Xu Jingran nodded vaguely and wrapped her slender arms around his neck.
As if she wouldn’t be able to live without him.
Her burning lips brushed against his ear, biting lightly as if coaxing him. “I know… don’t be angry anymore.”
Jiang Lijin found himself completely helpless against her.
He could only grit his teeth in frustration.
Then he let her sink and drift in the sea of pleasure.
Xu Jingran rested her flushed face against his strong shoulder. Her seaweed-like black hair cascaded down, falling across Jiang Lijin’s white shirt.
Behind his back, where he couldn’t see, her damp lashes hid more than desire—there was a trace of cunning in her eyes.
She kissed his reddened ear and let out a soft, breathy laugh.
Arrogant Young Master Jiang Lijin.
Did he really think she couldn’t tell the brothers apart?
Too confident.
From the very beginning, Xu Jingran had recognized Jiang Lijin.
His eyes always carried that arrogant, superior, untouchable gleam.
He habitually used his right hand.
More prideful than Jiang Si. More distant.
And yet—even so—he had knelt before her… and fallen.
How do you make a proud peacock fall in love with you?
You step on his pride.
Make him lose completely in front of the brother who resembles him most.
He would be confused. Angry. Furious.
Then he would become deeply drawn to her, chasing her gaze, seeking her approval.
And eventually, he would offer everything.
Money. His body.
That… was Xu Jingran’s true goal.
She had only tested him slightly.
And Jiang Lijin had already lost control.
He had nearly gone mad—so unrestrained that even she found it hard to keep up.
But it was worth it.
After today, his eyes would never leave her again.
Her soft fingertips combed gently through his black hair streaked with platinum highlights, slow and tender.
Jiang Lijin tilted his head slightly and captured her lips.
Since she insisted on mistaking him for Jiang Si, then he would release all his surging passion under his brother’s name.
Xu Jingran’s fingers were almost too weak to lift.
To gain something, you always have to pay a price.
She had woven her own cocoon.
Jiang Lijin’s lips trailed downward.
“Xu Jingran, remember me well. Feel it carefully—what exactly is different between my brother and me?”
Xu Jingran licked her lips.
Such a coward.
Even now, he refuses to say his own name?
Fine.
Then she would keep “mistaking” him in the future.
She wanted to see when Jiang Lijin would finally strip off that arrogant, prideful mask.
Besides, this wild intensity wasn’t bad at all.
Gentle tenderness or raging storm—
She enjoyed both.
In the grand hall on the first floor of St. Castle, three chimes rang out.
Countless masked nobles filed in one after another.
Some wore satisfied expressions.
Some looked furious.
Others had eyes gleaming with the excitement of having found their prey.
A girl in a white gown handcuffed a delicate-looking scholarship student. She lifted her lips lazily and said,
“The game’s over. I’ll miss you. Take care of me in the days to come.”
The boy’s face was pale green with anger. Red wine had been poured over his clothes, revealing his slim waist and toned abdomen.
The people nearby whistled and cheered.
With a click, the girl unlocked the handcuffs and waved goodbye.
The boy shot off like a rabbit, disappearing in a flash.
Elsewhere, a masked nobleman lifted his suit jacket— revealing a trembling girl hidden in his arms.
“Here’s my number. If you ever run into trouble, remember to contact me.”
Scenes like this were everywhere.
Everyone thought it was normal—they were used to it.
Only Lu Ran ignored it all. The black-and-gold lion mask couldn’t hide his anxiety and anger.
His gaze swept across the nobles as he clenched his fists. “Which one of you has seen Xu Jingran?”
Some of the people he looked at lowered their heads guiltily.
“I’ll ask one more time. Who has seen Xu Jingran?! If none of you speak up, and I find out myself, it will be your end!”
Lu Ran scanned the room, his voice suppressed and icy.
His grayish-purple eyes carried heavy pressure.
No one dared to speak.
If they talked, they were doomed.
Maybe… maybe Lu Ran wouldn’t trace it back to them.
Lu Ran watched as one scholarship student after another walked out.
Not her…
Not her…
None of them were her!
He regretted it.
He shouldn’t have let Xu Jingran participate in this game.
A game like this should have been played behind closed doors— not in a place full of chaos and mixed intentions.
He spotted a flash of white fabric emerging from behind a Roman column.
His eyes lit up.
But when he saw the person’s face clearly, his expression darkened instantly.
It wasn’t Xu Jingran.
It was Liu Ruan.
She looked disheveled. There were small cuts on her body, her dress was torn, and her hair hung loose, streaked with dirt.
Uninterested, Lu Ran withdrew his gaze and continued searching the crowd for his one and only treasure.
He noticed Xiao Si Ming leaning against a carved Roman column. Xiao Si Ming seemed distracted, lowering his head every three seconds to look at the wound on his hand.
“Xiao Si Ming, have you seen my girlfriend?” Lu Ran stepped forward and asked.
The words “my girlfriend” sounded especially grating to Xiao Si Ming.
He looked up, nodded, then shook his head.
Lu Ran frowned. “What do you mean?”
Xiao Si Ming pressed his wound with another finger, feeling the faint itch and sting.
“I saw her.”
Lu Ran’s eyes lit up. “Where is she?”
Xiao Si Ming clicked his tongue, his red lips curling slowly.
“I let her go.”
He stood up and brushed past Lu Ran at an unhurried pace. “Since she’s your girlfriend, I gave her a chance to hide.”
Lu Ran let out a breath of relief and turned to pat his shoulder. “Thanks for taking care of my girlfriend. You’re a good brother.”
“She probably doesn’t know the game is over yet. Maybe she’s still hiding somewhere.”
Xiao Si Ming’s answer eased Lu Ran’s worries slightly.
Maybe Xu Jingran had found a place to hide and fallen asleep.
His girlfriend really was that adorably absent-minded.
【777, his house got robbed and Lu Ran is thanking the thief.】
【777, his wife was taken away and he’s thanking his brother.】
【777, his wife got kissed and he’s probably clapping on the side.】
【777, three “good brothers” are eyeing his girlfriend and he’s still saying thank you, my good brother.】
【Xiao Si Ming, why are you lifting your hand to kiss it? And licking it too? Aren’t you supposed to be the cold, gloomy type?】
【Didn’t Xiao Si Ming say he wasn’t interested? Why does his Adam’s apple move every time he hears “my girlfriend”?】
The game was completely over.
All nineteen scholarship students stood in the hall—some embarrassed, some relieved…
But all present.
Except Xu Jingran.
Lu Ran couldn’t hold back any longer. Clenching his teeth, he said to Xiao Si Ming,
“I want to check the surveillance footage! I can’t let my girlfriend spend the night in a place like this. She’ll be scared.”