Masked Fame, Unseen Danger

Ethan stared at Wang Zi Chen's phone, his eyes scanning the top trending threads on the Apocalypse Online player forum.

#1 Catastrophe-Class Apocalypse Conquered: A New Era Begins 

#2 Who is Ethan? 

#3 Global Players Receive Revival Coins for the First Time 

#4 Bureau Director Murong Xin'er... Just a Supporter?

His name was right there on the second line.

Not a codename. Not a title. His actual name.

His stomach twisted.

If the Sanctified Ones were watching—and they probably were—they wouldn't need another reason to come for him now.

"Am I exposed?" he asked quietly, still looking at the screen.

Lin Yiwan shook her head. "No. Only a few people know it's you. Your identity's still secure. For now."

He let out a breath, but the unease in his gut remained. "For now" wasn't exactly comforting.

"Ethan" wasn't the rarest name in Huaxia, sure. But in the player community, it wouldn't take much for someone to connect the dots—too many coincidences.

And now? The entire global player base was asking the same question: Who is Ethan?

Thanks, system. Subtle.

But it wasn't just the system.

Ethan didn't realize that Murong Xin'er had pulled some strings. As the director of the Huaxia Apocalypse Bureau, she ensured that the news about the Deep Sea scenario's resolution went public—with just enough hints to link it back to him. At first glance, it seemed like he was a Bureau member, someone with official support. Powerful. Connected.

In truth, she had turned his fame into a tool. If his name was already out there, she'd make sure it served Huaxia's interests.

Now the world viewed "Ethan" as a figure so dangerous that even Murong Xin'er was just supporting him.

Not that Ethan had a clue.

A buzz in his pocket interrupted the moment.

He checked the caller ID. Mom.

He moved aside to answer.

"Hey, Mom."

"When are you coming back to school?" she asked. Her voice sounded a bit raspy but it was stronger than it had been in days.

"I was going to wait until you were fully better," he replied gently. "Didn't want to leave while you were still recovering."

"Ethan, come on. That friend of yours has some connections. The medicine they gave me? It's like a miracle. I feel better every single day."

He smiled faintly. Of course she did. The illness had been wiped out by a healing-type player. The "medicine" was just vitamins.

"Glad to hear it," he said. "I've got a flight this afternoon. Should be back on campus tonight."

With the next apocalypse launching in less than a week, he planned to return before Saturday. He wanted to reconnect with John and Wang, maybe plan for what was ahead. Assuming it wasn't the vision that haunted him.

The knife. The city. The look in that man's eyes.

Ethan still didn't know if that vision showed an in-game death—or something worse. Something real.

He pushed the thought aside.

After hanging up, he shared his plan with Wang. Lin Yiwan would come with him, of course—her role was protection, and she wasn't about to let him out of her sight.

Wang seemed eager to join them for a weekend in Ganshui, but John had other ideas. He called just as they were packing, insisting that Wang come with him to the outskirts for skill testing and "real training" in his new panda warlord form.

Wang sighed and waved them off. "Go enjoy your school reunion or whatever. I'll catch up on Saturday."

After a quiet lunch with Lin at a small countryside restaurant, Ethan boarded the plane back to Ganshui.

Lin lived near campus. Her family had roots in the city, and her younger brother studied nearby. She walked him to the dorm gates and waved him off with a rare smile. Ethan dismissed her for the day. He couldn't exactly bring a personal bodyguard to every class.

With luggage in tow, he approached his dorm room, expecting peace.

What he got was an ambush.

Three of his roommates pounced the second he opened the door.

"Alright, spill it!" one of them demanded. "Who's the goddess in the black stockings, and how the hell did you land her?"

Ethan blinked. "What… are you talking about?"

Another roommate waved a phone in his face. Onscreen was a photo—candid, slightly blurry, taken from behind. Ethan and Lin walked side by side, her long legs in black tights and his face partially visible.

"You didn't even check the dorm chat, did you?" the guy laughed. "You've been trending, bro."

Ethan groaned. "You've gotta be kidding me. Someone was spying on us?"

"Don't act innocent," said the third roommate. "You owe us milk tea for the deception."

"I want mango sago," added another.

He laughed despite himself. "Fine. No milk tea. How about hot pot? My treat."

All three stared at him.

"You're serious?"

"You hit the jackpot."

"Don't tell me—did you get a rich girlfriend?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "No one got anyone. She's not my girlfriend."

They didn't believe him. Of course, they didn't.

They helped him unpack like loyal followers and dragged him out for a feast. After dinner, he bought them all drinks too.

"C'mon, Ethan," one nudged. "When do we get to meet your mystery girl?"

"I told you, we're not a thing," Ethan said. Then he added dryly, "But if you want to, just be ready for her little brother to come after you."

While Ethan endured the wild imaginations of his roommates, Lin Yiwan returned home. Tired, she peeled off her stockings and collapsed onto her bed.

Knock knock knock!

"Open up!"

The voice outside was her younger brother's—Lin Yujia. And he sounded angry.

She frowned and swung the door open, legs bare, her face puzzled.

He didn't waste any time.

"Were you with that guy—Ethan—these last few days?!"

Her eyes widened.

"...How do you know that name?"