Niu Xi's words gave Lu Yu the idea of laying him off. However, in their line of work, to ensure employees don’t take job secrets with them, termination methods were usually extreme.

And Niu Xi’s combat prowess was well-known throughout the organization—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been sent into prison to assist Lu Yu in the first place.

Even if Lu Yu handled the termination personally, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t come at a cost, let alone if someone else did it.

So for an employee like Niu Xi, whose dismissal would be far too expensive, Lu Yu had no choice but to endure his foul mouth, which constantly jabbed at his nerves.

Lu Yu was fuming, but on the other side, they had already contacted Lien. The moment that guy heard about the situation, he displayed unprecedented enthusiasm.

He immediately joined them, showing remarkable efficiency in preparing to enter the virtual world.

Meanwhile, inside the virtual world, the Emperor finally felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he carried the large box of supplies into the house.

He poured himself a glass of water and, noticing it was getting late, signaled Shen Ying to prepare dinner.

As he spoke, a thought crossed his mind—surely she wouldn’t try to make him dinner again tonight, would she?

Humans needed to eat, after all. From what he’d heard, she’d been detained at the police station all morning and probably hadn’t eaten anything since.

Surely she wouldn’t be so absurd as to still have other appetites in this state.

But Shen Ying was hardly the type to cook. She picked up the phone on the table and dialed.

"Hello, Niu Xi? Didn’t you mention this morning that you handle general housework and repairs? Can you cook?"

Niu Xi’s booming voice came through the receiver: "Of course! My home-style cooking is top-notch."

"Is the missus hungry? I can come over for an on-site service. Your husband isn’t home tonight, is he? Out for business, I suppose?"

"Tsk, tsk, leaving his wife alone so soon after marriage..."

Shen Ying chuckled and was about to respond when a hand reached over and abruptly ended the call.

Her "husband" glared at her, his face dark. "Why the hell are you calling that idiot?"

Shen Ying: "To hire him as a private chef. You heard him—his skills are excellent."

"Besides, he seems like a hardworking young man."

The Emperor took a deep breath. "We’re newlyweds, and you can’t even bother to cook for me?"

Shen Ying: "You let yourself get dragged to the police station for questioning all day, and now your exhausted wife is supposed to make you dinner?"

The Emperor choked. "Who told you to buy those things in the first place?"

Shen Ying: "Wasn’t it for you? Any other newlywed husband would be overjoyed to have his wife prepare such surprises."

"You don’t seem happy at all. Could it be you only married me reluctantly?"

"If that’s the case, just say so. I’m not one to force people. We can part ways amicably."

The Emperor sneered inwardly. You don’t like forcing people? The whole prison knows coercion is your favorite pastime.

He was irritated by her hypocrisy, but hearing her indifferent attitude toward their "marriage" also left him unsettled.

Still, he couldn’t let this nonsense ruin his plans.

So the Emperor reluctantly conceded, "It’s not that I’m unhappy."

As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward the box, his cheeks tinged with red.

Shen Ying, however, arched a brow. He caves the moment I mention separation? Seems this "marriage" is more important to him than I thought.

She then said matter-of-factly, "Well, your exhausted wife still hasn’t eaten, and you don’t want a private chef. So what now?"

The Emperor sighed in defeat. "I’ll cook."

As the exalted Emperor of the Empire, such menial tasks should have been beneath him.

But before his ascension, he had spent years in the military, starting as an ordinary soldier assigned the most grueling missions.

Countless deployments to hazardous planets, countless times running out of supplies and having to forage for food—so yes, the Emperor knew how to cook.

He’d never bothered refining his skills, but the basics were second nature.

Before long, a decent dinner was served before Shen Ying, accompanied by a glass of red wine poured with care.

After setting everything down, the Emperor took his seat across from her.

He had never tended to someone so attentively—no one in the Empire was worthy of such treatment.

Even his relationship with his father had been devoid of warmth. The unfamiliarity of the moment left him momentarily dazed.

Is this how ordinary couples live?

The thought jolted him back to reality. What am I getting sentimental for? None of this is real.

Just as frustration crept in, Shen Ying took a bite and remarked, "This is delicious. The meat is perfectly seared—juicy and tender."

The Emperor’s irritation vanished instantly, replaced by smug satisfaction. "Obviously. After handling so many types of meat, only an idiot would mess up something this simple."

Protein-rich game had been a staple during supply shortages, and experience had taught him how to handle every cut.

Compared to rare alien species, something as basic as beef was child’s play.

Seeing Shen Ying enjoy the meal, even the Emperor—who rarely indulged in culinary pleasures—found his appetite sharpening.

The atmosphere was pleasant, with occasional clinks of glasses and shared appreciation for the food.

Then, remembering the day’s events, the Emperor spoke up. "By the way, we should move tomorrow."

Shen Ying paused mid-bite. "Why? This place is quite nice."

The Emperor: "The living conditions here are subpar. The neighbors are nosy, management is lax, and the police are... unpleasant."

That last part is the only truth, isn’t it?

Shen Ying set down her fork and knife, studying him. "I love the decor and the scenery here. I don’t want to leave."

The Emperor didn’t hesitate. "There are plenty of scenic properties. If you want, I can get you a jungle villa, a beachfront estate, a penthouse downtown—even a mountaintop chalet."

"Name your preference. You’ve lost your memories, so it’s not like you’re attached to this place, right?"

Shen Ying smiled. "Are we that wealthy? For an ordinary office worker, you’re awfully nonchalant about buying mansions."

The Emperor didn’t bat an eye. "My father left me a substantial inheritance. The job is just to pass time."

Shen Ying nodded. "How lucky I am to marry into money."

Just when he thought she’d agree, she cut straight to the point. "Let’s be honest with each other, as spouses should."

"Are you trying to distance me from Officer Lien and the others?"

The Emperor stiffened but didn’t deny it. "I don’t like them."

Shen Ying: "Whether you like them or not, you’ve tolerated them long enough to grow familiar. That means your dislike isn’t the real reason, is it?"

"Are you trying to keep them away from me? Do they make you feel threatened?"

The emperor felt that things were taking an unexpected turn but stubbornly insisted, "Yes, I don’t trust the character of these three men."

"I don’t want my wife interacting with them long-term."

Shen Ying countered, "But that doesn’t make sense. All three of them have respectable backgrounds. At the police station earlier, I overheard some details about the shop owner and Niu Xi."

"They’re clean—ordinary people with no criminal records. Why would you assume, after just one day, that I’d get entangled with them?"

"Unless... you actually know them well and are aware of something unsavory?"

The emperor frowned. "You could say that."

Shen Ying pressed, "What kind of things?"

The emperor hadn’t prepared for these troublemakers to infiltrate his simulated world, let alone crafted a convincing explanation.

So he doubled down. "They’ve done things that are... hard to talk about."

"For instance, that Lien—he’s skilled at petty theft. The only reason he doesn’t have a record is because he’s slick enough to avoid getting caught. Frankly, I’m baffled how he became a cop."

That last part was genuine. How the hell did that idiot end up as a police NPC?

He continued, "As for Lu Yu, you think he just sells supplies? He’s not above selling out his own people to get what he wants."

"Using his companions’ charms for his own gain."

Though, admittedly, that was also his own goal—both of them had sold out Lien.

"And that milkman? He’s the laziest of the bunch. Willing to trade his body for the slightest advantage."

"So there’s no way I’d let my wife live under their watchful eyes."

But instead of being alarmed, Shen Ying seemed intrigued. She’d been studying her "husband’s" expressions closely.

His words might be embellished, but the core facts were likely true. So this was their backstory?

Was this secretly an 19+ world? Things seemed poised for some wild developments.

With a light laugh, she said, "But they don’t seem that bad at all."

"Take Niu Xi, for example. He runs a farm, delivers milk daily, and even does odd jobs and repairs."

"How could someone like that be lazy?"

"Are you sure you didn’t just hear rumors?"

The emperor replied flatly, "I saw it with my own eyes."

Shen Ying tilted her head. "Where?"

"What?"

"Where did you see it? All three seem stable, financially secure. Unless something unusual happened, the scenarios you described wouldn’t make sense."

Though he’d long known how sharp she was, being cornered like this still annoyed him.

"Does it matter where? You’re seriously questioning me over people you just met yesterday?"

Shen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you the one questioning me?"

"After all that, the only message I’m getting is that if I keep interacting with them, something you don’t like might happen."

"Even if their pasts are shady, that’s on them. You clearly don’t trust me."

Not that she was particularly trustworthy.

The emperor nearly snapped—because honestly, when had she ever had principles?

But he bit his tongue. Unfortunately, Shen Ying seemed to read the unspoken jab in his expression.

With a resigned smile, she said, "I see. Even though my memories are still gone, it’s clear our marriage isn’t a happy one."

"You resist my needs, distrust me completely, and yet you’re paranoid enough to consider moving over a single encounter."

"Is there even a point to keeping this marriage?"

"I don’t know what I was thinking before, but I don’t want this kind of life."

"Let’s get a divorce."

The crown prince’s pupils constricted. He couldn’t believe how easily she could discard their "marriage."

Didn’t her lost memories leave her feeling vulnerable? In this state—knowing nothing, having nothing—how could she suggest divorce over something so minor?

For a moment, panic flickered in him, but it was overshadowed by a grudging admiration.

This woman’s resilience surpassed anyone he’d ever met.

Divorce was absolutely out of the question. What was the point of all this effort otherwise?

So he conceded again. "Fine, I’m not actually resistant."

Shen Ying almost laughed. She still didn’t know what this fake husband was after, but it seemed he’d trapped himself.

Playing ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‍dumb, she asked, "Not resistant to what?"

The crown prince burned with humiliation but forced the words out. "Not resistant to your... needs."

Then, throwing caution to the wind, he added, "Those three aren’t bad-looking. I was just jealous—jealous you’d pay attention to them."

Satisfied, Shen Ying smiled. "Then tonight, let’s start with the first box."

The emperor: "???"

What the hell?

He’d just bared his soul in what was practically a love confession, and all she cared about was his body?

That said, the emotional confession did add a certain... spark to the night’s activities.

The crown prince had always considered himself conservative and prideful—he’d never imagined letting someone use those absurd toys on him.

But that night, he discovered, to his horror, that he might be far more depraved than he’d thought.

His "wife" had even said so. The moment she’d voiced that observation, he’d been equal parts mortified and furious.

Yet his body betrayed him, reacting shamelessly, leaving him no dignity whatsoever.

By the time everything settled, it was deep into the night.

The next morning, Shen Ying woke up, showered, and headed downstairs to find her "husband" already preparing breakfast.

Apparently, after realizing she wasn’t the type to wait on him, he’d wisely stopped trying to change her.

As she inhaled the aroma, waiting for the meal, the doorbell rang.

She stepped into the yard and opened the gate to find the milkman standing there.

He looked at her with concern. "The call ended abruptly last night. Are you alright, ma’am?"

Shen Ying studied him. He must have rushed over after finishing his other deliveries early. His breathing was uneven from the hurry, and beads of sweat glistened on his dark skin, like syrup on chocolate.

The sight made her fingers itch.

She smiled. "It’s nothing. My husband just isn’t a fan of... door-to-door service."

But the milkman only grew more worried. "So your husband was there? I knew it—he must have forced you to hang up."

"Someone as kind as you wouldn’t do that."

Shen Ying chuckled. "Sorry about that."

The milkman shook his head. "Don’t worry about me. I’m just concerned for you."

"I’ve interacted with your husband before. He’s stern, cold."

"I’ve even seen him hit someone. So if anything happens, ma’am, please tell me."

Shen Ying mused to herself. These guys all had quite the tangled connections.

The dark-skinned guy couldn’t even wait until the second day to badmouth the "husband"—this level of animosity suggested some deep-seated grudge.

Then, he added, "By the way, my farm is hosting a harvest festival soon."

"It’d be wonderful if you could come, Madam."

Shen Ying perked up. "Oh? What’s fun about it?"

The milkman replied, "Mainly crop picking and tasting, participating in wine-making, cooking, and farm animal viewing."

"Our farm animals are adorable, especially the cows. You can feed them grass or even try milking them yourself."

For some reason, the mention of milking inexplicably excited Shen Ying.

But she kept her tone noncommittal. "Let me ask my husband first—"

Before she could finish, the milkman’s face fell. "Really?"

"Well, from what I’ve heard, your husband is quite busy. He’s hardly ever home, so it’s understandable you’d want companionship."

"But surely just during the day would be fine? He definitely won’t be back then."

His enthusiasm was almost overwhelming. This handsome, sun-kissed guy had been subtly—and not-so-subtly—flirting with her since yesterday.

Was he really this bold?

Just as she was about to respond, her "husband’s" icy voice cut in from behind. "What business is it of yours whether I’m home or not?"

Niu Xi didn’t even flinch.

Still grinning brightly, he said, "Nothing much. Just worried Madam might be lonely at home, so I invited her to the farm."

"You’re so busy you can’t keep her company—surely you wouldn’t deny her a little entertainment?"

The emperor knew exactly what kind of person Niu Xi was. Even his boss, Lu Yu, had to put up with his antics daily. This personality projection was no different.

With a cold smirk, he retorted, "There are plenty of ways to entertain oneself. What’s so special about your shabby farm?"

But Shen Ying suddenly chimed in, "But they have cows you can feed and milk!"

There was nothing suggestive about the statement, yet the crown prince’s face darkened instantly.

Shen Ying could practically see murder in his eyes.

Then, unexpectedly, he changed his tune. "Is that so? If my wife is so interested, we’ll go together."

"I’ve always had a taste for freshly butchered beef."

Niu Xi’s smile faded at that.

Meanwhile, Shen Ying’s first thought was, Cows are so cute—why kill them?

She hadn’t felt this way last night while eating steak.

After Niu Xi left, the "husband" went to work as usual—except this time, he exited the simulation entirely.

He immediately summoned the royal programmer. "What’s going on with those three NPCs?"

Before the baffled programmer could respond, the emperor continued, "Never mind. It’s obviously those troublemakers from prison meddling again."

"Write a program to eliminate those three. Make it look like an accident."

The royal programmer, an expert in such matters, quickly grasped the situation.

Someone unexpected must have infiltrated the simulation—a feat requiring rare technical skill.

"Understood, Your Majesty. But it’ll take some time. Our system is secure, so the breach must be on Warden Shen’s end. We’ll need to identify their entry method."

The emperor nodded.

Unbeknownst to him, while he was "at work," Shen Ying ventured out alone.

This world still felt unfamiliar to her. Unlike previous Earth-like settings, even the continents on the map looked completely different.

Everything felt fresh. She wandered around, even stopping by a supermarket, where she discovered vegetables and meats she’d never seen before.

Fascinated, she spent hours exploring.

At lunch, she tried unfamiliar cuisines at a mall restaurant—surprisingly delicious.

By the end of the day, she was thoroughly satisfied, though still craving more.

Leaving the mall empty-handed, she’d actually filled an entire truck with purchases, all en route to her home.

The mall manager personally escorted her out.

Ironically, while her "husband" guarded against threats like a fortress, she stumbled into one the moment she turned around.

Officer Lien, clad in a black police uniform with a gun at his hip, had been leaning against a patrol car, coffee in hand, chatting with a colleague.

The moment he spotted her, he forgot all about his partner and strode straight over.

After scrutinizing her and finding nothing suspicious, he actually looked disappointed.

With a smirk, he asked, "Out shopping?"

Shen Ying smiled. "Yep. And I didn’t carry a thing today."

Lien scoffed, then his expression darkened. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, "Did you use all that stuff on him?"

Without a hint of shame, Shen Ying confirmed, "Every last bit."

Lien’s voice rose in disbelief. "All of it?!"