Chapter 32: The Little Liar

Lu Xi pursed her lips and looked away, her face flushing a deep red all the way down to her neck.

"What's wrong with you?" Ji Chenling activated his truth-compulsion ability again. "What is my dear sister thinking about?"

Lu Xi’s body stiffened, and her mouth betrayed her, blurting out, "I’m thinking... it’s quite embarrassing to be flirting with a man for the first time."

*Oh no!*

*Why did I say that out loud?!*

*How humiliating!*

*Heaven help me!*

Lu Xi’s head turned an even deeper shade of crimson. Whether it was her answer or her shy reaction, Ji Chenling was amused once again.

The classroom was currently trapped in a strange, oppressive silence; someone had just died, and the atmosphere was stifling. Yet, in the midst of this, Ji Chenling had laughed out loud.

*Good heavens, it’s even creepier now.*

Everyone turned to look at them in unison.

Ji Yunxuan frowned. Is this man insane? Is he really a player? Or is he just some psychopathic NPC in disguise? How could he have the heart to flirt with Lu Xi at a time like this?

Strangely, Teacher Qin on the podium acted as if he hadn't seen the scene at all.

"Alright, everyone, take a ten-minute break before we continue with the next round of the game."

Meanwhile, the group chat created by Ji Yunxuan was buzzing with frantic messages.

"Are everyone in this group players?"

"Yes, yes. This is my third instance."

"There are so many players this time."

"This instance is a bit weird."

"Is Teacher Qin a ghost? Does anyone have any offensive skills? Let’s just cut him down and stop him from causing any more trouble."

"You do it if you're so capable. We all trade for our skills by clearing instance worlds; they cost a fortune in points, so we aren't going to waste them unless absolutely necessary."

The small group chattered on endlessly. When the ten-minute break ended, the second round began.

Lu Xi prayed silently and clicked the draw button. The person who had died miserably in the first round didn't seem to be a player, but an NPC—likely a way to warn the players about the game's rules and the ultimate fate that awaited them.

Nobody wanted to be the "royalty"; everyone desperately hoped to remain a "commoner" forever. The first round had been a visual demonstration of the rules, but now... this was the first round in the true sense of the game.

Her original self was an unlucky soul with infamously terrible luck. Whenever she encountered a segment that didn't require strength or intellect, the original Lu Xi was invariably doomed. At this point in time, according to the original plot of the novel, the original girl should have been dead for a long time, with grass likely growing over her grave by now.

As it turned out, Murphy’s Law held true: the things you fear most are the most likely to happen.

After the draw, seeing the glaring "Lu Xi" on the screen, Lu Xi’s mouth twitched.

"Lu Xi?!" Meng Yuanyuan suddenly looked up, staring toward the back of the classroom with eyes full of worry and urgency. To her, Lu Xi was a savior; she naturally didn't want her to die.

The players who knew Lu Xi were also stunned. Jiang Chen looked at her, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He hadn't expected their fate to end here. *Goodbye, Miss Lu.*

The person involved was dumbfounded, her fingertips gripping her phone tightly. Although she knew there was a probability she would be chosen, when it actually happened, her mind went blank.

"Please come up, student," Teacher Qin said with a sinister smile.

Lu Xi didn't move.

"Student Lu Xi, please come up," Teacher Qin repeated.

Lu Xi bit her lip and took a deep breath. Gathering her courage, she stood up from her seat. *Forget it, I’ll just have to deal with whatever comes. The worst-case scenario is just death. I’ve already died once, so there’s really nothing to be afraid of. I never belonged in this world anyway...*

Lu Xi prayed silently, hoping only that the ghost would kill her quickly—no pain, just quick. She was afraid of pain.

Jiang Yanyan, sitting in another group, curled her lips in an almost imperceptible smile, looking as if she were in a very good mood.

"Sister," Ji Chenling suddenly took her hand.

"Hmm?" Lu Xi looked down at the ethereal young man. He sat in his seat, looking up at her with a bright, radiant smile.

"Sister, will you stay by my side forever?" he asked.

Lu Xi was dejected. "I’m not in the mood for sentimentality. I’m about to kick the bucket."

"How could that be?" Ji Chenling’s expression was calm, his beautiful eyes filled with light, shallow amusement as he gently stroked her hand.

"Is my hand soft?" Lu Xi was speechless. "You’re still trying to take advantage of me at a time like this? You’re really too much."

"If student Lu Xi doesn't want to come up, then let the entire class suffer the punishment together," Teacher Qin said, tapping the blackboard.

The classroom erupted in an uproar.

"That Lu Xi, don't go too far!" a yellow-haired boy stood up and yelled at her, his tone harsh. "Get up there already!"

Ji Chenling shot a cold glance at him, his gaze pitch-black and filled with suffocating pressure. The boy was terrified by his presence and instantly fell silent.

Ji Chenling turned back, stood up, and faced Lu Xi.

"Let’s try a different question," he curled his lips. "Do you want to stay by my side forever?"

Always and forever... never leaving.

Would she?

Locked in eye contact, the young girl stared blankly into those enchanting peach-blossom eyes. They were too beautiful, dark as the night, like a siren capable of stealing one's soul.

"I... suppose so," Lu Xi said, experiencing infatuation for the first time in her life.

The young man’s eyes were deep as he parted his lips: "Liar."

*Little liar.*

He didn't use his truth-compulsion ability again. Yet, for the first time in his life, he wanted to hear a lie. Ji Chenling felt he might be falling ill again; his madness had never truly healed. Otherwise, he couldn't explain why he, who had always loathed deception, wanted so desperately to hear her lie to him.

"Stay here and don't move." With that, Ji Chenling let go of her hand and turned to leave.

"Ji Chenling!" Lu Xi cried out in shock, reaching for him, but she grabbed only air.

Ji Chenling was tall with long legs, and he walked with large strides directly toward the podium. The classroom was deathly silent, everyone watching the scene in hushed awe.

A sneer appeared on Jiang Chen’s face. *This guy actually dares to play the hero saving the beauty in a death game? He doesn't even know if he has the strength for it.*

But the scene that followed made all the players gasp in horror.

Ji Chenling’s smile faded as he stepped right in front of Teacher Qin. Without a single word of nonsense, he reached out, grabbed him, and pulled with force.

He ripped the ghost's head clean off.

He walked to the window and tossed it out casually. The sound of the heavy object hitting the ground was particularly clear in the night. The cool night breeze blew in through the open window, helping everyone regain their senses.

The students, having come to their wits, widened their eyes, looking at Ji Chenling as if they had seen a ghost.

"Holy crap, brother, is your skill 'Super Strength'?" a player exclaimed.

*It was solved just like that? That’s impossible, right? Oh my god!*

Ji Chenling walked off the podium, grabbed a few wet wipes from someone’s desk, and began to wipe his long, slender fingers with poise. He ignored the player's exclamation entirely. His eyes could see no one but Lu Xi.

After he finished cleaning his hands, the school bell rang over the broadcast system. The evening study session was over.

Lu Xi stared blankly at the ethereal young man walking toward her.

"Let’s go, I’ll walk you back to the dormitory." Ji Chenling took her hand and led her straight out the door.

"Wait!" Jiang Yanyan came jogging over from behind, calling out to them.