There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

But at the time, she hadn't taken it too seriously.

It wasn't until she was walking back to the dormitory at night—maybe because of the ghost stories discussed during self-study—she kept looking around and took a few extra glances at the amulet on Xu Xi's body, and finally couldn't resist opening the Player's Handbook.

She had initially opened it just to look for some comfort.

To her shock, she discovered that the stack of basic purification talismans she had prepared could actually be taken out!

Shao Dandan immediately returned to her dormitory, hid in the bathroom, and tentatively took the items out...

After that, she had a sleepless night.

The next morning, with dark circles under her eyes, Shao Dandan didn't go to the study room but lay in bed and entered Script Space, searching the forum for topics on world anomalies all day long.

And that night, she had another sleepless night.

The following day.

After contemplating her life for two days, Shao Dandan lay on her bed in peace, sprawled out.

"Dandan, aren't you going to the study room today?"

Xu Xi asked, expressionless, standing beside her.

The dormitory had emptied out early in the morning, influenced by the study atmosphere of the past few days, the other four people in the dorm had also rushed to the study room early to claim a seat, hoping to cram at the last minute.

Xu Xi didn't plan on going to the study room, as she found the reading room quieter and emptier, so she was packing her stuff leisurely.

Finally, she looked towards the girl lying on the bed, daydreaming.

Shao Dandan came back to her senses, covered her swollen eyes and said, "I'm too sleepy, I've decided to sleep it off today."

"The exams are the day after tomorrow," Xu Xi said.

"Ah, still two days left," Shao Dandan slumped.

"You've made great progress these past few days. If you push a little harder, you could get into a first-tier university within the province," Xu Xi continued, her voice calm yet forceful.

"Really?!" Shao Dandan's eyes brightened.

But her enthusiasm was quickly dampened by her sleepiness, and she covered herself with the blanket and turned over, "Then I'll work hard tomorrow."

On hearing this, Xu Xi looked slightly exasperated.

She packed her notebooks and books into a canvas bag and said, "Then you rest first, and also, do you want me to bring you lunch at noon?"

"Thanks, bring me dinner," Shao Dandan said.

Xu Xi acknowledged and prepared to leave the dormitory.

But just as she opened the door, Shao Dandan, who was supposedly asleep, suddenly sat up and called out to her, "Hey, wait! Xi, which Taoist temple did you get that necklace from? I'll go get one tomorrow too, for good luck on the exams!"

Xu Xi looked at her expressionlessly.

The girl's eyes were almost panda-like with dark circles, but her pupils were exceptionally bright and spirited, betraying a suspicious surge of interest.

In any case, it seemed to be for another purpose.

Xu Xi replied calmly, "My brother went on a business trip to Jiangzhou last time. He even visited Chi Song Taoist Temple there to get an amulet for me based on my birth chart. But the activation took some time, and it was only mailed to me the day before yesterday."

On hearing this, Shao Dandan was startled.

Jiangzhou? That far?

And the activation took that long to complete?

No wonder she felt that thing was out of the ordinary.

By the way, why has the style of this world suddenly shifted toward a strange supernatural path?

Shao Dandan pondered her life for two seconds, then lay back down, covering herself with the blanket again and turned over to sleep, "Never mind, forget I said anything, goodnight."

Xu Xi responded and closed the door behind her as she left for the reading room.

On the way, she touched the hollow-out pattern and the dangling bead of her necklace, thinking about Shao Dandan's reaction just now, deep in thought.

...

...

After lying down for an entire day, there were only two days left before the college entrance examinations.

The next day, after being encouraged by Xu Xi's expressionless face, Shao Dandan picked up her books to cram, and then faced the exams on June 7th.

On the day of the college entrance exam, Xu Shuo would surely come over.

But he couldn't enter the examination venue; he only met Xu Xi outside the school, and then he went back to his studio.

The school gate, which was previously deserted, was now jam-packed with a dense crowd and vehicles, blocking traffic so much that not even buses could enter!

Xu Xi had been staying in the campus dormitory before the exams, and she was certainly not going to leave during the examination period, so Xu Shuo's visit this time was truly just a formality to have a quick look.

All the other students had their parents come to encourage them, so of course, their own child must have someone there too!

And after the encouragement, it was back to whatever they had been doing.

He always had confidence in Xu Xi's performance.

After the college entrance exam ended, Xu Shuo drove to Normal University Affiliated High School again, this time to pick someone up and take them back.

The final exam was over, and the next time Xu Shuo returned to the school would be for the graduation ceremony. Therefore, this time he still had to go up to the dormitory to help pack up the luggage.

Xu Xi's luggage wasn't much, at least there wasn't a single superfluous item.

Her clothes were also few, usually wearing the sports uniform at school, or the flag-raising ceremony attire, or the class uniform—casual clothes were pitifully infrequent.

Other items? Just books, and more books.

Like a bookworm.

Thinking this way about his sister seemed a bit... Xu Shuo organized the luggage and suppressed the commentary in his heart.

The dormitory had six beds in total. At that moment, three other girls, including a parent, were also packing up.

Xu Xi's belongings were quickly packed up, and before leaving, she said goodbye to her roommates. After this farewell, apart from next month's graduation ceremony, there probably wouldn't be many chances to meet again.

"Xi, there's so much time over the summer vacation. I'll come to hang out with you!" Shao Dandan called out to her.

"Okay," Xu Xi responded.

Most of the students at Normal University Affiliated High School were locals from Yangcheng City, with the only difference being how far or close they were. Only a few students came from outside the city.

Shao Dandan lived in Yangcheng, in Huangmu District, not too far from the city center.

She had heard that Xu Xi's brother had opened a Scripted Murder Game store. It would be good to visit and see how it differed from the games at Script Space.

Why not just go play tomorrow!

After the college entrance examination, it's time to let loose!

...

"You're on good terms with your roommate?"

Stuck in the city's expressway traffic, which was rarely free-flowing even outside of peak hours, Xu Shuo waited for it to clear up while casually asking Xu Xi sitting beside him.

"Mm, I spent most of the month before the college entrance exam tutoring her, which made us closer. Of course, I didn't neglect my own review. In fact, explaining problems to others is a good way to solidify my own knowledge," Xu Xi affirmed.

After finishing the first half of the statement, she immediately added the second half without pause.

Xu Shuo nodded without a word. As soon as the traffic ahead started moving again, he immediately drove on.

It was quiet in the car for a while.

Until Xu Xi couldn't resist asking, "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, it's good that you choose what you like. By the way, what major are you planning to apply for in college?" Xu Shuo calmly shifted the topic.

"Computer Science and Technology," Xu Xi said.

"...?"

Xu Shuo gave a start, using the pause at a traffic light to look over at the girl in the passenger seat.

But her expressionless face revealed nothing.

He asked, as if offhandedly, "Not interested in the humanities? And with your capabilities, you could continue with postgraduate studies. When you graduate, you could become a teacher, or a translator; those are fairly relaxed jobs with decent salaries."

"Not interested."

"..."

"I'm interested in computers."

"..." Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

Silence, silence as the morning in Kang Qiao.

This odd atmosphere continued until Xu Shuo had dropped Xu Xi off at home.

He had gone to pick her up in the morning because he still had work in the afternoon. Xu Shuo had never taken a full day off.

After moving the luggage from the car, Xu Xi followed him upstairs. After a little while, she asked, "Are you angry?"

"No, it's good that you choose what you like," Xu Shuo said as he placed the luggage in the living room.

No, he was obviously angry.

Xu Xi emotionlessly watched him put down the luggage, then turned and walked towards the entrance, saying to her, "I'm heading to the studio now. I'll be back for dinner, and there's lunch in the pressure cooker; remember to eat."

Click, and then the door closed.

Xu Xi paused momentarily, then walked towards the balcony.

Before long, she saw the young man walking out of the stairwell, heading to the silver-gray sedan parked by the curb, getting in, and driving away.

It wasn't until the car had completely vanished from sight that Xu Xi retracted her gaze and turned to walk back into the living room.

Ding-dong~

Her phone received several messages.

She opened the social media app and saw messages from Shao Dandan. She also saw messages from Yang Lili, who had accurately guessed she was done with exams and home now, inviting her to go out and have fun tomorrow.

What a coincidence, both of them wanted to play the Scripted Murder Game.

...