Unusual Fate Records

Chapter 342. Engagement (Part 034)

Qi Tongshan gave a disgusted look and pouted, saying:

"If it weren't for the fact that it concerns whether I can go back, who would put up with your bullshit here?"

"Don't worry, Kukuku. I promised you that I would definitely send you back in the early morning of three days from now."

The man behind the smiling mask spoke in broken Mandarin as he slowly paced around the room, scrutinizing Qi Tongshan.

Qi Tongshan narrowed his eyes, revealing a chilling light:

"Before this, isn't there some score to settle? Are you still playing me? Why didn't you tell me beforehand that the people I would be meeting were these few? You must have known, right? Why did you make me tell them the news? Did you want them to get involved in this mess?"

The smiling masked man shrugged innocently: "I didn't know they were acquaintances of yours beforehand. Besides, who they are, does it affect your ability to deliver the message? No matter who they are, you'll complete the mission, right? After all—"

His eyes sharpened: "This is your only chance to return to your own world."

Qi Tongshan clenched his fists and remained silent.

"But their attempt to overthrow the organization is clearly suicidal."

She muttered to herself.

"Oh, so you're leaving this godforsaken place? That's not something you should be thinking about, is it?"

The masked man tilted his head, his smug smile always managing to provoke anger at just the right moment.

"Or—" he deliberately drew out his words, "are you worried that the intelligence you provided will make them eager to go and die?"

"Whether they live or die is none of my responsibility." Qi Tongshan curled her lips. "Besides, I don't belong to this world. To me, they are just passersby on my journey through another world."

"That's right, that's exactly it."

The voice beneath the mask was almost bursting into laughter.

"But you, I've always been curious. How did someone with such a dark heart become the leader of a human armed mercenary group?"

Qi Tongshan stared at him unhappily.

"Let's just take it as a compliment," the masked man chuckled. "What's so strange about that? Who would imagine that the daughter of a White Walker political figure is an informant for the human mercenaries of District 16?"

Qi Tongshan rolled her eyes at him: "I've had my soul replaced. Don't tell me you're possessed by a saint to think of compassion and saving the world. People are selfish. Don't try to pull that on me."

“Who says I’m not selfish?” He tilted his head and smiled.

Qi Tongshan couldn't stand this slippery guy, but her gaze couldn't help but be drawn to that smiling mask.

Suddenly, she remembered Jin Ziyue.

"Hey, do these three masks have some kind of connection?"

She looked away, her face calm and serene.

"Of course there is," the masked man replied without hesitation.

Qi Tongshan opened his mouth, but stopped himself from asking any further questions.

She definitely wouldn't believe me if I said no.

However, both the smiling mask and the sad mask proved to her that the holders of these three masks were unusual. To avoid danger, she should stay as far away from these three people as possible, and ask less, listen less, and do less.

"Aren't you curious?" The masked man was clearly dissatisfied with her attitude. "I was going to tell you."

"Come on." Qi Tongshan knew his tone, rolled her eyes, and the veins on her forehead bulged. "I still want to stay alive and go home safely."

"It seems you are very compatible with the concept of 'turning misfortune into good fortune,' as you already know how to avoid disasters."

The man let out a strange laugh.

"Speaking of which, I guess my survival today is also related to this thing you gave me, right?" Qi Tongshan didn't know where the Life Word was located on her body, so she could only lower her eyes and raise her hand to hold her right arm.

"That's natural."

"The destiny of this world is truly an incredible thing. It is something ethereal and intangible, even unobservable, yet it can so profoundly influence people's lives." Her face darkened.

"Isn't this good?"

Qi Tongshan rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "Good my ass. Have you ever heard of shadow puppetry?"

"Hmm..." The masked man pondered for a moment, then muttered to himself, "Is the paper figure going to move on its own?"

"Who wants to be a paper doll?" Qi Tongshan sighed.

The masked man laughed and retorted, "Who isn't a paper doll? Since we're all paper dolls, why bother?"

“Besides—” he paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, “once the paper figure is detached from the string, can it really move?”

Qi Tongshan was stunned for a moment, unable to respond.

"Well then, lady of shadow puppetry, it's getting late. You should rest. There are only three more words before you can leave this stage. Are you looking forward to it?"

"Pah, don't try to plant your flag on me." Qi Tongshan spat.

"Remember, the time to return is three days from now, at midnight."

"Hmph." Qi Tongshan hummed a syllable through her nose, ignoring him completely.

"Take advantage of the time you have now to say goodbye to the woman you love." The smiling mask left these words lightly and turned to leave.

"?!"

Qi Tongshan paused for a moment.

"Hey!"

She wanted to speak, but the smiling masked man had already disappeared.

"Ding dong."

A doorbell rang softly.

Her consciousness slowly returned, and she slowly opened her eyes. She was fast asleep in bed.

This guy is sending me messages in my dream again.

She cursed angrily, then looked up and shouted, "Who's there?"

Through the peephole, she saw a woman in pajamas, holding a pillow and blanket in one hand and scratching her wine-red hair with the other, a shy, smug smile on her face.

"What?" Qi Tongshan gave her a disgruntled look.

Chen Ruolan said softly, "I can't sleep."

"It's none of my business if you can't sleep—"

Qi Tongshan instinctively wanted to curse, but looking at her thin pink pajamas, standing outside in the cold wind, he paused, swallowed the words he was about to say, opened the door, and looked away:

"Go in."

"Hey, you're so nice." Chen Ruolan happily squeezed in and said, "Then I'll come in."

Having said that, he kicked off his slippers, shuffled across the wooden floor to the bed, and then sprawled out, making a comfortable sound.
"Mmm, so soft!"

"I really admire you. You fight during the day and still have so much energy at night."

Qi Tongshan squinted and walked to his bedside, looking at Chen Ruolan lying on the snow-white sheets, his tone full of sarcasm.

"I can't help it. I'm really curious about how I'm doing in the other world. Just thinking about going back to university and being in the same dorm room as Fu Qin makes me so excited I want to chuckle."

She was a little carried away with her pride, hiding her head under the covers to prevent herself from making any giggling sounds.

"This is my bed," Qi Tongshan said in a cold, intimidating voice.

"It's okay, just treat me like your college roommate. We're in the same dorm, so what if we share a bed!"

Chen Ruolan sat up, put her hands on her waist, raised her head and straightened her chest, and spoke with a righteous indignation.

"What kind of logic is this?" Qi Tongshan laughed in anger. "Are you being a pervert? Get off me. It's the middle of the night, I still need to sleep."

"No!" Chen Ruolan shouted stubbornly, patting the mattress next to her: "Come on, come on, let's do it together."

Qi Tongshan's face turned cold: "Do you really think I can't handle you? Chen Ruolan, let me tell you, I remember your sensitive spots perfectly well!"

After saying that, she climbed up and could accurately tickle the woman surnamed Chen even through the blanket.

"Holy crap!" Chen Ruolan exclaimed in surprise, dodging repeatedly. "Oh! Oh! I believe you, I believe you!"

Neither of them dared to speak too loudly. Through the blanket, Qi Tongshan leaned over Chen Ruolan and said fiercely, "Shut up, be quiet!"

Chen Ruolan poked her head out from under the covers, her eyes blinking, nodding like a chick pecking at rice.

When the playing stopped, the room fell silent, with only the chirping of insects outside the window.

Qi Tongshan was pressed against Chen Ruolan's face, his hair falling down, gently tickling the tip of Chen Ruolan's nose, making the latter feel itchy.

She quickly rolled over to make room next to Chen Ruolan. The two lay side by side, and after a moment of silence, neither of them spoke, as they gazed up at the plain white ceiling.

The rustling of autumn insects echoed outside the window, the moonlight peeking through the curtains, and the quiet night lamp cast a soft, orange glow, stretching the shadow of the table long and slanted.

(End of this chapter)