Li Yuheng suddenly sneered, leaned close to Shu Bai's ear, and said in a low, dangerous voice, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Shu Bai frowned slightly, instinctively sensing a hint of danger.
But before he could think about it, Li Yuheng had already straightened up, and his cynical smile returned to his face.
"Let's go, it's getting dark." Li Yuheng naturally took Shu Bai's small hand. "Let's find a place to spend the night."
Shu Bai looked down at their clasped hands, then looked up at Li Yuheng's profile, and finally said nothing.
The two walked along the stone path, with Li Yuheng humming a little tune as they went, as if the strange conversation from before had never happened.
…
"When will you do it?" Shu Bai asked abruptly.
"So eager?"
"I just don't like being in debt."
"Oh? How long can you maintain your adult form at most?"
"...Ten minutes."
"That's not enough. Let's talk about it when we meet you in person in the third instance."
"Will it take a long time?"
"Um."
"oh."
…
"Why can't you say it now?"
"cannot."
"Why?"
"It's just not possible."
"Because you're angry?"
"Part of the reason."
"oh."
…
"Is it because you think I'm too small and weak right now, and that I'm not useful without an adult form?"
"…no."
"Then what are you laughing at?"
"……(silence)"
"Still laughing."
I just laughed.
"oh."
0090 cautiously observed Li Yuheng's expression in the consciousness space. Although the young master still appeared to be smiling and playful on the surface, it felt that something was not right.
"Your Highness..." 0090 hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage to ask, "Are you angry?"
Li Yuheng held Shu Bai's hand, a nonchalant smile on his face, and silently replied in his mind with a single word: "Mm".
0090 immediately tensed up: [It's because Shu Bai just now...]
“Hmm.” Li Yuheng interrupted it, “But the anger has subsided now.”
0090: [? ? ? ]
That's such a fast change in mood!
One second he was so gloomy he could drip water, the next second he said his anger had subsided?
Li Yuheng seemed to sense 0090's confusion: "What, do you think I'm moody?"
0090 quickly denied it: 【No, no! Your Highness, you are wise and powerful, your emotional control is top-notch!】
"I didn't realize that your flattery skills have improved so much since you upgraded, little system. Go find me a house that's worthy of the supreme male lead and his wife."
"Yes, Your Highness."
...
Shu Bai looked up at the villa, which was clearly more luxurious than the other buildings, and then at Li Yuheng: "This is the mayor's house."
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "So?"
“So,” Shu Bai said expressionlessly, “this is my house.”
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "That's even better! It's joint property of husband and wife, so I have the right to move in."
Shu Bai: "..."
The town mayor was an elderly man with gray hair and a kind face. He stood under the porch, leaning on his cane, and squinted at Li Yuheng.
"Young man, who are you...?" The mayor's voice was gentle, tinged with a hint of doubt.
Li Yuheng smiled and bowed: "Hello, I am Li Yuheng, a reporter from the Universe Daily. I would like to stay the night."
“Reporters…” the town mayor sighed, “Actually, there’s nothing to report about this town; it’s just a bunch of pitiful people.”
Li Yuheng feigned surprise: "How could that be? I think the scenery here is beautiful and the people are kind and simple. It's perfect for writing a 'Small Town Chronicle'!"
The town mayor shook his head with a wry smile: "Young man, you don't understand... Never mind, come in."
He stepped aside to make way, and Li Yuheng took Shu Bai's hand and strode in.
Shu Bai's hand was firmly held by Li Yuheng, and she could not break free.
"Let go. It's hot," Shu Bai said in a low voice.
Li Yuheng pretended not to hear, instead gripping their hands even tighter and deliberately shaking their clasped hands: "Xiao Shubai, this is your home, shouldn't you show some hospitality?"
The mayor couldn't hear Shu Bai's voice, but he saw Li Yuheng talking to thin air. His expression immediately turned worried: "Young man, who... are you talking to?"
Li Yuheng blinked: "Huh? No, I was practicing my interview lines."
The mayor was skeptical, but still led him to a guest room on the second floor: "You can stay here. I'll have dinner brought up."
"Thank you, Mayor!" Li Yuheng said with a bright smile. "You're such a kind person!"
The mayor shook his head, turned and left.
Once the footsteps faded into the distance, Shu Bai shook off Li Yuheng's hand and said, "You did that on purpose."
Li Yuheng spread his hands innocently: "What do you mean by 'intentional'? How could someone as upright as me have bad intentions?"
"He can't see me."
"Yes, I know. Because you are a ghost, the townspeople can't see you, just like that old woman. But the players can see you, like me. So the setting of this instance is—the townspeople can't see ghosts, but the players can."
Shu Bai was silent for a moment, then a strange light flashed in his eyes: "How much did you guess?"
Li Yuheng didn't answer directly. Instead, he walked to the bedside, sat down, and patted the spot next to him: "Come sit down, let's talk."
Shu Bai stood still, his eyes wary.
"What are you afraid of?" Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to eat you."
Shu Bai, holding her worn-out puppy doll, slowly walked to the bedside and sat down.
Li Yuheng tilted his head and looked at him, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Shubai, do you have the energy to transform now?"
"...What are you doing?"
"This is very important." Li Yuheng said with a serious expression, "You change first, and then we'll talk."
Shu Bai stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds, but in the end, black mist emanated from her body.
In an instant, the little boy's figure elongated, and after the black mist dissipated, the adult version of Shu Bai sat on the edge of the bed with a cold face.
"Can you speak now?" His voice was low and tinged with impatience.
A dark glint flashed in Li Yuheng's eyes, and he pounced on her with lightning speed.
Shu Bai's pupils contracted sharply. Before she could react, Li Yuheng pressed her down onto the bed, his warm lips pressing heavily against hers.
Shu Bai suddenly opened her eyes wide and instinctively put her hands on Li Yuheng's chest, trying to push him away.
Li Yuheng was prepared. He forcefully gripped Shu Bai's wrist with his ten fingers and pressed him firmly onto the bed.
"Just nine minutes of kissing," he mumbled between kisses, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "I'll handle it."
Shu Bai's struggle suddenly stopped.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate.
The room was so quiet that only the two of them could be heard breathing.
Li Yuheng silently counted the seconds in his mind. When the clock struck 8 minutes and 30 seconds, he slowly pulled away, ending the kiss.
Shu Bai opened his eyes, his dark pupils glistening with tears, but his voice remained cold: "The time is not up yet."
Li Yuheng chuckled and wiped the water from the corner of his lips with his thumb: "Save 30 seconds for next time."
Shu Bai suddenly pushed Li Yuheng away, and Li Yuheng fell onto the bed, lying on his back with a satisfied smile on his lips.
Shu Bai sat up: "What important thing is it?"
Li Yuheng put his hands behind his head and lazily turned his head to the side: "Hmm... what is your mission?"
Shu Bai paused for a moment, then replied expressionlessly, "Just wandering around."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuheng widened his eyes dramatically: "Wow, there's Gui in the dungeon, I'm not playing anymore."
"...What's wrong with you now?"
Li Yuheng ignored him and continued in a sarcastic tone, "Looks like you're on pretty good terms with a few dungeon bosses, huh? Going easy on you at the White Lady's tea party, and being able to wander around Silent Town as you please, tsk tsk tsk, this treatment, could they all be your exes?"
A vein throbbed on Shu Bai's forehead: "...They are just my companions."
"Companions? Oh no, this is even more dangerous! Don't you know the saying 'familiarity breeds affection'? Don't you know the saying 'proximity breeds affection'?"
Shu Bai, unable to bear it any longer, retorted: "What's going on in your head?"
"Carrying you in my heart—"
"..."
"Why help them become bosses? Oh, and that game guide named Feng what?"
"...They helped me."
Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
“Back then…” Shu Bai paused, as if organizing his thoughts, “I had only recently become the boss, and I was still… naive.”
He looked up, a hint of self-mockery flashing in his eyes: "I thought helping them get rid of their player identities was a good thing."
Li Yuheng watched him quietly without interrupting.
Shu Bai continued, "Xi Feng was the first. He saved me in one of the loops, so I gave him the role of game guide."
Where is Madam Bai?
“She… gave me a piece of candy when I was at my most desperate.” Shu Bai’s voice was very soft. “Isn’t it ridiculous? Just for a piece of candy.”
"Not ridiculous."
Shu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth: "Later I realized that rather than being a boss who consciously retains his memories and goes through one loop after another, it's better to be a player who knows nothing and dies and comes back to life."
He paused, "At least... they won't remember how many times they've died."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Li Yuheng suddenly reached out and gently placed his hand on Shu Bai's: "Regret it?"
Shu Bai remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
Li Yuheng squeezed his hand: "Then let's not think about these things for now."
He sat up, stretched, and said, "The most important thing right now is to clear this instance, and then go to the third instance to see your true form."
Shu Bai frowned: "You still haven't told me how much you've guessed."
Li Yuheng tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Hmm... it's probably from A to Z?"
Shu Bai: "..."
...
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li Yuheng gently pulled away from Shu Bai's arms that were wrapped around him and stuffed a pillow inside.
Shu Bai frowned slightly in his sleep, but quickly fell back asleep.
Li Yuheng tiptoed out of the room and met the mayor in the corridor.
"Good morning, Mayor," Li Yuheng greeted with a bright smile.
The mayor smiled kindly, "Up so early?"
Li Yuheng leaned lazily against the wall: "Hmm, I can't sleep, I want to talk to you."
"What should we talk about?"
“Those townspeople who disappeared ten years ago,” Li Yuheng looked directly into the mayor’s eyes, “did they all leave on their own?”
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