Bai Liu put down his pen after explaining his theory. It rolled across the table twice before stopping near Mu Sicheng, whose face was completely expressionless.
Bai Liu's attitude remained calm, as if he hadn't just said anything horrifying. Finally, he looked at the numb Mu Sicheng and sincerely added, "Of course, this is only my personal speculation. It might not actually be true."
The narrow rental apartment fell into a long silence. Only the wind occasionally brushed past Bai Liu's fingers, lifting the sheet of paper on which he had written what might be the truth of the world.
It was midsummer. Brilliant sunlight streamed in through the window behind Bai Liu. It was already noon, and the cicadas' noisy cries mingled with the honking of cars outside.
Yet these vivid sights and sounds that made the world feel real seemed to fade into black-and-white for Mu Sicheng. It was like Bai Liu sitting at the desk, watching him quietly against the light—his figure receding into wavering, data-like multidimensional lines before disappearing into the narrow slit of his half-closed eyes.
The moment Bai Liu put down the pen, Mu Sicheng felt his ears ring. For an instant, even his breathing felt unreal.
Was reality just a game?
He had done everything he could to keep this promised land separate from the place where his despicable desires existed—only to discover it might also be just a game.
Mu Sicheng slumped back in the chair. One hand covered his eyes while the other hung limply at his side. He stayed silent for a long time.
Bai Liu didn't disturb him.
After a while, Mu Sicheng let out a cold laugh and asked hoarsely, "Bai Liu, are you making up something this terrifying just to convince me to join the league? This is fake, right? It isn't true, right?"
"Most truths in this world are terrifying," Bai Liu replied as he stood up. He folded the paper with his notes and placed it inside a book before turning back to Mu Sicheng. "Otherwise, where would we get material for horror games?"
Mu Sicheng stared at him.
Bai Liu shrugged. "You seem unwilling to accept it. Emotionally, I suppose I should give you some buffer space. It might not be the third possibility. The first and second options still exist."
Mu Sicheng fell silent.
Wasn't that practically the same as insisting it was the third one?
He sat there numbly for a long time before asking blankly, "Bai Liu, if our reality is just a game, then where is the real reality? Does a real reality even exist? What is real to us? Why aren't you afraid of this game-like world?"
Bai Liu wasn't overwhelmed by the barrage of questions. He thought for a moment before answering.
"I've been asking myself what reality is since I was a teenager, and what truly matters to me," Bai Liu said. "Aside from my best friend, most of my peers couldn't understand me. Later, I realized they might never think about these questions their entire lives, yet still live perfectly well in such a 'false' reality."
"It doesn't matter whether reality is a game or not. Believe me, for most people, it changes nothing. If I interpret it from an objective, idealistic perspective, a human's perception of themselves and the world forms their value system. As long as 'I' am real and what 'I' pursue is real, then that world is real to 'me.'"
Bai Liu spoke calmly.
"It doesn't matter to me whether this world is a game or something else."
"As long as human currency exists, my desire for money won't disappear. That is my truth."
"If you can't find your own meaning right now, would you like to try using mine?" Bai Liu took the key hanging behind the door and looked at Mu Sicheng sincerely. "You can try pursuing something tangible—like the 500 million points awarded to the championship team."
"Then you might be able to use money to buy the truth you want." Bai Liu opened the door. "With 500 million points, you could probably buy a planet and create the kind of real world you desire."
Mu Sicheng's expression twisted. After a long silence, he said, "Bai Liu, have you ever been involved in a pyramid scheme?"
This madman's twisted logic had once again persuaded him.
"So what's your answer?" Bai Liu raised an eyebrow. "Will you join the league?"
Mu Sicheng gritted his teeth. "I'll participate!" Then he quickly added, "But we need five players, right? How are we going to manage that?"
"You don't need to worry about it. I'll handle it. Just wait for my notice." Bai Liu paused, then asked, "I'm going out to eat hotpot with my friend. Do you want to come?"
Mu Sicheng fell silent.
How are you still in the mood for hotpot?
Perhaps his expression was too obvious. Bai Liu pulled two discount coupons from his pocket and waved them lightly. "I got two coupons for a hotpot restaurant. If I don't use them today, they'll expire."
Mu Sicheng was speechless.
He simply couldn't compare to Bai Liu, whose psychological resilience was practically abnormal. Still shaken by Bai Liu's worldview, Mu Sicheng declined the invitation. After exchanging contact information and addresses, he decided to return to the dormitory alone to contemplate life.
Meanwhile, Bai Liu walked out with his two hotpot coupons, looking perfectly content. It didn't seem like he had just survived a life-and-death game or revealed a terrifying theory about the nature of reality.
Mu Sicheng sighed helplessly. "You seem to be in a good mood."
"Yes," Bai Liu admitted, his eyes curving as he smiled. "It's my time off work now. Of course, I'm in a good mood."
Mu Sicheng was speechless once again. He suddenly remembered Bai Liu's horror-game theory about going to work.
Fuck!! This guy really feels like he just got off work!
What kind of environment had produced such a monster with this level of psychological resilience?
Bai Liu said goodbye to the dazed Mu Sicheng and went to find Lu Yizhan. When he woke up earlier, he had seen that Lu Yizhan had called him twice, but he hadn't answered because he had been inside the game. Bai Liu later sent him a text asking what was wrong, and Lu Yizhan replied that they needed to talk face to face.
Speaking of a face-to-face conversation, Bai Liu realized he would likely be out of contact for the next two months. If he simply disappeared without explanation, Lu Yizhan would definitely report him missing once he couldn't reach him. Bai Liu thought it necessary to explain things in person, so he made an appointment with Lu Yizhan at a hotpot restaurant via text, planning to have a proper talk.
Bai Liu arrived relatively early, and the restaurant was empty. He ordered the broth and some dishes. After confirming with the owner that the coupons were still valid, he sat and waited obediently.
Before leaving, the owner turned on the TV for Bai Liu. It was showing the noon news. Bai Liu glanced at the screen and saw a photo of Li Gou with his eyes pixelated.
On the screen, a male anchor in a suit sat with his hands folded on the desk, delivering the report in a formal tone.
"Welcome to 'Noon News.' Key evidence has finally been found in the case of criminal suspect Li… If the charges are confirmed, Li could face the death penalty. However, before the trial took place, Li was killed in prison and dismembered by a fellow inmate surnamed Wang, who was also serving time for murder…"
The anchor lowered his head, turned a page of his script, and continued.
"Recently, a small-scale food poisoning incident occurred at a private children's welfare home in our city. Several children were rushed to the hospital. After police intervention, it was discovered that the welfare home was on the verge of closure due to poor management and had purchased large quantities of cheap ingredients. Many of the ingredients were spoiled, leading to diarrhea and vomiting among the children. In severe cases, there was dehydration and shock… We call upon all sectors of society to donate to support the welfare home…"
Bai Liu was watching with interest when Lu Yizhan walked in, looking exhausted and dusty.
At a glance, Bai Liu recognized the classic expression of an overworked corporate employee. It was obvious Lu Yizhan had been staying up late recently.
Lu Yizhan sat down, poured himself some tea, and took a few large gulps. Then he looked at Bai Liu and began complaining bitterly.
"I'm going crazy! You have no idea how busy I've been lately! I'm swamped! I don't even have time to drink a cup of tea in the morning!"
"Hasn't it only been a few days since we last had a meal together?" Bai Liu raised an eyebrow. "Is preparing for marriage really that terrible?"
Lu Yizhan waved his hand tiredly. Then he noticed the news still playing on the TV, and his expression changed. Lowering his voice, he called over the waiter.
"It's not just about the wedding. Waiter, could we switch to a private room?"
Since there weren't many customers, the waiter happily moved them to a private room.
The moment they entered, Lu Yizhan's expression turned solemn. He took out a cigarette and lit it.
Bai Liu hadn't seen him smoke in a long time. After getting a girlfriend, Lu Yizhan had become a model boyfriend. He quit bad habits like smoking, gaming, and playing cards. If he ever went out, he would only sneak a bottle of Coke behind his girlfriend's back—no, fiancée's back.
Lu Yizhan's fiancée firmly believed that Coke killed sperm and harmed the body, so she strictly forbade him from drinking any carbonated beverages. In this regard, Bai Liu felt fortunate that she didn't know beer was also carbonated. Otherwise, Lu Yizhan would lose his only pleasure of drinking beer with barbecue.
Bai Liu smiled calmly and looked at Lu Yizhan, who was smoking with a bitter expression.
"Should I be anxiously asking what's wrong right now? Lu Yizhan, why are you smoking? Didn't you swear you'd never touch a 'soft drug' like cigarettes again unless the world collapsed? What happened? Surely your world didn't collapse in the few days we didn't see each other, right?"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Lu Yizhan choked on his cigarette after being teased. He couldn't help laughing. With his upright and traditionally handsome features—very popular among elders—his smile made him look simple and good-natured.
"Bai Liu, just ask your questions! Why do you have to bring up my embarrassing history?!"
"Go on." Bai Liu poured him another cup of tea and pushed it across the table. "I'm off work now, so I can spare a little of my precious time to listen to the life troubles that made your world collapse."
"Preparing for marriage is indeed troublesome," Lu Yizhan took the teacup that Bai Liu handed him and fell silent for a few seconds. "However, the most annoying thing isn't getting married. Did you see the news about the welfare home on TV just now?"
Bai Liu nodded. "I saw it. What's wrong?"
"My colleague is handling the case," Lu Yizhan said with a frown. "He said it doesn't look like ordinary food poisoning. Many of the children are in emergency care, and the exact cause still hasn't been determined."
"They were poisoned by mushrooms. You and I both grew up in welfare homes. Mirror City isn't a place where mushrooms are commonly produced. They're expensive, and welfare homes rarely buy them—not only because of the cost, but because they can easily cause accidents. And this is a private welfare home on the verge of bankruptcy…"
"In short, something feels off. But the current approach seems to be focused on preserving the welfare home. Without a proper investigation, there's no way to guarantee the safety of the children staying there…"
"It sounds complicated," Bai Liu said calmly. "But what does it have to do with you? You might be a police officer, Lu Yizhan, but this isn't your case, right?"
Lu Yizhan fell silent for a moment. "I volunteered to join the investigative team."
Bai Liu glanced at him but said nothing.
"You know I'm getting married soon. Sister Dian—my fiancée—hasn't been in good health. The doctor said she'll likely have difficulty getting pregnant. We've been discussing whether we should adopt a child…" Lu Yizhan's fingers tightened around his cup as he gave a bitter smile. "Bai Liu, I know you probably think I'm being impulsive. My financial situation isn't great right now…"
He took a slow breath. "I talked it over with Sister Dian, and we've decided to adopt a child from this welfare home. At the very least, it would mean one less child in such an unstable environment. I grew up in a welfare home, too. You could say it's my way of giving back."
"You know I don't agree with you," Bai Liu said evenly. "So why are you telling me this? What do you want me to do?"
Lu Yizhan lowered his head and fiddled with an unlit cigarette. The waiter arrived and placed the spicy hotpot between the two silent men. Steam curled into the air.
After a long pause, Lu Yizhan muttered, "Bai Liu, I didn't want to drag you into something like this… but you're too good at this sort of thing."
"If it involves anything criminal, you can almost immediately predict the other party's next move. You're a genius in this area."
Bai Liu took a sip of tea, his expression unchanged. "I'll take that as a compliment. This isn't the first time you've meddled in something and come to me for help. If you have a problem, just say it."
"Can you help me figure out what happened this time?" Lu Yizhan lifted his head and looked straight at him. "My colleague's investigation has stalled. The last time I asked you about something like this, you gave me the right direction. So…"
He hesitated, clearly struggling to continue. "I know I'm sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. But now that I know about it, I can't just stand by. They're children…"
Bai Liu raised his hands and snapped open a pair of disposable chopsticks, cutting him off before he could finish.
"I can help," Bai Liu said. "But not for free. Same old rules—the meal's on you."
Lu Yizhan was already used to Bai Liu's idea of compensation.
"And I only have one day to be 'nosy' with you," Bai Liu added. "I'm leaving on a business trip tomorrow. I won't be back for two months."
Lu Yizhan blinked in surprise. "Two months? That long? What exactly do you do for work? The performance job you mentioned last time wouldn't take two months, would it?"
Bai Liu paused. Then, thinking of the game's shielding mechanism, he changed his wording.
"This time, I'll be teaming up with a monkey and a young master. We'll be performing on stage, playing games for the audience, for two months."
"..." Lu Yizhan's expression turned extremely complicated. "Is your job actually legal?"
"It's legal."
"A monkey and a young master… legally playing games on stage for two months…" Lu Yizhan pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh. He looked at Bai Liu with certainty. "You're part of a circus troupe, right? You're going on tour for two months?"
"..." Bai Liu was silent for a few seconds. "Yes."
-----------------
After returning home, Bai Liu reviewed the materials and background information about the private welfare institution that Lu Yizhan had given him.
In this world, most children's welfare homes were public institutions established by the government. The one Bai Liu and Lu Yizhan had grown up in was one of them.
Lu Yizhan had been raised to become a kind and grateful young man, determined from childhood to serve society as a police officer. As for Bai Liu, the so-called freak—he had emerged from the same place with nothing but a desire for money. If Lu Yizhan hadn't vigilantly kept dragging him back onto the lawful path, it was hard to say what a madman like Bai Liu might have done for profit.
But this welfare home was different.
It was a private children's welfare institution founded a decade ago by a group of wealthy corporate philanthropists.
At the time, many of these entrepreneurs were said to be terminally ill. Following the traditional belief of "doing good before death," they had donated a large sum of money to establish the welfare home, claiming they wished to accumulate virtue before passing away. They received widespread praise. Even Lu Yizhan had once spoken highly of their actions.
Coincidentally, not long after the welfare home was built, several of those entrepreneurs experienced unexpected improvements in their illnesses, as if "good is rewarded with good."
However, "doing good before death" also implied that once death no longer seemed imminent, enthusiasm for charity diminished. Over the years, these entrepreneurs gradually lost interest in the welfare home. Without sustained funding or oversight, the private institution slowly declined over the course of a decade.
As Bai Liu read through the files, he understood why something had felt wrong to him.
This poorly managed private welfare home had a long record of incidents, most of them various cases of mushroom poisoning. But this latest case was the most severe.
According to Lu Yizhan, the repeated food poisoning incidents, taken together, did not look accidental. Yet every investigation had concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Each time, the cause was determined to be either deliberate poisoning without proof or simple accidental food contamination. This time was no different.
It was as though some higher power had erased every clue beyond the explanation of "accidental food poisoning."
Lu Yizhan even suspected corruption within the police force—that someone had deliberately wiped away traces of a crime.
From the perspective of an inhuman game designer, this was perfect material for a horror scenario: a failing children's welfare home, a series of strange poisonings, and children dying tragically from contaminated food.
Lu Yizhan suspected that a person had erased the evidence. But Bai Liu was far more inclined to believe that it wasn't a person erasing the traces at all. If his previous guess was correct—
Bai Liu suspected that the children's welfare home was likely a horror game instance being projected into the real world.
Early the next morning, he was woken by a barrage of phone calls from Lu Yizhan. The moment he answered, Lu Yizhan's voice was more serious than he had ever heard it.
"Bai Liu, come to Mirror City First People's Hospital. The children who were sent here last night—"
"A lot of them died, didn't they?" Bai Liu asked calmly.
On the other end, Lu Yizhan inhaled sharply, then slowly exhaled. "Did you find something?"
"Not yet," Bai Liu replied honestly. "But from the information you gave me, if someone was deliberately poisoning them and repeated it so many times, then the purpose must have been to kill. This time, the situation escalated so severely that the mushrooms the hospitalized children ate were probably lethal."
"…Yes. Many of them couldn't be saved." Lu Yizhan's voice was dry and strained. "But one child survived."
"One child survived?" Bai Liu immediately sensed something was wrong.
If the welfare home truly was a horror game instance being inserted into reality by the system, then the children who served as background elements of the scenario would likely be wiped out, just like the passengers in the Exploding Last Train instance.
Bai Liu lowered his voice. "Can I come over?"
"Yes. Come."
-----------------
Bai Liu dressed quickly and headed to the hospital.
Outside, reporters from various news outlets crowded the entrance, their cameras flashing incessantly.
Lu Yizhan met him near the elevator by the operating rooms. As Bai Liu passed by, he saw rows of small bodies covered in white sheets. There were so many that some hadn't yet been transported away. They were stacked together, turning the operating room into a temporary morgue.
Nurses with numb expressions moved back and forth, wheeling the bodies away. Occasionally, a stretcher would bump into the wall, and a small hand would slip out from beneath the white cloth.
Dark purplish livor mortis and swollen hematomas mottled the children's skin in irregular, mushroom-like patterns. It looked as though, at any moment, fungi might burst through their flesh.
The sour, fermenting stench of mushrooms filled the operating room. It was as if the mushrooms the children had mistakenly eaten had fermented overnight within their bodies, using the corpses as culture media, thriving and rotting with fungal vitality.
Bai Liu calmly withdrew his gaze.
He turned to Lu Yizhan and waited until they were past the operating room before speaking in a low voice. "Are you sure they died last night? There's something wrong with the rate of decomposition."
"Yes." Lu Yizhan rubbed his forehead. "The livor mortis appeared too quickly, and the progression of rigor mortis is abnormal."
Bai Liu narrowed his eyes. "How abnormal?"
Lu Yizhan stopped at the stairwell and leaned against the wall. He lit a cigarette and took several drags in quick succession. Smoke gathered heavily in the corner, betraying his agitation.
"Livor mortis appeared only minutes after death was confirmed. It spread rapidly. That typically happens more than twenty-four hours after death." He pressed his thumb against his brow, trying to smooth the deep furrow there, but it didn't help. "The bodies stiffened almost immediately. Early this morning, they had already entered the softening and early decomposition stage. That shouldn't happen until more than twenty-four hours postmortem."
He paused before finishing quietly, "It's as if… these poisoned children died before they were ever brought to the hospital."
They continued walking and reached the stairwell of the children's emergency ward. Through the half-open emergency exit door, they could see more small bodies laid out in the corridor, their heads covered. Nurses were sealing them into body bags.
The faces of the dead children were not the typical bluish-white of corpses. Instead, they were covered in multicolored, raised blotches.
Bai Liu knew certain types of mushroom poisoning could cause severe allergic-like skin reactions. But the spots on these children were so densely packed they resembled an Ishihara color blindness test. They protruded visibly from the skin's surface.
Bai Liu did not have trypophobia, yet even he felt a faint discomfort.
It looked as though their faces were covered in mushrooms that had not yet sprouted.