Chapter 2

After a brief moment of stunned confusion, Luo Li snapped back to reality.

In an instant, the small patch of cheek exposed beyond his mask flushed deep red, and his soft earlobes turned a delicate pink.

“W-What… contraception…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it outright. “Why do we even need something like that?”

The color in Kang Xun’s eyes darkened further. He turned to Meng Hu. “Heh, he said himself he doesn’t need it. Why are you still hung up on that?”

Luo Li sensed something off. “That’s not what I meant! I-I…”

He wiped at his eyes in a mix of shame and anger. “I don’t even know what you guys want! I’m not doing anything like that. I’m leaving.”

Meng Hu called out to stop him. “You’re not going anywhere.”

He rolled off the bed in one fluid motion. One hand tugged at his loosened belt, while the other seized Luo Li’s wrist.

“You think you can just waltz in here after I’ve been waiting so long and then leave whenever you want?”

The callused palm of a construction worker, weathered by years under the sun and wind, left a red mark on that soft, pale wrist even with the gentlest grip.

Meng Hu stared blankly as the little nurse’s eyes grew wetter by the second, but he showed no sign of letting go.

“The door’s locked from the outside. Even the Chief Nurse doesn’t want you leaving.”

He swallowed hard. “You’re not getting out anyway, so why not just stay here?”

Up close, the little nurse’s skin was flawless. His thick, curling lashes fluttered up slightly as he gazed at the man who towered nearly two heads above him. “I don’t want to.”

His voice was thick and aggrieved, like a fluffy little rabbit kit yanked unwillingly from its nest by a predator.

Meng Hu took another step back. “Fine. Then just a kiss. A little kiss, okay?”

He raised his hand. “Take off the mask first.”

Truth be told, he’d never seen someone so clueless.

The guy was already here, yet still hiding behind a mask like it was some kind of game. Who played around like that?

Kang Xun let out a low chuckle. “Forget it. Who knows what she’d look like without the mask.”

Meng Hu felt a twinge of discomfort.

This guy had already handed over the special treatment to him, so he shouldn’t have any interest left. And if that was the case, he had no business ruining the mood.

He’d given away the service, yet here he was, nitpicking…

Having this guy watch from behind while he kissed the little nurse made his skin crawl.

So he figured he’d pull Luo Li behind the curtain. With it drawn, Kang Xun wouldn’t see a thing, and he’d feel less on edge.

But Luo Li clearly disliked him. The moment he suggested removing the mask, those pretty brows furrowed visibly, and he dodged the hand reaching for him.

The kid wouldn’t even kiss him.

A nameless fire built in Meng Hu’s chest. He held it back and waited until Luo Li had steadied himself before clamping a hand onto his thigh.

The smooth, creamy skin met his palm, warm like a girl’s, soft as fresh tofu.

“Fuck…”

Meng Hu let out a low groan, unable to stop himself. “So damn soft.”

The sigh carried through the curtain to Kang Xun’s ears. He remained unmoved, leaning against the bed as if oblivious to everything on the other side.

Only the bullet comments flooding his screen showed their displeasure at his actions.

【No way, Kang bro? You’re just handing that chance to Meng Hu like that?】

【What chance? He’s just a roughneck from the construction site looking to scratch an itch. You really think he’ll get clues off the nurse NPC?】

【Dunno about that. Meng Hu’s rough around the edges, but he’s pretty hot. And you know laborers—stamina’s no joke.】

【Can’t Kang bro just pull back the curtain and check? (freaking out)】

Pull back the curtain? As if.

Meng Hu could do whatever he wanted. It was none of his business.

His hands-off attitude only fueled the viewers’ dissatisfaction, and the cold mockery began.

【So when they start going at it right next to you, you’ll just listen? You cool being the third wheel?】

【Yeah, anyone else might wrap it up quick, but a guy with that kind of itch? Who knows how long that’ll take.】

【I can’t anymore. Kang bro’s like the oblivious sleeping husband—no thrill at all.】

Kang Xun muttered a curse under his breath.

“Like hell I want to watch.”

He snatched the handgun from nearby. Since the door was locked, he’d shoot it open. He wasn’t sticking around to pollute his ears.

But as he reached the door and pulled the handle, it swung open with a click.

The door hadn’t been locked at all.

The curtain flew aside. Luo Li wrenched free of the hands on his thigh and leaped off the bed. Pale-faced, he bolted to the door.

Kang Xun gave him a meaningful look. “Where’s it locked?”

Luo Li was at a loss for words. “But just now… it wouldn’t open… how…”

Kang Xun said nothing, just watching him stammer. Luo Li suddenly realized something and shoved the door open. “Then I’ll go get… the stuff.”

With that, he fled without looking back.

Getting the stuff was just an excuse. Only when he reached the nurses’ station did he feel a bit safer.

He glanced down at his outfit—this bizarre little nurse getup. The pale pink skirt hugged his hips too tightly and was way too short. Meng Hu had hiked it up halfway earlier, leaving swaths of pale thigh exposed.

His white long stockings were rumpled too. He tugged them awkwardly, trying to smooth them out.

In this empty, deserted spot, his heartbeat finally slowed. At the same time, lines of text appeared before him.

【Identity: Intern Little Nurse at Messiah Hospital】

【Level: Junior Boss】

【HP: 100 (Total glass cannon)】

【Intelligence: Normal (A bit dumb, unlikely to set traps for players)】

【Attack: 5 (About as painful as a kitten’s scratch)】

【Basic Skill: Drum of Retreat (Hides HP bar, disguises as harmless ordinary NPC)】

【Advanced Skill: Undeveloped】

【Second Stage Form: Undeveloped】

The panel finished loading. System 007 asked, “Any more questions?”

The young man stood in the corner of the hallway, the dim fluorescent lights casting a pallor on his cheeks that made the flush at his eye corners stand out even more.

“Just now… why did that player want to kiss me?”

“In this decaying hospital, to make ends meet, some nurses provide sexual services to patients for high profits.”

“And unfortunately, you’ve been assigned as one of those nurses.”

The cold, masculine voice in his mind sounded just like some genius hacker from the movies.

“Then… what should I do? They’re still waiting. If I just run off like this, will the Chief Nurse give me trouble tomorrow?”

Even now, worrying about getting scolded—007 didn’t know what to say.

“You can choose for yourself. Of course, since you haven’t shown your HP bar, even if you refuse the player, they can’t kill you until they realize you’re a Boss.”

This was basically telling him outright that refusing was fine.

But Luo Li didn’t seem to catch the implication. His face remained clouded with worry.

Why on earth had he ended up in this horror game?

He’d been sickly since childhood. After his parents died, he’d lived in the hospital, scraping by on his inheritance.

For a survival horror game like this, he should be the ultimate noob… yet here he was as a Boss.

Luo Li mumbled, “Couldn’t you have put me in an easy instance?”

Misery always picks on the weakest link—fate loves toying with fools.

The system replied, “Our assessments are holistic. Your stats are mostly mediocre, but your beauty score is off the charts. It boosted your overall rating enough for a high-end instance.”

“Huh? What good is the beauty score then?”

The system fell silent for a beat. “No uses discovered yet.”

So he’d still stumbled into a high-end instance because of it!!

Luo Li was fuming when footsteps echoed from behind.

A man rapped on the desk twice. “You a nurse? Got any alcohol? Hand some over.”

Luo Li turned. The tall, upright man stepped out from a ward.

A dark gray suit jacket draped over his shoulders, exuding an aura of unapproachable power. The harsh hallway lights sharpened his high nose bridge, giving him the stern, ascetic look of a marble statue.

He was the picture of a corporate empire tycoon.

“That’s Ling Yu, the player in Ward 202,” 007 said. “Tricky one. Be careful.”

Ward 202… right next to Kang Xun’s room.

Luo Li asked, “What do you need the alcohol for?”

“Disinfecting,” Ling Yu said. “Ever since checking into this hospital, I haven’t been able to get my hands fully clean. Alcohol will have to do for now.”

Ah…

Did this guy have OCD?

Luo Li found it odd but turned to go inside and fetch some medical alcohol.

The nurses’ station room was deserted—no on-duty nurses left. The hospital really had fallen into ruin. Luo Li rummaged shelf by shelf until he found the alcohol, then noticed the pill box sitting prominently nearby.

A box of extra-thin condoms. A box of emergency contraceptives.

As if placed there on purpose, impossible to ignore.

Luo Li only belatedly realized what a massive misunderstanding he’d caused by saying he could take the medicine.

Heavens, what on earth had he done…

“Still not found it?”

Ling Yu actually walked over on his own. Luo Li hurriedly handed him the rubbing alcohol. The man took it and glanced at the two pill boxes on the shelf, saying nothing.

He laid his palm flat and squeezed some medical alcohol into it to disinfect his hands.

Before doing so, he removed the silver ring from the ring finger of his right hand and set it aside.

Once his hands were clean, Ling Yu slipped the ring back on. Only then did he raise his eyes to meet Luo Li’s.

“Never seen you before.”

Luo Li struggled to maintain his in-game persona as an NPC. “Yeah, I’m an intern nurse. I’ve always just been shadowing the Chief Nurse and learning from her.”

“Is that so?”

Ling Yu nodded. As an ordinary NPC in disguise, Luo Li had little interaction with a player like him. Exchanging these few words was already more than enough.

The man turned to leave, but just then, the door to room 201 flew open with a bang.

Luo Li spotted Meng Hu and felt his heart, which had only just settled, start pounding again.

What now? Was he going to drag him off again and demand some kind of sexual service?

Meng Hu had been waiting ages with no sign of anyone, and he was already irritated. Spotting another man standing next to the little loli he’d been obsessing over only soured his mood further.

He demanded impatiently, “Haven’t you got it yet?”

Luo Li clutched the hem of his skirt nervously. “I didn’t… I didn’t find it.”

“Didn’t I tell you it’s no big deal if there isn’t any?” Meng Hu stepped closer, not caring a whit about the other man nearby. “I, your father, just wants a little kiss from you, and you’re dawdling like this…”

Luo Li backed away in a hurry and accidentally bumped into Ling Yu behind him.

In his desperation, he had a sudden brainwave and grabbed Ling Yu’s arm.

“Um, no.”

Luo Li guiltily lowered his lashes. “I… I’m spending the night with him. We already agreed on it.”

He didn’t dare look Meng Hu in the eye, terrified that his flimsy lie would be exposed in an instant.

All he could do was secretly pinch Ling Yu’s arm with his fingers, praying the man would play along and help him shake off Meng Hu’s advances.

Ling Yu’s brows furrowed ever so slightly, but he remained silent.

Meng Hu’s gaze swept over the two of them, and he let out a sudden laugh. “You saying you want to spend it with this guy?”

Luo Li nodded frantically. “Yeah.”

“But he’s married. Can’t you see the ring on his finger?”

Far from backing off, Meng Hu pressed even closer. “What, you trying to be the other man?”