Guan Wenyue could do nothing about Shen Ru.
He could certainly have lashed out in humiliation, but neither reason nor fairness would have justified it.
Shen Ru had indeed brought him valuable information, and it held up under scrutiny.
But he had also brought him genuine trouble. Just as the young man had said, it was not fatal, but it was thorny.
Diagonally across from Guan Wenyue's room was the unoccupied room beside the stairs.
After leaving Guan Wenyue's room, Shen Ru happened to see that the door opposite stood wide open. An eerie floral fragrance even drifted out for no apparent reason.
He had no desire to linger, and he was not particularly curious by nature. Stepping inside of his own accord meant trouble and entanglements. Only an idiot would go looking for ghosts.
But just as he was about to turn a blind eye, a man's moan suddenly broke the silence of the Long Corridor.
Shen Ru: ...Seriously?
If there really was someone in that room, he could rule out the Players.
That left only the Butler and Mr. Leon...
Rrrip-
The piercing sound of fabric tearing rang out.
Shen Ru's feet carried him slowly toward the doorway against his will. He held his breath tightly and crept closer, his footsteps light.
When the Butler had shown them around, they had only taken a cursory look at each room beside the stairs, so he did not know what the layout inside was like.
Fortunately, the curtains had been drawn tightly shut. Even if someone entered, it would be difficult to notice them as long as they made no noise.
It was a suite. Clearly, this had originally been the Leons' master bedroom on the third floor.
The sounds came from the bedroom. Shen Ru hid quietly in the darkness, holding his breath as he peered through the gap in the door.
Two bodies were clearly entwined on the bed. One had the powerful, muscular build characteristic of a Westerner, and the Butler's smooth blond hair swayed constantly. Even from outside the door, Shen Ru could feel their restless urgency and heat.
Although he had never met Mr. Leon, he could determine by elimination that the man beneath the Butler was the master of this villa.
Just as Shen Ru was about to leave, the Butler abruptly turned his head, his gray-white eyes brimming with delighted excitement and a shuddering thrill.
In the darkness, his gaze met those dark red eyes.
Suddenly, deafening pants echoed throughout the room.
Shen Ru's pupils contracted sharply, and he fled the scene.
Fuck. They were all fucking perverts.
Whether it was leaving the door open or doing it with Mr. Leon.
Both disgusted Shen Ru.
In the Livestream Room:
[Guys... all I saw was a mass of pixels, but I'm certain my wife got scared out of his mind...]
[Hahahahaha, he usually looks so wild and unhinged, but it turns out he's a total noob.]
[Curiosity killed the cat. All I want is the uncensored original!!!]
[Kick the person above out!!!]
[Holy shit, am I the only one shocked by what just happened???]
[This Butler really gets freaky. I understand this Instance less and less...]
Shen Ru returned to his room, his face pale. The moment he opened the door, his eyes met those of the others.
Seeing his sickly complexion, Wei Lanxing hurriedly asked, "What happened to you? Did that old Butler beat you up???"
He had been fine until she mentioned it. At the mention of the Butler, the scene he had just witnessed flooded back, and his face visibly paled further.
A vibrant rose now looked like a frost-wilted eggplant, utterly drooping.
Wei Lanxing looked him over from every angle. Once she confirmed he had no wounds, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm really curious who managed to do this to you. Just humor me and give me a laugh. Come on, tell me."
Shen Ru gave the blue-eyed girl a look he could not put into words. I want gossip was written all over her face.
Sure enough, girls gave off gossip vibes no matter the circumstances.
He had just been about to speak, but the experience had been far too startling, and he had held his breath in intense concentration for too long. The sudden flow of air to his head brought a brief spell of dizziness.
His vision suddenly went black, and his body went limp as he began falling backward.
A Black Shadow shot out from behind Wei Lanxing, wrapped around his slender waist, and caught him before he could fall.
"...Are you really okay?" Wei Lanxing asked cautiously.
His face deathly pale, the young man used the support to stand and shook his head.
"I'm fine..."
Wei Lanxing: ...No, you look like you're about to die.
After a sip of water, Shen Ru finally recovered. With complete seriousness and solemnity, he carefully recounted everything he had just seen.
He had thought everyone would focus on the affair between the Butler and Mr. Leon, or on what the room beside the stairs was used for. Instead-
"Pfft-"
"Hahahahaha! Sweetheart, you're way too cute. That was all???"
Wei Lanxing laughed until her stomach hurt. Even Mo Yu, who usually put on such a respectable front, had considerable amusement in his eyes.
Shen Ru: "..."
Why wasn't this going the way I'd imagined?
Wei Lanxing had never expected the little menace who usually wreaked havoc everywhere to be a total noob who could faint from the shock of watching some adult action.
That contrast was just too adorable!
"Never been in a relationship?" Wei Lanxing looked ready to play the understanding big sister.
Shen Ru pursed his lips, unwilling to answer that question.
He had never liked anyone in his entire life, and no one would date a lunatic anyway.
In the end, sensing the atmosphere growing awkward, Qi Ning changed the subject in time.
"So the room facing the stairs is specifically set aside for Mr. Leon and the Butler?"
Shen Ru nodded, lowering his lashes. He could not figure out what role Mr. Leon played in all of this.
On the surface, this Instance was peaceful and harmonious. The loving couple were warm and hospitable, inviting Players into their home every year.
But what hostess would put herself in danger to guide Players through the Selection Phase?
What connection was there between the eerie floral scent on the Butler and the rose vines?
Was Mr. Leon doing this willingly, or was he being forced?
But there was one thing Shen Ru could be sure of: Mrs. Leon definitely knew about their affair. Unleashing their animal instincts in the room beside the stairs, indulging in such brazenly perverse behavior without closing the door or windows-she must have tacitly permitted it.
"When you took part in the Instance last year, did anything unpleasant happen between the Leons?"
Shen Ru raised his head, his clear eyes fixed on Mo Yu. He did not trust anyone else's answer. If possible, he wanted to hear it from the man.
Feeling the young man's earnest gaze, Mo Yu suddenly remembered how his cat had looked when it wanted canned food back when he was little.
"No, but when last year's Instance ended, the Leons lost their only daughter."
Qi Ning abruptly caught on. A wild idea flashed through his mind, and he stared at the young man in disbelief.
"You suspect that last year's changes caused things to develop this way this year?"
Shen Ru nodded.
"That's impossible. Nothing like that has ever happened."
Wei Lanxing shook her head in denial. She had attended the Tea Party three times, and each had been a separate story.
The man interrupted their speculation, his voice cool, low, and resonant.
"Perhaps asking Mrs. Leon would clear things up."
Before you continue