Qi Yu spent a single point to rent a small apartment, one point for an entire month.
Add another point, and for that entire month, no matter what food you wanted, you could just write it down on a slip of paper, and someone would deliver it right to your door.
Raw ingredients or cooked meals, everything was available.
The delivery speed was astonishing, the quality impeccable, it left the services of his original world far behind.
“What’s the point of all that good service?” Pei Hu said with a snort, lifting a bottle of beer. He gulped down half of it in a few heavy swigs, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth, and gave a bitter laugh.
“One point for a whole month, cheap and convenient, sure. But people don’t live long enough to enjoy it. What use is that?”
He set the bottle down with a thud and leaned back. “Qi Yu, you’ve got potential. You don’t look like someone who’ll die young, so I’ll give you a few words of advice. When it comes to food and lodging, enough is enough. Don’t get blinded by fancy, useless things. We’re all just using our lives to earn a little more life. Here, the most important thing is staying alive as long as possible.”
“I know,” Qi Yu said quietly.
He opened the fridge again and took out two more bottles of beer. The table was already crowded with dishes, colorful, fragrant, steaming hot, every one of them an appetizing masterpiece.
Some were dishes he’d ordered himself; others had been added after Pei Hu came over.
Normally, Pei Hu wouldn’t bother with something like this, he was just the one assigned to guide a rookie through his first run.
Coming up with ideas, keeping calm, that helped, but anyone who survived a dungeon had at least some brains.
They weren’t lacking people like that, at least, not enough to recruit some newbie with nothing to offer.
So what else did he have going for him?
Good looks? Luck at finding backers?
“Exactly that,” Pei Hu said, swirling his beer and sighing. “This game of ours isn’t like the ones out there, but there’s still one thing the same.”
He grinned. “Everyone loves someone with good luck.”
“Those little red-handed miracles, the ones who can pick up a random rock and find it’s a treasure, they’re the darlings of fate. Follow a guy like that into a dungeon, and you’ll earn more than you would in three. It’s like having a walking god of wealth beside you, points just rain down.”
Qi Yu stared at him. “…But I’m not one of those people.”
If he had that kind of luck, he wouldn’t have been unlucky enough to get hit by a car and end up in this world in the first place.
“You may not be that kind of high-profile lucky star, but you’ve got your own charm,” Pei Hu said with a sly grin. “I told the others about you. Our leader thinks you’re the kind of guy who naturally maxes out NPC favorability. Follow someone like you, maybe we don’t earn as much, but we’re more likely to stay alive.”
Pei Hu’s grin stretched so wide it almost reached his ears.
He was delighted, he’d found a real gem. That alone would earn him bonus points from his team. If he actually managed to recruit Qi Yu, the rewards would be even better.
Free points, no dungeon runs, no risk. Who wouldn’t be happy?
Qi Yu was speechless.
“I think you’re mistaken,” he said after a moment. “I’m really not that kind of person.”
He pushed away the tempting idea of “easy benefits from clinging to a big leg” and said seriously, “Tiger bro, last time was just coincidence. Back at school, I barely interacted with anyone. Other than my dormmates, no one even knew my name.”
Those who did know him, knew him only because of his face. As for socializing? Absolutely none.
He was just an ordinary tech geek, cared only about data and money. His dormmates knew him so well they’d already bought him the standard plaid shirts of a professional programmer.
He had even lined up a high-paying job after graduation, just waiting to finish his thesis and start his internship.
Who could’ve predicted that one accident would throw him into this world?
Qi Yu mourned his lost salary for a moment, then added, “If you guys don’t believe me and want to test it again, that’s fine. But if anything goes wrong, don’t blame me.”
Pei Hu had been confident until he saw the details of Qi Yu’s next dungeon.
He went silent.
The list of rewards and items made his eyelid twitch.
A red butterfly hairpin, maybe a hidden item, fine.
But a pink floral four-piece bedding set? What the hell was that, were they supposed to bring their own sheets into the dungeon now?
And that last line, “Song Qing’s Resentment”?
Since when did a dungeon mark a target’s hatred and drag a player into a bound sequel dungeon because of it?!
How unlucky could one guy be?!
Qi Yu just smiled. Yes, he was that unlucky.
So what? The only thing that changed was that his chance to join the group was gone for now.
Pei Hu left, looking dazed, muttering under his breath as he staggered away.
Qi Yu stayed behind, eating and drinking as usual.
Days passed quickly and ten of them were gone in a blink.
That morning, he took a long shower, slung on his prepared backpack, and just as he tightened the straps, the world blurred before his eyes.
His body felt light floating. Then suddenly, his foot slipped.
His back hit something cold and hard, and the sharp scent of iron filled his nose.
Qi Yu blinked, trying to steady himself.
When his vision cleared, he found himself surrounded by seven or eight people, some standing, others sitting or lying on the ground.
Most of them looked calm, each carrying the same black backpack from the game’s store. Those were veterans.
The other two or three, with wide eyes and trembling hands, were clearly new. One of them, a chubby middle-aged man in a suit, was shouting in panic:
“Where is this? Why am I here? What are you people trying to do? Is this some kind of event setup? Get your manager out here!”
“If you don’t, I’m calling the police!”
No one answered him.
None of the veterans even looked at him, they were too busy scanning their surroundings, making sure there wasn’t any immediate danger.
Qi Yu gave the man a pitying glance and stayed quiet.
He’d done his homework over the past few days. He knew the system well enough now. New players could appear either in newbie-only batches, like his first time or, if unlucky, get dropped into a mixed batch with veterans.
It wasn’t necessarily bad luck though. Dungeons that mixed newbies with veterans tended to reward more points. If a dungeon was mostly newbies with just one veteran, the rewards were pitiful, barely enough to survive.
The bigger the risk, the bigger the payout. After that, it all depended on luck.
The new players kept shouting, while the veterans calmly introduced themselves.
A man in a black jacket with two short blades at his waist stepped forward.
“Hello everyone, my name’s Wang Yicheng. I’ve survived four rounds.”
He raised his voice. “The system just notified me, I’m the temporary team leader for this dungeon. I know you don’t know me and probably don’t trust me, but I’ll do my best to lead us through this together… ”
He went on and on, teamwork, unity, mutual trust, cooperation for survival and more points.
Unlike Pei Hu, who hated babysitting, Wang Yicheng was clearly trying to gather everyone under one banner, at least temporarily. It was a sensible start: a coordinated group usually had a slightly higher survival rate.
But to the veterans, that “slightly higher” rate wasn’t much of an incentive.
Because in every dungeon, it was always the newbies who died first.
Qi Yu listened for a bit, but soon the man’s droning voice turned into background noise, long, dull, almost hypnotic.
He stifled a yawn, then another.
To keep himself awake, he fished a mint candy out of his pocket and popped it into his mouth. The cool sting helped a little.
He turned to glance around.
The dungeon hadn’t officially started yet, and a thick gray mist surrounded the players, blocking their view of the surroundings. The only visible thing was the rusted iron door he had been leaning against when he arrived.
They seemed to be standing in front of an abandoned hospital.
The place was far more decrepit than any he’d seen before the iron gate dented and scarred, the muddy ground choked with weeds. It looked like no one had stepped foot here in years.
No wonder the dungeon was called Abandoned Hospital.
Qi Yu rubbed his chin, about to check whether the little viewing hatch on the door could still open, when a hand suddenly clapped his shoulder.
“Hey, brother, you think that guy talks way too much too?”
Qi Yu turned his head.
A young man with bright golden hair and a sunny grin was standing beside him.
Behind him, another youth with yellowish hair waved lightly.
“Qi bro, what a coincidence.”
“Oh? You two know each other?” the blond asked, eyes lighting up. “Even better! Why don’t the three of us team up? Three people working together, safer, more efficient, and I guarantee we’ll earn more than we would with that chatterbox over there.”
“No,” Qi Yu said flatly.
Too flashy, one gold, one yellow. They stood out way too much.
He was going to be the quiet, inconspicuous black-haired guy who didn’t draw the boss’s attention.
Absolutely not joining them.
“Don’t reject me so fast,” the blond leaned closer, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, “I really mean no harm, friend. Stick with me, and I promise you won’t lose out.”
“Do you even know my name? My last name is Tang and my name’s Tang Yu,” the young man said proudly, puffing out his chest.
He lifted his chin, watching Qi Yu expectantly, waiting for that flash of recognition.
But Qi Yu just looked at him blankly.
He really had no idea who this guy was.
Seeing his confused expression, Tang Yu froze for a moment, then panicked.
“You really don’t know me? I’m super famous! Anyone who’s ever stayed in the player hub should know me!”
Qi Yu said nothing, “Wait…”
Tang Yu suddenly gasped.
“Don’t tell me you’re…. ” Qi Yu exclaimed
“Yes, yes, it’s me!” Tang Yu nodded so hard he looked like a bobblehead.
Qi Yu’s eyes widened slightly. “The legendary golden-haired, blue-eyed superstar who’s charmed countless people and taken the game world by storm?”
Tang Yu: “??????”
What kind of nonsense was that?!
While the three of them whispered among themselves, none of them noticed that on the iron gate beside them, a small rusted flap had quietly been lifted open.
From within, a pair of eyes stared out silent, unblinking, watching them for a very long time.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator deserves a little treat too, don’t you think? (´꒳`)♡
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Enter the GameChapter 2 · Pick a roomChapter 3 · DeadChapter 4 · AtticChapter 5 · ResponsibleChapter 6 · A bamboo BasketChapter 7 · DiaryChapter 8 · Song QingChapter 9 · Sent to HospitalChapter 10 · Second CopyChapter 11 · Leaking InformationChapter 12 · Special Prop!Chapter 13 · Doctor GhostChapter 14 · Store RoomChapter 15 · Psychiatry HospitalChapter 16 · Things of PastChapter 17 · Second FloorChapter 18 · He’s adorableChapter 19 · You Like Him?Chapter 20 · Kiss meChapter 21 · Group women’s clothing PlayChapter 22 · Where’s my Skirt?Chapter 23 · Wife of Murder Doctor….Chapter 24 · Go to Third floorChapter 25 · You must find me!Chapter 26 · See you in the next dungeonChapter 27 · VideoChapter 28 · Player ForumChapter 29 · Two women vying for one manChapter 30 · The Giant WolfChapter 31 · A Kind and Benevolent FatherChapter 32 · Preparing the change clothesChapter 33 · Red Heart FruitChapter 34 · In what ways do I fall short of him?Chapter 35 · KissChapter 36 · Bald performanceChapter 37 · The Prince Has ArrivedChapter 38 · Prince Song QingChapter 39 · Should we…Chapter 40 · A Kiss of True LoveChapter 41 · BanquetChapter 42 · Snow White KingChapter 43 · KingChapter 44 · I miss you so much!Chapter 45 · LeavingChapter 46 · Wanting to See HimChapter 47 · Resource Type InstanceChapter 48 · The Banquet BeginsChapter 49 · KissChapter 50 · Full-Dive Virtual RealityChapter 51 · Everyone Is a LiarChapter 52 · MegaphoneChapter 53 · Dragon???Chapter 54 · Fire DragonChapter 55 · A powerful Fire DragonChapter 56 · Want Some Barbecue?Chapter 57 · The Characteristics of the GameChapter 58 · A little DragonChapter 59 · Searching for her sonChapter 60 · We’re Going to Tear Up the HostageChapter 61 · Mountain CollapseChapter 62 · DiscussionChapter 63 · Digging for Crystals?Chapter 64 · Making Money Selling LiquorChapter 65 · A KissChapter 66 · I’m the Best LookingChapter 67 · Ghost Ship 101Chapter 68 · Has the Competition Begun Yet?Chapter 69 · LotteryChapter 70 · First PlaceChapter 71 · The Sea Monster ArrivesChapter 72 · CooperationChapter 73 · The Man in the MaskChapter 74 · WarChapter 75 · The Players’ RevengeChapter 76 · ReturningChapter 77 · The End