Chapter ④⑧ Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Butterflies, Butterflies Are Not Dreams
“Harem refers to a complicated love affair happening when a large group of female characters surround one male protagonist. Juncheng, you don’t even know this?”
“No, no, no, I’m not asking for the definition of a harem. I’m confused as to why you suddenly said something like that.”
“Strange, this topic is heading in a very peculiar direction.”
“Although I know Ruansui doesn’t have as strong possessiveness as others, she wouldn’t suddenly say something like ‘I’ll help you start a harem’…”
“No, no woman would ever say such a thing, right?”
“Of course, there’s also the issue of position. Not being accepted by the person you like, so you find an alternative path, allowing the male lead to start a harem so you can legitimately obtain that hard-won love.”
“Speaking of which, Lan seems to have used such a method…”
“But Ruansui has no reason to do such a thing.”
“Hmm? Just as it says, I’m going to help you start a harem. Oh, no, let me correct that, I should say a Harem. After all, we want a harmonious harem, hehe.”
“How can she still laugh!”
“I can’t comprehend Ruansui’s current thought process at all. Why did it become like this?”
“In the real world, Juncheng, haven’t you already established one? And you all got along peacefully, spending a wonderful summer filled with many memories, hehehe.”
“Uh, that was…”
“It was indeed a harem, and not just maintaining ambiguous relationships. I directly got together with four of them, and there’s no way to distance myself anymore.”
“Speaking of which, it was already completely…”
“So I made a promise that I would accept them completely, even if I ended up dying by a kitchen knife for it.”
“Although in the end, I died from another incident…”
“Speaking of which, is Ruansui perhaps jealous?”
“We originally agreed that I would only love her, but I broke my promise and started a harem. So is Ruansui protesting in this way?”
“But the color of her title is pink, not a hint of any other color.”
“I know, Juncheng. You’ve already promised to accept them. Since that’s the case, then of course you must keep your promise. You never lie, do you?”
“Huh? No, I’m accepting the ones from the real world. Light Novels…”
“It’s the same. Do you think the them in this world are fake, Juncheng?”
“…They are definitely not fake.”
“Having spent over a year together so far, the time spent alone is even longer than the time spent with them in the real world.”
“It’s just that in the real world, I reconnected with them through various abnormal events, while in this peaceful world, it’s all heartwarming daily life.”
“But these small, everyday memories are just as precious to me.”
“So, even if they are just copied spiritual entities, they are definitely not fake.”
Ruansui smiled happily upon hearing my answer and said.
“That’s right, Juncheng. Since you believe they are not fake, then you naturally have the obligation to accept them. So when I said I wanted to help you establish a harem, it wasn’t out of jealousy or in a sarcastic tone.”
“…Are you serious?”
Ruansui nodded and looked directly into my eyes, answering.
“I’m serious.”
“It seems she’s really serious, and what she’s saying makes a lot of sense. Indeed, since I’ve already made a promise, whether it’s in this world or any other, as long as it’s them, I should respond and accept them.”
“However, this also depends on their own wishes. I never intended to force them.”
“Furthermore, I’m not establishing a harem out of personal desire either.”
“And these ones in the spiritual world don’t have the unbreakable bond with me like they do in the real world. Therefore, they wouldn’t willingly agree to join a harem for no reason, would they?”
When I expressed this thought to Ruansui, she smiled mysteriously and said.
“Not at all. No matter the world, Nai, she is now… likes to see you, loves you deeply. Especially Nai, who just left.”
“Huh? How is that possible?”
“That Li Nai? Impossible right?”
“Why is it impossible?”
“Li Nai has seen me being intimate with other girls three times! And you heard what she just said, she’s unwilling to compromise. Besides, in the original world, Li Nai and I didn’t have that kind of relationship; we were just like buddies.”
“But in this world, she’s not a zombie, not crazy, and she values emotions…”
“…The most crucial thing is that she has already fallen in love with you.”
“Where do you get the idea that she likes me from?”
“Hehehe, you don’t understand a girl’s thoughts, do you?”
“Okay, I don’t understand.”
“But…”
Just as I was about to say something, Ruansui interrupted me, as if trying to completely convince me, and continued to provide arguments.
“Moreover, Nai’s relationship with you in this world is far more than just friends, isn’t it? Don’t lie to me, she has already developed feelings for you. What she said just now was just a momentary lapse because she couldn’t think straight. I can tell Nai…”
“…So what?”
“Fine, she does sometimes show a shy expression.”
“But that’s just because of a beautiful misunderstanding. It’s impossible between us.”
“If that’s the case, why don’t you accept her? If you’re going to establish a harem, you should accept everyone, right?”
“…”
“I feel like something is wrong, but I can’t figure out what it is.”
“Both theoretically and logically, Ruansui’s words are completely sound. My reason has even been persuaded by her.”
“But for some reason, I just can’t accept it like this.”
“It feels like something is off…”
“Still can’t let it go? Then let’s try another approach. Sister Yuhui, your previous life, what should I call you?”
Ruansui stopped and turned to look at the person behind her.
“About five meters away, ‘Yuhui’ also stopped. After following us out, she had been trailing behind us at a distance. ‘Yuhui’, who had stopped in place, answered expressionlessly.”
“I am Mino’s Nokihime, Saito Kibicho; you don’t need to use honorifics with me. Just… Kibicho is fine.”
“Then, Miss Kibicho, this spiritual world is not the real world, but a world similar to a dream, an illusion. All things here are not physical, correct?”
“Yes. This world of ‘mirage and moon reflection’ was initially created because of me. It was originally a blank world with nothing. Then, it continuously copied people and things from the real world. After evolving for hundreds of years, it became such a vast spiritual world that is almost indistinguishable from the real world. Originating from SF Light Novels”
“Did you hear that, Juncheng?”
“Mmm, I already knew that…”
“In other words, you can do anything you want here.”
“Uh? I can do whatever I want?”
“Uh? I can do whatever I want?”
“I haven’t blurted out my thoughts like this in a long time. Cough, cough, I’ve exposed my own desires…”
“But the women from the real world…”
“Juncheng, do you know that the time flow in this spiritual world is different from the real world?”
“I’m aware, but I’m not clear about the exact ratio.”
“It’s about one to one hundred, meaning if you spend a year here, only a little over three days will have passed in the real world. That is to say, you don’t need to worry about something like the ‘undersea dragon’ incident happening… Rather, this world is your own Dragon Palace (Harem), hehehe. What else is there to worry about?”
“It seems there’s really nothing more to worry about…”
Ruansui came up to me and hugged me.
She hugged my arm and pressed her body against me, feeling her lips gently peck my earlobe, her heavy breaths vibrating in my eardrums.
“I know… Keling (you’ve already had sex with her, right).”
“That was…”
“I know. That was an accident. You also tried to resist, but you’re the kind of heartless person who would overlook this matter using it as an excuse.”
Ruansui pressed closer, intertwining her thighs around my legs. I reached out to support her slender, soft waist. Ruansui panted weakly and urgently, her breasts pressing against my chest, their peaks completely deformed, bulging out to the sides.
“Ah… It’s precisely because I don’t know what to do that you’re so troubled, right Juncheng? But you don’t need to be troubled anymore, do you?”
“In this world, you and Keling aren’t related by blood, right? Xinran… Moreover, in their memories, you are not their brother. You can completely let go of the concept of siblings. Just include Keling and Xinran in the harem. After all, this is just a spiritual world, and nothing you do will be a problem… hehehe.”
“…This is just a spiritual world.”
“It’s a dream-like world.”
“In such a world, no matter what you do, it won’t leave any traces. And no one will hold me accountable…”
“It’s not a bad thing, why are you still hesitating? Establishing a beautiful and harmonious harem will smoothly resolve all emotional entanglements.”
“There’s still someone to create peace… can still let…”
“I’ll handle those people, Juncheng, you don’t need to worry. It’s just… a scum who doesn’t understand their position, hehehehe.”
The coldness inadvertently revealed in her words brought me a moment of clarity, but my thoughts quickly became sluggish and muddled again. Ruansui’s words were like a siren’s song, drawing me in and making me unable to break free.
“In this world without anomalies, everyone lives happily together.”
“…Is this really okay? It’s not fair to you.”
“…Isn’t this the most perfect ending?”
“Hehe, I was born for you. So I will fulfill your wish and make sure you never feel pain and sorrow again. Your happiness is my happi-”
Those words, transcending everything, filled with infinite gentleness and tolerance, made my consciousness waver.
My palms, my chest, my senses were gradually disappearing.
Unlike the feeling of my heart racing when Ruansui hugged me, it was like ingesting a sweet poison…
It dissolved.
It made me lose my reason, believing everything she said was correct.
“My existence is proof of ‘loving you’.”
I don’t remember when she left. When I came to my senses, I found myself standing at the entrance of the building I had just entered.
I don’t remember it too clearly anymore. I just remember that I desperately… accepted everything she said, whether it was starting a harem, trying to persuade Li Nai, or accepting the love of the sisters. I seemed to have agreed to everything…
At this moment, Ah Nong came and stood in front of me, patting my shoulder.
“No matter what you did, I won’t comment. But… as your wife from a past life, I’ll offer you one piece of advice…” ‘Zhuang Zhou dreams of butterflies, butterflies are not dreams’.”
After speaking, Ah Nong turned her back to me and left, waving goodbye and leaving a final word.
“Don’t… get too deeply involved… ‘Big Fool’…”
