Chapter 25: Lottery Game (13)

Chi Wei smiled and shook his hand. “We already are. It’s been a pleasure working with you.”

Silver-Masked Woman gave his hand a perfunctory shake as well, but said nothing.

Once they were done in the billiards room, Chi Wei and Silver-Masked Woman headed toward the elevators together.

Chi Wei tilted her head. “Want to go fishing?”

Silver-Masked Woman’s voice was as expressionless as her face. “Boring.”

Watching her walk away, cold and indifferent, Chi Wei couldn’t help thinking of the teacher named Bai Hui.

On one side was a brilliant student: gentle, intelligent, and friendly.

On the other was a psychopath.

Could they really be the same person?

Or was this simply the true face hidden beneath her kind disguise?

Chi Wei wanted to know more and more.

To get closer to the truth, she had to survive this game and make it out alive.

The second round of the Lottery Game continued.

Using the player names Chi Wei had given her, Ink in Water persuaded the other two members of the team shared by Hearts Girl and the Magician.

The four players from Teams One and Two reaffirmed their alliance and agreed to keep alternating Predictions. Once they’d secured the full 12.5 million yuan, they would split it evenly.

The plan took root in everyone’s mind. It seemed the outcome had already been decided.

The fourth day of the second Lottery Game began.

As agreed, whenever they entered the Lottery Room on an even-numbered turn, Team Two would make a Prediction for Team Three.

At noon that day, Silver-Masked Woman sought out Hearts Girl again.

They met on the fishing platform. The sea breeze swept through Silver-Masked Woman’s short hair, making it look soft and gentle—a sharp contrast to her icy voice.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t make a Prediction for Team Three this time. If you want a bigger share, you should start preparing to Betray them now.”

Hearts Girl reeled in her line. “Why should I listen to you?”

“I’m ordering you to. But you don’t have to listen.”

Hearts Girl laughed scornfully.

She knew Silver-Masked Woman was ruthless, but she couldn’t stand the way she tried to order her around.

Besides, if she abandoned the Prediction for Team Three now, who knew whether it was part of Team Three’s plan?

“This game is every team for itself. I can’t trust anyone,” Hearts Girl said. “Your orders? You’re ridiculous. What I do is none of your business. The game isn’t over yet, and it’s still anyone’s game. Don’t think you’re so important.”

Silver-Masked Woman wasn’t bothered by the insult. She only smiled. “You can keep waiting.”

“Unless you don’t want the reward for Betray.”

That was all she said before leaving the fishing platform.

Hearts Girl didn’t give her words much thought. She was right about one thing: everyone in this game was looking out for themselves. Any advice you gave someone else was ultimately meant to serve your own interests.

There was no way Hearts Girl would fall into someone else’s trap and do their work for them.

Besides, she already had her own plan…

At six that evening, Silver-Masked Woman’s team entered the Lottery Room.

By the time they came out, the Lottery Pool had grown to 9.5 million yuan.

Tomorrow would be an important day. The prize money in the Lottery Pool would pass the ten-million mark.

Everyone should have been on edge now.

And so, each with their own plans, they made it to the next day.

Before seven in the morning, there was a knock at Chi Wei’s door. Hearts Girl came in when Chi Wei opened it.

She yawned, her eyes still heavy with sleep, and looked at Hearts Girl in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Hearts Girl stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “I came to remind you of something.”

Chi Wei, wearing a hotel bathrobe, blinked at her. “Mm?”

Hearts Girl looked at her sleepy, unhurried manner and couldn’t help wondering if the sharp Chi Wei she’d seen before had just been having an unusually good day.

After all, this was a crucial day.

And Chi Wei seemed so drowsy, like a jungle animal that had lost its sense for danger.

“Today’s decision is important,” Hearts Girl reminded her.

Chi Wei lazily rubbed her eyes. “I know. We just stick to the plan, don’t we?”

She spoke as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Yes. They just had to stick to the plan.

They had from the beginning, and they would keep doing so. As long as everyone followed it, the plan would work. There was nothing to worry about.

“As long as you don’t Betray our alliance, Team Three won’t get a chance to choose Betray,” Chi Wei said.

She paused, then suddenly turned to Hearts Girl. “You’re not going to change sides at a time like this, are you?”

“Of course not. I came to remind you to honor our agreement, too.”

Hearts Girl repeated, “My goal is for everyone to win. Let’s secure the victory condition first. Today it’s your turn to make a Prediction for Team Three. Don’t forget.”

She spoke with great seriousness, looking as though she was afraid Chi Wei’s team might back out at the last minute.

Chi Wei nodded sleepily. “Mm-hmm. Don’t worry. We proposed this alliance, so we’ll see it through.”

“Then I can relax. Thank you.”

Hearts Girl shook Chi Wei’s hand before leaving the room.

After she left, Chi Wei stretched and ambled to the bathroom to wash her face.

At eight in the morning, Ink in Water led the three members of Team One into the Lottery Room.

This time, it was Team One’s turn to make a Prediction for Team Three.

They selected Cooperate and completed the Prediction. The process was quick and simple; they spent no more than three minutes in the room.

When they came out, Ink in Water even shook hands with Hearts Girl in a friendly manner.

“Thank you,” Hearts Girl said with a smile.

At noon, Hearts Girl led Team Two into the Lottery Room.

But their visit was only a formality. Since their Prediction the previous time had been wrong, Team Two had no rights to exercise in the Lottery Room.

They couldn’t vote or make a Prediction.

A minute later, Team Two left the room.

The Lottery Pool still held the same 10.5 million yuan as when they’d entered.

It seemed Hearts Girl had made her choice.

That afternoon, she went to see Silver-Masked Woman herself.

Silver-Masked Woman opened the door and stood in the doorway, looking at her.

They met each other’s eyes. Hearts Girl moved the cigarette from her lips and slowly breathed out a thin stream of smoke.

“I came here specifically to tell you that I won’t Betray anyone. Your attempt to drive a wedge between us won’t work. If we can all win, why risk Betray? I’ve decided to stick with Resurrection Plant’s plan to the end. You don’t need to waste your time trying to sway me.”

Silver-Masked Woman remained unmoved. Her voice was cold. “Suit yourself.”

Then she shut the door.

She didn’t like the smell of smoke.

At six that evening, Team Three entered the Lottery Room.

Team Three had always been under the watchful eyes of Teams One and Two. Choosing Betray now would be tantamount to suicide.

So every member of Team Three chose Cooperate.

The Lottery Pool grew to 11.5 million yuan.

Master Appraiser slowly rose from his seat and sighed. “We can finish the game tomorrow.”

What a slog. The round had seemed predictable enough, but they’d spent every day worrying all the same.

If they chose Cooperate just once more tomorrow, every team would receive more than four million yuan, enough to fulfill one of the victory conditions.

Thinking of that, even the discomfort he’d felt at being watched by Teams One and Two eased a little.

Silver-Masked Woman answered softly, her meaning unclear. “That’s right.”