What’s happening?!

Bai Youwei gripped the grass beneath her tightly, her fingers sinking into the soil, the sensation cool and damp, incredibly real.

This wasn’t an illusion, much less a dream!

They had truly arrived at this unknown place in an instant from the highway!

That voice just now mentioned a game. Could this be… the reason people were turning into dolls? If they couldn’t leave this place, would they become dolls?

Trembling crept up bit by bit. Her dormant heart began pounding. Bai Youwei supported her numb legs, cold sweat seeping from her skin.

Shen Mo stood not far in front of her, alertly surveying the surroundings, his expression equally grim.

Warm sunlight illuminated the earth. White clouds stretched leisurely. A breeze brushed past, carrying a faint grass fragrance. In this weather perfect for outings and picnics, no one dared act rashly.

“Where is this…” The long-haired woman raised her terrified face. “Weren’t we just in the car? Honey, I want to go home. Let’s go home and not go anywhere…”

The woman’s husband pushed his wife away, his face full of resentment: “Where’s that bald guy? Didn’t he say it was fine?!”

“Yeah, he said we could go, that’s why we followed!”

“Dammit! I knew he wasn’t a good person! Otherwise why would he dare to go first? I think he deliberately lured us over!”

“That bastard…”

Everyone cursed one after another, as if forgetting their gratitude toward the bald man moments ago.

Bai Youwei silently counted these people.

Including her, there were seventeen total.

The bald, burly man indeed wasn’t here. Why was this? Everyone walked the same route, so why didn’t he fall in? Could the game trigger have other mysteries?

This was really strange… Clearly trapped in such a bizarre predicament, why did her heart harbor not only fear but also hidden excitement?

What was she anticipating?

“Everyone, listen to me…” A middle-aged man in a suit spoke up. “What’s done is done. Complaining won’t solve any problems. Only if we all work together in unity will we have hope of leaving here. I just looked around—this place seems like a sports field. There’s a track ahead. Is anyone willing to go take a look with me?”

He had been driving a Mercedes earlier and was dressed like a successful businessman. His speech was very persuasive.

Quite a few people agreed with his proposal.

A bespectacled young woman timidly spoke: “Will there be danger?”

Another yellow-haired youth retorted: “So what if there’s danger? Are we supposed to do nothing and wait here to die with you?!”

The girl looked at her boyfriend with grievance.

The boy was very diplomatic and immediately chimed in: “Brother, don’t be hasty. She’s worried about us getting into trouble. After all, no one knows what this place is…”

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment: “This concern isn’t impossible. Although there’s no danger currently, this place is unknown territory to us after all. How about this—women and the elderly stay behind, and the men follow me to scout ahead.”

Shen Mo thought for a moment, turned to Bai Youwei and said: “Wait for me here. I’ll go take a look ahead.”

“No!” Bai Youwei forcefully grabbed his arm.

Her “no” was spoken with such decisive finality, particularly loud, causing others to look over.

Shen Mo was the tallest among the men, with a slender build and distinguished bearing. His rolled-up sleeves revealed solid forearms—clearly indispensable combat strength. If he didn’t go, this “scouting team’s” capabilities would be greatly reduced.

The yellow-haired youth from earlier glanced at her: “Little sister, at a time of life and death like this, don’t be willful. If we don’t figure out the situation, how can we find the way back?”

“It’s already a matter of life and death, why divide between men and women?!” Bai Youwei seemed to suddenly change into a different person, her tone sharp. “I don’t know any of you people. If something happens to him, who will care about this cripple? I’m afraid you’ll all run faster than rabbits!”

Bai Youwei clung tightly to Shen Mo, looking directly into his eyes: “Shen Mo, you promised me you’d deliver me to Yangzhou safe and sound! Are you going to abandon me so quickly now?!”

Several women also showed hesitation, looking at their male companions.

All the men had left, leaving just these old, young, women and children. What if something happened? Although Bai Youwei would certainly be the most miserable one, they wouldn’t be much better off either.

“Honey, I’ll go with you. I’m scared to stay here…” The long-haired woman also changed her mind.

“Why don’t we all go together.” Someone played peacemaker and suggested. “I don’t think there’s much to explore here. Besides the grass, there’s just the track. Farther away is forest.”

“Are we supposed to go through the forest?”

“Don’t know. Let’s go to the banner over there first. That banner feels very strange…”

“Let’s go have a look. Maybe there are clues.”

“Go check it out. Who knows, there might be clues.”

Speaking among themselves, everyone walked toward the “Tortoise and Hare Race” banner.

Shen Mo bent down to pick up Bai Youwei and followed the group ahead.

Bai Youwei hugged his neck, her eyes reddened, her voice returning to its initial soft and delicate tone, though her stubbornness hadn’t diminished one bit:

“Do you regret it? Do you think I’m a burden?… Even if you regret it now, it’s too late! Shen Mo, don’t even think about ditching me!”

As if to prove her words weren’t empty, Bai Youwei hugged his neck even more tightly, her eyes defiant.

Shen Mo was squeezed until it hurt, surprised that her grip was actually quite strong.

Then he thought perhaps because her parents hadn’t been by her side since childhood, she lacked a sense of security.

With this thought, he lost his temper and said gently: “I won’t abandon you.”

Bai Youwei looked at him with half-belief.

Shen Mo was also puzzled. Bai Youwei’s physical and psychological condition were clearly not good. Why didn’t Aunt Wang bring her to her side to care for her?

“Look, there seems to be someone under the banner!”

Everyone heard this and looked over. Shen Mo’s train of thought was thus interrupted.

As the distance grew closer, the figure below the banner gradually became clear.

—It was a person dressed like a gentleman, wearing a white bow tie shirt, black tailcoat, topped with a realistic rabbit headpiece. The long rabbit ears were particularly conspicuous, and those red eyes were staring at them unblinkingly.

—