Chapter 16: The Missing Page of the Diary

On the sunset coastal road, two figures walked side by side under neon lights, hearing the waves crash and the motorcycle engine roar.

"Despicable, despicable..."

Hearing the girl beside him mutter, Lu Ming glanced sideways: "What's wrong?"

Yang Xin jumped, flusteredly waved her hands, her face slightly red: "No, no!"

All along, Lu Ming kept observing Yang Xin, knowing why, seeing no malice in the girl from start to finish.

"Well..." Yang Xin's voice softened a lot: "Can you call me again..."

"Call what?"

Yang Xin's ears turned red: "Just, just that..."

Lu Ming showed a puzzled expression.

"Ah, Brother Chang'an, you idiot!" Yang Xin shoved Lu Ming away and quickened her pace.

Lu Ming steadied himself, barely keeping his footing, knowing it's a typical lovesick state; anyway, he'll leave the instance sooner or later, just need to pretend a few more times.

At night, he went to sleep, checked his backpack.

Seeing the gun, he just said, what happened yesterday led him to need to use a gun.

"At least I've lost my memory twice..." Lu Ming stared at the report before him, muttering.

Figuring out how to find it became the most important task; since the game set up amnesia, relying on himself to recover his memory is almost possible.

Lu Ming thought of that girl earlier, also a player, and stressed they had first met; if she really lost her memory for some reason, that would make sense.

Lu Ming believed he wouldn't waste it pointlessly, habitually staying alert; maybe his past self would leave some clues.

"Thump thump thump..."

Lu Ming was writing the report when he suddenly heard a crisp knocking sound, and looked toward the window beside him.

"Thump thump thump..."

?

Lu Ming's eyes narrowed: "Who?"

"!" Through the window, a faint childlike voice came through, the other party deliberately lowering their voice.

Lu Ming rose and pulled open the curtain; under the moonlight and stars, a graceful figure floated in midair.

"Not caught?" Lu Ming was a bit surprised as he opened the window.

That girl earlier thought she had already been caught.

The girl pulled a face: "What do you mean?"

"Don't waste time." Lu Ming put down his pen: "Do you still want to be caught again?"

The girl's face fell; after all, she was a veteran player, and the New King was also arrogant.

At the opening ceremony, he specially ended his two-month secluded life to go to the arena, also sat in the spectator seats, watching the new players on stage as before—panicked, calm, crying out.

He stayed in the space, helping players analyze the plot via live broadcast to earn rewards, mocking the analysis emperor, saying "How mighty, why hasn't the new instance reached S?"

The reason for rebuttal: the new instance reaching S is simply impossible.

However, when the organizer announced the S Player, he was stunned for half a moment and couldn't recover.

"... Floated?" Lu Ming asked.

"Just floated!" The girl looked at Lu Ming: "Your skill alters gravity."

"Skill..." Lu Ming saw the third skill, which didn't seem particularly impressive.

"Here, this is for you." The girl took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Lu Ming: "Hold onto it first."

Lu Ming took the paper, unfolded it, his gaze falling upon it; the surface was densely filled with many characters.

He recognized his own handwriting.

【Clue: The missing page of the diary】

【Number: 94968】

【Player: Lu Ming】

【You have lifted the amnesia state via message!】

【Memory returning...】

In an instant, Lu Ming felt his mind go blank, then a surge of impact, like fragments rushing into his brain.

"Lu Ming?" Noticing Lu Ming's reaction, the girl leaned in.

Lu Ming's scattered gaze gradually focused.

"Yilin Ka."

The girl was startled: "What the heck, all jumpy... Did you recover your memory?"

"Hmm." Lu Ming nodded.

"All right then." Yilin Ka crossed her arms: "Don't forget the points we agreed on."

"Hmm." Lu Ming nodded.

Seeing the other party admit so straightforwardly, Yilin Ka felt somewhat relieved: "Hey, at least you're the New King, keep your word—there are over a hundred thousand watching in the live broadcast room as proof; if you go back on it, you'll have a hard time in the Main God Space later!"

"Got it." Lu Ming turned, folded the note, tore it up, folded again, tore again: "How's Mo Yan? Is he okay?"

"He suffered some injuries, but nothing serious for now." Yilin Ka said: "That was when monsters attacked; two players died on the spot, only Mo Yan survived."

Since their player identities have been exposed, showing themselves would surely attract monsters, so hiding is indeed the best choice.

"Alright, let's go." Lu Ming rummaged in the drawer for a lighter.

Yilin Ka was somewhat surprised: "You're coming with me?"

"You're going east to hide together?" Lu Ming retorted.

"... Don't forget, your identity was exposed first too!" Yilin Ka grew annoyed and angry.

Lu Ming walked to the window and lit the paper scraps in his hand: "But no one was watching."

"The New King would only let a female protect..." Yilin Ka muttered.

Lu Ming cast a glance.

Yilin Ka floated back: "Uh..., the things said in the Live Broadcast Room,, not what I meant!"

Lu Ming let go of the almost-burnt paper scraps in his hand; a clump of sparks swayed left and right, floated toward the night sky, then he turned his hand, picked up the cup on the table, and smashed it hard onto the floor, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing through the house.

Yilin Ka looked at the debris on the floor, face blank,, a hurried footsteps sound came from the corridor.

"... Really?!" Yilin Ka wore an expression of disbelief.

Lu Ming wiped the water stain on his hand: "Sorry, my hand slipped."

Soon, Yang Xin's voice came through the door: "Brother Chang'an? It sounded like something broke, are you okay?"

"......" Yilin Ka looked like she was about to cry: "Shameless!"

"Still leaving?" Lu Ming directly gave the order to leave.

", wait, the matter isn't over!"

Yilin Ka quickly landed, embarrassedly disappearing into the night.

Lu Ming closed the window and pulled the curtains tight.

"It's fine, my heart touched the cup."

Lu Ming walked over and opened the door; Yang Xin was also about to open the door, her hand hanging in midair.

"Really." Yang Xin's tone reproachful: "You're not hurt, are you?"

As she said that, she grabbed Lu Ming's hand; Lu Ming didn't resist, smiled slightly: "Just touched it, what's so strange about it."

After carefully confirming Lu Ming wasn't hurt, Yang Xin then let go of his hand: "Alright, help grab the broom, tidy up yourself."

At the moment she turned around, her expression returned to cold.