System: Player, here are several identities: cross-dressing, cross-dressing, cross-dressing. Which one would you like to choose?

“Eh? My achievement title is usable now?” Lu Mingze looked at his phone.

He blushed a little—the system was really too straightforward, telling the other person someone’s favourability level at any moment. But intimacy was taken as the lower value of the two people’s favourability. Now that intimacy was at 100, that meant both of their favourability toward each other had reached the maximum at the same time.

So it wasn’t only Lu Mingze’s affection for Xing Ye that had skyrocketed—Xing Ye liked Lu Mingze just as much.

‘Good, at least I’m not the only one embarrassed.’ Lu Mingze thought quietly.

At that moment, a voice sounded in his mind: ‘Yes, I’m embarrassed together with you.’

Lu Mingze: “!!”

He turned his head toward Xing Ye in shock, thinking: How does he know what I’m thinking?!

Xing Ye looked at Lu Mingze without speaking, yet his voice entered Lu Mingze’s mind:
‘Because we unlocked the ‘Hearts connected as One’ skill. You and I can communicate telepathically now.’

‘So doesn’t that mean I don’t have any privacy left?’ Lu Mingze frowned, very unhappy.

But his favorability didn’t drop, and intimacy remained at 100. Xing Ye’s eyes were full of amusement as he thought: ‘No, I think it only works when you want to say something to the other person, or when you’re thinking about something related to them. If you start feeling guarded, the intimacy should decrease, so actually the skill has very strict activation conditions.’

“But even if I try to guard myself against you it’s pointless,” Lu Mingze said openly, looking at Xing Ye. “With one glance you can guess one, two, three, four, five truths. With one sentence you can analyze six, seven, eight, nine, ten reasons. Everything I think of and don’t think of—you can guess anyway. So why bother guarding against you?”

Thinking that, Lu Mingze suddenly relaxed. Actually, this was to his advantage—after all, Xing Ye’s thoughts were hard to read…
Wait, no, Xing Ye’s thoughts weren’t hard to read. He had ‘Eye of Truth’ and was a master at spotting liars. Even if Xing Ye’s expression was calm as still water, he could read the man’s emotions.

Xing Ye naturally sensed all of this. He nodded and thought: ‘Exactly. So for two people who already understand each other, this skill is basically useless. In fact, it negatively affects a person’s sense of privacy and easily causes resistance between player and tool, reducing intimacy instead. But since you and I understand each other, the system won’t be able to sow discord.’

Seeing Xing Ye take his hand and press it against his chest, Lu Mingze felt a little happy:
‘Thinking about it, it does have benefits. After I gather information, I don’t need to speak or write—I can send it directly into your mind. That saves so much effort.’

‘Mm, that’s about the only useful part.’ Xing Ye smiled.

The black-and-white cube: “…”

When intimacy reached 100, player and tool could communicate via thought. Even the system couldn’t interfere with a bond that was ‘as strong as gold’, nor could it read their conversation. This rule couldn’t be changed.

And so the black-and-white cube watched Xing Ye and Lu Mingze look at each other—locking eyes, occasionally touching each other’s hands, occasionally blushing, occasionally smiling dotingly—yet not speaking a single word.

This was even more unbearable than listening to them talk.

The cube’s entire surface turned black as it said in a deep voice: “Player X8205, there are more rules. Are you listening or not?”

Xing Ye asked, “There are additional rules? That’s never happened before.”

“Considering you are the target of 19 players, which is quite unfair, the system will grant you a small benefit,” the cube said. “You may freely choose your identity in this world. The system has selected several favourable options for you. Please check your phone.”

Xing Ye picked up his phone. On it was written—

Please choose your identity:

a. A beautiful female attendant on the high-speed rail
b. A cute little girl eating a lollipop with her parents
c. An ordinary elderly middle-class woman
d. A helpful Chaoyang neighbourhood auntie (NT: refers to middle-aged women living in Beijing’s Chaoyang District who are enthusiastic about community security)
e. A city white-collar beauty
f. A pure and cute female student
g. A plain-looking but highly skilled female doctor on the train
h. A female psychological counsellor
i. A pitiful-looking blind girl (though unable to see, it helps reduce suspicion from other players)
j. An 18th-line actress with a makeup kit capable of drastically altering temperament and subtle facial features
k. A completely unremarkable female passenger
l. Other (choose freely)

Xing Ye: “…”

Lu Mingze: “…”

The black-and-white cube said: “This time the player may completely trust the system. Based on your personality traits, the system selected roles suitable for hiding your identity. For example, the little girl with the lollipop—young, cute, holding a shiny, dazzling mirrored phone case—no one would suspect her.
Or the 18th-line actress—you can freely alter your minor facial features, so if you’re discovered, you can change outfits and last longer.

“Also, the female attendant—train staff have high mobility and can move between carriages, letting you take the initiative.
“In short, each identity helps the player hide, even from former teammates. Three former teammates—Cao Xi, Yan Hebi, and Qian Jinlai—are participating in the hunting game this time. You can’t fully trust them, so it’s best to hide your identity from them as well.
Your past game experience proves you have talent for cross-dressing, so the system customized these identities specifically for you.”

Xing Ye slid his finger back and forth across the options, nodding: “That makes sense. The system really put effort into this.”

The cube said, “Right? Although the system usually sets obstacles for players, this time it is truly assisting according to the rules… wait! You chose l?”

While nodding in agreement at the system’s thoughtful options, Xing Ye tapped option l — other, and on the blank line wrote:

A young, wealthy, trendy guy wearing a backpack, chewing bubble gum, dressed in ripped ‘beggar pants,’ with a Shamate hairstyle (NT: from smart / mate, punk inspired fashion) (1), purple hair, covered in rhinestones, and wearing sunglasses.

The cube: “…”

Its entire surface turned white, and only after a long time did it slowly return to normal black-and-white patches. Weakly, it said: “Player… this character…”

Lu Mingze imagined the scene filled in by Xing Ye and burst out laughing: “He’ll definitely be the coolest dude in the whole set! Hahahaha!”

He knew it. Xing Ye might look like a cold, serious CEO on the outside, but deep down, he was a second-grade boy full of wild ideas.

“What are you thinking!” Xing Ye curled his finger and tapped Lu Mingze lightly on the forehead. “I know exactly what you’re thinking!”

Lu Mingze blinked with a smile, sending him a message with his eyes: Am I wrong, Little Leaf?

(NT: 小叶子 — xiǎo yè zi. 叶 (yè), which means “leaf”, sounds the same as 烨 (yè) from Xing yè. Adding 小 (little) + -子 (-zi) makes it affectionate, and slightly childish)

This form of address left Xing Ye amused and helpless. His entire life he cared deeply about his image: a good son to his parents, a capable older brother, a cold top student, a dignified chairman to employees, a calm, unflappable top player in games.

Except in front of Lu Mingze.
In the first world, Claire had kicked the little mirror into the river, stuffed it into her chest, even bathed with it; then came unlocking memories of the past—including the dark history of hiring gangsters—and after losing his memory things only escalated…

“I really have no image left in front of you.” Xing Ye shook his head helplessly, yet he didn’t mind letting Lu Mingze see his true heart.

Lu Mingze held his arm and thought: ‘No, I think both your outer self and inner self are parts of who you are. You’re someone who, no matter how bold your thoughts are, can always present them outwardly with rigour and scientific reasoning. So no matter how rebellious your ideas might be, your strong, serious style never changes. That’s good—that’s all you.’

A human mirror—the system’s evaluation of Lu Mingze was truly accurate. He stood before you like a mirror; whether you accepted it or not, he reflected your strengths and weaknesses completely.

Xing Ye touched Lu Mingze’s face and sent him a thought: ‘The reason I chose this identity was to stand out. If you were one of the other 19 players, what would you imagine the thirty-million-point prey to look like?’

Lu Mingze thought carefully: ‘Maybe a completely unremarkable passerby, maybe a staff member hiding on the train, maybe a dog by someone’s feet, or a bird nearby, but…’

But definitely not a flashy Shamate kid who turned heads everywhere!

There were many non-mainstream youths in society who dressed in outfits ordinary people found bizarre. They attracted countless stares and made many people unwilling to look directly at them.

And because of this—
When someone wanted to hunt the thirty-million-point player, the first person they would rule out in any carriage is the ridiculously dressed one.

Mainly because he was too dazzling—covered in sparkling rhinestones so bright they hurt your eyes.
If a player became the hunted and refreshed into such an appearance, their first reaction would be to tear off the purple hair and buy new clothes. Being the target, they’d want to stay low-profile.

“So that’s how it is!” Lu Mingze’s eyes lit up. “And you’ve never used this appearance before, so even players who’ve met you won’t recognize you.”

Xing Ye smiled lightly: “I can’t fool the smart ones, so I need to add a note.”

Since he hadn’t submitted his choice yet, Xing Ye added a remark after the “trendy rich boy”:
A backpack containing many normal men’s wigs and regular clothing such as sportswear, jeans, and casual pants.

“So you can even disguise yourself!” Lu Mingze slapped his thigh. “A train, passengers—the system already hinted the world takes place on a train. You can use the terrain advantage by switching cars back and forth. Very few people would connect a Shamate with a completely normal young man in everyday clothes.”

Xing Ye nodded: “Of course, it’s possible some players have special abilities that can confirm my identity. But that’s fine, meet soldiers with generals, meet floods with earth (NT: idiom meaning resolve problems as they arise). We’ll react according to circumstances.
The system’s identity options show that although it wants me dead, its restrictions are heavy. Players won’t receive precise information about me. So even if the system wants to kill me, it’s limited. No need to worry.”

Lu Mingze, who had been furious moments ago, finally relaxed. Even if it was 1 vs 19—so what? Xing Ye could completely encircle 19 players all by himself! He wasn’t afraid!

The black-and-white cube said: “Player X8205, may I ask when you plan to enter the game? Please stop staring into the props’ eyes. The system-provided ability is not meant to be used this way.”

These two…
They had been communicating with nothing but eye contact for so long. The system had absolutely no idea what they were plotting!

 

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Note from the translator

(1) Shamate style

 

Source: thebittermelon.org

 

 

Translator : DarNan