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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Nuan was actually quite afraid of people with strong presences, or more accurately, she didn't know how to interact with them. Yielding was not an option; her proud and stubborn self-esteem wouldn't allow it. Fighting back was also unappealing to her; she disliked confrontational situations.
And now, she found herself in such a predicament.
The man sitting next to her, who was supposedly a university alumnus, turned his face slightly, his features somewhat sharp. The straight line of his lips revealed his mood, while his eyes, which always seemed to carry a gentle smile, were focused on her hands.
This man was tending to her wound with an attitude that left no room for refusal. He was careful not to touch her hands directly. To avoid misunderstandings, she didn't even voice a refusal, even though she knew she shouldn't let other men get close to her.
She was well aware of her own feelings. She had someone on her mind, even if that person had ended their relationship in a way that caused her deep pain and regret. That couldn't stop her from moving forward in hopes of rekindling that romance.
Xu Nuan wasn't narcissistic enough to think that this man liked her. After all, she hadn't known him during university and had never seen him at the headquarters. They had only interacted a few times in the game.
Love at first sight? Please, she was currently bare-faced, wearing a Tactical Jacket that could accommodate any figure, lacking any semblance of makeup.
Thus, Xu Nuan began to overthink. Was this seemingly gentle man named Gu Ze really as kind as he appeared? Or was he just pretending to be a good person?
Of course, Gu Ze had no idea that Xu Nuan had secretly given him a "good person card." If he knew, his expression would surely be quite entertaining.
Once Gu Ze finished bandaging her wound, Xu Nuan's previously intimidating demeanor inexplicably softened as she weakly uttered a word.
"Thank you."
Afterward, she added,
"I can handle this kind of injury myself from now on. You should go rest."
Her tone reflected the strictness she had experienced from her university mentor, known as the "Black-faced Deity." The memory eased Xu Nuan's expression slightly, and she found herself less harsh than usual regarding the game. If she stayed in this game any longer, she would definitely miss this year's gathering.
However, Gu Ze's expression did not soften; instead, he spoke each word deliberately.
"Injured?"
The low-pressure tone of his voice resembled that of their teacher, causing Xu Nuan to widen her almond-shaped eyes in surprise as she looked at Gu Ze.
Seeing her expression, Gu Ze's heart softened, and his demeanor relaxed as he finally offered a helpless yet gentle smile.
"You should take good care of a girl's hands. After we clear this level, you'll need to return to a normal life," Gu Ze said, rubbing his forehead as he continued.
"I remember you used to play the drums. If your hands are injured, you won't be able to touch those instruments anymore."
At that moment, his tone reminded Xu Nuan of her talkative mother, prompting her to reveal a faint smile tinged with nostalgia.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you."
She didn't mention that she hadn't played the drums in many years or the reasons behind it. Wandering alone in the game, if she could truly make a few lifelong friends, that would be a kind of happiness.
Xu Nuan had no idea what emotions Gu Ze felt while treating her wounds. Once he finished and left, all her fatigue surged back. Her frail body protested against the strain, and after a brief rebellion, her cells resumed their monotonous routine.
When would such days come to an end? Xu Nuan tilted her head back slightly and raised a hand to shield her eyes, hiding all the turmoil within them.
Tang Jingshu, still managing to muster some energy, volunteered to gather dry branches. With enthusiasm, she began to start a fire using the knowledge she had learned from Xu Nuan earlier. She also took the few pieces of jerky from Xu Hang's hands, planning to prepare a hearty dinner for everyone. The thought of the animal bones she had seen while searching for branches was quickly cast aside; at this moment, only human bones would startle her.
Xu Hang watched as Tang Jingshu prepared everything and then noticed Deng Yinyin sheepishly handing candy to Xie Huai, who had been pale and silent since being discovered. He let out a heavy sigh and found a rocky spot to lean against for a brief rest.
Seeing Gu Ze return with a cool smile on his lips, Xu Hang couldn't help but detect a hint of teasing and helplessness in his tone.
"Can't hold it in anymore?"
Gu Ze sat down beside him, leaning slightly against the stone, gazing up at the brilliant starry sky. His words came out like a sigh.
"My heart aches."
The simple four words made Xu Hang turn his head in surprise to look at Gu Ze, his gaze quickly sweeping past Xu Nuan, who was sitting a little farther away, before lowering his voice.
"Do you really still like her? It's been so many years. And you've dated several girlfriends since then."
Gu Ze also turned to look at Xu Hang, his tone as cool as the night.
"Since when did you become so talkative?"
Xu Hang awkwardly scratched his head, involuntarily glancing at Deng Yinyin, who was not far to his left.
Deng Yinyin was his girlfriend's cousin. Even though he was currently in a cold war with his girlfriend, he felt he should take care of Deng Yinyin. It was no secret in the company that she liked Gu Ze, and it was also no secret that she wouldn't confess due to her pride.
He knew very well that his friend Gu Ze didn't like Deng Yinyin, but emotions often cloud judgment. The idea of his friend being with his girlfriend's cousin was indeed appealing. He understood that he couldn't force anything, but understanding didn't mean he could remain indifferent.
Xu Hang anxiously scratched his head; he would rather discuss orders with clients than get tangled up in these emotional matters. Just as he was feeling awkwardly conflicted, he heard Gu Ze speak softly.
"I don't know either. Even if I did know, there's nothing I could do about it."
After that, Gu Ze fell silent and closed his eyes to rest.
Seeing this, Xu Hang could only let out a quiet sigh and followed Gu Ze's example to take a moment of rest.
As everyone was drifting off to sleep, Tang Jingshu's gentle voice saying, "It's ready," roused them all.
The warmed Jerky, which usually lacked chewiness, tasted like a delicacy in this moment. Coupled with hot water, they all enjoyed a delightful meal.
Once they finished eating, it was time to pull out their sleeping bags and get some rest.
Tang Jingshu didn’t feel sleepy. She waved her hand at the yawning Deng Yinyin and took a bottle and knife over to a Cactus, planning to cut it open for some juice. With only three backpacks left and limited food supplies, the Cactus juice could quench their thirst and stave off hunger. It was best to gather as much as possible while she still had energy.
However, just as she was about to slice into the Cactus, Xu Hang's astonished voice broke the silence.
"Where did all the Jerky go?"
The mention of food instantly snapped everyone awake as they turned their attention to Xu Hang.
Xu Hang was frowning as he rummaged through his backpack. After carefully counting, he confirmed with certainty, "The rest of the Jerky is gone, and my backpack has been opened."
"Could there be other Players nearby? Did they steal it?" Deng Yinyin asked, rubbing her tired eyes in confusion.
Xu Nuan shook her head. "If it were other Players, they would have taken the entire backpack."
"It could also be some kind of intelligent animal," Gu Ze suggested as he approached Xu Hang, who was still puzzled by the state of his backpack. "Did you find anything?"
Xu Hang spoke in a strange tone.
"My backpack is covered in Cactus thorns, but I've never encountered a Cactus."
Gu Ze bent down to take a closer look and suddenly felt as if it were raining, with droplets of water falling around him.
Then came Xie Huai's scream, "Ah! Gu Ze, behind you!"
Gu Ze and Xu Hang looked up to see a Cactus, a Cactus with a gaping mouth that seemed wide enough to swallow them whole without effort.
"Run!"
Gu Ze and Xu Hang jumped into action, grabbing their bags and calling out to those nearby to leave quickly.
Meanwhile, Tang Jingshu, who had been watching Xu Hang's movements, stood frozen in shock. After a moment, she glanced at the knife and water bottle in her hands.
"Tang Jingshu, what are you dazed about?"
Deng Yinyin's scream shattered the night's stillness once more.
"Run! That Cactus wants to eat you!"
Startled, Tang Jingshu turned around stiffly, only to see the Cactus slowly bending down, its massive mouth opening wide. The heavy, animal-like stench hit her nostrils instantly.
This was a Cactus with a mouth; she couldn't find any eyes, which made it even more terrifying. Tang Jingshu suddenly recalled the animal bones she had seen while gathering firewood—those were the remnants of this carnivorous Cactus's victims.
Rationality urged her to escape; every cell in her body screamed danger. Yet her legs felt so heavy that she could barely lift them, trembling uncontrollably.
This was a terrifying place, one that could not be approached with the common sense of the normal world. She still remembered her anxious unease this morning regarding the whereabouts of Deng Yinyin and Xie Huai, as well as the horrifying bloodlust of Killer Eagle, and now it was Cactus.
Why did she have to endure all of this? Why was it her who had to go through it?
In that fleeting moment, Tang Jingshu wished for her gambling uncle, who was plagued by laziness, to die. It was all that person's fault that she had to experience all of this.
Even though various thoughts rolled through her mind, these ideas flashed by in mere seconds.
"You think you won't want to drink their juice again? It's no different from drinking blood."
Xu Nuan's calm voice jolted her awake. By the time Tang Jingshu came to her senses, she was already running alongside Xu Nuan and the others, leaving behind the carnivorous Cactus Forest, which gradually faded from view.
"I miss home."
Tang Jingshu's voice was soft, and as it escaped her lips, it was carried away by the wind.
Xu Nuan, closest to her, heard it but could only slightly lower her gaze, unable to say anything.
In life, there are always many unexpected events and many unavoidable circumstances. Among those caught in this game, some yearned for wealth, some craved survival, while others were simply forced into it. They did not want to see their companions fall one by one, nor did they want to see themselves fall.
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