"Games are fairer than most other activities," the doctor said, pressing down on the deck of cards on the table, "Until the cards are flipped over, adults and children, men and women, the strong and the weak, all tip the scales equally. Once the cards are revealed, both sides holding cards have the capital to compete."
"What would you do if you held cards that were sure to lose?"
"Pretend that my cards are strong and make the others fold," the childlike voice answered.
"That would only work on those less clever than you, but it wouldn’t fool someone as smart as you," the doctor added a piece of candy to the table, "You can increase your stakes."
"But my cards are very weak, I’m sure to lose," the child’s voice carried doubt.
"People as smart as you would think the same," the doctor said, "However, if the other person’s cards are very good, you can only lose this round."
"I’ve lost all my candy." The cards in view were flipped, and the candy was taken away by the doctor.
"The pleasure of gambling lies in the possibility of winning or losing," the doctor’s blurred face seemed to smile, then placed two more cards on the table, "Even the weak can win against the strong."
Tiny hands flipped the two cards over, shouting in surprise, "I won!"
The candy returned to the table.
"But doctor, it’s not fun at all to just lose."
"That’s why you must try your best to win, especially at the crucial moments," the doctor said with a smile.
The little hands peeled the candy, and its sweetness immediately spread; the child spoke with a muffled voice, "I’ve won, doctor, will you hit me?"
"Perhaps I will, perhaps I won’t," the doctor turned and took a beautiful glass bottle, then poured out a candy of a different color, "After eating a red candy, you must eat a white one; otherwise, you will get a headache."
Tiny hands reached out and took the white candy, the child smiling, "Doctor, this medicine is really sweet..."
Xu Huo suddenly opened his eyes, meeting the daylight outside, and subconsciously raised his hand to shield it.
The empty bottle of Dream-Fulfilling Elixir was still on the bedside table; he had slept until noon, and upon awakening, his fatigue was not alleviated, but his head felt like it was splitting.
He got up, went to the bathroom, and washed his face, looking at himself in the mirror with a mood that soured to the extreme.
He had a vague feeling there was something wrong when he spoke about game theory at the Hundred People Art Gallery, feeling that it was someone else who had said that to him, but there was no such person in his memory.
Likewise, last night’s dream must have happened while he was hospitalized for observation. The decor of the consultation room was the same as in his memory, but he had no recollection of the doctor, the card table, or the pills; these things seemed to have been grafted onto his consciousness out of nowhere.
Taking the bent Appraisal Fork out, he turned it half a rotation and fiercely stabbed it into his own arm. A holographic projection appeared in front of the mirror:
"A healthy male with even body fat and no toxins, a long history of medication, safe to consume."
"But cannibalism is against human morality and culinary ethics, not recommended for consumption."
If the tool was not malfunctioning, then it was his memory that had an issue.
Yet he knew his own memory had no gaps; everything that had occurred was coherent and logically smooth... Someone had tampered with his memory!
There was a noise behind him, and Xu Huo turned abruptly.
Yu Qingqing was startled by his gaze, "What’s with you, looking like you’re about to eat someone!"
As his emotions dispersed, Xu Huo then wiped the water droplets off his face, "Aren’t you going to training?"
"I’ve requested with the team leader, I can train in Ting City from now on," Yu Qingqing looked at him, "You’ve slept for such a long time, are you alright?"
"Very well," Xu Huo dried his face with a towel, "Have you eaten yet?"
"I’ve saved some food for you, a double portion," Yu Qingqing immediately said.
"Li Chun didn’t eat, did she? Don’t make it anymore," Xu Huo said bluntly. "It’s disgusting."
Yu Qingqing’s face was full of displeasure, but she still went out to get her wallet.
In the living room, Yuan Yao was playing games with the Girl in the painting. When he saw Xu Huo come out, he greeted him happily.
Xu Huo nodded slightly.
"Going out for dinner? I’ll pay," Yuan Yao stood up and said with a beaming smile, "Consider it a welcome for my cousin."
Yu Qingqing ignored him and walked out after putting on her high heels.
The Girl in the painting’s eyes lit up at the mention of going out to eat. She quickly made up with Yu Qingqing, affectionately took her arm, and they left the house leaning on each other as Yu Qingqing couldn’t shake her off.
Yuan Yao watched their retreating figures with envy, clicking his tongue and said, "Xu Huo, the quality of your cousins is really too good. Do you have any sisters left to give me one?"
Xu Huo glanced at him, "These two aren’t blood-related to me."
Yuan Yao chuckled, "Of course, I know. How happy it would be to wake up every day to two beautiful sisters fighting!"
Seeing the two outside, one pulling the other’s hair and one twisting the other’s wrist, neither willing to let go and both grimacing, Xu Huo turned back to look at Yuan Yao’s silly grin and said, "If your mental health is not good, you should go to the hospital for treatment early."
Yuan Yao’s face was a picture of horror, "This is how a normal man should behave!"
Xu Huo couldn’t be bothered with him and took the lead into the elevator.
The group found a star-rated restaurant. Three gamers and the bottomless pit that was the Girl in the painting couldn’t be kept up with by the serving speed, and soon the manager came over, offering two bottles of fine wine and wanting to comp the meal enthusiastically.
"No need, we’re not short on money!" Yuan Yao waved grandly, and threw several cards on the table, "I’m treating my cousin to a welcome feast. No one is stealing my thunder!"
Yu Qingqing punched his bank card to break it, "Who’s your cousin?"
Yuan Yao didn’t seem distressed at all and even said, "A girl with a little temper is cuter."
Yu Qingqing took a breath and leaned back, "I want to beat you to death."
It seemed Yuan Yao was reminded of something unpleasant, so he quickly retracted his smile and moved deferentially toward the Girl in the painting, "Cousin is fierce; I was joking. Don’t be mad."
The Girl in the painting gave him a good-natured smile and pointed to the dishes on the table.
"Just command me, Younger Sister Li Chun!" Yuan Yao went so far as to move all the dishes in front of the Girl in the painting.
At that moment, Xu Huo’s phone rang. He answered and said, "We’re in a private room on the third floor, come on up."
Soon, Zhou Ning with two long braids and the skinny Hu Wenhao entered the room.
"Brother Xu," Hu Wenhao greeted them and glanced at the Girl in the painting a little awkwardly before looking away.
"Sit down and have something to eat." Xu Huo asked the waiter to add more tableware.
Zhou Ning said thanks, but she didn’t appear to be in high spirits.
Noting their plain clothes, Xu Huo didn’t say much. Instead, it was Yuan Yao who asked about the others.
They had fought alongside the Holy Sword Society earlier and had become acquainted through the game.
"They haven’t come out of the game," Zhou Ning said, rubbing her bloodshot eyes and holding back tears.
Xu Huo passed her a tissue, "Condolences."
"It’s nothing," Zhou Ning said: "We’ve been in the game for months, and I was prepared."
Players were always living on the edge, so it wouldn’t be surprising if any of them died any day. But the abruptness of a life starting and ending without a trace or knowledge of the whereabouts of the body inevitably struck a chord.