The notorious "Evil Tiger," a name that had long struck fear into countless players, now lay silently in the hands of a male player like an ordinary stuffed doll.
No—not just like one. It had truly transformed into a harmless cloth toy.
You Jiu leaned against the door of Room 7, his body chilled to the bone, not daring to utter a single word.
As he watched Chao Musheng, who was smiling gently and politely, an unprecedented sense of relief surged within him—relief for the choice he had made in the last dungeon.
What kind of terrifying fate would have awaited him if he had tried to kill Chao Musheng back then?
"Though the tiger doll is cute," Chao Musheng coughed lightly, "hospital corridors aren’t the place for chasing and roughhousing. Don’t play like this here next time."
The male player clutching the tiger doll trembled, his teeth chattering. The moment this patient had touched the Evil Tiger, he had sensed an indescribable, overwhelming terror.
It was everywhere—inescapable. For a moment, he had even felt as if he would be torn apart instantly.
Seeing how frightened the two seemed by his words, Chao Musheng chuckled. "Hurry back now."
He hadn’t even said anything harsh—why were they so scared?
[Countdown: 2 minutes 37 seconds]
The death timer snapped the male player out of his terror. He looked up at Chao Musheng’s retreating figure, and in a sudden surge of malice, summoned another item, launching an attack at Chao Musheng’s back.
He was just another patient, after all.
"Beep, beep, beep."
The corridor lights flickered twice, and the piercing ringtone of some patient’s phone nearly shattered the male player’s eardrums.
In that instant, he saw threads of light converging from all directions, coiling around Chao Musheng before morphing into countless ferocious beasts and birds, baring their fangs at him—the intruder.
Crack.
He thought he heard the sound of his own soul shattering.
No—the countdown wasn’t up yet. He shouldn’t die. He wouldn’t die.
System!
System—
You Jiu felt as if time in the corridor had frozen for a split second.
The moment Chao Musheng stepped back into Room 4 and closed the door, the male player standing before him suddenly shattered and vanished.
He disappeared completely—not even a speck of dust remained.
All that was left on the floor was the plump little tiger doll.
Under the stark white corridor lights, You Jiu flexed his fingers with effort, realizing he hadn’t moved an inch since Chao Musheng had appeared.
After staring at the tiger doll for a long moment, he bent down and picked it up.
[Ding! One player has failed to clear the dungeon and has been eliminated. Remaining players in this instance: 4.]
Listening to the system’s announcement, You Jiu felt a bitter irony. Had that player really been eliminated by the system?
The notification also made Wang Xiaojuan and the other player pause their scuffle. The latter looked horrified. "The five minutes aren’t up yet."
He turned toward the break room door, where You Jiu walked in holding a tiger plush, his expression grim.
"You Jiu, players can’t kill players!" The man rushed up to him. "Have you lost your mind?"
"I didn’t kill him." You Jiu tossed the doll onto the table, ignoring the man’s outburst, his mind still replaying what he had just witnessed.
"This is…?" The player picked up the familiar-looking doll, turning it over and over in his hands. No matter how he examined it, it was just a stuffed toy.
"You’re not mistaken. This was his item."
"Impossible!" the player retorted. "This is just a regular toy."
"I wish it were just an item too, but I watched it transform into a toy right in front of me." Without his usual fox-like smirk, You Jiu looked colder than ever, his expression edged with arrogance. "If his item can be nullified in this world, then ours might suffer the same fate."
His words drained the color from the other player’s face.
The man stopped pestering You Jiu, who couldn’t be bothered with him anyway.
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, You Jiu asked, "Xiaojuan, what’s the way to leave the hospital dungeon’s boundaries?"
This dungeon had too many anomalies. Right now, he just wanted to clear it and escape as soon as possible.
Wang Xiaojuan replied, "Change into casual clothes first, then follow me."
Ten minutes later, You Jiu stood behind Wang Xiaojuan outside Room 4, staring at her back, speechless for a long moment.
Did Wang Xiaojuan even realize what kind of existence she had latched onto?
Just the sight of Chao Musheng now made his heart shudder uncontrollably.
"Brother Chao…"
When Wang Xiaojuan saw that the person opening the door was Su Chenzhu, her words tangled in her throat. "Good morning, President Su."
"Good morning." Su Chenzhu glanced at the two behind her and stepped aside, holding the door wide open. "Chao Chao, Miss Xiaojuan is here to see you."
"Xiaojuan?" Chao Musheng was having breakfast and waved her in when he saw her at the door. "You were on night shift last night—why aren’t you resting?"
"Brother Chao, my two colleagues and I need to leave the hospital for something." Wang Xiaojuan approached him with an ingratiating smile. "I’m afraid the director will give us trouble, so you’ve got to cover for me."
"Fine, I’ll cover for you." Chao Musheng stuffed a bag of toast and three bottles of milk into her arms. "Eat something before you go."
"Thanks, Brother Chao!" Wang Xiaojuan wanted to say more but remembered Su Chenzhu standing behind her and obediently clutched the breakfast. "You and President Su enjoy your meal. I’ll head out now."
Being a third wheel invited divine retribution.
You Jiu’s mood was complicated, his head bowed, not daring to look at Chao Musheng for too long.
To dare eat and take from such a terrifying boss—Wang Xiaojuan, you’re truly a woman among women.
You Jiu and Qi Shi followed Wang Xiaojuan into the elevator, but before they could speak, the balding director stepped in as well.
"Going out?" The director frowned at their casual attire. "If you don’t rest during your break, how will you have the energy to work later?"
Qi Shi and You Jiu understood—the director’s appearance was the dungeon’s restraint on them. The moment he spoke, it meant they could no longer leave the hospital.
"Good morning, Director." Wang Xiaojuan greeted him with a bright smile. "The gloves in the cleaning room are too stiff and slow us down, so we thought we’d use our break to buy a few better pairs ourselves."
"Oh." The director’s expression softened slightly, though he still seemed disapproving.
"You’re so considerate, Director." Wang Xiaojuan gazed at him with admiration. "Just like Brother Chao—you both worry about us not getting enough rest."
Under her earnest, starry-eyed gaze, the director couldn’t bring himself to scold them further.
"Brother Chao?" The director glanced at the branded toast in her arms—a luxury item beyond her pay grade. "You mean Mr. Chao from Room 4?"
A mere cleaner knew Mr. Chao?
"That’s right." Wang Xiaojuan nodded innocently, as if oblivious to his thoughts. "Brother Chao and I go way back."
"I see." The director smiled. "It's quite hot today—don’t wander outside for too long, or Mr. Chao will worry."
"Understood, Director."
You Jiu: "..."
This world was full of human intricacies!
The walk from the inpatient building to the outpatient department was long, and the outpatient department was about two hundred meters from the hospital gate.
Those two hundred meters felt surreal to Qi Shi and You Jiu, as if they were treading on cotton. Could they really leave the hospital grounds successfully?
People came and went through the pedestrian passage. You Jiu cautiously stepped out.
Nothing happened.
It was just an ordinary day, an utterly mundane exit.
No thick fog, no barrier, not even a trace of the supernatural.
So ordinary. So unremarkable.
The street was wide and clean, cars streamed past, and the greenery rustled in the breeze.
You Jiu stared blankly at the massive billboard across the street, where a model in business attire showcased a wristwatch.
[I can’t hold onto time, but I want to hold onto you.]
An advertisement for watches.
To the left, people were arguing. To the right, children played with bubble machines, their laughter carried by the wind to You Jiu’s ears.
This—this was the sound of freedom.
You Jiu gazed greedily at the world beyond the dungeon, his eyes stinging with sunlight, glistening with unshed tears.
"You Jiu, stop spacing out. The ride I called is here."
A ride?
You Jiu noticed the white car parked in front of Wang Xiaojuan. Their player phones couldn’t even use search functions—how had she managed to book a ride?
The moment he got in, he realized something was off—there was no driver.
Girl, you called a ghost car?!
"Self-driving cars are slower, but they’re cheaper," Xiaojuan said, buckling her seatbelt. "I don’t have much money on my phone."
She’d worked several jobs in this world but had only ever received a salary as an intern at Kunlun.
Money?
You Jiu: "..."
After just a few seconds of savoring freedom, his shoulders slumped. He didn’t seem to have any money either.
He glanced at Qi Shi—his posture had also suddenly deflated.
Wait, neither he nor Qi Shi had any money outside the hospital dungeon. Where had Xiaojuan gotten hers?
But he soon lost the energy to dwell on it. Through the window, he saw an impossibly vibrant city.
Was this the world beyond the dungeons?
The car stopped across from Kunlun Tower. Xiaojuan stepped out, pointing at the sleek building opposite them, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "That’s Kunlun Tower."
Qi Shi followed her gesture, taking in the imposing structure. People below seemed to be taking photos with it.
"Is Kunlun famous in this world?" Qi Shi asked.
Xiaojuan gave him a knowing look and nodded. "Very. This is just the headquarters—they have branches all over the country."
Her answer confirmed Qi Shi’s suspicions.
Xiaojuan had been here before. She’d crossed paths with Chao Musheng from Room 4 long ago, which was why she understood this world so well.
"Cars can’t go further into the pedestrian street," Xiaojuan said, unfazed by their speculation. She led them into the bustling walkway.
Mornings here weren’t as lively as evenings—many stalls hadn’t even opened yet.
Wan You had rented a tiny space here not long ago. When Xiaojuan found him, he was busy chopping meat and washing vegetables.
"Why are you alone?" Xiaojuan scanned the cramped room. "Where are the other four?"
"They worked late last night. I told them to rest this morning." Wan You’s gaze settled on them. "Perfect timing—wash your hands and help out."
You Jiu stared at the pile of unprepared ingredients, then at Wan You’s enthusiastic demeanor, struck by the absurdity of it all. Had Wan You been body-snatched?
By the time he snapped out of it, Qi Shi had already washed his hands and tied on an apron. Left with no choice, You Jiu crouched in a corner to help wash vegetables.
Before long, the AC made him shiver. "It’s too cold in here."
"These ingredients are fresh—I bought them early this morning. High temps would spoil them." Wan You tossed him a jacket. "In the food business, quality matters. I have regulars who trust me—I owe it to their stomachs."
"You’ve… changed a lot," You Jiu said, studying Wan You. Without the System’s charm halo, Wan You wasn’t particularly striking—just a guy with slightly larger eyes than average.
"People adapt." Wan You sliced beef into even, thin pieces. "I like my life now."
A cramped room, countertops crowded with ingredients—was this really a good life?
"Before the Infinite Space, kids called me ‘ET’ because of my big eyes, pointy chin, and scrawny frame." Wan You spoke calmly, as if recounting someone else’s story. "When they bullied me, their favorite line was ‘Drive out the alien.’"
"For a long time, I thought I was bullied because I was unlikable." He paused his chopping. "I craved being wanted, so the System gave me a charm halo. Xiaojuan loves being the best, so it gave her the ability to see NPC power levels. Aze’s simple-minded, so he got the skill to tell friend from foe."
"Not every player gets a special ability, but those who do—their powers always tie to their deepest desires." Wan You looked at You Jiu and Qi Shi. "Players rely on these System-given skills to clear dungeons. The more items and points they earn, the harder it is to leave the System."
Does a farmer give tools to his slaves out of kindness?
No. He just wants them to work harder, to create more value for him.
"Here, I’m Wan the grill master, Wan the diligent student." He tapped his face. "The moment I entered this dungeon, my charm halo vanished."
Back then, he’d thought the NPCs at Jinghua were weird. Now he knew—he was the weird one.
To them, he was just Wan You—not the halo-enhanced player.
"So the school dungeon you failed, the Chen Garden dungeon Xiaojuan and I did, and this hospital dungeon—they’re all in the same world?" You Jiu’s voice was distant, his grip crushing a bell pepper unnoticed. "The System really loves building dungeons here, huh?"
"There are probably more," Qi Shi said, turning to Xiaojuan. "Xiaojuan, you’ve been to other dungeons here before, haven’t you?"
"Right on the money." Xiaojuan placed washed mushrooms into a strainer. "This is my fourth time in this world."
"My first dungeon here was Kunlun Corporation."
You Jiu pressed further, "You mean that company dungeon where the entire team was wiped out recently?"
"And the cruise ship dungeon after that—I was in that one too."
"Though I don’t know how you managed to return safely to the Infinite Space after failing to clear the dungeon, what I don’t understand is why you keep volunteering to explore these dungeons when every attempt ends in total annihilation." You Jiu frowned in confusion. "Someone as competitive as you—why keep spinning your wheels in these kinds of dungeons?"
"Because the dungeon boss isn’t who I want to defeat." Wang Xiaojuan worked deftly, cleaning the ingredients for Wan You with practiced ease.
You Jiu: "Then what are you trying to do?"
"It’s better if you don’t know." Wang Xiaojuan glanced at Qi Shi, who had been silent in the corner. "You’ve guessed it, haven’t you?"
Qi Shi nodded. "Part of it."
After players clear a dungeon, even if they re-enter the same one, the NPCs inside won’t remember them.
But every native Wang Xiaojuan had interacted with remembered her.
This was strange for a dungeon—unless you disregarded the dungeon’s world logic entirely. Then everything made sense.
NPCs in dungeons were controlled by data. When their fatigue levels hit a threshold, they’d grow tired; when their anger levels peaked, they’d lash out.
But the people in this world were different. Though they had data, they weren’t governed by it.
Those who were angry could control their emotions; those exhausted could push through and keep working.
Only puppets or machines were bound by data. Living beings had their own thoughts.
"Guessed what?" You Jiu’s brows furrowed, a sense of exclusion creeping in.
"This dungeon is full of living people." Qi Shi’s voice was drained of energy as he spoke, as if half his strength had been sapped away. "To this world, we players are nothing but unwelcome intruders."
He took out his prop glasses and put them on again.
Wan You: Fatigue 10, Anger 0.
You Jiu had no data above his head. As for Wang Xiaojuan…
Qi Shi stiffened. In the blink of an eye, he thought he saw a flicker of numerical values above her head.
Wang Xiaojuan was a player—how could she have data?
He removed the glasses and put them back on. This time, there was nothing above her.
Maybe he’d imagined it.
"What’s above my head?" Wang Xiaojuan pulled out a mirror and checked. Nothing.
"Nothing." Qi Shi shook his head. "I was thinking about something else. We’ve been talking about the System this whole time—why hasn’t it reacted at all?"
"I knew you were coming, so I prepared in advance." Wan You pointed under the table at a signal jammer and smirked at Wang Xiaojuan. "Mine has a three-meter radius. Better than yours."
A signal jammer?
A jammer from this world could block the System?
From morning till now, You Jiu felt like he’d been bombarded with too much information.
A world this terrifying—and the System still dared to establish dungeons here? Did it have a death wish?
"Not even dragon liver or phoenix marrow can compare to good health." Chao Musheng lay on the hospital bed, staring listlessly at the IV drip. Compared to being sick and hospitalized, he’d rather be at work.
"You didn’t have a fever last night. The doctor said you’re recovering well—tomorrow, you won’t need this much medication." Su Chenzhu set up a bed table for him. "Play on your laptop to pass the time."
Chao Musheng opened his laptop. A trending topic showed a list of invitees for some fashion event, with gossip accounts tallying the confirmed attendees.
He hadn’t cared at first, but when he noticed Time Magazine was one of the organizers, he clicked in for a closer look.
No wonder Mom had been so busy lately—she was handling something this important.
"The Time Fashion Gala?" Su Chenzhu recalled Chao Musheng’s mother’s profession. "Kunlun’s film division also received an invitation. If you’re interested, you could represent Kunlun at the event."
"Who usually represents our company at these things?" Chao Musheng was intrigued.
Su Chenzhu paused briefly before glancing at Secretary Liu, who was organizing documents on the sofa.
"In the past, the film department handled their own representatives. The executive office never sent anyone." Secretary Liu looked up. "But since we’ve recently restructured the film division, having an executive office representative attend would reassure the employees and signal to the outside world that Kunlun hasn’t given up on nurturing its film arm."
There was also the unspoken implication—Kunlun’s executive office sending a representative would lend prestige to the event organizers.
"You want to go?" Su Chenzhu noticed the spark in Chao Musheng’s eyes.
"A little." Chao Musheng nodded. "The editor-in-chief of Time Magazine is my mom. She never took me to these high-society events before—always wanted to protect me."
He understood her intentions, but he also longed to see her shine in her professional world.
"Alright." Su Chenzhu finally gave in, ruffling Chao Musheng’s hair. "I’ll have someone respond to Time Magazine."
"Editor Chao!" An assistant burst into Chao Yin’s office, breathless with excitement. "Kunlun’s headquarters responded to our invitation!"
"Headquarters?" Chao Yin’s expression shifted slightly. "Not the film division?"
"Yes, headquarters!" The assistant’s hands trembled as she handed over the tablet with the email. "Kunlun’s executive office confirmed they’ll send a representative to our gala."
Originally scheduled for late July, the event had been postponed to late August due to unforeseen circumstances.
The delay disrupted many plans, and several A-list celebrities who had initially confirmed grew noncommittal.
Gossip accounts were already mocking Time Magazine’s waning influence, claiming they couldn’t secure big names—clearly smear campaigns from competitors.
"Once word gets out that Kunlun’s headquarters is sending someone, those hesitant celebrities will confirm immediately." The assistant grinned triumphantly. "This is the first time Kunlun’s executive office has ever sent a rep to an industry event. What can our rivals possibly counter with?"
Chao Yin reread the email several times, thinking of her son, who hadn’t been home in days. Could this response… have something to do with her Musheng?
Ugh.
Realizing how presumptuous that thought was, Chao Yin rubbed her face in self-reproach.
Chao Yin, oh Chao Yin—since when did you develop such shameless delusions?
Was her motherly bias really this out of control?
The excitement You Jiu had felt leaving the hospital earlier was now replaced with overwhelming complexity upon returning.
Watching the middle-aged man weeping over his medical report, the elderly man fumbling for crumpled bills in his pocket—You Jiu could no longer see them as mere lines of data.
In a corner, a woman sobbed, clutching an infant in swaddling clothes, begging heaven and earth for mercy.
A spectrum of lives, each with their own joys and sorrows, none of them the same.
Entering the elevator, You Jiu found it packed with people. The man beside him bumped into him but kept his head down without a word.
You Jiu glanced at him again. Despite the sweltering heat, the man wore a dark coat, and a strong stench of sweat clung to him. The other passengers in the elevator turned their faces away, visibly repulsed.
The man seemed oblivious to their disdain. He shoved his hands into his pockets and, as soon as the elevator doors opened, bolted down the hallway.
"Wait." Qi Shi caught up and blocked his path in the corridor.
The walls of this floor were adorned with cartoon illustrations—it was the pediatric inpatient ward on the fifth level.
"What do you want?" The man glared at Qi Shi, his greasy hair parting to reveal a pair of sunken, hostile eyes.
Wang Xiaojuan had no patience for nonsense. She stepped forward and kicked the man to the ground with a single strike.
With a clatter, the knife hidden in his coat pocket clattered onto the floor.
"Pathetic trash." Wang Xiaojuan delivered two sharp kicks to the man's thigh, sending the blade skidding away, then turned to You Jiu, who stood frozen in shock. "Call the police."
Huh?
Was she seriously telling him to report a criminal in the middle of a hospital horror game scenario?
You Jiu's brain, already strained from the day's events, finally crashed completely.
