Online: I Can See Health Bars Chapter 1: Strange and Quaint

At the police station.

"Name."

"Fang Yu."

"Age."

"21."

"Why are you here?"

"Got into a fight."

"Why did you fight?"

"He stole my spot!"

Fury blazed within Fang Yu.

Two days prior, he'd paid a scalper to hold the front spot in line, ensuring he'd grab the groundbreaking "Seeking Demon" helmet launched by Blue Sea Group today.

Fresh on shelves this morning, the scalper claimed the position, only to say later it vanished—snatched by someone offering more cash!

How could he possibly endure such a thing?!!

"Just over a lousy game helmet, is it worth it?"

"Worth it! Very much so! I make my living by playing games, if I can’t get the helmet, what am I supposed to do, live off the Northwest Wind?"

"Watch your tone."

Brother Jing knocked on the desk.

"Subjectively, you initiated the brawl, and objectively, you landed the initial strike. Yet the other side has already pardoned you...."

"Forgiven me??" Fang Yu leaped to his feet, pounding the table.

"Don’t get worked up, besides forgiving you, he also agreed to compensate you with a "Seeking Demon" game helmet."

Fang Yu dropped back into his seat.

"Really? That game helmet is quite expensive."

Brother Jing: ???

I preferred your wild side from moments ago—bring it back?

"So what’s the situation now, are we at peace?"

"Since he gave me the game helmet... I forgive him, he forgives me, we all forgive each other."

"Alright then, sign here and you can leave."

Exiting the police station, Fang Yu clutched a pristine box containing a ten-thousand-yuan "Seeking Demon" game helmet.

Remember, he'd only shelled out a thousand to the scalper for that line position.

Crunching the numbers, he'd pocketed a nice saving.

Whistling cheerfully, Fang Yu zipped off on his little electric scooter.

...

Shortly after Fang Yu departed, a sharply dressed young man in suit and tie emerged from the station.

Reaching a secluded corner, the suited youth pulled a parchment scrap from his pocket.

Lines of dark script materialized across the parchment.

"I’ve successfully purchased a game helmet that comes with a Lucky Gift Package."

"This is the first and crucial step to protect myself after the future game becomes reality, and reality turns into the apocalypse!"

"I must enter the game as soon as possible, and at all costs, enhance the strength of my game character."

"Doomsday is approaching!"

"There is little time left!"

"Phew—"

The suited young man let out a deep sigh.

He'd confirmed the parchment's legitimacy; it proved trustworthy.

"Game becomes reality, world ended... Order collapses, a new king is born, then why can’t I be that king?"

He slid into his car, started it up, and called a real estate agent to offload properties.

Currency would soon lose all value.

The game would emerge as the ultimate arena!

Yet he overlooked the parchment in his pocket, where crimson text stealthily formed.

"Yes, hurry into the game."

"The moment you enter the game, your body will be mine!"

"HAHAHAHA... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

...

"Xiao Yu, buying so much groceries today?"

"Hey, Xiao Yu, making big bucks? Even splurging on seafood!"

Back in the neighborhood, he bumped into two old uncles.

Loaded with hefty bags, Fang Yu grinned and wagged his finger.

"NO~NO~NO~! Uncle Zhou, Uncle Wang, I’m gearing up for seclusion mode!"

"Oh, going to start playing games again? Didn’t you lose tens of thousands last time and had to work on my son’s construction site to fill that hole?"

"Hey! Don’t slander me! I was inexperienced at that time, I chose the wrong game. But this time is different, this game is sure to be a hit, sure to make money! I’ll treat your whole family to a big meal when I make it big."

"HAHAHA, alright, alright."

The two old men brushed it off casually.

Fang Yu had resided here three years, from college days to post-graduation—they knew his type well.

Ambitious dreams, but scant real achievements.

"By the way, Xiao Jin was calling you to collect the rent today..."

Uncle Zhou's words trailed off as Fang Yu bolted indoors, unclear if he'd caught them.

Uncle Zhou shook his head, unconcerned.

Abruptly, his face stiffened.

Hovering over Lao Wang's head floated a countdown: [19 hours 15 minutes 22 seconds.]

What in the world? An illusion?

Uncle Zhou rubbed his eyes vigorously, yet the digits persisted, ticking down precisely second by second.

On impulse, he glanced upward.

Above himself shone — [3 hours 2 minutes 51 seconds.]

Uncle Zhou shot up from his seat, pulse pounding, gripped by sudden, unfounded dread.

...

Qingshui District housed a repurposed old residential building for rentals.

Close to Wangjiang University, tenants abounded—mostly students or fresh grads.

Fang Yu had stayed three years without rent hikes. Sadly, his income stayed low. Part-time gigs just covered basics, often leaving rent unpaid for months. Only the lenient landlord and friendly neighbors kept him housed.

Fang Yu's place was 1905, Building 1. Elevator dinging open, he hustled to his door, arms full of packages.

Keys out, he twisted the lock.

Swoosh—

A lithe form lunged into his embrace, her scent enveloping him, freezing him in shock.

Gazing down.

"Jin, Sister Jin?"

Sister Jin, the landlord's daughter, handled rent collection here. Roughly his age, yet Fang Yu called her Sister Jin out of respect.

Right now, tear tracks marred Sister Jin’s cheeks, like she'd wept bitterly.

Her puffy, red eyes locked onto his intensely, then she plunged her face into his chest again.

This alarmed Fang Yu greatly.

"Sister Jin... what, what happened?"

He vowed on everything sacred—their bond was purely tenant-landlord.

Chats stayed rent-focused, even if occasional. Never this intimate with Sister Jin.

Last talk? Overdue rent, heated words, her eviction threat.

How did it flip to this...?

What scenario was unfolding?

Luckily, Sister Jin steadied herself soon, easing back to calm.

"...it’s nothing, I saw a cockroach in your room and got scared."

Sister Jin eased away gently, dabbed her tears, and murmured softly.

That gentle tone nearly terrified Fang Yu senseless.

Wrong, utterly wrong! Sister Jin's rep was fierce as a tiger!

Bug fears aside, she'd never softened like this, not even with ten months owed.

Was she plotting my demise??

Gulp.

Fang Yu swallowed hard.

"Sister Jin, about the rent, I..."

"No rush! Just stay, for as long as you want!"

Mid-sentence, Sister Jin spotted the VR game helmet box in Fang Yu’s grip; her face shifted.

"You’re going to enter the game?"

"Ah? Oh... this is the gaming helmet I just bought today. It’s really popular, and I’m sure I can make a fortune inside! Once I earn big, I promise to pay the rent early every month!" Fang Yu thumped his chest in vow.

Yet Sister Jin appeared torn.

"Going in is good... is good..."

After a pause, she added, "You carry on, I’ll come back to find you later."

Coming back to find me?

Why?

Rent's not ready!

Fang Yu nodded along, but bolted the door shut the instant Sister Jin departed!

Every delayed second bought time; perhaps tonight's launch would rake in rent cash!

Fang Yu mused inwardly.

...

In the hallway outside, Sister Jin quickened her pace, nibbling her finger absently.

A tic born post-apocalypse.

"I’m back... back to five years ago, right as the game launched before doomsday struck!"

"How could this be? Could it be related to the Spring-Autumn Cicada Fang Yu gave me?"

"No matter what, now that I’m back, I must change those tragedies that happened!"

"One year later, the game will enter reality, beginning the era of the apocalypse!"

"Fang Yu, this time, I won’t let you die before my eyes!"

"I’ll definitely save you! Absolutely!"

Five years had blurred minor details.

But pivotal events stayed etched sharp!

"Enter the game, seize the opportunities, then protect Fang Yu, protect the people around me!"

"In my previous life, I couldn’t enter the game at the crucial moment."

"This time, I’ll take a different path!"

...