[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-player-reboot":3,"chapter-player-reboot-player-reboot-chapter-29":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Player Reboot",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2271994,4438,"Chapter 29: Hostage","player-reboot-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>“Stop looking so gloomy, come have a drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Letian snapped his fingers in front of Li Cheng’s dazed face and poured him a glass of peach-flavored sparkling water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time was Saturday afternoon; the location was a VIP room in a high-end KTV in Yin City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weekend dinner and karaoke had been planned long ago; besides Li Cheng, Mu Yulu, and Han Letian, several other classmates were there, including Shao Wangshu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, minors aren’t allowed to visit KTVs alone, but Han Letian’s father had been longtime friends with the owner, and a single phone call got them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going outside for some fresh air.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng forced a faint smile, waved his hand, stood up, stepped out of the room, closed the soundproof door behind him, walked through the gilded corridor to its end, and pushed open the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, the sky was clear and boundless, washed clean as if freshly rinsed; distant cranes stood like giant arms, lifting steel and cement to build towering skyscrapers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng took a deep breath; as the cold air filled his lungs, he suddenly clapped a hand over his mouth and coughed violently, then skillfully pulled a tissue from his pocket and wrapped the large clump of black blood in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been taking the gene suppressant for two weeks; the drug had proven highly effective—no more full-body collapse, and the gene hunger cycle had been halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for side effects, there were about a dozen complications, including hematological toxicity, cardiac toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and liver damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you cold standing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl’s voice came from behind; Li Cheng turned to see Shao Wangshu skipping over, wearing a blue striped top and a dark blue pleated skirt, offering him a throat lozenge—she must have heard his coughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.” Li Cheng took the lozenge and smiled. “Why did you come out too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m a little tired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu tilted her head and stood facing Li Cheng. “Why didn’t you sing? I’ve already sung several songs—I was really looking forward to your voice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, better not hold your breath—it’s definitely not as good as yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng shook his head with a smile; Shao Wangshu had just sung three songs: “What I Miss,” “Little Luck,” and “Bubble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his limited musical knowledge, he could tell her vocal skill was exceptional—perfect pitch, clear and beautiful tone, steady breath control, bright and transparent high notes, and seamless transitions between vocal registers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you know if you’ve never heard it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, no—I’m just KTV level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng scratched his head, then remembered something. “By the way, our class’s New Year’s cultural performance is rock music—we’ve got guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass covered, but we’re missing a lead singer. Want to try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Shao Wangshu paused, hesitating. “But I’ve never performed on stage before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just give it a shot? Worst case, wear sunglasses and don’t look at the audience—you won’t be nervous.” Li Cheng suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his own experience: back in elementary school, the teacher asked each student to perform a unique talent, so Li Cheng lied and claimed he knew sign language, then spent ten minutes on stage mimicking Naruto hand seals without getting caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, when the school celebrated its centennial, he was dragged in as the sign language interpreter for the anniversary documentary—fully on camera, “translating” the principal’s speech with ninja hand seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding dong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From nearby came the sound of an elevator arriving; a group of men and women in crisp suits, wearing Bluetooth earpieces and serious expressions, stepped out of the cabin, followed by Wei Caiyan, whose face was dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We found Miss Shao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead suit pressed his Bluetooth earpiece to report to his superior, then led the group toward the end of the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng watched the intimidating group and unconsciously frowned; Shao Wangshu’s face paled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Shao, your father’s on the phone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suit handed her a phone; a tired, guilty middle-aged man’s voice came through: “Wangshu, we’ve run out of blood at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I just donated 400cc last week.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu stepped away, turning her back to Li Cheng so he couldn’t hear, her voice pleading: “Can you wait a few hours? I’m out with friends. If you really must, there’s old blood in the cold storage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man fell silent; a young man’s arrogant voice cut in: “Cough, cough—brat, just give blood, why all the excuses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old blood isn’t as effective as fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young woman’s lazy voice added: “You get so much pocket money every month—do you think it falls from the sky? Cough, cough—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two coughed violently, as if trying to expel their lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wangshu, don’t mind your brother and sister—they’re just in a bad mood,” Shao Wangshu’s father said bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“. I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu lowered her eyes, bit her lip, and hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she looked up again, her face wore a bright smile; she returned the phone to the suit and turned to Li Cheng with a smile: “Sorry, can you wait a moment? I have something to handle at home. It won’t affect our plans for tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“. Sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng nodded hesitantly; even though Shao Wangshu had lowered her voice and stepped away, his enhanced physical condition had still caught every word of the call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her family seemed more complicated than he’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu smiled, took Wei Caiyan’s hand, and led the suited group into an empty room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng stood where he was, leaning against the windowsill, staring up at the ceiling’s patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can we take 200cc this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu sat on a seat near the door, rolled up her sleeve, and revealed her pale upper arm, covered in ugly scars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Caiyan tightened her expression as she prepared the blood-drawing equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead suit shook his head coldly. “No. The plan is 500cc.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“500?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Caiyan spun to face him, furious. “National blood donation guidelines limit collection to 200–400cc, with at least six months between donations. Is your family treating your daughter like a mobile blood bag?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If there were other options, Mr. Shao wouldn’t want this,” the suit replied, unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sides stood frozen; finally, Shao Wangshu broke the silence. “Wei sister, step aside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Caiyan wanted to say more, but Shao Wangshu only shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her resolve, Wei Caiyan stepped back, letting the black-suited men take the syringe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold iodine was wiped over her skin; the sharp needle gleamed under the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden sound of the door opening froze all activity in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Li Cheng, standing in the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what’s going on here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng scanned the room, locking eyes with Shao Wangshu. “I only want to know one thing: you hate this, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the assembled blood-drawing equipment. “Just nod or shake your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu glanced at the black-suited men, then at Li Cheng, found unexpected courage, and nodded firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kid, don’t meddle,” the lead suit said, gripping the syringe, frowning. “This is the Shao family’s private matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng didn’t listen to a word he said; he grabbed Shao Wangshu’s hand, pulled her up, and bolted out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shao Wangshu followed Li Cheng down the corridor, bewildered, her voice rising an octave: “Huh?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room door slammed open; the confused black-suited men rushed out; the lead suit shouted: “Stop! What are you doing?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole group chased after them; Wei Caiyan followed behind, watching Li Cheng and Shao Wangshu sprinting down the corridor, her face slowly breaking into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want me to stop? I’ll stop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Cheng muttered, dragging Shao Wangshu into the fire escape, slammed the iron door shut, slid the bolt, then pulled a fire hose from the wall and wrapped it several times around the handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he pulled the girl and ran upstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1329,"2026-06-19T22:31:22.154Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","96addf3def522c5f01bb69f5a89019a12d75be991957cc92d075c54a9ad11b40","player-reboot-chapter-30","player-reboot-chapter-28",612,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fplayer-reboot-cover.jpg"]