Gu Rong wore his blue and white school uniform, paired with a pure white T-shirt underneath. Because his figure was overly slender and thin, the school uniform looked particularly large on him.

Around his neck hung a very thin silver chain, with a retro, exquisitely crafted small black key dangling at the end. He hadn’t noticed while sleeping earlier; the key was exposed outside, making his skin look like porcelain. Gu Rong casually tucked the key inside his T-shirt, leaving only a section of the silver chain visible on his long neck.

“Rong Zai, honestly, have you really never been beaten up?” Zhou Yan asked.

Nearing the end of the school day, Gu Rong tossed exam papers into his backpack while shrugging, “I’ve been likable since childhood. No bragging, but even ghosts like me.”

Zhou Yan: “…”

Is being liked by ghosts something worth bragging about?

Spring was rainy. The sky outside was gloomy, and a light rain began to fall shishili.

With half a minute left before dismissal, Zhou Yan glanced at the rain-streaked glass, asking: “Rong Zai, is Uncle Wang picking you up today? Can I bum a ride?”

“Not picking up.” Gu Rong said, pulling a black folding umbrella from his backpack and giving it to Zhou Yan. “Take the umbrella home.”

Zhou Yan paused, then took the umbrella in pleasant surprise: “Rong Zai, you actually brought an umbrella?” He paused again, “Two guys sharing one umbrella, doesn’t that look even more gay?”

Gu Rong: “…”

The dismissal bell rang. Gu Rong slung his backpack over his shoulder, stood up, walked towards the back door, and waved without looking back: “Use it yourself. I’m leaving first.”

Zhou Yan watched Gu Rong’s figure disappear through the back door, then looked down at the black umbrella in his hand. “Wo cao!” he exclaimed, randomly stuffed a few papers into his bag, grabbed his backpack, and chased after him.

“Rong Zai! Wait for me! The museum study tour is tomorrow, are you going? Hey, wait for me!”

–

After school, the campus bustled with people. Countless colorful umbrellas, viewed from above, resembled moving flower petals.

006 said: [Host, do you want an umbrella, raincoat, protective suit, or just drive back directly?]

Gu Rong didn’t ask for anything. He simply lifted his backpack over his head and ran into the misty drizzle.

Gu Rong: [Won’t die from a little rain. Take the bus back.]

The black umbrella Gu Rong gave Zhou Yan wasn’t because Gu Rong knew it would rain today, and specifically brought one. Instead, he took it directly from his system backpack.

Back then, he had spent all his points, and the system store closed along with the game. He couldn’t use points to buy items anymore. But over the past fifteen years, even copying one item per day, his system backpack had now become like a small system store, containing all sorts of items. Although the game and store were closed, 006 was still here, the system backpack was still here, all the props in the backpack were still there, and they could all be used.

In this world without ghosts and monsters, besides growing up according to time, Gu Rong spent his leisure time using the Copy Card to replicate various things and store them in his system backpack. Having lived through the apocalypse, Gu Rong habitually started collecting supplies.

Gu Rong’s fair face was wet with rain, his soft hair covered in a layer of mist. Running out of the school gate, his figure quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Behind him, two boys stood watching Gu Rong’s direction fixedly. The slightly shorter boy held an umbrella for the taller boy, saying with a fawning, sycophantic expression: “Ran-ge, isn’t that the school grass? Looks like the school grass didn’t bring an umbrella. Ran-ge, want to go chase him?”

Qin Ran was tall with long legs, handsome with a wild, untamable air, his expression displeased: “Whether he brought an umbrella or not, what’s it got to do with me? Heh, rejected me so many times, still think I’d shamelessly chase after him?”

“Yes, yes, Ran-ge naturally wouldn’t.”

Qin Ran glared at him, snatched the umbrella from the other’s hand, and strode quickly towards Gu Rong’s direction, almost breaking into a run.

“…”

No, Ran-ge, where’s your integrity?

–

Gu Rong jogged to the bus stop. Car headlights pierced the rain screen, reflecting on the wet asphalt road. The bus hadn’t arrived yet.

Uncle Wang sent a WeChat message, asking if he wanted to be picked up by car. Gu Rong replied that he was already on the bus, telling him not to make the trip.

“Meow~” A soft cat’s cry came from under the bench.

Gu Rong paused, squatted down, leaned over to look, and saw a small black kitten huddled under the bench, its fur damp with moisture. Seeing Gu Rong look at it, it meowed softly at him again.

Gu Rong’s eyes focused on the small black cat, his expression slightly dazed.

Qin Ran also caught up at this moment. Seeing Gu Rong squatting by the bus stop, not knowing what he was doing, he stopped behind him, cleared his throat, and spoke awkwardly: “Gu Rong, about last time… just pretend I didn’t say it. Otherwise… how about we be friends first?”

“Ahem, I came mainly not to talk about this, just wanted to ask you, tomorrow’s museum study tour… Hey wo cao!!”

Before Qin Ran could finish speaking, he saw Gu Rong stand up from the ground, turn around, holding a small black kitten with both hands, and thrust it directly in front of him.

Qin Ran was terrified of cats. He instinctively retreated but felt he had lost face, embarrassment showing.

Gu Rong hugged the little kitten, not minding that the kitten dirtied or wet his school uniform, looked up at Qin Ran: “What did you just say?”

Qin Ran looked at the little cat. Afraid of such a tiny kitten? How improper! Now was not a good time to talk. Qin Ran didn’t want to lose face further. He carefully placed the umbrella he was holding onto the bench, then smiled at Gu Rong, turned, and ran away.

Gu Rong: “…”

006 said: [Host, why hasn’t this second-degree fool given up yet? We’re not gay, we don’t like men.]

Gu Rong said: [Not gay cannot like men?]

006: […??!]

Returning home, Gu Rong handed the little kitten to Uncle Wang. His hair and school uniform were damp; he urgently needed to go upstairs, take a shower, and change into clean clothes.

Uncle Wang took the little kitten. Seeing Gu Rong drenched from the rain, he said: “Aiyo, Young Master! I told you I’d pick you up! Look how wet you are.”

Gu Rong smiled: “I’m going to take a shower. Uncle Wang, please help me send the little cat to the rescue station.”

Gu Rong sponsored a stray cat rescue station. He liked picking up stray cats but didn’t have the habit of keeping them, so he sponsored a rescue station to help raise them.

Uncle Wang said: “Let me make some ginger soup for Young Master first, then I’ll go. The temperature dropped recently, be careful not to catch a cold.”

–

Eating dinner in the evening, Gu Rong informed Ye Lan and Gu Baiyu about the school-organized study tour tomorrow.

Gu Rong was now seventeen. Gu Baiyu and Ye Lan had entered middle age but still looked very young, well-maintained, with almost no wrinkles. Compared to fifteen years ago, both possessed a calmer, more composed aura. Especially Ye Lan, still looking beautiful, exuding elegance in every gesture.

Ye Lan asked, “Study tour? What study tour? When we were students, how come I never heard of such an activity?”

Gu Rong placed a piece of pork rib into Ye Lan’s bowl, saying: “Just a spring outing.”

Gu Baiyu said, “Spring outing? The Gaokao (college entrance exam) is less than two months away! Always organizing these useless things.”

Ye Lan smiled: “Can’t just study to death. Besides, with Little Rong’s grades, what’s there to worry about? Anyway, I’m not worried.”

Gu Rong nodded at his Mom.

Gu Baiyu didn’t dwell on the study tour; he wasn’t worried about Gu Rong’s grades either. Speaking of the Gaokao, he thought of something else, saying: “Little Rong’s eighteenth birthday is right after the Gaokao. I was thinking, should we invite Teacher over then for our son’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

Ye Lan ate her pork rib: “You mean Professor Ming? He enjoys quiet, dislikes crowds. We can ask him then.”

Gu Rong rolled his clear, dark eyes, his eyelashes fluttering gently.

He hadn’t seen Grandpa Ming for a very long time. And it wasn’t just Grandpa Ming he hadn’t seen for a long time. There was Zhuang Yu, Shen Hanxiao, Lin Xuezhou… everyone from the game.

…And Lu Li. This world was very good, just missing Lu Li.

–

Time quickly arrived on the next day. The entire third year of high school was divided into ten classes, each with 50 students. Including teachers, there were over five hundred people. Each class rode one large bus.

The sky was still gloomy, though it wasn’t raining anymore. But spring was a time of fluctuating temperatures; the temperature had dropped considerably.

Gu Rong sat by the window seat, earphones in his ears, gazing out the window at a pomelo tree. It wasn’t the season for pomelos to fruit yet. The leaves were tender, fresh, and green, filled with the vitality of spring.

Zhou Yan hugged his backpack, which was full of snacks and drinks, sat down next to Gu Rong, and threw a bag of potato chips to Tang Xiaoyue in the front seat: “You’re welcome.”

Tang Xiaoyue pursed her lips, as if she would be polite anyway. She tore open the chips, sharing with her own deskmate.

Zhou Yan saw Gu Rong listening to music, shamelessly pulled off one earbud, and stuck it in his own ear: “What are you listening to, Rong Zai? Wo cao, English listening comprehension? So scary! King of hard work! Won’t even let slackers like me live!” Zhou Yan quickly stuffed the earbud back for Gu Rong.

Gu Rong looked away from the window and pulled off his earphones. He naturally wouldn’t tell Zhou Yan he was just spacing out and hadn’t even noticed the music changed to English.

Zhou Yan zipped open his backpack: “Rong Zai, want anything to eat, just ask me! All your favorites! Good bro, right?”

Gu Rong picked a fruit candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

Just then, Zhou Yan saw Qin Ran outside the window. The other boy stood not far away, eyes fixed on Gu Rong, unknown how long he had been watching. Zhou Yan rolled his eyes in annoyance and directly stood up, pulling the window curtain shut.

Gu Rong looked at him. Zhou Yan, lacking justification but full of confidence: “I’m cold.”

Gu Rong: “?”

Can pulling the curtain keep you warm?

–

Half an hour later, the bus arrived at the museum. Teachers and students got off the bus, lined up by class, and walked into the museum. The museum had two floors, the architecture simple yet grand, possessing ancient charm.

The sky was dim, now seemingly shrouded in a thick layer of smog/haze, creating an inexplicable sense of oppression.

The scene before his eyes became illusory. Noises were everywhere, but everyone seemed suddenly pulled far away, and the sounds were also distant. Everything became unreal.

For some unknown reason, Gu Rong’s heart suddenly thumped hard. He raised his hand to cover his chest, feeling the key he always wore around his neck beneath his hand.

Could it be…

Having hoped countless times and been disappointed countless times. Gu Rong suppressed the improper fantasy, had his ticket checked, and stepped into the museum.

The first exhibition hall displayed porcelain from various dynasties, arranged in numerous glass display cases, with descriptions written for each piece.

Gu Rong walked together with Zhou Yan and Tang Xiaoyue, Tang Xiaoyue also linking arms with another girl. Just exiting the first exhibition hall, the group walked down a long corridor.

Not far away, Qin Ran glanced at Gu Rong, seeming to want to strike up a conversation, but the class teacher was nearby. He could only give up, turning around and rejoining his own class in line.

Gu Rong saw Qin Ran but paid no mind.

Zhou Yan also noticed. Looking at Qin Ran’s handsome and tall appearance, he couldn’t help but make a sarcastic comment: “My conclusion: Boys being tall and handsome is useless. The key is still having a good figure, a real substance. Rong Zai, not gonna lie, on summer vacation, I ran and exercised a lot. Already got an eight-pack abs.”

Gu Rong: “Your eight-pack abs made you tall?”

Zhou Yan: “…”

Tang Xiaoyue and the other girl burst out laughing, both giving Gu Rong a big thumbs-up. Tang Xiaoyue: “Thanks for adding laugh material.”

Zhou Yan: “………”

Grass! Why did he have to humiliate himself!

Gu Rong walked ahead. Noticing Zhou Yan hadn’t spoken for a long time, he was surprised. Could he have hurt his glass heart? Unlikely, unlikely.

Gu Rong looked back – and stopped short. Zhou Yan, Tang Xiaoyue, and the other girl were gone. Not just them, the other students were also gone. The corridor behind him had become dark and long, stretching endlessly. Dead silence.

Gu Rong slowly turned back around. The corridor ahead was the same as behind, stretching infinitely long, the end shrouded in thick black mist that couldn’t be dispersed.

Gu Rong’s eyes widened slightly, his heart pounding rapidly like a drum. Simultaneously, a “Ding!” sound echoed in his mind, the long-lost mechanical electronic voice—

[Welcome to the Museum of Oddities.]