Chapter 19 I'm Not Reconciled

Everyone gathered in the poolside rest area to drink. Someone got bored and suggested, "Just drinking isn't fun. How about we play a game?"

"Don't play such a boring game like Truth or Dare again," someone complained.

"Exactly," others chimed in. "This game's been played to death."

The person who made the suggestion was immediately silenced, but he was quick-witted and said, "Then how about we try something new today?"

Everyone's interest was immediately piqued again. "What new way to play?"

"Let me think about it." He had only suggested it on a whim; he didn't actually have any concrete ideas for the new gameplay. It was just a last-minute attempt to figure it out.

Chen Yao'an and Shi Xinyu were also among them. Chen Yao'an didn't often attend such occasions and was a little unsure about playing games.

She glanced at Shi Xinyu, intending to back out, but Shi Xinyu looked eager to try, saying, "Don't worry, I'm familiar with this part."

The person who made the suggestion has finally come up with a new way to play: "How about this, we play a modified version of 'Werewolf'?"

"How do you play?" everyone asked curiously.

"We'll all close our eyes, then randomly select one person to switch places with everyone, and then we'll guess who it is, okay?"

Among this group were some shrewd individuals who immediately guessed his little scheme.

"You really know how to play the game; now everyone's little schemes are out of the question." The speaker had a meaningful look on his face.

Most of the people present knew more or less about Xi Xi's pursuit of Xu Jialan, and many could also see that Xu Jialan was now interested in Chen Yaoan. They were all eager to see what would happen.

"This game is interesting."

It's a great way to pass the time and gossip, so everyone is happy to do it.

“Then let’s play it this way!” Ma Qi completely forgot Xu Jialan’s warning earlier.

The owner has spoken, so there's no reason not to play.

Chen Yaoan had a vague sense of unease.

Xu Jialan, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed.

"I'll host the first round," said the man who suggested the game. "Everyone close your eyes now. No peeking. Anyone who peeks will be punished with a drink."

Everyone was in a great mood and closed their eyes as he instructed.

"Now, we'll start choosing who gets to switch places; whoever the bottle points to is who it is."

He twirled a wine bottle on the table.

Listening to the sound of the wine bottle spinning and rubbing against the table, Chen Yaoan felt inexplicably nervous.

The bottle stopped quickly, pointing at whoever it was.

The host's voice came again, "The people have been selected. Everyone, please keep your eyes closed. Only the selected person may open their eyes and move. Now, everyone, please stand up."

Upon hearing this, Ma Qi tried to move to the side as quietly as possible, and the host helped him confuse the situation.

Everyone heard a noise around them, but couldn't pinpoint the location, and with their eyes closed, they had no idea what was happening.

Not long after, someone came over, pulled Chen Yao'an around, and finally placed her somewhere.

After another commotion, the host finally spoke: "Now everyone can sit down, but you can't open your eyes yet."

How can you sit without opening your eyes?

"Just feel whichever seat is which and sit down."

Everyone had no choice but to carefully find their place.

Once everyone was seated, the host announced, "Alright, you can open your eyes now."

Everyone opened their eyes one after another, eagerly looking around. Only a few people's positions had changed, including Chen Yao'an.

However, Chen Yaoan and Shi Xinyu simply switched places, and the two were still standing next to each other.

Another change in positions is between Xi Xi and Ma Qi. Xi Xi and Xu Jialan were originally separated by one seat, but now they are next to each other.

Xi Xi turned her head to look at Xu Jialan beside her, and subtly curled the corners of her mouth.

Xu Jialan, however, showed no expression.

Everyone noticed this change, and their thoughts varied.

"Alright, everyone, start guessing who the werewolf is. If the werewolf isn't voted out, then the werewolf wins. Everyone else has to drink a penalty shot. If the werewolf is guessed correctly, then the werewolf has to drink a penalty shot."

So everyone started discussing it amongst themselves.

Chen Yaoan and Shi Xinyu exchanged a glance, confirming that they were not each other.

However, Chen Yaoan had no clue who the werewolf was, while Shi Xinyu was having a lively discussion with the others.

Just then, Xu Jialan spoke up, "I'm sure it's Ma Qi."

Ma Qi immediately exploded, "What evidence do you have?"

"The game had just started when I heard a noise to my left."

Ma Qi was positioned to Xu Jialan's left.

"I just lost my balance, why don't you say it was the person on your right?"

His explanation has absolutely no credibility.

"I'm absolutely certain that it was your voice."

Xu Jialan spoke with unusual certainty, and after speaking, she even raised an eyebrow at him with a provocative look.

Ma Qi had no way to express his suffering.

Revenge! This is naked revenge!

"If everyone were like you, what would be the point of this game?"

"Everyone, let's start voting. I'm voting for Ma Qi." Xu Jialan seemed to ignore him, leisurely raising her hand with an air of ease.

Everyone followed suit and raised their hands. Chen Yaoan and Shi Xinyu had no clue what to do and could only follow along.

Finally, Maqi was punished with three cups.

"Then we'll move on to the second round. The person who gets selected next needs to be extra careful and try not to make any noise so that the people around them notice."

Unfortunately, Chen Yao'an was chosen in the second round to be the werewolf.

Chen Yao'an had no particular thoughts or ulterior motives, so after going around in circles, she only switched her and Shi Xinyu's positions back.

She signaled to the host that she had finished changing, and then returned to her seat.

"Now you can open your eyes."

Everyone opened their eyes, looked around, and were all a bit confused, except for Shi Xinyu, who had some ideas.

“I think it’s the person sitting next to me,” Shi Xinyu said, pointing to Chen Yaoan.

Chen Yao'an shifted uncomfortably; she was indeed terrible at playing games, and Shi Xinyu had guessed it right away.

The others were not familiar with Chen Yao'an and did not know much about her, so they could not draw a conclusion immediately.

Xu Jialan sized up Chen Yao'an for a moment, then slowly raised her hand. "I'll vote for her too."

Chen Yaoan looked at Xu Jialan, who was smiling faintly at her. She frowned and looked away.

Ma Qi was adept at reading people's expressions, and seeing Xu Jialan's actions, he also voted for Chen Yaoan.

With these three leading the way, Chen Yao'an passed the resolution almost unanimously.

Chen Yao'an sighed softly, "It really was me."

She resignedly reached for her wine glass, but Xu Jialan grabbed her wrist first.

"I'll drink these three glasses of wine for her."

The people around immediately started jeering, "We didn't set such a rule just now."

"I started it, so I'll have to drink an extra cup as punishment."

The jeers and cheers immediately grew louder.

Chen Yao'an seemed to be covered in thorns and was becoming restless.

She now realized that this game was aimed at the three of them.

Xu Jialan drank four cups in one go, and everyone else cheered and applauded, but Xi Xi stared at them with an ugly expression.

The game went on for several more rounds, and everyone was given a lot of alcohol. Chen Yao'an couldn't hold her liquor, so Shi Xinyu drank a lot for her, and Xu Jialan also contributed to the drinking.

In the next game, the bottle landed on Xu Jialan. This round of the game lasted a long time, and Chen Yaoan stood still without moving.

When everyone opened their eyes again, they found that almost everyone had changed their positions, except for Chen Yao'an.

Chen Yaoan looked around and saw that Shi Xinyu had been moved to sit opposite her, and Xu Jialan was sitting to her right.

This time it was quite difficult, and everyone was stuck for a long time. After looking around for a long time, Ma Qi finally grasped the key point.

"Only Chen Yaoan didn't change positions, so Xu Jialan must be you!"

Despite Ma Qi's accusations, Xu Jialan remained calm and composed, while Chen Yaoan looked at him with some suspicion in her heart.

Whether they are or not, they will become topics of conversation.

Unfortunately, other members of the team had different opinions, and Xu Jialan was ultimately not singled out.

"It really is me."

Ma Qi was almost furious. "I told you so! Xu Jialan, you just had to sit next to Chen Yaoan, didn't you!"

“You’re right.” He shrugged.

Ma Qi then pointed at the others, exasperated: "You've all forgotten that Xu Jialan just stood up for someone else to drink, haven't you!"

The others are in the wrong.

Xi Xi stared at the two of them, her eyes vacant.

Chen Yao'an finally couldn't sit still any longer, stood up from her seat, and said in a calm tone, "You guys have fun, I'm going to the restroom."

Xu Jialan looked at her, her eyes becoming calm.

No one stopped her, and Chen Yao'an escaped unscathed, never to return.

Chen Yaoan didn't go back until she estimated the game was over, and sure enough, everyone had already left.

Shi Xinyu remained seated, already somewhat drunk, and was about to put the wine in her hand to her mouth when Chen Yaoan stopped her.

"You've had too much to drink. Aren't you going to soak in the hot springs later?"

Shi Xinyu had no choice but to leisurely put down her wine glass.

"I'll go get you a glass of juice."

Shi Xinyu looked at her with a grin, her voice slightly slurred with drunkenness, "You're still the best to me."

Chen Yaoan turned around and went into the villa to find her some juice; she had just seen that the kitchen on the first floor had prepared a lot of drinks.

Chen Yaoan entered the kitchen, but little did she know that a little tail was following her.

Xi Xi asked sadly, "Are you two together?"

Chen Yaoan turned to look at her and told her firmly, "No, and there never will be."

"You two have known each other for a long time, haven't you? Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken me to your store to buy clothes."

What are you trying to say?

Xi Xi smiled bitterly, "I met him in Yinye, and I fell in love with him at first sight."

“At first I thought he was interested in me too. He said he would take me shopping for clothes, and I was very happy. Then he took me to your place.”

Chen Yao'an felt a little sorry for her. She didn't know what love at first sight felt like, but she felt that Xi Xi was a little too infatuated.

"Xi Xi, he's not worth your affection," Chen Yao'an said calmly.

Her words pierced her heart like a sharp arrow, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Does she really not know?

Of course she knows!

She knew Xu Jialan had been in many relationships, but she was just overestimating herself.

Perhaps she can make him turn over a new leaf?

However, she didn't even have a chance to enter.

Finally, Xi Xi couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they streamed down her face.

She seemed to suddenly lose all her strength, and squatted down on the ground, crying with tears streaming down her face.

Chen Yao'an didn't want to pay attention to her, but when she heard her sobbing as if she was about to die, she couldn't bear it.

She took out a few tissues, walked over and handed them to her, and gave her a piece of advice: "It doesn't matter if it's other people, but someone like Xu Jialan isn't worth it."

Xi Xi accepted her kindness, took the paper from her hand, wiped away her tears, and after a long pause, said, "But...but I'm not reconciled."

She was truly unwilling to accept it!