'Drip, drip, drip'...

Transparent raindrops fell silently on the wooden floor, making one involuntarily tense... The quiet night made everything seem exceptionally desolate. In the corner of the room, a boy wearing transparent glasses held a worn book, examining it carefully. "The last chance, it's up to you!" The boy gently turned to the last page, noticing the words 'To be continued' followed by a second half of the sentence, obscured by ink.

At this moment, a deep, middle-aged male voice said, "Dinner's ready, Xu An."

Xu An nodded to his father, muttering to himself, repeatedly pondering the sentence, "The last chance, it's up to you."

Xu An

Dad, this invitation...

Father

I know you want to go out and explore, kid. Go if you want to, don't leave any regrets. Dad believes in you!

After leaving home, Xu An was led to a long-abandoned secret room by someone claiming to be the game administrator. He instinctively turned around and realized he wasn't alone. He heard several people asking him urgent questions nearby.

Zhao Xue

Does anyone know where this secret room is? (Suppressing her fear, she surveys her surroundings)

Li Jiong

I don't know, at least let's survive first and then figure out why we're here! (Be wary of her surroundings)

Zhao Lei

Don't be afraid, little sister! Big brother is here to protect you. We will definitely get out of here alive!

Guo Qidi

Looks like there are more than just us~ (Looking in Xu An's direction with a half-smile)

Xu An

Hello, I just arrived here too.

Li Xingyan

(Nods slightly) I won't stand on ceremony. What brought you here? (She asks directly, her brown eyes raising an eyebrow at Xu An with interest.)

Xu An

Because of a novel, and then someone gave me an invitation. What about you? (She casually asks the others.)

Wang Sijia

(She slowly walks out from behind Li Xingyan, pushes up her silver-rimmed glasses, looks at Xu An, and asks cautiously.) Did that book say "To be continued" on the last page, but the rest of the text is illegible? (Her voice is gentle but barely audible.)

Xu An

(She habitually pushes up her glasses slightly.) That's right. So you've read that book too. (Then she looks at everyone with piercing eyes.) But right now, the important thing is to survive.

Omnipotent Character

Game Administrator: Welcome to the game!

Survival is a great success, failure means instant elimination! Please prepare yourselves.

The following are the game rules (Round 1)

[Mechanical voice sounds]

Rule 1: Each of you has a card and a glass of water in front of you. Choose one as your survival item.

Rule 2: While you choose, the others will be blindfolded. If more than three people fail to choose or compete within the time limit, everyone will be considered to have failed.

Rule 3: Everyone will choose differently. This round will use a question-and-answer format to form teams.

Rule 4: Except for voluntary competition with corresponding players, any act of covering up or otherwise harming another player will result in the administrator eliminating that player.

Rule 5: You have two chances to ask a question. The administrator will answer yes or no.

Completion Reward: 30,000 in prize money. Good luck to all players!

Wang Sijia

I chose this as my survival item (palms sweating)

Zhao Xue

I'll choose that one, it feels safer. (Trembling voice)

Xu An

I choose this one. (Points to the survival item)

After ten minutes, all players have made their choices. Detection in progress...

[Mechanical voice sounds again]

Game begins! Please team up with the corresponding players to compete.

Zhao Lei

Let's be frank, plain water. Anyone else chosen the same thing as me? (Looks around)

Li Jiong

My choice is the same as yours... plain water too. (Takes a tense step forward)

Detection: Zhao Lei and Li Jiong have successfully teamed up. Only one of the two cups of water is non-poisonous. Choose correctly within sixty seconds to survive! Countdown begins...

Xu An

I have a question! (Walks up to the game administrator with a serious expression)

Xu An

(Looking seriously at the game administrator) We have to eliminate one person from each group, right?

All-rounder

Game Administrator: No. (Looking coldly at Xu An)

[Mechanical voice sounds in your ear]

Only one question opportunity left this round, please pay attention!

Zhao Lei

Give it to me! (Rudely snatching the water cup from Li Ling's hand) I want to survive!

Li Jiong

This is mine! Give it back! (Rudely lunging to grab the water cup)

Countdown: Forty seconds left...

All-rounder

Game Administrator: (Coldly watching the scene of people fighting and grabbing for survival) Human nature is like this, ha~

At this moment, Xu An knew in his heart that this game didn't necessarily require eliminating one of them. He quietly watched the two of them hurt and fight each other, but he didn't step forward...

Xu An

"Anyone want to team up with me? Only these two can successfully team up now; if we don't, we'll both be eliminated."

Li Xingyan

"I'll team up with you! I don't want to be passively chosen!"

Player Li Xingyan and Xu An teaming up...

Universal Character

Game Administrator: Upon testing, due to inconsistent selections of survival items by the players, if both answer correctly, the team will successfully team up; otherwise, they will be eliminated.

Xu An

"What's wrong with us?"

Li Xingyan

"Every step we take now is practically a life-or-death situation. The mastermind behind this is really boring~"

Universal Character

Game Administrator: If you could win but the condition was eliminating everyone around you, would you be willing and accept it?

Universal Character

Game Administrator: Who will answer first, lady or gentleman? (Slightly bows and asks)

At this moment, the countdown reaches twenty seconds... Zhao Lei gulps down the water in his cup, and then Li Jiong picks up another cup of water, pours it into the empty cup, and drinks it down in one go.

Zhao Lei

I survived! (Shouting excitedly)

Li Jiong

Mr. Zhao, are you so sure? (Slightly smiles and asks)

At this moment, Zhao Lei suddenly collapses to the ground, his face contorting, his body convulsing, and he soon dies from poisoning.

Zhao Xue

Brother! You promised to protect me... Please don't go! (Crying and kneeling beside Zhao Lei)

All-rounder

Game Administrator: Zhao Lei and Li Ling's duel is over! Li Ling has passed and survived successfully. Players Xu An and Li Xingyan, please answer the questions!

Countdown: 20 seconds... If you remain silent, you will be eliminated.

Xu An

(Gently touching his nose with three fingers and rubbing it) Do you have any tissues? My rhinitis is acting up. (Looking at Li Xingyan and asking softly)

Li Xingyan

Okay, I'll look for some. (Nodding) Big brother, you're so careless! (Handing a tissue to Xu An while helplessly complaining)

All-rounder

Game Administrator: Time waits for no one. Both players, please answer.

Xu An

(Nods and accepts) Thank you! (Puts the tissue in his pocket, leaving a corner exposed)

Li Xingyan

Let's say the answer together. We're going to fail anyway, what if we succeed?! (Looks firmly at Xu An)

At this moment, Xu An and Li Xingyan say in unison, "We are unwilling but accept."

After verification, players Li Xingyan and Xu An's answer is approved. Players Li Xingyan and Xu An have successfully formed a team.

Black Invitation