Chapter 426: The Little Mute Trapped in the Dungeon is Kept as a Pet (13)

Chapter 426: The Little Mute Trapped in the Dungeon is Being Cared For (13)

Song Chuyi nodded lightly and then let go.

He didn’t seek out Shang Ning again and instead went back to his room.

Time passed quietly, and tonight the registry did not knock on the door again.

The hallway was dead silent, not a sound to be heard.

Song Chuyi glanced at the clock and paused, his gaze lingering above it.

He slowly furrowed his brows, as if trying to figure something out.

At midnight, as if resolved, he opened the door and stepped out.

He went to the ground floor and entered the kitchen.

The fridge’s contents were still fresh, as if untouched by time.

He grabbed eggs and flour and began baking a cake.

With a "beep," the cake was done.

He boxed up the cake and turned to find Si Song at the door, watching him for who knows how long.

Noticing Song Chuyi’s gaze, Si Song smiled.

"Xiao Achu knows how to bake a cake?"

"It smells amazing, just like you, Xiao Achu."

Song Chuyi cradled the cake in his hands and tilted his head slightly.

Si Song strode over and playfully ruffled his hair.

"Xiao Achu, can I have a bite of your..."

He trailed off, pausing mid-sentence.

Song Chuyi raised an eyebrow, confused.

Seeming to sense Song Chuyi's confusion, Si Song continued, "Can I have a piece of your cake?"

Song Chuyi shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

Si Song slightly frowned. "You didn’t bake this for me? Who’s it for, then?"

Song Chuyi motioned for him to follow and started walking.

Si Song caught on and hurried after him.

Song Chuyi brought the cake to room 122, gave a quick knock, and set it down by the door.

Si Song raised an eyebrow, about to say something, when Song Chuyi quickly covered his mouth.

Song Chuyi grabbed his arm and tugged him up the stairs.

Back in his room, Song Chuyi gestured toward the wall clock.

Si Song leaned in closer and noticed a small cake icon next to the midnight mark.

He turned to Song Chuyi and asked, "When did this icon show up?"

Song Chuyi thought for a moment and was certain the cake icon hadn’t been there before today.

Since he struggled to sleep, he often checked the time, glancing at the clock multiple times a day.

He knew the clock well, and the cake icon had only appeared today.

To be exact, it showed up at midnight.

Song Chuyi took Si Song’s hand and wrote two characters in his palm: 'Midnight.'

Si Song mused, "No wonder you got up in the middle of the night to bake a cake, Xiao Achu."

He ruffled Song Chuyi’s hair, his eyes twinkling.

"Xiao Achu is such a good kid."

"You even thought to give cakes to others."

"Is it Shang Ning’s birthday today?"

"If Xiao Achu made a cake for Shang Ning, does that mean you’ll make one for me on my birthday too?"

Song Chuyi was speechless.

He clapped a hand over Si Song’s mouth again.

Si Song, unfazed, kept going, "Xiao Achu, the cake’s done and delivered. Shouldn’t we get some sleep now?"

Song Chuyi shook his head. Seeing Si Song hadn’t grasped the crux of the matter, his grip on Si Song’s arm tightened slightly.

Si Song seemed to catch on and guided him to sit down.

"What’s on your mind, Xiao Achu?"

Song Chuyi traced two characters on Si Song’s palm with his fingertip.

"The apartment."

Si Song furrowed his brow. "The apartment? What about it?"

Song Chuyi pressed his lips together and wrote two more characters.

"Obsession."

A flicker of surprise crossed Si Song’s face.

"Xiao Achu, are you saying we’ve been looking in the wrong direction for the obsession?"

"This obsession doesn’t belong to Shang Ning."

"It’s the apartment’s?"

"But how can an apartment... How can an apartment have its own consciousness?"

Before Si Song could finish speaking, he was stunned.

Since this is an infinite world, normal logic doesn't apply here.

Even though the apartment is an inanimate object, if its owner takes good care of it, it can develop a "consciousness."

This consciousness could very well be an obsession.

Seeing Si Song come to this realization, Song Chuyi let out a small sigh of relief.

When he noticed the small cake on the clock, it finally dawned on him what he had overlooked.

It was this apartment.

If a coffee tree can become a spirit, why can't this apartment, which embodies Shang Ning's sense of security, do the same?

Shang Ning owns this apartment, but in a way, doesn't the apartment also own him?

As long as Shang Ning doesn't have the resolve or courage to sell the apartment, it will haunt him for life, forever entangled with him.

What's more, now that the apartment has gained self-awareness, it definitely won't let Shang Ning sell it.

It will remain with Shang Ning for eternity.

Song Chuyi surmised that, as Shang Ning had mentioned, the key to clearing this dungeon lies in the original body being able to take one person out.

This means only one person can complete this SSS-class dungeon.

As long as there's a way to beat it, it doesn't break the rules of the infinite world.

True to its SSS-class ranking, the dungeon is incredibly difficult to clear.

Si Song and the others have to clear it, and he needs to figure out how to let them do so without disrupting the infinite world.

Song Chuyi blinked softly and gave Si Song's palm a gentle pat.

Si Song chuckled at this.

"What else is on Xiao Achu's mind?"

"If the apartment is the obsession, we're at a dead end."

If this were an A-class or even an S-class dungeon, the four of them could team up to destroy the apartment.

Even though brute-forcing the dungeon wouldn't net them any rewards, at least they'd survive and escape.

But this is an SSS-class dungeon, and Lou Lanyao is badly injured.

Even with all their items combined, they can't fully destroy this apartment.

If they fail to destroy it completely, the dungeon will wipe them out.

Then, none of them will make it out alive.

The safest bet is for Xiao Achu to take one person out.

They've already talked it over and agreed that Xiao Achu should take Lou Lanyao out.

Lou Lanyao needs medical attention, and as for the rest of them... they'll figure something out.

Song Chuyi, upon hearing this, patted his own palm.

Si Song raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is Xiao Achu trying to reassure me?"

Song Chuyi nodded.

Si Song's interest was piqued.

"Does Xiao Achu have a plan?"

Song Chuyi blinked softly, this time not answering Si Song.

Si Song waited a couple of seconds, and when there was no response, he chuckled softly.

"Xiao Achu, don't worry, even if only Lou Lanyao can escape."

"As long as he clears two more dungeons, we'll all make it out alive."

Even if we're trapped in the dungeon, as long as ten SSS-class dungeons are cleared, the world called 'Destiny' will fall apart.

This was a prophecy they had received in one of the SSS-class dungeons.

Song Chuyi nodded and held his large hand.

Then let go and pointed to the door.

Si Song paused...

"Xiao Achu, are you already kicking me out?"

"Are you tired and ready for bed?"

He gave his cheek a playful pinch.

"I'll see you tomorrow."