Chapter 19

Even if she saw Zhai Yi, she would pretend not to see her. She didn’t want to get involved in the main storyline between the male and female leads, as it would delay her task progress.

If the NPC hadn’t scared Yu Lanting into collapsing on the ground earlier, causing Zhai Yi to worry about the female lead getting hurt and triggering a world collapse, she would have gone to find Mu Li first and then had him come rescue Yu Lanting.

Though there were some minor interruptions in between, Zhai Yi had still set things right and handed the female lead back over to the male lead.

“Ah—”

Fu Liang tightly grabbed Zhai Yi’s arm and cried out, “Ghost—”

Zhai Yi looked toward the oncoming female ghost, her pupils emitting a sharp glint.

The female ghost abruptly stopped. Seeing the off vibe in Zhai Yi’s eyes, she immediately turned tail and fled, afraid that Zhai Yi would chase her down and beat her.

Fu Liang had thought the female ghost would charge right at them, but she turned around halfway and bolted.

“What the heck is with this female ghost?” Fu Liang wondered. “She scares us halfway and then just quits?”

Zhai Yi shook off Fu Liang’s hand. “Maybe she saw you screaming so pathetically and took pity on you.”

Fu Liang was stunned. “Are the NPCs on the fourth floor really this kind-hearted?”

The NPCs in the third-floor bathroom stalls were way more terrifying and vicious than those on the fourth floor. They’d kept clawing at his legs without letting go.

Zhai Yi raised an eyebrow. “Mm.”

Fu Liang patted his chest, moved. “There are still good people in this world after all.”

:LOL, Fu Liang’s brain must all go into songwriting.

:Don’t talk about my silly boy like that. He’s got the looks, the body, and a brain that’s… well, got the body.

:Even his own fans can’t stand it. Silly boy, didn’t you see that NPC was scared of your godfather?

:The female ghost was afraid Zhai Yi would hit her, so she ran off super fast, hahaha…

:Third time’s the charm—she tried scaring Zhai Yi three times now, and she’s really terrified of her fighting back.

:The twelfth gold coin has been found, discovered by Mu Li and Yu Lanting. These two really match well—childhood sweethearts, innocent and pure. Just now, when Yu Lanting was scared by the NPC, Mu Li immediately shielded her. I ship them so hard.

:These two have some CP vibes, but I think Yu Lanting and Zhai Yi match even better.

:My Tingting shines alone—no one else gets to get close.

:Heh, ING Team shines alone. Some low-tier celebrities, stop riding the hype!

….

Tuantuan informed Zhai Yi about the twelfth gold coin being found. Zhai Yi glanced at Fu Liang, who was still searching diligently, and called out, “We’ve pretty much covered the fourth floor. Let’s head down.”

Fu Liang nodded. “Okay.”

Zhai Yi and Fu Liang returned to the first floor, where the others had already gathered. Mu Li announced that the twelfth gold coin had been found in the first-floor storage room.

Zhai Yi glanced at Yu Lanting—probably spooked, her little face was pale as a sheet.

Just as she was about to look away, Yu Lanting turned her gaze in her direction. Their eyes met briefly, like an inadvertent probe.

Zhai Yi lowered her eyes, pretending to casually scan the surroundings.

But Yu Lanting didn’t shift her gaze, still staring at Zhai Yi from afar in that vague, lingering way.

Mu Li brought out the twelve gold coins. Everyone examined them and noticed the patterns on the backs could be pieced together. But the surroundings were so dark that they couldn’t even make out the full shapes, let alone assemble the image.

Fu Liang raised his light stick. “Hey, we’ve got light right here. Me, godfather, and Lan Ting can handle the lighting—you guys do the puzzle.”

Jiang Qingyan agreed. “Good idea. This much light should be enough if you three huddle close.”

“Sure.”

Zhai Yi was just about to hand her light stick to Weixing Yan when Fu Liang dragged her over to Yu Lanting’s side.

“Come on, let’s put our light sticks together,” Fu Liang said.

Zhai Yi raised her green light stick, pressing it against Fu Liang’s. Yu Lanting lifted hers too, and the three light sticks propped each other up, casting a soft glow.

Ning Yao arranged the gold coins on the ground, sorting them by shape. “Feels like it might be a location name?”

“A location?” Weixing Yan puzzled. “You mean these shapes form a place name?”

Ning Yao fiddled with them. “Probably. Look, doesn’t this look like the ‘pi’ stroke? And this like the ‘chuo’ radical?”

Bian Tang peered closely. “Yeah, it kinda does.”

Fu Liang’s arm was getting sore from holding the light stick. “Guys, stop guessing and just piece it together. This thing’s gotta weigh half a pound at least—my arm can’t hold out much longer.”

Hearing this, Mu Li turned to Yu Lanting. “Let me take it.”

Yu Lanting shook her head. “No need. I can manage.”

Ignoring her refusal, Mu Li reached for it, but Yu Lanting said sternly, “I can do it myself.”

Her voice was a bit loud, carrying an undeniable solemnity and coldness.

Everyone looked over as the tension hung between them.

Mu Li awkwardly withdrew his hand. “I was just worried you’d get tired.”

Yu Lanting noticed her mood was off. “Really, no need. I can handle it.”

Zeng Ranran crossed her arms. “Teacher Yu, Mu Li was just being nice and worried you couldn’t hold it. How can you snap at him like that?”

Mu Li’s temple twitched—he was about to retort when Yu Lanting said, “Sorry, I wasn’t in a good mood just now and came off too harsh with you.”

“I’m fine. No need to apologize.”

For some reason, Mu Li felt a creeping terror and unease, like Yu Lanting was drifting further away from him. They were right next to each other, yet it felt like an uncrossable chasm lay between them.

Yu Lanting rubbed her face. “I should apologize. I must’ve been spooked—I’m a bit out of it mentally and physically. Teacher Mu Li, you don’t need to take it for me. I can do it. Go help everyone figure out the gold coin pattern quick—we’re running out of time.”

Mu Li gave Yu Lanting a meaningful look before squatting down to discuss the pattern with the group.

Yu Lanting didn’t know what was wrong with herself. Maybe she really had been scared, leaving her both mentally and physically exhausted.

Holding the light stick in her right hand for so long, her arm was trembling.

Just as Yu Lanting thought to switch hands, Zhai Yi reached over and took her light stick.

“I can—”

Before Yu Lanting could refuse, she met Zhai Yi’s eyes, which seemed to say, “No need to push yourself. I’m here.” She lowered her arm, eyes stinging slightly, and whispered, “Thank you.”

Zhai Yi said nothing, holding both light sticks with both hands.

Yu Lanting leaned in close and murmured, “Switch with me if you get tired.”

Zhai Yi said flatly, “Is your arm hurt?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Yu Lanting’s eyes, but she immediately denied it. “No, it’s not.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Zhai Yi turned her head to look at her. “If I bring it up, it’s because I’m sure.”

Yu Lanting pursed her lips. “It’s just… just a bump. Nothing serious.”

Earlier, while searching the storage room with Mu Li for the gold coin, a sudden NPC had startled Yu Lanting. She’d crashed right into a cabinet handle, bruising her arm—probably purple by now.

Curious, Yu Lanting asked, “How did you know my arm was hurt?”

“Different exertion,” Zhai Yi nodded toward Fu Liang. “You’re deliberately using your forearm strength to hold the light stick, while Fu Liang’s using his whole arm. You’re both shaking from fatigue, but your tremors are different from his.”

Yu Lanting was amazed. “You’re incredible.”

She felt like Zhai Yi knew so much.

:I think Zhai Yi’s amazing too. She even figured out Yu Lanting’s arm was hurt.

:I saw Tingting crash into the cabinet when the NPC scared her—I knew her arm got bumped then.

:Mu Li, that total blockhead, took her word that it was fine and didn’t even ask again. Tsk tsk.

:Zhai Yi’s the real deal—look at that attentiveness. Mu Li can’t compare. Lock in Zhai Yi and Yu Lanting; they match perfectly.

:Women with women? Gross or what?

:What’s wrong with that? The country’s reforming bit by bit—same-sex love is allowed now. Upstairs, your thinking’s outdated; go read up on national policies.

:Girls with girls is still rare. Family and society get in the way. We joke around online, but in reality, it’d be a tough road for them.

:Yeah, that one celeb who came out as same-sex got flamed into quitting the industry.

:Sigh, so annoying. What’s wrong with liking girls? Girls are way better than stinky guys—soft, fragrant, and they get each other best.

:Anyone else notice? Yu Lanting’s gaze on Zhai Yi feels off.

:Nah, just her usual gaze. Those eyes of hers look loving at anyone—even a pillar gets the deep affection treatment. Totally normal.

:Yu Lanting’s acted with so many hot guys and girls but never dated. One variety show ain’t turning up a soulmate.

:We’re just shipping CP online for fun. Real life? Rare as hell. The country’s pushing same-sex marriage policies, but so many people resist in reality. It’s depressing.

…..

Zhai Yi curved her lips. “Just pay close attention, and you’ll spot the unusual.”

Yu Lanting suddenly asked, “Were you sneaking peeks at me earlier?”

Zhai Yi: “!!”

She kept her composure. “What?”

Yu Lanting covered her GoPro and whispered, “I caught you looking at me just now.”

Zhai Yi instantly had an excuse. “Because I noticed something off with your arm.”

Yu Lanting let out a disappointed “Oh.”

Zhai Yi turned her head, slowly exhaling.

The female lead sure knew how to turn the tables.

Fu Liang switched hands, saw everyone still puzzling, and sighed helplessly. “Big brothers and sisters, still not done?”

“Almost!” Zeng Ranran said exasperatedly. “A grown man can’t handle holding it this long?”

Fu Liang scoffed. “I can’t. Why don’t you, miss, come hold it and show me if your skills match that mouth of yours?”

Zeng Ranran fumed. “You…”

“Got it,” Ning Yao called out. “The key’s hidden behind the lobby mirror.”

Fu Liang immediately dropped his arm, sighing in relief. “Exhausted me.”

He turned to Zhai Yi, who was holding two light sticks. “Godfather, why are you holding two?”

Yu Lanting quickly explained. “My arm’s hurt, so Zhai Yi’s helping.”

“Your arm’s hurt?” Fu Liang exclaimed. “Where? Bad? Need a doctor?”

Yu Lanting waved it off. “It’s fine, just a little bump.”

Fu Liang nodded. “Alright then.”

Zhai Yi set the light sticks aside and watched Mu Li take out the key and head to the front door to unlock it.

The instant the key slid into the lock, all the lights in the school building blazed on.

Everyone jumped in fright, thinking some new horror had struck—like startled birds.

Zhai Yi looked down at Yu Lanting huddled in her arms, chuckling wryly to herself.

She smirked, crossed her fingers, and lightly flicked her forehead. “Hugging addiction?”

Yu Lanting sheepishly withdrew her hands and stood. “Sorry, I got spooked just now—my body just reacted and wanted somewhere to hide. Apologies.”

Zhai Yi eyed her flushed cheeks. “Do I look like an air-raid shelter?”

Yu Lanting paused, then burst out laughing. “You don’t look like one, but you sure make me feel safe.”

Zhai Yi shook her head helplessly. “Door’s open. Let’s go.”

Yu Lanting followed, leaving the school building with Zhai Yi.

:Yu Lanting’s got double standards. Earlier in the storage room with Mu Li, she was terrified but didn’t hide in his arms. Now just lights turning on, and she jumps straight into Zhai Yi’s?

:Yu Lanting’s abacus is so loud I can hear it from abroad—the beads are smacking my face.

: What is Yu Lanting doing? Touching porcelain?

: Don’t ask, asking means it’s just kinky fun.

: Don’t ask, asking means it’s just scheming.

: Don’t ask, asking means it’s true love.