Marry the NPC with Money, Wife Comes Knocking - Chapter 74

Chapter 74

“It’s normal to be afraid.” Fang Ge patted her cheeks, trying to sound lighthearted. “I’m fine. It’s late; you should head back, Sister Shuang.”

Yi Shuang stared at her, her eyes calm. “Out of concern for you, I can stay with you for a while.”

Fang Ge was stunned for a moment. “Is it really okay if you don’t go back?”

“It’s fine. If you’re tired, go back to your room and rest. I can keep looking for a bit longer.”

Fang Ge instinctively shook her head in refusal. She was still feeling down, but Yi Shuang had been helping her look for the genealogy book for days now. She couldn’t let Yi Shuang sacrifice her rest time any further.

“Let’s look during the day. You can’t see anything at night, and we’ve already searched everywhere we could during the day. The courtyard is only so big; maybe this genealogy book doesn’t even exist…”

Yi Shuang interrupted her. “That’s not the only way. Even if we don’t find it, you won’t necessarily die.”

There were still over forty players alive. Not everyone died at the hands of an Anomaly.

If Fang Ge couldn’t complete the marriage ritual through this method, she could do what they did.

Fang Ge wasn’t stupid; she understood the implication. But that would be a choice made only when there was no other way out, and… she wasn’t necessarily strong enough to beat other players.

Yi Shuang clearly didn’t know what she was worrying about. She didn’t push further after Fang Ge’s refusal, still trying to soothe her. “Don’t think about it for now. You’ve already showered; get some rest.”

Fang Ge’s emotions were heavily suppressed. The scent on her body constantly reminded her that she was rotting. Perhaps sensing Yi Shuang’s pity, her mental defenses finally crumbled.

She curled up on the ground, sobbing and venting her frustrations like a child. “I don’t want to sleep. I can’t. The room is full of the smell of rotting corpses. Why am I so unlucky? Why do I keep getting pulled into these dungeons? I’ve tried so hard, so why is it so difficult just to stay alive…”

As she spoke, her throat tightened with sobs until she couldn’t speak anymore.

She didn’t know what Yi Shuang would think of her. Maybe she’d think she was incredibly pessimistic, or that being stuck with such a burden was terrible luck.

She didn’t want to be like this.

But in this moment of emotional outburst, her heart was filled with nothing but endless despair and pessimism.

Yi Shuang walked toward her and stood before her. Light spilled from the bathroom, casting Fang Ge’s curled-up shadow against Yi Shuang’s legs.

Yi Shuang thought for a moment, then knelt down in front of her. “Don’t cry. Crying won’t solve anything.”

She meant to comfort Fang Ge, but the words that came out were blunt.

Sure enough, Fang Ge didn’t stop crying after hearing that.

“I’ll help you,” Yi Shuang promised again. “I will definitely help you. I promise.”

Yi Shuang took her chin and tilted her face up, instinctively brushing away the tear tracks with her thumb. “With me here, you’ll definitely clear the dungeon. So, don’t cry.”

Fang Ge stared blankly at Yi Shuang through tear-filled eyes. That familiar sense of security enveloped her again. She seemed to forget why she was crying, lost in the steady gaze of Yi Shuang’s eyes.

Seeing that Fang Ge had stopped crying, Yi Shuang withdrew her hand. Realizing her palm was wet with tears, she instinctively wiped it on her clothes.

Fang Ge wiped the tears from her lashes. A faint, fresh scent lingered in her nose-it was Yi Shuang’s scent. They were very close now.

“Sister Shuang, I smell terrible. Will the stench bother you…?”

Yi Shuang dazed for a moment. Fang Ge’s voice was muffled and clingy, so she didn’t catch it at first. “What?”

“I said I smell terrible. Will the stench bother you?” Fang Ge had always been a girl who smelled nice; being in such a pathetic state made her feel very self-conscious.

“Not really.” Yi Shuang pulled her up. “Don’t stay crouched there. If you don’t want to go back to your room, you can come rest at my place.”

Fang Ge looked hesitant. “Is that okay?”

She had never tried leaving her courtyard at night, always fearing some kind of danger.

As it turned out, leaving was fine. Yi Shuang brought her back to her own courtyard.

Yi Shuang’s room didn’t have any foul odors. The coffin was closed, so its contents were hidden. The room only smelled of Yi Shuang, which seemed to mask the scent on Fang Ge’s own body.

After bringing her inside, Yi Shuang went to find some clothes. “Lie down on the bed. I’m going to wash up.”

“You went to find me before you even showered?” Fang Ge walked to the bedside. Even though she had showered herself, she didn’t dare sit on the bed, fearing she would make the bedding smell.

Yi Shuang saw her hesitation. She pressed a hand on Fang Ge’s shoulder and pushed her down onto the bed. “Rest. I don’t mind.”

While Yi Shuang was showering, Fang Ge only dared to sit on the very edge of the bed.

The atmosphere felt strange. The room was still decorated like a red wedding chamber. Fang Ge inexplicably thought of herself and Yi Shuang, and the moment Yi Shuang had held her face and made that promise. Fang Ge covered her face with both hands. Her cheeks were still burning-she didn’t know if it was from the crying or because of those strange thoughts.

When Yi Shuang returned, she wasn’t wearing pajamas, but practical everyday clothes.

Fang Ge looked at her tight short-sleeved shirt and black jeans. “Will you be comfortable sleeping in that?” she asked instinctively.

“I’m used to it. It’s fine.” Yi Shuang looked puzzled. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Not tired?”

“I…” Fang Ge shifted her position and stood up guiltily. “Are we… sleeping together?”

“Is that not allowed?” Yi Shuang didn’t see what the problem was. “Sleep on the inner side. You can have the pillow.”
“You…” Fang Ge still wanted to say something, but Yi Shuang pushed her onto the bed again. This time, Fang Ge couldn’t steady herself and fell straight back.

Yi Shuang lifted her legs, slipped off her slippers, adjusted her position, and moved her toward the inner side of the bed.

After arranging her like a plush doll, Yi Shuang lay down beside her. One quilt covered them both, and Yi Shuang reached out and switched off the light.

“Sleep,” Yi Shuang simply said.

Fang Ge’s heart pounded as she listened to Yi Shuang’s even, steady breathing.

Yi Shuang might be cold by nature, but she really was good to her.

In several dungeons, Yi Shuang had been taking care of her the whole time.

She’d never once complained about Fang Ge dragging the team down.

But Yi Shuang didn’t seem to have that kind of feeling for women.

She was probably straight.

Fang Ge’s gaze dimmed for a brief moment.

She rolled over, lying on her side facing Yi Shuang.

In the dark, she could only make out Yi Shuang’s outline.

Who knew if she’d ever get another chance to share a bed like this.

If she could walk out of this dungeon alive-

If she could make it beyond the Thriller Polluted Zone-

Then she would find Yi Shuang.

Not as a dungeon teammate.

Something more.

If Yi Shuang still wasn’t dating anyone…

If Yi Shuang could accept girls…

Then Fang Ge would definitely chase her.

All of it-only if she could get out of this dungeon alive.

*

Recently, the villagers had been unusually eager to go outside.

Half a month ago, hardly any households were willing to open their doors.

Now, walking down the alleyways, many of the courtyards she passed had their gates wide open.

When the villagers inside saw her, they’d warmly call out, inviting her in to sit for a while, to eat, and so on.

But Hua Suihe couldn’t even call them by name.

Naturally, she couldn’t just shamelessly mooch a meal.

So she refused their hospitality again and again.

Today, Ye Susheng was going to the village committee to take care of some business.

She left breakfast for Hua Suihe and headed out.

After finishing breakfast, Hua Suihe went out for a walk as usual.

“Xiao He, you eaten yet?”

Hua Suihe turned and saw an auntie smiling at her.

She greeted her, “Yeah, Auntie. What about you-have you eaten?”

“Ate, ate.” The auntie glanced around. “Why isn’t Ye Susheng with you?”

Hua Suihe nodded and answered offhandedly, “Yeah, she’s busy with work.”

The auntie’s eyes darted around. Grinning, she fell into step beside Hua Suihe as they walked.

“Oh, Xiao He-aren’t you leaving in half a month? Have you thought about staying longer?”

“Huh?” Hua Suihe laughed softly. “That won’t work. Ye Susheng still has work, and I’m basically following her schedule.”

“Our village has good scenery and clean air. I heard the city’s houses are narrow and cramped, and the air’s awful too. It’s no way to live. If you stay in our village, you won’t have to worry about food or clothes. How nice is that?”

Hua Suihe heard the urgency in her voice.

She pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, then said, “Village life is pretty nice. If I get the chance later, I’ll come back to visit everyone.”

The auntie’s voice jumped several notches. “A chance? Oh, you’ll have plenty of chances.”

“Come eat at my place tonight, okay? Have Ye Susheng come over after work too. Don’t bother cooking for yourselves-just come, both of you, you hear?” As if afraid Hua Suihe would refuse, she rattled it off, muttered something under her breath, and hurried away.

Hua Suihe didn’t even have time to decline.

The auntie was from No. 16 Courtyard.

Way too enthusiastic.

Hua Suihe leaned against the wall and bent down, pinching her ankle.

Today’s high heels were rubbing her heels raw, leaving the skin red.

“Are you Flower God?”

Hua Suihe straightened and looked at the unfamiliar man.

His gaze was like a starving dog spotting meat.

And there was an indescribable stench clinging to him.

Hua Suihe braced a hand against the wall and retreated two steps, frowning. “Who are you?”

The man advanced on her step by step, muttering under his breath, “Why do you get such a good life? Why you? Why you?!”

Hua Suihe realized something was wrong.

She shouted for help immediately: “Help!”

The man was clearly prepared.

The moment she cried out, a dizzying wave washed over her.

Even with the wall to support her, she couldn’t stay on her feet.

She collapsed to the ground and passed out.

[AHHHHH get away, get away!]

[Whales, donate! Donate! Hurry up, click faster, AHHHH!]

[Donated 68,888-Protection Rebound! Don’t touch my baby girl! Get lost!]

The livestream chat erupted into chaos.

The instant the man reached out toward Hua Suihe, black mist surged from her body.

It was violently aggressive as it pounced on him.

In the blink of an eye, all that was left of the man was a sheet of human skin-everything inside had been scooped out.

His head, wrapped in that skin, bounced away like a rubber ball.

It rolled to the doorstep of a house whose gate stood open.

A villager came out.

At a glance, she spotted Hua Suihe unconscious outside.

“Oh my heavens!” She rushed over, yanking Hua Suihe up from the ground. “My goodness, my goodness-this is bad, this is bad, this is bad…”

“Xiao He? Xiao He?” She checked her breathing.

Alive.

If Ye Susheng found out, it’d be the end of her.

No, no.

She had to carry her home and hide her first.

Wait until Xiao He woke up, then tell Ye Susheng.

She hauled Hua Suihe back to her own place.

As she passed the “ball,” she gave it a kick.

Some Anomalies loved eating that kind of thing-let them have it.

[What the hell…]

[This Anomaly isn’t going to carry my Hua Hua back to eat her, is it?]

[Ye Susheng, where are you? I hate that I don’t have your number, Ye Susheng.]

[Is there a donation that can wake Hua Hua up? Hurry, hurry, hurry!]

[Trash donation system, update already!]

[My Hua Hua might smell really good, but Auntie, please don’t eat her~]

The black mist Ye Susheng had left on Hua Suihe sent a surge of killing intent back to her.

Ye Susheng couldn’t stay in the village committee another second.

She teleported home in a panic-

Hua Hua wasn’t there.