Chapter 74
Walking into the haunted house, the orphanage didn't seem so scary at first, it even felt a little warm.
As the story progressed, the further in they went, the more terrifying the atmosphere became, and NPCs dressed up as ghosts would occasionally appear to liven things up for the visitors.
Ye Jinmeng was timid, and had clung tightly to Shi Shuning's arm ever since they entered. When the "ghosts" started appearing, she curled up in Shi Shuning's embrace, covering her eyes with her hands and peering out between her fingers to observe her surroundings.
With the soft and fragrant Ye Jinmeng in his arms, Shi Shuning felt like he had reached the pinnacle of life at this moment. Seeing her frightened by the NPCs and hugging him even tighter, Shi Shuning even wished the NPCs would come by again.
Xu Wanwan wasn't actually scared at all. After all, she had lived alone for many years, and had even experienced death itself, so a haunted house was just playtime to her.
Xu Wanwan looked at He Junting walking ahead of them, he seemed to radiate an aura that warded off evil spirits, such that with a single glance the NPCs didn't even dare approach.
So the NPCs that had been frightened by He Junting went to find their sense of achievement from Ye Jinmeng far behind instead...
Leaving the orphanage, they entered the school, where eerie voices on the broadcast told stories about the campus.
"Through your hard work you were admitted to your dream university, you thought you had escaped from the orphanage and that you would now have a bright future, but in reality, your nightmare was only just beginning..."
All kinds of sound effects played over the broadcast, voices talking, laughing, cursing, jeering, water splashing...even the sound of slaps landing on cheeks.
The cacophany of different sounds made Xu Wanwan feel as if she had returned to her past life where she was bullied at school.
Being strangled, beaten, cursed, locked in the toilet covered in filthy water, stripped naked and videotaped...
Just then, an NPC crept up behind Xu Wanwan and grabbed her by the neck.
"Ah...don't hit me, please don't hit me..."
Xu Wanwan sank into her own world, crouching on the ground and trembling all over.
The NPC was frightened by Xu Wanwan's behavior and quickly withdrew his hand, stammering, "I...I won't hit you...this is just a game..."
Hearing the voices, He Junting immediately turned back to see the crouching figure covering her head with her hands, begging piteously.
He strode over swiftly and crouched down, grasping Xu Wanwan's shoulders and gently reassuring, "Don't be afraid."
Then he shot the NPC a look and it immediately left.
Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Wanwan slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the person before her, she reflexively threw herself into his embrace.
"Ah Ting...wuwuwu..."
Xu Wanwan's terrified eyes seemed to stab into He Junting's heart, hurting so much he felt like he couldn't breathe.
Feeling the girl trembling in his arms, He Junting patted her back, somewhat awkwardly comforting, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Ye Jinmeng, who had just caught up, peeked out from between her fingers to see the two crouched together embracing each other, and her feelings of fear were instantly replaced by rosy bubbles.
But taking a closer look, it seemed Xu Wanwan was crying, and she became worried.
She walked over and asked, "Wanwan, are you alright?"
Ye Jinmeng gently patted Xu Wanwan on the back, her eyes shifting towards He Junting.
"It's fine, she got scared." He Junting explained plainly.
Although Ye Jinmeng seemed like an airheaded sweetheart, she actually wasn't that simple-minded.
Hearing Xu Wanwan say she was reminded of some bad things, and adding that to the sound effects from the broadcast, Ye Jinmeng roughly understood why Xu Wanwan was so afraid.
She was remembering things from that other world.
Ye Jinmeng hugged Xu Wanwan sympathetically and whispered into her ear:
"I'm sorry."
I'm sorry.
Those three words flowed like warm water, gradually melting Xu Wanwan's frozen heart, making it warm and soft.
Leaving the haunted house and breathing the fresh air, Ye Jinmeng and Xu Wanwan felt the world was so beautiful.
Xu Wanwan sensed a gaze that kept staring at her. Looking up, it was He Junting, staring as if to peer into her very soul, making her heart involuntarily quiver.
It didn't feel like anything while still inside, but now that they were outside, remembering how she had been held in his embrace, Xu Wanwan had no idea how to face He Junting.
Passing by a shooting range, Shi Shuning, who had just returned from the military, was immediately drawn in, raring to compete in shooting against He Junting.
Ye Jinmeng and Xu Wanwan weren't very interested in this sort of thing. After firing a couple shots they didn't want to play anymore.
"Wanwan, let's you and me go buy some ice cream." Ye Jinmeng licked her lips.
"Okay."
"Brother Shuning, Brother Ting, you guys play here, Wanwan and I are going over there to buy ice cream. What flavors do you want?"
Shi Shuning: "Don't need to buy any for us, just get some for yourselves."
He Junting: "Mm, be careful you two, buy it quickly and come straight back."
Ye Jinmeng gave an OK sign, then held Xu Wanwan's hand as they walked towards the ice cream shop.
"Mengmeng, should I...should I tell Senior He about my rebirth?" Xu Wanwan had agonized over this question for a long time before deciding to ask Ye Jinmeng's opinion.
"If I don't tell him there's so many things now I can't explain, but if I do tell him, I'm also afraid..." afraid he would be disappointed.
Ye Jinmeng patted the back of Xu Wanwan's hand. "Wanwan, I think you shouldn't get tangled up over this. You might as well interact with him naturally."
"What you need to do now is fully integrate into this world. Don't keep thinking about how you're reborn, and when you're getting along with him, also don't keep putting him in the role of his past self."
"Since you've come to this world, you're a brand new you, and everyone else is also completely new. You like Brother Ting so just pursue him, don't worry about anything else. As for the rebirth, when the right time comes you'll be able to tell him about it naturally."
After hearing Ye Jinmeng's perspective, Xu Wanwan suddenly felt the whole world had become clear.
Xu Wanwan bloomed into a smile. "Mengmeng, you really are my precious, whatever flavor ice cream you want, it's my treat!"
Ye Jinmeng stroked her chin pretending to think. "Hmm, since Wanwan's treating I'll have strawberry flavor, it must be as sweet as you!"