The expression on Su’s face was indifferent; he didn’t even furrow his brow. However, everyone present understood what he meant by “resolve.” Beautiful people’s spouses have husbands, and in order to climb the social ladder, he would eliminate someone else’s husband and take their place… It truly is the same method.
After Su finished speaking, the task was deemed complete. Clearly, “replacing someone as the beautiful person’s husband” was a secret that met the requirements. Their spinning wheel game had temporarily ended, and the indicator had not moved, displaying a snow-like static image on the screen reminiscent of an old television.
According to the requirements on the invitation, they had successfully completed the game without any casualties, ignoring the feelings of a certain contestant. However, the system notification sound had not gone off.
Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow. He was about to say something when Ke Li interjected.
“Isn’t he going to find out that you killed his husband?” The young man, with handsome features but a hint of naivety, looked fixedly at Su, staring at his gloomy face. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out?”
Yan Chuan’s eyelids twitched. Ke Li’s question was somewhat aggressive, and since the task was complete, there was no need to ask Su any more questions. Yan Chuan pursed his lips, sensing that the situation was precarious. He once feared that Su would say something that might provoke Dan Qi and Tang Zhen, but now it seemed that the one most likely to be triggered was actually Ke Li.
After all, aside from Jiang Qi, he was the only one in the dark. Ke Li’s temper, defined within the script, had not been great to begin with. It had improved slightly after meeting him, but he still held onto that indifference towards others, often disregarding their feelings.
Yan Chuan frowned. The others at the table were clearly curious about this issue as well.
“Additionally,” Ke Li slowed his speech, suddenly bringing up another matter. He looked at Su and questioned, “Is the ‘beautiful person’s husband’ you mentioned the same person?”
“Is he also here? Otherwise, why do you keep bringing him up?”
Though it was a question, the tone was particularly certain. Tang Zhen’s previously smiling face froze, replaced by a more profound expression.
[Of course it is!]
[Nope, darling is my wife alone; don’t overthink it.]
[Beautiful person’s husband, secret lover, dead husband—only an eSports pup would guess, right?]
[Poor darling, why is he always targeted by bad men?]
[It’s such a pity the dead husband didn’t come along; otherwise, as the first one wearing a green hat, it would have led to a big fight.]
The atmosphere grew even more awkward. Ke Li not only questioned whether the beautiful person’s husband was the same person but also brazenly asked if the person was present. With only six contestants at the long table, if we excluded those involved in the task, it left only one suspected participant.
He was the most delicate and beautiful among everyone present and had the most reserved and introverted demeanor. In that instant, Yan Chuan felt the intense gaze directed at him heat up.
This wasn’t merely waiting for an answer; it was a conviction that the “beautiful person’s husband” mentioned by several contestants was indeed him. Yan Chuan bit his lip. How was he to know that contestants could meet NPCs in such a way?
Yet now, they were all waiting for an answer. Not just Su and Ke Li; even the magician Jiang Qi, who had always taken a “watching the fun” approach, fell silent, eagerly anticipating Yan Chuan’s explicit acknowledgment of “yes” or “no.”
If he said “yes,” they would all confirm that Yan Chuan was not only portraying the role of the husband in the script but had also, unfortunately, run into the husband and lover from the script again. They would have to hear repeated references in the task to what had been done to them in the script.
Yan Chuan lowered his eyelashes, hesitating about what to say. Was it feasible to simply deny it and claim ignorance? After all, he was just a helpless and pitiful contestant; how could he have known he would become entangled in such a dispute?
But now… the fervent glances directed at him felt like a weight on his back. Even if he denied it, would they really believe him?
His gaze met Jiang Qi’s eager expression, prompting Yan Chuan to forcefully speak up.
“Um,” he pointed at the spinning wheel on the table to remind, “the indicator seems to have moved again…”
His voice caught the attention of the others at the table, managing to divert the topic and shift their focus. Several pairs of eyes turned to him.
Indeed, the pointer was still turning. Unlike the previous rounds when the pointer decided the contestants’ tasks, this time, it moved particularly slowly and weakly, as if it were about to stop at any moment.
Yan Chuan held his breath. After a series of ticking sounds, the pointer finally stopped, precisely at the twelve o’clock position.
It didn’t point to any of the color segments. Yan Chuan frowned, puzzled. What did this mean? Were they going to issue directives even after completing the task?
His gaze scanned the faces of the others, finding similar expressions of confusion. Yan Chuan sighed in relief. Thankfully, they had not continued to press the issue of the “dead husband,” and Ke Li’s question had been interrupted.
However, out of the corner of his eye, Yan Chuan spotted a new line of characters reappearing on the display screen, causing his brow to furrow even more.
It clearly read:
[Casualty index not met; contestants please proceed to the punishment gate.]
Was there a requirement regarding casualties in the spinning wheel game for contestants? Even completing the game wasn’t enough?
Yan Chuan suddenly felt cold and involuntarily shook his shoulders. The discomfort that arose from contemplating the malice behind the task resurfaced, making him uneasy. The task was inherently malicious, subtly encouraging them to turn on each other. Putting contestants who had met before together and giving them the opportunity to harm one another… and now so boldly showcasing the malice.