The rough, large hand pressed down without a hint of mercy. With a bit of force—no, Tang Zhen estimated the fragility of Yan Chuan—it would leave an imprint with just a slight press.
This would represent the traces left by someone who had been overly bullied. Was it created by his “husband”? Did he interact in the apartment just like those NPCs in a survival variety show?
Tang Zhen recalled his experience of entering the script. Contestants don’t receive any special treatment based on their identities; the more they interact with NPCs, the more dangerous it becomes, even if, according to their identity settings, they should receive protection.
Yan Chuan drew the most dangerous identity. It wasn’t just ambiguously indicative; he had to coexist with NPCs for an extended period… it was terrifying to think about.
Yet, Tang Zhen remembered the gloomy look that Yan Chuan’s “husband” had thrown at him after his gaze was discovered.
How could he not understand the meaning in that look? It was a warning, an order—not to covet someone else’s wife, even if that wife was young and beautiful.
That was the contemptuous gaze belonging to the rivalry between males, a clear message that this person was claimed.
Tang Zhen couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Unlike the usual faint curve, this smile was particularly joyful and genuine.
A warning from an NPC in a survival show? If it weren’t for still being in the script, and sensing the vague gazes and hints of blood around him, Tang Zhen might think he was in a reality dating show.
Men competed fiercely against each other, fighting just to get a glance from the beautiful contestant.
Tang Zhen felt that he had come to the right place this time.
Jealousy… let’s use this adjective to describe an NPC; what kind of secrets could he possess?
Moreover, Tang Zhen’s gaze fell upon a somewhat old iron box. The paint on the surface had worn down a lot, as if it had been constantly touched, like caressing a lover’s face, clearly showing how much its owner valued it.
Inside was just a single photo.
It was of Tang Zhen’s acquired identity, this down-and-out musician—a character who only valued this photograph aside from his guitar. The corners of the plastic covering were already worn from being handled.
It was unmistakably a picture of a beautiful white face.
The next day.
Soft light seeped in from outside the window, the air slightly swaying.
He was alone in the bedroom. The “husband” had gone to work.
This was undoubtedly good news. Yan Chuan pressed his lips together, feeling his cheeks heat up a bit.
He didn’t know what identities and tasks others encountered in this survival show, but from his own observations, the ghosts and NPCs he had met all shared one characteristic.
They were perverted.
Was it not a perversion to inexplicably touch his feet?
Yan Chuan took a deep breath.
During his time with his husband, he not only didn’t gain any additional clues; instead, his thoughts had been led astray by him.
He even suspected that this NPC had flirted with him.
Yes, flirted—it’s the only word Yan Chuan could think of.
In the script, his husband was handsome and silent, looking like a very reliable man. He took the initiative to care for him, albeit in a way that involved covering his feet.
The man appeared expressionless, yet Yan Chuan sensed a hint of pleasure from his face.
Though he failed to calm his breathing, Yan Chuan, irritated, went to wash up.
Facing himself in the mirror, he began to sort through the known clues.
All he knew was that his “wife” identity had an affair outside, leading to debts from buying luxury goods that brought him to this place with his husband. The NPC husband worked during the day and returned at night; beyond that, he didn’t know much.
The script claimed it was a supernatural variety show, implying that someone must have died for it to count.
Whether it was a deliberate murder or an accidental act, there were perpetrators and victims, with cause and effect.
Where did the first murder in this family begin?
Their household felt awkward, with mismatched identities; how did they get roped into this?
Zhang Nan and Chen Sheng were middle-aged couples seeking their missing child, and their task might be related to that missing child.
Zhou Wu, like him, had drawn an identity closely related to an NPC. Aside from saying that the NPC had issues, everything had seemed normal.
Dan Qi and Tang Zhen… a single identity, with weak social connections that wouldn’t easily lead to disputes, but if something happened, no one would know immediately.
Of course, that had to put aside their connections to the “wife.”
Currently, the clues seem to originate from the high school couple portraying a romance.
Anwen and Liang Xin last night were eloping high school lovers; it sounded like their relationship was unstable, prone to accidents, and indeed, something had happened yesterday.
Liang Xin had gone mad and harmed someone… why exactly?
He decided to step outside, wondering if he could glean any clues from Anwen.
Liang Xin was confined in an empty room on the same floor as Tang Zhen.
Dan Qi and Zhou Wu took turns keeping watch, fearing he might cause more trouble. Liang Xin was bound with coarse rope and tossed inside the room.
When Yan Chuan arrived, Dan Qi was standing outside.
He leaned against the railing with one hand, holding an unlit cigarette between his right index and middle fingers. His brows remained furrowed, staring blankly outside.
“How’s Liang Xin doing?” Yan Chuan approached. “Can I go in and take a look?”
Upon hearing his voice, Dan Qi paused for a moment, returning to focus: “Not now.”
Yan Chuan looked at him in confusion.
“He hasn’t woken up,” Dan Qi explained, “Just now, Liang Xin tried to break free from the ropes and even bit someone; I had to knock him out.”
I see.
He still hadn’t regained consciousness, remaining in an attack mode upon seeing people?
Yan Chuan thought this and asked.
“Yeah,” Dan Qi rubbed his brow, his tone not pleasant. “Like a madman.”