A girl with two small hipster style fishtail braids lightly appeared in the doorway. Her pretty appearance still evoked the pity of others despite her pallid complexion.
Her gaze swept through the people present. The moment she saw Yang Ge, she clearly looked distracted. Her pupils suddenly contracted, and swiftly ran to Yang Ge with small steps: “Yang Ge! My god, you, you are here too?!”
When Yang Ge saw this beautiful girl, he too could not conceal his astonishment: “You are… Lin Huiru?! Heavens, I didn’t expect to meet any old classmates here!”
Yang Ge placated Lin Huiru, before immediately introducing her to everyone: “This is my high school classmate. She is called Lin Huiru, our class beauty!” Yang Ge smiled, taking a glimpse at Lin Huiru, Lin Huiru’s pallid cheeks also had a trace of a blush now.
“She sat in front of me in high school. Later, in my first year of university, my family relocated to the Lin Province. From then on, this is still the first time I have met with my old classmates. Who could have thought that it would actually be in a place like this.” Near the end, Yang Ge’s voice carried a hint of self-deprecation.
Only then did Lin Huiru’s gaze turn towards the other people present. She didn’t immediately give her greetings, but rather sized them up one by one. When her gaze fell on Shen Mu, her countenance immediately changed: “Shen Mu?! How come you are also here! You are still alive? How can I participate in the preliminary game with people like you?! You trash!”
When Lin Huiru finished speaking, everyone present also exposed different expressions.
Li Fengmei watched Lin Huiru and Shen Mu with interest, Li Xuesong however, did not expose any expression. The gaze Yang Ge used to looked at Shen Mu contained a bit more scrutinization, moving forward to partially shield Lin Huiru behind himself. Jiang Shuyi’s mouth slightly opened, becoming somewhat dazed due to shock. Liu Bo was expressionless, as though nothing was heard.
Alarm bells immediately started ringing in Shen Mu’s heart!
It can be seen now that the players in this preliminary game are obviously not only students of Professor Niu’s Network Management Center, but also it seems that many people have around one or two acquaintances. No one here was a professional player. At the beginning of the game, without any clues, the players don’t know who to vote, yet they must vote for a person. At this time, the most “extraordinary” person will become the target of the public!
For example, when no one else has lost their memory, only you yourself have lost your memory. Then everyone will subconsciously pay attention to you. Even though it is only a slight regard, and may be possible to gain sympathy by clearly explaining the circumstances concerning Professor Niu, but in a life and death crisis, who will increase one’s own danger for the sake of sympathy? Let alone now that Lin Huiru is so aggressive, saying that one has amnesia at this time is tantamount to having a guilty conscience and shrinking responsibility. Even if there was Liu Bo to bear witness, perhaps it would be difficult to once again gain the trust and take advantage of others in the game.
Understanding was understanding, but what Lin Huiru said, Shen Mu nevertheless was completely ignorant about. Time passed second by second, the scene was a bit quiet.
Can’t go on like this anymore! Shen Mu made a prompt decision, taking the initiative to cover up her words first!
Although it certainly will not be kind words, but looking at Lin Huiru’s manner, no matter what kind of reaction Shen Mu makes, she will not let go of this matter. It would be better to strike first and gain the upper hand instead!
Just as Shen Mu wanted to start speaking, Zhang Ji suddenly took a few steps forward: “It’s almost six o’clock, leaving two hours before the start of this round. There are only so few people here. I am going to find other people! Is there anyone who will go with me? “
By speaking, Zhang Ji broke the tense atmosphere, and also shifted everyone’s attention away from Shen Mu. Yang Ge hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said: “I will stay here and wait for other people, the game lounge is here, people who have read the rules would all want to come here to confirm.”
Shen Mu also said: “I will go with Big Brother Zhang to find others.”
Li Fengmei pulled Li Xuesong’s sleeve: “My brother and I will stay here to wait for the people.”
Jiang Shuyi took a look at Zhang Ji and also looked at Shen Mu, seeming as if she wanted to go. Finally, she looked at Lin Huiru, and still didn’t speak in the end.
Seeing that no one else spoke, Shen Mu and Zhang Ji walked out of the lounge.
After Shen Mu and Zhang Ji left, Jiang Shuyi suddenly stood up from the sofa: “I, I should still go? This villa has three floors, my bedroom is on the third floor, I can go to the third floor to have a look. Three, with three people, it is faster to search.”
Li Xuesong upon seeing this, softly said, “You are a girl, you should still stay here, let me go up and see.”
Yet, Li Fengmei still held Li Xuesong and smiled at Jiang Shuyi: “Sister Shuyi, this Older Sister Lin Huiru has not yet finished speaking.”
Li Fengmei’s words reopened the topic that was just interrupted by Zhang Ji. Jiang Shuyi also hesitated, sitting back on one end of the sofa.
Yang Ge said to Lin Huiru: “Huiru, you just said that Shen Mu is a scum, also saying how he was still alive? What exactly does this mean?”
Yan Huiru originally already had a deep opinion of Shen Mu, and also since it was Yang Ge who had asked. She immediately sat on a soft sofa, and began to talk about Shen Mu’s “glorious deeds.”
On the other side, Shen Mu and Zhang Ji walked on the corridor of the first floor. The first floor from the innermost staircase to the game lounge’s direction was differentiated as; No. 7 Li Fengmei’s room, No. 12 Zhang Yi’s room, No. 5’s room as well as 4 No. Yang Ge’s room. The two stood in front of No. 5’s room, knocking on the door while speaking.
“Big Brother Zhang, are you not curious about what Lin Huiru said?” Shen Mu asked.
Zhang Ji didn’t particularly care much about this matter: “Hai, what can happen? Seeing that you are also an adult. If there really is something, you would have long since went to jail. How can you still be here……” Halfway through, Zhang Ji himself also realised, according to the power of the Suspended Life Game, no matter where in the world, I am afraid there will be a way to make you appear here.
Part 2:
The scene was slightly awkward.
But Zhang Ji immediately laughed out loud and said: “I am a shop owner, and have seen many students. If you are a student, would I not be able to recognize it? I have seen too many conflicts amongst the students. Besides, that girl does not look virtuous at all. Did you offend her somewhere so that now she holds a grudge?”
Shen Mu made up some nonsense that he said with a face of helplessness: “It’s a conflict between students and was quite unpleasant at the time. But not seeing her for a few months. I thought it would have passed.”
As the two men spoke, they continuously knocked on the doors of Room No. 5, but no one opened the door.
“Maybe they went out, since the villa has three floors, they did not necessarily go down to the lounge.” Zhang Ji said.
“This room is on the first floor, and is quite close to the lobby, where could they go?” Shen Mu found this a bit strange, but even after knocking for so long, there did not seem to anyone inside. “Forget it, Big Brother Zhang, let’s go upstairs and have a look.
In order to save time, Zhang Ji will check the second floor, while Shen Mu went straight to the third floor.
On the third floor, four players’ rooms are also located there. Next to the stairs is the rooms of No. 1, Lin Huiru, followed by the room of No. 2, Jiang Zhuyi, the room of No. 6 and the room of No. 8. Shen Mu came up the stairs and knocked on the doors of No. 6 and No. 8 in succession for a long time, but there was no response.
The place where the game lounge is on the 1st floor corresponds with where the restaurant is on the 2nd floor, not knowing what was there on the 3rd floor. When Shen Mu unhurriedly walked over and approached the entrance, there seemed to be an added trace of moisture in the air. The faint sound of water travelled to the entrance, could it be a hot spring or a swimming pool?
Pushing open the door, a cloud of water vapor rushed forward. Shen Mu could not help but reveal a trace of a smile, it was indeed a swimming pool.
Soon, the smile on Shen Mu’s face faded——on the other side of the pool, there was unexpectedly a man struggling in the water!
“Are you okay?!” Shen Mu immediately detoured from the doorway to the other side of the pool. “…Classmate? Mister?”
Only up close, could Shen Mu finally see his appearance. The person struggling in the water was a young man, the corners of his eyes were slightly raised, and his supple black hair was plastered on his face. No knowing if it was due to soaking in the water for too long, but the man had a very poor complexion, and his lips were almost completely colourless.
As Shen Mu looked at this face, he became somewhat stunned for a moment, and there was only one thought left in his heart.
He was so beautiful…
The sound of water recalled the thoughts of Shen Mu back to the present. At this time, Shen Mu noticed that the swimming pool was not big, and it wasn’t divided into deep and shallow areas. The water level was roughly about 1 meter. With an adult’s height, it was more than enough to climb onto shore. Even if the individual didn’t know how to climb, there was a ladder not too far away!
But he…the player who fell in has been trying to climb onto the shore, and falls back in. Even if he manages to once again stand up, he has to struggle for a long time, and this then repeats——trying to climb ashore, clumsily falling in the water, struggling to stand up…
This isn’t right! Shen Mu immediately went into the water, pulling out the person who once again fell in the water. At this time, Shen Mu saw his in-game number——a delicate silver “8”.
Shen Mu’s heart sunk, he really was a player.
After standing up, Shen Mu found that he was almost as tall as himself. Looking closely, fine water droplets were hanging on the eyelashes of No. 8, and following his blinking movements, they were shaken off.
After No. 8 was pulled up, he seemed to take notice of the existence of Shen Mu. Steadily staring at Shen Mu, his eyes were limpid and confused. Shen Mu’s heart sank once again: No. 8 obviously did not look quite right.
“Are you okay?” Shen Mu softly asked, but No. 8 did not have any reaction, just continuing to look at Shen Mu like a lovable and innocent cat.
“Go, let’s go up first!” Shen Mu took No. 8 to the side of the ladder. No. 8 did not know how to climb, so Shen Mu went up the ladder first before pulling him up.
On the shore, after leaving the influence of the water, Shen Mu became even more aware of No. 8’s icy hand. Shen Mu took took his hand and walked towards the door while No. 8 lovably followed, not struggling or resisting. After a few steps, Shen Mu stopped and released No. 8’s hand, and No. 8 did not walk further. He just stood still and dazedly stared at Shen Mu, looking very obedient.
Shen Mu’s heart suddenly became incomparably sour, suppressing his roiling emotions in his heart, he once again held the hand of No. 8: “This place isn’t suitable for us to stay, let’s go back to the bedroom first.”
Room No. 8 was next to the swimming pool. Arriving in front of room No. 8 on the 3rd floor, Shen Mu tried to open the door. As before, the player could not open the room of other players. Shen Mu gently placed the hand of No. 8 on the door handle, then holding his hand, he pressed down gently—— this time the door opened smoothly.
Shen Mu quickly took him into the room and re-locked the door.
First leading the person to sit down on the bed, Shen Mu opened the closet. As expected, there was a change of clothes available, and even a swimsuit, but every piece of clothing had a silver “8” on the chest. Even though Shen Mu and No. 8 had similar figures, he was still unable to wear it.
Helping No. 8 wipe off the water droplets on his dripping wet hair. “Do you know how to change your own clothes?” Shen Mu asked without holding any hope.
Sure enough, his only reply to Shen Mu was his innocent eyes.
Shen Mu lightly sighed and helped him change into the clean clothes. After changing clothes, No. 8 seemed to be more lively, taking the initiative to rub against Shen Mu, looking very dependent.
Really like a cat…Shen Mu straightened his collar, but the inexplicable sourness in his heart only increased. This was the way that animals expressed their intimacy. No. 8 was a person, he should not express his closeness in such a way.
It was 6:37 pm, there was 1 hour and 23 minutes until the start of the game.
Timeless Translations 