Chapter 1: Want to Play a Game? The Kind Where You Get Your Skull Drilled First"You're supposed to be a Comedian, so why do you look so miserable every day? You need to pull yourself together!"In a Second-hand Shop called 'Afterlife' in the Outer City of New Shanghai, an old man was comforting the shop's only customer."My whole family loves watching your shows; we're all your fans. If we don't watch your program while we eat every day, the food just doesn't taste as good."The old man rambled on for a while before the Young Man standing in the corner of the shop slowly turned around.He looked to be in his twenties, dressed casually with messy hair. He wasn't exceptionally handsome, but he carried an indescribable air of melancholy: "The show I was on has already been canceled. I was fired by the company three days ago.""It doesn't matter. Your acting is so good; at worst, we can just go find work on a film set ourselves."The Shop Owner was very enthusiastic, but the Young Man only shook his head upon hearing this, not continuing the topic: "Boss, I've played almost all the second-hand games you have here. Has any new stock arrived lately?""There is, but given your current situation, I suggest you don't play games that are too stimulating or bloody." The Shop Owner pulled a black box out from the very bottom of the counter. It was made of an unknown material and was extremely heavy. "Have you ever tried a healing game before?""A healing game?""The kind with heartwarming visuals, soothing music, and plots that make you smile from the heart. They record many beautiful moments in life and can bring people positive energy." As the Shop Owner spoke, he opened the black box and took out a somewhat worn second-hand game helmet. "Technology is getting more advanced, but the feelings of Happiness and joy are becoming scarcer. Young people today face all kinds of pressure. A good healing game can relax the nerves and warm the body and soul. I think you should experience it."Taking the game helmet from the Shop Owner's hands, the Young Man hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding. "Boss, what's the name of this game?""perfect life."...After paying, Han Fei put on a mask and pulled his hat low before walking out of the Second-hand Shop clutching the game helmet. He didn't do this because he was worried about being recognized; he simply didn't want to interact with outsiders.After returning to his rental apartment, Han Fei slowly relaxed. He turned on the TV to a random channel and then went into the bathroom to wash his face with cold water.Since graduating from the New Shanghai Film Academy, he had worked very hard every day, aspiring to become a Comedian who could bring laughter to everyone.But sometimes hard work doesn't necessarily yield rewards. Having no background, he worked incredibly hard, moving from behind the scenes to the front of the stage. He finally got a chance to show his face, only to be pushed out of the company for certain reasons.Water droplets slid down his cheeks. Han Fei looked at himself in the mirror and hooked his fingers into the corners of his mouth, trying to use external force to make himself smile.He spent every day trying to find ways to make others laugh, but suddenly one day, he discovered that he couldn't laugh anymore no matter what.With a soft sigh, Han Fei tore down several pieces of paper pasted above the mirror. Those slips of paper were densely covered with the same sentence—The best Actor is the you in real life.Walking out of the bathroom, Han Fei went to his desk and began to examine the game helmet on it.He had heard of the game 'perfect life' long ago. It was rumored to be a deep-immersion virtual reality game jointly launched by Deep Space Technology and Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals. It was also the world's first game to simulate real touch, taste, and smell, claimed to be the ultimate form of gaming. Theoretically, if a player had no material pursuits, they could even live inside it forever.It sounded like a tall tale, but with the two tech giants, Deep Space Technology and Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals, backing it, even the most outrageous things could become reality. After all, with the arrival of the intelligence and biological revolutions, these two giants had already created many miracles.This game had actually sparked heated discussions when the project was first established. Deep Space Technology was a giant in the aerospace, artificial intelligence, and communications industries, always conducting frontier technology research with the goal of migrating to outer space. Meanwhile, Eternal Life Pharmaceuticals was a behemoth in the fields of biological genetic technology and human neural engineering, seeking to crack the ultimate mysteries of life.Two top-tier international companies with absolutely no connection to the gaming industry were actually willing to tilt massive resources toward developing a game. Many industry insiders couldn't understand what they were thinking.Online reviews of 'perfect life' were also mixed. Some felt the game's focus on a heartwarming, healing style—where players could experience and simulate all kinds of lives—was simply a man-made paradise. They could obtain everything they wanted and realize all their dreams in the virtual city.Others said this adult game had almost no limits on morality and ethics, and its various deep gameplay mechanics would completely obliterate human nature.In fact, since the first alpha test of 'perfect life', departments related to the judiciary and moral construction had already moved into Deep Space Technology.While other games used experienced gamers and professional reviewers for beta testing, most of the testers for this game were Staff Members from relevant government departments.From this point alone, one could see the extraordinary nature of this game.This was Han Fei's first time trying a deep-immersion virtual reality game. To be safe, he searched online for a lot of information related to 'perfect life'.Under the participation and supervision of relevant departments, 'perfect life' had already undergone five alpha tests and three major revisions. At midnight tonight, 'perfect life' would conduct its sixth alpha test. If all went well, this test would also be the final one before the public beta."The game hasn't even reached public beta yet; how did the Second-hand Shop owner get a game helmet? What internal channels does he have? Also, I saw online that 'perfect life' didn't even release game helmets; what they developed is called a space game pod, and the price is twenty times that of a normal game helmet."Thinking it over, Han Fei felt he might have been scammed. The game included in this helmet might just be a knockoff with the same name as 'perfect life'.But since he had already bought it, Han Fei felt he might as well give it a try.He connected all the cables, and after seeing the indicator light turn on, he placed the game helmet on his head.His vision was blocked, and darkness enveloped everything. Han Fei felt as if he had been thrown into a black ocean.He couldn't see anything, but his ears could still hear the sound of the news broadcast on the TV."December 31st news: the construction of the New Shanghai Smart City has entered its final stages. The emergence of a fully automated, Internet of Things smart city will become a monument in human history.""December 31st news: anti-monopoly investigations into Deep Space Technology by multiple countries have been launched once again.""December 31st news: to maintain the well-being of its citizens, our government has decided to increase investment in education and technology, unlocking more high-tech industries and cultivating more high-quality talent.""December 31st news: a serious fire occurred on Antique Street in the Outer City of New Shanghai. Multiple Second-hand Shops were destroyed by fire; the possibility of arson has not been ruled out."The sounds in his ears grew fainter and fainter. At a certain moment, the world before Han Fei's eyes suddenly turned blood-red.Strange noises began to emanate from inside the game helmet. Han Fei instinctively felt uneasy. Just as he was about to take off the helmet, a sharp pain shot from the back of his head, as if a steel needle had pierced through his skull to deliver something deep into his brain."Biological file upload successful. Memory file upload successful. Neural connection successful. First-generation Administrator account activated. Permission number 0000..."
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