Love between Lines

"Where's my marriage certificate? Won't you return it to me?"

Han Yiqiu happened to encounter Du Mingquan on the second-floor balcony. He unfolded the crumpled marriage certificate before him: "Mr. Du, who would've thought you'd sign a marriage certificate with someone behind Shen Ling's back?"

Du Mingquan remained characteristically simple-minded both in and out of character: "I'm illiterate. What is this?"

Quite satisfied with this response, Han Yiqiu turned to Hu Xiu: "You heard him? Taking advantage of someone's illiteracy to pull this marriage scheme - how sinister!"

The insult was too much! She couldn't lose - Hu Xiu straightened her posture: "When Minister Qin abandoned me, I've been drifting all these years. Seeking refuge with a reputable gang is only natural."

The confused Du Mingquan found it amusing, watching them argue over a piece of paper, secretly pleased.

Hu Xiu knew some player had a crush on him and fabricated this marriage certificate - typical handsome guy arrogance.

Not one to tease women, he directly came to Hu Xiu's defense: "Han Yiqiu, if you have issues, deal with me. Don't bully my people."

Oh right, she was with the mafia. Han Yiqiu stiffened his expression, crumpled the certificate again and stuffed it back in his pocket: "I didn't witness this marriage. Without my seal, this paper means nothing."

Hu Xiu followed behind until a large group of players surged up the stairs, crowding the two-meter-wide passage.

Han Yiqiu stopped on the landing. Hu Xiu crashed into his back, seeing stars. He didn't move, instead reaching behind to encircle her waist - protecting her.

The paper ball in his pocket was clearly visible. Hu Xiu reached in, trying to steal the certificate, but Han Yiqiu caught her wrist. The grip wasn't tight, but the message was clear: Don't push it.

This was his consistent gentleness toward her, and he'd anticipated she'd try something at this moment.

The warmth of his palm made Hu Xiu's heart ache. Even after three, five, or ten years, this instinctive understanding might never fade. While Live Action Role Playing might only remain popular for three years, in this environment full of physical contact - free from social media distractions and worldly cruelty - the immersion and mutual attraction within the story created a magical feeling only experiencers could understand.

She thought their story had ended, that with a new scenario the sparks would diminish. But if this moment froze, with everyone flowing around them...

Only they remained close. Even without looking at each other, their hearts connected in this stillness, blurring the lines between illusion and reality.

Her captured wrist turned slightly, fingers brushing against his wrist as she tentatively reached forward, joining his hand in that pocket.

Hidden with their hands was that beaded bracelet, as if the casually invented seven-year love story from Rong City to Shanghai was real. He never moved, allowing his fingers to be enveloped in her soft palm.

Their story was definitely not over.

Just as she realized this, Han Yiqiu withdrew his hand. The crowd dispersed, leaving the staircase empty. He descended quickly, pulling a prepared rose from his other pocket. After verifying the false shooting report at the newspaper office, Han Yiqiu intended to confess.

Hu Xiu grabbed a familiar veteran player nearby: "Besides Han Yiqiu, is there someone else who can kill Shen Ling?"

"Right, Xia Xue from St. Anna Dance Hall - former Miss Shanghai runner-up."

"Is there still time to accept that mission?"Hu Xiu hid in the crowd, clutching the scented cream given to her by Xia Xue. It was said to be something both had used during their beauty pageant days—Shen Ling, with her deep sisterly bond, would never refuse it.

Han Yiqiu was earnestly confessing to Shen Ling: "Shen Ling, I like you! Do you remember our promise? If neither of us was married by eighteen, we’d elope and pledge ourselves to each other."

"What are you talking about? I’m already married."

"Yueyue, you can’t have forgotten me, Yueyue…"

"Hurry and leave. If Du Mingquan sees you, you’re done for…"

"That brute? You married him?"

His eyes reddened.

The confession failed, and players were still joking around. Han Yiqiu glanced at Hu Xiu, and the marriage certificate in his pocket fell out.

He picked it up, turned, and left to perform the next scene. Hu Xiu didn’t linger either. She handed the scented cream to Shen Ling, sweet-talking her: "Little sister, Xia Xue asked me to give this to you. That Director Han just now? He’s clearly a bad guy—don’t get involved with him."

Shen Ling laughed: "To me, he’s just a little brother. I prefer mature, steady men."

Why did she have to hear that line everywhere? Hu Xiu replied with exaggerated cadence: "You’re absolutely right. Wherever he goes, he’s just a little brother."

As expected, ten minutes later, Hu Xiu overheard Han Yiqiu and Du Mingquan arguing.

Squeezing through the crowd, Hu Xiu saw Du Mingquan pressing a gun to Han Yiqiu’s forehead. Having watched this scene five times, she couldn’t be bothered to focus on Diao Zhiyu’s acting improvements anymore—she was almost shipping the two of them as a couple.

A high-level player had told her that neither Du Mingquan nor Han Yiqiu could easily be recast—there were no other actors who could match their height, age, and looks.

Watching the two top-tier handsome men act opposite each other—one with veins bulging, the other glaring furiously, both outrageously good-looking—it felt like they were locked in.

It’s not like I can’t let you fall in love. In my imagination, I can ship you with the male actor—I’m fine with that.

An elderly gentleman was wandering around the set. Hu Xiu knew he was the person in charge of Shanghai Bund, a nationally recognized first-class stage actor, observing everyone’s performances.

She approached him respectfully: "Hello, Teacher Luo. Did you see Shen Ling die just now? To be honest, I’m the murderer—because I want to be the next gang leader’s wife."

Teacher Luo laughed heartily three times: "Clever!"

Han Yiqiu overheard every word. Before Teacher Luo finished laughing, he added: "After the game ends, go to the concession to get it stamped. Say I authorized it—official certification that you’re the gang leader’s wife."

Hu Xiu grinned and bowed: "Teacher Luo, the matchmaker of our times!"

After the fighting and crying, the game was nearly over. Hu Xiu reached out to stop Han Yiqiu: "Director Han, can you stamp this for me? Teacher Luo already certified it—only you are missing."

"You killed Shen Ling. How could I let you be happy?"

"She was never your woman to begin with." Hu Xiu fumed. Did she have to grind for three more weeks?

The Qixi Festival event lasted a month, and he had to wait until the last week to stamp it? It’s just witnessing a marriage—how petty.

"You killed my love." Han Yiqiu looked at her and smiled: "How can I forgive you for letting someone and something I despise trample over my love so casually?"Hu Xiu returned home and checked the super topic, discovering that the incident of her carrying the marriage certificate around to get stamps had spread throughout the cast. Teacher Luo was even delightedly boasting about it, proudly stating that the players of Shanghai Bund were highly skilled—not only could they act, but they also took the initiative to alter the script.

In the super topic, a minor actor commented that Teacher Luo had specifically asked Du Mingquan if he had a girlfriend, stirring the pot and encouraging him to pursue a player.

This rumor quickly spread, and players began trying to recall who it was. They only remembered that the person was in the Mafia faction, had long hair, was slender, and had excellent hair quality—everything else was a blur.

Everyone wanted to see the actual marriage certificate and hoped the player herself would post it in the super topic for everyone to learn from.

Hu Xiu thought to herself, Where could they see it? The marriage certificate is in Director Han’s hands—not only unstamped, but the paper itself is gone.

For the following week, she didn’t go to Shanghai Bund, staying home to study diligently and occasionally heading to REGARD for a cup of coffee.

This time, she absolutely did not slow her pace intentionally to attract Diao Zhiyu to the shop. She simply felt…

She shouldn’t go. There were probably many players keeping an eye on her, and seeing Du Mingquan would also be a bit awkward.

The only thing to pass the time during study breaks was reading fanfiction. In the Shanghai Bund super topic, some players had let their imaginations run wild, writing a love story between Du Mingquan and Han Yiqiu.

Since their escape cards were blue and red respectively, the ship name was "Right and Wrong."

Du Mingquan was a small-time thug taken in by Du Ruosheng. He nearly died on the streets during the Songhu Battle and changed his surname after following Du Ruosheng, becoming ruthless and cruel. Han Yiqiu was an illegitimate child sent to Japan. His first mission upon returning to China was to assassinate Du Ruosheng, but he was intercepted by Du Mingquan, who beat him until his flesh split open. Du Ruosheng saw Han Yiqiu’s birthmark and, in turn, slapped Du Mingquan across the face…

By the time they met again, they were on opposing sides—one sworn to kill his biological father, the other determined to protect his adoptive father at all costs. Thrown into the mix was a woman, Shen Ling, creating a fiery love triangle.

The plot was all from Shanghai Bund, but with this creative expansion, it became quite thrilling. The story had progressed over a dozen chapters and had reached the point where clothes were about to come off and things were heating up. Aside from the people involved, all the other actors were fanning the flames. Readers were following it enthusiastically, and it seemed to be feeding back into the Live Action Role Playing Game itself. Think about it—fan culture really infiltrates every corner. Two handsome men having confrontational scenes in a Republican-era story get imagined as a couple, and when the audience isn’t satisfied, they expand it into a BL story. Casual readers who discover the novel then look up photos, realize they’re top-tier handsome guys, and immediately head to the suburbs to see them in person… The fangirl spirit, the BL soul—if it’s not steamy, it’s not real women.

Catching up to the latest chapter, she found they really did take their clothes off. Hu Xiu hurriedly clicked to read, going over the undressed scenes several times, then scoffed in disdain.

Forget Du Mingquan for now, but where did Han Yiqiu get those toned muscles? So fake! He’s trained in classical dance for over a decade—do you even know how straight and lean his frame is?

His lines are nothing like some brute, okay? It’s not exactly feminine either—Qin Xiaoyi is the one with that delicate beauty; Han Yiqiu is way more masculine!

But even though he looks thin, his butt is really round, and he’s plenty strong… His occasional slouch isn’t actually a slouch—it’s because he’s shy and just wants to escape from the crowd. Have any of you even observed the actors properly? Ugh, and they’re writing about the color too? What color? Shut up!

Thinking this, she felt a sense of balance. The undressed Han Yiqiu—only I have seen him.Calming her mind, she didn't know how to face Diao Zhiyu. His words "you killed my love" had struck her speechless.

The future she cared about had indeed precisely wounded his heart. Her fingers, curled tightly in her pocket, didn't lie - he wasn't determined to cut ties with her, but was acting out of spite.

She took out a piece of paper and began sketching, seriously working through timelines and reasons before reaching a conclusion: Diao Zhiyu was just an immature boy who prioritized love above all else. He refused to talk during the breakup, and now even if she found an opportunity to speak with him after winning, the emotional knot might not unravel. There must be things she didn't know about, things he wouldn't share due to pride.

Looking at her fingers, that familiar sensation made her sad. If they had simply broken up and never seen each other again, time would have healed the wounds. But now the wound was being torn wider, salt rubbed in it while exposed to the wind. Worse than despair was having expectations.

After enduring for a week, she finally booked tickets for Shanghai Bund - she missed him too much.

What she didn't expect was that summer vacation had arrived, and the summer sessions were so popular that tickets couldn't be booked even a week in advance.

Hu Xiu pestered the customer service for several days before finally finding a player transferring a night session ticket.

But even from afar, she could sense the atmosphere was off - a familiar red-haired woman and someone in an emerald cheongsam... wasn't this the Tycoon Ladies Club!

Several women were chatting in the ticket exchange area, having already attended over a dozen sessions for Diao Zhiyu.

Just as she was calculating how many tens of thousands those dozen sessions for four people would cost, the woman in emerald said: "Qin Xiaoyi isn't in Snowpiercer anymore, and he's not as cute as before."

That's because you're too lustful...

"He used to have great service awareness, we could even touch his hand."

The Snowpiercer mechanism is basically like visiting a brothel...

"And we could perform romantic scenes together."

The reason you can't do scenes together now is because your acting skills are terrible!

Hu Xiu silently complained for a long time, her anger already flaring up. Seeing that all four tycoon ladies held Intelligence Division tickets made her blood pressure spike - she wasn't the only one here for Diao Zhiyu.

Looking around, there were indeed young girls waiting by the line: "Hello, are you from the Intelligence Division? We have Military Department tickets and want to exchange for Intelligence Division tickets to see Han Yiqiu..."

Hu Xiu looked at the Intelligence Division name tag in her hand. Well, at least she had basic distinction from these little fans. This time she was at least in Han Yiqiu's faction. Tycoon ladies, wait until I get inside to compete with you!

The session was fully booked. Looking at the long line in the auditorium, Hu Xiu deliberately walked near Han Yiqiu.

She could hear the boy's breathing beside her, his hands resting on his knees with clearly defined knuckles, the blue veins visible under his pale skin - these were the hands she had held.

She had only one goal in coming here today: to make eye contact with him, to convey her apology, to make him feel her urgency even without words.

As the group entered the Intelligence Division, Han Yiqiu pointed at her: "Step forward..."

The other players grew curious about this special summons. The treatment of being called out by the handsome guy made Hu Xiu swell with pride - do any of you get this kind of treatment?

Oh right, you're just ordinary players at best, maybe top spenders in East China region. But me - I'm his ex-girlfriend.

Han Yiqiu didn't give her time to be proud: "Mr. Chen Qiaonian has just arrived in Shanghai. We're short-handed, so you're assigned to support him."

Huh?

Leaving for the Youth magazine office, she found that one person had been transferred from each of the eleven lines, all looking at each other in confusion.Chen Qiaonian was a handsome man with a small mustache and prominent brow ridges. "Everyone, I'm Chen Qiaonian. The purpose of gathering you here today is to find the major Secret Sects within the concession."

"To be frank, there are several hidden corners in these three floors that have never been opened."

The first half progressed rapidly. Hu Xiu followed Chen Qiaonian's lead to deceive actors from other storylines, obtaining a key that unlocked a locker in St. Anna Dance Hall, revealing a hidden space.

The room was dimly lit with only four candles, the rest having melted into twisted shapes. When a player triggered a mechanism, one candle extinguished—it was an Escape Room!

Using the faint light to open a chest, Hu Xiu retrieved case files and returned to the magazine office, where she learned previously unknown information: Han Yiqiu was only three years old when sent to Japan, swapped and raised in a samurai family to become an assassin, while the one who exchanged identities with him became the tobacco tycoon—a spoiled heir in the chamber of commerce. I-Kuan Tao, as a cult organization, was deliberately infiltrating both the Mafia and the Nationalist government, coveting power for a long time...

As the first half concluded, Chen Qiaonian removed his mustache. "Thank you all for solving the hidden storyline puzzles. There are more Escape Rooms waiting in the second half."

A player exclaimed behind them, "Oh my god, so lucky! I actually got chosen for the hidden line—it's usually not available!"

Hu Xiu thought these players were truly fortunate—they had no specific person they wanted to meet, no burdens on their minds. Getting into the hidden line in a Live Action Role Playing Game was like hitting the jackpot to them.

But she was different. She came specifically to see Diao Zhiyu, yet was outright excluded from his faction.

Eating while fuming, Hu Xiu happened to be seated near the Tycoon Ladies Club—trouble always found her.

Tank Che bragged contentedly, "Diao Zhiyu's benefits today were pretty good. I asked if he remembered me, and he said of course he did."

"Chasing him from downtown to the suburbs over ten times, and I still haven't gotten his WeChat. Yet I remain ridiculously patient."

"He seems to have had a girlfriend but broke up. Probably heartbroken..." Emerald said in an affected tone, "I'm really curious what kind of fairy could capture his heart. Someone so handsome better not have low standards—it would cost him fans."

"Oh, by the way, have you seen the event for the last week of Qixi? Submit your improv performance video to their official account backend. After screening, they'll post them for voting. The winner gets to be an actor in that session. Wanna join?"

"Don't, it's so embarrassing."

"What's the big deal? I bet the open Role is Shen Ling—it's the female lead's script after all, giving female players premium treatment. Acting is fine, but the voting part is annoying, like voting for my son's kindergarten activities."

Hu Xiu opened the webpage to check the Qixi event. Indeed, compared to getting a stamp, the chance to personally play the female lead was truly tempting.

Nearby girls were discussing the same thing—being surrounded by handsome men like Diao Zhiyu, plus top-tier Du Mingquan and Han Yiqiu. Just thinking about it was dizzying.

Most Shanghai Bund players were advanced enthusiasts—those willing to spend a thousand yuan to come to the suburbs were largely acting aficionados.

Hu Xiu decided not to join the frenzy—just looking was enough. The Marriage Certificate didn't matter either; worst case, she just wouldn't get it stamped.

She kept feeling eyes watching her from upstairs. Looking up, she saw Diao Zhiyu gazing down from the second floor. When their eyes met across the distance, he withdrew—signal failed to transmit.She lost her appetite and waited by the rest area entrance for Diao Zhiyu. Seeing him, she flared up: "Stop right there..."

Glancing at Hu Xiu, Diao Zhiyu didn't pause: "Talk while walking. I need to prepare for the second half."

"Why did you send me out?"

"Hidden routes are hard to draw. They only open during summer when there are more players, and even repeat players can't always participate. You're lucky."

"This is my seventh time playing. I finally drew the Intelligence Division role. You know Shanghai Bund doesn't allow Behind-the-scenes roles."

Diao Zhiyu remained expressionless: "Don't overthink it. It's because you drew the name tag for Lin Huaiyu. It's fixed every time."

"Other players can all play properly. Diao Zhiyu, why do you only show personal bias when you see me? Don't think I won't report you."

"Go ahead..." Diao Zhiyu knew she'd soften.

Hu Xiu surrendered: "Do you really not want to see me that much?"

"You didn't come last week either." He strode into the venue. During actor preparation time, players couldn't enter.

Standing in the hot wind, Hu Xiu felt steam rising from her scalp. Diao Zhiyu's grudge-holding skills hadn't regressed at all.

When the second half began, Hu Xiu played the Escape Room without any interest, just wanting to escape and find Han Yiqiu.

Finally finishing the Escape Room and going out to get her Guarantee card, she arrived too late. Han Yiqiu had already distributed them all and was holding a rose, ready to confess to Shen Ling.

This session was utterly depressing.

Still wearing the gray dress from the archives room, Hu Xiu blended into the crowd. Watching Shen Ling closely - she was acting with two tall, handsome men without any stage fright, incredibly beautiful with clean facial features and a sweet smile, every gesture radiating noble elegance - this was the kind of person worthy of being the female lead.

Han Yiqiu picked up the rose: "Shen Ling, I beg you, don't marry Du Mingquan. Be with me instead, okay?"

Hu Xiu couldn't distinguish between acting and reality, only feeling her eyes sting. Watching the person she liked confess to someone else - yes, she couldn't bear it.

Where were all those noble gestures of stepping aside and making way for love? The true madness of love meant seizing what's rightfully yours, charging forward without hesitation, even if it meant mutual destruction.

Why suppress the addiction? When it comes to someone you truly like, there's no room for retreat.

Especially when those addicted to acting can't easily let another person exit the stage.

Right after the second half ended, Hu Xiu called Zhao Xiaorou, full of determination: "Zhao Xiaorou, do you have any online supporters? I want to boost myself into the female lead role!"