Chapter Four: Bronya and Seele

Genshin Impact may not have been the first open-world game of that era, but it was undoubtedly the most well-known and influential.

As a professional in the gaming industry and a hardcore gamer himself, Ling Feng knew the game inside and out. He had even delved into it personally, experiencing that vintage title which carried the memories of an entire generation.

How should one put it? Its design concepts were truly exquisite. While the technological capabilities of the present era are orders of magnitude beyond what they were back then, in terms of narrative construction, aesthetic design, and cultural depth, it still held its own—perhaps even surpassing much of what is produced today.

It was a pity, however, that the game reportedly suffered from significant issues in its later operational phases and plot development, leading to a sharp decline in its reputation—a classic case of a strong start ending in a lackluster finish.

Choosing Teyvat as the destination for this "otherworldly journey" could be seen as an unconventional way to make amends for those various regrets. He believed that, given his own character, even with his memories restricted, the choices he made would inevitably differ from those of the original protagonist.

Once everything was prepared, the seven-day test experiment began. Judging by the final results, it was highly satisfactory.

Rising from the life-support pod, Ling Feng chatted with Mobius and Vill-V, gaining a detailed understanding of the notable incidents that had emerged over the past week. Learning that they still had some finishing work to attend to, Ling Feng decided not to disturb them further. He stretched his limbs to shake off the lingering fatigue and strolled leisurely toward the exit of the laboratory.

"Whew... Ah, lying down for seven days straight has left my body feeling a bit stiff. Mobius, Vill-V, carry on with your work; I'm going out to get some fresh air."

He failed to notice that this casual movement of his had transfixed the gazes of all the women present, including Mobius and Vill-V.

"Gulp."

Mobius, who had been observing Ling Feng as if he were prey, suddenly heard the sound of someone swallowing hard. Turning to look, she saw Vill-V staring with burning eyes in the direction Ling Feng had departed.

Since it was Vill-V who had made the sound, a strange look crossed Mobius’s face.

Noticing her gaze, Vill-V gave a hurried, dry cough, straightened her expression, and asked in a low, feigned-serious voice, "So, how much do you think little Ling Feng managed to remember?"

Mobius withdrew her gaze and waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry. I was monitoring the whole process closely. The choices the lab rat made in the game were largely similar to what that woman Ningguang described. Re-experiencing the events of the past will always stir up some memories."

At the mention of the name Ningguang, Vill-V’s expression darkened. Originally, they had wanted Ling Feng to use Honkai Impact 3rd as the background for the test, as that might have helped him recall his past with them sooner.

However, reality was cruel; the capital was in Ningguang’s hands. Coupled with the fact that little Ling Feng himself had chosen Genshin Impact, they had no choice but to compromise.

Damn it—those detestable capitalists.

***

"Not knowing how many sunsets and sunrises, how many summers and autumns..."

"Not knowing how long I have been running like this..."

"I was destined from birth to seek for a lifetime..."

"For the love and freedom of that perfect world in the distance..."

After resting outside for a good while and grabbing some lunch, Ling Feng returned to the company, humming as he headed toward his office.

The youth’s perfect features and melodic voice drew frequent side-glances from the employees he passed. Because Ling Feng rarely made public appearances and was quite young, most of the regular staff had no idea that the handsome youth before them was their boss.

Taking the elevator to the top floor and entering his office, he found a petite figure sitting behind the desk, scribbling furiously on a solid-state screen with a stylus.

Hearing the door open, the young girl frowned and looked up. Who was so inconsiderate as to barge into the boss’s office without knocking?

Upon seeing who it was, the girl’s expression froze, and then her little face slumped.

Bronya: (ᗜ‸ᗜ)

"Ahem."

Seeing her expression, a trace of awkwardness appeared on Ling Feng’s face. He walked over with a thick skin and greeted her, "Hi, Bronya, long time no see. How have you been these past few days?"

Bronya: ???

Bronya (ᗜ‸ᗜ): "Bronya is going to report Ling Feng for hiring and abusing child labor, and have Ling Feng thrown in jail to eat prison food!"

Listening to the girl’s resentful threat, a smile spread across Ling Feng’s face.

He walked to the side of the office chair, lifted her up by the waist, and then sat down himself, placing the girl on his lap. He hugged her, trying to coax and appease her. "I'm sorry, it's my fault. Please don't be angry with me, okay?"

Bronya: (ᗜνᗜ)

Bronya: "Hmph! Bronya is not a child."

The implication was that she wasn't so easily coaxed. Ling Feng understood this, and the corners of his mouth curled upward involuntarily.

As expected, a tsundere, emotionless beauty had to be stroked against the grain to be tamed. He rested his head in the crook of her milky-white neck, nuzzling against her and breathing in her pleasant scent as he continued to soothe her.

"Yes, yes, Bronya is all grown up. You're not a little child, you're a big girl now."

"How about this—as compensation, I'll play games with you, okay?"

A look of interest flickered across Bronya’s small face, though she remained hesitant.

"There are still many files that haven't been processed." Her voice was soft, sounding far from firm.

Ling Feng glanced at the office screen and replied dismissively, "Oh, those are just trivial matters. They aren't urgent; handling them tomorrow will be just the same."

Without waiting for Bronya to object, Ling Feng took two game consoles from the desk drawer—one silver and one black, both with a highly technological aesthetic.

Unlike other players of this era who were obsessed with virtual reality games, Ling Feng and Bronya were also very interested in these games that required physical consoles or controllers to operate.

Turning them on, opening the game list, and finding "Homu Brawl," a game Bronya quite liked, the two were soon fully immersed.

Time slipped away unnoticed. By the time another round ended, the sun was already dipping below the horizon, and the golden, warm glow of twilight spilled into the office, bringing with it a unique warmth.

Just as Ling Feng was about to remind Bronya to stop playing, he felt a faint sound of breathing beside his ear. It was very close, and the exhaled air brushed against his earlobe, tickling him slightly.