Chapter 20: Alliance

“Lin Rou, I didn’t realize today was your birthday,” Zhang Xiaofan said with an awkward smile.

Lin Rou responded gently, “Xiaofan, I tricked you into coming. You're not angry, are you?”

“Not at all! When a beautiful girl invites me, I’m thrilled to accept,” Jiang Jiewei joked.

Once everyone was seated, Lin Rou said, “Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me today. I’ve ordered the dishes already, but feel free to order anything else you’d like.”

Hu Xiaotian glanced at the menu, clicking his tongue. “Wow, this meal won’t be cheap.”

He ordered just a few things out of courtesy. As they ate, Lin Rou raised her glass of orange juice. “Xiaofan, thank you so much for that night,” she said, then took a sip.

Sun Lili, indignant, said, “Huang Kai-jian is such a scoundrel, to do something like that to you.”

Lin Rou was close with Sun Lili, so she had told her what happened, which was also why everyone had gathered together this time.

Jiang Jiewei chimed in, “Xiaofan, you’re impressive—a real hero saving the damsel. We should learn from you.”

Their dorm mates Gu Seling and Liu Saijian joined in, Gu Seling laughing, “Xiaofan, the more I look, the more you and Lin Rou seem perfect together.”

“Yes, you two really look like a couple,” Hu Xiaotian teased.

“Why don’t you two share a toast?” Sun Lili said excitedly.

Lin Rou blushed and said shyly, “Stop it,” stealing a glance at Zhang Xiaofan.

Everyone knew Lin Rou’s character: pure and quiet, not fond of talking, and even less able to handle excessive teasing.

So Zhang Xiaofan quickly interjected, “Alright, let’s stop teasing her. Don’t scare the young lady.”

“Oh, already acting protective?” Hu Xiaotian joked.

“Fine, let’s just have the toast,” Lin Rou said, standing up in mock annoyance.

Zhang Xiaofan was stunned—he’d never dared hope for such a thing. He was just a nobody, and thought Lin Rou was only friendly because of what happened last time; surely she wouldn’t want to share a toast with him, would she?

Yet unexpectedly, Lin Rou agreed.

The others kept giving Zhang Xiaofan meaningful looks. Helpless, the two shared the toast, Lin Rou’s cheeks growing even redder.

The group continued chatting and eating, and as they finished, Sun Lili suddenly said, “If only every day could be this happy.”

As soon as she said this, the atmosphere cooled abruptly. Everyone thought of the red envelope group.

Jiang Jiewei clenched his fist. “Even Wang Hu’s monk couldn’t deal with that ghost. If we keep playing this game, it’ll be trouble.”

Zhang Xiaofan said, “Don’t lose heart. I’ve made it through several games already. As long as we stick together, we can overcome this.”

Hu Xiaotian agreed, “Right! We have to unite from now on. If anything happens, let’s discuss it and work together. We mustn’t let Wang Hu or Song Feng bully us.”

“Exactly. Without the law, students are getting more and more reckless,” Sun Lili said anxiously.

“I suggest we choose a leader among us, so we have someone to rely on,” Gu Seling proposed after some thought.

Hu Xiaotian didn’t hesitate. “Let it be Xiaofan. He’s survived the most games, and is friends with Zhou Jian and the others.”

He glanced at Zhang Xiaofan as he spoke.

Zhang Xiaofan had long hoped to unite those around him into a single group, so this was just what he wanted.

Still, he couldn’t say so outright, and looked uncertainly at the others.

Jiang Jiewei nodded, “I agree, Xiaofan is the best choice. I trust him. His abilities speak for themselves—like that time he stood up to Song Feng. Who else would dare?”

Everyone nodded, and Zhang Xiaofan said, “Uniting isn’t about who’s in charge. What matters is that we work together and face things together. It’s better than going it alone.”

They discussed it further, finally confirming Zhang Xiaofan as their leader. With this, a fourth group formed in the class, alongside Song Feng, Wang Hu, and Murong Feng.

Everyone’s faces were full of smiles. But none of them expected that this seemingly united group would soon face a split in the upcoming red envelope game.

The relaxing weekend flew by. On this day, the students returned to class, and Sun Yang sent another red envelope.

Zhang Xiaofan grabbed 58 coins.

Then Bao Lei posted the game task:

Those who received a red envelope ending in eight must play rock-paper-scissors.

Rock-paper-scissors will be judged by the hell money in the envelope. The loser loses fifty hell coins per round, which are added to the winner’s account.

When the loser’s hell coins drop below fifty, they face the death penalty.

The winner must win three rounds, and have at least one hundred fifty more hell coins than the original envelope amount to exit the game. Of course, you can choose to keep playing, but risk losing.

The game lasts forty-eight hours. Anyone who hasn’t won three rounds in time is considered defeated.

Good luck, students!

Seeing the game task, Zhang Xiaofan frowned. “My luck is something else—I’ve been selected again. I didn’t expect the hell money red envelope to be used this time.”

He glanced at his wallet: 519 coins, thanks to the three hundred reward after the tug-of-war game.

That meant, besides those who joined the tug-of-war, most students had about 200 hell coins.

According to the rules, losing one round meant losing fifty coins—ten losses would mean death.

To win, he needed to have 150 more coins than his current 519.

He then looked at the list of selected players. His pupils contracted: eight people, three of whom he knew—Lin Rou, his dorm mate Liu Kaijian, and his desk mate Hu Xiaotian, along with Murong Feng, Chen Siyu, Wang Jiansi, and Li Haoyu.

“Why am I so unlucky?” Hu Xiaotian’s face turned pale.

Zhang Xiaofan reassured him, “Don’t forget what we said—we have to work together.”

He himself wasn’t sure; although he had a lot of hell coins, theoretically he could lose to his friends, but he wasn’t a saint—he had to think of himself.

“No more chatter. Who wants to play with me?” Murong Feng stood up, his sharp gaze sweeping over those whose envelopes ended in eight.

Hu Xiaotian shouted, “If I lose, I die! I only have enough coins to lose three times.”

Murong Feng sneered, “Nobody wants to play, but you should know—even if you don’t play, you’ll die in the end.”

Zhang Xiaofan stood up, “Hu Xiaotian, we have two days to figure something out.”

Lin Rou sat helplessly in the corner, making Zhang Xiaofan’s heart ache. Su Qianqian glanced at him, worry in her eyes.

Liu Saijian trembled as he stood, and said to Zhang Xiaofan, “Boss, I remember you got a three hundred reward after the tug-of-war game. So even if you lose six times, you’ll be fine.”

Zhang Xiaofan’s face darkened, and the others looked at him. Many had a look of schadenfreude in their eyes.

Song Feng said coolly, “Well, two days and you’ve become the boss. Let’s see if this boss will save his followers!”