"This... is really lively." Mo Huai took a leisurely walk alone while looking around the street.

What comes into view is the more vibrant shopping street than before.

This is of course, because today happens to be August 2, 2014. It is the annual Chinese Valentine's Day festival, and even SAO is no exception. Businesses who love this kind of festival will naturally not miss this excellent business opportunity. They have already set off a wave of crazes on the shopping streets in full swing.

Open-air shops have been set up on both sides of the road, not only are there essential scenery poems such as octopus and fried noodles, but also a wide range of other products. Naturally, consumers are also struggling, making the entire shopping street buried by an astonishing number of tourists.

Mo Huai itself is not the kind of person who is excited about festivals, but he is eager for the prosperous scenery of this kind of shop. Although this will not change the price of goods, shop owners who are affected by the festive atmosphere will always carry out some promotional activities that are beneficial to consumers.

Although Alice's mouth has been fattened after returning to Asuna, her wallet was exploited by Alice, and she spent more than 100,000 in just a few days, making Mo Huai's heart hurt.

Thinking of this, Mo Huai couldn't help feeling a faint sadness at himself, who slowly exuded the temperament of a wealthy slave... But no matter how much he was entangled, it would be useless. Mo Huai sighed and expelled his depression, and then showed a calm face. I don't know how long this peace can last...

It is precisely because today is the Chinese Valentine's Day that Mo Huai was planning to give himself a day off.

But for some reason I received a letter, which reads:

"I would like to tell the boys and girls who are visiting the outside world that on this day, the system will enable the fantasy system for the players who receive the letter. You can create a world of your own according to your own ideas, and of course, your friends can also enter your fantasy world."

"Fantasy space?"

Looking down, I saw the extra fantasy space interface on the menu. Mo Huai did not hesitate to click on the fantasy space icon. Everything around me instantly turned into chaos. When I thought of a chair in my heart, a chair appeared in front of Mo Huai.

Looking at the chair, Mo Huai couldn't help but believe what the letter said and began to fantasize about all kinds of things filling the space.

The space was formed, and when Mo Huai looked back, it was the land where he was born. His hometown was systematically portrayed quite perfectly, and even the residents were portrayed vividly.

The system prompts [players Asuna, Celica, Alice enter the space.]

"?"

Mo Huai asked in confusion: "System, what's going on?"

But the system did not respond to him, just when Mo Huai was confused.

“Eh—?”

At the other end of the line of sight and on the other side of the street, Mo Huai discovered something disharmonious.

"Varied……"

At the same time, when the brain analyzed what it was, Mo Huai's whole body was stiff, as if frozen.

On the other side of the spacious crowds that linger on the shopping street.

Standing a girl in an all-white dress.

The long hair that hangs happily on the shoulders, slender limbs, and waterfall-like bangs cover the sky spirit cover on the face. The two eyes are vivid and charming, as well as delicate lips as cherry blossom petals. In such a beauty, it is filled with devilish cuteness that can stimulate male compassion to the extreme with just one eye interlacing.

But—not so.

The reason why Mo Huai was so shocked that he couldn't even move his fingertips in these few moments was not just because of the girl's cuteness.

"Lin Li..."

Mo Huai read out the girl's name in a trembling voice, and swallowed her saliva to save her thirsty throat.

——Lin Li.

The girl who once gave him the strength to live later disappeared without a trace. No matter how she looked for her, she could not even find her life and death. It can be said that the reason why Mo Huai did not want to live was because of Lin Li.

“…tsk.”

Mo Huai couldn't help but raise his hand and rub his eyes.

This may be just a psychological comfort, I hope I just read it wrong - this kind of slight expectation.

Afterwards, Mo Huai blinked and looked at the other side of the street again.

The black figure of the girl was gone there.

"What are you doing... I've read it wrong - why is Lin Li here?"

"That-Hello, where is this?"

“Wow!?”

Before Mo Huai could breathe a sigh of relief, the voice suddenly sounded from behind, causing his whole body to tremble violently.

Then, he quickly turned around and looked behind him, and the one standing there was indeed the girl who was standing across the street until a few seconds ago.

"Lin, Lin Li...!?"

"Hmm? My name is not Lin Li, my name is...what is my name?" As he said that, the little girl scratched her head in distress, as if she couldn't grasp anything.

Mo Huai forced himself to calm down his heartbeat, stared at the little girl who looked very much like Lin Li, and asked, "You, why are you in... such a place?"

The little man looked at Mo Huai's face and replied as if he was murmuring. "Of course it's for - come and meet Mo Huai."

"…!" Mo Huai couldn't help but hold his breath, and at the same time took a step back in surprise, but he quickly adjusted and asked, "Are you an NPC?"

"NPC? What's that?" the little girl asked.

Mo Huai was puzzled this time. This little girl didn’t know who she was or what NPC was. So what exactly was she?

"—Can I accompany me? Big brother?" The little girl pulled Mo Huai's hand and begged at the same time, saying this as if she was muttering.

"Ha..." Mo Huai couldn't help but widen his eyes at this unexpected invitation.

Who is she? What is her purpose? What is this fantasy space? But there will be answers to all this in the past today.

Mo Huai sorted out his thoughts in a flash, and finally nodded gently. "...Okay, I'll accompany you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the little girl's expression became cheerful. "Really?"

The little girl's joy was beyond words, as if a flower was blooming happily without any concealment. Mo Huai couldn't help but be surprised by this. Mo Huai silently recited in his heart... She is not Lin Li, she is not Lin Li.

"Haha, I'm so happy. Brother Mo Huai is really a gentle person." The little girl who looked very similar to Lin Li said excitedly, and reached out to wrap her arms around Mo Huai's arm.

"Wow! Lin, Lin Li!? You..." The sudden situation made Mo Huai scream, "Hey, I said, isn't this a bit too close to you..."

"Is that so? By the way, my name is Lin Li?" However, the little girl smiled at Mo Huai's panic look, and instead pressed her body more actively.

"No! You are not Lin Li!" Mo Huai said seriously.

"Brother hates me! Woo woo." The little girl actually started crying because of this.

Seeing this, Mo Huai felt an indescribable sense of guilt. He couldn't help but groan and frowned, "No, of course I don't hate you anymore. Forget it, just call Xiaolin Li..."

"Is that true? Haha, then let's go quickly."

So, Xiaolin Li took a step. Under the guidance of her petite body, Mo Huai also pushed and walked towards the lively streets halfway.

——It coincides with the Chinese Valentine's Day.

It was like a Cowherd and Weaver Girl who were blocked by the Milky Way at both ends of the sky.

Through the spacious streets, through the fine crowds—

The boy and the girl met.

After walking around for a day, night soon came, looking at the moving stars at night.

Mo Huai couldn't help but waver, but Xiaolin Li didn't care, showed a quiet smile, quietly overlapping his hands with Mo Huai's hands. The small palm was covered with soft and cold touch, and Mo Huai's heart couldn't help but tremble.

"Xiao, Xiaolin Li…?"

He wanted to ask a question, but Yiren's eyes had already returned to the starry sky.

Kobayashi Li ignored Mo Huai's shakenness and slowly opened his cherry lips.

"Hey—Brother Mo Huai."

"What, what..."

"The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are blocked by the Milky Way on both sides of the sky. They can only meet one day a year, right?"

“…Well, yes.”

"But if the Chinese Valentine's Day is cloudy and you can't see the Milky Way, you will lose even the opportunity once a year."

"Well... there are all kinds of explanations about this...but maybe it is true."

After listening to Mo Huai's words, Xiaolin Li took a shallow breath thoughtfully, and then continued. "If... just if... just if... I can't see the Milky Way... Then will the two of them continue to miss each other?"

"Hey..." Mo Huai couldn't help but tilt his head in response to this unpredictable question.

"Why would you ask this?"

"Time is gentler than anything. Players who once lived for fear of death and those who once committed suicide have never thought of the light and shadow of the present. Time is crueler than anything. Even if players struggle, maybe after the game, I dare not tell them what is wrong. When the only moment when they exist in the game and outside the game is constantly being deprived of fate, how long can they survive in their hearts?"

"It's indeed... a question that is difficult to answer." Mo Huai said as he looked puzzled. And to be honest, there is no definite answer to such questions, and this doesn't seem to be a question that players should worry about.

However, Xiaolin Li looked at Mo Huai without any concessions, as if waiting for Mo Huai to give her an answer. Her serious eyes made Mo Huai feel timid.

"Uh-…Kobayashi Ri?"

"Um."

"I am not a gamer and I have no bond with anyone. I hope you will only regard it as my personal opinion."

"OK."

"Probably, the bond will never be broken."
To be continued...