No matter how many question marks flooded the bullet comments, the questions continued. Xu Yin and Yan Shixiu focused their attention, while the others all looked dazed.
The second question was: “Is there anyone here you like so much that you want to kiss them? Anyone you dislike so much that you want to punch them?”
Bullet comments:
“Is today God of Chuuni’s day of reckoning???”
“Look at his expression, I’m dying of laughter hahahahaha”
“He looks like he just ate a pile of crap hahahahahahahaha!”
God of Chuuni answered with a dark face: “No one I like. As for the people I want to punch, all three of them!” He rudely pointed at Xu Yin from Shuangcheng and Yan Shixiu.
A green circle appeared on the system display.
Oh boy, he’s totally given up all pretense now.
Shuangcheng also said coldly: “No one I like. As for punching, this guy.” Green circle.
God of Chuuni jumped up: “What do you mean this guy?!”
A-Lian: “…No one I like, no one I want to punch.” Green circle.
Xu Yin: “I like my boyfriend. No one I want to punch.” Green circle.
Yan Shixiu: “I like Yinyin. No one I want to punch.” Green circle.
Bullet comments:
“Yin and the Flower God always give off such soft, pink vibes.”
“Feels like the God of Chuuni and Shuangcheng are about to throw hands already?”
“Forget the dungeon run, I want to see Shuangcheng beat up the God of Chuuni!”
“I second that!!”
The third question was: “Please describe your favorite idol.”
This question was simple. Of course, Shuangcheng and the God of Chuuni weren’t in the mood to answer. Both of them said “no idol,” while A-Lian honestly described a foreign idol.
When it was Xu Yin’s turn, he glanced at Yan Shixiu, and his smile deepened.
Bullet comments: “Is Yin going to say his idol is the Flower God?! Is he, is he?!”
“Exactly, a romantic partner can be your idol too!”
“Bring on more dog food!!”
But unexpectedly, when Xu Yin opened his mouth, he said: “…My idol is Yan Shixiu.”
Yan Shixiu smiled with pressed lips.
Bullet comments collectively froze. No one expected Xu Yin to actually give such a sincere answer about a celebrity.
Next, Xu Yin continued gently, his voice soft: “He’s very handsome, very good-looking, and also very talented. His personality isn’t as cold as he appears — in fact, he’s a bit cute, and also very gentle…”
Xu Yin vaguely remembered how his hubby originally tried to hide his identity when approaching him.
At the time, Xu Yin had suspected that his hubby just wanted to hear more about “why he liked Yan Shixiu.”
Xu Yin had wanted to fulfill that wish, but didn’t expect to discover the secret so soon… Since that’s how it turned out, he figured he might as well use this opportunity to make up for it.
So Xu Yin beamed and spoke in great detail. The other three, each lost in their own thoughts at first, eventually looked up in confusion — because Xu Yin was still not done talking.
The bullet comments were also confused.
“Yin, is it really okay to praise another man this much in front of your boyfriend?!”
“Won’t the Flower God get jealous?”
“Uhh, Yin likes Yan Shixiu this much? Who would’ve thought…”
“Will the Flower God get mad…”
But in reality, the man watching Xu Yin had a gaze that burned bright. The more Xu Yin spoke, the more radiant he became.
The bullet comment crowd couldn’t understand what kind of reaction this was supposed to be — until Xu Yin finished, and the living room exploded in virtual flower petals…
Bullet comments: “…………”
God of chuunibyou & Shuangcheng & A-Lian: “…………”
This man — he’s throwing flowers again, throwing flowers again!!
His boyfriend is clearly praising another man, but he’s actually throwing flowers in joy!!
Flower God, are you okay in the head?!
No one knew whether the man’s head was okay. All they saw was that the man even leaned over and kissed the corner of Xu Yin’s lips in front of everyone.
Bullet comments: Ay yo what the hell!
God of Chuuni’s mouth twitched: “Flower God, are you okay?”
Yan Shixiu glanced at him without speaking, and the flowers in the living room kept fluttering down, over and over again.
God of chuuni: “…………”
Xu Yin patted the back of Yan Shixiu’s hand and calmly said, “Alright, that’s enough, stop.”
Only then did the man let out a low chuckle and reply, “Mm.”
The flower petals stopped.
Everyone: “…………”
Oh my god, they couldn’t understand this couple at all!!
No matter what, only Xu Yin and Yan Shixiu answered incorrectly in this round, so only the two of them had to go.
Two beams of light shone down on them, and the doors to the study and the bathroom lit up at the same time.
In these two rooms, they were likely to encounter Yangyang, who was also probably a ghost — and might attack people.
It depended on which one of them, Xu Yin or Yan Shixiu, went to the study or the bathroom.
This should have been a rather tense moment.
…But everyone knew full well how strong these two were — both of them were the type to brute-force their way through everything!
God, no one knew which one of them Yangyang would run into next, but either way, it’d probably end badly for him!
May heaven protect Yangyang!
Xu Yin casually decided, “I’ll go to the bathroom, you go to the study then.”
Yan Shixiu followed Xu Yin’s lead completely: “Alright.”
The two of them each walked toward their respective rooms.
Once they stepped past the barrier of the living room, Xu Yin noticed that the bullet comments had disappeared from his view — this was a standard rule in this kind of game instance: the audience couldn’t see their exploration process. It was also to prevent observant viewers from spotting clues the players might overlook, turning a five-player game into a group effort by thousands of netizens.
The bathroom was at the far end of the hallway on the right. Xu Yin stopped at the door, turned his head, and exchanged a look with Yan Shixiu standing by the study door.
Then both turned back — one twisted a doorknob and pushed open the door, the other slowly slid open a sliding door.
The bathroom was brightly lit.
The space was small. Right by the door was a toilet, and next to it a glass door leading to the shower. Everything was in full view.
Curled up under the showerhead was a pitch-black ghost.
The ghost was trembling all over.
The minimum two-minute exploration time had passed. The atmosphere in the living room was stiff — no one spoke.
Xu Yin was the first to return.
He looked relaxed. After coming out, he even paused in front of the wall directly facing the entryway.
The wall had several embedded niches of varying heights — some held decorations, some held bottles of alcohol, and one held a photo frame.
Xu Yin looked it over, then took the photo out of the frame.
God of Chuuni couldn’t help but speak: “What happened, you didn’t run into Yangyang?”
“No,” Xu Yin replied, still examining the front and back of the photo as he stood there. When the study door opened, he smiled and returned to the living room with Yan Shixiu, saying, “But I did run into Mom.”
The others were stunned: “The lady of the house?”
“Yeah. She was in ghost form, but if you looked closely, you could make out her features — kind of like a chocolate person.”
Xu Yin placed the photo of the family of three he’d taken from the frame onto the center of the table, pointing to the woman in it with a gentle smile.
Chocolate person…
Everyone clearly had a hard time processing Xu Yin’s description.
Shuangcheng asked doubtfully, “Shouldn’t the mother have been eaten too? Does everyone who gets eaten turn into a ghost?”
A-Lian hesitated, “But the people and pets that were eaten earlier in the neighborhood didn’t turn into ghosts, they just disappeared.”
God of Chuuni snapped impatiently, “Then doesn’t that mean Yangyang can decide who turns into a ghost and who doesn’t? These clues are pointless! We just need to find Yangyang!”
The others looked at him. Even A-Lian seemed like she wanted to say something but held back.
Precisely because there were so many clues, everyone still had huge doubts about the conclusions they had drawn earlier.
Was it really as simple as just finding Yangyang?
If so, wouldn’t this game instance be way too easy?
What were all these clues trying to point them toward?
—There’s no way a simple instance would include so many meaningless clues!
The God of Chuuni felt their stares and pressed his lips together, growling: “What? What are you all looking at?”
“Are you feeling irritable?” Xu Yin suddenly asked.
The God of Chuuni froze.
Xu Yin’s thoughtful gaze swept over him.
After Xu Yin spoke, everyone else also began to look doubtful.
The God of Chuuni stiffly said, “I’m just keeping track of time! This is a competition. Only the first place gets the prize money — don’t forget that!”
A-Lian said softly, “Bro, we all know that…”
She wanted to say more, but after thinking about it, she kept her mouth shut.
…In her mind, she was still replaying the things Shuangcheng had said earlier when describing his “ex”…
Hmm…
Under their suspicious stares, the God of Chuuni opened his mouth, then finally snapped in frustration, “Alright, alright! Stop wasting time, say whatever you want — hurry up!”
Yan Shixiu gave him one last glance, then placed his findings from the study on the table.
He hadn’t encountered any ghosts — just found this book.
The title was The Mysteries of Biology. On the first page, there was a flamboyantly written signature: Zhang Niannian.
It looked like a woman’s name. Could it be the mother’s book?
—As it turned out, that was likely the case.
Yan Shixiu flipped it open with one large hand and went straight to a page in the middle. Inside was a photo, along with a medical report.
The photo was different from the family portrait Xu Yin found in the wall niche — this one only had the mother and Yangyang.
At first, no one noticed anything unusual, until they saw Yan Shixiu flip the photo over—
On the back, written in black ink, were two lines of text.
Judging from the ink saturation, the two lines had likely been written at different times.
The first line read: “20xx year x month x day.”
This was clearly the date the photo was taken, and comparing it to the dates in the mother’s diary earlier, this photo was taken two years ago…
So the mother had already met Yangyang two years ago, but only adopted him into the family two years later?
Everyone looked puzzled.
Then they saw the second line — and their confusion deepened.
It said: “Who are you? Where are you? I will find you.”
Shuangcheng and the others frowned, falling into deep thought.
Yan Shixiu said, “Look at the medical record.”
Everyone glanced at it — and were stunned again.
The date printed on the record was also from two years ago, but a few days after the photo.
The diagnosis stated that the mother had been in a car accident, resulting in bone fractures and memory loss…
In other words, on a certain day two years ago, the mother took a photo with Yangyang. Three days later, she was in a car accident and lost her memory.
That second line on the back of the photo was probably written after she found the photo and didn’t recognize the child in it.
Wondering who the boy was, she started searching for him.
That likely explained why it took another two years before she and her husband finally adopted Yangyang.
Bullet comments:
“Ah, wait, this instance actually has this many layers of clues…?”
“Is there something off with the mother too?”
“So why did the mother take a photo with Yangyang two years ago?”
“What exactly happened just now between yin and the mother in the bathroom?”
The clues now focused on the mother, and everyone turned to Xu Yin.
Shuangcheng voiced what everyone — including the bullet comments — was thinking: “Yin, you encountered the mother just now, and nothing happened?”
Xu Yin rested his chin on his hand, tapping the table lightly with two fingers. Then he suddenly looked up and asked A-Lian, “When you guys ran into the father earlier, did he attack you?”
Before the God of Chuuni could speak, A-Lian quickly answered, “Yes! When I opened the wardrobe, he lunged straight at me — super aggressive!”
Xu Yin narrowed his eyes.
He said, “The ghost I encountered — the mother — wasn’t even the slightest bit aggressive.”
Everyone was stunned.
“She was just curled up under the showerhead, and looked terrified when she saw me. I tried communicating with her, but she couldn’t speak, so I didn’t get any more info.”
Before anyone could respond, Xu Yin turned his gaze to the open page of the biology book.
That page happened to be about cell division.
Xu Yin and Yan Shixiu exchanged a look. Xu Yin pointed to the section and said, “The method by which ghosts are formed — the instance has made it pretty clear. It’s through division. The father ghost was probably formed after Yangyang ate the father and split. The mother ghost likely formed after the father ate the mother.”
“The only problem is, if Yangyang ate all those people and animals in the neighborhood, why did he only begin to split after eating the father?”
“And also — if both parents are ghosts, why is there such a huge difference in their aggression levels?”
These questions would likely require further clues to clarify.
For now, their goal was still to find Yangyang — and there was only one unexplored room left.
Xu Yin said steadily, “Then let’s start the third round of Truth or Dare.”
As soon as that was mentioned, the God of Chuuni’s face darkened again.
Bullet comments:
“Hahahaha the God of Chuuni better brace for impact!”
“My favorite part is back again!”
“Come on, come on, come on, can’t wait to munch on some drama, hehe!”
“Now starting the third round of Truth or Dare.”
The first question is: “What was the longest relationship you’ve ever been in?”
Another romance question.
The God of Chuunibyou wore a disgusted expression and muttered gloomily: “Five years.” Green circle.
Shuangcheng lowered his gaze: “Five years.” Green circle.
The bullet comments kept flaming the God of Chuunibyou.
A-Lian cautiously said: “Two… two months and three days, I think…”
Bullet comments:
“So cautious?”
“Clearly doesn’t want to end up in the kitchen.”
“Way more likable now compared to that fake front at the start.”
Now it was Xu Yin and Yan Shixiu’s turn.
Xu Yin rubbed his chin and answered confidently this time: “Five hundred and thirty-two years.” Green circle.
The other three: “…………”
Bullet comments: “…………”
“Huh???”
“Green circle??”
“That passed??”
“How can someone say something like that with such calm— is it true or is yin just insanely composed? I can’t tell anymore…”
“How is that even calculated, I’m so curious?”
“Don’t tell me the Flower God’s answer will be the same…”
Yan Shixiu: “Five hundred and thirty-two years.” Green circle.
Everyone again: “…………”
Wait, what is with you two!!
How are you able to say that answer with such straight faces!!
Xu Yin and Yan Shixiu exchanged a glance and smiled.
Whether the number was right or not, their composure was unquestionable.
Of course, no matter how you calculate it, it was still over five hundred years…
Xu Yin sighed inwardly and took the initiative to hold Yan Shixiu’s hand, his heart warming.
The man tightly returned the grip.
Everyone else was still in a daze, and now they were being force-fed this PDA. Stunned and muddled, yet the game had to go on.
The second question: “What’s the most precious gift you’ve ever given your lover?”
Xu Yin: “I’ll go first.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a flurry of flower petals rained down in the living room.
Everyone: “???”
Huh?
A green circle lit up above Xu Yin’s head, and he grinned.
Yan Shixiu said calmly: “I’ll go second.”
As he spoke, another flurry of petals fell in the living room.
Xu Yin chuckled softly.
Everyone: “…………”
Are you two flower-sprinkling husbands or what???
The God of Chuunibyou sneered: “That’s it? That’s your most precious gift?”
Shuangcheng said blankly: “Everyone knows the Flower God gave yin four aircraft carriers in a single day before. It’s just that for them, the most expensive doesn’t equal the most precious.”
Everyone on the bullet comments was suddenly enlightened — that does make sense!
Four million not expensive enough? But to them, this little pink flower is what’s truly precious!
Combined with the nickname “Flower God” and his habit of throwing flowers at every turn, it’s probably some sweet little secret between the two of them!
…Thinking of it that way, somehow the PDA feels even sweeter.
Faced with Shuangcheng’s explanation, Xu Yin simply smiled without speaking, while the man beside him wore an expression of pure happiness. The answer was obvious — it was exactly as Shuangcheng’s had said.
Bullet comments immediately started mocking the God of Chuunibyou:
“Why are you always staring at others? What’s your most precious gift?”
The God of Chuunibyou’s gaze shifted. Clearly, he saw that comment — and right after, a red X lit up above his head.
“…” The God of Chuunibyou jumped up in rage, “I haven’t even said anything yet!!!”
Bullet comments:
“Your heart has already answered.”
“Your heart is already panicking.”
“Your heart is so honest.”
“Judging by how flustered you are, you probably didn’t give anything good, huh?”
The God of Chuunibyou snapped, “Who said I haven’t! I gave a luxury watch!”
Red X lit up. He froze.
Shuangcheng said coldly: “It was your mom’s, worn for ten years, she got bored of it and was about to throw it away.”
Xu Yin: Wow.
Yan Shixiu glanced at the God of Chuunibyou.
A-Lian’s expression subtly changed.
The God of Chuunibyou gritted his teeth: “I-I also gave a diamond ring!”
Red X.
Shuangcheng coldly said: “A cheap silver ring with a tiny diamond chip from Taobao for just over a hundred yuan.”
Xu Yin: Wow.
Yan Shixiu gave the God of Chuunibyou another glance.
A-Lian’s expression had grown… complicated.
The God of Chuunibyou said through clenched teeth: “I even took you to a fancy western restaurant…”
Red X.
