[Congratulations, Player Ye Shu, for successfully clearing the scenario! You have earned 100 points, along with an extra +10 Constitution, +10 Agility, and +10 Strength!] [Rating: SSS.] [You have exited the world.] [Instance: "Sweet Home" completed by 2,388 players.] Ye Shu stifled the searing pain wracking her body. Before leaving, she plunged a knife into Lin Qingyue, and even in her final moment in the scenario, she caught his venomous glare. Satisfaction flooded through her, all her pent-up frustration swept away. She rose from the bed and flexed her limbs. The body that had been on death’s door in the game now moved with ease again. A mechanical voice chimed in her ears. [Fourth round complete. Congratulations to the cleared players. Rewards have been distributed. The fifth round begins in five days. Please prepare!] [Last scenario was a special instance. Cleared players receive an additional +1 to Constitution, Strength, and Agility.] [Players who failed to clear: Complete erasure!] [Countdown initiated...] [Erasure complete!] [We wish players a pleasant holiday. Warm reminder: The Survival Game Co-branded Mall is always open for your shopping needs. New products are now available—buy quickly before the game resumes and the mall closes.] Ye Shu raised an eyebrow. The game is actually postponing the next round. What’s the trick this time? Are they ramping up the difficulty, or is there something else at play? Whatever it is, this game hasn't done anything out of good intentions yet. Ye Shu didn’t believe for a second that the system would grant humanity on Blue Star even a breath to recover—let alone spare the players. She called up the light screen with a thought. [Player: Ye Shu] [Age: 20] [Game ID: 10096] [Constitution: 49] (Common ailments cured, major illness eradicated) [Strength: 53] (Terrifyingly powerful—) [Agility: 48] (Swift as the wind, lightning-fast, like Li Xiang with a cheat code) [Game Points: 1,560] [Talent Skill: SSS-Level Rewind (Upgradeable, current Stage Two, rewinds to 30 minutes before death) (Cooldown: Once per day, non-stackable). Note: Skill cannot be stolen.] [Talent Skill: SSS-Level Optimization (Upgradeable, current Stage Two, can upgrade items). Note: Cannot be dropped or stolen.] [Items: SSS-Level Exorcist Peachwood Sword, A-Level Vermillion Bead Bracelet, Bound Spatial Tool, Huanyan Earrings… SS-Level Lovebrain, S-Level Obedience Charm.] [Contract: Advanced (S-Level Half-Demonic Black Tiger)] Da Piaoliang, now Ye Shu's contracted specter, could accompany her into any instance or traverse the real world at will. Every time she exited the game, Ye Shu would first buy a spatial ring at the mall. This time, after merging the ring with a space upgrade, something unexpected happened. The space had expanded to eight square meters, with the preservation function covering the entire area. For some reason, even Da Piaoliang, a half-demon, could enter—regrettably, Ye Shu herself, as the owner, was locked out. [Beep beep~ Friendly reminder: Your space level is too low. Sentient beings cannot enter. Please upgrade!] Ye Shu's eyes brightened. She fetched two little goldfish from the room’s aquarium and slipped the bowl into her storage space. To her delight, the bowl and water cup vanished into nothingness, while the goldfish flopped to the carpet. [Space level too low, sentient beings cannot enter. Please upgrade!] Meanwhile, Da Piaoliang, who had happily entered a moment ago, was now left speechless: "..." To think it’s not even as welcome as two stinky snacks. Still, Ye Shu was satisfied. At least now the food stored in her space would never go bad. Her talent skills hadn't upgraded again, much to her regret. If the rewind ability advanced further, what would it become? The thought filled her with anticipation. Through several rounds of the game, whether in Hua Xia, Eagle Country, Bear Country, or Bangchui Country, it seemed the world had come to terms with the game's existence. Passersby hardly flinched at the sight of people exploding on the street. Some called the police, while others just kept their heads down and walked on. That panicked atmosphere from the beginning was nowhere to be seen anymore. On Reality Dou+, "Sweet Home" soared to the trending page. Netizens debated fiercely. When Hua Xia’s authorities learned the game's details from surviving players, they wasted no time publishing an eerie survival manual in hopes of improving the population’s odds. [Before Marriage, “Call Me Sweetie”]: Damn—the game was really generous this time, giving all cleared players a stat point in every attribute! I’m so jealous!! I wish I could enter the game just once. My day job works me to exhaustion and, after overtime, my monthly wage is only 2,500 yuan. Got laid off, too. I wouldn’t last a day in the game anyway. [After Marriage, “Now Mrs. Niu”]: You lot don’t know how good you’ve got it. The game is pure hell! People die every second. I couldn't opt out even if I wanted to. I hid at my grandma’s in the country—still, the game dragged me in as soon as I got off the bus… and “Sweet Home” is worst of all. The name sounds cozy, but the family’s all monsters. Break one rule and… ugh, don’t get me started. I barely made it back. [Xiao Cha Bing]: Cheer up, everyone. We get five days off this round. At least I finally have a chance to spend time with my family. [Tian Tian Xiang Shang, Sunshine Boy]: Man, in real life I was half-dead. Drew a constitution-boosting tool my first round. Two games later, my paralyzed legs are working! My strength’s at 16—I feel superhuman! I even lifted a two-hundred-pound barbell bare-handed. I’m seriously powerful now! [Xiao Baiyang Bai You Bai]: Same here. I was bedridden and seriously ill, but now I’m full of life, eating well, no worries. Since it’s a survival game, of course it’s tough. If they truly wanted to wipe us out, they wouldn’t bother making it so complicated. Ye Shu’s gaze landed on Xiao Baiyang’s comment. He had a point, but also missed the mark. The game system bred its players like venomous insects—only the fittest survived. This was nothing but a culling… until there was nothing left of Blue Star’s humanity. The Qin Residence. Ye Wanwan awoke surrounded by doting relatives. Qin Mother’s eyes were red and puffy, but she lit up with joy when she saw Wanwan awake. Gently, she soothed her, “Wanwan, welcome home! You must be hungry, sweetheart. Mommy made you some soup—you must be tired, too…” Ye Mother was just as eager, chiming in, “Wanwan, thank goodness you’re back! Your father and I were frantic when you suddenly vanished from your room. This damned game—my poor daughter.” Qin Father and Ye Father stood by, saying nothing, but their silence was full of agreement with their wives. The four adults clustered around Ye Wanwan, fussing over her to such an extent they didn’t notice Qin Zaozao and Ye Tianxiang slipping into the room. Inside, Ye Tianxiang felt increasingly out of place. In the twenty-odd years of his life, no one had ever spoken to him so cautiously; back when Ye Shu’s true origin was still a secret, he and the family barely acknowledged this adopted daughter. Even though he liked little Wanwan, who was sunny as spring, he always put himself first and was now chafed by how everyone favored her—even as he envied her warmth. Qin Zaozao was jealous too. Whenever Wanwan showed up, she faded instantly into the background. Still… Ye Shu never seemed to have it good in her own family—utterly different from the much-beloved Wanwan. “Jiejie, why are you all here? Wanwan’s fine, really, I’m sorry I worried you all.” A sweet voice drifted to their ears. Qin Zaozao could see the girl's pallor, and for a second, her resentment was swept away by relief. Wanwan was so kind—just out of the game and already worrying about everyone else. How could she ever mistake such goodness for anything less? Ye Shu, that headstrong woman, could never compare to her Wanwan. As the elder sister, it was only right she looked after her. Qin Zaozao pushed a bright, confident smile onto her lips. “Wanwan, I cleared the game this round too. I even drew an Earth-based ability. Now I can protect you!” “Really? Then congratulations, Sister Zaozao. I wish I could have cleared the game with you.” For a moment, Ye Wanwan was stunned, but then she grinned—a fresh, youthful smile, her eyes dropping for a fleeting moment of shadow.