In the world of anime with the power to stop time.

Chapter 029: Lin Ye's Gentle Kindness

Lin Ye had a noble character

Kind and gentle.

On the surface, he appeared aloof, but in truth, he was a genuinely good person who helped others in his unique way. Even when faced with Taisuke is "betrayal," he still responded with grace and kindness.

Someone with such a character… If she were to make a request, Kuroda Hikaru believed Lin Ye would not refuse her.

Because that was just the kind of gentle person Lin Ye was.

However,

No.

She couldn't do that.

Kuroda Hikaru rejected the thought.

Rather than forcing everyone to take on unnecessary risks, it was better for her idea to never surface in the first place.

From the very beginning, Lin Ye didn't owe Taisuke anything. If anything, it was Taisuke who owed Lin Ye!

"Whew…"

With a slow exhale,

Kuroda Hikaru completely extinguished that thought from her mind.

Respecting Taisuke is choices and fate this was Kuroda Hikaru's decision.

That peculiar fondness she had felt for Taisuke at some point had now completely vanished.

The lingering image of him in her heart was gone, replaced by something else entirely…

Kuroda Hikaru's eyes now reflected Lin Ye's figure.

"How wonderful!"

She turned to glance at Hoshino Ai. Only someone as beautiful as Hoshino Ai could be worthy of Lin Ye-kun, she thought.

In Sakakino Academy, only girls like Katsura Kotonoha or Sekai Saionji could match him. And as for herself…

She sighed inwardly.

Lin Ye noticed the subtle changes in Kuroda Hikaru's demeanor. Given the close distance between them, it was all too easy for him to pick up on the girl's emotions.

A strange feeling of being entangled in a love triangle surfaced within him.

If his memory served correctly, in the original work, Kuroda Hikaru had feelings for Taisuke. Whether that remained true in this two-dimensional reality, he wasn't sure.

But if it was true, then this…

Lin Ye couldn't help but glance at Kuroda Hikaru a couple more times. This slight attention caused the sensitive girl to instinctively turn her head and avert her gaze, her cheeks flushing and her ears burning.

Of course, Hoshino Ai couldn't miss such a development!

She was annoyed.

Pouting, she expressed her displeasure internally:

This is my fan, the man who confessed his love for me. Stop coveting him!

"Well, since we're already on the topic, let me explain a few more points," Lin Ye said, as if to shift focus and, perhaps, to provide the two girls with additional information.

"Single bed rooms cannot be used; they must be reassigned, and this is also related to pollution. When I checked inside, I found that the number under the clock time was 100. This means that by 10 p.m., anyone in a Single bed room will face 100% pollution," Lin Ye explained.

"As for Miho and Tanaka Ichiro, the primary reason for their transformation into anomalies is likely because they did something that they shouldn't have, which caused their pollution levels to skyrocket."

Kuroda Hikaru looked puzzled, completely unsure what "something they shouldn't have done" referred to.

She looked to Hoshino Ai for help.

Hoshino Ai tried hinting several times, but when it didn't work, she reluctantly leaned in close to Hikaru and whispered an explanation.

Kuroda Hikaru's ears turned even redder with embarrassment.

"Lin Ye-kun, I have another question. Pollution levels rise in the rooms, but what about the hallways and the lobby on the first floor?"

"There are clocks there as well, and the numbers do increase. However, I've concluded that in those areas, the pollution levels aren't tied to the number of people but rather increase steadily with time. By 6 a.m., those areas will also reach 100."

"Then can't we just stay in the hallway for a while maybe until 2 or 3 a.m. before returning to our rooms? That way, the pollution levels in our space won't reach 100 before 6 a.m.," Hoshino Ai suggested.

She did some quick calculations and thought it seemed highly feasible. Based on their current understanding, their bodies' pollution levels appeared to correspond to the highest level of the space they occupied. As long as the levels didn't hit 100 before 6 a.m., they should be safe.

"It's feasible, but do you dare stay in the hallway from the beginning?"

Hoshino Ai vigorously shook her head.

No, absolutely not.

Neither the female receptionist nor the cleaning lady was someone she felt comfortable confronting directly.

Without Lin Ye, she would have hidden in her room and never dared to leave.

"There must be more than one way to clear this game, but regardless of the method, understanding the hotel's operating rules is essential," Lin Ye said.

Whether it was deciphering the numbers representing pollution levels, discovering the effects of the shower water, or risking asking the dangerous receptionist for help, it all required careful observation, bold experimentation, and courage to gamble on uncertain outcomes.

None of these could be lacking.

"Alright, that's about enough for now," Lin Ye concluded.

There were additional details he chose not to share, such as the fact that pollution levels in a room only reset to zero after the cleaning staff completed their task and closed the door.

This related to his time-stopping ability, which made it difficult to explain where his information came from.

So it was better to leave it unsaid.

"Let's rest for now."

"Afterward, we'll change rooms, and by 6 a.m., we'll head to the lobby to check out and leave this place."

At that moment, both girls smiled with hope.

But Lin Ye hadn't forgotten that there was one more rule from the "Check-In Guidelines" that hadn't come into play yet.

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