Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Vacation Villa (Conclusion)

“Yes, as long as you die, I will finally be fulfilled!” Xin Ling was exceptionally agitated.

“I understand, but your demand is rather rude,” Su Man replied politely, nodding. “I cannot agree to it.”

The path of persuasion was clearly blocked; Xin Ling’s obsession was herself. “I cannot die, so it has to be you,” she said, raising her dagger to test the waters.

But at that moment, a photograph slipped from Su Man’s pocket. Glancing at it, she froze, a thought flashing rapidly through her mind.

“Do you know Wen Yu?” she suddenly shouted. Before Xin Ling could respond, a swift strike sent Su Man back to the cycle, restarting everything.

Yet in her final moments, as she saw that tangled hair trembling and returning to human form, she smiled with satisfaction.

When Su Man revived two hours later, Xiao Liang, relieved, greeted her, “Thank goodness you’re alright. By the way, over there—Xin Ling has been restless ever since you died, pacing anxiously.”

“I know. The game is about to end.” Su Man stepped out of the villa, and the hair chased after her, its reach limited, unable to catch her.

She circled around slowly.

Xin Ling hurried over, visibly relieved that Su Man was still alive. “Earlier, when you mentioned Wen Yu… do you know him?”

Her voice was tinged with nervousness.

“He is my friend.”

“Your friend? What kind of friend?”

“A close friend.”

Xin Ling wanted to ask more, but Su Man cut her off. “That’s not important.”

Xin Ling’s face was conflicted, but, eager to know about Wen Yu, she did not protest.

“What matters is, he has been investigating a murder case.”

“A murder case?” Xin Ling repeated, word by word.

“Yes,” Su Man explained. “He said someone very important to him died. It was said to be an accident, but he knew it wasn’t—she was murdered. He’s been searching for evidence to clear her name.”

“That very important person…” Xin Ling’s voice carried an expectation she herself hadn’t noticed.

“It’s you, Xin Ling. It’s you. He mentioned your name. I just never expected it to be you, so coincidentally. Wen Yu considers you his friend. If he knew what you’ve become, he would be heartbroken.”

Upon hearing this, Xin Ling suddenly cried. “I’ve disappointed him again. He still remembers me, he’s seeking justice for me, and yet I almost killed his friend.”

Su Man waited for her to calm down before continuing. “Earlier, he wrote me a letter asking me to search for clues. He mentioned you in it. Would you like to see it?”

Tears streaming down her face, Xin Ling looked at Su Man.

To her surprise, Su Man really pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to her.

Xin Ling took it skeptically, but after seeing the handwriting and the content, she was overwhelmed with tears, sobbing uncontrollably. At last, she turned to Su Man, whispered an apology, smiled in relief, and then dissolved before her eyes into countless glimmering lights.

Xiao Liang ran out behind her, staring in disbelief at the scattering lights. “Su Man, this… this…”

“The game is over,” Su Man said, gazing upward at the lights.

Of course Xiao Liang understood the game was over; what he couldn’t comprehend was how it ended so suddenly.

“Huh? There’s a piece of paper in the water. Is it a treasure?” Xiao Liang, sharp-eyed, spotted a floating sheet, waded in, and fished it out. “I mentioned that child to you, her name is Xin Ling. She really was a wonderful person, kind, helpful, her smile was lovely. Her life was bitter, and if I don’t remember her, there might never be proof she existed in this world. Su Man, please help me, find evidence, clear that child’s name. Wen Yu.”

“Hmm? What’s this? Who’s Wen Yu?” Not the treasure he imagined, Xiao Liang was puzzled. “Who wrote this? Why is it here?”

“I did,” Su Man replied, taking the paper from his hand.

“You did? The handwriting is nothing like yours! When did you write it?” Xiao Liang was even more surprised. “And this signature, Wen Yu?”

Sitting by the pool, Su Man dipped her fingers in the water, fishing out a photograph from its depths. Pointing to a man who strongly resembled Zhou Bin, she said, “Him.”

“Isn’t that Zhou Bin? Who is he?” Xiao Liang’s mind was spinning.

“He’s Wen Yu!” Su Man said with disdain. “The one Xin Ling secretly liked.”

“Wen Yu… then Zhou Bin…”

With so many doubts swirling inside him, Xiao Liang was about to ask more, but Su Man had no intention of continuing.

She looked at the photo, at Wen Yu’s face outlined with a heart. The truth was, Xin Ling loved him; Zhou Bin was merely a substitute.

She had discovered this photo on the very first day, but at the time, she assumed it was Zhou Bin. Even later, when she found Wen Yu’s signature, she thought it was just an epithet.

Upon reflection, she recalled Xin Ling’s diary, which had mentioned, at the start, meeting several friends and feeling happy.

Those friends were not Zhou Bin, but Wen Yu.

Just now, seeing the photo and the name Wen Yu, the thought finally crystallized.

As for Su Man claiming to be Wen Yu’s close friend—it was a lie, spoken to win Xin Ling’s trust.

Xin Ling’s deepest obsession was not Su Man, but Wen Yu.

What truly released her was the letter Su Man forged in Wen Yu’s handwriting.

At this moment, Su Man felt somewhat fortunate. In real life, to survive, she’d often practiced forging different signatures, so imitating Wen Yu’s handwriting was effortless.

[Congratulations, player. Target redeemed. Mission complete.
Reward: 9 extra backpack slots.
Reward: cash 500,000 or 10 horror coins.]

Backpack slots?

Su Man checked and found a new panel for her backpack. Three slots already held items: her horror coins, cash, and dagger.

As for the choice between horror coins or cash, she selected horror coins.

Now, including those given by Zhou Yan, she had 115 horror coins, though their use remained unclear.

At some point, the surroundings changed. Although it still resembled the villa, something felt off. Xiao Liang had vanished.

A light screen appeared before her.

[Congratulations, player, for completing the guidance. You have earned royal recognition. Your royal title: Hidden King.
Do not reveal your identity carelessly, lest it bring deadly trouble.]

[Please choose whether to remain in the horror world.]

“What does that mean? What does it mean to stay in the horror world?” Su Man was still confused. “Can I not return? What is a Hidden King? Are there any rewards?”