Chapter 10

The tail of a silver fork clinked against a white porcelain plate with a crisp sound.

Among those present, only Ying Weizhu was picky. Everyone else ate Chinese food; only he had ordered a separate steak. Like some kind of meticulous psycho-killer, he cut the steak into countless tiny pieces, though he didn’t seem to actually eat much of it.

Ying Weizhu’s table manners had always been impeccable, top marks across the board. Having endured rigorous royal training since childhood, he could turn the act of eating into a work of art.

But when he didn’t want others to be happy, his table manners could also serve as torment.

He just twirled his fork between his fingers, as if he might fling it and pierce someone’s throat the moment he saw someone he didn’t like.

Not only was he not eating, but he kept staring at Jiang Xiao with that ambiguous, half-smiling look.

So, he’d been brewing a major move all along.

Qin Guan, having failed to snag the seat next to Jiang Xiao, was already simmering with anger. Hearing Ying Weizhu bring up some “previous promise” was basically treating everyone else at the table like outsiders, as if only he had the most intimate relationship with Jiang Xiao.

It wasn’t like the others didn’t have their own little secrets…

Jiang Xiao delayed responding; he was still taking his time eating the shrimp Wen Xu had peeled for him.

But in truth, Ying Weizhu’s words had triggered a clue.

【Before the breakup, Ying Weizhu proposed painting a picture of you. You agreed.】

【After the breakup, you deleted all of Ying Weizhu’s contact information. He never sought you out.】

So, the promise did exist. But who could remember such a trivial detail tucked away in a corner?

Especially with his established “scumbag” persona; sweet words spoken were like a passing breeze—once gone, they left no trace.

And thinking about it more deeply, this matter wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Just painting a picture?

If they were still in a relationship, it might just be a simple painting session. But now they were broken up, and Ying Weizhu hated him for reasons unknown. The wound near his collarbone still throbbed with pain now and then, making its presence known.

What’s more, Ying Weizhu had specifically chosen tonight. There had to be a purpose behind it.

Almost as a conditioned reflex, Jiang Xiao recalled the folding easel in Ying Weizhu’s suitcase, the rabbit plushie, and that knife…

…Ying Weizhu’s demand now was no spur-of-the-moment whim; it was a premeditated plan!

If he agreed to Ying Weizhu’s request, Jiang Xiao would practically be sealing a 【Certain Death】 ending.

But he couldn’t outright refuse either.

Jiang Xiao ate a few more slices of sticky rice lotus root, then suddenly spoke. “Senior, what about you?”

Though Bo Xiting sat beside him, he hadn’t uttered a single word, eating in complete silence. Jiang Xiao had almost forgotten his presence; he needed to trot him out for a walk occasionally just to remember he was there.

Bo Xiting had no reason not to leave.

Bo Xiting countered: “The snow is this heavy outside. Who could leave?”

That single sentence completely floored Jiang Xiao.

Honestly, tell him the truth—you’re a player too, aren’t you?

As an NPC, could you at least have the decency to understand things yet pretend you don’t?!

First, pointing out outright that tonight was the night for a major death, then directly stating the snow meant no one could leave. It made the whole setup seem like his meticulous plan.

If someone died, Bo Xiting would probably pin it on him too.

Jiang Xiao really wished he could glare at Bo Xiting a few times, to let him know some things shouldn’t be spoken aloud.

At this moment, Wen Xu stepped in to save the situation. “It’s fine. There’s another path down the mountain, covered by the mountain itself, so snow won’t block the road.”

“You seem to know the area quite well,” Bo Xiting said slowly.

Bo Xiting seemed to possess a strange magic, able to turn black into white. Even this well-intentioned remark from Wen Xu, when responded to by Bo Xiting in this manner, seemed to carry a deeper, more suggestive meaning.

Wen Xu’s voice remained gentle. “I did quite a lot of research before coming, to prepare for any unexpected situations. It seems now, it was indeed necessary.”

Jiang Xiao nodded along. “Right, so, Senior, you can take a car back later.”

Bo Xiting’s gaze was icy as it swept faintly over Jiang Xiao’s face, then over Wen Xu’s. It was unclear what he was thinking. After a long pause, a clear ding sounded. Ying Weizhu set down his fork, breaking the silence.

“Don’t change the subject, Jiang Xiao.”

“I just remembered, I have plans tonight,” Jiang Xiao said. During the delay, he had already thought of a way out. His tone was regretful. “I promised Qin Guan a few hours ago. Breaking it now wouldn’t be right.”

“Can we talk about our agreement later, when there’s an opportunity?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a blood-red mist once again clouded Jiang Xiao’s vision, along with large, blood-red text.

【Death Probability ↑】

The progress bar, previously at one-quarter, began creeping forward at a slow pace, as if the footsteps of Death were drawing near.

It stopped at the halfway mark.

An ominous red light flickered a few times, then subsided.

Friendly Reminder:

Tonight, your probability of becoming the deceased is fifty percent.

The arc of the smiley face’s grin seemed to stretch a little wider, as if it could no longer wait, eagerly and gleefully… welcoming his death.