The only person in the room younger than him who could be called his sister was An Li.
But their relationship was practically nonexistent. Until now, the two had never even appeared in the same frame.
“An Li?” The curly-haired woman pretended to be intimate, trying to cozy up. “What’s your relationship with Second Young Master Duan?”
Duan Zhuo didn’t lie through his mouth.
Only the person involved could answer truthfully.
An Li felt Duan Zhuo’s fiery gaze on her. Hesitating for a few seconds, she finally stammered out two words: “Not close.”
Good.
She had pissed him off again.
Duan Zhuo comforted himself—
It’s just hiding our relationship; it’s no big deal. If she doesn’t want to reveal it, fine. He wasn’t unreasonable, right, right, right?—
But half a minute of self-soothing did nothing.
Damn it.
He would kiss her to death when they got home.
Kill her.
“Master Zhuo, An Li said she’s not close to you anymore,” the curly-haired woman said, watching for drama. “Stop teasing her. There are so many other beautiful women here—why bother with her?”
There were plenty of beautiful women, but few came here to play games.
The curly-haired woman, relying on her experience and long tenure in the circle, had already edged out irrelevant peers.
Hearing Duan Zhuo’s birthday was coming, she had dressed carefully, yet since she entered, Duan Zhuo hadn’t even glanced at her.
She had accompanied him to social gatherings before and had some presence as an ex-girlfriend.
After defeating ninety percent of women, she had lost to a sudden little sister.
How could she tolerate this?
When it was time for the game, the curly-haired woman deliberately moved closer to Duan Zhuo, trying to get near him.
Such a small trick, but Duan Zhuo saw through it without blinking. He pulled He Nian over, blocking the interfering person for him.
Duan Zhuo had An Li on his left, He Nian on his right.
No one else had a chance to get close.
There were seven or eight people playing. Only He Nian genuinely wanted to play, rubbing his hands eagerly. “Okay, let’s start. I’ll go first. Whoever I pick will have to do a handstand with me later.”
Doing a handstand alone was too boring.
The wheel pointer eventually landed on a poor guy who had to do a three-hour handstand. He quickly drank to offset it, making the first round dull.
Fortunately, the rest of the rounds went smoothly. A few familiar friends had to post on social media or make funny faces, which caused everyone to laugh.
When it was the curly-haired woman’s turn to spin, everyone exchanged glances, as if anticipating something.
Sure enough, she rested her hands on the table and threw a dazzling wink at Duan Zhuo. “My command is: whoever the pointer lands on, hug me for three minutes.”
“Oh? Who do you want to hug?” He Nian teased. “It won’t be Master Zhuo, right?”
“And if it’s him?” the woman admitted openly, showing her admiration for Duan Zhuo.
“What if it’s not him, what if it’s me?” He Nian argued.
“Then it’s you, so what? Not like you can’t handle it,” the woman said mockingly. “I’m just afraid someone here can’t handle it.”
Duan Zhuo furrowed his brow, looking at the wheel without saying a word.
The pointer spun.
Not fast, steady.
It slowed and seemed to aim at He Nian.
Just as everyone thought it was him, the pointer slowly moved again, finally stopping toward Duan Zhuo.
“What a shame,” the curly-haired woman smiled, determined. “Master Zhuo? I’m even embarrassed.”
Her triumph didn’t last.
Duan Zhuo picked up a glass of whiskey.
Her face dropped.
If he didn’t complete the command, he had to drink.
Without hesitation, he drank.
“You came here driving. This whiskey is strong. Are you sure?” she asked, panicking.
Duan Zhuo didn’t bother to look at her or reply.
“I can lower the requirement… it doesn’t have to be three minutes, half a minute is fine…” she tried to save face.
But Duan Zhuo had already finished the punishment drink, cleanly and efficiently. “Done. The game continues.”
Being the chosen one, it was now his turn to spin and give a command.
Everyone held their breath, curious about what he would ask.
He remained silent.
Impatient, He Nian asked, “Master Zhuo, your turn. What will you have the next person do?”
Duan Zhuo smirked lightly. “Hmm, a little embarrassing to say.”
“Embarrassing? It’s all family here. Don’t hold back,” He Nian hinted. “See, someone just gave a boring command.”
The curly-haired woman, now embarrassed, wanted to disappear. Not only did she not get to hug him, but she was also humiliated.
“Not convenient to say right now,” Duan Zhuo drawled. “Maybe I’ll write it down and reveal it later.”
“Fine,” everyone agreed.
He asked the waiter for paper and pen and wrote two characters with flamboyant strokes.
Short.
Hard to guess.
An Li, curious, tried to peek, but the dim lighting prevented her from seeing anything.
Duan Zhuo noticed her small movement.
“This little sister who says she’s not close to me… trying to peek?” he said, his tone teasing. Lowering his head, his warm breath brushed her soft earlobe. “You don’t have to peek. If you want to know, I can tell you now.”
“I… I don’t want to know.”
“Really?”
“Of course,” she coughed lightly. “If you insist on telling me, I’ll listen.”
She was curious, after all.
What kind of command would Duan Zhuo give?
So far, everyone’s commands had been trivial—posting strange quotes or shouting at strangers.
Duan Zhuo’s lips curled into a teasing, half-smile. “You’ll see soon.”
He had her hooked.
When the pointer began spinning, all eyes naturally focused.
Everyone was curious, secretly hoping it might point to them.
The pointer spun fast, almost unstoppable, then suddenly stopped.
Dead on target—An Li.
Unlike the previous spin, which seemed manipulated, this one was destined.
“Wow, it’s An Li!” He Nian cheered. “Master Zhuo, can you tell us your command now?”
Duan Zhuo didn’t answer immediately.
“My command… is simple,” he finally said.
“What is it?”
“I’m not telling you.”
“How can that be? That’s cheating.”
“Not cheating. I’ll tell the person who has to follow it.”
He tilted his head slightly, his deep eyes fixed unwaveringly on the flustered little girl.
An Li had a bad premonition. Her lashes trembled; her pale teeth bit her lip. “W-What… what is it?”
“You were chosen by the pointer, so you have to obey my command.”
“What’s your command?”
“Me.”