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墨書 Inktalez
Meanwhile, Xie Huai and Deng Yinyin encountered the same situation.
The two had separated from the main group and embarked on their own paths. Along the way, they inadvertently triggered some mechanisms, faced difficult choices, and encountered dangerous situations. When it came to making decisions, Deng Yinyin unconditionally followed Xie Huai's lead. Even if they ended up taking the wrong path or were attacked by fierce beasts, Xie Huai never complained, which made Deng Yinyin more reckless. Whenever danger arose, the usually timid Xie Huai bravely stood in front of Deng Yinyin to protect her, ensuring that she remained mostly unharmed.
Naturally.
This was the conclusion Deng Yinyin reached after reflecting on her experiences growing up. Everything she received felt like a given; she could reap rewards without putting in effort.
She was the most cherished girl of her generation, raised in the palms of others' hands—be it her grandparents, parents, uncles, or even siblings—everyone catered to her every whim. Sometimes, even without asking, she would receive a pile of gifts. She never had to consider whether her requests were burdensome to others; when receiving things, she didn't feel gratitude.
At school, her elders maintained good relationships with the teachers, so she naturally enjoyed their favoritism. It didn't matter if her grades weren't outstanding; her family would help her solve any issues. This habit continued into her work life; her family used their connections to get her into a better company, where she made good friends and developed feelings for someone. However, what she didn't anticipate was that joining this company linked to the game would become a turning point in her life.
Whether realizing that not everything she desired could be obtained or finding herself trapped in a game where death lurked at every corner, she understood that this world did not offer too many certainties. Yet even as these thoughts emerged, she was still being cared for by Xu Hang and Xie Huai. Perhaps under their protection, she had been living quite comfortably, leading her to once again adopt this notion as her motto.
During the lonely desert level, when she faced challenges alone, everything she encountered made her realize that relying solely on herself was insufficient for survival. If she wanted to live, she needed support. Thus, no matter how much she disliked Xu Nuan or felt envious of Gu Ze's interactions with Xu Nuan, she wouldn't confront them out of spite. Even though she knew she didn't like Xie Huai, she wouldn't refuse any help he offered.
At this moment, the faint moonlight cast a chill on her now less baby-faced features. Her relatively large eyes lacked any hint of laughter; what once was a charming face began to show the allure of a mature woman. This game and the passage of time possessed a similar power: they could cause someone to grow rapidly in an instant while revealing that those around them had changed significantly.
She observed Xie Huai without any emotion; his thin and frail figure had protected her throughout the day. At first glance, his presence seemed unreliable, yet she couldn't pinpoint any flaws in him. Simultaneously, she knew that even if she did find fault with him, this slender man would simply smile it off.
What kind of person was Xie Huai?
Deng Yinyin recalled what several people around her had said about him. Tang Jingshu, who left early on, once mentioned that he was a cowardly man who loved money but wasn't willing to do anything for it. He seemed to believe that living another day peacefully was a good thing and that avoiding trouble was ideal. In this regard, Deng Yinyin considered herself his opposite; she loved adventure and believed money could solve many problems. She longed for a life where people adored her and where desires could be fulfilled effortlessly—a life only someone like Gu Ze or someone even more exceptional could provide; Xie Huai would never fit that role.
She also remembered Xu Hang's assessment of Xie Huai—the one who had taken care of her most in this game—believing him to be someone with potential who would unleash tremendous energy in times of adversity. After thinking carefully, Deng Yinyin recalled a few instances when Xie Huai had displayed such potential: during their first encounter with Rao Tingxue when they arrived at the forest only to be caught in heavy rain; when she accidentally slipped and fell—if Xie Huai hadn't caught her then, she might have plummeted off the cliff. Another instance was during their previous desert encounter when she'd regained some clarity and saw Xie Huai bravely fighting against zombies; for a moment, she thought he looked quite imposing. However, compared to Gu Ze, Xu Hang, Chi Xiaoming and others, he reverted back to being just another cowardly employee.
Gu Ze had also commented on Xie Huai; whenever Deng Yinyin thought of Gu Ze, Xu Nuan—a woman who both irritated and fascinated her—came to mind as well. Both men shared similar views about Xie Huai: while he appeared ordinary and timid at first glance, he was unexpectedly meticulous in his work and paid attention to detail; he was eager to learn and studied psychology outside of work—someone who could be very family-oriented.
It dawned on her that nearly everyone else had never underestimated Xie Huai; perhaps through their interactions over these days they had discovered his strengths. Only she stubbornly believed him to be useless; it felt entirely normal for her to look down on him.
Deng Yinyin's gaze deepened as she stared unblinkingly at Xie Huai's back, completely oblivious to her surroundings.
"Xie Huai."
She suddenly called out to Xie Huai, believing that his protection of her was a given, and that his feelings for her were also something she could take for granted. But at that moment, she found herself wanting to know how Xie Huai saw her and why he liked her. She considered herself a magnanimous person, willing to give Xie Huai the opportunity to express his feelings, but she was certain she would reject him.
However, when Xie Huai turned around in response, Deng Yinyin was immediately stunned.
The person who turned around was not Xie Huai, but Fan Beibei, who had been killed by He Min.
“No, this is impossible!”
Deng Yinyin stumbled back a few steps in panic. When she saw Fan Beibei standing still without moving, she halted and let out a cold laugh.
“Of course it’s an illusion. You, who should have died long ago, shouldn’t be alive.”
“You, who only know how to seduce others, shouldn’t be alive.”
As Deng Yinyin spat out those vicious words, she watched as the neatly dressed Fan Beibei transformed before her eyes. Her clothes were disheveled, showing signs of struggle; there was a large gash on her neck from which blood gushed forth. Fan Beibei waved her hand toward Deng Yinyin, trying to call for help but unable to make a sound.
This was how Deng Yinyin saw Fan Beibei in her final moments. She knew that He Min had no idea that the very person he had killed was standing just behind a nearby tree.
That day in Friendship Forest, they faced the dilemma of having to eliminate a teammate. With no one willing to make a choice, everyone felt uneasy. Deng Yinyin had briefly entertained the thought of suggesting they abandon Xu Nuan, who was still unconscious, but remembering the secrets Xu Nuan held made her dismiss that idea.
Feeling restless, she wandered around until she spotted He Min’s sneaky figure. Considering He Min's connection with Xu Nuan, she decided to follow him and witnessed the moment He Min subdued and even killed Fan Beibei.
She vividly recalled He Min telling the dying Fan Beibei, “Don’t hate me; you learned something you shouldn’t have.” This left her confused; she initially thought He Min killed Fan Beibei because of Yu Yu and believed He Min was too ruthless to associate with further. However, those words hinted that He Min also had secrets of his own.
Curious about that secret, she continued to stay close to He Min afterward but still failed to uncover it. At that time, though, she was more frightened by Fan Beibei’s desperate gestures for help. If only she had appeared in time, perhaps Fan Beibei wouldn’t have died. Unfortunately, she hadn’t shown up for two reasons: first, she thought He Min might lose control and kill her too; she couldn’t defeat someone like He Min. Second, she secretly wished for Fan Beibei’s demise.
Now standing before her was the bleeding Fan Beibei beginning to speak. Due to the gash on her neck, her voice came out as a buzzing whisper; Deng Yinyin vaguely heard her asking why she hadn’t saved her.
Firmly convinced this was merely an illusion triggered by some mechanism, Deng Yinyin stood there and retorted a few words.
“Ha! Why should I save you?”
The cold, ruthless expression on her face felt unfamiliar, yet it was the true visage of Deng Yinyin at that moment.
Deng Yinyin wore a stern look, her eyes betraying a hint of disdain and hatred.
"Who told you to seduce Xu Hang?"
"A woman like you has no right to live in this world!"
"Xu Hang can only belong to my cousin!"
Deng Yinyin had once witnessed the scene where the awakened Fan Beibei tried to entice Xu Hang. This woman likely sensed Yu Yu's concern for He Min and Chi Xiaoming's indifference, so she turned her attention to Xu Hang, seeking his protection.
"How disgusting!"
Even though she knew she was speaking to a dead person, she couldn't help but express all her pent-up dissatisfaction.
In Deng Yinyin's eyes, Fan Beibei had engaged with Zhang Hui and even used him. This woman had also been involved with Yu Yu but couldn't compete with He Min, and now she had set her sights on Xu Hang. Fan Beibei had always been under the protection of Xu Hang and Xie Huai; she would never understand the desperate thoughts of someone pushed to the brink, willing to do anything to survive.
She neither understood such thoughts nor wished to.
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