I Have Yet to Become a Doll Today

“Xiaoqian, your ankle’s okay?” Li Li was surprised, helping her up to check, “Does it still hurt?”

The girl stood awkwardly in place, “Uh… Mhm, I sprained it, but then, just now, I hopped around a bit and… and it seemed to set itself right.”

“So, your ankle healed itself! I’m so lucky!” Zhu Shu slapped her chest in relief, “If it had gotten worse, Li Li would have had it out with me!”

“It’s not that big of a deal…” Li Li scratched the back of his head apologetically, “As long as you’re fine, let’s all sit down and eat… come on, sit down…”

Su Man seemed momentarily dazed but then sat down, poured herself a glass of wine, and downed it in one go!

Li Li jumped in surprise, blurting out: “What are you doing! You can’t drink like that, what if you get drunk!”

“It’s none of your business!” Su Man slammed her empty glass down and poured herself another one, “Leave me alone!”

Li Li was confused, muttering under his breath, “I wouldn’t bother fussing over you.”

Yan Qingwen watched them with a cool expression before finally settling gaze on Zhu Shu, who was eating, and asked with a smile, “I remember there was a film festival where you were up for best actress or something…did you go?”

Zhu Shu looked a little surprised and shook her head, smiling, “No, no, it was the Newcomer Award, and I didn’t win it. I was just nominated.”

“Even being nominated is quite an achievement,” Li Li praised.

As they were talking, there came a synchronized sound of footsteps from the entrance.

Everyone eating and drinking paused, turning their heads to look.

It was Chu Huaijin, bringing Professor Song with him.

This national treasure-level scientist, for whom the higher-ups had deployed eight special teams, was now seated in a wheelchair, being slowly pushed in by Chu Huaijin.

A wheelchair doesn’t necessarily mean someone’s lame, they could be too aged or weak.

Bai Youwei felt that Professor Song was both.

His hair was entirely white, his skin old, he looked to be in his seventies or eighties, sitting weakly in his wheelchair, exuding a sense of age-worn melancholy.

“What happened to him?” Bai Youwei quietly asked Shen Mo.

Shen Mo explained in a low voice: “Professor Song has a son who was a researcher in SCO. He turned into a puppet on the way to the evacuation…”

He paused slightly, lowering his voice even further: “Professor Song wasn’t this old before, but in an attempt to save his son, he used a tool that would draw upon the user’s vitality to heal others. Sadly… despite using the tool, his son never made it out of the game.”

Losing a child can lead to unimaginable changes in a person.

Bai Youwei nodded in understanding.

Professor Song and Chu Huaijin arrived at the center of the banquet.

Chu Huaijin poured him half a glass of wine.

Professor Song raised his glass, saying, “This is for everyone, thank you all for coming.”

His voice sounded significantly younger than he looked.

Professor Song finished the wine in his glass.

The guests silently watched him, waiting for what he had to say next.

“I asked you all here because I need your advice,” Professor Song said.

The room quieted even more.

Everyone knew that this banquet wasn’t just for eating and drinking.

“Everyone here has experienced life and death situations in the game, your understanding of the game is much deeper than ordinary people’s and your experiences far richer, among us are experts who have entered the maze.”

Professor Song scanned the room, his tone grave and steady.

“I’m sure some of you are aware, the organization has been at its wits’ end about the 21st Hide and Seek game, up until now not a single person has completed it, the solution is virtually nonexistent. Yesterday, the entire team that entered the 21st game was wiped out, and the 24th game experienced a shift! If we don’t take action, I fear it will be the city’s downfall in seven days!”