After barging into the big shot’s private room, it seemed that practically everyone had drifted into this bar.
The slow, soothing music was soon drowned out by the chatter and laughter of the so-called young masters. Their favorite pastime after a meal was always the same, drinking, bantering, and mixing about.
Shen Ke was especially displeased with Lu Quning.
“Did you see him? He’s been glued to Brother Boyun’s side the entire evening. No matter how many hints we gave, he just wouldn’t leave. It’s like he came here on a mission or something. So annoying.”
“You didn’t come here with a mission yourself?” Lu Jiu shot him a sideways glance.
Shen Ke froze, his words caught in his throat.
If he were honest with himself… almost every single one of them had indeed come with some kind of “mission.”
The news of Bai Yun’s return had spread through their entire circle overnight. Before they left home, nearly every parent had made a few pointed remarks, “Will Bai Yun be there too?”
“Why don’t you learn more from him, follow his example.” So even though they all naturally admired the man out of sheer respect for strength and ability, there were personal motives at play.
Only Lu Quning was different. Because of his family’s close ties with the Ye family, he had the privilege of sticking to Bai Yun like a shadow without anyone pushing him away.
It was enough to make people jealous and annoyed.
Of course, even without Bai Yun, Shen Ke already disliked Lu Quning. It had nothing to do with rumors that he might be some illegitimate child.
What truly bothered Shen Ke was how, three years ago, Lu Quning had suddenly changed his entire personality.
Right after that, Lu Jiu also changed. If not for his parents’ repeated teaching that he should believe in science and not superstition, Shen Ke would have suspected that Lu Quning had bewitched Lu Jiu or cast some kind of curse on him!
“Jiu-ge, why don’t we go sit over there too?” Shen Ke whispered, trying to encourage him.
“No.”
Ye Qin and Bai Yun were sitting together, no doubt engaged in some long-winded, boring conversation. Lu Jiu had no interest in joining.
Just then, someone strolled over. “Hey, Shen Ke, Lu Jiu, want to play a round of billiards?”
The young man leaned casually on one hip, a cue stick in his other hand. His tone was friendly enough, but when his gaze slid over Lu Jiu, there was something layered in it, something difficult to read.
Shen Ke immediately straightened, cautious. He glanced toward the billiard table, where a wooden box had somehow been placed, it looked like a raffle box.
“Playing a draw?”
“Yeah. Just shooting pool is too boring,” the boy laughed, tapping the cue against his shoulder, a mischievous gleam flashing across his face. “Dare to play or not?”
Normally Shen Ke wouldn’t have cared either way, this boy, Luo Yi, wasn’t particularly close to them. But Shen Ke was weak against taunts and immediately snapped back, “What’s there not to dare?”
“Then let’s go!” Luo Yi grinned. “Lu Jiu, come too.”
There were already several people gathered around the table, most of them with an expectant look, eager for a show.
The noisy commotion even drew the attention of those sitting in the private booth. A few pairs of eyes shifted over.
Shen Ke’s tone instantly softened. “Jiu-ge… maybe you should just sit here. No need to join in, right?”
Lu Jiu arched his brow.
He remembered “draw billiards.” It was a game this circle of spoiled heirs had come up with themselves.
Players were divided into two teams, each person assigned a number corresponding to the balls. One side would take 1 through 7, the other 9 through 15.
Whichever ball went into the pocket, the person holding that number had to draw a slip from the box. On those slips were written all sorts of daring, indecent punishments. Whatever you drew, you had to do.
A twisted version of a king’s game.
Lu Jiu’s lips curved faintly. “Why not play?”
His acceptance instantly ignited the atmosphere.
Luo Yi smirked and turned to ask his buddies, “How many more people do we need?”
Shen Ke immediately leaned close, whispering into Lu Jiu’s ear. “Jiu-ge, they really don’t have any limits with this. You seriously want to join?”
“It’s not like I haven’t played before. What are you so worried about?” Lu Jiu glanced at him.
“That was three years ago…” Shen Ke mumbled.
After Lu Jiu’s mental state had gone off the rails back then, he hadn’t been able to play such games without exploding. Shen Ke had always needed to drag him back before things got violent. Later, Lu Jiu seemed to realize it himself and stopped participating altogether.
He never expected him to agree today.
“What’s the difference between today and three years ago?”
Shen Ke froze.
The dark-haired youth’s eyes were calm, not a trace of madness in them, only a cool steadiness tinged with a sharp, playful edge. Shen Ke’s heart pounded wildly.
This… this was the Jiu-ge he remembered!
The game required fourteen people, but they didn’t have nearly enough. Shen Ke called over two of his closer friends, bringing their total to nine.
One guy went to the booth, not to invite Bai Yun or Ye Qin of course, but to ask Ye Lin and Lu Quning.
Both merely glanced over and shook their heads coldly.
Luo Yi snorted as he polished his cue. “Lu Quning must be trying to stick to Brother Yun like some plaster, a dogskin patch.”
His words had barely landed when, at the booth, Ye Qin and Bai Yun both stood up.
The two men walked out onto the terrace, lighting cigarettes. All eyes subtly followed them.
“His father’s business is tanking these days. If he doesn’t cling to the Ye family and the Bai family, he might vanish from here any day now,” someone chuckled.
“But from what I see, forget Bai Yun, even Ye Qin doesn’t think much of him, does he?”
“Of course not. He’s no Lu Jiu.”
That remark drew silence.
Several glances shifted toward the bar counter, where the handsome dark-haired youth sat.
“…Come on, Lu Jiu’s already a lunatic now. Talking about him is pointless,” someone finally sneered, brushing it off.
At that moment, Ding Jiaye, a man infamous for his weak constitution, pushed open the door. He was immediately dragged into the game. Catching sight of Lu Jiu, he let out a cold laugh before heading over to Luo Yi’s team.
Shen Ke tensed, but luckily Ding Jiaye wasn’t on their side.
In the end, they managed to gather ten people total. Shen Ke’s group had four, taking the numbers 1 through 7. Luo Yi’s group had six, covering 9 through 15.
Since they were still short, some people had to take more than one number.
Shen Ke, brimming with misplaced confidence, took on three numbers himself. Another short guy took two. Lu Jiu and one other each took just one.
Everyone crowded around the billiard table, scribbling punishments onto slips of paper before tossing them into the box. Then Shen Ke rolled up his sleeves, stepping up to battle Luo Yi for the opening break.
Lu Jiu, meanwhile, remained seated at the bar, sipping soda through a straw, watching with faint amusement. Shen Ke actually played with surprising form. He and Luo Yi each rolled a ball across the felt, and in the end, Luo Yi won the break.
Shen Ke’s face scrunched in frustration.
Luo Yi was clearly more practiced. His break was clean, sending a ball into the pocket, number six.
The other team cheered.
Luo Yi, triumphant, twirled his cue.
Number six belonged to the short boy on Shen Ke’s team. Blushing furiously, he went up to draw. His slip read: “Take off your pants and stay in just your underwear until the game ends.” His whole face went red, while the others howled with laughter.
“Off! Off! Off!” they chanted.
Grinding his teeth, the short boy peeled off his trousers, revealing pink polka-dot boxers.
“Damn, Lao Lu, you wear something this cute?”
“And it’s boxers, not briefs? What a letdown!”
“Shut up, what did you want, a thong? You perverts!” he shot back, sending the crowd into fresh laughter.
The shamelessness of the game only made everyone more hyped. The bar seemed to grow hotter.
From the booth, Ye Lin frowned, his gaze drifting toward one figure in the crowd.
That figure sat quietly at the bar, legs swinging idly, as if part of the game yet apart from it. His eyes carried a faint smile, an amused, detached smile, as though none of it involved him.
As though even if the chaos spilled his way, he would remain untouched.
Ye Lin’s hands tightened slightly in the shadows.
Back at the table, Luo Yi pocketed the one ball next, Shen Ke’s teammate again. The poor guy drew his punishment: “Use your mouth to unbuckle a belt.”
The whole place erupted.
Plenty of the girls there wore belts, but if he tried on them, it would look like outright harassment. The boy, face burning, turned to a close friend and, under crushing pressure, knelt down between his legs to do it.
Out on the terrace, Ye Qin let out a low curse. “Are these kids insane?”
Bai Yun chuckled around his cigarette. “You used to be just as bad, if not worse.”
Ye Qin only laughed. He tapped away ash. “Too noisy. Should we find somewhere else to talk?”
“Old Ye, I came here to relax. Let’s not overdo it,” Bai Yun replied softly, his voice low and even, his gaze fixed on something inside.
Ye Qin raised his brows but said nothing more.
Back at the table, Luo Yi finally missed a shot.
Shen Ke exhaled in relief. At least it gave them a chance before their entire side was wiped out.
Puffing himself up, he circled the table, lined up, and managed to sink number twelve, scoring against Luo Yi’s side.
But his luck didn’t hold. The next shot went crooked. Luo Yi took over again and this time pocketed number five, Shen Ke’s ball.
Scowling, Shen Ke went up to draw. When he saw the slip, his expression collapsed.
The punishment: “Perform a live strip show.”
He slammed the slip down on the table. “Luo Yi, are you insane? Who the hell writes something like this?!”
Games like this always spiraled out of control. People got drunk, wrote outrageous punishments. Taking off clothes or kissing was bad enough, but this? Wasn’t this basically performing a live porno?
Luo Yi himself was taken aback. Clearly someone from his own group had written it while drunk. But since it wasn’t his punishment, he sneered easily. “What, you can’t handle it? If you’re going to play, play.”
“Yeah, no one said you had to actually go all the way. Just act it out,” someone chimed in.
Shen Ke’s face flushed red with fury. He nearly charged at Luo Yi but was grabbed back.
Luo Yi smirked. “If you get violent, it ruins the game. How about this? You’ve still got the number four ball, right? If I sink it next, you’ll have to draw another slip and do both punishments together. But if I don’t, then we’ll cancel this one. Fair enough? I’m even breaking the rules for you.”
Shen Ke cursed his ancestors under his breath.
Luo Yi bent, grinning, and struck. He missed.
Shen Ke’s side regained the turn.
The short boy hurried over to adjust Shen Ke’s clothes. “Are you going up again? Are you sure you can do it? Maybe let someone else take this shot?”
If Luo Yi got another chance and pocketed number four, Shen Ke would be doomed.
But unless their team could clear the table in one go, Luo Yi would definitely get another turn eventually. Still, dragging it out might weaken his rhythm.
Shen Ke’s head buzzed with rage. He gripped the cue hard enough to break it, itching to smash Luo Yi’s smirk off his face.
But the short boy was right, his shots tonight were off.
He thought hard, then turned toward Lu Jiu. “…Jiu-ge, why don’t you try?”
The room went silent.
Let Lu Jiu play?
Everyone had dragged him into the game for amusement, sure but to actually hand him the cue? Was Shen Ke out of his mind?
The short boy quickly tried to turn his face back. “Are you crazy? Letting Lu Jiu play? Might as well let me take the shot!”
But Shen Ke shoved his hand aside, stubbornly repeating, “Jiu-ge?”
Because deep down, he truly felt it. Lu Jiu wasn’t the same as before. Tonight, there was something in him, something that reminded Shen Ke of the Jiu-ge from three years ago.
And that Jiu-ge, though he hadn’t played often, had always been remarkably skilled at billiards.
All eyes turned to Lu Jiu.
He still had the straw between his lips, calmly draining the last of his soda in two or three sips.
He swirled the glass, making sure only ice remained, then set it down on the bar with a faint clink.
Luo Yi let out a mocking chuckle, tilting his chin upward, “If you really can’t find anyone to take the shot, we can always lend you Brother Ding for a round. After all, Brother Ding likes Lu Jiu, he’d definitely be happy to help out, wouldn’t he?”
Ding Jiaye had been standing nearby with his arms folded, watching. At those words, he deliberately gave a slick, oily smile, “Of course. If little Jiu were to beg me, I suppose I could reluctantly help you out.”
Shen Ke immediately grabbed a full cocktail from the bar counter.
Lu Jiu lifted his head. “?”
He quickly seized Shen Ke’s wrist, frowning. “What are you doing?”
Face green with anger, Shen Ke gritted out, “I’m going to puke, Jiu-ge. Let me throw this at them!”
“No.”
“?”
“That’s my drink. I haven’t even had a sip yet. If you want to throw something, use your own.” Lu Jiu rolled his eyes and took the glass back.
Shen Ke stared at him in shock. Yes, he had felt like his Jiu-ge was showing flashes of the way he used to be three years ago but wasn’t he a bit too calm, too steady?
And yet, the very next second, Lu Jiu rose from his seat, walked toward the billiard table, and set the drink down there.
Shen Ke’s eyes lit up!
Luo Yi carefully observed the two of them.
He loathed Lu Quning, but his hatred for Lu Jiu ran even deeper.
Lu Quning was a fake, hypocritical but Luo Yi didn’t think much of him at all.
But Lu Jiu… was different. Luo Yi could never forget the Lu Jiu of three years ago, that arrogant, brilliant youth who, no matter the occasion, was always the center of attention, always overshadowing him in everything.
He was just the child of upstart wealth, yet Luo Yi’s parents always said, “Look at Lu Jiu. Why can’t you be more like him?”
It had made Luo Yi despise him down to the bone.
Only when Lu Jiu had gone mad over the past three years did Luo Yi finally feel a twisted relief, a schadenfreude so sweet it almost made him giddy.
Even tonight, though Lu Jiu seemed different, Luo Yi wasn’t nervous. For three years he had watched every flicker, every gesture.
Every time Lu Jiu looked even slightly lucid, Luo Yi braced himself in alarm. But each time, reality proved him right, Lu Jiu was broken. Even if he looked sane for a moment, it was only an illusion.
This man was always so easy to provoke, so quick to fly into rage and lose all control.
Luo Yi’s eyes flickered. He spoke slowly, almost lazily, “Lu Jiu, you really don’t need to resist Brother Ding so much. One more connection is one more road, didn’t your father ever teach you that? Look at your little brother, he understands perfectly.”
Clinging shamelessly to Bai Yun’s side all night long.
One sentence, and he managed to mock them both.
In the distance, Lu Quning’s face immediately darkened.
He came down, standing by Lu Jiu’s side, “Brother, are you really going to keep playing with them?”
Lu Jiu gestured for Shen Ke to hand him the cue.
Shen Ke hurried to pass it over.
Lu Jiu began wiping the stick clean.
Lu Quning pressed on, low-voiced. “Let’s just leave.”
He cast a nearly imperceptible glance at Ding Jiaye among the crowd, then leaned close to Lu Jiu’s ear. His lips moved softly, the words slipping in with the warmth of concern.
“If you stay here, do you really want to keep entangling yourself with Ding Jiaye? Didn’t we agree you’d keep your distance from him? Brother… you don’t want to make Father angry again, do you?”
Lu Jiu’s movements still.
Lu Quning kept his eyes locked on him.
So close, he could see every detail of the youth’s side profile, the inky strands of hair, the faintly lowered lashes, the fine down on smooth skin. Every delicate feature lay before him, vivid and flawless.
Then, suddenly.
The youth turned his gaze, meeting his eyes. Those sly, fox-like eyes carried none of the fury Lu Quning had braced himself for. Instead, there was only a glimmer of amusement, playful and sharp.
Lu Quning froze, his body stiff.
And then Lu Jiu bent forward. His lean frame stretched into a lithe arc, long fingers braced against the table, cue steady in his other hand. With a clean, decisive motion, he struck.
The cue ball shot forward, colliding sharply with another. That ball ricocheted into two more, sending them rolling fast, one left, one right. Before anyone could even react, both dropped neatly into the pockets.
The eleven and the thirteen.
Luo Yi. And Ding Jiaye.
The entire bar fell silent, noise cut off as if someone had pulled the plug.
In the flashing lights, Lu Jiu straightened. He wiped his cue again, then glanced at the two stunned men. His lips curved into a faint smile.
“What are you staring at?”
His voice carried a relaxed, almost delighted ease, as though he was truly enjoying the game.
“Go on. Draw your slips.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ The translator summons words. You may summon coffee. ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (1)Chapter 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (2)Chapter 3 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (3)Chapter 4 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (4)Chapter 5 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (5)Chapter 6 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (6)Chapter 7 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (7)Chapter 8 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (8)Chapter 9 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (9)Chapter 10 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (10)Chapter 11 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (11)Chapter 12 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (12)Chapter 13 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (13)Chapter 14 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s room (14)Chapter 15 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (15)Chapter 16 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (16)Chapter 17 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (17)Chapter 18 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (18)Chapter 19 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (19)Chapter 20 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (20)Chapter 21 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (21)Chapter 22 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 22 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (22)Chapter 23 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (23)Chapter 24 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (24)Chapter 25 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (25)Chapter 26 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (26)Chapter 27 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (27)Chapter 28 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (28)Chapter 29 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (29)Chapter 30 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (30)Chapter 31 Part 1 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 31 Part 2 · After Breaking into the Big Boss’s Room (31)Chapter 32 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (1)Chapter 33 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (2)Chapter 34 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (3)Chapter 35 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (4)Chapter 36 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (5)Chapter 37 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (6)Chapter 38 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (7)Chapter 39 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (8)Chapter 40 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (9)Chapter 41 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (10)Chapter 42 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (11)Chapter 43 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (12)Chapter 44 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (13)Chapter 45 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (14)Chapter 46 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (15)Chapter 47 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (16)Chapter 48 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (17)Chapter 49 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (18)Chapter 50 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (19)Chapter 51 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (20)Chapter 52 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (21)Chapter 53 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (22)Chapter 54 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (23)Chapter 55 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (24)Chapter 56 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (25)Chapter 57 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (26)Chapter 58 · The Empire’s Number One Beta Crown Prince (27)Chapter 59 · Hatching Baby Zombies (1)Chapter 60 · Hatching Baby Zombies (2)Chapter 61 · Hatching Baby Zombies (3)Chapter 62 · Hatching Baby Zombies (4)Chapter 63 · Hatching Baby Zombies (5)Chapter 64 · Hatching Baby Zombies (6)Chapter 65 · Hatching Baby Zombies (7)Chapter 66 · Hatching Baby Zombies (8)Chapter 67 · Hatching Baby Zombies (9)Chapter 68 · Hatching Baby Zombies (10)Chapter 69 · Hatching Baby Zombies (11)Chapter 70 · Hatching Baby Zombies (12)Chapter 71 · Hatching Baby Zombies (13)Chapter 72 · Hatching Baby Zombies (14)Chapter 73 · Hatching Baby Zombies (15)Chapter 74 · Hatching Baby Zombies (16)Chapter 75 · Hatching Baby Zombies (17)Chapter 76 · Hatching Baby Zombies (18)Chapter 77 · Hatching Baby Zombies (19)Chapter 78 · Hatching Baby Zombies (20)Chapter 79 · The Mermaid on the Shore (1)Chapter 80 · The Mermaid on the Shore (2)Chapter 81 · The Mermaid on the Shore (3)Chapter 82 · The Mermaid on the Shore (4)Chapter 83 · The Mermaid on the Shore (5)Chapter 84 · The Mermaid on the Shore (6)Chapter 85 · The Mermaid on the Shore (7)Chapter 86 · The Mermaid on the Shore (8)Chapter 87 · The Mermaid on the Shore (9)Chapter 88 · The Mermaid on the Shore (10)Chapter 89 · The Mermaid on the Shore (11)Chapter 90 · The Mermaid on the Shore (12)Chapter 91 · The Mermaid on the Shore (13)Chapter 92 · The Mermaid on the Shore (14)Chapter 93 · The Mermaid on the Shore (15)Chapter 94 · The Mermaid on the Shore (16)Chapter 95 · The Mermaid on the Shore (17)Chapter 96 Part 1 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 96 Part 2 · The Mermaid on the Shore (18)Chapter 97 · The Mermaid on the Shore (19)Chapter 98 · Give me a drop of blood (1)Chapter 99 · Give me a drop of blood (2)Chapter 100 · Give me a drop of blood (3)Chapter 101 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (4)Chapter 102 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (5)Chapter 103 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (6)Chapter 104 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (7)Chapter 105 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (8)Chapter 106 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (9)Chapter 107 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (10)Chapter 108 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (11)Chapter 109 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (12)Chapter 110 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (13)Chapter 111 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (14)Chapter 112 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (15)Chapter 113 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (16)Chapter 114 · Give Me a Drop of Blood (17)Chapter 115 · Extra 1: A Little Conversation After Drinking (1)Chapter 116 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (2)Chapter 117 · Extra: A Little Conversation After Drinking (3)