Reality Programming Association

Chapter 4: Chapter 2: Reality Programming Association

When Yu Xian pushed open the door to his home, the house was pitch black. Only the streetlamps outside cast a faint, dim glow through the half-drawn curtains, tracing the blurry outline of the living room. Fumbling in the dark, he switched on the wall lamp, letting a warm yellow light spread across half the room.

He propped the umbrella Yu Zhengze had forced upon him in the corner, rainwater meandering from its tip across the floor. Without even taking off his shoes, he walked straight to the cabinet and dug out a bottle of liquor. He rarely drank on normal days. He didn’t even know which club team-building event this bottle of whiskey was leftover from, but it came in handy now. He twisted the cap off, and the strong scent of alcohol immediately rushed out.

Tilting his head back, he chugged a huge mouthful. The pungent alcohol burned, sending a wave of heat down his throat and into his stomach before quickly dissipating. After taking a few more swigs, his nerves relaxed just a bit, and he slumped heavily onto the sofa.

His phone buzzed, the screen lighting up. It was a message from Yu Zhengze:

”Are you home yet? Don’t overthink it. Get some good rest, and we’ll look into it again tomorrow.”

Yu Xian stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. He hesitated for a few seconds before ultimately typing nothing in reply, placing the phone face-down on the coffee table.

The living room fell quiet, leaving only the low hum of the air conditioner and the headlights outside, scattered by the rain. Alcohol, dampness, and rain mixed together; his chest felt tight, and his mind was a mess. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to slip into his memories.

When was the very beginning?

It was probably in the late autumn of his second year of middle school. In his memory, the sky was just as gloomy as it was today.

They had just finished studying the first unit of their eighth-grade physics textbook, ”Understanding the Universe.” The boys and girls chattered over one another about their newly formed views of the cosmos, discussing its origin, formation, and evolution. Perhaps it was because the atmosphere was so enthusiastic that he acted on impulse, blabbering about the ”Universe Game Theory” he had hidden in his heart for years, as well as the absurd-sounding Reality Programming Association.

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it, feeling like an immature elementary schooler. Sure enough, his classmates were stunned at first, but then they all burst into laughter. The air inside and outside the classroom filled with merriment. The focus of the discussion gradually shifted to other students, and his flushed face slowly returned to its normal color.

Xia Li was sitting next to him at the time, resting her delicate chin in her hand as she listened to him speak. When he finished, she simply asked in a very serious tone, ”So, does this association of yours need a vice president?”

For a split second, he thought she was mocking him, but then she added, ”I’ve learned how to draw. I can help you design the association’s badge.”

Later, that colored pencil drawing of the club’s logo was set as the avatar for their QQ group. On one side of the badge, it read ”Reality Programming Association,” and below it was written, ”President: Yu Xian, Vice President: Xia Li.”

Just like in the beginning, every time Yu Xian told Xia Li about the new settings popping into his head, she would sit quietly and listen with utmost seriousness. Later on, through middle school, high school, and college, they managed to stay in the same schools all the way.

When it came time to fill out their college applications, he wrote down ”Physics (Theoretical Direction)” on his form. Glancing over at hers, he was surprised to find the exact same university and major listed.

”Are you sure you can understand it?” he had asked. He had quite the smart mouth back then.

”Don’t I have our Master Yu here?” she replied with a pursed-lip smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

As it turned out, the title ”Master Yu” carried very little weight. From then on, it basically only appeared when she wanted to be sarcastic with Yu Xian.

When college began and their class schedules were laid out, they were hit by a barrage of subjects: multivariable calculus, probability and mathematical statistics, field theory and infinite series, followed by the four heavenly kings of mechanics—theoretical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. He, the ”Association President,” was quickly killed in action.

Instead, it was the girl he had once questioned whose notebooks were always densely packed with detailed notes.

Every time finals rolled around, the exact same scene would play out in a corner of the library by the window. Yu Xian would carry a stack of practice exams, sit across from Xia Li, and quietly but self-righteously say, ”Vice President, save me.”

Xia Li would always naturally give up the seat next to the heater for him, making it easier for him to sleep soundly on his books a little while later. When he woke up, a neatly organized set of key notes would be resting beside his hand. The handwriting was elegant and precise, carrying a faint, lingering fragrance.

”Awake?” Xia Li would often ask without even looking up. ”Now that you’re awake, memorize these questions. Or, if you want to fail the class and become my underclassman, I wouldn’t mind that either.”

Her presence could be found everywhere in his life.

During the summer vacation after their third year of middle school, she suddenly sent a message in their two-person QQ group, announcing they were going to hold a ”club team-building event.” The activity was—going to her house for dinner.

The first time he went, he pushed open the door only to be greeted by a subtle burnt smell. The kitchen was a scene of utter carnage: the dismembered remains of various unidentified objects lay scattered across the cutting board, beside the stove, and in the trash can.

Guiltily and cautiously, Xia Li served him a plate of oddly colored curry. ”Just consider it helping me with an experiment...”

He had considered turning around and running for his life, but ultimately succumbed to her tyrannical might, obediently sitting down to eat.

”How is it?” She poked at her own portion with her chopsticks, a touch of unrealistic expectation shining in her eyes.

”...There’s room for improvement.”

That was the best evaluation Yu Xian could rack his brains to come up with. Even so, he dutifully finished the entire plate. After all, ever since his parents’ accident, he had barely eaten any meals outside of the school cafeteria.

From then on, ”taste testing” became a regularly organized club activity. Fortunately, through the continuous sacrifices of Yu Xian the guinea pig, Xia Li’s cooking skills improved rapidly.