Chapter 783: Introversion and Social Anxiety

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jin walked along the road, their usual playful banter replaced by an awkward silence.

It wasn't that they were in any danger; it was just that another person was following them.

A woman.

"Where are you two headed?" Qin Ding Dong asked from behind them. "Ah Jin, you're the most honest one. Tell your sister where we're going?"

"Uh... we're going to find someone," Qiao Jia Jin replied with a forced smile.

"Who are you looking for?"

"The rat," Qiao Jia Jin continued.

"Is it a Sheng Xiao rat?" Qin Ding Dong chuckled. "A human rat or a ground rat?"

"A ground rat, pretty lady." Qiao Jia Jin answered while reaching out to tug at Chen Jun Nan, clearly seeking help.

But Chen Jun Nan acted as if he hadn't noticed, just kept dodging to the side.

"Damn..." Qiao Jia Jin was getting fed up and turned his head, whispering, "Jun Nan, you're being too much... We've been through hell and high water together, and now you're leaving me alone to talk to this pretty lady? That's not like you."

"Lao Qiao... things are different today..." Chen Jun Nan said with a bitter smile. "I can block knives and bullets for you, but I can't handle Dong Jie. You block for me this time."

Seeing how troubled Chen Jun Nan was, Qiao Jia Jin had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep talking to Qin Ding Dong.

In his eyes, this girl didn't seem all that scary. She spoke politely and had a friendly tone, so he had no idea how Chen Jun Nan had managed to upset her and end up so afraid.

The three of them chatted in an painfully awkward manner until they soon arrived at Di Shu's game area.

Di Shu was standing in front of the door, staring off into the distance, completely unaware that the three of them had approached.

"Hey! What a coincidence!" Chen Jun Nan perked up the moment he saw Di Shu and called out loudly, "If it isn't the most introverted rat from the Sheng Xiao?!"

Di Shu snapped out of it and turned to look at Chen Jun Nan, then replied, "If it isn't Chen Jun Nan, the number one social phobe in the capital?"

Hearing that title, Qin Ding Dong's face was full of exasperation, her eyes nearly rolling back.

Qiao Jia Jin let out a dry laugh and walked toward Di Shu.

Chen Jun Nan stepped up to Di Shu and glanced in the direction Di Shu had been looking, asking curiously, "What were you staring at just now? Did a beauty pass by?"

Di Shu looked back that way, his expression a bit odd as he said, "Boss, you're joking. I'm a rat—staring at beauties would be ridiculous. I think a wandering soul just passed by."

"A wandering soul...?" Chen Jun Nan was stunned. "A female rat's soul that hooked your eyes?"

Di Shu shook his head. "I don't know if it was a rat, but I have this feeling that a colleague died."

Only then did Chen Jun Nan notice that Di Shu wasn't joking; his face had turned serious. "Huh...? Wait, you have 'colleagues'?"

"Sort of 'colleagues,' boss," Di Shu replied. "We all have the same superior, so you could call us that."

Chen Jun Nan scratched his head and said, "So, like the Sheng Xiao, right? Did they get killed in a bet?"

"I don't know, boss." Di Shu shook his head. "I don't even know if he really died. I hope it's just my imagination. After all, in broad daylight like this... how could someone just... die?"

Di Shu's voice grew weaker, as if he was losing confidence.

"Ah..." Chen Jun Nan was at a loss for words, not sure whether to feel happy or sad.

Even though the one who died was from the Sheng Xiao and could be considered an enemy, seeing Di Shu like this made it impossible to feel glad.

After all, every Sheng Xiao used to be a real person with flesh and blood—they had just changed.

In this world, there's no such thing as "growth." People only die in their past and then break out of their old shells as new beings, claiming they've grown.

We die in our youth to the past, and we die to the past even as adults.

All the "participants" and Sheng Xiao here are the same.

"That... um..." Chen Jun Nan reached out and patted Di Shu's shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Don't get too down... Big rat, you're still alive, aren't you?"

"Hmm?" Di Shu raised an eyebrow.

"I mean... maybe that person didn't die at all?"

Di Shu nodded. "Boss... I can only take your good wishes. I've lived with my colleagues for many years, and there's this strange connection. I hope he wasn't killed in a bet... but if he wasn't... then what happened to him..."

"Ah, think positively." Chen Jun Nan said. "Even if he really died... maybe it's a release. Isn't that what you Sheng Xiao always say?"

Di Shu let out a deep sigh and replied, "Boss, you don't understand. I wanted him to be released sooner or later. Not after struggling for so many years, clinging to life like a dog, only to be released suddenly. He suffered pains he shouldn't have and got a freedom he didn't need. It makes me feel so tragic."

Chen Jun Nan scratched his head after hearing that and looked over at Qiao Jia Jin, who was also affected by Di Shu's emotions.

The usually carefree Di Shu was now showing such deep sadness, leaving the two of them completely baffled.

"What's with the dramatics?"

A female voice came from behind them, startling the group.

Di Shu slowly furrowed his brow and asked, "Bosses, who's this?"

"I'm your sister." Qin Ding Dong replied. "You three guys standing here moping about spring and sadness—I just don't get it."

"I don't need your understanding." Di Shu said. "It's like if you suddenly dropped dead on the road, I wouldn't understand why you died so miserably."

"That would definitely be because your sister is as beautiful as a fairy and died from her own beauty—something your brownish-gray rat head could never comprehend."

"Then you're joking, because we rats don't study how beautiful a corpse is. No matter how beautiful, we'd still gnaw on it."

"If you get to eat a corpse as beautiful as your sister, remember not to brush your teeth for a week so you can savor the charm in your teeth."

Di Shu stared into Qin Ding Dong's eyes for a long time before a slight smile appeared on his face.

"Thanks to you, I'm not sad at all anymore." He composed himself and looked around at the three of them, asking, "What brings you bosses here today? What virtue does my humble abode have to deserve such a visit? Are you here to dig your own graves?"

"Hey! That's more like it!" Chen Jun Nan laughed. "Dong Jie really knows how to handle things."

Di Shu gave Qin Ding Dong an annoyed glance, then put on his usual cool expression. "If you bosses have business, spit it out. If not, go ahead and drop dead."

"Of course we have business." Chen Jun Nan said. "Di Shu, treat us to some fruit."