Raising a Girlfriend Starting from a Dream Game - Chapter 5

In the school dormitory.

Yang Linlin lay on her bed, eyes closed, continuously counting numbers.
Tears streaked across her cheeks.

Her roommates grew anxious seeing this.
They patted Yang Linlin’s hands, calling out: “Linlin, wake up, Linlin!!”
Suddenly, Yang Linlin opened her eyes.

When she gazed dazedly at her surroundings, then at the concerned roommates standing beside her.
She felt bewildered.
One roommate urgently asked: “Linlin, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”
“Nightmare?” Yang Linlin sat up, looking at her pillow.
The pillow was soaked with tears.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Was this all a dream?
But this dream felt so real?
Instantly, all the scenes from the dreamscape flooded back to Yang Linlin’s memory.
The battlefield.
Shells.
And
Ling Xiao.

Chen Ting’s senior!
That promise-breaking liar!
He clearly said he’d return after she counted to thirty thousand.
But she counted all the way to fifty thousand without him coming back.

Alone at the entrance of the air-raid shelter, she cried while listening to the surrounding explosions.
Helplessness enveloped her.
Just as she resolved to step out of the shelter entrance, her real-world roommates shook her awake.

So, was it all just a dream?

At that moment, Chen Ting from the neighboring dorm rushed over.
Seeing Yang Linlin’s tear-streaked face, she quickly asked: “Linlin, what happened? Should we take you to the hospital?”
But Yang Linlin shook her head, explaining: “I’m fine, I just had a dream.”
“You scared me to death! I just heard from Sister Shan that you kept crying and wouldn’t wake up. I rushed over halfway through shaving my legs!”

Yang Linlin felt both touched and amused.
She then asked her roommate: “Sister Qiao, whose class do we have this morning?”
“Teacher Zhou’s class, why?” the roommate replied.
Yang Linlin got out of bed, saying: “I’m not going to class this morning. I’m not feeling well. Sister Qiao, could you ask for leave for me?”

Both the roommates and Chen Ting were shocked.
Yang Linlin, the class monitor who never missed a single class in three years of university—even taking notes through fevers—was skipping class today?!
Chen Ting thought, there must be something unusual going on!!

Meanwhile, Ling Xiao had already arrived at the company.

Fatty Lin Dong was surprised to see Ling Xiao at work.
He quickly asked: “Brother Xiao, weren’t you taking another day off?”
Ling Xiao shook his head: “Not taking it.”
Lin Dong glanced around before leaning closer to Ling Xiao: “Be careful during the big meeting later. Supervisor He criticized many department employees for taking leave yesterday. Watch out.”
Ling Xiao nodded, thanking Lin Dong for the concern: “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it between brothers. But I’ve long been annoyed by that He Chunlai. Damn, he only barks like a dog because he’s the boss’s relative.” Lin Dong scoffed disdainfully.

Just then, He Chunlai passed through the corridor behind them.
Lin Dong immediately straightened up, afraid of being caught slacking.

While Ling Xiao worked, Xu Xin from the opposite desk peeked over and asked: “Brother Xiao, weren’t you taking two sick days off?”
“I took a day off and felt a bit better, so I came back,” Ling Xiao explained.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xin immediately expressed concern: “Nothing serious, right? Is it a cold? How about we go exercise this afternoon and sweat it out?”
“Ah? No need, I’ll be fine after some rest,” Ling Xiao politely declined.

Xu Xin pouted upon hearing this, clearly somewhat disappointed.
In a gaming company, most of the male employees were programmers. They wore thick-lensed glasses, similar style shirts, and had comparable hair volumes.
Ling Xiao was considered one of the most handsome guys in this department.
Which girl wouldn’t want to get close to him?
But Ling Xiao always maintained a gentlemanly demeanor.
One might even say he was too much of a gentleman, never giving anyone the slightest opportunity.

Soon, a message appeared in the company group chat: [Meeting in the large conference room in five minutes! All must attend. Those absent or late without reason will be fined 50 yuan. Xiao Chen will keep records!]

As soon as this message came out, everyone immediately packed their things and hurried to the conference room.
“That damn guy, always thinking of ways to deduct money. I’ve really had enough,” Lin Dong complained while quickening his pace with his notebook.
Ling Xiao remarked, “If we get the chance someday, when we become bosses, we won’t have to suffer exploitation anymore.”
“Probably not in this lifetime. I’ll likely be an employee forever,” Lin Dong sighed.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao didn’t respond, but a new thought formed in his mind.

Soon, all company employees gathered in the conference room.
Over the next hour, department heads took turns speaking.
Finally, Secretary Dong announced: “Now let’s have Manager Su present the upcoming report.”
Manager Su stood up, took the microphone and said: “The tasks for next week have been clearly explained by each department head, so I won’t say much more. This afternoon we’ll have a team building activity – everyone gather at Hongjian Sports Center. We’re having a friendly basketball match with another subsidiary of our group.”
He looked at Secretary Dong and added: “Xiao Dong, bring along all colleagues who can play basketball. Those who don’t play can cheer from the sidelines.”

This announcement made everyone somewhat happy.
After all, it meant another afternoon off work.

After the meeting, Secretary Dong tagged the colleagues who frequently played basketball in the group chat: [Let’s go over early to warm up. Although it’s a friendly match, we need to win honor for our company and not lose.]
Hui Ge: [Understood!]
Chen Hai: [Don’t worry!! We’ll give it our all!]
Lin Dong: [I’ll guard the rebounds!]

Lin Dong then asked Ling Xiao: “Brother Xiao, are you playing later? If so, I’ll let Secretary Dong know.”
“I haven’t played much since graduation. You guys go ahead, I’ll cheer for you from the sidelines,” Ling Xiao said.
“Alright then, watch me dominate in the paint later!~”

Soon, as everyone gathered.
Colleagues arrived at the sports center in small groups.
“Dandan, quick, see if there are any handsome guys in the opposing company.”
“Sis, the other company has programmers too. Have you ever seen good-looking guys in game design companies?”
“Don’t say that – our Brother Xiao is quite handsome, isn’t that right, Brother Xiao!”Xu Xin deliberately spoke louder, then asked Ling Xiao beside her: “Xiao-ge, aren’t you playing later?”
“I’m not very good at basketball. Lin Dong and the others are much better,” Ling Xiao explained with a smile.
“Xiao-ge, you’re being too modest! Even if you can’t play well, just standing on the court makes you the most handsome guy!~” Xu Xin praised.
“Alright, sis, stop complimenting our Xiao-ge. You’re practically drooling over him.”
“What nonsense! Dan-dan, you’re really…” Xu Xin pretended to complain while stealing glances at Ling Xiao, trying to see if he had any reaction to what was just said.

But Ling Xiao remained silent, lost in his own thoughts.
He had no interest in the basketball game.
His mind was completely occupied with matters of the dreamscape.
In one week, the next Dream Simulation scenario would begin.
By then, he could use this dreamscape quest to obtain extended Lifespan Value.
As for women.
Hah (Song Minguo meme.jpg)
They would only slow down his mission progress.