The First Note.
1739 Words
"So, you two help me with something. In return, I'll tell you all the serial numbers after the 50th," Officer Huang proposed, picking up a perfectly cooked spinach with his chopsticks. "Not just that, I'll also answer one question for free – any question you have that I happen to know the answer to."
"What do we need to do?" Qing Ling asked.
"You have to agree first," Officer Huang said with a smile. "It's nothing difficult, I assure you, and there's no risk to your lives."
Qing Ling remained silent.
Gao Yang also didn't speak. In reality, he didn't have the standing to negotiate with Officer Huang, so he decided to stick to his 'hidden depth' approach.
"You already know about the one-in-ten-thousand ratio, you should be aware of how dire your situation is," Officer Huang sighed deeply. "We are all orphans of this world, abandoned by the gods."
Qing Ling hesitated in silence.
Gao Yang also remained quiet.
Officer Huang continued persuasively, "I believe that to survive in this foggy world, in addition to having strong talents, it's crucial to grasp as many rules as possible."
His eyes drifted leisurely, but his tone was firm. "I guarantee, the information I have is worth a fortune. This deal is absolutely worth it."
"Deal," Gao Yang blurted out, his thought process simple: since the other party had put it this way, it was better to agree now and, if necessary, retract later.
Qing Ling gave Gao Yang a look but didn't object.
"Smart decision," Officer Huang said, pleased. He pulled out a notepad and pen from his uniform pocket and wrote on three pieces of paper, "Don't blame me for being stingy. After all, I still can't fully trust you. In this hellish world, one has to do whatever it takes to survive."
He folded the notes and handed them to Qing Ling.
As Qing Ling reached out, the officer quickly pulled the notes back. "Remember, after your evening self-study tomorrow, open the first note. Complete one task, then open the second. After completing two tasks, read the third. Follow these instructions precisely."
Qing Ling took the notes, tucking them into her school uniform's front pocket. "After the tasks are done, I want to ask two questions."
"Agreed. Once it's done, I'll contact you," Officer Huang stood up, pulling out his phone. "Old Liu, let's settle the bill."
...
Returning home in the middle of the night, Gao Yang experienced a profound shift in his mindset.
Learning about the one-in-ten-thousand ratio of humans to beasts, he could no longer view his once warm and complete family of five the same way.
Considering the experience from his host's fourth birthday night, Gao Yang was almost certain: his grandfather must be a "beast," though he wasn't sure which kind. His grandmother, sharing a room with his grandfather, was likely a beast as well.
As for his father, mother, and younger sister...
Gao Yang didn't want to think too much about it. Deep down, he desperately hoped his family members were all human, even though the odds were as slim as winning the lottery. He couldn't suppress this wishful thinking, as they had been his close family for twelve years.
If Gao Yang hadn't been hit by that "psychotic" on the night of his 18th birthday, if he had continued to live in ignorance, growing up, getting married, having children, and dying of old age, perhaps that would have been a kind of bliss.
Living in falsehood and lies isn't tragic if one never wakes up to the truth.
But there were no such ifs. Gao Yang had awakened, and his once peaceful life was gone forever.
Now, he was in hell on earth.
From now on, he would have to tread carefully, like walking on thin ice, where any small misstep could lead to an abyssal fall.
At 3 a.m., with his family already asleep, Gaoyang knew he would inevitably face his parents' scolding in the morning. But for tonight, he didn't have to confront them. He still had time to adjust his mindset and find the most suitable state to face his family.
Exhausted physically and mentally, Gaoyang lay in the bathtub, yearning for a comforting hot bath. He looked up at the dimly glowing hexagon above him. This time, he didn't use his hand to touch it, instead trying to control it with the voice in his mind: "Enter system."
【Beep—】
【System Accessed】
【You have gained 27 luck points, making a total of 30. Do you wish to use them?】
—Use them.
【Attribute Panel Opening】
【Stamina: 12 Endurance: 12】
【Strength: 11 Agility: 11】
【Spirit: 10 Charm: 10】
【Luck: 0】
Gaoyang noticed a slight increase in his basic attributes.
—Do attributes automatically increase?
【Attributes fluctuate based on your physical condition and state】
—What if I do 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats each, plus a 10KM run every day for three years until my hair falls out? Can I become the strongest on the planet?
【In theory, your body will become stronger, but you may also suffer from muscle strains and knee damage】
—So, how do I get stronger?
【Use luck points to permanently enhance attributes】
【Additionally, different talents provide permanent enhancements to certain attributes】
—Is the Blade God talent from Qing Ling any good?
【Talent: Blade God. Serial No.: 32. Rune Type: Damage】
【Max Level Blade God: Specialization in blades, tripling blade damage, physical armor penetration rate 91.4%】
【Permanent attribute enhancement at Max Level Blade God: Stamina +400, Strength +800, Agility +1000, Charm +400】
—What about the Gun God talent?
【Talent: Gun God. Serial No.: 41. Rune Type: Damage】
【Max Level Gun God: Specialization in firearms, 97.3% hit rate, firing rate 12 shots per second】
【Permanent attribute enhancement at Max Level Gun God: Stamina +300, Strength +700, Agility +800, Charm +300】
—Damn.
—Stupid system!
【Destiny cannot be changed by mere wishes, nor fate by spending】
【You've also discovered the Metal talent today. Do you want to know more?】
—Don't show it to me, my heart can't take it.
【Would you like to allocate your luck points?】
—Just 30 luck points, what's there to allocate? Put them all in luck, let's see how lucky I get.
【Once allocated, luck points cannot be changed. Are you sure?】
—Sure, do it quickly!
【Congratulations! Your luck has exceeded 30, all attributes gain a permanent increase of 6 points】
【Stamina: 18 Endurance: 18】
【Strength: 17 Agility: 17】
【Spirit: 17 Charm: 16】
【Luck: 30】
—Only 6 points? Could it be any less?
—Wait, no, 6 points for each of the 6 attributes, that's 36 points in total. Not bad.
【Additionally, you've triggered a hidden panel, would you like to unlock it?】
—Unlock it! Quick!
Sorry, insufficient luck
—Then why mention it!
【Session ending, system hiding】
【Beep—】
……
Early in the morning, Gaoyang got out of bed, only to be scolded by his mother: "The college entrance exam is around the corner, and yet you've been staying out late for the past two nights, not replying to messages, not answering calls. You're becoming more and more worrisome."
Gaoyang lied, saying it was Wang Zikai's birthday, and he was dragged to a karaoke session that lasted till midnight.
His mother became even more upset upon hearing this. "Wang Zikai? Didn't he drop out of school? Don't hang around with that boy, don't pick up his bad habits."
At the breakfast table, his father, happily munching on a fried dough stick, had a different opinion. "Zikai? His dad is loaded. Son, this is a friend worth making."
"Don't listen to your father's nonsense. if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas" his mother glared at his father.
"Wife, times have changed."
"How so?"
"Nowadays, it's not just about ability; it's about connections and resources. Friends from Zikai's social class will definitely be useful to our son in the future," his father argued convincingly.
"What kind of twisted values are those?" his mother was angry.
"Wife, I just mean that our son should have more friends, more options. I believe Gaoyang can make his own judgements and won't really follow Zikai's bad example," his father said, a bit hurt, and winked at Gaoyang. "Right, son?"
"Dad, Mom, I'm full."
Gaoyang felt conflicted, unsure how to face his "family." He ate a few bites in a hurry and left for school with his backpack.
He knew his family could very well be beasts, but for a moment, Gaoyang wavered: his parents had raised him, cared for him day and night with great attention. They loved him too much to be beasts, didn't they? But then, wasn't Li Weiwei his childhood friend? Such a beautiful girl, yet she turned into a devil in a second.
What exactly are beasts?
What do they want?
What's the deal with this parallel world?
Gaoyang had no answers, just as he had no answers for why he had traveled to this point in time at the age of six, or why he had received such a frustrating system.
……
Gaoyang arrived at school, spending an ordinary day there.
Throughout the day, he didn't speak to Qingling, not even exchanging a glance. After the evening self-study session, Gaoyang headed to a small alley near the school, one without surveillance cameras.
Soon, Qingling appeared too. She pulled out two thin black hoodies, along with two baseball caps and face masks from her large backpack. "Put these on."
"These?" Gaoyang hesitated.
"What else? Do you need a dressing room?" Qingling said, beginning to take off her uniform. She was astonishingly quick at undressing, shedding her top in a matter of seconds like a snake sloughing off its skin, revealing her fair neck and seductive collarbone. Gaoyang quickly turned away, awkwardly starting to undress himself.
Three minutes later, both were dressed in black hoodies, with the hoods pulled up, baseball caps, and masks on.
Before setting off, Qingling took out the first note from her pocket and opened it.
- Writer
