Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Lu Yuanshi stopped.
He had thought Xiao Huai would simply walk away.
But Xiao Huai turned back to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“You really do have more and more friends now,” Lu Yuanshi murmured.
Xiao Huai raised his eyes and walked back to him, placing both hands behind his back.
He tilted his head at Lu Yuanshi, a faint smile touching his lips.
He spoke one word at a time, each one carving itself deep into Lu Yuanshi’s heart.
“You’re my friend too.”
Lu Yuanshi’s pupils widened slightly.
Xiao Huai continued, “And friends don’t need to pay each other to play games together.”
He did not offer game-companion services.
Because friends played games together for free.
The presence of friends gave the game greater meaning.
Xiao Huai still did not know how Lu Yuanshi managed to appear in the same instance as him every time.
But little by little, he seemed to have grown accustomed to Lu Yuanshi’s presence and company.
The tension left Lu Yuanshi’s brow. Standing beside Xiao Huai, he murmured so softly it was almost to himself,
“All right.”
He had never imagined he would one day become someone’s friend.
Everything seemed to be unfolding exactly as he hoped.
He had seen the Xiao Huai who reached the eighteenth floor, dazzling and radiant beyond compare.
What an honor it was to become his friend.
Lu Yuanshi caught Xiao Huai’s scarred left wrist, giving him no chance to pull away.
“Hello, friend. Do you think I’ll protect you properly?”
Xiao Huai raised an eyebrow. “You should worry about protecting yourself first.”
Lu Yuanshi smiled but said nothing more. He merely held Xiao Huai’s left wrist tightly and refused to release it.
Xiao Huai knew that once Lu Yuanshi caught hold of him, he clung like a burr and could not be shaken off.
So he let Lu Yuanshi keep holding him.
On their way to the guest rooms, the group passed through another courtyard and stopped involuntarily.
A large theater stage stood high in the center. Its winged roof swept upward at all four corners like a bird poised to take flight.
Though night was approaching, light still gleamed across its glazed roof tiles.
Red curtains adorned the stage like a mass of burning flame. A single glance made it difficult for the players to look away.
The stage was so breathtaking that one could not help wondering what kind of performer might appear upon it.
Chen Chong was the first to lose patience. He asked Butler Yang, “Third Uncle, who was this stage built for?”
Though he could not see, Butler Yang turned precisely toward the stage, his voice full of longing and delight.
“It naturally belongs to the Young Lady of the Yang Residence.”
“Wow.” Chen Chong sighed. “Is the young lady incredibly beautiful? Will we get to see her? Is the beauty single?”
Chen Chong fired off question after question, every one centered on whether the Young Lady of the Yang Residence was attractive.
Jiang Wenmei had lost count of how many times she had rolled her eyes. She slapped the back of Chen Chong’s head, making him yelp.
Jiang Wenmei said, “Try bringing your brain.”
The blunt rebuke made the other players struggle not to laugh.
Who asked whether an NPC in a horror game was beautiful? They were not here to find dates.
Even if they were, no one would dare date an NPC from a horror game.
How terrifying would that be?
Butler Yang did not seem offended. Lost in memory, he said,
“The young lady is the most beautiful person I have ever seen. She always shines upon the stage. Later, she met the person she loved…”
His words abruptly stopped there.
Everyone had expected to hear a story. After all, information about what happened here was crucial to completing the game’s missions.
But Butler Yang closed his mouth and continued forward with a grave expression.
Their curiosity thoroughly aroused but unsatisfied, the players could not let the matter rest. Even Zhong Jiangyuan called after him.
“Butler Yang, did something happen afterward?”
Butler Yang stopped. He turned as though his entire body had locked in place.
Then the players saw his expression.
His features twisted with savage rage as he hissed for silence, all trace of his former courtesy and gentleness gone.
The players flinched.
But the fury vanished after only an instant. Butler Yang resumed his mild tone.
“Ah, that matter. The Yang Residence forbids anyone to mention it, so it is best left in the past. You would also be wise not to investigate too deeply. I fear you might spoil the master’s mood and bring misfortune upon yourselves.”
He leaned on his cane and walked slowly ahead. There was something inexplicably uncanny in the way he spoke.
As though he were seeing the dead off on their final journey.
The more perceptive players had already realized that Butler Yang’s warning might be a forbidden rule.
To be safe, they should not investigate the truth behind it yet. If the taboo was real,
They might genuinely become the first cannon fodder to die in the game.
The players all intended to ignore the matter, but Xiao Huai’s voice came from behind them.
“Who is your master?”
The master?
Of course.
They suddenly remembered that Butler Yang had referred to the master and the young lady separately. Someone of still higher status must live within the Yang Residence.
Yet they had walked through the estate for quite some time. Apart from Butler Yang, they had not seen a single servant, pampered young master, or young lady.
“The master of the Yang Residence, naturally. He went to East City to handle several matters and will return soon.”
Xiao Huai asked no more questions.
The other players found Butler Yang’s answer perfectly reasonable.
But Xiao Huai had captured the crucial information within it.
First, the Young Lady of the Yang Residence falling in love with someone was taboo here. If the master of the Yang Residence enforced the punishment,
Then his current absence meant
This would be their best opportunity to investigate the truth.
Xiao Huai intended to find out exactly what had happened tonight.
As the thought crossed his mind, Lu Yuanshi moved his lips beside Xiao Huai’s ear and whispered for him alone,
“Shall we go together?”
Xiao Huai raised an eyebrow.
Lu Yuanshi truly understood him.
“Whatever.”
The corner of Lu Yuanshi’s mouth lifted.
The doors to the courtyard guest rooms were somewhat worn, their wood and paper-covered windows bearing the marks of time.
Butler Yang gave the players a traditional clasped-hands salute. “These are the rooms where you will stay for the time being. There are many available. Choose as you please.”
“Food has been prepared in every room. If it is not to your taste, you may dine at the Red Mansion in town. You are all honored guests of the Yang Residence. Simply announce yourselves, and the Yang Residence will cover every expense.”
As he spoke, a peaceful smile filled his face.
But when he began reciting the household rules, the smile vanished instantly.
“Though you are honored guests, please observe the rules of the Yang Residence. Do not wander about after midnight. The young lady dislikes noise, and any commotion will disturb her rest. In addition, if you hear a baby crying at night, it is nothing. Ignore it.”