Translated by Eve

　　Edited by Wuxian

　　Although they had eaten until they were close to bursting last night, they had missed breakfast because they had gone looking for the robust girl. When they wearily decided to give up their search at noon, their stomachs were already empty.

　　Everyone's steps were heavy as they walked towards the dining hall. They sat before the dining table. When they gazed at the empty seat, they lost their appet.i.tes once more.

　　The quiet and gentle girl was still curled up,constantly muttering 'can't escape, can't escape' in a small voice. The bespectacled youth forked up a piece of cauliflower into his mouth, chewing it like it had the consistency of wax and whispered, "This afternoon…what should we do?"

　　"…Continue looking through the study, ba. We haven't carefully examined all of the books there," Yang Yue replied, hesitant, "Perhaps…we'll find a clue."

　　"…Then, can you tell us why the butler demanded to send us out that night?" The bespectacled youth suddenly changed the topic and became aggressive, "I've had enough! I've already had enough with this manor, with the ghosts in this place! I want to leave, no matter what I have to do! Even if I have to use a despicable, inhumane method!"

　　The quiet and gentle girl suddenly raised her head. From her eyes shone a morbid light as she stared at Yang Yue with fixed eyes, making Yang Yue feel his back go cold.

　　Yang Yue's heart sunk further. He stared at the bespectacled youth with cold eyes, "Are you not afraid that the one it wants is you?"

　　"I'm not afraid! However, for it to want me is very unlikely," A bout of insanity emerged from within the bespectacled youth's perpetually calm eyes, "Because the person it most likely wants is you!"

　　The atmosphere became stifling. The bespectacled youth and the quiet and gentle girl were evidently one faction. Meanwhile, Ming Hai quickly stood by Yang Yue's side, a.s.suming a protective stance.

　　The only one left was Sui Yuan, who sat between the two sides, and had yet to declare his position.

　　Feeling the other four's gazes on him, Sui Yuan felt greatly pressured for the nth time. He put down his utensils and stood up slowly. He then walked to Yang Yue and Ming Hai's side, indicating his position. Regardless of whether it was Sui Yuan or Xiao Xiao, their choices would be the same.

　　Yang Yue let out an obvious sigh. His gaze twinkled with joy, as if he wanted to hug Sui Yuan. However, when he saw the ghost on top of the other's shoulder, he stiffly held himself back.

　　Regardless of how much it hurt to be betrayed by people who were once his 'friends', so long as Xiao Xiao and Ming Hai always stood at his side, then that would be enough.

　　"You'll regret your choices one day! You'll be implicated by Yang Yue and die!" The bespectacled youth fiercely gnashed his teeth, glared at Sui Yuan and Ming Hai.

　　3 VS. 2. On his own side was a weak and mentally unstable girl and a weak bookworm. Meanwhile, even if the other side had Xiao Xiao, who could be completely ignored, Ming Hai and Yang Yue, however, still had considerable fighting ability. No matter what, his side was the weaker side.

　　This was why he had always endured and did not revolt. One, there was his consciousness and feelings of friends.h.i.+p stopping him from falling out with them. Two, he was intimidated by Ming Hai and Yang Yue's capabilities. The bespectacled youth felt quite regretful. If he had raised this issue when the robust girl was still alive, then they'd have a chance of victory. It was just a pity that…the other had died without warning. Meanwhile, he could not endure things any longer and had no choice but to stake it all. Who knew if the next to die would be him, ne?

　　However, it failed, ah…his attempt was indeed a failure. After falling out with Yang Yue and co., what should he do? Go their separate ways? That would not do— death would only come all the more quickly for them. Thicken his face and continue following along with them? Would Yang Yue and the others reject them? Would they sacrifice them in a critical moment to save themselves?

　　The bespectacled youth's expression continuously changed. It was just unfortunate that no matter what he said, Xiao Xiao and Ming Hai were unwavering and continued to firmly stand by their original choice, leaving him helpless.

　　"Heh…this is human nature. Truly ugly. A good dog-eat-dog drama!" A smooth and taunting voice sounded, interrupting the tension of their ongoing confrontation. Yang Yue abruptly turned to look at the long-haired ghost who had appeared in the dining hall at some unknown point of time. His face was slightly warped. Yang Yue felt that his words were like a slap in the face, sharply smacking him. He had once pledged that he would protect each and every one of them. However, reality was nakedly ridiculing him for his naivety.

　　Seeing Yang Yue's action, the others all cast their gazes on the long-haired ghost, even if they obviously could not see anything. Perceiving both Sui Yuan and Zhao Xihe's gaze, the long-haired ghost reflexively shuddered but he still persisted with his normal att.i.tude. Although he was a bit unnatural, Yang Yue, who had a load on his own mind, did not notice.

　　——So scary, really so scary…to have to play the villain BOSS in front of the true masterminds…it was simply embarra.s.sing to death, ah! I'm being forced, too. Don't look at me like that….QAQ

　　Unfortunately, the long-haired ghost's pained inner cries could not be heard by anyone. In everyone else's eyes, it was still a demented, villain BOSS.

　　Yang Yue gritted his teeth. He recalled how this 'butler's' threats had steadily become reality and simply itched to devour its flesh while it was still alive. However, for the sake of the safety of his comrades and himself, he still had no choice but to remain calm, "May I ask why you came here specifically looking for us?"

　　"Why…? There's no reason why! I just wanted to come and see if you've changed your mind," The long-haired ghost raised its hand. Its slender index finger circled around it a few times in the air. It appeared especially leisurely, like he was taking pleasure from their suffering. In actuality, it was itching to immediately finish its mission and then escape far, far away from here, "Another one of your 'comrades' has died, and two of them have already become enemies with you. Right now, do you still want to persist with your original choice? Give Xiao Xiao to me and I'll let you all go. This deal is still effective, ne~"

　　"No way!" Yang Yue firmly rejected the deal.

　　"Even if you'll pay for this with your own life? Is love more important than your life?" The long-haired ghost scoffed.

　　"You don't understand. This has nothing to do with whether I like him or not," Yang Yue averted his gaze. He actually didn't believe that his feelings towards Xiao Xiao were all that deep. Only, as a benevolent protagonist, he could not betray the choice he had made in good conscience.