Chapter 168
Chapter 168
By the time Lucia finally escaped the streamers who looked ready to devour someone, her lungs felt ready to burst.
“Y-you… pant… Why weren’t you affected?”
Chinnawat stood with his hands on his waist and coughed violently twice. “That’s what I wanted to ask you. Why didn’t they take your food?”
Lucia answered helplessly, “I already told you. You just have to refuse them.”
“Then those streamers…?”
“How would I know? Maybe they panicked the instant they lost points,” Lucia guessed.
In a sense, she was right.
After answering, Lucia hurriedly asked, “Right, I told you my secret. Shouldn’t you tell me why Qiao Xiaowen didn’t affect you?”
Chinnawat hesitated. But when he remembered the streamers in the courtyard, he finally handed Lucia two Clue Cards.
No matter what happened, he and Lucia were now grasshoppers tied to the same rope. They might as well share information and work out a plan together.
Lucia raised a curious brow. Had this man truly drawn a useful clue?
[A little-known fact: The Dragon Boat Festival belongs to Huaxia.]
Lucia clicked her tongue. “Everyone except South Korea already knows that, don’t they?”
Chinnawat curiously leaned over for a look, then hurriedly snatched the Clue Card back with a dry laugh. “Sorry. Wrong one.”
Lucia was speechless.
[Friendly Reminder: The moment a child at the orphanage takes out a flower, hold your breath and leave as quickly as possible.]
Why?
No explanation was given.
Lucia suppressed her curiosity and flipped over the second Clue Card.
[Friendly Reminder: The second game is-hide-and-seek. Be careful. Don’t get caught.]
“Hide-and-seek?”
Did it mean the hide-and-seek she was thinking of?
What would happen if someone got caught?
Meanwhile, Shang Yan finished the half of the cold steamed bun with Qiao Yu and pressed a hand to his aching stomach.
Qiao Yu noticed his breathing lose its rhythm. He took out his phone for light and finally saw Shang Yan hunched over, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
His expression froze.
He had forgotten how delicate Shang Yan had been since childhood. For once, guilt rose in his heart.
For the first time, he tried to pull Shang Yan into his arms. His cold fingers nearly touched Shang Yan’s stomach, only to withdraw at the last moment. “How about… you rub it yourself?”
Shang Yan sighed. He knew Qiao Yu was afraid his cold hand would make things worse, but those words truly made him sound like a scumbag.
Qiao Yu coughed lightly, pushed him back into place, and stood. “I’ll find you some medicine.”
Clutching his stomach, Shang Yan looked up in confusion.
Qiao Yu produced the familiar Small Wire and picked open the dark room’s door in a few quick movements.
Shang Yan looked at the Iron Door after it closed again and shook his head with a helpless smile.
He had almost forgotten. This bastard knew how to pick locks…
“Hand over your food-and your Review Cards!”
Kong Xianya felt terrible as she looked at the vicious faces surrounding her.
She stepped back twice and shook her head. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
Azim’s eyes were bloodshot. He led the crowd two steps closer and slowly raised his fist.
Kong Xianya pursed her lips. “Fine. I’ll give you the food.”
A wise person knew when to yield. She planned to imitate Luo Yunmeng: take the rice balls from her Spatial Grid, throw them into the crowd, and run.
But the next second, someone yanked her hair and dragged her back.
As everyone fought over the rice balls on the ground, they heard one system entry after another awarding them points. Their excitement soared.
They had not expected robbery to bring such a pleasant surprise.
They seemed to have discovered how to survive within the orphanage Instance!
Pain reddened Kong Xianya’s eyes. She had never imagined things would turn out this way.
This was already her second Red Name Instance. Why was this place… so bizarre and terrifying?!
The streamers seemed to have been assimilated by the orphanage’s little ghosts. Their faces had become hateful, and they had abandoned all morality.
At a time like this, she would rather face the Ghosts than the living people here.
As hand after hand reached to restrain her, footsteps approached, and Director Qiao Shihui’s voice sounded nearby.
“Stop!”
The streamers recognized the director’s voice. Fear filled their eyes as they instinctively remembered the gigantic head outside the backyard the previous night.
The little ghosts who had been eating snacks and watching the show looked at the newcomer in surprise and frowned in confusion.
Amid the silence, Director Qiao Shihui stepped forward and lifted Kong Xianya by the collar. “You caused this disturbance, didn’t you?”
The previous harshness vanished from her voice, which abruptly softened. The resident ghosts’ brows relaxed, and they continued eating their novel snacks.
Kong Xianya froze, her mind racing for a solution. Before she could find one, the director passed “judgment.”
“You’ve been very naughty and must be punished.”
With that, she dragged Kong Xianya into her office.
The moment they entered the square room, Kong Xianya found herself tossed aside.
“Director Qiao Shihui” began rummaging through cabinets and drawers like a thief.
Even more strangely, the director found a medical kit and removed a box of Weitai stomach medicine.
Kong Xianya: ??
“What are you staring at? Where’s Luo Yunmeng?”
Kong Xianya became even more confused.
When “Director Qiao Shihui” received no answer, she looked over in puzzlement while restoring the room to its original state.
After two seconds of silence, she finally noticed Kong Xianya’s strange expression. Clicking her tongue, she revealed her identity. “I’m Qiao Yu.”
Kong Xianya pointed at him and stammered “y-you” for ages.
Qiao Yu pulled out an Eyebrow Pencil and smiled. “Painted Skin-brand Eyebrow Pencil. Everyone who’s tried it recommends it.”
Kong Xianya could not help applauding.
Qiao Yu was an absolute treasure. How did he get along with ghosts so well?
First there had been the Bridal Ghost, and now Painted Skin had appeared too. How could anyone’s backing be this powerful?!
Once she recovered, Kong Xianya hurried forward and helped Qiao Yu restore the scene of the crime. At the same time, she complained, “That awful Luo Yunmeng abandoned me and ran! You should have seen her. She vanished in a few bounds, like she was flying…”
“I know.”
Kong Xianya made a puzzled sound.
Qiao Yu looked at her sympathetically. “I know exactly how fast she runs. Haven’t you heard the saying?”
Heard what?
“An athlete who doesn’t want to become a doctor isn’t a proper Daoist.”
Kong Xianya fell silent.
Just then, the door was flung open without warning.
Qiao Xiaowen stood in the doorway, pointing at Qiao Yu with malice in her eyes. “Director, someone’s impersonating you.”
The sunset framed by the doorway slowly sank, its glare painful to the eyes. The real Director Qiao Shihui stepped into view and blocked the dazzling light. Smiling, she stared at Qiao Yu.
The disguise rapidly disintegrated the instant it encountered the real person.
Director Qiao Shihui abruptly thrust her head forward. Her neck stretched like a rubber band, and her skull swelled to an enormous size within a single breath!
The change came without warning. Both Qiao Yu and Kong Xianya stopped breathing for a moment.
Still wearing his frail child’s body, Qiao Yu first stuffed the medicine clutched in his hand into his pocket.
Then, under Kong Xianya’s astonished gaze, he executed a magnificent “turn around and leave.”
The Live Stream Room went mad. Shang Yan, who had been secretly watching… went mad too!