Chapter 1: One Night

Chapter 1: One Night

A light drizzle fell outside, dampening the air with humidity. Dull yellow streetlights illuminated one puddle after another on the ground while tangles of old overhead wires resembled a colossal black serpent coiled above, devouring what little light remained.

Disorderly, chaotic, dark, and silent.

At the alley's entrance, an unfamiliar man appeared. He seemed to have stood there for a long time in the rainy night, drenched as if freshly pulled from water. His bony right hand, pale as death, hung by his side, holding a half-burned cigarette that flickered with intermittent sparks.

The hood of his black top concealed his face, revealing only a sharp, chiseled jawline.

He puffed silently, shrouding himself in a deeper gloom—

He looked like a deranged killer.

In fact, this was about to become a crime scene.

Lu Yan stood by the window for a moment before quietly drawing the curtains. He turned to the floating black heart in the rented room and asked, "Who is he?"

"The person who wants to kill you."

That black heart, astonishingly, spoke in human language, though its voice sounded as if it were mechanically synthesized, cold and emotionless. Fine threads of blue-violet electricity encircled it, and with each flash, it pulsated once—

It seemed as if it had just been warm against someone's heartbeat.

Lu Yan settled onto the sofa, resting his chin in his right hand as he pondered for a moment. In truth, he was still trying to grasp the situation. Half an hour ago, he was just a penniless cancer patient, waiting to die in the hospital with no means of treatment. At the brink of death, he inexplicably found himself bound to something claiming to be a system. How did it put it again?

Oh, it came back to him.

"Let's engage in a game, shall we?"

"I'll guide you into different novel worlds. As long as you can survive for thirty days and accumulate a certain amount of vitality, your cancer will be completely cured."

Lu Yan found it hard to believe such an absurd thing could happen to him. However, the sight of a black heart, resembling one damaged by excessive smoking, floating before his eyes left him with little choice but to accept it.

Curiosity piqued, Lu Yan asked, "Why does he want to kill me?"

The black heart circled around him before a blue electronic display suddenly emerged in mid-air, displaying the photograph of a young man.

As pure as white jade, yet still cold as if burned.

The phrase spontaneously surfaced in Lu Yan's mind. The man in the photo exuded composure, his gaze indifferent, clearly a refined scion from an influential family. His amber eyes were deep and enigmatic, suggesting that he was not someone easily approached.

The black heart flew behind Lu Yan and narrated the story with an eerie tone, "His name is Yu Zechuan, the heir to the Yinchuan Group, the leading real estate company in City A. Five years ago, he was convicted of financial crimes and imprisoned. All his assets were entrusted to his business partner, Jiang Boyun, for management. He was released from prison just three months ago."

Still absorbed in the regretful thought that such a handsome man had been imprisoned, Lu Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly at the next revelation. "Business partner? That can't be all there is to it, can it?"

The black heart confirmed his suspicion, "They are partners in a more profound sense."

"Jiang Boyun came from humble beginnings but was academically gifted. In college, he met Yu Zechuan, who was then the student council president. They started a business together and forged their path..."

Lu Yan added two words, "But...?"

The black-hearted entity chuckled, an odd emotion for a machine driven by algorithms, "But Jiang Boyun already had another lover outside. He was only with Yu Zechuan for his status and to plot against his wealth."

Concluding the statement, "In reality, Jiang Boyun was the mastermind behind that economic crime. Yu Zechuan was framed by him."

Lu Yan lounged lazily on the sofa, "How pitiful. After suffering in prison for five years, he finds out upon release that the one he loved was actually a fraud, not only stealing his wealth but also having another lover on the side."

The voice of the black heart echoed in the air, sending inexplicable chills down the spine, "Yu Zechuan is downstairs. According to the storyline, you will be killed by him in this rented room."

Lu Yan lowered his gaze to study his hands; he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with this body, noticing a tiny red mole on the tip of his ring finger. "So my current identity is Jiang Boyun?"

The black heart replied, "No."

Lu Yan asked, "Then why did he kill me?"

The black heart answered, "You were Jiang Boyun's secret lover."

Lu Yan was left speechless.

He'd imagined himself transmigrated into a melodramatic novel about the wealthy, only to realize it was a thriller suspense plot.

The black-hearted system didn't grant Lu Yan much time for contemplation. Suddenly, a countdown of five seconds appeared on the electronic screen, the crimson digits seeming to bleed onto the display:

"Task One: The host is required to survive for 30 days under Yu Zechuan's pursuit. Upon successful completion, a reward of 500 points will be granted. Failure will result in erasure by the system."

"New players are granted three revival chances in their initial gameplay. Please utilize them wisely."

"Game Restriction: Alarm reporting prohibited."

Lu Yan shot back, "We can't call the police?"

"No."

"Alright then."

Lu Yan slightly shrugged. "He looks so pitiful; I couldn't bear to call the police anyway."

The black heart pulsed for an instant.

3... 2... 1...

The countdown concluded.

The black heart faded in the air, leaving only a deep and resonant voice behind, "The game has begun. May your experience be enjoyable."

As the system's voice trailed off, the frozen wall clock began ticking again, its hour hand pointing precisely at nine.

Within minutes, Lu Yan's phone on the coffee table buzzed twice, displaying several voice messages. The sender's name was none other than Jiang Boyun.

Lu Yan tapped on the voice message.

"Ayan, I'm almost at your building. How are you doing? Is your stomach still hurting?"

"I see they're starting to demolish around here; it's too noisy. I have an apartment near the office. You can move in there in a couple of days."

The original owner of this body was also named Lu Yan. A few years ago, he had gotten involved with Jiang Boyun. To aid Jiang Boyun in seizing Yu Zechuan's assets, he even pretended to apply for a job as a finance officer at the Yinchuan Group. Together, they had successfully landed Yu Zechuan behind bars.

Hmm, how should I put it...

A despicable duo?

Scanning through their chat history, Lu Yan noticed that since taking over the Yinchuan Group, Jiang Boyun's status had soared, and he had become surrounded by admirers. The two of them had once quarreled over this matter and were currently in a silent war.

The original Lu Yan was a gambling addict, racking up a mountain of debt. Unwilling to let go of Jiang Boyun, his "golden phoenix," he had intentionally pretended to be ill to seek his help and care.

Recently, Jiang Boyun had been feeling lonely and desired someone understanding by his side. Upon seeing Lu Yan's softened tone in the message, he immediately drove over.

Lu Yan's fingers danced across the screen, typing, "Thank you, but my stomach is fine now. You should head back first. Let's talk about anything else tomorrow."

Yu Zechuan was downstairs, ready to pounce on any opportunity, wouldn't it only add fuel to the fire if he saw this secret meeting between the two men?

But Lu Yan pondered for a moment. If Jiang Boyun arrived, they would have two people on their side, significantly increasing their chances of survival. There was no way Yu Zechuan could defeat both of them at once, right?

Lu Yan erased the edited message and typed anew, "Hurry up and come over, I'm waiting for you."

He hit send.

Jiang Boyun replied swiftly, "Alright, I'll be there in ten minutes, I'm almost there."

As the seconds ticked by, the silence in the room became almost unsettling. After an indeterminate wait, a rhythmic knocking finally echoed from outside the door.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Alert, Lu Yan rose and approached the entrance, peering through the peephole. However, due to neglect, it was covered in dust, rendering a clear view impossible. "Who is it?"

Jiang Boyun's voice sounded from outside, "Ayan, it's me."

Lu Yan cracked the door open slightly. Standing outside was a well-dressed man, handsome and elegant, indeed someone with some appeal. Unfortunately, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Lu Yan glanced behind him. "Come in."

A beast.

Jiang Boyun entered and closed the door. Turning around, he saw Lu Yan lounging on the sofa, scrolling through his phone with his long legs propped up on the armrest, occupying most of the space. Jiang Boyun could only sit across from him. "How are you feeling? Is your stomach still hurting?"

Lu Yan hadn't figured out his next move; he just wanted to survive the night. He replied absentmindedly, "It's much better."

Assuming that Lu Yan was still upset, Jiang Boyun got up and approached him to soothe him. "Ayan, don't be jealous. We've been through thick and thin together. Those people outside are just fleeting dalliances for me."

"The Yu family is long gone, and the Yinchuan Group is now within my grasp. We can be together openly and honestly."

Out of the blue, Lu Yan asked, "Has Yu Zechuan been released from prison recently?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Boyun frowned, clearly disliking the subject. His tone was disdainful. "Him? What can he do even if he's out? A fallen young master can't stir up any trouble."

Lu Yan chuckled. "Are you not afraid of him seeking revenge?"

Staring into Lu Yan's captivating eyes illuminated by the light, Jiang Boyun felt an irresistible urge. He held Lu Yan's hand. "Don't worry. Yu Zechuan has nothing now. What can he do? If it weren't for you helping me with the accounts back then, how could I have sent Yu Zechuan to prison so quickly? I've long forgotten about him."

Lu Yan: "..."

This was the first time Lu Yan had encountered someone who could act more than he could. Seeing Jiang Boyun drawing closer, he subtly withdrew his hand without any change in expression.

Noticing Lu Yan's action, Jiang Boyun paused. He then realized that his clothes were splattered with mud from the rain, causing him some embarrassment. "I didn't bring an umbrella, and I got caught in the rain on my way here. Wait a moment, I'll go take a shower."

Without waiting for Lu Yan's response, he directly found a set of clean clothes from the wardrobe and turned to enter the bathroom, the sound of rushing water sealing off everything else.

Lu Yan, on the other hand, pondered over his next move. After all, it wasn't feasible for him to spend every day with Jiang Boyun. Once he survived tonight, he needed to figure out a way to hire bodyguards.

The original inhabitant of this body didn't cook, so there wasn't even a knife in the room. As Lu Yan searched for something that could serve as a weapon, he kept an eye on the movements outside the door, completely oblivious to the situation in the bathroom. It wasn't until a faint, lingering scent of blood mixed with the steam from the shower that Lu Yan finally sensed something amiss.

The sound of running water continued as if Jiang Boyun was still inside showering.

But when Lu Yan checked the time, he realized that half an hour had already passed since Jiang Boyun went in for a bath. Rising from the sofa, he stepped cautiously toward the bathroom, the smell of blood growing stronger, mingling with the heat of the water and turning his stomach.

Stopping in front of the bathroom door, Lu Yan's intuition told him that something was definitely wrong inside.

What should he do?

To run or not to run?

The rain intensified without notice, and such a perilous rainy night was never suitable for escape. Besides, the system forbade calling for help; fleeing would be futile.

One should die in the warmth of a home, even if it meant death.

Novice players were granted three restarts – ample chances.

Lu Yan's gaze darkened at this thought. With his slender fingers, he turned the doorknob gently, and with a soft click, the bathroom scene unfolded before him.

What greeted his eyes was a vivid scarlet.

Jiang Boyun lay with his eyes closed in the bathtub, his neck slashed by a fresh, fatal wound. Blood gushed from his throat, staining the tub's hot water a deep red. His lower body was still clad in pants, indicating that he had been cruelly murdered shortly after entering the bathroom.

The bathroom window stood wide open, revealing an endless night outside, with torrential rain pouring in and swiftly dissipating the warmth. A chill crept up from Lu Yan's feet.

Before he could react, someone fiercely choked his neck and pressed a sharp dagger against it. He felt a damp, muscular body press tightly against his back, reeking of blood.

"Do you remember me?"

A cold and amused voice rang in his ear, both foreign and familiar.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Yan calmly uttered three words, "Yu Zechuan."

In reality, Lu Yan's heart was far from calm. It was the eighth floor, how had the other party managed to climb up?