Who Told You to Play Infinity Like This - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Sitting back down in her seat, Chu Zhao pulled out her phone to check the time: 4:23.

Time was moving so slowly…

Chu Zhao continued to browse through the phone.

There were only four apps on it. One was the nameless chat software, and the others were [Gallery], [Weather], and [Notes].

When she tapped on [Gallery], a password prompt popped up, asking for her code.

Chu Zhao: “…”

Zhao Qinghe must have some kind of complex to lock her own phone’s gallery.

Next, she opened [Weather].

[Aug 12, Partly Cloudy to Overcast, 38°C.

Aug 13, Light Rain to Heavy Rain, 42°C.

Aug 14, Partly Cloudy to Sunny, 46°C.

…]

It only showed the weather for the next three days. Today was Friday, August 12.

She wasn’t sure if the weather would have any negative effects on her.

Chu Zhao’s gaze instinctively drifted toward the window.

Only then did she notice that the curtains were drawn tight. Was her roommate afraid of the sun?

The [Notes] app was completely empty. Didn’t Zhao Qinghe keep track of anything, like bank card numbers or passwords?

After finishing with the phone, Chu Zhao had basically gathered all the information she could for now.

If there was anything else, it would likely be hidden among the mountain of books on the desk.

Chu Zhao thought back to the player from 611.

This instance didn’t seem small, and there were other players, so why was the instance named Dormitory 612?

Could the hidden clear conditions be inside the dorm room?

When the instance started, it showed 360 survivors. Did that mean every single one of them was in a “Dormitory 612”?

Chu Zhao scanned her surroundings but didn’t dare to start rummaging around. Lin Qiu and Zhu Qing’an’s supernatural abilities had left her quite shaken.

And what about the player from 611?

Was their mission the same as hers? Perhaps she should find a way to strike up a conversation with a player across from her… She wondered how many people were still alive.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a translucent screen popped up before her eyes.

[Dormitory 612]

[Game Type: Survival, Roleplay]

[Faction: Ordo · Edict]

[Difficulty: ? (Trial)]

[Objective 1: Survive for seven days]

[Objective 2: Hidden]

[Objective 3: Hidden]

[Players Alive: 312/360]

Staring at the number at the bottom, Chu Zhao instinctively checked the time on her phone.

Friday, Aug 12, Partly Cloudy to Overcast, 4:27 PM.

She had woken up at 3:40 PM. In other words, in less than an hour, forty-eight people had already died?

Had they all entered the instance at the same time?

Recalling how she had been walking on eggshells since she woke up, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but sympathize with the players.

Living really wasn’t easy; everyone was trying their best.

Chu Zhao glanced toward the bathroom and noticed something unpleasant again.

The bathroom door was old and dilapidated, with a large gap at the bottom. The water from Zhu Qing’an’s shower was leaking out again.

…Could Zhu Qing’an not clean up after herself?

Frowning, Chu Zhao picked up the mop and went to the door to mop the floor again.

She wasn’t sure what the instant-death triggers were, but so far, maintaining cleanliness seemed important.

Even if her roommate was the one causing trouble, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be Chu Zhao who ended up dead because of it.

As she mopped, she stole a glance at the bathroom. A blurry figure was visible behind the yellowed glass door, seemingly washing with her head tilted back.

The water flowing out from under the door stained the white tiles with a faint reddish tint.

She didn’t know how hot Zhu Qing’an had set the water, but Chu Zhao felt like she was standing in a furnace. The shirt on her back was soaked with sweat, clinging to her skin.

“I’m back, open the door,” Lin Qiu’s voice came from outside. “Hurry up and open the door.”

Lin Qiu pounded on the door loudly.

But Chu Zhao had a vague, nagging feeling that the door was being knocked on from the inside.

…It was definitely Lin Qiu’s voice, but the tone wasn’t quite right.

Lin Qiu was supposed to be Zhao Qinghe’s inseparable best friend, but she had actually been quite cold to Chu Zhao so far. This voice sounded a bit too lively.

“Zhao Qinghe! I’m talking to you! Open the door, now!”

The person outside called out Zhao Qinghe’s name directly, her tone growing increasingly urgent.

Chu Zhao hesitated, wondering if Lin Qiu had some sort of emergency and was desperate to get inside.

But didn’t she have her own key?

It had been about five minutes since her call with Li Qingyin.

At that time, she said they had already left the cafeteria. Where would she be now?

Calculating the time, Chu Zhao had sat down and checked the time at 4:23 after the call, and Li Qingyin had said they were already leaving the cafeteria then. The Dorm Supervisor had come at 4:01, and they had sat there for a long time before going downstairs. If she factored in the time it took to walk and buy food, they would have had to move incredibly fast. And now…

Chu Zhao picked up her phone and checked the time: 4:29 PM.
Judging by the speed, it really could be Lin Qiu at the door; they were indeed that swift.

However…

Chu Zhao decided to play it safe. She dialed the number while giving Lin Qiu a perfunctory response through the door. “Did you forget your keys?”

As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily swept toward the bathroom. The sound of running water had stopped.

The call connected.

Lin Qiu’s impatient voice came through the line. “What keys? You don’t have any keys.”

Chu Zhao understood immediately and clicked her tongue.

She really was like Tang Sanzang-everyone wanted a piece of her.

Chu Zhao casually reported the situation. “There’s a Lin Qiu at the door asking me to open up. Do you have a twin sister or something?”

Lin Qiu: “…”

The voice outside the door suddenly went silent. It was unclear if the entity had left or was simply stunned into silence.

Li Qingyin’s voice rang out from the phone. “We’re already upstairs. Let me see which other Lin Qiu is there.”

Abruptly, the dormitory door swung open.

Chu Zhao saw an empty hallway.

There wasn’t a sound; the door just stood there, silently open.

Chu Zhao remained as still as a stone statue, leaning on her mop by the bathroom door. Only a single door separated her from the showering Zhu Qing’an.

As Chu Zhao counted down in her head, five seconds later, Li Qingyin and Lin Qiu appeared at the entrance. Seeing the open door, they walked in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lin Qiu remarked dismissively, “We all have keys. Don’t believe anyone else who asks you to open the door.”

Chu Zhao said firmly, “I don’t have mine.”

Lin Qiu: “…”

Ignoring the comment, she replied, “I brought your food. What are you doing?”

With a creak, the bathroom door opened.

A cloud of steam wafted out as Zhu Qing’an emerged, radiating heat from the shower.

After a brief moment of eye contact, Chu Zhao said gloomily, “The bathroom is leaking. I’m on cleaning duty.”

Zhu Qing’an: “…”

Lin Qiu: “…”

In that moment, Chu Zhao’s presence seemed to loom a bit larger.

After a long pause, Lin Qiu once again ignored the logic of the conversation. “…Are you going to eat or not?”

That said, she watched Chu Zhao finish mopping the floor and didn’t rush her again.

Zhu Qing’an also behaved, carefully avoiding leaving footprints.

Once the cleaning was finally done, Chu Zhao walked toward the dinner she had paid a high price for.

“Qingyin, thank you~”

Li Qingyin calmly pointed to a white plastic bag on the side. “This one is yours.”

Chu Zhao opened it and, as expected, frowned.

Li Qingyin’s tone was perfectly normal. “This is your favorite, West Slope Pork. We picked it out specifically for you.”

Inside the transparent food container were chunks of ashen-gray meat. There was no sauce or side dish, and it smelled of decaying fishiness. One piece looked suspiciously like a human finger.

Lin Qiu had appeared on her other side at some point, her voice flat. “Have your tastes changed?”

Chu Zhao mused, “…I might not be very hungry right now?”

Lin Qiu stared at her, her eyes dark and heavy. “You usually eat at exactly this time.”

Chu Zhao: “…”

Li Qingyin immediately followed up. “Why are you acting so strange today?”

Chu Zhao: “…”

Translation: *Why are you acting like an Impostor today?*

Looking at the two ‘people’ flanking her, Chu Zhao forced a faint smile. “I’m just joking. I have a great appetite. How could I not be hungry?”

Although she hadn’t directly triggered the supernatural aspects of Lin Qiu and Li Qingyin yet, since they were roommates, she assumed they weren’t much better than the other Wraiths… Chu Zhao pragmatically chose to play along.

So far, she hadn’t triggered any instant-death buffs. If this meal was poisonous, it was likely a debuff that affected the entire dungeon; she couldn’t avoid it, and the other players probably couldn’t either.

Chu Zhao changed the subject. “What are you guys eating? Is it good? Let me see.”

In this moment, she acted as if she really was their roommate, making conversation naturally.

Zhu Qing’an had walked over and casually picked up her own bag, opening the container and setting it on the table.

Unlike Chu Zhao’s ashen-gray food, her meal was a vibrant, moist red, looking as if it had been freshly slaughtered.

After staring for a moment, Chu Zhao managed to keep her emotions stable and looked back at the other two.

When they opened their lunchboxes, Chu Zhao gave up hope.

She picked up her food container to turn away, but Lin Qiu grabbed her.

That hand was as cold as an iron shackle, providing a stark contrast to Chu Zhao’s warm wrist.

Lin Qiu narrowed her eyes. “You don’t want to eat with us today?”

Chu Zhao: “…I do. I really want to eat with you guys.”

Li Qingyin produced a folding table from somewhere and set it in the center of the dorm. The three lunchboxes occupied three sides. Lin Qiu pulled over Zhao Qinghe’s chair and sat down.

Chu Zhao’s lips twitched. She could only follow suit, pulling over the only remaining chair-Zhu Qing’an’s-and sat down.

As she slowly unwrapped her chopsticks, Chu Zhao noticed her roommates weren’t moving. They were staring straight at her, as if waiting for her to take the first bite.
Chu Zhao scanned the room and asked nonchalantly, “Should I perform another bag-opening ceremony for you?”

The three of them: “…”

They finally lowered their heads to eat.

Sure enough, the sensation of being watched didn’t decrease; it increased yet again.

*Roommates Roleplaying Stalkers: The Movie.avi*

Stared down like this, Chu Zhao knew there was no escaping it. She took a deep breath, picked up a piece of meat, closed her eyes, and took a bite.

The seasoning was normal, but it tasted of decay-slimy and cold, like chewing on ice. A bone-chilling aura rushed straight to her chest.

Chu Zhao could control her expression, but she couldn’t control her muscular instincts… It took her a long moment to convince herself to swallow.

…It tasted absolutely foul.

Was this their goal?

What would happen after eating this meat?

Was it only Dormitory 612 that had to eat this, or every dorm?

Chu Zhao could feel her body becoming stiff and cold after just one bite.

She managed to force down a few more pieces before she couldn’t take another bite.

Fortunately, her roommates didn’t make things difficult for her this time, tacitly allowing her to waste the food.

The boxed lunches didn’t need washing, of course; they were tossed into the trash after eating. Chu Zhao wasn’t required to do ‘chores.’

After finishing, she sat back in her seat.

Opening the unknown chat app, she created a new group and memorized the group ID.

Although there was very little information on the phone, at least it hadn’t locked her ability to create new groups.

Chu Zhao created seven groups in a row as backups. The app’s group IDs only went up to five digits; her seven groups ranged from 16661 to 16667, simple and easy to remember.

Thinking of this, Chu Zhao searched for group ID 00001.

[Search failed. Insufficient permissions. Please try again later.]

She tried searching for a few other random IDs, but they all failed.

Chu Zhao: *Nice.*

After fiddling with the phone for a while, Chu Zhao began to harass her roommates.

She pretended to pick up a book to read, then after a moment, she asked her ‘tool’ NPC, “Lin Qiu, how about we go to the library tomorrow?”

Lin Qiu’s voice remained icy. “The library is not a place you should go.”

Chu Zhao: “?”

What?

Is it because your perfect roommate’s grades are so good that there’s no need to go to such a low-end place like the library?

Chu Zhao didn’t give up and prodded again, “My grades might be good, but my heart is still set on learning. Qiuqiu, you shouldn’t have so much confidence in me.”

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Chu Zhao felt Lin Qiu’s gaze flicker with a moment of speechlessness-a rare emotion amidst their constant indifference.

Lin Qiu turned her head away, her tone impatient. “Don’t go.”

Here she goes again.

So much for being best friends who tell each other everything; she gets impatient after just two sentences!

I might not be playing my part perfectly, but they’re doing an even worse job…

Lin Qiu was the officially designated ‘NPC with a good relationship with Zhao Qinghe.’ Even if she was extremely impatient, she still answered Chu Zhao’s questions.

However, Chu Zhao could feel that the limit for any single question was two attempts.

Because every time she asked a second time, Lin Qiu would start getting annoyed.

Lin Qiu’s attitude was so obvious that even without thinking, Chu Zhao could guess… her roommates likely anticipated the arrival of a ‘player.’

Did this mean that as long as her roommates didn’t choose to dig deeper, her roleplay had a certain margin for error?

After all, since she couldn’t leave the room, the only people who could detect her failure and deal with her were likely her ‘roommates.’

The tags for Dormitory 612 were, after all, Survival and Roleplay.

Chu Zhao pondered for a moment before harassing her roommate again. “Qiuqiu, can we go out to play tomorrow?”

Lin Qiu didn’t turn around, but her tone made it clear she was annoyed to death. “No.”

Just as Chu Zhao was about to annoy her further, Li Qingyin chimed in, “It’s raining tomorrow. We can’t go out.”

She added, “If you want to play, we can go out on Sunday morning and then head to class in the afternoon.”

Chu Zhao’s eyes sharpened as she instinctively looked at her. “Then where are we going?”

…It seemed she wasn’t forced to stay in the dorm forever. At the very least, she would definitely be able to leave when it was time for class.

Chu Zhao felt it was better to get out sooner rather than later. She had already scoured the dorm for information, and she didn’t dare rummage through her roommates’ lockers for clues.

Li Qingyin said naturally, “How about the sports field?”

[You never go to the sports field when you don’t have class.]

Chu Zhao: “…I don’t feel like going there lately. Let’s pick somewhere else.”

Li Qingyin smiled and was about to speak, but Chu Zhao beat her to it. “Let’s go to the cafeteria. We can have a picnic in the cafeteria. I’ve never had a picnic there before.”

Li Qingyin: “?”

Lin Qiu: “?”

Zhu Qing’an: “?”

*Do you even hear yourself right now?*