Today, I Have Yet to Become a Doll

Bai Youwei suddenly faltered, leaving Shen Mo to continue leading the group.

He turned, surveying their surroundings. The shop was a restaurant, with a cash register near the entrance and numerous tables and chairs scattered inside. Decorative paintings hung on the walls, but everything had become fleshy. All of it—transformed into a bloody, crimson mess. Even the air was thick with the salty, raw stench of meat. He had rushed out earlier, hastily placing Bai Youwei on a chair covered in meaty lumps. Judging by her current complexion, she was likely terrified.

Tan Xiao, curious, also pulled out a chair, touching it and tentatively sitting down, his expression shifting subtly. "…It feels a bit like sitting on someone's lap," he muttered, rising uncomfortably and not lingering on the chair.

Cheng Wei was more concerned with Shen Mo's abrupt exit. "What was that thing that crawled past? Was it aggressive?"

Shen Mo calmly shook his head. "I'm not sure yet, but it actively attacked those small monsters. It devoured all the dozens near the bus stop. This thing seems to have a huge appetite." He paused briefly, then added, "It seems to grow larger after feeding."

"It grows larger?" Tan Xiao's face contorted in disgust. "That's the fastest maggot I've ever seen. What will it look like if it gets any bigger?"

"Don't…" Bai Youwei gritted her teeth, nausea prickling every pore on her skin.

Seeing her state, Shen Mo felt both helpless and slightly amused. He reassured the group, "Whatever it is, let's discuss our options. Do we stick to the original plan of searching for the main organs, or do we try to figure out what that monster is first?" After all, they wouldn't always be lucky enough to have a hiding place nearby. If they couldn't avoid a confrontation next time, did they have the strength to face that giant "snake" head-on?

Teacher Cheng frowned. "Right now, everything is unknown. We don't know how many monsters there are, nor do we know if the monster's movement is random… or if there's a pattern…" As he spoke, both Teacher Cheng and Tan Xiao glanced almost imperceptibly at Bai Youwei.

"Why are you looking at me? I don't know anything!" Bai Youwei felt utterly miserable. She closed her eyes and asked, "Is there any water?"

Shen Mo set down his bag and pulled out a plastic water bottle. It was filled with peppermint and rock sugar water. Bai Youwei took two large gulps, barely managing to suppress her nausea.

"Don't worry," Shen Mo said gently. "We've just arrived. We'll figure things out together. We'll get out of here."

Bai Youwei furrowed her brow, softly acknowledging him with a hum. She took another sip, and thinking about the maze's environment, her brow furrowed even deeper. Deciding to conserve water, she capped the bottle and returned it to Shen Mo.

Just then, a cough echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

Tan Xiao looked at Teacher Cheng, Teacher Cheng looked at Shen Mo, Shen Mo looked at Bai Youwei, and Bai Youwei was simply baffled.

Finally, everyone looked at the youngest, Pan Xiaoxin.

"Do you want some water?" Bai Youwei offered him the bottle.

Pan Xiaoxin shook his hands, embarrassed. "No… It wasn't me coughing."

Everyone froze again, exchanging glances, suspicion tightening their expressions.

Could it be… that someone else was hiding in the room with them?

Shen Mo's brow furrowed as he scanned the surroundings. His gaze finally settled on the restaurant's kitchen. Knife in hand, he slowly walked towards it.

Tan Xiao raised his baseball bat, intending to follow, but Shen Mo stopped him, silently making a "stop" gesture, signaling everyone to stay put.

He continued forward. The kitchen door was on the right side of the restaurant. It was closed, but having transformed into a fleshy mass, it naturally lost its intended security function. The lock was useless.

Shen Mo stopped in front of the door. He reached out, gripping the meaty doorknob, and with a slight push, the door opened.

Author's Note:

Bai Youwei has two candies. The red one is watermelon flavor. What flavor is the green one?

I saw readers answer apple, lemon, grape, kiwi, cantaloupe… Well, those are all normal!

Those who answered watermelon rind, you're on the same wavelength as me. That's the answer I had in mind.

Those who answered candy flavor, sweet flavor, Weiwei flavor, very clever~

Those who answered celery flavor, bitter melon flavor, I don't know what to say…

The student who answered frog flavor, please stay. The microphone is yours. Tell us how you feel, okay?

That's all~

Thank you all for broadening my horizons.

Cough~

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