Chapter 6

“Today, the sky over the Andes Mountains will turn overcast. Light will dim, temperatures will drop, and a large-scale heavy snowfall is expected, possibly affecting surrounding areas.”

“Snow accumulation over the next two days may exceed 50cm. A multi-day blizzard is anticipated. If traveling, please take precautions against the cold…”

When Jiang Xiao came back inside, the broadcaster on the radio was delivering the day’s weather in standard Mandarin. Qin Guan, who had been fiddling with the radio out of boredom, immediately turned it off upon seeing Jiang Xiao enter.

Jiang Xiao walked in slowly, supporting himself against the door. Behind him, Ying Weizhu showed absolutely no intention of helping, instead sauntering leisurely behind.

Seeing Jiang Xiao about to miss a step, Qin Guan hurried over to support him, frowning at Ying Weizhu. “Why didn’t you help him? Don’t you understand the concept of assisting the disabled?”

“Who’s disabled?” Jiang Xiao protested. “I just can’t see, not like I can’t walk. It’s just a few steps; I can manage myself. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Ying Weizhu smiled faintly. “He’s throwing a tantrum. I wouldn’t dare provoke him.”

He stood outside the door, watching Qin Guan fuss over Jiang Xiao, and lightly licked his lips.

The taste was salty and metallic.

Jiang Xiao sank into the sofa, tossing the snow-dusted thick coat aside petulantly, utterly unconcerned about how expensive or rare the fabric was. He tilted his head back, letting out a long breath that still felt icy even after filling his lungs.

Then he reached up and tugged his collar higher.

The gesture seemed natural enough. Qin Guan just assumed he was cold. He thought for a moment, then said, “I’m going out for a bit. There’s something I need to tell you later.” And with that, he left.

Hidden beneath his turtleneck sweater, Jiang Xiao’s neck still stung fiercely. Ying Weizhu had gone crazy earlier, forcibly pulling him into his arms and biting his neck.

It wasn’t a playful, flirtatious bite, but the brutal bite of a wild beast hunting. Fangs pierced smooth skin. In that instant, Jiang Xiao’s survival radar blared loudly. He shoved Ying Weizhu away hard.

Ying Weizhu staggered back, silent. Then he lunged forward again, locking Jiang Xiao’s wrist and pinning him against the icy wall. He dipped his head, biting down on the exact same spot.

The pain made Jiang Xiao’s mind hazy. In the miasma of blood, he wasn’t sure if Ying Weizhu had bitten through a major artery.

When he pulled away, a soft, animal-like lick came from the nearly numb wound. Ying Weizhu might have been licking the place he’d bitten. But Jiang Xiao had zero interest in this kind of “hit first, comfort later” routine. He broke free from Ying Weizhu’s restraint and said, “Get the hell away from me.”

His expression was dark. He was genuinely angry.

“I thought you were prepared to accept my revenge,” Ying Weizhu’s voice was still gentle. But Jiang Xiao now understood—he just habitually used a smile as camouflage. A vividly colored venomous snake.

The more beautiful something is, the more dangerous.

Especially since he was the one who abandoned this not-so-weak beast first.

But Jiang Xiao was also beginning to understand why they broke up.

Who in their right mind would want to date Ying Weizhu? They might just lose their life while dating him.

Jiang Xiao’s neck was wet. He didn’t know if it was saliva or blood. It felt cold. He wanted to wipe it with a tissue but feared the appearance of blood would raise suspicion.

Tsk.

Ying Weizhu’s suspicion level had just shot way up, whether for the accident or as the intended murderer.

If he died, Jiang Xiao had no doubt it would be Ying Weizhu’s doing.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xiao asked the System: “Did I initiate the breakup?”

System: “All breakups were initiated by you.”

Jiang Xiao: “Who confessed first?”

System: “You.”

Jiang Xiao asked again: “Did I do something to wrong him?”

System: “No comment.”

It seemed he could only get trivial information out of the System.

If it were just a breakup, would Ying Weizhu be this angry?

…Actually, that was entirely possible.

Jiang Xiao reviewed his character card once more:

A total player.

Loving one after another.

A textbook scumbag.

From what he’d seen so far, his three ex-boyfriends were indeed exceptionally good-looking.

Objectively speaking, he probably deserved a beating.

But surely not to the point of wanting him dead?

Jiang Xiao leaned against the sofa. The blindness debuff was really limiting his options.

What rotten luck.

Who was left in the room? Wen Xu hadn’t returned yet, so he still had a chance for private questioning.

Qin Guan had gone out. Besides Ying Weizhu, there should be one more person inside.

Bo Xiting.

Jiang Xiao had almost forgotten about him.

Since entering, this guy had spoken one sentence, then remained completely quiet, more transparent than the air itself.

“Senior,” Jiang Xiao called out.

No response.

“Bo Xiting,” Jiang Xiao wasn’t sure if he was still in the room. Perhaps he’d left. “Are you still here?”

“I am.” A faint reply.

“Could you take me to the storage room?” Jiang Xiao asked. “I need to get something from my luggage.”

Given Ying Weizhu’s presence, Jiang Xiao needed a normal-sounding reason, and a closed, private space where two people could talk.

Jiang Xiao had luggage. Wen Xu mentioned it; they originally planned to stay here for a few days. The others only came for the party. Ying Weizhu brought a suitcase, Bo Xiting just a messenger bag, and Qin Guan brought nothing.

They were all in the storage room.

“Go yourself.”

Bo Xiting’s answer was blunt and decisive.

Jiang Xiao: “…”

Ying Weizhu crossed his legs, propping his chin on one hand, watching Jiang Xiao with amusement. “I never thought there’d be someone you couldn’t handle.” His tone had a hint of Schadenfreude.

Jiang Xiao decided to ignore Ying Weizhu and continued, coaxingly, “Please come with me. It’s urgent.”

“Find someone else.”

Accompanied by the sound of a page turning, crisp and clear in his ears, even Jiang Xiao could tell what it was.

Bo Xiting was still reading, his dark eyes never leaving the book. To him, Jiang Xiao was as good as air.

Ying Weizhu didn’t speak either. He was more than happy to watch Jiang Xiao hit a wall with someone else.

Jiang Xiao racked his brain, even asking the System if he had any leverage over Bo Xiting, something to make him obediently comply. The System’s reply was six periods.

System: “You really aren’t afraid to die.”

Threatening someone could easily increase the Death Probability. Jiang Xiao was, of course, afraid. But he needed to use every possible method to find clues. How was he supposed to find clues if he couldn’t even get a conversation started?

However, Jiang Xiao drew an interesting conclusion from this—

Bo Xiting intensely disliked him, unwilling to even speak much. With such a deep level of aversion, why would he come to his birthday party?

This hotel wasn’t a short drive away. On the contrary, even by car, it took at least three to four hours. If Bo Xiting didn’t have some specific ulterior motive, he wouldn’t have come.

What did Bo Xiting want to know?

For instance… that a car accident was staged, but he didn’t die, so he came to see the result?

Jiang Xiao was now operating on the assumption that anyone might try to harm him, then working backward to see where the logic failed. But the information he had was too scarce; there were still vast gaps in his deductions.

Jiang Xiao suddenly remembered something. “Is the Death Probability an instant notification?”

System: “Notifications occur with every quarter increase.”

Which meant the next notification would come when the Death Probability hit 50%.

It could also be 0%, but that was almost impossible.

Jiang Xiao had thought of a few approaches, but he hadn’t interacted with Bo Xiting before. He didn’t know if Bo Xiting was susceptible to coaxing or coercion. If he angered him, the Death Probability might rise for nothing.

And he had Ying Weizhu’s death glare from the side.

Jiang Xiao thought for a moment, then said helplessly, “Then give me directions. Will that work? I can’t see anything right now.”

“Turn right, go forward three meters. Turn right again, one meter. Open the door.”

Bo Xiting actually gave him directions.

…Fine.

Jiang Xiao stood up, mentally measuring the distance, slowly inching along the wall. He actually managed to find the door.

Despite a strong sense of insecurity, he forced himself to overcome it.

It wasn’t as hard as he’d imagined.

Jiang Xiao turned the lock, walked in, and locked the door behind him.

Jiang Xiao said, “System, any hints?”

Perhaps taking pity on his plight, the System didn’t say something like “Please explore on your own,” but mercifully gave a hint.

“On the shelf in front of you is Bo Xiting’s bag. In the cabinet below, the left side holds your and Wen Xu’s luggage; the right side is Ying Weizhu’s suitcase.”

Jiang Xiao fumbled around and opened Bo Xiting’s bag first.

Time to look for clues.

The contents were sparse. Jiang Xiao felt a few thin sheets of paper—A4 size, content unknown—wired earphones, a keychain, some clothes, and a camera.

That was it.

A down jacket was draped over the bag. Jiang Xiao searched the pockets and found a few band-aids.

Jiang Xiao could really use those right now.

After a moment’s thought, he didn’t take them, putting the items back as he found them.

Kneeling on the floor, Jiang Xiao then opened Ying Weizhu’s suitcase.

Just as he opened it, there were two light knocks on the door:

“Do you need help?”

After what happened earlier, Ying Weizhu was now acting as if nothing had occurred. Gone were the sinister, ghostly words. His voice was gentle again.

That smiling voice was always the best disguise.

But Jiang Xiao wouldn’t be fooled by Ying Weizhu. “No,” he said coldly.

He unzipped the suitcase.

What was this…?

Jiang Xiao traced the outline of an object. It felt wooden. Coupled with Ying Weizhu’s major, it was probably a small portable easel.

Inside were also several boxes of paint, a palette, and such.

Jiang Xiao’s mouth twitched. A true artist, never forgetting his tools, no matter where he went.

He also felt something fluffy. He squeezed a long ear—it had to be a rabbit plush.

Ying Weizhu had such a maidenly hobby?

Jiang Xiao simply could not reconcile the almost rabid Ying Weizhu from before with this cute plush toy. His feelings were slightly complex. He set the rabbit aside and continued searching.

Groping around, Jiang Xiao’s hand suddenly stopped.

The back of his hand touched something abnormally cold.

Jiang Xiao paused for a few seconds, then felt it again.

A fine, sharp pain arrived a few seconds later.

Next to the rabbit plush lay a knife.

A knife that had sliced his finger open moments ago.

It was incredibly sharp.