Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Victoria took out several gold playing cards and held them face down, revealing only the gilded patterns on their backs.
“Come on. One each.” She walked over to the players.
The draw was purely a matter of luck, so no one gave it much thought.
“That’s strange. What’s this supposed to mean? I drew a green house.”
Old Mo was the first to turn over his card. A green house was pictured on its face.
He had assumed the cards would bear ordinary numbers and that they would be divided into groups by suit. Instead, the card displayed an illustration: an eccentric, almost grotesque green house.
Uncle Li showed everyone his card as well. “Mine’s a green house too. I suppose that makes us a team.”
One after another, the others revealed their cards.
Every card showed a house. The only difference was its color.
“Mine is white,” Tang Weiqi said.
Aunt Wang’s eyes lit up. “Young man, that must mean we’re partners.”
Only Xiao Huai and Lu Yuanshi had yet to reveal their cards.
Obviously, the two of them had been paired together.
A teasing gleam appeared in Victoria’s eyes. “Oh my. You two must have the red house.”
Xiao Huai lowered his gaze to the card in his hand.
Just as Victoria had said, it did indeed show a red house.
“Is there something wrong with the red house?” Old Mo could not help wondering about the significance of the colors.
Victoria smiled. “Why would there be? They’re only different colors.”
Yet an elusive undertone in her voice suggested it was not that simple.
Xiao Huai watched her in silence. Most of what Victoria said could not be trusted.
Lu Yuanshi leaned closer. “Since we’re partners, will you take good care of me?”
Xiao Huai raised his eyes and gave him an impassive look.
Lu Yuanshi pointed to his injured right shoulder. “It still aches, you know. Even eating, bathing, and sleeping are difficult…”
His tone and expression made it seem as if he were reproaching some heartless playboy for refusing to take responsibility.
Xiao Huai lowered his head and said nothing for a long while.
Just when Lu Yuanshi thought Xiao Huai meant to brush him off like that, a warm black coat settled over his shoulders.
Xiao Huai handed him a scarf as well.
“I’m not good at protecting people,” he said, “or looking after them.”
He gazed at the snow drifting in the distance and continued calmly, “All I know is that if you’re in pain, you see a doctor. If you’re hungry, you eat. If you’re cold, you put on more clothes. I’m not a doctor, so all I can do is keep you from getting so cold.”
Lu Yuanshi froze for a moment. He gave Xiao Huai a long, searching look, the corners of his lips curving upward ever so slightly.
He accepted the scarf and wound it around his neck. He seemed to mutter something under his breath, but his voice was too soft for Xiao Huai to hear.
* * *
Diamond Town was a peculiar place. After the group left the train station, the townspeople kept casting inexplicable glances their way.
Some looked terrified. Others looked at them with pity.
“Mom, are they the temporary workers the Count hired? Does that mean they’re…” The little boy was cut off by his mother.
“Shh. Don’t look at them. Let’s go.”
The mother and son spoke in hushed voices before hurrying away with long strides.
The town was underdeveloped, with no tall buildings to speak of. Low houses crowded together in a jumble, and many storefronts bore notices advertising them for rent.
There were not many permanent residents, either. The whole place felt backward and neglected.
The temporary workers would be staying at a manor on the westernmost edge of Diamond Town, in its most remote corner.
Several black cars were waiting outside the station. Even by car, it took them a long time to reach the manor.
They were required to wear blindfolds throughout the journey, so they did not even know the route to the town center.
Victoria’s voice sounded beside them. “Welcome to Diamond Manor. You will live here for the next seven days, and this is where you will design the most beautiful diamond. The Count is usually very busy and will not visit often, but let me give you one warning: even when the Count is away, do not attempt to enter his rooms. His Lordship is fastidious and dislikes outsiders setting foot in them.”
When they removed their blindfolds, the last golden scales of light were fading from the eastern horizon, while the afterglow of sunset spilled into their eyes.
After they stepped out of the cars, Victoria pushed open the iron gate leading into the manor. Weeds sprawled across the grounds, with no sign that any servant had ever trimmed them. The scents of green leaves and damp soil filled the estate.
The enormous manor had three floors. Victoria explained that the entire third floor belonged to the Count and was forbidden to outsiders. Their bedrooms were on the second floor, while three studios occupied the first.
“I’ve already placed the rough diamonds in your studios. When next we meet, I hope you will have finished your designs.” Victoria dipped into an elegant bow, then left the villa.
The people in black had vanished as well. According to Victoria, they came only once a day, solely to leave daily necessities at the door.
The players were responsible for all their own meals and other needs. If they required anything else, they could write down a list and drop it into the mailbox. Someone would deliver the requested items to their studios the following day.
With no NPCs remaining inside, the manor felt exceptionally empty.
Everyone had spent most of the day on the train and was tired from the journey. Tang Weiqi suggested, “Why don’t we rest tonight and discuss how to clear the instance together tomorrow morning?”
After such a long trip, most of them readily agreed.
There were plenty of rooms on the second floor. Xiao Huai chose one at random, took a shower, and changed into clean clothes. Just as he was about to lie down and rest, someone knocked on his door.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was no peephole, so Xiao Huai could not see who stood outside.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
Lu Yuanshi’s voice came through the door.
Xiao Huai slowly opened it a crack. He caught a faint drift of warm mist and the coppery scent of blood.
Lu Yuanshi wore nothing but a bathrobe. A large patch over his shoulder had turned red. On closer inspection, it was the stain left by blood diluted with water.
Xiao Huai opened the door fully and frowned at him. “You…”
“The wound reopened,” Lu Yuanshi replied without concern.
Don’t you know wounds shouldn’t get wet? Especially not with hot water.
Xiao Huai kept the question to himself. He stepped aside, then gestured casually for Lu Yuanshi to follow.
“Come in. I’ll dress the wound for you.”
The room came equipped with a first-aid kit. Xiao Huai picked it up from the bedside and turned toward Lu Yuanshi.
Lu Yuanshi had already seated himself on Xiao Huai’s bed. Fresh from the shower, he had not dried himself properly, leaving nearly half the blanket damp.
Xiao Huai sighed inwardly. Too tired to fuss over the details, he opened the first-aid kit, bent down, and began cleaning the wound with a cotton ball.