Chapter 44: Come, Choose a Set

A single task name rendered all four people present silent. This final main quest—why did it sound so improper?

The glowing panel overhead continued to display the message:

[Task Description: After completing two main quests, the story has reached its conclusion. By now, you and the person you’ve chosen must have had deep conversations and truly understand each other, yes? So, let’s bring this trial to an end with a special challenge—

Contact your chosen one, in any way you wish, and make them willingly, sincerely, submit to you and call you ‘Daddy’ from the bottom of their heart!]

[Now entering task countdown—]

[12:00:00—]

[11:59:59—]

[11:59:58—]

Upon reading this, the three others apart from Wen Nan looked as if they were about to cry.

Fatty’s plump cheeks scrunched together as he stared intently at the words “willingly” and “from the bottom of their heart” in the task description.

In other words, this “Daddy” not only had to be spoken aloud by the target, but also had to be said in all sincerity.

Any tricks—like handing the target a test paper and getting them to read out a question that just happens to say, “Xiao Ming’s daddy bought two packs of cigarettes…”—would not work here.

How on earth was he supposed to get that terrifyingly tsundere teacher in the staff room to call him Daddy, and say it sincerely?

The same question hovered in the minds of Huang Tao and Shao Ling.

Huang Tao thought in despair, I’m always the one being ground into the dirt—if I don’t have to kneel and call the other person Daddy, that’s already a win. How could I possibly get the other side to call me Daddy instead?

Shao Ling’s situation was even worse.

After all, when his livestream was banned and he was forced into a corner with nobody around, he’d already knelt and called someone Daddy countless times. But that was him calling his buddy with eight-pack abs Daddy—now the roles had to be reversed. How could the other side ever agree to that?

He suddenly felt that the two attribute experience cards Boss Ye had given him were a total waste. Even if he turned into a hulking man with eighteen-pack abs, there was no way he could complete this final quest.

He was doomed to remain trapped in this newbie trial zone.

While the other three were wallowing in misery, Wen Nan was troubled as well—but his troubles were clearly of a different nature.

What bothered him was—

Why only twelve hours? Such a short time—how is that supposed to be enough?

9527: [Player’s current targets—‘The Pure and Adorable Deskmate,’ ‘The Alluring School Belle,’ and ‘The Cold, Scheming Genius’—have all reached 99% completion, and are considered perfectly conquered. They will not be counted towards this main quest’s completion.

The player need only complete the conquest of ‘The Fair and Rosy Neighbor Auntie’ and ‘The Fiery Sports School Girl’ as described in the task to clear the trial. Best of luck!]

So he only needed to deal with Lin Xuemei and Little Pepper?

That was a relief.

Wen Nan exhaled in relief.

If he’d had to stop halfway every time because of the time limit, he wouldn’t be able to stand it. It would be bad for his health.

With time running short and no time to waste, the four of them, each burdened by their own worries, hurried toward the door.

On the way, Wen Nan brushed past Shao Ling and tossed something that looked like a jar of ointment into his arms.

Shao Ling caught it, bewildered. “What’s… this?”

Before he could finish, the system prompt sounded in his mind.

00: [Received item from another player: Fist*Ointment.]

00: [Accept?]

Shao Ling: !!!

“How do you… even have something like this?!”

Wen Nan didn’t answer, only patted his shoulder. “Take it. I think you’ll need it.”

With that, and under Shao Ling’s incredulous gaze, Wen Nan turned and walked up to Fatty.

Seeing Wen Nan approach, Fatty immediately broke into a wide grin and called out, “Grandpa!”—just as the system prompt chimed in his mind.

Tiny: [Received item from another player: Sleep Capsules x20]

Tiny: [Received item from another player: Nutritional Supplements x20]

Tiny: [Received item from another player: Safety Bubbles x20]

Tiny: [Received item from another player: Attribute Experience Cards x8]

Tiny: [Received item from another player: Little Whip]

Tiny: [Accept?]

Seeing his inventory suddenly swell with new items, Fatty was so moved he nearly wept.

He really was Grandpa Ye’s favorite grandson, wasn’t he? This time, he’d been given twice as much as last time!

But…

There seemed to be some strange items mixed in there?

He turned to look at Wen Nan, but the other had already walked toward the school gates, leaving him only the silhouette of a hero who kept his deeds hidden.

…

…

As the final main quest began, the livestream “One Night Nine Strikes” was reopened as well.

[He’s back!]

[He’s back, he’s back!]

[Whoa! Instant knockout as soon as it starts!]

[This main quest…]

[How wild is this?!]

[Is this even allowed? They’re not going to censor the stream for another dozen hours, are they? The entire quest only lasts twelve hours!]

[Guys, check out the streamer’s backup inventory!]

[What’s up? Is there another golden legendary?]

[Damn, amazing.]

[My eyes have been opened.]

[Who would have thought that one day, I’d be learning new tricks from a horror escape game.]

[That’s way too many props…]

[Did the streamer sneak out to a high-class club in the middle of the night or something?]

[Boss, you’re my only source of spiritual nourishment these days!]

[Livestream, please don’t crash this time!]

…

…

Wen Nan left the campus without hesitation and made his way, as if by habit, to Lin Xuemei’s house. He knocked on the door.

At that moment, Qiqi had just left, and Lin Xuemei, thinking she’d forgotten something, came to open the door with her hair slightly tousled, long lashes drooping, and still half-asleep. “Did you forget your keys again…”

Halfway through her sentence, she saw Wen Nan standing at the door and froze.

She wore nothing but a loose pink bunny T-shirt, the collar drooping to reveal her collarbones, the hem barely reaching her upper thighs.

Seeing Wen Nan smile at her, Lin Xuemei blinked in confusion. “Qiqi… has already gone to school.”

“I’m not here for her.” Wen Nan stepped forward, squeezing through the door. “I’m here for you.”

“For me… Xiao Jiu!”

Before Lin Xuemei could finish, Wen Nan swept her into his arms and strode toward the bedroom.

Startled, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

Wen Nan grinned. “Class? You first.”

With that, he took out four outfits from his backup inventory—

A white lace-trimmed maid outfit, a scandalously revealing JK uniform, a barely-there Victoria’s Secret-style slip, and a bunny girl costume.

“Pick one?”