Middle-aged Love Patch

"‘Fate delivers a 65-kilogram package from a thousand miles away?’"

Xu Youyuan was genuinely at a loss with her—such a childish troublemaker, always with some ridiculous thought in her head, cheeky yet undeniably adorable. It was impossible to stay mad at her.

Shi Yue: "What’s wrong with 65 kilograms? You’re 165 centimeters tall, 65 kilograms—your BMI is perfectly normal."

"I’m 168 centimeters, thank you very much!"

"Then you should gain even more weight." Shi Yue, who had been lying down, effortlessly bounced up with the help of a fitness ball, her movements light as a feather. "You’re too thin now—it’s not pretty."

Xu Youyuan looked at her like she was some kind of alien: "Why don’t you try being pretty at 65 kilograms first?" With that, she headed toward the underground swimming pool.

"What are you doing?" Xu Youyuan blocked her path.

"Huh? I’m going downstairs."

"You just got here and you’re leaving already?"

"No, I’m going to the underground level."

Xu Youyuan narrowed her eyes, her expression dangerously sharp: "You’re going swimming too?"

"Oh, so there’s a pool down there? Perfect. I’ll take a dip after a long day."

"You wouldn’t be so tired if you hadn’t come all this way. And—did you even bring a swimsuit?" Xu Youyuan gave her a once-over, noting her casual, budget-friendly sportswear—shorts and a T-shirt, seemingly unfazed by the cold. Her black hair was tied up in a messy bun, but there was an effortless charm to it.

Xu Youyuan realized Shi Yue wasn’t wearing any makeup—none at all. And yet, her face looked almost the same as when she did, if not younger. With her hands stuffed in her pockets, Shi Yue could easily pass for a high schooler.

"I’ll just buy one," Shi Yue said. "I saw a store when I came in—they’ve got all kinds of sports gear. The swimsuits are a bit outdated, but it’s fine for a temporary fix."

Xu Youyuan was dead serious: "Tell me, what exactly is your job right now?"

Shi Yue hesitated briefly, but before she could answer, Xu Youyuan pressed on: "How much do you make a month? You spend freely in games, but then you trek all the way here for free gym access, and now you’re buying a swimsuit on the spot? Doesn’t that strike you as wasteful? I know it’s your money, and you can spend it however you want, but I am your sister’s best friend—"

Shi Yue couldn’t take the lecture anymore and cut in: "So, are you worried about me, Xu Youyuan?"

Xu Youyuan shot her a sidelong glance: "Do you get a kick out of calling me by my full name?"

Shi Yue didn’t answer—just grinned, her big eyes crinkling into crescents as she stared at Xu Youyuan, unwilling to look away.

Xu Youyuan felt a little flustered under that gaze. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at her so intensely—or maybe, in an era where people guarded their emotions so carefully, it was rare for someone to lay their feelings bare like this.

She averted her eyes. "Do you want me to go get you a swimsuit? I live nearby—it’ll only take fifteen minutes round trip."

"That’s too much trouble."

"The ones here probably cost a fortune. No point. I’ve got an unused one—I’ll bring it for you."

"How come you’ve never worn it?"

"…Because I bought it and then got too pretty to swim. Happy with that answer?"

Shi Yue burst out laughing and followed Xu Youyuan.

Xu Youyuan: "What are you doing?"

Shi Yue: "Huh? Coming with you to get the swimsuit."

"No need. Just wait here." Xu Youyuan said. "My place is too small and messy—I’d be embarrassed to invite you in."

"What’s the big deal? I—"

"Be good. Stay here."

That one word—good—froze Shi Yue in place.

Be good.

There was something commanding about it, a hint of dominance, and Shi Yue’s heart raced. She liked it.

In a tiny voice, Shi Yue muttered an "Okay," watching as Xu Youyuan left. By the time Xu Youyuan returned with the swimsuit, Shi Yue was still replaying the way "good" had rolled off her tongue—the smooth shift between consonants and vowels.

"…Well, it’s a bit old-fashioned." Xu Youyuan preempted any teasing by admitting it first. "Just bear with it for now."

"It is old. And a one-piece—super conservative." Despite the self-deprecation, Shi Yue still couldn’t resist poking fun.

Xu Youyuan tossed the swimsuit at her: "Take it or leave it!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

When they reached the underground changing room, they were stunned—what kind of place didn’t have private stalls?!

Xu Youyuan was here for the first time today too. She’d just thrown a jacket over her workout clothes and hadn’t needed to use the changing room, so it hadn’t occurred to her that in the year 5302—a time when gender and orientation were more nuanced than ever, when same-sex marriage had been legal for a decade—there were still places with open-plan women’s changing rooms.

She didn’t need to look back to know Shi Yue was probably grinning, waiting for her to squirm.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍instead, Shi Yue said, "You go first. I’ll wait outside."

Surprised, Xu Youyuan turned to see Shi Yue’s expression was completely earnest—no ulterior motives. She really did step outside.

"What’s gotten into you today?" Xu Youyuan wondered aloud.

"I’m always well-behaved," Shi Yue pouted.

Xu Youyuan hugged the swimsuit to her chest and stepped closer. Shi Yue thought she was going to ask something, but Xu Youyuan’s next words completely derailed the mood:

"Shi Yue, be honest—where do you really work?"

"Why bring that up again now?"

"You never answered me before." Xu Youyuan said. "Are you at N-COUNT? Or—are you N-COUNT’s founder?"

Shi Yue blinked calmly, then laughed. "You mean the N-COUNT that developed Dark Box? You think I’m the founder? Flattering. If I were that impressive, I’d be at a gym with proper changing stalls. Xu Youyuan, tell me—what made you think that?"

Xu Youyuan said, "I saw you that day at Pengpai Plaza."

For the first time, Shi Yue’s confident expression faltered—just a flicker of surprise before she schooled it back.

"I was going to thank you for not showing up. That situation would’ve been a nightmare if you had. But then I figured, if you chose to stay away, why bring it up? So I let it go. I’d almost forgotten about Liu Feng—until I saw the news today. He was arrested at a press conference. And when I looked into it, it turned out to be his press conference with N-COUNT."

"Oh? And?"

Xu Youyuan never liked leaving questions unanswered: "So I wondered—was it you? Did you orchestrate his downfall?"

Shi Yue gazed at her intently for a long moment before suddenly bursting into laughter with a "pfft": "Xu Youyuan, are you saying I'm the founder of N-COUNT Company, and that I deliberately partnered with Liu Feng just to help you vent, then set him up? Do you really think I’d be that childish?"

Xu Youyuan didn’t respond, neither confirming nor denying.

"You're overthinking it. If N-COUNT were mine, why go through all the trouble of unlocking achievements or joining seasons? I’d just create a couple of accounts and sell them on Caps."

Shi Yue’s tone was earnest yet slightly flippant, much like her usual way of speaking.

"Stop overanalyzing," Shi Yue continued. "That day, I did see that bastard Liu Feng acting up and wanted to step in to say something on your behalf. But I held back because I was worried you might feel uncomfortable. Liu Feng’s the kind of guy drowning in debt and enemies—if he didn’t die today, he’d kick the bucket tomorrow. This was probably just a coincidence."

As Shi Yue rambled on, Xu Youyuan finally cracked a smile. Shi Yue frowned. "What’s that look? If you don’t believe me—"

Xu Youyuan nodded, signaling she did. "Thank you."

"For what? I didn’t do anything."

"Regardless of what you did or didn’t do, thank you." With that, Xu Youyuan gently closed the changing room door.

Shi Yue stood outside, replaying Xu Youyuan’s words in her head. The more she thought about them, the more invigorated and delighted she felt. She straightened her back, embodying the unwavering stance of a protector.

When Xu Youyuan emerged in her swimsuit, Shi Yue noticed it was a two-piece, revealing long legs and arms. Despite Xu Youyuan’s complaints about a slow metabolism, she wasn’t overweight at all.

"What are you staring at?" Xu Youyuan caught her gaze.

"You’re skinnier than I expected. I thought you’d have a belly once the clothes came off," Shi Yue remarked from behind the half-open changing room door as she changed into her own swimsuit.

"Skinnier? Look at this." Xu Youyuan pinched her stomach, grabbing a handful of soft flesh.

"I didn’t say you were skinny… just not fat." Shi Yue changed quickly, stepping out while adjusting her swim cap. She took the opportunity to openly appraise Xu Youyuan in her swimsuit. "A little soft here and there, but it’s evenly distributed. Doesn’t look bony—nice."

The words sounded like praise, but on second thought, they were more of a tease.

Just as Xu Youyuan was about to glare at her, Shi Yue quickly added,

"And anyway, what does weight matter? Proportion is the ultimate goal, and Xu Youyuan, I’d say you’ve hit a rare balance."

"Sure, sure." Xu Youyuan deliberately ignored the hidden implications in Shi Yue’s words and dove into the pool.

The water temperature was perfect. After a couple of laps, Xu Youyuan felt her tense muscles finally relax. Shi Yue swam alongside her, faster and more effortlessly.

They had the pool to themselves for nearly half an hour before others started trickling in. Tired from swimming, Xu Youyuan soaked in the hot tub.

Shi Yue joined her, wincing as she eased into the scalding water, taking deep breaths before finally settling in.

"This is way too hot!"

Xu Youyuan, sitting serenely in the water, asked, "Any bright ideas for dealing with the green and white snakes?"

Shi Yue frowned at the mention. "Those two are from White Snake Legend 2021. Just from the title, you can tell I didn’t import them, but I did watch it as a kid—dragged into it by my sister one weekend. She thought it was a romance and even prepared snacks to enjoy in secret, only to get scared out of her wits. It’s been my childhood nightmare ever since."

"Huh?" Xu Youyuan seemed puzzled. "It was scary?"

Shi Yue gaped at her. "Can you remember the green snake? Silently dropping from the roof to eat people—how is that not terrifying?"

Xu Youyuan replied calmly, "It was fine."

"Then you’re my hero," Shi Yue said, playfully clinging to her.

"Be serious. We’ve seen the floods the white snake can summon. Honestly, even with better gear and more buffs, do you think you could swim sideways through that torrent to the third platform?"

Shi Yue shook her head.

"Me neither. The current’s too strong."

"What if we got winged outfits and flew over?"

"The snakes aren’t blind. You’d be an even bigger target in the air—they’d just blast you back down."

"Hmm…" Shi Yue mused. "What if we fight head-on? I could buy a Fahai outfit—maybe it could subdue them?"

"You’ve said before that to keep the competition fair, outfits don’t offer game-breaking advantages. Even if a Fahai outfit existed, it wouldn’t let you just capture them. If it were that easy, the dungeon would be pointless. Pay-to-win mechanics devalue achievements. I doubt Dark Box would be that shortsighted."

"True." Shi Yue conceded.

"If outfits help at all, it’s only as support. Remember the scene’s hint? All weapons must be obtained within the scenario. But what have we found? The only offensive items are a paper cutter and a wrench… what good are those?"

Shi Yue couldn’t help praising her. "Even with just the paper cutter, you managed to hold off the bamboo-basket gorilla."

"But we couldn’t actually hurt it. Attacks only delay or distract it. Notice something? We have status bars and HP, but the gorilla and the snakes don’t. They’re part of the environment—unkillable, maybe even unavoidable. The only option is evasion."

Shi Yue nodded repeatedly.

"We have to clear this stage, but brute force won’t work. Outfits should make the task easier—if used right…" Xu Youyuan pondered, then asked, "The sisters chasing us with lightning and floods—that’s the Flooding of Jinshan scene, right?"

"Yep, judging by their dialogue, no doubt."

"The Flooding of Jinshan killed countless people. What we faced earlier was probably just the beginning. By the story’s logic, the entire Mount Takao would be submerged, and the third platform is already visible on the mountainside…" Xu Youyuan seemed to be thinking aloud. Shi Yue waited patiently, letting her piece it together.

Suddenly, Xu Youyuan looked at the hot water lapping at her neck and smiled. "I’ve got it."

Shi Yue adored this look of clarity on her. "What’s the plan?"

Xu Youyuan laid out her idea. Shi Yue hesitated. "Wait, is that… reliable?"

"Let’s try it. If it fails, we’ll figure something else out."

After soaking a while longer, Xu Youyuan felt lightheaded and decided to head home.

"How long do you need to prepare? When should we re-enter Dark Box?" Shi Yue asked.

"After today’s training, my muscles are exhausted. Give me two days to recover, then I’ll contact you."

"Okay…"

As Xu Youyuan stepped out of the water, Shi Yue’s eyes followed her, words lingering unspoken.

With her back turned while removing her swim cap, Xu Youyuan asked, "Was there something else you wanted to say?"

After waiting a few seconds without hearing Shi Yue speak, Xu Youyuan turned back curiously to look at her.

"Xu Youyuan, your avatar in Dark Box was created through a full-body scan, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, same as yours, no?"

Shi Yue hummed, dragging out the sound. "Suddenly noticed your little secret, sis."

"What do you mean?"

"You tweaked certain areas. What I’ve experienced felt way more impressive than reality." Shi Yue quietly sank lower into the water, leaving only her eyes above the surface as she glanced at Xu Youyuan’s chest.

Xu Youyuan immediately understood.

So what if she’d adjusted her bust size a little? As if Shi Yue hadn’t cheated too—and even the "truth" was a solid B-cup, okay?

After so many rounds of bickering, Xu Youyuan knew it was time to teach her that picking fights required some creativity.

"Heh," Xu Youyuan said. "Weren’t you the one relying on that vampire buff to scam five-star reviews? Rip out those fangs and yank off the tail, and who knows if there’s any real skill left."

Shi Yue: "…" She couldn’t believe Xu Youyuan had just said that.

Before leaving, Xu Youyuan added, "Head back soon. Don’t wander this far next time."

Without waiting for a response, Xu Youyuan stepped out of the pool.

Shi Yue remained submerged in the warm water, replaying the night’s moments in her head. She couldn’t help but smile, feeling like she might melt.

Two hours spent trekking to the western outskirts? Totally worth it.