Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Cheng Miao remained listless all the way back to the Grand Hotel. She had never carefully considered what it would mean to leave Survival Inn. She had simply known that she had to go back.
But when she thought about it, Qi Jiajia and Lin Zhu did not actually want to go back very much.
They liked this team and had grown accustomed to life in Survival Inn. To them, leaving only mattered because Cheng Miao and Qin Musong wanted to leave.
But what would happen afterward? Even if they managed to get in touch, they would meet once a month at most and make a few phone calls the rest of the time.
Everything would be completely different.
And then there was Qiudong.
Qiudong had not told Cheng Miao his identity yet, but he was clearly no ordinary player. What would happen to him?
Could he even leave Survival Inn?
Even if he could, what identity would he use to live in reality?
Would he live with Cheng Miao?
How would Cheng Miao explain him to her family?
The string of questions made Cheng Miao’s head ache. She did not even notice that three people and one cat had surrounded her and were exchanging looks.
Qin Musong: Miaomiao is wonderful in every way, but she gets trapped in dead ends inside her own mind.
Lin Zhu: Hurry and comfort Sister Miaomiao.
Qi Jiajia: I don’t need you telling me what to do!
Qiudong was a cat of action. He planted a paw pad directly on Cheng Miao’s forehead.
Cheng Miao looked up, her eyes somewhat vacant.
Qiudong’s voice was cool and detached, but by now they could all hear the unusual tenderness within it. “What are you thinking about?”
Cheng Miao was at a loss for words. Not quite willing to meet anyone’s eyes, she lowered her head dejectedly. “Nothing.”
Qiudong had never comforted anyone before. Even after racking his brain, he could only come up with a few dry words. “Don’t think too much for now. Focus on clearing the instances.”
Seeing that Cheng Miao was not consoled in the slightest and had instead sunk even deeper into gloom, Qiudong looked expressionlessly at Qin Musong.
Qin Musong raised a fist to his mouth and coughed softly, holding back his laughter.
So even you have days when you need someone’s help.
After giving it some thought, Qin Musong spoke. “Miaomiao, are you worried that we’ll grow distant after we go back?”
Cheng Miao nodded, then added after a moment’s thought, “We know now that many people who woke from that deep sleep went mad. What if we do too? Or what if we forget one another?”
Qin Musong pressed both hands downward in a calming gesture. “But whether we leave or not, we still have to clear the Game. There’s no question about that, right?”
Cheng Miao perked up a little. “Right.”
Qin Musong smiled, his gaze gentle. “Then you can leave these questions until the end. We have so much money that it won’t be difficult to make a wish that lets us keep living together.”
Cheng Miao smacked her forehead. She had forgotten all about that.
If a wish could even bring the dead back to life, then none of the things worrying her were much of a problem.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Cheng Miao finally walked out of the dead end she had drawn for herself.
Lin Zhu ran off to wash some cherries, then looked back and smiled at her. “Sister Miaomiao, you need to trust and rely on your teammates more.”
Warmth surged through Cheng Miao’s heart. Before she could speak, she felt someone tug at the hem of her shirt.
When she turned, Qi Jiajia was holding out her favorite marshmallow.
Her face was still an expressionless mask of pride, but the faint redness at the tips of her ears betrayed her.
That night, Cheng Miao slept soundly. Her dreams were filled with the fragrance of marshmallows and cherries.
The next day, Cheng Miao was fully revived and itching to visit a casino, only to be refused by Uncle Qin Musong.
“Children aren’t allowed in places like that.”
Qi Jiajia bristled. “I’m not a child anymore!”
Qin Musong refused to budge. “You’re still underage.”
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Qiudong spoke with perfect composure. “I know a relatively respectable venue. It doesn’t have any of the things minors shouldn’t see.”
Lin Zhu and Qi Jiajia both thought, Wow, now we want to see them even more.
But Officer Qin Musong’s authority was formidable. The two children could only suppress that little spark of interest and agree to a day trip to the family-friendly casino.
Family-friendly or not, they could already hear the noisy clamor inside as soon as they reached the enormous, flying saucer-shaped building.
The moment the doors opened, an air of decadent luxury washed over them, bewitching the hearts of everyone present.
Perched on Cheng Miao’s shoulder, Qiudong surveyed the casino. Of all the casinos, this one had the best environment.
There were no pole dancers selling their bodies for money, nor any bloody, horrifying torture chambers for debtors.
At least, none that were visible.
Colorful slot machines stood everywhere. Men holding glasses of whiskey crowded around Texas Hold’em tables to watch, while coquettish dealers called out, “No more bets!”
Cheng Miao and the others wandered around and stared like country bumpkins visiting a grand estate for the first time.
Qin Musong was worried that someone would be tempted to try a round. Unexpectedly, when Cheng Miao said she only wanted to look, she meant it literally.
Qi Jiajia was not interested, while Lin Zhu firmly believed that gambling was something one should never touch.
So Cheng Miao and her three companions, plus one cat, circled the casino, looking here and there without placing a single bet. Their behavior drew repeated glances from several groups of people.
Suddenly, Cheng Miao spotted a familiar man at one of the card tables.
His lifeless curls hung over his forehead. Dark bruises ringed his eyes, and stubble covered his face. Nothing remained of the handsome, sunny man he once was.
He was playing blackjack.
The dealer had a scorching figure, but his gaze was not drawn to the beauty at all. He studied his cards, then tossed out several chips.
The dealer smiled seductively and turned over the cards.
Cheng Miao did not understand the game very well, but Qin Musong knew a little. “Blackjack. He lost.”
Cheng Miao watched the man’s face darken as he stood. He picked up the half-empty bottle of whiskey beside the table and staggered away.
This was far too common a sight in the casino to attract the other players’ attention. Only Cheng Miao’s group followed him.
The man took a swig every few steps. He stumbled into a corner of the casino, sat down, and curled in on himself.
He was out of money. He would rest here for a while, then enter an instance directly.
Then he heard footsteps stop beside him.
He raised his head and peered blearily at the newcomer. His murky eyes cleared in an instant, and a slightly hoarse voice emerged from his cracked lips. “You’re… Cheng Miao?”
Cheng Miao crouched halfway down. “It’s me.”
The man’s lips moved, forming a smile uglier than tears. “It’s been a long time.”
Cheng Miao sighed inwardly and asked the man to add her as a friend.
He hesitated, but eventually took Cheng Miao’s phone.
After a few taps, 2,000 Travel Coins were transferred into the man’s account, which had previously held a balance of zero. Cheng Miao patted his shoulder and stood.
“Find a Hotel and get a few days of proper rest. Stop drinking and gambling. Take your instances seriously. There’s still hope.”
The man stared blankly at the phone. He neither spoke nor thanked her, as though he had gone numb.
Cheng Miao lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’m sorry for your loss, Qin Wen.”