Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Zhong Xiaye's eyes went wide, for a second, he couldn't wrap his head around that crazy logic.

But the Black-haired Youth in front of him looked like he'd already made up his mind. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked away cheerfully, without a hint of reluctance, his back all carefree and determined, as if he'd resolved something.

The sounds of police sirens and ambulance horns filled the air, cops on the scene were handling the aftermath fast, with people weaving in and out everywhere.

Zhong Xiaye blinked a few times and almost lost sight of the Antelope Youth. He could tell the guy was really leaving, not just being polite.

...So he was really leaving? And actually going to do what he just said???

Right before the Black-haired Youth disappeared from view, Zhong Xiaye couldn't help yelling out, "—Wait, hold on!"

Bai Fuling saw the pop-up window buzzing, stopped, and turned his character to face whoever was talking.

On screen, the pixel character had seven dots floating above his head—one or two extra, probably to hit all the rainbow colors.

Zhong Xiaye, with a bunch of glowing exclamation marks over his head, took two steps forward and approached Bai Fuling.

"What's going on?" Bai Fuling squinted at the half-screen glow and typed into the chat box.

Zhong Xiaye pressed his lips together and asked, "What are you going to do? Are you seriously gonna track down those people from the banquet?"

"Yeah." Bai Fuling nodded, thinking, *So this NPC is checking up on the player's plans?*

Usually, it's the player checking on NPCs, not the other way around. Guess big spenders really are different—standing out in-game and out.

"You—" Zhong Xiaye drew out his words, his handsome face tightening as he sped up, "The people on that list aren't easy to get to. They're not gonna just see some random student."

Was this some kind of quest hint? Bai Fuling blinked, thinking, "In that case, should I go get a press pass?"

He remembered what Olbert did earlier. The Mysterious Fox Man used a little press pass to get around campus and the hospital easily—oh, and of course, his acting and smooth talk helped too.

Bai Fuling figured: in a game, if a plot point shows up, it's there for a reason. Maybe this earlier scene was meant to hint at how to handle the current quest.

Zhong Xiaye shook his head, shooting that down. "The charity auction the day after tomorrow has tighter media controls than guest management. All the journalists who can go were screened and registered two months ago. And on the day of, there'll still be inspectors. You can't just waltz in with a press pass."

He spelled out every detail. Zhong Xiaye thought the guy would back off and drop those crazy ideas.

But Bai Fuling just blinked and went, "Who said anything about using a press pass to get in?"

Zhong Xiaye was caught off guard. "Then why do you need a press pass?"

"Didn't you just say the banquet people won't just meet with a student? So I'll use a journalist identity to get close to them," Bai Fuling typed his thoughts into the chat box.

In games, documents usually have special effects, like player titles. Like how a driver's license came up earlier—Bai Fuling figured this might be another little quest that needs a document.

"And then what?" Zhong Xiaye paused, then went on, "Never mind how many interview requests they turn down every day. Even if you do get to see them, what then?"

Getting close is just the first step, Zhong Xiaye pointed out. He already said the guest list for this charity auction is set, and the only way to get in is as a guest's family member.

"You get a press pass, but you're still just a journalist," Zhong Xiaye said. "That's where it stops."

"On the contrary, that's where it starts." Bai Fuling used the expression wheel to pop up a smiley face. "Why not go for a little *Fifty Shades of Grey*?"

Zhong Xiaye: ...?

Zhong Xiaye: "...*Fifty Shades of Grey*?"

Bai Fuling opened a small browser window, skillfully copied and pasted, and explained to the NPC—actually trying to log this plot into the game.

"A pure student interviews a CEO for the school newspaper, and they fall in love at first sight, sparking fiery romance! But soon, the student journalist discovers the CEO's shocking secret—that the impeccably dressed gentleman actually enjoys a painful yet pleasurable game of letters, i.e., parentheses S slash M parentheses!"

Zhong Xiaye: "..."

The other spoke so fast he had no chance to interrupt, and by the time he realized what he was hearing, it was too late to stop the words from sinking in.

Oh heavens! What had he just heard?!

—And why did he have to read out the parentheses and slash?!

Zhong Xiaye's expression twisted involuntarily, and he forced out a dry response: "...What?"

"And then everything falls into place." Bai Fuling shrugged. "Now I can enter as a lover or a pet—depending on whether the other wants to stay proper or play the letter game."

Zhong Xiaye: "..."

By the time he realized what he had heard again, it was already too late.

"You—you, you—"

Zhong Xiaye, who had always upheld chivalrous principles and kept himself pure, and who, due to his position in high society, had never been spoken to so directly like this, was now flooded with all this nonsense.

He was indeed aware of such things, but only through hearsay. He had never encountered anyone who laid it all out so brazenly.

The redness on Zhong Xiaye's face spread all the way to his ears and neck. He clenched his fists. "You... are utterly shameless!!!"

"You've already said that before." Bai Fuling commented. "Strange, no new lines? Still the same one."

How lazy, Bai Fuling thought. Usually, named NPCs should have different dialogue for different interactions.

Zhong Xiaye was choked by the other's detached, indifferent attitude, his head throbbing.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then suddenly remembered what this whole thing was originally about.

"...Do you absolutely have to go to this charity auction?"

"Aren't we trying to solve the mystery of your classmate's death and find clues about [Butterfly]?" Bai Fuling shot back. "This charity auction definitely has relevant leads."

Zhong Xiaye was visibly stunned. "Why?"

Why look for clues about [Butterfly]? None of this had anything to do with him.

"Because I'm our town's Farmer Great Detective," Bai Fuling replied calmly, reaching up to adjust the Angel Halo on his head. "Solving all the puzzles, finding the real culprit, clearing someone's name, and giving the public the truth—that's my duty."

"...Even if it means doing all this?"

"So what?" Bai Fuling said. "For the final truth, the process doesn't matter."

To a player, everything was about results! To complete the task, any method was fine.

But Zhong Xiaye was frozen in place.

He stood there, looking at the determined expression on the other's face, at eyes brighter than the radiant angel halo.

At that moment, looking back on everything that had just happened, Zhong Xiaye felt something completely different stir in his heart.

He hadn't expected that this Antelope Youth, for the sake of someone essentially unrelated to him, would be willing to go to such lengths.

The more unbearable the earlier content was, the more it showed how much the person in front of him had endured and how great he was.

Why go to such lengths?

If anything, if Wang Mingzhe’s death was part of some conspiracy, it had more to do with him. Zhong Xiaye still remembered that when Wang Mingzhe fell, he landed right on the hood of his sports car.

If he hadn’t yelled at the Antelope Youth to stop, Wang Mingzhe would have landed right on top of him.

Looking at it that way… maybe this incident was connected to him too? Was someone in the shadows actually trying to kill him?

The smart Antelope Youth must have figured this out too, but he still chose to step up and find the real culprit.

For some reason, Zhong Xiaye recalled what Bai Fuling had said not long ago.

This guy said he liked him.

…Really?

Either way, Zhong Xiaye didn’t feel that shame and anger anymore. He looked at Bai Fuling, his voice now carrying a hint of guilt: “I’m sorry.”

He apologized for that dismissive remark earlier. He had been too quick to judge, missing the selfless and brave spirit behind it.

“But I’m still not taking you,” Zhong Xiaye said slowly. “I don’t want you mixed up in this—there’s no need to go that far.”

He added, “The police can handle it. My family also has private detectives who can take care of this.”

“No,” Bai Fuling said, shaking his head.

This was different.

How could an NPC finish a player’s quest? If that happened, the rewards would definitely be gone!

“I have to go myself,” Bai Fuling said. “I’m really worried.”

The player was genuinely worried—about losing his quest rewards. And what if there were clues about the Infinite Cockroach Nest and Liao Zhiqiu there? Missing out would be a huge loss!

When Zhong Xiaye heard the word “worried,” his heart softened again. Since it was just the two of them, he naturally took it as the Antelope Youth caring about him.

A knight in impenetrable armor can’t be pierced by hard spears, but can be moved by softness. Softness beating hardness was an age-old truth.

Alright. Zhong Xiaye thought seriously. He had misjudged this guy; those earlier actions must have had a reason.

In times of crisis, true feelings come out. This fearless spirit he was showing now must be the real Antelope Youth.

…Earlier, it must have been Olbert who led him astray! Surely the “three-way” wasn’t this person’s idea, but Olbert’s.

Yes, that was it. Zhong Xiaye perfectly slipped into a state of “leaving the fandom and trashing the ex.” The Antelope Youth was so kind and brave—how could he have any ill intentions? It must be Olbert’s fault; he looked like a sly fox with bad intentions.

His thoughts swirling, Zhong Xiaye’s attitude completely softened. He sighed, half-helplessly, and said, “It seems I can’t talk you out of it. You’re determined to go, aren’t you?—Alright, I can take you.”

After saying this, Zhong Xiaye saw the Black-haired Youth’s expression freeze for a moment, his eyes brimming with emotion as he reached out both hands.

Zhong Xiaye watched that sincere face, couldn’t help but curl his lips, and gently grasped the other’s hands. He heard the other’s voice.

“You’ll really take me? That’s great.”

Bai Fuling held Zhong Xiaye’s hand, quickly switching the character’s expression wheel into character. His eyes shimmered with light, and he called out with feeling:

“—Daddy!”

Zhong Xiaye: ???