Chapter 112

Chapter 112

His mind was wandering through thoughts of class changes, Bai Fuling knew it wasn’t something that could be done in an instant. Still, he could probably start getting ready.

All mutations happen gradually. If he wanted to gain a certain ability, he had to start building up from small steps.

In the last story arc, he’d been mainly developing the cat mutation, while also working on the Beagle, Spider, and Angel paths.

For now, the Beagle and Spider stats weren’t that useful to the player, so he’d shifted focus to the Angel.

At this point, the player’s Angel mutation had already unlocked the big wings, so maybe it was time to think about the next step.

Bai Fuling thought about it. On the screen, the story kept going smoothly. The doctors hauled away the body on the ground, and Lin Shanze, now a pixelated mess, got moved away, leaving just a pool of blood.

Security guards who showed up because of the commotion shooed away the onlookers and roped off the area with yellow-black tape. Cops were probably on their way.

In the chaos, Bai Fuling pulled out the white pillowcase he’d swiped from the psych hospital, dipped it in the blood on the ground, and then stuffed it back in his bag.

Sure enough, a text prompt popped up on the screen:

“Obtained [Bloodstained Pillowcase] ×1”

Whatever, grab it first! Later, if he got a chance, he could run a composition test, or just use this blood-soaked pillowcase as evidence to turn in with a quest.

Bai Fuling figured. He didn’t stick around and decided to head back to the hospital to see what was up.

First, go back to Lin Shanze’s room. The guy just jumped a bit ago, so there might be clues in there.

Anyway, he could just pop his big wings out and fly back up—

Bai Fuling looked up and saw Luo Qingyue at the window upstairs. Luo Qingyue was leaning on the windowsill, staring down.

“*[Luo Qingyue] is watching you*”

“*Hint: Someone is paying attention to you*”

“*Hint: Someone is watching you*”

“*You’d better not use [Angel Wings] to fly*”

Four pop-ups popped up one after another on the screen. The player’s eyes stopped on the second and third ones.

These extra watch-out prompts meant… besides Luo Qingyue, there was another NPC worth noticing nearby?

Bai Fuling perked up right away, turning his view to scan around.

However, he didn’t see any NPCs with exclamation marks or special red names. In the busy crowd, every pixel character looked normal.

But since the screen had specifically thrown up these hints, the player naturally wouldn’t choose to suicide—at least, not in a part without save points.

If only there were save slots, Bai Fuling thought regretfully. Then the player could happily try every route, even make a complete collection of death methods!

For now, Bai Fuling dropped the idea of spreading his wings. Of course, that didn’t mean the player was about to obediently take the stairs or elevator.

How’d he come down? He’d go back up the same way. The player quickly went back to his old spot, clicked on the water pipe, and like a quick cat, grabbed the thick white drainpipe on the wall, climbing it easily.

Wearing a Lolita-style fluffy dress, the player’s wide skirt billowed like a jellyfish’s bell.

He completely ignored the shocked cries from the NPCs below and successfully climbed back—first into Luo Qingyue’s room.

Since Cotton Spirit had been leaning by the window watching him, Bai Fuling felt he should go back and reassure his ally.

“I’m back.” Bai Fuling landed perfectly, lifting his face with a smile. “Don’t worry. I just went down to check the situation—I’ve been going up and down like this at school, so I’m very skilled.”

The player had turned every water pipe into a cat climbing frame.

Luo Qingyue: …Has Pelland Academy become so twisted that students need to master rock-climbing skills to get to class?!

He paused, his gaze falling on the black-haired youth’s blue fluffy dress, and hesitated: “You climbed up like that just now?”

“Hmm?” Bai Fuling tilted his head, then, as if suddenly realizing something, reached out to lift his skirt—

Luo Qingyue immediately jerked his head away!

“What are you doing?! Stop, stop, stop!” Luo Qingyue stammered. Because he was speaking too quickly, he couldn’t help but start coughing again.

He covered his face with both hands. “Cabbage Friend, why suddenly?! Don’t—!”

“What’s wrong?” Bai Fuling tilted his head, smiling, and stepped forward. “Why are you covering your face? Open your eyes, I’ll show you.”

Luo Qingyue felt the other grab his wrist, as if trying to move his hands away. But he could tell it was a one-handed grip, meaning the other hand was still lifting the hem of the skirt.

Even knowing the other was a genderless angel, Luo Qingyue couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes and watch someone lift their skirt in front of him.

He resisted, though his resistance was, as always, soft and yielding, with little real effect.

Luo Qingyue was always careful not to hurt others with force, so he never resisted too fiercely.

The person in front of him wanted to move his hands away, so they leaned in close.

Luo Qingyue felt like the other was about to press against him entirely. He worried that the other might simply sit on his lap with the skirt lifted and continue this wrist-wrestling… Good heavens, is this what angels are like?! This isn’t saintly angel behavior!

Luo Qingyue couldn’t imagine the other sitting on his lap with the skirt spread open, even though he was fully dressed in a hospital gown without any exposed skin.

His soft, yielding resistance finally gave out: “Fine! Cabbage Friend! I’ll open my eyes—”

Luo Qingyue was at his wit’s end, sweat beading on his forehead, delicate strands of hair sticking to his temples. He thought, I’ll just look, but at least I’ll do so with a pure heart.

He moved his hands away and opened his eyes, only to see beneath the lifted, smooth skirt fabric—a pair of SpongeBob shorts.

Luo Qingyue: ?

“See! I’m wearing pants under my skirt.” Bai Fuling said triumphantly. “No worries about indecent exposure!”

The player had come prepared. He’d bought several pairs of pants at the mall and layered them all on! This cartoon shorts were naturally one of them.

Before climbing the pipe, the player had already swapped into the SpongeBob shorts from the wardrobe. The player always thought comprehensively, starting from the details, to give the system no chance to deem him unqualified.

When Luo Qingyue the NPC had questioned the player’s skirt-clad pipe climbing, the player naturally had to lift the skirt to answer—

Even in a pixel game, the perfect player wouldn’t have a wardrobe malfunction! Even if the people screaming below looked up, all they’d see was the authoritative SpongeBob.

Plus, the player could use this scene to tease the honest NPC.

Sorry, but passing up the chance to tease Cotton Spirit was something the player couldn’t do. Bai Fuling put on a serious face. This is exactly the kind of harassment a Beagle inflicts on humans! Who knows, it might even unlock the Demon path.

Seeing that there was nothing inappropriate under the skirt, Luo Qingyue was quiet for a moment, the puffed-up Cotton Spirit returning to its previous state.

He stared at the black-haired youth before him, who was still holding up the hem of the skirt with a smile on his lips, and felt a mix of embarrassment over his earlier thoughts, along with something else.

...Well, somehow I feel like Cabbage Friend’s actions just now were a bit deliberate, as if he specifically wanted to tease me by not explaining and just lifting his skirt directly. Do angels have such a playful heart too?

If not for this, Luo Qingyue would have almost forgotten—this person had once pulled off countless mischievous pranks.

It’s a bit like a mischievous little demon... Well, that kind of reverse comparison is a bit too much; he shouldn’t describe Fresh Cabbage with an image from the completely opposite camp!

Luo Qingyue felt guilty for a second, then thought: the other person must be a lively angel who’s still young and loves to be playful.

To avoid this topic, Luo Qingyue quickly changed the subject: “What do you want with him—with the person next door?”

“To solve the case,” Bai Fuling turned serious and continued, “That butterfly hallucination case. You weren’t the first incident.”

Since Luo Qingyue was one of the victims and also his teammate, Bai Fuling gave a quick summary of the incident in the chat box.

Luo Qingyue’s expression turned serious as he listened. After Bai Fuling finished, he exhaled and said, “...A series of incidents like this. That organization might be fueling it too.”

Infinite Flying Cockroach Nest?! Bai Fuling said, “Is this about exploring human limits? Mental limits?”

“Possibly,” Luo Qingyue looked down. The shadow of that organization had never faded, but now, he no longer feared it.

He said, “People from that organization usually don’t act directly—they’re the behind-the-scenes pushers, helpers, and strategists. That’s why it’s so hard to track them or find evidence against them.”

So the butterfly case might involve two people—two forces. Bai Fuling thought: the culprit and the behind-the-scenes pusher.

Just like with [Cat’s Secret], Luo Qingyue was the framed “culprit,” the Liao family was the surface-level true culprit, but the real force behind it all was the Infinite Cockroach Nest, where the White-haired Youth belonged.

In that case, Bai Fuling thought, he’d have to investigate from multiple angles and not just focus on one suspect.

“I’ll check the room next door,” Bai Fuling said. “Maybe I’ll find something.”

“...Stay safe,” Luo Qingyue said. After half a second, he added, “Try... not to blow your cover.”

“I understand,” Bai Fuling used the emoji wheel to send a smiley face. “I’m not stupid. Unless necessary, I’ll be careful.”

The player was thinking about a class change and didn’t feel like farming angel corruption points as much. Plus, with the NPC’s repeated reminders, Bai Fuling decided to hold back and not just pop out his big wings.

Luo Qingyue watched Bai Fuling but didn’t try to persuade him again. Instead, he gave the same soft, easygoing smile and said calmly, “Whatever you decide, I’ll back you up.”

That sounded like if the player said he wanted to die, he’d count to three and jump too. Bai Fuling froze for a moment.

He remembered the icon for the other’s personal attribute—the deadly noose and the life-saving swing ring were one and the same.

...So it seemed the other guy really would jump with him. What kind of die-together attribute was this? How did he even get that? This felt off!

Bai Fuling shook off the thought and left Luo Qingyue’s hospital room.

He reached the empty room next door, and the player’s hoarding instinct kicked in again.

Finding a new location with no one around, the player naturally had to rummage through everything. Unfortunately, all he found were some medical supplies—nothing else.

The window was wide open, wind blowing in, curtains swaying and flapping loudly. It was a bright, sunny day, with sharp light pouring through the window and lighting up the floor.

The pixel art was a bit stiff, but you could still tell the floor was tiled, with reflected light making the room even brighter.

Bai Fuling stood in the room, looking at the light on the floor, and suddenly thought: When the first victim jumped from the building, it was also a sunny day like this.

...Could light be one of the triggers for the episode?

Following that logic, when the second victim, Lin Shanze, suddenly went crazy, it was also when the auction stage lights flared up! The exact time of death for the third person wasn’t clear, but there was no rain those days.

But light definitely wasn’t the only factor. If Luo Qingyue was also affected, there had to be something else—like something in the food, drink, or medication.

Bai Fuling’s thoughts turned back: Luo Qingyue said everything was uniform and nothing special. But if the culprit was capable enough, swapping a few IV bottles or food and water wouldn’t be hard, especially since Luo Qingyue’s room was right next to Lin Shanze’s.

The player would need to check the duty roster or something for clues.

With that thought, Bai Fuling turned his character and walked out of the room.

He didn’t know where the duty roster was, but in games, you usually find text clues in the archive room or the doctor’s office—those two places always had stuff to search.

Bai Fuling checked the hospital map, saw there was an office downstairs, and decided to check it out first.

The hospital was crowded today. Well, the hospital was always crowded. But did the game really have to put so many NPCs in here?!

Bai Fuling looked around—people everywhere. His character’s movement speed had to slow down because of the crowd.

The player was tempted to just jump up and walk over the NPCs’ heads... sure, it might trigger some hospital expulsion, but at least it would feel satisfying.

Just as Bai Fuling was about to lose it and jump, the player moved the camera and spotted a vaguely familiar figure diagonally ahead.

There stood a man, holding a book with a cover full of butterfly icons, titled *Complete Butterfly Illustrated Guide*.

—The Germaphobe Brother who was sitting in the silver-gray stretch car earlier, gave the player the Miracle OO clothes but vomited upon seeing the high-score outfit?!

Why was he in the hospital too?!

Seeing a familiar NPC, Bai Fuling wanted to approach and trigger a storyline. He planned to squeeze through the crowd from the edge, sticking close to the wall.

The light on the screen flickered suddenly, and Bai Fuling stumbled into a door while squeezing through—wow, this door wasn’t closed?!

He fell into the room, like a blueberry cake knocked over on the floor.

Before Bai Fuling could get up, a dialog box popped up on the screen.

“...Who are you? Oh, it’s you? Ha, hahaha? You?”

What a neurotic string of words. Bai Fuling turned around and saw a person sitting on the hospital bed. That person had a middle-parted perm, a tongue piercing, and a slightly raised chin, looking somewhat arrogant.

Oh, it’s that second snake from the Farmer and the Snake story, Wei Lin. Bai Fuling remembered.

Wei Lin on the bed scanned Bai Fuling up and down, with a moment of initial confusion, then after recognizing the person in front of him, his expression shifted into a strange, mocking laugh:

“Hahaha! Oh—so this is that fake knight’s taste? He dressed you up like this?”

“You’re really pretty, little beauty. You really are a pretty kid, aren’t you?” Wei Lin’s voice floated. “I was wondering how to invite you—but you came on your own.”

“What’s wrong? Finally realized you can’t handle that person, so you’ve come to defect to me? Of course, I can accept you... just like I promised before, whatever he gave you, I can give you double or more.”

Faced with Wei Lin’s taunts, Bai Fuling calmly stood up, stepped out, and walked out the door—without bothering to close it.

Blah blah blah, what’s he saying? Bai Fuling let it go in one ear and out the other, decisively ignoring the worthless dialogue. In short, Farmer Great Detective was busy now and really didn’t have time to play with snakes anymore!