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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Nuan and Gu Ze were not unfamiliar names.
The moment the name surfaced, it triggered a bitter memory in Gu Ze's mind, and Xu Nuan's unintentional remark intensified that bitterness.
When her gaze met the unspoken sarcasm deep within Gu Ze's eyes, Xu Nuan's heart jolted. In that instant, she realized there were many things she had not explained to Gu Ze.
Somewhere along the way, she had subconsciously believed that Gu Ze understood her completely. She often expanded this belief, thinking that Gu Ze knew everything she knew, while forgetting that she was still hiding many secrets. Perhaps it was because Gu Ze always seemed to follow her train of thought so effortlessly, or perhaps it was his impressive demeanor; she always thought it was fine to keep things to herself.
It dawned on her that there had been gaps in their previous conversations. She had never analyzed the three factions tracking her with Gu Ze, and he had clearly stated from the beginning that the armed He Jun was one of her pursuers. Gu Ze's words had revealed too much information that she had overlooked. This oversight allowed her to speak freely later on, ultimately hurting Gu Ze.
Xu Nuan recalled her feelings during their encounter with Chi Xiaoming and others when she and Gu Ze had separated from Xu Hang to find Yang Mingyue. Along the way, she hesitated about whether to tell Gu Ze about Su Zihang. In the end, she decided against it. Knowing a secret meant bearing the corresponding risks, and she naively chose to shoulder that risk alone, unaware that her relationship with Gu Ze had already drawn him into danger. It was precisely because Gu Ze was unaware of these matters that he was truly at risk, and she should have trusted his ability to handle situations.
"I'm sorry."
Xu Nuan took the initiative to grasp Gu Ze's hand. She realized too late that mere understanding and empathy were not enough for them as a couple. Without verbal communication, their misunderstandings would only grow larger. Although conflicts between couples in this game might seem trivial, over time they could become fatal at critical moments. By then, regret would be useless.
That regret nearly came to pass; He Jun had approached Gu Ze because of her. If not for Gu Ze's skill and sharpness, he might have already suffered harm. If she had addressed this matter with Gu Ze earlier, many issues could have been avoided. Recently, she had been so distracted that she kept losing important people.
"I should have told you what I know about Su Zihang."
With guilt weighing heavily on her heart, Xu Nuan explained the significance of Su Zihang in this game and his importance to the founder. Throughout her explanation, she nervously observed Gu Ze's reactions. She feared he would resent her for hiding the truth and worried that many feelings and events might have changed without her knowledge while she clung to past memories, leading only to failure.
The night deepened, and both were anxious about He Jun’s delayed arrival; the street remained silent except for the sound of the wind.
Once Xu Nuan finished speaking, she tilted her head up and looked at Gu Ze with a hint of trepidation in her eyes. It had been so long since she felt this way that she found it hard to remain calm.
"I'm sorry."
Now it was Gu Ze's turn to apologize. Whenever it came to matters concerning Xu Nuan, he found it difficult to stay composed; such an attitude could sometimes be hurtful. The future he envisioned was not one where Xu Nuan felt so apprehensive. Yet, with emotions running deep between them, there was no need for overly sentimental words at this moment.
"The matter regarding Su Zihang is indeed the best way to deal with him, but don't rush it too much. Let's take it step by step; first, we need to reach the Forest of Hatred."
Based on Xu Nuan's current emotional index, she definitely wants to eliminate the strongest opponent in one go, while Zhang Xiao is secondary at this point. However, Gu Ze is worried that Xu Nuan might act impulsively, revealing her cards too early before everything is properly arranged, which could allow the person lurking in the shadows to gain the upper hand.
Gu Ze has a vague feeling that Zhang Xiao is not significantly related to the deaths of Xu Nuan's parents. Even if Zhang Xiao killed Qin Yaojie, risking everything for just Zhang Xiao wouldn't be worth it. Instead, the person in the shadows is more likely connected to the death of Xu Nuan's parents and her entry into the game. He can see this clearly, and he knows that Xu Nuan can see it too. The more he understands this, the more he feels the need to keep a close watch on Xu Nuan in the coming days.
"I know," Xu Nuan replies calmly. "We’ll reach the Forest of Hatred soon; I will hold myself back."
Gu Ze feels slightly relieved, yet his decision remains unchanged.
Both of them have been highly tense for quite some time now, and with He Jun still not appearing, it could mean he has other plans or is already lying in wait.
Thinking about this, Xu Nuan still doesn’t dare to relax too much. However, fatigue has begun to overwhelm her; she feels drowsy and her eyes are almost closing.
"Rest," Gu Ze says as he casually takes out a vial of medicine from Xu Nuan's pocket and prepares a syringe to inject her.
Although Xu Nuan doesn’t know what effect this medicine has, she remembers that every time she was injected, she felt groggy and lost her fighting ability.
"But He Jun is still out there lying in wait. Can you handle it alone?"
In her drowsy state, she knows she would just be a burden. If she were to drag Gu Ze down with her, then she might as well skip the medication. Trusting someone is one thing; worrying is another.
"He won't show up."
Gu Ze has already relaxed his guard a step ahead of Xu Nuan. This goes against his usual way of doing things, but Gu Ze’s confidence makes Xu Nuan unconsciously believe him.
"Did you have other plans before?"
Reflecting on Gu Ze’s remarkable capabilities and his tendency to think several steps ahead, Xu Nuan realizes that she might have overlooked something.
"Of course."
Gu Ze was quite satisfied with Xu Nuan's reaction speed. He affectionately took her hand, revealing a section of his white arm. When the needle touched her skin, Xu Nuan did not flinch; she quietly watched as the medication entered her bloodstream through the vein, slowly beginning to take effect.
"Chi Xiaoming should have arrived at the headquarters by now. The people in the monitoring room are probably heartbroken."
The medication had started to work, and Xu Nuan felt her mind growing heavy, her vision becoming blurry. She struggled to lift her gaze to Gu Ze's reassuring smile. In the last moment before losing consciousness, she thought about how those people must be devastated. This particular challenge had clearly required the most financial, material, and human resources, and now it was being disrupted by Gu Ze and Chi Xiaoming. They would likely harbor a deep resentment towards them.
However, during the previous Survival Game, she hadn't seen Gu Ze trying to sabotage any mechanisms.
By the time she pondered that question, her consciousness had already slipped into a state of sleep, and soon after, she fell asleep quickly.
When she regained consciousness again, she sensed that she was moving forward steadily and comfortably. She woke up on her own rather than being jolted awake by bumps.
As she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the back of Gu Ze's head. This scene had repeated itself so many times that she had grown accustomed to it; in fact, she found it more comfortable and less tiring than walking on her own.
She guessed that she wasn't heavy. Xu Nuan thought to herself while maintaining her grip around Gu Ze's neck as she observed her surroundings. It was then that she noticed the Special Tree had appeared, and Chi Xiaoming was not far ahead, carrying a backpack and holding two more in his hands.
Chi Xiaoming's silent demeanor made Xu Nuan feel a bit guilty. Surely their actions wouldn't have upset this single man too much?
Perhaps having sorted out the three factions tracking her and with the four factions that developed this game now clear, Xu Nuan felt considerably relieved. The person she cared about most was right beside her; she no longer feared the upcoming Survival Game or the people they would face.
"Awake?"
As Xu Nuan comfortably rested on Gu Ze's back and let her imagination wander, his voice suddenly rang out. They were close enough that his clear voice struck deep within her heart. Her ears felt suddenly warm and tingly; unable to resist, Xu Nuan reached out to touch him but quickly withdrew her hand when it felt hot.
Her movement was a bit too abrupt; Gu Ze stumbled slightly under her weight, causing Xu Nuan to tighten her grip around his neck in alarm.
Perhaps she had squeezed a little too hard; Gu Ze feigned distress and called out playfully, his voice filled with laughter.
"Are you planning to murder your husband?"
"Stop being cheeky!"
Xu Nuan simply leaned on Gu Ze's back and reached out to pinch his ear, but the force was as light as a breeze to him.
Facing forward, Gu Ze did not see Xu Nuan's flushed face or the happy smile that flickered in her light-colored eyes.
To find a place of comfort in this cruel game, to have someone to lean on and share joys and sorrows with, was indeed a blessing.
However, the carefree interaction between the two severely affected Chi Xiaoming, who was burdened with a heavy backpack. Unfortunately, despite his impressive skills, Chi Xiaoming was not good with words in this regard; he could only maintain a stern expression while keeping an eye on the playful duo, inwardly lamenting how childish they were.
If he had someone else by his side, he wouldn't feel so awkward. As Chi Xiaoming pondered how to express his thoughts more tactfully, a few people appeared in the distance, also heading toward the Supply Station.
"Xu Hang!"
Chi Xiaoming had never shouted a man's name with such excitement before. When Xu Hang turned around in surprise to look at him, Chi Xiaoming realized he had lost his composure but quickened his pace noticeably.
Not far away stood Xu Hang and Yu Yu, both of whom stopped to wait for the three of them. Seeing this, Xu Nuan obediently climbed down from Gu Ze's back. Just as she was about to say something to him, she heard someone calling her name.
"Nuan!"
Xu Nuan turned her gaze to the right in response to the voice and saw He Min, Deng Yinyin, and Xie Huai approaching.
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