"Um... sorry to trouble you."
Although Luo Jie knew exactly what the small card in his hand was for, he hadn't forgotten he was supposed to be playing the role of a newbie player. Acting too knowledgeable would inevitably raise suspicion.
"You can think of this hotline as a dedicated green channel service for dimensional players. Basically, for any issue at all, you can call this number. Within legal boundaries, we'll handle it immediately..." Luo Jie listened with a polite smile as the female soldier meticulously explained.
In short, this was essentially a "privilege hotline."
After all, over 90% of dimensional players came from the lower rungs of society. Upon returning to the real world, they often encountered various difficulties and troubles. In the past, they might have chosen to endure silently. But now, armed with the formidable power granted by their player status, they were more likely to resort to direct, violent confrontation.
The critical issue was that dimensional players weren't just isolated individuals. Shared experiences and similar power levels often led them to see themselves as a distinct group—superhumans separate from ordinary people. If mishandled, this could easily spark widespread discontent or even armed resistance within the entire community. This hotline, imbued with certain privileges, was specifically established to prevent such catastrophic scenarios.
"And what about... illegal things?" Luo Jie teased.
In his previous life, he wouldn't have dared banter so freely with military personnel. But after his rebirth, his mindset had shifted noticeably; his personality had become more playful. Perhaps this was the real him now—the cautiousness of before had just been his true nature suppressed by the constant pressure of survival.
Though she recognized Luo Jie was joking, the young female soldier answered earnestly: "As long as it doesn't endanger public safety or violate social morality, we can still consider it on a case-by-case basis."
"Oh, well then, thank you... Actually, I have something right now that might be borderline illegal, but it definitely shouldn't affect public safety or social morals."
The soldier blinked. "Go ahead. If it's beyond my authority, I'll report it to my superiors."
"Could you possibly arrange a ride home? As you know, taxis aren't exactly lining up on the highway..." Luo Jie shrugged, feigning helplessness.
The soldier burst out laughing, her previously formal tone dissolving. "You are really something... Alright, consider it done."
...
Several hours later, South City District, Tieshan City.
An old fire station residential compound. A black SUV with military plates signaled and slowly rolled through the rust-streaked red iron gate.
Luo Jie thanked the driver who had brought him all the way back, then grabbed his suitcase—salvaged from the wreckage of the highway bus—and hopped out.
In front of the unit door, plastered beyond recognition with layers of flyers and ads, a little girl of about five or six sat on the steps, listlessly nibbling sunflower seeds from a small packet. Her face was exquisitely doll-like, but the right sleeve of her short shirt hung empty, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.
Spotting Luo Jie, the girl immediately stood up, her expression displeased. "Luo Jie, you're late!"
Looking at the pouting little girl, Luo Jie couldn't help but smile warmly, though his heart churned with complex emotions.
This was his sister, Luo Lu. Since their parents died in a car crash when he was eighteen, this little one had been his closest family in the world.
Yet, in his previous life, overwhelmed by the pressures of survival, he had neglected Luo Lu. Unaware of the school bullying she endured due to her disability, he only realized too late. Her eventual suicide had become his deepest regret and unhealed wound.
"Sorry, LuLu. Something happened on the road, delayed me a bit," Luo Jie apologized softly, bending down to scoop her up. He affectionately ruffled her neatly trimmed bob.
Luo Lu seemed dissatisfied with his vague excuse. She swatted away his hand on her head, puffed out her cheeks dramatically, and pinched his face with her chubby little fingers. "You've never been late before! Don't you love me anymore? Do you have another woman out there? Am I not your one and only anymore?"
Huh? She didn't say those last two lines in the previous life. Butterfly effect already?
Luo Jie was both amused and exasperated. He gently pinched her soft cheek in return. "You little drama queen! 'Another woman'? And stop watching those ridiculous soap operas... Never mind. Look what I brought you?" He pulled a strawberry-flavored lollipop from his pocket and dangled it before her eyes.
"You still think I'm a three-year-old?" The little girl shot him a look of pure pity, but still took the lollipop. With practiced ease, she tore off the wrapper with her teeth. As she licked it, she lectured him: "Stop carrying lollipops around! Didn't you see the way those people on the street were looking at you? Believe me, if I yelled right now, I could call over a dozen burly men to teach you a lesson!"
"..."
Just then, a slightly plump middle-aged woman carrying a reusable grocery bag emerged from the unit door. Seeing the siblings, she smiled warmly. "Oh, Xiao Jie! You're back! No wonder little LuLu's been sitting out here since noon waiting..."
"Was not! I took a nap!" Luo Lu's secret was exposed. Her face flushed crimson as she protested vehemently.
"This child..." The woman chuckled, patting the little girl's cheek. She suddenly remembered something and turned to Luo Jie. "By the way, Xiao Jie, are you free tomorrow?"
"Uh, should be, Aunt Li. Need something?"
But as the words left his mouth, a long-buried memory fragment flashed in Luo Jie's mind. He suddenly remembered Aunt Li's purpose.
Aunt Li, however, was too quick. Before he could backtrack, she blurted out: "Great that you're free! I'll text you an address later. Be there tomorrow at 9 AM to meet a girl..."
Luo Lu's eyes widened in astonishment. "Aunt Li... are you... setting my brother up on a blind date?" When outsiders were present, the little imp knew how to behave, never calling her brother by his full name directly.
"Ah, well... you could say that." Aunt Li's smile turned slightly awkward. She rubbed the back of her hand against her ear. "Actually, it's like this. An old friend of mine has a daughter who just graduated university. The girl's quite pretty, so I thought I'd introduce her to my nephew. Everything was set... but just last night, my nephew suddenly backed out! Showed up with some woman over a decade older than him! His whole family is in an uproar now..."