"Ah...!"


    With a groan that felt heavier than it should, I woke up and rolled onto my side, pushing myself up into a sitting position. When I did, it felt like the room was spinning, so I paused briefly before returning to a perfectly seated position. Huff. I hugged my knees to rest my head there as I tried to gather myself after waking up.


    After a few moments, I became increasingly aware of what was around me. Then, my gaze noticed the digital clock on the wall.


    "[8:12 AM]?!"


    ''Damn. I missed the breakfast together.''


    And this was how it was when I had a "tough talk" with Father. It seemed like my cortisol levels, or what could be called the stress hormone, had increased throughout the chess game. When I slept, this stress finally subsided, so my body became "overwhelmed" and went to a much longer sleep to recover.


    But what was I stressed about? That might be the question. Clearly, it had to do with what he said: the past, the family relationships. Who wouldn''t experience inner tension with that kind of talk repeated, repeated over and over again? Well, maybe it was just me. Me and my thoughts.


    This was how hard it was to forget... or rather, couldn''t forget those conversations; my brain kept processing the emotions and memories even while I slept.


    ''Everything that should have been put in order ends up scattered into disarray...''


    Ah, but what could be done? Whatever happens happens; life is indeed packed with unexpected things, no matter how hard you try to control them. That was why I got so used to adjusting my approach and adapting to situations even if I disliked them; otherwise, I would have been dead.


    Just like this, instead of dwelling on another upside-down daily schedule, think of a way to re-energize.


    Eating, for example.


    I took a deep breath, preparing myself... alright, I stood up after having enough strength—Ack! A pain struck, but my hand quickly went up and grabbed my hair. Then, I paused to gently massage my head.


    After I managed to steady myself, a soft, familiar voice echoed through my room. "Chen Luo, welcome back. Food trays have been detected outside your room''s door since [07:45 AM]. Would you like assistance displaying the tray''s contents?"


    Oh? It must be from Mother, who, despite everything, always ensured I was taken care of. She had pretty much memorized my pattern; if I didn''t eat together, it meant I was either busy in my room or away.


    For the room system? The AI was already designed to assist and cater to my needs; there was no need to answer its question.


    Since I didn''t respond, the system proceeded by default to execute what had been suggested—describing the food. "The tray contains Grav tubers and steamed grown greens. For your hydration, Eclipse''s meat brew is included. Consume within the next hour for optimal nutritional benefits."


    ''Not bad.''


    My feet dragged towards the door, opened it, and found a tray nicely placed outside my room with each dish covered to keep it warm. This brought a slight improvement to my mood. I carefully bent down and picked up the food tray.


    Back in my room, I set the tray on the computer desk and plopped myself into my chair. The glow of the holographic screens on the wall dully lit the room, casting bluish patterns across the metallic desk surface. I lifted the first cover, and the sweet Grav tubers wafted throughout the room, mixed with the subtler earthy scent of the greens. The steam from the dishes curled upwards to dissipate swiftly in the cool, controlled air.


    But there was one thing that didn''t feel right to be there; a glass bottle with a label reading "Alprazolam" sitting beside a plate of Eclipse''s meat brew. Brand new and sealed. It was used to relax muscles, reduce nervous tension, and decrease the body''s response to stress without sedating the user. Huh. Even if it was a heavy sedative, it was useless. And just... why?


    ''This one must be from Dad.''


    He always did this, reminding me of things I didn''t want to remember anymore. Though I knew his intentions were good. But, sometimes, I couldn''t control my body and mind''s reaction to it. With a sigh, I rested my chin on my left hand while my right hand idly played with the bottle by spinning it around on the desk.


    This kinda dulled my appetite. Like, hey, medication wasn''t always the answer to a problem! Even if it was needed. Because... well... I was the one who ended up becoming numb to drugs.


    I stopped playing with the bottle and picked it up. With a decisive gesture, I turned towards one of the storage bins lining the wall and pointed at it.


    "Open."


    The room''s system complied—a small panel slid open to reveal the inside of the bin. I tossed the bottle into it, and a cacophony of glass clashed with another glass echoed back toward me. Maybe I should throw away all that trash; some must be expired.


    But later, and now, eat.


    At first, I was not onto it. But then, as I bit on my first bite, it exploded with a burst of taste in my mouth, and gradually, it really brought back my appetite again. Grav tubers were warm and sweet, contrasting nicely with the savory and slightly bitter-grown greens. While Eclipse''s meat brew, a dark, thick liquid was surprisingly refreshing, helping to wash down the meal.


    After finishing the meal, I cleaned up the empty plate, bowl, and glass at the corner of the table. I would bring them down later when I wanted to. For now... hmm, I really wanted an update. I know things seem to be "stuck" lately, but I really wanted to hear something from Guo Dai.


    He had always been someone I could count on when things went wrong (and there were other personal reasons why I chose him, actually). His quick wit and resourcefulness frequently made him appear immune to the chaos of our world. Yet, a part of me wondered—was even Guo Dai struggling? No. That was impossible. I shook the thought off and placed my hand on the biometric pad.


    Several holography screens then appeared; navigating the options, I selected the communication application and searched for one person. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 90%; border-color: rgba(35, 111, 161, 1); border-style: double" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.898%; text-align: center">Initiating contact with Guo Dai...</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The connection was longer than I expected.


    Usually, Guo Dai liked to answer my calls right away, even when he was in the toilet—Uhh. That one was pretty shocking for me; I prefer not to use a full-body projector to communicate with him after that. So, his not picking up my connection immediately was surprising. Was he not awake yet? At this hour? It made sense; he was a "nocturnal creature" who preferred staying up late rather than sleeping, then said, "Sleep is for the weak."


    Because there was no response from him for too long, the connection was cut off. I tried to contact him again. And, yeah, no answer again. I called again. Oh, he picked up this time!


    I could see his background showed dim lighting, only illuminated by the faint glow of multiple screens, likely from his base setup. The projection extended just enough to reveal part of his desk, cluttered with small tools and a mug. But his response...


    "What the fuck, dude?!"


    Wow!


    Guo Dai''s "angry" voice broke through the holographic display, looking disheveled and slightly annoyed with unkempt hair, a faint sweat on his forehead, complete it all: dark circles under his eye.


    He hadn''t left this spot for hours; that much was clear from the crumpled snack wrappers scattered near the edges of the display. And his own appearance? Clearly sleep-deprived.


    Still. How unusual for Guo Dai to snap at me like this... but not bad. Looks like he was being overwhelmed because his quickness to respond was heavily influenced by his current mental state. Moreover, he was a doer; if there was a problem, he would solve it directly. To hell with himself being tired. So, it was natural for his emotions to fluctuate.


    He might not be able to think clearly right now, too.


    So what brought him to this? Let''s look into it: a recent problem, he was still at his computer, finding something to be—Oh, I know.


    ''Maybe I can play with him for a bit.''


    I gave a mocking grin. "The all and mighty Guo Dai finally ran into a blind alley. My task was that hard, huh? You always said, ''I will give an update'' and things like ''still no update,'' and then? None."


    "Hard?" He scoffs, shaking his head. "Please, your task is a cakewalk. But why bother with it when I can enjoy the drama of your impatience? You know, watching you squirm is a change."


    ''Damn, counter attack!''


    But I wouldn''t eat it. "Squirm? Hardly. It is more about ensuring you are not slacking off. Or are you?"


    "Slacking? You wish!"


    "Then what is with the delay? Your efficiency is a part of why I chose you for this, after all."


    "Chill, will ya?" The holographic feed zipped slightly as though struggling to keep up with his head''s rapid, jerky movements. "I have got everything under control. Just multitasking here with more exciting stuff. No sweat."


    "Multitasking or getting distracted by more exciting stuff? There is a thin line there... at least for you, Guo Dai."


    "This exciting stuff is part of your task!"


    "So, finished breaking into the game servers of World: The Origin?"


    This time, his answer was not as instant as before. He paused until I thought our connection was lost, and the screen froze. Finally, he muttered, "Can''t."


    Leaning back on the chair, I folded my arms. "You are useless."


    Bam!


    "IT IS NOT THAT!!" The projection shook as Guo Dai slammed his desk until the mug bounced and spilled, but glad, there was almost no coffee left except for the thick residue.


    ''Oh, wow. Expected response?''


    Guo Dai had a weird tendency; besides liking challenges as long as they entertained him, he also yearned for my recognition. That was why he got so cocky when I was pleased with his job and would act like this when I judged him worthless. Now, he should be more focused and motivated, as his pride would compel him to prove himself.


    I knew this approach was rather harsh, and I might have hurt his feelings, but... it was a practical means to an end.


    For a moment, Guo Dai seemed to gather his thoughts; his posture was slightly slouched, and the movement of his tapping fingers on the desk was visible in the projection. His gaze darted off-screen as if seeking an escape or an answer hidden out of sight. Then, locking eyes with me through this digital communication.


    "Look," with a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly, "it is not that I can''t do it. Every backdoor I exploit closes before I can even get a foothold! And that is not even the worst part. There is—Arrghh!"


    And he groaned while ruffling his hair. Oh, well, he looked very frustrated. I knew pressing him further would only add to his stress, potentially muddying the waters of his explanation.


    Thus, I kept silent.


    "I think... I think it is learning from me? Every trick, every technique, it is like battling myself! Oh, but! Since facing myself, I know what to do. I could secure my way even only for a few seconds. But from there? It was a dead end! Nothing! This is the first time I have run into something like this!"


    It was unusual. Guo Dai wasn''t the type to admit defeat—he thrived on challenges, no matter how impossible. I began to think about what he said, touching my chin. "So you can''t enter their server because the guard is yourself. And when you got through, it turned out the path to the house was missing?"


    He snapped his fingers. "That! That!"


    How could that be possible? Maybe—Oh!


    "Private server?"


    "Seriously?!" Guo Dai was frozen there, but his expression showed shock as he gaped his mouth, his body leaning forward with his hands still holding the armrest. "Private server?"


    Yes, it was not only him who was surprised with what I said.


    I myself as well.