Game loading…20%
Experience points can be exchanged for items in the in-game store.
Game loading…80%
Player [He Xingzhi] data successfully loaded.
…………
Paper-thin slices of chicken gizzard, marinated with ginger, dill powder, and cooking wine, were evenly scattered into the boiling broth and gently stirred apart with silver chopsticks.
The steaming chicken soup exuded a rich aroma of meat. After thickening the broth, a sprinkle of tangerine peel powder was added to neutralize any gaminess. The finished soup was poured into a porcelain bowl, its heat rising in faint wisps toward the ceiling.
Chef Zhang tapped his long-handled ladle with a clatter, his round head peeking out toward the hall as he called, "The shredded tripe soup is ready!"
Soon after, a waiter carried the soup toward the first-floor seating area.
"Lotus Dew Seat, your shredded tripe soup is served! Enjoy, sir!"
It was noon, and the Golden Joy Tower—located in the busiest part of the capital—was packed to the brim.
The first-floor common area and the second-floor private rooms were filled with the mingling scents of food and the rich fragrance of wine.
The lively shouts of servers and the clinking of bowls, chopsticks, and cups blended into a warm, bustling hum that spilled out through the windows.
By the time the noise reached the backyard of the Golden Joy Tower, it had faded into an indistinct murmur.
The late spring sun cast a warm glow through the wooden window, its light soaking through the pale bed curtains until they looked as thin as cicada wings draped over the wooden bed.
"Mmm..."
He Xingzhi, sprawled haphazardly across the bed, seemed disturbed by the sunlight on her eyelids. Her eyes darted beneath closed lids before suddenly snapping open.
In the next instant, she bolted upright and blurted out, "Oh no, what time is it? Am I late for work?"
She scrambled out of bed in a panic, only to freeze when she saw the embroidered quilt and the pale yellow short robe she was wearing. Finally, He Xingzhi fully woke from her groggy state.
She remembered—she wasn’t in the real world. She was inside the game Dreams of the Floating World.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, He Xingzhi sat back down on the bed before flopping onto it again, limbs splayed.
After graduating last year, He Xingzhi had started working at the headquarters of Dreams of the Floating World’s development company.
Initially, she was assigned to another game’s project team, but two months ago, she was transferred to Dreams of the Floating World’s programming department.
Last month, to familiarize herself with the game’s current trends, she created an internal company account and had her consciousness uploaded into the game.
Dreams of the Floating World was a historical romance game for female players, set in the Zhao Dynasty over a thousand years ago.
The game was highly customizable—players could design their character’s identity, follow different storylines based on preferences, and even experience the world firsthand through consciousness transfer, making it more immersive than typical VR games.
Gameplay was diverse, including business management, mystery-solving, character development, political intrigue, and of course, romance routes…
This wasn’t He Xingzhi’s first time playing. She had participated in the closed beta years ago, but the game had changed significantly since then. This time, she was here to experience the most popular romance routes.
Today marked He Xingzhi’s thirtieth day in the game world, but her progress was practically zero. The only major plot point she’d completed was moving from Jiangnan to the capital.
In the game, He Xingzhi’s character was a once-famous Jiangnan merchant who, after her family’s decline, single-handedly rebuilt her fortune. Her restaurants had expanded from Jiangnan to Luoyang and finally to the capital. The Golden Joy Tower, built in the capital, had hosted countless nobles and even members of the imperial family.
The Golden Joy Tower was completed last year, so before that, He Xingzhi had lived in her family’s Jiangnan estate.
Last month, she moved to the capital—partly to shift her business focus, and partly to begin the romance routes.
But ever since arriving, He Xingzhi had used "adjusting to the climate" as an excuse to laze around for nearly half a month.
It wasn’t that the game wasn’t fun. Dreams of the Floating World had stunning artwork and engaging storylines. The male leads were all gorgeous in their own ways—a dashing young general, a refined minister of justice, a mysterious imperial advisor, and an aloof, domineering prince.
The romance routes were even rated 18+, offering steamy scenes for those who wanted them. Players could choose between polyamory or monogamy—truly a "feast for the senses."
But after years of being an overworked office drone, He Xingzhi found herself utterly devoid of desire. Once inside the game, she had spent an entire month doing nothing.
Well, time in the game didn’t sync with real life. She had all the time in the world.
With that comforting thought, He Xingzhi rolled over in bed like a corpse, hugging the quilt.
Just as she closed her eyes, intending to go back to sleep, a sharp pang of hunger twisted her stomach.
Staring at the sliver of sunlight peeking through the window, He Xingzhi patted her nearly flat belly.
"Food comes first. I’ll eat first, then sleep. There’s still time."
Yawning, she finally dragged herself out of the cozy bed.
……
The Golden Joy Tower had three floors—the first for common seating, the second for private rooms, and the third for VIP guests.
He Xingzhi lived in the backyard of the tower, her chambers connected to the accounting office.
After moving to the capital, she hadn’t bothered buying a separate residence. For one, the backyard was spacious and comfortable enough. For another, it was customary in the Zhao Dynasty for shop owners to live on-site.
After washing up, He Xingzhi was just about to head to the kitchen for a bite when she spotted a girl rushing toward her in a fluster.
Squinting her nearsighted eyes, she couldn’t quite make out the face, but she recognized the voice immediately.
"Madam, you’re finally awake!"
It was Hongdou, He Xingzhi’s personal maid. According to the game’s backstory, Hongdou had been sold to the He family at the age of six or seven.
But with her modern sensibilities, He Xingzhi saw Hongdou more as a close subordinate.
Her myopia was quite severe, and even after squinting, she couldn’t clearly see Hongdou’s face—just a blur of fresh green rushing toward her.
She also vaguely noticed two light brown bundles on either side of the green, like some kind of package.
Only when Hongdou got closer did He Xingzhi’s sharp nose catch the scent—the "bundles" were oil-paper-wrapped pastries in Hongdou’s hands.
"Madam, you’ve been waking up so late these days. The sun’s already high—are you feeling unwell? Doctor Liu is off today, but we can call for her tomorrow—"
"No, no, I’m fine. I just stayed up late last night." He Xingzhi rubbed her fingers guiltily at Hongdou’s fussing.
She’d been using the "adjusting to the climate" excuse for a month now. If she kept lazing around, Hongdou might start thinking her mistress was terminally ill.
"Is this breakfast for me?" He Xingzhi gazed longingly at the pastries in Hongdou's hands, swiftly changing the subject.
"No," Hongdou shook her head. "These are snacks for after lunch, but you haven't even had your midday meal yet! Aunt Qian has already prepared congee, waiting for you to wake up. I’ll go fetch it for you now."
"Alright, alright, thank you." He Xingzhi guiltily rubbed the tip of her nose.
Hongdou hurriedly brought the food, then gathered He Xingzhi’s long hair—which cascaded down her back—into a loose bun with a hairpin. Once He Xingzhi had eaten her fill, Hongdou pulled her over to the vanity and meticulously styled her hair.
The comb glided through her tresses with a soft rustling sound, like silkworms nibbling on mulberry leaves. He Xingzhi closed her eyes in contentment.
"What hairstyle would you like today, Mistress?"
"It’s been quite hot lately—something light and cool. You decide, Hongdou."
He Xingzhi waved a hand dismissively, leaning back into the rattan chair and shutting her eyes again.
Truth be told, she couldn’t even master the simplest updo, let alone the latest fashionable styles in the capital.
After a month here, she’d come to appreciate just how revolutionary hair ties were—unfortunately, even the system’s points store didn’t stock them.
Hongdou gathered her hair in one hand, fingers weaving deftly through the dark strands. The sensation was so soothing that He Xingzhi felt more like she was getting a scalp massage than a hairstyling.
There was something oddly satisfying about having someone fuss over her hair. She let out a contented sigh.
"Mistress, an esteemed guest is arriving tomorrow," Hongdou said softly, noticing her drowsiness.
Half-asleep, He Xingzhi jolted awake at the muffled words. "What? There’s a ghost?"
"No, Mistress—a guest," Hongdou enunciated carefully, worried her hard-of-hearing mistress had misheard again.
"Who is it?" He Xingzhi asked.
"The State Preceptor."
Hongdou knew He Xingzhi was acquainted with him, so she simply referred to him by his title.
As the largest privately-owned restaurant in the capital, Jinxi Lou naturally attracted nobility and high-ranking officials. Some preferred discretion, booking private rooms on the second floor, while others flaunted their status by reserving the exclusive third-floor pavilions reserved for VIPs.
"Oh… Just treat him as usual," He Xingzhi replied breezily.
Internally, however, she was screaming—slacking off really isn’t an option!
The romance subplot’s popularity wasn’t without reason. Unlike traditional dating sims, players didn’t need to meticulously strategize to win over the male leads.
Whether she put effort into the storyline or not, the male leads would actively pursue her based on her preferences, advancing the game’s narrative.
Take now, for instance. Even if He Xingzhi spent all day lazing in bed, the male leads would find ways to cross paths with her.
She’d first met the State Preceptor after arriving in the capital, when she’d visited a famously auspicious temple to pray for wealth and career success—only to trigger their encounter.
Hongdou opened the vanity’s jewelry box, selecting a hairpin. "Mistress, the Councilor will also be joining the State Preceptor tomorrow evening in the Chunxing Pavilion on the third floor. They’re visiting incognito, likely to avoid drawing attention."
"Councilor? Who’s that?" He Xingzhi asked.
"Lord Song, the Secretariat Director and Associate Executive of the Secretariat-Chancellery. This is his first time visiting Jinxi Lou."
Hongdou had an excellent memory. After reviewing Manager Zhang’s guest logs from the past two years, she knew exactly which dignitaries had visited and which hadn’t.
Despite being new to the capital herself, she’d already memorized the city’s officials and aristocratic families.
They didn’t need to curry favor with the elite, but nobility meant business—and business meant money.
"Lord Song…"
He Xingzhi repeated the name absently, but no related plot points or character details came to mind.
She mentally reviewed the romance options again. The game had four preset male leads: the Minister of Justice, the Young General, the State Preceptor, and the Ninth Prince.
Players could add more if desired, but she’d initially opted for the minimal four-character route.
Just as she zoned out, the system panel popped up with a notification:
[In this dynasty, the Secretariat Director holds a nominal third-rank title, while the Associate Executive is a substantive second-rank position. When combined, authority defaults to the latter.]
The panel included a silhouette of Lord Song but no further details.
He Xingzhi blinked at the description. So basically, the equivalent of a prime minister.
In-game, characters introduced via silhouette were generic NPCs.
Given his rank, he was probably some elderly man in his fifties.
After all, only romance novels churned out twenty-something high-ranking officials like factory products…
She dismissed Lord Song from her thoughts, already envisioning the profits Jinxi Lou would rake in tomorrow thanks to these two VIPs.
Just as she was about to let Hongdou continue styling her hair, a sudden twinge shot through her temples, followed by a dull, spreading ache.
He Xingzhi pressed her fingers to her forehead. Again, that bizarre sensation—flashes of fragmented, indistinct images flickered through her mind, too blurred to decipher…
