Chapter Seven: Leaving the Floating Island

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[Gu Xi, Experiment Number 042.]
[Pre-experiment identity information: Unknown]

Su Chen was stunned by the woman before him.

The Floating Island’s equipment had never been so directly linked to a “living person.”

In his memory, the previous experiment numbers he had heard of were only associated with predecessors who appeared outside the Floating Island.

“All right, don’t pull that ‘Who am I? Where am I?’ face now,” he said, snuffing out the cigarette butt in his hand.

Putting himself in others’ shoes, anyone who entered their laboratory’s experiments would mostly not be able to escape the illusions.

“There’s something called déjà vu. As for me, I’m a mentor on the Floating Island. Naturally, I see more than ordinary people.”

Su Chen seemed somewhat proud, motioning for Gu Xi to scrutinize him from head to toe.

Indeed, the man named Su Chen before her, whether by his attire or his demeanor, carried an air of nobility beyond that of a common man.

At least he looked more refined than her current scruffy self.

Earrings, a silk scarf around his neck.

A well-tailored uniform.

Polished leather uniform shoes that gleamed.

And the armband emblazoned with a logo that seemed to be a unique metal emblem of the Floating Island Academy.

She had seen it before on her scumbag ex.

“Enough flaunting it. I’ll believe you for now,” Gu Xi said, opening her eyes. She had nearly exhausted all her strength.

Now she felt drained—her mind and body both depleted.

Gu Xi forced her weary body to stay alert.

She looked at the somewhat flamboyant man before her, filled with suspicion.

How did he manage those illusions just now?

Su Chen seemed to sense her thoughts, a faint mysterious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

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“You must be curious about how I know all this. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you gradually,” he said, gracefully sitting down in a nearby chair, crossing one leg over the other. “This place is the Floating Island, a realm full of mystery and the unknown. I just checked my system and saw your number is 042, and I have your name too, but other information hasn’t been revealed to me yet.”

Gu Xi frowned. “What? You have a system too? Why was my identity information unknown before?”

Su Chen smiled lightly. “That’s the mystery of the Floating Island. Before entering, everyone’s memories before adulthood are temporarily sealed, including mine, so I can only see this much.”

“Sealed memories? Why do that? Being number 042 means I’m the very last one, right?” Gu Xi felt a surge of unease.

“To ensure fairness and safety for everyone’s survival. If people carried their past memories and biases, it might affect the development of the Floating Island. That’s just my guess. But since you just passed the trial, it means you’ve seen some of your memories, at least better than me,” Su Chen said with a bitter smile.

Gu Xi was silent for a moment, then asked, “So the damage to the Floating Island system caused by some unknown creatures—is that the doing of your laboratory mentors too?”

Su Chen stood and walked to the window, gazing at the soon-to-be-ruined scene outside, not answering her question. “The Floating Island exists to explore humanity’s future. At least, that’s what I was taught before.”

Gu Xi was shaken inside. She had never imagined getting involved in such an event; all she wanted was to live quietly.

“What should I do then?”

“Simple. Follow your instincts. And my being brought here probably isn’t a coincidence either.” Su Chen turned around, his gaze full of expectation.

“All right, it’s getting late. Pack up. Let’s head to the Floating Island laboratory and see if there’s a way out. Outside is dangerous—some ancient experimental creatures are thawing and coming out.”

“I don’t think we should go to the lab. Since that’s where it started, we probably can’t return,” Gu Xi insisted.

She followed Su Chen’s gaze to the distant ruins outside the street, forcing her to abandon her desire to be a couch potato.

Looks like this place isn’t safe anymore.

Su Chen sighed. “Fine, since you insist, I won’t stop you. But I do know the reason it’s called the Floating Island is because it floats in the air. The real spirit realm is vast. If you want to leave the Floating Island, I do have a way.”

Hearing this, Gu Xi perked up, but her worries returned.

“This time you’re taking me out, you’re not planning to exchange something from me again, are you? My mind can’t take this kind of torment,” Gu Xi said exasperatedly.

She was starving.

Without waiting for Su Chen’s reply, she turned to the stove.

She lit the gas.

Filled a pot with water from the tap and set it to boil.

Once boiled, she took out the instant noodles her system had just rewarded her, opened the bag, and dropped the noodle cake in.

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Su Chen watched as the woman deftly cooked the noodles, nothing like an experimental subject.

He felt even more excited.

“You can cook noodles? Don’t worry—I was originally looking for this immersive equipment. But since it’s bound to you and has your code, I certainly won’t try to take it.”

He said this while eagerly eyeing the fragrant, soft instant noodles in Gu Xi’s pot.

Once boiled, Gu Xi cracked two eggs into the noodles.

She only ate soft-boiled eggs.

“Help yourself. There are two bowls beside you. If you haven’t eaten, we can share,” Gu Xi said.

She thought to herself, it’s enough that you didn’t ask for the equipment back. Offering you some benefits in exchange for such good equipment is only fair.

The two silently slurped the steaming noodles face to face.

Su Chen looked up. “Oh right, leaving the Floating Island isn’t easy as I said before. I suggest we observe the situation and restore our strength. I’ve never been outside either, but I’ve heard it’s really dangerous out there. If you don’t mind, could I stay with you for a couple of nights?”

Gu Xi: ???

Who is this shameless man, showing up uninvited and asking to stay over?

“No. You said you’re from next door; please go back there to rest,” she replied coldly.

Su Chen’s face instantly reddened to his ears. He hadn’t expected that the woman would remember his flimsy excuse about living next door.

No wonder she’s number 042 — such sharp thinking! He was impressed.

At this moment, Su Chen looked at Gu Xi like an artist admiring his muse, his pupils almost sparkling.

Gu Xi deliberately avoided his gaze. After their brief time together, though she trusted no one, this man seemed harmless enough to let her guard down for now.

A little rest would be good.