Chapter 2788: Wish You Success
Experiencing major trauma can indeed trigger dissociative identity disorder, but it's rare for someone to split into over a dozen personalities at once. And according to Ms. Ruo, she absorbed the traits of people she had met to form her new personalities. In a sense, she had lost her core identity—her secondary personalities were based on others, more like parasites inhabiting her.
"No wonder your personality switches are so fast," Xu Huo said. "Is the original personality still alive?"
"She's dead." Ms. Ruo said with some melancholy. "My mom and dad couldn't stand staying inside my body. They wanted to kill their own daughter, so she took them down with her."
"The life-saving benefactor who died was your original personality." Xu Huo paused. "Why did you lie to that one personality?"
Ms. Ruo lifted her eyelids to glance at him. "Don't you already know?"
"Even though we have so many siblings, not every one of them can bravely accept themselves. We've already lost Mom, Dad, and Big Sister. We don't want to lose her too."
"And you? How many siblings do you have?"
"One older brother, one younger brother," Xu Huo replied.
Ms. Ruo looked intrigued. "Then call them out so I can see them."
Xu Huo smiled. "They're not here."
Ms. Ruo tilted her head to look at him. "Are your brothers that hard to show to others?"
"There's only me in my body," Xu Huo said. "You forgot—I told you I studied psychology, so I understand your situation."
Ms. Ruo didn't believe him. "You're all full of lies."
Xu Huo shifted slightly, propping his chin on one hand, and said, "It's not really a lie. Our situations are completely different."
Ms. Ruo narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. "Deceiving others is one thing, but deceiving yourself does no good. You can't accept who you used to be, so you created brothers. They bear your suffering so you can feel better now, yet you won't even acknowledge them."
"If I were your brother, I'd be very hurt."
Xu Huo let out a faint sigh. "That kind of persuasion won't work on me... But you—don't you think it's too cramped with so many siblings squeezed in together? The original personality and the parents who symbolized authority are already dead. The rest of the siblings are equals. How much time does each of you get to come out every day? Can you freely do the things you love?"
Ms. Ruo gave a light laugh, the corners of her mouth twitching as if several similar faces with subtly different emotions flashed across her own. "You want to sow discord among us siblings? You can't do it."
"If you were really that harmonious, why would you hide the truth from that one personality?" Xu Huo asked.
"Aren't you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?" Ms. Ruo lay back down. "I need to rest."
Xu Huo tactfully stood up to leave. "I'll come again tomorrow."
Ms. Ruo didn't respond.
As he walked out of Whale Garden, Xu Huo spotted enforcement team members stationed nearby from a distance. Probably because no casualties had occurred, they didn't bother him and let him leave. But on his way back to the hotel, he ran into Gong Ying again.
Gong Ying clearly knew about the battle under the lake earlier. Now, seeing Xu Huo, she had lost her earlier glibness and took the initiative to say, "The souvenir I need to clear the instance is a cherished item gifted by Ms. Ruo. I think we can cooperate."
"What's in it for me?" Xu Huo said. "You might not even get past the gate of Whale Garden tomorrow."
"Come on," Gong Ying smiled. "You might not get in either."
"Honestly, you're terrible at conversation. Whatever you need, you have to win Ms. Ruo over first. With your strength, if you could just take it by force, you'd have done it already. The fact that you haven't means it won't work."
"You've got strength, I'm good at communication. I can help you probe around a bit."
Listening to her, Xu Huo stepped into a nearby gift shop again. This time, he stood in front of a cabinet and picked out a travel journal and a pen.
"You're still giving gifts?" Gong Ying was puzzled. "I don't think any gift will matter to Ms. Ruo. Especially giving things—it's better to invite her for a walk. At least then the scenery she sees stays in place."
Xu Huo turned around and picked out a gem hairpin and a blanket.
Gong Ying didn't know what he was up to, but that didn't stop her from using her strengths to make recommendations. She considered herself quite experienced in gift-giving.
"Men or women, there's no one in this world who doesn't like beautiful things. Whether you're dating or making friends, your eyes have to be satisfied first. Gifts are the same—appearance far outweighs practicality. Making something pleasing to the eye is the most important thing."
"Do you have a lover?" Xu Huo interrupted her.
Gong Ying raised an eyebrow. "I've got more girlfriends and boyfriends than I can count on both hands."
"Has anyone ever truly liked you?" Xu Huo pressed on. "Appearance over practicality—are you the ornamental type or the practical type?"
That hit a sore spot for Gong Ying. Her expression visibly flared with anger, but meeting Xu Huo's gaze, she instantly calmed down. "You don't like my theory, fine. No need for personal attacks. If you don't like it, plenty of others will."
"You've seen Ms. Ruo twice. What do you think she prefers?" Xu Huo redirected the question.
"Ms. Ruo is a beauty. Even a fool can tell she's had a hard life. She talks about going with the flow, but that's just a reflection of her experiences. She doesn't like seeing others develop possessiveness over beautiful things, so no matter how pretty the gift, it won't win her over. Instead, inviting her to see the scenery or take a walk might actually please her."
Gong Ying's eyes grew dreamy as she spoke. "If she agreed to be my girlfriend, I'd stay faithful for life and never be unfaithful again."
Xu Huo couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Pursuing beautiful people—no need to mock me for it," Gong Ying said. "Aren't you tempted?"
"Wish you success," Xu Huo said.
Gong Ying felt deflated and steered the conversation back. "Shall we act together tomorrow?"
Xu Huo figured having her around might prevent awkward silences, so he agreed.
The next day, when they went to Whale Garden together, they were stopped from a distance. Several players in similar outfits blocked their path. "Ms. Ruo isn't seeing guests today."
"You say she's not seeing guests? Did you ask her?" Gong Ying sneered.
The group didn't waste words—they just blocked them.
Xu Huo stopped Gong Ying, who was about to force her way through, and waited outside for a while. Soon, someone came out of Whale Garden. At the front was a young man dressed flashily, followed by two other players. He looked displeased as he walked out, and when he passed Xu Huo and Gong Ying, he clearly took his anger out on them.
"Anyone can loiter around Whale Garden. You two—stay here. No outsiders are allowed into Whale Garden."