61: How many sides do you think my mom has?

The puzzle-solving segments in escape rooms were actually quite boring.

Searching for keys based on clues, arranging props according to poems, and listening to one eerie sound effect after another.

While mechanically going through the motions, Yu Heng was distracted by the warmth pressed against his back.

From the moment the first NPC drifted out, Ning Yutong had been practically glued to him.

This was the first time the two of them had so much close physical contact.

Aside from that time at the cinema, Yu Heng hadn't really been touchy-feely with her like he was with Shen Yueling.

He hadn't even done basic things like holding hands or patting her head.

Today, he was certainly getting his fill all at once.

The girl was scared out of her wits, her hand constantly clutching the hem of his shirt.

Following him step for step, she even gave him soft "back massages" from time to time.

"Yu Heng..." Ning Yutong's voice trembled. "That cabinet... did it just move?"

Yu Heng glanced at the dilapidated wardrobe in the corner. "It didn't move. You're seeing things."

"But—"

Before she could finish her sentence...

The wardrobe door swung open violently!

A woman in white with disheveled hair fell straight out; she lifted her head, her face deathly pale.

"Aaaaaahhh—!!!"

Ning Yutong's scream nearly pierced his eardrums.

In the next second, Yu Heng felt his back go empty.

Ning Yutong lunged from behind to the front of him, her arms tightly encircling his neck as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Yu Heng instinctively reached out to wrap his arms around her waist. The feel... was damn good!

Whoever designed this jump scare deserved a bonus.

The NPC had already slowly climbed up and shuffled away.

"Is... is it gone?" Her voice was muffled against his clothes.

"It's gone," Yu Heng said, his hands still resting on her waist.

In this position, she was practically hanging off him, her feet off the ground.

Ning Yutong realized what was happening and let out a soft cry. She scrambled to let go, but when her feet hit the floor, her legs gave way, and she tumbled back into Yu Heng's arms.

Yu Heng simply steadied her and looked down at her. "Why play if you're this scared?"

Ning Yutong's face flushed bright red, and she didn't dare lift her head. "I just... didn't have my footing..."

As they left the shop, Qin Ya was still reminiscing. "That NPC's nails almost scratched my face!"

Bai Xinran rubbed her temples as she listened, thinking the little girl's energy was truly boundless.

Yu Heng stretched, his bones popping twice.

The guy at the front desk handed over wet wipes and mineral water. "How did the four of you find it? Your completion time was one hour and twenty minutes, which is quite fast for a mild-horror theme."

Qin Ya took the water and gulped it down. "It was alright! It's just that Sister Yutong's screaming almost deafened me."

Ning Yutong defended herself in a small voice, "It really was scary..."

Yu Heng glanced at Ning Yutong. It was indeed scary, but the "benefits" were real too.

With Ning Yutong's courage... if they watched horror movies in the future, would she keep hugging him like this?

"Good game experience," Yu Heng nodded to the guy. "Qin Ya, when did your mom say she'd pick you up?"

Qin Ya checked her phone. "Around four or five? Something like that. She said she'd come over after finishing her business."

"That's soon then," Yu Heng checked the time. "Shall we head back to my place first?"

"Sure!" Qin Ya had no objections.

"Okay, I'll go back to grab my things. I can also take the clothes I changed out of after filming the video this morning and go back to the dorm to change before the Film Club activity tonight." Ning Yutong said softly. She looked at Yu Heng, her voice dropping even lower. "Are you still going tonight? To the Film Club's screening."

Yu Heng was actually a bit tired, but seeing Ning Yutong like this today, he didn't have the heart to refuse.

Besides, he had intended to check it out anyway. The Film Club should have quite a bit of equipment, right?

Maybe it would come in handy for filming videos later.

"I'm going," Yu Heng said naturally. "Didn't we agree I'd go with you? What time does it start?"

"Seven o'clock." Ning Yutong's eyes lit up. "Then I'll wait for you at the dorm entrance?"

"Sure."

The group of four walked toward the Villa.

Chatting and joking, they soon returned to the Villa.

As soon as they entered, Qin Ya kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the sofa.

"Ah! Home is still the most comfortable! The stools in the escape room were hard as rocks!"

"Is this your house? What do you mean 'home'?" Yu Heng retorted as he changed his shoes.

Although the official heating season hadn't started yet, the air conditioner in the living room was blowing warm air.

"It's boiling." Qin Ya took off her jacket and tossed it onto the arm of the sofa.

She was wearing a black base layer underneath. With her thin arms and legs, she carelessly tugged at her collar to fan herself.

Bai Xinran and Ning Yutong followed suit, taking off their jackets and hanging them on the coat rack.

Yu Heng leaned against the dining table, a can of Coke in his hand, as his gaze swept over the three girls on the sofa.

Tsk.

This scenery was indeed quite nice.

Each had her own charm.

Bai Xinran put down her phone, stretched, and stood up. "I have to go stream now."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Streaming today too? Aren't you tired?"

"I am," Bai Xinran said as she walked upstairs. "The sooner I start, the sooner I can finish."

Yu Heng watched her return to her room and turned to Qin Ya. "Look at her, she doesn't miss a single day."

Qin Ya curled her lip at that. "But we agreed to go out today! I'll start tomorrow and won't miss a day, okay?"

"You?" Yu Heng sneered. "If you can last a week, I'll admit defeat."

"Don't look down on people!" Qin Ya sat up straight. "I, Qin Ya, am as good as my word! Starting tomorrow, three hours every day, rain or shine!"

"Alright," Yu Heng placed the Coke can on the table. "If you can stream for a full month, three hours a day without missing once, I'll give you a bonus."

"How much?" Qin Ya's eyes lit up.

"Five hundred!"

"Only five hundred?" Qin Ya said dismissively. "I get five hundred in gifts from a single stream!"

"Then how much do you want?"

Qin Ya's eyes darted around. "How about this! The bonus will be five hundred, but you have to agree to one condition!"

Yu Heng narrowed his eyes. "What condition?"

"I haven't thought of it yet," Qin Ya said with a grin. "I'll tell you when I do. It won't be anything illegal or immoral; you'll definitely be able to do it."

Yu Heng looked at her calculating little face and found it amusing.

This girl has even learned how to haggle.

"Fine," he nodded. "But the condition is three hours a day for thirty consecutive days. You can't miss a single day. If you miss one, we start over from day one."

"Deal!" Qin Ya stuck out her pinky. "Pinky swear!"

Yu Heng walked over and hooked his pinky with hers.

Ning Yutong watched from the side and said softly, "Qin Ya, you're so motivated."

"Of course!" Qin Ya lifted her chin. "I'm going to be a big-time Streamer! Make lots of money! In the future, I'll support... cough cough, anyway, I'll make lots of money!"

She had originally wanted to say she'd support Yu Heng, but remembering the previous lesson, she forced herself to swallow the words.

Yu Heng glared at her, and Qin Ya stuck out her tongue.

Ning Yutong thought it was quite interesting to see the two of them bickering.

She was an only child and sometimes wished she had a younger sibling or something.

She checked the time and stood up. "I'm going to pack my things and head back to the dorm first."

"Okay," Yu Heng nodded. "I'll let you know when I head out tonight."

Ning Yutong went back to the guest room, leaving only Yu Heng and Qin Ya in the living room.

Qin Ya scrolled through her phone for a while, then suddenly looked up. "Brother."

"Yeah?"

"Sister Xinran is clearly quite normal in private," Qin Ya leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "How come she's like a different person in front of the camera? My fans want me to act cute, but I just can't do it no matter how hard I try."

Yu Heng chuckled; actually, this girl was quite cute sometimes.

"That's called professionalism." Yu Heng sat down next to her. "Just like an actor filming a movie, they're a character in front of the camera and themselves behind it, switching effortlessly."

"So which one do you like?" Qin Ya asked bluntly. "The her in front of the camera or the her behind it?"

Yu Heng was taken aback by her question.

This question... "I like both," he answered honestly. "To put it simply, they're both her."

"What about Sister Yutong?" Qin Ya continued. "How many sides does she have?"

Yu Heng thought for a moment. "Her? She's gentle and reserved on the surface, but she's actually quite assertive underneath."

"Boring." Qin Ya wasn't satisfied with the answer, then she asked again, "Then how many sides do you think my mom has?"

Yu Heng was stumped.

Qin Lu?

Qin Lu at work was capable and serious.

Qin Lu in private... he hadn't seen that side of her!

"Your mom..." Yu Heng narrowed his eyes. "How should I know!"

"Hehe..." Qin Ya said with a mischievous grin. "I know!"