The first movie Xu Youyuan ever remembered watching was a spy film.
The protagonist flew helicopters while blasting villains out of the sky, then rappelled down a skyscraper as if gravity meant nothing to him—scaling walls, fighting enemies, and rescuing people all at once. He tossed screaming office workers out the windows while his partner caught them midair in a waiting aircraft.
Every time someone was flung out, their shrieks made Xu Youyuan’s heart leap.
Of course, she knew no one would actually get hurt, but the realism of the scene had her on edge.
Xu Youyuan had always assumed everyone shared her love for thrill and excitement—especially since her dating profile clearly stated she was "adventurous." Yet, right at the start of her first virtual date, her match was so terrified they immediately logged off, forfeiting credits and reputation points without hesitation…
Honestly, it was for the best. If they couldn’t handle the intro, they’d never survive the full 81 levels of chaos she had planned. Who knows, they might’ve even reported her afterward.
At first, she wondered if her date had just been overestimating their bravery. Surely, out of billions of people in the world, there had to be someone who genuinely matched her taste for adrenaline. She’d only gotten a taste of *Fast & Furious 12*’s opening sequence—intense and exhilarating—and she was itching to experience the rest.
So, she tried again.
This time, her match was a punk-looking girl in skintight black leather and 12-centimeter heels, face studded with piercings from ear to lip. The moment she got into Xu Youyuan’s car, she licked her ear.
Xu Youyuan stiffened and put some distance between them.
“Shy?” the girl teased in a translated, digitized voice—probably a foreign user.
Xu Youyuan’s excitement reignited. *Please let her be Russian*, she thought. *Then we can go all out.*
Before starting, she warned the girl carefully: *This is going to be a high-speed chase with relentless action. Make sure you can handle it—don’t push yourself.*
To prove herself, the girl demanded to take the wheel.
Xu Youyuan obliged, settling into the passenger seat, ready to enjoy the ride.
Then the first chase began—glacier terrain, explosions, the works.
As the girl slammed the gas and the car tore across the ice, Xu Youyuan felt exhilarated, even flipping open the roof and pulling out a mounted cannon from under the seat to blast a helicopter out of the sky.
The explosion was deafening. Shrapnel scorched the girl’s neck, and she yelped.
“How’d you know there was a weapon under the seat?!”
Xu Youyuan grinned, wind whipping her hair into waves. “I know this movie inside out!”
“What movie?!”
*Wait, she doesn’t even know what this is?*
“*Fast & Furious 12!*”
“*12?!*” the girl shrieked over the roaring wind. “I’ve only seen *20*! *12* was from, like, the last century!”
Xu Youyuan: “?”
*Rude. Sure, 12 is old—I watched it as a teen—but last century?!* And it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen the later sequels; she just preferred *12*’s Antarctic chase scenes.
Though she didn’t know the girl’s real age, their exchange made one thing painfully clear: *She’s a kid.*
Before Xu Youyuan could investigate further, the girl panicked under the bombardment, swerving wildly until the car skidded toward an iceberg—then, in a moment of sheer terror, she *floored the accelerator*. Tires screeched, the car flipped, and they went airborne.
Hanging upside down, Xu Youyuan contemplated her life choices while the girl clung to her, wailing, “Mommy, save me!!”
Later, curiosity got the better of her. “How old *are* you?”
The girl shrugged. “Fourteen.”
“*Fourteen?!*” Xu Youyuan gasped. “You can’t even legally register on Darkbox!”
“Ugh, *auntie*, you’re so outdated,” the translation system rendered with perfect slang. “There are literal 11-year-olds running around here. What’s the big deal? Back in ancient China, 14-year-olds were *mothers*. Stop lecturing me.”
Xu Youyuan had no comeback for this brat.
Third time’s the charm, right? Xu Youyuan wasn’t one to give up easily.
But fate had other plans.
Her next date ended in disaster when the girl *vomited* all over the car. Xu Youyuan, busy dodging explosions, couldn’t open the roof in time—so with every jolt and swerve, the mess splattered *everywhere*, coating the windows in a grotesque film…
Afterward, she received a *459-word* scathing review.
Darkbox’s AI gently suggested she “adjust her dating approach” and consider contacting their “romance support team.”
Defeated, Xu Youyuan stared at the words *Contact Support*, then yanked off her headset.
Back in reality, she collapsed onto her couch, eyes glazed.
*Is love just not for me?* Out of 8 billion people on Earth—not counting the 200 million on the Moon or 100 million on Mars—*not one* could sync with her wavelength?
No. There *had* to be another way.
She wasn’t on the wrong path—just going too fast.
*Maybe I should slow down. Let people get on first, then gradually speed up. Give them time to adjust.*
After a stiff drink for courage, she dove back into Darkbox.
This time, she skipped the action flicks and opted for romance—*Before Sunrise*, a 1995 indie classic.
She’d originally wanted to pick something from the app’s built-in “Romance” library, but after scrolling, she realized most covers looked like softcore porn. (*Of course. It’s a hookup app.*) As an “old auntie,” she wasn’t here for a virtual bedroom session.
Luckily, Darkbox allowed custom movie imports to generate dates. So she uploaded *Before Sunrise*.
As the loading bar crawled forward, she smirked.
Her choice wasn’t random—this time, she’d *warn* her date about the movie upfront. A 1995 film would *hopefully* filter out the underage trolls.
Being hugged and called "Mommy" every time danger struck was an experience she never wanted to relive.
After posting her dating plan, three people responded.
The first replied almost within three seconds of her posting—username "Plasma Flower Cream Cake." Their avatar looked somewhat familiar but carried an energy Xu Youyuan didn’t want to engage with. The instant response felt like they’d been lying in wait, too eager and unserious. Xu Youyuan brushed them aside without a second thought.
Between the remaining two, she chose the one with no virtual avatar—just a sunset as a profile picture, username "Sunset Boulevard." They had an old-school charm.
If she was going for romance, she might as well go all in. Adventure wasn’t her only interest. That film beloved by artsy types—where two strangers meet on a train, fall in love at first sight, and spend an entire day walking, sitting, lying down, and talking about life—was one she enjoyed too.
This date was bound to be a success.
After setting the meeting time for 7:30 PM the next evening, a system prompt popped up:
*"Dear dating initiator 'Nothing,' would you like some interesting events to occur during your date? This may help deepen your connection, foster mutual understanding, and even bring delightful surprises."*
Interesting events? Sounded like a great suggestion. Xu Youyuan clicked "Yes."
**[System Notification: You are about to enter a romance-themed dating scenario
Initiator: Nothing
Featured Film: Before Sunrise
Difficulty: 1.6]**
This was a love story about an American man and a French woman who meet on a train, instantly connect, and decide to disembark together to explore Vienna. They spend a day learning about each other, exchanging worldviews, and promising to reunite in six months.
It was the first film in a trilogy, brimming with youthful hormones and romantic allure.
Few could resist the idea of "love at first sight," especially during a solo, serendipitous trip. In her youth, Xu Youyuan had yearned for such an encounter—though it had never happened in reality.
At 7:30 PM, with the city bathed in twilight, Xu Youyuan logged into the virtual world and arrived punctually for the date.
She had a feeling this would be a beautiful Vienna journey with "Sunset Boulevard."
*"Wait, my sister is Sunset Boulevard?"* Shi Ye couldn’t help interrupting.
Xu Youyuan smirked. *"Guess."*
Entering the dating scenario, Xu Youyuan opened her eyes on the train.
She quickly spotted her date—they were sitting exactly where the male lead was supposed to be. It was a quiet woman with fiery red curls cascading from under a classic wide-brimmed white hat, spilling over her shoulders. Her crimson lips curved into a soft smile as she recognized Xu Youyuan.
Everything was serene and sweet, a gentle warmth blooming in Xu Youyuan’s chest.
Outside the train, the scenery was picturesque, while inside, a couple’s argument set the stage for this romantic film to unfold.
She felt relieved—this time, she’d finally picked the right movie.
Sunset Boulevard was undeniably elegant and thoughtful, her impeccable taste evident in her outfit.
Xu Youyuan stayed seated, waiting for the story to progress, but Sunset Boulevard stood and walked straight toward her.
When she looked up, a pair of sapphire-blue eyes glinted in the sunlight. Long, thick lashes fluttered as she narrowed her gaze slightly, and Xu Youyuan swore she could hear her own heartbeat pounding.
Just as they were a step apart—
***BAM!***
The train lurched violently, sending Sunset Boulevard stumbling sideways, nearly crashing into the seats.
Both of them froze in confusion. Then, looking out the window, they saw it—a T. rex, glaring at them with a thunderous roar.
*"Huh?!"* Shi Ye’s eyebrows shot up. *"What the—a T. rex? Like, the dinosaur?!"*
*"Yes,"* Xu Youyuan sighed. *"Exactly that. Turns out the 'interesting events' in this dating system are randomly generated based on my personal interests. It scanned my brain, extracted my hobbies, and then dropped this 'delightful surprise' on us. Okay, fine, I admit it—I love the Jurassic series. I’ve watched every movie in theaters on opening day, IMAX and all. When the holographic versions came out, I even rented out a screening for you guys. Remember?"*
Shi Ye’s mouth hung open, speechless.
Managing to drop a T. rex into a tender romance film—Xu Youyuan had probably made history.
At this point, Shi Ye had only one thought: *"Destined to die alone."*
Sunset Boulevard was snatched through the shattered window by the T. rex. The poor woman likely hadn’t even processed why her date involved a prehistoric predator before being swallowed whole.
Soon after, Xu Youyuan received a scathing review. Sunset Boulevard accused "Nothing" of deliberate sabotage, leaving her unprepared and traumatized. She’d nearly pissed herself during the game and was considering legal action for emotional damages.
Mortified, Xu Youyuan sent over a bundle of expensive in-game cosmetics as an apology. Sunset Boulevard reluctantly dropped the matter.
Still, it couldn’t salvage Xu Youyuan’s credibility score. Her perfect 5.0 plummeted to 4.2—below the average 4.6—turning from a confident red to an unsettling green.
The next time she posted a dating request, responses were scarce, mostly spam.
With her reputation in tatters, solo dates were off the table. She’d have to join group matchmaking events to rebuild her credibility through proper dates.
Shi Ye sighed. *"Alright, now I just need to know—when does Shi Yue show up?"*
Xu Youyuan smirked. *"You asked for all the details. Fine. Actually, your precious sister has already appeared. Can you guess who she was?"*
