Chapter 77: Reality

Chapter 77: Reality

◎ "Do you like me?" ◎

Shi Youqing’s profile picture wasn't a photo, and his ID was a random combination of letters. After grabbing the red packets, he only sent a few emojis. There was no way he should have been recognized.

Without any clues, how could someone deduce the correct answer? What kind of genius was this?

Initially, seeing his own name in the group, Shi Youqing was full of surprise and almost impulsively wanted to ask the person how they deduced he was Shi Youqing.

But scrolling further up, he found several messages from Feng Bin.

Feng Bin had spoken after the players in the group called the newcomer a "fool," succinctly telling them to shut up.

Consequently, the chat started revolving around who the red packet grabber was, speculating that it might be Feng Bin's employer. It made sense for a newcomer to behave like this, and defending the employer was naturally seen as trying to make a good impression…

However, amid the guessing and debates, someone suddenly posted: [Shi Youqing?]

The group chat exploded with questions about whether it was true or not, stating that if Shi Youqing was as formidable as they said, why would he bother grabbing a few hundred bucks in red packets… Not just Shi Youqing, even average experienced players wouldn’t need such small sums. If they’re short on cash, they could team up with players a few levels below them, and successfully leading them out could earn a minimum of several hundred thousand, if not millions.

But after that one comment, the person didn’t say anything else.

The group was initially skeptical, but soon noticed that the new member was grabbing red packets in the group again, almost instantaneously.

[I'm out, I'm out, if he's really Shi Youqing, I'll do handstand anal clenches!]

[You guys are also silly, people like that wouldn't join a player group, too risky for exposing information. You've all passed so many instances and still believe in such absurd rumors...]

[Friends, don't be foolish. Wouldn't it be better to spend this time in the gym working out? Better improve your skills for escaping!!!]

……

Shi Youqing, of course, wouldn't reveal his true identity in the group, but he was still curious about the identity of the person in question.

Fortunately, this question didn't linger in his mind overnight. Before going home that evening, Feng Bin did some research and gave him the answer—it was the butler of the Zong family.

"Which Zong family?"

"The family behind Zong Zhouyuan."

"I see, so their butler is also a player?"

"Yes."

Shi Youqing didn't know much about the Zong family; it was unrelated to the game instances. However, he couldn't help being surprised at the dense number of the family's members bound to the game. To his knowledge, several members of the Zong family had already entered the game.

Feng Bin, seeming to know what he was thinking, said, "The number of the Zong family members bound by the game is indeed large. All those eligible to inherit the family fortune are bound to the game. Considering the leniency of the previous generation and the presence of illegitimate children, there are at least a dozen with Zong family blood who have entered the game."

Shi Youqing was slightly startled at hearing "a dozen."

"But many have died, including his father, his eldest and second uncles, a younger uncle, and a bunch of brothers. Almost all of them are gone. Now, Zong Zhouyuan is the only one left of the Zong family's grandchildren. That's why many people think he is using the game to eliminate his rivals." Feng Bin paused for a moment and then continued cautiously, "But I think, no player can guarantee their success in coming out of the game. There are no second chances in the game, and the idea of using the game to remove real-life rivals is like expecting a student to use exam time to stop others from answering their papers. Although there's a tiny chance of such a thing happening, I don't think that guy is that foolish."

Shi Youqing suddenly asked, "What business does the Zong family run?"

"Real estate and jewelry, I think. The Zong family used to have the Bo family as a competitor. After the Bo family moved their business overseas, the Zong family's success soared, and they soon dominated the business world."

The Bo family... Shi Youqing was startled and turned to look at Bo Huai, who was driving.

Bo Huai's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unfazed by Feng Bin's comment.

Feng Bin, of course, didn't associate Bo Huai with that Bo family. The surname 'Bo' might be uncommon, but it wasn't unique to just one family in Ruo City. He said, "Now that the Zong family's butler has recognized you, he might have guessed that I brought you into the team based on my identity. If he's looking for you, it's probably on behalf of Zong Zhouyuan."

Bo Huai's expression darkened.

Shi Youqing: "He's looking for me?"

Feng Bin nodded: "I found him peculiar in that last instance. After some news checks, I suspect he might have psychological issues."

Shi Youqing: "?"

Feng Bin: "When Zong Shiyuan was a child, he was kidnapped for two years by human traffickers. He was found later in a criminal hideout during a robbery bust. Those two years, he was forced to steal and rob. He was under ten, traumatized, and partially deaf. Eventually, his hearing recovered, but he would sometimes mimic his captors by hitting his own ear. His father thought him ill and sent him abroad for treatment. Upon return, he stopped hitting his ear but started getting into fights and stealing deliberately. His father, embarrassed, punished him severely at home."

“……”

"After that, he genuinely changed his ways, and his father surprisingly continued that harsh discipline. But as soon as Zong Shiyuan turned adult, he broke his father’s leg with the same golf club his father used for punishment."

“……”

"Zong Shiyuan has never met his match in the game, with most stronger veteran players dying in later instances," Feng Bin looked at him seriously, "He might now see you as a stronger entity, but that's not necessarily good..."

As they pulled into the garage, Bo Huai parked the car, a cold, menacing look in his eyes.

Shi Youqing, pondering, said: "So if I slap him, he might slap back someday?"

"If he dares—" Bo Huai clenched his teeth, "I'll kill him!"

Feng Bin: "......"

Aren't you both missing the point here?

Feng Bin, feeling defeated, continued: "What I mean is, his childhood trauma and upbringing might have warped his psyche. At the end of that dorm instance, he was leading you to murder, clearly trying to turn you into someone like him…"

Shi Youqing suddenly remembered an incident from the last instance — Zong Shiyuan hitting his own face with Shi Youqing's hand to distinguish truth from lies.

He couldn’t help but imagine Zong Shiyuan finding him and turning him into something like that, frowning and shaking his head: "I don’t want that."

Thinking he had frightened Shi Youqing with his grave words, Feng Bin quickly changed the subject, and they got out of the car to discuss clues.

The trio had re-teamed up and were now looking for clues for the next instance based on details from Shi Youqing's last instance.

Feng Bin stayed late that night, deciding the scope of their search based on Shi Youqing's recollections.

They initially zeroed in on a nearby bar, aptly named "Peach Blossom Island," and a haunted house with a theme of "Ghost Festival."

Shi Youqing, unable to move around alone, and Feng Bin, not wanting him to be around alcohol, quickly divided tasks: Tomorrow, Feng Bin would visit the Peach Blossom Island Bar, while Bo Huai would take Shi Youqing to the haunted house.

……

Late into the night, after finishing his nightly routine, Shi Youqing found an extra foldable bed in the bedroom, pausing in surprise.

Bo Huai, who had just set up the bed, came over to blow-dry Shi Youqing’s hair without explanation, meticulously treating the waist-length locks with hair oil after drying.

Shi Youqing: “Have you also worked part-time in a hair salon?”

“...Long hair needs proper care.”

Shi Youqing fell silent, his thoughts drifting to his mother and then to Bo Huai’s mother.

Such expertise in hair care, he must have learned it from his mother, right?

“Bo Huai,” Shi Youqing lifted his head, his face emerging from the cascade of hair, “Before we enter the next instance, let’s go abroad?”

Bo Huai, motionless, asked, “Why?”

Shi Youqing: “Your family seems to be overseas.”

Bo Huai suddenly smiled, his hand on Shi Youqing’s shoulder tensing: “Hmm, but there’s no need to go.”

“Why?”

As Bo Huai began combing Shi Youqing’s hair: “They don’t remember me anymore.”

Shi Youqing furrowed his brows: “...”

He had forgotten that Bo Huai had transformed, with his original self residing in the game world, akin to an NPC.

Sensing his melancholy and concern, Bo Huai dimmed his gaze, leaning down to gently nuzzle his cheek with his nose.

The man’s palm was warm, so much so that Shi Youqing could feel the heat spreading to his shoulders. Looking up, he was startled by the affectionate look in Bo Huai’s eyes.

Shi Youqing tried to stand, but he was no match for Bo Huai’s strength.

Bo Huai’s hand, easily keeping him in place, trembled slightly despite his dominant position.

He hunched his back, casting a shadow that completely enveloped Shi Youqing. However, in less than two seconds, the wildly burgeoning desire in the young man's eyes swiftly receded, and he instinctively turned his head, quickly planting a kiss on his cheek.

After the kiss, Shi Youqing remained calm, but the other man was lost in thought.

Shi Youqing initially didn't understand his intention. Considering his terrifying demeanor, he thought he might have been influenced by the last instance and was about to turn into a monster right there in the real world, which left him utterly baffled.

Now, thinking the other man was feeling unwell, Shi Youqing reciprocated with a very formal kiss on the cheek as a courtesy. "Don't be sad, your mother will come back, and so will you. I've thought about it, the high-level authority figure in the last instance got beaten by me... Although it seems he didn't die completely, he definitely won't target me again soon. When he reappears, we'll have accumulated more experience. During this time, while he's recovering, we're getting stronger. We have the advantage."

Staring at him, the man stiffly reached up to touch his face, his lips tightly pressed together, his ears already flushed red.

Shi Youqing asked, "Do you think I'm right?"

Bo Huai exercised great restraint, nearly using up all his self-control to avoid any action that might startle the other: "Right."

Shi Youqing, believing he had successfully comforted the other, said contentedly, "Then let's rest up. We have a busy day tomorrow."

The other's Adam's apple bobbed, his body tense as he neatly arranged Shi Youqing's hair before leaving. The bath took unusually long this time, and when he returned, he actually planned to sleep directly on the folding bed.

Shi Youqing knew this was because his impulsive behavior last time had frightened the other, and although they had now officially teamed up in the system, he still felt a bit guilty.

But the space on that folding bed... with Bo Huai's stature, wouldn't it be too cramped?

"Come sleep over here," Shi Youqing suggested somewhat helplessly, "My bed is quite big."

The other froze.

Shi Youqing lay back down.

After a short while, the bed shifted slightly as someone climbed in.

Once the man lay down, he remained still. Then, after a moment, he suddenly reached out to brush Shi Youqing's hair.

Shi Youqing couldn't help but recall a memory from kindergarten—the other, so small yet trying to appear mature, clutching his bedding and coming to tuck him in.

He turned around, meeting those direct, unwavering eyes.

Bo Huai faltered, awkwardly turning his head away.

Shi Youqing said, "I'm going to sleep."

Bo Huai: "Hmm."

Shi Youqing closed his eyes.

After a while, Bo Huai leaned in to check, and Shi Youqing abruptly opened his eyes.

Bo Huai: "..."

Shi Youqing: "I just thought of something."

Bo Huai: "..."

Shi Youqing: "Do you like me?"

At that moment, Bo Huai nearly lost control, his blood freezing, veins on his forehead almost grotesquely bulging...

He sat up in a panic.

The air was filled only with disordered breathing.

Shi Youqing rolled his eyes to look at him.

After a long pause, the figure lowered its head: "Yes."

"I see," Shi Youqing said, "I knew it."

He turned to sleep, but in the darkness, he suddenly felt an intense gaze.

Shi Youqing turned back again: "Don't you like me anymore?"

"..." Bo Huai was nearly driven mad by him, holding his breath, his fingers trembling, "I would never stop!"

Shi Youqing made an "oh" sound, yawned, and with a sleepy chuckle said, "I didn’t say you couldn’t like me... Let’s sleep."

“……”

[Author's Note]

Thanks to the little angel who dropped a mine: Luoshui Fudeng 1.

Thanks to the little angels for nourishing: Vice Monitor of Jinjiang Men’s Virtue Class 10 bottles; Disliking All Who Can Upstage Me in Front of My Mom 5 bottles;

"I am immensely grateful for everyone's support and will continue to work hard!"