He knew that they alone couldn’t make it happen. But if tens of thousands—millions—of people all kept trying, their chances of success would rise exponentially.
And Xiao Xiao understood.
She clutched her backpack and was silent for a while before finally asking, “So… when are we going back into an instance?”
“Very soon.” Fu Changxun fastened his seatbelt and answered steadily, “A couple days from now. Xiao Xiao, we’re going home.”
In this unwinnable game, players had no choice but to struggle against the tide even as they were swept along—like drowning swimmers thrashing against a relentless current.
But someone would always manage to break through, to calm the storm and still the waves.
Xiao Xiao’s spirits lifted the moment she found out they’d be having barbecue for dinner. That was just how little girls were—cheerful when happy, gloomy when sad, but never crushed by one bad day. She wouldn’t let a single moment steal her hope.
And really—wasn’t that exactly how people should be?
***
Two days later, Fu Changxun finished his preparations for the upcoming instance.
When Dong Zi came out of the bathroom after washing his hair, Fu Changxun was drying off, and Dong Zi—as usual—picked up a clean towel and gently helped him dry it.
“When we clear this instance, I…” He had barely started speaking when Fu Changxun instantly clamped a hand over his mouth. “Shut up. Don’t you dare plant a death flag.”
That kind of talk needed to be killed in the cradle—not a single word allowed to slip out.
Dong Zi clearly hadn’t triggered many flags before and didn’t understand their fatal power. But Fu Changxun knew. Oh, he knew.
After a brief pause, he squinted at Dong Zi and asked, “Were you about to say that when we finish this, you’re planning to take our relationship to the next level?”
Before Dong Zi could respond, he leaned in closer. “Or… were you planning to sleep with me?”
If he let Dong Zi have what he wanted now… would that count as breaking the flag?
Dong Zi visibly froze.
His Adam’s apple bobbed; he looked flushed, his gaze evasive. But in the end, he forced himself to say, “That… let’s not rush. You might get hurt…”
“…Then forget it.”
Fu Changxun took the out immediately, his expression unchanged as he pivoted smoothly to a new topic. “Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, we meet the team at the office.”
With that, he turned off the lights and went to bed, leaving Dong Zi speechless and mentally spiraling.
A long moment passed before the large shadow in the darkness let out a low, mournful sigh and lay down beside Fu Changxun.
What had he just missed?
***
The next day, Dong Zi followed behind Fu Changxun with dark circles under his eyes, yawning as he carried a similarly sleepy Xiao Xiao. The three of them shuffled into the Special Affairs Office. Lulu and Qiu Yi were already waiting in the main office, and both looked a little surprised at the sight.
Lulu gave the pair a once-over from head to toe, then eyed the fresh-faced, radiant Fu Changxun with growing suspicion. After a few mental calculations, her expression twisted through a kaleidoscope of reactions.
Finally, she turned to Dong Zi with a look of profound sorrow and slowly shook her head.
Who would’ve thought? Big guy like you, tall, handsome, strong brows and sharp eyes—and you’re a bottom?
Dong Zi: “…?”
He cast her a bewildered look.
Lulu didn’t explain—didn’t want to crush his confidence. Instead, she turned to Qiu Yi. “Are we going or not?”
[Confirm entry into instance?]
Fu Changxun nodded immediately. “Confirmed. Total players: five. Entering instance.”
[Ding-dong—]
[Congratulations, players. You have triggered a game. Clear the instance to return to reality.]
[Welcome, players… to the multiplayer supernatural instance: Campus Horror Tales.]
[Notice: Your activity area is restricted to school grounds. There are five haunted tales within the campus. Two methods of clearing this instance: 1) Solve all mysteries for early clearance. 2) Survive ten days.]
[Loading instance…]
[A total of 13 players have entered the game! Survive and clear the instance to the best of your ability!]
