After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar] – CH18

Chapter 18

This was Xie Xingchen’s first time stepping into the holographic world since coming to the interstellar era!

It was almost exactly like the holographic MMORPGs described in the fantasy novels he used to read—except for one difference: realism.

So far, holographic worlds still couldn’t reach 100% realism. In fact, their overall realism wasn’t even 90%.

Among the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste—sight and hearing had been able to hit 100% for years. But smell, touch, and taste were another story.

Taste in particular was the hardest. An adult tongue had over ten thousand taste buds, and the sensations they transmitted were delicate, complex, and constantly shifting.

With current technology, taste realism could max out at around 80%. And even that 80% wasn’t included by default—it required paying extra for “sampling slots.” The realism that came standard with a typical light-brain device was only about 60–70%.

As for whether it was 60% or 70%?

That depended on how high-end your light-brain configuration was.

Still, to a country bumpkin like Xie Xingchen, this version of the holographic world was already enough to make him feel like Granny Liu had wandered into the Grand View Garden—his eyes didn’t know where to land.

Staring wide-eyed at the bustling crowd around him, Xie Xingchen couldn’t process it for a moment.

He stood there dumbly in the middle of the street, not even realizing he hadn’t moved.

Someone with a bad temper immediately started yelling.

“Hey! Move it! The one standing in the middle—move!”

“So many people and you’re blocking the road? What’s wrong with you? Get out of the way.”

“You can just daydream in the middle of the street? If you’re sick, go get treated—don’t stand in the road!”

“…”

The whispers from passersby, and the outright shouting from a few hotheads, made Xie Xingchen’s face turn red instantly.

Under a wave of surprised and angry stares, he hurried to the side. Only after walking for a long while and reaching a slightly quieter area did he stop.

He studied the world seriously, delightedly—his eyes full of wonder.

“Big brother, is it your first time in the holographic world?”

At the mouth of a small alley stood a round little kid in overalls and a yellow hat. He had big almond-shaped eyes and looked at Xie Xingchen with open curiosity.

That curious gaze made Xie Xingchen awkwardly rub his nose.

Xie Xingchen: instant blush.jpg
Forgive him—he really was a bumpkin!

But he… was just too curious!

The original host’s memories were the original host’s memories. His own firsthand experience was his own—and the difference was huge. It was like watching a movie versus actually being transported into it!

So… how could they be the same? (:???)

“Big brother, are you mute?” the child asked innocently, articulating each word clearly.

He blinked those huge eyes for a while, then thoughtfully offered advice. “You can go to the hospital to get treated! If you don’t have money, you can even take out a medical loan.”

One of the Alliance’s citizen welfare policies: as long as it was considered a severe illness, you could borrow money for treatment, with interest so low it was basically free.

Of course, you only got that chance once. If you hadn’t paid off the loan, then the next time you got sick you couldn’t borrow again—you’d have to earn desperately or seek charity aid.

Mute conditions could be treated, so the child didn’t think being mute was a big problem. He was just puzzled why Xie Xingchen wouldn’t go get it fixed.

The kid’s milky-voiced suggestion made Xie Xingchen laugh out loud.

With his brows relaxed, his smile looked like a sunflower opening to the morning sun—delicate, bright, and radiant.

The child had lived in the mechanical civilization, where most of the citizens he met were known for being precise and cold. Seeing this dazzling smile, he suddenly found himself liking this big brother.

Looking at the adorable child grinning at him, Xie Xingchen couldn’t resist crouching down.

He lightly pinched Randy’s soft, pale cheek. The silky touch made him want to kiss that chubby double chin!

And the kid… just kept smiling.

Xie Xingchen: eek—this kid is so cute!
Damn it, the “creepy uncle” hiding in his heart was about to come out!

“Kid, where are your family?” Xie Xingchen scooped him up.

The child hugged Xie Xingchen’s neck like he was used to it, his lotus-root chubby legs swinging happily in the air.

“They’re busy!” Randy said in a baby voice.

His little cat-like eyes squinted in contentment.

Xie Xingchen couldn’t help flicking the kid’s nose, amused. “If your family’s busy, why are you so happy?”

Randy pouted. “Because I met big brother!”

Sweet-talking little Randy instantly made Xie Xingchen beam.

Kids don’t lie!

So it had to be true!

Xie Xingchen rubbed Randy’s soft hair with one hand and asked gently, “Little Yellow Hat, what’s your name?”

He casually used the nickname he’d just given him in his head.

Randy tilted his head.

He looked at Xie Xingchen and corrected him very seriously. “Big brother, I’m not Little Yellow Hat. I’m Randy!”

Xie Xingchen snorted with laughter and ruffled Randy’s hair even harder.

He nodded sincerely, letting him know he understood.

“Right, Randy—where are your family busy? Want me to take you to find them?”

Unexpectedly, the child shook his head.

“They’re not here,” Randy said as if it were normal.

At first, Xie Xingchen thought “not here” meant not nearby—but then he remembered this was a holographic world.

Xie Xingchen frowned. “Randy… you mean your family didn’t log into the holographic world with you?”

Randy nodded.

Xie Xingchen: ?
What kind of parents were this carefree?

Even if there were minor protection mechanisms in place, letting a three-year-old roam alone was still ridiculously irresponsible!

Xie Xingchen couldn’t help it. “They really don’t have time to accompany you?”

Randy’s mouth drooped. In the end, he nodded unwillingly, looking unhappy.

Xie Xingchen didn’t dare ask more.

If he pressed again, he might end up having to comfort a crying child all by himself.

He couldn’t find the kid’s family, and his affection for “the nation’s little flower” made him unable to just leave the child alone. After struggling internally for a moment, he decided to be a babysitter for once.

With one arm holding the child, Xie Xingchen used his other hand to fold up Randy’s oversized yellow hat that almost covered his whole chubby face.

“Randy, do you want to come with me for a while?”

Randy gave a happy “Mm!” and flashed a bright smile—then shyly kissed Xie Xingchen on the cheek.

Maybe “clicking” with someone really existed.

Randy wasn’t an easy child to approach, but when he saw Xie Xingchen standing by the roadside staring in amazement at everything, he just… liked this slightly silly, slightly dazed big brother.

So he was willing to play with him.

Since he’d decided to bring the kid along, the first thing Xie Xingchen did was add Randy’s contact info—afraid they might get separated and he’d never find the child again.

After all, this was called a “second world,” but in practice it was StarNet Mall: Holographic Edition.

So many shops. So many people. So many events.

Getting separated wasn’t a joke.

Still, it resembled the real world in some ways.

For example, there were “more remote” public facilities like parks, gardens, theaters, and plazas.

They looked like public service spaces, but… everything here was designed to make money.

Theaters and cinemas didn’t need explanation—you had to buy tickets.

As for gardens, parks, and plazas: they existed to provide venues for shop events. And of course, they also hosted advertisements for major stores.

Xie Xingchen walked along, dazzled beyond belief.

Countless shops lined the street. Shops marked with “planet owner” tags were even more numerous.

Xie Xingchen clicked his tongue. “Aren’t planet owners supposed to be rare? Why are there so many planet owner shops here?”

Randy, the little chubby one, sat comfortably on Xie Xingchen’s arm and swung his legs. Hearing the question, he answered in a naive tone that stabbed straight into Xie Xingchen’s heart:

“Because this is the busiest street in the holographic mall!”

Xie Xingchen: ?

Thinking back carefully… he realized Randy was right.

No wonder there were so many businesses and stores owned by planet owners here.

To be blunt, whether the business would succeed or not was beside the point—if a wealthy planet owner didn’t open a shop on this street, how else would they show off that they were rich?

Xie Xingchen, enlightened: poor guy tears.jpg

Now that he understood where he was, Xie Xingchen immediately turned around and left.

Could a broke guy like him really afford to hang around the most prosperous street in the holographic world?

Opening a shop here?

Better dream it at night. People living in reality don’t daydream in broad daylight!

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