Sweetly Clearing the Level
Very soon, the players had to get serious and face their surroundings.
After all, this was a tropical rainforest, known as a “forbidden zone for humans”! The excitement of just entering the holographic game was gradually disrupted by various dangers—
[Wait, look carefully. Is that a huge snake under the tree roots?!]
[There seem to be swarms of insects flying too! So realistic! As expected of 01]
[Holy crap, bless me so I don’t randomly get this dungeon when I play—]
Soon, the sound of a child crying rang out from deep in the jungle. No one knew what difficulty they had encountered.
As the child cried, they shouted at the sky:
“Ultraman, save me!—”
Ding Ziyue: “???”
Thanks, don’t cue me!
[Hahahaha, looks like Princess Ding’s holy-light healing really left a deep impression back then]
[And this is Sister Ning’s game too, hahahaha, isn’t this a continuation?]
[Thank you, Ultraman Ding, for letting me find entertainment in any environment [rose]]
[I wonder if this world will favour Princess Ding the way the zombie world did [rose][rose]]
The dangers of the rainforest adventure gradually approached the players. Although the game’s mechanics were not cruel, it allowed players to experience, very realistically, the difficulties of surviving in various small worlds.
The reason tropical rainforests were called forbidden zones for humans was because threats came from “water, land, and air.”
In the air, there were all kinds of flying insects and birds. In the water, there were snakes, leeches, and even giant pythons like anacondas. Apart from that, there were electric eels, piranhas, and the like. On land, there were all kinds of reptiles and hidden primitive tribes—possibly even cannibals.
In the tropical rainforest world, after being bitten, players’ bodies would show realistic symptoms such as redness, swelling, and spreading toxins. If they randomly entered other worlds, such as the African savanna, they might be chased by hyenas, wolves, tigers, or leopards. In the underwater world, they might be sprayed all over with ink by a giant squid.
In short, the game designed by 01 covered a very wide range and was highly suitable for parent-child educational adventures.
And ‘Let’s Try Adventure’ had one most important rule—
In every team, if the adults were injured or even eliminated offline, their family team would still remain. But once the child in the team was injured and eliminated, the whole team would be eliminated.
—So protecting the children was extremely important. This game could have multiple winners. As long as players protected the child in their team and survived until the dungeon ended, they could win.
Gu Cheng and Ning Yi kept the two little balls beside them the whole time. The two children were also very obedient and did not run out of their parents’ sight.
“Wangwang and Mumu will protect ourselves and protect Mummy!”
After Mrs Ding failed to educate someone else’s children, she quickly returned to the little prince and Jiang Linyi.
“Little Prince, you must stay by our side, understand?”
“I understand, Mother!”
And at this moment, Team Captain Wander, who realised he had accidentally brought along the pitfall that was Gu Le: “?”
Wander had not participated in developing this game and hadn’t read the rules carefully. By the time he found out, it was too late for regrets.
Surely not. Gu Le wouldn’t be eliminated first again this time, would he?
Gu Le: Heh, hehe.
Song Qingmei found this very interesting. Young Master Gu’s younger brother really wasn’t like Young Master Gu at all, nor did he have Ning Yi’s calm, composed humour. He seemed simply… silly?
But Song Qingmei liked people and things that made her feel relaxed. Winning or losing wasn’t important to her—honestly, she felt that the world she lived in had become very interesting ever since Ning Yi appeared.
Wander had no other choice, so he could only hold his forehead and say, “…You two stick close to me.”
This time, no matter what, he had to survive longer than Gu Cheng—he was still brooding over Gu Cheng’s winner’s cufflink.
Young Master Gu: “Okay, Brother O3O”
In ‘Apocalypse Recreated’, his real brother and Brother Wan had both ruthlessly abandoned him. Bet they didn’t expect this, hehe! This time he had become the key protection target!
Sister-in-law’s game was great! Yay!
[Young Master Gu: Thanks, Captain Wan, for helping babysit]
[Young Master Gu: Do not disturb, thanks]
[Hope Young Master Gu can stay online a little longer this time hahahaha]
Their group ventured deeper and even encountered a group of savages passing by while singing a mysterious ancient song. Wander immediately pulled the two of them down to the ground, only coming out after the savages had left.
Deep in the rainforest, all the vegetation looked extremely similar, and it was easy to get lost if one wasn’t careful. Wander had been making marks along the way and led them to a clean water source to replenish their fluids.
Gu Le was protected by Wander the entire time and finally had a proper gaming experience. His whole person radiated happiness and joy.
Then, as they continued searching for food, Gu Le saw the marks Wander had made. Very cleverly, he turned and walked down another path. “Haha! I’m so smart!”
After playing so many games, I really have improved!
Wander’s eyes suddenly widened. “Wait—”
Although it was the same mark, this one didn’t seem to be his?
However, Gu Le had already stepped straight into the trap behind it.
When he fell in, his face still carried an innocent, bright smile—
Pfft.
Wander: “…”
The netizens all reacted as if they had expected this:
[Hahahahaha, in the end! In the end, still!]
[Farewell, Young Master Gu, forever the first one!]
[It’s over, Brother Wan and Qingmei are going to be dragged offline by him hahahahahaha]
After Gu Le fell, although the game would treat “children” more gently, falling into such a deep pit still meant he was done. And so, their “family” dissolved on the spot.
Wander and Song Qingmei both began pixelating, about to go offline.
Wan x esports player x top gaming streamer x team captain: Damn.
He never should have helped Gu Cheng babysit!
But Song Qingmei, who was about to go offline with him, kept smiling.
It was the kind of calm smile she had pursued for many years. She looked at Wander and said, “It’s okay. Being happy is the most important thing!”
Wander looked at her, then looked at the huge pit opened up by that disaster magnet.
Then he laughed too.
Forget it. Back then, hadn’t he already decided— to properly look for fun in this world, just like 01?
So Wander smiled and held out his hand. “Alright then.”
Being happy was enough.
…
—“Gu Le, Wander, Qingmei, OUT.”
The system announcement spread throughout the small world.
Gu Cheng’s hands paused slightly as he was building the house. “…”
He really wanted to pretend he didn’t know him.
Ning Yi: Hahaha, their family is really interesting.
Wangwang and Mumu also heard it and giggled. “Little Uncle got eliminated again!”
Was it because he had also turned five years old?
[Hahaha, Young Master Gu pretending to be a child still isn’t as smart as the two cubs!]
[Meanwhile, Young Master Gu and Sister Ning are taking care of two cubs and nothing has happened hahahaha]
The family of four each had their own tasks, and somehow they were busy in a very enjoyable way.
After all, this was also an experience that was hard to have in real life.
Gu Cheng had already used chopped wooden sticks and vines to build a very simple shelter beside the small river they had found, covering the top with a thick layer of palm leaves.
The two little balls transported things back and forth, very seriously helping with the work.
Although the rainforest only had natural materials, once small missions were completed, the game system would send rewards, such as medicine, waterproof cloth, and other supplies that couldn’t be found in the jungle.
After the small task of building shelter was completed, the system sent waterproof cloth. Mumu found it not far away and dragged it back with great effort.
So another black waterproof cover was added over the palm-leaf roof. With double protection, once they started a fire, it wouldn’t be put out by rain, and they wouldn’t get soaked at night either.
“Wow!” “Amazing!”
The two little balls had never lived somewhere this simple before, but they still seemed very excited and quickly crawled inside.
“Wow, Daddy and Mummy can both lie down!”
“Mummy sleeps in the middle. Mumu and I will protect Mummy.”
Ning Yi smiled. “Thank you, babies.”
Gu Cheng laughed. “Then what about me?”
Wangwang raised his small round hand. “Then Daddy protects the three of us.”
Gu Cheng held Ning Yi and laughed. “Got it.”
The family of four sat inside the simple shelter and shared the fruit Gu Cheng had chopped down earlier.
Their bodies’ hydration was replenished, but night was about to fall.
A tropical rainforest at night was terrifying. Snakes, insects, and scorpions would become more active in the darkness. Without fire, all kinds of mosquitoes and insects would attack in even greater numbers. If they were accidentally bitten by poisonous insects, it would be easy to become infected in the damp, hot environment of the rainforest, and their health bars would keep dropping until they were forced offline.
So now, they needed to search for dry leaves and dry wooden sticks to start a fire, as well as tools that could create friction.
Because the environment was too damp, most of the flammable materials they found couldn’t be used. The family of four worked together for a long time before finally gathering a pile of firewood. But making fire by friction was another obstacle, because without proper tools, it was basically pure physical labour.
Fortunately, Ning Yi unexpectedly found an abandoned outdoor training camp in the rainforest! Although there was no edible food inside, she did find some metal wire and rope.
“Can this be used?” Ning Yi brought them over and asked Gu Cheng.
“—Yes,” Gu Cheng said, taking them. He laughed. “It’ll just wear out your husband a bit.”
The netizens instantly:
[Hahahahaha]
[For the sake of his family of four, Young Master Gu can only work hard]
Ning Yi also laughed. “Husband, do your best ^3^”
Using such crude tools to start a fire was obviously difficult. Gu Cheng used the metal wire to fix the rope onto a wooden stick, then pulled the rope to rub against a piece of firewood.
This method consumed a lot of energy. Young Master Gu nearly rubbed sparks out of the rope, but there was only smoke and still no fire.
Ning Yi couldn’t do this, so she crouched beside him with the two little balls and encouraged Gu Cheng.
“Oh my gosh, husband, you look so handsome starting a fire.”
“Daddy! You’re amazing!”
“Our whole family is relying on you, Daddy!”
“…” The veins on Young Master Gu’s arm bulged as he continued working.
[Hahaha, he’s losing himself in all the praise]
[The whole family is KFC-ing Young Master Gu hahahaha]
Fortunately, Gu Cheng, your business emperor, did after all have luck on his side!
Just as Gu Cheng had almost rubbed the rope until it snapped, beneath the rolling white smoke, tiny sparks finally appeared!
Gu Cheng immediately cupped the tinder in his hands, half-kneeling beside the pile of dry leaves and firewood while blowing on it. Once the flame grew a little larger, he immediately lit more flammable material, and then, with a whoosh—
The fire started!
Wangwang and Mumu surrounded the crackling fire and cheered excitedly. “Amazing!!”
Ning Yi smiled as she squeezed Gu Cheng’s muscles to massage him. “You worked hard, husband. You’re the best.”
Gu Cheng pressed down on her hand. “It’s fine. Save it.”
For when they got home.
With fire, many things became easier. They skewered the little fish they had caught in the river on wooden sticks and roasted them over the fire. After eating, their health bars extended greatly.
At this moment, Zhao Mochu and Assistant Zhou arrived with the little nephew.
Assistant Zhou usually looked like an elite, but now his head was covered in leaves. He stared at Young Master Gu’s family in shock.
Y-you’re all living so well!
—As expected of Young Master Gu and Madam T-T!
He and Zhao Mochu had originally been staying nearby, but shipping them didn’t fill their stomachs, so the two of them went out to look for food and ended up getting lost. Fortunately, they eventually found this little river again and followed it back.
In the rainforest night, encountering a fire gave such a strong sense of security!
Wangwang looked at Assistant Zhou and wanted to give them a small fish.
As a tiny domineering CEO, Wangwang had always had a good relationship with Assistant Zhou.
But first, he looked at Mummy, then at Mumu, and finally at Daddy before asking, “Can we give them one?”
If not, that was fine too. After all, the most important thing was that Mummy had enough to eat. They could save it for Mummy instead.
Gu Cheng’s arm—the one nearly ruined from starting the fire—rested on Ning Yi’s shoulder, keeping her circled in his embrace. He laughed. “If Mummy agrees, then I agree.”
Ning Yi smiled. “Sure.”
It was only a game. The little balls’ happiness mattered most.
Wangwang’s eyes lit up, but he still remembered to ask his sister last. “What about Mumu? Do you agree?”
Mumu nodded obediently. “Of course I agree, Brother.”
The family of four discussed the matter very equally. Only after receiving everyone’s agreement did Wangwang share the family’s supplies.
His little round hands held out the fish. “Assistant Zhou, for you.”
Assistant Zhou almost cried from emotion. “President Wangwang!”
TAT Twenty years from now, I’ll still be your assistant—!
[Sob sob sob, baby, baby]
[Baby is so good!]
[Their family atmosphere is amazing!]
Assistant Zhou took the roasted little fish back, split half for the little nephew, and handed the other half to Zhao Mochu.
But just as Zhao Mochu accepted it, she saw Wangwang run back into his parents’ arms and sweetly nestle there.
Ning Yi kissed his round little cheek.
And Gu Cheng kissed the top of Ning Yi’s hair.
Zhao Mochu’s eyes rolled back: Help—so sweet ahhhhh—
Assistant Zhou quickly supported her and asked nervously, “You’re not going to faint again, are you?”
[Hahaha, how many people are still immersed in ‘Apocalypse Recreated’?]
[The gossip host used to faint every time she shipped them. I still laugh whenever I remember it—]
Zhao Mochu immediately said, “No, there aren’t any character cards this time!”
Assistant Zhou gave her the fish.
Zhao Mochu looked at him and asked, “Don’t you think it’s sweet?”
“It is sweet,” Assistant Zhou said objectively, pushing up his cyber glasses. “But if you faint, your condition is more important.”
After following Young Master Gu for so many years, Assistant Zhou had learned not only business warfare, but also one very important thing: respect women.
And besides… they were still on the same team right now!
Zhao Mochu looked at him.
He was clearly just a fellow sugar-shipping brother, so why did he seem a little sweet too? (//-//)
So Zhao Mochu broke the fish in half again and shared it with him.
[So nice TvT I really want to watch Sister Ning, Young Master Gu, and this whole group keep playing forever]
[Sob sob sob, me too!]
[I don’t even want them to clear the level, sob sob]
Just then, there was a rustling sound in the grass.
Princess Ding appeared with the little prince and the old knight.
Because of the firelight by the river, many players were actually gathering this way, since they had all failed to start fires.
Mumu looked at them. Thinking of how her brother had generously shared earlier, she also asked kindly, “Do you need fire, Auntie Ultraman?”
Ding Ziyue had just been about to sit down, but the words “Auntie Ultra” made her bounce back up.
—Who, who is Ultraman?!
Ding Ziyue maintained her smile. “No need, we’re also about to start a fire!”
The little prince looked up and asked, “Really, Mother?”
Ding Ziyue said, “Oh, God, of course, my darling.”
Ning Yi: Hahahaha, why did she suddenly start speaking in translated-dub style—
Princess Ding Ding: forever young, forever upgrading.
Ding Ziyue strode confidently with Jiang Linyi to the other side and began using the stones they had found along the way to make fire.
The famous child psychologist Mrs Ding had said before that one must teach children by words and deeds through one’s beautiful soul and character!
Princess Ding elegantly educated the little prince: “Look, first do this, then do this, and the fire will start.”
The little prince looked at the completely motionless dry grass and asked elegantly, “Really, Mother?”
Ding Ziyue directed Jiang Linyi to come over and strike the stones that absolutely could not produce sparks, saying firmly, “Of course, haha!”
Jiang Linyi could only lower his head and hit the stones.
After a while, Ding Ziyue suddenly said, “Wait, there seems to be a sound—”
Jiang Linyi stopped and listened carefully.
After night fell, strange, ancient songs came from the jungle, accompanied by the beating of leather drums…
It was a primitive tribe! They might be cannibals!
Clearly, the players around them also heard the sound and began holding their breaths as they fled.
Ding Ziyue stayed still. It was fine. She wouldn’t glow in this world! As long as she hid, she wouldn’t be discovered!
Soon, faint figures appeared in the dark jungle. They wore strange headpieces, walked slowly, and muttered chants under their breath.
Ding Ziyue held her breath. Sure enough, no one noticed their side.
But just then, a lone child from who-knew-which family suddenly ran out from the bushes.
The instant he saw Ding Ziyue, his eyes filled with the hopeful light of “I’m saved”—
Ding Ziyue: Wait, no!
But the child had already let out an earth-shattering shout: “Are you the glowing Ultraman?!”
The savages turned back: *stare—*
Ding Ziyue: “???”
Are you serious!! Are you okay!!!
Princess Ding began another jungle escape: Why! Why was it always like this!
[Hahahahahaha]
[Sorry, Princess Ding, I really didn’t want to laugh hahahahaha]
[No one can resist Princess Ding’s charm! No one]
And so, in this lifetime, Ding Ziyue finally had an unprecedented thought—
Was I born into this world just to be funny?!
Tired! Truly tired!
The group by the fire collectively watched Princess Ding Ding run off into the distance.
It had to be said: although Mrs Ding was very broken, she didn’t try to lead the savages toward them.
In a certain sense, Princess Ding was also a very strong person. She had an indestructible spirit of striving forward. No matter how many times she broke down, she still insisted, “I insist on forcing it!”
Ning Yi leisurely took a sip of water—just keep going like this, supporting the operation of this world!
Princess of Light Ultraman!
[Forever young, forever looking forward to the princess’s jokes]
[Forever young, forever ruthlessly roasting]
[Farewell, Princess. Come again next time]
Ding Ziyue: I’ll definitely be back!
…
The remaining players survived the rainforest night. When daylight appeared again, they had successfully cleared this world.
「Congratulations to all remaining players!」
「Reward: one medal!」
The players had gained a very good gaming experience. As they logged off, they also agreed to try the next fun little world created by 01 when they had time—
Ning Yi and Gu Cheng held hands, preparing to leave with the two little balls.
But just then, a small firework suddenly bloomed in the sky above the rainforest—
“Congratulations 01, congratulations Mummy.”
Ning Yi blinked.
This was a small string of code Mumu had secretly written and hidden inside Mummy’s game.
She had discovered very early on that she learned the programming Mummy taught her extremely quickly—so quickly that she could even hack into other people’s computers. But after thinking it over, Mumu only wanted to use this ability to make Mummy happier.
At that moment, Wangwang also took a piece of paper from his pocket and spread it open—
Written across it in flamboyant strokes was:
“Wishing Mummy happiness every day — Gu Weining”
His signature practice had clearly been effective.
These were the gifts the two little balls had secretly prepared for Ning Yi to celebrate the game’s release—
And at that moment, the netizens watching online hadn’t left yet. They were directly sweetened into fainting by the little balls.
[Sob sob sob, oh my god, babies]
[So young and already able to write code and sign in cursive. All I can say is: as expected of those two people’s children T-T]
[I’m dying from sweetness, sob sob sob. These are babies raised in love]
Ning Yi accepted the children’s gifts, her heart warm and sweet. She kissed each of their little cheeks.
Then she stood up, carefully put them away, and habitually looked toward Gu Cheng.
Gu Cheng smiled and held her hand. “My gift… is at home.”
Very private.
Not for outsiders to see.
“Alright then—” Ning Yi tilted her head with a smile. “Then I’ll give you all a gift too.”
Wangwang and Mumu were instantly pleasantly surprised. “What is it?”
Ning Yi opened her control panel and swiped. The world began to change—
“In my world, all of you are VIPs,” Ning Yi said with a smile.
And so, above the game hall, the galaxy sky and the little worlds represented by tiny planets slowly unfolded before them like a painting—
The little balls saw that inside the cathedral were colourful stained-glass paintings, and inside the belly of the giant Buddha were suspended mechanisms.
In the animal world, wildebeest and zebras were migrating, while leopards chased after them.
In the sky, there were floating, shining sky islands. In the sea, there was a dreamy, strange Atlantis temple—
“Wow!”
“Wah, wah, wah!”
All the places the children had once imagined, Ning Yi could draw out for them one by one.
That made Ning Yi feel that this was truly wonderful.
At first, her technology had only been so she could have value and survive in the apocalypse.
Later, it was so she could get rich and lie flat in this brainless doting-romance world.
And later still—
It turned out her ability could ultimately be used to love people well.
Ning Yi’s hand was held in Gu Cheng’s palm, warmth passing between them as they accompanied the children through one wonderful scene after another.
The final random little world seemed to be a city. At first glance, it didn’t look very different from the real world they lived in.
Mumu asked, “Is this our world—?”
But Wangwang shook his head. “No, this world is really broken.”
Gu Cheng held Ning Yi’s hand and smiled as he shook his head. “No. This is a world Daddy and Mummy personally experienced.”
The netizens understood.
[Awoooo, I remember Young Master Gu’s famous scene in the game]
[Sob sob, I still have that screenshot as my wallpaper—him running wildly toward her in the apocalypse]
[Gu de Mo Ning, please keep being happy forever ahhh TAT]
But Ning Yi and Gu Cheng looked at each other.
Only they knew that it had not been a game.
It was everything they had truly experienced after switching bodies.
Now, as fragments of memory, they let the children take one look.
Then everything pixelated and dissolved, the past fading like passing clouds—
Leaving only the happiness of the present.
…
After returning from the virtual world to the real world, Wangwang and Mumu excitedly jumped out of the game pods.
But when Gu Cheng and Ning Yi took off their helmets, both of them froze.
After so long, they had actually switched bodies again.
At this moment, Ning Yi was in Gu Cheng’s body.
Gu Cheng was in Ning Yi’s body.
“Daddy?”
“Mummy?”
Wangwang and Mumu held hands, standing in front of them with slight hesitation.
Ning Yi froze.
Because Wangwang hesitated for a moment, then accurately looked at her and called, “Mummy?”
And Mumu looked at Gu Cheng and quietly called, “Daddy?”
—They had switched so many times, in public and in private, openly experiencing countless things in each other’s bodies, with no one noticing.
Yet their children were the only ones in the world who could recognise them.
And yet they had never realised as clearly as they did now that this was their final switch.
After everything they had gone through, this unknown body-swap had finally reached its end.
Ning Yi and Gu Cheng squatted down together in front of them, a little worried the children would be scared.
After all, their mummy and daddy had suddenly changed shells.
But Wangwang and Mumu tilted their heads and looked at them for a few seconds. Then they walked over with smiles and hugged Ning Yi’s leg with a smack.
—“Mummy!”
Without hesitation.
Absolutely certain.
No matter whose body they were in, their babies would recognise them at a glance.
Ning Yi was embraced by the warm little balls, and then she smiled.
Gu Cheng also froze slightly. In the end, he smiled and hugged all three of them.
…
“So, husband, before the final switch ends, what should we do?”
“Do… many, many things.”
Only that would be worthy of this long, enduring love.
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