MS Chapter 31

Zhong Liyu is not someone anyone can mock, especially not a foolish boss who spends all day cleaning up after him.

Hearing the raucous laughter from the game, he chuckled coldly and said, “You don’t think I’m the only one who remembers last month’s administrator meeting, do you? Some idiots pretended to be weak and shrank down to the size of hamsters, insisting on sitting on someone’s chest, only to get a good beating from that person’s husband?”

The laughter from the game abruptly stopped, and they anxiously said, “Didn’t we agree not to bring that up?”

Zhong Liyu replied, “Who started it first?”

The game said, “Alright, alright, you go ahead and greenlight yourself.”

“Let’s hope that guy falls head over heels for your current looks and ends up completely dumping you. Damn, if you really stir his heart, should you cry or laugh?”

Zhong Liyu replied with ease, “You, a long-haired beast, dare to come to your wild brother for advice? Do you even know what true feelings are while using your power to try to seduce your subordinate’s wife?”

“I’m telling you, if even the handsome Jiajia doesn’t give you a second glance, it means he only has eyes for me.”

“If he’s moved by me, it means that regardless of how our appearances change, we’re still a natural pair, and there will always be attraction between us. This is destined true love, understand?”

The game said, “…Understood, understood. If Lu Qingjia throws a brick at you, it means he’s shy and flustered, seeing you with mixed feelings, his heart in turmoil. That’s a treatment no one else would receive.”

“If he pulls you into a room, asking for intel, money, or props, it means the ladder is set before you, giving you a chance to shine, which counts as tacit approval of your reconciliation.”

“Wild brother, do you think my analysis is correct?”

Zhong Liyu nodded, “A child can be taught. If you could be this clever in your own matters, understanding how to draw inferences and integrate knowledge, even a little leopard could drink milk by itself.”

The game spat, “Pah!”

Zhong Liyu asked, “What did you say?”

The game replied, “I’m in awe of you; your perfect logic is simply breathtaking. Don’t say the boss doesn’t support you.”

“Let me remind you, with Lu Qingjia’s sharpness, your current foolish appearance will definitely be seen through at first glance. How boring would that be? You’d be giving yourself away—no, you’re just silently guarding him, never wanting to see him bolt and abandon his tasks.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Liyu felt that this dog was surprisingly reasonable, so he said, “Fine, I’ll restrain myself and think about what reaction to expect, ensuring I leave no personal traces.”

The horror game said, “…”

His dad was right; when it comes to the matter of Lu Qingjia, he really only hears what he wants to hear.

Meanwhile, in the hospital garden’s well, after a while, the unsettling writhing inside finally ceased, and the well’s surface returned to calm.

Yang Qian rubbed her neck, feeling that she wouldn’t want to eat noodles or eel for a long time after this.

With a look of disgust, she asked Lu Qingjia, “How did you know this thing would make such a commotion?”

Lu Qingjia shrugged, “I don’t know; it’s just that this fatty beauty liquid is the ‘technical core’ of the entire hospital. Although only two monsters have appeared so far, it can be inferred that most of them likely died due to the plastic surgery accidents from the hospital’s previous incarnation.”

“The only problem is this well, so I thought I’d give it a try. I didn’t expect there to be something extraordinary down there.”

Suddenly, a Soul Shackles appeared in Lu Qingjia’s hand, and he tossed it into the well, pulling out something the size of a loach.

That thing looked similar to a loach; from just its body, one couldn’t tell the difference, except that it was pitch black all over.

But it had no head, just a round mouthpart at the top, which was hard to notice unless one was paying attention.

Its belly was swollen, as if it contained eggs, and it was quite aggressive.

Along with that loach-like creature, a few strands of hair were pulled up, likely blown into the well.

When it was caught, it struggled and twisted desperately, occasionally snapping at Lu Qingjia’s direction. When it attacked, its originally rice grain-sized mouthpart suddenly opened to the size of an egg, several times larger than its own body diameter.

Lu Qingjia felt a stir in his heart, pulled out a nail, and pinned the head of the eel-like creature to the ground. A surgical knife appeared in his hand, and he cut open its belly.

Pink eggs spilled out, writhing madly. He scooped a little and tossed it into the remaining half bottle of fatty liquid, which instantly fused perfectly.

Yang Qian covered her mouth, “This—”

“It seems the technical core of the beauty liquid is right here, but we still need to see how they operate specifically.”

Lu Qingjia said, “There’s a well in the center of the garden, with no protection or isolation, and at night, it’s unguarded. If the key to the beauty liquid is here, it shouldn’t be. Even during the day and night, there aren’t even people coming to collect ‘raw materials.’”

Just from half of what he said, Yang Qian already understood: “Such an important secret, with no one guarding it, must have some unknown reason, but more likely, it simply doesn’t need anyone.”

The two quickly retreated, and Lu Qingjia was even faster, pouring a little something into the well while backing away, then producing a lighter, which he flicked, and a flame shot up, which he deftly tossed into the well.

A scream echoed from the eerily quiet well, and in the firelight, Yang Qian noticed that countless black threads had spread out from the well’s mouth, reaching the spot where they had just stood.

However, under the cover of night, it was hard to see.

The black threads twisted frantically when they encountered fire, as if in pain from being burned, but after a while, they surprisingly took on a moist texture, like hair being wet while washing.

Although the fire hindered their progress, the other side showed no signs of stopping. Fortunately, the two had already exited the garden and ran up to the second floor.

The black threads spread into the hall, possibly reaching their limit, and after flailing on the hall floor for a while, they reluctantly retracted back into the well.

Yang Qian felt a lingering fear: “Looking at the quantity, toughness, flexibility, and fire resistance, if you get tangled up with this thing, it’s a dead end.”

After all, players at their level, while their physique is several times that of ordinary people, to say they are immune to physical damage is a fantasy.

Those black threads could easily bend the metal base of the bar stools in the hall. Even if a player is strong, getting tangled around the neck, wrists, and ankles, they would still die in a battle of numbers.

Fortunately, that thing’s agility wasn’t extraordinary, and Lu Qingjia reacted quickly enough, allowing them to escape.

“Is this the big boss of this level?”

Lu Qingjia said, “Not necessarily; after all, this hospital has only revealed the tip of the iceberg.”

Yang Qian spat, “The game wouldn’t be messing with us, would it? This is the difficulty of a low-level area?”

“Cheer up; the higher the difficulty, the more it shows the game’s recognition of this batch of players’ qualifications.”

He wasn’t surprised, knowing that there were only two players who understood rules beyond their level, and one of them was a malicious player the game wanted to eliminate. This treatment was definitely deserved.

“The reason no one guards the well is clear; it simply doesn’t need to. So the reason no one comes here to collect ‘raw materials’ is easy to guess: the extraction point isn’t here.”

“Although this place must be open-air for some reason, the location is too conspicuous, making it inconvenient for casual access.”

Yang Qian said, “This well is clearly not just what we see; it’s very likely that other extraction points have been built.”

Sighing, she added, “Actually, nighttime is the best time to scout the forbidden area, but we already tried that last night.”

“One VVIP patient area, one research lab area, both completely locked down at night, utilizing the most advanced anti-intrusion equipment. Among the five of us, there are no relevant technical talents.”

“If we were to force our way in, it wouldn’t be impossible, but with so few clues right now, it’s not wise to act rashly.”

Lu Qingjia nodded, “Then it’ll have to be during the day. Tomorrow, I’ll find a way to sneak in.”

“That’s all we can do,” Yang Qian said.

The two chatted about a few other clues before parting ways to return to their rooms.

Mrs. Lan on the hospital bed had already fallen asleep, and the exposed parts of her skin had reduced swelling, clearly in good condition. It seemed that, as the hospital said, she would recover her youthful beauty in just a week of treatment.

Lu Qingjia took off his coat and lay down on another bed, planning to make do for the night.

Yet he inexplicably felt a sense of being watched. He thought it was a ghost from the instance coming for him, but soon that feeling disappeared, and calm persisted until the next morning.

Mrs. Lan was said to be undergoing this project to stimulate her cell potential, which would make her body weak for a short time, so she had been resting in the ward.

Lu Qingjia had someone bring her a light meal before heading out.

As soon as he reached the hall, he felt a stir; everyone’s attention was directed toward the entrance.

He saw a tall figure entering from outside, wearing a white coat with a nameplate on his chest, clearly a doctor from the hospital.

Underneath, he wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, his posture strong and exuding an alluring restraint.

His features were handsome, with a slightly aggressive aura, but the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose softened that trait, blending into a unique charm.

To be honest, the appearance of doctor players was already quite good, but this person was the epitome of the dangerous, refined gentleman that women fantasize about.

He was clearly very popular; as soon as he entered, both hospital staff and familiar customers greeted him warmly.

Among them were top-tier clients who had specifically come down from upstairs. In the midst of the chatter, Lu Qingjia learned that this person was the hospital’s vice president, who had returned early from a business trip for an academic exchange.

From any angle, this person seemed out of place in this black-hearted hospital, creating a strong sense of dissonance.

Lu Qingjia took out his phone and searched for the person’s online information, but didn’t find anything unusual; the hospital’s internal affairs also seemed normal.

On the contrary, some wealthy female clients were clearly here because of him, and everything from his position to his influence revealed his strong impact on this hospital.

He might even be the one in charge of the hospital, or at least someone in the know.

Surrounded by the crowd, he approached the elevator, casually glancing over at Lu Qingjia, then turned his steps toward him.

“Sir—are you a guest of our hospital?” His voice was slightly deep, rich with magnetism, and his tone was calm and unhurried, appearing composed.

Lu Qingjia noticed the name on his nameplate: Ji Yu, and casually replied, “I suppose so.”

Then he heard the vice president say to a nearby business manager, “Do not take on any business from this gentleman, not even minor adjustments or beauty injections.”

This sounded as if that guest had offended him and was being banned from consuming services, leaving those who had been focused on Ji Yu puzzled.

When they looked toward Lu Qingjia—wow, another handsome guy—people didn’t know which side to take.

The business manager, who had previously warned Lu Qingjia, quickly said, “Hey! Aren’t you the troublemaker from the other day? What are you doing here? Our hospital doesn’t welcome you; get out.”

Yang Qian quickly stepped in to defuse the situation, “Manager Sun, he’s the investor of a VVIP customer who checked in yesterday; he counts as our customer, but he’s not doing the project himself.”

Manager Sun was momentarily speechless, looking at the vice president, who he had hoped would take a strong stance, only to hear an unbelievable conversation.

The troublemaker smiled, “That’s right; your hospital is open for business. I don’t think there’s a reason to chase customers away, even if there was a minor unpleasantness outside before.”

But Ji Yu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this: “You misunderstood; it’s not about being picky with customers, nor is it that we don’t welcome you to consume.”

“The reason I said that earlier is that I find you perfect in every way—your facial features, facial contours, skin condition, and body proportions are all perfect in my eyes. If any adjustments were to be made, it wouldn’t be helping someone become beautiful; it would be ignorant destruction, reducing unique beauty to something cheap and common, which goes against my professional ethics and is something I absolutely cannot tolerate.”

“So I refuse any business related to you. Since you’re not the one consuming, that’s great.”

Not only Yang Qian and the surrounding onlookers, but even Manager Sun, along with the doctors, nurses, and cleaners hiding in the crowd, were all dumbfounded.

Lu Qingjia was indeed good-looking, but can good looks be of any use in a horror game?

Damn, it really can. If this guy had previously tricked Mrs. Lan to help him sneak into the hospital, it could be said that money paved the way. But now, just a brief encounter had the hospital’s power holder showering him with compliments. This was outrageous!

Lu Qingjia raised an eyebrow at this; was he trying to engage in a battle of flattery?

A strange competitive spirit was ignited, and Lu Qingjia didn’t hold back either. He tilted his head slightly and smiled, “Thank you for the compliment.”

“To receive praise from someone as outstanding as you truly surprises me. Your noble character and adherence to your own aesthetics are admirable. I must say, if I were in the same position, I would absolutely not be able to do this.”

“Although I’m often praised for my appearance by those around me, I believe that someone with such an outstanding exterior and a flawless inner self truly deserves the title of beauty. Doctor Ji, you’ve left me genuinely amazed from the bottom of my heart.”

The onlookers grew increasingly confused: is this the world of high-appearance scumbags?

But ordinary people really fall for this, especially the women around, who would love to be the one standing opposite these two handsome men.

Alright, Yang Qian and the other players understood; it turned out he was just a smooth talker, effortlessly spouting sweet words, and they had truly lost.

But just as they thought this, a high-end female customer with a charming appearance and figure walked over to Ji Yu and said, “Doctor Ji? You’re back? What a coincidence! Are you free for dinner tonight?”

His expression immediately soured: “I’m not free.”

“Don’t say that~~” the woman pouted, “I can wait for you if you have something to do; after all, you need to eat dinner.”

Doctor Ji replied, “If my appetite is good, why should I watch you eat half a bowl less?”

The woman was momentarily at a loss for words, embarrassed in front of everyone, and with a huff, she turned and quickly left the hospital.

Several players felt their scalps tingle; this wasn’t a central air conditioner (player), but rather someone who flirts with men?

The doctor couldn’t help but cover his chest, feeling somewhat fortunate that he usually looked handsome enough not to be the most eye-catching in this round.

He then heard a new customer nearby ask someone, “Is he really that lacking in grace?”

The surrounding people replied, “Doctor Ji doesn’t like others being too familiar. As long as you maintain a distance to appreciate the handsome guy, it’s generally safe. Although there are occasionally those who don’t believe in evil and go up to test their luck, only to return humiliated, these occasional antics are still hard to resist.”

There’s no saving this world!

Ji Yu returned under the watchful eyes of the crowd, entering ‘his’ office, closing the door, and pulling down the blinds, finally dropping the facade.

His elite face grew increasingly foolish: “Did you hear? He called me a beauty and said I amazed him at first sight.”

“Does he already like me? I’ve always said that no matter how I look, I can make his heart race and his limbs go weak.”

“Hey, do you think we should choose roses or lilies for our wedding flowers? Alas, it’s a pity that reality can’t offer anything good. Otherwise, we could hold a ceremony in my territory’s fairyland, and I’d have the White Dragon and Phoenix come dance in celebration.”

“It’s a pity we both don’t really like kids, but to enhance the family atmosphere, we could raise a couple of pets, just like that one and that other one.”

“If we raise two, it’s best if they’re twins from the same litter; I’ve even thought of names—”

The game finally couldn’t take it anymore: “You just met him, and you’re already daydreaming? Don’t drag me into your delusions.”

“Don’t you know what kind of person he is when he opens his mouth? How many people has he said such things to? Do you want me to remind you that the last person who believed in him looked at least seventy or eighty years old? If it weren’t for this instance being special, I would have particularly examined the nature of the monsters, and I guarantee the entire hospital is already that scammer’s harem. Damn, I didn’t want to meddle in your foolishness; I was enjoying the gossip, but just two sentences have you lost in thought, even planning names for his kids.”

“Is there water in your head? Should I knock it open to see? No wonder the grass on your head is so lush; it turns out there’s a sufficient water source.”

Zhong Liyu didn’t hear a word of this. If he had been dissatisfied with Lu Qingjia’s previous actions in supporting Mrs. Lan, he had completely forgotten it all now.

He said happily, “You’re just jealous. Can’t you tell the difference between flattery and genuine feelings? I have a feeling that when I see Jiajia in my true form next time, he definitely won’t run away.”

The game said, “Don’t mess around; don’t disturb his game progress. He’s the one I’m most optimistic about in this batch of players.”

Zhong Liyu was smug: “Of course, the one who tricked me around in circles won’t have any trouble handling a mere game.”

“Are you okay? What made you go from being angry about being betrayed to feeling proud? What’s wrong with your brain? You’ve been scammed out of your pants, and you’re feeling proud?”

Zhong Liyu’s face turned red: “I didn’t get scammed out of my pants; I took them off myself.”

The game spat out a mouthful of old blood: “I’ll remind you one more time; I’m here to mock your stupidity and perversion, not to eat your dog food. You keep pretending to be crazy, and do you believe I—”

“Shh, quiet down; Jiajia is clearing the level. Don’t chatter and distract me.”

In front of Zhong Liyu, a projection appeared in the air, revealing Lu Qingjia’s current movements. The game, which had been used as a sounding board when useful, was now completely shut down by this beast’s relentless interruptions.

At this moment, Lu Qingjia had arrived at the liposuction surgery area on the third floor. Although the suddenly appearing doctor made him wary, Lu Qingjia’s plans hadn’t changed.

Or rather, it was precisely because of this that he was eager to investigate first.

That doctor gave him a dangerous feeling; it was hard to imagine that the hospital’s secrets could escape his notice. If nothing unexpected happened, he was likely one of the few in the know, perhaps even one of the key NPCs.

Right now, the other party had just returned, and rather than letting him settle in and notice the hospital’s anomalies, this was indeed the best opportunity.

A person dressed in surgical scrubs pushed out several large bottles, not bothering to conceal them; it was clear at a glance that they contained freshly extracted fat.