The real HIM did not conclude that Xu Yuan loved the MC world just from the various comments he made online. What truly moved him were Xu Yuan's actual actions.
Even after confirming that Xu Yuan was not some important figure and was only an ordinary office worker, the real HIM still felt unwilling to accept it.
He always felt that someone who could write those kinds of comments and resonate with him should not just be some ordinary person.
So he kept watching everything Xu Yuan did online.
The real HIM existed inside the internet itself. Those lines were basically equivalent to personal IP addresses.
Once the person on the other end connected to the internet, that "line" would light up.
Because of this, the real HIM specifically picked out the line that belonged to Xu Yuan from the countless others so he could observe Xu Yuan's movements at any time.
He even specially left a clone there to guard that line.
Whenever the line went dark, the real HIM would continue searching for the truth he wanted.
Every time that line lit up, the real HIM would immediately put aside whatever he was doing and begin his "screen watching" journey toward Xu Yuan...
And it was during this day after day of "screen watching" that the real HIM got his first chance to meet Xu Yuan.
That day, the line lit up as usual. But unlike before, Xu Yuan did not log into the websites he normally liked to browse, making it impossible for the real HIM to find his traces.
To the real HIM, this was not strange. Situations like this had happened occasionally before.
Among players, this kind of thing was fairly common. Most of the time, they turned on the computer but did not know what to play, so they sat in front of the computer playing something called a phone instead.
At first, the real HIM did not pay much attention to it. He originally planned to leave behind a clone and go handle his own matters.
But just as he was about to turn and leave, at the end of Xu Yuan's line, that dirt-pattern icon with the word "MINECRAFT" on it, which had always remained dark, suddenly lit up.
This change shocked the real HIM. He could not help stopping in place and staring at that lifeless icon.
At first, the real HIM did not know what those occasionally glowing icons connected to the ends of players' lines were.
But after gathering and studying all kinds of information on the internet during this time, he gradually came to understand.
Those different icons were actually something players called "launchers," things that allowed players to enter what they called "applications."
Naturally, the real HIM had also learned about the application with the dirt icon labeled "MINECRAFT." Or rather, this was the first application he ever learned about.
The dirt icon labeled "MINECRAFT" was what players called MC.
Seeing the icon light up, the real HIM could not help freezing for a moment. His feelings at that time were quite complicated.
From the various comments and opinions Xu Yuan posted, he could tell that Xu Yuan truly loved MC.
But what confused the real HIM was that even though Xu Yuan loved MC so much, ever since he started observing him, he had never once seen Xu Yuan open the game.
The real HIM could clearly feel Xu Yuan's sincerity toward MC, because the love and passion for the game in Xu Yuan's words could not be hidden.
And the real HIM also knew that in the online world, everyone was strangers to one another. Xu Yuan had no need to put on a show or follow trends.
So he believed that Xu Yuan's love for MC truly came from the heart.
But if Xu Yuan loved MC so much, why was he unwilling to open the game? This question had always lingered in the real HIM's mind. And now, as the icon lit up, his curiosity was stirred once again.
Just as the real HIM fell into thought, his attention was suddenly drawn to the MC icon.
To his surprise, the space around the icon seemed to be undergoing some strange change.
The previously calm space seemed to be pulled by a powerful suction force, beginning to gather toward the inside of the icon.
As the suction grew stronger and stronger, a portal radiating dazzling white light slowly appeared.
Without question, this portal was an entrance to an unknown world, making people both curious and awed.
The real HIM was startled when he saw it.
"A portal? What is going on..."
He could not help recalling the MC icons he had seen at the ends of other players' lines before. Those icons would occasionally light up too, but never had anything like today happened.
Although he had no idea what was hidden behind the portal, at this moment, the real HIM vaguely felt a strange sense of guidance.
As if this portal had appeared specifically for him.
As if it were calling him to explore its secrets.
The feeling was so strong that the real HIM did not hesitate at all. He took a deep breath, then resolutely stepped into the portal.
Suddenly, a blinding white light rushed toward him. Caught off guard, the real HIM was instantly swallowed by the intense light.
After quite a while, the dazzling white light finally faded away, and the real HIM's vision slowly recovered.
When he could finally see the surroundings clearly, he was shocked to discover that he was inside a deep mine.
The mine was dark and damp. The walls and ground around him were worn and mottled by time, giving off an old, stale feeling.
Above him, the faint light of mining lamps flickered weakly, barely illuminating the dark space.
Seeing this scene gave the real HIM a strange sense of familiarity.
He could not help recalling the moment of his birth. It had also been in such a dark environment, lonely and confused.
Just as he was lost in those memories, a familiar voice suddenly came from above his head.
"Little Erha, did you miss me?!"
The voice was crisp and cheerful.
The real HIM trembled inwardly. It was Xu Yuan's voice, the one he heard every single day.
"Wait for me! I'm gonna get you some fresh meat. Today's gonna be a luxury buffet! Eat as much as you want!" Xu Yuan continued, his tone full of excitement.
Soon after, a rustling sound of footsteps came from above, as if Xu Yuan was busily preparing something.
"Tch... forgot that logging off stops time... only three cows left... Little Erha, wait a bit more, I'll feed the cows first..." Xu Yuan's voice sounded again, this time somewhat annoyed.
The real HIM quietly listened to these meaningless mutterings, but complicated feelings rose inside him.
"How about... we stop eating beef? When I'm not around, they're the only ones who can keep you company..." Xu Yuan's voice suddenly became a little gloomy.
In the end, all that remained was a long sigh, followed by deathlike silence.
The entire mine fell quiet. Only the weak mining lamps still flickered softly, as if trying to say something...