Shen Wangqing indeed lowered his eyes somewhat dejectedly, placing the tea beside Wen Di and speaking gently, “I just couldn’t bear to see you upset, nothing more. Don’t overthink it.”
Wen Di immediately felt a pang of conscience.
What kind of person was Shen Wangqing? Wen Di recalled how, when he was cooking for the group in the morning and Yao Nana criticized him, it was Shen Wangqing who stepped forward to defend him.
He had even thoughtfully helped him put on gloves.
Shen Wangqing seemed quite kind-hearted…
He must have been harassed too often by someone like Lu Jieyang, which made him think all Players had ulterior motives.
Wen Di picked up the tea Shen Wangqing had given him, ran over to Shen Wangqing, lowered his head, softened his tone, and stammered, “Thank you.”
Then, right in front of him, he took a sip before running back to his spot.
Shen Wangqing’s gaze followed him, shifting from initial surprise to a meaningful glint in his eyes.
How could someone admit their mistake so quickly? Just moments ago, he had driven him away, and now he was immediately bringing the teacup over to get close…
How could such an innocent treasure possibly be a villain?
But who said he was a villain? Perhaps he was just an ordinary NPC, merely acting like a bad guy under the influence of some eerie force.
Like a mangosteen—those who don’t know better might eat the outer skin, thinking it’s sour and bitter. Only those with experience can taste the inner flesh and savor the sweet, soft, addictive juice.
“You’re welcome,” Shen Wangqing said to Wen Di with a smile.
Fifteen minutes later, Lu Jieyang returned.
He didn’t look well, his expression unusually gloomy. As his tall figure stepped into the room, he carried an intimidating aura that made people shrink back.
Wen Di had originally planned to scold him a few words upon his return, but seeing him like this, he felt a bit scared.
But rules were rules. Lu Jieyang had broken the rules, so he had to be punished.
Summoning his courage, Wen Di walked up to him, furrowing his brows, and said, “You broke the rules. Now you must be punished.”
Lu Jieyang looked at him strangely. “What rule did I break?”
Wen Di replied, “You were only allowed to enter the room alone, but you dragged me in with you.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jieyang’s eyes lightened slightly. “Oh…”
He looked indifferent. “Alright then, I’ll take the punishment. What is it?”
“Follow me,” Wen Di said, heading toward the door.
Lu Jieyang chuckled and followed him.
In the hallway, Lu Jieyang stood behind Wen Di, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “Alone with me again? Aren’t you afraid I’ll do something?”
Wen Di jumped back in fright, his heart pounding. Meeting Lu Jieyang’s blinking eyes, he forced himself to stay calm. “Bullying me won’t help you…” Bullying him wouldn’t yield any clues.
Lu Jieyang laughed. “I wanted to be nice to you, and now it’s bullying?”
“…”
Wen Di truly couldn’t figure this person out and didn’t want to say more, so he quickened his pace.
Wen Di led him to the woodshed in the backyard.
“The punishment is that you have to stay here alone for the night.”
Lu Jieyang glanced around the crude woodshed, nodded, and asked, “What if others haven’t completed their tasks? Do they have to stay here too?”
Wen Di shook his head. “Your punishments are different.”
Lu Jieyang asked again, “What are their punishments?”
Wen Di replied, “I won’t tell you.”
With that, Wen Di ran off without a moment’s delay.
Lu Jieyang watched his retreating figure, his hands itching with the urge to drag the person back, hide him in this small woodshed, right on the haystack, and do whatever he wanted without restraint.
In his haste to run back to the cabin, Wen Di kept glancing behind him as if fleeing from a ferocious beast, so distracted that he accidentally collided with a firm chest.
“Ouch.” Wen Di rubbed his nose, whimpering in pain.
Fu Zhen looked down at the person who had crashed into his arms, his expression impassive. The deer-like dark eyes instantly grew moist.
So delicate, so easily bruised.
Fu Zhen grabbed the wrist of the person in front of him and glanced behind him, speaking coldly, “Is there a ghost?”
Wen Di looked up at him, lacking confidence but still retorting resentfully, “Why are you so fierce?”
With that, he ran off.
“…”
Fu Zhen’s face remained cold. Fierce? He hadn’t done or said anything. How was he being fierce?
Back in the room, Shen Wangqing noticed his unusual expression and approached, asking with concern, “What’s wrong? Did you cry?”
Anyone who looked closely could see the little ghost’s eyes were glistening with moisture.
The feeling of being cared for was comforting. Wen Di unconsciously relaxed, shaking his head, his voice soft, “I accidentally bumped into someone.”
From behind came a voice, “You didn’t apologize even after bumping into someone.”
Wen Di turned his head unwillingly and argued, “It was you who didn’t move out of the way.”
Fu Zhen turned away. “Say whatever you want.”
“What’s the punishment?” Liu Yajun, who had been nervously waiting in the room, eagerly stepped forward to ask.
Wen Di looked at him. “Your punishments are different. Telling you won’t help.”
“Then tell me anyway!”
Wen Di paused. “Lu Jieyang’s punishment is to stay alone in the woodshed for the night.”
“The woodshed…” Liu Yajun had never been inside the woodshed, so he had no impression of it.
But what could be special about a woodshed? In movies and TV shows, locking someone in a woodshed was just an ordinary way to make them suffer.
Could it have anything to do with clearing the game?
“I just heard you say Lu Jieyang pulled you into the room. Is that why you were upset when you came back?” Shen Wangqing leaned close to Wen Di’s ear and whispered quietly.
As if worried about hurting Wen Di’s pride, he deliberately spoke in a hushed tone.
Wen Di’s face flushed red, a bit embarrassed. Finally, he shook his head. “It’s fine. He didn’t do anything.”
Seeing Wen Di’s forgetful, indifferent attitude, Shen Wangqing’s eyes darkened.
The fourth to go was Yao Nana.
Yao Nana was terrified. When Wen Di escorted her to the door, she even clung to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her lips brushed against his earlobe, and her soft fragrance enveloped him:
“A Wen, please be kind to your sister. I’m really scared and don’t want to take part in this courage test. If I go in alone, I’ll definitely cry. Would you really let your sister cry?”
“How about this, A Wen? Give your sister a hint? Please? Hmm?”
Wen Di had never been this close to a girl before. He blushed so intensely he felt like he was steaming, stammering, “I can’t. It’s against the rules. No one can break them.”
“If you’re scared, just close your eyes.”
This was the only kind suggestion Wen Di could offer.
With that, he hurriedly ran off.