Xiao Si Ming’s fingers paused slightly as he rubbed the wound.
He lifted the red demon mask and placed it on top of his head, revealing his pale, handsome face.
“Check the surveillance?”
He repeated slowly, his voice lazy and slightly sticky. “Lu Ran, have you forgotten the rules of St. Castle?”
“Unless there’s a major security incident, surveillance footage cannot be accessed. Otherwise, the noble families here would protest.”
After all, many things here could never be brought into the light.
They couldn’t be seen by the public.
The darkness and filth hidden here were the crimes every noble feared most.
“If we make an exception for a scholarship student, what will the other nobles think?”
Xiao Si Ming held a white jade queen chess piece between his fingers, turning it idly.
Of course, he had his own selfish reasons.
He didn’t want anyone to see that scene.
Lu Ran’s fists clenched tighter. He clicked his tongue. “Xiao Si Ming, don’t play that game with me. With your authority, you can access surveillance from specific areas.
Didn’t you want to buy the shares I’m holding? I’ll sell you one-fifth.”
Everyone knew Xiao Si Ming was gloomy and cunning—a genius who loved manipulating the business world.
Among more than a dozen heirs competing in the Xiao family, he had risen above them all.
Like a venomous snake, he eliminated every sibling who tried to harm him—each in their own way.
His second sister tried to stage a car accident for him.
She died in a car accident.
His fourth brother tried to poison him.
He died from poison.
His seventh brother attempted to use a beauty trap to seize Xiao Si Ming’s assets and distract him with lust, forcing him out of the inheritance battle.
Xiao Si Ming sent him to India… even made him wear dresses… and forced him into degrading work.
…
Xiao Si Ming was also the world champion of international chess.
He was known as the Invisible Devil on the chessboard.
Anyone who underestimated him would find themselves devoured piece by piece without even realizing it.
Anyone who wanted something from Xiao Si Ming had to exchange something of equal value.
Lu Ran knew Xiao Si Ming wanted his shares.
So he offered them without hesitation.
Xiao Si Ming paused slightly.
Has Lu Ran really become this obsessed?
He was even willing to give up the shares he held so tightly.
Xu Jingran…
Xiao Si Ming slowly raised his injured hand. The white queen chess piece stood balanced on the back of his hand.
He stared at it and smiled faintly.
“Fine. But I can only grant you access to footage below the fifth floor.”
After all, he had met that little mouse on the fifth floor.
He didn’t want this scholarship student to damage the brotherhood between them.
So only footage below the fifth floor would be checked.
Lu Ran smiled. “Thanks, brother.”
The atmosphere in the hall instantly relaxed.
Young Master Lu was smiling.
Good. They wouldn’t be dragged into his anger—for now.
Just as the two were about to head to the surveillance room, soft footsteps echoed from the second-floor staircase.
The steps were unhurried, carrying a softness as if the person had just woken up.
Tap… tap…
Everyone turned their eyes toward the sound.
It was Xu Jingran.
She was still wearing the white dress, though now it had a few subtle wrinkles.
Her seaweed-like long hair hung loosely over her shoulders, a few dark strands sticking to her fair neck.
She looked subtly more alluring—careless and seductive.
Her cheeks were flushed from sleep. Her eyes were moist and slightly unfocused, her steps weak.
She walked slowly, with the softness of someone overly relaxed.
Her lips looked redder and fuller than usual, slightly swollen.
She rubbed her eyes. “Lu Ran?”
“Why are you here? Is the game… over?”
Her voice carried a sleepy hoarseness, soft and heart-tugging.
The moment she appeared, Lu Ran rushed over and pulled her tightly into his arms. The force made her let out a soft sound.
“Where did you go? I’ve been looking for you forever.”
He held her tightly.
Xu Jingran let him hold her, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled, obedient and dazed.
“I don’t know…”
“I ran into some people while hiding in a room… then I kept running.
I found another room. I was too tired, so I accidentally fell asleep. My body feels really uncomfortable…”
Xu Jingran sounded aggrieved as she nestled into Lu Ran’s arms, as if she had finally found safety.
She was telling the truth.
Toward the end, she had fainted.
When she woke up, she was alone on the sofa.
There was even a suit jacket covering her.
Lu Ran gently stroked her hair, and he keenly caught the scent of alcohol on her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ll never join this kind of game again!”
He could smell alcohol on his girlfriend.
Where had the alcohol on her body come from?
He would find out the truth!
Xu Jingran nestled in his arms, feeling a long-lost sense of security.
Xiao Si Ming stood nearby, watching.
Watching the way Xu Jingran looked soft and dependent on Lu Ran’s embrace.
The fingers rubbing his wound unconsciously pressed harder, and the pain made him frown.
Lu Ran kissed Xu Jingran several times without caring about the people around them. Only then did he finally lift his head, his tone gentler.
“Siming, we’ve found her. No need to go to the surveillance room.”
Xiao Si Ming slowly released his fingers from the wound and gave a slight nod. His voice was calm and unreadable.
“That’s good.”
His gaze landed on Xu Jingran and lingered for only a brief moment.
So this was what it meant to be boyfriend and girlfriend—you could kiss openly in front of so many people.
Tsk.
“Since everyone is here, let’s announce tonight’s winners—the ones who were not found.”
Xiao Si Ming lightly raised a finger.
The student officer behind him immediately stepped forward, cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud, formal voice:
“The Night Hunt game has officially concluded. Three winners have emerged.”
“The first is Li Changyu.”
The unfamiliar name caused quite a stir.
Xu Jingran, still curled in Lu Ran’s arms, looked down and saw the boy standing in the lobby.
He was the only male at the party not wearing a suit.
He wore a school uniform. His figure was tall and slender, like a straight bamboo stalk.
Li Changyu had a classical Eastern elegance. His brows were like distant mountains brushed with ink. His eyes were phoenix-shaped, the corners naturally lifted. His pupils were a rare deep sandalwood color. When he looked at people, there was always a sense of three parts detachment and seven parts quiet observation.
His nose was high and straight, his lips thin and pale.
His face had not been clear in the darkness earlier.
Now it was.
Li Changyu was the one who had grabbed a noble’s head and slammed it into the fountain in the back garden.
What an arrogant scholarship student.
Even more arrogant than her.
Yet he looked like an ascetic immortal, detached from worldly desires.
It wasn’t just Xu Jingran who thought so.
Others whispered in amazement.
“Li Changyu? The new scholarship student? He’s so good-looking…”
“Don’t even think about it. He’s tough and violent. Last week he beat a noble into the hospital, and nothing happened to him.”
“That noble didn’t retaliate? I bet someone powerful is backing him.”
“Definitely. Just like Xu Jingran, probably. Wonder whose favor he’s relying on.”
The crowd murmured.
Their tone carried a hint of sour grapes.
The student officer continued nervously:
“The second winner is Liu Ruan.”
Liu Ruan looked extremely disheveled. When she heard her name, her first instinct was to look at Xu Jingran.
She wanted to thank her.
If it weren’t for Xu Jingran, she didn’t dare imagine what those people would have done to her.
She still remembered Xu Jingran’s cold hands.
Those hands had pulled her out without hesitation.
Xu Jingran was truly brave… and kind.
The student officer read the final name:
“The last winner is Xu Jingran!”
Xu Jingran laughed happily, leaning in Lu Ran’s arms with a blissful expression.
Great—one million!
It was finally hers.
Ah, how should she spend it?
Standing in the shadows, Jiang Lijin watched Xu Jingran’s joyful smile and withdrew his gaze.
Did Xu Jingran really like Lu Ran that much?
So much that simply leaning in his arms made her smile like that—
As if she had everything.
As if she were deliriously happy.
“Xu Jingran, it seems you truly love Lu Ran.”
Jiang Lijin’s slender fingers brushed against his lips. Just moments ago, he had been the one who brought her pleasure.
And yet she immediately ran into another man’s arms.
【Forget it. You rich people don’t understand. Jingran baby is smiling because she just got rich!】
【The supporting character’s baby finally got one million! I wish I could get it too!】
【Manifesting!】
【Manifesting!】
…
Meanwhile, in the F5 exclusive lounge at the top floor of the castle, Jiang Si was nearly being driven insane.
He hadn’t even participated in the game.
Bracing one hand against the cold tiles, he let icy water pour over his head to calm himself down.
What exactly had his brother done?
Did the old man finally get laid?
Or was he just watching something inappropriate?
Damn it.
Since childhood, the twin brothers had shared a strange connection.
When their emotions reached a peak, they would experience subtle moments of mutual sensation…