Chapter 46

Xie Lanchen possessed an exceptionally superior physique.

His shoulder blades had the distinct, well-defined contours of someone who worked out regularly, and his waist was lean and fit.

When paired with that beautiful face that carried a hint of coldness when he wasn’t smiling, the effect was striking.

Standing next to Ning Xi, who was hailed as a ‘god-tier beauty,’ their chemistry was off the charts.

[Who says only those standing in the light are heroes? You NPCs, who are responsible for assisting the Xilan Flower ship, are the true heroes!]

[This won’t do! They didn’t even bump into each other’s mouths!]

[That NPC needs to shove them harder! Did you not eat today?]

“Sorry.”

Ning Xi reluctantly withdrew from Xie Lanchen’s embrace.

Ning Xi, your life is really looking up now. You can even cop a feel of a man’s pecs while recording a variety show in a haunted house.

Hee hee.

In the distance, Fu Zhi watched this scene, gritting his teeth in frustration.

That Xie Lanchen is so shameless, actually taking advantage of Ning Xi!

When he got back to Ning Xi’s side later, he would definitely help her keep a close eye on Xie Lanchen!

However, things developed beyond everyone’s expectations.

Music suddenly blared in the first-floor hall again. The lights flared as bright as day, and the NPCs flooded back into the hall like a tide to continue their dance.

Just after they left, Ning Xi picked up a blood-stained card from the floor. The handwriting was so forceful it nearly pierced the paper:

“Don’t look back! Don’t look back! Don’t look back! Even if you get separated from your friends, you will meet again later!”

“So, this castle might have two exploration routes. Those NPCs just now were meant to split us into two groups.”

After reading the note, Xie Lanchen voiced his analysis.

Ning Xi nodded, then suddenly realized something.

“You seem quite experienced at this.”

His analysis was perfectly logical.

The smile at the corner of Xie Lanchen’s mouth faltered, and his expression turned somber.

“I’m just forcing myself to stay calm. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

Ning Xi instantly felt a surge of pity for him.

Standing at the very edge, Shen Yibai saw Ning Xi’s expression. His eyelashes drooped, and he curled his lips in a self-deprecating smirk.

Ning Xi glanced at Xie Lanchen, Jiang Sheshe, and Shen Yibai, who had been assigned to the same group as her, and made a decision.

“We’re going upstairs now.”

Xie Lanchen nodded.

Jiang Sheshe, however, stood frozen in place.

Ning Xi gave her a tug. “Let’s go.”

She was standing there like an idiot.

Jiang Sheshe still didn’t move. She looked at Ning Xi.

“At such a critical moment just now, the first person Brother Xuan protected was someone else.”

Ning Xi scratched her head. “Oh, I see. Can we go now?”

“Do you know what this means?”

“What does it mean?” Ning Xi asked humbly.

“Forget it, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Jiang Sheshe felt a bit deflated.

Ning Xi: ? What a nutcase.

If Jiang Sheshe didn’t say anything, how was she supposed to understand?

“Then let’s talk while we walk,” Ning Xi urged.

She had just noticed that the clock on the first floor of the castle showed the time as eight o’clock, which was different from the real world.

The Program Team had said earlier that the castle would catch fire at twelve o’clock, which meant they actually only had four hours for their exploration.

They had to hurry.

Ning Xi gave Jiang Sheshe another pull, but she couldn’t budge the stubborn girl.

Jiang Sheshe: “I want to wait and see Brother Xuan’s reaction.”

Ning Xi: “……………………”

She had never seen such a pure ‘love-brain’ in her entire life.

She looked at Xie Lanchen beside her. “Do you have a Privilege Card from the Program Team?”

Xie Lanchen was confused. “Privilege Card? What’s that?”

Ning Xi pressed a hand to her forehead. “I want to use a Privilege Card to send her to the other group.”

Both her and Jiang Sheshe’s Privilege Cards had been used up earlier, and now Xie Lanchen didn’t have one either…
Ning Xi dragged Jiang Sheshe straight toward the stairs.

She scolded her as they walked, “What’s all this about love? You’ll come to your senses after working for two days.”

Why bother with men when you can make money?

Thinking of men, Ning Xi couldn’t help but glance at Shen Yibai beside her.

She was worried that this guy might have a “love brain” moment like Jiang Sheshe and insist on joining Ning Mingyue’s group, dragging down their progress.

Fortunately, Shen Yibai didn’t pull any stunts; he just followed silently behind them.

While dragging the stubborn Jiang Sheshe along, Ning Xi advised, “You know, great singers write their best songs when they’re sad. If you’re feeling down later, just think about your work, think about your new song.”

Jiang Sheshe sighed, “But there are times when I just don’t want to work.”

Ning Xi: “…”

“Your primary task right now is graduating from elementary to middle school. So when you’re free, go deliver takeout or be a security guard. I know life is stressful for everyone in this world, but it’s okay, just eat some blueberries. Blueberries, commonly known as apples, grow in the rainforests of the Sahara Desert. Because they look like penguins, we also like to call them kiwis…”

Ning Xi poured her heart and soul into comforting Jiang Sheshe.

Jiang Sheshe was left completely dazed by the nonsense as the group of four finally reached the second floor.

On the other side.

Fu Zhi wasn’t having it when he learned they were splitting into two groups.

“On what grounds? I was clearly going to find Ning Xi just now, but those NPCs forced me over here! I want to switch back!”

No one paid him any mind.

Having been reincarnated, Ning Mingyue believed in the supernatural more than most, so those ghost and corpse NPCs were far more terrifying to her than to an average person.

Wei Xuan looked concerned and asked in a low voice, “Are you okay?”

Ning Mingyue nodded palely, instinctively leaning closer to Wei Xuan.

Since she couldn’t be in a group with Shen Yibai, she could only rely on Wei Xuan now.

But Wei Xuan wasn’t as happy as one might expect.

When he heard Ning Mingyue scream earlier, he had instinctively protected her.

He hadn’t expected it would result in him and Jiang Sheshe being split into two groups.

And it left Jiang Sheshe with Ning Xi, whom she’d had a falling out with last night…

“Let’s head upstairs quickly. The card said we can meet up with separated friends later. It’s better if we regroup as soon as possible.”

Wei Xuan was anxious, but he remained calm on the surface.

Ning Mingyue had no objections.

Just as she was about to say something, Wei Xuan had already started heading upstairs.

A flash of discomfort at being ignored crossed Ning Mingyue’s mind.

Fu Zhi was still trying to negotiate with the cameraman about switching groups.

“Swap me with Xie Lanchen. If that doesn’t work, Shen Yibai is fine too. After all, Shen Yibai is more familiar with Ning Mingyue.”

The cameraman said nothing, silently holding the camera.

“Fu Zhi, let’s go,”

Ning Mingyue urged.

Fu Zhi didn’t even look back. He stared at Ning Xi’s retreating back as she left with Xie Lanchen without a single backward glance, saying in shock:

“That brat Ning Xi didn’t even look at me! She just left with Xie Lanchen! She’s gone! She’s gone!”

[An event this big deserves a three-day national holiday.]

[Fu Zhi acting like his wife ran off with someone else is killing me.]

[Good lord, does this show only produce love brains? Jiang Sheshe and Fu Zhi should have plenty to talk about.]

[It’s okay, Princess. You’ve decided to become a cold boy from now on who will never smile again. You’ll start tearing up the moment you hear the name Ning Xi, and give her the cold shoulder whenever you see her. You’ll bury yourself in work just to make Ning Xi realize how much her actions hurt you.]

[Hahahahahahahaha fuck.]