"The gate should be out too, we can start looking for it now." Chi's voice was tired. "We have to hurry, there aren't many of us left."
"Where are gates usually found?" Lin had no experience in this area.
"They are usually near our residence, not that hard to find." Chi said, "But I've never experienced a world with thirteen people, so... I don't know either."
"Okay." Lin looked at the key in Xiao's hand and thought, at least we have the key.
Ruan didn't seem too excited. She said, "The key, who's going to keep it? I don't trust her with it."
Xiao, challenged, was furious, "What do you mean? Why don't you trust me? Are you saying we can trust you with it?"
Ruan smiled subtly, "This isn't just about me. If you lose the key, we all die inside the gate. Are you sure you want to keep it? Think twice."
Xiao's face went pale then flushed, seemingly about to say something.
But Chi put a hand on her shoulder, "Lin, you take it."
Lin was startled. He didn't expect this responsibility to suddenly fall on him.
He was about to refuse, but Ruan agreed, leaning into Lin's ear and whispering, "Take it."
Lin furrowed his brows, "But I'm entering a gate for the first time, I have no experience..."
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"It's okay." Chi said, "We trust you."
"Alright then." Lin agreed.
He reached out to take the key, examined it carefully.
If he didn't say anything, it was just a normal bronze key to him.
Chi suggested they eat something first as they were all tired from last night, then discuss the gate's location.
Lin agreed.
So Chi and Xiao went to the kitchen to cook, while Lin and Ruan stayed in the living room to watch over Cheng.
"Why did they give the key to me?" Lin still couldn't understand.
"Because it's not a good thing to have." Ruan said, "Those who have it, die quickly." She smiled, and tapped Lin's forehead with a finger, "Of course, don't worry."
Lin: "Huh?"
Ruan suddenly lowered her head and lightly bit Lin's earlobe.
She whispered, "I found the gate."
Lin's eyes widened, "What?"
Ruan: "Shhh, be quiet."
Lin quickly quieted down, whispering, "What did you say? You found the gate?"
"Yeah." Ruan smiled.
She seemed to have developed a keen interest in Lin's ear, her finger tracing along it, making him itchy, "Want to know where it is?"
If it was any other day, Lin would have been completely focused on Ruan's hand playing with his ear, but what she said was so shocking that it distracted him.
"You know where it is, why didn't you say it? Ah?"
A sudden stinging pain on his earlobe made Lin gasp.
"What are you doing?" He reached out to touch it and found that Ruan had forcefully pierced his right ear with a stud.
"Nothing." Ruan looked innocent, "I thought you would look nice with this earring."
Lin, touched by the earring, was stunned for a moment, not sure whether to chase the gate or the earring.
Before he had a chance to react, Ruan continued, "The gate is very close to us, we can go back tonight."
"What about Xiao and Chi?" Lin asked.
"They?" Ruan didn't seem to like those two, "We'll see how I feel."
Lin said, "If possible... bring them along."
Xiao was irritable, but Chi treated them well.
Plus they had experienced so much together.
"You're so kind." Ruan said, "But that's what I like about you."
Lin felt a little embarrassed at her words.
He said, "Don't tease me."
Ruan just smiled and didn't say anything.
After that interruption, Lin completely forgot about the earring.