Bad Luck

"You guys are way too savage!" Du Shen couldn't help complaining. If he hadn't scooped things up so quickly, he probably wouldn't have gotten a single bite.

Xue Jingshu shot him a sidelong glance but said nothing.

Xiao Xu and Zhou Zhou sat together, dividing up what they scooped from the pot.

Shen Yanlang had scooped up three pieces, while Duan Xu had gotten two, but Shen Yanlang placed one in Duan Xu's bowl. "Eat more. It'll keep you warm."

Duan Xu looked at him, touched. "What about you? Aren't you going to eat more?"

"I'm an alpha. I can handle it." Shen Yanlang smiled faintly.

Duan Xu gave an embarrassed little cough and quietly thanked him, unable to stop himself from muttering inwardly, Why did he have to smile so nicely? Seriously!

Xue Jingshu put what he had picked up into Han Xi's bowl, then set his own bowl down and continued adding ingredients to the pot.

The scent of their hotpot drifted far, catching the attention of the other groups camping nearby. Some of them couldn't resist the temptation and went to the shop to get hotpot supplies too.

Conditions on the mountain were limited, and so were the ingredients they could bring up. Aside from these meatballs, there were only a few vegetables, lamb slices, and fatty beef slices, but it was already quite good.

As Duan Xu ate, he couldn't help glancing at Shen Yanlang. Noticing, Shen Yanlang asked, "What's wrong?"

"I thought you didn't eat things like this."

Shen Yanlang came from a good family, and Du Shen and Xue Jingshu were much the same. They had grown up surrounded by luxury. They had gone out for hotpot together before, and Shen Yanlang would only order fresh ingredients. Things like these meatballs were not fresh to him, perhaps not even sanitary.

Shen Yanlang understood and said gently, "It's fine once in a while."

"Besides, if I don't eat, I'll go hungry." Shen Yanlang smiled as he spoke.

Duan Xu smiled too. That was true. Under the current circumstances, who could afford to be so particular?

After two rounds of eating, everyone finally stopped being so savage, and their pace slowed down.

"Just eating like this is boring. How about we play a game?" Ye Xinyu suggested.

After swallowing a mouthful, Zhou Zhou asked, "What game?"

Du Shen gave a sly grin. "Of course, Truth or Dare!"

"Nothing original." Xue Jingshu showed no interest.

But Shen Yanlang was tempted and was the first to agree. "I think it's a good idea."

Whether it's Truth or Dare, I can get closer to Xuxu.

Duan Xu: "..."

Everyone's gazes immediately fell on the two of them, their expressions full of understanding.

Duan Xu spoke cautiously. "I think..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Zhou immediately cut in. "I think it's a good idea!"

Xiao Xu said, "Same."

Du Shen raised his hand. "Same!"

Ye Xinyu said, "Same, same!"

Xue Jingshu said, "Same."

Han Xi said, "Same."

Duan Xu: "???"

Hadn't Xue Jingshu just said it wasn't original?

And Han Xi had actually said "same" too?!

Shen Yanlang couldn't help smiling. Though he already knew the answer, he asked, "Xuxu, what were you about to say?"

"...I think it's fine." What else could Duan Xu say? He couldn't exactly be the only one refusing to play.

Seeing this, Xue Jingshu directly laid down the rules. "We'll shake dice on our phones. The highest and lowest rolls win. The highest roll asks a question or gives a dare, and the lowest roll answers the question or completes the dare."

"Each person can choose Truth at most four times. Once those chances are used up, you can only choose Dare."

Xiao Xu asked in confusion, "Why four times?"

Han Xi, who rarely spoke, said, "Half the number of people."

Xue Jingshu curled his lips. "Exactly."

The group exchanged looks, feeling as if they had just been fed a mouthful of dog food.

Once the rules were set, the game began. They shook dice directly in the group chat, making it obvious who had rolled highest and lowest.

After the first round, Duan Xu's luck was fairly good. He landed somewhere in the middle, so it had nothing to do with him.

Han Xi had the highest roll, while Ye Xinyu had the lowest.

"I didn't expect the first one to be me!" Ye Xinyu let out a mournful sigh. "I choose... Dare."

Han Xi thought for a moment before saying, "Sing a song."

That was too easy. Du Shen was dissatisfied and winked suggestively. "Sister-in-law, this is such a good opportunity. Help me out. When it's my turn, I'll definitely help you too!"

"Get lost!" Ye Xinyu smacked Du Shen. "I already said it. No changing it!"

Du Shen rubbed the arm she had hit and gave a pitiful little "oh."

Duan Xu and the others burst out laughing at the sight.

Ye Xinyu began singing. The others ate while listening, making Ye Xinyu swat Du Shen as she sang and tell him to scoop some food for her.

Shen Yanlang glanced sideways at Duan Xu beside him and picked a slice of fatty beef from the pot into his bowl. "Eat this."

"Mm, you eat too," Duan Xu said without ceremony.

Shen Yanlang didn't move. He just watched Duan Xu eat, his gaze intent.

His lips are red again, all glossy too. I want to kiss him.

When I get the chance later, I have to kiss him!

Duan Xu paused mid-bite, then looked up at Shen Yanlang. "Eat your own food. Don't look at me."

"Okay, I won't look." Shen Yanlang smiled and withdrew his gaze.

Xuxu gets embarrassed so easily.

Hmph! And whose fault was that? His head was full of perverted thoughts!

After the song ended, everyone applauded enthusiastically. Ye Xinyu had sung well, and her voice was sweet.

The second round began. Xue Jingshu rolled the highest, while Du Shen rolled the lowest.

The moment Du Shen saw Xue Jingshu, he knew the man was up to no good. Without thinking, he said, "I choose Truth."

Xue Jingshu smiled slightly. "When did you lose your first kiss?"

As soon as the question fell, Ye Xinyu shyly lowered her head. Du Shen, on the other hand, answered generously. He was even surprised that Xue Jingshu hadn't made things difficult for him. "During National Day."

Duan Xu: "???"

Because Duan Xu's astonished expression was far too obvious, Du Shen looked over. "What's with that look of surprise?"

"Hm?" Ye Xinyu looked up, temporarily forgetting her embarrassment.

Duan Xu immediately reined in his surprised expression, but before he could speak, Shen Yanlang explained for him. "At the amusement park that day, he was the bear."

The two of them froze for a moment, then realized it at the same time and exclaimed in unison, "So it was you!"

"I was wondering why you wanted us to leave first that day. Heh heh!" Du Shen shot Shen Yanlang a sidelong glance.

Shen Yanlang's expression remained unchanged. "Didn't I help you two out?"

Du Shen and Ye Xinyu: "..." They couldn't even refute that.

Zhou Zhou was extremely curious. "What happened? You guys had met before?"

Duan Xu gave a light cough and briefly explained what had happened that day. Only then did the other four understand.

Then came the third round, the fourth round...

They played more than ten rounds in a row, and the hotpot was nearly finished. Everyone had taken a turn, except Duan Xu and Shen Yanlang.

"Someone's having terrible luck today!" Du Shen mocked mercilessly.

Shen Yanlang was deeply frustrated. He had thought he could take the chance to get close to Duan Xu, but it had all been wishful thinking.

Duan Xu secretly smiled. His luck today really was great!

"We're done eating. Let's clean up the food and trash first. Once we're finished, we'll go into the tents. It's too cold outside," Xue Jingshu said as he stood.

Although the hotpot had kept them warm, they were still out in an open field, and the temperature was low to begin with. They couldn't endure it for long.

No one objected. They all got up and began cleaning up the trash.