Since childhood, Liu Xieshui had an invisible tag hanging over his head, one that never changed:
[Ordinary NPC]
But he had no idea what it meant.
It was only when several people with [Player] above their heads entered his world, a world that kept restarting, that Liu Xieshui gradually pieced together the rules.
It turned out that the NPCs in those tags were characters in this world, toyed with by others, ignorant of the truth, and doomed to never find peace after death.
And he...
His lovely brows drew together. Liu Xieshui raised his lashes and glanced at the players staring at him in a daze, then lowered his eyes and curled a finger to hide his smile.
Ordinary?
That was wonderful.
*
Bai Xuan, the player with the highest clear rate, never imagined he would fall in love at first sight with a dungeon NPC.
Though this NPC was peerlessly beautiful, like a bewitching spell the System had cast on its players. He didn't have to do a thing. Just standing there, cool and clear, was enough to steal half a person's soul.
But he was only an ordinary NPC with no independent consciousness.
And a widower, to boot.
After years of chastity, body and soul, and his last shred of self-respect were swept away with ease, Bai Xuan sat crouched by the door, brooding and smoking through the night until his cigarette butts piled up like a little hill.
Whatever. Since he was in love, then...
“Play-er?”
He turned around in shock. Liu Xieshui wore a thin, moon-white robe that revealed one pale shoulder. Tilting his head, he lightly pointed a fingertip at Bai Xuan.
His soft, moist eyes were bewildered and innocent.
“What does ‘player’ mean?”
*
NPCs who awaken to consciousness are instantly erased by the dungeon. Yet for some reason, nothing happened to Liu Xieshui. He could even nestle into Bai Xuan's arms, weeping pitifully and saying he was scared.
But even if it meant meeting a terrible end, Bai Xuan would take Liu Xieshui out of the dungeon and give him his freedom.
On the day they cleared the dungeon, Bai Xuan followed its instructions and married Liu Xieshui. They stood before the hall in phoenix coronets and wedding robes, with red silk and brocade all around them, as their marriage certificate was presented.
But when Bai Xuan opened it, he stared in shock, eyes wide.
The name on it wasn't his. It belonged to Liu Xieshui's deceased husband, an NPC in the dungeon.
In an instant, the world sank into darkness. The [Ordinary NPC] tag above Liu Xieshui's head flickered, then settled on a brand-new, blood-red tag.
[Final Dungeon Boss]
System notification: You have triggered a death condition. The dungeon boss's final form has been activated. Eliminate the target immediately.
Bai Xuan's eyes widened in fury, but Liu Xieshui only smiled innocently and lifted Bai Xuan's hand, pressing it against his chest.
“Didn't you say you were going to take me away, Player?”
“Then don't you dare regret it.”
A calculating, flirtatious beauty with masterful acting and a deadly edge, receiving × a pure-hearted college boy who believes whatever his wife says, never learns his lesson, and can't hold back his affection.
Theme: I was born no caged bird.
