Chapter 128: Such a Scoundrel, Yet So Beloved

The current beginner map covers an area of about twenty square kilometers, roughly the size of a core business district in a first-tier city. However, the vast majority of the buildings are concentrated within a ten-square-kilometer radius around the headquarters of the Irene Group, ensuring that players don’t stray too far from the respawn points while exploring.

In the northeastern corner of the map, at its outermost edge, lies an abandoned highway surrounded by overgrown weeds. As far as the eye can see, it’s nothing but wasteland.

Along a certain stretch of this highway, a cordoned-off zone has been established. Warning signs are placed at regular intervals, each bearing a striking red message:

**[Caution! High-risk area! Serious accidents have occurred here, causing significant casualties! Strictly forbidden to enter! All consequences will be borne by the trespasser!]**

Yu Shujun stood before one of these signs, tilting his head slightly as he studied it for a moment. Then, pocketing the bloodstained longsword at his side, he leapt lightly over the barrier and stepped into the restricted area.

Wading through waist-high wild grass, Yu Shujun quickly locked onto his target—a car flipped upside down about five meters from the roadside. It had clearly suffered a severe explosion; the vehicle’s body was heavily deformed, charred black from the blast.

Circling the wreck, Yu Shujun crouched down beside a patch of bare earth. He brushed aside the weeds, gently touching the ground with his fingertips. Pinching some soil, he rubbed it between his fingers and brought it to his nose to sniff.

It was blood.

And it appeared to have been there for quite some time.

Could this really be the accident site? A traffic accident that caused casualties?

What connection did Yang Mingzhong have with this? And why had he been forced to restart because of it?

Yu Shujun pondered briefly before quickly reigning in his thoughts. He was here merely on orders to investigate the scene and uncover the truth behind it—nothing more, nothing less.

Straightening up, he activated the recording function on his system. Like an emotionless recorder, Yu Shujun began documenting every detail of the accident site.

At that moment, a silver figure flashed past within his camera’s view like lightning.

With a light tap of his feet, Yu Shujun sprang forward like an arrow, chasing after the figure.

……

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, the single apartment rented by Ye Jiu was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere. On the bed of the bedroom, Wen Nan allowed Qiqi to press his hand to a certain place without resistance, though he made no further moves.

Hesitating for a moment, he spoke quietly, “You…”

Before he could finish, Qiqi interrupted him, declaring her intention to become the queen of his harem.

Wen Nan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, wondering what this girl was always thinking about.

“Do you really know what you’re saying?” he asked gently.

Seeing the expression on his face, Qiqi took him seriously and said, “Nan Ge, I’m not that clueless high school girl anymore. Don’t treat me like a child.”

She kept his hand pressed against her chest, propping herself up on one arm as she leaned in to press her slightly cool, soft, and moist lips against the corner of Wen Nan’s mouth.

Like a kitten, she lightly tested the spot with her lips. Seeing no refusal, she moved downward, kissing his jaw, neck, and collarbone. Then she raised her hand, pulling up the hem of Wen Nan’s shirt from his waist to his chest, trailing her lips down to trace the lines of his muscles.

Wen Nan swallowed hard. Before the situation could develop further in that unspoken direction, he quickly withdrew his hand and pressed down on her slender shoulder to stop her.

“Qiqi!” Wen Nan’s voice was hoarse.

Qiqi was forced to stop and lifted her head to look at Wen Nan, her eyes tinged with a hint of grievance and reluctance.

“Nan Ge, back in high school, when you came to my house… it was actually to see me, wasn’t it?”

Then she smiled again, a little mischievously: “Nan Ge, I really love you.”

Wen Nan: ……

He knew there was an unpopular saying that “bad boys” were more attractive to girls.

But Wen Nan remembered clearly that Qiqi wasn’t like this before—

During their time in the trial map, when Wen Nan first went to the small playground to meet Qiqi, they kissed under the night sky, and she believed their relationship was confirmed.

At that time, Wu Yuwei suddenly appeared at school, making Qiqi jump up in a jealous fit, fiercely declaring she wouldn’t allow Wu Yuwei and Wen Nan to continue their entanglement. The two had almost come to blows.

But now, Qiqi pointed out Wen Nan’s “playboy” behavior with acceptance, even openly said she liked it…

Had her character completely collapsed?

Or was it that changing her role from “pure and adorable deskmate” to “understanding childhood friend” had altered her persona?

Yet, after spending time with Qiqi on the new map, Wen Nan didn’t feel her personality had changed much.

Though her character image had matured somewhat, deep down, she was still that clingy, adorable, and tender little girl.

If it wasn’t due to an update in her character information, then what else could explain it?

This question lingered in Wen Nan’s mind.

Qiqi sat up and looked at Wen Nan.

In the blind spot where Wen Nan couldn’t see, the circular tattoo on Qiqi’s neck flickered with silver-white light.

Her chest rose and fell, her teeth clenched tightly, her eyes slightly red. Her voice was stubborn yet resolute as she said:

“Nan Ge, you said you never bring anyone home to do these things. So, I want to be…

I want to be the first woman you make an exception for.”

Wen Nan was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile.

What kind of strange competitive streak was this?

(End of chapter)