Chapter 5 Komura's Unbearable Heart
In this cutthroat dating reality show, Yu Naixin understands better than anyone that she must learn to see through appearances to the essence of things.
However, even if the White Bone Scholar gave her the right to refuse, Yu Naixin would not actually use it.
She now has to be paired with a male guest in order to have a chance to earn Sweet Coins.
Anyone can say nice things, Yu Naixin chuckled dryly, and followed up on the words of the White Bone Scholar: "The spring river tide connects to the sea, I'll listen to whatever you say."
The White Bone Scholar paused for a moment after Yu Naixin spoke.
"...Miss Yu is truly a woman of exceptional literary talent," the White Bone Scholar chuckled, offering a compliment.
This was the first time the viewers in the live stream had heard Yu Naixin recite a rhyme. Compared to her tense and stiff voice during her first simulation, Yu Naixin spoke much more naturally this time.
It immediately attracted the attention of some viewers.
[This new female guest is not only beautiful, but her voice is also incredibly sweet!]
[So cute, its screams must be incredibly alluring when hunted!]
[Wow, what a sweet and well-behaved girl! The height difference between her and the male guest is so adorable, I'm totally shipping them!]
[Congratulations to the female guest on the show "Heartbeat 1000%"! You have received 1 Sweet Coin from a viewer with the ID "看看看乐子吃吃糖"!]
Upon hearing the program's reminder bell again, Yu Naixin paused for a moment.
She had a strong impression of the viewer "Watching Fun and Eating Candy," as he was the first person to tip her during the last simulation.
Compared to the purely malicious donations she received when she was on the verge of death, this viewer was remarkably kind.
Since transmigrating into this dating reality show, Yu Naixin has faced endless malice, like a raging flood. Receiving this single, harmless "sweet coin" made her nose sting a little.
Perhaps, she really does have a chance to escape this nightmarish love affair...
Yu Naixin sniffed and blinked to hide the slight moisture in her eyes, so as not to obstruct her vision.
She tried hard to recognize the places she passed along the way and found that it was in a completely different direction from the direction the paper doll boy had led her in.
There is no overlap between the two for the time being, so Yu Naixin can only construct two separate maps in her mind, hoping to connect them as soon as possible.
Suddenly, the light in my field of vision brightened considerably.
Something unusual must be going on. Yu Naixin's heart was in her throat. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the white-skinned scholar's sleeve, and she looked warily toward the source of the light.
It was an altar about twenty or thirty meters away from them.
The altar was larger than any of the houses in Cocoon Village that Yu Naixin had ever seen. It was decorated with flame patterns everywhere, making it both magnificent and mysterious, and completely out of place with the other ordinary buildings in the village.
In the very center of the altar, there was a bonfire, large enough for four or five people to encircle, with a cluster of flames burning tirelessly inside.
The bonfire was quite large, but the flames weren't very strong, barely reaching Yu Naixin.
Even so, compared to the flickering light from the windows of the houses in the village, the bonfire was as dazzling as the bright moon amidst a sky full of dim stars.
Yu Naixin's eyes widened slightly.
The paper doll boy had previously told her that there was an altar north of Cocoon Village where brides were sacrificed to the mountain god.
It must be the altar right in front of us!
Having confirmed that this was the north side of the village, Yu Naixin's mental map of Cocoon Village became clearer.
The moment Yu Naixin clutched the hem of her clothes, the White Bone Scholar sensed something was amiss.
Looking at Yu Naixin's slender fingers, which were white from exertion, the White Bone Scholar's eyes darkened for a moment.
...What beautiful hands!
Following Yu Naixin's gaze, the White Bone Scholar's eyes also fell on that altar.
Noticing Yu Naixin's eyes filled with both curiosity and fear, the White Bone Scholar smiled and asked, "Miss Yu, are you interested in this place?"
Before Yu Naixin could respond, the White Bone Scholar continued, "This is the only altar in Cocoon Village. On the fifteenth of every month, the Mountain God's wedding ceremony is held here."
The White Bone Scholar continued to kindly answer Yu Naixin's questions, revealing information that the Paper Doll Boy had never mentioned.
"The divine fire here is a gift from the mountain god to Cocoon Village. With the protection of the divine fire, the villagers are able to survive the long night."
"The firelight that Miss Yu saw in the windows of every household in Cocoon Village was obtained from the sacred fire of the altar."
"If you want the divine fire to continue, you must offer sacrifices to the mountain god regularly. Otherwise, the divine fire will go out, and the entire Cocoon Village will be plunged into a deathly darkness, and no one will be able to survive."
"Therefore, all the more than 900 households and more than 3,000 people in the village attach great importance to the monthly wedding ceremony of the mountain god."
"They would select the youngest and most beautiful girl and have the village's paper doll tailor make her an exquisite and gorgeous wedding dress. Every single one of them would participate in the ceremony and personally present the bride to the mountain god."
At this point, the White Bone Scholar looked into Yu Naixin's eyes and slowly said, "If the bride wants to resist, she will face the pursuit of more than three thousand villagers of Cocoon Village, regardless of the cost."
The white-boned scholar still wore a gentle smile, and his tone was so tender it could melt your heart.
With that same smile and tone, he spoke softly and with concern to Yu Naixin, "Miss Yu should know that you are the girl to be offered to the Mountain God this month, right?"
Yu Naixin: "..."
Yu Naixin was sweating profusely.
The words of the White Bone Scholar sent chills down her spine.
Having learned from so many past mistakes, even though the villagers of Cocoon Village were all ordinary people, Yu Naixin did not think they were anyone to be trifled with.
People who have managed to survive in such harsh conditions are certainly not associated with words like "kindness" or "simplicity".
Her identity as the sacrificial bride was determined the moment she entered the venue. As long as she retained this identity, no matter where she hid in the village, the villagers would search high and low to find her and escort her to the altar.
So... she can only do her best to increase the male guest's favorability in order to gain the protection of a male guest who is not an ordinary person?
"Miss Yu, were you frightened by me?" The white-boned scholar smiled apologetically. "It was my fault for being so rude to you."
He lowered his body slightly, getting closer to Yu Naixin, his eyes filled with her image.
The white-boned scholar's tone was as focused as his eyes: "Actually, Miss Yu doesn't need to worry too much. Since you have chosen me, I will do my best to protect you."
At this moment, no bones could be seen on the white-boned scholar's body. He was like a lovelorn scholar in a storybook, solemnly making a promise to Yu Naixin, word by word.
Being gazed at so closely and affectionately by an extremely handsome young man, Yu Naixin was momentarily stunned, and her face, which had turned pale with fear, couldn't help but feel hot.
Recalling the series of actions taken by the White Bone Scholar after she chose him as her ideal male guest, Yu Naixin could truly feel a sense of respect for her that the Paper Doll Boy did not have.
He wouldn't force her to do anything; instead, he would ask her if she wanted to do something.
Since "Heartbeat 1000%" gives her three options right from the start, surely one of them must be safe?
Yu Naixin thought, maybe choosing the White Bone Scholar is the right answer?
“…Thank you.” Yu Naixin looked away from the White Bone Scholar with embarrassment, but her thanks were very sincere and earnest.
The smile on the white-boned scholar's face deepened.
Even after accepting the White Bone Scholar's kindness, Yu Naixin did not give up on finding more clues on her own.
Placing all hopes on others is a choice made out of sheer desperation. Now that it's not the 15th yet, and the altar for the mountain god's wedding ceremony is just around the corner, Yu Naixin wants to go and take a look.
If all else fails and she dies, she still has one more chance to start the simulator, there is still hope!
Seeing Yu Naixin's eagerness, the White Bone Scholar said, "Miss Yu, would you like to get a closer look at the altar? Then I shall accompany you."
After saying this, the White Bone Scholar indeed changed his direction of travel and walked towards the altar, just like before, blocking Yu Naixin's way and clearing a path for her.
Yu Naixin held onto his clothes and walked steadily to the altar.
Yu Naixin thanked the White Bone Scholar again, but she felt that this way of expressing her gratitude was too dry. However, the most important thing now was not to think about these things.
She loosened the hem of the white-boned scholar's robe, approached the altar, and searched left, right, up, and down for any possible clues.
The White Bone Scholar was like a guardian deity, always following behind Yu Naixin, silent and neither stopping her actions nor waiting for her with any impatience.
Unfortunately, Yu Naixin stared intently, but couldn't find anything she wanted.
The altar is a neat square, with its front and left and right sides within the territory of Cocoon Village, while its back side disappears directly into the thick fog outside the village, making it impossible to tell where it leads.
This is the only thing that Yu Naixin cares about.
The White Bone Scholar's explanation came at just the right time: "The altar connects Cocoon Village with the Mountain God's residence. Every month when the wedding ceremony is held, the bride needs to walk around the village altar three times, and then meet the Mountain God through the mist behind the altar."
So that's how it is. Yu Naixin glanced at the back of the altar again, somewhat unwilling. Seeing that she hadn't gained anything, she turned back and grabbed the White Bone Scholar's sleeve once more.
"Didn't you say you were going to take me to your house?" Yu Naixin revealed the first genuine smile she had shown since transmigrating into "Heartbeat 1000%". "Then let's go!"
Her voice was sweet and melodious, and the two small dimples on her cheeks made her even more charming.
Under the glow of the altar's bonfire, Yu Naixin's peach blossom eyes sparkled as if they held tiny stardust.
The white-boned scholar was momentarily dazed by what he saw.
He looked down at his cuff. This time, Yu Naixin was no longer just carefully pinching the hem of his clothes with two fingers, but holding it with her whole hand and shaking it gently, revealing a relaxed and trusting mood.
White Bone Scholar: "..."
For a fleeting moment, a strange emotion, completely unfamiliar to him, welled up in the White Bone Scholar's heart.
—I can't bear it.
However, this emotion was quickly overshadowed by an even stronger sense of anticipation. He put on that gentle smile again and led Yu Naixin to his residence.
"Alright, Miss Yu, please follow me."
A note from the author:
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