Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

It took Cheng Yu a while to come to his senses. He was puzzled. How could Yun have suddenly appeared behind him? How did she know he would come to this internet cafe? Cheng Yu had no memory of Yun. Subconsciously, he believed that no one could know he would come here. But he forgot that Yun had always claimed to be his partner. Perhaps she found him through her phone's location tracking, or perhaps in Yun's memory, she already knew where Cheng Yu used to live.

Cheng Yu abruptly stood up from his gaming chair, looked at Yun, and said firmly, "I really don't know you. Please stop following me. I have a lot of things to do." He paused, his tone pleading, "Please leave. Don't come near me again."

Yun shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. "I will keep going, and I will make you remember me."

Cheng Yu looked at Yun and felt a headache coming on. He shoved Yun aside and quickly left the internet cafe. He didn't want to attract too much attention; after all, internet cafes are crowded and noisy. In just a short while, quite a few people had taken off their headphones and cast curious glances in their direction, their faces showing expressions of morbid curiosity.

Cheng Yu quickly left the internet cafe, with Yun following closely behind. Despite Cheng Yu's best efforts to shake her off, she always managed to catch up quickly, like his shadow, always by his side.

Cheng Yu quickened his pace, weaving through the bustling crowd, trying to shake off Yun's pursuit. He turned into a small alley, attempting to shake off this annoying fellow. However, when he emerged from the other end of the alley, he found Yun still standing there, quietly waiting for him.

"What exactly do you want?" Cheng Yu asked, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Yun did not answer, but just looked at him quietly, her eyes filled with complex emotions, including worry, expectation, and a trace of sadness that was not easily detected.

Cheng Yu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "I told you, I don't know you. Your following me like this will only make things more troublesome for me."

Yun bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "But I can't lose you." Her voice trembled, tinged with a sob.

Cheng Yu looked at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He didn't know how to face this persistent woman, nor how to explain his amnesia. He sighed, turned and continued walking forward, Yun silently following behind him, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

As the sun set, the sky was dyed a golden-red, and the number of pedestrians on the streets gradually dwindled. Cheng Yu wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go or what to do. He felt lost, lonely, and even a little afraid.

He stopped and glanced back at the clouds, a sudden, inexplicable impulse welling up inside him. He wanted to ask her about their relationship, about his past.

"Do you...do you really know me?" he asked hesitantly.

Yun's eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly. "Of course I know him! I am your..." She paused, seemingly hesitating about how to address him, "...I am your partner."

Cheng Yu looked at her, his mind filled with questions. Partner? Did he really have that kind of relationship with her? Why did he have no recollection of it at all?

"Then can you tell me about what happened between us?" he asked.

Yun nodded, her eyes filled with tenderness. "Of course. What do you want to know?"

"I don't have anything to ask right now. Can you take me back to your house first? We can talk there..."

Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps out of a sliver of hope deep within, Cheng Yu inexplicably followed Yun to the subway station. He watched Yun busily working at the electronic ticket machine and sighed helplessly. He didn't understand why he was following her. Maybe it was because he had already found all the clues he needed in the rented apartment, or perhaps he simply wanted to escape reality, to escape the confusion and fear within him.

Cheng Yu took the USB drive out of his pocket, placed it in his palm, and examined it carefully again. Two or three minutes passed, but he still couldn't find anything unusual. Apart from the content being different from before, there seemed to be nothing special. The hundreds of videos that used to be there were now just one, and even the virus was gone.

While Cheng Yu was staring blankly at the USB drive, Yun had already bought two subway tickets and was standing quietly beside him, holding two electronic cards in her hand. She neither urged him nor asked any questions. In the eyes of other men, a wife like Yun was perfect—gentle, considerate, and understanding. However, Cheng Yu didn't remember that she was his partner, so all of this was meaningless to him.

"Let's go," Yun said softly, breaking the silence.

Cheng Yu nodded silently and followed Yun into the subway station. The noisy crowd, the crowded carriage, and the flashing lights made him feel dizzy. He clutched the USB drive tightly in his hand, as if it were his only support.

The subway slowly started moving. Some people in the carriage were looking down at their phones, some were resting with their eyes closed, and some were talking in hushed tones. Cheng Yu leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the scenery rushing past the window, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

He recalled every moment in the game world, his master's kind smile, the scenes of fighting side by side with his brothers, and the sweet times with Aolian... It all seemed so real, so clear, as if it were just yesterday.

But when he returned to the real world, facing the unfamiliar clouds and the bustling city, he felt utterly lost and disoriented. He didn't know who he was, nor where he should go from there.

"Where do you want to go?" Yun's voice rang out again, interrupting his thoughts.

Cheng Yu paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know."

Yun gently took his hand and said softly, "It's okay, I'll stay with you and find the answer together."

Cheng Yu didn't speak, but simply let Yun hold his hand. Her hand was warm and soft, giving him a sense of inexplicable peace.

When the subway arrived at the station, Cheng Yu followed Yun out of the carriage. They arrived at the entrance of an upscale residential complex.

"Chengyu, let me reintroduce myself. This is my home, and it will be your home from now on," Yun said.

Cheng Yu looked up and saw two majestic stone lions standing at the entrance of the residential area. The gate was resplendent in gold and looked exceptionally grand. He couldn't help but be a little surprised. He hadn't expected Yun's family to be so wealthy. He had left in such a hurry and his mind was still a bit foggy when he left, so he hadn't noticed how prosperous this place was.

"Let's go." Yun took his hand and walked into the residential area.

The neighborhood was beautiful, with shady trees and the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Cheng Yu followed Yun to a villa.

“This is my home,” Yun said, pointing to the villa.

Cheng Yu followed Yun into the villa. The villa was luxuriously decorated, magnificent, and everywhere it showed the owner's noble taste.

"Sit down for a bit, I'll get you a glass of water," Yun said.

Cheng Yu nodded, sat on the sofa, and looked around. Every piece of furniture and every painting in the villa felt unfamiliar and distant to him.

Yun Duan brought a glass of water and handed it to Cheng Yu. "Have some water."

Cheng Yu took the water glass, took a sip, and felt a cool liquid flow into his throat, which made him feel refreshed.

"Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome," Yun said with a smile. "Are you hungry? I'll go make you something to eat."

Cheng Yu shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

Yun didn't say anything more, but just sat quietly beside him, keeping him company.

Cheng Yu remained silent for a moment before finally asking, "Do you...do you really know me?"

Yun's eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly. "Of course I know him! I am your..." She paused, seemingly hesitating about how to address him, "...I am your partner."

Cheng Yu asked the question again, and Yun's answer was as certain as ever, as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times, ready to respond to Cheng Yu's amnesia at any moment. She could always answer the question immediately; perhaps she had long been accustomed to the fact that Cheng Yu didn't remember her. Cheng Yu looked at Yun in front of him, feeling even more confused. Why was she so insistent? Did she really believe that they had known each other before?

He sighed deeply, surveying the luxurious villa. Outwardly calm, but inwardly a turbulent sea of ​​emotions raged. This was undoubtedly the most luxurious residence he had ever seen; perhaps even a lifetime of hard work wouldn't be enough to own such a house. He turned to look at Yun, who sat quietly at the other end of the sofa, gazing at him tenderly.

Finally, Cheng Yu couldn't help but ask, "How...how did we meet?" Even though he didn't know Yun, he still wanted to know about their so-called "past".

Upon hearing this question, a hint of joy flashed in Yun's eyes. She nodded gently and began to tell the story of how they met.

"We met in a game..." Yun's voice was soft and sweet, as if recalling those beautiful times, her eyes filled with nostalgia. She recounted every detail of the game, how they teamed up to fight monsters, completed quests together, and shared joy and sorrow...

However, to Cheng Yu, it all felt like a stranger's story. He listened to Yun's narration without feeling any resonance; the story seemed somewhat familiar, yet he couldn't recall the specific details.

Yun's story continued as she recounted an important festival in the game. On that day, a grand fireworks display was held in the game. Cheng Yu and Yun sat together on the mountaintop, admiring the beautiful fireworks. The starlight and the dazzling fireworks complemented each other, creating a romantic scene.

"That night, you confessed your love to me..." Yun's voice choked with emotion, tears welling in her eyes, "You said you loved me..."

Upon hearing these words, Cheng Yu's heart skipped a beat, a strange tremor washing over him. He looked at Yun, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion. Love? Had he really said such a thing? Why did he have no recollection of it?

Yun's story continues; she talks about their wedding in the game, the little house they built in the game, and all the adventures they experienced together in the game...

As Cheng Yu listened to Yun's story, he felt as if he were in a dreamlike world, a world that was both familiar and strange, both real and unreal. He didn't know what to believe or what to do.

Night had fallen, and the story of the clouds was finished. She looked at Cheng Yu, her eyes filled with anticipation, "Do you remember?"

Cheng Yu was silent for a moment, then finally shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't remember."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Yun's eyes, but she didn't give up. "It's okay, one day you'll remember."

Cheng Yu didn't say anything more, just sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought. He didn't know who he was, or where he should go. He felt confused, lonely, and a little afraid.

He gazed at the dark night sky outside the window, his mind filled with questions. The game world, the real world—which one was the true world? Yun, him—what was their relationship? He desperately wanted to find the answers to all these questions.

What is the answer to all of this? This question haunted Cheng Yu like a nightmare, refusing to leave. He felt that if he couldn't find the answer soon, he would truly go insane and become a complete madman. Perhaps, in Yun's eyes, he was already mentally ill, after all, in his memory, he didn't know her at all.

After hearing Yun's story, it was already quite late. Yun suggested that Cheng Yu stay the night, but Cheng Yu still caught the hesitation and probing in her tone. Of course, he wouldn't sleep with a woman who claimed to be his partner but was a complete stranger. So, he asked Yun, "Do you have a private room for me?"

Yun was taken aback for a moment, then smiled somewhat awkwardly: "Yes, there is, but I'm usually quite lazy, so the room might be a bit messy and needs to be tidied up."

Cheng Yu quickly waved his hand: "No need to trouble yourself, I don't mind. It's okay if it's a little messy, I can clean it myself. Just tell me where the room is and give me the key."

A fleeting hint of melancholy crossed Yun's eyes. She nodded silently, led Cheng Yu to a guest room, and handed him the key: "This is the room."

Cheng Yu took the key, thanked her, and went into the room. The room wasn't large, but it was decorated warmly, with light blue wallpaper, white curtains, and soft bedding on the bed. Everything was clean and tidy, completely different from what Yun had described as "dirty and messy." Cheng Yu guessed that Yun might just be looking for an excuse to avoid making him feel she was being too enthusiastic.

He placed the USB drive on the bedside table, then lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The story of Yun still echoed in his mind; those strange yet familiar scenes confused and unsettled him. He closed his eyes, trying to find some clues in the fragments of his memory, but to no avail.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. Cheng Yu got up and opened the door, seeing Yun standing there with a cup of hot milk in her hand.

"I...I was afraid you wouldn't be able to sleep, so I heated up a glass of milk for you." Yun's voice was soft, with a hint of tenderness.

Cheng Yu took the milk and thanked her. Yun looked at him, her eyes filled with concern: "Are you...are you alright?"

Cheng Yu forced a smile: "It's alright, just a little tired."

"Then you should get some rest," Yun said softly. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Cheng Yu closed the door, returned to bed, took a sip of milk, and felt a warm sensation as the warm liquid flowed down his throat into his stomach. He placed the milk on the bedside table, then turned off the light and closed his eyes.

In the darkness, his thoughts returned to the world of the tavern. He recalled his master's dying words, and Aolian's gentle smile... everything seemed so real, so clear, as if he could almost touch it.

He clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with resentment and anger. He was determined to return to the game world, find Bowen, avenge his master, and reclaim everything that belonged to him.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, he returned to the world of the tavern.

"Cheng Yu! Wake up! Stop running away!" The shouts came one after another, each more urgent than the last, as if they were calling out to someone who was about to die.

……

But dreams are always fleeting. When he woke up again, it was already the next morning. He opened his eyes and saw the bright sunshine outside the window, but he felt an emptiness in his heart, as if he had missed something again.