Cat 333: Extra: Return to Reality – Part 2

Chapter 333 Extra: Return to Reality—Part 2

It was only after being reunited that Yan Jiyun told Qi Feng the truth about the game. For the most part, it was just as Qi Feng had previously surmised, though there were many details he hadn’t fully grasped—such as the roles that Yan Jiyun and his friends had played in the game.

This was the first time the two met here as true Earthlings, a long-awaited moment that Qi Feng hardly dared to disturb.

Real humans do not turn into black cats, but he was still his cat all the same.

Though they were already well acquainted, this was still their first time together here, and Qi Feng was somewhat nervous.

After embracing for a while, they returned to the living room.

Yan Jiyun took in the sights of Qi Feng’s home as Qi Feng went to pour him a drink.

Just as he was about to reach for water, Qi Feng remembered—Yan Jiyun was now a real person, able to drink more than “Caramel” ever could. His stomach ought not be so fragile.

Qi Feng asked, “What can you drink now?”

Yan Jiyun understood what he meant and smiled. “I’m Niu Hulu Caramel now; I can drink anything.”

Qi Feng took a can of cold beer from the fridge. He recalled how, in the game, he had once opened the fridge for a summer beer, and Caramel had watched him drink, even licking his lips. He’d thought then that it was just a cat’s greed when it saw its human eating, never realizing it was actual longing.

“I thought you didn’t want to admit you accepted a master in the game.”

Yan Jiyun’s eyes lit up at the beer in his hand. In all that time under Dr. Shi’s training, he’d never been allowed to have food that wasn’t issued by the team.

“There’s no need to put it so seriously.” He took a sip, savoring it. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had beer.”

“Wasn’t alcohol forbidden in your department?” Qi Feng couldn’t imagine what his life had been like; his investigation had only revealed there were special military departments but not specifically which one Yan Jiyun belonged to.

At the mention, Yan Jiyun had plenty to complain about. “Doctor wouldn’t let us drink.”

Qi Feng still didn’t know much about their internal structure. “What does he do?”

Yan Jiyun explained simply, “He was responsible for the Destiny game. You know that game came from beyond, that is, from aliens—higher beings from other star systems testing the civilization of Earth. If all the players failed, Earth’s civilization would be wiped out; if not, Earth would be preserved. In this vast universe, there are many civilizations like ours.”

Qi Feng had suspected as much, but hearing Yan Jiyun reaffirm it made things clearer.

Many of the incomprehensible moments in the game now made sense. “So we all took part in protecting Earth’s civilization. These so-called higher-beings wanted to destroy it, and they manipulated us in the game. Players like Su Qiuming were used to destroy other players—the more capable the player, the more severe the threats they faced.”

Yan Jiyun replied, “It’s lucky you realized something was off with Su Qiuming so early. In fact, there were many such traps in the game; as long as we didn’t fall for them or come under their control, we could hold onto our original intent and eventually find a way out.”

Qi Feng said, “Your first plan failed because there were too few of you, right?”

Yan Jiyun nodded. “But even that failure was within our expectations. We had one advantage over you—we didn’t have nameplates. When the game descended, we were in combat training for this very event, and we managed to avoid being selected.”

Qi Feng asked, “Then how did you enter the game later?”

Yan Jiyun took another sip and began to recount the events before their entry.

In fact, the first to learn about the game were Dr. Shi and his alien-research team.

This went back six years, when Earth was still normal and vibrant, and Yan Jiyun was an optimistic eighteen-year-old about to start university.

That day, as he was heading to pick up his acceptance letter, he was called to the office by his homeroom teacher, and from then on, his life changed forever.

As a young man who had lost his father and had certain special abilities, he met their recruitment requirements well—no distractions, nothing tying him down.

He was won over by the offer of room and board, high salary, full benefits, a position in a military institution, and he could keep his academic enrollment.

Only after joining did he learn that from that day, he’d be cut off from the outside world, with nothing but endless training.

The lessons far surpassed anything he’d known: strength, survival, mathematics, science, astronomy, geography, logic, deduction—he was pushed well beyond his limits.

When the Destiny game arrived and all of humanity entered as players, some people became NPCs, having their consciousness removed, while others became players.

But Yan Jiyun, protected at a training base, hadn’t been swept into the game; their training had been to break the game and save the world.

“We had a way to get in, but once inside we might be stuck as NPCs and lose awareness for a while. When I awakened for the first time, it took all I had to find Teacher Qu, my teammates. We only had one shot to enter, so we had to prepare everything. Inside the game, we could rely only on ourselves.”

Qi Feng recalled, “Back in the game, you told me your group were aliens.” At the time, he’d been uncertain if, after the game, they’d ever really meet again.

Yan Jiyun drained the last mouthful of beer. “We knew the game would detect our thoughts, so before going in, we trained ourselves in strict self-hypnosis—never, ever letting ourselves believe we were Earthlings. That way, we couldn’t reveal our true purpose.”

Qi Feng understood his meaning; Yan Jiyun truly had been one of the key people to break the game.

As he watched, he saw the corners of Yan Jiyun’s eyes redden, his gaze a little unfocused. Qi Feng suddenly asked, “How’s your alcohol tolerance?”

Yan Jiyun sprawled on the table and looked up at him. “Huh, am I back in the game? Why do I see two of you?”

Qi Feng burst out laughing and ruffled his hair. “Now I get why they didn’t let you drink. You really can’t hold it.”

He remembered Caramel lying quietly asleep that afternoon in the game, even when sparrows flitted at the window. All because he’d drunk a bit—and been tipsy.

Lying there now, Yan Jiyun’s beautiful eyes were glazed with drink. Qi Feng wanted to ask, leaning closer, “Why did you choose me from so many people?”

Yan Jiyun propped his chin in his palm. “Because you’re the best-looking.”

With that, he flopped onto the table, fast asleep.

Qi Feng, left with the story unfinished, thought—That’s just like you.

Even picking a master, you had to choose a good-looking one.

He carried Yan Jiyun to bed, wishing he hadn’t let him drink beer at all.

Half-kneeling at the bedside, he looked at Yan Jiyun for a long moment.

In reality, out of the game, everything felt much more vivid, more real. He even noticed a faint mole under Yan Jiyun’s right eye.

Qi Feng bent down for a quick goodnight kiss. Just as he moved closer, Yan Jiyun’s eyes flew open.

Yan Jiyun looped his arms around Qi Feng’s neck. “You really think I’m drunk?”

Qi Feng hesitated, then smiled. “Yeah, it was a trick, wasn’t it?”

Yan Jiyun gazed intently into Qi Feng’s eyes. “You stood out from the crowd. After becoming an NPC, I saw countless players. But none as steadfast as you. I knew our first mission would fail, so I made backup plans for everyone I could. If I got another chance, I was determined to join with you and escape together.”

Qi Feng felt his heart flutter. “Are you… confessing to me?”

Yan Jiyun raised his chin, pulling Qi Feng down until their lips met. Whispering, “Yes.”

This was their first kiss in the real world—warm, genuine, alive.

And they both heard the pounding of each other’s hearts, loud and clear.

Qi Feng said, “My heart’s beating so fast.”

Yan Jiyun replied, “Mine, too.”

Qi Feng kissed him gently, then lay down beside him, holding him close. “It’s wonderful—coming back with you. Before the zombie dungeon, I always thought I’d die in the game. Then I met you, calling yourself an NPC, and I just wanted to know all your secrets—I had to find you, so I went through instance after instance. I never found you, and felt so low. Later, I raised Caramel—who was you—and every time I saw you, my heart felt at home, like there was someone waiting for me.”

Qi Feng’s parents had died early; he’d grown up with his grandfather. He took over the family business at twenty, and lost his grandfather to liver cancer at twenty-one. Before entering the game and while inside it, he had no old friends around—he always had to make new connections, deep down, feeling very lonely.

He carried so many burdens. Only with Caramel, with Yan Jiyun, did he finally feel free of that heaviness, able to relax.

Yan Jiyun took his hand and pressed it to his own chest. “Your Caramel will always be family.”

Qi Feng nuzzled Yan Jiyun’s head. “Mm.”

His cat had come home with him. It was wonderful.

Drowsy and content, Yan Jiyun nestled into the warmth at Qi Feng’s side.

He thought to himself: It’s good to be home.

Not long after, Yan Jiyun resolutely submitted his resignation.

He only wanted a simple, ordinary life, to finish the university studies he’d missed.

A game had taught him just how precious time and one’s companions were.

Unfortunately, his resignation was rejected.

Early one morning, Yan Jiyun, having seen the refusal, rushed downstairs to find Qi Feng.

“Look—they won’t let me quit.”

Qi Feng took his phone and looked at the latest message on the screen.

Emergency mission—return to base immediately.

“What urgent mission? Can I participate?” Qi Feng asked.

Yan Jiyun considered bringing Qi Feng along; if he was kicked from the team just for wanting to date, so be it.

Without delay, they returned to headquarters in the afternoon.

The division head looked at Qi Feng approvingly and extended an invitation: “Mr. Qi, would you like to join our department to wrap up this operation with Xiao Yan?”

“Wait—” Yan Jiyun protested, “Director Zhang, what are you up to?”

Director Zhang was a kindly old man—though only the young people drawn into the department knew how sly he could be.

Smiling, Director Zhang rapped Yan Jiyun on the head with some papers. “I’m short-handed. You still want to quit?”

Qi Feng could see Yan Jiyun wouldn’t be able to resign and asked, “Excuse me, what kind of wrap-up is this, and how can I help?”

Director Zhang explained, “It’s about the Destiny game. Although the energy sustaining the game has mostly left Earth, some remains. We’ve collected it, but now need people to re-enter the game and extract a few lingering player consciousnesses.”

Qi Feng frowned—he still considered the game dangerous, and had no wish ever to return.

He voiced his concern, “Is it dangerous?”

Director Zhang assured him, “Not at all. We could simply erase that energy, but there are a handful of player consciousnesses left, and we’d prefer to bring them out.”

Yan Jiyun steered Qi Feng toward the door. “You can’t just drag Qi Feng into this.”

Director Zhang chuckled, “Come with me—it’s safe this time. We’re fully prepared.”

He brought them into the conference room.

Director Zhang himself opened the door, saying, “I didn’t just invite Mr. Qi. I also invited Mr. Lan, Mr. Gu, and Mr. Chu.”

The whole room rose as one, calling out, “Captain Yan! Brother Feng! Long time no see!”

Qi Feng tightened his grip on Yan Jiyun’s hand.

The friends they had once fought beside were all reunited today.