Chapter 1: Player 1083, Chosen by the Escape Game

Beep, beep, beep—

A shrill, piercing buzzing drilled into her ears. Zhou Zhou’s mind was utterly blank. She fought to steady herself, struggling to pry open her eyes, but her eyelids felt impossibly heavy, refusing to move.

“Ugh… so dizzy…”

A faint scent of alcohol still lingered around her nose. Unable to suppress a soft, delicate whimper, crystal tears hung from her reddened eyes, radiating grievance.

All she’d done was attend a class reunion, yet her head felt stuffed with glue, her entire self awash in confusion.

Dazed, she reasoned she must have drunk too much, and that’s why she felt so awful…

This realization only made her feel even more wronged. It was their fault, insisting she drink again and again, ignoring her pleas for mercy.

She hadn’t realized how much her old classmates had changed.

Zhou Zhou had transferred schools, moving from a public high school to a private one.

The students at this private school all came from powerful, influential families, a collection of society’s golden children—but they weren’t arrogant in the slightest.

They always shared their best food and games with her. Even if Zhou Zhou didn’t want to accept, they’d invent all sorts of reasons, even pretending to be pitiful, threatening to cry if she refused.

When she’d first transferred, she’d believed the rumors that these strikingly attractive, wealthy students were aloof and loved bullying transfers.

She hadn’t expected they’d actually be so kind.

The only trouble was, they liked to get too close!

She supposed it was natural for classmates to be friendly, even a bit intimate…

But Zhou Zhou thought this was a bit much. Meals had to be eaten together, even bathroom trips were accompanied, there were always hugs, and the girls wanted kisses. Zhou Zhou was soft-hearted and always gave in.

But they only grew more excessive… even in class, they—

Zhou Zhou suffered in silence. And so, through such tribulations, she survived high school.

After the college entrance exams, she entered university.

With new classmates and friends and a busy workload, Zhou Zhou’s days were packed. Naturally, she lost touch with her old high school circle.

One day, after a long, exhausting day, a message popped up in her high school group chat—they were organizing a reunion and earnestly invited her.

Out of courtesy, Zhou Zhou agreed to attend.

By the time she arrived, her former classmates were all there.

The awkwardness of youth was gone, each of them now strikingly handsome or beautiful—a dazzling scene, a collection of favored children of fortune.

But Zhou Zhou hadn’t expected them to have changed for the worse…

From the moment she entered, they plied her with fruit wine, insisting it was sweet and low in alcohol. She drank glass after glass, her cheeks flushing, but they wouldn’t let her off.

“Zhou Zhou… my dear Zhou Zhou, just one more for me!” a handsome boy said, his narrow black eyes half-lidded, voice gentle, laced with teasing innuendo.

“N-no more… I’m really dizzy…”

Seeing her red-faced and dazed, his gaze deepened.

The others also stared at her, captivated by the flush of her cheeks.

“Just a little more, Zhou Zhou, just a little more, please?”

“No, no more…”

Zhou Zhou shook her head quickly—she really couldn’t drink another drop.

“I really can’t… my stomach feels so bloated…”

But her classmates wouldn’t give up, voices husky with feigned sorrow. “Please, dear Zhou Zhou… just do me this favor. It’s so rare for us all to be together.”

He sounded so pitiful she gave in, drinking cup after cup, until her eyes were misty and unfocused.

Fruit wine or not, that much was enough to get anyone drunk.

Those who once called themselves her “best friends” and “buddies” were now adults.

They stared at Zhou Zhou, eyes lingering on her snow-white neck, which rose and fell with each swallow.

They’d cultivated their high school fruit for years—how could they let someone else take the harvest?

But then, with the last glass, Zhou Zhou choked.

Her reaction was too intense and… she died suddenly.

…

Zhou Zhou didn’t know what to think.

She took a deep breath. Her awareness cleared a little, and she slowly opened her eyes—to a blinding expanse of white, with no boundaries in sight.

“Where… am I?”

No one answered. Zhou Zhou thought for a moment: she must be dead. This must be the Eighteenth Layer of Hell…

Beep—

A cold, mechanical, genderless voice suddenly rang out again.

It sounded straight out of a horror film.

Zhou Zhou’s eyes widened, and she let out a frightened yelp, “Ah—!”

She crouched down at once, shrinking into a corner, trembling.

W-what’s happening?

Was she about to be judged by the ghosts of hell?

Zhou Zhou’s heart raced as she desperately searched her memory for any misdeeds.

But she’d always been a crybaby, bursting into tears at the slightest scare—a frail little thing, never daring to do anything bad.

She racked her brain.

Well… when she was six, she’d secretly kissed the two older boys next door and brazenly declared she would marry them; at sixteen, she’d been coerced into a puppy love affair by the top student, but broke up in fear when the teacher found out…

And at eighteen, she went to a bar for a class reunion, drank too much, and died.

None of that counted as evil, right? Other than that, she hadn’t done anything outrageous.

Moreover, the “ghost” was silent now.

Zhou Zhou relaxed a little.

But before she could settle, the cold, mechanical voice sounded again, making her bristle with fear.

“Ah!”

Beep—Player Zhou Zhou has been bound. Welcome to the Escape Game Space. The Infinite Survival Game is now at your service.

Still convinced there was a “ghost” in this space, Zhou Zhou didn’t even register what the system was saying. She clapped her hands over her ears and curled further into the corner.

She mumbled, “Please… please don’t eat me, I taste bad…”

Escape Game Main System: …

After a long silence, when nothing further happened, she dared to peek up—no one, and no… ghost. Nothing at all, just a boundless blankness.

Hugging herself anxiously, Zhou Zhou wondered what was going on.

The “ghost” was gone?

Just as she was about to relax, the system’s voice echoed again:

Dear player, welcome. The Infinite Survival Game is pleased to serve you.

“Infinite Survival Game…?”

Was this just some new method for ghosts to judge the dead…?

The mechanical voice in her mind was so chilling, it truly sounded like something from a horror movie.

“Um… are you a ghost?” she asked, cowering in the corner, not daring to look up, trembling with fear and confusion.

The robotic voice didn’t answer. It seemed oblivious to her terror, simply repeating itself like a machine—

You have been selected for the Infinite Survival Game. Before the disaster arrives, you are both sheep and butcher.

The chilling, mechanical tone made Zhou Zhou shiver uncontrollably.

The Sword of Damocles hangs overhead… Death is inevitable, but beyond death lies rebirth.

Distinguished players, the Escape Game will now dispatch you into the instance. All players, please prepare—

3—

2—

1—

Player transfer in progress—C-level instance now open.

This is a remote, uncanny mountain village, where every villager raises gu insects. The unique terrain and local customs attract some curious outsiders.

But what these outsiders don’t know is that, upon arriving, they’ll find themselves in a hell from which no one returns alive.

Devouring swarms of gu worms await, and the truth of the village will be buried deep in the mountains.

This instance has a seven-day limit. Uncover the truth behind the gu-raising village and survive for seven days to clear the game.

Full of questions, Zhou Zhou opened her eyes.

A clay-walled room, hot and damp.

So this was the “instance” the game spoke of.

“Zhou Zhou?” A striking man with dark skin happened to walk in.

He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, strong and muscular, the lines of his arms evident beneath his shirt.

Seeing her awake, worry flickered in his eyes. “Zhou Zhou, you’re up? Was your sleep uncomfortable?”

Zhou Zhou had no idea how to respond to this stranger. She glanced at herself—no suspicious marks or bruises.

That was a relief, but she noticed something odd: she was… drooling.

…

Zhou Zhou paused, quickly wiping her mouth with a pale little hand.

Her lips twitched involuntarily. What was going on? Was she paralyzed in this so-called instance?

The very thought was hopeless.

No.

A different system voice spoke up, startling her.

Wh-what?

The Escape Game sub-system explained: You’re not paralyzed.

Watching his dazed little sister, the man sighed, his strong, tanned arms circling her slender waist. He pulled her onto his lap, holding her in a straddling position.

“Zhou Zhou knows to wipe her drool now? Good girl.”

He praised her, then gently wiped her face with a damp cloth.

…

This was worth praising?

So what exactly was her identity?

The system answered: You’re the village chief’s adopted sister. You suffered a severe illness as a child and have been mentally impaired ever since, with an intelligence equivalent to a ten-year-old.

“Huh?” Zhou Zhou’s mind struggled to catch up.

Mentally impaired since childhood? An IQ of a ten-year-old?

A sense of foreboding welled up within her.

The next moment, the system confirmed mercilessly: Exactly. Simply put, you’re a fool.

Please keep in character: you are a simple-minded girl, abandoned by your parents and everyone else.

Instance mission: Uncover the truth of the instance and escape.

…

“You… what does that mean? You want me to act like a fool?”

Hearing this, she snapped back to herself, clutching her hands nervously and asking inwardly.

Her voice was soft and trembling, her cheeks pale, making anyone’s heart ache.

Yes. Even the system’s tone softened a little. Please do your best to survive in the instance.

…Fine.

Zhou Zhou knew she was dead already—there was no bargaining.

She sniffed and began communicating with this new presence.

“So… what are you? And what about that other voice from before?”

I am Sub-System 022 of the Infinite Survival Game, assigned to serve you.

The earlier voice was the Escape Game Main System. We’re not the same—I’m your personal system.

022 paused, then continued softly:

Dear Player Zhou Zhou, you are deceased. The system detected a strong will to survive within you and thus chose you.

Simply put, you will enter countless terrifying instances and struggle to survive.

To date, you are the 1,083rd player chosen by the Escape Game. Your character is designated as cannon fodder, with a survival rate of 0.1%.

After explaining, System 022 added: Please prepare yourself, Zhou Zhou, and try your best to clear the instance. Success will earn you a chance at resurrection.

Zhou Zhou thought for a long time before understanding: she was already dead, and this so-called system might help her, but only if she cleared the instances.

But…

Cannon fodder?

Just hearing the term, she knew it wasn’t good.

And a 0.1% survival rate—how was she supposed to clear the instance?

She was nearly scared numb.

“So… my character is cannon fodder?”

Yes. In the main plotline of the Gu Village, you die on the second day.

Zhou Zhou’s mind went blank. She couldn’t help but ask, “If I die in the instance, what happens?”

Her face was pale and delicate, lips parted in panic.

If you die during the instance time limit, it’s irreversible, System 022 replied coldly.

Die within the time limit, and there’s no coming back.

“Then… can I quit the game?” she stammered, desperate.

Once chosen by the Escape Game, it cannot be undone.

Dear player, you are unilaterally bound. Please maintain a positive attitude and take each game seriously.

Clear all instances to resurrect.

“…Oh.” Zhou Zhou’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Her cowardice exposed, how mortifying.

She twisted her fingers, hesitated, then whispered, “…But I’m not very smart. Big brother, can you help me…”

Her cheeks turned crimson, even her ears burning—asking for help was terribly embarrassing.

But she really wanted to live, so she mustered her courage.

Hm?

The system’s mainframe was stunned by being called “big brother.”

Having traversed countless games, it had never encountered such a clueless host.

She’d asked for help so naturally.

In the Escape Game, every bit of assistance came at a price…

After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

But gazing at her pale, delicate face, the system relented: All you need to know is that the rules of the instance are absolute. Never break the rules. Never break character.

System: Understood, you silly host?

Zhou Zhou murmured her assent, then realized something was off.

As cannon fodder, she was already at a huge disadvantage. Now, she had to play the role of a simpleton the whole time?

Wasn’t this just giving herself up to the game as a sacrifice?

…Life seemed hopeless.

Zhou Zhou’s face fell. She thought she must look like the very picture of dejection.

But to outsiders, the girl sat with long, jet-black hair falling loosely about her, skin white as snow, eyes pure and bright, tinged with fear—someone anyone would want to hold and cherish.

At that moment, the usually lively Escape Game livestream went silent for several seconds as soon as the audience saw Zhou Zhou.

…

Then, suddenly, the chat exploded!

Warnings:

① There are explicit scenes in this story; those under 18, please choose to read selectively.
② This is a melodramatic, illogical, indulgent infinite flow novel. The protagonist is universally adored. “Haitang” style.
③ The female lead is a foolish beauty, emotionally oblivious. If you dislike that, please exit. Writing is hard.
④ Many male characters; the author is a face-con, and every man involved is a heartthrob. All physical contact with the protagonist is clean.
⑤ Special tastes, the author is perverse, including but not limited to father-son rivalry, brotherly drama, etc. If you dislike, leave! Leave! Leave!
Summary: All the horror bosses adore her, and the survival games instantly become a bloody battlefield of romance.
Note: Best enjoyed with your brain switched off.