Yu Xian floated in midair, watching Qingque cry and roll weakly on the ground. A pang of sadness hit him — though, for some reason, the absurdity of it all made him almost want to laugh.
Something was off.
Normally, after dying in a simulation, he would be ejected instantly and return to reality. But this time was different. Despite his death, Yu Xian's consciousness remained trapped inside the simulation.
He had become... a spirit.
No one could see him, no one could hear his voice, and he couldn't interact with anything around him. His body was gone, his hands passed through the air like mist. He couldn't even reach out to pat Qingque's head and tell her it was all right.
"What's going on...? This has never happened before."
As he pondered the situation, a familiar blue light screen flickered into existence before him.
[Ding!]
[Simulation anomaly detected — unable to terminate process.]
[Reason: Subject "Qingque" is experiencing extreme emotional instability following host's in-simulation death, resulting in interference with simulation shutdown.]
[Please stabilize Qingque's emotions. Simulation will conclude once her emotional state returns to normal.]
[Compensation will be distributed to the host afterward.]
[For further assistance, please contact Maha Fish Company.]
[Though, between us... you probably won't find them. Hahaha.]
Yu Xian's eyebrow twitched. "...You've got to be kidding me."
He waved his hand irritably, dispersing the holographic panel that still had the audacity to make jokes in such a situation.
Turning back toward Qingque — who knelt beside his lifeless body, her cries soft and broken — Yu Xian sighed deeply.
"So I have to calm her down, huh...?"
That was easier said than done.
"Comforting her was already something I wanted to do," he muttered, "but how am I supposed to 'stabilize her emotions' when she can't even see me?"
His ghostly form drifted closer, the faint edges of his silhouette flickering like candlelight. "If she never gets over this... does that mean I'll be stuck like this forever? Floating around as a ghost for hundreds of years?"
The thought made him grimace.
Still, there was nothing he could do but stay near her, watching helplessly as Fu Xuan's harsh words shattered Qingque's spirit. Her blank eyes stared at nothing, her body trembling with grief and guilt.
Yu Xian's frown deepened.
"She really... took it hard."
For a moment, his thoughts softened. "If our positions were reversed — if Qingque had died instead — I probably wouldn't look much different."
He tried to rub his face out of habit, but his hand passed straight through. His translucent fingers slipped through his own head without resistance.
"Yeah... definitely no collision volume," he sighed. "Being dead is inconvenient."
Maybe this was it. Maybe all he could do was drift and watch — a powerless soul trapped in an unfinished story.
...
But as it turned out, that wasn't entirely true.
Even as a spirit, Yu Xian still had one means of influence — dreams.
He discovered it by accident: when Qingque fell asleep, his consciousness could slip into her dreams and alter them. He could shape the scenery, the dialogue — even the emotions within.
If he couldn't reach her in reality, then he'd reach her in her dreams.
"Alright," he murmured, floating above her unconscious body. Qingque had cried herself unconscious beside his corpse, her face streaked with tears.
He looked down at her, lips curling faintly. "If I can't wake her with words, then I'll give her a dream she won't forget."
Even as a dead man, he couldn't stand to see her like this.
Qingque — the lazy, cheerful girl who always laughed things off, who skipped work and joked her way out of lectures — was now a hollow shell. Her sobs had faded into silence, her hands still clutching his cold form.
No, he couldn't let this continue.
With a determined look, Yu Xian leaned forward, his incorporeal body sinking into Qingque's chest like a ripple through water.
"Then... let's make this dream a beautiful one."
---
Inside the Dream
The streets of Changlexian shimmered under a hazy night sky. Lanterns swayed softly in the wind, their warm glow reflecting on the smooth stone paths.
Yu Xian and Qingque stood side by side beneath the moonlight, their silhouettes stretching long against the pavement.
Qingque looked dazed, her eyes distant — as if she hadn't realized yet that this was a dream.
Yu Xian, fully aware and in control of the scene he'd created, hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Haha... Qingque, you're finally here."
He tried to sound casual, the way he always did when teasing her. "Come on, we've got time off for once. How about we enjoy it properly? I even opened a new card parlor — you have to try it. I promise you'll love it."
The words came naturally. Back in her memories, this street had always been her favorite spot — the place where they'd spent countless evenings talking, laughing, and playing mahjong until dawn. Surely this setting would help her smile again.
But Qingque didn't smile.
Her expression stayed distant, her gaze unfocused.
Yu Xian frowned slightly, confused. "What's wrong? This should've made you happy..."
He extended his hand toward her anyway, forcing a grin. "Come on, let's go play. I'll even let you win a few rounds this time."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, Qingque's hand rose and met his.
Her fingers were soft — and ice-cold.
The tremor that ran through her hand traveled straight into Yu Xian's chest. He froze, staring down at their joined hands.
Why was she shaking so badly...?
Her lips parted, but instead of laughter, a faint whisper escaped.
"Yu Xian... don't leave me again..."
And in that instant, Yu Xian's smile faltered — the illusion of control slipping away like mist beneath his fingertips.
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Life Simulator: Starting in Genshin Impact!
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober