Chapter Text
You Huo, the Yu father and son duo, Shu Xue, and the tattooed man know that they’re supposed to be wherever their Foreign Language exam is going to take place but… did the System really put them in a cinema-like room after they managed to step into the dense fog before the countdown reached zero?
The room they’re in has warm dim lighting spilled across the floor from recessed ceiling lights hidden in the dark ceiling above, soft enough that it takes a second for their eyes to adjust. There are no windows anywhere in the room, no outside light, no sound from the rest of the space—only quiet and the faint hum of the projector mounted overhead.
One entire wall is a screen.
The carpet beneath their feet is thick enough to sink into, stretching across the room toward oversized couches buried beneath blankets and cushions. Beanbags are scattered closer to the screen like someone or something fully intends for people to end up sprawled across the floor halfway through a movie if they’re going to watch one.
Near the back wall sits a mini fridge, stocked and it looks like the type to glow softly when opened. Beside it stands a popcorn machine and shelves lined with candy and snacks arranged almost suspiciously neatly.
For a long moment, no one speaks.
Because this isn’t just a spare room with a huge screen shoved into it.
It looks like a private cinema.
A place built to stay in for hours. Maybe days.
Is this a glitch? The examinees from the Optics exam internally think.
What’s more surprising is what 001 and his subordinates are doing here? Alongside the rest stop manager Boss Chu and 30+ invigilators and several other examinees.
“…What is this? Brother, do you think the System wants to rest our knowledge on movies?” Yu Wen manages to speak after recovering from shock.
You Huo lets out a snort.
Testing to see if we can name all the movies it shows us in the next 30 seconds or we’ll be stripped of our examination opportunity? Yeah, sure.
But before he can say something in response, Invigilator 001 and his subordinates approach them.
“What rule has Mr Humph violated this time for us to be here?” Qin Jiu asks, voice laced with amusement.
Yu father and son duo: “………….”
He probably won’t violate rules anytime soon… especially after that full-time surveillance!
“The ‘I want to slam 001’s face in that room he made me clean so let me at him’ rule,“ You Huo says with an eye roll.
Qin Jiu softly laughs. “I’m flattered that you’ve taken an interest in my face. Though, it’s a bit surprising that you’re into slamming.”
154: “…….”
922: “…….”
What kind of conversation is this? And how can you casually speak about that room as if it wasn’t disgusting?!
You Huo really does wish he were in a similar room like that one right now because how could he not slam 001’s face when he only spews nonsense?
•Welcome to System ‘Help YH x QJ’. This cinema-like room will allow you to watch events that were going to happen had you not been intercepted by me. So while the first part will be known events to Examinee You Huo and his team and little snippets from Invigilator 001 and his subordinates, this is technically a future viewing of the events you haven’t experienced yet.•
•Whatever you decide after watching, is not something I can interfere in.•
Everyone: “…………………”
We’re in a new System?!
•Whenever you finish watching an exam or you’ve reached a cliffhanger in the viewing, you’re allowed to take breaks. However, only previous and current Head Invigilators can make requests for that.•
“We have the former Head Invigilators in the same room?” Chu Yue feigns surprise.
She doesn’t look at You Huo or her fellow colleagues.
•Yes, former Head Invigilator A and Head Invigilator Z are present in this very room.•
Only after hearing that, do the 30+ invigilators finally come back to their senses.
Invigilator A?! He’s alive?! runs through their minds.
Gao Qi looks at the few present examinees and when he spots his old friend, he opens his mouth only to close it as he gets interrupted—
•Invigilator 1006, DO NOT say anything because everything will be revealed as you watch the future. No matter how much you may want to approach them, refrain from doing that. Naturally, everyone should feel the emotions appropriate for any particular situation.•
We’re just glad that he’s alive! The moderates all let out sighs.
Chu Yue chuckles at her colleagues’ bittersweet expressions. She knows how they feel right now because the moment she saw him, she wanted nothing more than to pull him into her arms and give him a tight hug and ruffle his hair afterwards (even if he would’ve been frozen stiff in her arms due to never liking physical contact except from a certain someone) because how could she not? She held back at the rest stop because she knew that he didn’t recognise her nor would he believe anything she said about who he is to the System.
Yes, she had long known the risks that came with trying to destroy the System… but it still hurt to see him with no traces of recognition.
Anyway, all that matters is that he’s alive even if he doesn’t remember.
•There are two types of breaks you’re allowed to request: a long break of 24 hours or a short break of 12 hours.•
“..I actually feel a little free.” An invigilator suddenly mutters.
“Yeah, I also don’t sense that sensation of being watched.” Another invigilator adds.
After being in the System for who knows how long, it does feel quite relieving even if it is due to being in other System.
“Bother, what are we supposed to do during breaks? Sleep? What if I need the bathroom?” Yu Wen whispers.
You Huo looks at him and Yu Wen blinks.
Right. How could Brother possibly know.
As if System ’Help YH x QJ’ is responding to Yu Wen (because it is), it continues with its mechanical voice.
•There are thirty bedrooms—which you’ll share in pairs. Each room contains everyday clothing such as pyjamas, oversized sleep shirts, slippers, oversized hoodies, loose sweaters and cardigans, joggers, soft shorts, and thick socks.•
•For each bedroom, there is one large attached bathroom per shared suite. There are public bathrooms for both male and female respectively near this viewing room since you’ll spend most of your time here.•
Everyone can’t help but feel a little bit creeped out because it seems like this new System is trying to subtly bribe them into choosing it over their psychotic one?
•You have an hour to prepare yourselves before the viewing can begin. A holographic map will give you the layout of where everything is including a kitchen, a conference room for the invigilators, an artificial garden and a dining hall. Anything else can be requested by the Head Invigilators.•
“…Well,” Chu Yue says. “How about we divide the bedrooms first?“
•No need. Your rooms are already assigned. Check on the holographic map.•
Everyone: “……….”
We can’t even choose for ourselves?
A holographic projection suddenly rotates silently in midair.
Chu Yue lets out a sigh before checking.
As expected, You Huo and Qin Jiu are going to share a room.
If only they both had their memories… though it’s not gonna take long before they get together again, right? Chu Yue silently muses.
Yu Wen and Di Li in the same room.
Yang Shu and Wu Li.
Gao Qi and Old Yu.
O21 and Shu Xue.
Zhao Jiatong and her.
922 and 154.
078 and 099.
Zhou Qi and Jiang Yuan.
The tattooed man and “”
Invigilator F and Invigilator Q .
“” and “”
“” and “”
You Huo: “……….”
Qin Jiu: “………..”
Everyone else: They’re not gonna kill each other, right?
•No changing of rooms.•
After hearing that, the two great masters look at each other for a moment—one with an amused expression while the other is scowling—before they both shrug.
Okay then.
Finally, there is movement around the viewing room as those unfamiliar with their roommates search for them.
“Who’s Di Li?” Yu Wen asks, puppy eyes scanning through the people.
“Me.” A very young someone who is probably the same age as him replies.
The other boy’s hair is both permed and dyed grey and he gives off ‘top student’ vibes.
“We’re not fated.” Yu Wen mutters and feels a sense of crisis.
Di Li however doesn’t feel anything. In fact, he’s elated seeing someone his age. “We’re fated. How many exams have you done? I went through the thick fog for my second one only to end up here.“
“Same!” Yu Wen smiles.
And just like that, these two hit it off as they make their way out of the viewing room.
“Boss, what do you wanna eat?” 922 asks.
“Mr Humph, are you a picky eater?” Qin Jiu asks, voice low.
“…No.” Great master You mutters, hand reaching up to touch his right ear.
922: “???”
Why would you ask him that?
“C’mon Mr Chef, let’s go make something for everyone.” 154 sighs.
Chu Yue chuckles. “I’ll help you guys.”
The invigilators follow after Chu Yue, already eager to taste their former Head Invigilator’s cooking.
Only You Huo and Qin Jiu remain several other examinees exit.
“Are you going to freshen up or eat first?” Qin Jiu asks.
“Eat later.” You Huo whispers.
There’s no need for anymore words. Whether they admit it or not, the tacit understanding between them (they’re not sure how because they just met each other) can only be found in another great master’s presence.
“Mmm, these steamed dumplings are really delicious!”
“I know, right?!”
“Hey, pass me the egg fried rice.”
The room they’re in is too large to be called a normal bedroom. Warm light spills across dark wooden floors and soft charcoal walls. A sunken sitting area occupies one side of the room, centered around a low table and an oversized couch buried beneath folded blankets. Floor-to-ceiling shelves line the far wall, though instead of books, most are empty save for a few scattered objects that System ‘Help YH x QJ’ had apparently decided they might want—cards, a chessboard, unopened bottles of water.
The bed sits farther in, absurdly wide.
Not two beds but one.
You Huo blinks once. Twice. He has to make sure that his eyes aren’t playing tricks on him.
Do the other rooms also have one bed?
(No, they don’t.)
Behind him, Qin Jiu clicks his tongue softly. “You take the bed. I’ll make do with the couch.”
You Huo looks away first. “…Fine.”
The bathroom door stands partially open near the back of the suite. Inside, soft white lighting reflects against dark stone and glass. The shower looks large enough for two people, separated from the rest of the room by fogged glass panels edged in matte black metal.
One sink. Two sets of toiletries. Two toothbrushes rested side by side in matching holders.
(Hehe. System, what is it you’re trying to achieve here?)
“…You shower first,” You Huo finally says.
Qin Jiu lifts an eyebrow. “Scared I’ll use all the hot water?”
“With how much you annoy me every time you speak? Possible.”
A laugh escapes quietly behind him.
Then footsteps approach—not close enough to crowd, just enough for Qin Jiu’s warm body heat to reach him.
“You know,” Qin Jiu says lazily, “for someone who looks this offended about sharing a room, you adjust pretty quickly.”
You Huo turns on the faucet from the sink just to have another sound in the room.
Warm water streams over his fingers instantly. And of course, the temperature is perfect.
“I’m not the one enjoying this.”
“Mm.” Qin Jiu smiles slightly. “Sure.”
Steam still lingers faintly in the bathroom when You Huo steps out.
The sleeves of the dark shirt he’s wearing hangs loose around his wrists, soft fabric brushing against pale skin still warm from the shower. A pair of grey lounge shorts sit low on his hips, exposing long legs that look even paler beneath the room’s amber lighting.
Qin Jiu looks up from where he is sitting on the edge of the couch.
Then he immediately regrets it. His throat tightens almost painfully for a second. Because Mr Humph clearly has no idea what he looks like right now.
Fresh from a shower, hair still damp and slightly messy, expression colder than the room deserves while dressed in clothes soft enough to sleep in—it creates a contradiction Qin Jiu finds deeply unfair.
His gaze drops before he can stop it.
Long legs. Bare calves disappearing beneath oversized fabric. Water still trailing slowly down one knee.
Qin Jiu swallows hard.
Said Mr Humph notices the stare almost immediately.
His eyes narrow slightly. “What?”
Qin Jiu leans back into the couch cushions lazily, forcing his expression into something casual. “Nothing.”
(Which obviously means something.)
You Huo stares at him another second before shrugging.
Unfortunately, that only makes things worse.
The loose shirt shifts as he moves, exposing the line of his neck still faintly damp from the shower.
Qin Jiu suddenly understands why the room lighting is dim—it is for self-preservation.
Meanwhile, You Huo opens the mini fridge without really paying attention, fully aware Qin Jiu is still somewhere behind him.
And annoyingly… the man looks good too.
The realization irritates him immediately.
Qin Jiu is wearing black lounge pants and a dark long-sleeve shirt pushed casually up to his forearms. Fresh from the shower, the lingering sharpness around him is dulled slightly beneath warmth and damp hair.
It makes him look less like an invigilator and more like a normal person.
That’s somehow worse because the softer clothes emphasise his height, broad shoulders, and the relaxed way he carries himself, like he naturally belongs anywhere he stands.
You Huo hates that the image settles too easily into the room. Hates even more that he’d noticed details at all.
Behind him, Qin Jiu speaks again.
“You’re stealing my side of the couch already?”
You Huo shuts the fridge. “Didn’t realize it belonged to you.”
“It does. I’m going to sleep on it, remember.”
There is a pause.
Then, quieter: “The shorts are unfair, by the way.”
You Huo turns slowly. “What?”
Qin Jiu looks entirely too comfortable saying things like that.
“This new System’s trying to kill me.”
“…You’re insane.”
“Possibly.”
But Qin Jiu’s gaze flickers downward again for half a second before returning to his face.
And that brief glance is enough to make the room suddenly feel much warmer than before.
Before You Huo can be overwhelmed with disgust, a mechanical voice is heard.
•The viewing experience will begin in five minutes. Please make your way to the viewing room.•
The image of the invigilators in everyday wear is so absurd that it’ll take a long while before the examinees can get used to it.
After all, these are the same people who are supposedly ‘representatives’ of that System and the ones who lead them to their punishments whenever a rule is violated.
The oversized couches near the centre are slowly getting occupied.
Old Yu drops heavily into the couch with an exhausted sigh. “At least if this new System wants us dead, it’s polite about it.”
You Huo sits at the opposite end without comment, one arm resting against the back cushion as his gaze lifts toward the blank screen.
A moment later, someone sinks into the seat beside him.
“You saved me a spot,” Qin Jiu says lazily.
You Huo doesn’t even look at him. “…Can’t you sit somewhere else?”
“Nope.”
Behind them, 154 looks deeply betrayed by the seating arrangement already forming while 922 appears unsurprised.
“This really is happening,” 154 mutters as they take the remaining nearby seats. “We’re voluntarily sitting down to watch whatever is technically the future.”
922 crosses his arms. “Could be worse.”
“How?”
922 glances toward Qin Jiu and You Huo sharing one couch. “We could be sitting with them.”
Fair point.
More invigilators gradually enter.
Chu Yue arrives carrying two drinks and settles comfortably near the same couch cluster as the two great masters, clearly intending to observe everything.
Gao Qi follows several steps behind her.
Then he immediately freezes.
His eyes land on You Huo.
He’s really alive. He’s really sitting beneath warm projector lighting while wearing casual clothes like none of the impossible things surrounding them matter.
For one horrifying moment Gao Qi genuinely thinks he might say it out loud.
You’re the former Head Invigilator, He nearly lets the words escape his throat on instinct.
Beside him, Zhao Jiatong speaks quietly without looking up. “Try not to explode before the movie starts.”
Gao Qi presses a hand over his mouth briefly.
“…I hate this place.”
“You’ll survive.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Several other invigilators scatter themselves nearby, some taking couches while others occupy the beanbags closer to the screen.
On the floor section, Zhou Qi has already collapsed comfortably into one of the beanbags with Jiang Yuan partially leaning against her. The two look far too relaxed considering they are trapped inside another unknown System.
Nearby, Yu Wen and Di Li argue quietly over snack distribution.
Invigilators M, O and R settle into neighboring seats with varying degrees of suspicion.
Toward the back couches, the tattooed man sits with all the wariness of someone expecting the room itself to bite him.
Wu Li and Yang Shu are already examining the room itself like researchers observing a controlled experiment.
“The acoustics are impressive,” Yang Shu murmurs.
Wu Li blinks. “That’s your takeaway?”
“It’s either that or panic.”
“Reasonable.”
The room has a few overlapping conversations, blankets shifting, snack wrappers opening and cautious tension lingering beneath everything.
Then the lights dim.
The holographic interface near the screen flickers to life in pale blue.
[The viewing session is about to start.]
Several people visibly tense.
System ‘Help YH x QJ’’s emotionless voice follows a second later.
•During the viewing, physical sensations like injuries, pain responses and psychological damage experienced by your future counterparts will not transfer to your present selves.•
On the beanbags, Zhou Qi slowly lowers the snack she’d just picked up. “I suddenly feel less reassured.”
Beside her, Jiang Yuan snorts softly.
Near the centre couches, Qin Jiu leans back comfortably like he’s settling in for entertainment instead of psychological warfare.
“Interesting,” he says.
You Huo’s expression remains indifferent.
The room darkens completely and the screen comes to life.