Main Quest

The prompt on the public screen overhead changed:

[Select five targets at the same time. The player must complete five main quests and side quests. If you fail to win over even one target, this trial will end in failure. If you succeed, you will earn five portions of experience.]

[Are you sure you want to select all of the above targets?]

Date five people at once and earn five times the experience points?

Nice!

Wen Nan confirmed without hesitation.

[The novice trial officially begins! Good luck, player!]

The three other new players in the dorm stared at Wen Nan, dumbfounded, as if he were an idiot.

Did he even know what he was doing?

Was there something wrong with his head?

He wasn't even trying to avoid the female ghost boss. Instead, he'd found five female ghosts to pursue. Did he want to die faster?

"He's a pro."

As he spoke, the guy with glasses opened the [Community] tab on his player panel.

They hadn't passed the novice trial yet, so most features in the [Community] were locked. Only four windows were lit.

Those were the four of their livestreams.

Just now, as the preparation countdown ended and the notification sounded that the trial had officially begun, the livestreams had opened.

One comment after another loaded in the [Nine Times a Night's Livestream]:

[Here we go!]

[Let's see which unlucky newbie got the classic map this time.]

[Holy crap! Am I seeing this right? His charm stat is maxed out?]

[Holy crap! He's awesome!]

[Maxed-out charm? Is he planning to use his good looks on the female ghosts?]

[Say "use your good looks," not "use your looks." Keep it classy.]

[Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! Look at the targets he picked!]

[Five? They're all female ghosts!]

[Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!]

[I've seen people pick the wrong target, but I've never seen anyone pick every wrong option!]

[Seriously, are streamers willing to risk their lives for views now?]

[All right, followed. I love watching people bring disaster on themselves.]

[Looks like this'll be a speedrun.]

[Nine Times a Night, huh? I'll remember you. See you in the spectator seats.]

Players inside the trial couldn't view the livestream comments. They could only see the livestream itself and its real-time statistics.

According to the real-time stats, the moment Wen Nan chose five targets at once, his livestream's popularity soared from <100 to 30,000+!

The popularity updated once per minute and was converted into coins in real time, which were deposited into the player's account.

In just the few minutes that had passed, Wen Nan's account had already received 20 coins.

His livestream's popularity was still climbing, and the rate at which he earned coins would only get faster.

At this rate, it wouldn't take an hour before he could buy the most expensive equipment in the novice trial zone—

the [Safety Bubble], priced at 1,000 coins.

With that equipment, he might be able to turn things around.

"A pro. He really is a pro." Watching the popularity of Wen Nan's livestream, even the Sports Student couldn't help exclaiming, "Could he be some big shot using an alt to stomp newbies?"

But the chubby guy couldn't help questioning it. "Isn't this way too risky? What if he doesn't last until he earns a thousand coins and gets killed first..."

By now, the guy with glasses was convinced that Wen Nan was some hidden big shot. He shook his head dismissively. "Don't question it. Just learn from him!"

Wen Nan was still standing on the table and couldn't make out what the other three were muttering about. He only saw their expressions shift rapidly from contempt to admiration and awe, which left him confused.

Could his maxed-out charm stat work on other players, too?

[Beep!]

[A new player quest has arrived. Please check it!]

[Main Quest 1: Keep Your Date]

[Quest Description: Your target has invited you out. Go spend a pleasant evening with them!]

An item appeared in each of the four players' hands at the same time—

A basketball appeared in the Sports Student's hands. His buddy had asked him to go play ball.

A bar of soap appeared in the guy with glasses' hands. His brother had asked him to go to the bathhouse.

A test paper marked 90 appeared in the chubby guy's hands. His homeroom teacher wanted him to come to the office.

In Wen Nan's hand was a pink envelope. Inside, neat handwriting read: [Meet me by the flowerbed beside the field at eight tonight.]

He checked the time. It was now 7:55.

Putting away the letter, Wen Nan dashed out of the dorm.

A cold night breeze blew in his face, carrying a strange scent of blood.

There wasn't another person in sight on the way from the dorm to the field. Everything around him was silent, and Wen Nan could clearly hear his own heartbeat.

The only streetlight had a short circuit. It crackled and flickered.

A figure with long, loose hair suddenly appeared beneath the streetlight.

Wen Nan stopped.

He narrowed his eyes, but the figure quickly vanished.

"Meow—"

A black cat darted out of the bushes and crashed into his leg, making Wen Nan stumble back two steps.

Once he'd regained his balance, Wen Nan shook his head helplessly.

It was a romance game, so why was the atmosphere so gloomy? It felt more like a horror game.

Were they trying to use the suspension-bridge effect to give players a more realistic romantic experience?

If so, the game designers had certainly put a lot of thought into it.

With that in mind, Wen Nan quickened his pace and reached the edge of the field.

In the distance, he saw a girl sitting alone by the flowerbed.

She was petite, with a short bob that brushed her ears. Her little nose was pert and her eyes were big and round. Her thick lashes drooped, casting two gray shadows on her cheeks.

She had her thin legs curled up and held a backpack that was even bigger than she was. Bored, she picked at the zipper on its side.

This had to be his Pure and Cute Deskmate.

Wen Nan quickly reached that conclusion.

Sure enough, the system spoke in his mind:

[Name: Liu Qi (Qiqi)]

[Identity: Pure and Cute Deskmate]

[Background: Qiqi is your deskmate and the younger sister of your next-door neighbor, whom you've known since childhood. You know each other well and often walk to and from school together. But when you entered your senior year and moved into the dorms to focus on studying, you gradually drifted apart. Tonight, Qiqi worked up the courage to invite you out.]

[Difficulty: ★★★☆]

Hearing someone approach, Qiqi looked up. The moment she saw Wen Nan, a light immediately sparked in her previously unfocused eyes.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she hugged her heavy backpack and hopped up like a little rabbit, bounding over to him.

"Brother! You came! I thought... you wouldn't come."

Wen Nan smiled at her. "You invited me. How could I not come?"

Qiqi lowered her head without answering.

She'd sent out plenty of letters before, then waited by this flowerbed night after night, but she'd never gotten a response. She'd given up hope, so she hadn't expected her brother to show up this time.

"Have you been waiting long?" Wen Nan asked softly when she didn't say anything.

Qiqi quickly pulled herself together, raised her face, and smiled as she shook her head. "No, I haven't been waiting long."

As she spoke, she put on her backpack and headed for the field. "Let's go."

Wen Nan reached for the backpack strap, wanting to carry it for her. "What's inside? It's so heavy."

Qiqi sidestepped and hugged the bag protectively like a dog guarding its food. She wouldn't let Wen Nan touch it. "It's not heavy! I can carry it myself."

Seeing that, Wen Nan let her be.

The two of them reached the bleachers by the field and sat side by side on the steps.

Qiqi opened her backpack. When Wen Nan looked inside, he saw it was stuffed full of bottled sparkling water.

They were all the same brand, but came in different flavors and colors.

Wen Nan couldn't help thinking, Does she like this brand of soda that much? Does she have to carry the whole collection around with her?

Qiqi rummaged through the bag, her fingers hesitating between a green bottle and a yellow one.

She rested her little hand on the yellow bottle first, then paused for several seconds. As if something had occurred to her, she pressed her lips together and blushed before shaking her head and taking the green bottle instead. She offered it to Wen Nan.

"Here, brother. You can have this."

Wen Nan looked at the bright green drink, a little hesitant.

Well... usually, I'm not too keen on drinks this color.

But when he met Qiqi's watery eyes, full of anticipation, Wen Nan still reached out and took it.

Qiqi was happy. She lowered her head and giggled.

Wen Nan was about to unscrew the cap when he noticed a line of prominent advertising on the label—

[Under the moonlight, it's the perfect time to hold hands.]

Wen Nan paused.

So Qiqi had bought every flavor just to collect the cheesy pickup lines printed on the labels?

While Wen Nan was distracted, Qiqi lifted her head and looked at the pitch-black night sky, a little disappointed.

"Aw, there's no moon tonight."

As she spoke, she carefully edged closer to Wen Nan and quietly moved her hand beside his.

Just as their hands were about to touch, Wen Nan lifted his own hand, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

Her hand fell short. Qiqi stared at Wen Nan and asked quietly,

"Do you... like it?"

"Like what?"

"That."

Qiqi lifted a hand and pointed at the bottle of soda. It wasn't clear whether she meant the flavor or the line on the label.

Wen Nan glanced at the starry sky, where there was no moon, and shook his head. "There's no moon. It's not the right time."

"Oh..."

Qiqi gave up trying to hold his hand. She pulled her hand all the way back and wrapped her arms around her knees, wishing she could curl into a tiny ball and hide underground.

Her lips puckered and her eyes turned red.

Meanwhile, the comments in Nine Times a Night's livestream were flying:

[Is she really a female ghost? She's so cute. How could she be one?]

[Man, is this your first time playing? Don't you know even the most basic rule? The more your heart flutters, the more terrifying the female ghost. At three-and-a-half stars, it's normal for her to be this cute.]

[Oh, I see. I didn't even pass the first map. The hardest one I've ever pursued was only one star, and it was nothing like this.]

[Hold her hand!]

[Take her hand!]

[Nine Times a Night, are you even a man?]

Just then, several comments highlighted in red drifted by:

[Don't touch her! Don't touch her! Don't touch her!!!]

[Important things must be said three times!]

[My friend had Qiqi as his target in his novice trial. He touched her, and now the grass on his grave is three meters tall!]

[For real? What happens if you touch her?]

[You don't want to know.]

[This Nine Times a Night guy... he doesn't really seem like a newbie?]

[He's got impressive self-control. He didn't hold her hand, so he must have done a similar quest before.]

[Could he really be a big shot here to stomp a newbie pond?]

As the comments carried on, Wen Nan leaned toward Qiqi, raised his arm, and draped it over her shoulder in a gesture that almost looked like an embrace.

The sudden show of intimacy startled Qiqi. She instinctively straightened her back, and her cheek accidentally brushed against the back of Wen Nan's hand.

Wen Nan paused, clearly feeling the skin of her cheek against his hand—cold, delicate, smooth, and soft.

[?]

[???]

[He touched her!]

It was only a brief touch. Wen Nan quickly pulled his arm back, a yellow bottle of soda in his hand.

Only then did Qiqi realize Wen Nan hadn't meant to hug her. He'd just been reaching for the backpack beside her to take out this bottle.

She turned her head and stared straight at Wen Nan.

Purplish-blue lines gradually spread across her once-pale skin. The black pupils vanished from her big eyes, leaving only hollow whites.

Two streams of thick, black blood ran from her eyes.

[Oh no.]

[She's showing her true form.]

[gg]

Wen Nan stared at Qiqi's face, stunned for a moment.

9527: [Ding!]

9527: [Dear Nine Times a Night, congratulations! Your account balance has exceeded 1,000 gold coins! If there's anything you'd like to purchase, just let me know.]

Before the words had even finished, the system helpfully opened the shop interface, where one purchasable piece of equipment was prominently displayed:

[Safety Bubble: A player wearing this equipment will be immune to all attacks for 30 minutes. (Only effective against targets with four stars or fewer.)]

9527: [Would you like to spend your gold coins now?]

Wen Nan: [Use them.]

9527: [All right, purchasing the equipment for you now—]

Wen Nan: [—No, don't buy the equipment.]

9527: [...]

Wen Nan: [Now, open a betting pool in the livestream. Put all my current gold coins on a bet.]

9527: [...Understood.]

The betting pool opened, and the odds shot up to 86.37 in an instant.

Wen Nan looked back at the girl in front of him.

He raised a hand and gently wiped the blood from the corner of her eye with his fingertip. "I only refused to hold your hand. Why are you crying?"

As he spoke, he held out the yellow soda bottle in his hand.

Printed on it was a line of cheesy pickup humor in the same style as the others—

[The stars fill the sky, just right for a kiss.]

"I don't think green suits me. I'm more suited to doing yellow things."

As he spoke, Wen Nan leaned in and kissed Qiqi on the lips.