In the depths of the endless sea.

In the boundless darkness, a red light flashed, tightly connecting the man and woman in the darkness...

That's... a marriage rope?

With a "whoosh," a flame ignited, illuminating the surroundings.

Qin Wan stared intently at Lu Huai, only to find that he was looking at her blankly, along with the red thread of fate that bound the two of them together.

"This is?"

"Why did this marriage rope suddenly bind us together?" Lu Huai looked at Qin Wan in confusion.

His innocent, clear eyes were filled with a sense of naivety, as if Qin Wan had secretly tampered with the marriage rope to make it look the way it did.

After all, he had briefly lost consciousness in the vortex and hadn't touched the marriage rope.

Of course, most importantly, he still didn't know how to use this marriage rope.

But Qin Wan is different...

She is a veteran player of "Nine Provinces World" and knows everything about the origin of the Marriage Rope and that it will be sold in the official store.

Clearly, Qin Wan knew everything about the marriage rope.

It's not surprising that people know how to use it.

The thought that Qin Wan had deliberately used the marriage rope to bind the two of them sent a shiver down Lu Huai's spine...

[Lu Huai's favorability increased by 5, current favorability is 61.]

Qin Wan: "..."

After just a brief moment of eye contact, Qin Wan knew the answer in her heart.

Without a doubt, this guy is just making things up in his head again.

"The marriage rope has automatically recognized its owner," Qin Wan explained with mixed feelings.

"Automatically recognizes its owner?" Lu Huai was taken aback. "But didn't you say before that this marriage rope can only be used under the marriage tree designated by the game's official team?"

"This place...this place is clearly the Endless Sea, so how did this marriage rope suddenly become activated and automatically recognize its owner?"

Meeting Lu Huai's puzzled gaze, Qin Wan fell into an eerie silence.

It's not that she didn't want to explain...

It's not that she was unaware of the reason...

The main reason is that she couldn't say it, and didn't know how to say it.

Qin Wan sighed softly, her slender, fair hand gently brushing against the marriage rope...

"That's not important."

"Perhaps some reason in this endless sea activated this marriage rope..." Qin Wan made up a reason on the spot to fob off Lu Huai.

Seeing the evasive look in Qin Wan's eyes, and faced with her reasons that even she herself didn't believe, Lu Huai was not angry at all; instead, a faint sense of pleasure appeared in his eyes.

He knew she must be embarrassed...

[Lu Huai's favorability increased by 5, current favorability 66.]

"Is this the depths of the endless sea?"

To ease Qin Wan's embarrassment, Lu Huai changed the subject, looked around, and found that all he could see was darkness.

"There are restrictions here," Qin Wan explained.

As she spoke, she took Lu Huai's hand, and the moment the warm, soft touch touched him, Lu Huai's pupils trembled slightly.

she……

“Even if you light a fire here, you won’t be able to see anything. Follow me, and I’ll take you out.”

As she spoke, Qin Wan tightened her grip on Lu Huai's hand, turning back to look at him as they walked, watching his every move with concern.

Seeing her meticulous care, Lu Huai's heart skipped a beat...

[Lu Huai's favorability increased by 2, current favorability 68.]

"I'll go first."

Lu Huai suddenly gripped Qin Wan's hand tightly, and even though it was dark all around, he couldn't hide his burning gaze.

Qin Wan paused in her steps, turned to look at him, and her face showed disapproval.

"You lack combat experience..."

Before Qin Wan could finish speaking, Lu Huai interrupted her.

"Isn't it precisely because I lack combat experience that I need to train myself?"

"And with you by my side, even if an emergency occurs, I believe you will protect me immediately."

Upon hearing this: "..." So, what difference does it make who goes first and who goes last between us?

When danger comes, won't I still be the one to take the lead?

Although she was inwardly complaining, Qin Wan wisely kept quiet and pretended to agree with Lu Huai's words, walking obediently behind him.

Seeing this, Lu Huai's eyebrows curved into a smile, and his gaze towards Qin Wan became even more tender.

Her willingness to back down and give him a chance to try protecting her shows that she doesn't see him as useless.

Perhaps... she also has a little bit of him in her heart?

Thinking of this, a very faint sweetness appeared in Lu Huai's eyes.

[Lu Huai's favorability increased by 2, current favorability is 70.]

Looking at Lu Huai's unconsciously straightened back, a faint trace of helplessness flashed in Qin Wan's eyes.

His popularity was genuine... which she couldn't understand.

Even so, a sweet feeling kept welling up inside me.

So, while Lu Huai was focused on exploring the way, Qin Wan quietly tightened her grip on his hand and quickened her pace, constantly closing the physical distance between them.

Upon noticing Qin Wan's actions, Lu Huai's breath caught in his throat...

she……

"Are you... scared?"

Lu Huai tried his best to calm himself down and make his voice sound calm and composed so that Qin Wan would notice something was wrong and realize his ill intentions towards her.

"...Well, because of some things that happened when I was little, I'm a little afraid of the dark," Qin Wan explained softly.

Some reasons from my childhood?

Upon hearing this, the ripples in Lu Huai's heart instantly subsided, leaving only worry for Qin Wan.

"Why don't we go outside..." Lu Huai said suddenly, his thin lips pressed together.

Upon hearing this, Qin Wan was taken aback.

"Why?"

Why would you suddenly want to go out?

Besides, they just got in, and it took them so much effort to get in.

"I wanted to complete the dungeon, but it's just a game after all..." Nothing is more important than you.

Lu Huai used immense self-control to hold back from saying that last sentence.

He was afraid, afraid of frightening Qin Wan.

Even he himself found his idea extremely unbelievable.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

"I'm just a little afraid of the dark, it's not serious."

"If you're really worried about me, then walk slowly and talk to me more, and I won't be afraid anymore."

Because Lu Huai's favorability rating rose so easily, and because he made his feelings for her so obvious and undisguised, Qin Wan simply stopped trying to fool him.

Mainly...

Whether she's sincere or not, it doesn't stop him from being willing and happy to be fooled by her.

"good."

As expected...

As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Huai tightened his grip on her hand and then walked even slower and more carefully.

To keep Qin Wan from being scared, he kept talking to her and showing concern for her situation.

For example, what does she usually play when she's alone in a game?

For example, why would she want to rent it out?

For example, if you really don't want to cook or clean, why not just hire a part-time worker or a housekeeper...?

All the questions he asked were about her life, about the little things in her daily life...