Chapter 39: Cards on the Table

Xiao Muyu wasn’t surprised. She didn’t immediately respond with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Instead, she lifted her head and gazed steadily at Shen Qingqiu.

Unlike Shen Qingqiu’s gray eyes, Xiao Muyu’s were as dark as black jade, a pure and flawless black that gave her gaze a natural depth. When she quietly looked at someone, it was hard not to be captivated by her eyes.

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t immune to it either. She too openly met Xiao Muyu’s gaze. Both had eyes that seemed to speak. In this brief exchange of glances, they silently communicated with each other.

A moment later, Xiao Muyu shifted her gaze away. She sipped her tea, and when she spoke again, she was blunt.

“Teaming up with someone like you is the smart choice. I shouldn’t refuse. But you’re clever enough to understand that I have no desire to team up with you right now. Honestly, I think I should stay away from you.”

Xiao Muyu’s bluntness surprised Shen Qingqiu but only for a moment. It seemed fitting, after all. Talk between intelligent people did not need too many twists and turns. She chuckled softly.

“Although I feel a bit less clever right now, I understand. So, we should have a chat.”

“What could we possibly talk about that would change my existing impression of you?” Xiao Muyu leaned back, her face carrying slightly cold indifference that signaled to stay away.

Despite that, Shen Qingqiu was inappropriately thinking even with a cold expression, Xiao Muyu had a certain allure.

“Actually, I shamelessly believe that your impression of me isn’t all that bad,” Shen Qingqiu said with a smile.

Xiao Muyu lowered her eyes and gave a slight smile. But this time, the smile had a hint of mockery rather than warmth.

With a mocking smile on her face, Xiao Muyu looked at Shen Qingqiu.

“You’re right.”

When Shen Qingqiu’s smile brightened, Xiao Muyu added lightly, “You are shameless.”

Shen Qingqiu: ……

Seeing the frozen smile on Shen Qingqiu’s lips, Xiao Muyu’s mouth curved upward in a genuine smile.

Xiao Muyu’s beauty wasn’t as bold as Shen Qingqiu’s. It was softer with refined features, like a spring breeze. Usually hidden beneath an icy exterior, once that frost melted, the poetic grace of her beauty could captivate anyone. Shen Qingqiu was no exception.

Even though Xiao Muyu just mercilessly mocked her, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but smile when she saw the smile appear on Xiao Muyu’s face.

However, Xiao Muyu’s smile was faint and left no trace once it faded.

Shen Qingqiu observed her briefly before speaking openly, “I know you’re suspicious, but you’re being overly cautious. I admit my actions must seem strange to you. They’re strange even to me.”

Xiao Muyu looked at her with a mix of doubt and curiosity.

Shen Qingqiu spread her hands, her expression carrying a hint of resignation.

“To be honest, our initial encounter was purely accidental. There’s something you might not know. This game has ten different instances, and to clear the game, you need to complete level SSS. However, it doesn’t mean you’re limited to just ten instances. Players can manipulate the timeline, choose to revisit instances, or even skip ones of the same level.”

Xiao Muyu was stunned but quickly realized what Shen Qingqiu was implying. This information answered some of her doubts.

If players were required to follow a strict sequence, she couldn’t have encountered Shen Qingqiu in the newbie instance. And, Su Jin wouldn’t have had Instance No. 002 as her first.

“This rule is disclosed to players after they pass a level B instance or someone might tell you about it beforehand,” Shen Qingqiu continued. “But to prevent players from lingering in low-level instances to survive, there’s a limit to how many times we can revisit level B instances. I’m unsure of the exact number but there’s an exception—drawing an Instance Reset Card. The Instance Reset Card allows you to reset an instance once and improve your score, unrestricted by rest periods.”

There was a fixed rest period between each instance. Even if the system didn’t limit the number of retries, players still needed enough time to do them since the next instance had a predetermined start time. If instances started overlapping, there would be unknown consequences. So, compared to countless retries, the Instance Reset Card was far more useful.

This was crucial information. For a player who didn’t have a high enough score, or had insufficient skills and experience, rushing into the next instance would be unwise.

Xiao Muyu understood the implication behind Shen Qingqiu’s words. “So, you drew an Instance Reset Card?” Since the system only informed players this once they cleared level A, newbies who hadn’t cleared level B wouldn’t even have the option to reset instances.

Shen Qingqiu nodded and flashed a playful smile. “This item doesn’t help with clearing the game, so at the time, I didn’t feel the need to disclose it.”

“I was replaying the instance at the time. Since I had figured out most of the rules and tricks, I got bored. So, I thought I’d see if there were any interesting newbies in your batch. When I stepped in to save you, I was not being kind. I just found your performance as a newbie intriguing and wanted to have a little fun teasing you.” Shen Qingqiu said this with a straight face. She didn’t think her actions back then were mean at all.

Xiao Muyu resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her. Shen Qingqiu probably knew herself well enough, as she blinked and said, “I know I’m not a good person. I was a bit nasty back then but I think I’m reliable.”

Seeing Xiao Muyu’s expression, Shen Qingqiu said innocently, “Didn’t I do well afterward?”

Xiao Muyu had a complicated look on her face. “You were too reliable.” Could a person be willing to give so much for someone else in such a short time? Even to the point of risking their life?

Xiao Muyu might be overthinking things, but someone like Shen Qingqiu would never do that without purpose.

“You’re thinking that a person like me would never go out of my way to protect someone in such a short time unless I had an ulterior motive. Right?” Shen Qingqiu’s eyes seemed to see right through Xiao Muyu’s thoughts. She got up slightly, leaning closer with a serious expression.

Xiao Muyu didn’t respond, but her silence was as good as an admission.

Shen Qingqiu took a deep breath and sat back down. Her expression showed a hint of frustration. “To be honest, I find it strange too. Before, I wouldn’t have believed I’d save someone in this game, much less almost risking my life doing it. But the fact is, I saved you in that first instance because you were interesting. Among all those people, you stood out too much. In that crowd of boring individuals, you were the one who always managed to catch my eye.”

She continued, “The second time I ran into you, I… I don’t know if you can understand. By sheer coincidence, the person who just caught my eye appeared in front of me again. That kind of feeling… Well, even I couldn’t help but be moved by it.”

When she talked about saving Xiao Muyu, her expression showed similar confusion. “Speaking of saving you, for me, saving someone is as easy as killing another. But that time at Door 7, you weren’t the only one puzzled—I was too. When that dagger came towards you, I didn’t have time to think about anything. I just didn’t want you to die. I didn’t even consider my situation. Afterward, I couldn’t understand it myself.”

She continued, “You don’t need to suspect that I had some ulterior motive for doing it. No matter how conniving I am, I wouldn’t gamble my life. Besides, with my intelligence and what I know about you, acting like that would be counterproductive. And look, you don’t trust me now. I guess we did meet too late. Back then, your unconditional trust in me was just as unexplainable, wasn’t it?”

Xiao Muyu had to admit that Shen Qingqiu was clever. Every word she said left no room for rebuttal, especially the last remark. Yes, she couldn’t understand her trust in Shen Qingqiu. Similarly, she couldn’t comprehend the intense anxiety she felt when she saw Shen Qingqiu nearly dying.

Her mother had said she was a cold-blooded animal, and it wasn’t a slander. Xiao Muyu hadn’t felt a thing even when she died. The tragic deaths of her teammates in the instance hadn’t stirred any feelings in her. So it made no sense that Shen Qingqiu could provoke her emotions.

She stared blankly at Shen Qingqiu, not continuing the conversation.

Shen Qingqiu noticed that Xiao Muyu was starting to soften. Striking while the iron was hot, she said, “Those who arrive in this world all want to survive. Otherwise, they would’ve refused to come here. I’m no exception. We’re bound to team up eventually anyway. From both a survival perspective and for fun, I choose you. You don’t think we’re a perfect match?”

“Don’t you think we make a perfect match?”

Xiao Muyu watched as Shen Qingqiu leaned closer to her. A sentence flashed in her mind. It sounded familiar but she couldn’t recall it after regaining her composure.

Xiao Muyu looked at Shen Qingqiu. The latter simply looked back at her without saying anything, seemingly waiting for her answer.

After a moment, she extended her hand. “Pleasure to work with you.”

Shen Qingqiu’s face broke into a bright smile. “Pleasure to work with you!”

“How much do you know about this world? Can I ask how you got here?” Once she got over her initial hesitance, Xiao Muyu wasted no time. She quickly adapted to her teammate role to ask Shen Qingqiu questions. Xiao Muyu felt that Shen Qingqiu must know much more than she did.

Shen Qingqiu’s expression cooled slightly. Finally, she muttered, “I ran into a lunatic while driving. The other car had a bomb. It was a terrorist suicide bomber. I couldn’t escape.”

Xiao Muyu frowned. So, it was a car accident that led her into this world?

When she voiced her concern, Shen Qingqiu also frowned. “I know that the opportunity to enter this game is automobile-related but it can’t be said to be purely an accident. How exactly are people chosen? I suppose only the ruler of this world knows.”

“What about those in Skynet World who don’t need to participate in the game? Are they native residents?” Xiao Muyu was very curious about this.

“Can’t say for sure. I tend to think of them as NPCs. In their memories, they believe they live in Skynet World. And they don’t shun us outsiders who appear and disappear sporadically. In fact…” She thought of Zhou Yuan and smiled meaningfully.

“Take that receptionist guy Zhou Yuan from the hotel, for example. Don’t be fooled by him working the front desk. He’s had more players in his bed than he can count.”

Xiao Muyu recalled how, when she arrived, Shen Qingqiu had been like a man-eating monster, scaring that receptionist guy. So that was why.

“Even at a time like this, you’re still so carefree.” Xiao Muyu frowned slightly, looking disdainful.

“It’s human nature. Living with death and fear every day, most people evolve into two extremes. One is numbed and callous while the other is intoxicated, seizing every moment to indulge freely. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy life to its fullest before death?”

This was also why Zhou Yuan could use his looks to hook up with so many people in Skynet World, and why he dared set his sights on Shen Qingqiu.

After all, it was just the usual adult affairs. Who knows when one might die? It was not a bad idea to enjoy life while you could. As long as there were no strings attached, many players were receptive.

Xiao Muyu watched her speaking so casually and couldn’t help but ask, “What about you? Which type are you?”

Shen Qingqiu blinked and flashed a charming smile. “What do you think?”

Xiao Muyu felt a bit irrational for asking such random questions. What did it matter to her which type Shen Qingqiu was?

“Okay, since we’ve decided to team up, let’s prepare.” Xiao Muyu stood up, ready to leave.

Shen Qingqiu followed leisurely. Once they were outside, she said in a casual tone, “Everyone has physical needs. Skynet World is very prosperous, with plenty of places to satisfy those needs. However, I’m quite picky. I don’t like those stinky men. As for women, some do fancy me but I’m not interested. So, I suppose I’m an outlier.”

She looked at Xiao Muyu, her gaze carrying a hint of mischief. It was that teasing look again. Xiao Muyu didn’t dislike this side of Shen Qingqiu. But it did make her want to punch her sometimes. She returned Shen Qingqiu’s gaze with the same expression and calmly replied, “I’m not too picky myself but I can’t handle someone like you.”

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Author had something to say:

Author: So the slaps weren’t painful enough?
Xiao Xiao: They were. No need to push me. Let’s get married right away!
……
This is the first heart-to-heart between these two and also a simple description of their worldview. You can see it as their relationship warming up. (But neither of them admits it.)