The subsequent events were rather uneventful.
No matter what, Yu Xian had already died in this simulation, becoming a spectral entity. Others couldn't see Yu Xian, and Yu Xian could hardly interfere with anyone.
Although Yu Xian attempted every night to infiltrate Qingque's dreams like before, Qingque seemed to have reached a point where just seeing Yu Xian triggered a stress response. Often, before Yu Xian could even do anything in the dream, Qingque would start weeping uncontrollably without warning, followed by the dream collapsing. Afterwards, Yu Xian could only watch helplessly as Qingque, waking from the nightmare, tossed and turned, unable to sleep the entire night...
So later, Yu Xian stopped trying to do anything to Qingque. They could only wait for Qingque to recover her mental state on her own, hoping her overly intense emotions would no longer prevent Yu Xian from exiting the simulation.
Being trapped in the simulation as a soul after death, unable to do anything, was actually very hard for Yu Xian to bear...
They could only watch how the plot unfolded next.
Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan – these two lately seemed to always find reasons to be together, pondering how to carry out a major purge of the Luofu Xianzhou, which was now overrun with vermin.
If you asked Yu Xian, these two were probably also thoroughly exasperated by the recent events: the large-scale terrorist attacks by the Denizens of Abundance, the emergence of countless traitors and moles within the Vidyadhara and the Divination Commission, and then all these groups joining forces to kill the very successor that Fu Xian had designated for the Divination Commission!
If Yu Xian were in their shoes, seeing such major events erupt suddenly right under their noses, Yu Xian would be exasperated too—
Oh, wait.
Yu Xian suddenly remembered, wasn't he the unlucky successor who got killed by them?
Yu Xian was already past the point of exasperation.
Of course, both Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan had become overly nervous, and Qingque... well, she genuinely didn't seem right.
Yu Xian saw with their own eyes: Fu Xuan had clearly granted Qingque an exceptionally long paid leave, but Qingque didn't take it! After waking from her coma, she stayed home for barely half a day before rushing back to the Divination Commission to work, and on that very first day, she worked until midnight!
Of course, midnight wasn't Qingque's limit. If Fu Xuan hadn't returned in the middle of the night, grabbed Qingque by the ear, and physically thrown her out of the office, Yu Xian estimated Qingque could have pulled an all-nighter.
Good heavens.
Yu Xian instinctively pointed at the non-existent cold sweat on their own forehead.
Qingque's behavior was just too abnormal, so abnormal it was starting to scare Yu Xian.
Working herself to the bone, volunteering for overtime, not scrolling on her phone,
not playing Celestial Jade titles, not even taking a bite of the dango or milk tea placed right in front of her... This, this...
Was this still Qingque?!
Within just a few days, Yu Xian had already seen Qingque coldly turn down several groups of friends who came to invite her to play cards. In the past, this would have been utterly unthinkable.
No, Yu Xian suddenly recalled, this wasn't actually the most unbelievable part.
The most unbelievable part was that now, Qingque and Fu Xuan seemed to have swapped souls! Both of them were unconsciously exuding an aura that felt completely wrong for the other!
Qingque immersed herself completely in an endless stream of tasks, neglecting sleep and meals to work and study, while Fu Xuan had instead become the one who would space out unconsciously now and then, and would even stop Qingque from working, forcibly dragging her out to relax and have fun!
That's right, the dango and milk tea often placed on Qingque's desk—her favorites, or rather, her former favorites—weren't bought by Qingque herself. In fact, Qingque now she had almost become too lazy to eat regular meals, so how could she possibly buy snacks and drinks for herself?
The dango and milk tea on Qingque's desk were all bought and placed there by Fu Xuan!
Heavens, what was going on?
Before, didn't Fu Xuan always disapprove of Qingque's carefree, slacking-off-during-work-hours, eating-and-drinking-all-day, lazy nature? So why was it now that Fu Xuan was going out of her way, trying her utmost to get Qingque to slack off?
—Even so, Qingque still wouldn't eat or drink!
The food and drinks Fu Xuan brought were often just glanced at by Qingque before being pushed aside, utterly ignored. Only when they eventually molded or spoiled, and considering the work environment, would Qingque sigh and throw them in the trash...
Every time Yu Xian witnessed this scene, their heart would ache faintly.
Truthfully, how could Yu Xian not know exactly why Qingque had become like this?
He had seen countless times how Qingque would suddenly put down her work, cover her face, and break down sobbing. He had also seen countless times how Qingque would gaze blankly at the small gifts he had once given her, her eyes unconsciously reddening.
Like a kitten that had lost its owner, she could only lick her wounds over and over again, the more she licked, the more piercing the pain became.
Several times, Yu Xian drifted to Qingque's side, wanting to hold her waist and stroke her hair to comfort her properly, just like before. But now, as a spirit, he couldn't even do that anymore; he could only watch helplessly.
Enough, enough.
Yu Xian comforted himself.
If that's how it is, then let Qingque be. Let her grieve for a while; she'll recover eventually.
As long as nothing else goes wrong...
Late at night.
At this hour when the vast majority of people had already clocked out, the lights in the Divination Commission were almost entirely extinguished. The entire area was pitch black, with only the perpetually operational magic arrays and Jade Abaci flickering with faint, dim glows, appearing somewhat eerie.
Even more unsettling was that, amidst this darkness, a single small room within the Divination Commission's buildings still had its light on. Shadows shifted faintly within the room, accompanied by intermittent, rustling sounds...
It was just like a scene of a haunting.
If any outsider were to witness this spectacle, they would undoubtedly be terrified. They might even record this scene, worthy of being called a paranormal event, and post it online, potentially giving this scientifically-inclined Luofu Xianzhou an enduring urban legend.
However.
The truth is often not as bizarre as people imagine. The truth is always so simple and plain.
What ghosts or monsters were there?
It was simply that, at this time when everyone else had long since gone home, there was still one young woman, holding the position of Archivist, remaining at her post.
Relentlessly working on tasks no one had assigned her.
Relentlessly studying knowledge no one was forcing her to learn.
Relentlessly, relentlessly...
The young woman had locked herself firmly in this unnoticed corner, relentlessly.
"Why won't you go home?"
Suddenly, a voice, cold yet containing deep-seated anger, rang out. This voice posed its question to the young woman, or rather, it was outright an order to leave.
"It's already past working hours! Why are you still here!!! Why won't you go home! For my sake, GO HOME—!"
"Qingque!!!"
Standing before the young woman, having traveled who knows how far to get here,
Fu Xuan, who had likely hurried a long way to get here, already had a pale complexion. She supported herself with both hands on her white silk-clad knees, breathing heavily, yet she still raised her head with knitted brows, gazing at the young woman before her.
And with all her strength, she demanded an answer.
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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