are my last hope]

[M: You can probably tell how desperate I am. I didn't have any choice but to transfer you away here first and I apologize for that. But I couldn't afford your refusal]

[…I don't think I have the capability you need to help you. I'm just a translator. I can't even talk directly to other people properly. Can you just transfer me back?]

[M: I'm afraid I can't do that. The corruption of my world also affects me. I used the last of my 5% to transfer you here. Once the virus is gone and I gain back my full power, only then I can transfer you back home]

[…]

[M: This is also my last resort. I don't have any other choice]

[Why me? I don't like fairytales that much to begin with]

[M: …This may sound harsh, but because this is a do-or-die situation, I need someone who doesn't have any relatives or acquaintances left in the world. You have been shutting yourself in your apartment for 7 years after your parents, your only relatives, died. You also don't have any friends]

[M: Most importantly, is the fact you that you don't actually like fairytales]

[M: The previous humans all like the fairytales of my world to some degree. It resulted in them getting persuaded by the virus to go against me and help it instead. The rest were killed and got corrupted along with the world they were last in]

[M: Will you help me?]

Bai Xing was silent. He couldn't really refute M. What he said was all true. Well, he didn't really know whether M is he or she, but he would just assume it was he. M for Male.

He sighed resignedly.

[I don't have any other choice, do I?]

[But don't get your hopes up]

[M: Thank you]

[M: Don't worry, you certainly know my last 5 stories. They are all well-known stories in your world. You've possibly have read different versions of it]

[M: The virus needs to reach the happy ending to corrupt the story completely. This is because it infects the protagonists of my stories and used them as its vessel. Since its nature is evil, if it reaches a happy end, it will break my law of punishing evil and prevailing goodness]

[M: What I need you to do is to exterminate the virus before that and prevent the protagonists of the last 5 stories from reaching their happily ever after]

[M: You are currently in Cinderella's world. It took me a while to accumulate my power to transfer you here, so tomorrow is already the first day of the fated ball]

Bai Xing caught the detail from M's words.

[Is this the version where the ball is held for 3 nights?]

[M: Yes, as I thought, you read more than one version of it. You are currently a servant of the palace. This will give you easier access to the ball and the palace itself. I have already installed a directory in this app. It will show you to your room. You can rest first for tonight. I marked your bedroom there too]

[M: I wish you good luck. Unfortunately, I cannot accompany you for now. I am completely depleted and will soon fall into slumber. But I have installed the essentials you need in this app. I will contact you the first thing I wake up]

[M: But be mindful when you are using your phone. If the resident of this world suspected something, it will alert the virus]

[M: Then, we will meet again at a later time]

Bai Xing exited the chatroom and opened the directory M mentioned. It indeed showed where his room was and also gave him directions to it.

He raised his arm and studied his clothes. His black sweater was replaced by a plain white collared shirt. It was layered by a fitting black vest and a thin black bowtie completed the look.

It has been a long time since he last wore shoes. Not to mention leather shoes.

He then saw 2 blue dots enter his screen. At the same time, he heard footsteps from afar. He hurriedly ducked down and carefully peeked through the side of the gazebo's entrance.

2 patrolling soldiers walked past the garden. They brought a lantern with them, and each has a sword hanging on their waist.

People.

He's really going to face real people.

No, no. Just think about them as characters, NPCs.

Wait, M didn't say anything about needing to interact with other people.

What if he could find a way to stop the virus in the shadow? That would be fine too, right?

When the soldiers were finally gone, Bai Xing walked out of the gazebo. For now, he should rest first.

Unknown to him, a pair of golden eyes followed his figure out of the garden.

K_Jira

Hello, welcome to 'You Are My Fairytale'. I was feeling very sugar-deprived when writing this. This story will be particularly tooth-rotting, so bear with me ｡ﾟ(ﾟ∩´﹏`∩ﾟ)ﾟ｡I hope you enjoy this story!