Chapter 896: Acting Skills

Aunt Tong’s words were etched into my heart.

If a member of the “Extreme Path” no longer wished to remain one, they naturally deserved a better fate.

The “Extreme Path” was no longer what it had been at its inception. As I had anticipated, its reputation had deteriorated badly.

Many small and mid-sized organizations had been provoked by the “Extreme Path,” and some members took pleasure in causing chaos in the game, eventually turning them into public enemies who could hardly earn anyone’s trust.

But that was just perfect.

All members of the “Extreme Path” were now isolated and helpless, yet they still clung to my words with unwavering faith.

This dilemma would only deepen their loyalty. When external enemies multiplied, internal unity would strengthen. To outsiders, it might seem like the entire “Righteous Faction” had united against the “Extreme Path,” but to its members, it was as if they alone were awake while the world slept. They saw themselves as adversaries to the masses—who were merely foolish, yet still worth saving.

Even so, I would keep a close eye on those who wavered. They had risked their lives for the “Extreme Path,” and I could never bring myself to abandon them.

If anyone truly came to me seeking to leave, I would recommend “Paradise’s Gate” as their next destination.

After seeing Aunt Tong off, I waited in place for a long while. It wasn’t until dusk approached that I finally spotted a familiar figure—though there were two of them this time.

Jiang Ruoxue, accompanied by a tall, lanky boy, was scanning the surroundings as they made their way toward me.

I felt flustered. What followed was a scenario I wasn’t particularly adept at handling.

A few steps later, Ruoxue saw me. Her eyes lit up with unmistakable joy, though she quickly suppressed it.

Then, she forced an exaggerated expression of sorrow.

“Ah…” She opened her mouth. “Zhichun…?”

“Uh… yeah, it’s me,” I nodded.

“Sigh… I never expected to see you here…” She lowered her head slowly, feigning resignation.

*That’s right, Ruoxue… I hope you really didn’t expect this.*

“Is this… an illusion?” She lifted her gaze to me, then glanced back at the boy behind her. “Gu Yu, is there someone in front of me? Or am I just hallucinating from missing her too much?”

“Uh…” The boy clearly hadn’t rehearsed this with her and stumbled over his lines. “Xue-jie… should I say I see her or not?”

Ruoxue blinked, then sighed dramatically. “Just as I thought… an illusion. There’s no way she’d come to reconcile with me.”

“Wait, you—” The boy named Gu Yu hesitated, about to say something, but a sharp glare from Ruoxue silenced him.

“Gu Yu, I told you I had a falling-out with my best friend, didn’t I? Now I’m so heartbroken I’m seeing things.” She sighed theatrically. “Let’s just break up.”

“B-break up…?”

Judging by Gu Yu’s bewildered expression, he hadn’t even realized they were *together* in the first place.

“Xue-jie, don’t joke around…” he stammered. “I just came to ask you about the ‘Zodiacs’—how did I get dragged into this?”

Ruoxue shot him another warning look. “Stop bothering me. I’m already suffering from heartache.”

“Uh… I—” Gu Yu scratched his head. “Xue-jie… maybe you could, uh, brief me on the script first? I’m kinda lost here…”

I had imagined countless scenarios for our reunion, but *this* was beyond anything I’d anticipated.

I thought we might fall into silence, sorrow, or even another argument—but instead, I was struggling not to laugh.

*God… Ruoxue, when will this end?*

*I’m about to lose it.*

“Shut up!” Ruoxue hissed at Gu Yu under her breath. “You never talk when you should, and now you won’t stop?! What’s more important—your dignity or my best friend?”

“B-but Xue-jie… she’s right here,” Gu Yu whispered back. “Just handle things between yourselves. Why drag me into it?”

Their “whispers” were loud enough for me to hear.

“Enough nonsense!” Ruoxue snapped quietly. “Make a flower.”

“…What?”

“I said *make a flower!*”

Gu Yu blinked, then reluctantly pulled a small black rod from his pocket. With a quick flick of his wrist, it transformed into a plastic rose right before my eyes.

“Give it!”

Ruoxue snatched the rose unceremoniously and marched toward me, muttering, “Even if it’s an illusion… it’s still *my* illusion!”

“Xue-jie, that’s a magic prop… She can totally tell it’s fake—”

The sorrowful expression Ruoxue had painstakingly crafted instantly morphed into exasperation. She turned and growled, “If you don’t shut up, I’ll explain to you *exactly* how you’re going to drop dead today.”

“Uh… r-right.” Gu Yu swallowed hard. “Not another word.”

She held the rose out to me but seemed unsure where to place it.

She hesitated—should she hand it to me directly? But what if physical contact ruined the act?

In desperation, she glanced back at Gu Yu.

Gu Yu, terrified of provoking her further, pressed his lips together and stayed silent.

After three seconds of deliberation, Ruoxue steeled herself and grabbed my hand.

“…Huh?” She gasped with exaggerated astonishment. “I can actually *touch* you?! You’re real?! What?! I—I—”

*Alright, she’s stalling. Clearly, she didn’t plan this far ahead.*

*I can’t—her face is just too funny—*

“Pfft—”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“HAHAHAHAHA!”

I doubled over laughing, tears welling in my eyes.

Ruoxue watched me cackle uncontrollably and realized her plan had failed. Shooting Gu Yu a withering look, she grumbled, “I *told* you to shut up.”

“Wha—? Xue-jie, how is this *my* fault?” Gu Yu protested. “I didn’t even say anything!”

“I don’t care. It’s you.” Ruoxue huffed. “My acting was flawless. This whole masterpiece was ruined because *you* couldn’t keep quiet!”

*This… feels so good.*

I knew Ruoxue too well. She must have worried I’d feel awkward, so she deliberately made *herself* the fool.

After this absurd charade, she was still herself, and I was still me.

Turns out, when you’re with the right person, you don’t have to tread carefully—they’ll naturally take care of your feelings.

“Ruoxue, I’m sorry,” I said.

“Cut it out!” She waved dismissively. “Why are *you* apologizing? Right now, we need Gu Yu to apologize to *me*, or this isn’t over.”

*Well, now it’s Gu Yu’s turn to squirm.*