Chapter 180 Xia Anan and Lei Ming

Chapter 180 Xia Anan and Lei Ming

"I'm not like those two fools who can be appeased with just a note. They're probably still waiting with bated breath for you to return," the man's voice drifted from the dense fog. The two seemed to have stopped moving, and faint sounds of a struggle could be heard. "Especially that Jin Yi—you’ve charmed him so thoroughly he’d even sell out his own older brother."

"Let go! I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about!" A woman’s voice, delicate yet frantic, sounded angry.

"Xia Anan, this is what I admire most about you," the man said mockingly, as if he had her in his grasp. "You’re always putting on an act, no matter the situation. Even in this damned place filled with nothing but fog and monsters, you’re still performing. Truly impressive!"

"Lei Ming, let go of my hand and we can talk properly. I really didn’t plan to leave you behind," the woman’s voice began to sob. "In this godforsaken place, you’re the only one I can rely on. We agreed to stick together—how could I possibly abandon you?"

...

As the conversation between the two unfolded, their identities became clear. Jin Zheng and Jin Yi, standing beside Su Bai, fell silent. Perhaps understanding why Su Bai had asked them to turn off their flashlights, the two brothers hid with him in the dark fog, quietly listening to the exchange.

"Xia Anan, no one understands you better than I do," the player named Lei Ming sneered. "This rope is an item you stole from the Jin brothers, isn’t it? Until we leave this cursed place, I'll have to trouble Miss Xia to stay tied to me."

"I have no idea what nonsense you’re talking about. I didn’t even know you before coming to Fog City. Don’t act like you know me so well." Sounds of Xia Anan struggling occasionally broke through, though she seemed unsuccessful.

"Anyway, we’re both trapped in this damned place now. Chatting might help pass the time." Lei Ming moved something around, seemingly finding a spot to sit and rest. "You might not know me, but I’ve seen you almost every day."

"What?" Xia Anan’s voice was full of disbelief.

"Don’t you live in Chenshan Garden? That outrageously expensive villa complex?" After Lei Ming mentioned the address, Xia Anan, who had been struggling, suddenly fell silent. "Actually, I’ve been working in the security department of that villa complex. I see you coming and going every day at the gate, but... you probably wouldn’t bother remembering the face of a security guard, would you?"

"You?" Xia Anan questioned in surprise.

"Yeah, otherwise why would I rush over so eagerly when I saw you? Too bad someone like me is just a nobody in Miss Xia’s eyes." Lei Ming chuckled coldly. "You never thought the person standing at the gate every day would also be a player like you, did you?"

"A player who’s survived the Nightmare World and even has special abilities, yet is content being a residential security guard?" Xia Anan’s voice grew quieter, though she still sounded skeptical.

"It’s a job with no future, but it’s easy and provides honest pay. I can’t just abandon my elderly family and become unemployed just because I have some ability that’s useless in the real world," Lei Ming said without resentment toward his job. "But how did you, Xia Anan, achieve financial freedom at such a young age? Not only do you go shopping and traveling every day, but you also bought such an expensive villa?"

"I..." Xia Anan stammered. "Even if many people can’t find a way to make money, there are always some who can, right?"

"Miss Xia, stop hiding it. Although the Jin brothers are clueless, a mere security guard like me who wanders around the complex every day knows way too much." Lei Ming’s tone grew more mocking. "The owner of that villa isn’t you—it’s a man. When he came back before, he was sneaking around like a thief. Later, his wife caught him right at the gate, and they ended up in a huge fight. The things they shouted at each other were incredibly shocking."

"Miss Xia, don’t you think I’m the player who knows you best?"

"..." This time, Xia Anan remained silent.

"I even know why you went to such lengths to get the 'Warrior' title and insisted on bringing me here to light the lamp, even though you knew there would be unknown consequences." After Lei Ming finished speaking, not only did Xia Anan stay silent, but even the Jin brothers’ breathing seemed to halt for a moment.

"I heard the man who was willing to spend money on you died suddenly?" Lei Ming paused, and sounds of struggle echoed again in the fog. "Getting anxious, Miss Xia? I also know that not long before entering the Nightmare World, that man’s wife, along with a group of people, stormed into the villa when you weren't home and ransacked the place. My colleagues who were there said they seemed to have found a will?"

"Lei Ming, you bastard!" Xia Anan’s voice was heard through gritted teeth.

"Xia Anan, are you in such a hurry to get back because of that will? Did that man leave all his money to you? Or did you manipulate him into writing a will? Or maybe... his sudden death has something to do with you?"

"Lei Ming, you’re talking nonsense! Is this how you gossip about residents when you’re bored?"

"Why would I talk nonsense? After entering Fog City, didn’t you pretend to obtain the will of that old Fog City resident, then bribe me with promises to kill the old man because you were afraid you wouldn’t get the inheritance before the asset liquidation?"

...

After Lei Ming finished speaking, looks of disbelief appeared on Jin Zheng and Jin Yi’s faces. Jin Yi, who had always trusted Xia Anan, looked as if his entire worldview had collapsed, his face ashen.

"Xia Anan, you’re in a hurry to leave because you’re afraid the will in the real world will be destroyed, aren’t you? Even though time moves slowly in Fog City, it’s not completely still. You don’t want to wait another three months—you want to light the lamp and see if the 'gap' and 'opportunity' the players talk about will appear, right?" Lei Ming couldn’t help but laugh. "Who would’ve thought that the so-called dispersal of part of the fog would turn out like this? In the end, not only will you fail to get that boring money in the real world, but you’ll also be trapped in this damned place with a mere security guard like me."

"Ahhh—!" Xia Anan let out a scream of despair, her previously angry and delicate tone turning vicious. "What would a good-for-nothing like you understand? That amount of money is beyond what a good-for-nothing like you could ever imagine in your lifetime!"

"You’re calling me a good-for-nothing when you’re the idiot who managed to get the will but didn’t even keep it close to you?!"

In the fog, Xia Anan and Lei Ming seemed to start fighting again, their argument escalating into a physical struggle. The sound of objects being shoved around filled the air.

Soon, sinister creatures started gathering toward the noise.