Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Qiudong sat on the back of the chair beside Cheng Miao. Her face looked aloof and composed, but the pride in her eyes was practically spilling over.

And yet, in front of outsiders, she acted as though she wanted for nothing. The stark contrast brushed across Qiudong’s heart like a feather, leaving it pleasantly itchy.

So cute.

Qiudong thought this without a trace of expression. Then he stood, leaped onto Cheng Miao’s shoulder, and seemingly by accident brushed the tip of his nose against her cheek. Satisfied, he tucked his paws beneath himself and settled down.

Cheng Miao did not realize Qiudong had taken advantage of her, but the tiny gesture did not escape King’s eyes.

King finally put away her cynical air. “I’m about to enter an instance too. Why don’t you take me along?”

The corner of Cheng Miao’s mouth twitched as she watched the regal King clasp her hands and wheedle like a spoiled child.

Just as Cheng Miao was wondering how to refuse, Qiudong spoke first. “No.”

King pouted. “I’m only trying to find a chance to repay the favor I owe you.”

Qiudong flicked his tail, signaling Cheng Miao that it was time to leave. “Keep owing me.”

Although Cheng Miao had no idea what was going on, she rose in tacit agreement, politely said goodbye to King, and led the others out.

“What, is she the same kind of player as Gu Jian?”

“No.”

Their hushed conversation drifted faintly from the closing elevator.

King’s red lips curved upward. Gu Jian?

No. She was nothing like that instance-crazed lunatic.

King lazily beckoned, and a tall man in a suit stepped forward from the shadows.

King flexed her supple wrist. “Go down and play a couple of rounds.”

Her captivating eyes fixed on the multicolored chips below with an almost deranged obsession.

Cheng Miao was still probing indirectly. King was clearly a cleared player, and she was both Qiudong’s old friend and someone who owed him a favor.

However Cheng Miao looked at it, Qiudong had to be one of the cleared players too.

Qiudong sighed, gaining a new appreciation for Cheng Miao’s persistence.

“Fine. I’ll tell you when we get back.”

That was what he said, but Qiudong had never imagined returning to the Grand Hotel to find all four of them sitting in a row, each holding a drink and watching him.

Of course, he could also tell that Qi Jiajia did not care much. She simply wanted to stay with Cheng Miao.

Qiudong looked unusually embarrassed. Then he cleared his throat. “What do you want to know?”

The countless thoughts and questions in Cheng Miao’s mind had suddenly found an outlet. After a moment’s consideration, she chose the most important one. “You’re a cleared player, right?”

Qiudong nodded. Watching Cheng Miao’s eyes light up, he carefully added, “I was among the earliest group of cleared players. After clearing the Game, I chose to remain in Survival Inn.”

Cheng Miao compared that with everything she already knew and asked, “But you don’t have to enter an instance every month…?”

Qiudong sat up straight and looked at the four of them. “You would have learned all of this at the end anyway, but since it’s troubling you so much, there is no harm in telling you early.”

“Cleared players who remain in Survival Inn have many choices. Most of them have to work by entering one instance every month, but certain identities are exempt.”

Qiudong curled his tail into a circle against his body. “I chose to become a receptionist. I wasn’t very interested in entering more instances, and I don’t demand much from my material life, so being a receptionist suited me quite well.”

Cheng Miao hummed and tilted her head, feeling a little mischievous. “Then why are you only a Hotel receptionist? That doesn’t seem right.”

Helplessness appeared in Qiudong’s ice-blue eyes. “At Grand Hotels and above, receptionists are required to meet a service standard. Hotels and below don’t impose any requirements on them.”
They understood. His Lordship might have become a receptionist, but he had no interest in serving anyone.

Cheng Miao looked at the fingertips resting on her knees. She did not ask why he did not want to leave or whether there was anyone he missed.

Everyone had their own story and their own life. No matter how close the relationship, one could not press them at every turn.

Instead, she asked a question about herself. “Then why did you start entering instances again with us?”

Qiudong narrowed his eyes, his thoughts unreadable. Only after a moment did he answer, “Your team is actually very unusual in Survival Inn. Most players are like Bai Jiang and Li Cheng. They simply take things one day at a time.”

“They worry whenever they have to enter an instance and celebrate whenever they escape death, but then they develop fear and trauma toward instances.”

“Another group of players are like Qi Jiajia and Gu Jian. Their attitude toward instances is unlike that of ordinary people. That isn’t uncommon among veteran players, either.”

“But someone like you, who isn’t afraid of receptionists, who has always regarded the Game with good-natured curiosity, and who never doubts her own heart, is very rare.”

Qiudong sighed. “Or perhaps it isn’t rare. Everyone starts out that way. What is rare is someone who can remain that way after experiencing several instances.”

He looked meaningfully at Cheng Miao. “That is why you’ll find yourself attracting certain veteran players. To them, you’re more like a seed, carrying the weight of their withered souls.”

Cheng Miao was speechless for a moment. She had never thought there was anything special about her. If she had to name something, it was that she was lucky enough to meet these teammates.

She did not trade polite denials back and forth over the subject. She skipped straight past his answer and asked about something more fundamental.

“What is the purpose of Survival Inn?”

Qiudong’s blue eyes flickered. “I can’t tell you yet. You’ll know once you clear the Game.”

Seeing that Cheng Miao still wanted more but did not know what to ask next, Qiudong jumped onto her knees and looked up at her. “There are still some taboos around discussing it at the Grand Hotel level. Once you reach Resort, most of your questions will be answered.”

Cheng Miao grew eager. “We already have enough money to move there, don’t we?”

Watching her eyes light up after only two sentences, Qiudong thought she was wonderfully easy to coax. Aloud, he said, “Yes, but I need to throw some cold water on you. Once you reach Resort, you’ll discover that having enough money isn’t enough to enter a Club.”

Cheng Miao froze. Beside her, Lin Zhu had already asked the question for her. “Why not?”

Qiudong tapped the tip of his tail. “Advancing from Resort to Club requires a certain number of instances. A player must clear at least fifteen instances to qualify.”

Lin Zhu lowered his head and counted on his fingers, the tiny tuft of hair atop his head bobbing along.

Of everyone on the team, Cheng Miao had cleared the fewest instances, so they could calculate based on her total.

Cheng Miao counted through them in her head. “I’ve cleared eight instances now.”

Qiudong nodded. “Then you need to clear at least seven more.”

Cheng Miao struggled inwardly. She had cleared the fewest instances. Never mind Qi Jiajia and Lin Zhu, Qin Musong might already have enough.

Qin Musong wanted to go home. They might as well give him the money first and let him return, then the rest of them could figure something out.

There was no need to hold everyone back for her sake alone.

She had only just turned her gaze toward Qin Musong when he seemed to read her mind.

Without changing expression, he picked up a travel brochure from the table, rolled it into a tube, and smacked Cheng Miao squarely on the forehead.