Chapter 1 The Merchant is Gone

Fortunately, Lu Xiaoyao couldn't see these comments. Instead of heading directly to the Zhang residence, she muttered, "First, I need to go to the north side of town to find the merchant NPC to buy a talisman, a peach wood sword, and, uh, black dog blood. I'll save that for the players playing feng shui masters to draw symbols with.

"Even though my character already has these things, I heard some players are too weak. Their original preparations weren't enough, so they need extra supplies..."

Listening to Lu Xiaoyao's constant thoughts about the feng shui master, Mingmei really wanted to say, "The feng shui master has been gone for ten years!"

Completely unaware, Lu Xiaoyao followed the original walkthrough to the north side of town, and then—

"Huh? Where's the merchant?"

Looking at the street with no general store in sight, Lu Xiaoyao looked confused and turned to Mingmei, who had a calm expression.

"What's wrong?" Mingmei asked, noticing Lu Xiaoyao's gaze.

"The walkthrough said there's a general store on the main street on the north side of town that sells items..." Lu Xiaoyao pointed to where the general store was supposed to be, now replaced with a sign that read—[Tomorrow's Bento].

Mingmei: ...

Oh, she forgot this was her territory now.

However, as a secret merchant, she couldn't stay in the store all the time.

Logically speaking, when faced with an empty shop selling bento boxes, especially after Mingmei had been trying to sell them to everyone she met, Lu Xiaoyao should have realized something, but—

"Is this some kind of product placement?"

Mingmei: Her thought process has some issues.

Lu Xiaoyao walked up to the store and looked inside through the window. The rising steam and faint aroma of rice and food made her swallow involuntarily.

"I'm hungry."

Mingmei: Heh~ What good is being hungry? →_→ Who told you not to buy my bento?

...

Lu Xiaoyao stared at the empty store for a long time. Confirming that there really was no merchant, she reluctantly headed toward the Zhang residence with Mingmei. Along the way, Lu Xiaoyao remembered she was a streamer and said to the air:

"Dear viewers, it seems the game update removed the merchant. So... our main event is about to begin!"

"Let's see if I die a horrible death or survive with broken arms and legs~"

Lu Xiaoyao spoke of the most tragic outcome with the brightest tone, causing Mingmei to glance at her frequently.

How big must her heart be to be so brave?!

Just as Mingmei was filled with admiration for Lu Xiaoyao, she saw Lu Xiaoyao's face fall as she started crying. "I promise I'll never court death again, waaa! Isn't being alive good? Why did I have to play this escape game? My brain isn't working either QAQ!"

Compared to her previous cheerfulness, Mingmei heard more genuine emotion in her current performance.

She even admitted that her brain wasn't working. It was clear how pessimistic she was about today's escape game.

Mingmei patted her on the shoulder and looked at the functions of the two bento boxes she could sell—[Curry Pork Cutlet Bento: After eating, eliminates all negative physical effects caused by the ghost's mental attacks, blocks pain.]

[Aolan Fried Chicken Cutlet Bento: After eating, prevents ghosts from possessing you, has special effects on players who are already possessed~]

Sure enough, the two bento boxes she bought today were very specific.

"Don't worry, I'm here." I won't let you die in agony (*￣︶￣)~

But obviously, Lu Xiaoyao didn't get Mingmei's hidden meaning. She excitedly hugged Mingmei and rubbed Mingmei's cheek, then said with satisfaction, "Sis! I wish my mom and dad had given me a cute little sister like you~"

Mingmei: ...

The two of them walked to the Zhang residence, bickering along the way. Perhaps it was because she was already prejudiced, but the moment Mingmei saw the two servants wearing indigo-blue short jackets at the entrance, she thought she was hallucinating.

Why did she seem to see two red plateaus on their faces?

Could it be her imagination?

Mingmei narrowed her eyes and looked into the courtyard from the Zhang residence's gate—it really was eerie!

Her godfather and uncle were really amazing. She didn't know which plane they simulated this data from. It was too realistic.

The servants bowed to the two of them and led them into the residence, behaving obediently and quietly.

Lu Xiaoyao opened her mouth several times to say something, but no one paid attention to her. Even Mingmei, who had been pulled along to boost her courage, was unusually quiet.

The group bypassed the screen wall and walked from a side corridor to the main hall. At this time, the servant who led the way retreated and was replaced by two maids in pink with double buns, who led the two into the hall to sit down and brought them two cups of hot tea.

This time, Mingmei and Lu Xiaoyao both put down their cups at the same time.

Mingmei simply felt a bad aura from the cup, while Lu Xiaoyao had read the walkthrough before playing the game.

Almost all players who had played the "Ghost Marriage" plot said—it was best not to touch the food and drink in the Zhang residence.

At best, you'd get diarrhea. At worst, you'd be eliminated directly.

It was said that some players used to be obsessed with the ancient Blue Star cuisine and insisted on turning these puzzle escape games into food tasting games. Then, eight or nine times out of ten, the things they ate had problems, and being eliminated directly was common.

"Cough, sorry, I'm late. Please forgive me, Miss Bai..."

Young Master Zhang's voice came from outside the door. Mingmei looked up and saw a man in a light blue brocade robe appear before her and Lu Xiaoyao.

Young Master Zhang's NPC appearance was the aloof and ascetic type, but he unexpectedly had a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes. This matched his bloodless and slightly upturned thin lips perfectly.

He looked like a heartless scumbag.

For a moment, Mingmei had to admit that the person in front of her was one of the top five most handsome people she knew.

Not to mention the fragile, delicate aura and the intense, bewitching temperament brought about by his dark, reflective black pupils made it hard not to fall for him.

"Holy crap... is he really that handsome?" Lu Xiaoyao stared at Young Master Zhang with wide eyes and couldn't help but ask herself, "Did the game update change the villain's looks too?"

She had seen pictures of Young Master Zhang in the walkthrough forums. He clearly had the same robe, pale face, and dark, lightless eyes. He clearly looked very gloomy and scary at the time, but now... suddenly he felt so handsome?

Mingmei could clearly see the game player next to her developing a crush on the game's biggest villain. Mingmei felt a moment of chest tightness.

Not only Lu Xiaoyao, but everyone watching the live stream from Lu Xiaoyao's perspective was also exploding—

[Holy crap, such a handsome villain?!]

[My values are following my face. If I were Miss Bai, why would I call off the engagement! I'd pick up Young Master Zhang and give him a kiss!]

[Hey, put your pants on! This villain just appeared, and the comments are full of pants!]

[I'm going! You guys wake up! Don't you remember the players above saying that this Young Master Zhang has become more terrifying than before?!]

[More handsome! And stronger too! Ahhhh! I want to play Miss Bai too! Young Master, choose me!]

...

"I wonder why Miss Bai has come here..."

As if not sensing the other party's fiery gaze, Young Master Zhang began his lines.

It was Lu Xiaoyao's turn to speak, but she didn't seem to have recovered yet until Mingmei tugged at her sleeve.

However, because of Mingmei's action, Young Master Zhang naturally noticed Mingmei beside Lu Xiaoyao. He didn't ask about her arrival, but instead nodded slightly at Mingmei, smiled, and withdrew his gaze from her.

The moment he withdrew his gaze from her, Mingmei felt as if an invisible claw massaged her soul from head to toe.

[Gah! Ahhhh, this thing is a pervert!]

Mingmei glared at Young Master Zhang, turned her gaze to Lu Xiaoyao, ignored him, and secretly talked to the system, scolding the newly appeared villain.

[Beast! What kind of look was that?]

[Host, calm down...]

[Does my expression look like I'm not calm?]

Honestly, Mingmei's face had very few expressions. The only lively thing was probably her big eyes. Because of this, the system couldn't lie and say she looked uneasy.

[No, but your brainwaves are too noisy, they're hurting my eyes.]

Mingmei: ??

What kind of weird feeling was this?

"I'm here to call off the engagement! I have no emotional foundation with you..."

Over here, Lu Xiaoyao also came back to her senses. After saying her lines according to the plot, she glanced at the other party and gasped.

She almost said, "If you pursued me properly, I could try it (doge)."

Fortunately, reason prevailed.

"That's great, I have something to tell you too, actually..."

Young Master Zhang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. The corners of his lips, which were just slightly raised, now bloomed into a smile. He stepped forward and grabbed Mingmei's hand directly, saying in the midst of Lu Xiaoyao and Mingmei's dumbfounded expressions, and the dumbfounded expressions of the viewers of the live stream, "Actually, I have someone I like too, right, Meimei?"

Mingmei: ???

Lu Xiaoyao: ????