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墨書 Inktalez
The vast expanse of land was formed from the accumulation of Black Volcanic Ash, with a desolate wind stirring only fine dust. The heat radiating from the ground, combined with the pale blue sun in the sky, made one feel as if they were immersed in sweltering heat.
The protagonist wore a deep blue Tactical Jacket or a dark gray long-sleeved coat that did nothing to accentuate her figure, lacking any sense of beauty.
The female lead stood there, her unadorned face showing traces of fatigue from days of travel. The male lead sat back, tilting his head, revealing no advantage in physique and lacking any heroic aura.
After navigating a dangerous Survival Game, one thing became clear. In an ordinary romance drama, this would surely lead to romantic entanglements and emotional interactions following success.
However, this was a Death Game, and Xu Nuan was no longer the innocent girl yearning for affection; her reaction to this statement was naturally not what anyone would hope for.
"Is it related to this game?"
In an instant, strange memories about the Third Batch of Players flooded her mind, and He Min's words before leaving echoed repeatedly. Unable to make sense of it all, Xu Nuan could only rely on Gu Ze to provide answers.
She missed the hint of melancholy in Gu Ze's eyes and only saw the bright smile on his face.
"Smart."
Gu Ze's words instantly ignited a spark of joy in Xu Nuan's eyes; the delight was too evident. Then she noticed Gu Ze displaying a mischievous grin that had a childlike quality.
"However, if that matter disappoints you, don't blame me."
"Huh?"
Xu Nuan paused for a few seconds, bewildered. What was wrong with this person? Offering a sweet date only to hit someone with a stick?
Or perhaps this person was inherently this cruel?
Having never interacted with Gu Ze at work, Xu Nuan could only recall scenes from their university days, which seemed to lack genuine interaction as well. Without any standards for judgment, Xu Nuan felt lost; nevertheless, she maintained the curve of her lips and spoke deliberately.
"Believe that you won't let me down."
Hmph, who can't say such formalities? After all, she had worked in human resources for three years.
No one told Xu Nuan that every time she said something like that, she resembled a cat puffing up its fur in the sunlight—hardly a threat at all.
So when Xu Nuan saw Gu Ze's smile deepen and the brilliance in his eyes grow even more dazzling, she was utterly confused.
But she wouldn't ask; well, this was a kind of competition.
One stood while the other sat, staring at each other in silence. As time passed, Xu Nuan felt like she was being unreasonable, like a petulant child, especially with her hands on her hips.
"Tsk tsk."
Finally unable to hold back, Xu Nuan turned her head away and muttered under her breath.
"Hmph, smiling tiger."
If it weren't for the fact that he was her schoolmate and quite good at outdoor barbecues, she definitely wouldn't be so easygoing.
Xu Nuan quickly found herself a good excuse.
Even in a low voice, their close proximity meant that Gu Ze could easily hear her, which is why she wasn't surprised to hear his laughter.
"Haha."
Laughter was fine, but did it have to be so loud?
Xu Nuan grumbled inwardly.
"Ha ha."
He was still laughing!
Xu Nuan turned around, her face flushed, and saw Gu Ze pounding the ground in a rather ungraceful manner, his smile brighter than the winter sun. Why did a man look so good when he laughed?
Various emotions rolled through her mind, and Xu Nuan furrowed her brow. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly caught a glimpse into the depths of Gu Ze's eyes. The emotions reflected there made her panic, and she quickly turned away, stammering.
"I'll go see why they haven't come back yet."
The hasty turn caused her legs to trip over each other, and before she knew it, Xu Nuan stumbled and fell.
She quickly reached out, hoping to find something to support herself before hitting the ground. However, Gu Ze was faster; he lay down on the ground to cushion her fall. Xu Nuan instinctively withdrew her hand and ended up crashing directly onto Gu Ze.
She had never been this close to any man besides her ex-boyfriend—close enough that her breath brushed against Gu Ze's throat while his breath tickled her forehead. At that moment, she had no mind to comment on their height difference.
She was immensely grateful that Gu Ze couldn't see her expression; her cheeks, ears, and neck felt like they were on fire. She couldn't even imagine what her face looked like.
Determined not to let Gu Ze see her expression, Xu Nuan made an instinctive move that startled both of them.
With her mind racing, Xu Nuan buried her head in Gu Ze's chest, feeling a sense of triumph—this way, he wouldn't be able to tease her anymore.
But after all, she was still Xu Nuan; rationality and calmness couldn't stray too far. This position lasted less than ten seconds before she realized it was inappropriate. As she tried to get up quickly, she discovered two hands wrapped around her waist.
The warm breath seeping through the thin fabric of her clothing sent a shiver down her spine, making her feel as if she might faint from the heat. Stunned for just three seconds, Xu Nuan's gratitude towards Gu Ze for being a cushion turned into irritation at him taking advantage of the situation.
Before she could lift her head in annoyance, Gu Ze's slightly childish complaint rang out.
"You're so heavy!"
"Wow!"
Xu Nuan took a deep breath, unceremoniously placing her hands on Gu Ze's shoulders and pushing herself up with considerable force.
She didn't care about the blush on her face as she brushed off her clothes, speaking in a tone full of arrogance.
"Thanks for that earlier!"
It sounded like she was gritting her teeth.
Xu Nuan intended to give Gu Ze a mocking look, but then she caught sight of his expression.
"Don't you dare blush!"
Xu Nuan jumped up, the heat returning to her cheeks. She could bet that Gu Ze's blushing face looked better than hers. The flush made his deep brown eyes appear somewhat enchanting, complementing his jade-like features. Damn it, how had she never noticed how handsome he was before?
No, no, that wasn't the point. They were both adults; this little contact was nothing at all. Acting like a lovesick fool was just too pretentious.
Xu Nuan completely forgot about her exaggerated reaction. They were both equally awkward; neither had the right to judge the other.
Of course, Gu Ze, being the gentleman he was, would not say a word.
While Xu Nuan was lost in her tangled thoughts and rolling her eyes, Gu Ze had already calmly stood up.
The two remained very close, and Xu Nuan sadly realized she had to look up at Gu Ze. In fact, she had always looked up to him, but this time, an unusual feeling surged within her.
After thinking it over and seeing the elegant smile dancing on Gu Ze's lips like an iris in bloom, Xu Nuan unhesitatingly attributed this strange feeling to a complex mix of admiration and dissatisfaction towards him, choosing not to dwell on it further.
"You're actually quite light," Gu Ze said casually, as if nothing had happened, as if the hint of shyness on his face just moments ago was merely Xu Nuan's imagination. "Compared to me."
Xu Nuan's heart, which had calmed down, suddenly began to churn again.
This man truly had a terrible personality.
"My medical examination results indicate that I am underweight."
In reality, regardless of their personality, women care about their figures; some just hide it better than others.
In fact, without needing to experience the results, anyone with even a slight perception could see that Xu Nuan was very thin. Whether it was her pointed chin or the way her waist was outlined by the wide Tactical Jacket when the wind blew, Xu Nuan was indeed a slender beauty.
With this playful banter, the confusion and panic caused by that dream had long been cast aside by Xu Nuan.
It had been a long time since Xu Nuan had shown such liveliness, reminiscent of when she was still a student—somewhat innocent yet wise, a bit carefree but undeniably charming.
As Gu Ze displayed a nostalgic expression, Xu Nuan also regained her composure, feeling embarrassed for losing her cool.
Now calm, she naturally noticed the teasing glint in Gu Ze's eyes and realized he was joking with her while she had been flustered and chattering away.
Truly, she felt like a different person.
Xu Nuan rubbed her forehead, her expression gradually becoming more neutral.
"Thanks, or else I would have ended up with more injuries."
"No need to thank me; it was just instinctive."
Gu Ze explained with an unchanged expression, successfully calming Xu Nuan's chaotic heart once again.
Yes, instinctive.
Xu Nuan let out a sigh of relief, feeling able to face Gu Ze with a calm mind.
However, from a perspective she couldn't see, someone was wearing a look of desolation, all for the sake of reassuring her.
Xu Nuan didn't notice this expression of melancholy, but Xu Hang did upon his return.
He sighed at how love could be the most painful thing in the world. While everyone liked to deceive themselves, he was also relieved that Deng Yinyin hadn't returned yet; otherwise, it would have caused quite a commotion.
Since everyone had gathered together without holding grudges, they might as well tackle the challenges ahead, which was their ultimate goal.
Xu Hang's thoughts were beautiful, but reality was harsh.
The four who returned to survey their surroundings found no sign of the Special Tree at the foot of the vast mountain. This meant they had to ascend the dormant volcano.
“A dormant volcano!”
Xie Huai exclaimed cryptically.
“It’s time to test our character,” Deng Yinyin replied with enthusiasm, which made Xie Huai beam with delight.
The group began their ascent with ‘character’ in tow. The sight of volcanic ash was disheartening, and with the high temperature, they had to take breaks frequently. After resting for a while, Xu Hang ordered them to set off again. This back-and-forth made everyone feel that reaching the summit of this volcano was far more challenging than climbing a snowy peak.
In fact, typically, the soil near the base of a dormant volcano is very fertile and suitable for growing grapes, citrus fruits, olives, and more. A little higher up, one could find beech trees, oak trees, and pines; at the very least, there would be some sparse bushes.
However, after climbing all morning, they encountered nothing but desolate black soil. They also had to be wary of the unknown gas vents; several ladies disliked the smell of sulfur and often covered their mouths and noses.
Lunch passed amid everyone's mild complaints.
As they took a break before setting off again, the usually reserved Xu Hang surprisingly spoke up to encourage everyone.
"Although this place is desolate and we haven't seen the Special Tree, we've had a smooth journey so far, which is a good thing. Let's all muster our strength and push through the afternoon."
"Hi."
Deng Yinyin lazily responded, immediately drawing Xu Hang's eager gaze.
"Hi!"
Xie Huai, who was observant, quickly provided the reaction Xu Hang wanted. After exchanging glances, the others obediently fulfilled Xu Hang's rare request for acknowledgment.
However, in this game, things could never go smoothly all the time.
As evening approached, Xie Huai chased after a Volcanic Hare into the Dwarf Fir Forest and did not return.
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