Chapter 61: King’s Game

“What a mess we’ve made of this dinner party!”

Xie Zhuran sighed according to plan.

“And I just checked—the numbers are still skyrocketing. There’s no way any of us can sleep right now.”

“Good point…”

Lin An was about to continue with the plan, but Song Qiuyu cut him off.

Song Qiuyu picked up the deck of playing cards and gave it a little shake in her hand. “So, why don’t we play King’s Game?”

Xie Zhuran, Lin An, and Jiang Xiao were all stunned.

They exchanged glances in secret.

A change in the plan?

Now what?

There wasn’t a single word about a sudden twist in the Script!

Lin An and Jiang Xiao both looked toward their strategist.

Xie Zhuran gave his two comrades a calm, collected look.

He looked full of confidence.

Under the reassuring gaze of Lin An and Jiang Xiao, Xie Zhuran spoke up.

“What’s King’s Game?”

Lin An, Jiang Xiao: “?”

So you’re only this calm because you don’t know what it is?

Though truthfully, Jiang Xiao had never heard of it either.

“It’s simple. You mix a Joker into some regular cards, then everyone draws one. Whoever gets the Joker is the King. The King can give any order they want to the two people who draw the other cards—make them play any little game!”

Song Qiuyu finished explaining and drew four different suits from the deck.

There were five of them, which worked out perfectly: four suits and a Joker.

When it was time, the King just needed to call out two suits.

“I see.”

Hearing this, Xie Zhuran folded his hands and said, “I know you’re eager, but don’t be in such a rush. I have a great suggestion too!”

“Oh? What is it? Tell us.”

This time, it was Song Qiuyu’s turn to be surprised.

“Script Murder!”

Xie Zhuran’s lips curled into a smile.

Song Qiuyu considered this for a moment.

If they could have Jiang Xiao and Sang Tian play a couple in Script Murder, that would be an excellent choice.

“How about we vote? Whichever game gets the most votes, that’s what we’ll play?”

Xie Zhuran chuckled to himself. Up until now, Jiang Xiao always sided with Song Qiuyu.

But now, Song Qiuyu, times have changed!

Even if Sang Tian votes with Song Qiuyu, we’ll still have three votes on our side!

“Only kids make choices. We’re all adults—why can’t we play both?”

Song Qiuyu blinked her pretty almond-shaped eyes.

Let Sang Tian and Jiang Xiao play King’s Game first to warm up their feelings, then nurture their bond further in Script Murder.

Wouldn’t that be perfect?

As soon as she said this, the three who had been scheming for Script Murder all froze.

There was an option to do both?

“…That works too.”

Xie Zhuran paused, then immediately shot a look at Jiang Xiao and Lin An.

The plan had changed.

Time for Plan B.

Let Song Qiuyu and Sang Tian get close in King’s Game, then rig Script Murder so Sang Tian and Song Qiuyu draw the lovers’ roles.

“I have no objections.”

Sang Tian glanced at Song Qiuyu.

“If no one minds, let’s decide which game to play first?”

Song Qiuyu was in no hurry. No matter which game, there’d be a chance to play matchmaker.

Xie Zhuran thought for a moment and exchanged a look with his two comrades. “Let’s start with King’s Game!”

After all, Script Murder is scarier the later it gets.

Jiang Xiao and Lin An agreed in perfect sync.

“I want to play King’s Game first too,” Sang Tian chimed in.

She’d already asked DS Lord for hundreds of mini-game Strategy Guides, just waiting for the game to begin.

“All right, let’s get ready to draw cards.”

Song Qiuyu laid the five cards face down on the table and turned around confidently.

“But to be fair, Jiang Xiao, you shuffle the cards for us.”

Jiang Xiao nodded slightly.

After he shuffled, Song Qiuyu turned back, lowering her gaze to the five cards on the table.

She’d already scratched a tiny mark on the Joker with her fingernail.

With her secret sign, she quickly spotted the Joker.

But if she took it right away, it’d be too obvious.

Jiang Xiao was sharp.

So she gritted her teeth and watched as Jiang Xiao picked up the Joker, while she took the card at the edge.

Red Heart.

“I’m the King.” Jiang Xiao flipped his card over for everyone to see, his voice flat. “Let me think… This round, Diamond and Spade, shake hands.”

Start small and work up.

So Xie Zhuran and Lin An shook hands.

Not exactly a thrilling scene.

Everyone looked a little disappointed.

The second round, Song Qiuyu pretended to be calm as she reached for the cards, determined to grab the Joker and be King, then let someone else have a turn.

But just as her hand touched the cards, someone snatched the Joker away even faster.

“I’m the King?” Sang Tian’s delighted voice rang out.

“?”

Song Qiuyu was stunned.

She looked at the only card left on the table and reluctantly picked it up.

Spade.

Forget it, there’d be another chance.

Sang Tian glanced between the four people waiting for her order, cards still face down in their hands.

“Let me think… This round, Spade lies on the floor, and Red Heart does twenty push-ups on top of Spade!”

Song Qiuyu: “?”

She stared at Sang Tian in shock.

Wait a minute…

King’s Game is supposed to be about chance and excitement, but this mini-game is a bit much…

Hold on, Spade and Red Heart?!

She was Spade.

So that meant…

Xie Zhuran looked at his Diamond, then at Lin An, who shook his head and flipped his Club over for everyone to see.

That left Jiang Xiao and…

Xie Zhuran pressed a hand to his forehead.

Why was it Jiang Xiao and Song Qiuyu again…

This wasn’t how the Script was supposed to go.

“So who are Spade and Red Heart?” Sang Tian asked.

“I’m Spade,” Song Qiuyu replied, keeping her expression under control, looking like a martyr.

If she had to be underneath, so be it. It was just a game. Worst case, she could close her eyes and get through it.

Twenty push-ups would be over quickly.

Xie Zhuran flipped his Diamond over for everyone to see.

Now all eyes were on Jiang Xiao.

Song Qiuyu: “…”

Promise me, don’t draw cards like this next time.

Four people at the table were numb.

Only Sang Tian was beaming.

Jiang Xiao turned his Red Heart card over and put it back on the table, not bothering to comment.

“All right, hurry up and get those push-ups done. It’s only twenty,” Xie Zhuran said, patting Jiang Xiao’s shoulder with a hint of sympathy.

Lin An gave him an encouraging look from the side.

Don’t worry.

Once these twenty are done, next round we’ll make sure it’s Qiuyu and Sang Tian’s turn!

They still had a chance.

“Yeah, Jiang Xiao, don’t stress. Just pretend I’m a human-shaped wooden plank!”

With that, Song Qiuyu took a deep breath, found a spot on the floor, and lay down.

Jiang Xiao didn’t move.

“Come on, let’s get this over with!” Song Qiuyu patted the floor beside her, urging him on.

The sooner they finished, the sooner they could move on to the next round.

Jiang Xiao really did see her as a human-shaped plank.

He sighed and finally walked over.

He crouched beside her, one hand bracing himself near her face, keeping a little distance.

Even without touching her, the breeze from his arm passing by brushed Song Qiuyu’s cheek and ear, making her feel a strange, ticklish sensation.

Song Qiuyu frowned slightly, her gaze firm as she watched Jiang Xiao nimbly flip his body over her, his other arm brushing past her ear, stirring the air.

Jiang Xiao easily got into push-up position above her. Song Qiuyu clenched her hands at her sides.

With Jiang Xiao looming above, Song Qiuyu instinctively held her breath, her heart beating faster.

He was about to start.