Movie Escape

In fact, it really could have been a ghost.

Both Wei Yanchi and Yue Xiamo had three players in their screening rooms. Only Xie De's room had four. If that wasn't a coincidence, something might genuinely have gone wrong.

Ha. Xie De had given up all hope of ever escaping his rotten luck.

Every player frowned, but before they could think it through-

As though they had finally cleared the game's first stage, the Instance System's cold, malicious voice rang out. "Congratulations, players, on entering the Zhang Qiuyue Instance. Your task is to resolve Zhang Qiuyue's troubles. To better help you clear this Instance, the system has prepared a world-travel service for you."

"Players, have you had enough of your mundane, ordinary lives in the real world? Have you ever envied how effortlessly cool movie protagonists are? There's no need to panic. Come draw lots! Anyone who draws a particular movie will get to experience life inside it."

This Instance really was up to no good!

At that moment, a blue panel appeared before each of them, with four floating options labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4.

So there really were four screening rooms. They just still didn't know what movie had been playing in the fourth.

Everyone fell silent.

The Instance System added, "Please complete your draw within one minute. Anyone who fails to draw within that time will be randomly assigned to a movie by the Instance."

Wei Yanchi and Beiwei immediately looked at Xie De.

Meanwhile, Xie De was listening to 455 wail. It wasn't even pretending anymore and showed no restraint around him. "Oh my god, host, did you hear that? The Instance System is so hot! My Lord God! If the Instance System can't be my wife, what meaning does my life as a system even have?"

Xie De thought that if 455 had a physical body, he would beat it up without hesitation. "Calm the hell down! Your Instance System is trying to kill me. If I die, you die too. In other words, your Instance System is trying to kill you. What matters right now is which option is easiest!"

455 whimpered, "T^T, it doesn't have emotional settings as complex and sophisticated as mine, so I don't blame it. It's already let me chat with it and watch its programs run. How is that not love? Just pick anything. You won't clear any of them anyway, but that's fine. The protagonist definitely can. Just ride his coattails."

"Fuck you, 455. Don't underestimate me."

That somewhat useless, unreliable, lovesick little system made Xie De laugh in exasperation.

His voice was cold as he said flatly, "1."

Fortunately, when the protagonist, Beiwei, and Yue Xiamo saw his choice, they all picked 1 too. Once they had chosen, the Instance began announcing the results.

Logically, since they had all chosen the same option, they should have received the same result. But how could it possibly be that simple?

"Congratulations to player 39 on drawing an X-rated movie."

That meant "Pearl." He had drawn the most dangerous one. What was there to congratulate him about?

Xie De felt his already sour expression turn even sourer.

"Congratulations to player Wei Yanchi on drawing an M Rating movie."

The M Rating movie could have been "Inception," or it could have been the unknown movie in the fourth screening room.

The same option, different movies. The Instance System was definitely messing with them.

Wei Yanchi's expression remained perfectly normal. He merely gave Xie De a helpless smile.

"Congratulations to player Beiwei on drawing an R Rating movie."

"Congratulations to player Yue Xiamo on drawing a G Rating movie."

"Congratulations to player Yu Youzong on drawing an M Rating movie."

"Pearl"

Xie De felt a blood-scented wind howl past his ears. He seemed to hear a young girl's despairing sobs. Colors flashed before his eyes, and he saw a girl dancing gracefully across a stage in a red dress. Her smile was so radiant, as though victory were already within her grasp.

She had given everything for this audition!

To break free of her shackles and burdens, she had murdered her father and mother. She deserved to get what she wanted!

Xie De found himself on a farm, standing in front of the farmhouse. On the steps sat a platter of roast suckling pig crawling with maggots, a disgusting sight that drew flies in endless swarms.

Xie De realized that none of the other veteran players were around. He would have to clear this stage alone.

His hand quietly tightened around the gun in his pocket. His heart pounded. He was a little nervous.

Lowering his head, he put a cigarette between his lips without lighting it. He merely tasted it, trying to slow his heartbeat for the moment.

Okay, okay. It was just a movie. He wasn't scared at all. When arriving somewhere unfamiliar, the first step was to survey the surroundings.

This looked like an ordinary farm from the sixties or seventies, the kind that often appeared in American movies. Ignoring that decidedly unhealthy roast suckling pig, the scenery looked pretty nice, at least.

"Sir, would you like me to light your cigarette?"

The sudden female voice nearly made Xie De jump.

He quickly turned to look. It was a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl with brown hair, black eyes, and little freckles. She wore a friendly smile and gazed at him with shining eyes.

But Xie De's entire body froze. This girl was the woman he had seen endlessly chopping wood in the movie clip. Seriously? He had to face the boss the instant he arrived?

And what had she just said?

"455! Hurry up and translate."

455 came online. "Oh, she's asking, 'Sir, do you need me to light your cigarette?' She's speaking German. You can answer in German too. 'Brauche' means you do. 'Nicht brauche' means you don't. Hey, this is a perfect chance to practice a foreign language."

The phrase for refusing was too long, and Xie De hadn't remembered it. But the girl stared straight at him with her dark eyes, as though she would impale him with the pitchfork in her hand if he didn't answer. Ha ha. Thrilling.

Xie De wanted to draw his gun every second now, but he was afraid bullets wouldn't kill people inside a movie. He really did feel a little sorry for himself.

The tall man lowered his gaze slightly to look at her. His voice was deep, and his silver hair hung loose, drifting in the breeze. As though accustomed to being waited on, he uttered a single word that would sound very rude to a foreigner: "Brauche."

Yet Pearl's smile grew even more sincere. She immediately stepped forward, nimble as a fawn, and pulled a match from her jeans. It flared with a swish, and she carefully approached him.

Xie De dipped his head slightly, his long hair falling forward. His eyes lowered toward the tip of the cigarette as a tiny spark lit it.

The girl smelled the tobacco's light sweetness and asked curiously in German, "What kind of cigarette is that? What are you doing here? Who are you? Where are you from?"

Xie De simply handed her one. German was a little tongue-twisting, so he only said one short sentence. "My name is 39."

Pearl began smoking with delighted surprise. Her movements were practiced and natural, like a seasoned smoker's, which she indeed was.

She pursed her lips and smiled rather cutely. "This is the sweetest cigarette I've ever smoked. It feels like eating candy. I don't like it. Hey, you still haven't told me what you're doing here. Are you a judge for the dance audition?"

How was he supposed to say that?

Xie De steeled himself and nodded.

The girl's smile grew wider and wider, an eerie light shining in her eyes. "That's absolutely wonderful!"