Ch 26: My Disabled Virtual Lover’s Healing Diary

Qian Yuan had originally planned to just grab a quick lunch and then hop back online to accompany Cub to school. But halfway through cooking, her guild leader, Cherry, suddenly pinged her in a private message: their squad had stumbled upon a rare field boss, and she needed to hurry over and grab a party slot.

These rare bosses always dropped guaranteed-quality gear that sold well on the market. And if luck was on her side, she might even land an SSS weapon worth thousands. She was immediately tempted, but thinking about Cub waiting in the game made her hesitate.

The penguin icon kept flashing. After a brief struggle, she turned off the stove, rushed into her bedroom, put on her headset, told Cub quickly, and logged out. She even set her phone off silent, placing it nearby, afraid she’d miss any notifications from the Cub Raising APP.

The boss fight proved as hard as its rarity implied, and several random squads tried to steal it. By the time it was over, it was nearly evening.

The noodles in her pot were ruined. Embarrassed, Qian Yuan ended up eating a simple meal of steamed buns and milk before logging back in.

Cub was quietly seated in the corner of the classroom. The mechanical parts had already been put away in the bag hanging from his wheelchair. His head was bowed, lost in thought. When Qian Yuan reappeared, he didn’t even lift his head.

She bent down for a look and realized his eyes weren’t focusing on anything.

…Why wasn’t Cub wearing those lens-like interstellar devices anymore?

Just as doubt rose, she noticed his mood seemed off. She tilted her game avatar’s head, opened the diary, and angrily prepared to see who had bullied him again.

【Cen Han talked with Zhang San.】
【Cen Han received: 1 Mechanical Toolbox, 1 Mechanical Parts Box, 3 Damaged Machines.】
【Cen Han had Zhang San deliver fruit wine.】
【Cen Han returned to class.】
【Cen Han heard the player’s words and felt disappointed.】
【Cen Han didn’t listen in class.】

“…Eh, maybe that’s my fault?”

Qian Yuan felt a little guilty, not realizing Cub had tilted his head slightly toward her. She quickly opened the function menu to do the daily check-in and gacha.

【Congratulations! Daily sign-in successful. You received 1 Gacha Coin, 10 Interstellar Coins!】
【Congratulations! You received Electric Wheelchair x1!】
【Due to the item’s size, Robot A09 will deliver it to your designated location. Current option: Slum Shack.】

—An electric wheelchair!!

Her eyes went wide, caught off guard by the sudden stroke of luck.

Cub’s current wheelchair was manual, requiring him to push the rims himself. Qian Yuan didn’t know much about wheelchairs, but she understood this wasn’t convenient—using it required strength, and Cub was so small, he couldn’t have much.

Unfortunately, the system didn’t allow her to deliver the chair directly to school. She selected the only available location and confirmed. Excited, she poked Cub’s cheek.

【Cub, I’m back!】
【I got you a little present. Hehe, we’ll see it when we go home.】

…She gave me another gift.

The electronic voice was calm, but because he had so recently heard her crisp, lively girl’s voice, Cen Han picked up a hint of excitement in it.

Bittersweet joy welled up together. His fingers curled slightly, and once again, that forbidden thought burst forth.

She just said, “we’ll go home.”

The delusion sprouted again, fiercer than last time, almost fully formed in an instant.

Darkness surrounded him, but his touch and thoughts sharpened. Even if her bright face showed hesitation now, he wouldn’t know.

That realization gave him courage. His throat bobbed, voice hoarse, carrying both hope and fear as he whispered.

“I want to give you a gift too.”

The boy turned his head slightly, sightless pupils wide, lashes trembling nervously. “Would you… be willing…”

If you had a room of your own, a place to rest—would you stay, stay with me?

“—Cen Han!”

A man’s voice suddenly cut through, halting his words.

The Modern Imperial History teacher had stepped onto the podium. Without even glancing his way, he pulled up materials on his tablet and said casually, “What are you mumbling to the wall for? Get out.”

Class hadn’t even properly started yet; the room was still noisy. Cen Han’s voice had been quiet, at most his lips moving. But only his name was called out, and he was mercilessly told to leave.

Several gazes turned his way.

This scene had played out countless times before. The audience never tired of it, and Cen Han had never cared.

Except this time.

His jawline visibly tensed, like his teeth were clenched. His pupils darkened to pitch black.

Beside him, the little ghost shot up from her chair, the chair legs scraping loudly against the floor. The sharp sound was unpleasant, but to him it felt like a cool stream on burning fire. His rigid body slowly relaxed, sinking back into silence. Quietly, he rolled his chair out of the classroom.

Today’s hallway wind was not as biting as before. The little ghost chased after him, crouching by his knees, patting his hand comfortingly. The mechanical voice sounded again and again.

【Cub, what’s with that teacher! I’m so mad—does he always treat you badly like this?】
【Ugh, I’m writing his name in my death note!】

Then, regretfully:

【I never thought just talking with me outside would cause this…】

His fingers unconsciously rubbed at the cracked skin of his other hand.

…She treats me so well, he thought.

The dangerous thought had been interrupted twice now. Finally, calm returned. Rationality pulled him apart from emotion, watching himself coldly from above.

He had nothing, could offer nothing back. He hid so much from her, didn’t even dare show her his truest self.

What right did he have to ask her to stay?

Closing his eyes, he breathed out, as if settling on a decision.

The hall was empty, classroom doors shut. Sitting in his wheelchair, he suddenly spoke.

“…I am Cen Xiaoyuan’s son.”

No response.

“Cen Xiaoyuan,” he repeated softly, as though afraid to shatter a dream.

“Born to a military family, both parents soldiers. At a young age, he was already an Imperial commander, trusted deeply by the Emperor.”

“…Three winters ago, his docked starship outside Capital Star’s civilian zone suddenly opened fire on the planet, then self-destructed. Investigators found traces of treason at his residence, with his fingerprints.”

“That sudden assault bathed Capital Star in radiation, destroying another zero-radiation planet of New Moon. The Imperial Central Research Institute declared Cen Xiaoyuan had destroyed the heart of the Empire—”

The touch on his hand suddenly vanished. Cen Han froze mid-sentence. His fingers twitched nervously. Terror surged into his chest.

All rational analysis, all carefully detached words crumbled like ash. He regretted it instantly. His lips moved. “I—”

Then, he went rigid, like a doll whose key had been pulled.

Qian Yuan straightened, grabbed Cub’s chubby face, and pulled his cheeks apart fiercely.

The fragile fear from a moment ago vanished into silly distortion. Still unsatisfied, she angrily checked the diary.

When Cub first mentioned “Cen Xiaoyuan,” she had already sensed something off and quickly peeked into her “cheat sheet”—the diary. At first, it simply said 【Cen Han made an important statement.】 She almost laughed.

But the next entries changed tone completely:

【Cen Han is anxious.】
【Cen Han fears the player will abandon him.】
【Cen Han feels despair.】
【Cen Han regrets speaking.】
【Cen Han believes the player will abandon him.】

“What the heck is this!”

Unable to type, she muttered aloud, “Would I stop wanting you just for that? None of this is your fault!”

He was such a cute cub—sensible, caring, willing to give her all his hard-earned savings, even wanting to gift her something back!

How could he possibly think she’d cast him aside? Were game cubs this competitive now?

His cheeks burned red. Qian Yuan finally released him with a sigh. “Cub, you really have no…”

No confidence in yourself!

The words stuck as her eyes widened.

In his wheelchair, the boy hastily turned away, the glint of tears swallowed by his dark hair. The diary, however, recorded clearly in black and white.

Qian Yuan’s heart softened.

She felt a pang of tenderness. With his background, his hardships, his lack of security… it was only natural.

But she hadn’t realized how much fear he carried.