Chen Xi and Qin Lie spent an entire afternoon, hungry to the point of stomach rumbling, finally managing to cobble together a lunch that lacked everything in terms of color, aroma, and flavor.
Yet the two of them ate with great relish, discussing while eating what seasoning this dish was missing, how that dish’s heat control wasn’t quite right, and how they should improve next time.
After finishing their meal, Qin Lie suddenly asked Chen Xi if she wanted to visit the Mogao Caves.
Chen Xi was curled up on the sofa, selecting a movie when she heard this, looking at Qin Lie with surprise.
“Why do you suddenly want to go to the Mogao Caves?”
Qin Lie bit down on his cigarette and walked to the balcony, saying casually, “Just to have a look around.”
Chen Xi thought for a moment and said, “Without reservations, there aren’t many caves we can visit.”
Qin Lie stood on the balcony, turning back to say, “That’s fine.”
In the blazing afternoon sun, they decided to go on a whim and drove to the Mogao Caves.
The two parked their car in the parking lot. Chen Xi, familiar with the route, led Qin Lie to the emergency visit ticket office to buy tickets, then boarded the scenic area shuttle bus.
Outside the car window, under the azure sky, the continuous, earthy yellow rocky mountains stood quietly.
Chen Xi pointed to the caves that occasionally appeared on the mountain and said to Qin Lie, “Those are the Northern Caves, not open to the public. The murals inside were restored by my father.”
Her voice was soft, with a trace of unconscious pride on her face.
Qin Lie smiled and looked out at the clear window.
After getting off the shuttle bus, they crossed a stone bridge over the Dang River and entered the scenic area.
There weren’t many tourists in the afternoon. They waited under the shade of trees for a short while before a tour guide led them into the park.
While listening to the guide’s explanations, they visited several caves.
Qin Lie had accompanied Wang Danyang and Zhou Ning to the Mogao Caves just three months ago.
At that time, he had followed behind the two of them, viewing everything superficially without paying much attention to the guide’s explanations.
This time, however, he listened very attentively. Every time they entered a cave, he observed very carefully.
His expression carried a trace of faint contemplation.
After the visit, the two walked hand in hand on the tree-lined path outside the caves.
Tall poplar trees stood straight beside the road. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled.
Chen Xi looked up at Qin Lie and said with a smile, “You listened quite seriously just now. How did you suddenly become interested in the Mogao Caves?”
Qin Lie was gazing somewhat absent-mindedly at the weathered rock wall. Hearing Chen Xi’s voice, he suddenly said out of nowhere, “They can be replicated.”
Chen Xi laughed and said, “Yes, our city museum has a scale replica of Cave 45 from the Mogao Caves.”
Qin Lie said nothing, holding Chen Xi’s hand as they walked slowly.
Without realizing it, the two had walked to the front of the Nine-Storey Tower.
Qin Lie stopped, looking up at the magnificent pavilion built against the mountain.
The vermilion flying eaves thrust diagonally into the azure sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
Chen Xi also looked up at the Nine-Storey Tower, sighing with a smile, “When I was little, I thought this building was tall.”
Qin Lie asked, “What about now?”
Chen Xi replied, “It’s still very tall.”
She closed one eye and extended her thumb and index finger, measuring the tower from afar, just like when she was a child.
Qin Lie looked down at her curved lips, her hair blown against her cheek by the wind, her expression as happy as a little child.
His heart felt as if a small opening had been torn. Chen Xi’s curved lips, her squinting eyes.
The vermilion Nine-Storey Tower before them, the azure sky behind them.
Along with that endless Gobi Desert, all came gushing into his heart, transforming into rolling homesickness that surged toward his limbs and bones.
He had never, like in this moment, loved Dunhuang so much, loved this place where he had grown up since childhood.
“Chen Xi.”
Qin Lie suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?”
Chen Xi withdrew her gaze from the Nine-Storey Tower and looked at Qin Lie with a smile.
Qin Lie said, “What I mentioned is using VR technology to replicate these caves.”
Chen Xi wasn’t surprised and said with a smile, “That already exists. You can find it online.”
Qin Lie shook his head.
“I mean using my VR technology to create a replica, making the Mogao Caves into a unique digital treasure.”
He looked up at the Nine-Storey Tower, light flowing in his eyes.
Perhaps one day, Dunhuang would become a desert on the map, the Mogao Caves would become sand in the wind, and his and Chen Xi’s souls would no longer be able to find the place where they were once buried.
But this Gobi Desert they loved, the miracle that generations of Dunhuang people had guarded on this desert, would exist forever in another form.
Chen Xi looked up at Qin Lie, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.
She saw the light in his eyes.
A light she had never seen before.
With the 3.0 beta test approaching, although Qin Lie wasn’t in Beijing, he was still busy day and night.
Chen Xi occasionally stayed at Qin Lie’s place and discovered that he could only sleep about four hours a day during this period.
When he woke up, he would dive straight into his study, either on phone calls or video conferences.
When Qin Lie worked late at night, Chen Xi liked to sit beside him and draw.
Qin Lie had even specially ordered an adjustable reclining chair online for this purpose.
When Chen Xi got tired of drawing, she would recline in the chair and play games.
Wearing one of Qin Lie’s T-shirts, her two fair, long legs crossed, feet resting on Qin Lie’s legs.
Qin Lie was too busy to spare his hands, so he could only practice the emptiness of desire.
Occasionally, when he reached his limit, video conferences would come to an abrupt halt.
After the two had their fun in the study, Qin Lie would sit back at the computer with a composed expression.
Chen Xi would curl up lazily in the chair, watching him continue his busy work.
Chen Xi discovered that besides Daybreak, Qin Lie had been in frequent contact with a VR company called FW lately.
From their communications, Chen Xi vaguely felt that what was gradually exciting Qin Lie wasn’t the 3.0 beta test, but rather what he was discussing with the VR company.
This matter was what Qin Lie had personally mentioned to her that day, standing under the azure clear sky, under the silent gaze of the Nine-Storey Tower at the Mogao Caves.
When Chen Xi first heard his words, her blood boiled for an instant.
But after that instant, Chen Xi calmed down.
Not to mention whether using VR technology to create a one-to-one replica of the Mogao Caves could achieve technical perfection.
Just thinking about the required financial investment made Chen Xi afraid to continue thinking.
She thought Qin Lie’s words under the Nine-Storey Tower were just something he had blurted out in that moment, under the blue sky and white clouds, in the vast heaven and earth, before the thousand-year-old ancient tower, when his emotions surged.
Just a dream, and dreams could be wild and fanciful, but shouldn’t be taken seriously.
But Qin Lie was discussing this matter with the VR company, day after day, never stopping.
Chen Xi couldn’t understand those profound technical terms, but she could understand that he was serious.
This evening, after Qin Lie finished his video conference, he sat in his swivel chair, stretching his stiff shoulders and neck. Chen Xi entered the study carrying a plate of washed grapes.
“Have some fruit.”
Chen Xi placed the grapes on the desk and pulled over her swivel chair to sit down.
Qin Lie ate a grape and casually opened a software program on his computer.
His brows slightly furrowed, he focused intently on a 3D model of Mogao Cave murals, pondering something.
Chen Xi watched him for a while before asking, “What are you looking at?”
Qin Lie replied, “Nothing much, just checking the resolution.”
Chen Xi leaned forward to look at the 3D model on the screen.
“It’s very clear. Even the cracks on the wall can be seen clearly.”
Qin Lie said nothing, opening another model.
The same scene suddenly struck Chen Xi’s eyes, making her gaze brighten.
“You don’t know until you compare.”
She said with a smile, “This one is practically immersive.”
Qin Lie smiled, “This is just a simple model. The finished product will be even better.”
Chen Xi leaned back in her chair, looking at Qin Lie. She was silent for a moment before asking, “This must be very expensive, right?”
Qin Lie hummed in agreement, continuing to stare at the screen.
Chen Xi called, “Qin Lie.”
Qin Lie responded, “Hmm?”
Chen Xi asked, “With such a large investment and no profit, what are you after?”
Qin Lie’s gaze finally moved away from the screen. He leaned back in his chair, and when he spoke, his voice was calm.
“I’m a businessman. I wouldn’t do anything that doesn’t make money.”
Chen Xi said, “But I can’t see how you could make money from this.”
Qin Lie smiled and asked Chen Xi, “What do you think is the most profitable business?”
Chen Xi thought and said, “Real estate.”
Qin Lie asked again, “What kind of properties sell well?”
Chen Xi answered without thinking, “Of course, properties with good locations and good surroundings.”
Qin Lie asked, “In the virtual world, what counts as good location and good surroundings?”
Chen Xi looked at Qin Lie with surprise, asking in confusion, “Virtual worlds have locations?”
Qin Lie replied, “Yes, the essence of society is resource distribution. The essence of the metaverse is a virtual society. As long as it’s a society, resource distribution exists.”
“Resource distribution in virtual society…”
Qin Lie looked at Chen Xi thoughtfully, “What would that be?”
Chen Xi tried to follow Qin Lie’s line of thinking, answering with half understanding, “Those unique things, I suppose.”
Qin Lie smiled, “Smart.”
“Cultural heritage, mountains and rivers, public facilities, landmark buildings, and many more. You can think of them as NFCs.”
Chen Xi asked, “NFC?”
Qin Lie nodded and explained, “Simply put, they’re digital copyright collectibles. In the virtual world, every NFC is unique.”
Chen Xi said, “I know about this. Our museum has also released digital collectibles, but they didn’t sell well.”
Qin Lie smiled, “Truly unique NFCs must also be unique in the real world, like…”
Chen Xi looked at Qin Lie and said thoughtfully, “The Mogao Caves.”
Qin Lie nodded, “The Mogao Caves, the Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City. Every NFC you invest real money in creating now will be a unique existence in the future metaverse. This is true virtual reality.”
Qin Lie leaned forward, placing both arms on the armrests of Chen Xi’s chair, as if encircling her in his embrace.
“Chen Xi.”
He looked at her, his gaze bright, as if holding entire starry seas.
“This is creating worlds.”