Chapter 38

The waiting time always feels long, especially when you’re alone. It’s as though time is stretched to an almost eternal length.

Meng Qing waited at the entrances of “Jealous Love,” “Demonic Love,” and “Forbidden Love” for an entire day, from the blazing midday sun to the gradual sinking of the sun beneath the horizon.

The light slowly dimmed, and his mood began to shrink, making him feel bored and restless.

As an NPC, when there’s no task to do, he could afford to slack off a little, without having to worry about food. At mealtime, someone would bring it to him.

But it was only like this. When he was with a task partner, he had to eat and sleep with them, and the conditions were tough.

However, when not with a task partner, there was nothing to do.

He had nothing to entertain himself with, except the endless waiting.

Meng Qing propped his chin up, sitting on a stone that was just the right height, size, and cross-section, perfectly comfortable.

Out of boredom, he had searched the area for a long time before finding such a stone.

With his other hand, he tugged at a bunch of weeds near his feet, twisting them around.

Suddenly, he moved, raised his head, blinked, and made sure he wasn’t seeing things.

He stood up and walked toward the entrance of “Jealous Love,” where two figures emerged from the tunnel—it was Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng.

Meng Qing eagerly stepped forward. “Did you get the key?”

“We did,” Yan Ning pulled the golden key, which she had worked so hard to obtain, out of her pocket and handed it to Meng Qing. “Here it is. Haven’t they returned yet?”

Meng Qing took the key, glanced at it with curiosity, but after just a quick look, he handed it back, shaking his head. “None of them are back except for you.”

Yan Ning turned to look at Lu Fengfeng. “What should we do? Should we go support them?”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. “Let’s rest first and have something to eat. If they haven’t returned after dinner, then we can consider going to help.”

“Okay,” Yan Ning nodded. “I’ll go gather some firewood.”

Lu Fengfeng stopped her. “Your body hasn’t recovered yet, don’t overexert yourself. I’ll handle the firewood and cooking.”

Seeing that she was about to argue, Lu Fengfeng gently pushed her down to sit on a nearby stone and took an apple from his bag, placing it in her hand. “Eat some fruit to tide you over. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Yan Ning looked down at the apple in her hand, thinking about how the Sea Demon Illusion had left her with a psychological aversion to apples.

But resources on the island were already scarce, and this fruit was something he had saved from his own supplies. It seemed ungrateful to not eat it.

Thinking about the game levels, her mind inevitably drifted back to the recent side quest.

The side quest was essentially a bonus level, which she had initially thought would be easy.

But both of them had overcome their psychological pressures and made sure they were both putting in the effort, only to fail in the end.

When Lu Fengfeng had made his request, asking her to fall in love with him, she had always thought she was doing a good job.

But in the side quest, they hadn’t passed the test.

The side quest was called “True Love Test.” If both people were truly in sync, with their love for each other being equal to the love for themselves, they would pass the level. If there was any misunderstanding or distance between them, they would fail.

Yan Ning felt deeply guilty. It must have been because she hadn’t fully accepted Lu Fengfeng subconsciously, which is why it ended up this way.

She hadn’t fully fallen in love with him, as he had requested.

The failure felt like a major blow, as if an ultra S-level task had been ruined at the last moment because of her small mistake. Yan Ning felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment and guilt.

Although Lu Fengfeng had been consoling her on the way back, she had outwardly said she had come to terms with it, but deep down, she hadn’t truly let it go.

However, they had already consulted the system, and since they had completed all the main content of the “Jealous Love” quest, the side quest would not affect the final outcome.

Moreover, if they wanted to challenge the side quest again, they could do so unlimitedly before the competition ended.

Considering the significant physical and mental energy they had already expended during the daytime quest, and the high likelihood of needing to enter another quest to provide support in the evening, dinner was very hearty, with rice, meat, and soup.

Yan Ning ate two bowls of rice without hesitation and felt both her body and mind being healed.

While resting, she sat by the fire with a cup of hot water, occasionally glancing at the entrances to the other two quests. Still, no one had come out.

After dinner, Lu Fengfeng was still busy.

Curious, Yan Ning leaned over to him. “We just had dinner, why are you cooking again? Are you still hungry?”

Lu Fengfeng cut the peeled sweet potatoes into small pieces and placed them in a basin of water. With his wet fingers, he lightly tapped her nose. “I’m making you a dessert. Eat a little now, and the rest will be stored in the thermal container for later tonight.”

Yan Ning stepped back slightly, looking at the dark quest entrance in the distance. “It seems like we still have to go get them.”

“Yeah,” Lu Fengfeng agreed with this decision.

If the other quests, like the “Jealous Love” quest, also involved real interstellar creatures, it would indeed be difficult for the other two teams of ordinary people to clear the quests.

Lu Fengfeng took the soaked sweet potato pieces out of the water, dried them, and coated them in a layer of starch before frying them in hot oil.

Yan Ning stared in awe. “How much stuff did you bring?”

“Help me hold this,” Lu Fengfeng handed her a flashlight. He leaned slightly forward, used a slotted spoon to pick up a piece of sweet potato, checked its color, then put it back. “Considering all possibilities, I brought a little bit of everything. The game’s inventory system is pretty good, so even with so many things on me, it doesn’t feel cumbersome. It’s very convenient.”

“Yeah, just like a space ring,” Yan Ning casually added.

“What’s a space ring?” Meng Qing asked from the side.

Yan Ning suddenly choked, because she had already accepted Lu Fengfeng’s identity as an alien in her mind. While speaking, she naturally forgot certain sensitive topics and only realized something was wrong at that moment.

“I guess it’s like the kind of space that novels often describe, one where you can store a lot of things. Did Ningning also see this in a novel?” Lu Fengfeng naturally paved the way for her.

“Ah—um, yes, just like Doraemon’s pocket, I’ve always wanted one.” Yan Ning awkwardly continued the conversation.

“Is that so? It does sound incredible. But on this island, I suppose this dream has already been half-realized?” Meng Qing didn’t seem suspicious.

“Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true. The inventory system is indeed similar to a dimensional pocket or a space ring, although it can only be used on the island.”

The sweet potato cubes turned golden and crispy. Lu Fengfeng scooped them out, and poured out all the oil.

He cleaned the pot, added water and sugar to make syrup, then added a spoonful of oil before placing the fried sweet potato cubes into the pot.

After stirring for a while, he took it off the stove and plated it. The dish was now complete: candied sweet potatoes.

Lu Fengfeng placed a small plate with the dish in front of Yan Ning and poured a bowl of cold water on the stone next to her. “Try it. It’s best when it’s just made.”

Yan Ning immediately tried a piece, which was so hot that she blew on it, but the soft, sweet taste of the candied sweet potatoes instantly conquered her: “Ah, ah, ah, it’s so good!”

She squinted at Lu Fengfeng, and the satisfaction brought by the food cleared all the gloom from her heart.

Her eyes, which had lost their shine due to the failure in the side quest, now seemed to shimmer like they had been coated in honey.

“Why is such a simple dessert so delicious?” Yan Ning still couldn’t believe it.

She had tasted many traditional desserts from various planets in the galaxy, most of which were more complex and expensive than these candied sweet potatoes, but none had ever given her this level of satisfaction.

“Of course, it’s because I put this in it~” Lu Fengfeng raised his hand and pretended to pull something out from his chest on the left. He then curled his fingers and made a heart shape with his thumb and index finger, sending Yan Ning a “little love heart,” complete with a wink.

Yan Ning couldn’t help but smile, thinking he was too cute. She picked up a piece of sweet potato coated in sugar and brought it to his mouth. “Ah—”

【Sese: My expression right now is just like the guide beside me. What did I do wrong? Why are you guys hurting me like this?】

【Tutu: Ha, as long as I think about how they didn’t pass the side quest’s “True Love Test,” my heart can immediately calm down.】

Meng Qing sat aside, expression blank, as if carved from stone.

At this moment, he longed to return to the daytime, even if it meant waiting alone—it would be more comfortable than now.

Lu Fengfeng opened his mouth and ate the sweet potato that Yan Ning handed him, but it pulled a long strand of sugar.

When the wind blew, it stuck everywhere.

Yan Ning bent down to find a tissue, finally pulling out a plain checkered handkerchief from her pocket. She dampened it with water and gently wiped away the sugar strands from Lu Fengfeng’s face and hair.

Her expression was focused, her movements careful and gentle. Time seemed to slow down, and the world became quieter.

Lu Fengfeng’s thick lashes fluttered lightly like butterfly wings, his obsidian-like eyes quietly gazing at Yan Ning, his thin lips pressed together, seeming shy but also satisfied.

After wiping everything clean, Yan Ning sat back down and noticed his subtle expression. Her mood lifted. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his head, raising his hand to smooth his hair to cover the adoring look that had unintentionally shown on his face. He awkwardly changed the subject: “Nothing. They still haven’t returned. Let’s get ready and head out.”

“Okay, I’ll eat a couple more bites.” Yan Ning continued eating, quickly finishing half the plate.

Lu Fengfeng pointed to the cold water beside him. “Try dipping it in the water, the taste will be different.”

“Really?” Yan Ning picked up a piece again, followed his advice, and dipped it in the water before eating it. The texture was indeed different. “Wow!!!”

The originally soft and delicate texture became crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making a satisfying crunching sound as she chewed.

“Candied sweet potatoes are the best!” Yan Ning, like a little hamster, sat to the side, munching away with a crunch, quickly finishing the plate.

Lu Fengfeng cleaned up and handed a mini backpack to Yan Ning. “Inside there’s a box of warm candied sweet potatoes, and the thermos has hot milk.”

“Thanks.” Yan Ning took it, gently caressing the backpack.

Meng Qing found it odd. “Aren’t you going together?”

“Yeah, moving together is too inefficient. After discussing it, Fengfeng will go to the ‘Demonic’ instance, and I’ll go to the ‘Forbidden Love’ instance. We should be able to bring them back quickly and also look for the key,” Yan Ning said.

“Then take these.” Meng Qing thought for a moment, then took out two black baseball caps from his inventory. “Just press the switch, and the small light on here will turn on. Don’t underestimate it—it’s small but very bright, capable of lighting up a far distance. And it has a long battery life, a very valuable item.”

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng each took one and thanked Meng Qing.

The design of the caps was quite thoughtful, with the baseball cap style always in fashion. The small light on the brim was cute, shaped like a cat, not only adorable but also very bright.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng put on their caps, standing at the entrances of their respective new instances. They exchanged smiles, said “Be careful” to each other, and then disappeared into the darkness.

Meng Qing opened his mouth but didn’t manage to say anything.

Lu Fengfeng felt uneasy about letting Yan Ning go alone into the “Forbidden Love” instance.

Yan Wan and Shu Yue both disliked Yan Ning, and if Yan Ning went to save them, she might not be thanked. In fact, she could even be resented.

But if it were the other way around, with Lu Fengfeng going to “Forbidden Love” and Yan Ning going to “Demonic,” it didn’t seem like a good idea either.

Shu Yue had always been eyeing Lu Fengfeng, and if he went to save her, it might cause even more trouble.

Yan Ning also surprised him. From what Yan Wan and Shu Yue had done and said to her, even as an outsider, he thought it was excessive. Yan Ning couldn’t possibly not harbor resentment in her heart.

Meng Qing felt a bit dirty inside, but he couldn’t help but wonder—when Yan Ning so decisively agreed to go into the “Forbidden Love” instance, was she really going to save them?

She was so capable, and if she wanted to do something inappropriate inside, it shouldn’t be difficult for her.

—

Lu Fengfeng entered the “Demonic” instance, and the level design was indeed very different from “Jealous Love.”

The design of the “Jealous Love” instance leaned more towards strategy and emotions. The small levels were interesting but not everyone liked them.

The “Demonic” instance, on the other hand, seemed more suited to those who preferred traditional gaming. It followed the classic monster-hunting and level-up pattern.

As soon as he entered, he encountered a group of vicious small monsters, who, taking advantage of their numbers, relentlessly pursued him.

He wanted to deal with the monsters quickly and catch up to the two ahead, so he showed no mercy in his attacks.

When he first entered the island, he chose a ranged weapon, which he was more skilled with. However, against a large number of small monsters, it was clearly ineffective.

He picked up a low-quality weapon that someone had discarded on the ground. While quickly eliminating the monsters chasing him, he followed the signs of battle in search of Zhao Mingcheng and Qin Li.

After seeing how difficult it was for Qin Li and Zhao Mingcheng to clear monsters during the day, Lu Fengfeng’s swift methods and monster-killing speed stunned everyone:

【So he’s this strong? Didn’t notice it earlier.】

【Yeah, I always thought he was just good at cooking and pampering his girlfriend, like a pretty boy, but turns out he’s just as capable as Number One! This pair really suits each other!】

【A lot of people envy Number Two for having a girlfriend who’s both sweet and salty, but now I don’t know who to envy… Number Two is really excellent too!】

【Wow, Number Two is so badass! Mom, I want to fall in love!】

—

【Is it possible to set up a dual-view section for Number One and Number Two? They’re always sticking together, so it feels like both sides are the same. Now they’ve suddenly separated, and I can’t decide which one to watch. It’s so confusing, ahhh—】

—

Forbidden Love Instance

Yan Ning, with a small backpack and a cute mobile cat-shaped street lamp on her head, held her beloved spring-loaded knife in hand. She slashed at any monsters she encountered along the way, showing no mercy.

These small monsters were the weakest of the weak, and even though her physical condition wasn’t at its best, handling these creatures was a breeze for her.

From the entrance to the forest pathway, many fierce beasts lay hidden deep in the grass, waiting for the perfect moment to ambush.

However, after seeing the deep blue blade in Yan Ning’s hand and the trail of blue blood splattered along her path, they dared only to bare their teeth from the shadows, letting out intimidating growls but not daring to approach.

Yan Ning’s mindset was the same as Lu Fengfeng’s. She followed the chaotic marks around her to find the others first. Once she located them, she would think about how to clear the instance.

The map of the Forbidden Love instance didn’t seem very large, it was mostly just a forest.

Yan Ning felt like she was deep inside the forest. She had already searched all the chaotic marks around her, but still hadn’t found Yan Wan or Shu Yue.

Suddenly, rustling sounds came from a nearby bush. Yan Ning’s grip on the knife hilt tightened as she slowly approached, parting the branches.

“Ah—don’t bite me, don’t bite me!” Yan Wan was huddled in the middle of the bush, looking disheveled, her clothes torn in several places, long hair tangled, and there were shallow bloodstains on her face.

Yan Ning pulled apart the messy branches. Her voice was calm, devoid of emotion as she said, “It’s me.”

Yan Wan looked up suddenly, her fish-like eyes filled with disbelief. “Yan Ning? How are you here?”

Seeing that she was still curled up inside and didn’t dare to come out, Yan Ning extended her hand toward her, speaking at the same time, “We finished over there, so I came to see if you needed help here.”

Yan Wan stared blankly at the hand reaching out to her. It was slender, pale, with long fingers and clearly defined knuckles.

Even with the most critical of eyes, it was undeniably a beautiful hand. The tips were a soft, translucent white, as if holding warmth within.

But it was this very hand that made her feel an intense aversion.

In that moment, it felt as though the distance between them had suddenly widened, and she was the one left far behind.

Yan Wan had always believed that even if Yan Ning was indeed the true daughter of the Yan family, flowing with the blood of a true heiress, she didn’t have the destiny of one.

What difference did it make if she came back?

She had grown up in such a secluded and backward place, even getting lost along the way, and only graduated from elementary school at seventeen.

Aside from her inherited beauty from Tang Minrou, she had none of the knowledge, demeanor, upbringing, social skills, or etiquette that a true heiress should have.

So why should she, just because of her status, be able to easily take everything Yan Wan had worked so hard to build?

But at this moment, a slight struggle stirred within her heart.

She thought that Yan Ning definitely didn’t know. Besides the occasional repulsive little gestures, she had done even more extreme things behind her back.

If Yan Ning knew about those things, would she still extend her hand toward her?

But there was no denying that the war between them had already begun, and she had always believed that she was the one in the dominant position.

Even so, Yan Ning was still willing to reach out to her, and that gesture made her feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Then there were the pure eyes of the other person, and the hand that hovered in mid-air, radiating warmth.

To her surprise, deep down, she couldn’t help but wonder if the palm of that hand was as warm and soft as she imagined.

Yan Wan thought about it, reached out, and took Yan Ning’s hand.

Yan Ning gripped her hand firmly, pulling her up, and then glanced behind her. “Where’s the other one? You two aren’t together?”

Yan Wan looked up, her eyes filled with confusion. She instinctively pushed the hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ear. Her brows furrowed, and her expression suddenly became anxious. “Oh right, Shu Yue… she fell into a trap. I was coming back to get help, but I kept being chased by those monsters and almost forgot about it. What should we do? What should we do?”

“Calm down. We’ll go find her now. Do you remember which direction she went?” Yan Ning’s expression was calm, and her tone was very composed.

Yan Wan seemed to be affected by her calmness, gradually settling down. “Okay, I remember where it is. I marked the tree trunks with my weapon. I’ll take you there.”

Yan Ning followed behind Yan Wan, occasionally glancing around.

“Why did you come to save me?” Yan Wan suddenly asked.

“Huh?” Yan Ning was distracted by her surroundings and didn’t hear the question clearly.

“Never mind, it’s nothing. Where’s Lu Fengfeng? Why isn’t he with you?”

“He went next door. Zhao Mingcheng and Qin Li haven’t come back yet.”

“We’re here.” Yan Wan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Yan Ning, pointing ahead.

They were standing next to a large, thick tree, and Yan Ning noticed it first. The tree was so large that it would take four people to wrap their arms around it.

From the tree, many aerial roots hung down, thick and densely packed like whiskers. Some of them were eerie, and the whole tree gave off an ancient, lonely feeling.

Next to the tree was a large pit that had sunken into the ground. The area around the pit was dark, and it looked like it was piled with dead branches and rotting leaves.

Because of the dampness and shadows, thick patches of moss were growing wildly.

As Yan Ning stepped closer, she noticed some deep scratch marks around the edge of the pit, which did indeed look like someone had fallen in from there.

Yan Wan stood behind Yan Ning, carefully watching her steps. Just a little further, and she could…

This was a perfect opportunity. Yan Ning was completely unguarded, and it was nighttime.

She could easily excuse herself by saying it was late and the ground was slippery. If she cried a little and acted pitiful, many people would sympathize with her.

She didn’t want to kill Yan Ning, just teach her a lesson and make her more obedient.

The system had said that the hole wasn’t very deep, and falling into it wouldn’t be life-threatening. It would only cause a few injuries, and she would be stuck for a while.

Once the game was over, someone would come to rescue her. It wouldn’t be fatal.

Yan Ning adjusted her headlamp, trying to peer into the depths of the cave, and casually asked, “Are you sure she fell in here?”

The inside of the cave was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen clearly.

If Shu Yue had fallen in and was still conscious, she should have cried for help when she saw the light.

“Uh…” Yan Ning let out a short sound, suddenly feeling something heavy slam into her waist. Then, her body lost balance, and her feet slipped. She slid into the cave.

In mid-air, she looked up at Yan Wan, who was standing at the edge of the pit. Yan Wan’s expression was cold and stern, but her eyes were filled with tears.

The headlamp fell off, and everything around her plunged into darkness. She could no longer see Yan Wan’s expression.

Through special camera shots, the viewers who saw this scene in its entirety were stunned.

Although it was night and only the live audience could see this moment, it was still shocking enough.

Earlier, when Yan Ning saved Yan Wan, many people felt moved by the gesture when Yan Ning reached out her hand, thinking that the two were finally going to make up.

Even though there was a bit of discomfort in their hearts, since Number one’s reaction and actions were so magnanimous, it was hard to come to terms with, but the kind-hearted public accepted this development with high approval.

Life is already too hard, so seeing more of the good, the true, and the beautiful would make one’s mood brighter.

Little did they expect, the following developments would be so vicious.

Since they couldn’t watch the famous moments of Number one and Number two strategizing the Jealousy Love dungeon in the afternoon, the four members of the Rose group made plans to watch the night show. At this moment, all four were in Number one’s main perspective area.

Pocket Meow: “…Just now, did Ningning lose her balance by herself? Or did Number four…”

Rose: “Meow Meow, are you joking? Number four pushed Ningning! Didn’t you see? It’s driving me crazy!!!”

Pocket Meow: “I saw… I just can’t believe it… How could Yan Wan dare to do that in the livestream?”

Rose: “I think she’s completely out of her mind!!!”

Sitting in the front row, Qiao Yingxue was extremely anxious. “I wonder how Ningning is? Why did the main perspective area go dark again? Ningning won’t be in danger, will she?”

Gu Tian gently held her hand to comfort her. “Don’t worry, Ningning will be fine.”

At this moment, only Qiao Yingxue and Gu Tian from their group were at the venue. They had informed their families beforehand, and with bodyguards accompanying them, they were allowed to go out late at night.

Qiao Yingxue furrowed her brows, still unable to feel at ease. “That cave looks really deep, you can’t even see the bottom. What if Ningning gets seriously injured? What if she cuts her face or hurts her hands? She might have injured her waist or her legs too!”

Seeing her thoughts spiraling into worse scenarios, Gu Tian thought to herself that she had to stop her increasingly disturbing thoughts. Just then, the screen in Number one’s main perspective area returned to normal!