Chen Kaijie and his group listened with curious expressions, all gathering around to take a look.
The card’s name was indeed “If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.” Its rarity was somewhere between A and B. It often dropped in dungeons involving weddings and wasn’t particularly rare.
Seeing this, Chen Kaijie sighed, “As expected of our captain. This familiar feeling.”
“I really admire this system,” he said. “Is it specifically designed to refresh our knowledge with a bunch of unexpected cards? I never thought a simple level classification could yield such laughable results.” He didn’t know how to describe the system.
However, the card was quite interesting. In the item description section, it said, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands, also known as clapping.”
This card was an entertainment prop. The cardholder could bind it to a person and play a happy clapping game with them, whether they were strangers, friends, or lovers. Of course, lovers would be happier playing it.
Initially, Xiao Muyu’s brows furrowed tighter the more she read, until she saw that lovers would be happier. Her ears turned red, and she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Qingqiu.
However, as soon as her gaze met Shen Qingqiu’s slightly dazed eyes, she quickly looked away, pretending to stay calm as she continued reading.
Shen Qingqiu almost laughed seeing her like this, and the next line of text doubled her amusement while adding a touch of teasing.
The text read: “P.S. Don’t misunderstand. This clapping is very proper clapping. Anyone with improper thoughts should self-reflect. After binding, as long as the cardholder claps, there’s a certain probability they’ll swap places with the bound person, but the distance between them must not exceed 15 meters.”
The reason lovers are happier is that as their intimacy and tacit understanding increase, the swap success rate also increases. Specific usage details should be explored by the user, so it’s advised not to be fickle and bind with one person for the best results.
The duration is 15 minutes, with a cooldown time of 12 hours. After all, clapping should be done in moderation.
Although they initially misunderstood, the last sentence still felt a bit lewd, seemingly guiding them towards improper thoughts.
Su Jin and the others quickly dispersed after a glance, leaving Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu speechless.
However, Shen Qingqiu was actually very happy. Being able to swap places with Xiao Muyu was something she longed for.
After all, unexpected situations always arise, and with this, she could protect Xiao Muyu from harm at any time.
Shen Qingqiu chuckled, “Let’s go back and thoroughly study how to clap… study ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands.’ At critical moments, it can not only protect you but also catch others off guard.”
Although Shen Qingqiu felt a bit embarrassed saying this, she still wanted to tease Xiao Muyu.
Sure enough, Xiao Muyu’s face turned red, and she cast a sidelong glance at Shen Qingqiu, looking adorably speechless.
But this cuteness didn’t last long. Xiao Muyu seriously put away the card and discreetly pinched Shen Qingqiu’s hand.
Shen Qingqiu looked at Xiao Muyu with a bit of grievance, “I wasn’t wrong. Don’t you plan to bind with me?”
Xiao Muyu glanced at her, “The card doesn’t specify that it must be bound to a partner. I can bind it to Su Jin or Xiao Zuo.”
However, seeing Shen Qingqiu’s happy gray eyes sparkling like stars, she quickly shut her mouth.
What was she saying? Wasn’t this admitting that Shen Qingqiu was her partner?
Although she never deliberately concealed it in front of Chen Kaijie and the others, it didn’t mean she could openly call Shen Qingqiu her partner like Shen Qingqiu did.
So, Xiao Muyu’s ears, cheeks, and neck all turned red. She quickly put away the card and urged Shen Qingqiu, “We need to go back quickly. Hurry and draw.”
Shen Qingqiu, though she seemed to push her limits, always knew when to stop. Having teased Xiao Muyu enough, she replied quickly, “Okay, I’ll draw.”
Shen Qingqiu actually wanted to return quickly to their little place, where many things in the dungeon still needed to be sorted out.
She drew a card swiftly and, after a glance, her expression changed. She put it away immediately and nonchalantly said to the curious group, “This draw is pretty average, just a B-level card, nothing special. I’ll continue drawing for the team.”
But this explanation was unconvincing. No one believed her, and Zuo Tiantian tentatively asked, “What card is it? Let us see, vice-captain.”
Shen Qingqiu took a deep breath and looked at Zuo Tiantian with a forced smile, “Are you sure, Xiao Zuo? Do you really want to see it?”
This expression, like a smiling tiger, made Zuo Tiantian quickly shake her head, “No, no need. Let’s see if the vice-captain can draw something good. Good luck!”
Su Jin laughed at Zuo Tiantian’s immediate submission, which made Zuo Tiantian pout. Su Jin couldn’t stop laughing, “Got guts to mess with the vice-captain?”
Zuo Tiantian muttered under her breath, “Aren’t you curious?”
Su Jin nodded, “Curious, but also scared.”
While they whispered, Xiao Muyu said nothing, just staring at Shen Qingqiu, her expression unreadable, making Shen Qingqiu uneasy.
“Shall I draw again?” she asked tentatively.
Xiao Muyu nodded, “Yes.” Her reply was calm and firm.
As Shen Qingqiu turned, Xiao Muyu’s eyes showed a hint of a smile.
Xiao Muyu saw every bit of Shen Qingqiu’s reaction when she drew the card. Though Shen Qingqiu’s expression changed several times, it wasn’t with worry or doubt but with disbelief, and then a hint of anger and embarrassment. As long as it wasn’t something truly strange, Xiao Muyu wasn’t concerned.
Moreover, Shen Qingqiu’s reaction suggested she didn’t want Chen Kaijie and the others to know about the card, even hiding it from herself, implying it had embarrassing content.
However, since the card’s content was set by the system, no matter how embarrassing, it had nothing to do with Shen Qingqiu unless it was truly related to her.
Xiao Muyu thought this as Shen Qingqiu drew again. This time, Shen Qingqiu’s face darkened as she looked at the card. She glared at Xiao Muyu, “Did you complain about me to the system? Why are all the draws targeting me?”
Xiao Muyu was momentarily stunned, then she glanced at the card and laughed. The card in Shen Qingqiu’s hand read, “Spendthrift, rarity ? All dungeons have a chance to drop it.”
Item description: As the name and rarity suggest, this card is about spending money. A true spendthrift spends lavishly, and having money makes you the boss.
Each use of the Spendthrift card costs 20,000 gold coins and can reset the cooldown of a team member’s card. They say money makes the world go round, so the Spendthrift card has no cooldown.
Despite its high cost, if used in a dungeon that heavily relies on cards, resetting a critical card can be game-changing, especially for overpowered cards. Though expensive, it’s a good card.
“This can’t be blamed on me, and I think this Spendthrift card suits a certain spendthrift quite well. I’d happily support it.”
Xiao Muyu spoke lightly. Although she deliberately avoided looking at Shen Qingqiu, it immediately made Shen Qingqiu stop complaining.
Zuo Tiantian felt like her teeth were about to fall out. Chen Kaijie drew for the last time, and on his second draw, he got a normal result: an A-grade compass.
The compass not only indicates the directions north, south, east, and west but also points to its initial position when activated. This can be quite useful for navigating through a maze or breaking out of a ghost wall.
After the draw, Xiao Muyu looked at Shi and pointed at the large screen next to them, asking, “What’s the purpose of setting up this screen here?”
Shi smiled slightly and, looking at the team on the screen, said warmly, “Hope and reality. The fact that some teams have reached this point is hope, and that some have cleared the level is also hope. However, out of over fifty million people trying, only these few made it here, and many have failed. That’s reality.”
“People cannot live without hope, but they also cannot ignore reality. Congratulations on becoming the hope. The next instance will open in three years.”
“With the same rules, you can also challenge it in advance. If you decide to do so, call my name three times, and I will come to meet you. I wish you a happy life. See you next time.”
Shi’s eyes carried a smile, and his voice was gentle as he handed Xiao Muyu an everlasting flower made of bellflowers, nodding at her.
Xiao Muyu nodded back, but she felt something was off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, so she decided to put the thought aside temporarily until she and Shen Qingqiu returned to their rented house.
At home, their ghostly roommate Tong Lin quickly greeted them. Having been a ghost for so long, Tong Lin floated rather than walked.
As soon as they opened the door, the ghost in a red dress floated from the living room to the entrance, smiling on her pale face, “You’re back.”
Both of them shivered. Shen Qingqiu said with difficulty, “Walk properly. I thought I was still in the instance seeing a ghost.”
After hearing a low laugh from beside her, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t said anything when Tong Lin seriously replied, “But I am a ghost, so you did see a ghost.”
Shen Qingqiu: …
Xiao Muyu bent down to take out two pairs of slippers from the entrance cabinet, still smiling, and placed them in front of Shen Qingqiu.
Seeing Shen Qingqiu’s frustrated look, she couldn’t help but find it amusing, pressing her lips together and twitching the corners of her mouth again.
Shen Qingqiu felt warmed by her considerate gesture but still complained, “You’re still laughing. Shouldn’t you manage your betrothal gift?”
Xiao Muyu was stunned for a moment but then replied calmly, “Things resemble their owner. If the betrothal gift you gave isn’t well-behaved, how can you blame me?”
Shen Qingqiu glanced at Tong Lin and raised her eyebrows, “Alright, we’re back now. You’ve worked hard guarding the house. Go rest. Also, change your habit and walk properly, got it?”
Tong Lin looked at her feet and nodded blankly. Walking was tiring, but she feared Shen Qingqiu deeply. Reflecting on the night she had foolishly dared to mess with her, she felt nothing but regret.
Tong Lin sensibly turned into a card and landed on the wine cabinet shelf, turning herself over to ensure she wouldn’t see anything inappropriate for a ghost, then quieted down.
Shen Qingqiu, feeling Xiao Muyu’s oblivious teasing, walked up and hugged her from behind, resting her chin on Xiao Muyu’s shoulder, saying happily, “You admit I’m your partner and that she is my betrothal gift to you. So, Muyu, does this mean we’re more than just a couple?”
Xiao Muyu lowered her eyelids to hide her smile, but the curve of her cheeks and lips revealed her mood, “Probably only you would give a ghost as a betrothal gift. I told you if you really did that, you might end up alone because no woman likes a ghost as a gift.”
Shen Qingqiu laughed softly, her voice alluring, as she swayed with Xiao Muyu in her arms, whispering, “Then let’s change it. What if I give myself as the gift? Do you like that?”
Xiao Muyu’s smile froze, her lips pressing together, even her breathing restrained. After a long while, she found her voice, “No one uses themselves as a betrothal gift either.”
“I don’t care about others. I’m asking you, do you want me?”
Author’s Note: What do you think will happen? Also, try to guess what secret card Xiao Shen has that she won’t show anyone, related to the instance. Additionally, do you think Xiao will accept? Haha.
