The heavy rain from a few days ago had already stopped, leaving behind a refreshing and crisp air. The temperature had also slightly dropped, and people on the streets had started wearing long-sleeved shirts.
Of course, there were still plenty of people with good constitutions wearing short sleeves. Chu Ge and Qiu Wuji pretended to be among them, casually strolling around in their summer short sleeves.
One of the purposes of their outing was to buy some clothes for the changing season.
However, upon hearing Chu Geâs words, Qiu Wuji, who was impervious to cold and heat, inexplicably felt a chill. It was as if she had been drenched with a bucket of cold water, leaving her damp. She hugged her arms and lowered her head, whispering, âI see⦠It seems a bit⦠â
She wasnât particularly interested in most things in this world.
In the past, she sought knowledge only for the sake of âunderstanding the world,â not out of genuine interest. Watching movies and reading books were for learning, not for entertainment value.
What truly interested her were computers and smartphones, mainly because of their convenience and access to information. They could even surpass the efficiency of the cultivation world.
Her heart was originally a quiet, tranquil ancient well.
âNow Iâm better. Iâve come to like the little pigletâ¦â After thinking for a while, Qiu Wuji muttered in a gloomy tone, âMany things in this world arenât that enjoyable⦠Well, I admit that I feel somewhat out of place, like an observer from another world watching this one.â
Chu Ge snapped his fingers. âExactly, the fundamental reason isnât whether or not you have hobbies or interests. Maybe you have some that others donât, but itâs more of a manifestation. The real main difference seems to be that you are an observer and donât see yourself as a part of this world.â
âMid-Autumn, Qiu Wuji, merging with this worldâ¦.â Qiu Wuji clenched her fist with energy. âI will solve this problem!â
Chu Ge smiled and took her hand, swaying it back and forth as they walked. âI suddenly think you getting to know Zhu Mengmeng is greatâ¦â
âWhy do you say that?â
âIt allows your world to have more than just me⦠You have social interactions, your own life trajectory,â Chu Ge said. âEvery personâs existence in the world is built upon various elements from childhood to adulthood. But you appeared out of nowhere, and your trajectory has only been a few months, so youâve missed out on many, many aspects⦠Zhu Mengmeng is the first step to filling that gap, and gradually, youâll have others.â
Qiu Wuji asked, âSo, I should make more friends?â
âIt doesnât necessarily mean just friends⦠Your life currently revolves around me, and apart from going to Zhu Mengmengâs place for tea, which is something you do on your own, everything else is related to me. You can think about what else you can do that is unrelated to me. Hobbies and interests are just one aspect of it.â
Qiu Wuji tilted her head and pondered for a while but couldnât come up with anything.
Because without you, thereâs nothing in this world worth clinging to. I donât need to stay here, and I donât need to assimilate into this world. So why should I seek activities that have nothing to do with you?
In the end, she didnât say those words because she was afraid that if she did, Chu Ge would become smug to the point where his tail would reach the sky.
Finally, Qiu Wuji said, âActually, even listening to music canât be unrelated to you. When Iâm at home reading or cooking and I listen to music, does that count? Can I even leave you behind and go to a concert?â
âDo you dare!â
âHmph.â
âListening to music was just a random example, not quite applicable⦠Of course, if you open an app and browse through songs one by one to find the ones you like, purely for your own enjoyment, that is indeed unrelated to me.â
âHmmâ¦â Qiu Wuji thought for a moment and realized it made sense. âI can give it a try⦠But when it comes to songs, Iâm not very accustomed to the music of this world. Although theyâre good, they just donât feel right. Maybe I can search for guzheng or guqin music?â
Chu Ge nodded and smiled. âThatâs right. You should always have things you love.â
Qiu Wuji looked at him sideways for a while, then suddenly smiled. âThank you.â
Chu Ge: â?â
âYou⦠have always been helping me assimilate into this world, even at the cost of separating me from your influence⦠Youâve been doing that all along.â
âUhâ¦â
âIn the past few days, it seems like we had forgotten about this, as if I was surfing the internet on my own, getting used to the online language of this world, becoming a modern person⦠And now, suddenly, I have a feeling like when I first arrived.â Qiu Wuji held his hand and shook it. âThe time when Chu Ge made efforts to keep Qiu Wuji, the time spent coaxing me.â
Chu Ge also started to feel nostalgic about that time. Qiu Wuji was naive back then, unable to speak when going out to buy things, obediently keeping quiet and listening to his negotiations with people. She couldnât catch a taxi on her own. It was so much fun back then.
Now, as she becomes more and more familiar with this world, she can even bargain while shopping. That feeling has been gone for a long time. Unexpectedly, with just a few words today, he realized that sheâs actually not that familiar with it. Itâs just that her life trajectory is too narrow, leaving little room to expose her âignorance.â
They still have a long, long way to go⦠together.
âSpeaking of that, I feel like playing some games now,â Qiu Wuji suddenly said. âWhen I chat with people online, the most troublesome thing is the gaming jargon they use. Everyone else understands, but I have to secretly ask Baidu for help. Although I understand the meaning after asking, itâs just forced memorization, without any feelingâ¦â
âGames, huhâ¦â Chu Ge chuckled. âI thought the Sect Master Qiu would be addicted to games and not want to return to the Sect. But turns out itâs not like thatâ¦â
âI am resolute and canât be addicted to anything. The only thing that can make me addicted is the pursuit of Heavenly Dao⦠Uh, not referring to you!â
âItâs me!â
âUgh, I am pursuing the mysteries of the universe, surpassing you!â
âAlright, Iâm just a supermarket to you.â
ââ¦â The two stared at each other for a while, and Qiu Wuji muttered, âItâs this kind of jargon, so annoying.â
Chu Ge laughed, âThatâs not game jargon, itâs just nonsense jargon.â
âItâs the same thing,â Qiu Wuji said. âSo do you have any suggestions for games I can play? How about something like mining that Panda does?â
âThat game is called World of Warcraft, an old game from over a decade ago. I was addicted to it back then, it really is a great game⦠But if you want to follow the trend, itâs not the right choice.â
âWhat are some new games then?â
Chu Ge: âIt doesnât have to be too new. The ones they often talk about in the group are generally MOBA games. They can chat about Dota 2, League of Legends, Honor of Kings, and understand each otherâs jargon like âMammoth Flip Spoonâ and âLevel 2 Gankâ⦠You can pick any game you like. I think competitive games suit you well, since itâs all about slaying opponents.â
Qiu Wuji: âIâll go back and do some researchâ¦â
Chu Ge smiled: âWhen youâre slaying opponents in a team, it wonât be all about Chu Ge anymore.â
Qiu Wuji widened her eyes: âAre you trying to say your daughter is growing up?â
âLetâs talk about it when you really get into the game⦠Maybe then itâll be appropriate for Daddy to punish his gaming-addicted daughter. I donât even know if letting you play games is right or wrongâ¦â Chu Ge said with a touch of sadness, âWe started the topic on the wrong foot. We should have discussed more positive and progressive topics.â
Qiu Wuji curiously asked: âWhat topics?â
Chu Ge: âYou donât really understand the thoughts of the people in this world, their behavior, why thereâs a nine to five work culture, why some people choose to be lazy and lie flat, why housing prices are so high, why people are reluctant to have childrenâ¦â
Qiu Wuji interrupted: âWait, people are reluctant to have children?â
Chu Ge glanced at her discreetly.
Qiu Wuji nonchalantly said: âOh, I donât want to have children either. Whatâs the big deal⦠So, why are they reluctant?â
Chu Ge chuckled.
Qiu Wuji remained expressionless: âIf you laugh again, Iâll smack you.â
Chu Ge: âSo, youâre not really a modern person⦠Itâs hard to explain these things in a few words. So, I realized I was heading in the wrong direction earlier⦠Instead of recommending games, I should have suggested that you start with the study of Marxist criminology, indicating that my own ideological awareness is not high enough.â
âWhy should I study criminal behavior?â Qiu Wuji asked. âYeah, Iâve seen them post that image in the group, and the atmosphere was strange. I donât know why.â
âHahahaâ¦â Chu Ge chuckled dryly, holding Qiu Wujiâs hand and diving into the crowd in the shopping mall.
Qiu Wuji swallowed her doubts and realized that discussing criminal behavior openly might not be appropriate. It seemed that she still didnât understand this world well enough, there were so many things she didnât know.
But why donât people in this world like to have children? Itâs so strange. Is it because theyâre afraid of pain?
It does seem painful⦠But isnât it better to have more children for more blessings? It seems like Iâm not afraid of pain, so why not have a few?
Wait, why am I even thinking about this? Chu Ge must have done it on purpose!
âOuch!â Chu Geâs hand was squeezed as if caught by a pair of pliers. He looked at his suddenly aggressive girlfriend with a puzzled and pitiful expression on his face.
Qiu Wuji turned her head and looked at the festive balloons hanging around without saying a word. In the bustling shopping mall during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Qiu Wujiâs face turned red, like a red /FanTranslations