Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Lin Qin and X Beijin come to a stop at the boundary between light and dark.

X Beijin is surprised to see Lin Qin blocked by the screen of light. He has a bad feeling about this, like a tub of cold water was poured right down the warmth in his chest.

Then he looks at Lin Qin, who seem even more confused than he was But it doesnt look like he was surprised, but more wonderment, at how he only discovered this right now instead of earlier.

Lin Qin says, I cant leave.

And probably realising the possible ambiguity, he explains, I mean, I cant enter the top floor of the Tower.

X Beijin seem a little apprehensive as he says, this this shouldnt be, then he holds Lin Qins hands and mutter, no, no way it is

Lin Qin touches X Beijins cheeks and brow, then says, its fine. Go.

He notices X Beijins mood is tumbling, and reassures him even more gently, really, Im relieved I could see you off up until now.

He would be devastated if X Beijin ended up lost in this shortcut.

And hes happy to think that its because of him that X Beijin could travel here without much hassle.

Though he doesnt know what X Beijin is astonished about.

Why cant Lin Qin go to the top floor? Even X Beijin himself could pass through the light! Its a shortcut, a bug that everyone can use! Why is Lin Qin an exception?!

No, wait, it could be something else.

X Beijin suddenly remembers.

Lin Qin has been through True EndsA lot, even, but he has never left the bottom floor of the Tower.

When others ask him why he doesnt go to a higher floor, his reply is always that hes disinterested, or he just doesnt answer altogether.

Soon enough, people are no longer interested, and this has become something people largely know to ignore.

They assign labels of weird, strange or even alien to Lin Qin, so they think that, whatever happens, as the crownless King of the bottom floor, its nothing to be surprised by.

Though

What if, Lin Qin is actually unable to ascend to a higher floor?

All this time, X Beijin knows and has been confounded by all the strangeness surrounding Lin Qin.

At first, he suspected foul play from utility cards. Later, he thought it might be because Lin Qin himself is special.

He might even be an actual NPCBecause hes really, really behaving unlike how a human would.

But even if he wasnt human, as long as he was part of the game, what reason could there be that he cannot go to the top floor? Why is he stopped by this screen of light?

What, would the information panel of Lin Qin, display?

X Beijin has never been as angry at his identity of Tower resident as he is now; otherwise, he could have used an Infocard to check on Lin Qin He is really baffled by Lin Qins state right now.

This completely unexpected happenstance right at this moment is like a boulder dropped onto X Beijins chest, suffocating him.

After thinking long and hard about it, he looks up, and asks Lin Qin with a careful tone, do you think you could leave the bottom floor of the Tower?

Lin Qin seems to blank out for a moment, surprised by the sudden question from X Beijin, and asks, what do you mean?

Can you go up to a higher floor in the Tower? X Beijin changes his question, youve had True Ends before, so why do you not go up to a higher floor? What is the reasoning behind it?

I just dont want to, Lin Qin answers concretely, as for whether Ican I dont know. Ive never tried to.

Then X Beijin turns to the screen of light, and he mumbles, but you knew you cant pass through this

No, I cant

Lin Qin, do you knowwhyyou know you cant go to the top floor of the Tower?

Lin Qins voice trails off.

X Beijin turns back towards Lin Qin, looking at this straightforward young man, his love.

All this time, Lin Qin has said hes not interested in the higher floors, though the reason sounds more like an excuse to hide the fact that he actuallycannotgo to the higher floors of the Tower.

He actually cant leave the bottom floor of the Tower at all.

Finally, Lin Qin answers, looking as calm and honest as he always is in front of X Beijin. Never hiding a thing, never lying a thing.

He says, I just know. I dont know why I know, but

He points towards the screen of light, adding, I know that I cannot go behind this. Its like an instinct. I cant go. Im

Lin Qin struggles to come up with a word, and X Beijin is examining his expression closely, like he used to do in the long past.

Finally, Lin Qin has his word, and says, Im forbidden to go there.

Forbidden?

The choice of word makes X Beijin gasp a little.

His face even goes pale once more.

Lin Qin, worried, asks him, whats wrong? Beijin, did it make you upset? Dont dont worry. Ill be fine. You will be too. We will both be.

He touches X Beijins cold lips with his fingers, anxious, looking like he wish he could warm X Beijin up with his body warmth.

Well maybe its not as absurd as it sounds.

Though X Beijins face really doesnt allow much time for him to think.

Then, suddenly, X Beijin turns to hug him.

Lin Qin looks all flustered.

In their relationship, X Beijin has always been the more passive, introverted, and quiet side.

He doesnt often reveal his thoughts or emotions, and only occasionally, can Lin Qin see a bit of speechless amusement in him.

It feels warm and fluffy to him, like hes being enveloped.

His instincts tell him, it is love from X Beijin.

And when they bicker a little, Lin Qin thinks its a lovers quarrelWell, maybe, but in any case, before X Beijin pulled him close for a kiss earlier, hes never seen X Beijin do something so forward.

He wasnt bothered by it either. He is the one who tirelessly cling to X Beijin, its been like this since the very beginning.

Hes used to interacting like this, and he thinks, X Beijin has become used to it as well.

So when X Beijin is hugging him proactively, and can even feel X Beijins hands trembling a little on his back, he is panicking, not knowing what is happening to X Beijin. He doesnt understand.

And X Beijin wouldnt tell him.