Bai Lixin writes first
The system’s voice fades. Ahead, the sanatorium’s iron gate creaks open by itself, and somewhere inside a gurney rolls slowly across tile. The other players are already backing away. The young man beside you, tall and absurdly beautiful, flaxen hair catching the lamplight, is still wearing silk pajamas. He covers a yawn.
“S-rank,” he murmurs, in a soft, husky voice like a cat that has just been woken. “Of course. My luck rating is F-minus. I apologize in advance; this is probably my fault.”
His dark eyes sweep the courtyard once, lazily, and stop on three things you hadn’t noticed: a clock with no hands, a nurse’s shoe set neatly by the steps, a curtain drawn from the outside of a window.
“Bai Lixin. Compound surname Bai Li, single name Xin. The Xin of King Zhou, Di Xin.” He offers you his arm with perfect, drowsy courtesy. “Word of advice: don’t touch the shoe. Shall we go in together? I’m told I’m good company for staying alive.”