Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 97: Comeback

Wu Sheng only had one interruption card left, and after this interruption, Zhao Yukan was also left with just one. However, the right to narrate was currently with Zhao Yukan, putting Wu Sheng in a clearly passive position…

Xu Wang was calculating the situation in the game room, worried for his advisor, when he heard from above—

“To burn the tree, ordinary fire won’t work. It must be the Returning to the West candle…”

Xu Wang felt a chill down his neck and looked at Le Xing somewhat speechlessly. “As soon as your team starts, the atmosphere immediately turns creepy.”

“Your team’s storyline is the scary one…” Le Xing couldn’t help but recall those “tender feelings”, which made it hard to describe his mood. He really preferred ghost stories.

“The ‘Returning to the West’ candle is in a dry well behind the school…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 9 — [Dry Well]

As soon as he finished speaking, the playground where Xu Wang and Le Xing were turned into a desolate wilderness.

A dry well appeared right in front of them.

Chilling winds blew intermittently from the well.

Xu Wang: “……”

Damn, it’s like a scene out of “The Ring”.

“Optimistic Classmate B approached the well, looked down into it, and was suddenly pushed in by Melancholic Boy A. It turned out A’s ghost was being controlled by Xiao Wang…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 10 — [Control]

Xu Wang: “……”

Le Xing: “Sorry about this.”

Xu Wang: “No need for you to push. I’ll jump myself!”

Le Xing: “That wouldn’t fit the plot.”

Xu Wang: “Then just give a symbolic push, and I’ll cooperate, okay…”

Perhaps feeling that the plot was too tragic for Optimistic Classmate B, Le Xing did give a symbolic push.

Xu Wang immediately let out an “Ahhh—” and very cooperatively… jumped into the well.

Of course, he jumped feet first. Fortunately, the well wasn’t too deep, and the soil at the bottom was soft enough. Xu Wang landed without much harm, except for a slight numbness in his legs.

Wait a second.

Xu Wang looked around in the dark well and suddenly realized something was off.

They came to the dry well to find the ‘Returning to the West’ candle. If Xiao Wang didn’t want him to find it, why push him into the well? Wasn’t this bringing him closer to the candle…

“Boy A, possessed, threw a huge rock into the well, attempting to crush Optimistic Classmate B to death…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 11 — [Crushed to Death]

Xu Wang: “……”

Great, now he knew why he was pushed in.

The only light source from above was blocked by the giant rock. Xu Wang looked up, and the dust brought by the rock fell on his face.

He spat out the dust twice, waiting for the plot to unfold.

The worst outcome would be getting crushed to death and then returning to the dark room. Thinking about it, it didn’t seem too bad.

“The moment the rock was about to hit, Optimistic Classmate B blew away the second strand of hair, and the rock suddenly turned into powder, which flew back out of the well, trapping A’s ghost. B quickly dug out the Returning to the West candle from the mud, and while A was trapped, climbed out of the dry well and escaped back to the school…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 12 — [Mud]

Xu Wang climbed out of the well; his face covered in dirt. The wilderness and Boy A vanished, replaced by the school playground.

He returned, holding the Returning to the West candle.

Regardless of how the plot progressed, his situation was manageable. The worst outcome was just putting up a tough fight.

The real battle, however, was happening on Wu Sheng’s side—a war without smoke.

Zhao Yukan was left with only 3 story cards, holding 1 interrupt card, 1 exchange card, and 1 ending card.

Wu Sheng had 4 story cards remaining: 1 interrupt card, 1 exchange card, and 1 ending card.

And now, with the narration still in Zhao Yukan’s hands, Xu Wang couldn’t help but feel that the situation was very, very unfavorable for his advisor!

“Interrupt.” Wu Sheng spoke calmly, but beneath the calmness, there was a hint of seriousness.

Xu Wang’s heart skipped a beat.

Wu Sheng is conceited and proud, always effortless and composed in the face of any difficulty. Seeing Wu Sheng under such pressure was rare and inexplicably heart-wrenching.

After using his interrupt card, Wu Sheng didn’t immediately continue the story but instead said to Zhao Yukan, “There must be countless ways for you to stop the stone from falling, not necessarily by using the second strand of hair.”

Zhao Yukan replied, “You’re so sentimental. Even when everything is lost, you still leave three ways to escape, three ‘possible extensions of the storyline.’ Of course, the sooner they are used, the more peace of mind.”

Wu Sheng said, “Then you might as well blow away the remaining two strands of hair at once. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Zhao Yukan was nonchalant. “Haste makes waste. One must consider the logic of the story.”

After a brief silence.

Zhao Yukan’s voice came from above the playground again. “This is your last interrupt card.” He sighed lightly, as if regretting. “From the moment you used this card, no, from the moment you used your second interrupt card before me, you had already lost.”

Xu Wang didn’t like Zhao Yukan’s show-off attitude.

But he had to admit, it was the truth.

Wu Sheng, with his last interrupt card, gained the right to narrate. But could he play all four of his remaining story cards in this round? Even if he could, Zhao Yukan wouldn’t let him.

He would surely use his last interrupt card to take back the right to narrate.

By then, Wu Sheng, without any interrupt cards, willing or not, would have to quietly listen to Zhao Yukan finish the story.

The only chance for a turnaround was “if Zhao Yukan’s ending card doesn’t match or make sense with the previous story.”

But Xu Wang didn’t believe Zhao Yukan would give him that opportunity.

Above, Zhao Yukan was still “kindly” advising Wu Sheng. “Of course, you still have your last exchange card, feel free to use it. But whatever you swap with me, I can handle it.”

Wu Sheng laughed, seemingly forcing a smile, but his words were not conceding. “My love story is going well, holding a perfect happy ending card. I wouldn’t exchange it for all the gold and silver in the world, let alone for your ghost card?”

“Alright, continue. I’m all ears.” Zhao Yukan’s voice carried the magnanimity of certain victory.

Xu Wang clenched his fists, wishing he could overturn the table.

The usually competitive Wu Sheng, however, seemed completely unaffected by the provocation. When he spoke again, it was to continue the story line—

“Optimistic Classmate B returned to the tree, about to light the ‘Returning to the West’ candle, when the six ghost boys ran over to stop him. It turned out they had just found out that those cursed by the diary have their souls bound to it. Burning the diary would also annihilate them…”

“They pleaded with Classmate B not to burn the tree, to persuade and convince Xiao Wang to let go of his hatred, like many TV drama endings, where the villain repents, and the curse is directly lifted. The souls trapped by resentment would also be freed, and everyone would be happy…”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 12 — [TV Drama]

“B refused. He told the six ghosts that not everything can be forgiven with an apology. A killed D; can D accept just an apology from A? C hurt B; can B forgive C with just an apology?”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 13 — [Apology]

“Yes, you didn’t kill Xiao Wang, only roughed him up a bit. A passed the letter to D, seeking peace of mind. C pushed away B, which was just instinct. But the more ‘unaware of their wrongdoing’ people are, the crueler their actions. They don’t realize they’re doing wrong, so their evil is weightless and more hurtful. This is innocent cruelty. But innocence is not an umbrella for cruelty. Xiao Wang doesn’t have to forgive you, D doesn’t have to forgive A, and B doesn’t have to forgive C. Those who do wrong should be remembered for their deeds…”

Wu Sheng: Story Card 14 — [Innocent Cruelty]

Under the big tree on the playground, Le Xing frowned at Xu Wang. “Did your narrator… do something against his conscience?”

Otherwise, he couldn’t explain the heavy sense of remorse in his tone!

Xu Wang swallowed hard, his mind in turmoil, with no time to pay attention to Le Xing.

Was this a way of apologizing to him through the story? From the initial regret to now not needing forgiveness, were all these messages for him?

If so… could he not speak on behalf of those involved? Who would hold a grudge for a push after ten years? With that kind of persistence, he would have reached the pinnacle of life long ago!

“Interrupt.” Zhao Yukan’s voice timely intervened.

Xu Wang saw it coming.

Interrupt cards can’t be used against someone who has already played 15 story cards. Wu Sheng still had one story card and one ending card left. If Zhao Yukan didn’t interrupt now, once Wu Sheng played his last story card, there would be no more chances.

“You’ve lost.” Le Xing sat under the tree, leisurely playing with the grass on the ground.

Xu Wang looked up at the sky. “It’s not over yet.”

Le Xing shook his head. “Without interrupt cards, how can you win back the right to narrate?”

“Don’t forget,” Xu Wang said, “touching the opponent’s story card also means handing over the right to narrate.”

“You don’t understand Kankan. Being led into saying [Parents] by Narrator 4 and losing the right to narrate was his only mistake in this game. The more it happens, the more he remembers. He won’t make the same mistake twice.” Le Xing stood up, patting the dirt off his backside, smiling. “With your narrator playing the emotional card, I bet Kankan will even avoid friendship themes.”

Above, the new narrator’s voice came, lightly mocking. “Your story is touching, but sorry, the ending is mine, and it’s probably going to follow a horror theme.”

There was no response from Wu Sheng.

Xu Wang’s heart was racing. In front of Le Xing, he had to maintain a calm façade, but inside, he was in turmoil. He wished there was a live broadcast wall above the playground so he could see his advisor—even just an expression or a glance—to at least know Wu Sheng’s state. This kind of restless worry was driving him crazy.

“B rejected the request of the six ghosts and lit the ‘Returning to the West’ candle, but at the moment he was about to burn the tree, he realized that there were not six but seven ghosts. Unbeknownst to them, one more had joined…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 13 — [One More]

“It turned out to be A, controlled by Xiao Wang, disguised as one of the boys, blending in with them…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 14 — [Disguise]

He had only one story card left. Wu Sheng… Xu Wang stared intensely at the sky, as if by doing so, he could transmit his thoughts to the game room.

However, the one who continued the story was still Zhao Yukan.

“B realized too late. A had already made his move, killing B. B died wrongfully and became a ghost, but still used his ghostly power to light the ‘Returning to the West’ candle, burned the tree, and all the ghosts, along with the diary, were destroyed…”

Zhao Yukan: Story Card 15 — [Wrongful Death]

Le Xing looked at Xu Wang and shrugged with an “I told you so” expression on his face.

“The moment to witness the ending has finally arrived.” Zhao Yukan’s voice came from above, feigning regret. “Ah, though I’m about to reveal the ending, it doesn’t feel as exciting as I imagined.”

“Then don’t.” Wu Sheng, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke.

Zhao Yukan’s voice halted, and even though Xu Wang couldn’t see the game room, he could sense Zhao Yukan’s surprise.

Le Xing, who had been eagerly awaiting his team’s ending, lost his relaxed demeanor and, like Xu Wang, looked up at the sky, eyes slightly narrowed, his entire body tensely wound.

“What did you say last?” Wu Sheng suddenly asked.

“……” Zhao Yukan didn’t answer. Though words spoken and water spilled couldn’t be taken back, instinctively, he didn’t want to cooperate with his opponent.

Wu Sheng didn’t expect him to cooperate and repeated himself. “All the ghosts, along with the diary, were destroyed, right?”

“Sorry, you touched on my keyword.”

With those last words, almost whispered, Wu Sheng played his final story card.

Wu Sheng: Story Card 15 — [Diary]

Interrupt cards can’t be used on someone who has already played 15 story cards, but the triggering of keywords has no restrictions. As long as the person with the keyword story card wants to turn it over, the right to narrate undoubtedly must shift.

Both the game room and the storyline fell into sudden silence.

Even though Xu Wang hoped Wu Sheng could make a stunning comeback, and even though Le Xing and Zhao Yukan were prepared for the worst-case scenario of being overturned, none of them expected that Wu Sheng’s card would be [Diary].

Using his own [Metal Box], he dug out the diary and oriented the storyline around the diary from the start. To play this card, almost every sentence from everyone’s narration was an opportunity. Yet, he saved this key element, almost spanning the entire story, for last.

Zhao Yukan finally spoke, his pride still intact but slightly cracked. “From the moment you brought out the diary from the metal box, you planned to save it for last as an interrupt card, didn’t you?”

“No.” Wu Sheng’s tone was free of any heaviness, filled with ease. “I decided to use ‘Diary’ as the ultimate interrupt card as soon as I got my story cards, and then I led you to dig out the metal box. If another story card had caught my fancy, the course of this story chain might have been entirely different.”

Whether Zhao Yukan understood or not, Xu Wang wasn’t sure, but he did.

Translated, Wu Sheng’s words meant—From the start of this battle, everything was under my control, you foolish mortals. Now tremble.

Xu Wang clutched his chest, feeling a throbbing pain.

What about his “heavy voice” and “sounding like he’s under pressure”? He had been worried about Drama King Wu for the entire second half!

“You should have used the exchange card, swapped out my last card, and you would have won.” In the game room, Wu Sheng toned down his laughter and looked at Zhao Yukan. “But you didn’t believe my last card could turn the tables. Instead, you were worried that I was saving it for you to swap, setting a trap for you, right?”

Zhao Yukan remained silent, his chest rising and falling slightly, losing for the first time in such an embarrassing manner.

“That’s why you failed,” Wu Sheng said calmly, without any mockery, word by word. “You think too highly of yourself and too little of others.”

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The author has something to say:

Gaining weight at first is not considered being overweight, but gaining weight later can collapse the bed*. The same logic applies to showing off. Advisor Wu, who has finally learned to control the situation before showing off, has elevated his power! ~(～￣▽￣)～

*Referring to a kang.

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