Chapter 17, The Second Wish

Mo Qi sensed a lofty arrogance emanating from the two players who interacted with Guo Mingzheng. Perhaps they were trying hard to restrain their airs of superiority and blend in as ordinary people, but their sense of superiority was difficult to conceal.

Xiang Zhuo, from the outset, recognized Mo Qi as a player and maintained a cautious and egalitarian attitude. When encountering Liao Ruxue in that awkward “mourning” situation, naturally, any pretense of being a player disappeared, and Xiang Zhuo seemed quite approachable.

Mo Qi sensed a lofty arrogance emanating from the two players who interacted with Guo Mingzheng. Perhaps they were trying hard to restrain their airs of superiority and blend in as ordinary people, but their sense of superiority was difficult to conceal.

Xiang Zhuo, from the outset, recognized Mo Qi as a player and maintained a cautious and egalitarian attitude. When encountering Liao Ruxue in that awkward “mourning” situation, naturally, any pretense of being a player disappeared, and Xiang Zhuo seemed quite approachable.

Shi Wenxuan, despite his efforts to conceal it, still had telltale signs that couldn’t be hidden.

For instance, his initial wariness and subsequent relaxation upon seeing Mo Qi for the first time, as well as his skepticism towards Xiang Wansi, all hinted at Shi Wenxuan’s true identity.

Xiang Wansi, however, remained oblivious. She approached Shi Wenxuan to discuss tomorrow’s schedule, displaying care and consideration for the new broadcaster in every word.

Quickly deciding on Xiang Wansi between the two, Shi Wenxuan temporarily set Mo Qi aside and engaged in conversation with Xiang Wansi.

Mo Qi yawned, put on his sunglasses, and noted Shi Wenxuan’s affinity value of 53. He pulled a chair closer, observing the two while simultaneously messaging Xiang Zhuo and Liao Ruxue.

Earlier, he had sent three words “Min Shihua” to Liao Ruxue, who hadn’t responded then but now replied: [I’ll send you Min Shihua’s information shortly. She’ll also be at the student art exhibition tomorrow, where I’ll introduce you. Just couldn’t reply earlier; we ran into two other players. Xiang Zhuo and they had a scuffle, and your teammate is quite formidable, managing to take the upper hand against three.]

Mo Qi: [One against three? Weren’t there just two players you encountered? Did you get involved too?]

[How could I harm anyone other than you, it’s like this.]

Liao Ruxue typed rapidly, sending numerous messages in no time, quickly explaining what had happened.

With Liao Ruxue’s position as student council president, it was too easy to check a few disciplined students.

Liao Ruxue didn’t need to search at all. Just sitting in the student council office, making a few phone calls to students, and getting someone to come to the office to fill out a form requesting the withdrawal of the penalty reasons. Guarantee those students will run to the office building

“What are you doing?” Xiang Zhuo was stunned when he saw Liao Ruxue’s message. “Doing this will attract other players.”

“I want to draw out other players. It’s unsettling to have someone hiding in the shadows,” Liao Ruxue calmly replied. “Between you players, is there any way to eliminate each other?”

“Killing works,” Xiang Zhuo said. “If it weren’t for Mo Qi being the mission initiator, I would have killed him last night.”

“Is that so? Can a game be killed and resurrected in reality?” Liao Ruxue lowered his eyes.

“Of course not. Dead is dead,” Xiang Zhuo said casually. “Are you suggesting they can quit the game ahead of time, and it’s good for me to fail and die?”

“Your game seems quite brutal,” Liao Ruxue said dispassionately.

“Soft-hearted newcomers die in the beginner stage,” Xiang Zhuo remained calm. “Are you trying to attract other players to strike first?”

“It’s Mo Qi’s idea,” Liao Ruxue said. “He hopes we can control the other players to prevent them from intercepting halfway.”

Xiang Zhuo looked puzzled. “When did he say that? We’ve been acting the whole time, why haven’t I heard about it?”

“He didn’t say it explicitly, I guessed,” Liao Ruxue replied. “Why do you think he would have us investigate disciplined students?”

“Isn’t it more suitable to investigate Xiang Wansi, given what he said about emotional entanglements with her?” Xiang Zhuo asked.

“You really don’t understand Mo Qi,” Liao Ruxue replied. “When it comes to emotions, he only knows to run away. If Xiang Wansi has feelings for him, he’ll do his best to keep his distance. The reason he chose to do something he’s unwilling to do is to lure other players to us. In the process, he can eliminate both me, who wants to kill him, and you, who he sees as competition. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”

Xiang Zhuo paused. “… How did he know that investigating disciplined students would attract other players?”

“Because of you,” Liao Ruxue stared directly at Xiang Zhuo. “Last night, as soon as you found out about Qi Qiaoyan’s warning penalty, you immediately started checking among disciplined students. Among players like you… you should be considered mediocre, not too foolish but not quite clever enough. Anything you can think of, others can deduce just as quickly. So the task assigned to us by Mo Qi is bound to lead us onto a path that will intersect with other players.”

Xiang Zhuo remained silent.

Liao Ruxue said, “This morning, after I heard Mo Qi’s distribution method, I figured out his intentions. I even confirmed with him afterward. At that time, although you went to freshen up, you should have had a way to listen in. You didn’t understand that conversation, did you?”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t want to admit he hadn’t understood. He changed the subject, saying, “I understand that Mo Qi wants to distance himself from us. But since you’ve guessed this, why go along with him?”

“Liao Ruxue chuckled. “Because I have two objectives. The first is to protect Mo Qi from being killed by anyone other than me—whether it’s you, other players, they’re all my enemies. The second… well, that’s something you won’t be able to guess.”

Xiang Zhuo grabbed Liao Ruxue’s collar. “Are you not afraid that I might kill you?”

Liao Ruxue replied calmly, “You won’t kill me. Despite your mediocrity, you’re not entirely foolish. You understand the advantages of being the student council president, so you won’t bear to kill me. I trust you can restrain your impulses.”

After saying this, Liao Ruxue gently patted Xiang Zhuo’s arm to reassure him.

In that moment, Xiang Zhuo truly wanted to commit murder. However, upon hearing a knock at the door, he had no choice but to release Liao Ruxue and suppress his anger as he hid near the doorway.

Liao Ruxue straightened his clothes and calmly said, as if nothing had happened, “Come in.”

The newcomer was one of the disciplined students. Liao Ruxue handed him a form, and the student joyfully exclaimed, “I haven’t even served half a year of my punishment. Can it really be revoked?”

“Of course not,” replied Liao Ruxue casually, merely exploiting his authority. However, in this world of unreality, even upon returning to reality, no one would remember what had happened in the game. Liao Ruxue cared little about the emotions of an ordinary student.

“After you fill out the form, the student council will report to the school leaders. They will handle it according to the situation. Write detailed reasons for your application, emphasize your hardships, and it will make it easier for us to advocate on your behalf,” Liao Ruxue advised sagely, adeptly maneuvering without affirming or denying anything.

The student filled out the form with great enthusiasm, thanking Liao Ruxue profusely before leaving the ideological and political education building. After he departed, both Liao Ruxue and Xiang Zhuo shook their heads simultaneously. “It’s neither,” they agreed.

Mo Qi had once shown Liao Ruxue and Xiang Zhuo recorded videos of two players. Although their faces weren’t clear, their clothes, body shapes, speaking styles, and habits could determine their identities.

As for a wisher, would someone who had received a wish box be in the mood to fill out forms at the student council? They might be in a state of confusion, surprise, and mixed emotions, without even checking their phones. Therefore, the first person to come and fill out the form couldn’t possibly be a wisher.

Liao Ruxue was very patient. Leaning against the window, he glanced down below, observing the people coming and going. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he called Xiang Zhuo over, “They’re here.”

Xiang Zhuo leaned closer and saw a man and a woman entering the ideological and political education building, matching all aspects of the two players in the video.

“Should we kill them or control them? I leave it to you,” Liao Ruxue smiled. “I’m just an ordinary student with poor stamina.”

“Ordinary? I’m just glad you’re not a player!” Xiang Zhuo glared at Liao Ruxue with resentment. “If I die fighting two, I’ll make sure you take the fall.”

“I’ll be watching from the sidelines,” Liao Ruxue pushed up his glasses casually.

Due to texting constraints, Xiang Zhuo couldn’t provide detailed updates on his battle with the two players to Liao Ruxue. Liao Ruxue simply mentioned that all three participants seemed weaker than a blade of grass.

According to Liao Ruxue’s account, Xiang Zhuo and the two players clumsily exchanged a few Item Cards before being plagued by negative effects, which discouraged them from continuing to fight. Xiang Zhuo resorted to physical combat, gradually showing weakness as the formidable female player’s stamina made Liao Ruxue envious. Eventually, Xiang Zhuo resorted to desperate measures, unleashing an urn of ashes.

When the urn opened, a vine with purple flowers flew out, launching a relentless assault on all three players, demonstrating its fierce power.

The male and female players exclaimed in surprise, “You actually have an SSR-level item!” Immediately after, the three were plunged into a bitter struggle.

The grass had incredibly strong vitality. No matter how they slashed at it, they couldn’t stop the vine from regenerating continuously. The flowers on the vine had the ability to devour life, with their petals turning into a purple smoke that swiftly turned skin black and grey, then absorbed into the purple smoke.

In the end, the male and female players were strangled to death by the grass, and Xiang Zhuo made a heroic sacrifice by losing an arm. Just before his death, he grabbed hold of the urn tightly guarded by the vine, activated it, and took the grass back into it.

Mo Qi remained silent for a moment.

So, when they say one against three, they mean the grass single-handedly fought against three people? How far has this grass evolved? It’s starting to get terrifying.

It’s not just the grass; Liao Ruxue also displayed excessive intelligence and composure. He would definitely become a future threat.

With the two players dead, the game timely provided a notification that two individuals had been eliminated. Mo Qi glanced at it briefly but didn’t open the game app. Instead, he purposely swiped over to his WeChat interface, showing ongoing conversations, particularly aiming towards Shi Wenxuan’s direction.

He had only thought of mutual restraint at the time, believing that Xiang Zhuo and the two players had a way to control each other, preventing the other side from delving deeper into the game. However, he did not expect that both methods of restraint would lead the opponent into a deadly trap.

The game was so brutal. If he were not the initiator of the mission, he would have died at Xiang Zhuo’s hands last night.

Upon receiving news of the deaths of the two players, Mo Qi removed her sunglasses, no longer a mere bystander but inserting herself into the conversation between Xiang Wansi and Shi Wenxuan.

With a total of five players in the game and two already eliminated, most would assume a typical 2 vs. 2 duel format. However, with this information revealed, the likelihood of “Mo Qi being a player” decreased significantly.

With this, Mo Qi could now confidently probe Shi Wenxuan.

“Shi, when did you join the broadcasting team?” Mo Qi leaned in and asked. “Seeing you cooperate with Xiang, I can’t help but feel envious.”

Xiang Wansi blushed slightly, glancing at Mo Qi with a hint of reproach. “It’s all just work; there’s nothing to envy. Besides, aren’t we collaborating too?”

Her voice was gentle, and her gaze towards Mo Qi was soft.

“I haven’t seen Xiang much since school started, but Mo Qi, you’re in the student council, so you must cooperate with Xiang often,” Shi Wenxuan replied, perhaps out of some psychological motive, unwilling to show weakness.

Xiang Wansi looked at Shi Wenxuan. “Wenxuan, you haven’t participated in many activities since joining the broadcasting team. You blame me for not cooperating with you, but it’s hard for me to find you. I’m leaving the broadcasting team next year, so this is our first and last cooperation.”

After saying this, she held Mo Qi’s hand in one hand and Shi Wenxuan’s in the other, stacking their hands together and encouraging them both. “Since it’s our last time, let’s not have any regrets. Let’s work together to make the exhibition a success!”

This move was a clever way to turn adversity into an opportunity. If Mo Qi and Shi Wenxuan truly had feelings for Xiang Wansi, this gesture would likely deepen Xiang Wansi’s feelings for them and help them overcome their mutual dislike to work together effectively.

Mo Qi couldn’t help but think that if “Charming Aura” was a skill possessed by Xiang Wansi, she could probably make better use of that ability.

The atmosphere should have been peaceful as they prepared to work. However, Shi Wenxuan’s expression suddenly changed, and he redirected the conversation, saying, “Xiang Wansi, were you like this before?”

“What do you mean?” Xiang Wansi looked puzzled.

“You handle everyone so effortlessly, easily convincing them with your words and getting them to help you without expecting anything in return,” Shi Wenxuan pressed on, taking a step closer. “If it were you, you’d probably have the ability to make people help you get back at those who have ill intentions toward you.”

“What are you talking about?” Xiang Wansi looked completely innocent.

Mo Qi pretended to faint, intending to observe Shi Wenxuan’s intentions.

“What are you doing? What have you done to Mo Qi?” Xiang Wansi was genuinely frightened, her face turning pale as she rushed to Mo Qi’s side.

Shi Wenxuan waved his hand, sealing the exhibition hall’s doors shut. He grabbed Xiang Wansi by the neck and pressed her against the wall.

“I simply don’t want an ordinary person interfering with my investigation,” Shi Wenxuan said with a serious gaze fixed on Xiang Wansi. “Ke Xiaoxi is dead. Did you know that?”

“Cough… Ke Xiaoxi? Who is Ke Xiaoxi?” Xiang Wansi struggled to speak.

“Last year’s freshman ceremony, the reason you lost your voice was because she spiked your mineral water. Don’t tell me you didn’t know about this?” Shi Wenxuan said.

“W-What are you talking about? I-I don’t even know her,” Xiang Wansi said, tears streaming down her face.

“Fine, you can deny it,” Shi Wenxuan said confidently. “If I’m not mistaken, the second person who died should be someone named Lü Anhe. You must know him, right?”

Feigning dizziness, Mo Qi lifted his eyelids slightly. He had seen the name Lü Anhe on the disciplinary list—a student expelled for attempting to assault a girl. Initially dismissing him along with Liao Ruxue, now Mo Qi reconsidered. If Lü Anhe still harbored ill intentions, he could easily lurk on campus. University campuses were semi-open, making it not difficult to enter.

“He’s already been expelled, hasn’t he?” Xiang Wansi closed her eyes in fear.

Shi Wenxuan replied, “Yes, he was expelled, but he didn’t achieve his goal, did he? To protect the victim’s reputation, the school didn’t publicly disclose the list of assault victims. But I found out—it was you whom Lü Anhe attempted to assault. Naturally, you would want him dead.”

Mo Qi’s phone vibrated with a game notification. He wanted to check it but hesitated, afraid Shi Wenxuan might notice. The fog thickened around him, enveloping him further.

He felt a sense of protection and took the opportunity to open his phone. Sure enough, inside the crystal box appeared the second red heart-shaped origami.

Shi Wenxuan glanced at the phone and smirked triumphantly. “Looks like the second wish has been granted. Come with me to see if it’s Lü Anhe, shall we?”

He callously lifted Xiang Wansi with one hand and left the exhibition hall, leaving her tour guide booklet scattered on the ground.