Lin Shuang only let herself cry for a moment before forcing it back down. Jiang Mo's playful attempt to scare her had just been the spark; the real reason for the tears was the Main God's Game1 scheduled for tomorrow night.
"I'm fine. Sorry, I ruined your shirt." She sniffled, already turning away.
Jiang Mo caught up in an instant, caught between amusement and concern. "I'm the one who scared you—how are you the one apologizing?"
"I shouldn't be crying over something so trivial. I just… suddenly thought of a sad little story," Lin Shuang lied, trying to steady herself. Her gaze drifted to the Pikachu plushie he was dangling by the ear. "Why are you holding it like that?"
"I… my bad." Jiang Mo sighed, patted the toy's belly, and shoved it into her arms. "Don't be mad at me. You heard what that girl said earlier, right? She's just from my rock-climbing club. I've barely even spoken to her."
By the time Jiang Mo had walked over to tease Lin Shuang, Su Zhihe had already dragged her friend away, looking thoroughly deflated.
"I'm not mad. I'm really not," Lin Shuang insisted, looking him straight in the eye, even if her puffy, red-rimmed eyes didn't make the most convincing argument.
She knew she sounded like she was protesting too much, so she paid for the clothes and dragged Jiang Mo out of the shop before he could dwell on it.
She wasn't crying because of him; she was crying because she was terrified. But how could she explain that to Jiang Mo? (I'm going to kick the bucket tomorrow night, so I'm just getting a head start on mourning myself today.)
How tragically pathetic... if she really was going to die tomorrow, she was going to eat and play until she couldn't anymore.
The mall was located right on a bustling commercial street. By sunset, the sidewalks were lined with food stalls. The air was thick with the scent of street food, and the crowd was so dense that not spending a hundred or so yuan felt like a personal insult to the delicious smells wafting through the air.
"Are you sure you want to spend the whole night wandering around here with me?" Lin Shuang double-checked.
Jiang Mo nodded. "I don't have work, and walking around here with you is a hell of a lot more interesting than watching TV at home." Besides, with the crowd this thick, he didn't trust leaving Lin Shuang alone.
"How about we buy one of everything? I can't eat that much on my own."
"Sure."
When was the last time he'd been to a night market? Jiang Mo couldn't even remember. Maybe back in his junior or senior year of university? He'd gone with his roommates back then. But after his parents passed, and he became a Player, the desire to visit such places just died out. Everyone else was paired off or in groups; showing up alone to a place this lively only served to highlight his own crushing isolation.
"Try this." Lin Shuang held out a takoyaki ball on a wooden skewer. "Careful, it's hot."
Jiang Mo leaned in to take a bite, but his eyes caught the strange, flickering expression on Lin Shuang's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… is it good?" She hadn't actually meant to feed him; she'd just wanted him to take the whole skewer. There were six pieces and three sticks—plenty for each of them to have their own.
As Jiang Mo chewed, he realized the same thing and couldn't help but chuckle. "It's good. I never used to buy these when I came out with friends."
"Why?"
"I don't know… I guess I thought they were 'girly' food."
"Total prejudice. If that takoyaki could talk, it would roast you for that."
"Heh, if it did, would it be yelling at me in Japanese?"
"Well… since it's a domestic octopus, it'd probably be in Chinese."
After a feast that let her finally let go of the tension, Lin Shuang sank into the passenger seat. "I'm so full. I'm definitely going to put on a few pounds by tomorrow."
"A little extra weight wouldn't hurt." Jiang Mo started the car but didn't pull onto the main road yet, watching Lin Shuang as she leaned back against the headrest.
Lin Shuang: ?
"What?" She wiped her mouth, feeling suddenly nervous. "Did I get sauce on my face? Did I leave something behind?"
"Ugh, your seatbelt."
"Oh! Right, sorry." She'd forgotten again; she was so used to sitting in the back.
Jiang Mo sighed, pulling the car onto the road toward her place. "Third time's a charm. I'm not reminding you again next time."
(…If there is a next time,) she thought.
Thinking about what was coming tomorrow night, Lin Shuang let out a long yawn. "Jiang, do you have plans tomorrow?"
Jiang Mo thought for a moment. Tomorrow was the 15th. Usually, he'd spend the entire day at the boxing gym, sharpening his body and mind for the inevitable. "I have a few things to take care of."
"Got it." Lin Shuang, knowing the male protagonist's routine on the 15th, yawned again and closed her eyes. "Wake me up when we get there."
The car slowed to a halt. Jiang Mo unbuckled his belt and glanced at Lin Shuang, who had genuinely drifted off. She had zero defensive instincts; if he were actually a bad guy, he could have sold her off by now.
"Lin… Miss Lin." Jiang Mo gave her shoulder a gentle tap. "We're here. Go inside and get some real sleep."
Lin Shuang rubbed her eyes and stepped out. At her door, she hesitated. "Do you want to come in for a bit?"
Jiang Mo patted the top of her head, his tone lingering with a hidden depth. "Not tonight. Maybe another time. Get some rest."
(…Sleep is impossible.) Lin Shuang checked her phone for the third time. 11:46 PM. Fourteen minutes left before she was pulled into the game.
She took a shaky breath. Time, which usually flew by, now felt like it was crawling, suffocatingly slow. The male lead probably wasn't sleeping either, but she didn't dare message him now.
Helpless, she scrolled through some comedy videos—though she couldn't find a single thing to laugh at—until the clock finally hit 12:00.
At the stroke of midnight, a voice echoed in the mind of every player chosen by the Main God.
[Respected new Veteran players, welcome to the Survival Game.]
[Main God is randomly assigning game instances… Main God is randomly assigning teammates… Allocation complete. The game officially begins.]
The sounds that followed were unique to each player's mind. Because Lin Shuang was a Rookie player, she was granted a ten-minute buffer period.
[Please set your Player ID.]
"Shuang Lin." Lin Shuang whispered, her voice trembling with nerves.
[Welcome, Player: Shuang Lin, please carefully read the Survival Game notice.]
Lin Shuang reached out as a card materialized from thin air. She had a rough idea of what it said, but she forced herself to read it again, line by agonizing line.
[Rookie player granted one novice draw. Please proceed with the draw.]
Among the players, only a tiny fraction had any real combat training. Most were completely out of shape. Whether or not she survived this first round likely depended entirely on what she pulled here.
Summary:
Lin Shuang and Jiang Mo share an intimate evening at a night market as a distraction from Lin Shuang's impending entry into the deadly Main God's Game. After a heartfelt goodbye, Lin Shuang is left alone in her room to face the countdown. At midnight, the system initiates the game, forcing her to choose a Player ID and prepare for a lethal survival challenge.
Trivia:
Lin Shuang specifically cries to "mourn herself" before the game.
Jiang Mo's history involves the loss of his parents and a previous life as a Player.
The 15th is a recurring date where Jiang Mo undergoes intense boxing training.
Lin Shuang has a noticeably low sense of situational awareness or defensive instinct.
The game system provides a ten-minute buffer period for Rookie players.
Translation Notes:
1 ↩ A common trope in Chinese infinite-flow web novels where a powerful, god-like entity traps individuals in a series of lethal survival challenges.
Notes:
• Lin Shuang - Lin Shuang is a college student who transmigrated into an infinite stream game as a cannon fodder supporting role. Struggling with anxiety and a desperate need to survive, she adopts the persona of a character clinging to the male protagonist to secure a life of comfort. Known simply as Shuang, this name represents her role as an outsider navigating the original owner's complex social ties.
• Jiang Mo - A cold, calculated player in the Infinite Stream, he masks a predatory nature with a polite, gentle persona. Though methodical and aloof, he acts as a devoted protector to Lin Shuang. With a background in boxing, he maintains a guarded, thoughtful temperament shaped by past isolation. He currently lives alone, balancing his lethal survival skills with a surprisingly tidy and controlled lifestyle.
• Shuang - Lin Shuang is a college student who transmigrated into an infinite stream game as a cannon fodder supporting role. Struggling with anxiety and a desperate need to survive, she adopts the persona of a character clinging to the male protagonist to secure a life of comfort. Known simply as Shuang, this name represents her role as an outsider navigating the original owner's complex social ties.
• Jiang - A cynical, survival-hardened veteran player, he appears as a weary construction worker in a white vest and camouflage pants. Armed with a Tang sword and chainsaw, he acts as a reluctant, practical protector within the game. Though detached and suspicious of social ties, he finds himself strangely addicted to his interactions with his rookie partner, balancing lethality with an unwanted protective role.
• Lin - A third-year university student trapped in a lethal survival game, she masks her panic and physical vulnerability with a facade of bravado and wealth. Lean and striking in a black blazer, pencil skirt, and silk stockings, she wields a Tang dao to survive. Often judged by others for her appearance, she navigates the infinite stream as Jiang Mo’s partner, struggling with trauma while forging vital alliances.
• Mo - A given name, used alongside Jiang. Given name of Jiang, known for his cold-but-caring demeanor and martial proficiency. The first name carried by Jiang. The given name of Jiang.
• Su Zhihe - A young woman from Jiang Mo’s rock-climbing club who makes a brief appearance to confront him and probe his relationship with Lin Shuang.