Player 2’s forehead was slick with cold sweat, his bloodshot eyes filled with savagery. He was forcefully clamping the door lock with pliers, trying to eradicate its mechanism.

Sunday was the last day; if he couldn’t kill the dungeon core by today, the system would kill him!

The core hadn’t left for the past two days, so his plan couldn’t be executed, leaving him no choice but to come to its doorstep.

He truly despised the real world; even killing someone was so restrictive here.

This place had truly made him suffer.

In the past, he had merely left behind an unfinished building complex here; he hadn’t taken their lives.

Yet, those impoverished owners acted as if it were the end of the world, several even jumping to their deaths, causing such a big commotion that he couldn’t stay any longer.

At that time, his company’s cash flow broke; what could he do?

He could only try to transfer assets and then file for bankruptcy to protect himself.

Who told those poor people not to strive, not to be able to afford more expensive, more secure homes, not to bear risk, and to blame him for their weakness?

Upon returning this time, he discovered that the previously unfinished complex was operating normally, and the core lived here!

No matter the cost, he had to kill him!

His [Solid Compression] ability could only be used once a day, so it had to be used on the core.

He could only pry the lock in the most primitive way.

Damn it, why was this lock so hard to open!

Suddenly, his movements paused, and his eyes widened sharply.

With a “plop,” Player 2’s body and bracelet suddenly turned into a puddle of minced meat.

It was more unbearable than a human corpse falling from the 30th floor.

But the next second, that puddle of minced meat seemed to be controlled by something, reforming into a human shape.

With a “click,” the door opened.

A tall, handsome man appeared before Player 2. He casually looked down at the bracelet on Player 2’s wrist, smiling strangely arrogantly.

Player 2’s mind went blank.

The instinct accumulated from participating in 10 dungeons made his scalp tingle; a fear more terrifying than the recent decomposition of his body instantly engulfed him.

He instinctively tried to scream, but before he could open his mouth, he watched helplessly as his body began to decompose and shatter again, and the bracelet let out a sharp wail.

The man raised an eyebrow in displeasure: “How could the toy he gave me break so easily?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the puddle of minced meat, barely held in human form by nerves, stopped moving.

Player 2 was still consciously aware and felt like he was going crazy…

He wanted to die even more now! But the devil-like man opposite him still wouldn’t let him go.

The man stroked his chin, a bit troubled, and said, “Such an inferior toy can’t really offer any gameplay—”

Suddenly, a hoarse but pleasant voice came from the room: “Who’s making so much noise early in the morning? Others are still trying to sleep…”

The man: “!”

He couldn’t let the little fellow discover he’d broken the toy he’d given him!

With a slight gesture of his finger, he subtly retracted his power, and Player 2, the minced meat, immediately turned back into a living Player 2 and stopped decomposing.

However, he immediately let out a piercing scream and frantically ran towards the emergency exit, climbing upwards like a madman.

After reaching the top floor, he “thudded” and leaped down.

Soon, screams from the community residents and alarm calls could be heard from below.

The man frowned in displeasure: Tsk, that toy was truly inferior and rude. He no longer had the patience to fix it.

The little fellow’s intentions had been received; he had completely forgiven him.

So he elegantly closed the door and returned to the living room.

…

That scream completely woke Tao Xiu.

Plus, it seemed noisy outside the window now, and he could hear what sounded like police cars.

The young man, who still wanted to sleep a bit longer, finally opened his eyes and resignedly exited, walking outside.

As he entered the living room, Tao Xiu froze completely.

A tall, handsome stranger in a suit stood behind the sofa, elegantly holding a cane in one hand. The man looked at him with a strange smile, like a true gentleman.

The man’s voice was magnetic, carrying a bizarre, uncanny valley feeling. He said, “You must be very happy to see me, right?”

The object of his adoration and faith had finally appeared. He truly hoped the little fellow wouldn’t faint from excitement.

Tao Xiu looked at the man’s face, his mind blank momentarily.

The living room was filled with a strange, cold, rich scent.

The noise outside seemed to vanish instantly, and even the dazzling morning light became blurred.

Only the man opposite him seemed clear and real. He felt an almost instinctive urge to ask: ‘Excuse me, have I met you somewhere before?’

The man just smiled at him, not speaking.

The young man unconsciously covered his soft, flat abdomen in his dazed, blurred thoughts. He felt that the cold, intrigued scarlet eyes should have been gentler.

Just before the question almost escaped his lips, Tao Xiu snapped back to reality, his mind instantly clearing.

He shook off the chaotic thoughts, and after a moment of contemplation, his moss-green eyes suddenly lit up.

He pointed at the door: “That?”

Had that broken door fixed itself again?

Had the person inside finally gathered the courage to see him?

The man nodded elegantly and proudly.

Tao Xiu quickly stepped forward and extended his hand to the other party: “It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello, my name is Tao Xiu. I run a botanical garden in A City. I apologize if my door disturbed you, and for feeding your dog without your permission.”

The man looked at the hand extended towards him with curiosity and surprise: in the past, no one had dared to make this gesture towards him.

No being dared to touch him, and no being was worthy of touching him. But he could give this little fellow, who had just offered him a toy, some reward.

So he gladly grasped the slender, soft hand. Warm, gentle, and a very pleasant feeling.

The man’s lips curved into an even more satisfying smile.

Then came an awkward silence.

Tao Xiu couldn’t help but twitch his eyebrow, then tentatively asked, “So, your name is?”

They should be in the middle of introductions now, right?

After he spoke, shouldn’t the other party respond?

The man was rarely in such a pleasant mood, so he gave the other party another reward.

So he said, “Huo Si.”

Tao Xiu: “…Oh.”

The introduction was over.

Tao Xiu naturally tried to pull his hand back, but couldn’t.

Mr. Huo Si still held his hand, watching him with a strange smile.

Tao Xiu: “…”

As a well-adjusted adult, he hadn’t encountered such an awkward situation in a long time!

This fellow of his seemed a bit… odd.

He struggled to maintain a polite smile, trying to defuse the awkwardness: “I’m going to wash up and make breakfast. You haven’t eaten this early either, have you? If you don’t mind, you can stay and eat with me.”

Only then did Huo Si release his hand, but he looked at the young man with a strange, almost doting expression.

Tao Xiu: “…?”

He kept feeling that the other person’s gaze was strange, making him even more embarrassed.

So he simply smiled, “Please make yourself comfortable, Mr. Huo Si. I’ll be right back.”

Then, without looking back, he quickly rushed into the bathroom to wash up.

In front of the sink, Tao Xiu looked at himself in the mirror and exhaled in relief—being friends with this fellow seemed incredibly challenging!

He genuinely wondered how such a peculiar personality survived in this society!

It took Tao Xiu a full fifteen minutes after washing up for him to adjust his mood. He put on an enthusiastic smile again and stepped out of the bathroom, only to see the man already seated at the dining table with his back to him.

Tao Xiu walked over, saying, “Just a moment, breakfast will be ready soon—”

As he reached the dining table, his words stopped abruptly.

Tao Xiu halted, his eyes wide, his mouth agape in an “O” shape: In front of the man elegantly seated at the dining table, cutlery and a plate piled high with a neat little mountain of dog food were already laid out.

The seat opposite the man also had a plate and cutlery, similarly filled with dog food.

Tao Xiu’s mind went blank: “……?”

This was the new bag of dog food he had bought… right?

Was this something that could be placed on a dining table?

Huo Si elegantly propped his chin on his hand, looking at the young man with a charming smile.

Although it was unappetizing, the little fellow must have collected this painstakingly.

If he let him eat breakfast, he surely wouldn’t eat any himself, offering it all to him.

Such a devout little fellow, how could he let him go hungry?

So he said, “Sit. I permit you to enjoy these offerings with me.”

Tao Xiu tried to form words for a long time but couldn’t utter a single one: was this the other party’s dietary preference?

Please forgive him, he really couldn’t use the word “habit”!

But it also wouldn’t be good to comment on a newly acquainted person’s diet.

Tao Xiu looked at the other party with sympathy, then pushed the plate of dog food by his side towards him, managing a polite smile: “If you really like them, you can eat all of these. I can eat something else!”

With that, he leaned over and patted the other’s shoulder: “Uh, I understand, it’s normal for everyone to have different tastes. Just eat, don’t feel any pressure!” I would absolutely not discriminate against you!

Then he strode into the kitchen and began making his own breakfast combo of milk and finger sandwiches.

Huo Si still propped his chin on one hand outside the kitchen, gazing obsessively at the busy young man behind the glass door.

With his other hand, he picked up a spoon and elegantly put a spoonful of dog food into his mouth: What a good little fellow, preferring to labor for his own food and dedicate all the best to him.

How devout; no wonder he was so persistent in awakening him.

To this extent, he didn’t mind staying with him for a longer period to fulfill his pious wish.

…

Although watching the person opposite him eat dog food made it hard for him to swallow his own meal, Tao Xiu still earnestly finished his breakfast.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, after finishing two full plates of dog food, the other party still showed no intention of leaving.

So Tao Xiu could only awkwardly pull the other to watch TV, play games, and engage in intermittent, uncomfortable small talk.

He had never felt time drag so much!

Time finally reached around 11 PM. Tao Xiu sat on the sofa, turning to look at the strange man.

The man stood nonchalantly in front of the washing machine, seemingly curiously pressing various buttons, studying something. His profile was sharply defined and extremely handsome, and his eyes were like deep red gemstones.

It was actually a very captivating face. But combined with the other party’s current actions, it appeared incongruous and comical.

Tao Xiu twitched his lips: “Huo Si? It’s already eleven. You should go home.”

Everyone had work tomorrow!

As he spoke, he carried the remaining dog food to the utility room door and said, “These are for you too.”

Huo Si could eat them himself, or feed them to his dog; they were much more useful in his hands than in his own.

A dark blue tentacle snaked with lightning speed from inside the washing machine into the man’s sleeve.

Huo Si, who had thoroughly researched the machine’s interior, turned sideways and looked at Tao Xiu with immense affection: “You don’t have to be so well-behaved and considerate to accommodate me.”

Tao Xiu: Although his wording was strange, was he talking about Tao Xiu hosting him?

So Tao Xiu’s eyebrow twitched, and he smiled: “That’s what I should do.”

Hosting guests was indeed what he should do, and besides, his door caused trouble for the other party!

Huo Si’s gaze on the young man grew increasingly obsessed. He clearly wanted to be with him so much, yet he was sending him home because he was worried about his body, which could fall into slumber at any time.

When he met him, this little fellow had awakened him, offered him tributes, and hadn’t made a single wish.

Was he satisfied with just this brief interaction?

How devout and lovable. Of course, he had to grant him more.

Huo Si’s face bloomed into a strangely excited smile. He tilted his head and began to lie, his voice beautiful and distorted: “That door broke after I arrived here. My current power can’t be restored temporarily.”

Tao Xiu: “???”

It fixed and then broke again?

He opened the door, then his eyes widened: “Awooo!” A wild wolf was howling.

Outside the door was a wilderness!

Tao Xiu closed the door with a “bang,” then opened it again.

This time it was a coastline.

He was utterly perplexed: how did this broken door manage to break in yet another way?!

He opened it for a third time, not believing his luck, and then he froze completely:

An eerie cacophony of human voices rushed out.

Inside the door was a blindingly white hall, seemingly endless, where people with missing limbs constantly gathered in front of a giant electronic screen, talking while looking at the screen.

Hearing the sound of Tao Xiu opening the door, countless people were startled, and many faces, tense with fear and malice, simultaneously turned to look at him…

Tao Xiu: “Uh… Excuse me!”

Had he accidentally wandered into some Halloween gathering?

Just as he was about to close the door, a fierce-looking man was already striding towards him.

With a “snap,” Huo Si, who had appeared behind Tao Xiu at some point, neatly closed the door with his hand resting on the young man’s.

Tao Xiu paused, turning to look back, but he just missed the dangerously cold expression on the man’s face.

At this moment, he merely smiled at the young man: “I told you, the door is broken.”

Tao Xiu: “…Oh.” He sighed and said, “Then you can temporarily sleep on my sofa tonight.”

If the door were broken, he would have to use other means of transportation to return.

He couldn’t just kick someone out in the middle of the night!

He patted Huo Si’s shoulder and walked past him towards the bathroom: “I’m going to take a shower first; you can use the bathroom after me.”

The man’s scarlet eyes suddenly deepened.

…

Player Hall.

Blood-red lights flickered in the pallid space.

The hall was in chaos, filled with terrified screams.

Every face was etched with madness and despair.

The AI’s ethereal voice resonated in every player’s mind:

100000000000….% fizz… danger… fizz… detecting.

System… malfunction…

With a “bang,” the huge screen and the player who had just been walking towards Tao Xiu exploded into a mist of blood.