“Ding! Welcome to the Doll Game! The theme of this game is ‘Hide and Seek.’ The rules are as follows:

One — refuse the game, and you become a doll!

Two — lose the game, and you become a doll!

Three — clear the game, and you win a doll!”

The familiar voice rang out beside their ears, yet the scene before them had not changed in the slightest.

They were still inside the amusement park.

According to the information provided in Player #21’s game data, the setting for the Hide and Seek game was an exact replica of this amusement park — every element identical to the real one.

Shen Mo turned to glance at the amusement park entrance. Outside the gates, the street scenery and the crowds had vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of empty white.

“Welcome to the Doll Game. I am the supervisor for this session. I look forward to seeing what you will accomplish.”

Everyone turned toward the voice.

Not far away, a figure dressed in a white bow-tie shirt and a black tailcoat walked toward them. In one hand it cradled a top hat, carrying itself like a refined and courteous gentleman — yet it bore the head of a rabbit, and its voice was gentle and refined, like that of a woman.

Several completely contrasting traits fused together into one being, yet somehow they were unexpectedly harmonious and natural.

The group instinctively drew together, watching warily as the supervisor drew steadily closer.

It stopped about ten paces away, its gaze drifting lightly over their faces, each wearing a different expression.

When its eyes landed on Bai Youwei, they paused for just a moment, then dropped slightly — to the fluffy rabbit nestled in her arms.

Bai Youwei frowned and flipped the rabbit over so the back of its head faced the supervisor.

The rabbit-headed figure smiled silently.

“Very well. I will now explain the rules to you. Please follow me—”

It turned and walked down a path paved in black-and-white checkered tiles, flanked on both sides by bright flower beds, whimsical sculptures, and the colorful banners and balloons one found everywhere throughout an amusement park.

Everyone stood where they were, hesitating for a moment before filing after the supervisor one by one.

The amusement park was enormous — and utterly silent. Beyond the sound of their footsteps, there was nothing. Not even the wind.

Dead still, like a graveyard.

The supervisor walked at the front, speaking as it went, introducing the rules:

“Hide and Seek is Mali’s favorite game. She and her cat play it every night, and they play it very well — no one has ever been found. What you must do is hide when night falls and avoid being found by Mali and her cat…”

“What happens if we’re found?” Yu Yaqing asked.

“If you’re found…” The rabbit-headed figure’s pace slowed as it turned its head toward her. “Being found means you’ve lost — and you will remain here forever, keeping Mali and her cat company for their game of Hide and Seek.”

Shen Mo followed up: “What are the conditions for clearing the game?”

The supervisor answered: “Kill Mali, or kill Mali’s cat. The death of either one makes it impossible for the game to continue, and the players are naturally declared the winners.”

Same as what the game data had stated.

The clearing conditions were perfectly clear — at least on the surface, there were no riddles and no wordplay.

Kill Mali.

Or kill Mali’s cat.

It was just that simple and brutal.

The rabbit-headed figure stopped before an enormous carousel and raised one hand, directing everyone’s attention to the top of the structure:

“This is Mali. And this is her cat.”

Everyone followed the supervisor’s gesture and looked. Atop the carousel sat a canopy of red and white, its edges gilded with gold powder and inlaid with colored lights — extraordinarily ornate.

And perched atop that canopy, fast asleep, was an absurdly massive stuffed cat!

On top of the cat, fast asleep, was a little girl in a fluffy princess gown!

A cat!

And Mali!

The supervisor continued: “After repeated calibrations during the game’s internal beta testing, this session operates on a six-hour cycle — six hours of day, six hours of night. We hope you will make full use of your time to meet the clearing conditions.”

It finished, then turned to face them and asked gently:

“Now — is there anything about the game rules you still do not understand?”

—