Chapter 21 Taking the Initiative: Her Envisioned 18+ Bloody Scene...

"It was my suggestion to take the stairs."

Song Ming, standing nearby, whispered, "I think the elevator is way too dangerous. Someone as brainless as me would be committing suicide if I went in..."

Seeing this, Luo Chuange chimed in, "Song Ming is a bit resistant to elevators, so just to be on the safe side, we'll go up the stairs."

Seeing Liang Xun nod, Gu Keke continued, "They saw me as soon as they came up. I was standing in the middle of the fourth-floor lobby. I was waiting for you, but I waited and waited and you didn't come, so I started to panic."

“Coco told us that you came up in the elevator, so we all suspect that there was a problem with the elevator.”

Luo Chuange said, "After searching the fourth floor, we took the elevator together to the fifth floor, thinking that if we triggered any hidden rules, we might be able to find you."

"But there was nothing unusual when you were in the elevator."

Liang Jun turned her gaze away, guessing what the others would do next. "You started investigating the fifth floor, but found that the fifth-floor reading room hadn't triggered any hidden rules, so you all went up the stairs to the study room together, until you saw me come—is that right?"

The group nodded in agreement.

Gu Keke added, "But actually, when we first entered the study room, there weren't as many people as there are now. We all thought you went into the safe zone first, but we searched for a long time and couldn't find you here... Not long after, the number of people in the study room suddenly increased."

Leung Yung leaned back, looking slightly relaxed in the chair.

"The game has been going on for two days now, so it's normal for everyone to start to value their lives."

Song Ming, who had been lying on the side the whole time, tentatively asked Liang Jun after everyone had finished speaking.

"Sister Jun, can you tell us what you've been through?"

It was only then that the others belatedly realized that Liang Jun had single-handedly unlocked three hidden rules.

They swarmed forward, their admiration evident in their expressions.

Tell us about it!

Liang Jun naturally did not refuse.

She simplified the narrative process, but did not omit any important key plot points.

Upon hearing that Leung Yung had kicked the monster out of the elevator, everyone involuntarily gasped.

Song Ming gave a thumbs up, "Sister Jun, you're really awesome..."

After the story was finished, the audience dispersed.

Gu Keke patted her chest, still shaken. "I really can't imagine. If I were in that elevator, I'd probably be dead by now..."

Liang Jun patted her shoulder casually, "There aren't that many 'what ifs'."

More and more players poured into the study room, and as the crowd density gradually increased, the group was surrounded by unfamiliar players.

To secure their spots without letting others overhear their plans, Gu Keke gathered everyone together, forming a circular human wall around them.

"There don't seem to be any rules in the library..."

Gu Keke muttered to herself, "We tried for a long time but couldn't find any information. It seems like the main rules are all in the elevator."

“That’s right,” Luo Chuange nodded in agreement, “but Sister Jun has already figured out the rules of the elevator pretty well, and given our current situation, there’s no need for us to rush into the elevator again.”

I don't know when it started, but Luo Chuange also began to change his way of addressing her, calling her "Sister Han" along with Song Ming.

He was clearly older than Liang Yan.

Liang Jun, however, did not pay attention to these small details and did not care how she was addressed.

“It’s getting dark outside,” Liang Xun said, glancing at the digital clock at the entrance of the study room. “It’s almost 7 p.m., and the number of players choosing to study in the study room will only increase.”

The surrounding crowd grew louder and louder, so Liang Jun had no choice but to raise her voice accordingly.

"Let's spend the night in the study room tonight, just to ensure our safety for the first night."

This just happened to be what the others wanted.

However, due to the large number of players, the sofa area was already overcrowded, so Liang Jun and his friends, without arguing or fighting, had no choice but to make do by lying on the table for the night.

This resulted in everyone waking up with aches and pains in their backs and necks, and Luo Chuange even developed a stiff neck from sleeping in the same spot.

He tilted his head and looked at everyone, "What's the plan next?"

The teaching buildings and library have been almost completely searched, and the dining area is also visited during mealtimes each day.

Now all that's left is...

"Let's go to the dormitory building."

Liang Jun said, "Logically speaking, dormitories should be where students spend the night, so I estimate there are quite a few hidden rules."

"but……"

Hearing Liang Jun's change of heart, everyone stared at her.

"The boys' and girls' dormitories are separate. This means that once we enter the dormitory, we will not be able to communicate with each other."

Liang Xun turned her gaze to Song Ming, "Is your dormitory far from Luo Chuange's dormitory?"

They weren't in the same class, so naturally they wouldn't be assigned to the same dormitory.

But after confirming the dormitory room number, the two realized that they were just across the hall from each other.

Liang Jun added, "Coco and I are in the same dorm room, and my other roommate is Di Qing, so it's a little safer. If you two don't have any companions, you can also consider spending the rest of the time in the study room."

“If things go smoothly between me and Coco,” Liang Xuan continued, “we can bring out the rules and relay them to you, so you won’t have to worry about the subsequent decoding issues.”

That sounds like a good idea.

However, Luo Chuange and Song Ming firmly refused.

Do we two look like people who reap the benefits without sowing?

Luo Chuange pushed up his black-rimmed glasses. "Back then, we survived the beginner level by figuring things out on our own. You have to believe that the two of us are capable of doing the same."

Song Ming chuckled softly from the side, "Although I was at the bottom of my class, I've at least been through the motions of life."

He pointed to his full-arm tattoos, where the bruises were still clearly visible.

"This minor injury is nothing to worry about!"

Gu Keke suppressed her laughter and lowered the corners of her mouth.

"It's not like you were crying your eyes out back then..."

Song Ming turned his head, pretending not to have heard anything.

Seeing that everyone's spirits were pretty good, Liang Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

University life is dull and boring.

Even in such a dangerous game, Liang Jun still felt the same way.

They repeated their morning routine of going to the classroom for self-study. When they encountered teachers patrolling along the way, everyone tacitly kept their heads down and studied, completely unaffected by these monster NPCs.

The familiarity with the route made all the players lower their guard, and before they knew it, it was lunchtime.

Di Qing extended the invitation to Liang Xun and Gu Keke as before, and the five-person team headed to the dining area together.

Perhaps because the four of them had a better relationship, Di Qing always felt a sense of estrangement that was sometimes close and sometimes distant.

The same applies when queuing for food.

After Di Qing finished receiving his meal, he quickly looked for a seat.

"I'm leaving now. Just come find me after you get your food."

She casually tossed out a sentence and then turned and left.

Before Liang Xun could call out to her, Gu Keke gently pushed her from behind.

"It's your turn," Gu Keke gestured.

Liang Jun pushed her tray to the first window, where the cook, with his back turned, threw a large spoonful of rice into her bowl.

rice?

Liang Jun immediately sensed something was wrong—

Doesn't the cook at window number one dislike rice?

Instead of reminding her companions behind her in front of the cafeteria staff, she continued walking forward.

After serving all the dishes from the four windows, Liang Jun stood aside and waited for them.

I know what you're trying to say.

Luo Chuange, who had just finished getting his food, came over and said to Liang Xun, "Is there something wrong with the chef at window number one?"

Song Ming and Gu Keke nodded at the same time, "That's what we wanted to say too!"

“There’s something wrong with today’s meal,” Liang Jun said, looking down at her plate. “According to the rules, we shouldn’t eat any of the food on this plate.”

After reaching a consensus, the group headed towards Di Qing's direction.

She was already seated and had even thoughtfully prepared cutlery for everyone in advance.

Gu Keke sat down next to Di Qing. As she turned her head to tidy her clothes, she caught a glimpse of Di Qing eating.

"you--"

Gu Keke felt her head buzzing.

Before she could fully remind Di Qing, she saw him stuff a large mouthful of rice into his mouth.

We're doomed...

Gu Keke was well aware of the consequences of breaking the rules.

The thought of Di Qing possibly exploding in front of her, the bloody and mangled scene, made Gu Keke immediately cover her eyes and head.

Strangely, the graphic, erotic scene she envisioned never actually appeared.

Di Qing looked disgusted and spat out all the rice in his mouth.

"Ptooey! This food is getting worse and worse! It didn't smell this bad yesterday!"

The others had been observing Di Qing's condition.

Upon hearing Di Qing's words, Liang Xun deliberately lowered her head and smelled the food in front of her.

The steaming rice is filled with the rich aroma of rice, and the fragrance of braised beef brisket with potatoes is enough to whet your appetite.

Liang Jun couldn't imagine how delicious this meal must have been.

But Di Qing actually thought it smelled bad...

Gu Keke opened her eyes again and saw that Di Qing was still spitting on the plate in disgust.

"Are you alright?" Gu Keke asked incredulously.

Di Qing's face showed even more confusion, and he asked in return, "What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Her brows remained furrowed. She glanced at the untouched bowls and chopsticks of the people beside her and continued to ask, "Why aren't you eating?"

"us……"

Gu Keke was about to bring up the rules with Di Qing when her clothes were tugged hard from behind.

“We saw too much gore yesterday,” Liang Xun said, glancing past Gu Keke and winking at Di Qing. “You understand?”

Di Qing didn't quite understand at first, "I understand..."

"So we don't have much of an appetite. Just looking at food makes us feel nauseous, and we don't really want to eat."

After Liang Xun finished speaking, she turned to Luo Chuange and Song Ming and asked, "Right?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Luo Chuange and Song Ming responded faster than anyone else.

"Alright..."

Since the four people all had the same reason for meeting, Di Qing decided not to inquire further.

She picked up her tray and said, "I'll be going now."

Unlike before, the remaining four people also picked up their plates and followed behind Di Qing, pouring the full load of food into the slop bucket.

As Di Qing was about to say goodbye to everyone after leaving the dining area, Liang Jun preemptively struck.

"We're also heading back to our dorms, and we're going the same way as you."

Liang Xun smiled at Di Qing, her words full of politeness, "May I come with you?"

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Author's Note: Sister Gan: Don't tell everyone all the rules, hey!