The two of them were so engrossed in the kiss that neither noticed when someone else entered the room.

Even someone as vigilant as Song Qinglan completely failed to notice.

There was no need to say it—Song Qinglan could guess what this Ji Yushi thought he had just been doing.

First, he pinned someone against the wall without saying a word, then held down the person’s hands to keep them from moving, and the next step was to go in for a kiss. Perhaps fearing that someone might catch them in the act, he controlled the other person and pushed them into a room, where not only did he force a kiss, but also touched them inappropriately, making the other person cry and moan in pain…

Then, considering Ji Yushi’s suspicions from earlier in the mission and his question about whether something was wrong…

In short, it all pointed to three words: sexual harassment.

Having asked this question, Song Qinglan, who still bore the “homophobic straight man” label, was suddenly at a loss: “Forget it, I don’t think you’ll believe me anyway.”

Ji Yushi’s expression remained as indifferent as ever as he responded, “Oh? How do you know if you don’t try?”

It sounded reasonable enough.

But judging by Ji Yushi’s expression, it was clear he didn’t believe him at all, and there was a warning of retribution in his eyes.

This was absurd—how could he make the Ji Yushi in front of him believe?

However, just thinking about the current situation brought a slight sense of relief to Song Qinglan’s heart.

At least he was certain that Ji Yushi was indeed in this mission, and even though their loops were out of sync, they would eventually return to their original time together.

Breaking the awkward silence, Song Qinglan said without hesitation, “I’m from the future.”

Ji Yushi’s expression didn’t change.

He was waiting for him to continue “making things up.”

“The Ji Yushi you saw earlier is also from the future,” Song Qinglan continued, now with a touch of nonchalance. “In the future, we’re a couple. In other words, not only did I turn gay, but I also became your boyfriend.”

Ji Yushi: “…”

Song Qinglan took a few steps closer, looking down at him: “Don’t doubt it, I’m really your beloved boyfriend. This is something all of Sky Vault knows, no doubt about it.”

Ji Yushi: “…”

In a resigned manner, Song Qinglan continued, “We’ve actually already completed this mission before. The me you’re seeing now is a different me, and the you you’re seeing is also a different you. For some reason, we got separated and were thrown back into this mission. Maybe it’s because the jump points in time were the same, without any sequence, that our loops in this mission are out of sync. What you saw earlier was just the result of being too excited after a long separation. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder; we were just getting reacquainted.”

Ji Yushi seemed finally shaken by this and asked after a while, “Which future?”

Song Qinglan: “June 25, 1456.”

Ji Yushi: “…”

He’s still making things up.

Feeling that he was almost convincing, Song Qinglan calmly added, “I know it sounds like just a month after we were kidnapped, and it couldn’t have developed that quickly, but it’s really true. If you think about it, you’ll see that what I’m saying is real. We’ve actually known each other for a long time—”

Ji Yushi interrupted him, “Why did we get separated?”

Song Qinglan froze again.

Looking at the fair face and clear eyes in front of him, he couldn’t bring himself to tell the Ji Yushi standing here the reason why they had been separated.

Everything that happened in 1439 had been too cruel.

Whether it was to him or to Ji Yushi.

Just recalling that day made his heart ache so much that he couldn’t even utter a single word.

Ji Yushi waited for a few seconds, then lowered his lashes and used the relatively clean hem of his clothes to wipe the bloodstains off his Diamond Bird.

After silently finishing this task, he looked up again, his expression even more distant than before: “So, you’re saying that both you and another me are from the future, coincidentally fell for each other, coincidentally got separated, and coincidentally ‘returned’ to a mission we already completed.”

He paused, then asked, “Captain Song, in that case, you must know which floor the energy control room is on.”

Song Qinglan was completely speechless.

Even if he knew the energy control room was on the 100th floor, he couldn’t tell this Ji Yushi right now.

Sky Vault’s so-called “overload” referred to creating a large time anchor, after which they would return to their original loop, forming a large loop—like an extra circle. After completing this mission, they had to return together to the same point in time when they were kidnapped. But with their loops currently out of sync, Ji Yushi always belonged to the next loop. Even the slightest paradox would cause the Ji Yushi from the next loop to disappear if the Ji Yushi from the previous loop survived.

Song Qinglan was still uncertain if they could return to their original time together under these circumstances.

So, this mission couldn’t end yet.

He couldn’t reveal the answer now.

“Can’t say?” Ji Yushi didn’t seem to expect an answer, and spoke in a cold tone, “Then let’s break the deadlock first.”

With that, he turned and walked out the door.

It looked like he was trying to maintain the larger mission while suppressing his anger.

With a bang, Ji Yushi pulled the door open, causing it to slam against the wall.

The two of them exited the room one after the other.

Outside, Tang Qi, Tang Le, Li Chun, and the others were gathering towards them. This exploration was going smoother than before—not only had they not been wiped out, but they had also lived longer than in Song Qinglan’s memory, and they could still continue to the next floor.

This was because, as Ji Yushi had previously analyzed, their point on the circle had been extended.

Song Qinglan looked up at the ceiling.

The top of the cylindrical atrium was empty, with only the ropes from the grappling hooks hanging in the air, and no sign of a new loop appearing.

He frowned, understanding a bit more.

If he wanted to see the Ji Yushi from the next loop again, he knew what to do.

The Ji Yushi in front of him had already begun ruthlessly taking out zombies.

Seeing how angry he was, Song Qinglan felt both disappointed and amused.

Could such a short period really make Ji Yushi so repulsed by the current him?

“Consultant Ji,” he called softly.

Ji Yushi stopped, possibly thinking Song Qinglan was about to offer a reasonable explanation or an apology.

But who would have expected Song Qinglan to lower his voice and say something seemingly meant to provoke him: “Thinking it over, I really did force a kiss on you earlier. Too bad it was too short.”

Ji Yushi abruptly turned around, glaring with anger.

At that moment, any effort he had been making to consider the truth of Song Qinglan’s words was thrown aside in his rage.

The teammates were closing in, forming a back-to-back defensive circle.

“Captain Song, nothing found on this floor!”

“Let’s move to the next floor!”

“Damn!! There are a ton of zombies on the next floor!! I’m just going to start blasting them from here!!”

Seeing that neither Ji Yushi nor Song Qinglan were saying anything, Li Chun turned his head, “Captain Song, Consultant Ji, how are you two doing?!”

Still, neither spoke.

Everyone turned to look at each other.

The team’s two key members were locked in a tense, strange atmosphere.

The first to break the silence was Song Qinglan. In front of everyone, he said to Ji Yushi, “Consultant Ji, as long as you let me kiss you again, it would be worth it even if I jumped from here and died.”

Everyone: “???”

What?!

What kind of development is this?!

Ji Yushi remained expressionless: “Oh.”

Everyone then saw Consultant Ji kick Captain Song off the edge.

They were all shocked: “Captain Song!!!”

Ji Yushi calmly took out a pill box.

He popped a pill into his mouth, then calmly put the box back in his pocket, saying to everyone, “Stay alert. Something’s off about this place; we might be experiencing a collective hallucination.”

Everyone: That makes so much sense!