Chapter 28

Yan Wan’s lips curled into a cold smile, thinking, What a shallow-eyed country bumpkin. Since they were a bit far apart, she hadn’t clearly seen that the person with Yan Ning was Lu Fengfeng.

But no matter who it was, Yan Ning’s actions were too out of line and shameless. She had worried so much before, but it turns out that it only took one man to ruin Yan Ning.

She was too naïve for not having thought of that, Yan Wan thought to herself, feeling satisfied.

Once Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning boarded the ship, they immediately attracted many eyes.

The reason was simple: they were both incredibly eye-catching. Their outfits, which seemed to suggest they were a couple, made others smile knowingly.

Apart from the ten contestants on board tonight, there were also many notable people, mostly leaders from various fields. Despite having different goals, they represented the elite class of B city. This was truly a celebrity banquet.

Before getting out of the car, all the contestants received a message. The clues to pass the third round of the competition were all on the cruise ship. Contestants were reminded to enjoy the banquet but also pay attention to their surroundings. There were only five spots available, and whenever someone passed a clue, an announcement would be made on the cruise. Once all five spots were filled, the competition would end. The message also reminded them that the competition’s main goal was to accumulate additional points, which would provide an advantage during the finals.

The message seemed vague and unclear, but in reality, it explained the rules for tonight very well: the clues were on the ship, and any situation could be a test for them. They would not be told which situations were tests and which weren’t. It was up to the contestants to identify and solve them themselves.

From the moment they disembarked, the third round of the competition had already begun.

The cruise ship was large, with several floors. Whether inside or outside the ship, the luxurious décor was comparable to a palace.

Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning walked arm in arm, bypassing the first-floor dance hall, not lingering in the entertainment area on the second floor, and heading straight to the third-floor food area.

“Do you remember the main purpose of this competition?” Lu Fengfeng asked.

“To showcase beauty,” Yan Ning replied. She had been a bit confused about the last part of the message earlier, but once reminded, she immediately recalled the familiar formula and the familiar taste.

“Wait here for me, I’ll go get some food,” Lu Fengfeng said, then grabbed a tray to pick out some dishes.

Yan Ning found a place to sit, her gaze constantly following Lu Fengfeng’s figure, completely like a girl who had fallen in love.

The contestants scattered around the ship, not gathering in groups. Only the lower floor, which was closed off to the public, was full of Shengyi staff, each responsible for several machines, keeping track of everyone’s movements.

The Amelian aliens, Tutu and Sese, were assigned the task of monitoring Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning throughout the whole process. Other staff members were on edge, afraid of making a mistake.

They set up a table full of snacks, barbecue, and drinks, clearly just to accompany the meal.

Black penguin Sese saw Lu Fengfeng coming back with a full tray of food for Yan Ning and immediately called out to his partner, “Hurry, hurry, he’s back!”

Tutu, the blue penguin, quickly returned to his seat, grabbed a bag of spicy chips, and immediately entered the state of watching the handsome guy make a fool of himself while eating.

Lu Fengfeng placed the tray in front of Yan Ning, scratching his head. “I took a little bit of everything, but I don’t know how it tastes. You should try it.”

Yan Ning picked up a piece of strawberry cake covered in pink cream, used a spoon to scoop a bite, and tasted it.

Lu Fengfeng looked at her curiously. “Is it good?”

Yan Ning nodded.

Lu Fengfeng picked up a piece of peach cake, took a bite, and his eyes lit up. He smiled at Yan Ning, then started moving the items from the tray one by one in front of him. “I really like all of these. You don’t need to eat them.”

Yan Ning blocked his hand and moved a few items in front of herself. “These delicious snacks? It’s not right for you to take them all for yourself.”

Lu Fengfeng couldn’t do anything about it and let her take a few. Just as Yan Ning was about to take more, he held her hand down, not letting her take any more.

“Is it really that good?” A man suddenly interjected, his tone full of doubt.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng exchanged a glance and nodded at him, speaking in unison, “It’s really good.”

Qin Li, who had arrived a little earlier, had been sitting here for a while. He noticed that several important people who had taken food either immediately threw up or rushed to the bathroom. He had already guessed something was wrong with the food and quietly retracted his hand when he had reached for a dish.

The moment Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning appeared at the stairs, they immediately caught his attention.

From their looks to their outfits, and the atmosphere between them, everything radiated a vibe that made others envious. However, Qin Li wasn’t envious. He was purely curious to see how they would react when they ate the strange food.

But to his surprise, there was no vomiting, no awkwardness, and not even a slight frown. Instead, the two started fighting over the food. He suspected that something was wrong with their taste buds, so he couldn’t help but ask.

“Really?”

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng nodded vigorously. “Really!”

Lu Fengfeng even kindly handed over a piece of the peach cake he had tried. “This one’s really good. You should try it.”

Qin Li was still skeptical. Yan Ning raised her small spoon, scooped a bite of the peach cake Lu Fengfeng had already tasted, and fed it to him. Her eyes brightened. “This one’s even better than the strawberry cake.”

Seeing how much she was enjoying it, Qin Li thought that maybe the food they had was actually good. He carefully took a spoonful and put it in his mouth, but as soon as the taste hit him, he quickly covered his mouth and ran to the bathroom. The bitter, astringent, sour, and foul flavors mixed together, and with each chew, it felt like he might vomit at any moment.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng exchanged a smile.

The food here really was that good—so good that it seemed like someone had mixed together snail noodles, stinky tofu, canned herring, and blue cheese into one ultimate dish. The taste was something out of this world. Just one bite was enough to send someone straight to the hospital.

The first bite of strawberry cake Yan Ning had tasted was bitter, astringent, and foul. The next second, strange flavors exploded in her mouth, and it felt almost like eating something awful. But remembering Lu Fengfeng’s reminder, she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Don’t frown. Your face will get ugly.

She calmly lied to Lu Fengfeng, and when he tried the peach cake, he immediately understood. The extreme taste of the food on this floor served two purposes: first, to make people reveal their awkwardness, which was likely the designer’s malicious sense of humor, second, it indicated that there were clues hidden here.

He mimicked her actions and pretended to enjoy the food.

The two of them were struggling to hold it in, but Qin Li, this little fool, came over on his own. He clearly knew some inside information, and it would be hard to not let him experience it for himself.

After vomiting, Qin Li came out, still frowning, like he was wearing a mask of pain. “What’s wrong with you two?”

“Huh? It’s really delicious. You don’t like it?” Yan Ning said, picking up a small piece of steak and eating it with relish.

Since they hadn’t expected this kind of situation, Lu Fengfeng had chosen quite a few dishes, but since he couldn’t send them back, they could only sit here and slowly finish eating.

Qin Li stared at them as if they were monsters. At this moment, Chen Nuan, wearing a black long dress, also arrived on the third floor.

When Chen Nuan saw Lu Fengfeng in the crowd, her eyes lit up. She quickly walked toward him, lifting the hem of her skirt. “Feng.”

Yan Ning put down her utensils and lightly tugged at Lu Fengfeng’s sleeve. “Shall I step out for a moment?”

Lu Fengfeng grabbed her hand tightly. “Didn’t you say you’d stay with me the whole time, hmm?”

The soft, spoiled tone made his heart unconsciously soften. Yan Ning hesitated for just a moment, but it was already too late to retreat.

Chen Nuan took two steps toward them before slowing down. She saw Yan Ning and also noticed the subtle details in their outfits and the intimate attitude Lu Fengfeng had toward Yan Ning.

It was actually Chen Nuan who had actively pursued Lu Fengfeng. She had met him when she was on duty at the school gate. His exquisite face, slender and tall figure, and the tear mole on the corner of his eye, along with his melancholic yet lazy aura—everything about him made her heart race.

When she learned that he was two years younger than her, she didn’t hesitate. She immediately asked him out and confessed her feelings. He didn’t say anything—no nod, no refusal—and they just became a couple.

But the passionate, romantic love she had dreamed of, like a rose in the wind, never came. He was calm and reserved, seeming easy-going and approachable, but in reality, he was extremely indifferent.

No matter how proactive she was, he always remained distant, indifferent, as if he found her efforts boring.

Later, she heard that he had changed many girlfriends since coming to Minghua, none of whom he had been with for more than ten days.

Gradually, she began to feel unbalanced. She was also incredibly beautiful, with charm, personality, and many admirers. Why should she lower her head and compromise in front of him, yet never receive even a smile in return?

So when another boy asked her out, she hesitated for only a second before agreeing. The first time she went out, she felt a heavy sense of guilt that suffocated her. But after going out a few more times, it gradually became insignificant, and she even started to enjoy the feeling a little.

Even if you’re as pure as the snow atop a mountain peak, unwilling to bow to me, someday, I will still cause you pain.

The day Lu Fengfeng suggested breaking up, she was shocked, but secretly pleased, as if a long-planned revenge was finally beginning. But things turned out differently than she had expected. She thought that even if he wasn’t hurt because of her betrayal, at least he would be in pain from his pride being offended.

But she was wrong. The boy, two years younger than her, had a heart as hard as iron.

He was harsh on others, but even harsher on himself.

He had known about her actions all along, yet he endured in silence, only proposing the breakup on the eighth day of their relationship.

She thought this was his small way of getting back at her, because the longest relationship he’d had with any girl had only lasted nine days.

Sometimes, a woman’s mind can be that small. Even though that girl was now a thing of the past, she couldn’t help but feel jealous in her heart, couldn’t help but compare herself, wanting to surpass the others and become someone special in his heart.

Even if it was just time.

He obviously didn’t care about anything, yet it seemed like he knew exactly what she was thinking. He deliberately severed all contact before she could figure it out, cutting off her last hope and leaving without a second glance.

And after the breakup, she didn’t expect to feel so much pain. She thought about him so much that she almost went crazy, wanting to forget her dignity and go find him, beg him.

But she couldn’t find him anywhere. Whenever she went to the classroom, she was told he wasn’t there. Whenever she went to the cafeteria, he was nowhere to be found. After school, she waited by the classroom door, but always missed him. Later, when she finally encountered him at a competition, he was always with that girl.

Yes, that girl named Yan Ning.

The transfer student who was mocked. She was a breath of fresh air in this dull campus, completely different from everyone else—she could see that.

She knew that Yan Ning was his next target. She was insanely jealous, but couldn’t stop it.

When she saw that performance last night, a sense of unprecedented panic suddenly surged in her heart.

That expression—so wicked, filled with possessiveness and desire—those gentle movements, things she had never seen before. Could it be that he was actually falling for that transfer student?

After the performance ended, she searched for him everywhere, called him, and sent messages. As always, there was no response.

After boarding the ship today, she looked for him again, from the first floor to the third floor. Finally, she found him, but also saw her.

Yan Ning was being held by Lu Fengfeng, not allowed to leave, and felt very awkward. After all, she was Lu Fengfeng’s current girlfriend and had witnessed the secret meeting between him and Chen Nuan in the stairwell. Now, the three of them met, and it was awkward no matter how you looked at it.

Not knowing how to react, she could only lower her head and keep eating to cover up her discomfort. As for Chen Nuan, she didn’t feel much—no jealousy or any other thoughts, only embarrassment.

Lu Fengfeng glanced at Chen Nuan, then lowered his head to scoop a spoonful of cheesecake from a plate at a distance and fed it to Yan Ning. Yan Ning froze for a moment before obediently opening her mouth.

Chen Nuan stopped in her tracks, her expression darkening as she glared at Yan Ning.

“Huh?” Yan Ning swallowed the cake in her mouth, surprised, looking at the cheesecake plate, then turned to Lu Fengfeng. “Another spoonful?”

Lu Fengfeng smiled slightly and fed her another spoonful.

Yan Ning finished eating, pointed at the cake, her eyes sparkling. “That one is so delicious, you should try it!”

“I wasn’t lying,” she added quickly, worried he might not believe her.

Lu Fengfeng also took a bite, and it indeed tasted like a normal cheesecake.

Yan Ning seemed to sense something. She took her utensils and stirred the cake a little. From the center of the cake, a small ball fell out, about the size of a thumb, resembling a Poké Ball.

Her eyes lit up as she picked it up and handed it to Lu Fengfeng. He opened the mini Poké Ball, and inside was a small piece of paper. The two exchanged a glance and quickly stood up, carrying their plates, looking for other foods that might hide more notes.

Qin Li, who was sitting nearby, watching them, realized they had found a clue. He regretted wasting so much time sitting there and quickly grabbed a plate, starting to scan the food area.

Chen Nuan stood where she was, her mind full of thoughts about Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng together. He had never smiled like that in front of her, nor had he been that gentle or sweet. Why could he be like that in front of her?

Intense jealousy consumed her thoughts, and after glaring at Yan Ning’s back for a long moment, she turned and left.

A few minutes later, Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng returned to their seats, each holding their spoils. Yan Ning instinctively looked around and said, “She’s gone.”

“She probably went to another floor,” Lu Fengfeng said in a calm tone.

Yan Ning gazed steadily at him, her dove-gray eyes reflecting his extremely indifferent expression. For some reason, she felt like he was either crying or angry.

“She… seems to still really like you.” Yan Ning knew she shouldn’t bring up this topic now. But if she didn’t, those feelings would accumulate, growing more and more until they eventually became distorted.

“Mm.” Lu Fengfeng slowly cut the cake, taking his time without immediately switching to the next piece. “If I told you that in the future… you might become like that, falling madly in love with me, losing yourself… would you be scared?”

Ding—

Yan Ning felt like there was a small light, covered in dust and with faulty wiring, that flickered somewhere deep inside her. It lit up briefly, flashing a few times, and then finally went out.

Lu Fengfeng didn’t hear a response for a long time and thought he had frightened her. He felt a bit frustrated. He slightly turned his gaze, unexpectedly meeting her pale gray eyes.

She was looking at him intently, her clear and pure eyes reflecting his entire image. But he felt so dirty and despicable, his heart filled with a deep, unacknowledged shame.

Yan Ning noticed his half-closed eyelids, his thick eyelashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes, the tear mole at the corner of his eye adding to his melancholy.

At that moment, it was hard to say what guided her, or maybe it was an instinctive understanding. She gently took his hand, the one holding the utensils, pulled the fork away and placed it aside. Then she cupped his hand, lightly supporting her cheek with it and smiled at him with slightly narrowed eyes. “If Fengfeng is willing, I—am—willing—just—like—candy.”

Each word, each syllable, was as light as a feather, yet as heavy as a hammer, rhythmically striking at Lu Fengfeng’s heart.

He began to feel that approaching Yan Ning might have been the most dangerous decision he had ever made.

Bang— The crisp sound slightly brought their attention back to each other. Qin Li stood there, his hands still holding the tray, but it was empty, with food and broken porcelain scattered all over the floor. It looked extremely messy, like his heart at that moment, full of holes and damage.

A waiter hurried over to clean up, while Qin Li stood to the side, at a loss, his awkwardness mixed with anger.

In his seventeen years of life, he had never seen a couple so oblivious to their surroundings. Especially that girl, Yan Ning—she was like a witch. How could a girl speak like that?

The guy looked like his life was almost over. Love was truly terrifying!

Qin Li’s worldview was shaken, and he even felt like he was in danger himself. He needed to leave and calm down immediately. He turned and rushed to the fourth floor, glancing back at Lu Fengfeng with a look of sympathy before he left.

Yan Ning was confused. “What’s wrong with him?”

Lu Fengfeng was just as puzzled. What did that look mean? Was he pitying him?

“Hey, I found it!” Yan Ning scooped a piece of strawberry cake aside, and another mini Poké Ball fell out.

After finding the first clue, the two of them quickly observed the cheesecake. Soon, they noticed a subtle difference from the utensils. Although it was a minor detail, the plates for normal food were slightly oval, unlike the perfectly round plates for the less tasty food.

However, not all normal food contained clues, so they checked all the oval plates in the dining area. There weren’t many, so they quickly found the second clue.

They were about to clean up all the food on the table, subconsciously determined to gain the advantage for the final round. They were intent on perfection, making sure not to leave any stone unturned.

But a waiter came over to stop them, informing them that they could move on to the next venue. The remaining food would be cleaned up by the staff and it wouldn’t affect their score for the bonus points.

After confirming with the waiter, Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning stood up to head to the next location. They now had two clues, which were just enough for both of them to qualify for the next round.

Yan Ning wanted to split up for more efficiency, but Lu Fengfeng insisted on staying together. This time, he didn’t explain anything, he just looked at her with his soft, pleading eyes. Yan Ning hesitated for half a minute, thinking, “Oh well, it won’t take too long,” so they decided to stick together.

On the lower floor, the two little penguins, Sese and Tutu, were eating chips and drinking soda, completely relaxed.

Although they didn’t witness the expected scene of the couple grimacing in pain after eating bad food, the romantic drama they observed was quite amusing, especially Qin Li’s reaction—it was utterly entertaining to them.

The two Amelian aliens, having unknowingly assimilated with Earth culture, had grown to enjoy watching the drama unfold. They also sensed there was more to the story between Yan Ning, Lu Fengfeng, and Chen Nuan, and they were engrossed in the spectacle.

Aside from Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng finding clues on the third floor, Qin Li, who had gone to the fourth floor’s game room, also found a clue. Yan Wan, who was dancing in the ballroom on the first floor, found a clue as well. The other contestants were scattered on various floors, some deeply entangled in troubles, while others were completely absorbed in the cruise ship’s entertainment facilities. Overall, the ten contestants were certainly enjoying the banquet.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng took their clue notes to the fifth floor. The waiter saw them and immediately led them into the tea restaurant. This round was Yan Ning’s challenge.

The waiter brought over a dish that looked like coffee jelly, topped with a layer of creamy white sauce. The portion looked quite intimidating. “Miss Yan, please finish it within five minutes and briefly describe the ingredients in this dish. If you can correctly name five, you will pass the challenge.”

Looking at the jelly-like food that wobbled with every shake, Yan Ning guessed it must have been prepared by the Amelian aliens, with no deep meaning behind it—just a way to make people show their discomfort.

Yan Ning scooped up a spoonful and took a bite. For a moment, she nearly wore the “pain mask.”

The texture was sticky and chewy, paired with a strange taste that was both bitter, sweet, and numbing. As she chewed, all the flavors spread in her mouth, and after swallowing, her tongue felt a lingering bitterness. She picked up a napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth before continuing to eat.

Lu Fengfeng could tell she was forcing herself and felt some pity. “Should I take over?”

Yan Ning shook her head. “It’s actually fine. Wait a moment, I’ll finish it soon.”

Saying that, she took bite after bite, eating faster and faster. The waiter standing beside them frowned as he watched. When this dish was being prepared, he had secretly tasted a bit in the kitchen and ended up in the bathroom, vomiting for half an hour before he could come out.

This girl seemed delicate, but she didn’t expect her to endure so well. Not only did she overcome the taste challenge, but her movements were also graceful—she didn’t even furrow her brow.

Four minutes and fifty-eight seconds later, Yan Ning put down her utensils, elegantly wiped her mouth with the napkin, and then took a sip of twenty-year-old aged vinegar from her glass before slowly saying, “Konjac, clove, licorice, cinnamon, and… Nine-segment Female.”

The waiter took a note out of his pocket and was shocked—she had named all of them correctly. The hardest part of this challenge wasn’t actually finishing the strange-tasting dish, but identifying the ingredients afterward. The rule was to name five ingredients to pass, but in fact, the dish only used five ingredients.

The last ingredient, Nine-segment Female, was something the waiter had no idea about. He had searched for it online by the name but found no information. He originally thought this challenge looked simple and that no one would pass, but unexpectedly, the first contestant had easily guessed it.

Yan Ning extended her hand. “The key to pass.”

Nine-segment Female is a type of insect from Amelian, known for its pungent and unbearable smell. It has a numbing, astringent taste that’s hard to swallow, but it is highly nutritious and considered a delicacy by the Amelian people. Yan Ning had eaten it before. Although the flavor was overwhelmed by the other ingredients in this dish, she quickly identified it because she was familiar with Amelian cuisine.

The waiter wiped the sweat that had unconsciously formed on his forehead with a towel from his arm, then bowed respectfully and handed the first key to Yan Ning.

A clear announcement sounded throughout the entire cruise ship: “Congratulations to contestant No. 1, Yan Ning, for passing the challenge and advancing to the finals.”

On the lower floor, Tutu, seeing how easily Yan Ning passed this round, felt very frustrated. “If it wasn’t for her, no one would have guessed it, and we could have enjoyed watching the beauties puke and cry. She’s just too strong. It’s so boring, but she’s so beautiful~~”

Sese patted him, comforting him. “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I secretly put some fun stuff on Angel Island No. 4. It’ll definitely make them mess up.”

Tutu widened his eyes, then frowned. “What did you do? It can’t be too dangerous. If the boss finds out, we’re done for.”

Tutu quite liked his current job and had great respect for his boss. Although his boss often ruthlessly made them work overtime, he was also incredibly wealthy.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I know humans are fragile. It’s just some small props. You can’t tell the boss, okay?” Sese made a mischievous face, though it was hard to tell since he was wearing a mascot costume. But Tutu, his long-time partner, could probably guess what Sese’s evil expression looked like under the suit.

“Fine,” Tutu replied. He also thought Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng’s reactions were too calm. They were like farmers observing No. 1 and No. 2, waiting to see how they would react when their beautiful facades were peeled away. However, when it was harvest time, they didn’t get the expected result. It was indeed a bit disappointing.

On the first floor, Yan Wan, who was surrounded by a group of handsome men requesting to dance with her, was feeling quite pleased with herself, basking in the moment of being the center of attention. She was enjoying her vanity to the fullest. However, when the announcement of Yan Ning passing the challenge came over the loudspeakers, her overheated mind began to cool down a little.

The appearance of the first contestant passing the challenge made the previously relaxed atmosphere tense. The contestants, who had been distracted by the luxurious sights of the cruise ship, started to snap back to attention and began searching for clues.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng came down from the fifth floor and arrived at the second floor’s entertainment area. This floor had many recreational activities, such as various ball games, darts, a swimming pool, and video games…

To Yan Ning, this floor felt the most grounded.

Lu Fengfeng’s challenge was to stand on a floating board in the pool and throw darts, hitting the bullseye three times in a row to pass. It seemed like it wouldn’t be too difficult.

Lu Fengfeng crouched down and reached into the pool, “It’s seawater.”

Yan Ning crouched down as well. The pool water was clear and transparent, and she couldn’t tell where it came from. “How do you know?”

“Instinct.”

“Ugh.” Yan Ning felt like she was being brushed off, but she didn’t press the matter further.

The waiter prepared to take Lu Fengfeng to change clothes, but Lu Fengfeng refused. He took off his shoes and directly stepped onto the floating board, holding three darts, with the target set on the shore.

As Lu Fengfeng held the darts and prepared to throw, the calm pool suddenly began to ripple. Waves rose up like the surface of the sea, not too intense, but it made it difficult to maintain balance on the floating board.

Yan Ning watched him anxiously, but Lu Fengfeng gave her a reassuring look. He stood steadily on the board, threw the first dart, and with a “whoosh,” it struck the edge of the bullseye, but still within the target area. He then threw the second and third darts, both hitting the bullseye perfectly.

“Well done!” Yan Ning couldn’t help but clap and cheer.

Lu Fengfeng stepped off the floating board and reached out, playfully pulling her into his arms with a teasing smile. “I’m so amazing, asking for a kiss isn’t too much, right?”

Being held in his arms, Yan Ning felt this was the first time seeing things from this perspective. She could clearly feel his warmth, his breath. Her gaze slowly moved upward, tracing the delicate and fair collarbone, the gentle movement of his throat, the sharp jawline, and then… Ah, that expression again, the one that made it impossible for her to refuse—his eyes held a slight expectation, mixed with an unspoken sadness.

She tilted her head back, and he lowered his gaze.

She felt that in the next moment, he might cry.

With a soft smile, Yan Ning stretched out her hand and gently pulled him down by the neck, bringing her face close to his ear and whispered, “Fengfeng, in my heart, I’ve already… kissed you a hundred times.”

Lu Fengfeng’s whole body stiffened, completely frozen.

The waiter’s inner thoughts: “Oh my god, that guy’s about to die! Is there anyone who can save him from this ^[1]“dog food” (狗粮, gǒu liáng) is a slang term used to describe public displays of affection between couples that others find excessive or uncomfortable, as it feels like being forced … Continue readingdog food?!”

The Amelian alien, Sese, who was forcibly fed dog food number one: “No way, no way… This is all it takes to settle it?”

Forced to eat dog food number two, the Aimerlan alien, Tutu, said, “Shivering with anger, when will Lu Fengfeng stand up?”

The two geese, after finishing their anger, exchanged a glance and smiled. A sly and mischievous look gradually appeared in their eyes, it seemed like they were becoming more and more interesting.

After comforting Lu Fengfeng, Yan Ning took the second pass key from the waiter. The cruise ship’s announcement sounded once more: “Congratulations to contestant Lu Fengfeng for successfully passing the challenge and entering the finals.”

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng were informed by the waiter that their competition had ended, and they were free to move around the cruise ship while waiting for the other contestants to finish.

With the appearance of two passers, the number of spots decreased, and the atmosphere between the contestants grew more tense. Half an hour later, Qin Li obtained the pass key, followed by Yan Wan, and the last contestant to pass was a girl named Shu Yue.

The five contestants entering the finals appeared, and the outcome was now decided. The third round of selection was over.

The atmosphere on the cruise ship changed immediately, transitioning from tense and unnatural to a true celebration. Everyone no longer felt any pressure. The third floor finally removed those dark dishes and replaced them with food that tasted normal.

—

At the same time the third round of selection ended, Holy Wing Games released a new CG on all its operating platforms. The CG, about one minute long, featured live-action actors. The background was grand and epic like an epic film, with beautifully styled characters. The most eye-catching part was the fight scene at the end of the CG, which was fluid and dazzling, making it hard to look away.

The CG concluded with an announcement: Holy Wing Games would be launching a live-action theme park, “Angel Island No. 4,” based on the game “Angel Island No. 4,” for internal testing tomorrow. Six carefully selected contestants would participate in the internal test, and the entire event would be livestreamed.

“Angel Island No. 4” was actually a popular game developed by Holy Wing Games, featuring numerous interesting dungeons that catered to PVE, PVP, and social play. Upon its release, it became an instant hit across the country. But two years later, the game began to lose its appeal, and similar games started to dominate the market.

Rumors had long circulated that Holy Wing’s owner, Tang Chengtian, unwilling to let his “child” die, had purchased an uninhabited island and built a real-life “Angel Island No. 4,” similar to a “Jurassic Park” theme park, in an effort to revive the game.

Seeing this announcement, the rumors were proven true. Public opinion was divided, but most still felt that this was just throwing money into the sea, with no sound in return.

With enough money to buy an uninhabited island, why not develop a new game?

And who would even travel so far to a deserted island to play? There’s a chance one might get caught in a shipwreck and disappear.

Moreover, “Angel Island No. 4” became popular because of its unique monster designs, interesting dungeons, and well-balanced monster strength. Would these be achievable in a real-life version of the game?

It was simply impossible!

Most gamers, upon hearing this news, felt uneasy and flooded the official website with comments:

【Angel Island’s King Da Chui】: Brother Tian, please just focus on making games, stop playing with these gimmicks.

【Your Sweetheart Baby】: Brother Tian, the real-life version of Angel Island No. 4 is really not for me. Why not develop new dungeons instead?

【Quit Gaming for Three Years】: It’s dead, it’s really dead…

—

【Wanwan’s Little Wings】: Anyway, I’m not going to play it. It’s getting more and more nonsensical. Puke.JPG.

【Nightingale and Rose】: Am I the only one who thinks the girl in the CG is super cool? Does anyone know who she is?

【A Daidai】: +1, if the real-life version of Island No. 4 has that kind of realism like in the CG, I’d actually want to check it out. Just afraid that the seller’s show will be very different from the buyer’s expectations…

【Little Mantou】: Don’t you think the girl and the guy in the CG look like a really good couple? Super sweet, right? To be honest, the quality of this CG is still very high, so I’m keeping an eye on it.

—

Players on the platform continued to argue, but after releasing this CG, Holy Wing had no further updates, no explanations, and no new statements.

Actually, it wasn’t their fault. They were simply stretched thin. All available technical staff had been called to Angel Island No. 4 by Tang Chengtian for maintenance, preparing for the competition and live stream starting the next day.

Even the boss himself had stayed up for two days and nights working on the CG, and there was no extra manpower left for public relations.

One person who wasn’t a gamer also saw this CG. When he saw the familiar face on screen, he was struck by a sense of overwhelming despair: “Yan Ning? Why is Yan Ning here? It must be an illusion, it’s definitely an illusion!”

Zhao Mingcheng saw the CG through his phone. He had originally watched out of curiosity about the competition venue, but didn’t expect to see the source of his life’s nightmare inside it.

Yan Ning, the person he never wanted to see again in his life.

After Zhao Mingcheng signed up for the individual competition at Minghua, he didn’t participate in the selection at Minghua because he was an external contestant. Instead, he passed the test at Holy Wing’s headquarters. That’s why he hadn’t appeared in the first three rounds of the competition. Because his test data was exceptional, he was directly selected for the finals.

At this moment, Zhao Mingcheng only had one thought: withdraw from the competition.

—

Meanwhile, those on the cruise ship were still unaware of this news. After the competition ended, Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng enjoyed the lingering satisfaction of their success.

Yan Ning sat on the deck with a plate of cakes in various flavors beside her.

As it turned out, the chef on the ship was no amateur. When the food was inedible, they could send you away, but when it was delicious, it could make you feel like you’d ascended to immortality with a single bite.

Seeing how much she was enjoying her food, Lu Fengfeng stood up and said, “I’ll go get some more. Wait here for me.”

“Okay.”

“Is the cake good?” A gentle yet slightly crazy voice came from behind her.

Yan Ning paused with the fork in her hand, trying to turn around, but found she couldn’t move. She furrowed her brows.

“What’s wrong? Can’t move? Hahahaha, I didn’t expect that thing to actually work.” Chen Nuan walked in front of Yan Ning, his expression crazed. “Don’t blame me, I just… just love him too much.”

Chen Nuan bent down, slipping his hands under Yan Ning’s arms and dragging her, unable to move, towards the railing. He muttered to himself, “As long as you’re gone, he’ll definitely… definitely come back to me.”

Yan Ning opened her mouth and realized she could speak, though it was a bit difficult. “You… calm… down…”

She barely managed to get the words out, but Chen Nuan, now fully consumed by madness, couldn’t hear her at all.

Chen Nuan dangled half of Yan Ning’s body over the railing, bending down to grab her legs and push her out. Yan Ning struggled to hold onto the railing with her fingers, unwilling to let go. Chen Nuan smiled, raising his leg to lightly crush her fingers with his stiletto heel.

Yan Ning gritted her teeth and endured the pain, trying to reach for a weapon from her spatial ring. But as she looked up, she saw someone on the third floor watching them from a distance, it seemed to be… Yan Wan.

Was Chen Nuan’s crazed behavior related to Yan Wan?

“Chen Nuan, can you please put her down?” A cold, smooth voice, soft yet pleasant, came from behind. It was Lu Fengfeng.

He was holding a tray with the small cakes he had personally selected for Yan Ning, each one adorable beyond measure. To ensure they were perfect, he had tried one himself before bringing them to her.

Chen Nuan’s movements faltered for a moment, a brief flash of fear crossing his face, quickly followed by despair.

He saw her… he had seen her.

The overwhelming despair triggered something inside him, and with force, he tried to push Yan Ning off the railing.

“Get away!” Lu Fengfeng, who had only been two steps behind Chen Nuan, yelled. He hoped that Chen Nuan would come to her senses and stop before taking that final step. But his words seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Realizing Chen Nuan’s intent, Lu Fengfeng acted first, shoving her aside, and with lightning speed, grabbed one of Yan Ning’s feet.

Soon, security personnel arrived and restrained Chen Nuan.

Lu Fengfeng quickly lifted Yan Ning into his arms, overwhelmed with panic, repeatedly apologizing, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Yan Ning tried to move her fingers but still felt weak, and even attempting to speak was difficult.

Lu Fengfeng took off his jacket and draped it over her, carrying her to a safe, warm room on the lower level.

After carefully placing her on the bed, he noticed the cut on her right hand, and his eyes filled with sorrow. He whispered softly, “I regret it.”