Lucien - Cherished Date
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️
💜 A date from CN server which hasn’t been released in EN server.
Phone call here
Translations under the cuts~
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MC: “This exhibition hall requires self-service experience. If you encounter equipment problems, please go to the workshop in front of the experience room and ask the staff for help."
The walls of the hall are snow-white, and two lines of reminders are projected on the walls by blue lasers. Below is a brief introduction to the exhibition.
Days ago, Lucien invited me to experience the life sciences in the institute. An experimental project made by a doctoral student——Virtual space exhibition.
Different from the VR experience, participants need to enter a designated device, connect their brains through special equipment, and put their consciousness into a virtual space.
MC: ...The theme is "The Beauty of Missing"?
MC: Unexpectedly, a project with such a sense of technology has chosen a nostalgic theme! I began to wonder what will I see!
Lucien: I think it should be an unexpected sight for both of us.
Lucien smiled and took the ticket.
Lucien: I was invited to participate in the internal testing of this project. The original intention of the researchers was to use cutting-edge technology to bring healing to the human spirit.
Lucien: By storing the good things that people miss, a small world with good meaning is built in the virtual space.
MC: Is this the legendary "science student romance"?
Lucien: You could say that.
I followed Lucien to check the tickets in front of the gate, took a guide book, and walked down the corridor to the experience room.
MC: "The pavilion equipment system will capture and materialize the objects that you have conceived in your mind with strong and beautiful emotions."
MC: "Due to the limited storage capacity of the virtual space, each guest can only leave one exhibit, please make a decision after careful consideration."
I muttered to myself and read the introduction in the manual again.
MC: So.. wait a minute, the system will automatically generate something from what am I thinking?
Lucien: It can be understood that way.
MC: Then I have to control my brain! After all. there is only one chance, it has to be thoughtful.
Seeing me being serious, Lucien couldn’t help but laugh.
Lucien: It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you want to leave on the way. There is one more chance to choose at the end of the exhibition hall.
Lucien: So you can think slowly.
Lucien: It is not too late to make a decision after viewing the exhibits left by everyone.
Lucien and I walked into the reserved experience room and took out two metal boxes containing the equipment from the wall cabinet.
The silver box body glows with cold light, and the small metal magnets, earphones, bracelets and glasses are neatly placed inside.
The wearing instructions on the inside of the box cover looked a bit complicated. I looked up at Lucien and blinked.
MC: Professor Lucien, may I ask for live demonstration of the manual?
Lucien smiled and took my equipment box naturally.
Lucien: Sure. However, it is more convenient to demonstrate on you, you I ask this classmate to cooperate.
I immediately sat up straight and moved closer to Lucien. He leaned down, gathered my hair with one hand and pressed the magnetic sticker lightly against the skin of my temple with the other hand.
A slight tingling ran behind the ear, which seem to be a brief reaction of the skin after wearing the magnetic patch.
Lucien's fingers lightly brushed the skin near the tile, as if to relieve the tingling feeling.
Lucien: There will be a slight current sense here, which is a normal phenomenon, and it will be fine after a while.
I nodded, followed his example and put on the device for him, then pressed the switch on the bracelet.
In the next second, the eyes were covered with a thick layer of black, and the body suddenly felt weightless for a moment, as if falling from the clouds.
The dimly lit room in the field of vision was replaced by the light that gradually brightened, and the originally cramped room became a wide world.
I looked at my feet, and now they were not hanging on a chair, but stepping on a piece of water.
Above the head was a night sky full of stars, and the stars fell into snow-like spots of light and disappeared into the lake below.
The lake and night stretched forward to a verdant shore with a soft dividing line between morning and evening, transitioning to the clear sky in the distance.
Curiously, I squatted down and stretched my fingers to the lake, and my fingertips actually felt the water was flowing.
Facing such a quiet and beautiful scenery, I could not help lowering my voice.
MC: It's amazing, how is this real touch projected?
Lucien: The devices we wear simulate nerve conduction, which can trick your brain into thinking you're in contact with water.
MC: In reality, I won't be squatting and touching the water...
Lucien: In reality, we are now sitting quietly, and only consciousness has come to this virtual space.
I looked at the open scenery in front of me and nodded my head clearly.
MC: No wonder the experience room is so small, but this one looks so big.
Lucien curved the corners of his lips and took my hand.
Lucien: The science of the principle is over, and then, it is time for us to actually experience this rich world.
I followed Lucien forward, and the reflection of the starlight spread out like silver ripples with us as the center.
We approached the bright colors in our field of vision, which turned out to be a few river lamps scattered on the water, and the warm light reflected the surroundings.
MC: Lucien, at first glance these look like the scenery in the scene, but they are actually exhibits left by the guests, right?
Lucien: Well, while they blend in nicely with the scene, a closer look reveals that they have different styles.
MC: It seems that everyone has a good design when they leave things.
Saying that, I saw a small black shadow hovering in front of me - it turned out to be a magpie ready to fly.
One of its wings looked smaller than the other, but it was still flapping hard, trying to fly into the clear sky.
MC: Lucien, look at the wings of this magpie...
Lucien: It's supposed to be a somewhat flawed little guy.
MC: .... Why would anyone leave a wounded magpie behind?
Based on the theme of the exhibition, I thought, does this magpie entrust the beauty that someone misses?
As if seeing through my mind, Lucien spoke softly.
Lucien: I guess, this man may have rescued the magpie, and the magpie also spent a happy time with him.
Lucien: He chose to leave the magpie flying, hoping that it would return to freedom.
I looked at the magpie stubbornly flapping its wings again, and a strange emotion sprouted in my heart.
MC: It looks lonely, it would be nice if there were other companions around...
MC: I believe that those who leave it must also hope that it can find its own companion and survive strong.
This idea just flashed, and a little light gathered around the magpie. After the light dissipated, another magpie appeared unexpectedly.
At the same time, the bracelet on my wrist turned red. I was stunned, and Lucien also blinked in surprise.
I looked at the two magpies flying together and reacted with hindsight.
MC: It turns out that such thoughts will also be captured...
Lucien touched his chin thoughtfully.
Lucien: Perhaps your thoughts and emotions just now were strong, and the system made a misjudgment.
I looked at the round magpie I imagined. It looked much bigger than the original magpie and flew in front, as if to protect it.
MC: I didn't expect one of my chances to be used up like this...but it's good to have a partner here.
Maybe it was because I still looked a little regretful, Lucien touched my head and raised the ring of green light on his hand.
Lucien: Don't feel sorry.
Lucien: After all, "we" have a chance, don't we?
We followed the direction of the sign composed of stars and came to the junction of morning and evening.
The lake was sparkling, and a tall maple tree stood on the shore without the wind. The maple leaves fell down and scattered on the ground as light dust.
Under the tree, there was an unfolded fairy tale book.
The fiery red maple forest reminded me of a somewhat distant memory subconsciously, and I couldn't help but raise the corners of my lips.
MC: Professor Lucien, don't you think this scenery is somewhat familiar?
I looked at Lucien, a gentle light spread in his eyes, and he obviously remembered the same time.
Lucien: Well, if I remember correctly, a little girl gave me a big gift when I was in Canada.
Looking at Lucien's dark pupils, the memory seemed to be turned on by a switch, and the trip was replayed in my mind.
At that time, the scenery reflected in my eyes was still as clear as yesterday, overlapping with this moment.
The worries and unease that plagued me at that time have long since disappeared in the long time we spent together.
MC: Thinking about it, it's been a long time since we went to Canada together.
Lucien raised his eyebrows, and the corners of his eyes revealed a smile.
Lucien: For a long time? I think it is very short, after all, the gift you promised me at that time has not been delivered yet.
MC: Speaking of this... Professor Lucien, we're on the same boat.
I remembered what he had said to me under the maple tree in Canada and decided to tease him.
MC: I raised my head, winked at him, and gave a smile that I thought was similar to "Lucien".
MC: We still have a long time before I can give you this gift bit by bit.
Lucien showed a helpless smile for my imitation.
Lucien: That...I keep looking forward to it.
A maple leaf fell from the scattered branches to the tip of his hair, and then scattered into a shimmer, falling on our hands.
Through those scattered spots of light, I suddenly saw a manor at the end of the clear sky.
MC: Lucien, look! There's a house over there!
Lucien looked in the direction I pointed, and under the shade of plants, the hut in the manor looked a little mysterious.
Lucien: That house should be the end of the pavilion.
MC: That house looks very stylish! Come on, let's go and see, maybe there will be a surprise.
Lucien and I walked through the exhibition area under the clear sky, saw many lovely exhibits, and finally reached the end of the exhibition hall.
The outer wall of the house is covered with flowering vines, giving it a retro aesthetic.
Lucien opened the old-looking wooden door and made a "please" gesture. In a soft creak, I went inside.
The spacious hall appeared before us, and the exhibits left by the people filled the retro-decorated room.
I looked around and stopped by the window, and there was an old woman with a hunched back sitting on the rattan chair.
The old woman didn't move, not sure if she was resting, so I subconsciously lowered my voice.
MC: Seems like there are other people here, you see.
Lucien looked away from the hanging painting, followed mine, and observed it for a while.
Lucien: If I guessed correctly, it was not a guest who came to experience, but someone who left "her" here.
MC: ?! It turns out that "people" can also be left behind...
Lucien: Since animals can be constructed in a still state as a carrier of good memories, the same should be true for humans.
I nodded thoughtfully, pulled Lucien and walked towards the window.
MC: Then let's go take a look.
Sitting on the rattan chair was an old woman with a bright smile, holding a jar of crystal clear osmanthus nectar, as if she was about to make a cup of sweet nectar water.
The wrinkles, spots, and gray hair on her face were vivid and real.
I can imagine that such a scene will be played out countless times in the afternoon full of warm sunshine.
Even though I knew very well that the scene in front of me was virtual, I could clearly feel the real warmth.
MC: Those who leave her must miss her very much, right? I think...probably her relatives?
Lucien: Maybe, or their relatives.
I blinked my eyes a little puzzled, followed Lucien's line of sight, and turned my eyes back to the old woman again, and suddenly understood something.
MC: Right, everyone can only leave one thing behind. If that so, the nectar jar in the old woman's hand must have been left by another person.
Lucien: Maybe they came to an agreement in many good memories.
Lucien: Although it was just an ordinary moment, it was very precious to these two people.
The bottle of sweet-scented osmanthus nectar reflects the clear light in the sun, and I seem to smell the faint sweetness of such an ordinary moment.
The surroundings became quiet again, and I found that Lucien was silent for a moment, and couldn't help but look up at him.
He was leaning on the bookshelf beside him, the sun was falling on him, and the picture formed was inexplicably quiet.
He stared at the old woman in the sun in a trance, and seemed to see some past through her.
I didn't make a sound, just looked at him quietly through the overflowing sunlight.
Aware of my sight, he lowered his head, his brows and eyes were dyed with a soft smile again, and the plants in the surrounding space seemed to have become a bit greener.
Lucien: Sorry, I just got lost in thought.
The emotion in his eyes flashed, and he quickly returned to his usual appearance, as if the momentary loneliness just now was just my illusion.
I didn't ask any further, I just went over and took his hand.
MC: Let's go... Let's see what's in the other corners.
Coming out the back door of the hut, we saw a wall of shimmering light that reached the sky.
In front of the light wall is the sign of the end of the pavilion—— A suspended transparent screen with a map of the pavilion on it.
Using this map, you can go to the places you have traveled again, and choose your favorite places to leave exhibits.
I turned my eyes to Lucien.
MC: Have you decided what to leave behind?
Lucien didn't answer me directly, but looked down at me and asked me a question.
Lucien: If you don't consider the rule that you can only keep one thing, what do you want to keep?
I pursed my lips and thought, a lot of beautiful pasts popped up in my mind for a while.
MC: ... Although there are many, I want to keep those who can't experience it again.
MC: For example, the doll I liked when I was a child has disappeared like those carefree days...
MC: I want to keep the fictional it here as a souvenir.
MC: And those gifts that have been consumed by time, I want to construct them as they were when I first received them, and put them in the hut.
Watching me talk continuously, Lucien laughed.
Lucien: In fact, it is kind of beautiful. Even if I can experience it for the second time, the mood is different every time.
Lucien: So even though we have seen similar scenery many times, each time is a unique experience for me.
MC: It's like... we've seen maples many times and fireflies many times, but each time, it's very different.
Lucien looked at me and raised his eyebrows.
Lucien: It seems that we had a good experience, you remember it very well
MC: Of course, although my memory is not as good as The Great Professor Lucien, I always remember important people and important things.
MC: No, I was the one who asked you first, so why are you talking about me again...
Lucien: So do you want to guess first?
MC: Want me to guess again?
I rubbed my chin, pretending to think seriously, and secretly raised the corners of my lips.
MC: Actually, when you told me not to consider the rules, I had an idea.
MC: You're not going to leave anything behind, are you?
Lucien nodded calmly and smiled softly.
Lucien: However, I have only just decided. After we saw that old woman.
Lucien: Because no matter what the object that carries the good memories is, what we miss is actually the person who experienced the good things together.
Lucien: This person may be a relative, friend, partner or even yourself
Lucien: And for me, this person is right there with me.
Lucien: I can always follow the memory and have those images play back in front of my eyes.
Listening to Lucien's words, many, many good times that we have experienced together come to my mind.
As big as a super long trip, as small as the three meals we share each day.
These beautiful memories form our shared memories, which will always exist in our minds and make us who we are today.
My heart suddenly felt soft, as if it was filled with so much warm and sweet tastes.
Lucien looked at me in the gentle white light with a gentle expression.
Lucien: Today's experience will surely become a beautiful memory worth thinking about in the future.
MC: Well, this experience is like those precious trips and I'm going to list it as a treasure in my memory!
MC: But I don't know if there will be a chance in the future to experience the beauty of those thoughts again.
MC: I also want to see the aurora, eat maple sugar, go to many, many interesting places, with you in it.
My voice was interrupted by a kiss that suddenly landed on the top of my head, wrapped in a faint herbal fragrance.
Lucien: As long as you want, I will accompany you.
I raised my head, the eyes that were always full of gentle smiles in front of me were close at hand.
As long as I look at him, I know that the good things we miss will always remain in the memory, shining brightly.
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Notes from me: As expected from Lucien’s date! So many date references from this one and bring back many beautiful memories ^^ so happy to be back and translating this date~ hope you guys enjoy reading this date as I do. With Love, xiaomoxu ^^
