Bai Liang nodded:
“Alright, speak.”
The girl took a deep breath, calming the emotions stirred by Bai Liang’s actions. The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile as she extended her slender hand:
“Let introduce myself. My na is Yu Wen, a conductor on the ‘Train of the Century’!”
“Bai Liang. Just a regular passenger,” Bai Liang replied, shaking her hand.
As their hands t and Bai Liang began to pull back, Yu Wen suddenly tugged his palm lightly with her finger.
Her slightly parted lips, mysterious smile, and gaze…
“You’re so…” Bai Liang nearly blurted out.
Fortunately, his iron will clamped down, swallowing the words as he coughed lightly:
“Ahem… So, what did you want?”
“No rush. We have ti. So things can’t be hurried even if you try,” Yu Wen said, her expression neutral again. Or rather, she’d always been neutral—it was Bai Liang who’d let his thoughts wander.
Not that he’d admit it—a gentleman’s mind stays pure.
Yu Wen picked up a coffee cup from the table, took a small sip, then suddenly glanced at the cup:
“Why do I sll jasmine?”
Seeing her suspicious look, Bai Liang rubbed his lips, leaned over, and sniffed:
“Really? Maybe I forgot to brush my teeth?”
Damn!
Yu Wen nearly poured the coffee over his head right then. Maybe even dislocate his jaw to retrieve what she’d just drunk.
She genuinely wanted to crack open his skull to see what kind of brain could produce such disgusting remarks.
Her urge to converse vanished instantly. Expressionless, she pushed the cup toward Bai Liang.
“You must’ve been born during heavy rainfall, weren’t you?”
Bai Liang looked surprised:
“How’d you know? Can you read fortunes?”
“No. I just noticed your mouth seems perpetually flooded with mudslides,” Yu Wen pursed her lips, her words asured.
Bai Liang appeared oblivious to the subtext, smiling as he nodded:
“Thanks for the complint. My teachers often praised as a child too.”
“Was that actually praise?” Yu Wen doubted.
“Of course.”
“What did they say?”
Bai Liang sipped his coffee—no jasmine, but a hint of rose instead.
After wetting his throat, he answered leisurely:
“They’d say, ‘So students in our class always stir trouble. A few even submit assignnts so shaful they make blush!’”
“So arrive late daily—you know who you are. I hope certain troublemakers grow more self-aware. Don’t let one rat dropping spoil the whole stew.”
Yu Wen massaged her temples, then looked up at him:
“So are you the rat dropping or the troublemaker?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! How could I be either?” Bai Liang spread his hands innocently.
“Then what are you?”
Bai Liang answered solemnly:
“The one who’s worse.”
“...”
Yu Wen fell silent. Of course. Neither “troublemaker” nor “rat dropping” could compare. You call this praise?
“Let’s discuss sothing serious,” Yu Wen said, abandoning further debate. In her two and a half years as conductor, she’d never t anyone like him.
“If I’m right, this is your first ti on this train? And you’re not even a real passenger?” she asked.
Bai Liang nodded:
“Yes… We could’ve skipped the small talk.”
“I was trying to be friendly…” Yu Wen considered knocking so sense into him but restrained herself:
“Do you know why it’s called the ‘Train of the Century’?”
“How would I know? I didn’t na it,” Bai Liang rolled his eyes.
Yu Wen smiled and handed him the coffee cup, holding it to his lips:
“Here, drink.”
“Are you spouting nonsense again?”
“No. I just need you to shut your mouth before I lose control.”
Yu Wen sighed deeply, eyeing him with despair.
Bai Liang slowly raised the coffee cup, shielding it from her murderous gaze:
“Fine, speak. I’ll stay quiet.”
Regaining composure, Yu Wen continued:
“It’s called the ‘Train of the Century’ not for its size, but because it’s traveled this route for a hundred years.”
“A hundred years! Most don’t live that long. People age and die, yet it keeps running.”
“Think of all the mories and longing it carries. But ti stops for no one. Eventually, even this train will retire.”
Seems like a sad tale… Bai Liang nodded along. A train’s just a train. If it runs too long, replace it.
“So you don’t want it decommissioned?” he guessed.
Yu Wen shook her head: “No. I’ve worked here two and a half years. The pay’s too low—I’ve wanted to quit forever.”
How practical… Bai Liang studied her. “So everything you said earlier was aningless?”
“Of course not!”
Yu Wen smiled faintly: “I was explaining why this train exists here. Understood?”
Understood? You mysterious dungeon dwellers… Bai Liang pondered. “You an the train wasn’t originally here? Sothing brought it?”
Yu Wen snapped her fingers: “Not as dumb as you look.”
“The ‘Train of the Century’ appeared here because of the thick fog. When we entered it, we seed to cross into another world. The train kept moving but never stopped.”
“This continued for years until three years ago, when I noticed new faces boarding. These people would complete tasks and vanish strangely.”
They retain mories… Bai Liang realized—NPCs and anomalies here rember past cycles despite dungeon resets. Rules force them to repeat, but their consciousness remains.
“You’re one of them, aren’t you? I want to ask: do you co from reality?” Yu Wen’s eyes glinted as she asked.
No, not your reality. Yours isn’t mine. We don’t have trains this big… Bai Liang nodded without denying.
Yu Wen clearly knew crucial information. She wanted to escape, hence seeking cooperation. He couldn’t reveal the truth.
“Good!”
Yu Wen stood excitedly: “I want to work with you!”
“Sorry, not interested.”
Her smile froze: “Why? We could both win.”
“Because I can clear this dungeon alone. Why partner with you?”
Bai Liang leaned back, smiling: “What can you offer ?”
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