Who Is the Crown Prince

Zhu Yan put the card into his pocket.

Holding the envelope, he stood there, deep in thought.

He and his aunt were in the same instance, but judging from the instance's implicitly sarcastic name, they weren't necessarily on the same side; they were more likely opponents.

Under this premise, it was highly necessary to figure out his aunt's abilities.

The description on Zhu Yan's Ability Card could be cross-referenced with the description of his abilities after integration.

Then, the description on his aunt's Ability Card should work the same way.

"Methods to make others as unfortunate as you" —

This most likely meant that his aunt's complaints would affect the actions of players or horror creatures.

Whoever she complained about would be out of luck!

Zhu Yan continued his train of thought.

He had a Level 3 ability, which could affect at most Level 3 horror creatures.

His aunt's Level 2 ability should affect Level 2 horror creatures and below.

He looked at the time displayed on the nearby delivery locker and realized that he had dallied for about as long as his aunt's patience could endure.

Thus, Zhu Yan stuffed the black envelope into his pocket as well and carried the groceries upstairs.

It was best not to let his aunt see this kind of thing.

With her personality, seeing the Ability Card and badge would only make her fly into a rage and blame everything on Zhu Yan.

When that happened, being punished to kneel on a washboard would be getting off lightly.

If both his physical condition and mindset were affected, how would he face the upcoming instance?

In a matter of life and death, Zhu Yan could not allow himself to suffer such torment.

As for his aunt, after all, she had raised him for over a decade; it would be best if she could survive.

But Zhu Yan could barely protect himself; he wouldn't be foolish enough to actively offer help.

He composed his expression and deliberately stopped in front of the mirror while going upstairs.

Then, he tried to imagine himself turning into his Cousin, his height increasing, his face becoming flatter—

Everything was as simple as eating and drinking, as if this ability were innate.

And the effect was just as immediate!

Zhu Yan watched helplessly as the reflection in the mirror changed; whether it was appearance or aura, he looked exactly like his Cousin!

Holy crap.

Zhu Yan felt like his eyes had been assaulted.

But he had to admit, this was a great ability, and he liked it very much!

If it were all fake, he really would feel a bit disappointed.

With a shift of his will, Zhu Yan watched the person in the mirror slowly return to his familiar self.

He checked his hidden Admission Notice one last time, then entered the apartment as if nothing had happened, ignoring his aunt's irritable glare as he quickly packed his things.

He didn't have many belongings, just a few changes of clothes.

Zhu Yan thought for a moment and shoved his power bank and charger into his backpack as well.

If something were to happen tonight, Zhu Yan didn't think his aunt's or his own luck would be very good.

They both could die.

If Zhu Yan luckily survived, he couldn't stay in this house anymore.

He would leave as soon as the instance ended!

As the sun set in the west, the smell of food spread through the air, filling the entire space.

Approaching six o'clock, plates of delicious-smelling dishes were served on the table.

Sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried peas, hot and sour chicken wings...

Zhu Yan obediently swept the floor, giving his aunt no chance to scold him, while glancing at the time and waiting patiently.

It was already 5:49 PM.

The hands of the old wall clock moved slowly, and Zhu Yan also heard heavy footsteps coming from the corridor.

Just as his aunt brought out the last dish of baby bok choy, there was a rhythmic knock on the security door.

Zhu Yan put the broom away and looked nervously at the door.

"Coming!"

His aunt wiped her hands cheerfully, hurried over, and opened the door.

"Oh my—whose little young master, whose little prince has returned?"

At a time like this, Zhu Yan knew he shouldn't.

But he couldn't resist casting a blank stare at the rather shabby "palace."

He knew it!

"Mom," a slightly hoarse voice reached Zhu Yan's ears.

His Cousin's tall and thin frame squeezed inside, then he looked up and saw Zhu Yan.

His Cousin's expression wasn't overbearing like usual; instead, it was filled with deep fear.

He didn't even bother kicking off his shoes and hurriedly tried to slam the door shut.

However, his aunt stopped him with quick reflexes, a smile plastered on her face.

"Oh baby, your dad is still outside."

She wrapped her arm around his Cousin's shoulder rather forcefully, trying to guide him to the sofa to coax him.

"What's wrong? Are you in a bad mood? Tell Mom about it."

Zhu Yan immediately had a guess.

Judging by this reaction, he had probably received a black envelope too.

A few steps away from him, his Cousin violently broke free from his aunt's grasp.

He rushed over to close the door, but it was already too late—

A slightly chubby middle-aged man with a beer belly walked in, closed the door, and locked it.

Zhu Yan subconsciously shifted his thoughts, shouting in his mind, "I am a mimic."

Instantly, he felt a subtle change in his aura.

He looked up to examine the middle-aged man who had just entered, while his ears were filled with his aunt's comforting words and his Cousin's hysterical crying.

"What are you doing?! What are you doing?! Why did you let him in! He's not my dad!!"

Whether it was his facial features or his aura, the middle-aged man was exactly the same as his uncle.

Zhu Yan could see his greasy skin shining under the light.

"Child, what's wrong with you? Did you get into a fight with your dad?"

The only difference might be his eyes and expression.

Those eyes were cold and lifeless, staring fixedly at Zhu Yan, and then at his aunt and Cousin.

Then, the man's facial muscles subtly twitched into a cruel expression.

Overall, he—it—looked like a killing machine with an intense sense of hunger, yet reluctantly forced to operate according to its programming.

Only, the programming could order it to kill at any moment.

"You don't understand!!" his Cousin screamed, rushing into the kitchen to grab a meat cleaver.

"He's not my dad!! I'm going to die, Mom, I'm going to die!"

His aunt panicked.

She hurried over to stop him, wanting to figure out what was wrong with her precious son.

The "uncle" cracked his neck and took large strides forward to help his "wife."

Zhu Yan symbolically took two steps forward, ensuring he didn't appear too isolated.

Everything was real, and they had to move forward.

No matter how difficult, Zhu Yan had to keep going and fight for a way out.

With only five minutes left, his Cousin's screams grew even more piercing.

"Mom, I received a game card!"

The cleaver was snatched away by the mimic, and his Cousin stood there, his face covered in snot and tears.

"I figured it out! All the people who died suddenly recently had received a game card!"

"We're in a horror instance right now, and the thing that came home with me is not my dad at all!"

His Cousin roared, tightly gripping his aunt's shoulders.

Zhu Yan noticed that his aunt's complexion had already turned from sallow to pale.

Under the intense tension and fear, he unexpectedly felt a sense of thrill.

A subtle, faint thrill!

Zhu Yan bit the tip of his tongue to force himself to focus.

"Son, are you crazy?"

"Come, let's sit down and talk slowly."

"What game card? Is someone bullying or threatening you at school?"

Zhu Yan glanced at the time again.

There were only three minutes left until the instance officially began.

Judging by his aunt's reaction, she probably hadn't heard the female notification voice yet.

"Impossible!" Cousin cried out in agony. "I read the forums, and someone said that novice instances are usually group instances. Everyone participating should receive a card!"

Zhu Yan hadn't come across any posts like that.

He was already prepared to use his ability at a moment's notice.

Two and a half minutes.

"Mom, you received it too, right? A black envelope about this big, with your ability written on it, and a golden seal..."

"For example, my ability card says Bullying, and as soon as you open it, an electronic voice starts broadcasting..."

Cousin gestured wildly, but his aunt's expression was despair-inducing.

"What envelope?" she asked cautiously, her face filled with a loving mother's concern.

"Have you been brainwashed by things online? Someone is bullying you, aren't they? Forcing you to watch all sorts of nonsense?"

Bullying.

Combined with Cousin's usual behavior, Zhu Yan could roughly guess that this ability likely allowed him to oppress others for his own benefit.

The more his aunt spoke, the angrier she became, until she finally couldn't hold back her temper and began cursing loudly.

"What kind of school is this? How are they even teachers?! My son gets bullied, and a whole crowd of people just turns a blind eye?!"

"I'm going to call them right now. I'll report this to the Board of Education!"

"Son, you—"

"Enough!" Cousin slammed his hand onto the dining table, sending food juices splattering.

"Can't you understand human words?!"

Cold sweat seeped from Zhu Yan's palms as he nervously watched and waited.

Ten seconds.

Cousin whipped his head around, his vicious gaze pinning straight onto him.

"Zhu Yan! Are you the one behind this?! You received something, didn't you?"

"Why doesn't my mom know anything? Why didn't she even get the instance notification?!"

One second.

In the center of the room, his aunt suddenly let out a shriek, as if something had terrified her.

Zhu Yan heard it. That female voice rang out once again.

"Novice instance 'Who is the Crown Prince' has officially begun."

"The instance duration is two hours."

With a mere thought, Zhu Yan focused his mind.

This time, while retaining his doppelganger aura, he was going to flawlessly transform into Cousin's exact appearance!