Chapter 58: A chance to leave the simulation
The moment Lin Huahua saw her father’s face appear in the floating hologram again, her whole small body instantly became full of life, as if someone had poured a bucket of hope straight into her head.
Her brown eyes lit up instantly, and her pale little face brightened with obvious joy, while even her soft white rat ears stood up happily, making her look so excited that it was clear she had already started hoping with her whole heart.
In that second, Lin Huahua did not think of anything else at all, because the first thought that rushed into her mind was very simple.
Pa was here to take her back!
So before her father could even open his mouth, Lin Huahua had already jumped up from the bedding and threw her arms out dramatically toward the hologram, her voice full of joy and urgency as she cried, "Yes, yes, I am ready. Take me. Take me now!"
After saying that, she even squeezed her eyes shut on purpose and spread her arms wider, clearly waiting for something grand and advanced to happen.
In her mind, she was already imagining the cool air from the sci-fi world, the clean silver walls, the soft light in her father’s room, and the feeling of being pulled out of this primitive place in one smooth and beautiful second.
So she really did stand there obediently and wait, and she even waited with a very serious little expression on her face, as if she was doing something important.
Her arms were still spread open, her little chin was still lifted proudly, and her eyes were still squeezed tightly shut as she waited with all her heart for the familiar feeling of being taken away.
The room gradually became quiet, then even quieter, but Lin Huahua still did not move at all.
She only kept standing there like a patient little fool, waiting and waiting, while one breath passed, then another, then another, yet still nothing happened.
There was no cool air from the sci-fi world, no transfer light, and no advanced sound effect at all.
No sudden feeling of being rescued from suffering.
Meanwhile, inside the hologram, her father only stared at her with the heavy silence of a man who had begun wondering whether his daughter was finally losing her mind inside the simulation.
Lin Zhanshan did not say a word at first.
He only looked at her.
To be honest, after watching her for this long, he was already used to a great many things. He was used to her being dramatic. He was used to her being spoiled.
He was used to her turning one small grievance into a mountain of emotional suffering. But even so, seeing her stand there with her arms spread and eyes shut like a tiny sacrificial offering waiting to be picked up by heaven still made him feel a little tired in the soul.
Lin Huahua, of course, knew nothing about this.
She just kept standing there and waiting.
After what felt like a very long time, though it was really only a little over twenty seconds, Lin Huahua finally could not take it anymore.
She opened one eye first, then looked around the room suspiciously, and when she saw that she was still in the same place, her whole face changed.
Then she opened the other eye and stared at her father in disbelief.
"Why are you wasting time?" Lin Huahua asked with complete seriousness. "Be quick."
Lin Zhanshan looked at her for a moment before saying, "I have two options for you."
Lin Huahua blinked.
Two options?
Just as he was about to continue, another head suddenly pushed into the hologram from the side, and the moment Lin Huahua saw who it was, her whole face lit up again.
"Brother!"
One of her older brothers had forced his way into the frame, and the moment he saw her, his expression softened with the kind of affection that only an older brother who completely spoiled his little sister could have.
Just seeing his little sister again, after only being separated for such a short time, made him feel like a year had passed already.
He missed her so much!
"Huahua," he said at once, already looking her up and down in concern. "Are things hard there? Are you eating properly? Have you been sleeping well? Do you want me to send you food? There is a new cookie recipe that came out yesterday and I swear you would like it."
Before he could continue, Lin Zhanshan lifted his hand and knocked him on the head with his knuckles.
The brother clutched his forehead immediately. "Ah! Father, why did you hit me?"
Lin Zhanshan’s face looked colder now. "Because you are annoying."
Lin Huahua almost laughed.
Her brother, however, rubbed his head and looked very wronged, though not wronged enough to leave.
That was because all five of her brothers doted on her terribly. They truly loved her so much that if Lin Huahua one day pointed at a star and said she liked it, at least three of them would start discussing how to bring it down for her.
Lin Zhanshan ignored his son and turned back to his daughter. "Listen carefully. I have two options for you."
The moment Lin Huahua heard the words if you want to leave this world in his tone, she immediately became excited again and nodded quickly like a little chick pecking grain.
"Yes, yes, I can do it," she said. "I can do anything. Just say it."
Her father narrowed his eyes slightly. "Listen to me first."
Lin Huahua pressed her lips together, but her ears were already standing tall with hope.
Lin Zhanshan sighed inwardly.
The truth was that he was only here saying all this because his sons had not let him sleep. They had bothered him, argued with him, and even threatened to tell their mother the truth if he did not at least give Lin Huahua another chance.