"August Hollen." The face-blind man introduced himself politely.

Jian Jing noticed that he paused slightly when he said his last name, as if he had omitted a syllable, but she didn't care too much and simply said his last name: "Jane."

This was a friendly title, and Hollen quickly accepted it: "Are you Melanie's friend?"

"A friend of the groom's friend, what about you?" Jian Jing looked at him. This man had a typical Western face, and a similar temperament could be found in many foreign historical dramas.

Hollen said, "Leo and I are good friends. So, your friend is the oriental friend that Leo met in college?"

"Obviously."

"Leo is very happy that he can come with his friends." Hollen finished smoking the cigar in his hand and smiled, "He has always wanted to have a lively wedding."

Jian Jing was surprised: "So, how many guests will there be?"

"Not too many, but fortunately not too few." Hollen said.

"Really." Jian Jing smiled and changed the subject, "Excuse me, where can I find coffee?"

Hollen pointed to the hall at the end: "The flower hall should have what you want."

At the end of the corridor on the first floor is a protruding reception hall with beautiful floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows on three sides. There were several armchairs of different styles randomly placed, some with soft cushions, some with carved walnut, and some with bronze-covered mahogany, obviously from different historical periods.

There were many oil paintings hanging on the walls, most of which were about the castle of winter, and the style was dark.

There were desks, pianos, and chests of drawers against the walls. On the chests were coffee machines, cigar boxes, and a set of blue-and-white porcelain tea sets.

"There's black tea in the chest," someone said behind her.

Jian Jing turned around and saw a thin and pale face with a high and straight nose, deep eye sockets, and an iris of the extremely rare violet color. In terms of appearance, she was not beautiful, but the omnipresent melancholy between her eyebrows was very special.

She thought for a moment and asked, "Are you Sal?"

"You can call me Leo." His voice was very soft, but it was not difficult to hear. "You are Jian Jing, a little friend of Dusk City."

The pronunciation of little rose slightly, and a close tone rolled out.

"You called our names very accurately." Jian Jing was just as friendly. "For me, 'Jane' will be enough."

Leo nodded and opened the cabinet: "Tea?"

"Coffee." She said.

Leo took out the coffee beans, poured them into the grinder, shook the handle, and slowly ground them into powder. At the same time, the water in the kettle was heated to the appropriate temperature. The

coffee powder was poured into the filter paper, and a thin stream of water was injected, and it was brewed several times.

The extracted brown coffee liquid "drips" down, steaming out a fragrant aroma.

He opened the built-in small refrigerator, which was empty. He quickly picked up the phone: "Mary, please send a pot of fresh milk and sugar cubes to the reception room."

He apologized to Jian Jing and explained, "There are too many things to do at the wedding, and I'm sorry for the poor hospitality."

"Don't worry." Jian Jing said, "I'm very happy to come to your wedding, and in a castle like this."

Leo seemed a little surprised, and actually asked: "Do you like this castle?"

She said: "It's very interesting."

Leo blinked quickly: "Thank you, but this is really... unexpected." Facing her puzzled eyes, he had to explain, "After all, this is a very old house with poor lighting and it's very old. It's not a comfortable place."

"Yes," he emphasized, "This is not a good place. Don't be obsessed with it."

Jian Jing was surprised. Leo's tone seemed to be advising her not to fall in love with a scumbag.

"The milk and sugar you asked for." Mary came in with a pot of fresh milk, and said unkindly, "For such a small matter, why don't you go to the kitchen yourself?"

Leo immediately said, "I'm sorry, Mary, I'm causing trouble for your work."

Mary's expression softened: "You don't need to apologize, but I hope you will think carefully..." She glanced at Jian Jing and changed to French, "It's best to reconsider your marriage. I don't agree with you doing this."

Jian Jing: Pretending not to understand.

Leo's reply was concise and powerful: "I have thought it through."

Mary was disappointed and left without looking back.

"Jane, I'm sorry I have to leave for a while." Leo said, "Mucheng and I are good friends. He helped me a lot during college. Please feel free to visit."

Jane said quietly, "Thank you."

He hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Jane, this is an old house."

She was puzzled: "Is it?"

"I'm rarely at home, and it hasn't been repaired for a long time. If," he paused and said slowly, "there are any strange sounds, it must be the wind blowing into the gaps in the bricks, don't be afraid."

As if to prove that what he said was true, before he finished speaking, a strange sob came from somewhere in the room. It seemed to be there and not there, lingering, as distant as the whistle of a steam train, and as weird as the laugh of a witch.

Jian Jing's expression changed immediately. Her facial muscles, which had been relaxed due to the long journey, were lifted by invisible lines. In just a few seconds, she did a hot machiavelli, and she became energetic.

"Oh," she smiled. "Now I believe it. The old house is a little scary."

Leo showed a slight sense of relaxation.

Dinner started on time at seven o'clock.

Kang Mucheng and Si Yingjie arrived at the dining room fifteen minutes in advance, and soon after, Huo Lun also arrived. Kimberly and her husband went downstairs at around six fifty, and they couldn't help but meet strangers again.

At six fifty-five, Jian Jing arrived.

She sat next to Kang Mucheng and said, "It's snowing outside again."

Si Yingjie looked tired and muttered, "What's so strange about this." Jian Jing

said, "I'm afraid of the temperature drop."

"Don't worry, the castle is warm enough." Huo Lun said.

At this time, a graceful woman came down from the upstairs.

She was extremely beautiful, with long black hair, white skin, blue eyes, and a frail and cold look, just like the famous French beauty Adjani.

Perhaps to highlight her importance to her relatives and friends, she wore an evening dress that outlined her slender figure. She wore an opal necklace around her neck and a ruby ​​ring on her hand, looking like a noble lady attending a banquet, dignified and elegant, blending into the atmosphere of the castle.

Si Yingjie let out a slightly noticeable gasp.

"Mella." Kimberly called her sister's name affectionately, "Finally I see you."

"Kimmy." Melanie called her sister's nickname, and a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face, "I'm so glad you can come."

Kimberly introduced her husband: "This is Carl, my husband."

Melanie and Carl nodded in acquaintance.

"Looks like everyone is here." Leo came in from another door, took his fiancee's hand and sat down, raised his glass and said, "Thank you all for coming from afar to attend my wedding."

Everyone cooperated and took a sip of champagne together.

"Dong——", the antique clock in the dining room rang, and it was seven o'clock.

Mary pushed a dining cart in and served everyone skillfully.

The appetizer was a mixed vegetable soup with local vegetables, lettuce (?) leaves, spinach, potatoes and strange beans, with a lot of tomato sauce, sour and sweet. There were

also a few slices of bread, with sashimi, lemon and mint on top.

Jane Jing tried to take a bite. The bread was toasted crispy, the sashimi was very delicious, and the meat was extremely tender.

"Honey, this fish fillet reminds me of my honeymoon with Carl." Kimberly was in high spirits and kept chatting with Melanie, "Sushi, hot springs and cherry blossoms, what about you? Antarctica, Africa or Asia?"

Melanie seemed to have a poor appetite and only drank two sips of soup. She said, "I don't know, maybe Egypt, maybe South America, Leo doesn't like places that are too cold."

Kimberly: "Egypt is a good place, isn't it, Carl?"

Carl: "Yes, I like the culture there."

"How are you going to go?" Kimberly was enthusiastic and couldn't wait to express some opinions on the wedding.

Melanie was worried and reluctantly responded, "We'll talk about it later."

Kimberly put down her knife and fork, took a sip of champagne, and muttered, "Melanie, you really don't look like a woman who is going to get married soon."

Melanie smiled bitterly, "I don't know why, the closer I get to the wedding, the more nervous I get."

"Dear, you must be too tired, do you want to go back and rest?" Leo asked with concern.

"It's just a little headache, I'll take some painkillers later." Melanie replied.

Si Yingjie commented, "Pre-marital phobia."

At this time, Mary's dining car came again, and everyone had an extra hot pot.

Yes, hot pot, but not clear soup or butter, but cheese hot pot. Prepare meat, vegetables, mushrooms and other side dishes in advance, put them in the cheese pot and cook them, and sprinkle some chili powder if you like.

Jian Jing took two bites, and her stomach protested: This is not hot pot!

The main course is Italian dumplings with ham filling, which tastes okay.

"I hope you like today's dishes." Leo said, "Mary, if you are not busy, you can sit down and eat with us."

Mary said coldly: "Come on, George can't handle it alone."

Leo showed a helpless expression and did not force it.

"Strange." Si Yingjie said again. Jian Jing

did not respond and drank the champagne in the glass.

Mary immediately took a new bottle, opened the cork and put it aside, without any intention of pouring the wine.

Leo stood up immediately, took the bottle and poured wine for everyone, and explained: "The weather is bad, everyone else has gone home, Mary and George have too much work, let me serve everyone."

Kang Mucheng said: "We are here by ourselves, it's just a light meal, no need to be so polite."

"It's okay." Leo had no noble airs at all, and refilled the guests' glasses one by one. When it was Melanie's turn, he deliberately poured only half a glass, "You should drink less."

Melanie said softly: "Don't worry about me, just a little." She picked up the champagne glass and drank two sips.

"Auguste, I don't think you will like this taste, it's too sweet." Leo said, "Do you want to try red wine? I'll go down and get it."

Holen shrugged: "You know me, no problem."

The accident happened at this time.

First there was a "clang" sound, and the wine glass in front of Melanie fell over, scaring everyone.

Everyone looked over and saw that her teeth were clenched, her neck and back were stiff, and she had obvious symptoms of convulsion.

Leo's face turned pale: "Melanie!"

"Does she have epilepsy?" Jian Jing asked.

Kimberly screamed: "Melanie doesn't have this disease."

"Then she should be poisoned." Jian Jing said as she walked quickly forward, supported Melanie's body, and scanned the dishes and drinks in front of her.

After a little thought, she reached out and dipped some champagne, put it in her mouth and tasted it.

It was sweet with a little bitterness.

A new line of words appeared on the status bar of the character panel: strychnine poisoning.

Two seconds later, the handwriting disappeared.

Since the immunity was turned on, the character panel has been playing with new tricks. She said "Pah" twice and said affirmatively: "Send her to the hospital, she needs gastric lavage."

Leo picked up Melanie in a panic and rushed out.

Kang Mucheng immediately said: "I'll drive the car, where is it parked?"

"In the garage, I'll take you there." Hollen's reaction was not slow either.

But within ten minutes, Xiong Qiaozhi's loud voice rang out: "No, the snow is too heavy, and the car will be stuck if it can't reach the hospital. Where is Mary, ask her if there is any way, she is a doctor!"

In the chaos, Mary calmly commanded: "Send her back to the room, Uncle George, please go get the medicine box - is there anyone who can tell me what's wrong with her?"

Leo said: "I don't know, my God, she was fine just now."

Kang Mucheng said: "Maybe it's food poisoning."

Huo Lun: "Everyone eats the same thing, and she eats especially little."

"Strychnine poisoning." Jian Jing put her hand to her mouth and said loudly, "Can you induce vomiting?"

There was silence at the door.

Mary: "You can try."