Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Chapter 77

The silver bullet inducer is in Zhou Rong’s hands and has most likely lost its effect.

The doll inducer is with Sun Xiuya; its purpose is unknown.

The bone inducer is with Yuan Wei and is very likely aimed at Luo Xi.

The fish inducer is with Yao Shengming; its purpose is unknown.

The little hat inducer is with Ying Zhixing; its purpose is unknown.

The lipstick inducer is with me, and its use is also unknown.

—Seeing that half of the inducers for this round have already appeared, Xi Yu lay in bed calculating silently, but he felt a bit disheartened and confused. Aside from Yuan Wei, who had a fever and cough, and Zhang Hua, who couldn’t control her emotions, he hadn’t noticed any signs of illness in the other streamers. Could it be that everyone was really this cautious, and he had truly overrated himself in the past?

No, this is only the first round of the advancement match—there’s no way he could give up so easily.

Xi Yu silently turned over in the cold bed, enduring the burning pain surging from deep inside his body. He forced himself to find sleep, inwardly deciding that no matter what, tomorrow he must find a way to eliminate Yuan Wei and Zhang Hua. Otherwise, that bottle of bone inducer would become an increasing threat. If it consumed Luo Xi, then his own persistence... would be meaningless.

At six in the morning, the ward door opened on time.

The nurses drawing blood today were Nurse Chun and the round-faced Nurse Xia.

Xi Yu, who had long since given up on sleep, instantly sat up.

Nurse Chun always looked quiet and introverted, silently busying herself at the side.

It was Nurse Xia who took the initiative to speak, smiling with almond-shaped eyes, “How are you feeling?”

Xi Yu lowered his gaze. “Not much of anything. I want to take a shower.”

“Just go to the bathhouse on the second floor,” Nurse Xia said as she drew blood from his arm.

For some reason, upon seeing that bright red liquid, Xi Yu couldn’t help swallowing.

Nurse Chun measured his heartbeat and blood pressure, then took out a clean set of patient clothes. “Change into these after washing.”

Nurse Xia clicked her tongue and said, “Don’t pretend to be nice just because he’s handsome.”

Nurse Chun submissively nodded.

Nurse Xia even reached out and shook open the patient clothes. Seeing nothing wrong, she snorted, “Let’s go. Finish up quickly and take a break.”

After watching them leave, Xi Yu finally got up with the clothes in hand, planning to take a hot shower to clear his mind before starting his next move.

The sanatorium was practically a giant petri dish of bacteria; there were plenty of streamers who jumped at the chance to clean themselves up.

After washing and standing in front of the mirror drying his hair, Xi Yu saw Ying Zhixing and Sun Xin leaving one after the other. Since they hadn’t had much of a relationship before, they didn’t talk to each other, but what was strange was that he clearly saw thick gauze wrapped around Ying Zhixing’s neck, with blood seeping through.Although everyone was more or less injured during their darkest moments, it shouldn't be to the point where they’re still bleeding after several hours...

Had he encountered danger again, or was it that his bleeding simply wouldn’t stop?

Just as he was thinking this, Luo Xi’s tall figure suddenly appeared in the mirror. “So you’re here.”

Xi Yu immediately turned around. “I was just about to look for you. You... how are you?”

Luo Xi moved his arm while pressing on his abdomen and gave a bitter smile. “I can feel that my mobility isn’t what it used to be, but others probably won’t notice in the short term.”

Seeing Luo Xi covered in dried blood, Xi Yu couldn’t help but say, “Go wash up. I’ll get you a fresh set of patient clothes.”

Luo Xi understood that Xi Yu wanted to take the opportunity to see Nurse Chun, but deliberately said, “I can’t move well—how am I supposed to wash myself?”

“...Then stay dirty,” Xi Yu replied, speechless, and turned to leave.

Luo Xi suddenly grabbed him and shoved the nutrient solution he had received from Ma Guanshan the night before into his hand. “Drink this for safety.”

Xi Yu paused for a moment. “If you’re not drinking it, I won’t either.”

With that, he broke free and slipped away into the shadows.

Luo Xi still had the image of Xi Yu’s paler-than-usual face in his mind, but could only suppress his own growing worry, take a deep breath, and start thinking of a plan.

That morning, the nurse’s office still only had Nurse Chun in it.

She was flipping through a few pages of documents, and when she saw Xi Yu enter, she quickly gestured for him to close the door.

Xi Yu was very straightforward. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Nurse Chun carefully stood up, checked the door lock seriously, and then whispered, “Actually, I’m not trained in medicine and don’t really understand what Director Hao specifically did to make everyone sick. That’s why I need hard evidence. Yesterday, a stomach cancer patient and an AIDS patient died. Can you go to the morgue and help me retrieve tissue slices of their organs and blood samples?”

Xi Yu had no reason to refuse and nodded. “Of course.”

Nurse Chun immediately gave him a small bag with tools. “Hide it well.”

Just then, the system prompt sounded:

[Informer mission accepted for today. Complete it to receive Nutrient Solution x2]

Feeling a little more secure, Xi Yu asked, “Can you give me a larger set of patient clothes? My friend needs to change.”

Nurse Chun didn’t treat the sanatorium’s property as anything important and immediately went to find them for him.

Unexpectedly, someone suddenly pounded on the office door as if venting their anger.

Head Nurse Lin’s furious voice came through, “Why the hell is the door locked?! Chun, are you in there? Get out here!”

Nurse Chun hurriedly shoved the clothes into Xi Yu’s hands and nervously opened the door, bowing in apology. “A patient wanted to change clothes—sorry, I shouldn’t have locked the door!”

Head Nurse Lin grabbed her by the neck. “Come here! Look at my flowers! You can’t even take care of flowers—what can you do?!”

Nurse Chun looked like a helpless little animal, stumbling blankly over to the windowsill.

There, the few flower pots that had looked perfectly fine just moments ago were now uprooted again, with soil and leaves scattered everywhere—the scene was an utter mess.Nurse Chun was utterly shocked. “I—I clearly just checked them! I moved them here because I was afraid they’d get damaged by the sun... Who did this...?”

“I think you did it on purpose!” Lin Fengyang showed no mercy and slapped her hard across the face.

Nurse Chun immediately covered her face and started crying.

Xi Yu didn’t know whether to leave or stay, frowning from the shadows as he watched.

Lin Fengyang’s gaze landed on him, and her tone finally softened a little. “Go have breakfast. What are you standing around for?”

Xi Yu couldn’t help Nurse Chun, and since the important task was still pressing, he nodded naturally.

But just as he took a step, Nurse Xia came rushing over in a panic. “Head nurse! Head nurse! My phone was stolen!”

Lin Fengyang frowned. “We’re not allowed to use phones during work at the sanatorium. What were you doing with it?”

Nurse Xia replied aggrievedly, “I just wanted to call my mom. The director gave me permission... he even gave me the key to the safe, but when I opened it, the phone was gone!”

Head Nurse Lin pursed her lips, seemingly not intending to get angry. “Got it.”

Unexpectedly, Director Hao Zhong showed up looking displeased and joined the chaos. “Someone stole something? Find out who immediately! Bring all the patients here and search them! Where are Qiu and Dong?!”

Head Nurse Lin hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t.

Hearing this, Xi Yu quickly stuffed the tool kit and patient clothes from Nurse Chun into a corner of the office and stood quietly to the side, waiting to be dealt with.

He had a hunch that the phone was most likely stolen by one of the streamers, and that it was closely related to a mission involving a special identity.

If he could use this chance to observe something, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Although the sanatorium didn’t have many real nurses or orderlies, there were an endless number of those virtual brawny orderlies. As soon as the director gave the order, they quickly dragged in the remaining ten streamers—including Luo Xi, who had just been in the middle of showering and was now dripping wet.

Nurse Xia clung to Hao Zhong’s side and pleaded coquettishly, “Director, please help me find it! It must’ve been one of them who stole it!”

Hao Zhong immediately struck a heroic pose. “Search them! Search their rooms too! How can a phone be in a patient’s hands?!”

The shadowy strongmen dragged each streamer to the wall and roughly searched them, ignoring all resistance and screams.

Fortunately, it didn’t take even half a minute before the thief, hidden among the group, was exposed.

Zhang Hua, with her long hair disheveled, was thrown down in front of the director, along with several mini phones she had hidden in her pocket.

Zhang Hua’s once-beautiful face shifted subtly. Her eyes twitched nervously, and she clutched at her clothes, saying, “I... I...”

Her usual sharp tongue had completely vanished; she could barely speak coherently.

Nurse Xia ran up and kicked Zhang Hua angrily. “Director, you have to stand up for us!”

Yuan Wei struggled furiously, but couldn’t do anything to help Zhang Hua.

Head Nurse Lin, however, was not polite at all—she immediately shoved Nurse Xia aside. “That’s enough. I’ll handle this!”

“Take her away, take her away.” Hao Zhong waved his hand. “Interrogate her properly—find out everything from start to finish.”Zhang Hua was immediately grabbed and dragged away by orderly Qiu and orderly Dong.

Head Nurse Lin finally couldn’t hold back and quietly called Hao Zhong aside to say a few words. Hao Zhong’s expression grew strange, then he turned and said, “You all must behave properly here in Kunshan for treatment. The illness will heal quickly, but if anyone steals again, I won’t be so lenient. Fengyang will handle this matter with discretion. I have other business—don’t bother me.”

With that, he left, hands behind his back.

Nurse Xia let out a miserable hum, picked up her phone, and left.

“Put it down. The hospital rules are clear—if you work here, you must hand over communication devices. It’s clearly stated in the contract.” Head Nurse Lin glared fiercely at her. “Don’t cause me trouble.”

Though Nurse Xia was much more stubborn than Nurse Chun, she dared not disobey her superior, so she reluctantly threw the phone back.

Head Nurse Lin picked up the items one by one and then left first.

At the same time, the shadowy orderlies imprisoning the players all vanished.

Nurse Chun wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, picked up the patient clothes, and handed them to Xi Yu. “Alright, you all go shower and eat... anyone else who needs to change clothes can come find me...”

With that, she went to tidy up the messy flowerpots, looking hardworking and resigned.

Luo Xi, watching the whole scene, suddenly smiled.

Zhou Rong glanced at him sideways. “What’s so funny?”

Luo Xi folded his arms. “I suddenly remembered an interesting disease, probably something kids get. The sick children cry like cats, so it’s called ‘cat cry syndrome.’ If such kids grow up, not only will their appearance be heavily affected, but they’ll be very aggressive, and their speech limited by their intelligence—simple and strange, sounding unfamiliar, doesn’t that ring a bell?”

He suddenly pointed out the problem with Zhang Hua. Yuan Wei’s expression naturally turned very ugly, but she was helpless.

At that moment, Yao Shengming, holding the fish-patterned inducer, shrugged slightly, showing a strange smile, cleared his throat twice, and stepped forward.

Yuan Wei hurried after him, shaking off the others. “What do you want to do? If the inducer is used incorrectly, the user will be out.”

Yao Shengming said, “I don’t want that either. Besides, what does it have to do with you?”

Yuan Wei frowned. “We’re allied.”

“I was so sincere about forming an alliance yesterday, but what was your attitude?” Yao Shengming refused. “I know many men have been played by you two, but I’m no brainless monkey. You missed your chance.”

With that, he strode away.

Yuan Wei, feeling dizzy and flushed, coughed miserably in place as if her lungs might burst.

But the streamers here all suffered terminal illnesses, enduring unimaginable pain—how could they have any sympathy for her?

Taking advantage of the chaos, Xi Yu left with Luo Xi and naturally was the first to explain today’s informant mission.

Luo Xi changed clothes in a remote corner, covering his muscles that were beginning to look abnormal, and nodded. “It’s not hard, just don’t get caught by the NC or spies. I’m afraid identities will force us to attack each other in the end. I’ll watch your back.”

Seeing his body, Xi Yu felt some pity but was puzzled. “Why did you embarrass Zhang Hua in public just now... aren’t you afraid Yuan Wei will retaliate?”

Luo Xi said, “Targeting each other is inevitable. Neither of us is moderate. Better to be upfront and force them to wear each other down.”

At this time, the inducer bottle in Yuan Wei’s hand was the biggest risk—weakening her power was understandable.

Xi Yu nodded ambiguously. “Forget it, let’s get the slices first.”Luo Xi looked around, then grabbed him and hurried away.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hua, who was supposed to be locked up and thoroughly interrogated, was freed after only a few questions.

She kept her head down, her lips trembling slightly, her eyes full of fear from losing control of herself.

Lin Fengyang glared at her angrily: “So careless with your work. Don’t bother helping next time, you’re only making trouble for me!”

Zhang Hua: “...Sorry...”

Lin Fengyang waved her off: “Let’s go. Don’t tell anyone about this.”

Zhang Hua felt relieved inside and quickly turned around.

By now, the morning sun had risen, casting scattered spots of light through the dirty windows along the corridor.

For the first time in the game, her thoughts were so chaotic, her heart burning with anxiety; her throat felt raw and painful, and blood trickled from her nose. She no longer had the calm, cold goddess aura she started with.

As she walked alone, Yao Shengming suddenly appeared, sneering coldly: “You’re pretty sick. The more I get familiar with the old you, the clearer it becomes.”

Zhang Hua spun around, her face full of panic.

“Where’s that pride of yours gone? Afraid I’ll do something?” Yao Shengming, emboldened by Luo Xi’s words, boasted, “Oh, actually, you’re not afraid of me, but of this inducer in my hand, right?”

Zhang Hua stared at the bottle in Yao Shengming’s hand, the whites of her eyes bloodshot.

Yao Shengming grinned widely: “Fish—that’s food for cats. Cat cry syndrome—that name is hilarious.”

Zhang Hua could no longer fake calm; hearing this, she panicked and turned to run.

But Yao Shengming was prepared. Though he couldn’t match the stamina of people like Ying Zhixing, chasing down a gentle-type female streamer was easy for him. With almost a single leap, he pinned Zhang Hua to the ground and sprayed the liquid directly onto the back of her head without hesitation.

“Ahhh—!!!”

Zhang Hua’s horrific scream echoed through the empty, broken corridor.

[Very unfortunate, patient Zhang Hua has left us, please accept our condolences…]

The system broadcast sounded in every streamer’s ear. Xi Yu and Luo Xi, who had just broken into the morgue, naturally heard it too.

Xi Yu was slightly stunned: “Looks like you were right. Yao Shengming acts decisively.”

Luo Xi: “She’s just unlucky. Except for Qi Juexiao being a bit of a mess, our opponents this round aren’t weak. Zhang Hua being out isn’t a loss.”

When one is too busy with their own problems, they can’t care for others’ safety. Xi Yu put down his feelings, took out the tool kit for slicing, and said, “Wait for me. Knock if there’s anything.”

With that, he didn’t hesitate and slipped into the dirty room filled with all kinds of frozen corpses.

Luo Xi carefully helped close the door, suddenly sensing something, and sharply turned his head.

But the corridor was quiet; aside from drifting dust, there was no movement.

Luo Xi frowned.In fact, Fu’er was hiding at the base of the corner wall eavesdropping, but he was like a ghost, even suppressing his breathing to be very faint, making him really hard to detect.

Luo Xi, who didn’t want to leave Xi Yu’s side even a step, ultimately didn’t come over to check.

Fu’er showed a perverse, cold smile, hugging his knees and curling up silently like a mouse.

Although the corpses in the morgue were of various kinds, Xi Yu still managed to find the two bodies Nurse Chun requested with his clever mind. Because they had already been frozen, cutting the corpses was somewhat difficult, but just right for making slices.

He calmly placed the glass slides and blood tubes nearby, expressionless as he worked.

The blood in the corpses had turned to ice shards and could no longer flow.

Yet the strong metallic smell of blood still drifted out from the corpse stench, burning Xi Yu’s senses.

Could porphyria actually like the smell of blood?

Biting his lip to control his emotions, Xi Yu completed the task as quickly as possible, packed the precious evidence, and slipped out of the morgue.

Luo Xi immediately helped lock the door and silently led the way; the entire process took just over ten minutes.

None of them expected Fu’er, the relentless shadow follower. Fortunately, he was always cautious and didn’t reveal any information, thus protecting his identity and safety.

Meanwhile, Yao Shengming was meeting Sun Xin at the bedside, sharing his achievements.

Neither was a streamer with outstanding individual abilities, and since there was no hostility at this moment, they could naturally chat.

Yao Shengming was very proud: “That woman was so arrogant. I thought she wasn’t much of a threat, that letting her live a bit longer was fine, but who knew she would humiliate me? She brought it on herself.”

“Heh, enough,” Sun Xin patted Yao Shengming’s shoulder: “She only spoke without restraint because of her illness. Normally, her emotional intelligence is very high.”

Yao Shengming felt very uncomfortable with this familiar gesture and dodged away.

But Sun Xin still sensed something strange during their brief interaction, then smiled while tracking the clues: “Being an ordinary patient is easy. If Zhang Hua didn’t have a special identity, she wouldn’t be under such pressure trying to complete the mission.”

“She might not have a special identity, she could be helping Yuan Wei. Who knows?” Yao Shengming clicked his tongue, looking worried: “But I haven’t had any nutrient solution yet. I definitely need to find someone with a special identity to curry favor. Got any recommendations?”

Sun Xin crossed his arms and shook his head: “I really can’t tell, they’re all hiding too deep.”

“I do have some ideas. I’ll give it a try.” Yao Shengming looked a little disappointed, slightly hunched, and slowly walked away.

Sun Xin narrowed his eyes, watching his figure with pure ill intent.

“That’s great, didn’t expect you to be so capable!” Nurse Chun was very happy when she received the evidence Xi Yu returned, immediately giving him two bottles of nutrient solution.

The system broadcast rang out precisely.

[Today’s informant mission completed, received nutrient solution x2]

Xi Yu felt a bit comforted inside and suddenly asked, “Why is Nurse Xia never in the office?”

Nurse Chun shook her head: “Not sure. She’s often sneaky and spends more time helping out in the pharmacy.”

Xi Yu nodded: “Do you know about other people’s illnesses?”

Nurse Chun didn’t try to deceive him, shaking her head again: “I rarely come into contact with patients. It was hard for you to get treatment; they were worried something might happen to you... Besides, doctors usually don’t explain clearly since it’s all confidential.”It seems the streamer’s illness can’t be so easily figured out; he can only rely on his own observations.

Xi Yu asked the third suspicious point: “Was the flowerpot being broken only started in the past two days?”

“Mm, it was fine before…” Nurse Chun was also frustrated: “But whatever, I don’t care how the old woman’s flowers were grown, I’m here to save everyone!”

It looks like breaking the flowerpot was also the streamer’s doing.

But what kind of illness would cause someone to mess with flowerpots…

Xi Yu couldn’t figure it out for now, and with the nutrient solution’s hint being very offbeat, he had no strong idea to change the situation, so he decided to leave here first and find Luo Xi to drink nutrient solution.

Maybe because Zhang Hua was out, or because all the nutrient solution was gone, the streamers who were still very active yesterday seemed to have dug into some hole and hid, and no matter how hard he tried, Xi Yu couldn’t find them.

Yao Shengming still hadn’t drunk any nutrient solution and of course was worried about himself.

His expression grew increasingly anxious as he searched, and his focus wasn’t as sharp as before.

Just as he turned a corner, suddenly a figure swiftly attacked, using strength and speed to pin him to the ground, choking him hard!

It was Ying Zhixing!

Yao Shengming nervously stared at his handsome face but could barely speak a word due to difficulty breathing.

Fortunately, Ying Zhixing never liked to talk nonsense; he roughly flipped Yao Shengming over and forcefully pulled open his clothes.

Yao Shengming struggled bitterly: “What are you doing! Get off!”

Ying Zhixing looked at his once straight back, where the shoulder blades had started to deform and protrude like two small wings, and sneered: “Sun Xin didn’t lie, it’s Peter Pan disease. The Peter Pan hat is exactly the same as the one on my inducer.”

As he spoke, he viciously sprayed the medicine onto Yao Shengming’s back.

Yao Shengming had no chance to speak again; the muscles all over his body began twisting and deforming, like a broken machine that could no longer be pieced back together.

[Unfortunately, patient Yao Shengming has left us, please mourn…]

While Yao Shengming and Ying Zhixing were struggling, Zhou Rong, nearby, couldn’t help but quietly sneak closer to watch the excitement.

She heard the broadcast and only then showed half her face from the corner.

Ying Zhixing’s expression was as calm as if he had thrown away some trash. His deep eyes looked at that girl: “Interesting?”

“Interesting. Moving your body makes your blood flow more,” Zhou Rong said mockingly, “Wrapping more bandages won’t help; it seems your wound healing ability is failing.”

Ying Zhixing raised his eyebrows: “So what? I’m still more than enough to deal with you.”

Zhou Rong: “Not so. When they develop an inducer to punish you, you definitely won’t escape. That inducer works better than I imagined.”

Honestly, Ying Zhixing really couldn’t see what was wrong with Zhou Rong, but he remained very calm: “But after all, there’s no inducer to punish me now. Playing this game largely depends on luck; I don’t care.”

Saying that, he clapped his hands and left.

Zhou Rong stood still and curled her lips. Just as she was about to leave, something suddenly flickered before her eyes.She awkwardly touched the wall, didn’t move a step, and slowly squatted down while holding back nausea.

“It turns out you’re here. It’s time for treatment.”

Nurse Xia appeared with folded arms and rudely grabbed the staggering Zhou Rong: “Not uncomfortable? If I were you, I wouldn’t be moving around casually!”

Treatment was a painful ordeal every day.

Xi Yu, who was also brought to the treatment room, was unlucky not to meet Nurse Chun again; the straps binding his limbs were specially reinforced, making it harder to break free.

The beautiful Doctor Yao was equally cruel and ruthless, commanding the shadows of two strong orderlies, forcibly shining a special lamp on Xi Yu’s skin. When it ulcerated, they applied medicine, then shined the light again after the medicine was applied, repeatedly causing Xi Yu’s fair arms to almost rot before finally recording the data with satisfaction.

The pain forced Xi Yu to sweat through his patient gown, even biting his lips until they bled just to suppress the urge to scream.

The taste of blood slid down with saliva into his esophagus, bringing new irritation.

Doctor Yao smiled faintly and wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Poor thing, some porphyria patients do crave blood, but that’s just psychological, understand?”

Xi Yu talked to her inside his room, disgustedly turning away his gaze.

At that moment, the treatment room door suddenly opened. Dr. Fan, who was not on duty today, appeared smiling and carrying coffee: “Tired? Take a break.”

Doctor Yao showed no interest in this junior: “It’s fine. Xi Yu, go rest. Bring the next patient over.”

The orderlies immediately released Xi Yu.

Xi Yu quickly covered his almost unwatchable arm with his sleeve, glancing strangely at the eager Dr. Fan.

Dr. Fan immediately got angry: “What are you looking at?”

“Hey, don’t be jealous just because he’s handsome,” Doctor Yao hummed nearby, waving her hand: “I don’t drink coffee, take it away.”

Xi Yu ignored their conversation, struggling out the door, desperately trying to stay calm.

But his complexion was definitely terrible, so much so that a few streamers waiting in the lounge stared at him as soon as he appeared.

Luo Xi, who had long finished being tortured, quickly helped him: “Are you okay?”

Xi Yu’s wounds ached and made his whole body tremble when touched.

Luo Xi sensitively loosened her grip, said nothing, and led him away from there.

His once fine arm had been completely ruined by the light five or six times. Even with the medicine, it couldn’t heal quickly. The ulcerated flesh oozed suspicious fluid, as if peeling off from the bone, making even the tough Luo Xi’s eyes bloodshot. She stiffly helped bandage Xi Yu with gauze.

“I’m fine, I can endure it,” Xi Yu smiled and smoothed her forehead with his other hand: “I don’t like seeing that expression on you.”

Luo Xi tied the gauze, rolled up his sleeve again, then hugged Xi Yu. They leaned on each other in a dusty corner of the warehouse.

Xi Yu softly asked, “How are you?”

Luo Xi said, “I’m fine. As long as I can move, I’ll definitely stay with you. Besides, it’s only the second day.”

Xi Yu took a deep breath, leaning against Luo Xi’s chest, closing his eyes: “Yuan Wei’s inducer definitely restrains you. We have to find a way to kill her. But I can’t figure out what illness she has. She’s been constantly feverish, but the symptom is too ambiguous.”

“You know, at first, I thought you were a very calm person,” Luo Xi recalled. “At least in the round of junior streamer competitions I supervised, you were the calmest one—but now, I think you seem more easily impulsive than others.”Xi Yu recalled his dream—that self who existed only because of "A Yu," naturally carrying all the instincts to protect him.

Had that instinct... disappeared now?

Luo Xi didn’t wait for Xi Yu’s answer and only advised: "If you ask me, don’t rush. Let’s wait until after tonight’s darkest moment."

Xi Yu nodded.

Luo Xi patted him, loosened her grip on his shoulder, and said: "Ma Guanshan is an ally we can try to win over now. I’ll go talk to him. Your injury is serious, so hide and rest for now. See you at dinner in the restaurant."

Xi Yu didn’t want to leave Luo Xi but knew she was right and nodded in agreement: "Got it."

Luo Xi kissed Xi Yu’s dry lips, then strode away.

Although Xi Yu watched her brisk movements that hadn’t changed from before, he knew Luo Xi was also suffering. Naturally, his brows furrowed, full of gloom and worry.

Ma Guanshan didn’t look like someone with any status. After drinking the nutrition solution, he mostly just complied with body searches and treatments or lay in the ward all day. When Luo Xi called him out, he still looked a bit dazed: "What’s going on? What happened?"

Luo Xi was helpless: "You’ve got a lot of free time."

Ma Guanshan shrugged: "Nothing to do, what else can I do?"

"Do me a favor. When you’re low on nutrition solution, I’ll find a way to help you too. How about that?" Luo Xi got straight to the point.

Ma Guanshan actually said, "Why should I help you?"

"..." Luo Xi was speechless for a moment, then clicked her tongue: "I haven’t done anything against you. I just helped you out last night. Forgotten so fast?"

Ma Guanshan paused for a few seconds, suddenly understanding: "Got it, what favor?"

Luo Xi couldn’t help but say, "Why do I feel something’s wrong with you? You got Alzheimer’s or what?"

Ma Guanshan: "..."

Actually, Luo Xi didn’t really want to say that, but seeing his guilty look, she guessed he was well aware of his forgetfulness. She cleared her throat: "Anyway, help me keep an eye on Yuan Wei when you have time."

Ma Guanshan readily agreed: "Alright, but Yuan Wei hasn’t offended you, right? She’s just a young girl."

Luo Xi frowned: "I know you’re sympathetic toward girls, but don’t forget survival is the most important. Besides, she just looks innocent."

Ma Guanshan wasn’t naive; he shrugged and said, "I’ll go find her. She seems to wander outside a lot."

"Enough, it’s time to eat. Let’s go," Luo Xi reminded him. "From tomorrow on, remember this well."

Meanwhile, Xi Yu, feeling drowsy for a while and sensing it was about time, left the warehouse alone.

Outside the window, the sunset was indeed deepening, with no glaring sunlight shining in. He felt much more comfortable.

But after just a few steps, a gust of wind suddenly rushed at him from behind!

Xi Yu frowned and quickly dodged.

He saw the fierce Zhou Rong trying to land two punches on him but suddenly tripped over her own feet and fell hard to the ground!Xi Yu: "..."

Zhou Rong: "..."

Xi Yu squatted down to look at her: "What are you doing? I gave you nutrition solution, and you’re so quick to turn your back on me."

Without a word, Zhou Rong immediately got up and continued attacking, even brandishing a small surgical knife!

Xi Yu narrowly dodged several strikes, then forcefully restrained the girl: "What exactly are you doing? Could it be... that the inducer in my hand has something to do with you?"

Zhou Rong frowned tightly at being exposed.

Xi Yu pushed her to the ground: "I don’t see what illness your staggering state is from, don’t think it’s related to you, and have no intention of using it on you. If you know what’s good for you, stay away from me."

Zhou Rong struggled to get halfway up and muttered, "If you’re so generous, then give me the inducer."

Xi Yu smiled faintly: "Is that possible?"

Zhou Rong frowned and stared at him for a long time. Somehow, after thinking it over, she gave up and awkwardly got up to leave.

Xi Yu followed her at a calm pace, naturally heading for the cafeteria.

Every meal was an important source of energy, even if only to fool the brain, he couldn’t miss it.

By the time Xi Yu entered, the NC and the broadcasters had mostly arrived.

The reduced number of people made the atmosphere even more oppressive; besides the clatter of dishes, only the sound of breathing remained.

Xi Yu took a simple meal and carried it toward Luo Xi.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Fu’er suddenly laughed weirdly: "Ah, the vampire disease is here. Look at him—white as flour—"

Before finishing, Luo Xi dumped a full bowl of hot soup on him, making him scream in pain.

The symptoms were starting to become obvious. Xi Yu was already prepared, neither explaining nor getting nervous, just quietly sitting beside Luo Xi and softly asking, "Is it enough to eat? Should I get you some more?"