Chapter 1190: Haunted

Back on the Qingyang Bridge, the simulated dating game continued inside the Strange Realm. For the following week, Zhang Wei led a productive life under Raven Shark’s guidance, making the most out of every action and wasting no time.

The Mornings were spent in class, for Zhou Jing, increasing Knowledge, and exchanging information with Vermilion Bird. Unfortunately, Zhou Jing stopped showing up in class.

For Afternoons, Zhang Wei skipped class and did part-time jobs to increase his Physique. The same went for the Evenings.

Zhang Wei didn’t go to the bar or other locations where he might run into Zhou Jing. Raven Shark believed that it would be difficult to trigger a scene even if he did encounter her given how low his stats were.

Strange actions were available for Late Night, including going on a run on the track field to increase Physique, as well as pretending to be a ghost to scare the couples in the grove to improve Humor. Zhang Wei tried all the options.

A week later, Zhang Wei had a much better Physique and much more money. He had also unlocked Early Morning with gifts, earning an additional action per day.

He felt confident. He told Raven Shark that evening, “I‘m going to the bar and seeking out that bastard NPC. This time, I’ll beat him to a pulp!”

“Don’t,” Raven Shark said.

Zhang Wei rolled up his sleeves eagerly. “Don’t worry. I’m a changed man compared to a week ago!”

Raven Shark shook his head. “You’ll only get some information if you visit the bar. The same plot isn’t going to trigger again.”

“But I still gotta go, right?”

“You can gather information from other NPCs. You don’t have to waste an action and the money.”

“Fine, fine,” Zhang Wei said. “I’ll listen to you. You’re a smart cookie!”

“Affection +1” popped up above Raven Shark’s head.

He went on to plan for Zhang Wei’s day tomorrow. “Practice singing to increase Charisma in Early Morning. Go to class for Morning. Go to the club in Afternoon. Return to the dorm in Evening. Then we’ll decide what to do for Late Night.”

“Alright.”

Zhang Wei clicked away on his phone.

When he was back in the classroom, he turned around and saw that Zhou Jing still didn’t show up in class. Vermilion Bird was teaching in the front of the classroom. Her topic today was: the pros and cons of a woman dating a mature man compared to a younger one.

Normally, Zhang Wei would’ve listened eagerly while snacking, but the clock was ticking. He interrupted Vermilion Bird, “Zhou Jing still didn’t show up?”

“She didn’t.”

“She’s been gone for a week. I can’t find her anywhere.”

“Look for her in her dorm,” Vermilion Bird suggested seriously.

Zhang Wei shrugged. “I would like to, but that’s not an option on the map.”

“Trash game,” Vermilion Bird grumbled.

“How much longer can you keep the realm running, Sister Xia?” Zhang Wei asked worriedly.

“Don’t fret. I’m not reaching my limit yet,” Vermilion Bird said with a calm face. “Keep playing the game. It’s how a relationship goes. Trying to push it will only do harm.”

“Relationship?!” Zhang Wei whined. “Who’s gonna have a relationship with a death monster?!”

Vermilion Bird snorted. “You should be thankful. Were this a fighting game, you would die thirty times over without beating it.”

“Haha, true.” Zhang Wei pressed skip. “Ta ta.”

He was instantly transported to the club room. White Dew sat at the piano by the window wall. Unimportant silhouetted NPCs were chattering unintelligibly in the room.

Zhang Wei said unceremoniously, “Do you have any clues on Zhou Jing? Anything could help.”

White Dew shook her head. “According to the game’s setting, I don’t even know her.”

“Ah.” Zhang Wei stroked his chin and smacked his lips. “This is troublesome. She’s been gone for a week. There’s little I can do with all the improvements I’ve made to myself!”

White Dew thought for a moment. “New dialogs are unlocked for me. See if they are useful.”

“Tell me.” Zhang Wei’s eyes lit up.

“First, I’ve come to play piano differently after meeting you. It’s more emotional now, and my teacher praised me...”

“Pass,” Zhang Wei cut in.

“Second, there’s a rumor that the grove on campus is haunted. You should be careful and avoid the place.”

Zhang Wei laughed awkwardly. “Next.”

“Third, there’s going to be a recital. I want to go, but I can’t get a ticket...”

“Stop,” Zhang Wei interrupted. “It’s all about your storyline. None is useful to me.”

“Yeah.” White Dew nodded.

Zhang Wei was about to leave when a thought occurred to him. “By the way, I’m curious. How did the week go for you when I didn’t visit the club?”

“I was here,” she said.

“You’ve been here all this time?” Zhang Wei gaped.

“I’ve always been here. No scene change for me.” White Dew went on to explain, “For me, you showed up a few minutes ago and then now. When you showed up, information popped up to inform me that it had been a week.”

Zhang Wei shuddered. “Shit, that’s scary. It’s like a real game.”

White Dew didn’t seem fazed. “Vermilion Bird doesn’t have unlimited energy. She has to spend it smartly. Brainwashing Zhou Jing and supporting you as the MC are taxing enough.”

“Then why didn’t she pick Raven Shark as the MC?” Zhang Wei asked. “He has Pro Gamer. He would play the game better.”

“I don’t think Raven Shark could romance Zhou Jing successfully,” White Dew said bluntly.

“Why?”

“He doesn’t have the right look.” White Dew thought of an analogy. “In a drama, he would look more like the female lead’s little brother than the male lead.”

“So I make a good male lead?” Zhang Wei smothered a pleased smile.

White Dew had learned the user manual for Zhang Wei from Gao Yang. She put on a smile that was quite natural. “Of course. You have the look of a main character. Good luck.”

“No worries! Wait for good news!”

Zhang Wei flipped his hair and pressed skip.

Back to his dorm room, Zhang Wei immediately reported to Raven Shark—White Dew’s comment on Raven Shark not included, of course.

Raven Shark seemed a little lost. “Then, maybe head to the bar tonight.”

“Didn’t you say that the same plot isn’t going to trigger at the same place?”

Raven Shark hesitated. “The game can be badly designed.”

“Alright.”

Without another word, Zhang Wei quickly clicked on his phone and entered the next scene. When he visited the bar, the lighting, music, and NPCs were the same as the last time, but Zhou Jing wasn’t anywhere to be found.

Zhang Wei was disappointed. He found three NPCs he could talk to. Only one of them remembered Zhou Jing, and she hadn’t come to the bar the past week.

He returned to the dorm without finding anything. He had another brainstorming session with Raven Shark.

Zhang Wei had another action for Late Night. He had three options:

Study to improve Knowledge, go on a jog to improve Physique, and scare couples in the grove to improve Humor.

Raven Shark was having trouble making a decision. He told Zhang Wei to make the choice.

Zhang Wei immediately decided, “The grove!”

“Oh, why didn’t I think about it?” Raven Shark perked up. “Among White Dew’s three new dialogs, the first and the last are about her romance, but the second stands out. Maybe it’s implying something. You’re amazing, Zhang Wei!”

“Huh? Ahahaha...it’s not much!” Zhang Wei laughed awkwardly. He hadn’t made the choice for a particular reason. It was just satisfying to scare couples away.

Whoosh

.

He took his Late Night action, finding himself in the grove.