What It’s Like Being a Vampire - Chapter 651

Chapter 651: Chapter 651: Human Joys and Sorrows Do Not Intersect

After rummaging through various snacks in the bag for a while, Xia Libing finally settled on the vacuum-sealed bread.

Tearing open the package and holding the bread through the half-open package with her left hand, a mouth-watering crispy pig’s elbow manifested in Xia Libing’s right hand. She bit into the bread in her left hand, then the pig’s elbow in her right hand, and as she continued to chew, she found her eyes involuntarily squinting with pleasure.

In the years that Xiang Kun was gone, the only way they could taste the “Xiang Kun cuisine” was through Old Xia’s “Illusion Reality” ability.

However, what was disappointing to Tang Baona, Little Fatty Girl, Yang Lao San and others was that the “Xiang Kun cuisine” manifested by Old Xia, whether it was pig’s elbow, rabbit meat, or various other foods, was all tailored to her taste. Although it was delicious, the most powerful characteristic of the “Xiang Kun cuisine” was its ability to finely adjust to the different tastes of everyone, from 98 to 100. It’s only a difference of two points, but the experience is fundamentally different.

Moreover, although the manifested food could also be tasted, and have the same texture as the real thing, knowing that they were illusions led to some psychological differences when eating. The lack of a sense of fullness only added to this strange feeling.

Of course, at first they would often manifest the “Xiang Kun cuisine” to eat. Even if Old Xia was busy at the Chongyun Village Base, others in Pengcheng City or Shenhai City could ask Alice to manifest it. Every time Tang Baona, Yang Zhen Er, and Xiao Pingguo failed in their cooking attempts and made some disastrous food, they would ask Alice to manifest some “Xiang Kun cuisine” to cleanse their palate.

However, it didn’t take long for the manifestation of “Xiang Kun cuisine” to be restricted by Old Xia. She put a limit on the number of times everyone could eat manifested food per month, and specifically for Little Fatty Girl and Xiao Pingguo, she strictly limited it to only six times a month and enforced strict quantity regulations for each time.

The reason for this was concern that they would become addicted to the taste of “Xiang Kun cuisine,” thus reducing their appetite for other foods. Although the manifested food didn’t give a sense of fullness, the eating experience was very real and could have a psychological impact, creating a deceptive sensation.

Tang Baona and Yang Zhen Er would try to “lose weight” and intentionally wanted to replace real food with manifested items; Little Fatty Girl and Xiao Pingguo, however, would overeat. If they ate too much “Xiang Kun cuisine”, they would unconsciously eat less normal food and become increasingly picky about what they ate. This was clearly detrimental to these two who were still growing.

The longer Xiang Kun was gone, the stronger their yearning for “Xiang Kun cuisine”, and the psychological boost that these manifested foods brought would only become stronger, raising the delicious threshold for other normal delicacies.

Although Alice was “watching” them and their bodies would definitely not develop any serious issues, Xiang Kun’s long-standing philosophy was to ensure that Little Fatty Girl and Xiao Pingguo led as “normal” lives as possible. This naturally included their diet. Especially for Little Fatty Girl, who was in her growing years, she couldn’t get addicted to the taste of virtual food.

Since Xiang Kun was not around, she naturally had to exercise control and impose restrictions. After all, she “developed” the “Illusion Reality” ability.

It was only after Old Xia set the manifestation limit on “Xiang Kun cuisine” that Tang Baona, Yang Zhen Er, and Xiao Pingguo started taking Little Fatty Girl around in Pengcheng City and surrounding cities to “sweep the streets” for delicious food, and even actively guided and encouraged businesses to adjust their dishes to match their taste.

Of course, as the one who proposed the manifestation limit, Old Xia led by example — she pledged to stick to the limit of six “Xiang Kun cuisine” manifestations a month. The “food” manifested during fights was naturally not included — that wasn’t meant to be eaten.

Although Old Xia has a strong obsession with food and delicacies, she also possesses a formidable power of self-control. Normally engulfed in her research related to “mutants” and various affairs of the base, she often eats at the appointed times in the cafeteria with her colleagues. They eat for speed and satiety. It’s only when Tang Baona and Yang Zhen’er come to visit her that they’d collectively make a visit to the Youlong Restaurant for a quality meal.

It’s just like before she met Xiang Kun, Yang Zhen’er had no idea that her cousin was so particular about her food and possessed such insightful viewpoints, essentially being a little foodie at her core.

As a result, Old Xia almost always has leftover “comanifestation” quota every month. This time around, while in the car, she remembered she had some bread left in the backpack Xiang Kun gave her, and decided to manifest her most beloved “Crispy Pig’s Elbow” to eat.

Accompanied by the co-manifested “Crispy Pig’s Elbow”, Xia Libing quickly finished three slices of bread, drank some mineral water, let out a satisfied sigh, burped, and then continued driving.

Having already eaten, rather than going to Tong Shi Town, Xia Libing decided to drive straight to Jianzhou City Airport to head to Peng City.

Tomorrow would be July 1st, and July 2nd was Xiang Kun’s birthday. Even though Xiang Kun wasn’t present now, they still maintained the tradition of gathering for a meal together on July 1st.

Xia Libing knew that her cousin, Sister Nana, and the others were subtly trying to give her a break from her work and research to offer her some relaxation by using this occasion as a pretext. After all, most of the time, her cousin, Nana, Apple, and Xiao Lingdang all lived together in Peng City and didn’t need to go out of their way to find time to gather.

At this time, Nana, her cousin, Xiao Pingguo, and Xiao Lingdang were still carrying out their tasks in Bratislava. Likely, they would start their journey back home soon after completing their tasks today. Under Alice’s travel coordination, it was certain that they would arrive in Peng City in time for dinner tomorrow.

If Xia Libing arrived in Peng City earlier today, it would offer her a chance to chat with Xiao Lingdang, check on her studies and interests in detail. Although Alice would usually provide updates on Xiao Lingdang’s status, and Xiao Lingdang often visited Chongyun Village with Yang Zhen’er during holidays, it never felt the same as being up close. Plus, when they visited, discussing technical matters wasn’t ideal. Now that Xiao Lingdang just finished her finals and was in a relaxed mood, it was a perfect opportunity for communication.

Xia Libing could feel that Xiao Lingdang was putting too much pressure on herself, getting overly engrossed in the development of her capability system. Although she desired to display her powers, and yearned for combat opportunities, developing her powers and abilities made the pressure on her grow even greater.

Under the current circumstances, Xia Libing couldn’t possibly let a grade school student handle issues related to “mutants” – despite the fact that Xiao Lingdang’s destructive capabilities already ranked in the top three under the “Super sensory Item System”.

However, Xia Libing wasn’t overly concerned about this. She understood Xiao Lingdang so well that she had faith that she could keep Xiao Lingdang satisfied in her school life, reducing her obsession about “fighting monsters, making full use of her magic”. Once Xiao Lingdang graduated from junior high school, she could offer her an internship at the base, making her realize there was hope in unleashing her capabilities and thus get her heart back on track with her studies.

Of course, if by that time Xiang Kun were to wake up and return, none of these problems would exist – as long as Xiang Kun was present, Xiao Lingdang’s heart would be at peace as her drive would return back to “become stronger to fight alongside ‘Uncle Bald’ “, rather than her current motivation of “become strong enough to protect mama, my sisters, and Xiao Luosi.” Then, she would be able to unload the burden she put on her fragile little shoulders.

Upon reaching Jianzhou City Airport, Xia Libing parked her GL8, which seemed quite ancient in comparison to the times, in the parking lot. She hoisted her well-aged backpack loaded with charming character over her shoulders, and then leisurely strolled into the airport lobby.

The research base had a dedicated team of chauffeurs, possessing many vehicles far superior and more comfortable than her old GL8 model, responsible for transporting the base’s experts and senior researchers.

As the Head of the Research Base, by rights, Xia Libing should have a personal driver, a dedicated assistant, and even security personnel. She shouldn’t have to drive an old business car to catch a flight. However, Xia Libing was used to her independence, and never needed an assistant even in the base—Alice was enough, as no assistant could match the synergy between Alice and her.

As for driving, she would use the base’s designated transport and accompany the base’s staff on the trip when there were “official” occasions. However, if it was a private trip, she would definitely drive herself, particularly with her old GL8.

It’s not entirely because she wanted to be alone in the car. If that were the case, Alice could modify an automated vehicle to fit her requirements at any time. Even this GL8, without modifications, Alice could take control and operate it—because over 95% of the components of this car were “Super-connected objects.”

Xia Libing simply likes driving this car. She doesn’t know if driving this car would remind her of how she used to drive everyone around in Chongyun Village. Every time she drove this car, an indescribable atmosphere enveloped her, it was fleeting and hard to describe, but it was real.

She enjoyed this feeling.

After processing the procedures and passing through security, Xia Libing, holding her bag, sat in the terminal, waiting for boarding.

The waiting area was crowded. Behind her was a group of enthusiastic senior citizens discussing their itinerary upon reaching their destination, sharing snacks and fruits among themselves.

To her left was a couple who were cuddling closely, exchanging sweet nothings, and teasing each other.

Beyond the young couple was a middle-aged man, full of smiles, engaged in a video call on his phone, apparently with his child.

To Xia Libing’s right was a family of three, who appeared to have just completed their West Sea excursion and were preparing to return. The couple and their child were currently watching videos from the trip, filled with constant laughter.

Next to the family was a young woman in her twenties, holding her phone horizontally and engrossed in a game, occasionally cursing under her breath.

Xia Libing looked at her own reflection on the glass in front of her and felt as if she and the others around her lived in two different worlds. She couldn’t help but be reminded of a saying:

“The joys and sorrows of people don’t resonate with each other, I only find their noise disturbing.”

However, she quickly realized this doesn’t apply to her as she didn’t find others “noisy”. If she needed to think or concentrate, she would automatically tune out the noise around her. This was a “talent” she had even before she met Xiang Kun.

As for the first half of the quote… she does share joys and sorrows with people, but only with one person and only when she shares happiness and sorrow with him does she herself experience them.

In the many years since Xiang Kun entered a transformational “hibernation”, the more Xia Libing researched “mutant” characteristics, and the deeper her connection with the “Super Sensory Item System” became, the more she was convinced that in order to break through her emotional experience and possess a richer emotional experience, she must rely on Xiang Kun’s Emotional Assimilation.

To acquire new emotional perceptions through Emotional Assimilation, and then establish corresponding emotional habits through repeated scenarios, is her sole method to experience normal emotions.

In the years that Xiang Kun has been absent, Xia Libing has been repeatedly creating conditions for the spontaneous perception of several emotions she has already experienced, intensifying these emotions, and expanding their trigger range. Now when she watches Xiao Lingdang, Yang Zhen Er and Xiao Pingguo practicing their new crosstalk, she occasionally finds it amusing. However, it’s not amusing enough to make her laugh out loud, so she might seem indifferent from the outside.

Though not as vocal as Sister Nana, Old Three, Xiao Lingdang, and Xiao Pingguo, Xia Libing was in fact the one who most hoped for Xiang Kun’s return. Only Xiang Kun could bring her new emotional experiences, only Xiang Kun could help her answer some of the questions about “mutant” characteristics that even Alice couldn’t figure out, and only Xiang Kun could help her verify some new hypotheses about the essence of high-dimensional factors.

Xia Libing suddenly stood up and walked towards the reflective glass, stopping half a meter away. She looked at her own reflection and suddenly made a grimace by squeezing her face with one hand and pushing her nose upwards with another while rolling her eyes.

The next moment, she felt a very powerful emotion. So, she let go of her hands, hugged the backpack on her chest, and burst into laughter.

Looking at her radiant and somewhat unfamiliar smile reflected in the glass, Xia Libing suddenly realized something.

A small silhouette appeared beside her, leaning against her leg. In the glass reflection, Alice, who appeared beside her, was also in stitches.

Xia Libing looked down at her. Alice raised her little face to meet her gaze, their jovial expressions still lingering.

“Did he wake up?” Xia Libing suddenly asked.

The “amusing” emotion just now was so intense, something she had not experienced in these five years. and the sudden appearance of Alice was without her permission.

Though Alice could prearrange for all the monitoring and electronic devices that might capture her image in such a crowded place, and distract anyone who might be looking her way, under normal circumstances, she would have no need to do this.

Clearly, something big had happened.

“Hehe.” Alice hugged Xia Libing’s thigh, squirming her body with a goofy smile on her face.