When Pei Yujang initially thought about taking Yu Zhiwan to play an escape room, she worried that Yu Zhiwan might be reserved. However, she quickly realized that Yu Zhiwan was far more relaxed and open than she had expected.
In the darkness of the room, where the figures were hazy and indistinct, Yu Zhiwan's gentle, low voice was almost right next to her ear. Pei Yujang could feel Yu Zhiwan's breath brushing against her earlobe, warm and moist on her ear.
In the dark, all senses were heightened. Pei Yujang seemed to experience what it felt like to be visually impaired, where even the softest touch of a fingertip on her hand was distinctly clear—smooth and delicate, like silk.
Pei Yujang's heart pounded like a drum. Even though she knew this was just part of the escape room roleplay and that Yu Zhiwan was only dutifully playing her role, she couldn't help but think to herself.
She's really good at this.
If it were someone else, they might have already lost themselves in this moment. No wonder some of the guides mentioned that players of these emotional escape room scenarios often develop real feelings, unable to separate reality from the game afterward.
Such a captivating presence—who wouldn't be easily swayed by her charm?
The game itself allowed for a lot of improvisation, as it was a unique scenario created by the venue.
Pei Yujang quickly gathered her thoughts, summoning her limited acting skills. She leaned closer to Yu Zhiwan, mimicking her earlier actions, and blew gently against her ear. Trying to gauge Yu Zhiwan's reaction, she accidentally brushed against her cheek.
In the darkness, their noses collided slightly, causing a bit of pain, but what struck Pei Yujang more was the faint scent of roses emanating from Yu Zhiwan.
The Omega's pheromones were intoxicating. Even though they weren't intentionally released, the closeness amplified the scent, overwhelming her senses. She couldn't free herself from the ropes on her hands; the Master had tied them in a way that required more force to break free.
Channeling her character's persona, Pei Yujang adopted a pleading expression in the darkness, her voice softening to fit the situation.
"Sister, please let me go. I'll tell you everything."
Yu Zhiwan, however, decided to make it difficult for her.
"And how exactly will you beg?"
Pei Yujang wiggled her hands.
"Untie me first, and I'll tell you."
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Yu Zhiwan's hand reached out and grabbed the loose knot on her wrist, slowly turning it into a tight one. Now, even if Pei Yujang wanted to pull free, she wouldn't be able to.
Yu Zhiwan's delicate fingers traced the silk ribbon down to the top of her head, where she began to gently knead it. Pei Yujang could feel her fingers slipping through her hair, softly massaging her scalp, which sent a ticklish sensation through her.
In the darkness, Pei Yujang could see Yu Zhiwan's beautiful almond-shaped eyes, so close to her own. She was grateful that the darkness hid the blush creeping up her face, and she struggled to steady her breathing, trying not to let Yu Zhiwan notice her reaction.
"But I really don't know where your brother is," Pei Yujang said, her voice steady.
As soon as she finished, Yu Zhiwan seemed to lose interest in the conversation, brushing off her clothes and turning her wheelchair away.
"Alright, think it over on your own, then."
"Wait!"
The game's script stated that her character, Ying Ying, was supposed to collaborate with another character. Now that it was free time, she had to keep Yu Zhiwan distracted, ensuring she didn't find any clues about her brother.
Pei Yujang wasn't sure if the other player had managed to find and hide the evidence about Yu Zhiwan's brother. If Yu Zhiwan, who was very sharp, discovered it, they'd be in trouble.
Yu Zhiwan was always smart, whether in real life or in the game. Pei Yujang knew she wasn't someone easily deceived.
Through the dim light seeping through the skylight, Pei Yujang could vaguely see the outline of Yu Zhiwan's face. This morning, she had helped Yu Zhiwan put on an ear cuff before they left.
Pei Yujang steadied herself.
"Come closer, I can only tell you in secret."
The Omega leaned forward, and just as she got within a certain range, Pei Yujang suddenly fell forward without warning!
Yu Zhiwan instinctively reached out to catch her, and at that moment, Pei Yujang bit down on the edge of her ear cuff, pulling it off with her teeth.
Yu Zhiwan didn't have pierced ears, so the ear cuff didn't hurt when it was pulled off. In one fluid motion, Pei Yujang used the pointed end of the cuff to cut through the thinnest part of the silk ribbon.
With a quick motion, Pei Yujang yanked the ribbon free, and in just a few swift movements, she also broke free from the plastic shackles on her legs. The situation was reversed in an instant.
Yu Zhiwan, still in her wheelchair, was pulled close, with Pei Yujang's long leg blocking her escape route. Yu Zhiwan's frustrated voice echoed through the room.
"How could you cheat like this?!"
Pei Yujang shrugged innocently.
"The rules didn't say that Ying Ying couldn't use her skills to break free."
Yu Zhiwan was speechless.
She couldn't blame Pei Yujang for being reckless. Before taking any risky action, Pei Yujang had calculated everything carefully, ensuring that neither of them would get hurt.
When Pei Yujang had bitten down on her ear cuff, her warm, wet tongue had accidentally brushed against Yu Zhiwan's earlobe. Though it was just a brief, unintentional touch, it sent tingling sensations down Yu Zhiwan's spine, making her breath hitch.
Seeing her plan succeed, Pei Yujang laughed heartily.
During the first round of free time, Pei Yujang had successfully kept Yu Zhiwan confined in the small dark room for a good ten minutes. Only when the Master called them did Pei Yujang cheerfully wheel her out.
The Master had been watching everything from the control room. This particular game was semi-open, designed to allow the Master to improvise based on the players' actions. It was very challenging for the Master.
Recapping the actions of Ying Ying and Luo Yang, the Master recalled Pei Yujang's swift and decisive moves in the dark. Though they couldn't see exactly how she managed to break free, they couldn't help but chuckle as they narrated:
"Miss Luo Yang tried to interrogate Ying Ying to uncover her brother's whereabouts, but Ying Ying turned the tables and kept her locked in the small dark room."
"The Luo family waited for Miss Luo Yang, but when she didn't return, they sent someone to look for her. Overwhelmed by the musty smell of the straw, Miss Luo Yang decided to escape. Please roll the dice to determine your next move."
Yu Zhiwan shook the dice and rolled a 6 and a 1.
The Master turned to Pei Yujang.
"Ying Ying, please roll the dice to determine your perception."
Pei Yujang rolled a 4 and a 2.
Yu Zhiwan won the round. She could choose to escape, search Ying Ying for clues, or decide on her next move as long as it made sense.
The Master asked, "Miss Luo Yang, will you escape?"
Yu Zhiwan shook her head, choosing a surprising course of action.
"No, I will seduce her."
The Master was taken aback.
Pei Yujang was also stunned.
The other players: "???"
Yu Zhiwan, holding her custom Braille script, patiently explained her reasoning.
"Ying Ying showed interest in me earlier, which means she's not opposed to women. I'm going to use seduction on Ying Ying."
The Master, though experienced, had never encountered a player who approached the game this way. While they had seen playful banter and even pranks in the past, no one had ever tried to seduce their way out of a situation like this.
But as Yu Zhiwan explained her logic, it made sense.
The Master quickly improvised the scene, nodding.
"Alright, go ahead and roll the dice."
Earlier, each player was given a number to allocate attributes like strength, endurance, charm, and agility, which would be used for resolving in-game conflicts, similar to a simplified version of a role-playing game.
Yu Zhiwan had put most of her points into charm, easily passing the check and successfully seducing Ying Ying.
As Ying Ying dozed off, Luo Yang quietly slipped out of bed, gingerly making her way to the door and painstakingly unlatched it. Tiptoeing out of the small dark room, she left without making a sound.
Her brother, who had always doted on Luo Yang, returned to find her aiming a gun at Ying Ying, who lay motionless on the ground.
As Luo Yang stared down at Ying Ying, who was lying in a pool of blood, barely conscious and struggling to breathe, she instructed her family's soldiers to finish the job.
With one final shot, Luo Yang ended her brother's life as well.
In this complex game of power, every player was merely a pawn, and it was Luo Yang who had manipulated everyone to her advantage. But as the Master narrated the final scene, Yu Zhiwan couldn't help but smile at Pei Yujang.
"Why do I feel like this was a bad ending?"
Indeed, even though Luo Yang had outwitted everyone, she ended up alone, having killed both her lover and her brother. Pei Yujang, however, was still annoyed that Luo Yang had turned on her character, and she didn't immediately respond to Yu Zhiwan's comment.
As they headed to the counter to settle the bill, the Master came over to chat with them. The female player Pei Yujang had saved earlier ran up to her, expressing her gratitude.
"Are you and Luo Yang a couple in real life?"
The player, who had a round face and bright eyes, asked curiously. Pei Yujang, always friendly, shook her head.
The escape room venue had a fluffy Samoyed dog that had been kept in a separate room during the game. Now free to roam, it eagerly bounded over to Yu Zhiwan's wheelchair, trying to play with her. Yu Zhiwan, not afraid of dogs, petted the dog's fluffy head as it lay on her lap.
As Pei Yujang chatted with the Master, Yu Zhiwan got a message on her phone. It was the Master, asking if she could pass along the contact information of the female player who wanted to be friends with her.
The Master messaged Pei Yujang:
"The girl, He Yun, wants to add you on Talk. She thinks you're really good at the game and would like to play with you again. Is that okay?"
Pei Yujang immediately thought of Chen Lulu. Chen Lulu had also added her on Talk, constantly asking to hang out and play. Over time, Pei Yujang had started to understand Chen Lulu's feelings, but she wasn't interested.
She was about to refuse when she glanced at Yu Zhiwan and remembered how she had acted earlier. Raising her voice slightly, she said,
"Someone wants to add me as a friend, it's He Yun from earlier."
"Did you add her?"
Pei Yujang sent her contact information to the Master, who then passed it along to He Yun. He Yun quickly added her, and Pei Yujang accepted.
"She complimented me on how well I played," Pei Yujang reported to Yu Zhiwan as she typed a reply to He Yun in the parking lot, not in a hurry to drive off.
He Yun responded cheerfully.
"I'm Mai Mai. You played so well! What should I call you?"
Pei Yujang, still seated in the parking lot, typed back.
"You can call me Xiaoyu."
She initially typed "Xiaoyu," but then remembered that "Xiaoyu" was something special between her and Yu Zhiwan, so she changed it to "Xiao Yu," a more common nickname. Little did she know that Yu Zhiwan had been watching closely, her lips pursed in displeasure.
Mai Mai excitedly continued.
"Xiao Yu, are you from this city? You don't seem like a newbie at all. We should hang out and play again sometime."
"Hey," Pei Yujang sighed, "She's asking to play again. Should I recommend you, the MVP?"
Yu Zhiwan's expression darkened.
"I noticed she was wearing an inhibitor. She's an Omega."
Pei Yujang responded nonchalantly.
"So what if she's an Omega? I'm a Beta, not an Alpha. There's no need for distance."
For female Omegas, Betas weren't considered the opposite sex. Even if they were in a relationship, it was viewed as a same-sex relationship. Yu Zhiwan knew that most Omegas wouldn't be interested in Betas because they lacked the pheromones and physical appeal that Alphas had. Most Omegas wanted strong partners, and Betas often couldn't satisfy them in the same way.
But it still irked her, filling the air with tension.
"Aren't we leaving?"
"Just a moment. It's rude not to respond to someone's message."
Pei Yujang sent a voice message back to Mai Mai.
"I'll find you to play when I'm back in this city. I'm heading to Xiangcheng soon, but if you're ever there, let me know, and we can meet up if I'm free."
Yu Zhiwan, unable to bear it any longer, pretended to close her eyes and rest. She had long mastered the skill of blind typing, so she opened her phone and messaged Ji Laoban.
"Call me."
Ji Lingxian didn't reply immediately.
Yu Zhiwan sent another message.
"Call me now!!!"
Ji Lingxian had been filling out a psychological assessment for an Omega patient when she took a bathroom break. Seeing Yu Zhiwan's unusually urgent messages, she sensed something big had happened and excitedly called her.
"So, did you and Pei Yujang finally get together?"