ARBW Chapter 23

Pei Yuhuai looked at the fully unlocked map, many areas still blanketed in white. He estimated that those places would only reveal themselves once he personally visited them.

He wasn’t in a hurry to take Lin Mian out. Instead, he bought a vehicle from the in-game store.

According to Lin Mian, they were still quite a distance away from the wall.

If they relied solely on walking, it would likely take them several days.

During those days, they might be attacked by the Lower Class People from the Outer City.

Pei Yuhuai opened the store and searched for vehicles.

He found not only common ones like cars, motorcycles, and electric bikes but also some uncommon ones like yachts, spaceships, and airplanes.

Pei Yuhuai glanced indifferently and purchased a military jeep.

After buying the car, he directly placed it in the open area outside the town.

Seeing the large jeep appear out of thin air, Lin Mian was already somewhat accustomed to such occurrences.

Pei Yuhuai got into the car, and Lin Mian obediently followed and sat inside.

To Pei Yuhuai’s surprise, the game had a driving simulation system once they got into the car.

He looked at the various buttons on the phone interface and tried driving with a hint of helplessness.

It had been a long time since he last drove, and suddenly having to do so felt a bit unfamiliar.

Pei Yuhuai tested the controls and found them manageable, so he drove out with Lin Mian.

Not long after they set off, they encountered Lower Class People from the Outer City.

Recently, the Lower Class People had learned that Scarlet Town had been abandoned by the Nobles.

Many were becoming restless, wanting to see what was happening.

They heard that Scarlet Town had been taken over by a Young Master from a Noble family.

This Young Master was a second-generation heir, with power and influence, and he also possessed an Ability.

They wondered what kind of person this Noble Young Master was and if they could also move into the town.

Due to their fear of Pei Yuhuai’s Noble status, they hadn’t dared to act rashly.

Today, seeing a car emerge from the town, some bold Lower Class People tried to approach.

As Pei Yuhuai drove, he noticed many small figures crowding toward the car.

Lin Mian, seeing this, leaned out the window, signaling for the people to move aside and avoid being accidentally hit.

However, no matter how much he gestured, the people ignored him and continued to crowd around, seemingly trying to stop the car.

In this world, when Nobles visited the Outer City, they would bring many guards, who were the Mutants.

Seeing Pei Yuhuai come out with just a car and only Lin Mian accompanying him was a first for them.

They didn’t dare to kill the Noble in the car, but they were so hungry that they dared to stop the vehicle.

They figured they would die sooner or later, so even if they were killed by the Noble, they wanted to die with full stomachs.

Thus, a few bold ones reached out to grab the car door, and a half-grown child tried to climb onto the car.

They shouted, “Please, please, give us some food!”

“Noble Sir, Noble Sir, could you give us some food?”

“Save us, we’re so hungry!”

…

Though their words were pleading, their actions were reckless and bold.

Pei Yuhuai looked at the dirty, noisy NPCs outside, completely unafraid of being hit, his expression remaining unchanged.

He liked polite people and disliked rude bandits.

If they had spoken properly instead of trying to stop his car, he might have softened and given them some food.

But they did the exact opposite, doing what Pei Yuhuai hated most.

So Pei Yuhuai just watched them, not only not stopping the car but also pressing the accelerator.

Pei Yuhuai did this without much thought.

To him, these people were just NPCs, a string of code in the game.

Even if someone got hit, his eyes showed no emotion.

But his cold demeanor made Lin Mian beside him a bit uneasy.

Pei Yuhuai had always been gentle and courteous to Lin Mian.

No matter what Lin Mian wanted, Pei Yuhuai would try to provide it.

This kindness made Lin Mian almost forget that Pei Yuhuai was also a Noble.

Seeing Pei Yuhuai completely indifferent to the lives of those outside, Lin Mian, who was also a lowly Lower Class Person, felt a bit uncomfortable.

He softly called out, “Mr. Pei?”

Pei Yuhuai responded indifferently.

Hearing that Mr. Pei’s tone was still gentle, Lin Mian relaxed a little.

He whispered, “Mr. Pei, they mean no harm. They’re just starving, driven mad by hunger, which is why they’re acting so rudely.”

Pei Yuhuai slowed the car and said to the game character, “I know. Were you scared by my behavior?”

“No, I wasn’t scared. I just wanted to say… could Mr. Pei not hurt them?”

“Alright, it was my mistake. I shouldn’t have been so cold.”

Lin Mian was stunned. He didn’t expect someone like Mr. Pei to apologize to a Lower Class Person like him.

He hadn’t intended for Mr. Pei to apologize; he just hoped Mr. Pei wouldn’t kill innocently.

But Mr. Pei immediately apologized?

Since Lin Mian didn’t want to see Pei Yuhuai hit people with the car, and Pei Yuhuai felt it wasn’t gentlemanly, to prevent such incidents, Pei Yuhuai stored the car in the system backpack and used his Speed-based Ability to carry Lin Mian.

Pei Yuhuai clicked on Lin Mian and chose the “hug” interaction.

After Lin Mian, blushing in confusion, agreed, Pei Yuhuai picked him up with one arm.

In the game, Pei Yuhuai’s character was also small, and when he lifted Lin Mian, he realized Lin Mian was much smaller.

Lin Mian looked a size smaller in his arms, oddly cute.

Pei Yuhuai had many blue potions, so he used them while “blinking” with Lin Mian.

Lin Mian then understood that Mr. Pei chose to carry him and use his Ability to avoid hitting people with the car.

Lin Mian suddenly felt he was being too demanding and felt a bit guilty.

After all, Mr. Pei came to the Outer City for him, and he not only had many troublesome requests but also made Mr. Pei act as his “mount.”

Lin Mian felt anxious and uneasy. He carefully wrapped his arms around Mr. Pei’s neck and softly apologized.

“Sorry, Mr. Pei, did I cause you trouble again?”

Pei Yuhuai didn’t hear him but saw the speech bubble above Lin Mian’s head.

Through the bubble, he saw what Lin Mian had just said.

He found it amusing and shook his head. Realizing Lin Mian in the game couldn’t see, he spoke to him.

“It’s no trouble. I’m your lover; I should take care of you.”

Lover?

What is a lover for?

Ah, for romance, for kissing and cuddling.

Thinking this, Lin Mian felt he should do something to express his affection and gratitude to Mr. Pei.

So the next second, a system notification appeared on Pei Yuhuai’s screen.

“Your partner wants to kiss you. Agree/Decline.”

Pei Yuhuai paused mid-step, a bit surprised by the message.

He initially wanted to decline, feeling it strange and awkward to kiss a game character.

But considering he had already confirmed their relationship, declining would also be odd. It’s better to be open.

Thus, Pei Yuhuai clicked “Agree.”

The next second, he saw his beautiful little partner on the screen hook his neck and kiss his cheek.

So… just a cheek kiss?

He had actually hesitated over a cheek kiss?

Pei Yuhuai quickly made up for his earlier awkwardness.

He wasn’t a shy person and didn’t want to admit he was passive, as his mother had said.

So Pei Yuhuai chose to interact and actively kissed Lin Mian.

Since they confirmed their relationship, their interactions had included many things.

Like princess carries, one-arm carries, lifting, kissing, and even more intimate acts.

Pei Yuhuai chose to kiss.

Lin Mian, seeing Mr. Pei suddenly pinch his chin and lean in to kiss him, was so nervous he couldn’t speak.

He slightly opened his mouth, wanting to say it was too fast, that he wasn’t mentally prepared.

But seeing Mr. Pei’s handsome face, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

So Lin Mian closed his eyes.

His action, in the system’s eyes, was consent.

Thus, the kissing interaction wasn’t rejected and proceeded successfully.

As the game characters kissed, the game interface suddenly lit up with dazzling fireworks.

Pei Yuhuai looked on awkwardly, thinking: A dating game is a dating game; even a kiss has firework effects.

However, Pei Yuhuai didn’t know that these fireworks weren’t just visible to him; people in Lin Mian’s world could also see them.

This meant that when Lin Mian opened his eyes, he would see the sky filled with fireworks.

Similarly, others living nearby could also see the spectacular display.

Unbeknownst to the two, many people were gathering toward them.

Many of them had only seen fireworks in their youth.

Seeing them now gave them a sudden sense of returning to their younger days, their expressions filled with nostalgia.

If only they could return to the past, to that peaceful, happy pre-apocalyptic era.

They were all puzzled: Why were such beautiful fireworks set off in the Outer City?

Had a Noble come to the Outer City?

If a Noble had come, could they beg for some food and water?

Meanwhile, Lin Mian, with his burning cheeks, gently pushed Pei Yuhuai.

He was out of breath, not from the kiss but from sheer nervousness.

His heart felt like it was about to explode, filled with joy, excitement, and unease.

He had always thought being kissed by a man would feel disgusting and weird.

But when Mr. Pei kissed his lips, he inexplicably felt so happy, so blissful.

Mr. Pei smelled nice, not like strong perfume but a faint, woody scent.

Lin Mian felt like… he was loved and cared for now.

Someone would look after him, care for him, and protect him.

This was a feeling he had never experienced before, something he had never even imagined.

So, as a man, he could also be cared for and protected like this.

Before he could dwell on his shyness, he noticed fireworks lighting up the sky behind them.

Logically, it was daytime, and the fireworks shouldn’t be visible.

But the fireworks above them were exceptionally vibrant and colorful, clearly visible even in daylight.

Lin Mian, who had only seen fireworks as a child, was momentarily mesmerized. He instinctively asked, “Mr. Pei, did you do this for me?”

To Lin Mian, only Mr. Pei could pull off such a grand gesture in the Outer City.

Pei Yuhuai didn’t respond but stared oddly at his phone screen.

He had a fleeting sensation, as if something had kissed his lips.

The feeling was so strange that he didn’t respond to Lin Mian’s words.

“Mr. Pei, thank you. The fireworks are so beautiful; I love them.”

Pei Yuhuai still didn’t answer. Instead, he took out another phone and called his niece, Cai Cai.