Doll Survival Game

The discussion time passed mostly in silence. After discovering the silver threads underfoot, no one dared to move much. Luo Yiran, perched on Lin Luo’s shoulder, was the only one softly murmuring to himself.

Lin Luo, the sole person who could hear Luo Yiran’s mutterings, sighed quietly-so, Luo Yiran had figured it out.

Everyone held on, waiting for the voting time to arrive. As long as they could endure this period, survival was within reach.

Fortunately, their bodies were not in their usual physical state; they were far more resilient than in the real world.

But when the voting time finally came, raising their hands became a struggle for most of them.

Earlier, Via had been tending to Duan Miaomiao’s wounds. When the voting began, he thought to help her raise her hand, only to find his hand grasping at air.

He turned his head-Xia Lang had already raised Duan Miaomiao’s hand.

Via froze for a moment, staring at Xia Lang, who looked as though he might collapse at any second. Suddenly, Via realized that Xia Lang might not be as fragile as he appeared.

Tang Bai, the target of everyone’s votes, stared fixedly at Luo Yiran. As Luo Yiran finished speaking, he pointed at Tang Bai, his head tilted upward. “…Do you hate me that much?” His tone was brimming with fury.

Tang Bai responded with a cold laugh.

[Correct vote.]

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, waiting for the system notification to announce their successful clearance.

Luo Yiran tilted his head slightly, his long eyelashes trembling faintly as he awaited his score.

[Congratulations to player Luo Yiran for successfully clearing “Lin Na’s Last Day.” This game’s score: 90. Average score across all games: 77.5.]

The doll’s face lit up with a satisfied smile.

His phone vibrated, and the system’s voice echoed throughout the game space. Since all players were still present in the game space, everyone heard it-

[System notification.]

[System notification: Congratulations to player Luo Yiran for becoming the first player in this game to achieve a score above ninety.]

[Reward obtained: Revival potion.]

Everyone froze, stunned. Before they could ask any questions, another voice rang out.

[Ding-dong.] It was the same peculiar sound Luo Yiran had heard upon entering the game-a strange, murmuring noise, as if countless voices were speaking in hushed tones. Now, it resonated in everyone’s minds once more: [Request received… bzzt… update request~]

The sound crackled sharply, as if someone’s name had been erased. Luo Yiran frowned slightly.

[Update request approved. This game will undergo updates starting June 21, 2021. Players and bosses, please look forward to it~]

June 21? Today was June 7, which meant the update would occur exactly two weeks later, on the Monday after next.

Luo Yiran twirled his index finger thoughtfully-updates in real-world games were usually for optimization, but as for “World Human,” who knew what changes were in store? Had there even been updates before?

The players in the living room continued to watch Luo Yiran, but their instance had already concluded. As the system’s voice faded, all players were removed from the instance.

Yet Lin Luo and Luo Yiran remained.

Luo Yiran looked at Tang Bai with a hint of surprise.

“It’s not his doing. It’s because you, young master, achieved a high score. After the game ends, you’re granted additional time to remain here, and this time is considered safe time.” Lin Luo’s body began to deteriorate. The small wounds Luo Yiran had noticed earlier started to expand, blood trickling down.

The magician nonchalantly wiped away the blood nearing the corner of his eye, smiling as he spoke. “During this time, no one can harm you, young master.”

Tang Bai’s initial shock at Luo Yiran’s high score faded quickly. He shoved Lin Na aside, carefully avoiding the chaotic silver threads beneath the table, and perched himself on top of it. From his slightly elevated position, he cast a condescending glance at the magician. “Serves you right for running your mouth. Broke the rules, didn’t you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he froze, his expression darkening.

The wounds on the magician’s body continued to grow larger, blood seeping out in an increasingly alarming flow. Yet his demeanor remained oddly relaxed as he asked, “Got a warning, did you?”

Tang Bai snorted in response.

Luo Yiran ignored their bickering. He was scrolling through the World Human app on his phone, where the pinned announcements had already been updated. The first notification detailed the upcoming game update, while the second proudly proclaimed that Luo Yiran had become the first player to score 90 points and had been awarded the revival potion.

“Stupid game,” the doll perched on the magician’s shoulder muttered suddenly.

Both bosses froze mid-motion, falling into an awkward silence.

The doll seemed to recall how, despite his phone breaking in the game, it had been perfectly intact once he exited. He stared at the device for a moment before wrinkling his nose in disdain and tossing it aside.

“Stupid game,” he repeated with a sneer.

A revival potion? Ha. He could already tell-this instance would likely be the most harmonious one he’d ever experience with other players.

Because there wouldn’t be another.

After all, the name “revival potion” alone was enough to make anyone desperate for it.

The phone, which to a normal person was no larger than a fingernail, landed in front of Tang Bai with a soft thud. Without hesitation, Tang Bai reached out and crushed it under his palm with deliberate force. His tone was laced with irritation. “When are you finally leaving?”

Luo Yiran glanced up, a faintly amused smile playing on his lips. “How would I know? I can’t leave right now anyway. Why don’t we have a little chat in the meantime?”

Tang Bai let out a cold laugh. “You think I’d waste my time talking to someone who ruined my instance? If I could kill you right now, do you really think you’d still be standing here?”

“My instance?” Luo Yiran repeated, his tone light but probing. Though he’d suspected as much, this confirmed it-the instance was indeed created by the boss.

Tang Bai remained silent, relieved he hadn’t been issued another warning.

Feigning innocence, Luo Yiran blinked a few times. “Wow, that’s pretty heartless of you, designing an instance like this.”

Tang Bai’s lips twitched ever so slightly. He refrained from explaining that this was the only instance he’d ever created, and that its original purpose had been to trap players indefinitely. Of course, a sliver of hope had to remain-just a thread of it-otherwise, the instance wouldn’t have been approved.

From Tang Bai’s expression, Luo Yiran could tell that this instance had played out exactly as the boss had intended. The doll shrugged lightly, deciding he had nothing more to say on the matter.

Luo Yiran casually asked, “So, who are you in Lin Na’s story?”

Tang Bai froze for a moment. Luo Yiran’s face carried a smile, his tone gentle, yet his words grew sharper with each syllable. “The bully? The bullied? Or just an onlooker?”

Tang Bai’s gaze darkened. He knew he should keep his words to a minimum, but-“The only thing you haven’t figured out is my role in this story, isn’t it?”

There was a trace of smugness in his voice.

“Correct,” the doll admitted without hesitation.

Tang Bai raised an eyebrow slightly. He adjusted his glasses, and the shift in his demeanor was palpable. Even with the glasses on, his presence didn’t diminish. “Why don’t you start by telling me how you managed to score so high?”

The doll chuckled lightly. “Naturally, by uncovering most of the backstory.”

Lin Luo extended a blood-stained hand and tapped lightly on the table. Blood dripped from his fingers onto the surface. “Young master, he’s verifying whether you truly understand that all of this-comes from reality.”

The doll leaned forward slightly and tilted his head, his gaze fixed on Lin Luo, whose body was riddled with countless wounds, blood flowing freely in a grotesque display. The magician’s pajamas were soaked through, clinging to his slender frame. “See? The fact that he hasn’t worsened proves my point.”

If Lin Luo revealed something the doll didn’t know, Lin Luo would be breaking the rules.

“Tsk.” Tang Bai frowned. “How did you figure that out?”

“Instinct,” Luo Yiran lied effortlessly, his expression relaxed. “Other players might have some suspicions, but perhaps they don’t dare to confirm them.”

“Because if they were certain that the instance backgrounds were all based on reality, it would lead to more troubling thoughts. For example, the connection between the game and reality… Could they be trapped in the game forever, eventually becoming beings like you?”

“Humans really know how to avoid reality,” Tang Bai said, brushing his hair back from his forehead. His gaze was icy. “But right now, you don’t have the chance to become beings like us.”

“Why not?”

Tang Bai glanced at Lin Luo and replied coldly, “If I keep talking, I’ll end up like him.”

Luo Yiran turned his head.

Lin Luo smiled faintly. “After all, they don’t heal as quickly as I do.”

“But the pain is the same… Thank you,” Luo Yiran said sincerely for once. He was about to say more when a pulling sensation coursed through his body.

The puppet was startled by the gratitude, his hand unconsciously clenching, though his expression remained unchanged. “Young master, don’t say things like that. You’ll make me soft…”

The faint weight on his shoulder vanished, and the magician abruptly fell silent.

“You should leave too,” Tang Bai said, his tone much more relaxed after Luo Yiran’s departure. Beside him, Lin Na transformed into a humanoid figure constructed from building blocks. From Lin Na as the center, the entire house morphed into a structure of building blocks.

The magician stared at him. “First, tell me your role in this story. I need to report it to the young master.”

Tang Bai was silent for a moment before realization dawned on him. He stared at the magician in disbelief. “So you came to mess up my instance just for him?!”

“No,” the magician denied flatly. He avoided any large movements, knowing they would worsen his already damaged body. His tone was devoid of emotion. “I can only follow him to escape the place that traps me.”

“It’s rare to get the chance. I just wanted to come out and have some fun.”

The magician raised his eyes, a flicker of impatience surfacing in his dark gaze. “Hurry up and tell me. Staying here is far from comfortable.”

Tang Bai muttered under his breath, “If only I could beat you…”

Reluctantly, he began to speak.

The magician lowered his gaze slightly, listening absentmindedly as his focus drifted to the window. Nightfall-it would be night soon. That’s when he could see the young master again.

Luo Yiran opened his eyes and was startled.

Xia Lang was leaning on the edge of his bed, staring at him intently.

Luo Yiran: “?”

Xia Lang had just come over. His eyes were glistening, filled with a deep sense of restraint. His voice trembled as he spoke, “Ran, I…” He paused, swallowing down the words “I’m in so much pain,” and instead said, “I can’t sleep.”

Luo Yiran temporarily set aside the thoughts swirling in his mind about “World Humans.” He sat up. “Are you thinking about the past again?”

Xia Lang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Luo Yiran thought for a moment. “Well, since tomorrow-or rather, today-we don’t have class, why don’t we go do something good? It’ll help you relax.” Senior year students were preparing for their college entrance exams, and their school was being used as a testing site, so they had Monday through Wednesday off.

Xia Lang: “…?”

“And we can make some money while we’re at it,” Luo Yiran added, recalling the reward amounts often listed at the bottom of wanted notices. “After all, we can’t keep living beyond our means.” Right now, they were mostly living off the inheritance left by his grandfather.

Xia Lang looked even more confused-make money? What was he talking about?

Luo Yiran patted his head. “So, go get some sleep. We’ll have a busy day tomorrow.”

Still dazed, Xia Lang shuffled back to his bed behind the curtain. He had no idea what Luo Yiran was planning, but he trusted him completely. Whatever Ranran said to do, he would do.

…Yes.

Just listen and follow.

Xia Lang stared at the ceiling, his gaze unconsciously tracing the odd marks on it. They looked like remnants from balloons that had been stuck there during a childhood birthday party…

“…” He accidentally started thinking about the past again. Xia Lang tried hard to push the memories out of his mind-if he could just fall asleep, everything would fade away…

He glanced one last time in Luo Yiran’s direction before closing his eyes, forcing himself to sleep.

But what he didn’t know was that not long after he closed his eyes, Luo Yiran silently sat up, looking over at him.

This can’t go on. Luo Yiran’s face was expressionless, but a hint of concern flickered in his dark eyes. If Xia Lang continued participating in “World Humans,” the chances of him breaking down were dangerously high.

The last time Xia Lang had been like this was years ago…

…

For the first time in a while, Luo Yiran found himself thinking about the past. Resting his chin on his hand, he sank into thought. Come to think of it, something strange had happened back then too.

Thanks to Lin Ye’s special species form, he was reminded of a peculiar encounter around the same time he had met Xia Lang-a strange crow with a string of numbers on its body.

Those numbers… Luo Yiran tried to recall. It seemed like… 6… 7?

“2657…” Luo Yiran murmured the numbers aloud as he pieced the memory together.