Su Lingyan was just about to ask another question when Hank suddenly rushed forward and demanded sharply, “You know something, don’t you?”

Mr. Williams merely looked at Hank with a sorrowful expression before saying, “This is a curse. A curse upon both of you.”

“I don’t care what curse it is—tell me how to save Tina!” Hank shouted emotionally.

“Aren’t you going to wind up the music box? You’re about to lose your chance to save your wife,” Mr. Williams said calmly.

Hank froze for a moment before immediately running over to grab the music box and start winding it.

What a shame. I wanted to ask a few more questions.

Su Lingyan watched time rewind once again as she thought to herself, then took a photo with her phone.

But that’s fine. There’s still someone else she can ask.

Wait… the sound of the music box seems quieter now.

Same location, same mission. This time, Su Lingyan didn’t go looking for Hank. Instead, she walked into a narrow alley.

“If he came from that direction… and there was a floral scent…”

Muttering to herself, she passed through the alley and looked around until she spotted a flower shop.

“Found you.”

Standing in front of the flower shop was a man with emerald-green eyes.

“Sir.”

Su Lingyan held up the photo on her phone. “Can you tell me anything about this music box?”

The man raised his emerald eyes, glanced at the photo, and said, “It’s a cursed music box. I advise you not to get involved.”

“But the dungeon requires it.” Su Lingyan shrugged.

“I don’t understand what you mean. I only know that much.” The man turned to leave.

Already expecting that reaction, Su Lingyan grabbed his wrist with astonishing strength.

“I have some questions for you,” she said.

“There’s nothing to answer.” The man had to pull three times before finally freeing his hand.

“But I’m already involved,” Su Lingyan replied.

“What?” The man turned back.

“This is the fourteenth loop,” Su Lingyan said.

“The fourteenth… wait, fourteen times?” A trace of confusion flashed through his eyes.

“What’s wrong? Did you think it hadn’t happened that many times?” 

“No, that’s not it.” The man tried hard to keep his expression calm.

“Oh, your reaction… so you know my actual loop count is less than fourteen?”

“...”

The man fully turned toward her and studied the woman in front of him carefully.

“…What do you want to ask?” he said helplessly.

As expected. He definitely knew something the players could obtain.

“The music box. Who cursed it? What’s the nature of the curse? And how do we break it?” Su Lingyan asked.

The man: “...”

Why don’t you just ask how to clear the dungeon while you’re at it?

“What do you know so far?” the man asked instead.

“One person is guaranteed to die, right?” Su Lingyan said.

“Yeah. One person must die.” The man nodded.

Su Lingyan stared at him silently. When the man began to feel uncomfortable under her gaze, she smiled.

“I see. Then my guess was correct.”

“What did you figure out?” the man asked.

“It’s like the chicken-and-egg paradox. Between Hank and Tina, who started it first?” Su Lingyan placed a hand under her chin in thought.

“What? How did you—” The man stopped himself midway.

“You seem easy to trick. Well then, that confirms my theory.” Su Lingyan smiled. “Looks like this is an infinite loop. So what exactly is this curse? A music box that can rewind time sounds more like a blessing.”

“That’s true. But every family that has possessed this music box has suffered misfortune. That’s why I call it cursed.”

Is that really all there is to it? It feels more complicated than that.

The man continued, “According to legend, the music box was created by an evil witch. It’s nearly impossible to destroy. The witch feeds on negative emotions, though her current whereabouts are unknown. That’s everything I know. Also, I’m not part of the loop.”

“So we need to find the witch…” Su Lingyan murmured thoughtfully.

The man took out something that looked like a tree branch.

“This might help you.”

It was now 11:25. She needed to find Hank and Tina.

Su Lingyan quickly arrived at the mansion. Eight minutes had already passed, and she saw Hank speaking to the butler with a troubled expression.

“My parents are collectors too, so I wanted to ask Mr. Williams for advice,” he said, using the exact same excuse Su Lingyan had used before.

Su Lingyan: “...”

He learns fast.

Still, she was probably about to do something rather cruel to verify her theory.

Just like last time, the butler went to ask Mr. Williams before inviting them inside.

“Zerion? Why are you only showing up now?” Hank noticed Su Lingyan standing a short distance away.

“I went to ask a few questions.” Su Lingyan walked forward, ignored the butler’s attempt to stop her, and naturally followed Hank and Tina into the mansion. Then, in the entrance hall, she grabbed Hank’s arm.

“I think I may have figured out a way to save Mrs. Tina,” she said.

Hank froze. Then an ecstatic light flashed through his eyes.

“Really? What is it?”

“Are you willing to give up everything?” Su Lingyan asked.

“Of course. No matter the cost.” Hank’s expression was resolute.

“Looking back at the first three loops: in the first, Tina bought you a novel and walked down the road you were supposed to take. In the second, she pushed you away and took the hit herself. In the third, she switched places with you—otherwise, you would’ve been the one crushed by the chandelier.”

Su Lingyan summarized the events of the first three loops.

Hank’s expression shifted repeatedly before Su Lingyan delivered her conclusion:

“The one who was originally meant to die… was you. And your wife has been saving you again and again.”