Chapter 39: Unlocking New Plotlines

[(;꒪ö꒪)] [(｡☉౪⊙｡)] [There really is a hidden item?] [It’s probably in advanced maps, but I didn’t expect it to appear in a trial map.] [What is this thing?] [Could it be legendary again?]
…
…
Wen Nan stepped forward and opened the pitch-black treasure chest.

A flash of golden light, but the anticipated legendary item was nowhere to be seen.

Inside the chest, it was empty.

Wen Nan: …

What does this mean? Did the map just put a play ball here?

Just as he pondered, the system prompt sounded in his mind: [Congratulations, player! Map exploration has surpassed 30%! An extra 100 experience points will be awarded and settled after this trial ends.]

So he’d reached a third of the map’s progress already? So quickly? But apart from a crushed empty soda can, he hadn’t obtained anything.

There was only one possibility—the items and equipment here had already been thoroughly scavenged by other players.

Three roommates flickered through Wen Nan’s mind, but he quickly dismissed them. One was busy getting his butt kicked, one busy playing basketball, and the other preoccupied with picking up soap—none of them could possibly have had the time to sweep the map for items.

It could only be that big brother who’d blended into his “harem.”

Thinking of this, Wen Nan felt a headache coming on.

That guy never stopped. They’d just signed a gentleman’s agreement, so he’d finally stopped flirting with Wen Nan’s other targets, but now he was combing the map for gear. Could he not sit still for a moment? Worker at heart, workaholic soul?

Yet Wen Nan couldn’t blame him—after all, exploring the map was something everyone could do, first come, first served.

Still, Academic Yu had really cleaned it out! Wen Nan’s exploration progress was already 30%, meaning the flowerbed, trash can, and this restroom were probably all included in the explored area. Yet, after all that, Wen Nan had only managed to pick up a crushed soda can.

If that’s the case, the remaining 70% of the map wasn’t worth exploring—Yu the Academic must have already looted it all.

Wen Nan shrugged and turned toward the restroom door.

He’d barely taken two steps when he collided with a slim girl who was coming in.

“Oh!”

The girl, startled, covered her face and ran outside.

“Sorry,” Wen Nan said, lowering his head and preparing to step around her and leave.

But the girl grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let him go, “…Ye Jiu?”

Wen Nan was stunned, “Wu Yuwei?”

“How…how come you’re alone in the girls’ restroom so late?”

“Uh, I got lost,” Wen Nan lied casually, then added, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the dorm.”

“Wait!” Wu Yuwei gripped Wen Nan’s fingers even tighter. “I…I have something to say to you…”

Wen Nan maintained his previous attitude, gently prying her hand off his wrist. “Sorry, I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

With that, Wen Nan strode resolutely toward the restroom exit.

9527: [Branch storyline ‘Xiaowei’s Entanglement’ detected, task completion updated to 15%. Completing the side quest will earn extra experience points and equipment rewards.]

Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Wen Nan paused for a moment.

Immediately, Wu Yuwei rushed up and wrapped her arms tightly around Wen Nan from behind.

Wen Nan: …

Isn’t this scene a little too melodramatic, like a soap opera?

Wu Yuwei pressed her cheek against his back and spoke in a muffled voice, “Ye Jiu, please don’t leave, okay? It was my fault before, all my fault. It’s not you who should regret, it’s me…”

Every word she said was sincere.

Maybe she’d confessed impulsively, and after being rejected, felt hurt, but a big part of it was refusing to accept that she’d lost to someone like Qiqi.

But in the past few days, she’d come to terms with it. She had clarified her feelings.

No one had ever haunted her like Ye Jiu, making him impossible to let go.

She thought of him awake, dreamed of him asleep, thought of him even while eating, and during class.

Every moment, she thought of him.

She wanted him so badly, it drove her mad, yet she was powerless.

Now she finally understood what this feeling was—

“Ye Jiu, I like you, I truly like you. I’ve never liked anyone as much as I like you.”

This confession no longer carried the arrogance or entitlement of the campus beauty, only a humble, desperate plea from an ordinary girl madly in love.

Before Wen Nan could respond, Wu Yuwei rushed to continue, “I know you chose Liu Qi. I…I don’t care! I’m willing to be your secret lover, even one that can never see the light of day.

“No matter how sweet you are with Liu Qi in public, I can accept it, as long as…as long as you’re willing, on nights like this when no one is around, to come find me, to give me just a little, even the tiniest bit of comfort, I’ll be satisfied.

“Please, Ye Jiu?”

Her voice choked at the end, her whole body trembling, like a delicate white flower battered by rain, making people want to gently soothe her fragile petals.

But Wen Nan did not turn around. He stood firm at the door, letting her hold him, but refusing to give any response.

9527: [Branch storyline ‘Xiaowei’s Entanglement’ detected, task completion updated to 35%.]

Wen Nan spoke: “Xiaowei, let go. I told you, I don’t like you. Even if we forced ourselves together, my feelings wouldn’t change.”

Wu Yuwei’s eyes were brimming with tears, on the verge of falling.

She shook her head and whispered, “Why? I don’t believe it…”

She quickly walked around to stand in front of Wen Nan, tiptoed, and kissed his lips hard, forcing her soft tongue between his teeth.

Wen Nan sensed some kind of liquid being transferred between their lips, a strange feeling.

He had no time to dwell on what it was; flustered, he pushed Wu Yuwei away with force.

9527: [Branch storyline completion updated to 55%.]

Wu Yuwei staggered back two steps, regained her balance, and glared at him, full of resentment. “You…you have the taste of another woman’s liquid on you! You! You’ve been with someone else…”

Wen Nan was shocked—she could even taste that?

“Who is it? Who were you with?!”

Her face twisted with rage and unwillingness.

Wen Nan sighed, “That has nothing to do with you.”

He was about to turn and leave, but saw Wu Yuwei start unbuttoning her shirt.

“If what you want is this…then I can give it to you too!”