The film hadn't finished, but Jiang Mo had already pulled Lin Shuang from the theater.
She hadn't even wiped the tears from her eyes, her mind still catching up as she stammered, "W-wait, what's wrong? Is there an emergency?"
"Just feeling a bit nauseous. Didn't want to finish it," Jiang Mo said with a light laugh. "Let's walk around the mall. I haven't been here in a long time."
Lin Shuang nodded, allowing him to lead her onto the escalator. She stared down at her white canvas shoes, debating with herself before testing the waters: "Was it because of me that you wanted to leave?"
Jiang Mo let go of her hand, giving the top of her head a gentle pat. "No. I just found it boring."
Was this a veiled rejection?
Lin Shuang didn't know how to take it. If it wasn't a rejection, was he just trying to save face for her? But... would he really go to such lengths just to spare her feelings?
"Mr. Jiang, are you trying to spare my feelings, or is this... a polite way of pushing me away?"
Lin Shuang's pulse quickened. She didn't know if being this direct was a mistake. Her personality had always been this way; in the past, her blunt questioning had often cost her friendships before they even began. But keeping it bottled up felt worse—the indecision was suffocating.
Jiang Mo raised a hand and, under her gaze, gave her forehead a playful flick. "Are all kids these days as restless as you?"
"What?"
"Don't overthink it. It'll only exhaust you." He reached out and took her hand again. "Come on, I remember there's an arcade on this floor."
Lin Shuang rubbed her forehead and hurried to keep pace. "Mr. Jiang, you're only two years older than I am."
"Is that so? Want to play the racing games, or the claw machines?"
"Claw machine... er, race... no, let's do the claw machine."
She'd been distracted again.
Lin Shuang eyed the plushies inside the machines, eventually settling on one featuring Pikachu. Jiang Mo stood by, watching her try—and fail—over and over again, the hook slipping from her grasp. Frustration finally got the better of her, and she stomped her foot, casting a pathetic, pleading look his way.
"I haven't played these much," Jiang Mo said, swapping places with her. "You want that Pikachu?"
"Mm."
As the upbeat music played, the claw moved into position above the target.
Lin Shuang leaned in, her head drawing closer to the glass. Unlike the dim theater, the lighting inside the machine illuminated her face, sharp and clear. She held her breath, her eyelashes trembling, eyes locked on the prize—her skin porcelain-pale and clean.
Jiang Mo glanced at her. Just as the claw neared the exit, it released. The Pikachu plummeted.
Lin Shuang let out a small gasp, her fingers pressing against the glass. But the plushie didn't fall into the chute; it landed on the others, bouncing and rolling toward the far side.
She sighed in disappointment, tugging on Jiang Mo's sleeve in a playful tantrum. "It was so close! Mr. Jiang, we'll definitely get it next time."
Jiang Mo patted her head again. "Right. You'll definitely get it." (Even though you could have had it just now.)
Twirling the Pikachu by one of its ears, Lin Shuang stood before the full-length mirror, a floral skirt held up against her body.
It was funny—just minutes ago, she'd been cradling the doll like a treasure. Now, she was swinging it around by its ear without a second thought.
Jiang Mo let out a weary, amused sigh. "If you want to try on that skirt, give the Pikachu to me for a second."
"Sure!"
The yellow creature still wore its vacant, silly grin, though the ear being yanked seemed a bit longer than its twin. Jiang Mo looked down, fiddling with the deformed ear, when a pair of white sandals suddenly appeared on the floor in front of him.
"Jiang Mo! What a coincidence, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Mo looked up, then rose to his feet, offering a polite nod. "Ms. Su. What a surprise."
The woman, Su Zhihe, was a member of the same rock-climbing club. They'd crossed paths during training, but that was the extent of it.
"Truly. I never expected to run into you while out shopping with friends." Su Zhihe smiled sweetly, her eyes sweeping across the boutique before she asked offhandedly: "Who are you here with? A girlfriend?"
A dress didn't take long to change into. Lin Shuang was just opening the fitting room door, ready to step out, when those words hit her ears.
She froze. Then, she heard Jiang Mo's chuckling response: "Just a friend. I believe she's almost finished changing."
Fair enough, she thought, her nose wrinkling. It was within reason, exactly what she'd expected. She felt a sting of disappointment, but then reminded herself: this was only their third day knowing each other.
There were so many beauties in the story who couldn't win him over—why would he like her, a minor character who might drop dead tomorrow? Was she banking on that student ID card that didn't even work? The school cafeteria wasn't even open yet!
"A friend, huh?" Su Zhihe's expression eased, though she immediately pressed further. "But you're even accompanying her to pick out clothes—she must hold a special place. You never come to any of our club dinners."
"I'm not a fan of large crowds." Jiang Mo shifted his weight, his gaze drifting toward the curtain of the fitting room. It was only half-drawn, and a scrap of floral fabric was visible near the wall.
(Does my little kitten like eavesdropping?) He thought. (If I don't say something nice now, I'm going to have a rough time later.)
Jiang Mo lowered his voice. "Ms. Su, do you know how to coax a kitten into a good mood?"
"Huh?"
"My fiancée1 seems to be upset." He held a finger to his lips, stepping toward the curtain with silent, practiced ease.
Not a fan of large crowds, and that's it? Lin Shuang frowned, waiting. Outside, there was only the faint background music from the neighboring store. That's all he had to say? Leaving things half-finished is just cruel!
Her anger flared. Just as she was about to storm out, the curtain was whipped aside, and Jiang Mo's voice rose sharply, shouting a startling noise.
The shock was absolute. Lin Shuang shrieked, her body convulsing in a violent tremor.
For a split second, she felt as if the game instance had already begun, the brutal scenes from the movie flashing through her mind—the severed limbs, the visceral horror of a body cut open, blood pooling everywhere.
"Hahaha, did I scare you?" Jiang Mo chuckled, though his smile vanished just as quickly. "Wait, you're really scared? Oh no—hey, why are you crying?"
It's too hard... Tomorrow was the day life and death were left to fate. She didn't know if her efforts these past few days would be enough to get Jiang Mo to save her wretched life in the game. Even if he wouldn't save her, she at least hoped for a quick death.
"I'm sorry, I was just teasing," Jiang Mo said, stepping forward to wrap his arms around her, his voice softening. "It's alright, there's nothing to be afraid of. I was just trying to scare you."
"That's... that's not what I was afraid of..." Lin Shuang clutched his shirt, her other hand balled into a fist against his chest. She had intended to punch him, but thinking of how she needed him to save her tomorrow, she forced her hand open and gave his shoulder a few weak pats instead.
Summary:
Jiang Mo pulls Lin Shuang out of a movie, leading her to an arcade and a clothing store. While Lin Shuang shops, an acquaintance named Su Zhihe encounters Jiang Mo and probes into their relationship. Jiang Mo playfully labels Lin Shuang his "fiancée" to manipulate her before startling her with a jump scare, leaving Lin Shuang conflicted as she relies on his protection to survive the upcoming game.
Trivia:
Jiang Mo is only two years older than Lin Shuang.
Lin Shuang believes she is a minor character destined to die in the game.
Jiang Mo is a member of a rock-climbing club.
The school cafeteria in the game world is not currently open.
Translation Notes:
1 ↩ In the original text, Jiang Mo uses "未婚妻" (fiancée) as a tactical social lie to establish a possessive dynamic and tease Lin Shuang, even though they have only met three days prior.
Notes:
• Lin Shuang - A college student who wants to live a life of comfort as a "parasite" to the male lead. A young woman and minor character in an infinite stream game, struggling with anxiety and a desperate need to survive. A young woman who has transmigrated into a character within a survival game novel, struggling to adapt and survive. An outsider who has transmigrated into a cannon fodder supporting role within an infinite stream world. She is trying to navigate her new reality while dealing with the original owner's social ties.
• Jiang Mo - A cold, calculating man who hides a predatory nature beneath a mask of playful indifference. A player in the Infinite Stream, detached and highly trained. The male lead of the survival game novel, who masks his cold, aloof nature with a polite and gentle persona in the real world. The male protagonist of the infinite stream story. He is calm, methodical, and surprisingly tidy, currently living alone.
• Jiang - A cynical, survival-hardened former student and game player who has become detached from life. He is suspicious of social interactions and blind dates.
• Lin - A third-year university student who has transmigrated into a cannon fodder role within a survival game novel. She is panicked but uses a facade of bravado and wealth to survive.
• Su Zhihe - An acquaintance of Jiang Mo from his climbing club who attempts to probe his relationship with Lin Shuang.