Love Apartment: Yifei is my junior aunt

Chapter 521 He was immersed in a beautiful dream

Xiao Xian, who was walking away in a suit, suddenly stopped. The flash of inspiration that should have been fleeting in his mind was captured by his sharp thinking. With the help of this inspiration illuminating the blind spot in his thinking, he finally found the key that he had been ignoring all along.

He allowed the captured inspiration to connect the previously chaotic thoughts in his mind, reassembling all the clues into a clear and brilliant chain of logic.

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, turned to Youyou and loudly made a final confirmation: "Youyou, what exactly did you mean by 'these past few days'?"

Youyou frowned slightly in confusion, bewildered by Xiaoxian's question.

"What exactly does 'these past few days' mean?"

Xiao Xian in the suit asked in detail, "What I wanted to ask was, when you mentioned 'these past few days have been unsettled in Wudang,' was that part of the dream world's background setting, or something you personally experienced after entering the dream?"

Without hesitation, Youyou replied, "Of course, it happened after I entered the dream."

"How long were you four in the dream?"

"Four days."

"Seven days."

"Three days."

Five days.

The completely different answers left Xiaoxian and the other three who were answering the question stunned.

"Just as I expected..."

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, slowly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing an arrogant and smug smile on his face.

His body began to tremble slightly with excitement, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

When everyone searched the entire Wudang Mountain but only found Wanyu and Zhang Wei, Xiaoxian in a suit felt something was wrong.

From the current perspective, apart from Nanfeng, Xiaoxian, Yifei, Youyou, and Ziqiao all have direct or indirect connections with Wudang.

Even characters like Wan Yu, the beggar girl, and Zhang Wei, the prince, who seem to have nothing to do with Wudang, come to Wudang Mountain for different reasons.

Even the three of them, these "unregistered" individuals with no identity in the dream world, inexplicably found themselves on a deserted mountain path and on a street at the foot of Wudang Mountain without knowing anything about this world.

As the saying goes, all roads lead to Wudang. It seems as if a magical force is driving everyone to gather at Wudang.

Or he could make a bold guess: the fact that everyone unconsciously gathers together might be a way for the Dream Machine to reduce the computing power required to run the dream world.

His reasoning and speculation may not be correct, but they can still be corroborated to some extent by Xiao Hei's previous words.

Before the group of people in the apartment entered his dream, he was certain that Nanfeng had fallen into a deep dream because Xiaohei couldn't find Nanfeng at all in the shallow dream.

First of all, it's unlikely that Xiao Hei would have special permissions like [location] and [one-click query] in Nanfeng's dream world. If he did, he would definitely try to give those permissions to someone who enters the dream.

In other words, excluding other abnormal methods, Xiao Hei believes that as long as Nanfeng is in the shallow dream realm, he will definitely be able to find Nanfeng smoothly.

It was as if the three fantasy companions had just arrived in the dream world. Before they even had a chance to actively look for each other, Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Xian, and Youyou had already gathered around them one after another for various reasons.

Assuming my conjecture is not fundamentally wrong, then searching the entire Wudang Mountain and only finding Wan Yu and Zhang Wei is definitely not a normal phenomenon.

However, after his rational thinking was repeatedly shaped and impacted by the dream world, he had become accustomed to the absurdity and strangeness of this world, so Xiaoxian in the suit didn't pay much attention to this abnormal phenomenon at first.

Perhaps, as Yifei said, the remaining people are still on their way to Wudang.

But just now, he finally grasped that fleeting moment of inspiration and found a place he had always overlooked.

Because of himself, Xiao Ze, Mu Feng, and Mario appeared on the desolate mountain almost one after the other, he instinctively assumed that everyone in the apartment had entered the dream world together during that time.

However, Zeng Wuji and Zhang Cuishan left Icefire Island and returned to the Central Plains a few days ago, while Crown Prince Zhang Wei set off from the palace to Wudang a few days ago to celebrate Yifei's birthday.

The beggar girl, Wanyu, had only arrived at Wudang today, intending to freeload. However, judging from her ravenous appearance after eating three large bowls of fried rice, it didn't seem like she could have gotten this hungry in just one day.

The most important thing is what Yifei said when she complained before.

"That Wang Dachui was the thirty-eighth challenger I've encountered."

The "thirty-eight" that Yifei mentioned here is clearly a number she remembered after entering the dream.

If these 38 challengers only started challenging Yifei today, then where does she find the time to both research Yifei's innovative fried rice and deal with 38 challengers?

Keep in mind that it hadn't even been a few hours since the three imaginary companions set off from the desolate mountains until they saw Yifei.

If Yifei really dealt with thirty-eight challengers in these few hours, at this rate, they would have spent several more hours searching the entire Wudang Mountain afterwards. How come they didn't see the roof of Zhenwu Hall being lifted and put back on repeatedly?

It was these seemingly insignificant clues, hidden beneath absurd illusions and humorous rants, that gave me a sudden flash of inspiration after hearing Youyou say, "Things haven't been peaceful on Wudang Mountain these past few days."

His mind kept flashing back to Xiao Nanfeng, Xiao Xian, and the "these past few days" that others repeatedly mentioned, which led him to boldly guess that there might be a problem with the timing of his dream.

After asking this question, he finally confirmed that the time when everyone in the apartment fell asleep was indeed different.

Perhaps this is why the three of them couldn't wait for Zhang Wei's imaginary companion on the desolate mountain.

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, gave a meaningful smile.

Since everyone's dream time is no longer fixed to today, the indiscriminate killer who was just a background character in their eyes at the beginning becomes quite interesting.

After all, a murderer who dared to indiscriminately kill people in Wudang, a place where masters from all walks of life gathered, right under the nose of Zhang Zhenren, the number one master in the world... tsk tsk tsk.

Surely no one in their apartment building appears to be law-abiding but is actually a socially antisocial person who dreams of murder and breaking the law?

……

……

……

However, you never know. Just a few days ago, Guan Gu joked that he was going to take a gamble and go to Myanmar to commit telecom fraud.

Who knows if he's telling the truth?

It's a pity. If Yifei hadn't been right in front of him, the probability that she was a murderer would probably be around 32.79%.

Xiao Xian in the suit was filled with all sorts of guesses once again.

Xiao Ze, standing to the side, turned to look at Xiao Xian, who was dressed in an excited suit. She was just an ordinary housewife and of course couldn't guess what Teacher Xian was thinking.

But judging from his behavior just now, the questions he asked, and Yifei and the others' answers, everyone present realized that something seemed amiss.

"Is their attempt to awaken Nanfeng worse than they anticipated?" Xiao Ze asked Mu Feng.

Xiao Xian in the suit nodded: "I guess so."

"Should we stay?"

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, looked at the five pairs of confused and surprised eyes in the hall. He then turned to examine the blurry Xiao Ze and Mu Feng beside him.

"No, let me finish saying my last words to them and then we'll leave. After that, whatever happens has nothing to do with you."

"But everyone..."

"You must believe that everyone has the ability to handle anything."

Xiao Ze stared at him in surprise: "...Are you serious?"

This is a group of guys who always manage to mess things up by accident; you can't trust them to handle anything.

Unless you've lost your mind.

Xiao Xian in the suit laughed and said, "Whether you believe it or not, I believe it."

Xiao Ze then pouted and said, "I feel like you'd love for them to fail."

Xiao Xian in the suit remained noncommittal; he simply shrugged and said, "It's just a dream. Even if we fail, there's no consequence, right?"

"Or... are you trying to persuade me to stay and help them?"

For the first time, he smiled and his eyes narrowed into crescent shapes: "If you persuade me to stay, I'll consider it."

The gentle and kind Xiao Ze and Mu Feng deliberately remained silent under these circumstances.

Seeing this, Xiao Xian in the suit didn't urge him. He just waited quietly, and even had the leisure to make an X with his hand, refusing the idea of ​​the five guys in the hall who wanted to come up and ask what had happened.

However, his refusal was not very effective. Yifei wanted to ask for clarification as soon as possible, and Youyou was extremely gossipy. They pretended not to understand Xiaoxian's gesture and got up to go forward.

However, Xiaoxian managed to stop them both by grabbing one of their arms each.

"Since he won't let you go, don't rush. Wait until the two of them finish talking."

Why?

Yifei couldn't understand. Although she didn't know what was going on, judging from the completely different times everyone entered the dream, waking up Nanfeng didn't seem as simple as she had imagined.

As the head of the apartment complex, she naturally had to find out what had happened as soon as possible; that was the only way to be responsible to everyone.

"What if they just leave without saying anything?"

Yifei heard Xiaoxian in his suit and Xiaoze and Mufeng's words clearly. Her originally supportive teammates had inexplicably become undecided, and even seemed to hope for their failure. How could Yifei not ask them for clarification?

"Then let them go."

Yifei frowned deeply upon hearing Zeng Xiaoxian's answer, but she did not immediately do as she had planned.

She was a bit domineering, but that didn't mean she would act without even hearing Zeng Xiaoxian's full thoughts.

Rather than simply saying "do as I say," Yifei prefers to use her correct ideas to overcome others' wrong ideas, and then ask others to "do as I say."

Because that way she can win twice.

Xiaoxian patted Yifei's arm, signaling her to calm down.

He suddenly changed the subject and said, "You guys were asking before why only the five of us have fantasy partners. Today I'll tell you what to do."

"If you want a fantasy partner, you must first learn to respect their ideas."

Yifei stared wide-eyed in bewilderment: "Respect a character... that you created entirely on your own?"

Yifei didn't disrespect Xiaoxian in his suit, or Mufeng and Mario, but she respected them because the three of them had now become people who could communicate and share joys and sorrows.

Her respect was based on respect for people, not on respect for her imaginary companions.

If this were in the real world, and Ziqiao said that his fantasy partner Xiaoze Youmufeng had Meijia's face, she would definitely start mocking Ziqiao without saying a word, without considering Xiaoze Youmufeng's feelings at all.

There's nothing wrong with that, or rather, that's how normal people think, but it's definitely not what Xiaoxian and his friends, who have imaginary partners, want to see.

"Otherwise what?"

Zeng Xiaoxian said matter-of-factly, "Even if he is a fictional character, from the moment he was born, he is a partner that only I can see."

"Since they are partners, we should respect their ideas."

As Xiao Xian in his suit listened casually to Zeng Xiaoxian's words, the upward curve of his lips seemed to soften slightly.

Yifei still didn't quite understand: "Even if their personalities and backgrounds are fabricated by you?"

"Even if their personalities and character designs are fictional."

Zeng Xiaoxian nodded and gave an example: "It's just like... you wrote a novel and created a character."

"Even if his personality and background are fictional, the moment he is written on paper, the character has his own life and thoughts."

"At this point, our thinking is no longer simply about 'what I think he would do,' but rather 'what he would do if he were in his shoes.'"

He paused, then continued, "To create fictional characters and backgrounds is merely to give clay figures a form; respecting their ideas is what truly brings our imaginary companions to life."

Wan Yu reached out her hand and asked, "For example?"

Compared to Yifei, a materialistic female warrior, Wanyu is more open to new things. She also wants to learn from Teacher Zeng, hoping that she can create her own fantasy partner.

"For example, Guan Gu doesn't want anyone making a lot of noise in his studio, but he would never imagine Mario sitting there like a wooden statue."

Mario nodded in agreement.

"For example, even if Ziqiao is a pervert, he wouldn't fantasize about Xiaoze and Mufeng stripping naked and doing pole dancing."

Youyou pouted, "Ziqiao? Are you sure?"

Xiao Xian said embarrassedly, "...It was confirmed just now."

He continued, "In short, respect is the foundation of a fantasy partner; you can only understand someone if you learn to respect them first."

Zeng Xiaoxian stared intently at Yifei and the others: "Then try to understand what these imaginary friends are thinking right now?"

Too lazy to think, Youyou looked directly at Mario, ready to copy the answer: "Mario, what are you guys thinking?"

Mario said confidently, "We want to go to the docks and get some fries... Guan Gu promised me."

Youyou looked embarrassed; she knew it couldn't be that.

It seems that Mario's ideas are too different from those of his two fantasy companions, no wonder they didn't include him in the game in the end.

Yifei and Wanyu tried to put themselves in the shoes of their imaginary partners, but they suddenly paused in surprise as they thought about it.

They seemed to finally understand why Xiao Xian, who was clearly helping them before, was now acting as if he was hoping for their failure.

Before the two could give their answers, Xiao Ze and Mu Feng finally made up their minds: "Teacher Xian, whatever decision you make, I will support you, because you are a good person."

"Am I a good person?"

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, raised an eyebrow and loudly asked Zeng Xiaoxian, "Xiao Ze said I'm a good person, what do you think?"

Zeng Xiaoxian glared at the jerk who had just tried to trick him into confessing his feelings: "You're such a bad guy!"

"certainly."

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, laughed wickedly: "I've never been a good person to begin with."

……

The scene shifts, and Xiao Xian in a suit and Xiao Ze have already left the Zhenwu Hall.

They walked down the mountain together in the afterglow of the setting sun, chatting and laughing along the way.

Xiao Zeyou suddenly said, "At first, I really thought you hated the dream world."

Xiao Xian in the suit curled his lip in disgust: "Of course I hate this illogical, absurd, and outrageous dream world."

As he spoke, he opened his arms wide, embracing everything before him. The orange-red sunset generously showered him with its remaining light and heat, bathing even his silhouette in a warm glow.

Xiao Xian, dressed in a suit, squinted, feeling the warmth all over his body, hoping that the sun would set a little later.

A gentle breeze brushed past his ear, making him feel a slight itch on his earlobe.

He hated this illogical, absurd, and outrageous dream world.

Only in this illusory dream can I truly feel alive.

He was lost in a beautiful dream.

I'm coming

Pigeon initially planned to divide the dream world into two parts. Although a lot of this part was cut, the core elements were still written.

The Dream World was written in an absurd direction from the beginning. First of all, Pigeon wanted to try this kind of imaginative writing style, and then weave the clues together in the witty remarks and humor. The more absurd and outrageous the foreshadowing is, the better the effect of bringing it together later.

However, it seems that Pigeon still has ideas, but his writing skills can't support what he's writing, and his condition is also a bit off. He cut out a lot of the funny parts that Pigeon thought were funny, so it's not quite right.

Another issue is the length. After careful consideration, Pigeon realized that if the chapters were written as originally planned, they would be very long. After all, it's just a dream world, and it's not good to write it too long. This was indeed a bit ill-considered.

So now we come to the second half.

Pigeon feels she's recovering well lately, and with my brother about to start school, she's finally going to be free!

Hahahaha

(End of this chapter)