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Chapter 87

The attack Jiang Xiuxiu was referring to wasn’t just a simple in-game attack but one that could truly harm her in a real world.

 

The other person obviously understood Jiang Xiuxiu's concern and nodded repeatedly, saying, "That’s only natural."

 

After that, Jiang Xiuxiu discussed the details of her job and compensation with the customer service representative. 

 

For example, when she would start working and where she would work.

 

The other party’s response put Jiang Xiuxiu at ease: “We will give you an internal beta testing slot. You just need to play the game from home.”

 

Perhaps thinking of something, the representative added, “Of course, you can also invite your teammates or friends to enter the game with you.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Xiuxiu was delighted.

 

That’s right—this way, she could continue to play with Ye Ming in the game.

 

After chatting a bit more with the customer service representative and confirming the game entry time and safety precautions, she hung up the phone.

 

She then shared this news with Ye Ming.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu: “I’ve made my decision, and I’ve told them I’ll go.”

 

Jiang Xiuxiu: “Thank you for helping me figure things out. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known how to make a decision.”

 

Ye Ming: “No problem.”

 

Ye Ming: “I just gave you some advice. In the end, it was you who made the decision.”

 

Jiang Xiuxiu and Ye Ming continued to chat for a while.

 

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiuxiu didn’t forget to follow the customer service instructions and apply for her account to become a beta tester, gaining advanced permissions and protection.

 

She was planning to mention this to Ye Ming, but the customer service representative, seeming to know her situation well, specifically reminded her to do that after she completed the process.

 

“Don’t share the details of our conversation, especially anything related to permissions, with anyone,” the representative said sternly. “Not with anyone.”

 

With anyone?

 

Jiang Xiuxiu could only nod.

 

However, before making her final decision to invite Ye Ming, she had shared part of the information with him.

 

It should be fine, right?

 

Jiang Xiuxiu thought to herself.

 

She took her privacy and security very seriously.

 

She rarely revealed her real information online and almost never talked about her family or real-life situation.

 

After all, Ye Ming didn’t know anything about her real-life information. She had never told him that she had cleared three game levels and even won prize money.

 

Even this time, she only told him that she had been noticed by the game company and chosen as a beta tester, which would make things a bit safer.

 

With that in mind, Jiang Xiuxiu decided not to mention the matter to avoid causing trouble for the game staff.

 

Later, she reminded Ye Ming not to share her personal information with others.

 

Ye Ming was very cooperative, immediately assuring her that he wouldn’t tell anyone.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu didn’t think Ye Ming could do anything to threaten the game company or harm her, so she gradually put the matter out of her mind.

 

Since the agreed game time was in three days, Jiang Xiuxiu spent her time finishing some tasks and even invited Ye Ming to play other games with her.

 

With the advent of holographic network, many people could now go online and shop from home or interact with others face-to-face, as if they were in another real world.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu figured that since they couldn’t meet in real life, they might as well spend more time together online.

 

They could log into the holographic network and watch a movie or something.

 

However, despite Jiang Xiuxiu's many suggestions, Ye Ming didn’t show much interest.

 

He regretfully told her that he had been very busy lately and didn’t have time for other online activities, except for playing Fear Survival with her.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu sensed something was off.

 

She also grew more curious about Ye Ming's real-life situation.

 

But Ye Ming seemed unwilling to talk about it. No matter how many times she asked, he always skillfully avoided the topic.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu thought to herself that Ye Ming's family situation was probably complicated and not something he could easily share with outsiders.

 

Once they got to know each other better, he would likely tell her.

 

The next day, Fear Survival released its third major update.

 

At the same time, the game company began selecting beta testers.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu received a special beta testing slot and even pulled some strings to get one for Ye Ming.

 

Time passed quickly, and soon it was time for Jiang Xiuxiu to enter the game again.

 

That day, she contacted Ye Ming and uploaded both their information into the system.

 

Then, she lay down in her modified holographic pod, closed her eyes, and entered the game.

 

In many rumors about City A, there was a widely circulated story called the “Ghost Game.”

 

Some people believed that if one played this game in front of a mirror at midnight, they would see the figure of a deceased person in the reflection.

 

Your role is that of a guest staying at a certain hotel in City A.

 

As the cold, robotic voice of the system narrated this, Jiang Xiuxiu opened her eyes.

 

This was her fourth time entering the game, and she was more experienced compared to the first three times.

 

She quickly scanned her surroundings and realized that she was standing on an open, barren ground.

 

Around her was a thick white fog, and in front of her stood a lonely, dilapidated inn.

 

Is this the setting for this level?

 

Jiang Xiuxiu was surprised. Compared to the previous three game locations, this inn seemed quite small.

 

It looked old, like something from the 1970s or 80s, with its iron door left ajar.

 

The inside of the inn was pitch black, with not a hint of light visible, and nothing could be seen.

 

The door, open and facing the players, was eerily quiet, like a black hole swallowing everything, or the gaping maw of a wild beast, sending chills down one’s spine.

 

After glancing at it, Jiang Xiuxiu quickly looked away.

 

She observed her surroundings and saw that other players were slowly being transported into the game as well.

 

At some point, Ye Ming had also entered the game and quietly approached her.

 

When she looked at him, he smiled gently at her.

 

“Xiuxiu,” he said softly, “long time no see.”

 

“What do you mean long time no see? We just saw each other three days ago,” Jiang Xiuxiu replied with a chuckle.

 

As she spoke, she noticed that Ye Ming was holding a suitcase.

 

Everyone was carrying a suitcase, including herself.

 

Their roles this time were travelers staying at the inn, so having luggage made sense.

 

But what did the "Ghost Game" mentioned by the system have to do with this inn?

 

Jiang Xiuxiu couldn’t figure it out, but she knew that once the game started and the plot unfolded, she would find out soon enough.

 

As for the fact that she would inevitably encounter Xu Bai after entering the game...

 

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiuxiu couldn't help but touch the bracelet on her arm.

 

This bracelet was her safeguard as a specially appointed tester.

 

Not only could the bracelet locate her position in the game, allowing the system to monitor her status, but it also had a special button. 

 

If Jiang Xiuxiu urgently needed to exit the game, pressing the button would send a distress signal to the system through the bracelet.

 

As long as she wasn’t foolish enough to take off the bracelet, there wouldn’t be any issues.

 

"What’s wrong?"

 

Noticing something off in Jiang Xiuxiu’s expression, Ye Ming blinked and suddenly asked.

 

"Nothing," Jiang Xiuxiu quickly shook her head. "I was just curious about what kind of plot this level will have."

 

Speaking of which, the number of players entering the game this time was also sixteen.

 

Is there something odd? Ever since she met Ye Ming, the number of players always seemed to be sixteen.

 

But in the first round of the game, she remembered there were fifteen people.

 

"Players, please enter the inn to begin the game."

 

Just as Jiang Xiuxiu was feeling puzzled, a message appeared before her eyes.

 

It seemed the system had reached the time limit for players to prepare.

 

Many players had learned to proactively find teammates online beforehand, so the time allowed for socializing and forming teams was significantly reduced.

 

The white mist surrounding the players gradually receded, revealing a path leading directly to the inn ahead.

 

Without hesitation, the players began walking forward.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu, carrying her suitcase, walked alongside Ye Ming.

 

Before long, she saw a familiar screen pop up:

 

“Player Jiang Xiuxiu is a veteran player. Special abilities and mission objectives have already been assigned.”

 

Special ability: Costume Changing Skill.

 

Mission: Dress the boss in the specified outfit.

 

“Would you like to receive the mission item?”

 

Please don’t let the mission item be something weird again...

 

With a resigned expression, Jiang Xiuxiu thought, “Receive.”

 

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Xiuxiu felt something light and soft appear in her hand.

 

Without expression, she unfolded it and discovered that it was a cute and innocent-looking JK uniform.

 

A JK uniform is similar to Japanese school uniforms, resembling sailor suits but also having blazer-style versions.

 

Usually, many cute girls like to buy these outfits, which have a very distinct Japanese style and make them look like anime characters.

 

The white blouse had delicate pink stripes embroidered around the collar.

 

Below the collar was an adorable pink bow, giving off a very sweet and lovely vibe.

 

Along with the blouse came a plain skirt—a slightly short pink pleated skirt that reached just to the knees, covering most of the thighs.

 

Perhaps, because of stricter content controls, the system didn’t assign her anything ridiculous like cat-tail underwear or a bunny costume, but instead provided a rather proper outfit.

 

No, wait. As long as it’s a girl’s outfit, it’s never really "proper," right?

 

Jiang Xiuxiu sighed heavily and covered her face.

 

Have her standards really fallen this low? Or has she already been brainwashed by the system?

 

Looking at the outfit, she actually felt relieved, and even thought it wasn’t bad.

 

If she gave it to Xu Bai to wear, along with a pink bow headband, it might turn out super cute.

 

Wait—did she just imagine Xu Bai wearing this outfit?

 

Has she completely lost her mind?

 

No, Jiang Xiuxiu, you can't keep going down this path!

 

"What’s this?"

 

Just as Jiang Xiuxiu folded the outfit and was about to stuff it into her suitcase, she heard Ye Ming's voice.

 

He tilted his head slightly, eyeing the clothes in her hand with interest. "Is that your mission item?"

 

"Yeah," Jiang Xiuxiu said, "What do you think? Is it cute?"

 

As she spoke, she showed the outfit to Ye Ming.

 

Although the system’s items were always rather unique, she had to admit that the system's taste in clothes was very much in line with hers.

 

A cute pink JK uniform—it just looked adorable!

 

What she hadn’t expected was Ye Ming’s response. After looking at the pink skirt in her hand, he chuckled softly and said, "Not cute."

 

Jiang Xiuxiu: ...

 

Not cute?

 

Curious, Jiang Xiuxiu asked, "So what kind of clothes do you like?"

 

Ye Ming: "Something simple and modest."

 

Then, he added, "Ideally, something appropriate for the person’s role."

 

Jiang Xiuxiu: ...

 

What’s that supposed to mean?

 

She initially thought Ye Ming was joking, but when she looked up, she realized he was being quite serious.

 

Jiang Xiuxiu: ...

 

It’s not even for him to wear, so why the big reaction?

 

She silently grumbled to herself and then stuffed the outfit into her suitcase.

 

Afterward, they followed the other players into the inn.

 

Once the last person stepped into the level, the system’s notification sound echoed:

 

"Beep—All players are now in place. The first escape game instance, 'Specter Inn,' is officially starting."

 

"All players, please note: during the game, be sure to carefully play your assigned roles."

 

"Under no circumstances should you let NPCs detect your true origins. Do not let the NPCs realize their true identities."

 

"Any unforeseen events will be at your own risk."

 

The game will start in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...