Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Beijin?

Lin Qin is somewhat worried as X Beijin fell silent for a while now.

Im fine X Beijin comes back to himself, and reflects on his pessimism for a bit. Then, he tells Lin Qin the truth, Im just wondering if the information I have might be wrong. Maybe NE has misled us all.

Misled?

From what I can remember, this door handle acts as nothing more than the data port for new players logging in, which is why Ive never thought about other players logging in.

Of course, I might have just assumed no such data port exist, because none of us could get out.

Lin Qin suggests earnestly, maybe its because someone came in by accident, so the door handle was shoved into the spotlight?

Shoved into the spotlight

X Beijin got amused by Lin Qin, and he says, oh little apple what a miracle you are.

Miracle? Lin Qin tilts his head, confused.

You always show me the good side of things, X Beijin says, Ive always been pretty pessimistic in personality.

Lin Qin immediately says, I can become your optimism.

X Beijin listens, shocked.

Lin Qin says, trust me. We can succeed.

Alright X Beijin says, looking at Lin Qin, from where he stands, and chuckles, repeating the young mans name with a more gravelly tone, Lin Qin

What is it?

I love you, says X Beijin.

Lin Qin freezes in place.

Then, he erupts in joy, shouting, I heard it! No, no wait, I didnt, what did you say? Can you repeat it, Beijin Just once? Ill definitely hear it clearly this time.

X Beijin, amused and speechless, asks, do you want me to record it so you can hear?

Lin Qin answers, oh nice! Do it, record it!

X Beijin

He wont record it even if his life is on the line! Dream on, Lin Qin!

So Lin Qin has to, sadly, keep his delusions to himself.

Hes also quietly mumbling inside, why cant he just you know, record? X Beijin said it himself. He just wants to listen to it again and again but never mind. He knows better than to piss his Beijin off, and sadly abandons his plan.

X Beijin, still amused and sounding a little agitated, has to change the topic like nothings out of the ordinary, and he says, Ill be coming back down now.

Lin Qin grumbles, oh, and then thinks about it, then realises he has a question, how do you get down? Will it be dangerous when you come down?

Hes always most concerned about X Beijins safety.

Dont worry, there wont be any danger.

Lin Qin furrows his brows, still sounding unconvinced, how are you going to descend? Floor by floor?

X Beijin says, kind of. I have to come back down with this control panel through every floor, so it might take some time.

Lin Qin wonders aloud, with the control panel?

I can only pass freely around in the Tower when I have NEs temporary authority, explains X Beijin, not just with my identity. And also, this control panel itself, contains a data port.

Lin Qin gets it now.

It isnt surprising to him that the control panel is a data port, because NEs own existence has straddled between both reality and the game itself, so the control panel, a manifestation of its authorities, is naturally a data port between them.

A data port for management instructions of this game.

So instead, Lin Qin is curious about the remaining data ports. They already have three, dont they?

Theres just one left, X Beijin says, a data port handling log out, that is between the Tower and the grey fog.

Logging in, logging out, updating, and managing. These are the four data ports X Beijin needed Lin Qin to find together with him.

Of course, X Beijin is calling them that, but that doesnt mean theyre the sole functions served by each respective data port. For example, the data port for updates, which is the Update Log in X Beijins bookstore, also serves as a point of surveillance and, if need be, management for the Fyecas.

NE, the Server, is in charge of updating and debugging the game, but he also has to report to the Fyecas; the management data port he has, represents only his control over the game.

That aside, without NEs authority, X Beijin could not have isolated all of these data ports, especially the data port for logging in, whose location is only documented on the control panel.

As for the data port for logging out

Lin Qin asks, it is in the buffer zone between the grey fog and the Tower? Then why cant we do it like we did the door handle? You can tell me where it is, and Ill get it Must you come down?

X Beijin answers, we can only find it if I come back down, because it depends on the control panel, and also the door handle in your hands.

Lin Qin understands not the principles behind it, but he wont ask about that. Nor about what these data ports are good or, and why they have to look for them.

He has full, complete trust in X Beijin.

Meanwhile, he is also still worried about X Beijins body, are you alright coming back down from the top floor of the Tower? Do you feel tired?

X Beijin

Its just walking downstairs. What, does Lin Qin think hes made of glass? And hed shatter on impact?

Speechless, he says, Im fine.

Lin Qin is still insistent, though, saying, youre also carrying that control panel thing with you can you really do it?

X Beijin

Lin Qin, do you think hes utterly devoid of muscle strength? Also, men can never say theycan't do it!

X Beijin is holding his forehead already, saying, the control panel is weightless Its true.

Lin Qin is still dissatisfied, but hes placated for now.

X Beijin thinks Lin Qin is a bit too paranoid about him, but, he does have justification.

It is, of course, still X Beijin whose body was visibly beset by problems in these few days.

So there is nothing he can do but continue chatting with Lin Qin for a bit to reassure him some more. Then, he gives his temporary partings, and stands up, walking outside. The control panel automatically shrinks to a small block that floats by his shoulders.

On the top floor of the Tower, X Beijin had set aside a small area as a room for himself, opening a window there as well.

As he leaves, the room turns back into what it originally was.

NE is still sleeping. The brightness in the room increases and decreases rhythmically, like how a living person breathes.

X Beijin stands there, watching for a moment, before coldly smiling and quietly says to himself, I wish that, after I leave, I will never have to come back ever again and you are also no longer here.

X Beijin takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment.