Rarely daring to stand at the front instead of hiding behind the platform, Hu Xiu watched as the injuries on Qin Xiaoyi's face remained clearly visible.
He had noticed her too—his gaze briefly landing on her before shifting away. That fleeting glance felt utterly devastating.
Rong City had returned to its original state: everything orderly yet fraught with hidden dangers.
Qin Xiaoyi stepped into Rong City with unshakable composure, even tipping an attendant. As he reached the central main road, Bai Luoyu in her white dress stopped him: "How did our handsome Minister Qin get injured?"
"Just some romantic entanglements, not worth mentioning."
Both his facial wound and waist injury were caused by Hu Xiu's midnight rampage. Bai Luoyu had been present that night too—when their eyes met, Hu Xiu wished she could hang herself from Rong City's gates in apology. But having just entered the scene, she didn't dare speak up.
Bai Luoyu's eyes could speak. Though not as clear as Lin Qiumei's, they possessed their own captivating charm.
Polite, self-possessed, with a hint of wariness—these were women who knew exactly how to handle emotional boundaries.
This made Hu Xiu hesitant to return next time.
Hu Xiu randomly drew a Role Package—Soviet journalist Herzen from Feng Youjin's group.
Her character's main tasks would take place aboard the train, where multiple parties would invite her to secure votes for candidates during Soviet-side meetings, including both players and NPCs.
On the first night, Qin Xiaoyi had improvised changes to the script—getting into a fight over romantic affairs before the VIP's arrival.
Ning Zechen teased his aloof and cold image: "Minister Qin seems quite popular with romantic scandals. Would you like to see the venereal disease medicine ads in Rong City Evening News?"
Several female players nearby laughed at the promiscuous joke, while Feng Youjin moved closer to scare them, eliciting screams from the young women.
Mentally repeating three times that pleasing people was an NPC's job, Hu Xiu waited until the first scene ended before slipping into the train carriage according to the script, only to get blocked in carriage No. 6—
No wonder she'd never seen the Soviet characters from Feng Youjin's group before—they never had chances to leave!
The Soviet journalist's room was filled with vibrant colors: Lenin stared from Russian posters on the walls, Russian nesting dolls stood lined up from large to small on the cabinet, radiating strong northern atmosphere.
Outside the window, Qin Xiaoyi was still interacting with female players. Having played most roles before, Hu Xiu could guess their conversation even through the glass.
Qin Xiaoyi laughed brightly, maintaining eye contact with them for ten full seconds before retreating shyly from their enthusiastic gazes—that kind of interaction was something timid girls like Hu Xiu couldn't provide.
The scene left her feeling unsettled. Suddenly someone approached her—Ning Zechen. His idle demeanor remained unchanged as he asked her to publish some black material about Qin Xiaoyi embezzling funds and trading arms in Soviet newspapers, while putting in a good word for him too.
Noticing Hu Xiu staring out the window, he glanced outside and chuckled: "I heard you caused quite a scene on Snowpiercer last time when I wasn't around."
"It was a misunderstanding. Some relationship troubles among friends—it's been trending online recently. You might have seen it."
"We perform five shows daily—no time for phones. I just heard some guy from your group beat up Qin Xiaoyi. See that bruise on his face? Someone really went all out..."
"Sorry..."
"You didn't hit him, why apologize? But you really like him, don't you? Always coming to spend money here regularly."
"Qin Xiaoyi... is he angry?""I don't know, but it's all part of the job. We've encountered groups like the Wild Horse Gang who specifically book the venue to cause trouble - they even smashed the sets. Compared to them, you're nothing. As long as it's not targeted harassment of the venue, it's just work. But—"
Ning Zechen's smile carried deeper meaning: "You already have a boyfriend, yet you're here fawning over Qin Xiaoyi?"
"That's not my boyfriend."
Ning Zechen made tutting sounds, raised his eyebrows, shook his head, and retreated.
Hu Xiu was both angry and anxious. When the carriage door opened, other players kept looking for her. Why did she have to draw this Role that gets trapped in the carriage?
Couldn't they thoughtfully provide Role Package selection services for players looking for Qin Xiaoyi!
By the second night of completing tasks and leaving the carriage, Qin Xiaoyi had just emerged from the prison cell and was leaning against the train lighting a cigar.
Everything was a prop, and Qin Xiaoyi acted very convincingly. When the lighter failed to produce flame after several attempts, he coldly stuffed it back into his pocket. His draped suit jacket slipped off one shoulder, which he grabbed and shook back into place - neat and clean, completely immersed in his Role, paying no attention to Hu Xiu at all.
"What's wrong today? In a bad mood?"
Qin Xiaoyi pursed his lips, signaling Hu Xiu to look up. The newspaper had already been posted on the wall - Russian-style newspaper with Chinese characters reporting that Manchuria's Finance Minister Qin Xiaoyi had embezzled public funds with malicious intent - the plot triggered by Hu Xiu.
"If Minister Qin needs to change the narrative, you can give me some money, and I'll write it."
Qin Xiaoyi took out twenty thousand: "Help me with something - go to Ning Zechen's room and drug him. For his upcoming date with Lin Qiumei, make sure he can't leave his room and stands her up."
Everything was in character. Hu Xiu took the money and whispered: "I'm sorry..."
"Nothing to be sorry about. Writing favorable articles for Ning Zechen is originally your job." Qin Xiaoyi clearly had no intention of breaking character to chat with her.
"I mean—your face... is it okay?"
"Thank you for your concern." He turned away, not planning to discuss the matter further.
Hu Xiu hurried to clarify: "That really wasn't my boyfriend, he's a match my father introduced. I'm not as frivolous as you think..."
Qin Xiaoyi turned back, his smile unusually bright: "What are you talking about, Reporter Herzen."
This smile put Hu Xiu at ease. In previous sessions, Hu Xiu would never sabotage Ning Zechen and Lin Qiumei's date. Leaving Qin Xiaoyi alone to chat with her in character was her secretly cherished pleasure.
But today Hu Xiu didn't dare anger Qin Xiaoyi, feeling that Wang Guangming pushing him in the previous session was her fault.
Carrying wine into Ning Zechen's room, Ning Zechen also smiled but still played along, pretending to have diarrhea and standing up Lin Qiumei.
After completing the task, Lin Qiumei approached and slipped Hu Xiu ten thousand: "Buy some tonic medicine for Police Chief Ning for me."
What kind of love triangle was this? No matter how hard Qin Xiaoyi tried, Lin Qiumei only liked Ning Zechen - it was practically an iron-clad script with an unbreakable CP.
Hu Xiu figured since she needed to please Qin Xiaoyi anyway, she might as well do the good deed thoroughly. She bought a gift at the department store to give to Lin Qiumei.
Remembering how Lin Qiumei had been standing nearby when Qin Xiaoyi hurt his waist in the previous session, panicking and not knowing what to do, Hu Xiu stammered: "M-Miss Lin, Minister Qin asked me to deliver this..."
"You came on your own initiative, didn't you?"Hu Xiu didn't quite understand what this meant.
"Ning Zechen and I have reconciled, and Qin Xiaoyi already knows about it. If this is a gift from you alone, I'll accept it.
But I, Lin Qiumei, don't easily accept gifts from others. Consider this money as my gift to you in Rong City."
People always want to take an extra step when touched. Before stepping out the door, she left her head in the doorway crack: "About what happened last time... I'm sorry."
"None of us took it to heart, just forget it." Lin Qiumei's eyes could speak.
As the door closed, Hu Xiu thought to herself - how many beautiful and kind-hearted Non-Player Characters were hidden in this Live Action Role Playing Game? That unpleasant incident from last time had now been resolved as gently as spring rain, with them actually comforting her instead.
When she stepped outside and stood on Rong City's main thoroughfare, looking at this condensed yet complete city with its restaurants, clothing stores, department stores, casinos, dance halls, police stations, military bases, train stations...
And these actors living in Rong City, they seemed to constitute a new imagination about life.
Being emotionally sensitive, she tread carefully in reality, but in this fictional dimension, no one held reservations against her. Every time they greeted her with smiling faces, bearing no grudges. Even when deception was necessary, their fundamental nature remained kind.
Qin Xiaoyi passed by behind her: "Did you go to court favor with Lin Qiumei for me?"
"I..." Before she could finish, Qin Xiaoyi's hand covered Hu Xiu's head and ruffled her hair: "Don't do things I didn't ask you to do. I don't want second-rate love."
The script's ending indeed had new changes. Qin Xiaoyi successfully secured the position of Rong City candidate.
But his first act was to drag Ning Zechen off the stage. When Qin Xiaoyi wanted to shoot Feng Youjin to settle his prison grievance, Lin Qiumei blocked his way. Qin Xiaoyi was practically bloodthirsty: "I'll give you everything, okay? My money, my power, all of it I'll give to you. Will you be with me?"
Seeing Lin Qiumei shake her head, Qin Xiaoyi drew his gun. Two shots rang out, and Feng Youjin and Lin Qiumei fell to the ground.
Only Qin Xiaoyi remained standing in the middle of the dance hall, with no third round of escape chase—
So this was the Snowpiercer version where there was no escape game, where all members died leaving only Qin Xiaoyi.
This was Hu Xiu's first time seeing such a finale. Qin Xiaoyi had killed everyone, standing alone under the spotlight, scattering roses then scattering banknotes.
The bruise on his face seemed more like a medal of lost love. His collar, torn open during the struggle, revealed pale yet seductive collarbones. Arrogant isolation became his eternal rest note.
Watching Qin Xiaoyi's profile, Hu Xiu was deeply moved. Such an ending suited Qin Xiaoyi perfectly.
Though lonely and painful, it was heaven-made for his face and temperament.
By the time the entire game finished, it was already 1:30 AM. Sitting in the lounge reviewing the game, Hu Xiu saw Qin Xiaoyi coming out after work wearing a shirt, and her heart skipped a beat.
Having changed clothes quickly after leaving early, his collar still not properly flipped, the actors waiting for the elevator at the front desk to clock out.
When Qin Xiaoyi saw Hu Xiu, he slightly slowed his pace and waited behind the crowd. Two elevators arrived simultaneously, and the actors crowded into the right one. The entire elevator contained only Hu Xiu and Qin Xiaoyi, the already small enclosed space becoming quiet with awkwardness.
Qin Xiaoyi, standing behind Hu Xiu, held the other elevator door open. Hu Xiu quickly followed him inside.
Everything seemed like a tacit understanding.Ning Zechen suddenly barged in, glancing mischievously at the blushing Hu Xiu. "Seems this elevator can't fit me anymore."
Before the doors closed, he stepped back with long strides, leaving behind a sly grin as the gap narrowed.
Hu Xiu, already nervous, felt her anxiety worsen.
She had mentally rehearsed walking out of Rong City with Qin Xiaoyi countless times—besides that cinematic rainy night, she imagined cozy scenes of strolling side by side on streets or snuggling together watching movies.
She couldn't decide what lines to say, nor could she master subtle facial control. If she got carried away, she might contort her expression and risk being laughed at.
As she pressed the elevator button to go up, Qin Xiaoyi leaned against the back wall, just a step and a half away. During the ascent, the brief moment of weightlessness sent shivers down her spine.
This was a rare opportunity...
"You performed... really well today." The words seemed to escape Hu Xiu's lips involuntarily.
She meant to turn around casually, only to find Qin Xiaoyi looking down at her.
"Haven't you watched Qin Xiaoyi's ending multiple times already? No need to see it again. When you come play later, don't worry too much about winning or losing."
The phrase "I came to see you" lingered in her mind all day, but Hu Xiu held it back, instead asking, "Do you still remember me?"
"Of course..."
"If we're close, you don't need to be so formal... We're friends now, aren't we?"
"Maintaining politeness toward you is part of an actor's basic professionalism."
The elevator rose slowly as Qin Xiaoyi murmured, almost to himself, "Qin Xiaoyi's Role doesn't have a great ending anyway—so tragic. He ends up with wealth and power, but love remains out of reach."
Before Hu Xiu could respond, the elevator doors opened. Another group of NPCs emerged from a different elevator; the mall had closed, and people were exiting through the emergency exit. Qin Xiaoyi walked at the back, seemingly holding the door for her.
As Hu Xiu passed by, she heard his gentle voice: "It's late, be careful on your way."
"Okay..."
The entire conversation felt like nothing had been said. No ambiguity lingered, nor was there anything for Hu Xiu to dwell on.
In a week, she might even forget Qin Xiaoyi's face. She'd need to buy a ticket to enter again and wait for his ending to see him scattering money—
If he won and performed the finale, she'd get to see him longer... but the waiting was agonizing.
In the distance, actors chatted by the entrance. Lin Qiumei's boyfriend came to pick her up after work—
It was the actor who played another version of Ning Zechen she'd met before. The two embraced sweetly, while another actor pulled a drone from their bag, calling everyone to test fly it.
The young men and women tirelessly fiddled with the erratically flying drone outside the mall late at night. Qin Xiaoyi, slightly slouched, wore a shirt and shorts that revealed a toned, muscular build with smooth curves. In casual clothes, he stood out even more than in his Role—and exuded a certain sensuality.
Hu Xiu hid in the distance waiting for her ride, unable to tear her eyes away from him until she noticed the subtle dynamics among the actors.
Everyone scattered chaotically, chasing the wobbling drone, except for the other Ning Zechen and his clingy girlfriend Lin Qiumei, who remained embraced on the spot, and...Qin Xiaoyi's footsteps unconsciously followed the actress playing Lin Qiumei. Though she stood by her boyfriend's side, rising on tiptoe to act coquettishly before being enveloped in Ning Zechen's embrace, Qin Xiaoyi retreated to the sidelines to play on his phone before listlessly joining the drone calibration.
Several colleagues chased the drone in playful banter, while Hu Xiu could see the indescribable desolation in the slightly slouched posture of Qin Xiaoyi.
She had experienced that feeling herself. The depth of her own infatuation with Qin Xiaoyi made her recognize how tormenting those unresolved feelings were when one hunched over with lowered head.
Qin Xiaoyi's affection for Lin Qiumei had carried over from the drama to real life - the frantic pursuit and unrequited love within the story had transformed into a secret crush offstage.
Even when deliberately concealed, observant eyes could still detect it. At the very least, Hu Xiu had easily seen through it.
The September breeze hadn't yet turned cool, yet she felt her hands and feet grow icy. A shiver ran through her, making her breathing tremble.
During filming, she had simply liked Qin Xiaoyi, never considering this as something that needed to transcend beyond the drama.
But now, watching Qin Xiaoyi secretly yearning for someone else, a suffocating tightness filled her chest. The swelling pain and involuntary trembling reminded her of when she first developed feelings for a boy during her girlhood.
She had mustered courage to approach him back then. The boy had bounced a basketball to her feet, and as she caught it, he lowered his head brushing past her cheek as if to kiss her, but only flashed the awkward young her a mischievous smile before walking away.
That unsettled feeling of not knowing what would happen next had given her the sensation of touching the edge of taboo - a kind of adolescent anxiety.
She hadn't experienced that same frantic feeling since, Hu Xiu thought. Now, the aching pull in her chest felt exactly like that earlier panic, but this time she understood.
This was genuine romantic attraction toward Qin Xiaoyi - desire.
It couldn't be stopped anymore. Once desire took root, there was no halting it. From this moment on, she no longer wanted to keep Qin Xiaoyi confined to the drama, nor continue acting opposite him within it.
If Qin Xiaoyi could truly experience romantic feelings and develop affection for other girls in real life, then what did that make her - she who had once enjoyed the female lead's role during that rainy night scene?
Reckless, greedy desire to possess the other person was consuming her.
I want to make you belong to me.
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