Doll Survival Game

Luo Yiran disliked being threatened. One particular threat he remembered was when his grandfather, Luo Jun, refused to go to the hospital while sick, insisting that Yiran make friends instead. Compromising had led Xia Lang to stick with him to this day.

Despite the apparent disparity in the severity of threats, to Luo Yiran, it made little difference. He looked at Lei Jing and thought, “You’re right, I really am not very useful. Voting for me wouldn’t make a difference.”

Lei Jing suppressed a sudden surge of panic in her heart. Just as she was about to say something, Lin Luo interrupted, “Ranran, saying that makes me really sad.”

Luo Yiran frowned.

Lin Luo’s face darkened, his eyes somber as he said vehemently, “I will definitely vote for you.”

Lei Jing squinted her eyes.

Lin Luo extended his hands, encircling the doll on the table and whispered, “The father’s documents I’ve studied as this character didn’t make the connection, but we players can. Many years ago, the Lin Family business ruined someone so severely that they went bankrupt and their family ended tragically with suicides and accidental deaths, leaving only a mother-a mother who was an award-winning taekwondo practitioner.”

Via chuckled.

Lin Luo added with respect, “You mean to say an old man couldn’t possibly exert excessive force?” It’s all an act, but there are indeed people over fifty who are healthier than many young people.

Lei Jing’s face turned ashen.

Lin Luo nudged Luo Yiran, who sighed-if only this kind of empathy came from anyone but a magician, he might actually make friends with them. But alas, existing as mutual enemies meant friendship was out of the question.

The doll lamented for a moment, then continued, “From the moment you murdered my sister, it’s been clear our vigilance can’t stop you from killing us, or it’s very difficult at least. After all, my sister was also a player. She could have used her one chance to break character to save herself, or even call for help, but she died silently without much resistance.”

Lei Jing’s eyes turned icy, and she stopped arguing with Lin Luo and Luo Yiran. Instead, she turned to the others with a twisted smile and a gentle tone, “I have a decent standing within the Hunters. If you don’t want to offend the Hunters… vote for Luo Yiran.”

Silence fell.

Players who had been in World Human for a while knew of the Hunters’ ferocity. In one live broadcast instance, players who killed a member of the Hunters faced instant gruesome retaliation-some were dismembered slowly, others were cooked alive, and yet others had their bones smashed and flesh scraped off. All suffered long and painful deaths, some lasting over 48 hours, ultimately killed by the instance’s boss.

That live broadcast instance had caused the most viewer discomfort, and it also made the Hunters infamous. After all, there are things in this world far worse than mere death.

Via was about to speak, but Li Qi Feng stopped him, silently indicating, “Wait.”

Lin Luo withdrew his hand and supported Luo Yiran’s back, laughing inwardly-Lei Jing’s words were likely to inspire defiance.

The doll didn’t avoid Lin Luo’s supportive hand and even seemed relaxed as he spoke, “Since both options are difficult, why don’t we all abstain? There’s no decisive clue about the real non-player anyway.”

Everyone paused. Lin Ye looked up, “The rules indeed don’t forbid abstaining.”

Many breathed a sigh of relief, except for Lei Jing, who frowned. Driven by both instinct and desire, she did not want to let Luo Yiran go. She crossed her legs, lightly swinging them, and spoke again, “I’m not happy. If you don’t vote for Luo Yiran, you’re making an enemy of me and the Hunters.”

Luo Yiran shrugged, his smile amiable, “As long as everyone’s happy.”

Lei Jing paused, her expression puzzled.

“Nothing more to say then? Let’s vote,” Luo Yiran said, looking at the wall and then feigning surprise, “Oh, look at the time.”

Some were stunned, their eyes following his gaze to the clock on the wall, noticing the time.

Meanwhile, the system announced, “Round table discussion time is up. Please point to the player you wish to vote for after the countdown of three.”

Lei Jing’s eyes filled with malice as she glanced around, “Everyone knows who to vote for, right?”

[Three]

Via signaled to Li Qi Feng.

[Two]

Lin Ye shook her head at Zhang Mimi.

[One]

As the final count fell, Luo Yiran unhesitatingly pointed at Lei Jing, who was also pointing at him. Smiling, he said, “If this were about choosing a heartthrob, we’d have a perfect match.”

Behind Luo Yiran, Lin Luo raised an eyebrow, whispering with a laugh, “Ranran, we just defined our relationship, and you’re already flirting with someone else?”

Luo Yiran: “…”

Lei Jing didn’t catch Luo Yiran’s words. She was stunned, then incredulously looked at Via and Lin Ye pointing at her.

Four people pointed at her, while the rest abstained.

Zhang Mimi chuckled, “Are you stupid? If we abstain and you end up dead, we who abstained won’t appear on the Hunters’ blacklist.”

They hadn’t “killed” Lei Jing; they were just bystanders. This was their best choice-to avoid appearing on the Hunters’ blacklist and to avoid being targeted by Lei Jing later.

Luo Yiran had anticipated this.

The worst-case scenario in this vote would be a mutual vote between him and Lei Jing, but it was unlikely he would receive more votes than Lei Jing. However-

Luo Yiran looked at Via and Lin Ye, surprised they also voted.

Via shifted to a more comfortable position, swinging his legs modestly, “To ensure she’s thoroughly defeated. You set the scene, and it would be a pity not to count mutual votes. Besides, both of us are defined as members of the Lin family; her death is crucial for our safety.”

Only he, not Li Qi Feng, could stand out at this moment. They had divided their roles early; he was always to be at the forefront, while Li Qi Feng was the hidden card in his shadow.

Lin Ye’s shoulders relaxed slightly, “Same reason.”

Lei Jing scoffed coldly, looking towards the calm doll, her tone venomous, “We will cut you to pieces, then burn your limbs right in front of you!”

The doll paused-burn in front of him? Even if it was his body, would watching a doll’s limbs burn distress him?

Lei Jing clearly wasn’t thinking straight.

However.

Luo Yiran gave Lei Jing a small smile, his tone infuriatingly calm, “Sure, feel free to try and get back at me.”

Lei Jing’s eyes reddened with rage, “Luo Yiran!”

Her voice had barely fallen when the system announced.

[Voting ended.]

[The person with the most votes-Lei Jing.]

[Lei Jing, eliminated.]

Luo Yiran ignored Lei Jing, turning his head to look at the clock on the wall once more, his expression now clear of any confusion.

He couldn’t sleep.

Ever since he found his sister’s diary, Xia Lang felt like exploding-he couldn’t play this role.

“I can’t…,” he murmured angrily, overwhelmed with rage.

Just then, the system announced-[Player Xia Lang’s second OOC, as only one OOC is allowed before midnight, a death penalty for violation is applied.]

Xia Lang’s vision blurred briefly, as if he was about to faint.

Immediately regaining his senses, he hurriedly left his bed and ran towards Luo Yiran’s room.

He knocked on Lin Luo’s door, but no one answered. Desperate, he shouted, clinging to the hope-Open up! I can’t die like this.

A friend must keep his promise; he wanted to die in front of Luo Yiran…

But.

He didn’t die.

After knocking foolishly for a while, Xia Lang stopped-What’s going on?

The game sometimes delays implementing penalties, but this delay seemed too long.

And why was no one coming out?

The house was eerily quiet, so quiet that Xia Lang slowly became frightened. He knocked again, “Ranran!”

Inside the room, all was silent. The hallway was equally quiet, as if the house was empty.

“…”

Xia Lang hesitated, bit his lip, looked at the door once more, then ran back-he would go to Via, remembering Via was in his room taking a bath…

Xia Lang returned to his room.

No one was in his room or the bathroom.

Xia Lang was terrified. He slumped by the bed, shrinking into the corner-What’s going on? Where is everyone? Could it be that he was already dead… and this was hell.

Terrified, hell was indeed lonely and frightening.

A breeze blew. Xia Lang instinctively looked towards the window where a white figure seemed to pass by, then lingered at his window.

Xia Lang covered his mouth, his pupils trembling, his sobs muffled. He was glad he was in the small corner by the bed; maybe the person by the window couldn’t see him…

Soft sounds came from the window. Xia Lang didn’t dare look up, focusing on the dark floor instead. The noises at the window seemed amplified. It felt like the person couldn’t leave the window, struggling gently there.

But Xia Lang still didn’t dare to try and escape.

It would leave, right?

Xia Lang dared not move.

He stayed there for a long time as the surroundings seemed to brighten slightly. Xia Lang was nearly nerve-wracked but began to hope-if it was a ghost, perhaps it would disappear when day broke?

Just as he thought this, the noises at the window grew louder, as if the person there couldn’t bear it any longer with dawn approaching, trying to enter.

There were sounds of knocking on the window and pulling at something, followed by… footsteps.

Xia Lang’s pupils shivered slightly. He remained motionless, watching the carpet in front of him, listening as the footsteps drew nearer.

Run, run!

Xia Lang thought so, but fear paralyzed him; he could only listen as the person paused, then seemed to head towards the room’s door.

If the person continued straight without turning, they might not notice him…

But just as he thought this, the footsteps stopped, and a gaze settled on him.

Xia Lang’s body went cold, his skin crawling with chills. Subconsciously, slowly, he lifted his head.