Transmigrated into a Trashy A and Ended Up with My Grudge-filled Best Friend and My Own CP - Chapter 27

“Oh? Then where is he?”

Ding Moyan replied calmly, “There’s a black-and-white photo hanging above the headboard of the master bed. The person in the frame is him.”

“Huh?” Ye Ye blinked in surprise.

She hadn’t even considered the photo frame above the master bed. Just as Ye Ye was about to speak, a deafening explosion erupted from the front door, sparks flying as flames burst forth.

“Ding Moyan! It’s on fire over there!” Ye Ye’s gaze snapped to the door in the middle of the wall not far away. Her heart clenched, and she quickened her pace.

With a loud boom, the wall cracked, bricks collapsed, and the surrounding area instantly turned into a sea of fire. Two figures crashed into each other, tumbling out of the doorway.

Ding Bai got up from Yu Sisi.

Yu Sisi knelt on the floor, panting heavily, still shaken. “Holy shit,” she muttered.

She couldn’t help but feel relieved that she’d reacted quickly any delay, and she would’ve ended up like the rest of the room.

“This, this…” Wang Ye was stunned. She had followed Yu Sisi in a mad dash, but the moment she moved, flames suddenly erupted beside her arm.

The raging fire stopped at the doorway, the scorched and blackened door still radiating heat. Ding Bai panted lightly as she stared at the master bedroom door.

The flames crackled inside for two full minutes before finally dying down. Then, before their eyes, the room restored itself.

The charred door returned to its original state.

“What happened to you guys?” Ye Ye approached from a distance, relieved to see them unharmed.

She raised an eyebrow, taking in the disheveled state of the three before her.

Yu Sisi sprawled on the floor, exhausted from dodging the collapsing walls. “It just suddenly caught fire inside for no reason.”

Ding Bai dusted herself off calmly, deliberately ignoring Ding Moyan, who annoyed her. She turned to Ye Ye. “Shen Changle was burned to death in this room while he was still alive.”

Ye Ye’s expression darkened. “And?”

“He’s trapped here, reliving the agony of being burned alive over and over.” Ding Bai curled her lips disdainfully. “You’ve seen that photo, haven’t you? Shouldn’t it be obvious?”

Photo?

Ye Ye recalled the adoption photo but didn’t see how it connected to what Ding Bai was saying.

“Ouroboros, an endless cycle, rebirth, but also a symbol of greed and evil. That’s the clue Shen Changle left for us.”

Ding Moyan stepped forward, her words prompting Ye Ye to remember the background of the photo and the snake’s symbolism.

Ding Bai wasn’t surprised that Ding Moyan had figured it out. She let out a low “hmph” in response.

The door had fully restored itself, the handle cool to the touch nothing like the blazing inferno from moments ago.

Ding Moyan pushed the door open. Inside, the furnishings remained untouched, as if nothing had happened. She walked to the drawer where the photo and adoption certificate still lay.

Ye Ye reached for the photo but suddenly froze. Sticky blood coated her fingers fresh, wet stains now covered the back of the photo, where a new line of text had appeared.

It read:

Please end my suffering.

“H-he wrote this,” Yu Sisi stammered, biting her lower lip in fear.

Ding Moyan nodded, her gaze shifting to the black-and-white photo on the wall above the bed.

“What were you doing right before the fire started?” Ding Moyan asked.

Yu Sisi shook her head. “Doing what? Nothing, really.”

“I touched the bedside, the photo on the bedside,” Wang Ye spoke slowly. “I wanted to see if there was anything written on the back of that photo, so I touched it. I didn’t take it down.”

“That makes sense. Normally, a fire wouldn’t start without reason. You must have triggered something critical,” Ye Ye said, tucking the adoption certificate and photo back in place. She tilted her head slightly, it seemed the puzzle of this scenario was nearly solved. “Since this photo frame contains the owner of the villa, rescuing him should crack the script.”

“But Mo Yan’s task is to kill the Hanged Woman in Red, right? What does that have to do with saving the villa owner?” Yu Sisi understood the information Ye Ye and the others had gathered, but she couldn’t see the connection between rescuing the villa owner and completing Ding Moyan’s mission.

Ye Ye glanced at the official game notification reminding them of the time limit and pursed her lips before answering. “First, we don’t even know who the Hanged Woman in Red is. Second, we’re running out of time. And who would know this villa best? Obviously, its owner.”

[Nationwide Escape Official Notice: Player Ding Moyan, your remaining time is halfway over.]

[Please be mindful of the time.]

[Exceeding the time limit will result in automatic removal from the game.]

Ding Moyan received the same notification. She frowned her personal task alone had already consumed nearly half the allotted time. They couldn’t afford further delays.

“Step outside the door first. I’ll take down the photo frame,” Ding Moyan instructed.

As an Alpha, her physical agility was the best among them. Having her retrieve it was the most efficient solution.

Wang Ye’s face darkened with worry, clearly dissatisfied with the arrangement. “Let me do it.”

“You can’t.”

Ding Moyan wasn’t wrong. Earlier, while escaping with Yu Sisi, Wang Ye had already expended much of his stamina. If he tried now, he might not even make it halfway before being trapped in the flames.

Ye Ye nodded silently. She wanted to help, but forcing her way into the task of retrieving the frame might only become a burden if the fire intensified.

She knew her own physical abilities couldn’t match the innate strength of an Alpha.

Once the others had retreated to the safety of the doorway, Ding Moyan stepped onto the bed and yanked the photo frame from the wall with both hands.

Boom!

The door slammed shut.

Flames engulfed the entire room like a savage beast opening its maw to devour everything.

The scorching heat forced sweat to pour down Ding Moyan’s back. Even though she had taken precautions, dousing herself in cold water, her arms still suffered multiple burns.

The dazzling fire rapidly ate away at her delicate skin, sizzling audibly. The stifling air carried the nauseating scent of searing flesh, making Ding Moyan gag.

The excruciating pain in her arms brought tears to her eyes.

Damn, this hurts.

She cursed inwardly as she clutched the massive frame and ran forward. After a few steps, the smoke made it hard to breathe.

Ding Moyan coughed violently, and suddenly, the frame in her arms grew unbearably heavy, forcing her to drag it with all her might.

The relentless flames coiled around her, growing fiercer, determined to block her path.

The agony of being burned alive was unbearable.

The shadow of death loomed in Ding Moyan’s mind, her instincts screaming at her to let go.

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