After dealing with that monster, Yu Li and Tian Jianmu ventured deeper into the forest. However, after what just happened, Tian Jianmu couldn't help feeling that the referee was acting strangely.
Quickening his pace to catch up with the woman, he tentatively asked, "Yu Li...don't you think this referee has been following us the whole time?"
Yu Li's expression remained unchanged. "Because he's specifically here to monitor me."
Though he had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed still surprised Tian Jianmu—not just because of the situation itself, but also due to the woman's unsettling calmness. He pressed further, "And you're really not bothered by it?"
"Why should I be?" Yu Li arched an eyebrow. "Let him follow if he wants. As long as he doesn't break any rules, it's fine."
That was true enough.
So Tian Jianmu didn't inquire further. If the person involved wasn't concerned, he had even less reason to worry.
Though the forest wasn't particularly large, finding what they needed proved more difficult than expected. Checking the time and realizing an hour had already passed, Tian Jianmu frowned. "Are we really this unlucky? Still haven't found it."
After a moment of silence, Yu Li suddenly suggested, "How about we split up? You can find me after you locate it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the woman opposite him tossed over a loudspeaker. He caught it reflexively and examined it in surprise. "A distress loudspeaker? You bought this from the store?"
Yu Li gave an affirmative hum. "Use this to call me."
He never thought anyone would actually purchase something .
Yu Li waved her hand. "See you later." With that, she walked off in one direction without hesitation.
Tian Jianmu opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately just sighed. Whatever—this was their only option now.
Just as he was about to head in the opposite direction, Tian Jianmu suddenly remembered something and paused mid-step, turning to look. Sure enough, the referee had followed Yu Li.
He muttered under his breath, "So he really is just monitoring Yu Li..."
Which meant no one was watching him now?
Once Tian Jianmu was out of sight, Yu Li glanced sideways at the man trailing behind her. "Can I ask you something?"
Referee 11 initially had no intention of answering, but recalling Bo Jingmo's instruction that guest requests took priority, he swallowed his refusal and silently acquiesced.
Yu Li casually found a clean rock to sit on, then propped her chin on her hand as she studied the person before her. Without preamble, she asked bluntly, "Did that yao ghost send you to give me trouble?"
The question seemed to catch the yao ghost off guard. After a brief pause, he narrowed his eyes. "You've got nerve, daring to address Him so casually."
The thought that the face behind that mask looked exactly like Bo Jingmo irritated Yu Li beyond measure. "What if I do?" She tilted her head with deliberate nonchalance. "Is that against the rules too?"
A cold glint entered 11's eyes. "You'd do well to watch yourself. If I catch you breaking any rules, I won't go easy on you like that person did."
Yu Li let out a derisive laugh. Go easy on her?
11 frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
For some reason, the woman's laughter unsettled him—not because of anything obvious, but because...his body was reacting strangely. His hand moved unconsciously to his chest, where something seemed to be beating faintly. Lowering his gaze, he concealed the confusion in his eyes.
Unaware of his thoughts, Yu Li merely shrugged at the man's question. "Can't I laugh? Don't tell me laughing counts as breaking rules now too?"
11 pressed his lips together without responding. Seeing her remain seated, he couldn't help saying, "Are you really just going to sit here? Didn't you agree to split up with that person? Yet here you are doing nothing."
Yu Li blinked. "What? Is that against the rules too?"
Why did every sentence out of her mouth have to be about rules?
Suppressing the odd feeling in his chest, he masked all anomalies behind his cold, mechanical tone: "That's your business. It has nothing to do with me. Do as you please—I'm only here to penalize rule-breakers."
Yu Li responded dismissively before eyeing the man again. "So when you were trying to drive a wedge between me and Tian Jianmu earlier—was that part of your job description too?"
11 stiffened, standing frozen in silence.
His lack of response didn't deter Yu Li. The woman lowered her gaze, idly brushing dust from her fingertips as she remarked lazily, "I'd really like to know whether a referee's behavior counts as breaking rules. Why don't you call Bo Jingmo over so I can ask him?"
The man's fists clenched instantly, his tone rigid. "I was merely offering the guests appropriate reminders within reasonable bounds. That doesn't constitute overstepping."
"Reminders?" Yu Li lifted her eyes, her expression blank. "But it pissed me off. What, you don't even need to apologize? So this is how you treat guests."
Gone was her usual relaxed amusement. Her face showed no emotion whatsoever, and though her gaze was calm, there was no mistaking her seriousness. The surrounding air seemed to freeze over.
11's breath hitched, his fingers curling slightly at his sides. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Then what do you want? An apology?"
Yu Li didn't answer immediately. Instead, her eyes swept over him before her lips suddenly curved. "How about this—take off that mask and let me see your face."
11 stiffened, refusing instinctively: "No!"
He'd been explicitly ordered never to remove the mask.
Yu Li asked, "Is that against the rules?"
11 hesitated, about to respond, when a delighted female voice suddenly rang out behind them.
"Yu Li? You really are here!"
He turned, and upon seeing the newcomer, a flash of coldness passed through his eyes. "Who gave you permission to come here? Where's the other guest?"
What was Bo Jingmo doing? Wasn't he supposed to be supervising the other four teams?
Yu Jiao frowned at the man before her. "Do the rules say I can't look for other teams? Besides, the other guest is already dead."
11's voice rose sharply. His arm transformed into green vines as killing intent surfaced. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, "Did Bo Jingmo kill him?"
In his view, this woman lacked the capability to kill Wan Wenlin—meaning the only possible culprit was that man. Bo Jingmo had truly betrayed Him after all.
And all of this...was because of the woman before him!
The thought made 11's gaze grow even icier, his eyes like sharp blades stabbing toward Yu Li as if she were some heinous criminal.
Thus, when Yu Li looked up, she met eyes filled with utter loathing—eyes that had once regarded her with infinite tenderness now completely frost-covered. For an instant, she froze, an unavoidable sting piercing her heart like countless needle pricks, an overwhelming sense of emptiness crashing over her.
Bo Jingmo had never looked at her like that.
Not even when he lost his memories.
After a prolonged silence, Yu Li lifted her head and murmured softly:
Imposters really were the worst.