Chapter Forty-Four: Weeping Before the Wedding (14)

"I..." A trace of struggle flickered in Huang Mei’s eyes.

"See? She can’t even speak—must be her!" Lin Qi continued to mutter accusations under his breath. He’d never liked Huang Mei: hesitant, never straightforward. He hated interviewing people like her—after ages, he could barely get a word out, it drove him crazy.

"It’s not!" Tears welled in Huang Mei’s eyes as she choked back a sob, trying to appear strong as she looked at Su Man. "I’ll only tell you."

Su Man wasn’t surprised by this answer. She even agreed, "All right."

Lin Qi grew anxious. "Su Man, she—"

"Why don’t you go upstairs? Or take a walk outside?" Su Man cut him off, her intention to send him away all too obvious.

Only after Lin Qi left, clearly displeased, did she turn to Huang Mei.

Huang Mei clenched her fists, summoning her courage, and stammered, "I don’t know that man. I didn’t kill anyone. Last night, I only went out because I couldn’t sleep and needed the bathroom."

Her voice trembled with emotion. "I couldn’t sleep because I was afraid you wouldn’t trust me anymore. On the mountain, you asked me to keep watch, but even when that man came right up to us, I didn’t notice."

She knew it might sound like a feeble excuse, but it was the truth. She was so anxious she was nearly ready to swear on it. "I really didn’t hear him—he made no sound, as if he just appeared out of thin air. Really, you have to believe me."

"I do believe you," Su Man replied as if it were only natural.

"You do?" Huang Mei was stunned. The thing that had tormented her all night—Su Man believed her so easily? Or had she always trusted her, and Huang Mei had simply doubted too much?

A warmth surged in her heart, a joy that brought fresh tears to her eyes. So this was what it felt like to be trusted.

Su Man nodded. That Miao Sheng was powerful; it wasn’t surprising Huang Mei hadn’t heard a thing.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me last night?" Su Man easily guessed the reason for Huang Mei’s odd behavior.

"Yes..." Huang Mei paused, then her expression grew determined. "There’s something else I want you to know."

"Actually..." Her fists clenched and loosened, then clenched again. "Actually, I’m a Prop Player!"

She finally blurted it out, feeling a lightness she’d never known.

She expected Su Man to be shocked or excited, but Su Man only looked thoughtful, tapping her finger on the table and asking in confusion, "What’s a Prop Player? Why are you called that?"

To be honest, she was a little surprised Huang Mei was the Prop Player mentioned in the clues—but not entirely. She’d already suspected Huang Mei had another identity; it was only a question of whether it was good or bad.

But she did want to know what, exactly, a Prop Player was.

"You don’t know?" Huang Mei was so shocked her tears stopped. "Every player wants to encounter a Prop Player!"

"So why do they want to find one?" Su Man asked, patiently.

"Because I can provide lots of props..." Here Huang Mei grew embarrassed and added, "Well, not provide—they cost money, according to the rules."

Seeing that Su Man truly knew nothing about Prop Players, and showed little reaction even after her explanation, Huang Mei immediately spread her metaphorical peacock tail and conjured an item out of thin air to show off.

"Look at this. It’s an injection that can remove a negative effect once. Very useful—everyone loves it."

Coincidentally, Su Man recognized the item immediately. It was the same one Xiao Liang had used so sparingly in the last game.

"How much is it?" she asked casually.

"Twenty Terror Coins," Huang Mei replied at once, thinking Su Man was interested. "But for you, I’ll give you a half-price discount—ten Terror Coins."

"No, thank you," Su Man shook her head, motioning for her to put it away.

It was indeed expensive. Some tasks would need to be completed twice just to afford one. Better to save up for a revival card.

"Ah?" Huang Mei was deeply disappointed by Su Man’s refusal. So many people wanted this, even begged for it, but Su Man didn’t care.

"Do you have anything else?" Su Man asked, curious. Prop Players were rare—she might as well make sure she understood everything, lest she lose out next time.

Still crestfallen, Huang Mei replied, "That’s the only kind I have."

The thing she’d thought would be in such demand was dismissed so easily. She mumbled, "Some powerful Prop Players have lots of items—maybe things that can evolve weapons, or all kinds of healing items..."

She pouted. "But I don’t. I’m too weak."

Items that can evolve weapons? Su Man noted that with interest—so such miraculous things existed. Perhaps in future, befriending Prop Players wouldn’t be a bad idea. If her dagger could evolve, what might it become?

After a moment’s thought, she asked, "Can you only trade with Terror Coins?"

Even before Huang Mei answered, Su Man could tell from her pitiful, teary expression that other ways existed—likely including outright theft.

No wonder Huang Mei was so desperate for her protection.

"You wouldn’t do that, would you?" Even knowing Su Man wasn’t that kind of person, Huang Mei couldn’t help asking.

"Of course not. I’m not interested in your things."

Relief flooded Huang Mei, but at the same time, she felt a fresh sting—she wasn’t even worth Su Man’s trouble.

"Can I still stay with you?" she ventured timidly.

"Stay if you want," Su Man replied. She found Huang Mei’s ability quite useful. She might not want the injection now, but who knew when it might come in handy? Keeping her close was no harm.

The weight lifted from Huang Mei’s heart, and she was so moved she nearly cried again.

But another question occurred to Su Man: "How did you know I was a player?"

She still couldn’t tell who was a player and who wasn’t.

"Ah? Didn’t we all come together? Aren’t we all players?" Huang Mei looked confused. "Aren’t we?"

"Maybe." True or not, what did it matter? In the end, Su Man only cared about what was useful to her.

Sensing her answer hadn’t helped, Huang Mei twisted her fingers, racking her brain to prove her worth.

Suddenly, a thought struck her—she remembered the noises she’d heard the night before.

"Um... Su Man, I’m not sure if this is useful to you, but last night, when I went to the bathroom, I heard someone else moving around."