Lu Ji’s heartbeat thundered in his chest as he watched Gu Jiu pull him into an empty train compartment.
It felt as if all the blood and warmth in his body had surged to the hand she was holding. Her grip wasn’t strong—he could have easily pulled away with just a light effort and escaped this situation—but he couldn’t summon the will to let go.
All he could do was lower his head in restraint.
Gu Jiu turned to face Lu Ji, her gaze landing on her face.
She stood silently, hisherexpression slightly stiff, not much different from her usual demeanor. She looked obedient, as if no matter what she did, she wouldn’t object.
But Gu Jiu noticed a subtle change—the tips of her ears were gradually turning red under her gaze.
How cute. (TL: The roles seems reversed)
“Ah Ji, are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Gu Jiu asked, her eyes scanning her from her face downward.
Wherever her gaze landed, it seemed to set him on fire. Lu Ji swallowed hard, trying his best to steady his voice. “I’m not uncomfortable anywhere.”
In truth, as long as she stopped looking at him like that, he would be perfectly fine.
Gu Jiu reached out and tugged at his long black trench coat. “Take it off. It looks dirty.”
Lu Ji: !!!
Under her watchful eyes, Lu Ji awkwardly took off his trench coat. Beneath it, he wore a fitted gray shirt tucked neatly into black trousers, paired with flat-soled Martin boots. His outfit was androgynously sharp, exuding a cool, captivating charm.
As she hesitated over whether to remove more, Gu Jiu grabbed his hand and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to examine his arms.
Lu Ji’s skin was exceptionally pale, almost sickly so. Her arms weren’t too thin or too muscular—just perfectly proportioned. The translucent fairness of her skin revealed faint blue veins underneath. Her blood felt cool, devoid of warmth, making her entire presence radiate an icy air.
Gu Jiu carefully examined her hands for a while before moving on to other areas.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity for Lu Ji, she finished her inspection and smiled. “You really aren’t hurt. That’s a relief.”
Lu Ji: ??? That’s it?!
Wasn’t this supposed to be a thorough check? And all she did was make me take off my coat?
Gu Jiu noticed her silent expression and added, “Ah Ji, your clothes are in great condition. The quality seems good. Of course, it’s also thanks to you being amazing—you’re not hurt at all. That’s wonderful.”
Even though Lu Ji, in her eyes, was a pitiful little thing who needed protecting, she didn’t deny her abilities. As her partner, Gu Jiu had complete trust in her.
Lu Ji pressed his lips together, unable to suppress a vague sense of disappointment.
It wasn’t like he wanted Gu Jiu to actually strip him down for an inspection, but when she didn’t, he felt oddly unsettled. The worst-case scenario would’ve just been… her seeing…
“But Ah Ji, your chest is pretty flat. You should drink more milk,” Gu Jiu teased with a playful grin, her tone as casual as a close friend’s. “Are you thirsty? I have some boxed milk here.”
Lu Ji: “…A little.”
What he wanted to say wasn’t this!
By the time a box of milk was shoved into Lu Ji’s hand, his expression was so bewildered he couldn’t muster any words. He could only stand there, mechanically drinking milk beside her as they leaned against the compartment wall, shoulder to shoulder.
He actually had plenty of milk with him—prepared for the young lady who loved dairy products—but he certainly didn’t need it to, well, enhance anything. However, such thoughts swirled in his mind for a while before he gave up on voicing them.
When the milk box was empty, Gu Jiu held the carton in her hand and tilted her head to look at her.
From her angle, she could see her somewhat dazed, confused, and slightly lost expression. It was so endearing that she felt an irresistible urge to tease her.
She smiled again.
Lu Ji, still holding his straw in his mouth, turned his head to look at her, his gaze unfocused and dreamy.
“Do you not like milk?” Gu Jiu asked. “If you don’t, you don’t have to force yourself. I’ll drink it instead.”
Without waiting for his answer, she reached over, took the box of milk from his hand, bit onto the straw, and drained the remaining half in a few quick sips.
Lu Ji had no idea what expression to wear as waves of heat surged to his face.
He turned his head slightly, staring at the metal wall of the compartment behind him. In its smooth surface, he could faintly make out the tips of his ears, red enough to drip blood. Thankfully, his face’s complexion seemed normal, which brought him a little relief.
After finishing the milk, Gu Jiu casually tossed the two empty cartons back into her bag. But she showed no intention of leaving.
The two of them remained standing in the compartment, now occupied only by their presence. An ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the silence.
Lu Ji clenched his jaw tightly, desperately wanting to ask Gu Jiu why she had looked at him that way earlier, why she had pulled him into this space, and why she drank the milk he had just been drinking.
But as he caught sight of Gu Jiu’s serene and gentle profile, all those questions seemed to lose their importance.
He loved how peaceful it felt just being with her, even when they weren’t doing anything. He loved how he could catch sight of her with a simple turn of his head. And he loved how she placed absolute trust in him, without any reservations.
Suddenly, he felt a strong urge to say something, to pour his heart out.
“Ah Jiu…”
“Hmm?” Gu Jiu turned her head to him. Behind her glasses, her eyes weren’t particularly bright, yet they were undeniably beautiful. “What is it?”
“I…”
Before Lu Ji could finish his sentence, a head popped out from the next compartment.
Both of them looked up, and Wan Xingzhou instantly felt as if his head was about to be unscrewed. His neck went cold as he nervously blurted, “Young Miss, Ah Ji, the second stop is coming up. Old Hei wants to know if you plan to get off.”
Gu Jiu’s routine of getting off at each stop had been to wait for Lu Ji. Now that he was here, it didn’t matter much whether they got off or not, as long as there was no danger in the train. However, if they wanted to look for clues, disembarking was likely necessary.
After delivering the message, Wan Xingzhou hurriedly disappeared, fearing that even a moment’s delay might result in Lu Ji actually unscrewing his head.
Though Lu Ji hadn’t shown any intention of doing so, the dark, oppressive aura emanating from him was overwhelming enough to drown anyone. It was undoubtedly a reflection of his true feelings.
Gu Jiu straightened up and said to Lu Ji, “Ah Ji, let’s go back.”
She naturally reached out her hand toward him.
Lu Ji’s heart blossomed in an instant. He eagerly grasped her hand, almost intertwining their fingers. But he restrained himself just in time, pulling a small trick instead—wrapping his larger, slender hand around hers.
Gu Jiu seemed not to notice, or perhaps she simply didn’t mind, letting him hold her hand just like that.
Lu Ji’s mood grew increasingly buoyant. For the first time, he thought that entering the Death Train wasn’t such a bad thing. He didn’t understand why Gu Jiu’s attitude toward him seemed different this time, but deep down, he felt a flicker of joy—an irrepressible thought: could it be that Ah Jiu liked him too?
Not as a partner, but in the “man and woman” sense.
When the two returned to the group, Chai Yingying’s gaze was sharp and scrutinizing, like two bright searchlights sweeping over them.
Gu Jiu felt a bit puzzled by this but didn’t dwell on it.
Old Hei noticed their return and addressed Gu Jiu. “Gu Jiu, the second stop is approaching. Do you want to get off, or go straight to the first station?”
Gu Jiu asked, “What do you all think?”
Old Hei remained silent, looking instead at the gathered players.
Since Lu Ji had joined with Chai Yingying’s group, there were now nearly fifty players in total. While the group wasn’t small, survival on this Death Train would be relatively easy as long as the players didn’t splinter or sabotage each other.
Chai Yingying, as one of the team leaders, spoke up. “My suggestion is to get off!”
As the leader, her word carried weight. Once she made a decision, her team members rarely opposed it.
Old Hei turned to his own teammates.
Li Jing, Pang Hou, and Ji Changxin all agreed to disembark.
Finally, Old Hei looked at Gu Jiu, Lu Ji, Wan Xingzhou, and Wu Yang. These four didn’t officially belong to any group, but both existing teams had tacitly accepted Gu Jiu and Lu Ji due to their competence.
Gu Jiu smiled. “If you’ve decided to get off, then let’s get off.”
With Gu Jiu’s agreement, the group unanimously decided to explore the second stop.
—
The train arrived at the second station.
When the doors opened, the players saw a crowd of about a hundred others waiting on the platform to board.
The players on the platform froze momentarily at the sight of them.
Chai Yingying cheerfully called out, “Are you all preparing to board? Is there no danger at this stop?”
“There’s no danger,” replied a burly man. “You don’t need to get off to check. Why don’t we head to the first station together?”
Such invitations were common, especially for reaching the transit hub known as the First Station. The challenges there involved a Hunter and the little girl, Sasha. More players generally meant better safety—there’d be cannon fodder to draw the boss’s attention, allowing others to board safely.
Old Hei and Chai Yingying exchanged a glance before both politely declined.
Chai Yingying smiled sweetly. “We’d like to check things out here. You can head on first.”
As they spoke, the players from the train had already disembarked.
The train doors stayed open for only forty seconds, leaving little time for hesitation. The players on the platform quickly made their choices—some boarded the train, while others stayed, planning to regroup and board with Chai Yingying’s team later.
Old Hei and the others paid them no mind.
When it came to player strategies, everyone had the freedom to decide for themselves. If real danger arose, Old Hei’s team would focus solely on protecting their own. Their final gesture of goodwill was simply refraining from actively sabotaging strangers.
Gu Jiu, accompanied by Lu Ji, Wan Xingzhou, and Wu Yang, headed down to the basement level of the subway station.
The four of them wandered aimlessly on the basement level.
Suddenly, Gu Jiu turned to Wu Yang and Wan Xingzhou. “Wan Xingzhou, Brother Wu, how are your injuries?”
Wu Yang smiled. “It’s nothing but a few superficial wounds, no big deal.” His posture remained upright, as steady as a poplar swaying gracefully in the wind. His presence exuded an unwavering righteousness and vitality.
Wan Xingzhou couldn’t help but marvel—how rare it was for the young lady to express concern for them.
But he didn’t dare voice this thought aloud, fearing a smack from Lu Ji. Instead, he grinned. “Don’t worry about us. Our healing ability is top-notch. It’s just a few bites from rats—didn’t even need vaccines. The medication in Boundless City already contains antibodies.”
No matter how severe a player’s injuries in the game world, they could always recover back in Boundless City, as long as they were willing to spend points. This capability deepened players’ attachment to the city, making them increasingly reliant on it.
Gu Jiu chatted casually with Wu Yang, and their conversation soon drifted to Qi Yuheng.
Wu Yang explained, “Qi Yuheng and I come from the same world. We knew each other even in the real world.”
“That makes sense,” Gu Jiu said, realization dawning. “No wonder Boss Qi suggested a collaboration after learning we knew each other. Looks like I owe it to you, Brother Wu.”
Wu Yang’s typically serious and stoic face softened into a smile. He sincerely praised her. “It has nothing to do with me. He suggested the collaboration because he sees your potential. Qi Yuheng is very selective about people. If they don’t pass his ‘heart test,’ he doesn’t even spare them a second glance.”
Hearing the words “heart test,” Gu Jiu immediately understood.
As expected, Qi Yuheng’s awakened special ability was akin to mind-reading, though more complex. It allowed him to easily perceive the emotions of living beings.
—
The fifteen minutes passed quickly, and the train arrived back at the second station. The players began to regroup on the basement level.
“It’s rare for the second station to have no danger,” Li Jing muttered. “Do you think it’ll become dangerous only when we take the return trip?”
His partner bluntly retorted, “Obviously! This is just the calm before the storm. It won’t stay this peaceful for long.”
The players boarded the train again, which was now headed for the First Station.
The thought of the inevitable life-or-death battle at the First Station left everyone weary.
The constant back-and-forth grind was not only physically exhausting but also mentally draining. It stretched their nerves to the breaking point, pushing some to collapse and give up entirely, leaving them to perish on this Death Train.
Gu Jiu sat beside Lu Ji, her head resting lightly on her shoulder as she closed her eyes to rest.
Subtle, lingering gazes settled on the two of them. Noticing this, Lu Ji grew displeased. He cast a cold, piercing glare, scaring those caught staring into hurriedly averting their eyes.
Chai Yingying’s teammates exchanged glances but didn’t dare to comment aloud. They could only communicate with their eyes.
For a moment, the air in the train car was filled with a flurry of silent, frantic eye contact.
[Did you notice? Lu Ji looks so soft and submissive! She’s totally acting like the weaker partner relying on a stronger one. That’s not like her at all!]
[Clearly, Lu Ji is head over heels for this young lady. Otherwise, she wouldn’t deliberately act weak in front of her.]
[But Lu Ji is supposed to be the ultimate dominant force! How can she turn into the submissive type? Give me back my fearsome, unstoppable Lu Ji! I miss her tearing through enemies!]
[But look at this young lady’s aura—it’s overwhelming! No matter what, she’s always in control. It’s no wonder Lu Ji softens up around her. Who could resist that?]
[Aura doesn’t equal strength. Just wait. In the end, it’ll still be Lu Ji protecting her!]
[Lu Ji is the strongest!]