Volume 5 - CH 83.5

Finally, Fei looks forward, at the last survivor she has yet to question——Xü Beijin.

Fei, in fact, noticed this man sitting there in the very beginning, specifically noting at his familiar appearance.

And based on her previous interaction with the bookstore owner in the Nightmare featuring the post-apocalyptic ruins, Fei instinctively believes that this Tower resident here likely holds extremely important information and will be of great help to them.

… Probably thanks to the mysterious and puzzling aura Xü Beijin exuded back in that Nightmare which left a deep impression on Fei.

After returning to the Tower from that, Fei and Wu Jian went to collect information on him as well. When they learnt that Xü Beijin still did not disclose information on his Nightmare, they were deeply disappointed.

Whatever his Nightmare is like, whether it would just be a disappointment itself, the mysterious aura surrounding Xü Beijin and his mysterious bookstore are both factors that contribute to a desire to enter his Nightmare.

Especially for Fei and Wu Jian.

This bookstore owner’s Nightmare has been rumoured to be the ‘Ultimate Nightmare’ oftentimes for very good reasons, you see.

Missiontakers have already tired Infocards and some such on this bookstore owner a long time ago, of course, but nothing came up. It was the info panel for a stock-standard kind of Tower resident, as if all his peculiarities lie in the Missiontakers’ imaginations only.

Although the Missiontakers can’t help but think that something must lie beyond that overly perfect, normal info panel.

They are certain this Nightmare owner has some secrets even in spite of the panel. It’s plain obvious in the eyes of these obsessed Missiontakers.

Though the Missiontakers couldn’t do anything with a Tower resident that obstinately refuses to sleep anyway.

Besides Nightmares, though, the strange, possibly amorous relationship between Xü Beijin and Lin Qin has also been the dinner topic for Missiontakers of the bottom floor of the Tower recently.

Even when the demographics of the bottom floor has shifted quite dramatically by now, this gossip has spread even quicker amongst the new Missiontakers, until everyone knew that, the crownless King of the bottom floor of the Tower, has a secret lover he has hidden away very well.

So, when Lin Qin is now feeling odd that Fei is merely staring at Xü Beijin blankly instead of asking, Fei simply pleads with him, “dalao, since he’s the target of your affections, why don’t you go ask instead? It might be more effective than me doing it.”

Xü Beijin “…”

Hello? He’s right in front of you. He can hear everything.

Not just him too, but also the Actors nearby.

… Xü Beijin is in full view of the shock on Wei Lezhang’s face. And, remembering how in the last Nightmare, the completely undisciplined mouth of Wei Lezhang sold out his friend, who was turned into a toilet, and Dai Wu, who was turned into an exhaust hood in no time…

Xü Beijin would like to bury his head in sand.

He gives Lin Qin an indiscreet glare. It’s all this little apple’s fault.

Now great, not just the Missiontakers… but even the Actors will…!

Lin Qin is confused to be glared at by Xü Beijin, and remarks inside that the young man’s temper seems to be worsening over time.

… Oh well. Apparently, you do not tear yourselves over it if it’s someone you love.

Yes, he’s heard somewhere that lovers have something called a ‘lover’s spat.’

So Lin Qin, calm as always, approaches to ask, “are you still feeling well? Maybe you were staring at me because you’re not feeling so good?”

Xü Beijin’s face is twitching, but he replies, “not really. I… feel fine.”

Lin Qin gives him a suspicious look. It seems he has doubts as to whether Xü Beijin can take good care of himself.

Xü Beijin was quietly indulging in Lin Qin’s overly affectionate caring heart for him, but now, he is just frustrated being seen as unreliable by Lin Qin.

Lin Qin, the prat… he might not know how anything works, but he sure is experienced in igniting Xü Beijin.

Since Fei is still present, Xü Beijin grits his teeth to hold his emotions back down.

He asks, “so, do you need something from me?”

Lin Qin thinks about it and asks, “we want to know information about this building,” then he looks over at Fei and thinks some more, then tells her, “you should come ask questions instead.”

Lin Qin knows he isn’t fit for this monumental task.

So, being self-aware, he pushes this task onto Fei. He instead turns around and stands next to Xü Beijin, like some kind of loyal guard of Xü Beijin’s, who is worried for his health and thus inevitably spends his days by his side at all times, worried about anything happening to his charge if he left.

And besides worry, there might be some other, much better hidden emotions stirring in him.

Lin Qin is quietly savouring this new, curiously rich emotion. Compared to his simple, happy and peaceful interactions with Xü Beijin before, after he questioned Xü Beijin on liking him, their relationship seems to have fundamentally changed in the meantime.

Even someone as blank on emotions as Lin Qin is feeling that.

So he is even less willing to leave Xü Beijin’s side.

He can feel that, the tiny speck of light that simply popped up in his dark, inside world, is now slowly expanding its influence. It is providing his mind with warmth.

How curious, he wonders.

… Fei can’t help but feel that, for some reason, the crownless King of the bottom floor, is somehow showing off.

Showing off how happy he is by the side of the bookstore owner.

Fei gives the pair a slightly puzzled look, but she is now a firm believer in that rumour circulating the bottom floor now. While she merely proposed for Lin Qin to question Xü Beijin out of caution earlier, now she genuinely believes that Xü Beijin is the one Lin Qin likes.

… Xü Beijin, of course, cannot possibly know that his love story with Lin Qin has gained another devout faithful.

He merely looks at Fei to ask, “what do you want to know?”

“We met many people that act erratically in the building,” Fei says, “do you know why they are here, or rather, why, they ended up in such a manner?”

Xü Beijin does not respond immediately.

Because at this moment, the Server is transmitting something into his mind.

He thinks he has probably been temporarily delegated the task of some other Actor.

Uh, possibly Wei Lezhang’s, even. Even if he’s not sure either, under what situation, would Wei Lezhang have been allowed to divulge these information to the Missiontakers… Maybe, it was supposed to be the key development of the little girl being brought to this 16th floor?

Well, understandable, because good-effing-luck to him waiting for that to happen.

… Xü Beijin isn’t feeling at all morbidly amused. Truly.

He merely starts reading his script monotonously.

“The spread of the madness started one single moment,” Xü Beijin says, “it was in an instant that the people in the entire building was separated into two kinds. The Insane, and the Sane.”