The skilled magician, using a clever trick, draws the audience’s attention, quickly presenting the prop for display and receiving applause from confused spectators. He gives a “gift” to a lucky audience member.
However, in the resplendent hall, filled with countless silhouettes and the ticking of clocks, the atmosphere feels different. The long-haired magician flips the card over and shows it to everyone.
“Queen of Hearts,” Jiang Qi smiles ambiguously, “it’s the female ace.” Moments ago, he had been playing with a joker card; it seems the switch was due to using the card prop. But who is this “gift” meant for?
The props radiate throughout the venue, and even the participants of the spinning wheel game can’t help but glance over. The magician has taken 100 points from everyone present with an “invisible” task; who is the lucky audience member chosen last? Is the magician giving away points or something else?
The expressions on the contestants’ faces vary as they search for the lucky one. Their gazes converge on Table One. Jiang Qi is seated not far from Yan Chuan, and naturally, some notice the exceptionally beautiful young man with black hair next to the magician.
However, they are searching and do not focus too much on him, even though he possesses rare beauty. Yan Chuan lowers his eyelids. His expression remains unchanged, with his pale rose-colored lips pressed together, revealing a hint of conflict.
Yan Chuan sits upright, hands resting on his knees, his legs together. He moves slightly and silently closes his palm. Something has fallen into his hand. It is soft, with a cool touch. Yan Chuan’s fingertips tremble.
Almost as soon as Jiang Qi finishes speaking, he feels something suddenly appear in his palm. It’s a flower branch. The thorns on the stem have been removed, ground down patiently to eliminate any potentially harmful spots on the bloom. It is tied with a delicate satin ribbon.
The flower bud is perfectly opened, and fresh dew still clings to the petals, falling with a simple touch. The dew drops onto Yan Chuan’s thigh.
He feels his clothes dampened slightly, clinging to his skin. With a pursed lip, he has no choice but to lift the flower branch for all to see.
Yan Chuan looks down. It is a vividly red rose.
“Here,” Yan Chuan has to display the flower branch: “it’s a rose.” His white fingers hold the bright rose, displaying it in front of everyone.
Curious gazes search for the “gift.” Yan Chuan places the rose on the long table. A red rose that appeared out of nowhere. It even bears a hint of fresh dew, as if just picked. Yet, the soft thorns are removed, and it is carefully tied with a satin ribbon.
The rose is about to bloom, the petal color resembling the richest blush. Against the pure white tablecloth, it appears vibrant and stunning. The recipient of the flower branch is a beautiful young man with porcelain skin. For some reason, a faint blush tints his cheeks, overlaying the delicate shade beneath, the hue even more brilliant than the petals before him.
“So this is it.” The magician seemed surprised, raising his eyebrows.
In that instant, Yan Chuan feels even more gazes fixated on him. Jiang Qi… doesn’t he know what the “gift” using the card was? Would others suspect that the stolen points had found their way into his possession?
Yan Chuan has no time to ponder, standing under the gaze of so many people, he pushes the rose toward Jiang Qi.
“Yours.” He states simply, gently shaking his head to indicate he does not need it.
His delicate, pinkish fingers linger on the table for a moment, the skin whiter than the tablecloth beneath. Uncertain if it’s due to exertion, his palm reflects a soft peach pink. With a slight movement of his wrist, his fingers withdraw again.
Jiang Qi does not move. He smiles slightly and does not take back the rose Yan Chuan offered.
“This is a gift,” Jiang Qi continues, “this card was obtained from a circus script, and gifts are randomly given; they cannot be taken back.”
He opens his palm, showing the Queen of Hearts card to Yan Chuan. Jiang Qi’s words mean he won’t take back the “gift.” Yan Chuan can only nod in agreement.
Fortunately, other contestants also need to focus on the spinning wheel on the long table; the brief interlude quickly fades away. The tension eases, and Yan Chuan breathes a sigh of relief.
Though losing 100 points is no small matter, compared to the more damaging cards, this loss is acceptable. No one else seems interested in pursuing the inquiry into the lost 100 points; after all, their game on the spinning wheel is not yet complete.
With this thought, Yan Chuan redirects his gaze to the spinning wheel on the long table.
Next up is Dan Qi. Yan Chuan watches as the pointer spins and glances at Dan Qi. Since entering the villa, he hasn’t found a chance to speak with him and just exposed his “leveling strategy” through the spinning wheel’s task.
Dan Qi had been his underground lover in the first script and must understand the implications of his words. After hearing Yan Chuan’s convoluted, unfocused narration, he must sense something is amiss.
Entering the script and taking on a character completely oppositional to the NPCs, but entangled with several NPCs in the script as if involved in romantic relations. They had just exchanged glances, but now Yan Chuan wonders whether Dan Qi will inquire about more details when they return.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Yan Chuan lowers his head.
The pointer stops.