Global Collapse-Chapter 556 - 524: Life is like this - , dull, brief, and watery_1

"Let's play a game we could only play when the Doctor's not around!"

Outside of the instance, in Liu Ruyan's inn, Fatty was excitedly going through Gu Mian's childhood photos.

When Gu Mian was present, Fatty wouldn't dare to be so bold as to touch Gu Mian's photo album.

Big Brother was squatting next to him, his eyes glued to the photo album as it was turned page by page.

Xiao Hong was listlessly leaning against the window, gazing outside. From her face, which resembled a car crash scene, one could even discern a hint of depression.

Not far away, on the couch, Chu Changge was adjusting his glasses, observing the coffee table full of lychee sodas.

About half an hour ago, Xiao Hong took advantage of Gu Mian's absence and went on a rampage in the supermarket. When she came back, she was dragging two hemp bags full of lychee sodas, with a devastated cashier chasing after her, crying for payment.

Amid the cashier's wails, which sounded like mourning cries, Accompany me next year and her companions all came out to watch the spectacle. It was their first time seeing someone rob a supermarket and also their first time witnessing an NPC wail as if at a funeral.

This even gave Accompany me next year and her companions the idea of robbing a supermarket themselves.

In the end, Chu Changge paid and sent the wailing cashier away. Of course, the two sacks of lychee sodas Xiao Hong had set her heart on didn't end up with her; Chu Changge confiscated them all.

The lychee soda cans in the supermarket had just gotten new packaging; they were all pink. The can featured an image of a peeled, white lychee with two eyes, a mouth, and four matchsticks for arms and legs. It seemed the designer's aesthetic sense wasn't particularly refined.

"I wonder what instance the Doctor entered this time," Fatty's gaze lingered on a photo of a manhole cover exploding at Gu Mian's feet. "From now on, if you die in an instance, you'll really be done for."

Speaking of this, he shuddered, apparently remembering his own miserable death in a previous instance.

Chu Changge reached out and straightened a soda can on the corner of the table, "Let's wait for the announcement."

At this moment, the players inside the instance had already started exploring the thirteenth floor. Their company had three offices. Since each office was quite spacious, their doors weren't very close to each other.

To save time, they divided into three groups, each heading to one of the three offices to search for clues that might jog Zhao Shuang's memory. After all, these rooms were all on the same corridor; if anything happened, a shout would be enough for everyone to hear.

Cang Yue and Wang Chuan went to the office at the end of the hall, while Xia Jianren and Zhao Shuang went to the middle one. Gu Mian and Keke were supposed to go to the remaining office to look for clues, but Gu Mian decided to rummage through the utility room first. Keke wouldn't be scared on her own anyway.

He stood at the door of the utility room, looking inside. It was thick with dust, and unused files were piled up on all sides. The paper of the bottommost files had already yellowed. Additionally, several unused or broken chairs were stacked together, almost reaching the ceiling.

There were also rarely used toilet plungers, a few plant pots containing only soil, a broken wall clock, and, in the far corner, a small cabinet. It resembled a nightstand with a few drawers and had probably been used for storage beside an office desk.

He crouched in front of the cabinet, took out a tissue, wiped the drawer handle, and then opened it.

Unexpectedly, upon pulling it open, he saw something rather scandalous. Inside the drawer, two Barbie-pink envelopes lay quietly. They were clearly love letters.

The envelopes were sealed with heart-shaped stickers that showed signs of having been torn open. Three small characters were written on them: "To Zhao Shuang."

How thrilling, reading someone's love letters in a horror instance.

Gu Mian, with no moral compunction whatsoever, tore open an envelope and began to read it with relish.

Meanwhile, Cang Yue and Wang Chuan had also found something: a photograph of Zhao Shuang with another man, discovered on Zhao Shuang's desk. Their company only had three offices, and this man in the photo with Zhao Shuang was from the office next door. His name was Sun Zihao, and he had died on October 1st.

"Are they a couple?" Wang Chuan looked at the photo. After entering the instance, they had received basic information about it, but many details hadn't been provided, such as the possible romantic relationship between Zhao Shuang and Sun Zihao.

Looking at the photo, Cang Yue broke out in a cold sweat. "If that's true, it's a good thing we didn't kill Zhao Shuang immediately."

If the two were indeed a couple, and if Sun Zihao still had feelings for Zhao Shuang, killing her could anger Sun Zihao and trigger a death pathway.

"This instance is indeed very cunning," Wang Chuan also stared at the photo. "The earlier hints about Zhao Shuang not getting along with her colleagues were meant to lead us to our deaths."

Cang Yue frowned and put the photo in his pocket. "If killing Zhao Shuang triggers a death pathway, then what is the true life pathway?"

This instance is becoming more and more convoluted, and our previous theories are beginning to crumble, Cang Yue thought. The truth can only be found if Zhao Shuang recovers her memory of that day. Only then can we deduce the life pathway. He continued searching. "Let's hurry and find more clues. Maybe if we show this photo to Zhao Shuang, she'll remember something."

Keke had been searching the office by herself, but before she could search for long, Gu Mian emerged from the utility room and casually tossed two love letters to her.

Keke caught the love letters, glanced at the seals, and tore them open. "These are..."

These were the love letters Sun Zihao wrote to Zhao Shuang.

But Sun Zihao was already long dead. Keke remembered that Sun Zihao's name wasn't among the eight people who had gone missing.

"These two were lovers," Keke said. It feels a bit inappropriate to say 'were lovers' since one of them is still alive, but now isn't the time to fuss over wording. "Sun Zihao is dead, and they were lovers... Perhaps Sun Zihao is the life pathway for this instance?"

If Sun Zihao loved Zhao Shuang deeply, he might continue to protect her even as a ghost. In that case, staying by Zhao Shuang's side would be the life pathway for this instance.

"But I don't know whether the accident on October 1st was a coincidence or something else. I always feel like the accident is related to Zhao Shuang, but I can't find a clue... Maybe things are not as simple as we think..."

As she spoke, she looked at Gu Mian, but he seemed to have little interest in what she was saying.

Keke fell silent. Fair enough. To Gu Mian, life pathways and death pathways were all the same; he never bothered to look for such things.

"What do you plan to do next?" she asked Gu Mian.

Gu Mian casually flipped through an account book on the desk, which belonged to someone in the company's finance department. "Explore the mysteries of the world and strive to save humanity."

Right, that's as good as no answer at all. Keke twisted her neck, no longer intending to speak with Gu Mian.

"The bus they used for the team-building trip was rented," Gu Mian, still flipping through the account book, suddenly said. "There's an entry for the vehicle rental here."