In 2034, at Anding Hospital in Hai City, Zhongzhou Country.
"The Criminal Files game is announcing the beta test slots now."
"Did you get selected for the beta?"
"How could I? Only eight thousand people across all continents were chosen. The odds are even smaller than winning the lottery."
Two nurses were chatting as they went about their duties—one measuring a patient's temperature, the other handing a glass of water to a patient lying in bed. They were discussing the latest sensation: a game that had been dominating the top spots on every platform in terms of popularity and discussion.
As the first fully immersive, real-life simulation game ever developed and released for testing, the announcement of the beta test for Criminal Files, a holographic game, had instantly captured the attention of countless people.
Star Ring Company claimed that the game offered the most realistic tactile, auditory, olfactory, and visual experiences.
The game's slogan was: "This is a second world that truly exists."
Thus, when the beta test slots opened for registration, the number of applicants across the continents quickly reached an astonishing 500 million.
The two nurses, out of curiosity, had also signed up, though they held no hope of actually getting a slot.
One nurse checked the color and quantity of the pills, confirming they were correct, before picking up the glass of water and handing it to the patient in bed.
Pale, almost bloodless, slender fingers gripped the glass, while the other hand took the medication. The patient slowly placed one pill in her mouth, raised the glass to swallow it, and then repeated the process.
Jet-black hair cascaded down the woman's back like ink, and her hospital gown bore the name and logo of Anding Hospital.
The nurse watched as the slender neck moved slightly, then shifted her gaze to the girl's face.
Even though she had seen it over a hundred times, she couldn't help but marvel at the girl's beauty—her features so exquisite, as if meticulously crafted by the goddess Nuwa herself.
Only after the girl had swallowed all the medication did the nurse reach out to take the glass, then left the room with her colleague.
Through the crack in the door, their voices could still be heard, tinged with regret.
"Such a beautiful person... how could she be sick?"
Outside the window, a light drizzle fell, washing the newly sprouted green leaves clean. The sight was refreshing to the soul.
"Buzz... buzz..."
The vibration of a phone message snapped Ye Sangsang out of her reverie. She reached out and picked up the phone from the gray cabinet.
Criminal Files Game Official: "Dear player, as a registered beta user, you have been selected for the beta test of the holographic game Criminal Files. Please click on the link in this message to complete your registration. We will send you the necessary holographic gaming equipment within three working days, free of charge."
Criminal Files Game Official: "We apologize for the disturbance. If you wish to decline, please reply directly to this message."
She stared at the text, recalling the conversation the nurses had about the Criminal Files beta slots.
Or perhaps it was a scam.
She didn't remember applying for the beta test.
Ye Sangsang set the phone aside, ignoring the message.
Life in the hospital was inevitably dull. At nine o'clock sharp, the caretaker arrived, carrying Ye Sangsang to the bathroom to help her wash up, then placing her in a wheelchair.
Sitting in the wheelchair, she watched as the silent caretaker tidied the bed, then placed the meal from the hospital cafeteria on the table.
Finally, the caretaker arranged the chamomile flowers by the window, placing them in a vase before leaving.
Ye Sangsang maneuvered her electric wheelchair forward, stopping perfectly in front of the table. She picked up her chopsticks and began eating the bland bun.
After finishing, she moved to the sitting area to watch TV.
The lively noise from the television instantly filled the quiet room, but Ye Sangsang's dark eyes remained calm and indifferent.
She had been here for three months and fifteen days, and she was already familiar with everything.
She didn't change the channel, and after a while, she heard a familiar term.
"Breaking news: The holographic game Criminal Files has begun its beta test, and the slots have been distributed. While the game is thrilling, we urge everyone to approach it rationally... Lastly, we remind the public to be cautious of scams and other related issues..."
This was the fifth time today that Ye Sangsang had seen or heard the words "Criminal Files." A spark of interest flickered in her heart.
When the game officially launches, maybe I'll give this so-called holographic game a try.
Judging by the name, it should be somewhat thrilling.
"Ding ling ling... Ding ling ling..."
At that moment, the phone by her side rang.
She waited until the news segment ended before picking up the phone and glancing at the caller ID. Recognizing who it was, she set the phone down without answering.
But the caller was persistent. When she didn't answer, they called again.
After a moment's thought, Ye Sangsang answered the call.
"Ye Sangsang, how dare you ignore my calls! Do you believe me if I tell the doctor to intensify your treatment?"
A domineering voice came through the speaker.
As expected, Ye Sangsang remained silent, knowing that the person would eventually get to the point.
Just as she anticipated, the caller, hearing her silence, paused before continuing.
"I checked your ID, and it shows you were selected for the Criminal Files beta test. Let me tell you, this isn't something you deserve. As soon as you receive the beta equipment, hand it over to me immediately. Otherwise, I'll tell Dad that your condition has worsened, and you're trying to escape the hospital to kill me."
The male voice, still in the midst of puberty, was hoarse, and his tone was full of confidence, as if certain that Ye Sangsang would yield to his threats.
Ye Sangsang recalled the text message she had received an hour ago. So, this person had used her identity to register for the beta slot.
The message wasn't a scam after all—she had indeed been selected.
She opened her mouth and replied, "I declined."
Her words were concise, perfectly designed to provoke.
The other end of the line erupted with heavy breathing, followed by a surge of anger. "Ye Sangsang! You bitch! How dare you... That was my slot, not yours! How could you decline!"
In the background, the sound of objects being thrown could be heard.
A faint smile tugged at Ye Sangsang's lips as she added, "I didn't know. If you had told me earlier, I might have saved it for you."
"You did this on purpose! You knew I wanted that slot, and you deliberately declined it as soon as you got it!" The voice trembled with rage.
Ye Sangsang's eyes flickered, and after a pause, she said softly, "Well, it's too late now. I've already declined."
With that, she hung up.
The caller, however, was not ready to give up. They called again and again.
Ye Sangsang simply muted the phone and, seeing that it was time for her outdoor break, maneuvered her wheelchair outside.
Along the way, she encountered fellow patients who greeted her warmly. Having lived together for so long, they were all quite familiar with one another.
Even though Ye Sangsang didn't respond, it didn't stop them from enthusiastically saying hello.
The rain had stopped, and the air carried a fresh, post-rain scent, mingled with the faint odor of decay.
Nurses carrying medicine trays saw her and quickly walked around her, neither stopping nor attempting to chat.
She sat in the stone pavilion in the garden, her gaze drifting over the high walls of Anding Hospital, "looking" toward the unknown world beyond.
After some time, she maneuvered her wheelchair back inside.
The caretaker, as silent as ever, had already prepared lunch, placing it on the table like an emotionless robot—though Ye Sangsang had heard her speak before.
Unbothered, Ye Sangsang obediently ate her meal.
After the caretaker left, she stared at the silver fork in her hand. The stainless steel reflected the white light of the sitting room, gleaming brightly.
After three seconds, she calmly set the fork down and maneuvered her wheelchair back to her private room.
A short while later, the caretaker returned, the clattering of dishes echoing through the room.
Ye Sangsang looked up at the lush green leaves outside the window, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Once the caretaker was gone, she picked up her phone and clicked on the link provided in the Criminal Files message.
The phone screen transitioned to a dark-themed website adorned with patterns of swords, roses, and scales. A black pop-up box appeared.
"Dear player, welcome to the Star Ring official website."
"Detecting that you are a Criminal Files beta tester, please complete facial recognition verification. Follow the on-screen instructions."
Ye Sangsang followed the prompts, lifting her head, shaking it, and blinking as instructed.
Once the verification was complete, the top right corner of the website displayed a message: "Ye Sangsang, you have successfully logged in. Welcome to the fully immersive simulation game Criminal Files."
【We have detected that your address is incomplete. Please fill in your address in the pop-up box, and we will deliver the holographic device to your location free of charge.】
Above the prompt was a location feature, and she chose to use it.
After confirming that the address was correct, Ye Sangsang looked at the page in front of her.
It was an introduction to Star Ring Company, a gaming company. As the homepage automatically scrolled, the description of the holographic game *Criminal Files* appeared.
As the name suggested, this was a game based on real criminal cases, simulating a world for players to immerse themselves in and experience.
All the crimes featured in the game were based on real cases.
There were various types and forms of criminal cases available. Players could choose any of them and dive into a fully immersive role-playing experience.
For the beta testing phase, to identify bugs and enhance player enjoyment, the game randomly assigned identity cards to players.
For example: criminal, investigator, or victim.
There were also character profiles and physical stats panels to help players fully immerse themselves in the experience.
The accompanying visuals were indistinguishable from reality.
“This is a truly existing second world.”
If Star Ring’s slogan matched what was displayed in the holographic device, then the slogan was well-deserved.
As she looked at the images on the screen, a hint of anticipation appeared on Ye Sangsang’s face.
Ye Zhe, that annoying person, had finally done something good for once.
