CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 88: TURNS OUT SOMEONE REALLY CAN BE UNLUCKY ALL THE TIME

Yu Xia slowly turned her head to look at him, "Really? I can’t see any sunset; all I see are dead branches and decaying leaves."

Xie Qingci shrugged.

"Maybe my eyesight is too good, seeing things I shouldn’t."

Yu Xia chuckled, "As long as you know."

Such banter between the two was not unusual, and Yu Xia and Wei Yaoyao would often joke around like this too.

Moreover, both were very open about it, leaving nothing for others to criticize. Fans shipping them was one thing, proving they were actually involved was another.

Wei Yaoyao watched them, smiling like a fool, while Song Xi had a slight smile as well, though it briefly disappeared when he lowered his head to adjust his glasses.

He inexplicably felt restless and irritated.

As Xie Qingci glanced at the big screen, he also gave him a fleeting look, his expression indifferent.

He chose to skip the card.

Yu Xia had only one card left; she wanted to win, and he wanted her to achieve her wish.

So, in the end, the victory was indeed hers.

She was eloquent, and the words she spun were dazzling; he reckoned if this machine were a person, it would be bewildered by her spinning yarns.

Just like she used to coax him.

Calling him darling, brother, dear, quick to retreat when necessary.

Watching her delighted smile, Xie Qingci’s slight happiness was once again replaced by resentment.

He suddenly felt like a jealous husband with nothing better to do than to overthink, fluctuating between gains and losses.

Tsk.

The first round ended, and the second round began. The staff brought up new "big cards," this time of a literary type.

Everyone drew their cards slowly, leaving three cards behind.

Yu Xia felt a bit puzzled when the screen suddenly changed.

The black screen displayed nine cards marked with question marks; apart from some visible patterns, nothing else was discernible.

An electronic voice announced, "Time to purchase card props. Would you like to purchase?"

Recalling the previous games, Yu Xia realized three people at the scene now had points.

Xie Qingci had 10 points left.

Wei Yaoyao had 9 points.

Song Xi had 9 points.

She glanced at Song Xi and Wei Yaoyao, then at Xie Qingci.

"Do you guys want to buy?"

Shu Ran seemed interested, "Go ahead and buy it. Last time in the escape room, the card Wei Yaoyao bought was really helpful."

Wei Yaoyao was tempted, eagerly raising his hand.

"I’ll buy one. Shu Ran, would you like to help me choose?"

Shu Ran wasn’t about to take on something that might mess up, so she shook her head decisively, "You choose yourself. What if I end up picking an unlucky card for you?"

At this, she instinctively glanced at Yu Xia, coincidentally catching Song Xi, Xie Qingci, and Wei Yaoyao also looking at her.

Yu Xia: "...It’s really sad seeing you all do this."

She had just picked... alright, twice, two unlucky cards, but that didn’t mean she was the spokesperson for unlucky cards. Why did they always look at her when unlucky cards were mentioned?!

Song Xi chuckled and jokingly said, "Why don’t I give the chance to buy a card to Yu Xia to try again? Maybe this time you’ll draw an extraordinary card and cleanse yourself of your unlucky streak."

Truth be told, Yu Xia was somewhat tempted.

She shifted to a cross-legged position, leaned forward a bit, about to ask him if he was really willing, when she caught a glimpse of Xie Qingci’s distinct fingers tapping the cards.

Just like that day when he knocked over the cup of coffee in the dressing room.

Yu Xia shivered and immediately declined Song Xi’s offer.

"Better not waste your points; it’s hard enough to earn them. Spend them on yourself."

Song Xi’s smile diminished slightly.

"Alright then, let me test my luck. Xie Qingci, are you buying?"

Xie Qingci maintained a calm expression and shook his head, "Not for now."

He needed to save those points for the next outdoor game for Yu Xia.

Poor guy hadn’t fully taken up the duties but was already experiencing the difficulty of earning a living for the family.

Song Xi pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there only one opportunity to purchase card props in today’s game?"

Electronic voice, "The prop cards are available in the shop and can be purchased anytime."

"Then I’ll wait too, and only buy when necessary."

Unlike them, Wei Yaoyao was more decisive, choosing the fifth card based on a lucky number.

The card flipped, and the electronic voice read the usage instructions aloud to everyone.

"Wei Yaoyao has purchased the ’It’s You’ card, costing eight points. Usage rule: Starting from the card purchaser’s position, count eight people to the right, granting the chosen player three landlord cards and making them the starter."

Initially, Yu Xia didn’t realize the implications and even laughed about how expensive the card was. Then, mentally counting from Wei Yaoyao to the eighth person to the right... damn, wasn’t that her?!

The smile on her face shattered instantly.

Faced with the collective gaze of everyone else, she took a couple of sharp breaths, rolled her eyes, and clutched her chest like she was about to faint backward.

"I can’t take it; someone get me out of here. I’m quitting this game."

Wei Yaoyao: "Hahahahahahahahahaha, Yu Xia! It turns out that there really are people who are constantly unlucky, hahaha!"

His laughter was so boisterous; Xie Qingci was initially inclined to console Yu Xia but couldn’t help joining in when he looked at her, earning a withering look from her.

Unable to hold it in, he leaned back, shoulders shaking with laughter.

Yu Xia, exasperated, punched Wei Yaoyao twice. "Your lousy luck isn’t any better than mine!"

"There’s a big difference, dear! You picked cards that sabotage yourself, I picked ones that sabotage you – that’s not the same, right? It’s bad luck for you but good luck for me!"

After his bold declaration, Wei Yaoyao got up and ran, with Yu Xia chasing after him.

"Did you have some deal with our sponsor to deliberately draw this card?!"

"If I had that chance, I’d buy a card to win directly! Ouch—"

Just as he was about to pass Xie Qingci, he stumbled, allowing Yu Xia to catch up and smack him with the nearby giraffe plush toy.

Having vented her frustration, Yu Xia felt a bit better and begrudgingly dragged the extra three cards back to her spot, sighing three times.

Then she sneakily peeked at the cards.

Paused for a moment, then checked them again.

Finally, her lips curved into a smile, "Hehehehe."

Shu Ran: "You’re smiling so deviously; are those three cards amazing?"

Everyone else looked over.

Yu Xia straightened herself, shook her head mysteriously, and began playing her cards.

She played three cards at once.

"Caiyue."

"Ying Chun."

"Copy."

Pei Lu craned his neck to look, "What does that mean, Yu Xia?"

"The names Caiyue and Ying Chun sound like maidservants’ names. Copy, of course, means a replacement card. I choose to replace a maidservant card, which means three maidservant cards, a bomb!"

Everyone else paused, seemingly taken aback by the power of her bomb card.

She pushed the three cards forward and happily patted the cards in front of Xie Qingci, saying, "Come on, brother, play a card and defeat me."

Xie Qingci smiled obediently, his dark eyes reflecting her arrogant air.

"It’s a bomb, I can’t beat that, so I’ll skip."

Yu Xia raised her eyebrows in satisfaction. Though she said nothing, the familiar look in both their eyes seemed to say—

An understanding brother is truly lovable.