Leading everyone to their rooms one by one, the rooms were, as expected, all singles. Even if some were unwilling, all objections were dismissed.
The most reluctant was Yao Nana, who absolutely refused to stay alone. Wen Di then said, “You can try sharing a room with someone else.”
Yao Nana had originally planned to run off and sleep with Liu Yajun, but after Wen Di’s remark, she didn’t dare go to another room.
Who knew if the taboo condition might involve something happening when two people slept together?
The last one escorted to his room was Lu Jieyang. Wen Di wore a sour expression, his tone impatient and cold: “Go in.”
He added viciously in his mind: I hope you don’t survive the night.
He didn’t realize his emotions were written all over his face.
A pair of round, dark eyes brimming with mischief.
Lu Jieyang found it amusing, not the least bit displeased. As Wen Di turned to leave, he grabbed his arm, staring at his flushed, angry face, and said, “Don’t be mad, I was wrong. I have a gift for you.”
Wen Di was taken aback: “A gift? What gift?”
After a moment, he added, “Who wants your gift?”
Lu Jieyang had been carrying a green hiking backpack since he arrived. Now, he pulled it in front of him and took out a palm-sized strawberry bear gummy wrapped in plastic with a pretty bow: “Candy. Want some?”
The strawberry bear sparkled, looking incredibly beautiful and cute.
A pair of shiny bear eyes made of dark chocolate stared at Wen Di, feigning innocence and looking adorably foolish.
Wen Di’s breath hitched. His eyes, as if magnetized, couldn’t help but linger on the little bear. Even his fierce tone softened: “Who wants to eat this? I don’t like such pretty things.”
Even as he said this, his eyes remained glued to it, thinking no one would notice.
Lu Jieyang saw right through him, his smile deepening. He grabbed Wen Di’s hand and placed the strawberry bear in his palm. In that instant, he felt the soft, smooth skin of Wen Di’s hand, and a faint, sweet fragrance wafted toward him with the slightest movement.
He inhaled deeply.
He was almost reluctant to let go. How could it be so soft?
“Wen Wen, just take it. I’ve felt guilty all the way for upsetting you. I know you might not care for this candy or even like it, but it’s the only snack I have. If I’d known I’d meet you, I would’ve prepared a proper gift.”
These sweet words made Wen Di blush.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to react, afraid of losing his minor boss demeanor, but he still stammered, “Y-you’re not trying to win me over!”
Suddenly, he thought of something: “Were you planning to give this to Yao Nana? How can you give it to me?”
Lu Jieyang had come to this place with Yao Nana, so the candy in his bag could only have been meant for her.
“No! I bought it on a whim. Who said it was for her? Now I want to give it to you. If you don’t take it, I’ll throw it away. I won’t give it to anyone else anyway,” Lu Jieyang said with a frown, looking displeased.
“Throw it away? That’s so wasteful!”
The little bear seemed to be beckoning to Wen Di, waiting for him to accept it.
After pondering for a dozen seconds, Wen Di pretended to be solemn as he took the candy: “Fine, I’ll accept your apology. But you’re not allowed to secretly take photos of me anymore!”
Actually, he wanted Lu Jieyang to delete them, but given how shameless Lu Jieyang was, he probably wouldn’t agree.
Lu Jieyang was sincere and smiling: “Yes, definitely!”
Wen Di stuffed the candy into her pocket and ran back to her room.
Lu Jieyang leaned against the second-floor railing, gazing down as Wen Di’s skirt fluttered while she ran back to her room on the first floor and closed the door.
The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up even more. As if thinking of something shy, he lowered his head, and the back of his neck flushed red.
Back in her room, Wen Di eagerly threw herself onto the bed—so tired.
These people seemed somewhat clever; it looked like she would have to plan carefully.
Holding the strawberry bear gummy in her hand, Wen Di thought to herself: Although annoying, he does have some discernment.
Her eyes sparkled, joy written all over her face. Eagerly yet carefully, she untied the butterfly ribbon, tore off the plastic wrapper, and was about to lick it.
193 suddenly spoke up: 【Even ordinary people know not to eat things from others casually, let alone in an Instance?】
In such a world, human life is the least valuable thing.
It can be lost so easily.
Even though she had received training, a pretty, harmless, sweet-smelling pink strawberry bear gummy made Wen Di drop her guard.
Wen Di froze for a moment, feeling guilty, and argued stubbornly: “But it’s just a candy, and this candy wasn’t originally meant for me anyway—it was supposed to be given to Yao Nana.”
193 sneered: 【Candy? Are you sure it doesn’t have any other effects?】
Wen Di’s mind jolted, and she flung the candy away as if a monster had latched onto her hand.
She had only guessed that this might be something Lu Jieyang carried with him after entering his role, but it could also be an Item he obtained as a Player through points. Most of these Items are used on NPCs to confuse them and obtain the clues they want.
Wen Di broke out in a cold sweat from fright.
Belatedly, she realized why Lu Jieyang had been talking to her all along—to build a good relationship with her. Taking photos was also a trap, all to give her this gummy—it definitely wasn’t an ordinary gummy! Maybe it contained a sedative!
She rewrapped the gummy in the plastic, steeled her heart, and threw it into the trash can.
Looking at the pretty gummy lying in the trash, she felt sad and reluctant, but in the end, she didn’t pick it back up.
193 wouldn’t allow it, afraid she might sneak a bite.
It was already midnight.
After taking a bath, Wen Di snuggled under the covers in her soft pajamas, feeling excited and unable to sleep.
193 coldly urged: 【Go to sleep quickly. I’ll wake you up in the middle of the night.】
As an NPC working for the villainous BOSS, she had no time off at midnight. Working during the day was bad enough, but she had to work at midnight too.
Wen Di obediently closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep, but opened them again after a while: “I can’t sleep.”
193 remained silent for a long time: 【…What story do you want to hear?】
Wen Di blushed, hiding half of her fair, delicate face under the covers: “The story of the great BOSS ruling the world!”
193: 【Close your eyes and sleep.】
Accompanied by 193’s cold, emotionless storytelling voice, Wen Di drifted into dreamland.
2:30 a.m.
The inn was shrouded in darkness with a high wind, the full moon veiled by dark clouds, and a flock of crows perched on the eaves with closed wings and watchful eyes.
Wen Di, draped in a black cloak, sneaked from the first floor to the third floor and entered a room.
Before entering, she carefully looked around—quiet, with no one in sight. Satisfied, she closed the door.
He lifted the cloak and took out a box of glass marbles he had been carrying in his arms all the way.
Twisting open the box, he took out three marbles, then raised his hand and opened his palm, letting the marbles fall from a height and hit the floor with a thudding sound.
“Thud, thud, thud…”
He deliberately slowed down the pace, imitating the slow walking speed of a person, moving from the entrance toward the empty bed.
The marbles bounced along the way, then rolled, rolling toward the corner of the wall and coming to a stop…
A sinister smile spread across Wen Di’s lips. There was only one reason for doing this—the room downstairs belonged to Yao Nana.