Chapter 24: Endearingly Foolish (?)

In the game, crafting potions is as simple as waiting for a progress bar to finish. In reality, however, Yu Xun'ge must meticulously follow the instructional videos playing in her mind. A single high-level potion can take over an hour to brew, requiring careful attention to material preparation, temperature control, timing for stirring, and the sequential addition of ingredients.

Despite her efforts to replicate every step exactly, the process frequently results in failure. Occasionally, though, even a failed attempt grants her one or two experience points. She hadn’t even been this diligent before her college entrance exams.

Engineering follows the same pattern; the gap between beginner/intermediate and advanced levels in these professions is like two entirely different worlds. Beginner and intermediate levels are like Western medicine—precise and rigid. Once you master the data and the corresponding knowledge, there is a correct answer that remains fixed regardless of the situation. An advanced profession, by contrast, is more like traditional Chinese medicine. Each practitioner might offer a different, seemingly contradictory treatment plan, yet all can be effective because the subtle interactions between ingredients are complex and often indescribable. Even the instructional videos vary; one day the undead mentor adds 20 grams of Magic Spirit Grass, and the next time she watches, it’s 18 grams, or she substitutes an herb because she accidentally added too much of another. Yet, the results remain the same as the ingredients balance out.

At first, Yu Xun'ge wanted to curse at the lack of rigor. But eventually, she became so engrossed that she forgot about farming experience, sometimes watching alchemy videos for an entire day. She came to view the undead mentor in her mind as a symphony conductor—mastering and orchestrating all the alchemical properties without being tethered to rigid formulas. Sometimes, even a slight error in the mentor’s hands blossomed into a delightful surprise.

By the beginning of July, Yu Xun'ge halted her high-level potion crafting to relearn and re-craft every single beginner and intermediate formula. She recalled an interview she had seen: a player had stated with profound solemnity, "The professional skills learned during the closed beta were the true treasure. I didn't reach the level to craft blue or purple gear because of talent, but because of the knowledge I gained from an alien teacher. Yes, he will always be my teacher. Even if we meet on the battlefield and fight to the death, and even if you call me a traitor, I will still say that alien was my teacher."

On July 1st, Su Yitong suddenly announced she was hosting a dinner for the entire Yu family. When a high-society heiress "invites" you, it isn't an invitation—it's a summons. Yu Xun'ge packed her things and headed to the restaurant. She wasn't the last to arrive; Yu Qingshan and Yi Qiuguo were already seated inside. Before leaving, Yu Xun'ge had checked her character panel, tucked all her equipment into her bags, and stowed both 36-slot bags inside the Magician’s Dentures, leaving her with only a 4-slot bag on her person.

After waiting half an hour, the door was opened by bodyguards, and Su Yitong, wearing a monocle, walked in first. Yu Xun'ge, Yu Qingshan, and Yi Qiuguo stood up with smiles to greet her.

Su Yitong had changed her hairstyle. Her once sleek, ear-revealing black hair was now styled in a side-parted wave, designed to conceal the empty space where her right ear used to be. Perhaps due to her poor mood, her expression lacked its former elegance and composure, appearing as dull and gloomy as the look on Yu Xunhuan’s face.

It was laughable—the male lead was now a "nine-centimeter warrior," and the female lead was missing an ear. Who could deny they were a perfect match?

Yu Xun'ge didn't bother to examine Su Yitong's new eyewear. She could guess with her eyes closed that it was likely a prop; anyone missing an ear would psychologically reject something that required hooking over it. Even a monocle was a psychological torture to put on and take off.

In reality, Su Yitong’s monocle was indeed an exploration-type prop. While not as powerful as the Soros Mask she had obtained previously, it was a B-rank item. Such equipment was rare; obtaining a B-rank item was the result of the Su family’s third branch privately pooling the resources of a dozen people during the closed beta. In fact, getting an A-rank item during the first closed beta had been a complete fluke. As for her two brothers... well, the last closed beta was better left unmentioned. Mentioning the beta always reminded her of her ear.

Upon entering, Su Yitong immediately used her item to scan Yu Xun'ge, but she only saw what Yu Xun'ge allowed her to see.

[Character]: Yu Xun'ge (Level 0, 0.001%)
[Divine Talent]: (Cannot be detected)
[Race]: Human
[Racial Talent]: Cannot be detected
[HP]: 100/100
[Mana]: 100/100
[Strength]: 5
[Constitution]: 7
[Intelligence]: 7
[Agility]: 7
[Luck]: ?
[Charisma]: ?

Yu Xun'ge had no idea the monocle was such a piece of junk; all her smooth and clever precautions were wasted on a blind person. Seeing the 0.001% experience level made Su Yitong believe most of what Yu Xunhuan had told her. Yu Xun'ge watched, helpless, as Su Yitong’s expression softened, while Yu Xunhuan winked at her.

Yu Xun'ge felt nauseated.

Yu Xunhuan had been unable to get any information out of Su Yitong, so yesterday he simply confessed that he knew about the game and that Yu Xun'ge had told him. He stopped there, not bothering to explain why Yu Xun'ge hadn't told Su Yitong herself. Unexpectedly, Su Yitong asked when Yu Xun'ge had told him, and Yu Xunhuan claimed it was on the 9th or 10th.

Su Yitong’s expression immediately eased. She recalled that Yu Xun'ge had messaged her that day, asking her to come to the hotel for something important, but she had been too busy—with her ear gone and half her family's gold missing, she hadn't been in the mood to see her brother's sister-in-law.

Yu Xunhuan immediately chimed in, "Yes, she said she invited you. She only trusts us family members. Yitong, we are family, right?"

Because of this, Su Yitong completely dropped her grievances toward Yu Xunhuan. Though she still secretly thought Yu Xun'ge was a bit foolish for telling someone who hadn't yet married into the family, she reflected that she, too, had only told her own family and confidants. In that light, Yu Xun'ge seemed endearingly naive, clearly regarding them as family.

She had come today just to confirm the truth of the situation. Although she had probed a few months ago, she hadn't had the exploration prop back then. While she couldn't detect the divine talent, the 0.001% experience indicated that Yu Xun'ge truly hadn't spent much time playing.

However, Su Yitong didn't mention that she had participated in the closed beta herself. These things were better left unsaid; if the other party heard it from someone else first, it would hurt their relationship. Though she didn't think much of Yu Xunhuan, there was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble. As for whether Yu Xunhuan would eventually discover she had hidden things from him, the heiress didn't care. She liked his face, and that was enough.