Original subtitles

Over there!

Quick!

After her!

Life is like a game.

No one wants to be the one who loses.

So

we try our hardest

to reach our ideal destination.

Unfortunately,

fate always strikes

when you least expect it,

delivering an absurd ending beyond imagination.

[Love Between Lines]

[Episode 1]

I already sent the document Mr. Xu wanted

to him at 7:30 this morning.

If there are any details that need to be discussed or adjusted,

just contact Shao.

The restaurant is booked for 4:30 PM,

and I've also left Shao's number as the contact.

Yes, I asked for leave a month ago.

I'll definitely invite you to my wedding.

Goodbye.

Ms. Hu, this is it.

[Engagement Banquet Zhang Qiran & Hu Xiu]

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Xiu.

You look so beautiful today.

Thanks.

Auntie, can I borrow your phone?

You've grown so tall.

Look at him—always clinging to you.

Congratulations.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Xiu.

Auntie.

Sorry I'm late.

It's okay. Young people are always busy.

Qiran hasn't arrived yet either.

You've got quite a few relatives. I don't know any of them.

You'll get to know them soon enough.

Your mother and the others are over there.

I'll go over there then.

Okay.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Uncle.

Mom.

Why are there three tables now?

And this wasn't the hall I booked.

I've calculated with your dad.

Since we were having the event anyway,

and Qiran's mother had also invited quite a few relatives

who've all come from far away,

we added one table.

The cost for upgrading the hall

is covered by your father.

He likes lively occasions.

He was more than happy to pay for this.

I really don't know what to do with you guys.

How could you bring your laptop here?

You worked overtime until past 2 AM this morning.

Isn't that enough?

I'm just worried there might be some emergency.

What's that bulging thing you're carrying?

Gripping it so tightly.

The wedding gift money.

No matter how much money Qiran's family offers today,

our family will match it.

Our amount

definitely won't exceed theirs.

When the time comes,

we'll offer slightly less than them,

just about this number.

Anyway, in the end, all this gift money

will go to you two as a newlywed couple.

Mom.

Why do you think

your father and I

insisted on splitting the engagement banquet costs

with their family all this time?

It wasn't for anything else

but that you could have confidence and footing

in this relationship in the future.

Do you understand now?

Hu Xiu,

please reply to my message.

What's wrong with you, Hu Xiu?

Don't want to work here anymore?

I already asked for leave.

C-Could you call Qiran again?

Okay, I'll call him again.

Why hasn't Qiran arrived yet?

Everyone's asking where the groom is.

He's not responding to my messages

and not answering his phone.

Look, your mother and Qiran's mother are both worried.

Mom.

Xiu.

Why hasn't Qiran arrived yet?

He's still not answering his phone.

Could something have happened to him?

Don't worry, Auntie.

I'll call his colleague to ask.

You don't want me to play? I won't listen to you.

Hu Xiu.

Let's break up.

I won't attend the engagement banquet.

From now on,

I won't return to Shanghai either.

Don't try to find me.

Let's each live our own lives.

What's going on?

I know, right?

It's so inappropriate.

This won't do, right?

[One month later]

Xiu, I'm coming in.

I went out of my way to buy almond cakes today.

From that shop near our junior high.

Weren't you always craving them?

Come out and eat.

You didn't even touch this bowl of noodles from yesterday.

The soup has dried up.

Can't you give me some response?

Are you still alive?

I am.

Get up and check in.

Smile.

Mrs. Bai, don't worry.

She's fine with me here.

You live too far away.

Don't trouble yourself going back and forth.

Why don't I just change into different outfits?

You can take several at once

and send one over every day.

Then you won't have to run between places.

It's been a month already. Still feeling sad?

It's not that bad.

It's just that

I don't feel motivated to do anything.

Anyway,

I've saved up so many vacation days in 3 years of work.

I might as well just...

I found something for you to do.

I guarantee it'll get you motivated.

What's this?

A large-scale immersive virtual reality murder mystery game.

It's been super popular lately.

It's right near our shop.

We can still catch the last session.

Quick, get up and change.

Escape from reality.

[Welcome to the dreamy journey to escape from reality]

Thank you, sir.

Hurry, we're running out of time.

We've arrived?

Let's go.

Hurry up.

Zhao.

Slow down.

There are two of us. Can we still catch the last session?

It starts in 30 minutes.

After you pay,

our staff will take you to change costumes.

It's 600 yuan per person.

With the coupon, it's 20% off.

That's 480 yuan.

480...

I'll pay.

Done.

960?

You two can choose the bags

according to your preferences.

Inside the bags are your identity cards for Rongcheng

and important props.

Quick, pick one.

I'll take this one then.

There's a separate changing area inside.

You can only enter the game area after changing.

I'd like to remind everyone

that when changing,

check your identity cards.

Players belong to 4 different factions.

Each of you has someone to assist,

to help them become the new mayor.

Our game

is entirely virtual reality interactive.

So please wear your glasses properly.

We wish you all

a pleasant evening in Rongcheng.

We've arrived in Rongcheng.

Players, please exit the vehicle in an orderly manner.

I'm the wife of the richest man,

assisting the Police Chief.

What about you?

Haven't you checked your identity card?

Not yet.

This game has no script.

Only these few clues on the cards.

The plot development entirely depends on

the interactions between players and NPCs.

This is it?

It's all dark. There's nothing here.

You haven't put your glasses on yet.

Put them on and take a look.

How did they do this?

This...

This is...

No wonder the tickets are so expensive.

♪ I'll be relentless ♪

♪ The terror in your dreams ♪

♪ My ghost surrounds you ♪

Everyone, welcome to Rongcheng.

♪ And never lets you sleep ♪

The blizzard has blocked the roads.

I apologize for the inconvenience,

but you'll have to rest in Rongcheng for now.

♪ I'm never giving up ♪

I must remind you all

that Rongcheng is a dangerous place

♪ I'm never letting go ♪

filled with all sorts of people.

If you let your guard down,

I'm afraid

you might never return.

Whether you can board the train

leaving Rongcheng

depends on your own abilities.

Dangerous?

Don't worry.

I know you can't handle horror games.

This isn't a horror one.

Let's go.

I really regret it.

I should have eaten that bowl of noodles.

What?

Nothing.

This city looks just like a real one.

This is even more realistic than a hologram.

The online reviews weren't exaggerating at all.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I've played murder mystery games

at company outings before,

but the buildings here are much more thoughtfully designed.

[Qianghua Xingye Ltd.]

The designers must have referenced a lot of real-world locations.

Of course.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have caught my attention.

Alright,

let's meet at the hotel up ahead.

It's right here.

Distinguished guests, your rooms are ready.

If you need anything,

you can come to me. I'm Bai Luoyu.

[Bai Luoyu, Owner of Central Hotel, Rongcheng Intelligence Center]

Thank you.

How long does this game last?

Four hours.

Four hours?

That's 120 yuan per hour,

2 yuan per minute.

So to get our money's worth,

we need to stick it out till the end.

Good luck.

Then I'll sleep some of it off first.

This bed is quite comfortable.

Rongcheng is under martial law.

All guests, open your doors immediately

and cooperate with the search!

Open up! Open up!

Room 107, open the door!

Sun Jiaying, overseas PhD in chemistry.

You have a package of opium worth a fortune,

but it's contraband in Rongcheng.

If found, you'll face imprisonment...

If you don't open up and cooperate,

we'll have to break in!

Open up!

What kind of bad luck is this?

Even in a game, I'm still so unlucky.

-Stop! -Stop!

Open your bag! What are you doing?

Stop!

Open your bag!

Why are you running so fast? Open it!

What are you looking at?

Are you an NPC?

It's okay if I

eat a prop, right?

Would you like to cooperate, Miss?

C-Cooperate on what?

In Rongcheng, there are various ways to play.

What resources do you have,

or what do you need?

Tell me and let's see

if we can help each other out.

I see.

Then please help me take this away.

I'm exhausted.

I just want to sit quietly for a while.

I don't want to be chased around.

The female players I meet

are all idiots.

What was that?

I said

this item

is too valuable.

I need to think about what I can offer in exchange for this.

Let me think about it.

Wasn't it still here a moment ago?

A quarter ago,

the mayor was assassinated.

Rongcheng is under martial law.

Everyone

must cooperate with the search.

Search them!

[Influential on both sides of the law]

[Ning Zechen, Police Chief, Mayor Candidate]

You...

I've made up my mind.

Deal's off.

Staying alive is more important.

It's just 480 yuan.

Arrest me if you want.

Chief Ning.

Ms. Sun and I have been here

all evening catching up.

She's not a suspect,

right?

Even with someone vouching for her,

we still have to search her.

You dare lay a hand on me?

You've crossed the line!

Don't fight. Um...

The mayor and I...

Ms. Sun, take your time. There's no rush.

I have nothing to do

with the mayor's death.

Chief Ning, if you're so fond of body searches,

does that also include me

and my people as well?

These people are really immersed in their characters.

Who are you really?

[Qin Xiaoyi, Warlord Commander, as cunning as a fox, deep and complex]

I just went to the bathroom

and missed all the excitement.

Chief Feng.

Why are you here as well?

[Fabulously wealthy, wary and suspicious]

[Feng Youjin, Minister of Finance] [Mayor Candidate]

The mayor was assassinated,

so I came to get details from General Qin.

General Qin?

You're from the Military Affairs Office?

Well, I've just taken up my position.

Chief Ning, it's understandable

that you're a bit anxious for Rongcheng's safety.

It's just Ms. Sun has just returned from abroad.

Forcing a body search like that

isn't exactly proper hospitality.

That's right.

Ms. Sun is a person of importance.

I was just about to invite her

to visit the Ministry of Finance.

Chief Ning.

When you have solid evidence,

you can arrest Ms. Sun then.

Chief Feng, are you trying to...

Take her away from me?

Why is he looking at me?

Who would you like to go with?

I...

This General looks more capable.

I'll go with you.

Why didn't you go with Feng Youjin?

Why

should I go with him?

Thank you.

And thank you for the hawthorn.

It was nothing.

Qin Xiaoyi,

you've been waiting here for me on purpose, haven't you?

I've been waiting for you for quite a while.

You were too slow.

But catching me won't do you any good,

because I don't

have anything on me.

Is that so?

What about this?

Everyone

must cooperate with the search.

Search them.

I've made up my mind.

Deal's off.

Staying alive is more important.

What key is this?

The key to the secret room in the former mayor's house.

He wanted to stay alive,

so he tried to frame you.

Ms. Sun,

what do you plan to do with this opium?

This is contraband.

You can take it.

It's indeed contraband in Rongcheng,

but it's harmless

here with me.

I only focus on what I want.

Ms. Sun,

do you know what you want?

I...

Move along.

Hurry.

I know how to walk.

♪ Under the streetlight, I grow increasingly weary ♪

After graduation, I'll definitely go study architecture abroad.

♪ A few specks of dust drift by in the wind ♪

When I return after completing my studies,

I'll have you all live in houses I design.

Let's eat.

Let's eat first. Come on.

Come on, let's eat.

Dad, do you not believe me?

♪ The girl who once basked in the sunlight ♪

I do.

I believe you.

Come on, let's eat.

Mom, I'll go to the hospital right away.

♪ Where did she go to play? ♪

The plan of studying abroad can wait.

♪ I don't understand either ♪

Let's get Dad's leg treated first.

♪ Flicking through old chat logs ♪

Mr. Xu,

I want to transfer

to the design department.

Go get me a cup of coffee.

♪ I just realized the replies were somewhat delayed ♪

I just want to live a simple life.

Zhang Qiran would be perfect.

♪ At the crossroads of choices, amidst the bustling crowd ♪

Hu Xiu.

Let's break up.

♪ Who hasn't paid the price and still fallen short? ♪

When have I ever truly gotten

♪ Stand with me tonight, look at the starlight ♪

what I wanted?

♪ Even if we're always pushed aside by reality ♪

Can't I win once

even in a game?

♪ I know how hard it is to push forward ♪

♪ But there are always people in this world trying again like me ♪

Opium can be exchanged for diamonds.

Send it to the headquarters,

obtain the documents,

and repay Chief Feng who you're indebted to.

No wonder he thought I'd leave with Feng Youjin.

I finally found you.

Quick, give me some money.

Just this?

And these too.

Where did you get so much money?

Just earned it.

Take as much as you want.

Hello.

Can I come to you for any kind of request?

Of course.

Opium...

How do I sell it?

Dealing with opium is too much trouble.

It's not just a matter of one or two gold coins...

How much do you need?

The black market in Rongcheng is at the porcelain shop.

Put your goods in

the blue and white porcelain on the second row

and wait outside for 15 minutes.

Someone will take the item

and leave what you need.

Hello, are you a player?

We're players too.

Do you know where this is?

Turn from here.

Over there, right?

-Thank you. -Let's go.

The opium is gone.

So where are the diamonds?

Boss.

Has anyone been here just now?

No one.

Who took my opium?

You didn't want it when I offered it for free,

and now you come here sneaking around?

Give me back my opium and diamonds!

[Post Office]

I should wait here for the reply, right?

Hello. Your letter.

Thank you.

This...

Final mission:

deliver the chemical formula to the contact.

This will help Chief Feng win the position of mayor.

So that's how it is.

Mission exposed. Act quickly.

[Mission exposed, act quickly. Rongcheng Square. Blue scarf.]

Rongcheng Square. Blue scarf.

It's you.

So you're the contact?

Sit.

Give me the item,

and your mission will be complete.

Why is he also wearing a blue scarf?

Your mission seems to have been exposed.

Who you want to trust

is up to you.

Actually,

you've already had an answer to this question.

You were the one who saved me before.

To be precise,

I saved you from Ning Zechen's gun

and almost got myself killed.

So Chief Ning and I...

You're not on the same side.

When you're alert,

you're actually quite smart.

Why doesn't that sound like a compliment?

Now Chief Feng and Chief Ning

are competing for the position of mayor.

You and I are naturally allies.

I trust you.

Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Sun.

You made the right choice

and

executed it brilliantly.

Can't let you save the wrong person, can I?

I'm done for. They're here to arrest me.

♪ Close your eyes for me ♪

Your mission is complete,

but the danger isn't over.

Go to the train station now.

You must leave Rongcheng alive.

♪ Don't rush to wake up ♪

♪ Before the night ends ♪

♪ Will you stay with me? ♪

Thank you,

General Qin.

♪ I won't search for ♪

♪ The reason we met ♪

Stop!

Quick! After her!

♪ We will meet tomorrow ♪

Stop right there,

or we'll shoot!

♪ I know ♪

Stop there!

♪ Oh, special night ♪

Stop!

♪ Oh, special night ♪

How could this be?

Sun Jiaying, an overseas student,

has been eliminated after death.

When my glasses go black,

that means I'm dead?

Yes.

Our equipment has a trigger system.

Since you triggered the death ending,

the device has automatically disconnected.

I...

I'm not the first one who died, am I?

Who killed me?

Those two killers in black?

In Rongcheng, your opponent could be...

Anyone.

I've already lost,

and you won't even let me know why.

Many players

play through multiple times.

Not only can you experience flexible storylines,

but our virtual settings also change frequently,

ensuring something fresh every time.

They're all so rich?

After the entire game ends,

all players will gather here

for a review session.

You'll get key information at that time.

Hu Xiu.

Are you home?

Your apartment is leaking water into my apartment again,

you know?

Zhao, I have to go now.

♪ You thought I'd fall and lose my way ♪

♪ Thought I'd never find the strength to stay♪

♪ But every time I'm defeated ♪

♪ I stood back up and held the line ♪

♪ Winters don't bother me ♪

♪ I'm stronger than I used to be ♪

Mr. Xiao.

♪ Now watch me fight ♪

♪ Oh, I'm done pretending ♪

Mr. Xiao, we're leaving then.

♪ And I ♪

♪ I'm ready, I won't hide ♪

♪ Now it's my turn ♪

♪ The reality is boring ♪

♪ Following all the rules ♪

♪ I'll be the one writing my own story ♪

That Chen Dabao downstairs from your place,

I think he's just malicious.

Didn't the community already assess the situation?

The leak is his own problem.

By the way, I left in a hurry yesterday,

and I didn't get to hear the game review.

In the end,

did Chief Feng win?

It was that Qin Xiaoyi who won.

Qin...

Qin Xiaoyi?

Wasn't he just playing

an NPC in the storyline?

How could he have become the mayor?

He wasn't just an ordinary NPC.

They said there were 4 factions in total,

and he was the leader of one of them.

What?

But I was

busy winning money at the casino the whole time,

so I didn't see how they played.

I only heard the review.

They said his storyline was hidden quite deep.

Not just our faction,

even Ning Zechen's people

were taken down by Feng Youjin.

I was quite committed in this game.

Looks like we're definitely going to lose.

Not necessarily.

[Post Office]

If Feng Youjin can't get the formula from her,

he can't win.

That Qin Xiaoyi

saw Feng Youjin's

contact note and props before I did.

I believe you.

Thank you,

General Qin.

Then he concealed his identity,

obtained the formula documents,

and finally led his faction to victory.

The formula?

He took my formula.

He should have given it to Feng Youjin.

What formula?

He clearly said

he was on the same side as me.

You all probably don't know this.

When Qin Xiaoyi executes an enemy,

he fires two shots

to ensure the target's dead.

Two shots?

Who knows how cool that is?

So manly.

Liar.

He was trying to kill me to silence me,

and there I was like an idiot,

saying

thank you to him.

Where are you going?

In real life, there are too many people I can't deal with.

But at least in this game,

I'll make anyone who crosses me pay the price.

Everyone, welcome to Rongcheng.

The blizzard has blocked the roads.

I apologize for the inconvenience,

but you'll have to rest in Rongcheng for now.