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墨書 Inktalez
The sunrise in the desert always possesses a breathtaking beauty. The sun's rays, devoid of heat, cascade down at the edge of the golden sands, coating the entire desert in a dazzling hue. A gentle breeze sweeps across the Sand Surface, stirring golden waves that stretch from near to the distant horizon. The uniquely shaped Dunes are a masterpiece of nature, with patches of vegetation scattered among them like brilliant jewels.
Having escaped the Cactus Forest and fearing another encounter with the Killer Eagle, Xu Nuan and her five companions ran tirelessly in one direction, oblivious to fatigue and the passage of time.
What finally halted their frantic pace was the magnificent view before them. Standing atop a high Ridge, they were struck by the vastness of the landscape, which evoked both awe and a profound sense of sorrow for the insignificance of their own lives.
Bound within a game, they passively endured one trial after another, their bodies and minds under immense pressure. Yet they had to grit their teeth and hold themselves together.
Life? Death?
It was unknown.
"What is that? A red mass?"
Deng Yinyin seemed to regain her spirits, breaking free from the earlier tension. Her voice was cheerful as she scanned the surroundings, her keen eyes quickly spotting something in the distance.
"Red?"
Xu Nuan was now particularly sensitive to those words. She hurriedly retrieved her binoculars from her bag and looked in the direction Deng Yinyin indicated. A subtle smile formed on her lips as a barely perceptible joy crept into her gentle voice.
"It's a Special Tree."
This brief statement instantly ignited hope in the eyes of the others.
"Let's go take a look."
Xu Hang decisively made the call.
The Six People hurriedly made their way toward the Special Tree, walking side by side without regard for order.
Gu Ze pressed his hand against his chest, feeling his heart's rhythm, while his gaze flickered toward Xu Nuan, who stood beside Tang Jingshu. His eyes traced over Xu Nuan's hands wrapped around a piece of cloth before returning to her face.
Her delicate brows arched like willow leaves, captivating and enchanting. Her large, clear apricot eyes resembled tranquil lake waters, with light brown irises that seemed to penetrate into one's heart. She had a nose that was not perfectly straight but was pleasing to the eye, and her thin lips spoke with a calm yet sarcastic tone.
Perhaps he should thank this game; he had never been so close to her before, nor had he ever shared so many moments with her.
Gu Ze suddenly recalled the scene of their first meeting with Xu Nuan.
It was during a freshman class party in their first year of college, celebrating the arrival of new students. Although awards were set for the event, everyone participated in performances in a friendly manner.
Each freshman class was required to perform as a group, with the order determined by drawing lots.
Gu Ze remembered that his class drew an early number and performed a skit that had everyone laughing heartily. Afterward, he found his class's seats in the auditorium and sat down to enjoy the performances of other classes.
The quality of each class's performance varied, but Gu Ze couldn't recall any specific acts except for the last one.
Xu Nuan's class was the final performance, featuring a group song medley of Love Songs.
The students quickly took their positions as directed, and at that moment, he didn't know who among them was Xu Nuan; he just wished they would finish performing and hand out awards so he could go back to sleep.
Then an unexpected event occurred. The school suddenly experienced a power outage, plunging the auditorium into darkness. The prelude that had barely begun was abruptly cut off, and all equipment ceased to function. Students began murmuring and complaining.
Seated near the front, Gu Ze overheard the teachers discussing whether to let the last class forgo their performance and proceed directly to the awards ceremony so students could go home.
Although it was unfortunate to abandon a program they had rehearsed for over a month, what could be done? That was what Gu Ze thought at that moment when he suddenly heard a light and ethereal voice singing a line from Love Song: "You know that even if Heavy Rain turns this city upside down, I will hold you close."
Gu Ze was taken aback, and the surrounding students seemed to have been muted as well.
The pure voice continued to resonate while many students reacted by pulling out their phones and turning on their flashlights to illuminate the stage.
Gu Ze saw her—a girl dressed in the same loose white shirt as everyone else, with simple shoulder-length black hair. Her features were not particularly striking among her classmates, but her smiling eyes shone brightly as she sang gently.
The students in that class also reacted, singing one song after another as they had rehearsed, while the students in the audience swayed their phones in sync.
That scene was something he would never forget: the Freshman Party.
Later, he learned that the girl was named Xu Nuan.
As time went on, during various college events, he found himself unconsciously searching for her figure. She always wore a bright smile and chatted with her friends, participating enthusiastically in activities, enjoying herself without caring about the final outcome.
What a girl who loved life! Gu Ze remembered that whenever he saw Xu Nuan, he couldn't help but smile, even though she didn’t know him at all.
As a result, he developed a habit of looking for that familiar figure in every school setting. In the library, he would watch her furrow her brows in concentration over her textbooks; during the Large Presentation, she would sneakily take out her phone to play games while stifling a giggle; he even attended classes in her department, choosing to sit at the back so he could gaze at her silhouette.
During that time, it felt like he was under a spell.
But he cowardly never appeared before Xu Nuan to confess his feelings. Perhaps it was fear of rejection, or maybe fear that getting closer to her would shatter his idealized image. He might have also been afraid of being burned by her dazzling smile.
He kept postponing until graduation came.
During Graduation Season, the trend was to express one's feelings boldly and not leave any regrets. He couldn’t escape this norm either, repeatedly rehearsing those few lines in his mind as he nervously approached Xu Nuan.
And then he saw it: Xu Nuan happily linking arms with a man. She still radiated brightness but now carried an added touch of shyness and gentleness. He deliberately avoided looking at what the man looked like but deeply etched Xu Nuan's expression into his memory.
Ah, his unrequited crush had come to an end.
At that moment, his heart felt sour and heavy. After drowning his sorrows in alcohol and sleeping it off, he left that city and moved to a nearby one to become a technician.
As the memories faded, Gu Ze still clutched his chest, his gaze lingering on Xu Nuan.
She no longer smiled so brightly; she no longer loved life as she once did. She had changed to the point where he could hardly recognize her—she seemed so unfamiliar.
Why is it that he still cannot take his eyes off the screen, spending his leisure time in the game not thinking about his past girlfriends, but instead pondering over Xu Nuan, who is clearly just a team member yet feels worlds apart?
Does he still care for this girl—no, this woman?
Is it his ridiculous pride playing tricks on him?
Whether three years ago or now, he remains a failure.
His heart continues to beat strongly, but those once resolute deep brown eyes are now clouded with confusion, and the smile that used to linger at the corners of his lips has unknowingly faded away.
Gu Ze finally withdrew his gaze, closing his eyes briefly. As he looked ahead, a bitter expression settled between his brows. If this continued, he would go mad; it was better to clear the level and leave as soon as possible.
For the first time, Gu Ze yearned to finish quickly. The previous delays and lingering feelings had turned into poison, tormenting him to the core. He could no longer endure such pain.
Let it end, Gu Ze thought to himself.
The distance seen through the telescope was not far; walking it out would only tire his legs.
Xu Nuan and her companions dragged their legs toward the Special Tree.
"Could it be a mirage?"
Xie Huai had been anxious lately and was starting to become a bit neurotic.
Deng Yinyin shot him an annoyed glance.
"There’s a shadow; how could it possibly be a mirage? Stop frowning."
Xie Huai forced a smile that was more pitiful than crying, then hurriedly lowered his head again, his eyes darting around nervously to see if any unknown creatures were sneaking up on them.
Deng Yinyin looked at Xie Huai with some disdain. She couldn't stand his timid demeanor; after all, men should be braver. Nothing had happened, so why was he acting so cowardly? It was utterly annoying.
Thinking this, Deng Yinyin turned her head and secretly watched Gu Ze, who was trying to find his way under the red Special Tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow on Gu Ze's already handsome face. The faint smile at the corners of his lips added an irresistible charm to him.
Suddenly, Deng Yinyin's face flushed. She covered her face with her hand but still peeked at Gu Ze through her fingers.
Tang Jingshu had just intended to pass the water Xu Hang handed her to Deng Yinyin when she noticed her friend lost in such a dazed state. Following Deng Yinyin's gaze, Tang Jingshu looked over. The plain Tactical Jacket worn by the tall Gu Ze gave off an air of high-end sophistication, as if he were a display piece in a showcase.
This man certainly had the appeal to attract Deng Yinyin, but if she continued to drag things out without confessing, Gu Ze would never know her feelings.
Tang Jingshu sighed lightly and turned her head in resignation, only to see Xu Nuan watching Deng Yinyin with a thoughtful expression.
Tang Jingshu blinked and sighed again.
Soon, the six of them figured out which direction was north and resumed their long journey along the Special Tree. Fortunately, the towering tree provided ample shade from the sun.
This time, they were luckier. Just as they were about to take a break for lunch around noon, they stumbled upon a rare oasis in the desert.
Scattered poplar trees and willows mingled with tangled reeds and desert grasses, forming a somewhat rudimentary bush thicket. The lake reflected the Azure White Clouds above, while birds occasionally flitted by. The landscape was no longer the dull color of sand but vibrant with lush greenery.
Such scenery left everyone momentarily stunned.
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