While Nao Nao was cuddling against his shoe, it suddenly began to cower and shrink into itself. Ye Delun gave it a confused look and tried to reach out to it, only for it to evade him and back away.
"Master?" A voice called behind him. He turned around to see Zao Xing watching him. Ye Delun froze as he was reminded of the systems messages that he had seen before. But instead of anger, a wide, bright smile formed on Zao Xing's face. "Did you have a good sleep? Those people weren't bothering you were they?"
"Um, no? I don't think so." He responded. He watched as Zao Xing moved closer and kneeled next to him. He reached out his hand and revealed a handkerchief that he used to clean the gunk off Ye Delun's shoes. "Nao Nao must have been excited to see you, after all, it's not often that you would walk around all by yourself. It must have been lonely while you were locked up in your room." Nao Nao the tentacle trembled with fear in Zao Xing's presence while Zao Xing continued to give it a sly smile.
[You don't leave your room that often, mostly because you didn't want to. But when you had the urge, Gao Shunyuan and Zao Xing were always able to talk you out of it by walking you around the manor and letting you play with Nao Nao. That was until you got curious and casually walked out through the window...]
[The character 'Nao Nao' is about to lose control of its bladder around the terrifying character 'Zao Xing!]
Ye Delun gave the tentacle a worried side glance and watched as it began to secrete some kind of liquid through its pores.
"..."
'What the...'
"Haha, it seems Nao Nao is having a little problem and needs to go cool down before it comes back. " Zao Xing said as he mercilessly pushed the tentacle through the floor and back to where it came from.
Ye Delun gave the man a questioning glance, who only looked back at him with his best unsuspecting smile.
[Nao Nao is one with the house, and therefore, the livelihood of the three of you. Because of that, Nao Nao holds the most power in the house.]
Ye Delun blankly looked at the message, and then back at the residue Nao Nao left on the floor then back at the smiling Zao Xing.
'Yeah, I don't think that's how it is, I'm pretty sure you're wrong...'
Ye Delun stood up and brushed off his pants. "Are you leaving already? But we just started talking..." Zao Xing said as he held him back by holding onto his shirt.
"Yeah, but I'm supposed to meet up with Shen Lin and Yang Lan so that they know I'm not dead."
Zao Xing hesitated to let go and stood up as well. "That's right. Everyone else is here as well. I had almost forgotten about them." While talking about others, Zao Xing's smile turned flat.
"Yeah, when Nao Nao came out earlier we ended up separating so that we could evade it"
He clicked his tongue in disgust. "So they left you behind so they could safe themselves? Selfish brats. They don't deserve anything."
Ye Delun was reminded back when Shen Lin had ditched him for Yang Lan. "Yeah, sort of. I don't think the word brat really fits them though."
"If they were shameless enough to play favorites so blatantly, then they're no better than children Therefore, the word brat fits well."
[The character 'Zao Xing' is angered by the thought of someone leaving you behind to die, but also distressed by the thought of anyone besides him coming to save the day!]
"..." 'You're no better.'
"Well, one of them ended up sacrificing himself. I thought that was pretty noble of him." Like a scene straight out of the movies. He was sure that would make his friend back at home bawl her eyes out and rant about how romantic it was.
Yet, Zao Xing didn't at all seem impressed but instead said with a grim expression. "It doesn't matter if the death was noble or heroic because, in the end, it was meaningless. Just more food for us to use and another missing person in society. That, and there was no point in sacrificing his life for someone who wasn't going to die anyway."
Ye Delun's eyes widened at his words, "What does that mean? How do you--"
"Ye Delun? Is that you?" A familiar stray voice called out to him.
Arriving back from their side were Kang Maixiu, Xiang Tingfeng, and Yin Meng. Xiang Tingfeng had a clear injury on his head, and Yin Meng's black jacket was ripped at the side with a stream of blood running down his pant leg. All while Kang Maixiu stood perfectly safe besides a bit of dust, all thanks to Xiang Tingfeng's quick reflexes.
"It seems the others have arrived, just in time as well." And along with them, Zao Xing's unnerved smile also returned. "There are two young ladies waiting for you back at the car, you should all hurry along and not keep them waiting." He placed his hand on Ye Delun's shoulder and guided him towards the three. Ye Delun turned back to watch as Zao Xing reluctantly removed his hand and silently mouthed, "See you later."
Yin Meng stared down at the two of them. "What were the two of you doing together?"
[The character 'Yin Meng' is suspicious about this coincidental meetup and is doubting you wholeheartedly!]
[+50]
[+5]
[+10]
[Your suspicion has dramatically risen! Be careful, Ye Delun!]
'Oh yeah, this is still a thing.'
It had completely slipped his mind. The bar in the corner of his vision quickly rose before stopping just over halfway.
'At least this time the suspicion it's valid...'
Seeing that every other time he was just doing normal things, it's about time that something actually suspicious about him was found.
[Three of your victims, Kang Maixiu, Xiang Tingfeng, and Yin Meng, have seen you talking to Zao Xing by yourself. This is extremely strange and any reckless acts could get you caught! Tread carefully, Ye Delun!]
[Quicly come up with an excuse on why you were caught conversation with the Host!]
Ye Delun looked at the message before saying without a thought, "He ended up catching me when something ended up attacking the four of us."
"Something was chasing you? And you ended up getting separated from the other three? Seems pretty coincidental." Yin Meng sarcastically said.
"Wait! Host just said something about two girls, is that Shen Lin and Yang Lan? If there really was a monster, are they alright?" Xiang Tingfeng worriedly mentioned.
"I'm pretty sure they're fine...but..." He hesitated.
"...If Shen Lin and Yang Lan are supposed to be at the car, and you're here with Host, then where's Li Yusheng?" Kang Maixiu looked at him with his cold questioning eyes. Ye Delun had to look away because of the pressure. What was he supposed to tell him, "Apologises, but my pet tentacle monster ended up pulling him away by the ankles into a flesh room." or "My little tentacle monster got too impatient and thought Li Yusheng would make a good stomach liner."?
'Would it even count or something if I told them Nao Nao was sorry?'
Perhaps then they would have a little mercy on him. Or maybe if Nao Nao could charm them... or just ea--
"Did you do something?" Yin Meng asked. His face was covered by shadows and his fist clenched tightly onto the wooden frame in his hand.
"What?"
[Nice try~]
[+5]
[But your answer was not able to erase the character 'Yin Meng's' suspicion! Try again next time~]
He scoffed loudly and turned away. "Whatever. Just don't come near me and let's go meet up with Shen Lin."
Ye Delun watched as the man, with his back straight, walked towards the exit. And how he questioningly glanced at the dust that had once been a door, before stretching his leg out to step over it.
"Ah, w-wait. That wasn't." Xiang Tingfeng panicked and looked back in between him and Yin Meng. "Sorry, Ye Delun. I don't think Yin Meng was trying to make it come off that way. I'm sure it's just because he's stressed. Whatever happened wasn't your fault." He tried his best to comfort Ye Delun. Although Ye Delun didn't really need it, he still appreciated the thought.
'Haha, but it really is my fault.' He thought. 'Now ironic.'
"Thanks."
When they were leaving the building, Ye Delun looked back towards Zao Xing, only to see he was long gone.
Shen Lin became the bigger person and explained what had happened to Li Yusheng. Yang Lan was crying in the back seat, Ye Delun went to comfort her despite knowing it was more than likely an act. Yin Meng didn't seem too happy with Li Yusheng's death and had used his excessive amount of emotions to slam his fist into a tree. Both Xiang Tingfeng and Kang Maixiu quickly watched from afar.
Because of his excess movement, Shen Lin had spotted his injuries and helped remove the splinter and bandage his wounds. Yang Lan, who had sort of calmed down, helped clean Xiang Tingfeng's forehead.
Driving their way back, Ye Delun was moved up from the trunk to the spare seat on Xiang Tingfeng's lap. It was quite the whole way. And Yin Meng at the front, who hadn't let anyone touch the picture frame with even their pinkie finger, excluded a deafening aura that stopped anyone from thinking of speaking.
At the end of their adventure, Ye Delun was abandoned at the water fountain and left with having to find his way back home on his own.
'...Wait... didn't I just come from my home....?'