Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 94: Regret

On the plot broadcast wall in the small black room, Boy A (Le Xing), Passionate Athlete D (Wine Red), and Detective C (Fair Face) finally defeated the bed-pressing malevolent ghost. The battle lasted four and a half minutes.

Optimistic Classmate B (Xu Wang) put his hands behind his head and looked at the three dispirited faces on the plot broadcast wall. Although he couldn’t join the fray, he was spiritually with his “drama group partners”. “I’m not intentionally being lazy. It’s just that the plot doesn’t need me…”

Before the countdown started, the narrator Zhao Yukan’s original words were—

[The ghosts of Boy A and Passionate Athlete D, along with High School Detective C, joined forces to repel the malevolent ghost, but…]

But what?

Optimistic Classmate Xu Wang was full of anticipation for this next twist in the story.

“Ding—”

The end of the countdown sounded in the broadcast wall of the game room.

Wu Sheng, Long Legs, and Elegant Gray all looked at Zhao Yukan simultaneously, waiting for him to continue his “but”.

Zhao Yukan’s gaze twinkled behind his glasses, and he spoke more gently and fluently than before. “The ghosts of Boy A and Passionate Athlete D, along with High School Detective C, joined forces to repel the malevolent ghost, but… at a price, Boy A’s soul was scattered to the winds…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 4 — [Soul Scattered to the Winds]

“Damn, you don’t have to be so harsh on your own character card…” Elegant Gray felt sorry for Boy A. “Bullied, committed suicide, became a ghost, and then destroyed a second time?”

“It’s not about being harsh or not; it’s about the story’s logic,” Long Legs challenged. “They’re all ghosts. Why does Boy A’s ghost scatter to the winds after the battle, while Passionate Athlete D’s ghost remains unharmed?”

Zhao Yukan replied calmly, “Passionate Athlete D was physically fit and loved sports in life; hence, his soul was of higher quality.”

Long Legs: “……”

What the hell? Somehow that made sense, and he felt an urge to start exercising as soon as he got home!

Xu Wang held his forehead as he watched the broadcast wall, feeling a bit sorry for Long Legs, who was speechless. The rules had been clear: if the story became extremely illogical, the Owl would have interrupted. Since the Owl hadn’t spoken, it meant Zhao Yukan’s storyline was accepted. Instead of questioning, it was better to think about how to use his own story cards to continue.

Just as he was worrying about the narrators, a second person suddenly appeared in the small black room.

Le Xing, the soul-scattered Melancholic Boy A, had returned.

“You have the luck of the gods,” Xu Wang shifted to make space for his “drama group colleague” who had finished his role, genuinely envious.

Just a few cards in and he’s already soul-scattered, meaning no matter how the story goes, it has nothing to do with him. He doesn’t have to follow the plot or risk failing.

If this round required a win-win for both “narrators” and “plot characters”, Le Xing had already secured 50%.

“It can’t be helped. My Kankan is all brains.” Le Xing lay down, adopting a similar position to Xu Wang, hands behind his head, fully relaxed. “Pray that your narrator catches on soon too.”

Xu Wang froze.

He hadn’t thought much about it earlier, just felt that Le Xing was lucky to get Melancholic Boy A, a character seemingly doomed early on.

But now, considering Le Xing’s words…

Xu Wang suddenly widened his eyes, looking at Zhao Yukan on the game room broadcast wall, finally realizing that this guy did it on purpose!

Zhao Yukan had guessed the hidden “second battlefield” behind that abrupt “5-minute break”. Even if he wasn’t 100% accurate, his direction was definitely right, so he used the plot to completely write off Boy A, freeing his own “character story card” while also gaining a head start to victory!

Looking at Zhao Yukan, then at Wu Sheng, Captain Xu couldn’t stay calm anymore.

Forget about competing for anything else. Just compete through intelligence!

Xu Wang focused all his attention on Wu Sheng, wishing he could telepathically urge him—Wake up! Someone’s showing off in front of you!

…..

In the game room.

Wu Sheng’s ear itched inexplicably. He pressed it to relieve the itch.

Zhao Yukan continued his story. “After A’s soul scattered, the ghost of Passionate Athlete D told Detective C that he died from a cursed letter, but after his death, that letter disappeared…”

“Hold on,” Long Legs interrupted again. “With such a huge commotion from the ghost battle, especially in Detective C’s bedroom, didn’t his parents react at all?”

“Why do you have so many questions?” Elegant Gray was displeased. “Twice now, just when the atmosphere builds, you question, turning a good story into a mess.”

Long Legs was speechless. “Brother, are you really enjoying this board game? You’re here to compete!”

“……” Elegant Gray suddenly realized his stance might have been a bit off.

Compared to him, Zhao Yukan, the actual subject of the questioning, seemed rather pleased.

Whether it’s a game or a competition, it’s no fun if everything goes smoothly without any challenge.

“Detective C doesn’t live with his parents. His parents,” Zhao Yukan thought for a moment and then had an explanation, “are usually abroad.”

“……” Wu Sheng silently looked up at the ceiling.

Adding one’s own setting and getting hit by someone else’s setting creates subtly different feelings.

“Oh—” Long Legs, hearing the explanation, drew out his words with a mysterious smile.

Zhao Yukan’s gaze behind his glasses paused, sensing a certain premonition.

“Sorry, but you’ve hit my keyword.” Long Legs flipped out his third story card.

Long Legs: Story Card 3 — [Parents]

“It’s a bit of a stretch calling it ‘hit’.” Elegant Gray was somewhat critical. “You mentioned parents first, and naturally, the person explaining would use that term.”

Long Legs shrugged. “The rule says if you touch on another person’s story card keyword, the right to narrate shifts to the person with that card. It doesn’t seem to say anything about ‘fishing for bait’, right?”

Elegant Gray: “……”

“Using the rules cleverly. How interesting.” Zhao Yukan’s lips curved into his first satisfied smile since entering the game room. “Please continue. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Listen well, then.” Long Legs was obviously prepared with the next part of the story. “Although the cursed letter disappeared, Passionate Athlete D still remembered its contents, so he recited it to Detective C. The letter’s sign-off wasn’t the sender, but an address, under the second tree on the west side of the XX High School playground…”

Long Legs: Story Card 4 — [The Second Tree]

“XX High School is the high school where A, B, C, and D attend. The next day, the first thing Detective C did after going to school was to dig under the second tree on the west side of the playground…”

“If I remember correctly, Optimistic Classmate B had promised to accompany C in searching for the truth?” Zhao Yukan gently reminded, in a spirit of unity and friendship.

“……” After pondering for a while, Long Legs reluctantly agreed. “Then Optimistic Classmate B accompanies Detective C in digging.”

He didn’t want to compromise, but following the main storyline, it was unlikely that B would ignore C digging by the tree, especially since there was something unclear and sticky between the two of them. Saying C dug alone was a bit unreasonable.

But…

Optimistic Classmate B is from Team 2, isn’t it? Why would Team 1 help Team 2 maintain their character setting? What’s the motive? Just a love of watching dramas with dual male leads?!

While Long Legs was lost in thought, Wu Sheng’s gaze had already swept over Zhao Yukan.

The latter returned a smile.

As expected.

Wu Sheng lowered his eyes, looking at his story cards, adjusting the plot—the opponent had made a move, and naturally, he had to respond.

Safe because your soul scattered?

Tsk, naive.

……

Inside the waiting small black room, Le Xing waved goodbye to Xu Wang, who was about to dig up the tree. “Good luck.”

Xu Wang twitched the corners of his mouth and quickly pulled a fake smile.

Before disappearing, he took one last look at the live broadcast wall in the game room. At the round table, Wu Sheng had been quiet again for a long time. His advisor wasn’t talkative, but neither was he cold. Xu Wang always felt that since entering this round, Wu Sheng had been unusually quiet.

But at that moment, those handsome eyes finally showed a shrewd, calculating light.

……

In the game room.

“Interruption.” Elegant Gray used his second interrupt card.

There were only three interrupt cards in total, and he knew he had to be careful. But with the current direction of the plot, if he didn’t pull it back, his story cards would really have no chance to come out!

“Fine, the shovel is yours. Continue digging.” Long Legs gave up the right to narrate, curious to see how the opponent would proceed.

“Classmates B and C start digging the tree, right? At that moment, they were discovered by the head teacher who shouted—” Elegant Gray slammed the table. “What are you two boys doing?!”

Elegant Gray: Story Card 3 — [Head Teacher]

Wu Sheng: “……”

Zhao Yukan: “……”

Long Legs: “Can’t you change the line!”

First it was Passionate Athlete D who shouted, and now it’s the head teacher! Where is the creativity?!

Elegant Gray didn’t care and continued in his head teacher role. “Damaging the school’s trees—fifty push-ups as a penalty. Don’t stop until you finish them!”

Elegant Gray: Story Card 4 — [Fifty Push-Ups]

“After they finished…”

“Ding—”

[Cheat Sheet]: Please pause the narration. There will be a 5-minute break, after which the game will continue.

Elegant Gray’s narration was abruptly interrupted.

He looked at his arm, puzzled. “Another break?”

Zhao Yukan and Wu Sheng remained silent, their expressions natural.

Long Legs frowned, trying to decode this weird sensation but still clueless.

Five minutes later, the break was over.

Elegant Gray continued, “After they finished the push-ups, they were asked to return to class, which was a physical education class…”

His narration echoed over the plotline’s playground.

The panting Optimistic Classmate B (Xu Wang) and the sweaty Detective C (Fair Face) exchanged a glance in despair.

They just did fifty push-ups and are now off to PE class? Does this plot have any humanity?!

In the game room, Elegant Gray played his cards without any psychological burden.

Elegant Gray: Story Card 5 — [Physical Education Class]

Wu Sheng and Zhao Yukan frowned together. Even the tall guy was displeased.

Elegant Gray had played three cards in a row, [Head Teacher], [Fifty Push-Ups], and [Physical Education Class], but the plot was obviously still spinning in place.

Is this even a story relay?

Just as Long Legs was about to protest, a harsh “beep—” sounded above their heads.

[Warning…]

It was the same calm voice, but with an added sternness.

[Warning to Narrator 3: Three consecutive story cards without advancing the main plotline result in a warning. The right to narrate now shifts to the person with the most remaining story cards. Be advised, from this point on, any narrator who triggers another warning will be deemed to have failed and must return home early.]

Hidden rules?!

The four were startled, but upon reflection, they realized this rule made sense. If every narrator just played cards for the sake of playing without advancing the story, there would be no progress.

Long Legs initially wanted to criticize Elegant Gray for forcefully playing his cards, but now that the latter had been officially sanctioned, his bewildered expression elicited some sympathy. “Look on the bright side, you did play three cards, right?”

Elegant Gray sighed heavily.

He knew his approach to the story relay was careless. He wanted to respect the suspenseful and thrilling storyline everyone was building, but who would understand the bitterness of having a hand full of “hot-blooded youth” cards?

[Narrator 2, please continue the story.]

Up to this point, Wu Sheng had played the fewest cards and automatically became the next narrator.

On the plotline’s playground, Captain Xu, who was “in PE class”, heard that it was finally his advisor’s turn to narrate and nearly cried with relief.

Narrator 1 Kankan had already secured Boy A in a completely safe zone, and now Xu Wang desperately hoped Wu Sheng would awaken. Even if not, at least let him follow a plotline that didn’t require physical exertion!

“Classmate B and Detective C decide to come back to dig under the tree at night when no one is around…”

In both the game room and on the plotline, Wu Sheng’s simple and clear narration resonated.

On the plotline, Xu Wang and Fair Face relaxed as the sky suddenly darkened.

The three in the game room listened intently. Narrator 2’s every word was crucial, easy to miss if not paid attention to.

“That night,” Wu Sheng’s slightly furrowed brows suddenly softened, “the moonlight was beautiful…”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 4 — [Beautiful Moonlight]

Zhao Yukan, Long Legs, Elegant Gray: “……”

Why does the atmosphere drastically change whenever it’s his turn…

“The two dug up a metal box under the tree, containing a diary from ten years ago. The diary detailed the suffering of a student from school bullying. At the end of his blood and tears, he cursed everyone to death. B and C believed his resentment turned into the cursed letter…”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 5 — [Metal Box]

Zhao Yukan, Long Legs, and Elegant Gray all turned serious.

The story had come full circle.

Though Narrator 2 always included some odd elements, one couldn’t deny that the story really gained momentum with him.

“Optimistic Student B, always kind-hearted, felt sad after reading the diary. C comforted him, and he was moved…”

Wu Sheng paused, then added uncertainly, “Or perhaps it wasn’t just being moved. Maybe it was the beautiful moonlight that made him want to kiss C. C, unprepared and scared, pushed him away…”

He paused, exhaled lightly, and then continued in a lower, murmur-like voice—

“Fear in the moment, leading to lifelong regret.”

Elegant Gray found himself following the story’s rhythm and desperately wanted to know what happened next. “And then?”

“And then…” Wu Sheng tilted his head, as if looking at his story cards or perhaps something else. “Optimistic Classmate B got angry and said, ‘I want to break off our friendship,’ and ran away, leaving C behind.” His eyes and brows carried a smile, as if the character in the story, Optimistic Classmate B, had charmed him.

Wu Sheng: Story Card 6 — [Broken Friendship]

Elegant Gray: “Isn’t B too fragile? Didn’t he willingly agree to help C with the investigation? Just because he was pushed away, he wants to break off the friendship?”

Long Legs: “Man, you’re taking this too seriously…”

“The playground, left with only Detective C, tries to burn the diary but can’t. Upon re-examining it, he discovers a curse at the very end, where the diary’s owner made a deal with the devil…”

“C recites the curse, using his own blood to trade with the devil. He reassembles the scattered soul of Melancholic Boy A, summons the ghost of Passionate Athlete D, and binds both ghosts to himself as guardian spirits, unable to say goodbye until the diary is completely destroyed…”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 7 — [Unable to Say Goodbye]

Elegant Gray: “What about the runaway B? Does C not care about B? What if B is in danger? He’s already involved!”

Long Legs: “Please wake up! He’s played four cards in less than two minutes—”

If he could reach, he would shake Elegant Man by the shoulders.

“Interrupt—”

Long Legs played his second interrupt card.

He feared hesitating longer would let the opponent bring the story to a grand finale.

Narrator 1, Zhao Yukan, looked calmly at Wu Sheng, his usual composure replaced by unprecedented seriousness.

He had the opportunity to interrupt and prevent the opponent from returning Boy A (Le Xing), but the opponent still had half of their cards left. Even if he could revert it once, the opponent always had a way to pull it back the second time, addressing the symptoms but not the root cause.

This story relay was getting interesting.

……

7/23 Plotline Space, Waiting Room.

Runaway Optimistic Classmate B (Xu Wang) temporarily returned offline.

He was greeted by Le Xing, who had already gotten up and was warming up.

“Even a soul scattered to the winds can be summoned back. Your team’s narrator is really something.” Le Xing, though unwilling, had to admit the continuation was well done.

Four cards played, a significant advancement in the main plot, logically coherent new developments, and even taking out his own teammate while pulling back the opponent’s plot character. This was about the best a segment of the story could achieve.

Le Xing took a serious look at Wu Sheng on the live broadcast wall, confirming that he too had grasped the real gameplay of this board game battle.

As Le Xing’s gaze returned from the live broadcast wall, he belatedly realized that the returned Optimistic Classmate B hadn’t acknowledged him. To be precise, since returning to the waiting room, Classmate B had been in a “dazed state”, appearing to have received some great shock.

Le Xing was curious, but before he could ask, he transformed into “Detective C’s guardian spirit” and vanished in a flash, heading back to the plotline.

Xu Wang sat down on the floor, dazed, sitting quietly for a long time, still confused.

Using a real experience with slight modifications in a story relay was efficient, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Optimistic Classmate B, throwing out the line “I want to break off our friendship”, was incredibly satisfying, and he wholeheartedly supported this plot point!

But what did “fear in the moment, leading to lifelong regret” mean?

Did it have anything to do with the main plot?

If not, who was Wu Sheng speaking to?

“So annoying. Ahhhhh—”

Optimistic Classmate B’s mentality collapsed.

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The author has something to say:

Holding the story cards of four friends, writing a bit, my imagination just took off, making various emergency modifications. This story line is now what remains after numerous brainstorming ideas were ‘executed’. I can’t help but laugh and cry about it.

Up to now, the story cards played by the four people are as follows. If friends were to play this game, whose story card would you most like to get and what kind of story would you tell~ (～￣▽￣)～

Wu Sheng: [Optimistic Classmate B], [Good Friend], [Willing to Take the Risk], [Beautiful Moonlight], [Iron Box], [Broken Friendship], [Unable to Say Goodbye]

Zhao Yukan: [Melancholic Boy A], [Cursed Letter], [Dream Visit], [Ghost Oppression]

Tall Guy: [High School Detective C], [Poison], [Parents], [The Second Tree]

Elegant Gray Man: [Passionate Athlete D], [Exercise], [Head Teacher], [Fifty Push-Ups], [Physical Education Class]

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Kinky Thoughts:

Are we finally going to get some progress in their relationship?

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