A lone lamp, the round table, war.
Playing card, scarlet, and smiles shrouded in shadow beneath the light.
At that moment, in the lounge of Stone Marrow Hall, Huai Shi stared blankly downward at the handful of cards in his hand, dyed into four colors by bizarre hues, as he heard a voice beside him.
"Your turn, Huai Shi."
With those words, around the round table, one scarlet-covered face after another lifted to look in his direction.
Smiling.
As though passing down a sentence of death.
Huai Shi closed his eyes and swallowed in despair.
After that brief bustle and merriment.
Happiness was no more.
.
The original plan had been perfect.
After exhausting every effort in agonizing thought, Huai Shi had found the sole correct answer among countless paths leading to despair—everyone would eat hot pot, sing songs, and spend a wonderful evening together.
And the evening really had been wonderful.
And joyful.
Everyone had eaten and drunk to their hearts' content amid the lavish feast, enjoying the banquet in ease and delight, as though the entire world were free of gloom.
Unfortunately... no feast lasted forever.
Even the finest meal had to end.
Especially with the older generation drinking one another under the table, quite a few people had already bowed out before the banquet was even halfway through.
As they bade their polite farewells one by one, the formerly lively and boisterous Stone Marrow Hall gradually returned to silence.
Like reefs hidden beneath the tide emerging once the waters receded.
After Lin Zhongxiaowu ignored his teacher's pleading gaze and dragged his girlfriend away, Yuan Yuan also politely took Anna by the hand and said goodbye. Thus, only the guests staying the night remained in the warm, comfortable lounge...
The night deepened.
Huai Shi could feel his bones