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墨書 Inktalez
When a person is drowning, they struggle desperately, disregarding everything, including the straw they cling to. In the two months since Xu Nuan had entered the game, the facade of strength she had built crumbled completely upon seeing Qin Yaojie's friend.
"Is he... okay?"
All her grievances, fears, and desires to give up coalesced into these few words.
Her trembling eyelashes danced nervously, afraid that her master would hear bad news. The flaring nostrils betrayed her guilt over her master's feelings, while her lips parted and closed without being able to articulate more.
Zhao Xi let out a faint sigh, reaching out a hand as if to stroke Xu Nuan's hair, but quickly withdrew it upon realizing it was inappropriate.
"He's fine. You know he has great stamina, has learned combat skills, and possesses strong leadership qualities. He was chosen as the captain by us, the First Batch of Players."
Zhao Xi spoke these words calmly, wisely swallowing the thought of 'Aren't you two already broken up?'
Despite still having feelings for each other, they were separated by several Survival Games, unable to meet or find closure. One careless moment could turn into a permanent separation.
Xu Nuan lowered her head, not wanting Zhao Xi to see her current expression.
"That's good."
Her emotions remained erratic; she couldn't grasp anything solid to rely on. She had had enough and tried to save herself with her feeble strength, but could she really save herself?
After a moment of silence, Xu Nuan spoke again.
"Do you... know why he came to this game?"
Her fragmented words reflected her anxious heart and the growing resentment within her. It felt as if she were a piece of fabric thrown into a dye vat, stained with color.
Zhao Xi did not answer; his gaze shifted from the distant forest back to the woman who had once been lively and sweet-looking but had now changed completely.
In love, two people who have been together for a long time inevitably change. His friend had changed long ago, while this woman transformed only after their breakup.
Ha, Zhao Xi chuckled lightly; it still meant nothing.
It wasn't until Xu Nuan stubbornly lifted her head, her light brown eyes filled with sadness and hope fixed on him that Zhao Xi sighed in response.
"Isn't the purpose of everyone who enters this game the same? No matter what their initial intentions are, in the end, what they all want is money."
Perhaps some wish to gamble their lives, hoping that winning would bring them endless wealth, while losing would only cost them a worthless life. Others might be driven to desperation, believing that this game could lead to a favorable outcome, allowing them to acquire money to do what they truly desire. They might seek to save a life, win back someone's affection, make those who once looked down on them learn to admire them, or simply satisfy their own vanity.
Regardless of the reason, what they ultimately seek is merely money.
Zhao Xi gazed at the woman who had once been so frequently mentioned by the domineering and arrogant Qin Yaojie. Her light brown eyes must have sparkled like a blooming sea of flowers when she smiled, radiant and dazzling, as if she possessed the entire world. Unfortunately, at this moment, those eyes were filled with disbelief, pupils constricted in shock, her entire demeanor resembling that of a frightened cat.
"How could this be? How is it possible?" Xu Nuan murmured. "He doesn't lack money; he should have realized long ago that this isn't just a simple Survival Game. Why would he take such risks to try and obtain that money?"
"The success rate of this game is extremely low—possibly even zero. He is not being wise at all."
Xu Nuan's expression was one of sorrow, though she did not cry. Even someone as fragile as she understood that tears wouldn't solve anything.
"But," Zhao Xi's voice remained gentle, yet the harsh reality struck Xu Nuan once more.
"Do you remember why you two had conflicts?" Zhao Xi aptly portrayed what a friend of Qin Yaojie should know.
"It was because of your father, who forced Yaojie to present his house, car, and a large sum of money right now to prove his love. In your father's eyes, money is paramount; your years of relationship can be altered by reality. That's why you argued. That's why he chose to enter this game; it's the quickest way to obtain a large sum of money—he's gambling."
The hidden wounds were roughly torn open, causing pain so intense that Xu Nuan, who refused to resolve matters with tears, found herself crying.
Xu Nuan was unsure of her expression at that moment; perhaps all the uncontrollable resentment was evident on her face?
She resented her father for being obsessed with wealth and superficiality, despised Qin Yaojie's background while disregarding the decades-long relationship between their families. She hated herself for being unable to argue against her father and lacking the courage to abandon her family's blessings to leave with Qin Yaojie. Instead, she could only watch him struggle daily while pretending not to care. She also resented Qin Yaojie; at just twenty-five years old, she could afford to wait. She could spend time appeasing her father or rallying others for help. Even when it came down to making a choice, she would choose Qin Yaojie; all she wanted was to be with him. Yet Qin Yaojie chose to break up, chose to enter the game, chose to keep secrets.
Initially, she thought Qin Yaojie was exhausted from their relationship due to her father and had chosen to give up. But when she resigned from her job in preparation for entering the game, she realized that while his feelings might not have changed, his goals certainly had.
"He didn't have to come into this game; being together is what matters most."
Xu Nuan slightly tilted her head back and looked at Zhao Xi. The light behind him forced her to squint her eyes, making the person before her appear somewhat blurry.
"Even if he wanted to participate in this game, he could have discussed it with me instead of ending things over a phone call and disappearing without a trace."
Xu Nuan felt a faint urge to laugh. When she first entered this game, it was merely to catch up with Qin Yaojie and ask him about the reasons for their breakup and his motives for playing. Now that she had learned the truth from his friend, she still felt lost, unsure of what to do next.
"Sometimes he can be quite stubborn," Zhao Xi said softly, playing the role of a caring older brother.
"So you need to find him and tell him your thoughts, your vision, and then persuade him. Things have developed to this point, and since you both are in the game now, you must cherish your lives first, clarify your feelings, and then leave together."
Xu Nuan suddenly felt a bit melodramatic; these words were like a ray of light shining into her heart, illuminating the path she needed to take. It was strange how someone she had just met felt like an old friend.
Finally, Xu Nuan smiled, her sweet smile reminiscent of what Zhao Xi had seen on Qin Yaojie's phone.
"Thank you," Xu Nuan said as she stood up, pushing aside her pain and making a promise.
"I will find him, and you will definitely leave with us."
"Wait for us here; I will go look for Hidden Level."
With that, Xu Nuan cheerfully dashed into the dense forest, unaware of the gentle yet sorrowful smile on Zhao Xi's face.
"You all will leave, but I will never depart."
Though she ran into the woods with confidence, Xu Nuan was at a loss when it came to finding Hidden Level.
Where would Hidden Level be? In what form would it appear? What tasks needed to be completed? What rewards could be obtained?
Suddenly, Xu Nuan thought of Guo Dafu, who had risked everything to find her. Was he there to take her away or to eliminate her? What kind of reward could tempt someone like Guo Dafu, who was skilled at weighing pros and cons?
Curiosity bubbled within her, but all she could do was wander aimlessly with a long stick that no longer dripped red liquid, tapping at the bushes or gazing up at the towering trees or meandering near the pond. Searching without a specific target could easily wear down one's patience, yet Xu Nuan felt lighthearted as she walked. Learning from Zhao Xi that Qin Yaojie had entered the game primarily for her sake made her heart flutter; though his methods were extreme, his feelings remained.
Her own feelings were still intact; as long as they could meet again, it would be a perfect ending. Xu Nuan deliberately avoided rationalizing Zhao Xi's comforting words as merely consolation. Let herself sink into this feeling; such thoughts were enough to support her onward.
While searching, Xu Nuan took a moment to glance around at others who were scattered about and acting similarly. Each person's expression was a mix of relaxation and tension—relaxed from not needing to move forward anymore and tense about whether they would find Hidden Level.
Xu Nuan's large, clear eyes scanned the area but did not spot Gu Ze. Remembering how she had mocked and envied him earlier that morning before setting out, guilt washed over her. At twenty-five years old, she should not have acted out in such a way towards him; it was truly shameful.
Xu Nuan scratched her face with one hand, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks, reminiscent of a brilliant dawn. She looked around carefully but still couldn't find Gu Ze. Turning her head in confusion, she discovered that Gu Ze was standing not far behind her, watching her with eyes that seemed to shift from shallow seas to deep waters, making it impossible to gauge his thoughts.
Suddenly feeling a bit awkward, Xu Nuan didn't know what to say. As she saw Gu Ze approach with a serious expression, she felt a wave of nervousness wash over her, almost prompting her to step back.
When did Gu Ze develop such an imposing presence?
Xu Nuan blinked but didn’t retreat. Instead, she was puzzled by Gu Ze's sudden shift in demeanor, which overturned her previous understanding of him and left her with an unsettling feeling of being out of control.
As Gu Ze drew closer, looking down at Xu Nuan from his height, the words he finally spoke were simply:
"Have you found anything?"
Xu Nuan noticed that as he said this, his expression softened once again, and the oppressive aura around him quickly dissipated, as if the earlier tension had been nothing but an illusion.
What a strange person, Xu Nuan thought, responding lightly.
"Nothing. How about you?"
"Nothing either."
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