This Is My Planet - Chapter 147 - Chapter 147 – First Blood
In Xia Guixuan’s initial assessment, among the several girls around him, Xiao Jiu seemed to be the most distant.
Although they had spent a lot of time together in the game—especially in the month or two before the war between humans and divine descendants broke out—Xiao Jiu wasn’t always limited to half an hour online. Sometimes, she could stay on for quite a while.
If one were to judge purely by the time spent together, she might have even surpassed the little fox… making her the one he had spent the most time with.
But a game was just a game, and an online friend was just an online friend. No matter how real this game might seem, Xia Guixuan could still draw a clear line.
How could something be real if you don’t even know whether the other person has customized their character’s appearance?
So, despite all the time spent with Xiao Jiu, in his heart, she was probably even more distant than the centaur girl he had only met a few times.
The title of “confidant” is sweet, but it also clearly signifies just being friends. Their boundaries had always been well-defined, and aside from accidental contact during battles and brushing against each other’s waists while riding, they hadn’t even held hands, let alone kissed. Despite all the time spent together, their progress was likely the slowest. At least with the centaur girl, he had already ridden her; with Xiao Jiu, he had always maintained proper distance.
Perhaps the Gongsun family “thought they were in a relationship,” but that was just their assumption, just like the opponents in the arena who thought they were a couple—merely a rumor.
Xia Guixuan didn’t care, and neither did Xiao Jiu. Let people think what they want.
But at this moment, Xia Guixuan realized that he might care a little, like being angry at her brother for “selling his sister,” but he didn’t know if he was defending his friend or if there was something else mixed in.
At the same time, he also realized that Xiao Jiu might not be as indifferent as he originally thought… For example, the gentleness and joy in her eyes at this moment, was that really just a friend?
And she hadn’t customized her face. When they met offline and talked with Ling Moxue… At that time, seeing Xiao Jiu’s appearance offline and having no reaction felt very normal, but in reality, it was breaking the “falsity of the internet,” and everything she showed was real.
Even her figure was unaltered, pure and natural.
Xiao Jiu herself felt that only in the game was she truly herself; reality, on the other hand, was fake.
The two looked at each other for a long time, each seeing something slightly different in the other’s eyes today.
What lay beneath the veil of “friendship” was something softer, like ripples gently spreading.
Finally, Xiao Jiu broke the silence and asked softly, “Are you angry with my brother today?”
“Yeah.” Xia Guixuan leaned back on the sofa somewhat annoyed, sipping his drink. “I won’t deny that I admire his abilities and ambitions, and his genuine concern for the people… I also won’t deny that when I criticize him, I’m no better than him, maybe even worse. So I don’t hold grudges against him for most things… but bullying you? That’s not okay.”
Xiao Jiu sat beside him naturally, hugging his arm. Xia Guixuan also felt it was quite natural. He handed her another bottle of drink. “This game is too realistic; even the drinks taste real.”
Xiao Jiu accepted the drink, a hint of the little fox’s cunning flashing in her eyes.
If one were to ask, “Are you standing up for a friend, or is there something more?” the question would seem unnecessary, as the most likely answer would still be “for a friend.”
But this embrace, like the little fox’s natural way, though wordless, revealed everything.
Between handsome men and beautiful women, where was the pure friendship… On the day she dressed up as a girl, to please him, how could anyone not understand?
So, there was no need to ask what he was standing up for; the relationship had silently broken through.
Everyone was turning into foxes… the more familiar they became, the more they knew how much he liked this kind of thing. No wonder that fake boyfriend-girlfriend identity stuck to him like glue, becoming more real with each passing day… though others were a bit late in catching on.
“I’m actually very angry with him too. Brother Tai Kang scolded him well.” Xiao Jiu leaned lightly on his shoulder, expressing her indignation. “I worked so hard as his emissary for his grand plan, mediating between the family, Brother Tai Kang, and Ling Moxue. In any story, wouldn’t that make me an important envoy or strategist? Yet in their eyes, I’m still just a tool, even my life is just a piece in their game.”
Her self-deprecating rant grew increasingly complex, flawless in its criticism. Xia Guixuan couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. “That’s why I say, enough is enough. Why stay with that rotten family? With your abilities, you could easily stand on your own. Why worry about finding a place to realize your value?”
“It’s not that…” Xiao Jiu sighed softly. “After all, it’s the family that raised me since childhood, treated me well, and I’m also attached to them… Actually, they didn’t bully me at other times, I don’t know why this time…”
“Um…” Xia Guixuan was a little stunned, not sure how to answer.
Gongsun Jiu’s suggestion of “I have a sister” did carry a hint of arranged marriage, which, in a way, could be seen as a goodwill gesture. But mixed in with the “casually deciding Xiao Jiu’s life” and “using her to trade for Yan Wuyue” undertones, it became quite unpleasant, which was why Xia Guixuan was so furious.
Should he tell Xiao Jiu that there was another woman involved?
Xiao Jiu, however, smiled slightly. “Is it because you want to steal someone’s woman? Yan Wuyue?”
“Uh…”
“Why be embarrassed? I’ve long known that something’s off between you and Yan Wuyue… You two are bound to quarrel sooner or later.” Xiao Jiu whispered softly. “Brother Tai Kang, you’re surrounded by beautiful women, do you really have to compete with him?”
Xia Guixuan frowned. “Are you here to plead his case?”
Of course, Xiao Jiu was here to plead his case, especially now as a woman, she felt even more justified. “Can’t I plead his case? It’s not for him, it’s for myself… I like you, so of course, I don’t want you entangled with other women.”
Xia Guixuan was stunned for a moment.
Right, from Xiao Jiu’s perspective, it made sense…
And…
She was likely the first woman to ever directly say, “I like you.”
Not even his sister had said that… Perhaps it was because back then, such conversations didn’t exist, but it was true that she had never said it.
Xiao Jiu was the first one.
Xia Guixuan’s hand, holding the drink, froze in place, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
“I don’t know when I started liking you. Does the day I dressed as a woman for you count?” Xiao Jiu murmured as she leaned on his shoulder. “I didn’t dare to express it before, not just because you were someone else’s boyfriend, or due to the rumors with Ling Moxue, but because I carried my family’s mission. I couldn’t just casually fall in love with someone.”
Xia Guixuan asked instinctively, “Because you knew you’d be used as a tool for an arranged marriage?”
Actually, it was because I had to pretend to be a man… but right now, this reason seemed more fitting, so Xiao Jiu went along with it. “Yes. In reality, I always have to wear various masks and do things against my will. But in this virtual world, I can fully let go and do things that would shock the real me.”
Xia Guixuan shook his head. “There’s no need. Even if you let go of yourself in reality, I’m…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Jiu’s slender finger pressed against his lips, and she said softly, “I also have my own life plan and don’t want to indulge myself recklessly… Brother Tai Kang, you may be strong, but do you not also have responsibilities and compromises in reality?”
Xia Guixuan replied calmly, “Yes. But whatever responsibilities I once had, I overcame them with greater strength. I’ve crossed hurdle after hurdle, claimed my throne as emperor, and now no one can force me to compromise.”
He paused and lowered his voice, “Even if someone tries to make me stay, it won’t work.”
Xiao Jiu observed his expression. “You… Your words sound regretful, Brother Tai Kang.”
Xia Guixuan sighed. “Can’t I pretend to be a badass? Why are you so sharp?”
Xiao Jiu laughed, “Anyway, reality is reality. I won’t let him casually plan my life, I have my own thoughts.”
“Okay, that’s good.”
“This means I won’t listen to his orders to become your lover, and I might not even want to see you again in reality. Do you understand?”
Xia Guixuan: “…”
Xiao Jiu smiled teasingly, “Feeling a bit of a loss now? Heh… men.”
Xia Guixuan couldn’t just backtrack his established image of considering others’ lives, so he forced himself to say, “What’s there to regret? If you can choose your own path, I’m genuinely happy for you. If Gongsun Jiu pressures you again, come to me, and I’ll beat him up for you.”
Xiao Jiu slowly took away the drink that had been hovering near his lips, and said softly, “What’s so great about this drink? Do you want something else?”
Xia Guixuan turned to look at Xiao Jiu, her red lips were right next to his cheek, within reach, almost touching.
“You’ve had it before, but you didn’t savor it well, not even leaving a bit of romance.” Xiao Jiu whispered softly. “Do you want to try today?”
“You…” Xia Guixuan wanted to ask why she suddenly became so seductive. What happened to her previous restraint and literary flair? Isn’t this pace a bit too fast? But the words stuck in his throat, unsaid in the end.
“Is it strange?” Xiao Jiu smiled faintly. “The game is where I let my true self run wild. Since I don’t plan to see you again in reality… can’t I at least get ahead of Yan Wuyue and Yin Xiaoru here?”
Xia Guixuan: “…”
Xiao Jiu’s smile remained unchanged. “And you… someone’s competing with you over a woman, yet you don’t even dare to retaliate by going after his sister. And you call yourself an emperor? You don’t even have my ambition.”
Xia Guixuan squinted his eyes slightly. “You’re asking for trouble.”
“In the game, there’s no real danger, as you said,” Xiao Jiu said leisurely. “After all, it’s just a game. If I’m not afraid, what are you afraid of?”
After all, it’s just a game.
This statement stirred something within Xia Guixuan’s heart.
He had been holding back for several rounds now… Xiao Jiu wasn’t wrong—strength doesn’t decide everything. For instance, he had to consider the shame of the little fox being watched, and the injuries of Yan Wuyue, which made him lower his bow, even when the arrow was already drawn.
Since he had just realized that there was no need to abandon his true nature, no need to falsely tell himself to suppress his desires… then why avoid even trying in the game?
She didn’t care, it wasn’t reality, so why hesitate?
After all, it’s just a game. What couldn’t be done?
Suddenly, Xiao Jiu felt the arm that had been gently holding her tighten and become rigid, as if it were binding her firmly.
She knew his choice; some things would eventually come.
She led him to it.
He had desires, and she wanted to indulge, to take the lead…
After all, it was just a game—what was there to fear?
Xiao Jiu slowly closed her eyes.
As if triggered by a signal, the next moment she felt her lips being sealed by his, his kiss was so hot, it felt almost like coercion.
He was truly a violent man, hiding the nature of a tyrant beneath his gentle exterior.
Such a feeling flashed through Xiao Jiu’s mind, but she felt more stimulated. This was revenge, revenge against Wuyue, revenge against the family, revenge against her own entanglement.
Also, revenge against his seemingly aloof demeanor.
In this game, she sought her true self, releasing emotions and desires that reality could never express.
Xia Guixuan’s hand was unfastening her dress.
So quickly, the first kiss had fast-forwarded to this step… Xiao Jiu didn’t stop him, but instead, turned slightly to cooperate.
Xia Guixuan’s hand paused for a moment, then with a swift “rip,” the pristine white dress was torn in two.
There was nothing else underneath.
She had been prepared for this… logging in specifically for this purpose, in this game’s notorious “404 love room,” to do what other couples in the game did.
Xia Guixuan felt he had fallen into the trap set by the girl with glasses, but he didn’t stop.
It was all an illusion, just data… what was there to calculate?
Seeing the girl’s slight tremble of nervousness and the blush spreading across her face, the scholarly aura she once had seemed to have flown away. Xia Guixuan bent down slightly and whispered in her ear, “Don’t regret this.”
Xiao Jiu took a deep breath, trembling as she murmured softly, “I’ll decide when to give my first time, and to whom. Even if it’s to the same person he chose, it’s still my choice… no regrets. Mm…”
With a muffled groan, Xiao Jiu instinctively opened her eyes wide in pain, her pupils behind her glasses dilating, blank and round.
Wasn’t it said to be a virtual game? Why was it so painful!
Xia Guixuan also stared at the bloodstains in disbelief—this game had gone too far!
How was this supposed to be handled?
There was a first time even in the game?