Yan Qingwen said: “Our situation isn’t suited for entering games frequently. Most doll games are adversarial — once you’re inside, infighting is hard to avoid. The most pressing matter right now is getting Li Li and what he’s carrying safely to Shanghai.”

He paused, then added: “Hopefully Shanghai hasn’t run into trouble.”

Shen Mo asked him: “If you’re in such a hurry to deliver him, why did you come to Hangzhou at all?”

Yan Qingwen was momentarily silent.

The others around him were also quiet.

Shen Mo picked up a piece of firewood and tossed it into the fireplace.

The flames were momentarily suppressed, then surged back up, burning fiercely.

“Before we entered the mist, we didn’t know there was a labyrinth inside.”

Yan Qingwen spoke again.

“When we came out, our physical abilities had been upgraded, and we received five puzzle pieces. At the time, we believed the puzzle pieces were the key to research — but unexpectedly, in a subsequent game, we were forced to use the puzzle pieces’ game exemption. Li Li became very worried: without the exemption, did the puzzle pieces still have enough research value for the SCO’s researchers to crack the doll games?”

“So you went?” Tan Xiao asked in disbelief. “Just for research samples? Wow — you must have a death wish!”

Li Li couldn’t help breaking in: “We didn’t know the labyrinth would change! We thought that wherever there was mist, it would turn into a desert — and that if you walked out of the desert you’d get puzzle pieces. Who could have known the Hangzhou labyrinth would be like that?!”

The inertia of habit.

If you see a box on the road and open it to find a pair of shoes, the next time you come across an identical box, you instinctively assume: there’s a pair of shoes inside.

“We were reckless too,” Yan Qingwen explained evenly. “After our physical abilities were upgraded, everyone got a bit carried away and overlooked the labyrinth number the system mentioned during the game settlement.”

Bai Youwei said: “Those five puzzle pieces have lost their exemption anyway — they’re useless to you. You might as well give them to me.”

Yan Qingwen was slightly startled. “……You want to collect puzzle pieces?”

Li Li was appalled: “We don’t even know how many puzzle pieces there are in total! How are you going to collect them?!”

“Everyone needs a goal in life,” Bai Youwei said with a smile.

Tan Xiao also chimed in: “Right — you’re keeping them and they’re no use to you anyway. Just give them to us~”

Li Li instinctively pressed his hand tightly over his trouser pocket, where the puzzle pieces were kept. They hadn’t been easy to obtain. Even though they were now useless to his group… handing them over this easily — his heart really couldn’t bear it!

“If we can get out of here, I’ll give them to you.” Yan Qingwen said.

“Yan Qingwen!” Li Li and Su Man cried out almost simultaneously.

Yan Qingwen waved a hand and fixed his gaze on Bai Youwei. “Keeping them with us really serves no purpose. As research samples go, the three pieces from the Hangzhou labyrinth are enough. If we can leave this place, giving them as a gift upon our first meeting wouldn’t be unreasonable.”

Bai Youwei curved her lips into a smile and cast a sidelong glance at Pan Xiaoxin beside her: “Xiaoxin, take note — this is what real strategy looks like. He won’t release the hawk until he sees the rabbit. Even when the transaction is straightforward, he still wins the other person’s goodwill.”

Pan Xiaoxin: “……”

Yan Qingwen smiled faintly. “If it doesn’t feel right, the deal doesn’t have to happen.”

“No, no — the deal absolutely has to happen.” Bai Youwei’s smile was warm. “As long as I get your group out, five puzzle pieces — and while we’re at it, let me pre-order those other three you’re holding.”

Yan Qingwen: “……”

Li Li couldn’t help blurting out: “This woman is way too greedy…”

“Li Li.” Yan Qingwen stopped him. A mild smile played across his refined face. “This is a good thing. At the very least, it means… Miss Bai feels confident.”

—