Chapter 24: The Unfathomable Truth

Ning Yun returned home, her mind still somewhat clouded. The bed beneath her was so familiar; it was the same one she had slept in for over a decade.

"Phew," she exhaled a long breath. "I'm finally back."

She stretched, then collapsed backward with a soft thud, her body instinctively craving sleep. Ever since she had entered the survival game, even sleep had been a source of constant anxiety. Her mind urged her to seize the moment, but her body desperately wanted to lie in bed and have a peaceful, comfortable rest.

Ultimately, reason triumphed over lethargy. She picked up her phone, scanned her contacts, and finally found the right person.

"Hello? Is this Grandpa Hu? It’s Ning Yun."

The familiar voice of the elder brought an involuntary smile to her face. However, her expression quickly turned solemn.

"Yes, I’m back. I haven’t been anywhere these past few days. Um, Grandpa Hu, do you have time now? There are some things I need to discuss with you in person—things that are very, very important."

"All right, I’ll come over to your place now."

After hanging up, Ning Yun quickly changed her clothes, splashed some water on her face, and headed out to hail a cab.

Grandpa Hu had been a longtime colleague of her grandfather for decades. When she was very young, their families had been neighbors. Later, after her grandfather took her away from that place of sorrow, they had never broken contact. After her grandfather passed away, Grandpa Hu had often comforted her; he was an elder she held in high esteem. Therefore, when it came to the survival game, he was the only person she could think of.

Grandpa Hu lived in a residential compound filled with neighbors who had known each other for decades. As soon as she entered, several people greeted her.

"Yunyun is here!"

She greeted each of them in turn before finally reaching Grandpa Hu’s doorstep. The person waiting to welcome her was also someone she knew well. He looked to be in his forties, with short, neat hair and a posture as straight and resilient as a pine tree—full of vitality and spirit.

"Uncle Hu! What are you doing here?"

Ning Yun was surprised. Uncle Hu was a military officer who was rarely at home; why was he here today? Yet, she was also relieved. While Grandpa Hu was a respected scholar, he had long since retired.

It was Uncle Hu, Hu Cunji, who had insisted on joining the army when he was young, and he now held a high rank. Perhaps it was even better to tell him about the survival game.

Hu Cunji was not standing there by coincidence; he had been waiting specifically for Ning Yun. Seeing her standing there safe and sound, he let out a sigh of relief. He and Ning Yun’s father had grown up together like brothers. After her parents sacrificed their lives, leaving behind only their daughter, Hu Cunji had long regarded Ning Yun as his own. He had even tried to adopt her once, only to be given a sound thrashing by the elder Mr. Ning.

"My Yunyun still has this old bag of bones to look after her!"

Three years ago, when the elder Mr. Ning passed away, Ning Yun was the only one left in the family. Considering she was not yet an adult—only seventeen—Hu Cunji had wanted to take her in, but she had refused, choosing to stay in her parents' bridal chamber, as if it kept the family together. Hu Cunji still remembered the look of determination in the eyes of the young, fragile girl.

Seeing her safe now, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Yunyun, where have you been these past few days? You weren't answering your phone."

When the elder Mr. Hu couldn't reach her, he hadn't just called the police; he had summoned his son back to help search for her. If they hadn't heard from her today, they would have had to ask others for help. Fortunately, she was safe.

Ning Yun hadn't expected that time in reality would continue to flow normally while she was in the survival game. But she couldn't explain too much right now.

"Uncle Hu, I need to talk to Grandpa Hu about something very important. It’s about why I went missing."

The gravity on Ning Yun’s face made Hu Cunji realize that the situation was far from simple. He pushed the door open with his left hand and placed his right hand on Ning Yun’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat.

"Let’s go inside and talk. Your Grandpa Hu is waiting."

Since it was an allocated staff compound, the small courtyard was not large, and usually only Grandpa Hu and a housekeeper lived there. As soon as she stepped inside, Ning Yun was pulled into an embrace.

"Yunyun, where have you been these past few days? You wouldn't answer your calls; you scared me to death."

Ning Yun hadn't seen Grandpa Hu for a while, and seeing him now, tears welled up in her eyes. His face was covered in wrinkles, and his eyes were full of worry. His hair, usually combed meticulously, was slightly disheveled, as if he hadn't tended to it in days.

Seeing that both the old man and the young girl were on the verge of tears, Hu Cunji quickly intervened.

"Dad, it’s good enough that Yunyun is back. The child is tired; let’s sit down and talk."

He instructed the housekeeper, "Sister Zhang, pour a cup of jasmine tea. Yunyun likes that."

Sister Zhang, standing to the side, quickly wiped her eyes with her apron. "Oh, I’ve had it ready for a while!"

Having been the housekeeper for the Hu family for over a decade, she knew Ning Yun well. She was about the same age as her own daughter, and she looked at Ning Yun as she would her own child. She had been worried sick for days, unable to sleep, but now that she was back, she was relieved.

Back in the Hu household, Ning Yun felt the warmth of home returning.

"Grandpa Hu, it’s my fault for making you worry."

Hu Zhongli pulled her to sit beside him, his face full of joy, though his tone remained stern. "Hmph, you’ve grown up and your wings have hardened; you didn't even tell your grandfather before heading out."

Hu Cunji, however, suspected something was amiss. "Dad, Yunyun isn't that kind of child. She must have run into trouble, which is why she couldn't contact us."

Sister Zhang brought the tea. "Here, Yunyun, drink your tea. Grandpa Hu saved this especially for you and told me it was only to be brewed for you."

With the two of them singing her praises, Hu Zhongli couldn't keep up his act. "Look at that, your Uncle Hu and Aunt Zhang are both taking your side."

Ning Yun couldn't help but smile at the stubborn but kind-hearted old man. "Grandpa Hu, I really didn't mean to stay out of touch. I simply had no choice."

She then recounted everything—how she had accidentally entered the survival game in her sleep. At first, Hu Zhongli was skeptical, but the further she spoke, the graver his expression became. When Ning Yun mentioned that she had to be chosen to return to the real world, Aunt Zhang’s mouth hung open in shock.

"Oh, good heavens, what kind of thing is this?" She grew more confused by the second. She had never heard of any survival games. When she heard that every person on the Blue Star had to participate, her eyes widened, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Hu Zhongli had lived for over seventy years and had seen many things, but a game as bizarre as this was beyond his wildest imagination. Only the younger Hu Cunji looked truly grim.

"Yunyun, are you absolutely certain this wasn't just a dream?"