Pei Zhen leaned closer to ask Hu Xiu, "Wasn't there supposed to be an uncultured guy with a mustache? He doesn't seem that barbaric." Hu Xiu kicked the Rongcheng Iron Gate, tears nearly springing to her eyes on the spot.
Qin Xiaoyi turned back with a smile: "What, are you this excited to see me?"
More than excited—it was as if all my memories came flooding back. Freshness, palpitations, helpless obsession, all starting from the moment the iron gate opened and you walked out.
My entire body felt familiar sensations—heart racing, breath quickening, on the verge of functional failure, my mind consumed by only one thought: I'm done for.
To put it in those cheesy lines, this was her first love—she thought she would never see Qin Xiaoyi again.
A month away from Snowpiercer, and the streets seemed renovated; the phone booth had been relocated.
The snow on the ground had thickened, the previous Haunted House had been renovated into a hospital and school, with new scenes added.
Familiar NPCs would exchange knowing smiles with Hu Xiu as a form of greeting.
The sentiment veteran players held for Snowpiercer went without saying—just entering made their hearts soften.
About eight out of ten actors here probably knew she had a crush on Qin Xiaoyi. His sudden schedule change was clearly for her sake.
The actors were all clever like that.
Lin Qiumei stood at the entrance of Rongcheng Restaurant, while Ning Zechen emerged draped in fur, freezing at the sight of Zhao Xiaorou.
Li Ai and Pei Zhen stood nearby, observant and sharp-minded, understanding everything through exchanged glances.
Ning Zechen spoke to Qin Xiaoyi while eyeing Li Ai's cane: "Minister Qin, if he wants to search you, just let him. Unless you, Qin Xiaoyi, actually have something to hide."
Someone who could deliver lines while assessing off-script situations truly had their dialogue memorized thoroughly.
Hu Xiu, however, merely thought to herself: A battlefield at 9:30 in the morning? How many times has it been lately?
The Role she drew was new—Dr. Liang Min from Feng Youjin's group. This was a villainous Role with religious undertones, with three main tasks: steal the ring from Qin Xiaoyi's hand and mail it to Japan without him noticing (the ring being a religious organization's token); replace the hospital's medical supplies with military equipment to hand over to the American in Qin Xiaoyi's group; use Herzen to frame the director in the newspaper, then report to Feng Youjin to take over the hospital.
Pei Zhen happened to be in Qin Xiaoyi's group, playing a Role she had experienced before—intercepting intelligence reports to Qin Xiaoyi, with the option to either blackmail Qin Xiaoyi midway or clear up misunderstandings to rescue Feng Youjin's wife and child.
This Role also had a fatal weakness: a Party Constitution in the bag. If Hu Xiu reported Pei Zhen, she could get 40,000—in Rong City, there was nothing one wouldn't do for money.
But doing so would shatter the gentle, shining image Pei Zhen held of her.
For money, there's nothing one wouldn't do!
Hu Xiu first circled the hospital. The director's office desk had a password box, and the cabinets were all locked—likely solving puzzles to find keys would take considerable time, greatly affecting subsequent tasks, and time was already tight.
Going with Qin Xiaoyi to buy the ring... she didn't know how Diao Zhiyu, having switched back to this Role, would mess with her—probably demand an exorbitant price.
If he played Feng Youjin, putting on a stern, tough face with no real authority but pretending to be fierce, she could constantly find faults to bully him. But this round he was Qin Xiaoyi—charm oozing from his bones, richly fragrant, radiating a halo, universally adored. Seeing him made her want to faint.No, better to deceive first and ask questions later. She knocked on Qin Xiaoyi's door just as Pei Zhen was coming out. Seeming to have finally encountered a familiar face, he shot her a meaningful glance asking for help.
Hu Xiu squeezed his hand through his clothes, her fingers sliding down his sleeve to his palm. "Why so nervous? What's there to fear about Qin Xiaoyi? Just because he's handsome? You're the Lee Min-ho of the operating room."
Qin Xiaoyi caught this gesture and slowly closed his eyes while listening to Team Feng's player read the love letter. Only then did Hu Xiu realize she hadn't seen Zhao Xiaorou around - most likely she and Li Ai had been assigned to Ning Zechen's team.
Without even opening his eyes, Qin Xiaoyi asked, "What do you want now?"
"Minister Qin, look how passionately we're reading these love letters. Don't we deserve some reward?"
"Where's the passion? All voice and no emotion." Qin Xiaoyi tossed two bundles of money. "I'll keep the love letters. You may leave."
Only Qin Xiaoyi and Hu Xiu remained in the room. Slowly opening his eyes, he asked, "What did you need me for?"
"Look! An airplane!" Hu Xiu pointed at the ceiling while reaching for the ring on Qin Xiaoyi's index finger. The moment she touched his hand, he hissed, "Are you stupid?"
He stood up and walked out. Hu Xiu panicked. Damn it, we're so familiar outside the game, with this ambiguous relationship between us, but in the game he's clearly determined to make things difficult for me! If it were some 170cm beauty with a slender waist and long legs, he'd probably hand over the ring without hesitation!
Feigning apology from behind him, she said, "Minister Qin, I'm new here and don't know the rules. Please don't be angry."
"Is that so? You look quite familiar to me." He stopped at the door of Room 301. Before Hu Xiu could react, she bumped right into him. Qin Xiaoyi handed her a piece of paper folded twice. "Since you're from the hospital, I'll give you this. It might come in handy if you take a liking to someone here in Rong City."
It was a Marriage Certificate. Hu Xiu stared blankly at the paper while Qin Xiaoyi disappeared down the hotel corridor.
He still remembered her throwing away the marriage certificate earlier, so he kept one in his pocket waiting to give it to her. Her heart pounding, she stepped out and happened to see Qin Xiaoyi and Lin Qiumei sharing a smile. Lin Qiumei appeared completely natural, and though Hu Xiu couldn't see Qin Xiaoyi's expression, according to the game's timeline, Pei Zhen should have already given Lin Qiumei a love letter while rejecting Qin Xiaoyi. Calculating the timing, now was the moment to report Pei Zhen.
Hu Xiu had spent five thousand to buy a search warrant from Sheriff Ning Zechen, but Pei Zhen's bag was thoroughly searched without finding the Party Constitution.
Where could it be? Hu Xiu secretly watched Pei Zhen from afar. Pei Zhen pretended to be innocent and even gave her a gentle smile when their eyes met across the distance.
Ning Zechen caught them in the act: "Why are you making eyes at her? She's the one who reported you."
Damn it, why did he have to say that! His big mouth hasn't changed at all. Hu Xiu inwardly gasped - five thousand silver dollars!
Pei Zhen had actually transferred the Party Constitution elsewhere, and now he knew she was the one who caused this. She'd lost both the money and her dignity.
Turning around, she saw Zhao Xiaorou holding Li Ai while waiting for Ning Zechen's report. Ning Zechen, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, appeared unusually candid and roguish. Zhao Xiaorou kept signaling with her eyes for him to keep quiet.
Three people with different agendas in the same team - Hu Xiu couldn't tell if this was infiltration or internal espionage, only feeling that these people were probably all seasoned deceivers, both in and out of character.
The key to the hospital cabinet lock was found in the administration office, while the password was in Lin Qiumei's room.Hu Xiu entered Lin Qiumei's room and encountered Pei Zhen once again. While waiting for other players, Hu Xiu mentioned she came to steal the password. Noticing this, Pei Zhen walked over pretending to be lost, claiming he had intelligence he couldn't deliver.
Hu Xiu glanced around—the family letters on the wall were indeed labeled with numbers. As she memorized the password while observing Lin Qiumei, that unmistakable dazzled look in Lin's eyes made it clear she was captivated by Pei Zhen's face—how frivolous!
To scorn Qin Xiaoyi yet glow at the sight of Pei Zhen—Hu Xiu understood. Lin Qiumei probably preferred cookie-cutter handsome men; someone with Qin Xiaoyi's unique temperament wasn't her type.
Pei Zhen came out boasting: "How was that? My acting's not bad, right?"
"Better than I expected. About... reporting you for the money..."
"Minor issue. When I saw the Party Constitution, I knew having such a thing in 1935 would mean certain death."
Hu Xiu asked with a laugh: "So, are you having fun?"
"Not bad, though the values... feel somewhat money-worshipping. Are all Live Action Role Playing Games like this?"
"Not at all!" Hu Xiu shook her head vigorously. "Even though we're scheming for money, every role has hidden secrets behind them. The script is truly well-crafted—it won national gold awards..."
Pei Zhen chuckled and ruffled her hair—her model-perfect scalp seemed particularly attractive to opposite sexes: "Why so nervous? I've just never played before."
Standing by the phone booth, Hu Xiu pondered: if she framed the dean for quick promotion, the ring would be dangerous while with Qin Xiaoyi. And if Qin Xiaoyi possessed this ring, he'd undoubtedly recognize her as a cult member and likely arrest her immediately. When did Snowpiercer become this difficult!
A sound came from the phone booth. Entering, Hu Xiu spotted a wall crack—good heavens, this connected to the original general's hotel room!
Lin Qiumei and Qin Xiaoyi were inside, with Qin Xiaoyi facing the wall, his expression utterly calm.
"You brought her here for fun?"
"They came with friends."
"No surveillance here, Qin Xiaoyi. Be honest—are you using her to make me jealous and win me back?"
"First, I have no interest in rekindling old flames; second, our matters are in the past—this is work time; third, she has never been my pawn. I may be fooled by you, but I would never deceive her."
"Very well, Diao Zhiyu, you've grown. Graduated from emotions with me, feeling pleased?"
"Miss Lin, what are you implying." Qin Xiaoyi adjusted his cuffs, his expression returning to character, composed and unhurried: "We're here to sort through the general's belongings. Unless... you harbor some unspeakable secrets yourself."Slipping quietly out of the phone booth and circling back to Hibiscus City Grand Hotel, Hu Xiu just happened to bump into Qin Xiaoyi emerging from the general's room, seemingly unaware of her eavesdropping."
She followed Qin Xiaoyi into Room 301. "I may be fooled by you, but I would never deceive her" echoed in Hu Xiu's mind, striking her heart like adrenaline. The mission involved the ring—if she could produce the Marriage Certificate while obtaining it, wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone? Have him personally slip it on her finger—
Thus sealing their romance!
The moment she entered, Hu Xiu immediately locked the door: "Minister Qin, could you sell me that ring on your finger?"
"Sell? Why?"
"I think it's beautiful.""There's something fishy about this. I spent a fortune to acquire it from someone else, and it's stained with the blood of dozens of people. In short, this is no good item."
"But I think it's beautiful. Look at my fair skin and pretty features—wouldn't this ruby ring suit me perfectly?"
Qin Xiaoyi narrowed his eyes at her, pretending to ponder before feigning sudden understanding. "Buying a ring requires locking the door—oh, so you're from the Blackwood Sect. Do you believe Feng Youjin will arrest you and throw you in prison once he arrives..."
Hu Xiu, seized by fury, grabbed Qin Xiaoyi's head and clamped her other hand firmly over his lips. His breath warmed her palm as the violent restraint pinned him in place, rendering him unable to move, speak, or even breathe properly. His beautiful eyes fluttered rapidly at her before settling into a steady gaze.
Someone knocked on the door. Still turning her head, Hu Xiu called out, "Minister Qin is unavailable! Room 301 is closed for now. Everyone, please leave!"
When she turned back, Qin Xiaoyi's eyes remained fixed on her. His handsome nose and thin lips were still trapped beneath her palm, with only his eyes staring intently. The temperature in her palm rose, and his cheeks flushed red.
This was the first time Hu Xiu had witnessed such a clear transformation in Diao Zhiyu—his gaze had shifted completely.
If this continued, the game would become irreparable. Hu Xiu spoke first: "Minister Qin, what are you staring at? Are you a camel?"
Muffled protests came from the mouth beneath her palm. Hu Xiu suppressed his words and continued her lecture: "You can't pursue Lin Qiumei anymore. Give up. We've already sent word to Ning Zechen—those two are probably dating on the bench by the phone booth right now."
"You!"What, are you not convinced?" Blame your aloof, cold elegance and prestigious family background. Lin Qiumei is just a Communist spy planted near the Qin family. You poured your affection into the wrong person, and now you complain about heaven and earth. No wonder you end up with nothing."
"You!"
"Me? What about me? I'm just here to complete a mission. Lin Qiumei is the intelligence director, planted in the Qin family years ago to gather information. From start to finish, her heart has only belonged to Ning Zechen. Only you, Qin Xiaoyi, can't see the reality, can't understand who you truly love. If you don't turn back in time, all of Rong City will suffer because of you, and you'll let down others who care for you."
"Who? Who else likes me?"
Pressed by Qin Xiaoyi's questioning, Hu Xiu paused: "Bai Luoyu, owner of the department store; Weng Li, daughter of the casino owner; Yamaguchi Nadako, intelligence officer under Lin Qiumei..."
She recited the lines flawlessly, deliberately omitting her own name. Qin Xiaoyi seized her hand and flung it away, finally returning to the script as he flicked his sleeve: "I only love Lin Qiumei."
This stubbornness definitely wasn't his true intention—it was deliberate. A wave of displeasure washed over Hu Xiu: "Who Minister Qin likes is none of my concern. I'm just here on a mission. I've delivered the message. Are you selling the ring or not? If not, I don't want it. Worst case, I'll fail the mission."
"Fifty thousand..."Such a dangerous item indeed came with an outrageous price." Hu Xiu came prepared and placed five large bills before him.
As Qin Xiaoyi worked to remove the ring, Hu Xiu prepared to take out the Marriage Certificate. Suddenly, Qin Xiaoyi began reciting: "We share past affection, so I gift you this ring. However, once you step beyond Room 301's door, there will be no place for you in Qin Xiaoyi's heart."The lines spoken in this room during our first meeting now carried entirely different tones and emotions with each word, as time had changed everything.
Hu Xiu's eyes reddened, finally understanding what it felt like to act without detached objectivity, and realizing how painful it was to perform authentically while fully immersed in a role.
If she hadn't overheard that conversation in the phone booth earlier, if he hadn't recited those lines...
When the Marriage Certificate was about to be presented, she was supposed to have him place the ring on her finger. But in this moment, surrounded by these circumstances, she suddenly changed her mind.
"I won't disturb Minister Qin further. I need to take over Rong City Hospital."
Outside the door, Zhao Xiaorou and Hu Xiu were playing finger-guessing games again, the two creating such lively atmosphere you'd think they were kindred spirits celebrating their meeting with endless drinks. Li Ai was exchanging information with Pei Zhen - judging by the banknotes Li Ai was pulling out, he'd been swindled out of considerable money by Pei Zhen.
Truly, fools are easily cheated. The moment Li Ai saw a friendly face, he'd practically hand over his heart. It was a miracle REGARD still managed to turn a profit.
Pei Zhen's intelligence indeed made him perfectly suited for Live Action Role Playing games. Spotting Hu Xiu, he waved her over.
Approaching Pei Zhen, she retrieved the sensor pen from her bag - she'd casually tucked it in her pocket earlier and it actually came in handy. "Please sign this..."
Pei Zhen froze when he saw the words "Marriage Certificate." Li Ai, curious, asked: "Where'd you get that?"
"You can buy them at department stores." Hu Xiu didn't explain the certificate's origin, instead telling Pei Zhen: "I've heard about your exceptional medical skills. Would you care to collaborate with me, the deputy director?"
Thus the scenes inside and outside the game became intertwined. Pei Zhen stared at her for three full seconds, an unreadable light flickering in his eyes, before signing his Role name. Halfway through writing, he shook his head with a laugh: "Can I write my real name instead?"
"What are you talking about? This is 1934 Rong City. I'm doctor Liang Min." After signing her name, Hu Xiu took Pei Zhen's hand: "Come with me..."
Hu Xiu led Pei Zhen into Room 301, produced the prepared Marriage Certificate, and addressed Qin Xiaoyi with formal sincerity: "I've heard that marriage certificates in Rong City require a witness of substantial wealth or influence. Given Minister Qin's standing in society, you should be more than qualified to Witness a Marriage."
This was her unexpected trump card.
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