Chapter Twenty-Five: A Fist Strikes Cotton

The host’s strategy for Gu Xingze was something 007 could barely make sense of, but as for Lin Qisheng—he truly couldn’t understand it at all. From beginning to end, 007 hadn’t noticed any so-called “strategy” being used on Lin Qisheng. Her attitude toward him was about the same as toward any NPC—no, to be precise, there was a difference: she was far friendlier and gentler with the little NPC followers in the camp than she was with Lin Qisheng.

Thinking back, 007 realized that during those days, what Xu Nuo did to Lin Qisheng was basically: slap in the face, slap in the face, ignore, and slap again.

No different from how she treated cannon fodder.

Xu Nuo said, “Little Seven, do you understand now?”

007 replied, “...I think so, maybe.” Why was it so hard to keep up with this host’s logic?

The timing Xu Nuo spoke of soon arrived.

It was a clear day when their secluded mountain camp welcomed its first visitor.

Heaven only knew how Lin Qisheng had managed to find his way there. His appearance was deceptive; as long as he didn’t reveal his true nature, he resembled a cheerful and sociable college student, his smile radiating the youthful vitality befitting his age, his words and gestures all polite and proper.

After a period of carefree days, the little brothers on patrol had let down their guard quite a bit. For a moment, they didn’t realize that in the apocalypse, such a refined young man could mean something extraordinary.

By the time Lin Qisheng was let in, the little brothers were already a step behind.

“Brothers, what are you doing? I really am just passing by and hoping for a bit of water,” Lin Qisheng said, raising his hands innocently.

“Sorry, we need to check your belongings.”

...

Xu Nuo was in the kitchen roasting tea leaves when she heard two of the boys rushing in, footsteps quick and voices raised.

“Miss Xu! There's a man at the foot of the mountain. Says he’s just passing through and wants to enter our camp!”

Xu Nuo asked, “What does he look like?”

The boys described him in detail.

Xu Nuo gave her instructions: “Alright, I know. Settle him at the halfway house; don’t let him come up here.”

The little brothers left the kitchen, puzzled. Why did it seem like Miss Xu wasn’t surprised at all, as if she’d known this person was coming?

—

Lin Qisheng found himself in a small house halfway up the mountain, a patrol post for the boys during the night. Usually, it was a resting spot for those exhausted from farming or returning from hunting.

The room was well-equipped, with enough supplies to last one person a week. There was even the luxury of a big bundle of candles, several strings of cured meat hanging by the door, and ingredients stocked in the simple kitchen.

Lin Qisheng had stayed in large, secure bases before; their accommodations were considered luxurious, but even they couldn’t compare to this temporary little cabin. It was hard to imagine how powerful and well-stocked the camp’s owner must be.

Xu Nuo was even more mysterious and formidable than he’d imagined. Lin Qisheng’s lips curled into a playful smile.

An invincible life was long and dull. Xu Nuo’s appearance was like a lightning bolt splitting the storm, striking fiercely at his heart. He needed someone as strong and enigmatic as Xu Nuo to add some flavor to his otherwise tedious existence.

Soon, Lin Qisheng was certain she would learn of his arrival and would be eager to come see him—not because he vainly thought she’d be drawn by his looks and charm, but because his instincts told him so. Xu Nuo held him as special; she wouldn’t simply ignore him.

All he had to do was wait here, and Xu Nuo would surely come to see him soon.

So Lin Qisheng waited with confidence, right up until the sun set behind the mountains and the camp lit candles for the night watch. There was still no sign of Xu Nuo.

“Brother Lin, it’s getting late—you should rest early. Even though we’ve cleared the area, there are still dangerous beasts in the woods. Whatever you do, don’t go outside,” one of the boys said.

Lin Qisheng nodded politely, “Understood.” He closed the door, then turned and slipped out the window.

...

Xu Nuo was enjoying a facial mask while watching a drama—one that 007 played for her in her mind as compensation for denying her internet access.

Life had been peaceful lately, so nearly every evening Xu Nuo was either watching dramas or chatting with the viewers in her livestream room.

“Let’s bet on how many days it’ll take Queen Xu to win over Gu Xingze.”

“I say two days.”

“I say tomorrow! Now that Lin Qisheng has shown up, the plot will heat up and she’ll max out the affection points in no time.”

“Queen Xu, tell us straight—how much longer do you think it’ll take to win over Gu Xingze?”

“Hurry it up! All this dilly-dallying, it’s getting boring.”

“Heh, if it’s so boring, why haven’t you left the stream? You’re just hanging around to torture yourself?”

“Wasn’t it you who insisted this wasn’t an ordinary dating game and that the host is a pro? Yet now all we see every day is her showing off how in love she is with the target. It’s sickeningly sweet—where’s the excitement?”

“If you like romance so much, why are you complaining about it being too sappy?”

Two camps, each with their own interpretation of the game, quickly fell into another argument. One side wanted to see the female lead in action, caring nothing for the romance; the other insisted it was just a trite, boring love story.

Clearly, neither group actually cared for romance, and both just wanted to prove the other wrong. Yet none of them left the stream; they all stayed, and whenever one side spoke up, the other immediately jumped in to contradict them, blowing it up into a full-blown spat in the chat.

Truly a baffling group of people.

007 had long since learned to ignore the scrolling comments and preserve his own good mood.

“Knock, knock—”

Suddenly, there was a sound... the sound of someone knocking on the window.

Xu Nuo calmly looked over at the figure on her windowsill. Lin Qisheng had easily opened the window and leapt in with a dashing flourish. “Hey, good evening.”

“Long time no see,” he said with a cheerful grin, walking closer. “Miss, you’re as beautiful and lovely as ever.”

Even with a face mask on, Xu Nuo’s posture was as relaxed as ever.

“It’s like you already knew I’d be coming,” Lin Qisheng said, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Aren’t you going to ask how I found this place?”

Xu Nuo replied, “Alright, how did you find this place?”

“Not telling you,” Lin Qisheng said, surveying the room with a touch of smugness. “Is Brother Gu not here?”

He already knew the answer, of course—there were only traces of Xu Nuo in this room; clearly it was a single-occupancy space. But Lin Qisheng just wanted to hear her say it herself.

Xu Nuo said, “You could always go to his room and check.”

Lin Qisheng replied, “Heh, but then Brother Gu would know I came to see you tonight. Won’t he be angry?”

Xu Nuo’s response was indifferent: “As you wish.”

Seeing Xu Nuo’s attitude, Lin Qisheng felt as though he’d punched a pile of cotton—utterly frustrated. She was simply infuriating.