Chapter 233 You’re a Man?

Chapter 233: You're a Man?

"Yeah, this kid looks really unwell, as if he was dragged into the nightmare game straight from a hospital bed." Meng Zhi's gaze towards Su Bai was tinged with worry. "What if, like in other nightmare games, monsters start chasing us, trying to devour us? What then?"

"I'm fine, I won't hold anyone back." Su Bai opened his eyes, his voice so hoarse it drew everyone's attention in the living room.

Even in his "critically ill" state, Su Bai's appearance was striking. Or perhaps it was the frailty and pallor brought on by this "serious illness" that made it impossible for them to look away from the "girl" curled up on the sofa.

However, the more captivating the "girl" appeared, the more the other players felt a pang of pity.

How could he *not* hold everyone back?

Everyone knew that a player in such a severely ill state was unlikely to survive a nightmare game. No matter how kind-hearted someone might be, in a life-or-death situation, their sympathy and pity for the "girl" would likely vanish. Even the boy named Zhang Yibu, who had been sticking close to the "girl," would probably be powerless in the nightmare game.

An inexperienced newcomer, and entering the game in such a "critically ill" state...

"Perhaps my life hasn't reached the point of despair yet." Yao Qing, having just confessed his own dark side, looked at the "girl" on the sofa and actually let out a relieved sigh.

"What a shame." While everyone else was silently lamenting, Chen Xi was already looking at Su Bai with a regretful expression. "I love beautiful clothes and all beautiful things, including beautiful people. If we had met in the real world, I would have pestered you to be my friend and taken you shopping for all sorts of cute dresses."

A "weak" smile touched Su Bai's lips, and then, in his hoarse voice, he uttered words that stunned the other players—

"It would be my honor to be friends with Miss Chen, but, *cough*, there's no need for dress shopping. After all, I don't have a penchant for wearing women's clothing. *Cough*, being mistaken for the wrong gender in daily life has already been quite troublesome for me."

Mistaken for the wrong gender?

No habit of wearing women's clothing?

"You're a man?" Even Sang Sang was taken aback.

Yue Zhengqing and Qin Yuxuan both looked as if they'd been struck by lightning. Although Qin Yuxuan always prided himself on his acting skills, the shock he displayed at this moment was genuine.

Qin Yuxuan even glanced at Zhang Yibu, who stood nearby, noticing that the boy's expression hadn't changed at all.

So, this boy had known all along that Su Bai was male? Then his earlier mental suggestion had been completely ineffective? No, judging by how eagerly Zhang Yibu had been trying to curry favor earlier, even if the other party was male, he might still have other intentions. His mental suggestion might still work.

...

As Zhang Yibu had said, Su Bai's appearance blurred gender lines. His hair, uncut for a long time, had grown out, and his Adam's apple wasn't very prominent. Wherever he went, he was perceived as a tall, beautiful, gender-ambiguous person.

Coupled with his current weakened state, Su Bai wasn't surprised by the other players' misunderstanding.

Such misunderstandings weren't necessarily a bad thing in the nightmare game. After all, in this nightmare world where it was hard to distinguish human from ghost, being completely honest was inherently dangerous. So, in Su Bai's view, as long as no one brought it up, there was no need for him to explain anything to others. He had told Zhang Yibu the same thing.

But now, with all eyes on him and Miss Sang awaiting his response, allowing the misunderstanding to persist would no longer be a good idea.

"Do I not look like one?" Su Bai, still curled on the sofa, tilted his head back, allowing everyone to clearly see the lines of his neck. Although the power of the red moon had been strengthening Su Bai's body, it hadn't made him appear any more robust. Whether it was his upturned neck or the shoulders visible through the wide collar of his pajamas, Su Bai looked more slender than the other players.

Even after Su Bai admitted he was male, neither Yue Zhengqing nor Qin Yuxuan showed any disgust over their earlier misconception. Instead...

"I'm sorry, but gender doesn't change anything in the nightmare game." Sang Sang sighed. "However, we can try to see if the healer can help improve your condition."

"Don't worry about my health. I won't hold anyone back." Su Bai understood his own condition better than anyone. "*Cough*, and don't worry about any dark thoughts I might have. In my current state, I pose no threat to anyone."

Although, ever since the side effects had appeared, even Xiao Wu had maintained his human form, staying by Su Bai's side in the shop without leaving, when the next nightmare game approached, the assistant from the Mist Shop didn't seem particularly worried. Clearly, neither Su Bai nor Xiao Wu believed these side effects would hinder Su Bai's ability to clear the game.

Of course, from the other players' perspective, Su Bai's words rang true. In his current state, where even speaking and walking were difficult, even if he were influenced by that power, he wouldn't be able to harm anyone.

At least, that's how it appeared on the surface.

"Take care of yourself." Sang Sang was clearly not some overly compassionate saint, and there was little she could do for Su Bai. "By the way, we still don't know your name."

"Su Bai." Su Bai didn't like using fake names, and his real name was protected by the "Evil Ghost Puzzle," so he wasn't worried about anyone using it for malicious purposes. "Bai as in white."

"Su Bai?" Feng Ling, standing in the corner, softly repeated Su Bai's name, then, as if a thought had struck her, a look of surprise crossed her face. Her eyes widened behind her glasses as she scrutinized the person sitting there.

"Then it should be Mr. Yue's turn now, shouldn't it?" Sang Sang and the others didn't notice Feng Ling's reaction in the corner. Instead, they turned to look at Yue Zhengqing, who was still intimately cuddled with his girlfriend. "After all, among those sitting here, only Mr. Yue and Miss Xiao haven't said anything yet."

"Me? What dark side would I have?" Yue Zhengqing's right eyelid twitched guiltily. "I'm doing just fine, both in the real world and in the nightmare world."

"What about your girlfriend?" Sang Sang's expression suggested she didn't expect to hear anything truthful from Yue Zhengqing. She turned to Xiao Xiaodie, who was nestled closely against Yue Zhengqing but had been keeping her head down. "Is there anything lately that you haven't been able to let go of?"

"Xiao Die?" Yue Zhengqing's eyelid twitched again, but his tone remained bold. "She's a wealthy heiress in the real world, and in the nightmare world, she has me by her side. What could she possibly have to be bothered about?"

"There is something." At that moment, Xiao Xiaodie, who had been keeping her head down, spoke up in a sweet voice. "There's something I've always wanted to do."

"What is it that Miss Xiao wants to do?"

"I," Xiao Xiaodie tightened her grip on Yue Zhengqing's arm and said with a sweet, cheerful voice, "want to kill this man named Yue Zhengqing."