The two Humans and one Ghost each had their own preoccupations.
Shen Shuyun was thinking about her own quest and how to find the Old Dean. Zhao Mingyue’s thoughts were more complicated, primarily because of Shen Shuyun’s earlier words.
She knew Bai Yu’s past was mysterious, and Bai Yu had never mentioned her history to her. But in her view, that wasn’t important. She didn’t necessarily have to understand Bai Yu’s past. However, she truly didn’t want to become a burden and a hindrance to Bai Yu.
Bai Yu’s past was no simple matter, and now she was attached to her. If Zhao Mingyue’s own strength was too weak, then no matter how strong Bai Yu’s power was, it would be restrained.
So, perhaps she needed to make some small changes herself.
For instance, going off alone to complete some quests without Bai Yu by her side.
As this thought filled her mind, Zhao Mingyue’s heart grew increasingly resolute.
Right, that’s what she’d do!
If she didn’t become stronger, today there might be one seductive tramp extending a hand toward Bai Yu, and tomorrow even more little Fox Spirits would come to flirt and cling!
After all, who wouldn’t like a cute Little Female Ghost like Bai Yu?
An ageless being who could only attach herself to you for a lifetime, obedient, sensible, and empathetic. She hides in your shadow during the day to secretly protect you. In the dead of night, she can emerge to share your worries and resolve your troubles—a youthful, beautiful Fierce Ghost girl. Who wouldn’t like that?
Bai Yu’s old “friends” from the past must all be very familiar with her.
Forget these friends; even she herself, if she understood the situation, would be one hundred percent tempted.
This rising sense of crisis solidified Zhao Mingyue’s determination.
Her deep, dark, and bright eyes seemed to hold a myriad of stars. She stared hard at Bai Yu’s retreating figure from behind, her little fists secretly clenching as she silently cheered herself on.
Bai Yu sensed something ahead and glanced back at Zhao Mingyue.
The girl’s outfit today was very ordinary: a light gray casual suit, white sports shoes, and her hair casually tied up in a ponytail.
It could only be said that her natural foundation was truly enviable. From her stunning face to her temperament, everything was flawless.
But no matter how good she looked, it couldn’t hide the fact that she was still just a high school girl.
Earlier, Zhao Mingyue almost clashed with Number 652, and it was because she was still too young.
Most of the time, she was perfectly fine—at least not like other naive, sweet-and-dumb comic Female Leads. Her occasional little flaws just made her seem more like a young student.
In many cases, with her situation, the more sensible she was, the more it tugged at the heart.
Putting Zhao Mingyue’s matters aside, Bai Yu looked up at the building not far away.
She was thinking: since this place was Number 652’s memory, could the other game participants have similar situations? This school clearly wasn’t a coincidence. If other game participants also got a chance like this…
Then what about herself?
Would she also return to that monastery?
Would she also need to find her memories through the Wraiths who died tragically inside?
If the people who died there all turned into Wraiths, lingering forever just like in this school, then would she be able to see her little sister just one more time…
“Sister Yu.” On the way to the Children’s Palace, Zhao Mingyue behind her suddenly tugged Bai Yu’s arm.
“What is it?”
“I still have a few quests left unfinished. I… I want to try them on my own!” Zhao Mingyue’s eyes were determined. She pointed at Shen Shuyun. “You go somewhere else with her first. Don’t you have things to do? I’ll wait for you here in half an hour.”
“No!” Two words came out of Bai Yu’s mouth. Her voice was light, but her tone was resolute.
“Let me try. Everyone needs to grow. I think it was the same for you before. Without hardship and danger, how can there be growth? You can’t protect me forever. Besides, we’re running out of time!”
Zhao Mingyue had learned this speech from a certain manga. She certainly couldn’t have come up with it herself.
From what she knew of Bai Yu, this kind of talk was the most effective. Much more useful than whining or throwing a tantrum, anyway.
“You’re right.” Bai Yu spoke after two seconds of silence. Zhao Mingyue felt a surge of joy, but before she could speak, she heard Bai Yu add, “But in a sense, I can protect you forever.”
“Ah, this…”
Zhao Mingyue never imagined Bai Yu could say such a line with a completely straight face. It didn’t match her usual style at all!
Her cheeks flushed slightly, her ears turning red. Although this truly didn’t fit Bai Yu’s image, that one sentence really moved her deeply.
“What you said is correct. Hardship and danger make one grow. However, you overlooked one thing: hardship and danger could also turn you into a corpse before you get the chance to grow.”
“Living under someone else’s wing isn’t entirely a bad thing.”
At this, Bai Yu turned, her line of sight returning to Shen Shuyun. She glanced sideways toward the Cafeteria and then toward the Children’s Palace not far away.
“If you really want to try it alone… fine. We’ll meet back here in twenty minutes.”
Bai Yu changed her mind so quickly that Zhao Mingyue almost didn’t react in time. All the arguments she had planned in her heart were instantly forgotten.
“Mm… okay.”
Leaving Zhao Mingyue truly standing there, Bai Yu turned to Shen Shuyun and said, “We’re going to the Cafeteria.”
“Fine. I’ll follow your lead.”
Walking down the path toward the Cafeteria, once Zhao Mingyue was out of sight, a smile emerged on Shen Shuyun’s face. “Leaving her alone—are you sure you’re at ease with that?”
“I am.”
“Heh heh heh, as long as you are.”
The atmosphere fell into silence. For a moment, Shen Shuyun couldn’t figure out what Bai Yu was playing at. She really left Zhao Mingyue behind to do quests by herself.
“The Female Lead is just a greenhorn child. I don’t understand why you’re so good to her. Even if you genuinely want to use her to complete the quest, there’s no need to go this far.”
After a quiet pause, Shen Shuyun spoke again.
She could see it. Bai Yu’s attitude toward Zhao Mingyue wasn’t quite right; it wasn’t purely quest-driven.
Developing real feelings for a Plot Character… that was very dangerous.
That was just how the Scumbag Game worked. If it detected your thoughts, then after the quest was over, it could activate one final quest.
This quest would involve that Plot Character you fell for.
Failure meant death. As for what happened if you succeeded… no one knew, because to this day, no one had ever succeeded.
“Cut the chatter. Go finish your quest. If it’s not done, I’ll kill you.”
“Kill me? That’s my own quest, isn’t it? Didn’t you say yourself that quest failure has no penalty for you?” Shen Shuyun frowned.
