Can I Join You?

Wen Xiang Yuan quietly finished the rest of the food before Nan Yue asked her, "Do you have a place to rest?"

Wen Xiang Yuan hesitated for a moment but honestly shook her head.

"Then where did you sleep before?"

Wen Xiang Yuan stammered, "Just... in the park or something..."

"How can you do that!"

Gu Xiang Kai blurted out, frowning. "You're a girl. Even if this is a color city state, it's still dangerous."

As a result, while he earned a look of gratitude from Wen Xiang Yuan, he also received a simultaneous mocking from Nan Yue and Zhu Xi Ning.

"Oh~ how considerate of you."

Nan Yue stood up and clapped her hands. "Let's go. I'll get a room for you."

Wen Xiang Yuan's face turned slightly red. "Actually... even though I have no money, I can still stay in a hotel."

When they arrived at the hotel, Wen Xiang Yuan stood at the front desk. "Hello, please check which room number is for Wen Xiang Yuan."

The girl at the front desk checked the computer. "Hello, a high-end suite has been reserved. Here is your room card."

The three of them watched in shock as Wen Xiang Yuan managed to get a room that was even higher in quality than the top-tier ones they were staying in.

In a daze, the three of them escorted Wen Xiang Yuan back to her room. When they opened the door, the room was indeed more exquisite, featuring a large designer bathtub near the floor-to-ceiling windows and a simple kitchen where one could cook.

Standing in the room, Wen Xiang Yuan lowered her head somewhat sheepishly. "My... my situation is a bit special. Since the missions can't settle points for me... I can also spend freely."

Nan Yue pondered for a moment. "...I feel... it's a bit like you are unidentifiable."

Wen Xiang Yuan's eyes widened suddenly, and Nan Yue sensed her tension. "...What, what does that mean?"

Nan Yue signaled for her not to worry. "Look, when you fail a mission, you don't die like an ordinary scavenger; you're just kicked out. You don't get a share during settlement, and you're like a bug in the real world."

"It feels like... you're truly invisible."

Wen Xiang Yuan gripped the hem of her clothes. "Will there... be any problems with that?"

Nan Yue thought about it. "No, I think this might be the best possible situation."

In fact, thinking carefully, Wen Xiang Yuan's situation was something many scavengers dreamed of.

She wouldn't be killed by missions, and she didn't have to struggle for survival.

"If I had to say, it's just that you have no presence here," Zhu Xi Ning tilted her head. "But compared to the benefits, I think it's negligible."

Wen Xiang Yuan gave a soft "mm."

Because she wouldn't die in missions, missions were just a game to her.

Because she was like a bug in the real world, the real world also felt like a game.

Living like this for a long time would usually cause someone to develop psychological issues.

"Um... Nan Yue, can I... join your team?"

Wen Xiang Yuan's question caused the atmosphere in the room to stall slightly, and Nan Yue was a bit surprised.

"Why do you want to be with us?"

Nan Yue did indeed favor Wen Xiang Yuan; after all, she was beautiful and possessed an innocence that a scavenger shouldn't have.

However, she now knew this was because the mission worlds had no impact on her.

To be honest, given Wen Xiang Yuan's conditions, she shouldn't lack offers. Nan Yue didn't think she was anything special.

Wen Xiang Yuan was silent for a while. "Because... I've never felt a sense of belonging. I feel that whether I'm in a mission world or... here, I'm always alone."

"Many people are interested in me, but I can feel that they all have ulterior motives."

Wen Xiang Yuan had a unique ability. Aside from not being able to die, she had nothing to rely on in missions. Since she didn't fear death, she was almost simple-minded and grew very slowly.

Yet, because of this, she had a strong intuition regarding those who approached her.

She knew the vast majority of people were only interested because of her face.

But Nan Yue wasn't like that. The kindness Nan Yue showed her was real, and her previous desire for an equal partnership was also genuine.

She liked Nan Yue.

"Even though my ability to clear missions is average, I won't die. I can handle the dangerous tasks."

Nan Yue remained silent for a long time. "Aren't you afraid?"

Wen Xiang Yuan paused as Nan Yue continued, "Even if you won't die, you must still be afraid, right?"

Perhaps there would be pain, or the agony of a near-death experience.

Wen Xiang Yuan looked at Nan Yue for a long time before slowly speaking.

"I am."

"Very much."

"But fear makes me feel like I'm still alive."

In the end, Nan Yue told Wen Xiang Yuan to rest first, as whether or not to let her join required the three of them to discuss it.

The three returned to their own rooms. Nan Yue sat on the carpet in the living room, while Gu Xiang Kai went to get beers, one for each of them.

"What are your thoughts? Speak up."

Gu Xiang Kai spoke first. "I think it's fine. Given her situation, it doesn't really make a difference whether she's with us or not."

They wouldn't even need to worry about taking care of her, as she wouldn't die and wouldn't cost them any money.

They were essentially getting a free cheat with only benefits.

Nan Yue thought about it. "If she joins, we'll be a team. We can't use her as a stone for testing the path; we must also try our best to protect her."

Everyone is afraid of death and ghosts. They couldn't just ignore her if she fell into a desperate situation just because she wouldn't truly die.

Zhu Xi Ning was the last to offer an opinion. "A-Nan, I have a premonition that Wen Xiang Yuan will be very useful."

She looked directly at Nan Yue. "Very useful to you."

"To me?"

Zhu Xi Ning's expression was unusually serious. "Don't you think Wen Xiang Yuan's situation is very similar to yours? You are both unprecedented exceptions, and her case is even more special than yours."

"I sense that she might have a deep connection with the thing inside you."

Zhu Xi Ning took a deep breath. "A-Nan, let her join."

Ever since they learned about the situation with the thing inside Nan Yue, Gu Xiang Kai and Zhu Xi Ning had been very concerned.

If Wen Xiang Yuan's joining could help Nan Yue gain a clearer understanding of the thing inside her, she was unwilling to give up that chance.

Nan Yue hadn't expected Zhu Xi Ning to sense this. After a moment of thought, she nodded in agreement.

"But I think you shouldn't tell Wen Xiang Yuan everything about your situation yet," Zhu Xi Ning added. "She's too innocent. Her understanding of this world is biased because of her uniqueness, and it's unclear if she can accept it all at once."

Nan Yue nodded. "I know what I'm doing."

Even teammates needed time to adjust to each other. "I'll find a reason to explain it to her."

Nan Yue opened her Neural Interface. Wen Xiang Yuan's ID was: Wenwen is an Eagle, not a Bird.

Strongest A-Nan in History: Tomorrow we'll take you to check your psychological value. From now on, we're a team.

Wenwen is an Eagle, not a Bird: Great! Thanks, Boss!

Nan Yue shot Gu Xiang Kai a glare; it was all his fault.

Gu Xiang Kai, who was sitting nearby drinking beer: ???