Ever since Zhang Heng received the analog watch, his 24 hours had increased to 28. When its hands reached midnight, he would enter a world where time halted no matter where he was. Having tested his theory multiple times throughout the entire month, his extra 24 hours would still apply when he entered the game, thus, accumulated into his total playtime.
Before the NASA quest, Zhang Heng had always played the game himself. From the desolated island to the 18th century Caribbean, all four games were completed by Zhang Heng alone. It wasn't until this game that six other players were paired with him. This situation was a first for him, and he had no idea what would happen at twelve. This was excatly why he chose single-player mode all the while, hoping to avoid unnecessary complications like this.
