Chapter 27: Trust No One

Duoduo turned her head and looked at Siyue.

Seeing the smiling gaze in Siyue’s eyes, she felt a chill colder than ice.

Frightened, she shrank her little head and pressed herself into Ling Yun’s arms, leaving only her round eyes peeking out.

Sister Siyue’s gaze is so scary!

It’s even scarier than the fat auntie in the cafeteria!

After one glance, Duoduo buried her head away.

"Daddy, I want to go home!"

"Mmh."

Ling Yun had never intended to let Duoduo spend any time alone with Siyue.

With a cold, indifferent expression, he withdrew his gaze, held Duoduo close, and walked past Siyue.

Suddenly, the smile on Siyue’s face stiffened, and she turned her head to glare coldly at Duoduo.

That damnable little beast; she had taken the initiative to show goodwill, yet the brat didn't appreciate it!

But it didn't matter; today was the final day of the "Sweet Home" instance.

She refused to believe that once the next level opened, Duoduo would be lucky enough to survive the hands of the horrors again!

When Ling Yun carried Duoduo to Room 1, Lin Jianyue and Zhang Yangfan were already waiting at the door.

Seeing Duoduo, Zhang Yangfan ran up excitedly.

He took her little hand and kept calling her "little sister."

Duoduo looked down at him, then turned to Ling Yun: "Daddy, I want to get down."

"Mmh."

Ling Yun crouched down and, with great reluctance, set Duoduo on the ground.

Why was the distance from Room 16 to Room 1 so short?

Even though he had slowed his pace, it had still taken less than five minutes.

"Big brother..."

Leaving Ling Yun’s embrace, Duoduo turned and pounced toward Zhang Yangfan.

She raised her two little arms and hugged him tightly.

Standing behind her, Ling Yun’s expression suddenly darkened.

He would go find the landlord right now and have Zhang Yangfan moved to a different room!

However, just as he took a step, a soft little hand grasped his.

He looked down and met a pair of clear, limpid eyes.

"Daddy, where are you going?"

"Home!"

Ling Yun’s expression softened slightly.

For Duoduo’s sake, he would temporarily refrain from holding a grudge against that kid, Zhang Yangfan!

"Mmh, let's go home!"

Duoduo held Ling Yun’s hand with her left and reached out to hold Zhang Yangfan’s hand with her right.

The ugly doll she was holding dropped to the floor.

She immediately let go of Zhang Yangfan and bent down to pick up Ugly.

Freeing her left hand, she patted the dust off it.

"Sister, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to. Are you hurt? Let me blow on it for you!"

Duoduo held Ugly in both hands and pursed her lips to blow on it.

The "father and son" she had neglected immediately furrowed their brows, staring coldly at Ugly.

Ugly shuddered, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Jianyue quickly stepped forward and took Ugly.

"Duoduo, Mommy will hold it for you, so it won’t fall again."

"Thank you, Mommy." Duoduo thanked Lin Jianyue happily.

Seeing both her hands were now free, the "father and son" simultaneously reached out to take them.

Duoduo froze for a moment, looking left and right.

What’s wrong with Daddy and Big Brother? Why are they acting so differently than before?

Duoduo was puzzled and instinctively wanted to scratch her head.

However, as soon as her right hand moved, Zhang Yangfan gripped it tightly, refusing to let go.

Duoduo tilted her little head and looked at him with a grievance-filled expression.

"Big brother, my hand hurts!"

"I’m sorry, let me blow on it for you."

Zhang Yangfan lifted Duoduo’s hand and blew on it.

Seeing the small red mark on her hand, his eyes filled with self-reproach.

It was all his fault; he was the one who hurt his little sister.

Zhang Yangfan’s eyes suddenly reddened.

Duoduo keenly sensed the change in his mood and waved her hands cheerfully.

"Big brother, it doesn't hurt anymore!"

"Really?" Zhang Yangfan didn't believe her.

He had been so afraid of losing Duoduo earlier that he had used force subconsciously.

He wasn't weak; how could Duoduo’s soft little hand possibly withstand it?

She must be deliberately comforting him because she was afraid he would blame himself.

How could his little sister be so considerate?

How could he bear to watch her leave?

The more Zhang Yangfan thought about it, the sadder he became. With a "waah," he ran into Room 1, crying.

Duoduo blinked, looked up with her soft, fair face, and turned to Ling Yun with a confused expression.

"Daddy, why is Big Brother crying?"

"Don't worry about him!"

Ling Yun’s voice sounded somewhat muffled.

He could roughly guess why Zhang Yangfan was crying.

There wasn't much time left in the instance, and he didn't want to waste time on sentimentality like Zhang Yangfan.

Ling Yun took Duoduo home and warmed up a glass of milk for her.

Duoduo patted her round little tummy and shook her head.

"Daddy, I already had milk at Grandma and Grandpa’s house; I can't drink anymore."

Hearing this, Ling Yun handed the milk to Zhang Yangfan, who was standing nearby.

Zhang Yangfan was still sobbing: "I don't... I don't want to..."

"You do!" Ling Yun gave him a cold look, cutting off Zhang Yangfan’s protest.

Zhang Yangfan’s shoulders shook as he tearfully took the milk.

It was already the last day, and the old ghost Ling Yun was still bullying him, boo-hoo-hoo...

"Duoduo, have you heard of the Horror Forest?"

Ling Yun looked at Duoduo and suddenly spoke.

Duoduo looked up at him and shook her head.

"Daddy, what is the Horror Forest?"

"The Horror Forest is where you are right now. You were chosen to come here and must work hard to clear levels and survive.

Instance levels are divided into four grades: Easy, Normal, Difficult, and Hell.

Once you successfully clear a level, you will automatically enter the Player Base and receive corresponding points.

In the Player Base, points are equivalent to money in the real world.

Eating, lodging, and shopping all require points.

Points can not only be earned in instances, but can also be obtained by killing others and stealing their points.

Therefore, after you leave tomorrow, you must not trust anyone."

Ling Yun looked at Duoduo seriously; it was rare for him to speak so much.

Registered horrors were not allowed to enter the Player Base.

Ugly was an exception, but he didn't trust her.

Although he had placed a forbidden spell on Ugly, the spell could only prevent her from harming Duoduo; it could not force her to actively protect her.

To survive in the Player Base, Duoduo had to rely on herself.

Letting her understand more of the rules of the Horror Forest before she left might increase her chances of survival!

Ling Yun said a lot in one breath. Duoduo struggled to digest it for a long time before nodding, half-understanding.

"Daddy, if I see Mother Superior and the other children from the orphanage, can I not trust them either?"