Chapter 1

My name is Fang Yue, I'm twenty-three years old, just graduated, and currently unemployed—but I have a knack for gaming.

So I decided to become a professional gamer.

Today is the release day of Tengli Company's latest full-holodeck masterpiece, Blue Sea.

I'm riding my beloved electric scooter toward the nearest Game Watch distributor.

Just then, a strong wind blew, and a strange piece of parchment stuck to my face.

I pulled off the parchment and read its contents, feeling puzzled and curious.

But after a moment's thought, I still tossed away the strange parchment.

Ten minutes later, I died.

…Who died!?

You're the one who died!

Fang Yue's face darkened, but his hand stopped mid-toss of the parchment.

He stopped the electric scooter and looked around; the road was filled only with passing vehicles.

They know my name—must be some friend playing a prank.

Whatever, buying the Game Watch is what matters.

I heard Tengli Company also dropped lucky bundles inside randomly numbered Game Watches—if I'm late, someone else might grab them.

Fang Yue was about to toss the parchment again when he suddenly froze.

The text on the parchment faded line by line, then reappeared line by line.

What the fuck?!

What kind of black tech is this?!

I thought this parchment was just a prank between friends.

But I never imagined this parchment was actually my last lifeline!

I didn't believe the parchment's words and treated it as a prank, tossing it away.

Nine minutes later, I died.

Before dying, for some reason, I kept remembering the parchment I'd just picked up, filled with unbearable regret.

If… I had believed the parchment's words back then, this wouldn't have been the outcome!

Fang Yue was stunned.

Does this thing read minds? That's terrifying.

Fang Yue examined the parchment closely.

The parchment looked ancient, like something only medieval nobles would use.

But its texture was incredibly smooth, like silk.

"This thing… must be worth a fortune?"

Fang Yue's mind turned greedy.

He'd just graduated college, was completely broke, and still rented a cheap shared apartment—he truly needed money.

As if sensing Fang Yue's thoughts, the parchment began to display new text again.

I think the parchment is valuable and plan to contact a buyer after returning home to sell it.

Eight minutes later, I died.

Died again?!

Fang Yue's face darkened.

Are you insane?! Do you think I won't tear you up?!

This time, the parchment's text faded quickly, then new lines appeared.

I was furious, but after careful thought, I decided to keep the strange parchment and follow its instructions.

I survived.

One year later, I became a millionaire.

Fang Yue:???

You're acting weird!

A millionaire already? Bullshit.

Fang Yue didn't believe it.

The parchment's text vanished and reappeared.

I kept the parchment but didn't believe its contents.

Ten seconds later, a text message arrived—a distributor alert: only ten thousand Game Watches left in stock, hurry to buy.

I panicked, worried I wouldn't get one.

Just then, a bus arrived.

I put down my electric scooter, got on the bus, and prayed to reach the Game Watch distributor sooner.

Five minutes later, the bus crashed.

I…

Fuck!

It even cuts off mid-sentence?!

What happened to me after I got on the bus? Tell me! If you can't, I'll tear you apart!

As Fang Yue's anger surged, his phone suddenly vibrated, and the screen lit up.

A text message appeared before his eyes.

Tengli Group, Jianghai City Branch #399: Only 10,000 units of the Blue Sea Game Watch remain in stock. Players, hurry to purchase while supplies last.

Fuck!?!

The Game Watch is really going to be gone! What do I do what do I…

Beep-beep!

At that moment, a bus pulled up ahead—exactly Route 33, the one that goes to the distributor store.

Without thinking, Fang Yue reached out to flag it down.

But his hand froze halfway.

Wait.

This is exactly what the parchment said!

In his panic, Fang Yue nearly boarded the bus.

Beep-beep!

The bus driver clearly saw Fang Yue's gesture, slowed down, pulled over, and honked twice.

The passengers all turned their gazes toward Fang Yue, but he stood still, not boarding.

The wide-open door felt like the entrance to hell, making Fang Yue dare not move.

It was summer, yet his hands and feet turned icy cold…

Oh, it's just the bus's air conditioning. Never mind.

But it's still cold!

Cold enough to clear his mind!

Fang Yue gave the driver a nervous smile, then looked down at the parchment…

【The bus stopped, but I hesitated whether to board.】

【Soon, I made my decision.】

【To buy the Game Watch sooner, I boarded the bus.】

【Three minutes later, the bus crashed.】

【I died.】

Fuck!

Again this ending? Parchment, can't you come up with something new?

"Kid, are you getting on or not?"

"Yeah, nowadays kids are so slow and indecisive!"

After waiting a while, the passengers on the bus began complaining.

Fang Yue gave a nervous smile and shook his head. "I'm not getting on. Sorry—I misread the number. I thought it was Route 35."

The passengers muttered curses, but the driver just shook his head.

The bus slowly pulled away.

Fang Yue took out the parchment.

【Following the parchment's hint, I didn't board. I survived.】

【To buy the Game Watch sooner, I called a Didi taxi.】

【The taxi driver was an experienced one—he got me to my destination quickly.】

【I successfully bought the Game Watch.】

Better to believe it than to ignore it.

Fang Yue found an excuse for his cautious timidity.

He opened his phone's Didi app and ordered a taxi.

Three minutes later, the taxi pulled over to the curb.

Just as Fang Yue was about to get in…

Boom!!

A violent explosion erupted in the distance.

Flames shot into the sky, thick smoke billowed upward.

Fang Yue looked toward the direction—and recognized it as the path the bus had taken.

No way… Did the parchment actually predict this?

His heart lurched—he suddenly felt a wave of dread.

"Fuck! A crash? A fuel tanker explosion?"

The experienced taxi driver flinched, nearly dropping his cigarette.

"Driver, let's detour and take a look."

Fang Yue's suggestion matched the driver's thoughts—he nodded eagerly.

More fare, plus a spectacle? Why not?

The taxi drove along the road and soon arrived at the crash site; Fang Yue's pupils shrank instantly.

A bus lay overturned, blazing with roaring flames; its middle section bore a distinct indentation, as if struck by a heavy object.

Only three survivors remained alive inside, screaming as they crawled out; the rest were either Heavy Injury or dead.

The vehicle that flipped the bus was a sleek luxury sports car—Fang Yue couldn't identify the brand, but knew it was worth at least ten million.

Unfortunately, the car had smashed head-on into the bus and shattered into pieces; its occupants were so badly mangled not even complete corpses could be found.

Around the crash site, several vehicles had stopped, people rushing to help, others shouting, some calling emergency services.

These adults clearly understood better than Fang Yue how to handle such a situation.

"Driver, let's go."

"Alright."

Once the taxi had distanced itself from the accident scene, Fang Yue exhaled softly in his mind and quietly reached into his pocket for the parchment.

"I might have... picked up something extraordinary."

In a pitch-black room sat a large screen.

On the screen was footage from the dashcam.

No one could be seen in the footage, but voices could be heard.

"It's gone! How could it be gone!"

"Find it for me quickly! You must find it, or we're all dead!"

"Drive faster! Faster!"

"Too slow! Too slow! Accelerate again! Accelerate! Go back to where we were..."

At this point, a bus suddenly appeared ahead.

Before the driver could even brake, the car slammed into the bus.

The screen lurched violently, rolled over, hit the ground, then descended into chaos.

Beep.

The screen's footage was shut off, plunging into blackness.

The room's lights turned on, illuminating its layout.

It was a room resembling a conference room.

Yet at this moment, only two people sat in it.

One was a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard; he lit a cigarette and looked at the other.

The other was a woman in her early twenties, with an outstanding figure and refined features.

The middle-aged man asked: "Xiaomiao, what did you notice?"

Xiaomiao raised her voice: "No way—no one really can't tell these two are searching for something?"

"Why isn't Liu Zong speaking?"

"Cough! I just can't quite accept how young people talk."

After a pause, Liu Zong tapped the table lightly with his index finger.

"I checked the vehicle's records. Its final route started at Mingyue Factory, crossed Jianghai Bridge, passed through Xinfeng Road, Ruoxiang Road, and nineteen other districts, then suddenly reversed course at Lianyi Road, accelerated wildly back five districts, and crashed into the bus, killing everyone."

"Ninefold Water Bottle? That's it? That's it? That's it? It crashed at just two hundred kilometers per hour?"

... Is that really the point?

Liu Zong's expression stiffened; he awkwardly changed the subject: "So whatever they lost is definitely somewhere in this area. I need you to investigate this secretly."

"Liu Zong, can I refuse? Tonight's when Blue Sea launches!"

"Which is more important—your game or your job? Don't even think about it. We're the Bounty Company. Once we take a job, we do it. Reputation is key."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"I'm only trying to promote you because you're young..."

Listening to Liu Zong's rambling, Chen Xiaomiao sighed.

My Blue Sea...

Tonight, I'll only be able to sneak in a little playtime.

New author, new book (correct), please collect!

(End of chapter)