Lost in the Otherworld

Luo Xiaodan shook off Wan Sisi’s hand and marched up to Niu Xuan. “Niu Xuan! Gao Yang! If you want to drink, go somewhere else! It’s Wan Sisi’s birthday today, not your playground, so stop causing trouble!”

“Oh, alright.” Gao Yang was ready to leave, but as he was about to stand up, Niu Xuan pinned him down. “You’re not going anywhere! One more round!”

Luo Xiaodan trembled with anger beside them. “Niu Xuan, can’t you just behave...”

“Shut up, you wretched hag! I’m drinking here today, and there’s nothing you can do about it!” Niu Xuan, intoxicated, finally revealed his true nature.

“You... you...”

Gao Yang rose, his expression cold. “I’m done. Find someone else to play with.”

“You dare walk away? Try it!” Niu Xuan suddenly kicked the table, sending it flying with a crash. The room fell into stunned silence, the tension thick in the air, broken only by the faint music still playing in the background.

Luo Xiaodan, having never faced such hostility before, burst into tears and ran out, covering her face. A few girls, already eager to escape, quickly followed her out. Wan Sisi glanced at Gao Yang, hesitant to speak, before chasing after them.

The boys didn’t expect things to escalate this far and half-heartedly tried to intervene—they knew Niu Xuan too well. Once he was in this state, no one could reason with him.

As expected, Niu Xuan ignored them, and the boys exchanged awkward looks, using the excuse of the restroom to slip away together.

Soon, only three people remained in the room.

Gao Yang and Niu Xuan stood facing each other amidst the broken glass and spilled drinks, while Qing Ling lounged on a corner sofa, watching the scene unfold with crossed legs and folded arms.

Niu Xuan gritted his teeth. “Gao Yang! You’re playing the hero, huh? Trying to make me look like the villain!”

“I’m not playing anything. I just don’t want to be part of this anymore,” Gao Yang replied coldly, his patience waning. If a fight broke out, he wasn’t worried. His stats had improved considerably—still far from enough to face beasts, but more than sufficient to handle a mere “man.”

“No other motives? I think you’ve got plenty!” Niu Xuan stepped forward, grabbing Gao Yang’s collar, spitting in his face. “Gao Yang, I get it, Li Weiwei’s dead, and you want to move on, but aren’t you already with Qing Ling? What’s your game, showing up at Wan Sisi’s birthday?”

“She invited me.”

“And you couldn’t refuse?” Niu Xuan seethed. “I see what’s going on—you’re trying to hook up with Wan Sisi too, aren’t you? Can you handle that, playboy?”

“I’ve got nothing on you in that department,” Gao Yang retorted sarcastically.

“You’re dead!” Niu Xuan didn’t waste any more words. He shoved Gao Yang hard and swung a kick, expecting to send him flying into the wall.

But Gao Yang sidestepped easily, sweeping a leg out in response. Niu Xuan lost his balance and landed in a painful split in front of him.

“Aaagh...” Niu Xuan cried out in pain, his ligaments clearly strained.

Gao Yang offered a hand. “No need to be so formal, Xuan Shao. It’s not even New Year’s yet, but you’re already bowing. Let me help you up.”

“Help your damn...” Niu Xuan cursed through clenched teeth, standing up with a pained wobble, clutching his crotch. He hadn’t even regained his balance when he grabbed a microphone and hurled it at Gao Yang.

A girl wearing a white rabbit mask—one of the servers—appeared in the room without anyone noticing. With a casual flick of her wrist, she caught the microphone mid-air, her voice polite. “Sir, please calm down. If there’s something you need to say, we can talk it out.”

“Get lost! This isn’t your business!” Niu Xuan roared.

“Sir, I’m afraid your actions are in violation of our establishment’s rules. If you continue to endanger this gentleman, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Niu Xuan limped towards the girl, waving his fist. “Get out of my face...”

*Bang—*

It happened in an instant. Gao Yang barely saw what transpired before Niu Xuan was sent flying across the room, crashing into the wall, then tumbling onto the sofa before rolling to the floor, unconscious amidst the shattered glass and spilled liquor.

Gao Yang immediately tensed up, while Qing Ling jumped to her feet from the sofa.

The waitress turned slightly, glancing at the wary Gao Yang and Qing Ling. Though the rabbit mask on her face was just that—a mask—it seemed alive, as if smiling at them. “Hello, Twelve Zodiac, White Rabbit.”

“Twelve Zodiac?”

“You’ve met Electric Mouse, haven’t you?” the girl, White Rabbit, stepped forward. “The idiot obsessed with arcade games and... let’s say, a certain ‘interest’ in the female form.”

“Wu Dahai! You’re with the organization?” Gao Yang’s heart soared—he’d finally found the group. So, this was the ‘Twelve Zodiac.’

“Yes,” White Rabbit glanced at Qing Ling. “You’ve got a weapon, don’t you?”

Qing Ling said nothing but didn’t deny it.

“Test No. 2.”

White Rabbit looked down at Niu Xuan. “Eliminate this Lost One.”