CH 20

Needless to say, after seeing his own face ruined like this, Xiu Jin’s heart crumbled. He thought of his flawlessly handsome face that was reconstructed on the wall with his own exquisite drawing skills ―His painting skills were amongst the best!

It looked positively ghastly now! And when he saw the expression on his precious daughter’s face as she confirmed his appearance, how could he bear it?!

How did the perfectly fine portrait on the wall become like this?!

Xiu Jin did not have time to care about his daughter. Fuming, he demanded: “Are you the one who did this?!”

That’s right, the one he yelled at was none other than the system. Intuition told him that this was the work of the trashy system. Otherwise, how could one explain the transformation of a handsome face to a blind, scarred face?

The system quickly denied: [No.]

Xiu Jin didn’t believe that at all: “Who else could it be if not you?!”

The system drawled out: [The closet is placed against the wall. When you moved the closet, the closet rubbed against the wall and ruined your face. It has absolutely nothing to do with me. You did everything by yourself, so you can’t blame me.]

Obviously, the system wouldn’t admit to tampering with it. As if sprayed with cold water, the flames of Xiu Jin’s anger sizzled out—  It wasn’t as if there was no such possibility.

He was skeptical: “Really?”

System: [Of course. Besides, why would I mess up your face?]

That’s true. Even if it messed up his face, he could still find an opportunity to draw another portrait. However, without the NR device projecting, there was simply no way for him to draw using the screen on the wall.

This won’t do. No matter what, he had to quickly buy an NR device. That way he’ll be able to leave a good impression on his precious daughter.

Bian Bian was still carefully staring at the picture, trying to memorize uncle’s face. After seeing what Xiu Jin looked like, the little girl confirmed that the reason the uncle didn’t meet with her was definitely that he was unattractive to look at. That was why he was not willing to show himself.

That one auntie she met with grandpa before was also like this.

…………………..

It was an ordinary, middle-aged woman.

Bian Bian’s impression of this auntie was very deep. Even though it has already been a year, she still couldn’t forget.

Lu Yu and Bian Bian would occasionally pass by and trade with bases. It was in a small base that Bian Bian got to know this auntie.

Ordinary people go to the bases to seek shelter and to find a safe place to live. However, this did not necessarily mean that they would live a good life. In fact… Other than not being eaten by zombies, ordinary people lived lives that were worse than those of refugees before the apocalypse. 

With the advent of the apocalypse, social hierarchy became more distinct with each passing day. The weak attached themselves to the strong and the strong bullied the weak. This had already become the new law during the apocalypse.

The middle-aged woman did not have any particular skills, only a son who also had no skills. In order to protect her immature son, she willingly used her own body to trade for supplies to ensure that she and her son would be able to survive. 

Her son did not understand her and hated her. The woman was gloomy like a mouse living in a gutter. Not only was she subjected to the torment of the men outside, when she returned to her small residence, she had to endure her son’s verbal and physical abuse. 

When Lu Yu had brought Bian Bian along to this small base to trade for supplies, they met this woman. She liked Bian Bian a lot and gave Bian Bian a small bag of cookies. While gently patting her head, the woman said with a smile: “Little sweetie, be sure to grow up safe and sound.”

Bian Bian thought that the auntie was very pretty when she smiled. Her voice was also pleasant.

As they were leaving the base, they coincidentally saw the woman’s son being bullied by several men. The woman risked her life to protect her son, but was instead shoved by her son and yelled at.

The son’s voice was very loud and very unpleasant. Bian Bian didn’t have the chance to clearly hear what he was shouting before grandpa covered her ears, not letting her listen.

She saw that brother’s face, hideous and twisted like some sort of monster.

He didn’t hit the bad uncles that were bullying him, but the auntie that was protecting him.

Bian Bian felt strange and turned to look at grandpa.

Grandpa’s complexion was ugly. She determined that her grandpa was furious.

After grandpa chased away those bad uncles, that brother cursed at grandpa for being too nosy. So grandpa hit the brother. Bian Bian watched from the side, feeling that grandpa was right to hit him. She didn’t like that brother. 

Thinking of how the auntie gave her cookies, she felt that she should help the auntie stand up.

But when Bian Bian walked over to the auntie’s side, the auntie didn’t let her help. She shrunk into herself and told Bian Bian: “Don’t look at me… Leave, leave!”

Bian Bian was carried out of the base by Lu Yu. She was puzzled: “Grandpa, why didn’t that auntie let me look at her?”

Lu Yu sighed, his large, rough hand stroked the top of her head. He said: “Because auntie doesn’t feel like she’s good-looking and doesn’t want to scare Bian Bian. That’s why she didn’t want you to look at her.”

Bian Bian didn’t really understand.

Now seeing how the invisible uncle doesn’t come out to meet her and seeing the picture of the face, Bian Bian confirmed in her heart that the uncle didn’t want to scare her with his unattractive appearance. That’s why he didn’t show himself.

Grandpa said that if you ask others for help and they refuse, you need to understand that you can’t ask them for the same favor again.

She really wanted to thank the uncle in person. But since the uncle wasn’t willing to meet her, she could not force him.

The closet moved back, blocking the ugly face.

Xiu Jin came to a decision. He’d draw his own face for his precious daughter once he got his hands on an NR device. He needed to let his precious daughter clearly know that her daddy was not ugly at all.

After moving, he heard his precious daughter look up, face the closet as if he was standing there, and say in a serious voice: “Uncle, thank you for buying these things for Bian Bian.”

Xiu Jin mumbled: “Why doesn’t my precious daughter call me daddy.”

He definitely didn’t want to be no uncle.

He was a dad!

After seriously conveying her thanks, Bian Bian couldn’t resist the jumping sausage in her hands. The fragrant smell from packaged jumping sausage had been continuously wafting out, tempting her.

“Uncle, can I eat it?”

Of course, daddy bought them specifically for you.

Xiu Jin purposely took the jumping sausage from Bian Bian’s hand and then placed it back, using this movement to indicate that it was hers.

“Uncle, thank you.”

Bian Bian tore open the package, eyes instantly sparkling.

The jumping sausages were around 10 centimeters with a pink, jelly-like surface. She took a bite gently.

It was meat!

The little girl jumped happily.

She’s never eaten such yummy meat. It was even more delicious than the roasted rabbit meat she had before. The little girl was so happy she forgot about the uncle. She turned and ran towards the stairs.

Grandpa would always give her delicious food, she also wanted to share with grandpa.

“Grandpa, this meat was given to me by the invisible uncle. It’s very yummy. I’ll put it here. “The little girl placed the remaining ⅔ of the jumping sausage into the bowl by the hole and cheerfully skipped back into the house.

Xiu Jin watched blankly as his precious daughter only ate a few bites before giving it all to Lu Yu. This sincere act of filial piety made his heart feel stuffy.

On one hand, he felt that Lu Yu truly taught the little girl to be too understanding and mature.

On the other hand, he wanted the little girl to not think so much about others and to think more about herself.

Unfortunately, only one jumping sausage could be bought a day. He could only give up.

Then the little girl did something that moved Xiu Jin greatly—

“Uncle, uncle Zhu Yuan made fried apple slices with the apple that you gave me. It’s very good, try some.” Bian Bian climbed onto the dining chair and uncovered the bowl of apple slices. Since she did not know where the invisible uncle was, she could only talk while staring in a random direction.

Ahhhhhh.

His precious daughter was also being filial to him!

The small inklings of jealousy towards Lu Yu instantly disappeared into the horizon, only leaving behind the giddy mood brought about by his precious daughter’s moving actions.

Who said there were no benefits to playing games? 

This sort of inner satisfaction can not be explained with words.

Before today, he was still a bad guy in his precious daughter’s heart. Now, his previous daughter was being filial towards him and their relationship soared.

Xin Jin quickly tapped on the screen in an attempt to pick up a slice of apple, trying to show his precious daughter that he was “eating.” However, he couldn’t pick up the slices in the bowl!

“……”

Bian Bian waited for a while, noticed that the apple slices didn’t move, and subconsciously bit on her finger. 

There were still traces of the wonderful jumping sausage flavor in her mouth.

Bian Bian suddenly understood. Since the invisible uncle was able to give her so many delicious things, he must have also eaten a lot of delicious things. The apple slices didn’t move, which meant that the uncle didn’t like apple slices.

She thought of the discomfort she felt when she ate things she didn’t like and quickly covered the bowl, not wanting the uncle to feel awkward.

Then Bian Bian saw that there were two extra items— Brain development milk powder and organic mineral water. There were Chinese words written on each item, but Bian Bian didn’t recognize the words however she did know how to read pictures.

There was a picture of a small infant on the milk powder. The packaging was the same as the cans of powdered milk she used to eat. She immediately understood that this was the neinei1From what I can understand, neinei is what Bian Bian calls milk. her grandpa used to make for her.

As for the organic mineral water, it looked the same as regular mineral water. Bian Bian also recognized it.

Bian Bian’s small hand pushed the milk powder can. From the weight, she could feel that it was a full can.

Where did the invisible uncle find this neinei?

Milk powder was hard to find. Every time Lu Yu looked for milk powder, he had to look for a long time. It was something that could only be discovered but not sought out and was a resource that had to be exchanged for with crystals.

At that time, Bian Bian had a vague idea of the concept of “money.” She felt that it was expensive for Lu Yu to raise her, so she had told her grandpa that she didn’t want to drink milk powder. Lu Yu had jokingly threatened her: “Bian Bian, if you don’t drink neinei, you won’t be able to grow tall.”

From then on, Bian Bian never dared to mention ideas about not drinking milk powder. It was only when Lu Yu couldn’t find any more formula that she stopped drinking.

Thus, in Bian Bian’s heart, milk powder was extremely valuable. It was as valuable as meat.

Yet she had just eaten the most delicious meat in her five years of living. And now, she had a brand new can of milk powder. While the little girl was delighted, she felt uneasy.

The type of uneasiness felt when you gain something that can’t be repaid.

At the same time, she had doubts—

How was the invisible uncle able to find these things, and why was he treating her so well?

As she thought, Bian Bian’s eyelids grew heavier. Sleep comes to children easily. Not to mention, her fever had only subsided and she couldn’t hear the invisible uncle speak. Other than her, the room was quiet, so she fell asleep sprawled on the table.

Xiu Jin was still struggling with the apple slices. After seeing his precious daughter put the lid back on the bowl, he was worried that his precious daughter was disappointed. Thus, he was trying to find a way to pick up the apple slice.

And then…

There was no “and then.”

His fingers were sore, but he still hadn’t managed to pick up a slice. He was so angry that he wanted to turn the game off.

It wasn’t until the system told him that Bian Bian was sleeping soundly that he remembered his precious daughter. Because he couldn’t enter the room, he could only place Bian Bian onto the sofa.

The ability to use his fingers to move Bian Bian made Xiu Jin feel a little bit better.

At least he could still move his precious daughter.

At least the game is not disabled.

Seeing his precious daughter’s cute little face, Xiu Jin came to a decision—

Until he got his hands on an NR device, he wasn’t going to log into the game!