[Under the guise of auditioning for a role, you come to the hotel room to meet Gu Xingye in secret, engaging in wanton acts with him—pulling at sleeves, undoing garments. There is nothing the two of you dare not do.] (Note 1)
[You and Gu Xingye have unlocked the Couple Title "Dirty Dogs and Hens." When wearing this title in front of Duan Mingxuan, your success rate for catching him in the act increases by 20%.]
Player: What the hell kind of title is this? Simulator, are you trying to call me out?!
Xia Cheng was furious. And when she got angry, she kicked Gu Xingye again.
Her kick wasn't hard at all—it didn't really hurt—but the spot she kicked suddenly went numb.
As if she still wasn't satisfied, seeing that she wanted to keep kicking him, Gu Xingye reached out and grabbed her slender ankle, preventing her from continuing.
Her fair cheeks flushed with a hint of red from anger, and she immediately became imperious again: "How annoying! Let go!"
But the detestable man before her simply laughed. He looked at her, a hint of mischief in his exquisite, handsome features: "You think I'll let go just because you say so? Why should I listen to you?"
Before she could flare up, he continued: "Hey, how about being with me?"
There was rare sincerity in his expression: "Don't you want to become a Best Actress? Whatever Duan Mingxuan can give you, I can give you too—even more than he can."
[Gu Xingye can no longer suppress his feelings for you and has submitted a relationship request. Do you accept?]
Well, this.
The player was taken aback.
She'd only wanted to sleep with him briefly—a real relationship was out of the question. That kind of proper commitment didn't feel exciting at all, and it would get in the way of her flirting with other handsome men.
Xia Cheng chose "No."
She equipped the [Spring Peach Blossom] avatar accessory to boost her "innocent" aura, then put on a troubled and confused expression: "A relationship and all that… I haven't really thought about it. And why would you ask that? I find it rather forward… Have we really progressed to that point?"
Her innocent, guileless demeanor actually left him stunned.
"…What do you mean?" This time Gu Xingye was genuinely taken aback. "Didn't you—then what was tonight? You let me…"
"What are you talking about?" The girl cut him off in a sweet, coquettish voice. "Tonight… wasn't it just an accident? We only ended up like this because something went wrong during our audition… That doesn't really mean anything, does it?"
Gu Xingye stared at her for a long moment.
She still looked so naive and carefree, pure and flawless—so beautiful that no one could bear to fault her in any way.
But if he still couldn't tell that he'd been played, then his twenty-something years of life would have been wasted.
However, he had his pride too. Clinging and pestering was not his style.
A trace of gloom flickered across Gu Xingye's handsome face. He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, casually swept the stray hair from his forehead, and then laughed: "Fine, I misread things. I misunderstood your intentions."
"Are you angry?"
Xia Cheng continued to look completely innocent.
"No."
His expression was cold.
"Really not?"
"Really not."
"Alright then." Xia Cheng nodded agreeably, then asked, "So can I still come find you later?"
"You…" Gu Xingye was momentarily at a loss for words, then laughed out of sheer exasperation. He was almost incredulous. "Sorry, to prevent myself from misreading things again, let me clarify one thing—are you saying you want me to be your backup? Or your tool for taking care of physical needs?"
"Don't put it so harshly." The player said with complete confidence. "It's not like Duan Mingxuan and I are in a relationship, so there's no such thing as a backup… Besides, isn't this kind of thing pretty common on film sets? Why are you reacting so strongly? You're not… falling for me, are you?"
His long, slender eyelashes trembled slightly.
Gu Xingye let out a scoff and lifted his eyelids, a cold arrogance in his handsome brows: "Falling for you? How could that be? Don't flatter yourself."
"That's good then." The girl actually looked relieved instead. She smiled sweetly and said, "I was originally afraid you were the kind of man who couldn't handle casual encounters—someone who'd insist on making the other person take responsibility once something happened… Since you're not like that, that's wonderful! So, can I still come find you tomorrow?"
Her relief and joy seemed utterly genuine, which stirred an inexplicable anger in him.
How could she be like this?
How could she be so brazenly self-righteous?
Gu Xingye could no longer contain himself.
"You're treating me like a complete fool! Do you think I'll keep playing along with your games?" He laughed coldly, straightened up, and looked down at her with contempt. "Do you think that just because you're beautiful, every man will fall at your feet? If you think I'm like those fools who would be easily bewitched by you and willingly become your devoted admirer, then you're wrong! Let me tell you—I'm not like them!"
Player: "Oh."
[On the second night, you arrive at Gu Xingye's room and invite him to a "Battle of Red Cliffs." Faced with your invitation, he struggles with all his might but cannot resist, ultimately bowing at your feet and obediently becoming your devoted follower. Gu Xingye's favorability toward you increases by 50 points.]
"Gu Xingye falls into self-loathing, his mood decreasing by 20 points."
[On the third night, you arrive at Gu Xingye's room and invite him to a "Battle of Red Cliffs." Faced with your invitation, he struggles with all his might but cannot resist, ultimately bowing at your feet and obediently becoming your devoted follower. Gu Xingye's favorability toward you increases by 50 points.]
"Gu Xingye falls into self-loathing, his mood decreasing by 20 points."
[On the fourth night, you arrive at Gu Xingye's room and invite him to a "Battle of Red Cliffs." Faced with your invitation, he can only bow at your feet and obediently become your devoted follower. Gu Xingye's favorability toward you increases by 50 points.]
"Gu Xingye falls into self-loathing, his mood decreasing by 20 points."
[On the fifth night…]
[On the sixth night…]
[On the seventh night…]
…
[Gu Xingye's mood value has dropped too rapidly, and he has entered a state of "Dark Crawling." Players are advised to pay extra attention.]
Your reminder is quite useful, but the player doesn't care about the NPC's psychological state, only obsessing over getting down and dirty.
"The Player's Simulator Diary"—
Day 1 of playing the Simulator
Starting this diary anew to push myself to work harder this playthrough and unlock more achievements and titles. First, I need to complete the "Eternal Fame in Film History" quest…
Day 2 of playing the Simulator
Getting down and dirty.
Day 3 of playing the Simulator
Getting down and dirty.
Day 4 of playing the Simulator
Getting down and dirty.
…
Day 99 of playing the Simulator
Xia Cheng, oh Xia Cheng! How could you sink to such depravity! Have you forgotten the simulation plans you set earlier?
You play "Life Simulator" to experience different identities, pursue the truth of life, and seek the meaning of existence! How could you spend most of your energy on such meaningless activities as getting down and dirty?! Confucius said, "I daily examine myself on three points." …I can't go on like this!
Day 100 of playing the Simulator
Getting down and dirty.
Day 101 of playing the Simulator
Getting down and dirty.