Chapter 1: Do you want to play a game? But before we begin, let's start with something more thrilling, like a lobotomy.
"You call yourself a comedian, yet why do you always wear a gloomy face? You need to perk up!" In the outskirts of Xinhu City, in a second-hand store called "Next Life," an old man was comforting the store's only customer.
"Our whole family loves watching your shows. We are all your fans. If we don't watch your program during our meals, the food just doesn't taste as good," the old man rambled on. After a while, the young man standing in the corner of the store finally turned around slowly.
He appeared to be in his twenties, dressed casually with messy hair. He wasn't particularly handsome, but there was an indescribable melancholy about him. "The show I was involved in has already been cancelled. I was dismissed by the company three days ago," he said.
"It's alright. Your acting skills are so good, you can always go to the set ourselves and find work," the store owner said enthusiastically. However, the young man just shook his head upon hearing this, choosing not to continue discussing the topic. "Boss, I've basically played all the second-hand games you have here. Have any new games arrived recently?"
"We do have some, but given your current situation, I suggest you avoid playing games that are too intense or violent," the store owner said, moving a black box from the bottom of the counter. The material of the box was unknown, as it was exceptionally heavy. "Have you ever tried a healing game before?"
"A healing games?" the young man questioned.
"Yes, those are the kinds of games with heartwarming visuals, soothing music, and heartwarming storylines that can bring a smile to your face. They capture the beautiful moments of life and provide positive energy," the store owner explained, opening the black box, and taking out a slightly worn second-hand gaming headset. "As technology advances, the feeling of happiness and joy seems to be diminishing. Nowadays, young people face various pressures. A good healing game can help relax your nerves and warm your body and mind. I think you should give it a try."
After hesitating for a while, the young man finally nodded and accepted the gaming headset from the store owner. "Boss, what's the name of this game?" he asked.
"It's called 'Perfect Life.'"
After paying, Han Fei put on a mask and lowered his hat before leaving the second-hand store with the gaming headset. His actions were not driven by the fear of being recognized; he simply preferred to avoid contact with others.
Back in his rented apartment, Han Fei gradually relaxed. He turned on the television and randomly tuned into a channel before entering the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face.
Since graduating from Xinhu Film and Television Academy, he had worked tirelessly every day, aspiring to become a comedian who could bring laughter to everyone.
However, sometimes hard work doesn't always yield results. Without any connections or background, he worked relentlessly, starting from behind the scenes and eventually getting a chance to step into the spotlight. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, he was marginalized and eventually dismissed from the company.
Water droplets trickled down his cheeks as Han Fei looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hooked his hands around the corners of his mouth, trying to force a smile.
Every day, he tried to make others laugh, but one day, he realized he couldn't muster a genuine smile anymore.
Letting out a gentle sigh, Han Fei tore down a few pieces of paper that were stuck above the mirror. Those scraps of paper were covered in densely written sentences, all saying the same thing: "The best actor is the one who lives within you."
Leaving the bathroom, Han Fei approached the desk, eyeing the gaming headset placed on it.
He had heard about Perfect Life long ago. It was rumoured to be a deep immersive virtual reality game jointly developed by Deep Space Technology and Eternal Pharmaceuticals. It claimed to be the world's first game that simulated real touch, taste, and smell, touted as the ultimate form of gaming. In theory, if a player had no material pursuits, they could even live inside the game indefinitely.
It sounded intimidating, but with the backing of the two technology giants, Deep Space Technology and Eternal Pharmaceuticals, even the most astonishing things could become reality. After all, with the advent of the AI revolution and the biotech revolution, these two tech giants had already created numerous miracles.
This game had sparked heated discussions during its development phase. Deep Space Technology was a giant in the aerospace, artificial intelligence, and communications industries, dedicated to cutting-edge technological research for space colonization. On the other hand, Eternal Pharmaceuticals was a behemoth in the fields of biogenetic technology and human neural engineering, aiming to unravel the ultimate secrets of life.
The fact that two international top-tier companies with no apparent connection to the gaming industry were willing to invest a significant number of resources into developing a game puzzled many industry insiders.
Opinions on Perfect Life varied widely on the internet. Some believed the game focused on a heartwarming and healing experience, allowing players to simulate various aspects of life. It was seen as an artificially created paradise, where players could obtain everything, they desired and achieve all their dreams.
Others argued that this adult-oriented game had little moral or ethical boundaries, with various deep gameplay mechanics that could completely erode human nature.
In fact, since the first test of Perfect Life, judicial and moral development-related departments had already established a presence in Deep Space Technology.
While other games conducted closed beta tests with experienced players and professional reviewers, most testers for this game were government personnel from relevant departments.
Just from this aspect alone, one could discern the extraordinary nature of this game.
This was Han Fei's first time attempting to play a deep immersive virtual reality game. To be safe, he decided to search the internet for information related to Perfect Life.
Under the participation and regulation of relevant departments, Perfect Life had undergone five closed beta tests, with three major revisions. Tonight, at midnight, Perfect Life would undergo its sixth closed beta test. If everything went smoothly, this test would also be the final one before the game's official release.
"How did the owner of the second-hand store manage to acquire the gaming headset when the game hasn't even been officially released? Does he have some internal channels? Moreover, I read online that Perfect Life hasn't released the gaming headset themselves; they developed something called the Space Game Warehouse, which costs twenty times the price of a regular gaming headset."
After much contemplation, Han Fei began to suspect that he might have been deceived. Perhaps the game included with this headset was just a counterfeit version with the same name as Perfect Life.
However, since he had already purchased it, Han Fei believed it was better to give it a try.
He connected all the necessary cables, and once he saw the indicator lights turn on, he put the gaming headset on his head.
His vision was obscured, and darkness enveloped everything. Han Fei felt as if he had been thrown into a vast black ocean.
He couldn't see anything, but he could still hear the news broadcast on the television.
"Breaking news on December 31st, the construction of the Xinhu Smart City is entering its final stages. The emergence of a fully automated, interconnected intelligent city will become a monument in human history."
"Breaking news on December 31st, antitrust investigations on Deep Space Technology have been launched by multiple countries."
"Breaking news on December 31st, in order to safeguard the well-being of its citizens, the government of our country has decided to increase investments in education and technology, unlocking more high-tech industries and cultivating more high-quality talents."
"Breaking news on December 31st, a severe fire broke out in the Antique Street of Xinhu's outer city, resulting in the destruction of several second-hand stores. The possibility of arson has not been ruled out."
The voices in his ears grew fainter. In one moment, Han Fei's world suddenly turned blood-red.
Strange sounds began to emanate from inside the gaming headset, causing Han Fei to instinctively feel uneasy. He was about to remove the headset when a sharp pain shot through the back of his head, as if a steel needle had pierced his skull and delivered something deep into his brain.
"Organic entity upload successful, memory module uploads successful, neural connection established, primary administrator account activated, permission code 0000."
"Our whole family loves watching your shows. We are all your fans. If we don't watch your program during our meals, the food just doesn't taste as good," the old man rambled on. After a while, the young man standing in the corner of the store finally turned around slowly.
He appeared to be in his twenties, dressed casually with messy hair. He wasn't particularly handsome, but there was an indescribable melancholy about him. "The show I was involved in has already been cancelled. I was dismissed by the company three days ago," he said.
"It's alright. Your acting skills are so good, you can always go to the set ourselves and find work," the store owner said enthusiastically. However, the young man just shook his head upon hearing this, choosing not to continue discussing the topic. "Boss, I've basically played all the second-hand games you have here. Have any new games arrived recently?"
"We do have some, but given your current situation, I suggest you avoid playing games that are too intense or violent," the store owner said, moving a black box from the bottom of the counter. The material of the box was unknown, as it was exceptionally heavy. "Have you ever tried a healing game before?"
"A healing games?" the young man questioned.
"Yes, those are the kinds of games with heartwarming visuals, soothing music, and heartwarming storylines that can bring a smile to your face. They capture the beautiful moments of life and provide positive energy," the store owner explained, opening the black box, and taking out a slightly worn second-hand gaming headset. "As technology advances, the feeling of happiness and joy seems to be diminishing. Nowadays, young people face various pressures. A good healing game can help relax your nerves and warm your body and mind. I think you should give it a try."
After hesitating for a while, the young man finally nodded and accepted the gaming headset from the store owner. "Boss, what's the name of this game?" he asked.
"It's called 'Perfect Life.'"
After paying, Han Fei put on a mask and lowered his hat before leaving the second-hand store with the gaming headset. His actions were not driven by the fear of being recognized; he simply preferred to avoid contact with others.
Back in his rented apartment, Han Fei gradually relaxed. He turned on the television and randomly tuned into a channel before entering the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face.
Since graduating from Xinhu Film and Television Academy, he had worked tirelessly every day, aspiring to become a comedian who could bring laughter to everyone.
However, sometimes hard work doesn't always yield results. Without any connections or background, he worked relentlessly, starting from behind the scenes and eventually getting a chance to step into the spotlight. Unfortunately, due to certain circumstances, he was marginalized and eventually dismissed from the company.
Water droplets trickled down his cheeks as Han Fei looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hooked his hands around the corners of his mouth, trying to force a smile.
Every day, he tried to make others laugh, but one day, he realized he couldn't muster a genuine smile anymore.
Letting out a gentle sigh, Han Fei tore down a few pieces of paper that were stuck above the mirror. Those scraps of paper were covered in densely written sentences, all saying the same thing: "The best actor is the one who lives within you."
Leaving the bathroom, Han Fei approached the desk, eyeing the gaming headset placed on it.
He had heard about Perfect Life long ago. It was rumoured to be a deep immersive virtual reality game jointly developed by Deep Space Technology and Eternal Pharmaceuticals. It claimed to be the world's first game that simulated real touch, taste, and smell, touted as the ultimate form of gaming. In theory, if a player had no material pursuits, they could even live inside the game indefinitely.
It sounded intimidating, but with the backing of the two technology giants, Deep Space Technology and Eternal Pharmaceuticals, even the most astonishing things could become reality. After all, with the advent of the AI revolution and the biotech revolution, these two tech giants had already created numerous miracles.
This game had sparked heated discussions during its development phase. Deep Space Technology was a giant in the aerospace, artificial intelligence, and communications industries, dedicated to cutting-edge technological research for space colonization. On the other hand, Eternal Pharmaceuticals was a behemoth in the fields of biogenetic technology and human neural engineering, aiming to unravel the ultimate secrets of life.
The fact that two international top-tier companies with no apparent connection to the gaming industry were willing to invest a significant number of resources into developing a game puzzled many industry insiders.
Opinions on Perfect Life varied widely on the internet. Some believed the game focused on a heartwarming and healing experience, allowing players to simulate various aspects of life. It was seen as an artificially created paradise, where players could obtain everything, they desired and achieve all their dreams.
Others argued that this adult-oriented game had little moral or ethical boundaries, with various deep gameplay mechanics that could completely erode human nature.
In fact, since the first test of Perfect Life, judicial and moral development-related departments had already established a presence in Deep Space Technology.
While other games conducted closed beta tests with experienced players and professional reviewers, most testers for this game were government personnel from relevant departments.
Just from this aspect alone, one could discern the extraordinary nature of this game.
This was Han Fei's first time attempting to play a deep immersive virtual reality game. To be safe, he decided to search the internet for information related to Perfect Life.
Under the participation and regulation of relevant departments, Perfect Life had undergone five closed beta tests, with three major revisions. Tonight, at midnight, Perfect Life would undergo its sixth closed beta test. If everything went smoothly, this test would also be the final one before the game's official release.
"How did the owner of the second-hand store manage to acquire the gaming headset when the game hasn't even been officially released? Does he have some internal channels? Moreover, I read online that Perfect Life hasn't released the gaming headset themselves; they developed something called the Space Game Warehouse, which costs twenty times the price of a regular gaming headset."
After much contemplation, Han Fei began to suspect that he might have been deceived. Perhaps the game included with this headset was just a counterfeit version with the same name as Perfect Life.
However, since he had already purchased it, Han Fei believed it was better to give it a try.
He connected all the necessary cables, and once he saw the indicator lights turn on, he put the gaming headset on his head.
His vision was obscured, and darkness enveloped everything. Han Fei felt as if he had been thrown into a vast black ocean.
He couldn't see anything, but he could still hear the news broadcast on the television.
"Breaking news on December 31st, the construction of the Xinhu Smart City is entering its final stages. The emergence of a fully automated, interconnected intelligent city will become a monument in human history."
"Breaking news on December 31st, antitrust investigations on Deep Space Technology have been launched by multiple countries."
"Breaking news on December 31st, in order to safeguard the well-being of its citizens, the government of our country has decided to increase investments in education and technology, unlocking more high-tech industries and cultivating more high-quality talents."
"Breaking news on December 31st, a severe fire broke out in the Antique Street of Xinhu's outer city, resulting in the destruction of several second-hand stores. The possibility of arson has not been ruled out."
The voices in his ears grew fainter. In one moment, Han Fei's world suddenly turned blood-red.
Strange sounds began to emanate from inside the gaming headset, causing Han Fei to instinctively feel uneasy. He was about to remove the headset when a sharp pain shot through the back of his head, as if a steel needle had pierced his skull and delivered something deep into his brain.
"Organic entity upload successful, memory module uploads successful, neural connection established, primary administrator account activated, permission code 0000."
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