Chapter 85

Hamster Xiao Yun is a type of milk tea hamster.

Its fur is a light grey color, resembling pearl milk tea, but in winter, it gradually turns white, also known as “winter white milk tea.”

It’s very small, with a nose and two tiny paws that are pink and tender. Its eyes, black and devoid of light, are covered by a slightly longer strand of hair on its forehead, making it look like a soft, fluffy, autistic ball that makes people can’t help but want to poke it, as it looks like it would feel really good to the touch.

When Sheng Xia saw that strand of hair, she couldn’t help but sigh, “Indeed, bangs are the soul.”

Feng Shaoyun subconsciously raised her hand and touched her bangs that had already been cut off, “…”

It seemed that she finally understood why her sister-in-law had been so insistent on having that strand of bangs—no, hair; reason.

Although she wasn’t very pleased.

Xiao Yun is a hamster with a story.

The opening animation roughly depicts a hamster who, because of its thoughts, was rejected by the hamster family, felt out of place, and wandered away from home, always encountering unfortunate experiences in its hamster stories.

She had originally planned to nestle in the pure white snow this winter, quietly ending her short hamster life under the snow blanket.

But—

【Mousey, it seems that in this year’s winter, I met a soft-hearted god.】

The voice of a young girl suddenly sounded, and the game screen transitioned, showing a hand lifting up the hamster lying in the snow to freeze the frame.

Then, the naming, age, personality, and face design process for “Player,” the protagonist of the game, followed.

The person in charge of designing the plot explained on the side, “Here, we have set several age ranges, and the storylines and interactions with Xiao Yun will vary according to the protagonist’s age and personality.”

Earlier, the players who had tried it out also discussed, “I randomly got a mischievous kid, and Xiao Yun was so troubled, having to deal with the kid’s whimsical ideas and cry all day. Xiao Yun seems having a hard time.”

In my Ending the dialogue is more gentle and healing. I played a few endings, and they were all quite fun.”

“The most interesting thing is to set it as an old grandmother. In my ending, I really fed Xiao Yun like a grandma and ended up turning the cute little hamster into a chubby Xiao Yun pig, hahaha.”

Always feeling like she was being called out, Feng Shaoyun said, “…”

Sheng Xia glanced at the Feng Shaoyun, who was already so embarrassed that she covered her eyes, but the excitement from their lively discussion piqued her interest, so she chose random options.

On the screen the character appeared a slightly gloomy-looking, heavily dark-circled white-collar woman. 26 years old, with a depressed personality, mediocre talents, and a just-passing mental state.

The encounter between “Player” and Xiao Yun was quite dramatic. On the way home from overtime work, The Player accidentally dropped the dinner she bought from the convenience store into the snow. After digging around in the snow for a while, She accidentally pulled out the tail of a hamster hiding in a snow nest.

Looking at the hamster hanging by its tail in front of the character, with its dark, lifeless eyes swaying silently in the air, she suddenly felt a resonance and had the idea of taking it home.

After a series of visits to the pet hospital and homecoming animations, the hamster had its own nest and home. But because it had been abused by terrible humans before, the hamster’s affection for the “ Player ” was always zero.

If it stayed below 5, Xiao Yun would quietly end its life in a corner the next day. And if it didn’t reach 30, Xiao Yun would remain closed and resistant, curling up into a ball of autistic fuzz, refusing to communicate with the “ Player.”

As the affection increased, new modes would be unlocked continuously, just like really taking care of a real hamster in spare time. Not only did you need to feed and water it regularly, play with it, but you also had to pay attention to its mental state, constantly looking for the self-closed Xiao Yun who knows where it would run off to.

Different plots would be triggered every day in the game, followed by different interactions based on the choices, and the subsequent developments would also be different due to these deviations. Because you couldn’t save the game, even if you chose the wrong option, you could only grit your teeth and continue. Every choice was meaningful, and Xiao Yun’s relationship with the “ Player ” would change based on these choices, leading to different endings.

When Little Xiao Yun and ” Player ” gradually established trust, and the favorable impression reached 60 or above, the “Going Out” mode could be unlocked.

However, because the demo version hasn’t created this part yet, it’s not possible to unlock it.

After raising Little Xiao Yun, the mental state of “Player” also gradually improved.

Little Xiao Yun would prevent “Player” from getting drunk, console with a gentle touch; during times when the “ Player ” was stressed with work, she would nestle on the computer keyboard and provide soothing company…

Perhaps due to maxed-out gaming skills or an exceptional understanding of Feng Shaoyun, Sheng Xia showed no hesitation in choosing options during the appearance of selections.

Seeing Little Xiao Yun effortlessly maxing out her favorability, from initial resistance to actively welcoming and peacefully sleeping in the “ Player’s “ hands,

Players couldn’t help but sigh in amazement.

[ Wow, Sheng Xia is probably the first among us to max out Little Yun’s favorability so quickly, right?]

[I haven’t unlocked this CG yet! Is it because trust and security values are both maxed out? Ahh, so adorable!]

[So, is this route ultimately heading towards a mutual healing happy ending?]

As the final ending approached, “Player” finally got a promotion, and two options appeared.

“One is to stay, two is to leave.

Sheng Xia decisively chose the second option.

After saving enough money, “Player” took Xiaoyun in a camper van to travel around the world.

The little hamster once wandered all the way, but in that winter, it met a soft-hearted god. And now, the god is leading it towards a new life as a Hamster.

Originally feeling a bit ashamed and resistant, unwilling to watch her sister-in-law play the game, Feng Shaoyun, in Sheng Xia’s options, unconsciously became more and more absorbed.

Watching the little hamster gradually entrust its trust and become dependent on “Player” ( Character in the Game ), she seemed to be moved as well, curling her fingers and clutching her sleeves tightly.

In that moment, it seemed to review how it was once closed off, and how it was gradually pulled out by her sister-in-law; an experience.

Watching the final scene where “Player” hold Hamster Xiao Yun and look at the sea together, and the once lifeless eyes of the little hamster now shining brightly, under the soft sunset, it seemed to sparkle.

Feng Shaoyun stared at the CG without blinking, her normally indifferent black eyes gradually lighting up with a bright light.

“Do you like this ending, Xiao Yun?”

Sheng Xia suddenly turned her head and asked with a smile, deliberately changing her address, not knowing if she was calling her or addressing the little hamster in the game.

Feng Shaoyun bit her lip tightly, grabbed her clothes corner, and gently shook it. After a while, she nodded seriously and said shyly, “I like it.”

Next, they watched the endings recorded by others.

But after watching so many versions, Feng Shaoyun only liked the ending Sheng Xia played out.

It wasn’t until this moment that she realized, belatedly, that the ending her sister-in-law played out might have been for her to see.

Even though the personalities of the game characters were different, she chose each option, completely hitting her heart.”

“She seemed to gradually shake and become trusting and reliant along with the hamster Xiaoyun, unconsciously changing her closed-off self, daring to step out of her small room and into the world.

“You deserve the best ending.”

—This might be what Sheng Xia wanted to tell her.

Leaping out, Feng Shaoyun looked at the clear sky and suddenly had a new understanding.

She yielded to her impulsive heart, grabbed Sheng Xia’s hand in front of her, and when Sheng Xia turned to look at her, she showed a bright smile, “Sister-in-law, can you take me to see the sea in the future?”

“Second Brother, Jingxu, Chenchen, and Ranran have all gone with you.” Her cheeks showed faint dimples, her black eyes serious yet filled with shy anticipation. “Can I go too?”

“Of course, since that island is mine, we can go anytime.” Sheng Xia said generously, teasing her, “Wait what? No Shaoyu?”

Thinking of the third brother stealing her lines, Feng Shaoyun’s smile faltered slightly, and she said somewhat reluctantly, “Third Brother has to work, so…actually, we can bring him too.”

Seeing her hesitation, but still agreeing reluctantly with a worried look, Sheng Xia couldn’t help but laugh.

…

Because they had plans in the afternoon, they had a meal outside and then went straight to the gallery where they were supposed to meet Yan Jing.

Different from what she imagined, Yan Jing had a chic short haircut, tall and straight figure, with a bit of heroic and unruly demeanor, looking like a wandering painter who could pick up her canvas and travel around at any time.

Just by looking at her, you wouldn’t doubt that she was the one who could boldly paint scenes of snow-covered mountains and ice-covered landscapes, as well as delicately depict clear and serene, deep forest scenes.

It’s no wonder that in the plot, Sheng Lanqiu would be nervous and jealous because of Yan Jing’s return to the country, leading to a quarrel with Shi Yulin.

She was the kind of woman who, at first glance, would be seen as very unique.

Seeing them, Yan Jing immediately showed a bright smile, striding over and gently hugging Feng Shaoyun, “I’m sorry, it’s a bit messy here, my paintings are being placed here. I can only ask you to wait here for a while.”

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