Chapter 83

Chapter 83

At dinner time, the atmosphere in the cafeteria was more solemn than usual.

The streamers sat scattered in small groups, and aside from Xiyu and Luo Xi, it was hard to tell who was closer to whom.

But everyone unconsciously kept their distance from Fu Er, who had become a source of foul odor. The combination of several days without a shower and the soup Luo Xi had splashed on him fermented, making it unbearable for others.

Xiyu had a severe stomachache and couldn’t eat anymore after taking two sips of porridge. She whispered, “Have you seen that streamer before?”

Luo Xi replied, “No impression.”

Xiyu glanced at Fu Er. “If he simply doesn’t like to bathe, he should be pretty famous on Yuntai... I analyzed it before, and I think he’s afraid of something, maybe some kind of phobia.”

At least, for now, Fu Er’s elimination or survival had no impact on either of them, so Luo Xi didn’t think too much about it. “Is he afraid of something he might encounter when bathing?”

Xiyu thought for a moment.

It was unclear if Fu Er overheard their conversation, but the guy shot a venomous glare at Xiyu, staring at her face, which, although pale from illness, was still extraordinarily beautiful. He didn’t look like he had any good intentions.

At this moment, Lin Fengyang suddenly entered with several shadow caregivers and angrily said, “Grab Winter Caregiver!”

The Winter Caregiver, who was also eating in the corner and had a very unlikable expression, stood up in surprise and asked, “What’s going on?”

Lin Fengyang sneered, “Hmph, someone reported that you’re stealing hospital data. Are you an undercover infiltrator?”

Winter Caregiver blurted out, “Are you crazy? I’m just working here. What undercover?”

This was the first time the plot had introduced something related to identity, and naturally, everyone exchanged puzzled glances.

Rather than observing the NPCs' faces, Xiyu was more interested in the reactions of the streamers. She quickly scanned the room, but didn’t notice anything unusual.

Lin Fengyang didn’t listen to Winter Caregiver’s protests and angrily said, “Whether you’re an undercover agent or not, we’ll find out under interrogation. Take him away!”

Despite his wife’s arrogance, Director Hao Zhong said nothing, still quietly eating with his two students.

In fact, Doctor Fan, who had already betrayed his mentor, had an even stronger psychological resilience and even mocked, “Hmph, I told you to be careful when recruiting. The things in our nursing home could be worth a fortune outside.”

Xiyu had a thousand questions in her mind, but the situation was sensitive, and saying too much could lead to mistakes. She simply pressed her lips together and hastily swallowed the tasteless hot porridge.

As night fell, the ward area became eerily quiet.A small, thin figure quickly ran down the hallway, catching the attention of Ma Guanshan, who had just stepped outside to get some air.

Ma Guanshan's condition was worsening, sometimes he would be slightly clear-headed, and other times he was muddled. However, he could tell that Xiyu or Luo Xi had special roles in the plot, and it was unlikely they would suddenly turn on him using the glasses' induction agent. So, he confidently wandered around, hoping to stumble upon a life-saving opportunity like a blind cat catching a rat after midnight.

He blinked in the shadows, thinking that since he wasn’t in any immediate danger, he’d follow the person.

The one rushing aimlessly was Zhou Rong. She stumbled every few steps, and eventually clumsily bumped into the wall.

Ma Guanshan couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.

Dizzy and disoriented, Zhou Rong braced herself against the wall and turned around to shout, “Who’s there? Stop sneaking around!”

Ma Guanshan bravely stepped into the open, “What are you doing? Can’t even walk properly, and you're still wandering outside.”

“What’s it to you?” Zhou Rong continued walking, “I’m looking for something.”

Ma Guanshan followed behind, “The nutrition solution hasn’t refreshed yet. What’s your identity? Need some help? Just give me some nutrition solution, and anything can be arranged.”

“Talk less, shut up!” Zhou Rong angrily clenched her fist. “Dementia patient, didn’t you already hook up with that little pretty boy Xiyu?”

Ma Guanshan wasn’t flustered at being found out, scratching his head. “I guess it’s just a bit of fate from when we were selected during the initial rounds.”

Zhou Rong pulled out a scalpel from her pocket. “Anyway, don’t follow me!”

Ma Guanshan was generally a good guy, but he was a little more enthusiastic around young girls due to his sister's tragic situation. Seeing the situation, he didn’t persist and just smiled, pretending to turn and leave.

Zhou Rong eyed him suspiciously, then checked the time and quickly resumed her hurried pace.

This nursing home hid many intolerable perversions in medicine, including special drugs that could both trigger and treat various terminal illnesses. Tonight, Zhou Rong’s goal, despite the difficult conditions, was a certain new experimental reagent being developed in the pharmacy.

She nervously crept towards the place, ready to pry open the door, but found that the door, which was usually locked tight, was slightly ajar.

Who’s inside?

Could it be targeting her?

Zhou Rong’s hands and feet turned cold, and she quickly found a place to hide.

A few minutes later, to her surprise, it was the sweet Nurse Xia who quietly emerged from inside.This NPC is stealing drugs?

Zhou Rong's eyes widened, and without thinking, she rushed at Nurse Xia, covering her mouth with one hand and pulling her back into the pharmacy. She whispered, "No wonder you're always disappearing, you're a thief! I'm going to tell Head Nurse Lin!"

Nurse Xia, holding the expensive drugs, was terrified and at a loss for words. "I... I..."

Zhou Rong pointed the scalpel at her neck. "What 'I'? How long have you been doing this?"

Nurse Xia furrowed her brow, urgently explaining, "Just this month... My brother owes a debt outside, and I don’t have that much money. I could only sell some medicine to help him. These are all HIV treatment drugs, they're harmless, harmless! Please don’t tell Head Nurse, I can never leave once I’m here, if I don’t listen to her, I’ll become a patient! I don’t want that, please, I beg you!"

"Hmph, so that's it," Zhou Rong said, then asked, "With Kunshan Nursing Home being so closed off, how do you sell the drugs?"

Nurse Xia lowered her head, tears welling up. "Although it's closed off, we still need food and supplies. Some people who deliver goods are greedy, and I've already made arrangements. Around noon, I contact the person to whom I want to sell, and pass the goods and their contact information through the women's restroom window. They help, and take a 20% profit."

Zhou Rong raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I get it now. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in reporting you to Head Nurse Lin or Director Hao, but you will listen to me."

Nurse Xia had clearly seen a lot of bad things, and now that she was exposed, she trembled in fear. "What do you want me to do?"

Zhou Rong frowned. "I want you to become a whistleblower and tell the police everything about the crimes in Kunshan Nursing Home. The police will soon seal this place, and you'll get credit for your confession!"

Before Nurse Xia could respond, the pharmacy door suddenly opened.

Zhou Rong jumped in surprise, and saw Ma Guanshan standing outside, looking shocked. She tightly gripped her scalpel. "What are you doing back? What’s your identity?"

Ma Guanshan, who had clearly overheard everything, was surprised. However, the look of shock quickly faded, and his gaze grew confused as he turned around and stumbled away.

... Luckily, this guy had fallen ill.

Zhou Rong let out a sigh of relief, shut the door tightly, and pressed Nurse Xia. "So, will you or not?"

Nurse Xia nodded through her tears, clearly having no other choice.

Zhou Rong then rummaged through the surroundings and angrily asked, "Where's the medication for treating ALS? Find it for me!"

Nurse Xia hesitated. "That’s... something Director Hao just developed... Today, Head Nurse Lin used it to interrogate the Winter Caretaker... and even had him infected with a disease. Are you planning to help him?"

Zhou Rong waved the scalpel fiercely. "What’s it to you? You can only listen to me now, no right to ask questions!"

【Midnight has arrived, nutrition solution refreshed】Midnight had arrived, and Xi Yu was searching through the now-familiar rooms with Luo Xi. He heard that no one had been eliminated yet due to insufficient nutrition solution, and couldn’t help but murmur, "There are still two more people with special identities. Maybe their nutrition solution isn't used up like mine, and they've hidden it on themselves. With the remaining days and not enough props, the other patient-identifying broadcasters would betray at any moment just to get the nutrition solution."

"That's normal," Luo Xi said calmly. "If you don't expect anything from them, you won't be disappointed."

This was true, after all. Both Sun Xiuyan and Ma Guanshan were not exactly pure partners. Xi Yu continued to search with a faint hope, muttering to himself, "Anyway, the nutrition solution isn't a problem. I gave the extra bottle to Sun Xiuyan. With two days left to complete the task, we can both survive."

Luo Xi was no fool, and he could sense the underlying sacrifice in Xi Yu’s words. He couldn't help but smile faintly and shake his head, then said, "Are you always this responsible?"

Xi Yu’s movements stalled for a moment, and he turned to reply, "It’s not responsibility."

Luo Xi raised an eyebrow.

But Xi Yu didn’t explain further; he just quickened his movements, almost eager to turn the filthy warehouse upside down in a second.

Luo Xi struggled to take a step and reach the top of the cabinet. His awkward posture indicated that he was already controlled by the illness, and no one could offer a clear answer to what would happen next.

Based on the pattern of the decreasing nutrition solution in recent days, there should only be three bottles for tonight's refresh.

It wasn’t surprising that they didn’t find anything for a while.

When the darkest moment arrived, both Xi Yu and Luo Xi were transported to the dark game space. The remaining seven broadcasters stood on their respective grids, facing the beautiful doctor in the center of the square, each clearly with different thoughts.

Zhou Rong rolled her eyes. "It's you? Yao Jinlian?"

The doctor didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled and said, "There’s no helping it. The Winter Caretaker, who was supposed to be in charge, fell ill. I’ll reluctantly take over—seeing how seriously ill you all are, do you really think you can continue?"

The broadcasters glared but didn’t respond.

The doctor, in her high heels, walked toward Xi Yu. "You seem determined, Xi Yu. Let’s begin."

Though in pain, Xi Yu's limbs were still agile. He picked up the dice and threw it. He rolled a three, landing on the twenty-sixth blank square.

The doctor shrugged and smiled.

Xi Yu picked up the dice and threw it again: a four, landing on the thirtieth free square.

Ma Guanshan, who controlled that square, thought for a moment and then asked, "How many bottles of nutrition solution do you have?"

For regular patients, the nutrition solution was tight. If someone had more, it meant their identity was special. The logic was simple.Fortunately, Xi Yu was someone who spent what he had, and he calmly answered, "I don't have a single bottle left. This stuff isn't enough to drink."

Ma Guanshan was disappointed. "Alright then."

Xi Yu threw the dice again, rolling a four. The thirty-fourth square was a hosting square!

By now, Xi Yu had little doubt about the NPCs, especially this doctor who had sold her body. In terms of the plot, her value was minimal. He blinked and said, "Let me ask something on behalf of someone else. Are you absolutely loyal to the hospital and Director Hao?"

The doctor crossed her arms. "Of course, all my effort is invested here."

... Fortunately, he hadn't considered trying to subvert her.

Xi Yu nodded and looked at Luo Xi, who was about to play the game next.

Luo Xi’s luck had always been terrible, and with his poor physical condition at the moment, he had become the number one difficulty that everyone was concerned about.

The doctor smiled even more smugly. "Oh, Mr. Luo, you only have two drops of blood left."

Luo Xi bent down with difficulty, and only managed to kick the dice, which rolled a four, landing on the thirty-seventh damage square!

Everyone fell silent.

The doctor mocked, "Oh, still a little bit of health left... Not many people lose all their health in the dark hour."

At this point, the situation couldn't be changed by effort or thinking. Luo Xi was helpless and could only kick the dice again.

To everyone’s surprise... it was a two, landing on the thirty-ninth survival square.

Xi Yu closed his eyes in frustration.

Luo Xi had no choice but to step forward. His tall figure quickly disappeared.

The doctor kept laughing, unbothered, as she checked her watch. Two minutes later, she shook her head regretfully. "Patient Luo Xi failed in the survival square. He lost his qualification to enter the dark hour. Let’s say goodbye to him!"

Sure enough, the survival square was quiet, and no one appeared again.

Xi Yu was very concerned about Luo Xi’s serious injury, but he also knew that not being tortured anymore might not be a bad thing. He could only look away and focus on the other players’ situation.

The doctor smiled as she approached Sun Xiuyan, who was bowing her head. "Little girl, it’s your turn."Sun Xiuyan's injuries from yesterday had not healed. Although she had received nutritional fluids to extend her life, her condition was even worse than Luo Xi's. She suddenly looked up and said, "Can I give up? I really don't want to play the Dark Hour anymore!"

The doctor laughed loudly, "Of course, you can. You still have four health points. I'll let you take four hits in the damage square. Please leave quickly, alright?"

Sun Xiuyan's lips turned pale. In the end, she could only painfully pick up the dice and throw it with all her strength.