Chapter 164: God’s Favor (13)

Chapter 164: Divine Favor (Part Thirteen)

Zhang Daoan swiftly regained his composure, realizing he had possessed his own body within the dream.

Could it be due to the physical contact he had with "himself"?

In front of him, Jie Fangcheng was still awaiting his response.

Zhang Daoan hadn't paid much attention to what had just transpired; he had been single-mindedly determined to strangle this "self" in his dream.

But a quick glance around made it clear.

They were at the 【High Achievement Academy】, in the later stages of the mission. They had nearly completed the mission and were now just waiting for the final exam to arrive.

By that time, Zhang Daoan had confirmed his identity. Initially, he had only thought that this person was connected to the part of his memory he had lost, and if given a chance, he would engage him in conversation, hoping to find some clues from him.

As for now...

"Shall we have a meal together after we leave here?"

Zhang Daoan asked.

Jie Fangcheng looked at him blankly: "...Huh?"

From Jie Fangcheng's perspective, although Zhang Daoan was a decent person, he tended to be somewhat aloof, not keen on interacting with others.

Moreover, he always scrutinized him closely, as if looking for some sort of "evidence" on him... Of course, that ceased later on, and although Jie Fangcheng wasn't particularly bothered by it, he wondered what brought about this sudden dinner invitation.

Zhang Daoan calmly stated, "The dishes at the Player's Restaurant are really delicious, especially the Sweet and Sour Pork and the Braised Meat; they are absolutely exquisite."

"Wow!" Jie Fangcheng suddenly became interested.

However, he hesitated for a moment: "Why do you want to have a meal with me?"

This guy wasn't planning to swindle him, was he?

Zhang Daoan looked at him, "Because I feel that we knew each other a long time ago."

"...Huh?" Jie Fangcheng was taken aback, looking at him in a bewildered manner.

Zhang Daoan had no interest in clearing a game he had already cleared once more, especially if it was in Jie Fangcheng's dream.

But he was very interested in something else.

"Don't you find me familiar, Manager Jie?"

Jie Fangcheng's face was full of question marks, but deep down he indeed faintly felt that the other person was someone he knew well, and that their relationship was quite deep, as if he held him in very high regard.

Yes, high regard.

Despite Jie Fangcheng holding the title of Financial Department Manager, those under him were largely illiterate, barely scraping through the compulsory education in the underworld. His subordinates seemed to reincarnate at a rapid pace, seemingly entering the cycle of rebirth just to avoid classes since the implementation of compulsory education in the underworld.

But looking at Zhang Daoan... this young man was genuinely suitable for his department, one Professor Zhang could equal a hundred of the others.

Huh? Was he that close to this person? Even considering bringing him into the underworld?

This was not a trivial matter. With such a large commotion in the underworld, for someone like Zhang Daoan, even without blood on his hands, it was expected to undergo a lengthy process.

But his intellect truly is remarkable! It would be a waste if he wasn't in the same department as me.

In the dream, Jie Fangcheng vaguely recalled something, but the thought was fleeting.

As he stood there, somewhat lost, suddenly, Tong Shanshan appeared at the doorway.

"Brother Jie, shall we go for a meal together?"

Zhang Daoan looked at her with a blank expression.

But this was Jie Fangcheng's dream; if Jie Fangcheng wasn't aware, it meant the other NPCs in the dream wouldn't know either.

After all, this was a dream, a memory, not a real scenario being replayed.

Everything here, from the previous Liu Yechun to the current Tong Shanshan, were simply characters from his memory, not real individuals with their own thoughts.

The gaze from Zhang Daoan, which could make Qi Chanyang retreat three steps, elicited no response from the dream's Tong Shanshan; she merely shifted her focus to a different target.

"Teacher Zhang is here too."

Zhang Daoan gave her a forced smile and a perfunctory nod, which Tong Shanshan ignored as she walked away.

Jie Fangcheng cheerfully said, "Let's go, let's head to the cafeteria for a meal first."

Upon reaching the cafeteria, Zhang Daoan realized that the food there was quite good.

In fact, during the later stages of the 【High Achievement Academy】 mission, when the "good students" had all dropped out, the school's head chef disappeared, and the food became quite unpalatable.

However, in Jie Fangcheng's dream, the master of the dream seemed unable to accept the reality of "bad food," thereby modifying that dismal experience in his mind, resulting in surprisingly decent food in this simulation.

The dream was steeped in harmony, considering it was already the latter part of the mission, and all the necessary tasks had been completed; everyone was just waiting for the final day.

Amidst the harmony, the only thing that seemed a bit odd to Jie Fangcheng was this Professor Zhang; his attitude was subtly peculiar.

Whenever Jie Fangcheng dined with others, he would remark nonchalantly, "Manager Jie seems to have a great relationship with XX, unlike with me, who never gets an invite."

When Jie Fangcheng did invite him, he would then ask, "Am I the first you invited? Even if I'm not, it's normal since Manager Jie is so popular. I should have expected not to be the first; I'm just not used to it."

Unable to tolerate it any further, Jie Fangcheng asked him, "What's your deal?" The man only looked at him and smiled.

"It's nothing, really. It's just that Manager Jie has such good relations with everyone, and I often feel that I'm not that special."

Huh?

Special?? Why would he be special???

Jie Fangcheng genuinely couldn't figure it out.

What exactly is going on with this guy??

Jie Fangcheng was confused but also somewhat curious, not just curious, he felt as if there was a thin veil before him. Someone seemed to be prodding incessantly at this veil from the other side, without puncturing it, enticing the curious Jie Fangcheng to also poke at it.

When the master of the dream began to feel curious, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the direction of the dream would veer towards his expectations.

Time in the dreamworld flew by rapidly.

On the eve of clearing the 【High Achievement Academy】, Liu Hui, who previously had a rather neutral relationship with Zhang Daoan, suddenly approached him, asking, "Professor Zhang, I haven't offended you recently, have I? Why do you keep giving me that look?"

Zhang Daoan's gazes had become increasingly bold. Whether Jie Fangcheng was having a conversation or a meal with someone, he would be watching, his face devoid of expression.

If it were really Liu Hui here, he would have fled long ago.

At this moment in the dream, it was more accurate to say that it was Jie Fangcheng's own thoughts posing the question rather than Liu Hui.

Zhang Daoan carefully washed his hands and smiled at him, "Not at all."

"Liu Hui" teasingly remarked, "Hey, you're not jealous, are you?"

This Zhang Daoan, really, harboring such grievances amongst close friends!

Following this, Liu Hui, showcasing a consciousness akin to Jie Fangcheng's, began to persuade him, "Look at you, we are all close friends, we are like family! Why differentiate between yours and mine, what's the point in making a fuss..."

"What if we aren't 'close friends'?"

Liu Hui wore a bewildered expression, taking a while before letting out a puzzled "Ah".

Only then did Zhang Daoan cast a meaningful glance at him.

"Manager Jie, have you never considered that perhaps my 'jealousy' stems not from brotherhood, but from a different kind of relationship?"

Another kind of relationship? Apart from being brothers, what other relationship could they possibly...

……

？？？

Damn!!

This statement was too absurd, too terrifying. Jie Fangcheng in the dream was startled, abruptly waking up.

Inside the temple, Jie Fangcheng opened his eyes forcefully, and the familiar face reappeared in his line of sight.

Zhang Daoan was holding him tightly, his brow furrowed and his eyes blinking slowly, struggling to adjust.

"Manager Jie, you're awake?" Zhang Daoan asked.

Jie Fangcheng lay in his arms, staring at him without blinking.

The silver Back-to-Dream fish had just launched a surprise attack, causing Jie Fangcheng to fall abruptly. Following which, he was embraced by Zhang Daoan, and both simultaneously ventured into Jie Fangcheng's dream.

Of course, Zhang Daoan had also ventured into his own dream, a fact unbeknownst to Jie Fangcheng.

Jie Fangcheng couldn't shake the thought, "Why would Zhang Daoan say such bizarre things in my dream?"

However, for some inexplicable reason, he felt that Zhang Daoan making such remarks wasn't entirely out of the ordinary.

"Was it the effect of the Back-to-Dream Fish?" At that moment, Zhang Daoan inquired with a serene demeanor.

"Huh? Ah... probably." Jie Fangcheng touched his nose, glanced at him, and then asked somewhat sheepishly, "Cough, what just happened to me?"

Zhang Daoan shook his head, "I am not certain. I only saw a silver Back-to-Dream Fish float down from the ceiling and enter your body instantaneously, causing you to collapse."

Jie Fangcheng responded with a simple "Oh".

Zhang Daoan appeared as if nothing untoward had happened, still analyzing the current situation.

"That silver Back-to-Dream Fish is now inside you, Manager Jie. I believe it might be a crucial clue. Perhaps you have a way to extract it from your body? ... Manager Jie?"

Jie Fangcheng let out a sound of realization, snapping back to his senses.

In front of him, Zhang Daoan was asking with a face full of concern, "What exactly happened? You've been acting quite strange since emerging from that dream. Did something occur within the dream?"

Thinking about what Zhang Daoan had said in the dream, and then seeing his earnest expression now, Jie Fangcheng couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed.

Yet, he was candid, and actually admitted, "I dreamed of you."

"Oh?" Zhang Daoan chuckled, "It's often said that our dreams reflect our day-time ruminations. Here in this simulation, dreams seem to mirror the deepest desires... I wonder, what wishes might Manager Jie harbor towards me? Feel free to share; I am more than willing to oblige."

What??

Is that so?

After Zhang Daoan finished speaking, Jie Fangcheng was momentarily stunned.

Zhang Daoan amiably continued to inquire, "So, what exactly did Manager Jie dream about me?"

"Uh," Jie Fangcheng resolutely shook his head, standing up, "It was nothing."