Chapter 21: Well Done

In the painting, the figure disappeared, and Xiang Zhuo rolled out from behind the screen. His forehead was covered in cold sweat, his heart still racing with fear. “What was that just now?” he asked.

“You don’t know?” Mo Qi inquired.

“Should I?” Xiang Zhuo wiped his forehead with his remaining hand. When the figure appeared in the painting just now, it felt as if something had gripped his heart from afar. It was as if any larger breath might instantly crush his heart.

However, no one intended to harm him. He was simply intimidated by the pressure emanating from the figure in the painting. The mere force of it could have taken his life.

What kind of monster is hidden in this SSR-level mission?

“You don’t know, so let it go. I’m not sure either,” Mo Qi said as she approached Min Shihua and searched through her belongings, finding a bunch of electric scooter keys.

Xiang Zhuo noticed the wish box in Min Shihua’s hand and couldn’t resist reaching out towards it.

“Don’t touch it for now. It can’t be touched until it has absorbed enough desires,” Mo Qi slapped Xiang Zhuo’s hand away.

“I saw you touch this box through the paper just now. Your expression wasn’t right. Did you see something?” Xiang Zhuo asked.

Mo Qi replied, “It was only when I touched the wish box that I understood what this mission is about.”

Just as he was about to explain, Min Shihua’s wish box disappeared from her hand. Mo Qi hurriedly said, “No time to explain now, let’s talk as we walk.”

The two dashed out of the exhibition hall. Mo Qi hopped onto Min Shihua’s electric scooter, and Xiang Zhuo followed suit, holding onto Mo Qi with his remaining hand. Seeing Mo Qi firmly heading in a direction, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”

Facing the wind, he heard Mo Qi’s faint voice.

“When I touched the box, a simple little wish was magnified to the extreme, becoming something that I would risk my life to fulfill. If it weren’t for my special ability to control it in time, Min Shihua wouldn’t have made the wish just now—it would have been me.”

“That’s when I realized, this mission never intended for players to get their hands on it from the start. Until it gathers enough desires, no one can stop it from harvesting lives to fulfill wishes.”

Mo Qi had been thinking since she wrestled free from the wish box, wondering if any player could actually grab the wish box before all four wishes were fulfilled. The likelihood seemed incredibly slim.

“Compared to the students on campus, players have a clearer purpose, which is their wishes, making them more susceptible to manipulation by the wish box.”

If initially, it was a player who obtained the wish box instead of a student, the outcome would likely involve the wish box enticing them to make wishes that ultimately lead to harvesting lives.

Coupled with the reminder from the figure in the painting, “Let her make a wish,” Mo Qi became even more certain that this mission was designed to gather all four wishes from the beginning, making it impossible to prevent once set in motion.

“Only when all four wishes are gathered does the mission truly begin.” Mo Qi made a sharp turn, the electric scooter almost skimming the ground, narrowly avoiding a mosquito the size of a fist.

After the third wish was fulfilled, the world had already transformed drastically, revealing its sinister face.

Outside the exhibition hall, trees towered into the sky, blocking out the sunlight, their branches slapping against the ground. Weeds pushed through the cracked tiles, covering the ground in tangled masses. Insects had grown unbelievably large; mosquitoes now had mouthparts visible like syringes, sucking blood with impunity.

Xiang Zhuo’s neck began to itch intensely from the swelling on it. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “The school has already changed like this after just three wishes. If all four wishes are granted, won’t we be at the mercy of this school?”

Mo Qi, expressionless, dodged a branch that lashed out at her, skillfully maneuvering the small electric scooter around the campus, a skill she had honed during her previous job delivering goods.

“At least we can still evade,” Mo Qi said. “And look, the birds in the trees and the pedestrians on the roadside don’t seem hostile towards us yet. It means this isn’t the worst outcome we could face.”

“Now it’s lower-intelligence creatures that are hindering us. After the fourth wish, those people outside should also have mutated. We can still evade now, but once all four wishes are gathered, we’re done for,” Xiang Zhuo said, cutting through a vine that had wrapped around him with a knife.

“If you’re thinking this way, other players are probably thinking the same, and the game likely thinks so too,” Mo Qi said calmly.

“Are you saying that the world’s transformation is deliberately orchestrated by the game? The constant environmental changes are meant to make players think they must snatch the box before all four wishes are gathered, thereby enticing them to make wishes? We think we’re striving to complete the mission, but in reality, we’re falling into the game’s trap?”

“Exactly,” Mo Qi replied. “No matter how this world changes, the ultimate mission remains the same—to gather all four wishes. So, before all wishes are gathered, the world will inevitably become more and more terrifying. But after all wishes are gathered, it may not be as dire.”

“I understand what you mean. You’re saying that before all wishes are gathered, the world will continue to mutate to mislead us and to expedite the gathering of wishes. After all wishes are gathered, our actions might not be as restricted. But it’s also possible that things could get worse,” Xiang Zhuo said.

“That’s a possibility too. That’s why we must find the person who will make the fourth wish,” Mo Qi replied.

Xiang Zhuo: “So where are you heading now?”

Mo Qi responded decisively, “I’m going to the painting studio at the School of Fine Arts.”

The School of Fine Arts had its own painting studios and student lockers. Items like paints and brushes were not allowed to be taken back to the dormitories to prevent students from getting creative and making a mess of their rooms.

Min Shihua came to the exhibition hall carrying a large handbag, inside of which were the wish box and a complete set of painting tools. This indicates that before coming here, she must have either visited the painting studio or had gone there earlier to gather all these painting tools and supplies.

Mo Qi tried to think from Wen Miao’s perspective and concluded that the most likely place Wen Miao would have handed the box to Min Shihua would be the painting studio. During daytime on weekends, dormitories were crowded and busy, making it risky for anyone to take out such an important and mysterious wish box.

On the other hand, the painting studio on weekends tended to be less crowded. Once the door was locked, it provided a perfect environment for covert activities.

“Even if they completed the exchange in the painting studio, shouldn’t Wen Miao have left by now?” Xiang Zhuo asked.

“No, because someone else would also be blocking her in the painting studio! Duck!” Mo Qi shouted, pressing her upper body against the electric scooter. Xiang Zhuo couldn’t lie flat on top of her, so he leaned back, lying flat on the ground, narrowly avoiding a thick tree trunk brushing over their heads.

This tree trunk wasn’t here just now. It suddenly grew across the middle of the road after Mo Qi hurriedly rode here. If Mo Qi hadn’t reacted quickly, both of them might have ended up seriously injured hanging on the tree trunk now.

“No wonder that little grass could hold its own against three opponents,” Mo Qi said.

As he stared at the grass, Ke Xiaoxi died, and the world began to change. After Qi Qiaoyan’s death, the transformation silently deepened. At this moment, the grass engulfed most of the campus lawns, spreading from the dormitory buildings to the edge of the artificial lake, absorbing the power of part of the world.

Later, it also backfired on Xiang Zhuo’s skills, enhancing the negative effects of SSR-level skills and absorbing the power of an SR-level skill product. Through a fortunate coincidence, the grass evolved into an SSR-level monster.

If it continues to evolve, Xiang Zhuo’s ash jar might not be able to contain it.

There’s a whole bunch of trouble ahead, another big problem waiting for him next!

Mo Qi led Xiang Zhuo through numerous hardships and obstacles. Mo Qi’s superb driving skills cleared the road ahead, while Xiang Zhuo dealt with obstacles on the ground and in the air. Without their excellent coordination, neither of them could have reached their destination relying solely on their own strength.

Finally arriving at the door of the art studio, Xiang Zhuo looked like he was about to collapse. He leaned on Mo Qi and asked laboriously, “You said someone would keep Wen Miao, who is it?”

“Who else could it be!” Mo Qi kicked open the door of the art studio. Indeed, they saw Liao Ruxue holding a red heart-shaped origami, about to throw it into the wishing box.

Nearby, a few people lay on the ground, including Shi Wenxuan and Wen Miao, their fates uncertain.

“You’re here?” Liao Ruxue sat in a chair, calmly looking at Mo Qi, his gaze clear and showing no signs of being controlled by the box.

Mo Qi frowned slightly, slightly off from his guess. “You weren’t affected by the box’s amplification of desires?”

Liao Ruxue replied, “After seeing the fates of the first two people, do you think I would casually touch the wishing box before understanding its secrets?”

“So you’ve figured out the rules now,” Mo Qi clenched his fist.

“Otherwise, why would I actively seek out Shi Wenxuan? And why would you, knowing my motives, still choose to stay in the exhibition hall?” Liao Ruxue said.

It seemed he wasn’t in a hurry to make a wish. He held the heart-shaped origami between two fingers but hesitated to drop it into the wishing box.

“You two, stop speaking in riddles! What exactly happened? What’s the situation now?” Xiang Zhuo rushed between them, shouting in confusion.

“I think Liao Ruxue and I both figured out something about Wen Miao, and then we chose different paths to investigate,” Mo Qi explained patiently to Xiang Zhuo, noticing that Liao Ruxue was stalling on the final step of making his wish. He too was buying time, waiting for the right moment to snatch the paper from Liao Ruxue’s hand.

After eliminating Liao Ruxue as a suspect, Mo Qi focused on Wen Miao. Liao Ruxue, knowing he wasn’t the mastermind, suspected Wen Miao earlier than Mo Qi did.

Witnessing Shi Wenxuan being beaten by students below the ideological building, Liao Ruxue began to conceive a plan—to find a way for Shi Wenxuan and Wen Miao to perish together.

So, citing the inconvenience of players moving around campus, he brushed off Mo Qi and Xiang Zhuo and went alone to contact Shi Wenxuan.

As the student council president, he found locating Shi Wenxuan to be a straightforward matter. Simply posting a message in the student council groups of various departments to inquire about someone would quickly spread the word. It didn’t take long before someone informed him of Shi Wenxuan’s whereabouts.

Liao Ruxue, being an ordinary person, remained in sync with the world and was unaffected by the transformation; instead, it accepted him.

He moved freely around campus without hindrance, easily tracking down Shi Wenxuan’s whereabouts.

Shi Wenxuan naturally wanted to resist, but Liao Ruxue could easily manipulate him with persuasive words.

“I told him I was the student council president, here to handle the incident of his attack on Xiang Wansi. Clearly shaken by the previous beating, he became cautious upon hearing I was just an ‘ordinary person’ and the council president. He didn’t dare attack me easily,” Mo Qi speculated, with occasional interjections from Liao Ruxue as if they were chatting.

Facing Shi Wenxuan, Liao Ruxue recalled Mo Qi once borrowing his phone to check his software. He guessed players might confirm each other’s identities through certain apps on their phones. So, he casually let Shi Wenxuan see his phone screen.

Shi Wenxuan didn’t find the game app, confirming Liao Ruxue wasn’t a player. He then let go of his remaining hostility.

Liao Ruxue, posing as a senior, skillfully questioned Shi Wenxuan about why he suddenly attacked Xiang Wansi—whether it was due to overwhelming psychological pressure or instigation by others.

Shi Wenxuan naturally didn’t tell Liao Ruxue the truth and evaded the question. Liao Ruxue then asked how Shi Wenxuan knew about Xiang Wansi being attacked by Lu Anhe. The school leadership had demanded confidentiality to protect Xiang Wansi, making it forbidden to disclose the information.

When Shi Wenxuan refused to answer, Liao Ruxue subtly probed with a few names, casually mentioning Wen Miao’s name. Sure enough, Shi Wenxuan reacted to that name.

At the right moment, Liao Ruxue hinted further, mentioning that the Minister of Propaganda talked too much and easily hurt the feelings of other students. He mentioned his investigation into the suicides of Ke Xiaoxi, Qi Qiaoyan, and Lu Anhe, revealing that all of them had contact with Wen Miao before their deaths.

“Could it be that Wen Miao said something unintentionally, which was misinterpreted and ended up provoking them to choose such a path? Ah, if that’s the case, Wen Miao would bear a great responsibility.” With these words, Liao Ruxue completely shattered Shi Wenxuan’s psychological defenses.

Once the seed of suspicion is planted, it takes root and grows.

Shi Wenxuan began reflecting on everything he had experienced since entering the game. Successfully using the clue tracker, he found Wen Miao, unexpectedly guided by a campus expert. With Wen Miao’s help, he swiftly located Xiang Wansi, thinking he could complete the mission first, only to almost be beaten to death by school personnel.

“Then you just have to tell him where Wen Miao is, and he will go to confront Wen Miao,” Mo Qi said. “How did you know Wen Miao was in the art studio?”

Liao Ruxue pointed to the people on the ground and said, “After Xiang Wansi was attacked, Wen Miao naturally became more cautious. She was afraid of retaliation from Shi Wenxuan, so she always had a few classmates with her wherever she went. With more people around, her movements were easier to track. I simply asked a few classmates who were close to Wen Miao and found out she was in the art studio.”

Mo Qi replied, “No, that’s not it. In her previous two actions, she secretly sent out the wishing boxes. Why did she suddenly come to the art studio so openly the third time? She managed to deceive Shi Wenxuan, proving she knew there were players in this world. Why would she be so careless? Isn’t she afraid that if Min Shihua dies, the players will immediately suspect her?”

“Because of the world’s transformation,” Xiang Zhuo interjected, trying to keep up with their line of thought. “Wen Miao knew that the third wish exchange would trigger the completion of wishes as the world transforms. At that point, she wouldn’t need to fear the players anymore.”

Mo Qi frowned. “It still doesn’t add up. Even after Min Shihua’s death, there’s still a fourth wish. Wen Miao shouldn’t be so reckless.”

Liao Ruxue replied, “Mo Qi, let’s leave this headache-inducing question for you to figure out.”

“Did you bring Shi Wenxuan to the art studio to find Wen Miao, and then when Shi Wenxuan confirmed Wen Miao was the mastermind, they fought?” Mo Qi stepped forward to check Shi Wenxuan’s body, which was already dead. Besides the wounds from being beaten, there were many swollen pustules and bite marks from insects and ants.

Looking at Wen Miao, who was also lifeless, the cause of death was a sharp weapon wound, a knife thrust through the throat, which didn’t seem like the work of a student, likely done by Shi Wenxuan.

“Both the mastermind and the last player are dead. Does that mean we can benefit when the fourth wish is made?” Xiang Zhuo’s voice held some excitement.

There was something Xiang Zhuo didn’t say aloud—he knew Liao Ruxue’s wish was to die together with Mo Qi. Now that Liao Ruxue had written down his wish and when the heart-shaped origami was thrown into the wishing box, with the fourth wish fulfilled, Mo Qi and Liao Ruxue would both die together. The ultimate victor would surely be him!

Although feeling a bit guilty towards Mo Qi, Xiang Zhuo knew he had already secured victory in this game—it was practically a guaranteed win! He looked at Liao Ruxue with excitement, thinking that if Liao Ruxue were to make a wish, he would have to prevent Mo Qi from interfering with the fulfillment of the final wish.

Xiang Zhuo understood this point, and Mo Qi naturally grasped his own situation, yet he remained calm.

While Wen Miao was indeed killed by Shi Wenxuan, Shi Wenxuan wasn’t someone these few students could take down. During the previous incident with dozens surrounding him at the ideological building, Shi Wenxuan managed to escape unscathed. It’s impossible for Shi Wenxuan to die so easily now with only a few people around

What actually caused Shi Wenxuan’s death were the bites from these bees, mosquitoes, and ants on his body. He probably didn’t realize how deadly these small insects could be, but someone did.

On their way from the ideological building to the exhibition hall, Liao Ruxue and Xiang Zhuo encountered a bee sting that had left Xiang Zhuo visibly affected by its lingering venom. Liao Ruxue knew well the harm these insects could inflict on players. He had released the insects, exploiting Shi Wenxuan’s disregard for them during his fight, which ultimately led to his demise.

Seeing this scene before him, Mo Qi couldn’t help but sigh deeply at the strategic maneuvering. Liao Ruxue, acting as the “man caught in the middle,” forcibly inserted himself into the game, executing a scheme to eliminate a deeply involved player behind the scenes. His profound calculation was truly terrifying.

“Mo Qi, aren’t you afraid?” Liao Ruxue shook a heart-shaped origami, “Your temporary teammate by your side won’t help you at this moment. With just a light toss from me, you’d be done for.”

“I’m terrified, absolutely terrified,” Mo Qi’s calm demeanor contradicted his words completely. “But more importantly, I want to know when you learned everything about the Wishing Box.”

To create a heart-shaped origami from the Wishing Box, one must drip fresh blood from their fingertip onto it—a rule known only to those who have touched the Wishing Box. Liao Ruxue appeared remarkably composed; he definitely hadn’t touched the Wishing Box. So how did he know this rule?

Liao Ruxue sighed deeply. “Mo Qi, you’re so clever. When you posed that question, you should have guessed the answer, right? It’s a pity. I never saw you look afraid until the end.”

With that, he gently tossed the origami into the Wishing Box.

As Mo Qi watched the heart fall to the bottom of the Wishing Box, Xiang Zhuo couldn’t contain his excitement, glancing between Mo Qi and Liao Ruxue, waiting for the final moment.

Unexpectedly, Liao Ruxue placed his hand on the Wishing Box and said somewhat arrogantly, “The wishes I truly want to fulfill never rely on any mysterious power. This wish now is just a continuation of the future. Mo Qi, see you in the second half. I hope there will be a second half.”

With that, Liao Ruxue quietly closed his eyes, and the origami turned into blood, completing the final piece of the heart-shaped pattern.

At this moment, with all four wishes gathered, the heart-shaped pattern seemed to pulse with life-like flowing blood, and the crystal box itself seemed to come alive, sparkling brightly.

Xiang Zhuo looked at Mo Qi, still spirited, and then at the now deceased Liao Ruxue, completely stunned. “How are you still alive? What did Liao Ruxue wish for? Wasn’t he supposed to kill you?”

Mo Qi approached Liao Ruxue’s body, checked his breath, and confirmed he was dead. Then he turned to Xiang Zhuo and said, “Liao Ruxue never touched the Wishing Box all along, to prevent himself from making a wish to kill me. I’ve always said, he’s too confident and proud. Whatever he wants, he believes he can achieve it on his own, without relying on mysterious powers.”

“But he did make a wish!” Xiang Zhuo’s surprised voice grew closer to Mo Qi.

“He made a wish to resist certain irresistible forces,” Mo Qi said, looking at Liao Ruxue with heartfelt admiration. “This time, I was outplayed by a move.”

“What exactly is going on? Can you explain?” Xiang Zhuo’s voice came from behind Mo Qi.

“Xiang Zhuo, if I were you, I wouldn’t make a move right now,” Mo Qi suddenly said.

Xiang Zhuo’s hand was just inches from Mo Qi’s neck. With a little force, he could end Mo Qi’s life.

“I guess I couldn’t fool you after all,” Xiang Zhuo’s shocked voice gradually turned cold. “Mo Qi, I admit I’m not as good as you and Liao Ruxue in this mission. But sometimes winning isn’t just about cleverness; it also takes a bit of luck. Now, it’s just you and me left as players. The troublemaker behind the scenes, Wen Miao, and Liao Ruxue are dead. If I kill you, victory will be mine.”

“Killing me will only lead to total destruction. With all four wishes gathered, do you know how to clear this level?” Mo Qi asked calmly.

“Of course, whoever ends up with the Wishing Box in the end wins. Gathering enough power to fulfill a wish with the Wishing Box is the ultimate reward for this mission. Plus, the points from an SSR-level mission and a Wishing Box Item Card—it’s quite a haul,” Xiang Zhuo explained.

“I won’t compete with you then. You take this Wishing Box,” Mo Qi said, stepping aside and offering the Wishing Box to Xiang Zhuo.

Mo Qi’s demeanor was remarkably calm, causing Xiang Zhuo to hesitate. He kept a cautious stance, his gaze fixed on the Wishing Box.

The crystal box seemed to possess a magical allure. Just by laying eyes on it, Xiang Zhuo’s mind was flooded with countless wishes, large and small. He carefully deliberated on which one he most desired to fulfill.

Beneath the blood-red heart-shaped pattern, the inscription “Who can fulfill a true wish” shimmered brilliantly, as if telling the players that possessing it meant gaining the entire world.

Under such temptation, Mo Qi’s ability to relinquish the Wishing Box to Xiang Zhuo showcased incredible restraint and determination.

Xiang Zhuo swallowed hard, clenched his fist, and forcibly averted his gaze.

“At least you didn’t act too hastily,” Mo Qi remarked.

He showed no resentment toward Xiang Zhuo, who moments ago had intended to kill him, speaking calmly as usual.

Under Mo Qi’s gaze, Xiang Zhuo suddenly felt awkward. He pointed at the Wishing Box and asked, “What’s the deal with this box?”

Mo Qi sighed. “I pointed out so many doubts just now. Did you ignore all of them?”

“Didn’t we resolve all of them? Wen Miao was the mastermind, manipulating Shi Wenxuan, and Liao Ruxue incited their conflict, ultimately benefiting from it,” Xiang Zhuo asserted.

Mo Qi countered, “What benefit did Liao Ruxue gain? He sacrificed his life to the Wishing Box. Is that benefiting? He was with us all along, knowing that only when all four wishes are gathered can one wish be granted unconditionally. Why did he insist on making a wish himself before that? If he just wanted the Wishing Box, couldn’t he have tricked someone into making a wish for him?”

“Well… I don’t understand his twisted thinking,” Xiang Zhuo admitted, at a loss for words.

Mo Qi remarked, “Look at Shi Wenxuan and Wen Miao’s demeanor. At the time, the fourth wish hadn’t been fulfilled yet, and the Wishing Box wasn’t in its final form like it is now. Why did they act as if it was a final showdown, leaving themselves both injured?”

“Jumping the gun for the loot? Seems a bit premature,” he added.

Mo Qi continued, “Liao Ruxue never touched the box from start to finish. How did he know how to obtain the heart-shaped origami? Who told him? Certainly not those two fools fighting to the death?”

“They definitely didn’t seem to have the time to discuss such matters,” Xiang Zhuo muttered, sensing that Mo Qi’s ‘fools’ comment also included him.

Mo Qi pressed on, “The final doubt: I knew that once the last wish was fulfilled, you would likely betray our temporary alliance. Before we entered the painting studio just now, why didn’t I take advantage of your weakness and push you into the nearby flower bed, instead of helping you into the relatively safe painting studio?”

“Did you plan to get rid of me so early?” Xiang Zhuo stepped back.

Mo Qi was clearly a newbie player with no items, zero stamina, and had not demonstrated any skills in front of Xiang Zhuo so far. Yet, in this moment, Xiang Zhuo felt a terrifying power emanating from him.

It’s not just Mo Qi’s intelligence and strategic planning that unnerves Xiang Zhuo, but also his calm demeanor. It’s Mo Qi’s first time playing the game, yet he navigated all the way to the final level with composure. He faced the terrifying temptation of the Wishing Box without being swayed, and he managed to remain unperturbed in the face of betrayal by temporary allies. Xiang Zhuo had never encountered a player who could maintain such a stoic composure, showing no emotions even in such intense situations.

Mo Qi pointed to the inscription on the Wishing Box and said, “I won’t kill you because now is just the beginning of the final level of this game. Only ‘who’ can fulfill ‘a true wish’!”

“Of course it’s me.” A graceful figure stood at the door of the painting studio, hands behind her back, giving a sweet smile to both.

“As expected, Xiang Wansi,” Mo Qi’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated everything.

Xiang Wansi still wore that white dress, stepping slowly into the painting studio, with a pitch-black world behind her.

After the fourth wish was fulfilled, darkness suddenly enveloped the outside. Though it was midday, the campus now lay in eerie silence, resembling a deep night where even the summer cicadas’ chirps were absent.

Only the painting studio remained lit, like a solitary island in the darkness of the night.

Xiang Wansi’s demeanor was starkly different from the gentle school flower from before, and the pitch-black world outside seemed to bolster her presence. Xiang Zhuo, drawing on his experience, realized that this person harbored a formidable power within.

No wonder Mo Qi wanted to keep him around—this woman was definitely not someone one could easily defeat alone.

“Just why is Xiang Wansi appearing at this moment?” Xiang Zhuo felt his mind might be tying itself in knots. “Is it her? Wasn’t it confirmed earlier by Shi Wenxuan that it wasn’t her? Min Shihua also admitted that the wishing box was given to her by Wen Miao. How could Xiang Wansi be the mastermind?”

“I only thought of it after seeing Shi Wenxuan and Wen Miao,” Mo Qi said.

Xiang Wansi disguised herself very well. Mo Qi had face-to-face contact with her before, yet Shi Wenxuan still disrupted the rhythm, leading to suspicions being lifted from Xiang Wansi and directed towards Wen Miao instead.

“The scene of Shi Wenxuan and Wen Miao dueling, does it remind you of how you were about to kill me just now?” Mo Qi asked Xiang Zhuo.

Xiang Zhuo: “…”

It did bear some resemblance.

Mo Qi: “They would fight like this for only one reason—both genuinely believe that the fourth wish is the ultimate wish that requires no cost.”

“Huh? But didn’t we speculate earlier that it’s the fifth wish after collecting four wishes that doesn’t require a cost?”

“You know it, I know it, the president knows it. But what about them? Wen Miao isn’t a player, she doesn’t have system prompts. Where does her understanding of the wishing box rules come from?” Mo Qi asked.

“I can explain that. She saw this piece of paper I wrote.” Xiang Wansi showed no fear in front of the two players. She calmly approached Wen Miao’s body, took out a pair of white gloves and a red note from Wen Miao’s pocket.

Xiang Wansi put on the white gloves and lightly tossed the note in front of both of them. Xiang Zhuo picked it up and read: “This is a wishing box that can grant any wish, but it can also consume one’s heart. Wearing the gloves prevents the box’s magic from influencing you. Just gather three wishes, and the fourth wish is yours. If you don’t believe it, you can pass the box to someone in need and wait for a miracle to happen.”

“When I found the wishing box, there was also a note like this, but I hid it away and wrote a new one to replace it,” Xiang Wansi added, showing another red note.

Xiang Zhuo picked up the second note. The words on it were almost identical to the first note, except for two numbers. This one read, “Just gather four wishes, and the fifth wish is yours.”

“Exactly as I suspected,” Mo Qi said. “After handing the box to Min Shihua, Wen Miao became fearless, stopped hiding, and even appeared ready to confront Shi Wenxuan. It’s because she believed the wishes were already gathered, and the next wish was hers. Little did she know, even if she managed to snatch the wishing box, her presumed true wish was just one of the four wishes. Your move was indeed brilliant.”

Xiang Wansi said, “Because I was also concerned that this might be a fake wishing box. What if someone was playing a prank and waiting to see me embarrassed? I had to find someone to test it for me first, right?”

Xiang Wansi informed Wen Miao of the fake rules, and Shi Wenxuan obtained this rule from Wen Miao through skills or items, which was the real reason the two fought to the death.

In fact, Shi Wenxuan’s strength exceeded Wen Miao’s and her entourage’s, but unfortunately, with Liao Ruxue lurking in the background, Shi Wenxuan died so easily.

“How did you get Wen Miao to choose someone who ? to

“After Wen Miao obtained the wishing box, I talked to her about the art exhibition and casually mentioned Qi Qiaoyan and Fan Ting’s situation. I was helping someone out, right?” When mentioning these two names, Xiang Wansi’s smile gradually faded, replaced by a hint of sadness.

“Yeah, helping others while also getting rid of those who have enmity towards you. What about Min Shihua? Didn’t you say she was your best friend?” Mo Qi asked.

At the mention of Min Shihua, Xiang Wansi’s beautiful face twisted slightly. She bit her lip and said, “She wasn’t my choice. Wen Miao chose her. At that time…”

“Back then, you were surrounded and comforted by a group of students in the ideological and political building for quite some time before you were able to break free,” Mo Qi helped her piece together the answer. “You wanted to use the wishing box to eliminate those who had hurt you without getting your hands dirty, so you chose Wen Miao as your puppet. But as they say, man proposes, God disposes. You didn’t anticipate the existence of other players in this world, nor did you expect that Wen Miao would also be looking for a scapegoat. The two of them disrupted your plan.”

As the events became clearer, it was Xiang Wansi who had initially obtained the wishing box. Upon receiving it, she wasn’t entirely convinced of its authenticity, so she wrote a fake note and gave it to Wen Miao, hinting at her to help eliminate certain individuals.

But fate had other plans. Wen Miao was approached by Shi Wenxuan before Xiang Wansi, learning about the existence of players ahead of time. Witnessing Shi Wenxuan’s formidable power, Wen Miao, to protect herself, chose Xiang Wansi as a scapegoat, inadvertently leading Shi Wenxuan to suspect Xiang Wansi.

This morning, when Xiang Wansi was injured and taken away by Shi Wenxuan, things spiraled out of control. She didn’t have another chance to hint to Wen Miao to choose a third wisher. Guilty over what happened to Xiang Wansi, Wen Miao decided to take drastic action and implicated Min Shihua as well.

“The first two wishers were a life for a life, somewhat cruel but at least tit for tat. However, Min Shihua’s death was completely different from the first two. It seemed like a hastily chosen target, neither clever nor meaningful, completely unlike the previous wishers. That’s when I started suspecting there might be more than one person behind this,” Mo Qi explained.

“Because Wen Miao is just a foolish gossipmonger,” Xiang Wansi said through clenched teeth. “On the surface, she acts like we’re close, but behind my back, she spreads all sorts of rumors. She said I had more than a dozen boyfriends before starting school, claimed I had an abortion, even insinuated things about me and my mentor. How could she say such baseless things without blinking an eye?”

“So you chose her as the final sacrifice, knowing Wen Miao also had grievances against you,” Mo Qi said. “Aren’t you afraid her last wish might be for your death?”

Xiang Wansi chuckled. “Do you think I don’t see through her petty schemes? What she wants is to replace me, not kill me. She’ll wish to be more beautiful than me, more talented, more popular. Sure, she can have her wish granted, but it’ll only be for a fleeting moment. Once she gets what she wishes for, the box will take her away too.”

“Death by revenge, death by one’s own dreams. The wishes you’ve arranged for the wishers are quite clever,” Mo Qi remarked.

Xiang Zhuo finally understood the whole story. “Did Liao Ruxue learn about the rules of the wishing box from Xiang Wansi?”

“He asked on his own,” Xiang Wansi replied.

Liao Ruxue is too smart; he preemptively guessed the whole truth, bringing Shi Wenxuan in at the last moment to kill Wen Miao and force Xiang Wansi to reveal the rules, all to fulfill his wish.

“What wish was Liao Ruxue willing to sacrifice his life for? You’re still alive!” Xiang Zhuo felt he would never understand Liao Ruxue’s twisted mind.

“Didn’t he say it himself? ‘See you in the second half,'” Mo Qi replied.

Liao Ruxue’s wish is quite easy to guess. He wants to personally kill Mo Qi, but in this dangerous world, it’s difficult for him to fulfill that wish. Moreover, given Liao Ruxue’s character, he couldn’t accept killing Mo Qi in a situation where they’re not on equal terms.

What he truly desires is to return to the real world without forgetting everything that happened in the game. He refuses to let mysterious forces erase his memories. That’s why he eagerly seized the opportunity to make the fourth wish.

“但他已经死了，那下半场从何而来？” Xiang Zhuo’s thoughts grew more confused.

Mo Qi sighed. “Isn’t there still me? I know my personality well enough to understand that I would definitely try to set things right, to bring the entire campus back to the real world. He left the opportunity to join the second half to me.”

项卓：”Was he really so sure that you could defeat me, defeat Xiang Wansi, and in this chaos, reclaim everyone’s lives from the game?”

“If I couldn’t do it, I would have died for sure. It’s like he gave me a push from behind, bringing about my death, but he wouldn’t have lost out either,” Mo Qi said sincerely. “Well played.”