Chapter 3: The Woman Was Too Stunned to Speak
As soon as he realized this world was not as simple as it seemed, Bai Zhi started to feel increasingly restless.
It was all right to come across a Scuttle Crab, since they were neutral mobs in the game that never attacked the player, but if it had been some other monster instead, things might have turned out very differently. In the worst case, the little street might quickly have been turned into a gruesome scene of gore and mayhem. Considering all the uncanny reports he had just read, Bai Zhi was taking no chances.
Better safe than sorry, as they said. He certainly had no intention of ending up on the news a second time, mere days after he had been granted a miraculous second chance at life, by way of being the hapless victim in another of the city's urban legends.
Bai Zhi sat on the chair and brooded, pondering his next move for minutes on end. The next thing he did was to take the video game account—one that his other self had invested untold sums of money into—and list it for sale at a moderate sum, based on the average market price. Then, he collected his wallet and bank card and headed out.
After another half-hour, Bai Zhi could be seen hurriedly shuffling back to his rental apartment, laden with an assortment of purchases.
Thanks to the widespread adoption and development of the internet, practically anything could be found online, from the most useless trivia to the instructions for building a nuclear bomb.
Being the sort of person who made things happen rather than wait for them to transpire, upon grasping how dangerous this world could be, the exceptional genius Bai Zhi, whose last great achievement was blowing himself to pieces, wasted no time getting up to his old tricks. Using simple materials that were easily obtained, he fashioned about a dozen makeshift explosives and fiery traps, right there in the kitchen of his rental apartment.
If not for his severely limited funds, he would even have purchased a full-body set of protective clothing for himself. Dying had a way of making people cling to life that much more, after all. As for weapons, buying firearms was obviously out of the question. Even making a homemade firearm would land him in jail, if the authorities ever found out. However, there was one thing that could be bought online that was more terrifying than a gun.
Yep, a chainsaw.
"With this baby ripping and roaring in your hands, not even ten burly men could put a scratch on you! A tool that promises to be as deadly as it is threatening, the chainsaw is the safeguard of choice for every household! All this for a low, low price, only a couple hundred bucks including shipping..."
With the lessons of his past life fresh in his mind, Bai Zhi was much more careful when putting together the makeshift explosives this time around. After all, he was crafting these to save his own life, not just blow a hole in some wall.
By his reckoning, by using the explosives to blast nails, steel balls and other shrapnel in all directions, he could cause enough damage to take down a Scuttle Crab, though where that last crab had gone was anybody's guess...
Once he had carefully placed the deadly contraptions where they belonged, Bai Zhi glanced at the time and was surprised to realize it was already noon. Quickly grabbing the first textbook that he found on the table, he headed to campus.
Missing the morning class was no big deal, but he had practical classes in the afternoon, which was an opportunity to pick up some "free" chemicals from the university labs. He had even invested in some glassware for just this purpose. But first, he headed to the cafeteria.
Since he had left the apartment a little late, by the time Bai Zhi arrived at the cafeteria, it was already teeming with fellow students. His recent shopping spree had left him very little to spend on food, so he simply added some plain vegetables to his plate and squeezed through the crowd to find a seat.
———
"Let's get out of here, Wennie."
Lin XiaoYi slammed her chopsticks down, a dour expression on her face. She had barely started on her meal but had lost her appetite after spotting a certain figure with a tray in his hands heading directly toward her.
"Ugh! Just my rotten luck to bump into that guy here, of all places. I'll be damned if I let him make me the center of attention in this massive crowd."
The petite girl sitting opposite Lin XiaoYi threw a look over her shoulder, and it became clear who her friend was referring to. As the person in question drew ever closer, a pained look crossed her face as she realized her dilemma.
"Uh... Wh-what about our lunch? Surely he wouldn't dare... not in front of so many people!"
Lin XiaoYi's response was firm and swift. "Please, you know very well how shameless that guy is. I have no intention of letting him trap me! Leave it, I'll treat you to something even better later!"
Ever since the notorious scumbag had set his sights on courting her, nothing seemed to go according to plan for Lin XiaoYi. She had expressed her rejection in more ways than one and in no uncertain terms, yet her dogged pursuer had skin that was thicker than she could imagine, and kept up his attention relentlessly.
Lin XiaoYi just knew that in a moment, that guy would feign surprise at bumping into her unexpectedly, then launch enthusiastically into some topic of conversation or other. She did not deny that he had a pretty face, but it would take more than that to impress her.
She firmly resolved that as soon as he stopped next to her, she would immediately get up and leave. She was determined not to humor him, not even for a second. It was not polite of her, of course, but what about him? That scumbag had put her on the spot in public many times before, so this was just returning the gesture in kind... Yes, that's right, this was only fair!
The pest was almost upon her now. Ignoring her companion, who was at the moment furiously wolfing down her chicken, Lin XiaoYi rose and took a stride toward the exit in one smooth motion, placing herself perfectly... shoulder to shoulder with the very person she was trying to avoid.
She stared awkwardly, too stunned to even speak.
"Hmm? Hello there, miss. Would you be vacating this seat, by any chance?"
Lin XiaoYi's sudden movements drew the attention of Bai Zhi, who was clearly hunting for an open seat in the packed cafeteria, neck craned and tray in hand. His eyes had lit up upon spotting an opportunity to secure the vacant seat.
"...I'm— I mean, yes."
Disoriented by having her expectations completely subverted, Lin XiaoYi could only manage a stiff nod. The detestable guy before her opened his mouth and she very clearly heard him reply, in tones of utter delight,
"Wonderful! I was worried I would never find a seat... Here, your tray. Thanks very much!"
After conscientiously lifting Lin XiaoYi's hastily-abandoned tray of food and placing it into her hands, the guy promptly turned away from her and plopped into the seat she had just vacated, leaving her staring blankly at the back of his head.
As she stood there dumbly with the tray in her hands, watching the person now seated and chowing down heartily, Lin XiaoYi was struck by the inexplicable feeling that she had been made the fool.
"Huh???"
At that precise moment, Xia Wen swallowed the final bite of chicken on her plate and lifted her head glumly, only to be thunderstruck to find that she was sharing the table with someone completely different, while her friend, who had wanted her to leave the cafeteria together a moment ago, was now standing behind the guy, holding her tray and looking forlorn.
Xia Wen was so utterly confused she did not know where to look.
___
Chapter 4: Face to Face with a Monster
Lin XiaoYi was in a wretched mood.
That guy had not only taken her spot, but had done so without even looking her in the eye the whole time. Even though just yesterday, he was still fawning all over her...
All girls were a little quirky like that. When some guy constantly showers them with attention, they act disdainful and turned off, but when the same guy starts ignoring them completely, they feel even more irritated.
...Case in point, Lin XiaoYi.
To her credit, she quickly gained control of herself, shoving her feelings of irritation to the back of her mind. After all, if this guy started acting reasonably and quit bothering her, that was a blessing to her.
"Honestly, that bozo is the furthest thing from a gentleman... Huh? Who could be calling me... Wennie?"
Lin XiaoYi glanced quizzically at the caller ID on her phone, then at the figure of Xia Wen on the other side of the table.
The idiot sitting between her and Xia Wen obstructed her vision a little, but Lin XiaoYi could clearly see that her gluttonous friend was only focused on eating and did not have her cellphone in hand.
"Maybe she left her phone in the dorms and her roommate is calling to let her know... That greedy pig would betray the Revolution for a cheese sandwich!"
Lin XiaoYi gave a wry smile but thought no more of it. She accepted the call and shortly, a familiar whiny voice came from the other line.
"XiaoYiii, didn't you say you would wait to have lunch with me? Where are you? You wouldn't be so heartless as to leave me behind, would you?"
As soon as she recognized the voice, Lin XiaoYi 's eyes widened in shock. "...Wennie?!"
"Of course it's me, who else would it be?" Xia Wen sounded put out. "And you proooomised, that we would eat together! I just went to the little girls' room for a minute, but when I came back, you were gone! I'm huuuurt... but I'll forgive you if you treat me to a lavish meal."
"...I- I'm waiting for you on the second floor, in the cafeteria! Just come over now, it will be my treat, of course." Lin XiaoYi replied, even as she watched another Xia Wen busily polish off her plate, most definitely not on the phone.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm.
"Ngh..." said Xia Wen. "but the cafeteria's always packed by this time, and the tastiest foods are sold out for sure. I don't wanna go now... Could you maybe bring me something on the way baaack?"
Lin XiaoYi could clearly picture her friend sprawled on the table with her mouth turned up in a pout. She always did that when she was being lazy about something.
She had always wondered how, for someone so lazy and who ate with an insatiable appetite, Xia Wen managed to maintain her enviably slim figure.
"Nono, you shouldn't be eating junk food for lunch." Leaning against the wall for support, Lin XiaoYi struggled to keep her voice steady. "If you come and have a proper meal now, I'll also treat you to hotpot on the weekend, how about that?"
Which was the real Xia Wen? Was it the one on the phone, or the one who had come with her to the cafeteria and was sitting right in front of her? If she could get them both in the same place, the truth would surely come to light.
Then again, if the other Xia Wen showed up and proved there really were two people who looked and sounded exactly like Xia Wen...
It was the height of summer, but a wintry chill ran up Lin XiaoYi's spine. She muttered to herself, "It's just a prank... I hope."
After getting Phone Xia Wen to begrudgingly agree to come, Lin XiaoYi realized, as she hung up, that her hand had been trembling slightly the whole time. Even the sight of the delicious food before her did nothing to bring back her appetite.
Acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary, she pocketed her phone and snuck another peek at the Xia Wen at the table. She was in for a chilling surprise.
Xia Wen was staring directly back at her, and locked eyes as if she had been waiting.
Before Lin XiaoYi could raise an arm in a friendly gesture, Xia Wen's mouth slowly curled up at the corners, opening wider and wider to reveal uneven rows of gleaming white teeth... teeth that no human should have—they looked uncomfortably like those of some wild animal.
Just as her terror threatened to reach breaking point, an arm came between her and the thing, preventing her from seeing it. As if a spell had been broken, Lin XiaoYi crumpled weakly to the floor, but felt her control over her body slowly returning.
As she looked toward the one who had freed her from the creature's gaze, another terrifying thought occurred to her: The whole time, since she left the lecture hall and walked to the cafeteria... just what was this thing that had been by her side? If Bai Zhi had not shielded her from the creature's line of sight...
Wait a minute... Bai Zhi?!
Suddenly, Lin XiaoYi whipped her head toward the figure who had just filled her with an overwhelming sense of security and just stared, stunned by a sudden realization.
She did not really know him, this wannabe suitor who courted her day and night. What she did know, she had heard through the grapevine.
He was one hundred percent a scumbag when it came to relationships—before he started approaching her, he had dated seven women in a row. He was also a video game addict, and never took his classes seriously. In short, other than having a gorgeous face, he had no other qualities.
Such was the initial impression that Lin XiaoYi had of Bai Zhi.
Once he started to court her, in his blatant and shameless way, his actions only cemented the negative impressions she had of him, so she had always thought of him as a scourge.
However, she couldn't deny that, if Bai Zhi hadn't intervened and released the creature's hold on her, she would have suffered a terrible fate. Come to think of it, he had been acting mighty strange lately.
In the past, he would fawn and fuss over her, but today he hardly even made eye contact, and instead of trying to chat her up, he simply turned away and claimed the seat she had just vacated. Compared to his past behavior, how he was acting today was completely abnormal.
If Bai Zhi hadn't shown up, she would have been sitting opposite "Xia Wen", enjoying her lunch. When the real Xia Wen eventually called... what would have happened to her?
When all other possibilities have been eliminated, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth!
By that reasoning, could Bai Zhi have known that "Xia Wen" was, in fact, a terrifying monster? Could his foolish actions have been a clever smokescreen all along?
He was always there to protect me! He's secretly a special agent trained to fight these monsters...
Lin XiaoYi's heart thumped with excitement as her imagination ran wild.