Chapter 35

Qin Li stood on the hillside, sweating anxiously. Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng exchanged a glance, and their pace quickened.

When they reached the hillside where Qin Li was, they were met with the sight of three massive, visually striking skulls.

To be precise, these were the entrances to three separate dungeons.

As they walked closer, they saw that each entrance was designed to resemble a monstrous skull, with its mouth open to reveal sharp fangs, marking the entrance to each dungeon.

Above each entrance was a name: “Jealous Love,” “Demonic Love,” and “Forbidden Love.”

Yan Ning looked at the three words, puzzled. “What do these mean? I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you get it?” Shu Yue gave Yan Ning a disdainful glance but didn’t explain the meanings of the names.

Meng Qing stepped forward and explained to Yan Ning, “Entering through the ‘Demonic Love’ entrance will lead you to encounter many monsters. It’s the path for adventurers. Entering through the ‘Forbidden Love’ entrance will lead you to meet fairy-tale-like fantastical creatures. It’s the path for romantics. The ‘Jealous Love’ entrance requires two people to enter at the same time. It’s the path for lovers.”

“Deep within these three paths, there are keys that can unlock the Golden Holy Dragon’s lair. Only by collecting all three keys can you unlock the lair. Once the lair is opened, you can challenge the Golden Holy Dragon and potentially claim the treasure it guards.”

“To save time, we’ll split into three teams. What do you think? Each team can go after one key,” Yan Ning suggested.

Shu Yue walked up to Lu Fengfeng, full of energy, and invited, “Fengfeng, shall we enter ‘Jealous Love’ together? This path only requires two people, so we’d be perfect.”

Qin Li couldn’t help but comment, “Lu Fengfeng already has a girlfriend. You only need two people to enter, and Yan Ning is fine. Why does it have to be with you?”

Shu Yue pouted, irritated, and said, “Why can’t it be with me? Meng Qing said it only requires two people to enter at the same time. It doesn’t have to be with a girlfriend, right? Just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you can’t have other friends, does it?”

She hadn’t been able to find an opportunity to be alone with Lu Fengfeng and was hoping that the dungeon that only allowed two people would be the perfect opportunity to develop their relationship.

Shu Yue was determined to team up with Lu Fengfeng, even if it meant throwing away her pride.

Yan Wan, noticing Yan Ning’s expression, also stepped forward and proposed, “Since the ‘Jealous Love’ path requires two people to enter, how about I team up with Mingcheng?”

She noticed last night that there was something off between Yan Ning and Zhao Mingcheng. Compared to Lu Fengfeng, it seemed that Yan Ning cared more about Zhao Mingcheng.

Although Zhao Mingcheng’s attitude towards Yan Ning made her feel uncomfortable, the more this happened, the more she wanted to use Zhao Mingcheng to hurt Yan Ning.

She no longer cared about the consequences, as long as it made Yan Ning uncomfortable, she was more than happy to do it.

Yan Ning stood to the side, listening to their heated argument, indifferent, as if everything had nothing to do with her.

Lu Fengfeng took Yan Ning’s hand and slowly walked toward the entrance of ‘Jealous Love,’ speaking softly, “Didn’t you hear what the guide said? This is the path for lovers. I think, other than me and Ningning, none of you can enter.”

Lu Fengfeng stood at the entrance of ‘Jealous Love,’ tentatively reaching out his hand.

The entrance, which had been empty, suddenly formed a red laser barrier, blocking him from entering.

Seeing this, Yan Ning also reached out and touched the laser barrier.

When both of their hands touched the barrier, it immediately vanished. Lu Fengfeng and Yan Ning entered, and soon disappeared from everyone’s sight.

Qin Li ran over and stuck his head in to look inside. “No way, they just disappeared like that? What do we do now?”

Meng Qing, noticing the grim expressions on Shu Yue and Yan Wan’s faces, added, “As the second person said, only those who are in love can enter ‘Jealous Love.’ If you don’t believe it, you can try pairing up and testing it yourselves. But I suggest you quickly form teams to enter ‘Demonic Love’ and ‘Forbidden Love’ to get the keys that unlock the Golden Dragon’s lair and open the final dungeon.”

Qin Li didn’t want to team up with the other two girls, so he nudged Zhao Mingcheng. “Hey, how about we team up and go into ‘Demonic Love’? The path for adventurers sounds really cool and badass. Finally, the protagonist’s journey begins!”

Zhao Mingcheng didn’t want to team up with the two girls. He had long since lost the desire to chase after the school beauty.

He had thought about it all night, realizing that he had been too much.

Yan Ning had never hurt him. In fact, it was because of her that he had started to find himself on the M20 planet.

But because of her strength, he felt ashamed of himself and had shut his heart off from her.

At the core, it was simply because he was too weak, felt like he couldn’t keep up with her, and had given in to self-pity, avoiding the reality.

He used this as an excuse to hurt her.

He realized it too late and could no longer find a proper way to make amends.

If Yan Ning wanted the key, he would go and get it.

Qin Li and Zhao Mingcheng entered the “Demonic Love” entrance together, leaving Shu Yue and Yan Wan standing there, staring at each other.

Both of them had their own agendas. Although they occasionally spoke up to annoy Yan Ning, as if helping the other, in reality, neither of them thought highly of the other.

But they never expected to encounter such an awkward situation. After all, they had been selected as beauties through a beauty contest earlier on.

Who would have thought that in the finals, not only did Lu Fengfeng exclude them, but the other two guys would also rather team up together than take either of them?

Both of them were severely impacted by this, but out of pride, they both pretended not to care.

“Since only the ‘Forbidden Love’ entrance is left, you two should head off soon,” Meng Qing urged from the side.

“And you? Aren’t you joining us?” Shu Yue asked. She didn’t particularly care who she teamed up with, but she didn’t want to be alone with Yan Wan, feeling like it would be unpleasant.

Meng Qing gave a very official, gentle smile. “Sorry, I’m just a guide NPC. I’ll be here waiting for you two to return victorious.”

—

Jealous Love Dungeon.

The skull-shaped entrance created a terrifying atmosphere. After entering, they found a pitch-black path that seemed endless, so dark that they couldn’t see their hands in front of their faces, and there were no indicator lights anywhere.

In the darkness, Lu Fengfeng held Yan Ning’s left hand. His clear, gentle voice was especially soothing in the dark: “Be careful with your steps, don’t take too big strides, and don’t let go of my hand. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen.”

Yan Ning’s senses were sharp, and this kind of darkness wasn’t really a problem for her.

But there was no denying that she enjoyed Lu Fengfeng’s gentle and considerate nature.

As the morning light first broke, she sat on the grass, watching the sunrise, unable to control her thoughts about Zhao Mingcheng’s attitude toward her.

Compared to the harsh treatment she received from the people of M20 Star, Zhao Mingcheng’s reaction was actually rather mild—he was just avoiding her out of fear.

But she still couldn’t understand why they were all so afraid and repelled by her.

She had thought back repeatedly, but still couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Even though she felt helpless in her heart, she could only set it aside for the moment.

At least for now, she could enjoy this soft, sweet moment like a normal seventeen-year-old girl.

In Lu Fengfeng’s eyes, she was just a fragile girl.

Yan Ning reached out her other hand to feel around in the dark. She touched Lu Fengfeng’s arm, gently tugging on his sleeve. “I’m a little scared.”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his head, unable to see anything, but he could feel the strength with which she tugged at his sleeve.

For some reason, he suddenly felt his mood lighten. In his mind, an image of her carefully relying on him popped up, and it was quite endearing.

He tightened his grip on her hand a little more, his tone playful with a hint of allure: “You can hold onto my arm, alright?”

Originally just holding onto his sleeve, her hand slowly moved up, wrapping around his arm, leaning closer to him a little. She softly replied, “Mm.”

The two of them couldn’t see each other, but through special filming equipment, the audience could see the two figures snuggled together in the dark on screen.

Although their full appearance and expressions couldn’t be seen, their actions were clear enough.

【Sese: Attention, viewers in the main perspective zone for Number one and Two, as well as everyone in the live chat—right now, Numbers One and Two are in the “Jealous Love” area, which is a brand new couple’s dungeon developed on Angel Island Four… Ahem, sorry, I meant a dog-killing… romantic dungeon.】

【Tutu: This dungeon is of moderate difficulty with a fresh gameplay style. Not only does it test the mutual understanding between the couple, but it can also quickly reignite the passion in a relationship that’s grown somewhat dull, providing an unexpectedly delightful experience.】

【Sese: The current area Number one and Number Two are in is the first mini-level of the Jealous Love dungeon—”Dokidoki’s Little Bend.” The most winding path in this world is the one that leads to your heart.】

【Tutu: In the pitch-black, unknown environment, only each other can be relied upon. The tightly clasped hands, the rising body temperature…】

It’s already the third day, and these two little penguins are still full of energy.

Zhao Xiaojue listened to them praise the new couple’s dungeon—entrusted with high expectations by the company—turning it into something as tacky as a street advertisement, and he was too tired to comment.

He could only hope that Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng would explore the dungeon properly, trying their best to showcase the carefully designed scenes and interesting gameplay.

Originally, because this was a couple’s dungeon, the setting was that only a couple entering together could unlock the dungeon.

He had thought there would be no opportunity to introduce this dungeon in the competition, but it just so happened that one of the six contestants was a couple.

The hero and romantic dungeons were already available in the Angel Island Four game, and the gameplay and strategies were familiar to veteran players.

Now, it was just a matter of turning a 2D game mode into a 3D experience. While it was fresh and appealing, it wouldn’t have an explosive impact.

So, in this live broadcast, what he was most looking forward to was people’s reactions to the new “Jealous Love” dungeon. Perhaps “Jealous Love” could become the new highlight of Angel Island Four.

“Fengfeng.” Yan Ning whispered in the dark.

“Mm, I’m here. What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, I just wanted to call your name.”

Lu Fengfeng chuckled lightly. Unable to see, his hearing became more sensitive.

His voice carried a hook, like a soft feather, gently scratching at Yan Ning’s heart, again and again.

“Fengfeng.”

“Mm, I’m here.”

“Fengfeng, Fengfeng, Fengfeng.”

“Mm, I’m here.”

After a while, Yan Ning stopped calling Lu Fengfeng’s name. He, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable and couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you? Are you still there?”

Live broadcast audience’s thoughts: “Weren’t you two hugging tightly? Where did you go? Isn’t killing a dog easy without a knife?”

Yan Ning spoke out in the dark: “Mm, I’m here. I’m waiting for you to call me.”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his head, narrowing his eyes into a smile, unable to stop the roar in his heart: How is she so cute!!!

He stopped, and Yan Ning followed his movement and stopped as well.

He slightly tilted his body, and with his other hand, carefully and restrainedly searched in the dark.

Yan Ning didn’t know what he wanted to do, but sensing that he was reaching for something, she obediently stood still.

Lu Fengfeng lightly brushed his hand over Yan Ning’s clothes and quickly withdrew. He moved a bit higher, touching and pulling away immediately.

Finally, when his hand gently touched her hair, he carefully reached out, estimating the distance, then bent down and whispered softly near her ear: “Ningning.”

His voice was deliberately lowered, husky and quiet, as if he were whispering sweet words in her ear.

The sudden movement startled Yan Ning, she hadn’t expected Lu Fengfeng to speak out so suddenly.

His warm breath brushed against her skin beneath her ear, sending a shiver through her, making her jump slightly.

Instinctively, Lu Fengfeng raised his hand in a circle and pulled her into his arms. “What’s wrong? I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

Yan Ning’s whole head was pressed against his chest, and she could even hear his fast, pounding heartbeat.

It took a moment for her to realize that he had only whispered to her, and all he had done was call her name.

Lu Fengfeng didn’t just hold her, one hand was constantly patting her back, soothing her over and over again. “I’m sorry, did I scare you? It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ve always been here.”

Yan Ning’s fingers tightly gripped the fabric of his waist, and suddenly, all her strength seemed to drain away. She collapsed into him, letting all her weight rest on him, completely soft and relaxed against his body.

“Wh-what’s wrong?” Lu Fengfeng gently steadied her with his hands, feeling the sudden pressure.

It wasn’t Yan Ning’s weight, but rather the sensation that she was about to dance on the tip of his heart again, beating a drum.

Perhaps doing whatever she wanted.

“Fengfeng, I’m so scared. Hug me again.” She buried her head into his chest, her voice calm like still water, without a trace of trembling or fear.

It could almost be called an emotionless act of acting cute.

But why was that?

It felt like there were seven or eight cats scratching his heart, making him both frustrated and… unable to stop.

Yan Ning had made up her mind. There were still three days left.

She was going to spoil herself, act foolish, burn through all the fuel, and then leave gracefully.

The two of them embraced, oblivious to the world around them.

Since Yan Ning said those words, Lu Fengfeng seemed to be petrified, unmoving.

【Sese: Oh no, contestant number two is about to die again. Big bro, when are you going to manage to keep up with Ningning?】

【Tutu: From what I can see, it’s hopeless in this lifetime. Look at this useless display—Ningning just waves her finger and he’s a goner, tsk tsk tsk.】

【Sese can’t help but slap the table: Number two, number two, get some spirit! You need to stand up for yourself!】

In Yan Ning’s main perspective zone, Qiao Yingxue covered her eyes with both hands, then cracked her fingers open slightly, peeking through in a self-deceptive way, fixating on the screen.

Although she could only see blurred outlines, it didn’t stop her from feeling pink bubbles rising in her heart.

It was clear that the audience in both the first and second main perspective zones were quite restless.

Although all they could see were vague shadows of the two of them embracing, the murmurs and discussions below were endless.

The number of viewers in their livestream was steadily rising, and the activity in each interactive zone had surpassed the peak of the previous two days.

【Nightingale and Rose: What’s going on? Is this how confident “dog-killer” scammers have become these days?】

The Rose four-member team had been lurking at the scene for a day and night, but the next day, due to busy schedules, they couldn’t buy tickets to watch live and stayed home to follow the stream.

They didn’t expect such an interesting dungeon would open on the third day. Rose was almost going crazy for not being there in person.

【The Big Hammer of Angel Island (tsundere face): This dungeon is too girly, not fun at all.】

【Nightingale and Rose: Bro Hammer is also here! If it’s not fun, you can go watch the neighboring Hero Dungeon. I think this one’s fun.】

【A Daidai: This is so cringe, what kind of divine dungeon is this, Heaven bro? Is it really that easy to flirt with them?】

【Your Sweet Little Baby: Is it only for couples to enter? What if non-couples can’t? Maybe after starting this dungeon, they’ll become a couple? So tempted.JPG.】

【Unbeatable: I second this! Please adjust the dungeon permissions, maybe you go in single, but come out with a baby!!!】

【Insomniac as Scheduled: I second this too!】

—

After what felt like a long ten minutes for the audience, Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng finally emerged from the “Dokidoki Love Little Curve.”

They found themselves in a brightly lit room with an antique, elegant style.

Upon seeing the decor, Yan Ning thought that after the pitch-black tunnel, they had been teleported straight into ancient times.

A wide and thick red carpet stretched from under their feet all the way to the main hall.

As they walked along, on both sides were bright red woven gold curtains, satin floral patterns, and red “Double Happiness” paper cuttings. The main hall also had thick red candles burning, their size as large as a person’s arm. Everything seemed to be hinting at something.

“Congratulations to the two of you for passing the ‘Dokidoki Love Little Curve’ test. Next, you will enter the ‘Guess Wrong, Break Up’ challenge, which will test your mutual understanding. Since Number one, Ningning, has an injury, please, Number Two, Fengfeng, head backstage to prepare.”

The emotionless electronic voice suddenly sounded in the room, making the atmosphere feel quite jarring.

After hearing the full rules, Lu Fengfeng followed the directional signs to another room to prepare, while Yan Ning sat in the wedding hall waiting for him.

About ten minutes later, ten grooms dressed in wedding attire, all of the same height, with red veils over their heads, entered the room one by one under the lead of a matchmaker, standing orderly in front of Yan Ning.

The matchmaker shook the handkerchief in her hand, smiling brightly as she spoke to Yan Ning: “Please, young lady, choose the one you like from these ten men. If you choose correctly, I’ll let you move on to the next stage. If you choose wrong, your lover will have to stay here.”

“Remember, do not speak. Other than your hands, no physical contact is allowed. Once you’ve made your choice, just take his hand and step forward.”

“Does that mean I can touch all of their hands?” Yan Ning asked.

For some reason, the matchmaker felt a little caught off guard.

She was also a real-life NPC, and it was her first day on this job.

She hadn’t expected that her first customer would ask such a bold question—it sounded as though Yan Ning intended to touch every one of their hands.

Even if she chose the right one, wouldn’t the boyfriend be upset?

But she nodded, “Yes, touching their hands is within the rules.”

“Can I touch however I want?” Yan Ning asked again.

What exactly do you want to do with their hands?

The matchmaker felt a chill in her heart from Yan Ning’s questioning, noticing her gaze becoming a little strange. Still, she nodded.

“One last question.”

“Mm, ask quickly.”

“Are they all real NPCs, except for my boyfriend? Or are they just illusions made with models?”

The matchmaker hadn’t expected Yan Ning’s question to be so sharp and tricky, and she was momentarily confused about the purpose of the question.

She was so distracted by these unexpected questions that she almost forgot her actual duties. She answered, “Half and half. To be honest, it’s easy to find someone with the same height and build as your boyfriend. But finding nine others to match, that’s not so simple. So, including your boyfriend, five of them are real people, and five are illusions.”

“Is that so… so I can’t just touch their hands freely,” Yan Ning muttered to herself. Then she looked up and asked, “Can I start now?”

The matchmaker gestured with her hand, saying, “Please, go ahead.”

The ten men stood in a row, with similar heights and builds. They were all wearing the same clothes and making the same gestures.

Yan Ning circled around them, carefully observing the details of each one, then made a move as if she intended to touch one of them.

Just as her fingers were about to touch the hand of the third man from the right, she suddenly withdrew and grabbed the hand of the fifth man from the right instead.

The matchmaker watched this scene, unconsciously swallowing.

Countless viewers in the live stream followed suit, swallowing nervously as their eyes stayed glued to the screen, unsure whether Yan Ning had made the right choice.

Yan Ning placed the slender, pale hand in her palm, inching her body forward slowly, as though preparing to kiss it.

Everyone’s gaze followed her every move as she leaned down slowly, and when her head lowered, her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, making their hearts race in sync with the rhythm of her movements.

The onlookers were all stirred, their emotions in turmoil. And it was even more intense for the man whose hand she was holding.

Although it wasn’t obvious, the delicate, white, and beautifully shaped hand trembled slightly in Yan Ning’s palm, like a flower branch gently struck by light rain. It was clear that its owner’s emotions were unstable.

Had she chosen the wrong person?

The crowd couldn’t help but wonder.

Yan Ning stopped her movements and turned to look at the matchmaker, “My boyfriend isn’t this shy, I’ll take another look.”

The matchmaker thought Yan Ning was going to switch to another person and nodded in agreement.

Yan Ning then took the same guy’s hand again, slowly bringing her palm to meet his, her fingers gently bending and slipping between his, interlocking their hands.

Turning her head, the corners of her lips slowly curled into a smile, and she said to the matchmaker, “Forget it, no matter who he is, I feel like we match really well. He’s the one.”

The matchmaker was stunned.

What’s this little girl saying?

So, you mean, regardless of whether this is your boyfriend or not, you want to choose him?

Is this really happening?

Aren’t you going to think about your boyfriend’s feelings?

The matchmaker couldn’t help but mutter a bunch of thoughts in her head, but she still walked forward honestly. “Are you sure it’s him? If he’s not the one you’re looking for, your true love will have to stay here with me.”

“If I choose wrong, can I take him with me?” Yan Ning raised her hand, still holding his hand, their fingers still interlocked.

As she made this motion, the man she was holding stumbled forward a step.

The matchmaker actually didn’t know exactly where Lu Fengfeng was standing. By the time she brought him from another room, they were already fully dressed, wearing veils, and had lined up in order.

But that didn’t stop her from sympathizing with the little girl’s boyfriend—he was worse off than even Wu Dalang.

Well, okay, maybe Wu Dalang had it worse.

Yan Ning was still waiting for her answer, and the matchmaker looked a bit awkward. “Sorry, if you choose wrong, you’ll have to give up on completing the ‘Jealousy’ quest, or continue on alone.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ve made my decision, I’ll choose him. Right or wrong, I still want him.” Yan Ning spoke with an unmistakable smile in her tone, and those who could see her expression couldn’t help but feel that something was off.

The matchmaker stepped forward. “Then I’ll lift his veil.”

Yan Ning raised her hand to stop her, smiling. “I’ll do it myself.”

With that, she swiftly lifted the red veil and tossed it over her shoulder.

The young man revealed underneath was tall and slender, wearing a red ceremonial outfit, and his aura exuded a beguiling and mischievous charm.

His brows were elegantly arched, his eyes long and clear, with tear moles at the corners of his eyes adding a lazy touch. His thin lips were slightly pursed, and his mood seemed less than happy.

Yan Ning held one of his hands with one hand, and the other rested on her chin as her gaze wandered up and down his form, as if savoring and evaluating him. Finally, she said, “No wonder I’m so great—just by looking at his hand, I picked such a handsome guy.”

The matchmaker stared, stunned. She hadn’t expected this little girl to actually pick the right person, and not just anyone, but someone this handsome.

Then, she thought to herself, this little girl was interesting, but seeing the awkward expression on the boy’s face, she felt the next part might be even more interesting.

But she decided not to interfere. She turned, waved her handkerchief, and called the remaining nine people to follow her out.

Once the room was left with just the two of them, Lu Fengfeng pulled Yan Ning close to him. His dark eyes, as deep as the endless night sky, stared at her intently. His voice was soft, but there was a dangerous edge in his eyes. “Tell me, what did you mean by that just now?”

“What do you mean?”

Lu Fengfeng pulled her even closer, his hand even moving to her waist, lowering his gaze to hide the fierce look in his eyes. “Which one of your boyfriends is ‘not shy enough’? Hm?”

“Not shy enough? Isn’t he standing right in front of me?” Yan Ning pushed him away, turning to run, but he caught her sleeve and pulled her back.

Lu Fengfeng grabbed both of her hands, taking two steps back until he hit a chair, then sat down.

Realizing he had to look up at her, his posture lost its intimidation. When he stood, he lost the initiative, making him seem deliberately stiff.

He stubbornly lifted his chin and tried hard to make a fierce expression, glaring at her.

Yan Ning found his reaction quite amusing. From this slightly downward angle, she could see his eyelashes fluttering, which made him even more endearing.

It also seemed like it was the first time she had seen him act all pouty.

The incident on the cruise didn’t count, that was just him being stubborn.

He had grabbed her hand, frowning, waiting for an explanation, and his little pout was both handsome and adorable.

She couldn’t help but free one of her hands, and he let go in response.

She had intended to touch his face, but when her hand turned, she ended up ruffling his hair instead, speaking in an older-sister tone, “Be good, don’t sulk.”

Lu Fengfeng stood up, shrugging her off, and yelled in frustration, “Yan Ning!”

Then, he turned his back, refusing to look at her, clearly angry.

But the side of his face that was turned towards her, with the corner of his eye and his ear faintly flushed, made it unclear whether he was angry or feeling something else.

Yan Ning shrugged her shoulders and waited a moment before inching closer, quietly reaching out to take his hand, only to have it pulled away.

She tried again, but he dodged it.

She tried once more, but this time, he didn’t pull away.

Yan Ning cautiously looked up at him. “Are you really angry?”

Lu Fengfeng lowered his head, not looking at her, though a smile was already playing at the corners of his mouth. He couldn’t look at her because once he did, he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

He shook his hand, softly saying, “Want to hear my answer?”

He raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I’ve wanted to take you away from the very beginning. Right or wrong. The boyfriend in front of me is not shy.”

Lu Fengfeng turned his eyes away, not wanting to look at her.

Yan Ning took two steps forward, standing in front of him.

He lowered his head, finally unable to resist. The corners of his lips curved up, his eyes narrowed with a smile, and he naturally pulled her into his arms. “How did you know it was me?”

After changing clothes and coming out, he had actually been a little nervous.

The four real people were easier to distinguish, but the other five were illusions created based on his external data, making it hard to tell the difference.

The first person Yan Ning grabbed was him, and by that moment, she was already sure it was him.

She had even teased him, just like when she teased him on the cruise about the tasteless snacks, making his heart race with every move she made.

Yan Ning propped herself up on his chest, pulling back slightly. Her playful grayish cat eyes glimmered mischievously. “Of course I knew. If I guessed right and you’re this angry, what would happen if I guessed wrong? Everything would be over, right?”

—

【Sese: Ambulance! Ambulance!!!】

【Tutu: Beep—beep—beep—The ambulance is here. May I ask where the patient is?】

【Sese: Is there a veterinarian available?】

【Tutu (unable to respond): ……】

【Sese: That area, that area, and that area, all filled with single dogs who accidentally ate too many lemons, food poisoning, need emergency treatment!】

The two commentators in the explanation area irresponsibly commented, while the audience in the comment section also threw in sharp remarks:

【Little Bun: Seriously… If there’s no script for this, I’ll take their head and kick it like a ball! If anyone knows where to find a girl like this, please let me know, I’m going to get one too!!!】

【Your Sweetheart Baby: In the past, when someone asked me whether my girlfriend or the game was more important, I’d slap them without thinking. Can a girlfriend even compare to a game? But now, where can I find a girlfriend like Ningning-chan? It’s not that I want to date, I just want to team up and play this ‘Jealousy’ dungeon. Serious inquiries only!!! Urgent!!!】

【Heroic Heart Chasing the Waves: +1 to the above, same urgency!!!】

—

【Old Bai: Where did Shengyi find such an unprofessional shill? If you’re playing a game, just play the game, what’s with the romance? Who’s really playing or acting here? If I had a girlfriend, would I be here for three days dealing with these sour lemons?】

The audience’s focus gradually shifted to the live streams of Number one and Number two, as well as the main viewpoint. Many had stopped seeing it as a regular live stream, secretly thinking this was a scripted performance arranged by Shengyi. However, it didn’t stop them from enjoying the sweet moments and sour lemons.

The more they indulged, the more sour it got, and the more they wanted to indulge.

If one had to sum it up in a single word, it would be addictive.

If the Jealousy dungeon was an entertainment dungeon, then the other two teams were undergoing real, intense trials.

The path chosen by Qin Li and Zhao Mingcheng, the Demonic Path, was the epitome of a monster-hunting dungeon.

No need to say much, they just turned into heartless monster-clearing machines.

Qin Li was originally a rookie, but fortunately, he made the wise choice to team up with Zhao Mingcheng. Although Zhao Mingcheng’s combat ability didn’t surpass Yan Ning’s, he was far more experienced than the completely inexperienced Qin Li.

Thus, their monster-hunting routine went like this: Qin Li would somehow stumble into a monster’s lair, dragging a whole bunch of monsters out, while Zhao Mingcheng followed behind, clearing them out with his weapon.

It was tough, but the difficulty was still within an acceptable range.

As for the Forbidden Love dungeon, it was originally designed as a sweet, girly dungeon for female players. The monsters inside were mostly gentle, with soft, cute, or pure appearances.

But the problem was that Yan Wan and Shu Yue had never played Angel Island Number four. Apart from casual games like match-3 puzzles, they had no experience with MMORPGs or browser games.

They ended up triggering a side story in the Forbidden Love dungeon due to some careless actions. Originally, it was a simple dungeon where you just fed small animals, brushed their fur, or let them sunbathe to complete it.

Now, it had turned into a monster-hunting dungeon, just like the Demonic Path, where you had to eliminate all the corrupted, rampaging monsters before you could finish.

The combination of two soft, cute girls looked appealing due to their appearance, one tall and mature, the other cute and sweet.

Many casual players had high hopes for them, thinking that with two cute and soft girls playing together, they would surely create some unique sparks.

But their performance in the game was really subpar. When they were all together in a team of six, it wasn’t noticeable.

However, once they were split into groups, their individual abilities became clear.

Last night, Yan Wan even snapped at Meng Qing, saying that everyone had been working hard in the game and that Yan Ning hadn’t really contributed more than anyone else.

What she didn’t know was that a massive online debate had erupted that night, with two factions leading the charge—one group of Yan Wan’s die-hard fans, and another of Angel Island Number four’s pure gamers, arguing back and forth.

One side insisted that Yan Ning was the true hero, while the other called her a pretty but useless ornament.

The debate had gone on until late into the night without a resolution, but now, with the groups split, the difference in their skills was becoming clear.

The Number one and Number two CP group not only had great looks but also passed the dungeon without any issues, even managing to feed their online fans a taste of “dog food” (showing off their in-game romance).

On the other hand, the Number four and Number five cute girl duo, though visually pleasing, were terrible at the game and even ended up sabotaging their teammates. The two of them didn’t work together to clear the dungeon but instead bickered and blamed each other, instantly lowering the audience’s opinion of them.

Even Yan Wan’s most loyal fans couldn’t help but cover their eyes when they saw her disastrous performance in the game.

Unintentionally, some viewers, glancing at the main viewpoint of the neighboring screen, felt a spark of interest. The couple’s dungeon over there seemed much more appealing?

Forbidden Love Dungeon.

Yan Ning and Lu Fengfeng passed two levels in a row, laughing and joking all the way to the third level.

When the real NPC introduced the name of the third level, his expression was emotionless. It was clear he was trying very hard to restrain himself from stumbling over his words because of embarrassment.

But Yan Ning couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

The NPC’s face suddenly turned bright red. He lowered his head and stepped back, disappearing for two minutes before returning with a neutral expression again.

To be honest, it wasn’t surprising that Yan Ning laughed, because the name of this level was quite ridiculous. No one knew who came up with it, but it was called “The Irreversible Betrayal that Awakens the Sleeping Princess.”

In simpler terms, it was a two-player version of hide-and-seek.

One person falls into a deep sleep and is hidden by the NPC, while the other person has to find and wake them up within a set time.

At first, Yan Ning didn’t know that the roles were already secretly assigned. She had actually wanted to be the one searching for the other.

She was confident that no matter where Lu Fengfeng was, she could find him.

However, after she and Lu Fengfeng were separated, she followed the NPC into a huge room with a crystal coffin.

The NPC handed her an apple, and she took a bite. Her vision blacked out, and she fainted.

Lu Fengfeng hadn’t expected the game to have such a twist. He secretly found it amusing, even feeling that it was childish.

According to Hei Jing’s information, the item he was looking for should be at the end of this dungeon.

He had mentally prepared for many different scenarios, but even the safest and most cautious one was a hundred times less dangerous than the current situation.

He never expected that something like that would be placed in such a place, and the conditions for clearing the level were equally bizarre.

But for the sake of obtaining that item, even in a game like this, he would stick with it to the end.

In the earlier stages, Lu Fengfeng, who was only known for his handsome appearance and tendency to attract attention from others, showed no other notable qualities. However, when facing various challenges alone, he demonstrated exceptional skills and ability.

He breezed through small levels that had a monster difficulty almost identical to that of the Hero’s Path, making many online viewers stunned.

As he passed several more levels and got closer to the sleeping princess in the crystal coffin, Lu Fengfeng encountered the legendary siren.

The voices of Sese and Tutu appeared at just the right moment. Their presence had become a high-energy alert, signaling that something interesting was about to happen.

Whenever they provided commentary, viewers knew something exciting was coming, and this time was no different.

【Sese: Whew—finally reached the Siren stage! This is the hardest mini-boss in the “Irreversible Betrayal that Awakens the Sleeping Princess” dungeon. Not much to say, I hope Fengfeng has the mental strength to handle it.】

【Tutu: Do you know the common point between Sprite, Master X’s pickled pepper instant noodles, X-strength seaweed, matcha cookies, mustard, and Green Arrow gum?】

【Sese: That’s right! When they come together, they form an endless green sea~~~】

Hei Jing, sitting in the main perspective area of Lu Fengfeng, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. He subtly felt sympathy for Lu Fengfeng. Things in the world weren’t as easy as they seemed, and now he had to deal with the siren.

The siren, sitting on a distant rock, had long hair that reached her waist. Her face was hard to see, but below her waist was a deep blue fish tail.

The siren in Angel Island Number four was based on the legendary mermaid, similar in appearance to a mermaid but not as enchanting or captivating as the true mermaids.

However, she was skilled in music, and with her singing alone, she could put people into an illusion.

With the ethereal and haunting melody of the siren, the third level of the Forbidden Love Dungeon, “Irreversible Betrayal that Awakens the Sleeping Princess,” began to slowly reveal its cruel nature.

“Fengfeng, what are you doing standing here?”

Lu Fengfeng looked up. The first thing he saw was a girl with bright, clear eyes and a smile that seemed to shine like stars in a clear spring. He was instantly entranced.

He lowered his head, a little embarrassed. “I don’t know how I ended up here. Why are you here, Ningning?”

Yan Ning slightly tilted her head back, her eyes full of expectation. “I came to ask you for an answer.”

“An answer?” He was confused.

Yan Ning furrowed her brows, then quickly resumed her usual smile, gently taking his hand. “Will you love me? That’s the answer I’m asking for.”

Seeing the look of expectation in her eyes, Lu Fengfeng’s hand, which was hanging by his side, slowly clenched into a fist.

But he didn’t speak, lowering his gaze to avoid meeting her eyes.

Yan Ning lowered her head, her voice full of disappointment. “Even if it’s just in a dream, you won’t even say a lie to me. I know your answer now. Thank you.”

Lu Fengfeng stared at her back, his arm trembling for a moment before he let it drop.

He thought to himself, next time, next time he would explain it to her.

—

“Fengfeng?” The hesitant voice, but a familiar one.

It had been a long, long time since he last saw her.

Lu Fengfeng turned around, but before the joy of seeing her could even burst from his eyes, he saw her linking arms with another man.

The man was someone he knew.