Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Cheating.

The moment this item that could remove negative buffs appeared, even Juanjuan and the others changed the sound of their breathing. As veteran players who had cleared multiple games, there was no way they would fail to recognize what Ning Rong had taken out.

She actually had one! How did she get it?!

That was what Juanjuan and the others were thinking.

Ning Rong casually played with the item in her hand.

It was extremely obedient in her grasp, letting her casually shift it around.

She did not look like she was handling an important item worth nearly ten thousand game coins, but like she was playing with a handy little trinket.

Chen Chu muttered, “An illusion, right? This has to be an illusion!”

A Leng stared fixedly at that item, as if trying to see through it. Once this valuable item suffered outside damage, it would be ruined immediately. Yet her attitude toward it was so careless?

Teacher Dan’s face was full of shock.

Zhou Yujing, as a promising newcomer, was already considered a somewhat capable player. But even he could not afford an item like this, while his girlfriend had obtained one so effortlessly?

【Lmao, Juanjuan’s lackey has started deceiving himself. He’s trying to trick himself into believing it.】

【Because it really is hard to accept reality, right? Forget him—even I was startled when the strongest newbie took this thing out.】

【If I remember right, this item costs just a little under ten thousand, right?】

【Am I the only one who wants to say the strongest newbie is insanely rich? She buys ten-thousand-level stuff whenever she wants!】

【Big sister aura + rich buff. Sister has completely taken hold of me.】

Gu Yu looked at the item in Ning Rong’s palm, his expression changing several times, unable to speak for a moment.

Before tonight, “Zhou Yujing’s girlfriend” had only been an unimportant symbol to their group.

They knew such a person existed, but no one cared. By unspoken agreement, they all pretended she did not exist.

After all, an ordinary person who had not been chosen by the game was, from a certain point onward, no longer walking the same road as players like them. Even if she luckily became a player, there was no guarantee she would live long. Cannon-fodder players made up the overwhelming majority.

But now, that symbol had stepped from the abstract into reality, appearing vividly before them in a posture none of them had ever imagined.

The girlfriend Gu Yu had imagined for Zhou Yujing should have been a girl about to graduate university, not yet in society, still carrying youthful innocence on her face. She might have been sweet and cute, maybe clingy in personality, somewhat dependent on her boyfriend. Compared to the terrifying infinite-game world, she should have been more suited to living in a normal world.

But the person before him...

Completely shattered his imagination.

She was exquisite and beautiful, but not sweet. A term like “sweet girl” had nothing to do with her. She was not clingy at all. Instead, Zhou Yujing looked more dependent on her. She also did not seem unsuited to this world. On the contrary, she looked completely at ease here.

Tell him, what newcomer player who had only cleared one game could casually take out an expensive item worth 9,999? If this scene were not happening right before his eyes, Gu Yu would have treated it as a joke.

But it had happened.

Ning Rong handed the item to Zhou Yujing.

“Zhou Yujing will team with me from now on.” She spoke concisely.

Although Ning Rong said no more, everyone present—and the audience—understood her hidden meaning.

There was no need for them to continue moving together with him.

Juanjuan clenched her right hand tightly.

She stared at Ning Rong and said word by word, “We and Zhou Yujing all belong to City A Team 37, under the same leader. I’m afraid you have no authority to decide whether he stays or leaves.”

After speaking, she smiled confidently.

“Although you are his girlfriend in name, he is now a member of Team 37. Following the leader’s instructions and obeying superior arrangements are things he must do.”

After hearing that, Ning Rong nodded.

“I see.”

The corners of Juanjuan’s lips rose slightly. Just as she thought she had suppressed Ning Rong, Ning Rong said lightly,

“He won’t be anymore.”

Won’t be what?

No longer a member of Team 37?

Or no longer one of Chi Cheng’s subordinates?

What exactly did she mean by that?

But Ning Rong had no intention of explaining it to them in detail. After speaking, she directly left with Zhou Yujing.

The moment they were out of sight, Zhou Yujing held the item in his hand and hesitated.

“Rongrong?”

Ning Rong said, “Use it.”

Zhou Yujing had always listened to Ning Rong. Since she told him to use it, he naturally obeyed.

After pressing “Use Item,” the red thread on Zhou Yujing’s hand began shrinking rapidly. It had originally spread almost to his upper arm, but visibly receded to his forearm, then to his wrist, and finally disappeared entirely into his palm.

The problem that had troubled Zhou Yujing for a month was solved just like that, without any effort at all.

After the negative buff was cleared, Ning Rong tossed Zhou Yujing another Substitute Doll.

Zhou Yujing: !!!

【???】

【This sister’s level of wealth is beyond my imagination.】

【If I didn’t clearly know this game has no cheats, I would definitely think she turned on hacks!】

【Who would’ve thought money power exists in the game too?!】

【Zhou Yujing is living happily again.】

【Living happily again +1】

Zhou Yujing really was living happily again.

But once more, he clearly realized that whether outside the game or inside it, he was the one who could not leave Ning Rong.

There had never once been a situation where Ning Rong could not leave him.

In real life, he already had enough romantic rivals. Now that they had entered the infinite game, then probably...

—

Meanwhile.

Juanjuan subconsciously wanted to chase after them again.

But this time, Gu Yu stopped her.

Juanjuan looked at Gu Yu coldly and asked, “Why are you stopping me?”

Gu Yu only said with a tired face, “She isn’t Zhou Yujing.”

Zhou Yujing himself was nothing to fear.

But his girlfriend looked genuinely difficult to provoke.

Juanjuan sneered.

“Those items of hers might not have come through her own ability.”

As for what route they came from, that could only be left to personal interpretation.

After saying that, Juanjuan chased in the direction Zhou Yujing had left.

Gu Yu shut his eyes with a headache.

He had a feeling that sooner or later, Juanjuan was going to suffer a huge loss at Ning Rong’s hands.

But...

In the normal world, suffering a setback was one thing.

In an infinite game, suffering a setback was another entirely.

—

This small forest covered no small area, but Ning Rong and Zhou Yujing wandered nearby for half an hour and still did not get out.

Ning Rong directly made a decision.

“Let’s go look at the center of the forest.”

Zhou Yujing said, “Okay.”

【The expressionless king is pretty obedient.】

【Main strategy: cooperate fully.】

This time, after walking for half a quarter hour, they saw an eighteen-story hotel.

It looked as if the hotel had appeared there abruptly. Even from ten meters away, not the slightest trace of it could be seen. More surprisingly, the exterior of the hotel was lined with bright red atmosphere lights. In an environment like this, that color naturally looked oppressive and terrifying.

At the hotel’s main entrance was a projection of a smiling face.

But for one instant, when Ning Rong looked over, that smiling face turned into a crying face.

It seemed that this hotel was likely the key to clearing this game.

When Ning Rong and Zhou Yujing entered the hotel, quite a few players were already inside.

As soon as they saw them, a capable-looking young man with a smile walked over and said, “You two are here to stay too, right?”

“We’re planning to book one king-size room and squeeze a few players in together. That way the cost per person will be lower. We can also discuss what plot developments might happen tomorrow.”

After speaking, he glanced at the number 1 in front of Ning Rong and was certain she would not refuse. Afraid she could not afford the room fee, he looked at the hands she and Zhou Yujing were holding and said, “You two are teammates, right?”

Ning Rong glanced at him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She walked straight to the front desk and asked, “How much is your best room for one night?”

It seemed to be the receptionist’s first time hearing such a question, so her first reaction was not to answer, but to freeze for a moment.

Every player who came here was poor and stingy. Yet this person asked for the best room price the moment she arrived?

The receptionist’s smile remained fixed at the same angle as she dutifully replied, “3,999 game coins per night.”

Ning Rong said crisply, “Open one room.”

At first, the receptionist thought she had misheard.

Since the hotel opened, not a single player had ever stayed in the most luxurious suite.

Half believing and half doubting, she opened one luxury suite for Ning Rong and asked, “Will you be paying by card or cash?”

The game black card was far too special and unsuitable to expose in front of viewers and players. So before entering the game, Ning Rong had taken out plenty of game coins in advance.

She took money from her black bag and said, “Cash.”

The receptionist could not help staring at Ning Rong’s movements. “Alright.”

Ning Rong took forty game bills from her wallet and placed them on the desk. “What room number?”

After verifying the authenticity of the forty bills, the receptionist smilingly handed her a room card. “Top floor, Room 1801.”

Ning Rong took the card and was just about to head to the elevator with Zhou Yujing when Juanjuan and the others happened to arrive.

The young man immediately walked up and gave the exact same speech as before.

Juanjuan glanced at the room card in Ning Rong’s hand and said to the receptionist, “Give me one the same as hers.”

Receptionist: “Certainly. That will be 3,999 game coins.”

At those words, the young man, Chen Chu, and the others all cried out in shock at the same time.

“What?!”

3,999 game coins? Was this daylight robbery?

Who could possibly pay something that expensive?

Because he had been standing far away earlier, the young man had not known what kind of room Ning Rong booked. Only now did he realize she had booked a luxury suite costing 3,999 a night.

He really wanted to ask—was that necessary?

Was it necessary to enjoy yourself this much inside a game?

Unfortunately, he only dared complain inwardly.

Ning Rong took the room card and walked toward the elevator with Zhou Yujing. Zhou Yujing could not help recalling what had just happened.

The way his girlfriend pulled out money was really cool.

Meanwhile, Juanjuan and the others who remained behind were asked by the receptionist, “You’re sure you want one room, right?”

Hearing this, every word Juanjuan spoke sounded like it was squeezed out through clenched teeth with extreme difficulty.

“No need.”

When she heard that, the receptionist gave her a disdainful glance.

She had acted so generous just now, saying she wanted the same room, and in the end this was all?

Still unwilling to give up, Juanjuan asked, “Did that woman really book a room for 3,999 game coins a night?”

The receptionist smiled and said, “Yes. It is currently the most luxurious suite in the hotel. It comes equipped with hot water, internet, snacks, drinks, and a couples infinity pool, ensuring every guest who stays there receives the best service experience.”

The more specifically the receptionist described it, the paler Juanjuan’s face became.

Chen Chu and the others all had very complicated feelings as well.

No one had ever told them that Zhou Yujing’s girlfriend would be this rich!

She was clearly just a newcomer who had only cleared one game. Where did she get so many game coins?

【I watched this game before. Nothing life-threatening happens on the first day, but if you stay in a cheap room, the hotel’s special power will plant a mark on you. Once two marks stack up, they can kill a player. But if you stay in the luxury suite, it seems you won’t get marked?】

【After all, the receptionist already said they would give guests the best service experience... If they planted marks on them, then that statement wouldn’t hold true, right...?】

【Wuwuwu, among this bunch of poor people, my big boss lady is seriously rich in the most eye-catching way.】

【So the daily question remains: why exactly is big boss lady so rich?!】