Am I going to be controlled by the players too?

"The Judgment of the End of Light, Sylvia de Claire"

"Intimacy: 8 (38% talent attribute sharing)"

Level: 19

Combat Power: 2500

"Inherent Talents: Collector, Baki"

"Spark: Burning at the stake, puppetry"

"Should we synchronize the data?"

"Data synchronization in progress..."

"Synchronization complete."

"Cheng Cheng, the One Who Never Dawned"

Level: 8

Combat Power: 950

"Inherent Talents: Collector, Baki"

"Spark: Burning at the stake, puppetry"

The first thing to do after exiting the game is to synchronize the data.

Cheng Cheng's initial combat power was 1 point, which reached 8 points after the first level of synchronization. And this time, after the intimacy level was brought back to a positive number, the synchronized combat power soared to 950 points!

Of course, combat power isn't calculated through simple addition or multiplication. Otherwise, when his combat power reaches 8 points, he wouldn't just be slightly stronger than the human limit, but a super soldier eight times stronger than a human—this involves a set of calculation formulas that a sports student like Cheng Cheng simply can't understand, and the values ​​are also diluted…

Even so, his combat power skyrocketed to 950, making Cheng Cheng a superhuman!

Back then, Sylvia's combat power of 800 was enough to slaughter a group of cultists stronger than the human limit, and she could fight against Cicero, a Silver-ranked cultist. Her combat power was comparable to that of Spider-Man in his normal state. How strong is she now?

Cheng Cheng thought for a moment, then opened the door, preparing to go out and test it out.

But on the living room sofa, the mother held her sister's hand, earnestly persuading her:

“Baby, Cheng Cheng can earn money now, so Mom isn’t worried, but Mom is worried about you… Your dad and Mom both hope you can take the teacher’s exam. How’s your study going, preparing for the teacher’s exam at home?”

The older sister sighed: "I have worked hard, and now I'm a fan fiction writer. Many people online call me 'teacher'."

Mother: "...So when are you planning to find a partner? You're not getting any younger, and I'm counting on holding my grandson..."

Sister: "Actually, many people online call me 'wife,' and when we play games, many people call me 'mom.'"

Mother: "You... I mean, real marriage. Can you really go your whole life without getting married?"

"So what?" the older sister roared. "My teacher, Jing Liyuan, said that marriage is the objectification and oppression of women by a patriarchal society! I've awakened to this! I don't want to get married!"

Mother:"……"

Cheng Cheng: "..."

If you ask me, Mom, you shouldn't try it. My sister is the kind of girl who graduated with a law degree. She's independent, sensitive, and a bit slow to warm up to people. She has a brother who's five years younger than her and a brother who's twenty-three years younger. Her three favorite books are *Women at the Grassroots Level*, *The Second Sex*, and *Misogyny*. Her three favorite historical figures are Wu Zetian, Empress Lü, and Cixi. Her three favorite movies are *Good Things*, *Hot and Spicy*, and *The Determination to Leave*. Her three most frequently used apps are Xiaohongshu, Douban, and Weibo. She enjoys watching talk shows and playing otome games. When in doubt, she consults astrology; when unsure about external matters, she consults tarot. She's currently studying to become a teacher. Her hobbies include travel, coffee, and baking. She's a long-time member of various fanfiction and BL (Boys' Love) communities. Her latest song is a cover of "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (Wishing you prosperity). Her latest new lyrics are "Lao Tian Nai" (Goddess), "Tai Di Le" (Too good), and "Mu Xi Mu Xi" (Mother's Joy). She yearns for the absurdity and beauty of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties. She only goes to women-only gyms, hotels, and bars. Her social media signature is a quote from Simone de Beauvoir. She wears new clothes without cutting off the tags. She's a staunch believer in the seven-day no-reason return policy and refund-only policies of major e-commerce platforms…

If any brave soul were to meet my sister and marry her, I would deeply respect her for her heroic sacrifice and selfless dedication.

The air in the living room froze for three seconds.

The mother's eyes widened as she looked at her older sister, who had a "Barzebu, I've awakened" expression, and then at Cheng Cheng, who was standing at the door watching the show with amusement. A vein throbbed on her forehead.

"Teacher Jing Liyuan?" the mother said, emphasizing each word. "What teacher? Have you joined some cult?!"

She slammed her hand on the sofa armrest: "I've already had enough of Cheng Cheng's problems these past few years, with him believing in all sorts of gods like the Water God, Thunder God, Fire God, and Grass God! I finally managed to get him back on track with Traditional Chinese Medicine, and he hasn't mentioned it much lately, and now you've started believing in cults too?!"

"Mom!" My sister stood up, her voice rising, "This is women's awakening! It's the liberation of thought! We women have been oppressed by patriarchal society for thousands of years, and now is the time for—"

"I don't care about any awakening!" her mother interrupted, her hands trembling with anger. "At least your brother used to just play games, but you're rebelling! The wisdom of our ancestors—the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic—says that women's liver is their innate constitution, and it needs to be nurtured gently and calmed! You're always talking about awakening, and look how much liver fire you've built up!!"

Cheng Cheng stood at the door, silently raising his hand to his forehead.

Here it comes again.

A self-taught TCM mom vs. a self-aware older sister: The strongest in ancient times vs. the strongest in modern times.

He had watched this play since he was a child, and each time it ended with his mother bringing up "the wisdom of our ancestors" and his sister slamming the door and going back to her room.

But today, it seems my sister isn't going to hold back anymore.

"It's the old ancestor again!" the older sister shrieked, her eyes instantly reddening. "Mom! Can't you open your eyes and look at this world?! The old ancestor, the old ancestor, the old ancestor still had bound feet!"

“Indeed,” Cheng Cheng raised his hand in agreement. “Such crimes of destroying the natural beauty of jade feet are simply too numerous to count!”

"I'm doing this for your own good!" The mother stood up as well. "You're a girl, not taking the civil service exam, not getting married, and spending all your time writing that nonsense online. How are you going to live? What will you do when you get old? Huh?!"

"I don't need you to do what's best for me!" The older sister's voice trembled with tears. "This family of origin has been a burden to me for long enough! Dad only knows how to play 'Three Kingdoms Kill' all day long, and Mom, all you know is traditional Chinese medicine. You don't understand what I want at all!"

Cheng Cheng couldn't help but nod in support: "Indeed, this family is finished... Even the Primordial Spirit knows what kind of parents we want."

If we had a mother like Narcida and a father like Arecino, there wouldn't be so many extraordinary people in the family.

"You, didn't I already cure your illness with traditional Chinese medicine?" The mother was stunned.

“Cheng Cheng, you…” The older sister was also stunned. She didn’t expect Cheng Cheng to stand on her side, and tears welled up instantly.

She rushed to Cheng Cheng and grabbed his hand: "You, you really understand me! We're truly siblings! Let's elope and leave this house together!"

Cheng Cheng: "Huh?"

"Yes! Run away from home!" The older sister seemed to have made up her mind. "I'm going to pursue true freedom! My true self! Brother, my soulmate! My comrade-in-arms! We must go together!"

Cheng Cheng: "No, sis, I have something to do—"

"What do you want?!" The older sister's eyes widened. "The novel 'Primordial Spirit' has been updated again?"

"I'll update tomorrow."

"Then you'll be alright!" His sister firmly pulled him back. "You're so rich, if I didn't take you with me, what would I eat if I ran away from home?"

"Yes, what do you want to eat?"

"Tonight I want to eat at an all-female hot pot restaurant."

"...Then what should I eat? Let's go to Haidilao."

Cheng Cheng was led towards the door by the arm, and turned to give his mother a wink:

Don't worry, Mom, I'll persuade my sister to come home.

Mother:"……"

Good heavens, they're all ungrateful wretches who can't be tamed! They're driving me crazy!

Go, go! All of you, go! Don't come back!

…………

The streets are bathed in the glow of evening lights.

The older sister walked with a light step, like a bird released from its cage. Cheng Cheng followed behind her, his hands in his pockets.

"Little brother, do you know why I insisted on dragging you along?" The older sister, with her hands behind her back, suddenly turned around. "I bought tickets for tonight's stand-up comedy show! I was originally planning to go with my best friend, but I didn't expect you to understand me so well. Do you want to come with me?!"

Cheng Cheng: "...I don't want to go."

"No! You have to go!" His sister grabbed his arm. "Today's stand-up comedian is Jing Liyuan! Didn't you just say you understood me at home? Then you definitely should go and listen!"

Cheng Cheng tried to argue: "Sis, I'm not interested in stand-up comedy, I want to go back to playing games—"

"Games, games! All you ever do is play games!" The older sister snapped angrily. "Cheng Cheng, you're nineteen already! It's time to face reality! It's time to think about society! It's time—"

"Okay, okay, I'll go." Cheng Cheng raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, I'll go, okay?"

Anyway, there's nothing else to do.

I don't want to play Fate/Grand Order for now. Mu Yuan said she'd go in a couple of days, and I can't find a suitable testing site right now—I'll just play along with the idiots.

The two had eaten at Haidilao near a shopping mall in the city center. The talk show was being filmed inside the mall, which was covered with promotional posters.

"Awakening Night: Stand-up Comedy Special"

Speaker: Jing Liyuan

Time: 20:30 PM tonight

Location: Third floor multi-functional hall

The poster shows Ms. Jing Liyuan wearing glasses and having a gentle smile, yet she somehow gives Cheng Cheng the impression of being extremely aggressive.

"Hurry up, hurry up, it's about to start!" The older sister excitedly pulled Cheng Cheng onto the elevator.

A queue had already formed at the entrance of the multi-functional hall on the third floor. Cheng Cheng glanced at it and saw a group of girls, ranging from teenage girls to women in their fifties and sixties, gathered in twos and threes, talking in hushed tones, all with similar expressions of excitement on their faces.

Cheng Cheng was the only male present.

As he followed his sister into the venue, dozens of eyes instantly focused on him, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, some with vigilance, and most with undisguised disgust.

"Sis," Cheng Cheng said in a low voice, "this sounds like an all-female talk show—did I come at the wrong time?"

"No, you've come at just the right time!" His sister patted his hand. "Teacher Jing Liyuan said that we must unite all forces that can be united—as long as you sincerely support our struggle, you are our comrade-in-arms!"

“…Maybe we should just forget about it.” Cheng Cheng smirked. “I still prefer watching all-male stand-up comedy.”

Are there any stand-up comedy shows?

"Yes!" Cheng Cheng nodded. "It's like that kind of place, in a small bar, where grown men get together to drink beer, set up a platform and microphone, and listen to a host give a speech. The opening usually involves telling some boring, hellish jokes, like, 'Do you know the difference between basketball and prison?'"

"One is a person, and the other is a ball?"

"No, the difference is that a basketball can bounce when it's hit the ground, but a big one can't."

"...It's not because I'm bored." The older sister laughed in exasperation. "And then?"

"Once the jokes are almost over, the men can start complaining about their lives, fueled by alcohol—everyone goes on stage to say a few words, and then the host can suddenly ask, 'Is this how the world is supposed to be? Do you know how much a loaf of bread costs these days?'"

"It seems this host is a failed art student."

"If you ask me, can't we tolerate bread costing 500,000 marks? These young people are never satisfied," Cheng Cheng sneered. "Back in the day, we old-timers were just grateful to be able to eat something hot next to a volcanic geyser. We used to be quite content just to flick our whips near a hydrothermal vent."

"That's definitely a long-standing seniority."

The siblings chatted casually until the show was about to start, at which point they slowly lined up to enter the venue.

The venue wasn't large, accommodating about two hundred people. The lighting was dimmed, and a standing microphone was placed in the center of the stage. Cheng Cheng and his sister found seats towards the back.