Chapter 8 (Peachland)

Chapter 8

Ye Nianchu went to the receptionist for more information, but she found that it was pretty much the same old stuff—nothing particularly useful.

It was a quiet day.

As dusk approached, the restaurant on the first floor of the B&B came to life with activity. A man, a woman, two young tourists, and four players from the third floor were all there.

The dining room was cozy, with two small tables by the window and a large round table in the center.

Ye Nianchu could quickly spot the players—they didn’t exactly blend in with the usual tourists. The three of them were clearly trying to ingratiate themselves with the large, bald man, their behavior almost pitifully obsequious.

It was like they had "I’m a gamer" stamped on their foreheads.

While the group at the table chatted among themselves, Ye Nianchu sat alone at a window seat, choosing not to join them. The meal was quite sumptuous, and she ate with a good appetite.

The sky outside the window grew darker.

Ye Nianchu recalled the events of the previous night and wondered if anyone else in the B&B had noticed anything unusual. If something had happened, the teenager staying next door should have seen or heard something.

As an NPC, she could ask questions without worrying about revealing her identity.

"Why are you sitting here alone, little sister?" a female voice called from the side.

Ye Nianchu turned to see the female player from the third floor. The entire group was looking at her, and their curiosity was anything but subtle.

Their acting skills were hardly convincing.

Ye Nianchu did not immediately respond. The female player continued, "Do you want to join us? It’s more lively with more people. Staying at the same B&B while traveling is a kind of fate."

"Are you talking to me?" Ye Nianchu asked faintly, as if she was trying to confirm they weren’t just talking to thin air.

Fang Qing was momentarily taken aback, then nodded. A flash of displeasure crossed her eyes—she had made an effort to be friendly, and this was the response? It seemed like Ye Nianchu didn’t appreciate her gesture.

"No thanks, I’d rather be alone," Ye Nianchu replied politely, closing off any further conversation.

She wasn’t interested in interacting with these players. The bald man among them was searching for other players, and she wasn’t sure what his intentions were.

In any case, it probably wasn’t anything good.

Ye Nianchu finished her meal and left the restaurant shortly after, trailing behind the two young tourists.

Only the four players remained on the first floor, having finished their meal some time ago.

Zhou Wen lowered his voice, "Brother Wang, this girl doesn’t seem like a player."

Wang Hai watched intently as Ye Nianchu left. Whether she was a player or not, her presence was hard to ignore.

Since their arrival, they had been keeping an eye on the B&B guests. With so few places to stay in town, the chance of encountering other players was high.

The most likely players seemed to be the two on the second floor.

However, seeing the teenager on the second floor spend the entire morning drawing on the terrace made them 100% sure he was an NPC, so they hadn’t paid much attention to him.

The only one left was Ye Nianchu, who was alone and without companions.

Wang Hai would actually prefer it if Ye Nianchu were a player.

Seeing Wang Hai's reaction, Fang Qing could tell what he was thinking. Her unease grew, and her sense of danger flared up. She wanted to say something more, but the conversation had already shifted.

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Soon, the sky was completely dark. The cold wind blowing from the mountains and riverbanks made Daiyong Town feel eerily quiet, like an ancient, desolate tomb.

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