Shen Mo said there was no rush. Bai Youwei was anxious on his behalf.

She couldn’t quite explain what was going on with herself — her feelings were difficult to describe.

At first, watching him fail to find teammates, she’d felt a small, petty satisfaction. Then anxiety crept in, and she’d started to worry that he might truly be unable to assemble enough people. And now… now they were only two people short of a full team, and she’d started to feel an entirely new kind of panic.

Part of her wanted him to get what he wished for. Another part couldn’t bear the thought of him walking into danger.

These two feelings waged war inside her like a saw going back and forth, leaving her utterly restless.

At least she’d managed to trade for two puzzle pieces from Du Lai — otherwise she’d certainly be even more frantic.

…

Bai Youwei tossed and turned in bed.

She must have woken Shen Mo, because one of his arms wrapped around her and pulled her into his embrace.

“What are you fidgeting about?” Shen Mo murmured in her ear.

His voice was low and husky, his breath warm and soft, brushing against her earlobe — ticklish and distracting.

Bai Youwei stiffened for a moment, then went still.

Shen Mo asked again: “Need the bathroom?”

Bai Youwei: “…”

Whatever trace of a tender mood had been building evaporated completely on the spot. A wave of disappointment washed over her. She pinched his arm with annoyance. “Is that the only thing you think of besides the bathroom?!”

Shen Mo laughed softly. “…Thirsty? Need some water?”

Bai Youwei was past wanting to pinch him. She wanted to *bite* him.

Did he really think she was nothing but a water intake-output system? Could she not have — even just the tiniest bit of — a young woman’s inner feelings?

Bai Youwei was going to implode.

She squirmed restlessly against him.

Shen Mo laughed and sighed, one arm around her waist, the other gently moving the hair trapped under her body. He coaxed her softly: “Hurry up and sleep. Stop letting your thoughts run wild.”

“But I can’t sleep,” she said, rolling over to face him. “Tell me — why would Yan Qingwen and Lu Ang want to enter Game #21? Don’t tell me they’re like you, trying to play the hero and save the world?”

“Endless questions, aren’t you?” Shen Mo pinched her chin lightly and pressed. “When did I ever say I wanted to be a hero?”

Bai Youwei pouted. “The entire assessment team didn’t come out — and you ran out to recruit people and go in. If that’s not playing the hero, what is?”

“That’s not being a hero. That’s doing what you can.” Shen Mo let go of her, raised his hand, and ruffled her hair. “Only when you’ve given everything you have will you have no regrets later.”

Bai Youwei heard this and let out a muffled huff — clearly unhappy, yet she said nothing more.

After a moment of quiet, she asked again: “You still haven’t answered me. Why do Yan Qingwen and the others want to enter Game #21?”

Shen Mo thought for a moment. “…When I ran into them, Chu Huaijin was there too. Perhaps they’ve reached some kind of arrangement with the organization — something like, if they clear Game #21, they’ll receive a certain item in return.”

Bai Youwei mulled this over.

If there was some kind of transaction — or condition — involved, it would make sense.

After all, it would fit with the way Yan Qingwen operated.

Though this man had once been selfless and fearless in the past, it was clear that running a security company after retirement had left a significant mark on him. Bai Youwei couldn’t help but wonder whether he’d come close to bankruptcy a few times over the years, which had cultivated this thoroughly businesslike disposition of his — he’d eat almost anything, just never a loss.

Shen Mo murmured a quiet nudge: “Go to sleep…”

“Should we also go talk terms with Chu Huaijin?” Once she’d started on this topic, Bai Youwei was wide awake. “We can’t let Yan Qingwen take all the benefits.”

Shen Mo was helpless. “Didn’t we already agree? Professor Song is giving us all eight of his puzzle pieces, free of charge. What else do you want? Besides… the numbers still aren’t filled. We might not even be going.”

Bai Youwei thought about it, then snuggled back into his arms and closed her eyes. “Either way… we’ll know tomorrow what happens.”

…

—