Chapter 23: Counterattack
After several rounds of the King’s Game, it was Shen Zhouyue and Yu Tingzhou who bore the brunt of the punishment in almost every turn.
Shen Zhouyueâs face and neckâbasically any exposed skinâwere flushed red.
Yu Tingzhou wasnât faring much better; the area behind his ears was crimson.
They exchanged a glance, both realizing there was a problem.
Even if their luck was terrible, it was statistically impossible for them to be the ones punished in every single round! And every time, the numbers called just happened to be theirs.
“Lingfeng, give me the cards in your hand. I’ll be the referee.”
Yu Tingzhouâs tone carried a hint of knowing sharpness as his gaze swept over the few people who had been jeering the loudest.
“No need, right? Isn’t it fine if Iâm the referee?”
“It is fine, but the candidates for punishment seem remarkably fixed, don’t they?”
As soon as Yu Tingzhou said this, the others realized their little tricks had been discovered. Embarrassed expressions involuntarily appeared on several faces.
“Maybe you guys just have bad luck today? Didn’t I accept a few punishments earlier too?”
“Is that so?”
Yu Tingzhou wore a gentle smile on his lips, but his tone wasn’t gentle in the slightest. “I just feel it’s a pity that Lingfeng has been the referee the whole time and hasn’t had a chance to play with us. I want him to participate too.”
Xu Lingfeng gave a sheepish smile and handed the cards to Yu Tingzhou.
“Since Brother Yu puts it that way, then you can be the referee, and I’ll play a few rounds with everyone!”
Yu Tingzhou took the cards and dealt them calmly.
The one who drew the King card was Shen Zhouyue.
He looked at the others with a well-behaved smile. “Number 6 must stroke Number 3’s chest with one hand and say, ‘Brother, let’s play tonight.’ Remember to make your tone ambiguous and flirtatious.”
The ones who drew Number 3 and Number 6 happened to be the two people who had been jeering the loudest earlier.
Shen Zhouyue looked so obedient, and his voice was soft and gentle; no one expected him to come up with such a punishment.
The two punished players, braving the awkwardness, completed the request Shen Zhouyue had set.
In the following rounds, the tables turned completely. In every game, Shen Zhouyue was the King, and those who had stirred up trouble were the ones punished.
Everyone realized this was Yu Tingzhou and Shen Zhouyueâs revenge.
They were now so embarrassed they just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Xu Lingfeng, who had the best relationship with them, sidled up to Shen Zhouyue with an ingratiating smile. “Zhouyue, I know I was wrong. Please stop messing with us.”
“We were just joking with you!”
The others chimed in, trying to gloss over what had happened earlier.
But Yu Tingzhou was not one to be trifled with. Even though he had already retaliated, he didn’t forget to look at the crowd and say meaningfully, “I really look forward to the day you all find partners.”
The group immediately decided that even if they found partners, they couldn’t let Yu Tingzhou know.
Some of the previous punishments had been too humiliating, and after completing them, Shen Zhouyue had kept drinking water to alleviate his awkwardness.
Now, the consequences of drinking too much water were becoming apparent.
He leaned into Yu Tingzhouâs ear and whispered, “Where is the restroom here?”
Yu Tingzhou glanced at Shen Zhouyue and immediately realized the situation.
“I’ll take you.”
Saying that, he made to stand up.
“No need, just point me in the direction.”
If they left together, who knew what these gossip-mongers would think? He didn’t want to come back only to be teased again.
Seeing Shen Zhouyueâs determination, Yu Tingzhou didn’t insist on following and simply told him the direction of the restroom.
After noting the direction, Shen Zhouyue got up and left.
Once he had relieved himself, he saw the young girl who had looked so despondent earlier upon hearing that Yu Tingzhou was married.
The girl was leaning against the corridor wall, her head lowered, looking incredibly downcast.
Shen Zhouyue intended to avoid her, but she suddenly looked up and walked straight toward him.
Looks like sheâs looking for me, Shen Zhouyue realized immediately.
“Is something the matter?”
Seeing the girl standing in front of him without saying a word, constantly sizing him up, Shen Zhouyue looked very helpless.
He felt that if he didn’t speak first, she might stand there until the end of time.
“I… I just want to know, what makes you so special? Why would Brother Tingzhou be with you!”
As soon as the girl spoke, her voice carried a choke of suppressed sobs.
Her nose was pink, the corners of her eyes were red, and her eyelids were slightly swollen; it looked like she had been crying for a long time.
Shen Zhouyue helplessly took a packet of tissues from his pocket and handed it to the girl.
Even without me, he wouldn’t like you.
Tingzhou has always liked men…
As a woman, you were destined not to be his choice.
Shen Zhouyue didn’t say these words out loud, but his expression conveyed the meaning clearly enough.
“But… but they all said… Auntie wouldn’t let Brother Tingzhou bring a man home… so I thought I had a chance…”
“Clearly, before this… Brother Tingzhou only had me around him…”
The girl sobbed out these words.
Shen Zhouyue only had experience coaxing a child, never a girl. Seeing her cry like this, he couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. He didn’t know what to do.
Fortunately, this location was quite remote, and no one was walking by. Otherwise, seeing this scene, they would definitely think he was bullying her.
Shen Zhouyue looked at the girl in front of him and said resignedly, “But now you don’t have a chance. He’s already married. You’re a good girl; surely you wouldn’t do something like intervening in someone else’s relationship, right?”
The girl’s sobbing quieted down a lot. It was clear she was thinking.
Shen Zhouyue pressed on, “Look, your conditions aren’t bad, and you’re beautiful. Why hang yourself on a tree that doesn’t like you?”
The girl took the tissue, wiped her tears, and looked at Shen Zhouyue with red eyes. Her voice was a bit hoarse. “No wonder Brother Tingzhou likes you!”
“You speak so nicely. You’re right, I shouldn’t hang myself on a single tree.”
The girl’s emotions slowly stabilized. She looked at Shen Zhouyue and asked, “My name is Su Qingling. What’s yours? I haven’t seen you in this circle before.”
Just as Shen Zhouyue said his name, someone called out for Su Qingling.
“I’m leaving first. If people see us standing together, it’s easy to cause misunderstandings.”
Before Su Qingling could react, Shen Zhouyue had already walked away quickly.
When he returned to Yu Tingzhou’s side, Yu Tingzhou asked softly, “Why were you gone for so long?”
They had already put away the King’s Game cards and started a new game.
It had to be said, this estate was truly massive, containing many entertainment facilities. Everyone was playing somewhat wildly now, and quite a few wine bottles littered the table.
The room was filled with the strong smell of alcohol mixed with faint perfume; it wasn’t unpleasant.
Yu Tingzhou had naturally drunk a few glasses as well, but his eyes were clear, showing no signs of intoxication.
However, as soon as Shen Zhouyue sat down, he felt a hand on his waist moving restlessly.
His face flushed with color. He grabbed Yu Tingzhou’s hand and asked through gritted teeth, “Whatâareâyouâdoing!”
Yu Tingzhou looked solemn. If one ignored the position of his hand, no one would be able to tell he was making small, mischievous movements.
“Isn’t this what you like?”
Is this guy drunk?
Shen Zhouyue scrutinized Yu Tingzhou carefully but couldn’t see any drunkenness.
But his current state was definitely not something he would exhibit when sober.
Shen Zhouyue hesitated no longer. He supported Yu Tingzhou and said to Xu Lingfeng, the only person present he was relatively familiar with, “Tingzhou is drunk. I’m taking him back!”
“No need, there are rooms upstairs. Auntie specifically prepared one for us.”
“Shall I take you up?”
Shen Zhouyue frowned, feeling conflicted, but Yu Tingzhou’s hand started getting unruly again.
Heaven knows what would happen on the road if they went back now.
Considering this, Shen Zhouyue didn’t hesitate anymore and nodded immediately. “Alright, sorry to trouble you.”
The two of them, one on each side, supported Yu Tingzhou as they walked upstairs.
There were many guest rooms on the second floor, all tidied up very cleanly.
Xu Lingfeng helped support Yu Tingzhou onto the bed and then left.
Only Shen Zhouyue and Yu Tingzhou remained in the room.
Yu Tingzhou suddenly tugged at his collar. The buttons of his formal wear came undone with his movements, revealing a slightly rolling Adam’s apple.
He stood up from the bed and walked toward Shen Zhouyue.
Shen Zhouyue felt Yu Tingzhou’s state was strange, and he couldn’t help but feel the urge to retreat.
He quietly took a few steps back, reached the door, and planned to open it and leave.
Just as he opened the door, Yu Tingzhou pressed his hand against the door panel from behind. “Zhouyue, where are you going?”
Yu Tingzhou stood behind him. Shen Zhouyue felt as if his entire being was enveloped by Yu Tingzhou’s aura.
Leaning back slightly, he could feel the robust physique behind him.
Yu Tingzhou’s breath hit the shell of Shen Zhouyue’s ear as he spoke, inexplicably ambiguous.
“You’re drunk. I’ll go see if there’s any hangover soup.”
Shen Zhouyue feigned calm, but his tone still carried a trace of faint panic.
“You go back to bed first, I… Mmph…”
Before he could finish his sentence, his neck was bitten.
Wetness accompanied by pain spread to his mind. Shen Zhouyue sucked in a cold breath and shoved Yu Tingzhou away forcefully.
He reached up to touch the skin on his neck and found it was bleeding. Fortunately, it was only a little; with his constitution, he could barely manage the recovery.
“What are you doing? Are you crazy?”
Worried that Yu Tingzhou might do something else insane, Shen Zhouyue hurriedly stepped out of the room, intending to leave.
But before he could take a few steps, he was pulled back into the room.
The door was shut and locked. Shen Zhouyue looked at Yu Tingzhou in front of him, his heart tightening involuntarily.
Before he could unlock the door, he was scooped up by Yu Tingzhou and thrown onto the bed.
Outside the window, the moon had reached its zenith. The originally clear sky had, at some point, begun to rain.
The pattering sound of rain echoed between heaven and earth, masking the ambiguous sounds within the room.
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