Chapter 36

“Long time no see.” Yan Ning’s expression was calm. After greeting Lu Fengfeng, she looked up at the man beside her, and the tenderness in her eyes was enough to make Lu Fengfeng feel like his heart was being torn apart.

“How did you two end up together?” Lu Fengfeng reminded himself that this was just an illusion, and he shouldn’t get angry. He needed to calm down and look for clues to pass the level.

But there was an invisible hand gripping his heart tightly, making it hard for him to breathe. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t keep his composure.

“Ah, you mean me and Mingcheng?” Yan Ning replied, then glanced at Zhao Mingcheng.

Her eyes curved slightly, and the corners of her mouth lifted, all because of the man beside her.

At this moment, Zhao Mingcheng seemed like a different person, completely unlike the man who had once been afraid and distant toward Yan Ning in Lu Fengfeng’s memory.

He received Yan Ning’s gaze, slightly curving his lips, and his handsome, youthful face was full of indulgence.

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll head out now. Our reservation time is almost up.” Yan Ning nodded at him, her arm tightly wrapped around Zhao Mingcheng’s, as they brushed past Lu Fengfeng.

Lu Fengfeng’s eyes were filled with confusion. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but instinctively, he raised his hand to stop Yan Ning.

Yan Ning turned back, looking at him in surprise. “Is there something else?”

“Don’t go.” He grabbed her hand, speaking in a forceful tone.

Yan Ning pulled her hand away, her expression neutral. “Fengfeng, we’re not kids anymore.”

After saying that, she turned and linked arms with Zhao Mingcheng, walking toward the opposite side of the street.

Lu Fengfeng stood there, watching her retreating figure, his heart aching unbearably. He didn’t know what to do to keep her from leaving.

【Sese: Ah, such a heartbreaking scene, the one you love in the arms of someone else. The sea monster is really ruthless~~~】

【Tutu: But Number Two’s Fengfeng’s mindset is unexpectedly simple? Based on his usual behavior, I thought he’d be more… more… indescribable… but in this situation, it really is painful to watch~~~】

As they spoke of heartbreak, their tone was full of enjoyment, clearly entertained by the situation.

They had been keeping an eye on the Number One and Number Two contestants since the initial rounds, hoping to witness the ultimate moment when their idols would fall from grace.

Well, they had been waiting until the competition was nearly over to see just this tiny bit of drama—it wasn’t enough, and they just wanted to scream, “More, more!”

The feature of the Sea Demon level was that it used the Sea Demon’s song to trigger the most feared events in the hearts of the challengers, all of which revolved around their sleeping partner.

In this special space, the things the challengers feared the most became a reality, which meant “betrayal.”

Various forms of “betrayal” would continuously torment the challengers’ minds and sanity.

The Sea Demon level was designed and completed by Sese and Tutu. Their design concept for Tang Chengtian was to see how humans would make choices in an extreme psychological environment, which was really just to satisfy their own twisted curiosity.

To achieve maximum effect, they secretly used some advanced technology behind the scenes, striving to make the illusion so real that even the participants themselves couldn’t notice.

So in this level, the illusion wasn’t limited to just the challengers’ minds—everyone else could also see what the challengers saw.

Lu Fengfeng hadn’t yet figured out why things with Yan Ning had turned so distant, when suddenly the scene shifted. He found himself at a ballroom.

People around him looked his way, and one woman, lifting the hem of her dress, walked up to him, hoping he would invite her to dance.

Lu Fengfeng didn’t have time to pay attention to this. His eyes scanned the grand hall, only wanting to find that familiar figure.

She wasn’t on the dance floor, nor was she at the drinks station, the snack area, or the balcony.

He stood at the edge of the balcony, leaning on the carved marble railing, letting out a deep breath to suppress the panic rising within him.

His eyes subconsciously turned toward the rose garden not far away, and he caught a glimpse of a pure white skirt corner as it flashed past the corner of a bush.

Lu Fengfeng’s eyes narrowed, and he braced himself on the marble railing before jumping directly from the second floor.

Landing steadily, he made his way into the depths of the rose garden, and suddenly heard a familiar voice, causing him to stop in his tracks.

It was Yan Ning.

Why is she here at this time?

Who is she with?

Is it Zhao Mingcheng again?

He carefully concealed himself among the rose bushes, but couldn’t help but peek out to see who Yan Ning was with.

The first thing he saw was the smooth, fair skin of her back. He clenched his teeth in anger—this woman actually dared to wear such a revealing, backless dress out in public!

In his anger, he even pricked his hand on a thorn from the rose bush. He covered his hand but kept his focus on Yan Ning.

Yan Ning was wearing a white long dress today, and he had never seen her in white clothes before. Just imagining it, he knew she must look stunning.

It seemed her hair had grown longer as well. It was no longer too short to style. She had tied it into a cute bun at the back of her head, adorning it with a delicate, lovely pearl hairpin.

He really wanted to see her face.

Lu Fengfeng carefully moved, trying to get to the other side of Yan Ning.

But another familiar voice sounded, and he held still. The man standing across from her spoke.

Meng Qing stood in front of Yan Ning, looking like a refined young man. He clasped his hands at his waist in a formal manner and said seriously, “Ningning, I have something to say to you.”

Yan Ning tilted her head slightly, seeming curious about what he wanted to say. She then nodded obediently, “Mm, go ahead.”

Lu Fengfeng crouched down behind the rose bushes, quietly clenching his fist. He had already guessed what Meng Qing wanted to say.

He really didn’t want Yan Ning to hear those words, but the situation was so awkward, there was no space for him to act.

He was still hesitating when his opponent showed no signs of backing down.

“I like you, Ningning.” Meng Qing’s fingers were nervously fidgeting together in the shadows, his heart uneasy. But once the first words were spoken, the rest came out naturally and smoothly. “I like the way you smile, I like the way you’re playful, I like the way you’re serious, I like the way you’re decisive, and I also like the way you… like me. So, could you please go out with me?”

Yan Ning stood still, seemingly thinking about how to respond.

But Meng Qing’s confession hit a sore spot for Lu Fengfeng. He suddenly stood up, disregarding the rose leaves and grass stuck to his suit, and walked toward the two while unbuttoning his jacket.

When Yan Ning heard the rustling noise, she turned around and froze when she saw him. “Fengfeng, how did you end up here?”

Lu Fengfeng irritably draped his suit over her shoulders, his tone harsh. “If I hadn’t come, would you have agreed to him?”

“Enough, don’t say anything yet, I’ll deal with you later.” He raised his hand to stop Yan Ning from speaking and turned to Meng Qing. “You made a mistake with one of your words.”

Meng Qing’s confession was interrupted by his rival, and while he felt some regret, he kept his composure. “What?”

Lu Fengfeng stretched out his long arm and pulled Yan Ning into his embrace. “She really is cute all over—her smile, her playful side, her serious side, her decisive side. But none of those are the ‘liking you’ kind of look. Stop daydreaming, because she clearly likes me!”

His tone was proud and defiant, as he spoke like a peacock strutting its feathers.

“Sorry.” Yan Ning’s voice suddenly interrupted. She shrugged off his arm, stepping out of his embrace. She then took off the jacket and handed it back to him. “I think you might have misunderstood. I’ve always liked Meng Qing.”

“You… what?” Lu Fengfeng couldn’t believe it and instinctively asked.

He didn’t extend his hand, so Yan Ning simply draped the jacket over his arm and turned to face Meng Qing.

Standing before him, she seemed a little shy.

She lowered her gaze, instinctively adjusting her bangs before speaking softly, “I’ve been waiting for you to say this to me. I like you too, Meng Qing.”

“What?” Lu Fengfeng, unwilling to believe it, reached out to grab her hand.

Yan Ning, however, stepped aside first, walking out of the courtyard hand in hand with Meng Qing, chatting casually, without turning back to look at him even once.

【Sese: She clearly likes me! — Sorry. Wow, this is too brutal!】

【Tutu: Tsk, definitely the best of today! People really can’t be judged by appearances. Number two is just too innocent.】

【Sese: Number two, you need to toughen up! Is this the most painful betrayal you could imagine? Just this? I’m a bit disappointed.】

【Tutu: I think it’s not bad, at least it made for good show content. If it were… a little more… a little more… indescribable, it would be perfect.】

Zhao Xiaojue really wanted to go up and grab these two penguins, dunk their heads into the seawater, and wake them up.

The third act came quickly, and this time the male lead changed again—

Lu Fengfeng was sitting in a quiet café reading when someone greeted him, “Lu Fengfeng? Hey, it really is you.”

Qin Li, holding two cups of takeaway coffee, recognized him and pulled out the chair across from him to sit down. “Long time no see. How have you been?”

Faced with Qin Li’s overly familiar attitude, Lu Fengfeng furrowed his brows, feeling a bit impatient.

Qin Li, however, didn’t mind his indifference at all. The phone placed on the table beeped with a notification, and he opened it with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.

He read it for a while before holding up the phone to show Lu Fengfeng, his tone overflowing with happiness, “I’m getting married! Look, this is my wife. I remember you two know each other, right?”

Lu Fengfeng glanced at the phone in annoyance, his gaze frozen for a moment.

On the screen was a wedding photo. The woman was holding a bouquet of pure white roses and wearing a dreamlike floor-length wedding gown.

Her originally ear-length hair could now be styled up, adorned with a holy veil, and her face was radiating an undeniable smile of happiness.

It was Yan Ning.

She was getting married.

At some point, Qin Li had already gotten up and left.

Lu Fengfeng sat alone by the window, refilling his coffee again and again.

Eventually, the surroundings began to change. The pedestrians on the street disappeared, followed by the store signs across the way, and then the stores themselves vanished.

Finally, even the road and the city faded away.

Everything around Lu Fengfeng turned into specks of light, blurring bit by bit, and then in front of him appeared Yan Ning lying in a crystal coffin.

Lu Fengfeng slowly stepped forward, gazing at Yan Ning in the coffin. Her face was pale, but she looked peaceful in her sleep. His gaze was filled with pain and sorrow.

The ethereal voice of the siren echoed: “Do you want to awaken this woman?”

Lu Fengfeng looked up.

“This woman accepted the pursuit of others, agreed to other men’s confessions, got engaged, and lived a happy life in the end. She betrayed you countless times, hurting you, trampling on your dignity, pride, and love. Even so, do you still want to awaken her?”

“Even if she wakes up, and the one she loves isn’t you, does it matter?”

【Sese: It’s here! Finally! What will Number Two Fengfeng choose?】

【Tutu: Will he forgive her betrayal? Or will he break free from it?】

Lu Fengfeng gently took Yan Ning’s cold hand, almost without hesitation: “I want to awaken her.”

“Then please speak the ‘love spell’ floating above the Illusion Sea. If your words and actions are true, your words will become the spell and awaken her. If you harbor resentment, she will remain in eternal slumber.”

Lu Fengfeng’s gaze shifted, and he saw the “spell” floating above the Illusion Sea as pointed out by the siren. His expression froze.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to say it to her?” the siren asked.

Although it was a question, the tone was calm and indifferent, without a trace of emotion.

Hei Jing sat in the very center of the main perspective zone, looking at the three words floating on the Illusion Sea, clicking his tongue in impatience.

Why did it have to be this phrase?

What kind of game is this?

Hei Jing felt somewhat annoyed. If they wanted Lu Fengfeng to get that thing, there were a thousand ways to forcefully take it.

There was no need for such a complicated roundabout approach that ultimately dragged them into it.

For Earthlings, this phrase could be said at any time, as long as the scene and atmosphere required it.

Because even if a wish was made, a vow sworn, and feelings changed later, no terrible consequences would have to be borne.

Sometimes, Hei Jing thought, perhaps this was one of the reasons why humans on Earth continued to thrive and multiply.

They could casually make promises, express love on a whim, do as they pleased… and not be punished for it.

But in the universe, there were certain races, kind-hearted, innocent, and pure, that, because of their inherent beauty and self-discipline, were becoming fewer and fewer.

Now, due to the limitations of their nature, even in such a frivolous game, they could not act on their desires freely.

Lu Fengfeng held Yan Ning’s hand, closed his eyes, and softly whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

The girl in the crystal coffin remained motionless, showing no reaction.

Lu Fengfeng took Yan Ning’s hand, gently pressing his forehead to it, his tone heavier this time, “I love you. So… please wake up.”

Yan Ning’s closed eyelids fluttered, her long, thick lashes blinking twice before slowly opening her eyes.

Her gaze swept around, finally lowering to see Lu Fengfeng lying beside her, his expression sorrowful. She raised her hand to touch his face, her voice hoarse and low, “What’s wrong? You look like you’re about to cry.”

Lu Fengfeng raised his hand to cover the hand she had placed on his cheek, silently shaking his head.

Hei Jing suddenly stood up, kicked the position in front of him forcefully, then turned and walked out of the Shengyi building.

He walked all the way to the middle of a busy street, still not calming down. Lifting his leg, he kicked the door of a car that had been honking incessantly at him, leaving a huge dent in it.

His underlings, who had followed him out, quickly dragged the swearing driver away to a distance, trying to resolve the situation amicably.

At this moment, no one dared to provoke Hei Jing.

Hei Jing brooded alone for a while, then crouched by a flower bed, silently smoking.

For Earthlings, love could be easily expressed with words.

For some races, it was an important vow with severe penalties—an oath that could only be made once in a lifetime, to one person.

If feelings changed, death would follow.

Just now, Lu Fengfeng had made his only important vow in life to Yan Ning.

Once those words were spoken, they could never be taken back, and his life would forever be at her mercy.

Hei Jing couldn’t understand. It was just a game, so why was he taking it so seriously?

Did he really want to be with that Earthling?

—

Illusion Sea, the Siren’s Challenge.

Lu Fengfeng helped Yan Ning rise from the crystal coffin.

Yan Ning leaned on his arm, feeling weak and drained. She had to grip his hand tightly just to barely stand up.

She felt like she had just woken from a long, long dream, exhausted both physically and mentally. But after waking up, she couldn’t remember anything about the dream at all.

What did that NPC make her eat? Was it really an apple?

Why does she feel so unwell?

The siren was still sitting on a rock in the center of the Illusion Sea, her clear and indifferent eyes watching as Lu Fengfeng helped Yan Ning, their figures growing smaller as they walked farther away. She couldn’t help but worry—had she done something truly cruel to the boy?

It didn’t matter. Even if it weren’t in this way, the boy would eventually understand—there was no turning back for him.

The girl awakened by the spell was the best proof.

Inside Shengyi, apart from Sese and Tutu, no one knew that the siren in the Jealousy and Love instance wasn’t a system-generated NPC, but a real intergalactic species.

Every word she spoke was the truth, not just part of the game’s script.

With Lu Fengfeng’s support, Yan Ning slowly walked out of the Illusion Sea.

The scenery around them shifted once again, this time revealing a rugged mountain path.

The black rock walls on either side were barren, with no trees in sight. Occasionally, a few malnourished weeds could be seen growing out of the crevices in the rocks.

The only path up the mountain was narrow and steep, and the end couldn’t be seen.

Even with Lu Fengfeng supporting her, Yan Ning still felt exhausted, panting after just a few steps.

She didn’t understand why she had suddenly become so weak, feeling guilty toward Lu Fengfeng. She was probably holding him back.

Lu Fengfeng helped her sit down on a flat rock, then crouched down in front of her. Reaching his hands behind his back, he tilted his head slightly and said, “Climb on, I’ll carry you.”

Yan Ning froze. No one had ever said such words to her before.

She slowly repeated those words in her mind three times, and only then did she sluggishly realize that Lu Fengfeng was still holding that posture.

She waved her hand, feeling even more guilty. “No need, I’ll be fine after a short rest.”

Lu Fengfeng shook his head, his thin lips parted, and he said two words softly: “Get on.”

“I’m heavy,” Yan Ning said, feeling embarrassed. Somehow, that sentence made her more shy than when he had just said “I love you.”

She suddenly felt that, in their relationship, Lu Fengfeng seemed to be gradually taking the lead.

It seemed like, without realizing it, she had become overly fragile.

Lu Fengfeng glanced at her, his expression changing. He reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her toward him.

After making sure she was securely settled, he stood up and began walking up the mountain with steady steps.

Yan Ning carefully placed her hands on his shoulders, afraid to apply too much pressure, feeling both shy and embarrassed.

Lu Fengfeng curved his lips slightly and stumbled for a moment.

Instinctively, Yan Ning wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, resting her head on his shoulder, her voice panicked: “What’s wrong?”

Lu Fengfeng answered flatly: “It’s nothing. You can hold on tighter. I can handle it.”

“…Aren’t you tired?” For the first time, Yan Ning felt a lump in her throat in front of Lu Fengfeng.

She had always felt that he moved quickly, and it didn’t seem like carrying her was much of a burden.

They had been walking for a while, and she hadn’t seen him catch his breath.

“Mm… I’m fine,” Lu Fengfeng said, his expression hidden from her, but his words were somewhat meaningful.

Sese and Tutu were clearly watching this in the camera.

【Sese: Tsk tsk tsk, looks like Number Two’s finally figured it out? About time he’s getting his act together!】

【Tutu: Look, look! The instance isn’t even finished, and these two are already this close? Tsk, the world’s going downhill, morals are decaying, I can’t watch this anymore!!!】

【Sese: Quietly saying, I honestly thought the two of them would fail at the hands of the Sea Demon, but I didn’t expect Number Two to actually wake up Number One. Tch, boring!】

【Tutu: I’ve prepared so many snacks, just waiting to see him cry! Now I guess I’ll have to save them for the next drama from the ‘Forbidden Love’ side… Ahem, some progress on the strategy, serves as a side dish.】

Perhaps due to the game setting, the road that seemed endless, Lu Fengfeng had been carrying Yan Ning for a while when, gradually, they saw the mountaintop.

There was no telling what lay above, only the faint smoke swirling in the distance, hazy and unclear, a stark contrast to the dry, barren rocky walls they had passed.

At the mountaintop, Yan Ning finally stood on solid ground, her legs on the firm surface, feeling a little relieved.

When he was carrying her, there wasn’t much discomfort, but she had always felt tense inside, unable to fully relax.

The two of them stood together, instinctively observing their surroundings.

Unexpectedly, the mountaintop, aside from a large steaming pond in the middle, was barren—no jagged rocks, no complicated mechanisms, not even an NPC in sight.

Lu Fengfeng helped Yan Ning walk slowly toward the pond. Next to it, there was a sign that read “Healing Pool.”

Below, there was a small description, something like “Soaking in the hot spring can relieve fatigue, strengthen the body, and heal both mind and body.” An arrow pointed to the side, with three small red words beneath it—“Changing Room.”

“What should we do? Should we soak?” Yan Ning asked.

The place had the obvious vibe of a trap. After crossing such a harsh terrain, suddenly encountering a healing pool with restorative effects seemed too convenient.

Especially considering she had come out of the last challenge feeling weak and drained.

Thinking about the connections between everything, it couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

Lu Fengfeng held her hand, still as cold as it had been when she was lying in the crystal coffin, her complexion still pale.

“Let’s soak. Maybe if you soak, your body will feel better,” Lu Fengfeng said softly.

Having already passed through the Sea Demon challenge, he was no longer afraid of any trial.

Lu Fengfeng helped Yan Ning to the entrance of the changing room, which was divided into separate sections for men and women.

They parted at the door and each entered their respective room.

The changing room was small, just enough to fit one person. Inside, there were clothes already prepared. Lu Fengfeng quickly changed and came out, waiting at the door for Yan Ning.

After quite a while, Yan Ning still hadn’t come out.

He became a bit worried and couldn’t help but speak up, “Are you done changing?”

He waited for several seconds, but no response came.