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Chapter 032 Fast Forward to Romance

The preparation time before entering the Dungeon wasn’t long, perhaps just a brief moment for players to get familiar with the current Dungeon. Ling Mo originally planned to chat a little more with the Fatty, but the system preemptively teleported them into the Dungeon.

The teleportation experience in the game was quite fascinating; it was similar to lying down in the Game Pod and sinking into the game, then surfacing again, like falling asleep and waking up.

So, in the first few seconds after entering the Dungeon, the players’ consciousness was gradually awakening, and their control over their bodies and perception of the outside world became clearer.

When his vision finally came back, he opened his eyes to find himself in a dimly lit space.

His body felt warm, a refreshing sensation that seemed to release all built-up pressure, as if he had just woken from a good sleep.

But where was this place?

After hesitating for a moment, he tried to move his body.

Then… he encountered a spot… that felt quite unfamiliar and soft.

He paused.

“Could you… please move your hand?” Xia Xinyan’s voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of confusion, “This isn’t the time for that, you know.”

As her words fell, lights suddenly brightened, finally allowing Ling Mo to see his surroundings clearly.

He was in a Bedroom, the curtains drawn, but the sunlight seeping in at the edges indicated it was daytime. He was lying on a large bed in this Bedroom—with Xia Xinyan.

The light source emanated from a bedside lamp that Xia Xinyan had turned on.

And, by sheer coincidence, the hand he had extended to probe the surrounding environment had landed right on her chest.

That was still a sensation he had personally experienced yesterday in the Dungeon; although he had mostly forgotten due to memory fading, feeling it again now made him instantly recall that embarrassing moment.

“…Sorry!” He quickly withdrew his hand, “I didn’t know we would end up here…”

Damn, is this some twisted game humor?

Who has their player spawn point set on a bed?

Moreover, the clothes they were wearing now weren’t the outfits from before entering the Dungeon but had turned into pajamas, almost as if they were a pair of little lovers waking up together.

The pajamas were rather modest, but even so, the figure beneath the sheer fabric seemed to appear somewhat visible, a sight that was quite tempting for a man.

The problem was, this wasn’t a level they had achieved naturally through interaction; it was a scenario the game had shoved onto them, which made Ling Mo feel a little nauseous.

He couldn’t deny that he had no reaction to this environment, but having a reaction would be even more embarrassing. Though Xia Xinyan referred to herself as his girlfriend, he always believed their relationship was far from that level. Her understanding of him was limited to a superficial acquaintance, and becoming a real couple required a deeper understanding first, right?

He didn’t want to be the type to waste a girl’s whole life.

Not to mention, he should consider his own safety—after all, she was a wealthy young lady. If he accidentally did something wrong and disappointed her, he might just find himself at the bottom of the Naihe Bridge.

So, until he could truly confirm their relationship, he hoped not to do anything that Xia Xinyan might misunderstand.

Like now… to put it bluntly, it felt a bit like being a rogue.

“It’s fine,” Xia Xinyan had a nonchalant attitude, “The game teleported us here; it’s not your fault.”

“The game actually has these kinds of openings? Placing male and female players on the same bed? Don’t they worry about such situations causing issues?” Ling Mo shifted slightly away, feeling odd.

“Not at all, don’t worry.” Xia Xinyan shook her head, “The system placed us together because we were using connected Game Pods. This way, the system determines that we’re close enough, and it would aim to place us together. That’s a rule the game has already established.”

“Is that so…” Ling Mo paused and didn’t speak further.

He still felt this setting was a bit strange.

What if he was just a regular friend visiting Xia Xinyan’s house to play a game? Wouldn’t that mean he was taking advantage?

Before he could fully ponder this issue, the game provided information about this Dungeon—

【Battle Zone: Riot City】

【Difficulty: Low】

【Time Flow Rate: 2x】

【Description: You and player ‘Xia Xinyan’ are a couple living in this city, preparing to welcome a new week.】

【Current Task: Go to your workplace with player ‘Xia Xinyan’.】

【Important News: Recently, there have been rumors online about peculiar behaviors among citizens in the city; please pay attention to your safety.】

Ling Mo was momentarily taken aback.

A couple…

“Hmph, the game even guessed our relationship correctly.” Xia Xinyan teased.

Ling Mo awkwardly chuckled.

He didn’t know what to say.

Xia Xinyan quietly stared at him for a moment.

She noticed that Ling Mo… was unexpectedly… how should she put it, innocent?

While she had previously praised his boldness, it was mostly in terms of words. When it came to physical contact, he was genuinely timid.

She knew how much daydreaming she had done about what she would do once she found a girlfriend, covering everything from daily interaction to activities in bed; she could say she had mentally run through all aspects of a life with a girlfriend.

Yet now that she had practically made the first move, this guy didn’t even dare to touch her.

Clearly, she hadn’t explicitly refused or anything.

Tsk.

With this timid demeanor, he wanted to find a girlfriend?

Looking at him, she suddenly had a mischievous thought.

“By the way… are you afraid of me?”

Her tone conveyed just the right amount of melancholy, instantly triggering Ling Mo’s reflex: “Of course not!”

“Then why are you staying so far away from me?” Xia Xinyan moved a little closer, softening her voice, “We’re already a couple, right? There’s nothing wrong with sleeping on the same bed.”

Unknowingly, she was practically pressing half her body against his chest, unabashedly showcasing her assets.

Ling Mo was defenseless against this and visibly flustered, “I’m not… please don’t…”

He certainly enjoyed this perk, but he didn’t want her to treat it this way; it made him feel somewhat shallow. After all, they had known each other for just two or three days. If he could accept this without any burden, what would be the difference from those who get married on impulse?

Get in the car first, pay later?

His views on love didn’t allow for that.

However, he had no experience with women that could help him escape from this situation.

So the way he looked was quite amusing to Xia Xinyan—just a fool completely at her mercy.

And timid, too.

“What’s not?” She pressed even further against Ling Mo, propping her hands on either side of his neck, teasingly, “What are you afraid of?”

The sweet scent of a girl surrounded him, as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only the two of them. Ling Mo found himself temporarily unable to think.

All he knew was that his ears felt unbearably hot.

And if he didn’t do something soon, he might make a grave mistake.

“Xia… Xinyan, I…” He took a deep breath and said seriously, “I think we should talk; isn’t our progress too fast? This doesn’t feel like a normal relationship. We should start by getting to know each other better first, right? I don’t want to leave you with any regrets, so can you give me a bit of time for us to understand each other better…”

“Do you like me?” Xia Xinyan suddenly leaned down, nearly pressing against him, their breaths mingling. She gazed into his eyes and asked softly.

Ling Mo, forced to meet her gaze, realized her eyes were beautiful, mesmerizing—this was the only thought crossing his mind at that moment.

“I…”

“Shh, no need to say.” Xia Xinyan covered his mouth with her hand, a mix of seduction and insinuation in her tone, “There’s no rule that says dating has to follow a specific sequence, right? If you want to try, why not just skip those earlier steps? Don’t think too much about how I might react; also consider yourself—everyone has to be responsible for their own happiness, and sometimes overthinking can cause you to miss out on great opportunities.”