"Huh? She's already out?" Shi Ye, as expected, failed to guess correctly.
Xu Youyuan scoffed in response.
To restore her account’s credibility score, Xu Youyuan signed up for Dark Box’s weekly large-scale matchmaking event held every Saturday. As the name suggested, this wasn’t a one-on-one affair, nor did it require matching based on hobbies—just show up at the designated scene and start mingling on the spot.
Xu Youyuan had initially considered dressing up for the occasion. There was a newly released vampire-themed outfit she quite liked—a tight-fitting suit with a deep V-neck, blood-red eyes, and little fangs that looked like they’d hurt when biting. Exactly the kind of edgy aesthetic she would’ve adored in her teenage years.
Unfortunately, after recently compensating for a hefty loss, she could barely afford meals, let alone splurge on virtual outfits.
Right now, she had no business spending money in-game.
So, Xu Youyuan resigned herself to attending the event in her most basic, unadorned attire, hoping to stumble upon an angel who valued substance over style.
Admittedly, Dark Box’s designers had some creative flair. The setting for this grand matchmaking event? The *Titanic*.
Whether in the last century or forty years later, that film remained a timeless classic in romance. Standing at the harbor, watching elegantly dressed men and women board the majestic ship, Xu Youyuan felt her heart surge as three massive foghorns blared in unison.
She was beginning to understand Dark Box’s appeal. It wasn’t just some third-rate app for hookups—it offered a full spectrum of entertainment, highbrow or lowbrow, depending entirely on how the user engaged with it.
As expected, everyone at the event had donned their most expensive, cutting-edge outfits to stand out. A quick glance confirmed that the place was packed with high-spending players.
Xu Youyuan, the frugal player who couldn’t afford flashy outfits or a first-class ticket, had to take the lower passageway to third class. Thankfully, unlike in the film, there was no mandatory health inspection—just a staff member at the entrance cheerfully checking tickets. Everything else, however, was a meticulous recreation of the movie’s setting.
The moment she boarded, a commotion erupted behind her. Turning, she saw the male lead making his entrance.
While the crowd buzzed with excitement, the actor remained perfectly composed, sticking to his script with effortless charisma.
Soon after, a system announcement proclaimed that the *Titanic* was about to set sail, and the grand matchmaking journey would officially begin.
As the ship smoothly departed the harbor, Xu Youyuan stepped onto the deck and gazed down at the shimmering waves. Dolphins leaped alongside the ship, chasing its wake. The sea breeze brushed against her skin, filling her with a mix of relaxation and exhilaration. Closing her eyes, she mimicked the film’s iconic scene, spreading her arms wide—truly feeling like she was about to take flight.
Just as the thrill of weightlessness began to take hold, something tightened around her waist. A pair of arms yanked her backward.
Startled, Xu Youyuan whipped her head around. The person holding her was a woman dressed in a white shirt and brown suspenders, her golden hair slicked back in an immaculate part. Xu Youyuan recognized it instantly—the male lead’s classic look, a popular outfit for matchmaking events.
A quick glance at the username floating above her head: "Wizard DL." Xu Youyuan didn’t know this person—not a past date, not even a friend on her list.
"Let go of me!" Xu Youyuan snapped.
To her fury, the stranger didn’t release her. If anything, the arms around her waist tightened, as if oblivious to the inappropriateness of the act.
Being interrupted was bad enough, but now it felt like outright harassment. The sensory chips made every touch unnervingly real.
Xu Youyuan drove a sharp elbow toward the woman’s temple, finally forcing her to loosen her grip.
Wrenching herself free, Xu Youyuan didn’t let panic show—only cold, wary scrutiny. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Wizard DL wore an expression like someone who’d just watched their long-awaited steak flip off the spatula and onto the floor—disappointed, exasperated. She threw up her hands. "Weren’t you trying to relive the movie’s iconic moment? Standing there all alone looked pathetic. I was just playing the male lead for you. Ungrateful *and* violent."
Xu Youyuan nearly laughed in disbelief. "Did I *ask* for your help? Back the hell off!"
After thirty, she’d made a conscious effort to suppress her temper—murder was illegal, after all. But a younger, more impulsive version of herself would’ve ripped out a chunk of this woman’s hair by now.
Wizard DL eyed her with a raised eyebrow, shaking her head like Xu Youyuan was some relic from another era. She retreated slowly, tossing one last taunt before vanishing: "If you can’t handle it, maybe Dark Box isn’t for you."
Xu Youyuan inhaled deeply. *Don’t rage. Don’t give her the satisfaction.*
Soon, the matchmaking event officially began. A system announcement summoned all participants to the deck.
Matchmaking hadn’t changed much in thirty years—whether then or now, it was fundamentally the same. The only difference was that back then, people actually met face-to-face, talked about cars and houses. Now? As long as someone’s digital avatar was attractive, no one cared about the real world. Everything happened online.
True to form, the event followed the standard script: pairs were given ten minutes to chat, exchange basic introductions, and list their interests. If both selected "interested," they could proceed to a private scenario. Everyone else recycled into the next round.
Xu Youyuan had assumed she could at least fake her way through a few sessions to bump up her credibility score. But seated across from a stunningly handsome (and equally alluring) match, her mind kept wandering. Her replies were half-hearted, her thoughts scattered.
This wasn’t right, and she knew it.
What she loved was exploring the app’s mechanics, immersing herself in the virtual world’s realism, chasing sensory thrills and adventurous exploits. Not sitting here like some product on an assembly line, being probed by strangers trying to dissect her.
Wizard DL was seated diagonally across from her. While her current date’s face was a blur, the mocking smirk on Wizard DL’s lips was crystal clear.
Even this creep could tell she was miserable.
Maybe trying to rediscover romance in Dark Box had been a mistake from the start.
"So," her match suddenly raised their voice, snapping Xu Youyuan back to attention, "what do you enjoy?"
Xu Youyuan’s pulse jumped as she finally got a proper look at their face.
They were a hundred times more attractive than her first glance had suggested.
Heavy smoky makeup framed a pair of bright, crimson-green eyes, while shoulder-length hair was swept back to confidently showcase flawless features.
Even as a digital avatar, every contour of her face and choice of attire unmistakably reflected real personal taste—she wore the very vampire lady outfit Xu Youyuan had once considered splurging on but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to buy! When she spoke, a glimpse of sharp fangs flashed behind blood-red lips, perfectly complementing her bewitching, seductive, and faintly eerie aura.
Even her low, magnetic voice and unhurried speech were exactly Xu Youyuan’s type.
At Xu Youyuan’s age, neither distraction nor attraction could easily surface for others to catch. Her gaze lingered briefly on the woman’s face before she looked away and replied:
“I like many things, but games are my favorite.”
“Games? Online ones?” The woman picked up a glass of red wine, downing it like blood.
“Yes.”
“Which one’s your favorite?” Before Xu Youyuan could answer, the woman playfully supplied, “*Reshaping the Universe*?”
As the creator of *Reshaping the Universe*, Xu Youyuan held undeniable pride in her masterpiece and gladly acknowledged, “Who doesn’t love it? It’s the most successful VR game, after all.”
“True. I’ve been a veteran player myself—a regular on the Hall of Fame,” the woman said. “You must be too.”
Xu Youyuan instantly recognized the trap. Sure enough, the next question followed:
“What’s your in-game ID? I know all the top veteran players.”
Xu Youyuan chuckled. “Impossible. The game has over a billion active users globally.”
“I know, but the Hall of Fame’s been cycling the same names for five years.”
Xu Youyuan *was* in the Hall of Fame, her personal account perennially ranked in the top three. If this woman truly belonged there, Xu Youyuan would’ve recognized her.
“I don’t spend on in-game purchases—just play for fun. Never made it to the Hall,” Xu Youyuan deflected with a smile.
The woman didn’t press, shifting topics casually. “So you actually enjoy thrills, then.”
“Hm? How so?”
“Even knowing it’s virtual, no one dares to actually stand there, arms wide open.” She pointed at the railing where Xu Youyuan had earlier clashed with the wizard DL.
Xu Youyuan conceded, “I suppose so.”
“What a coincidence. So do I.”
*Here we go*, Xu Youyuan thought. *I get it—you’re bold, you love excitement. Until the slightest turbulence makes you log off instantly or puke all over my ride, then leave me a one-star review.*
She lowered her head, amused, as the woman asked, “Have you seen this movie?”
“Which one? *Titanic*?”
“Mm. Familiar with it? I wasn’t even born when it released—seems you’re much older. Respects, *auntie*.”
Xu Youyuan sputtered, “*What*? I wasn’t born then either, okay?”
“Just teasing. You’re so easy to rile up—not an auntie, more like a loli. Still in middle school this year?”
Xu Youyuan found the immaturity laughable and ignored the bait.
The ten-minute timer ticked down, the system now warning of the final two minutes.
Xu Youyuan decided to waste them on the scenery.
“How about a bet?” The woman’s voice dripped with leisurely provocation.
Xu Youyuan didn’t bite, merely waiting with polite patience.
“I bet that in ten minutes, you’ll choose me. Follow me into my date scenario—a randomly generated adventure tailored to my tastes, so thrilling you’ll never want to leave.”
Xu Youyuan smirked. “Oh?”
“Taking the bet?”
“First, tell me which movie you’d pick for the date setting.”
“Where’s the fun in spoilers?” The woman grinned. “I’ll pick something unforgettable. If you dare.”
Xu Youyuan had mastered reverse psychology before this woman was born, yet the proposal did pique her interest—a whiff of novelty and anticipation hung in the air.
Only then did she check the vampire’s username:
**Plasma Flower Cream Cake**.
Why did that name sound familiar?
