Oh, is this the second time this guy left a comment under his post?
Chao Musheng replied with a sticker and exited his social feed, only to see his roommates tagging him in their group chat.
On the surface, they were asking when he’d return to campus, but in reality, they just wanted the local specialties he’d bring back.
Thinking of his suitcase, stuffed to the brim by his grandparents before his departure, Chao Musheng felt deeply exasperated.
【MorningToDusk: Relax, Grandma and Grandpa won’t let me starve you animals.】
【Roommate #1: Our grandma and grandpa are the best.】
【Roommate #2: Our grandma and grandpa are the best.】
【Roommate #3: Our grandma and grandpa are the best.】
Since when were they your grandma and grandpa? Stop calling them that.
Chao Musheng put away his phone and attached the keychain Xiaoyou had given him to his backpack.
The train wouldn’t arrive for another five or six hours, so he decided to nap.
He’d stayed up half the night catching a thief and was exhausted.
In his drowsiness, he heard the food cart rolling past his door, its wheels rattling.
But he was too tired to care and soon drifted into sleep.
In his dream, he was exhausted, as if he’d trekked endlessly through a barren desert.
A massive hourglass appeared ahead, filled with countless colorful glass beads shimmering with a radiance more dazzling than any gemstone in the world.
His hands moved on their own, reaching for the hourglass. The moment his fingers touched it, the hourglass flipped uncontrollably. A few beads slipped through the narrow channel, dissolving into streaks of light that swirled around him before vanishing.
Infinite Player Space.
Some players noticed that several strategy dungeons had suddenly disappeared. Before they could discuss it on the forums, the system issued an announcement: these dungeons were permanently closed.
The players erupted in confusion, scrambling for answers.
【Attention, players: A new dimensional exploration dungeon will open in two days. Successful completion will reward ten times the usual points, two S-tier premium items, and a permanent +5 to physical stats.】
On the anonymous player forums, discussions about the closed dungeons gradually shifted to the new exploration dungeon.
OP: What’s the deal with this new dimensional dungeon? Why is the System being so generous?
The comments were flooded with wild theories, and players were itching to sign up for the high-stakes rewards.
#444: Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but a quick reminder—this new dimension has already had three exploration attempts. The first sent in three players, the second five, and the third seven. None of them came back alive.
#445: Holy—! The poster above seems to know something. Spill the tea, please!
After waiting half the day, #445 got no reply. Refreshing the page, they found #444’s comment had vanished.
#445 was baffled. Wiped-out squads happened every day in dungeons. Was the System really that sensitive? What was so ban-worthy about #444’s post?
When Chao Musheng woke up, the train was still fifty minutes from the station. Whether it was the afterglow of his good deed or not, his mood remained unusually bright.
Opening his phone, he saw his dear mother had transferred him some money, which only lifted his spirits further.
【MorningToDusk: Thanks, Mom! Love you~】
【Ms. Chao: Come home for dinner tomorrow. Your dad’s cooking something special.】
【MorningToDusk: Got it!】
So his parents were back from their trip.
Pocketing the maternal generosity at lightning speed, Chao Musheng packed his things and decided to kill time with a couple of mobile games.
Then his phone rang—his academic advisor was calling.
The moment he answered, her urgent voice crackled through.
"Musheng, I need a favor. Can you make it back to campus before the semester starts?"
"What’s up, Advisor Jie?"
Never one to wait for permission, she barreled ahead.
"After break, a group of exchange students are visiting for ten days. The school needs student hosts, and I snagged you a spot." She sounded smug. "When I step in, who dares compete?"
Chao Musheng had the looks, the charm, and a track record of top scholarships. Compared to the candidates from other departments, he was in a league of his own.
"Thanks, Advisor Jie." He wasn’t naive—there had to be more to it.
"Here’s the inside scoop: Kunlun Enterprises is offering summer internships to undergrads this year. The six student hosts will get fast-tracked to HQ." Her voice buzzed with excitement. "If you’re in, I’ll submit your name."
"Thanks, Advisor Jie. You’re the best."
"You earned this." Pleased with his cooperation, her tone softened. "Alright, just get back safely and on time."
Even without this hosting gig, Chao Musheng’s stellar record would’ve made him a shoo-in for Kunlun.
But this was also about office politics—his advisor wanted this win as much as he did.
The moment Chao Musheng stepped into the dorm, his three roommates pounced, eyes locked on his suitcase like starving wolves.
"How did you guys manage to look worse than refugees after a vacation?" He watched them tear into the braised duck he’d brought, their skin noticeably darker than before break. "Want some loquats?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Roommate #1 gulped down water before diving back into the duck head. "Lao-Si, if you hadn’t come back, we’d have died of cravings."
Roommate #2 nodded. "We haven’t had meat in three meals."
"Blew through your allowances?" Chao Musheng washed a bowl of cherries for them. "I’m heading home tonight but will bring back supplies tomorrow afternoon."
"We might have overspent a tiny bit. Lao-Si, you’re our savior!"
Chao Musheng tossed the snacks and fruit at their theatrically pitiful faces. "Eat the cherries before they go bad. I’m heading out."
"Lao-Si, you came all the way to campus just to feed us?" Roommate #3 slung an arm around his shoulders. "You’re the brother we never had!"
"Get off!" Chao Musheng shoved him away, grimacing at the greasy handprint. "I’m leaving."
"Wait." Roommate #1 handed him a bag. "Souvenirs from our trip. Just remember—more food tomorrow."
Chao Musheng: "..."
Never a moment when food wasn’t on their minds.
Jinghua University was old and sprawling.
Chao Musheng left the dorm, unlocked a shared bike, and pedaled lazily toward the gates.
"Excuse me, student."
A middle-aged man stepped out of a black sedan parked nearby, offering a polite smile. "Could you direct me to the president’s office?"
You drove onto campus but don’t know where the office is?
"Turn left at the red building ahead—it’s labeled." Chao Musheng added, "If you’re unsure, you can always use GPS."
"Thank you, thank you." The middle-aged man repeatedly expressed his gratitude before turning back to his car.
"You're welcome." Chao Musheng rode off on his bike.
A deep voice called out from behind him, "Thanks."
He glanced back and saw the rear window of the car rolled down—it seemed like another passenger inside had thanked him?
Whatever, not important. Time to go home for dinner.
Woo-hoo~
Riding his electric scooter with the wind in his face felt absolutely amazing.
After finishing the dinner his dad had prepared and stepping out of a hot shower, Chao Musheng found his parents being scolded by his grandma over a video call. He quickly squeezed into the frame and sweet-talked the elderly couple until they were all smiles, finally ending the call satisfied.
"You little rascal, you told us you were going on a trip with your roommate for the Dragon Boat Festival, but you sneaked off to your grandma's instead." Chao Yin gave Chao Musheng's arm a light smack. "Now I’m the one getting an earful from her."
"Dearest Mom, go easy on me—I’m your flesh and blood." Chao Musheng rubbed his arm where she’d hit him. "Besides, didn’t I just smooth things over for you?"
Mr. Chao watched the mother-son banter with a gentle smile, bringing out a plate of freshly cut watermelon from the kitchen. "Just bought this afternoon. Try some."
"So sweet!" Chao Musheng gave a thumbs-up. "Dad, your watermelon-picking skills are top-tier."
"Have some fruit and rest early." Mr. Chao’s warm demeanor was as comforting as a spring breeze. "You helped the village catch a thief last night and then spent hours on the road today. Aren’t you tired?"
"Not really. I slept most of the way." Chao Musheng glanced at his parents, deciding not to third-wheel their moment, and obediently retreated to his room to sleep.
Chao Yin sighed as she watched her son close the door. "His courage is getting out of hand—he actually confronted a knife-wielding thief."
Mr. Chao chuckled. "Musheng takes after you—bold, sharp, and clever."
Chao Yin nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. All his best genes come from me."
Unaware of his parents’ discussion about "superior genetics," Chao Musheng spent the day enjoying good food and relaxation before packing bags of supplies to bring back for his deprived roommates.
That evening, his advisor added him to a group chat with alumni handling reception duties. After a few polite exchanges, the conversation died down.
At nine on Monday morning, Chao Musheng met up with five other alumni at the main gate of Jinghua University.
Three girls, three guys—all of them campus celebrities in the eyes of their peers.
[The instance is about to begin. Please prepare yourselves, players. Once the mission starts, avoid alerting the NPCs to any anomalies.]
[Objectives for this instance: 1. Achieve at least 85 favorability points from 20 NPCs. 2. Gain the principal’s trust and obtain the student registry and official seal.]
[Friendly reminder: This is an exploration instance. Proceed with caution and value your life.]
Need to win NPC favorability?
The players all turned envious, jealous glances toward a male player in the corner.
For him, winning NPC favor was probably child’s play.
The targeted player blinked his misty eyes, looking innocent and pitiful, stirring sympathy in the others.
When the players snapped out of it, they shuddered—a player with a charm skill was terrifying.
Faced with an unfamiliar exploration instance, no one spoke. They silently stepped off the bus and stood before a massive white university gate.
The players stared up at the grand entrance. Since when were instance gates this elaborate?
"Hello, everyone! Welcome to Jinghua University for your study tour. We’re the students in charge of your reception. Please scan the QR code to join the group chat—it’ll make communication easier."
The players obediently scanned and joined, not daring to ask too many questions before assessing the NPCs’ capabilities.
"Please follow us."
As they walked, the NPCs enthusiastically narrated the university’s history and prestige, bombarding them with terms like "nation’s top," "groundbreaking research," "cultural legacy," and "global recognition." The players were baffled.
Shouldn’t the NPCs be intimidating them and laying down rules by now?
Why were they just bragging about the school’s achievements?
Was this even how instances were supposed to go?
Thud. Someone fell.
Chao Musheng and the five alumni halted.
All visiting students had submitted health reports beforehand—everyone was in perfect condition, no issues.
"Sorry, I wasn’t watching my step." The fallen boy had skin so pale it seemed to glow, though he was painfully thin, almost gaunt.
He adjusted his legs, trying to make his sprawled posture look more elegant and alluring, then tilted his face up. His unnaturally large eyes blinked rapidly—maybe he had something in them?
The alumni maintained polite smiles, pretending not to notice his antics. Guests were guests; they had to uphold decorum no matter what.
The pale boy looked up with a pitiful, aggrieved expression, waiting for the NPCs to rush over and comfort him.
The alumni: "..."
This guy was… odd.
The alumni: We don’t get it, but we’ll stay polite.
