Joe's virtual face is twisted into a ball of purely focused expressions, complete with squinted eyes, biting lips, and open nostrils. He stared at the unstable tower of small wooden blocks in front of him, as if it somehow held the secrets of the universe. Carefully, slowly, he moved his hand towards its belly. His index finger and thumb gently grasped a rectangular block and carefully pulled it out of the pile. The tower rocks slightly as its weight shifts, but it remains upright when the selected stone blocks are skillfully removed.

Once he was sure that the pile wouldn't tip over, Joe clung to his newfound catch and threw it at the person opposite. As the block spun in midair, a metal blade grew. A knife stabbed right into Maggie's forehead. After a tense atmosphere, the handle lit up, projecting a small holographic sign with the words "300 points" clearly and proudly written.

"Stacking music!" Joe raised his arms and shouted triumphantly. "Hahahaha!"

His celebration was struck in the eye by a knife that was exactly the same as the one he toss, which was clearly worth 500 points.

"Stack," the girl said happily.

"Hey. Damn it, Maggie," the man grumbled. "Can't you just let me at least enjoy it?"

"I could. I chose not to. ”

"So you want to play like that, don't you?"

Joe pulled the blade out of his face. Of course, there is no pain. At least not physically. In K

ife Je

GA's dominance hurt his pride, even though he had fully anticipated the outcome. Maggie is impossible to lose in a purely mechanical match, and Joe is well aware of this when he challenges her. His goal wasn't to win, though. In fact, quite the opposite. He noticed that most of the games they were playing were games in which he had an advantage over Maggie, so this was his way of letting her show off. The trick seemed to work, as the girl was grinning all the time.

However, Joe is a simple, stingy guy who involuntarily lets his injured self-esteem take over.

"I didn't want to do that, but I'm afraid I'll have to release my ...... Secret technology. ”

Maggie's smiling face lit up with excitement. She was always obsessed with things like strategy and tactics and couldn't come up with any tricks that could be applied to such a basic game. However, Joe apparently has one waiting for her, and she is eager to learn his "secret technique". She held her breath as he leaned forward with full concentration. His eyes seemed to sparkle with determination, and he had a confident smirk on his face. Then, grabbing the edge of the table with both hands, he tore it over like a hundred suns exploding, piling up knives and bricks all over the floor.

"The game is aborted," the match commentator announced flatly.

"Hey," Joe brazenly crossed his arms. "You've got a long way to go—oh. Oh! Ow-ow-ow-ow !”

Maggie wasn't too happy about the development. This can be seen from the expression on her face and the action of tugging on the man's ear with the tentacles decorated with her eyes.

"Joe Mulligan."

The phrase "oh-oh, full name" flashed through the minds of those who couldn't afford to lose.

"We've discussed your unacceptable behavior, haven't we?"

"Oh! Oooooooo

"You promised you you wouldn't quit in a rage, did you?"

"Yes! Oh!"

"And what was that sound just now?"

"Alright! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, so please stop! You're going to rip my ears off!"

In fact, it is quite possible, because the girl pulls on his virtual and real earlobes at the same time to bypass the pain filter of the pod.

"My understanding is that the human nervous system has a way of compensating for the loss of sensory organs by strengthening other sensory organs."

She tilted her head and her eyes widened, magnifying the hollowness of her relentless iris.

"Maybe if I remove one of your ears, the other ear will still listen."

"But—oh! Your obligation!"

"Deafness is neither fatal nor permanent."

As usual, Maggie is scary when she gets angry.

* BRRRRRRING *

"Oh, look, there's a- oh!" At the door! Better go and see who it is!"

Joe seized the opportunity and immediately quit V-Life. He'd never been so happy to hear the doorbell, and he'd never really appreciated the convenience of connecting the doorbell to a virtual reality pod. Of course, it is standard practice to integrate the two systems. If the residents can't hear the doorbell because they're trapped in their cabins, the doorbell doesn't mean much. However, at that point in time, this seemingly basic function had become Joe's lifeline. However, this is only a temporary relief. Maggie "woke up" at the same time, and the expression on her face made it clear that it wasn't all over yet.

Just before Joe opened the door, the girl noticed who was outside the door, and her expression softened considerably.

"Good evening, Mr. Mulligan," Officer Maloney greeted him and gave him a hat. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but can I find Miss Wu?"

Joe stared at the police officer for several seconds, his panic turning into a slight irritation.

"Well, of course. Maggie?"

"Good evening, Officer Maloney," she said, stepping out of the tiny apartment.

"Good evening, Miss Ou," he said with a slight nod.

"I thought it would take you 40 hours to come. Since our last conversation, have humans invented a more efficient way of communicating faster than light?"

"Huh. There is no such thing. I'm afraid we still have to rely on couriers. ”

Humanity, and indeed the rest of the galaxy, has mastered interstellar travel through wormhole generators. As one might imagine, distorting the fabric of reality and creating shortcuts in the vastness of space is no easy task. It requires expensive machines and a huge amount of energy, but it's by far the most convenient and economical way to get from one end of the galaxy to the other. However, the civilizations of the galaxy have yet to discover a way through which they can communicate in the universe in real time. Therefore, any information, messages, and other data must be transported like any other cargo. Any letter or correspondence sent to other solar systems usually takes a few days to receive a response, except for urgent dispatches.

In Officer Maloney's case, he is waiting for news from a suspect from a neighboring solar system that he is investigating, which will take another two days according to the cargo schedule.

"Actually, I came with a gift."

The policeman raised his left hand to indicate that he was holding a bag containing a pile of white plastic boxes. Each crab is printed with Leo, the most exclusive seafood restaurant in the area

a

do da Pi

Chi's crab-themed logo.

"I don't need tribute, Officer Maloney," Maggie said matter-of-factly.

"What? No, it's not like that. I was called to Leo's house because a couple on a date had a lot of trouble, right? He began to explain.

"Can you get to the point?" Joe interrupted. "We're still busy."

"I'm sorry. Long story short, I handled the situation very well and the owner was very impressed. and gratitude. He gave me a whole bunch of food that he was going to throw away tomorrow as a thank you. I couldn't finish it alone, and I didn't want to waste it, so I passed it on to all my friends and colleagues. ”

"I understand," Maggie nodded. "In that case, I'll help reduce waste."

"She really wanted to try the Nebula Lobster specialty," Joe interjected.

"Yes," the girl quickly wiped the saliva from her chin.

"Haha. Well, don't let me delay you. Good night, Mr. Mulligan. Miss. ”

Maloney placed the takeout box on the ground and continued on his way. Maggie's lecture was postponed for the time being, as she brought in a high-end seafood dish and ate it immediately. She ate bite by bite, chewing slowly, and enjoying the free meal to the fullest. She even threw a few pieces to Azgold Carral, who shivered in her curly hair as usual. This little snake seems to like it very much, and its owner also thinks it is special.

The girl had been curious about the menu of Leonardo da Pinci since she saw the advertisement for the restaurant a few weeks ago, but Joe refused to go there. Not because of the price. In fact, they are very cheap, and Maggie is easily affordable. It was an atmosphere of excessive luxury. An ordinary person like Joe who doesn't belong to that kind of trendy institution is sure to feel embarrassed and out of place. Disappointingly, he refuses to go, but Maggie won't force him to go. That's why Maloney's gift is the luckiest. This made her so happy that she silently decided to postpone her lecture indefinitely.

Joe, on the other hand, seems to be in a bad mood. That's not to say he doesn't like the food. And he did. Although V-Life has a wide variety of delicacies, the real deal definitely feels different. It's not a matter of taste or texture, it's a psychological reaction. For most people, knowing that virtual cuisine is fake tends to make them less satisfied. That's why customers prefer genuine products over digital replicas, and Joe is no exception. However, he must be bothered by something, and Maggie thinks that his emotions are strange and it is necessary to talk to him.

"Is there anything worrying you, Joe?"

"Huh? No, not exactly. ”

Maggie immediately grabbed his already aching earlobe and pulled hard.

"Ow-ow-ow-ow! All right! You've made it clear!"

The girl sighed and let go of him. She was still puzzled as to why the man kept forgetting, and she could tell right away that he wasn't telling the truth, but that wasn't the most important issue at hand.

"What has worried you for so long?" She asked.

"For a long time? What?"

"You've been behaving strangely since that incident. Are you worried about the sequence of shootings?"

"You...... So to speak. He dodged.

Joe saw Maggie come back to life after death and then fall into a two-day coma, which was less than a week. Logically, even he, after going through such an ordeal, would have left some psychological scars. Both the medbot and Joe himself assure her that he is fine, but the girl refuses to accept their claims. The human mind is a tricky thing that tends to convince itself that it is healthy, even when it is clearly not. Joe's judgment is not credible, and neither can the judgment of the machine. It is true that it has advanced diagnostic software and several libraries of medical literature in its memory, but it is a synthetic brain with no free will or self-awareness. The idea that it can accurately psychoanalytically psychoanalyze a sentient creature is absurd, at least in Maggie's opinion. Admittedly, the girl also had a hard time doing the job, but she knew there were people who were up to it.

"Should we go visit Dr. Boredom?" She suggested.

“…… Who?"

"Mental health professionals in our area. He has a pretty good reputation online. He will surely help you overcome any trauma. ”

"Uh," he rolled his eyes. "I don't need to see a psychiatrist."

"Psychiatrist," she corrected him.

"Same thing."

"No, it's not."

"Listen, I'm telling you, it's not that serious. And, those guys scare me. He wears small glasses, has a big beard, and is bald. ”

Now that Joe mentions this, Maggie realizes that this is actually a trend. Reflecting on her browsing activity, almost all of the psychiatrists she visited had one or more of these characteristics. Dr. Bore, in particular, is three against three. Maybe it's some kind of social construct? Unofficial uniforms? Or is it just that the field of psychology appeals to those who have this preference for dressing? No, these are questions to ask later, and she can't digress from them.

"So you know exactly what's bothering you?" She asked.

"Yes! I just don't want to talk about it!"

Maggie didn't like it at all. It wasn't the obligation that made her so persistent, but her own sense of guilt. She felt it was her duty to put Joe through such ordeal, and her budding conscience would not calm until she was absolutely sure that there were no long-term complications. That being said, maybe she's a little too rushed. Mental health seems to be a sensitive topic, so maybe putting more pressure on Joe would only backfire.

"I understand," she relented. "As long as you are willing to entrust me with your ideas, I can help you at any time."

The man watched her return to her alien seafood platter, his expression suggesting that he didn't believe the argument worked. After the shaking passed, he felt his ears burn. Not because of the tugging just now, but because of a burst of shame. Here she was, the most beautiful, the most understanding, the smartest, the toughest, the most terrible girl he had ever seen—but in a good way. She just wanted to help, but he ignored her like a fool. Maggie may not care about being rejected, but Joe definitely doesn't. After falling out of love again and again, he is very afraid that the lover of his dreams will disappear from his life. That's why this class is so hard for him.

That said, if there's one woman who can tolerate his petty, childish, and pathetic problems, it's Maggie.

"It's about Officer Maloney," he finally revealed.

"Really?" The girl was completely confused. "Are you worried that he will arrest you?"

"No, of course you don't understand." He shouted. "You probably won't know, unless I'm trying to explain like a fool and embarrass myself."

The man rubbed his face with his hands and paced around the small room, gathering his thoughts. At the same time, Maggie quietly put down her half-eaten dinner and gently lowered herself so that she was sitting on the floor and not in the air.

"Try to portray things from my point of view, okay?" Joe begins. "I met you, an incredibly charming person, completely by accident. You think I'm a curious and funny guy, it's funny to follow me home and we've spent so much time together. Unbelievable. Can you keep up with me?"

The girl nodded firmly.

"Then, this guy named Ma Hongsheng came out of nowhere and began to act like he knew you very well. He always comes to you, talks to you privately, brings you things. He even gave you a nickname. ”

"You're worried about my relationship with Officer Maloney?"

"What? No, don't be stupid! He waved his hands exaggeratedly. "Why should I bother with a handsome, healthy, successful, working man in uniform who constantly talks to the girl I like?" The girl who just followed me on a whim? This is ridiculous!"

Maggie narrowed her eyes and pointed at Joe suspiciously.

"Yes, it's sarcasm," he anticipated her question.

"Oh!"

The girl smiled, satisfied that she had guessed correctly.

"Oh. Oh......"

When she realized why Joe did that, her expression changed to concern and then to enlightenment. He was jealous of the policeman. Oddly enough, the shooting doesn't seem to be part of it, but other than that, Maggie suddenly understands everything. She felt like she really should have realized it sooner because she had watched so many soap operas. However, the events and characters in these TV series are again over-dramatized. Real jealousy is far more subtle than she thinks.

Moreover, Joe's fears were completely unfounded. Officer Maloney did this because Maggie indirectly awakened his inner detective, and he felt indebted to her. Since then, he has sought her guidance and advice on a variety of leads, patterns, and investigations, which he is now actively conducting. He was an apprentice at best. He called her "Miss Oh" because he felt it was too informal and inappropriate to use "Mags" to address someone as capable as her. On the other hand, ominous words like calling a cute young girl an "observer" also don't feel right. So, he began to address her by the first letter of her title, which, as it turned out, was acceptable to both parties.

Maggie knows all this, but Joe doesn't. He was not informed of their conversation because Officer Maloney did not want to drag a civilian into his police work without a good reason. But then again, even if he knew all the details, he might still be jealous. Emotions associated with romance are often strong enough to overwhelm logic and reason. Therefore, alleviating Joe's concerns is not a matter of simply explaining the situation. Even if it worked to put him at ease, it was only a matter of time before a similar misunderstanding occurred. Maggie will make sure to get things straight, no matter what, but if she's going to get it right, then she'll have to address the root cause of Joe's jealousy.

That is, his extreme inferiority. Joe's comparison to Officer Maloney is likely because he feels he is incompetent in front of women. Addressing this deep-seated insecurity is not something that can be done quickly or easily. It's sure to mess your mind up, but for something so small, this choice is too extreme. Maggie thinks her best course of action is to nudge him in the right direction, and she knows what to do.

The girl got up from the ground and walked towards Joe. She put her arms around his back, pressed her soft waist against his chest, and rested her head on his neck. It's not a simple hug, it's an intimate hug. The poor fellow was completely taken aback by the gesture. Not knowing how to react at all, he threw up his hands as if he had been arrested, and began to stammer, something he didn't understand.

"I'm sorry," Maggie whispered. "I see."

"Wu? Who are you? What do you do?"

The man's mind raced, trying in vain to figure out what she was trying to say.

"Yes. It's my fault that you think that way. ”

“It is?!”

"I didn't take into account your emotional state, and it's causing you pain."

"Don't do that!" It's all because I'm a—"

"Joe Mulligan."

When the phrase "Ahhh

Don't underestimate your worth as an individual. While you may not be as good as someone like Officer Grant Maloney in terms of physical fitness and intelligence, I must reiterate that these qualities are not the basis of my continued interest in you. ”

”,。 Yes, I know. I'm just a stupid science experimenter who sometimes teaches you things that don't make sense. He said bitterly.

It's true. However, you seem to have simply misunderstood what this connection means to me. ”

"Then explain it to me!" His frustration rose sharply. "I can't read minds!" I don't know what you're thinking if you don't speak!"

"Speech has its uses, but it also has its limitations. The message I want to convey cannot rely on such a basic and inefficient way of communicating. That is why I intend to convey my thoughts directly to you in a way that cannot be misunderstood. However, this approach carries risks that I can't fully mitigate. Knowing that, will you accept my unfiltered thoughts, Joe Mulligan?"

"I ...... I think I'll love it, yes. ”

"Then you should understand what you need to do next."

The girl tilted her face, closed her eyes, tilted her head slightly, and pursed her lips. Joe was completely stunned. Of all the ways he imagined it to be discussed, it wasn't one of them. Of course he knew what he had to do. He had fantasized about this moment too many times to admit it. However, now that he is here, he hesitates. He looked down at Maggie and felt as if he had seen an abyss he couldn't understand. It's really ironic, considering his attitude was casual and relaxed when they first met.

Due to indecision, fear, and uncertainty, he stood there stunned for a whole minute. And then two. Or five? Maybe ten? Joe was so nervous that his sense of time was completely confused. However, no matter how many seconds actually passed, Maggie did not leave that place. She just stood there, clinging to him, patiently waiting, not flinching in the slightest. By the way, she smells very, very good too. For example, Apple. Joe loves apples and focuses on the relaxing aroma of apples that calms him down. After relaxing a little, his heart stopped beating wildly in his ears, giving him enough time to listen to his thoughts.

Stop messing around, kiss her, you stupid woman!

With the final self-deprecation pushing, Joe screws up his courage and puts his arm around her and puts his lips on hers. It was his first real kiss. Maggie Too. Then, like any other fresh experience, the girl, as usual, took a few million more steps than expected.

Joe felt his consciousness grow exponentially. In the blink of an eye, he could see the whole picture of the megacity of Dave-156. Then, he witnessed Butte

po

Planet D-4, followed by the other planets of the solar system. He then saw the special arm of the galaxy where his home was located, but it didn't stop there. He saw the rest of the Milky Way, and then all the other galaxies, including the unmeasurable distances between them. It wasn't until he felt as if he was staring at the entire universe at the same time that his consciousness stopped growing.

It was there, in the vastness of nothingness, represented by an insignificant particle, that Joe saw himself. This is an extreme view that can easily leave a conscious person mentally traumatized and deeply traumatized, or at least lead to severe depression. However, there was something about him. A seemingly inconsequential point is surrounded by a dark void that shines with a contradictory light in the darkness. This shows that despite Maggie's infinite possibilities, despite the myriad of variables, she chose him, and only chose him alone, embracing her whole life.

Joe feels good about it.