Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

X Beijin examines Lin Qins poker face in thought. He looks like hes trying to act it cool, but its apparent hes conflicted inside.

Lin Qin really isnt good at hiding his own emotions, huh?

Mu Jiashi can also see it, naturally, and stands up, and gives a cautious greeting to Lin Qin.

In that Nightmare back then, he saw Lin Qin by X Beijins side already. He didnt think much of it, but now, seeing him visiting the bookstore in the Tower again It cant be a coincidence anymore, can it?

Why does Lin Qin keep visiting X Beijin? Does he want to visit his Nightmare? No In the Nightmare, Lin Qin said out loud that he wasnt interested in X Beijins Nightmare. He only wants to fight.

Though why would he be so close and do so much if he wasnt interested in the Nightmare of a Tower resident? Even if you do suspect they are hiding something and are much more powerful than they seem, so you want to brawl

Wait?!

Mu Jiashis lips are twitching as all the serious thought vanishes like a bubble. He is suddenly observing these two men in front of him anew discreetly.

What dots Thin could connect are clearly ones Mu Jiashi, himself a returnee from the higher floors, could do as well.

Lin Qin not being interested in X Beijins Nightmare does not preclude him from being interested in X Beijin, the person!

So brawl, he says

Mu Jiashis feelings are beyond what words could describe.

He blanks out for a whole second before immediately saying goodbye to X Beijin. He really doesnt want to interfere Well, whatever it is. At least, hes not interested in being an eyesore anywhere.

Before he left, he notices a book in Lin Qins hands.

He sees that the books cover is pitch black in colour, highlighting the imagery of the pen and a paper with what appears to be blood-written letters on it.

A horror novel? is the thought flashing through Mu Jiashis mind.

After Mu Jiashi left unexpectedly, Lin Qin returns the book to X Beijin.

X Beijin asks, what did you think of it?

Lin Qin replies, while it is a horror novel, but does the author have some grudge against this protagonist?

X Beijin seems surprised by the question, and glances down at the cover before telling him, with a rather unreadable expression, I heard it is, yeah. Apparently, the author wrote the person they hated into the novel, so

No wonder, remarks Lin Qin.

Then he suddenly glances at X Beijin oddly.

Why would he know about the background of this novel? He didnt see anything that suggests this reasoning in the book anywhere.

Before Lin Qin could ask, though, X Beijin changes the topic, you said you wanted to read another one? What genre do you want?

So Lin Qin dismisses that idle question in his mind from earlier, just saying, Ill take anything you recommend.

X Beijin is putting the book Lin Qin returned away, then stands there and looks across the shelves while thinking about what book to give Lin Qin. Lin Qin himself walks next to him and quietly watches him.

X Beijin rubs his chin for a while before pulling a book out for Lin Qin from the shelves.

Lin Qin checks it out. It seems to be a detective novel, with the common XXX Murders as the title. He asks, whats this about?

Im not spoiling, then X Beijin smiles, adding, try and pinpoint the culprit yourself.

Lin Qin then turns the book around, saying, oh looks like the culprit will be unexpected.

X Beijin smiles but does not speak.

Lin Qin is watching his smile and cant help but ask, it cant be that, the narrator, I, am the culprit, or all of them are culprits right?

Of course not. This one isnt that kind of special, but X Beijin is hesitant, before explaining, this kind of detective novel, you see, its culprit, victim, crime scene, time of crime, methodology At least one of these would be out of place.

Lin Qin waves the book a little and seems interested, replying, then Ill have to see what kind of out of place it is.

X Beijin is still smiling.

Then Lin Qin tells him, I also told the two people as well not to come probe the bookstore anymore, or to interfere with your daily life.

X Beijin is quiet for a moment, then his smile turns more genuine, as he thanks him, thank you.

Lin Qin then says, so

No fighting.

Lin Qin

He isnt really even angry anymore, just feelingI knew it.

X Beijin cant help but chuckle.

Then he starts sorting the drinks Lin Qin and Mu Jiashi brought as if he has some kind of OCD, putting everything in some kind of proper face with a serious expression.

Lin Qin tries to help, but if it doesnt exactly fit with where X Beijin wanted it to be, then X Beijin would look irritated.

Lin Qin really is astonished by this man in front of him. He refused what he asked him to do, and then complains when he tries to help?

He asks with this heightened tone, so whats the difference between putting it in this cabinet and that cabinet?

X Beijin answers, with all due seriousness, I refuse to have the juices under the shelves hosting biographies.

Lin Qin asks, completely confounded, whats the difference, even?

X Beijin knits his brows for a moment, thinking, before answering, it tastes different?

Lin Qin

It was always X Beijin who felt that it was hard to deal with Lin Qin sometimes, but for the first time, Lin Qin is feeling how hard it is to deal with X Beijin.

So, Lin Qin, like his namesake, is spinning around like a little apple, moving as X Beijin ordered. Put this here, put that there. A while later, all the drinks, whoever brought them here, have been sorted neatly and tidily.

X Beijin finally feels vaguely happy.

He gives this sorry smile to Lin Qin, asking, want any drinks?

Lin Qin replies, anything is fine.

The bookstore. The Tower. Still the bookstore in the Tower. What is old and rundown is still old and rundown. There are no means to fix them either. Whatever furniture you find in the house is what you get. They wont replenish or change.

Sometimes, X Beijin thinks, perhaps the reason he will never be able to treat the Tower as a Second Life is because, it is all so unreal. It all looks like some sick figment of imagination.

Yet, this is the first day, ever, since he has arrived in the Tower, where he isnt cognisant of the imitated verisimilitude of the Tower, or the fact that this is a mere game.

He orders Lin Qin all around, watching him do whatever pleased him and looking too tired to even diss him inside, he cant help but laugh out loud.

And Lin Qin Lin Qin, with several cans of drinks in his hands, is looking at him with narrowed eyes. Then, he harrumphs, before putting all the cans where X Beijin told him to, to the places where they all belonged.

They really are different from others in the Tower.

When they stop, they take a seat, and read their separate books, drink their separate drinks, and eat their separate snacks, thats the thought that entered X Beijins mind.

For once, he could feel the damp fog covering his mind, being pierced by what appears to be a small ray of light.

He is too distracted to read properly, thinking inside, seriously seriously. Lin Qin, that guy, has way too much presence here!

X Beijin sighs inside.

Still As long as Lin Qin isnt trying to get him to fight. Thank the Heavens for that.