“Not heading back to the past for now, I’ll grab something quick for lunch. Got a dinner plan this afternoon.”
As he was thinking, his phone started buzzing with messages.
Su Mengmeng: Everyone free? Let’s play a murder mystery this afternoon! @All
Tong Muxuan: I’m good!
Luo Jun: I’m free too ^o^
Lu Zheng was planning to start practising the Cold Condensation Curse in the afternoon, so he was about to decline.
Lin Wan: Xiu Min and I are free, Lu Zheng, come along? We can head to dinner together after @Lu Zheng
Meanwhile, Huang Xiumin, who shared a flat with Lin Wan, pinched her arm, slightly springy. “If you want to chase a guy, go yourself. Why drag me along? I just want to stay home and binge dramas.”
“Binge later tonight. It’s a nice day, perfect for going out. Bring you to dinner, Captain Li’s a diamond bachelor, put in some effort and snag him!”
“Tch, not interested in stone-cold straight guys.”
Back to the moment, seeing all five were going, Lu Zheng didn’t want to spoil the fun. He had plenty of time, so one afternoon wouldn’t matter.
Lu Zheng: Alright, where are we meeting?
Su Mengmeng: Still at Fulong Plaza, 11:30. Lunch together?
Everyone replied “ok,” and it was settled.
Lu Zheng stowed the suitcase full of “handicrafts” against the wall, checked the time, and, with nothing else to do, skimmed through the Cold Condensation Curse for a basic understanding.
…
11:30 AM.
Unlike last time, when Lu Zheng arrived, he saw Tong Muxuan and Su Mengmeng sharing a coffee at an outdoor café table.
One sip for you, one for me!
Lu Zheng’s mouth twitched, and he said in unison with another girl nearby, “Lovebirds!”
Turning, he saw Luo Jun.
“You two didn’t come together?”
“Nope.” Luo Jun sighed. “Mengmeng’s even started staying out all night.”
Lu Zheng scratched his nose, a bit itchy.
“Everyone’s here, pretty punctual.”
From the street, a taxi pulled up, and Lin Wan and Huang Xiumin stepped out.
Tong Muxuan spotted the four, pulled Su Mengmeng up, and they joined the group.
“What’s for lunch?”
“Wherever’s less crowded.”
“Makes sense!”
They found a quieter Zhejiang restaurant and ate quickly.
“Is the afternoon game booked?”
“Booked! Booked!” Su Mengmeng nodded repeatedly. It was her plan, her responsibility. “Different place this time, a horror game in the afternoon, new script!”
“How many players?”
“Six to eight. Besides us, two strangers.”
“Such profiteers, managing to fill the slots!”
“New script, lots of people want to try it.”
…
“Hello, you booked *Ghost Lovers*, right?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait a few minutes, the other two guests aren’t here yet. We’ll nudge them.”
“No need, we’re here!”
Two men pushed through the door.
Lu Zheng’s eyes caught a flash of light—blimey, male models? Each handsomer than the other!
Both over 1.8 metres, fair-skinned, tall and upright, with sharp features and electrifying eyes.
Lu Zheng noticed their refined outfits, the logos on their watches standing out.
Bloody hell! These types are the worst!
“Great, everyone’s here. Let’s start.”
The host stepped in. “*Ghost Lovers* requires four men and four women, playing four couples. You can pair up now, or draw lots if it’s tricky.”
Tong Muxuan and Su Mengmeng held hands, clearly a set pair.
Seeing the two dashing models, Luo Jun’s eyes lit up, but she stayed reserved, saying nothing.
“Hi, I’m Luo Liang. Want to pair up?” one model asked Luo Jun.
“Sure, what a coincidence, I’m Luo Jun.”
“Haha, too funny, we’re family from 500 years ago! Your accent, Haicheng native?”
“Yep.”
“I am too.”
“Hi, I’m Dong Jun. Can we pair up?” the other model asked Lin Wan.
Lin Wan shook her head and turned to Lu Zheng. “Us together?”
Her beautiful eyes met his, and Lu Zheng’s heart skipped. He nodded, “Sure!”
Huang Xiumin gritted her teeth, whispering to Lin Wan, “Two spa sessions!”
“Deal!”
So the last pair was Dong Jun and Huang Xiumin.
“Alright, pairs decided. Now choose characters and read the script. Follow me.” The host led them to the game setting.
*Ghost Lovers* was about a couple who moved in together, but the man fell for someone else, driving the woman mad. She and the other woman killed the original girlfriend.
The catch: the dead woman kept her boyfriend’s identity secret, but all four men had been involved with her at some point.
To find the killer, the four men, with their current girlfriends, came to the apartment where the murder happened.
“Tch, this script’s well-written, perfect for a murder mystery.”
“Heard the writer used to do online novels, always flopped.”
“Heh, online novels, dead end.”
…
To Lu Zheng’s surprise, the two model-like guys had solid acting, logic, and eloquence, not just relying on looks.
As the plot unfolded, hidden clues surfaced.
This time, Lin Wan and Huang Xiumin didn’t guess the evidence early but followed the host’s pace until the end.
“Thrilling!”
“Didn’t expect that motive.”
“Caught with a fatal weakness, murder to silence makes sense.”
“Tch, everyone’s a villain!”
Four hours later, the game ended.
“Any plans tonight? Want to grab dinner?” Luo Liang asked the group, his eyes on Luo Jun.
“We’ve got a dinner. My boss is treating Lu Zheng,” Lin Wan declined.
“Your boss?” Tong Muxuan was surprised. Wasn’t Lin Wan a cop?
“Yeah, Lu Zheng helped with a case,” Lin Wan said.
“A case, you’re…?” Dong Jun, seeing Lin Wan and Lu Zheng weren’t close in the game, hadn’t given up.
“Police.”
Dong Jun swallowed hard, silent. Couldn’t mess with that.
“Alright, you guys go ahead.”
With Lu Zheng and Lin Wan having business, the others couldn’t hold them back.
So Lu Zheng, Lin Wan, and Huang Xiumin said goodbye and left, while the rest planned to eat together.
“Not gonna lie, those two were pretty fit,” Huang Xiumin said with interest in the taxi. “Looks like Luo Jun’s smitten.”
“They seem like players,” Lin Wan said coolly.
Both turned to Lu Zheng.
1.8 metres tall, fair-skinned, handsome, model-like.
Tch, spot on, him too!
Lu Zheng: ⊙ω⊙
