One day, I'll teach you a few player tricks

Although Li Zongsheng had died during the Republican era, he had witnessed technological progress, and based on his past experience, he had accurately concluded that-

There was definitely something fishy about the contact labels in Jian Ran's phone.

A long, long time ago, because he had dated too many women (more than the number he had just given), he was always mixing up their names. Then inspiration had struck: he would take a photograph of every old flame and label it with an easy-to-remember nickname.

Li Zongsheng thought the labels in Jian Ran's phone served much the same purpose as his labeled black-and-white photographs. His ghostly eyes widened despite himself. "Brother, you're one of my kind!"

"How many boats are you juggling?"

Jian Ran slowly raised his head, an inscrutable smile curling his lips. Then his thin lips formed the words, "Get back there and kneel."

"Sure thing." Li Zongsheng obediently floated away at once.

Just as he was about to kneel, a sinister gust blew through the window that had not been shut properly. He turned toward it in terror, then vanished on the spot the next second.

Jian Ran saw it happen without so much as flinching. He opened his palm and began calculating with his thumb. A moment later, he stood up,

And swore, "Fuck, missed the timing again."

Before his words had faded, he had left the room.

Bai Jingchuan was extremely displeased that his call had been hung up on.

In the past, whenever he returned to the country after a competition, Jian Ran could never wait to contact him, desperate to pick him up at the airport and arrange a celebration.

Yet this time, there had not been a peep?

Even if he was busy filming a show and could not get away,

He should at least have called, right?

Even if he had no time to call, now that Bai Jingchuan had deigned to contact him first, shouldn't he have answered immediately, overwhelmed with gratitude?!

Why had he pressed the hang-up button?!

What on earth was that guy thinking?!

Bai Jingchuan frowned irritably and opened the Lucky Inn livestream, searching the screen for that familiar figure. Suddenly, he spotted someone else.

"Ji Yuanming?!"

"He went too?!"

Beside him, his assistant nodded like a chick pecking grain. "He joined later. I heard another guest is arriving tonight."

"They've already announced it on the official Weibo account."

Bai Jingchuan turned his head with a mirthless smile. "Don't tell me it's Yu Fengyi?"

His assistant marveled, "Boss, how did you guess so accurately?!"

That business magnate and eligible bachelor had never appeared on any variety show. Who could have predicted he would bring his own funding to join Lucky Inn?!

Could his boss tell fortunes?!

Bai Jingchuan scoffed. "Just how desperate for company is he?!"

He had actually gone on a variety show to find a stand-in?

Pathetic!

As fellow suitors of Zhong Fanrui, the three of them naturally knew one another.

After all, high society was only so big. Every family's dirty laundry could become the talk of the town, let alone three people liking the same person.

The same principle applied to Jian Ran.

His excessive resemblance to Zhong Fanrui meant he could not escape being targeted.

After discovering Jian Ran, the likes of Yu Fengyi, Ji Yuanming, and Bai Jingchuan had all wanted to hide him away and keep him to themselves, briefly soothing their longing.

But as time passed, they felt unbearably ashamed, guilty over betraying their pure, unblemished love for their ideal beloved. Their attitudes grew hostile and impatient, and they wished Jian Ran would disappear from the world along with their own filthy thoughts...

After coming downstairs from his room, Jian Ran headed straight for the kitchen.

The moment he appeared, he saw everyone huddled together in nervous terror. He raised an eyebrow. "What are you looking at me for? Is dinner ready?"

"Almost, Jian Ran. Why don't you wait on the sofa?" The sycophantic Du Yunmeng spoke first, forcing an exceptionally fawning smile.

The others nodded along, chiming in, "Jian Ran, go get some rest. Leave this to us!"

"Thank you for working so hard all this time..."

Rubbing his face in the corner, Ji Yuanming frowned, his expression sour. He truly could not understand why Jian Ran had suddenly become so charismatic. Everyone not only obeyed his every word but also revered and feared him.

Was it really because of that supernatural charlatan routine?

Hah, they're all people with higher education.

Yet a fortune-teller has them running in circles.

Ridiculous!

"I'm tired. I'm going upstairs to rest. Don't call me for dinner."

Ji Yuanming's voice was thick with dissatisfaction. With that, he headed out of the kitchen.

His tall, six-foot-three figure was about to disappear around the corner, yet not a single person spoke up to ask him anything.

Am I invisible to them?!

Ignored for the first time, Ji Yuanming looked back indignantly and saw the guests in the kitchen behaving with particular obedience under Jian Ran's direction, each busy with an orderly task.

Meanwhile, Lu Yanting was quietly approaching Jian Ran, the ambition in his expression plain to see. He cast a provocative glance Ji Yuanming's way, looking indescribably smug and thoroughly deserving of a punch.

Ji Yuanming clenched his fists and opened his mouth to say something, only to hear Li Yuan answer a call.

"President Yu, where are you? Mountain fog? I don't see any." He looked out the window. "It's clear here. The full moon and stars are really bright!"

"Ah, no problem. Take your time driving. We're in no hurry. We'll save you some dinner. Yes, yes, stay safe. All right, goodbye."

Bowing and scraping before capital, Li Yuan hung up, then turned to discover Ji Yuanming standing beside him with a long face.

Startled, Li Yuan stammered, "Y-Yuanming, what's wrong?"

"Who's President Yu? Don't tell me it's Yu Fengyi?" Ji Yuanming's smile did not reach his eyes.

Hearing that, Li Yuan hurried to explain, "Oh, Yuanming, I forgot to let you know. We have another new guest."

"You guessed right. It's President Yu Fengyi. What, do you two know each other? You're good friends, right?"

Ji Yuanming sneered. "Very good indeed."

That bastard really has a keen nose. He followed the scent all the way here?!

How utterly vile!

Jian Ran's hearing was exceptionally sharp. Having overheard Li Yuan's phone call, he scoffed. "Save him dinner, my ass. He could go in circles all night and still not get out."

"With bad luck possessing him, would the ghosts let him go?"

As he muttered to himself, he caught sight of a tall figure rapidly approaching beside him. A cool voice followed. "You know Yu Fengyi well too?"

"An ex-boyfriend." Jian Ran curled his lips, his tone utterly unconcerned.

Lu Yanting's face darkened for an instant. "You've certainly had quite a love life."

Jian Ran lifted his eyelids and shot him a sidelong look. "Jealous?"

Jealous of my wealth of experience?

"A little."

Lu Yanting's voice was low and cool, yet the light in his dark eyes burned hot, as though it could pass through Jian Ran's skin and sear the very tip of his heart.

Jian Ran froze, then awkwardly looked away and cleared his throat. "Ahem, ahem. What's there to be jealous of?"

"One day, I'll teach you a few Sea King tricks."

As Jian Ran spoke, something suddenly occurred to him. A sly smile curled his lips as he looked back at Lu Yanting. "Don't tell me you've never dated anyone your whole life?"

It had only been a joke, but Lu Yanting nodded with a solemn, earnest expression. "Mm. I really haven't."