Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 312: Lin Liu

Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Lin Liu

Bai Yanliang glanced at Lin Dayou.

His reaction... was off.

What would an ordinary person do upon seeing a paper full of words that seemed to curse them?

Bai Yanliang felt that most people’s first reaction would be anger, perhaps even tearing up the paper immediately.

Even if it wasn’t their first reaction, anger should follow soon after.

After all, being cursed for no reason, how could one remain indifferent?

But according to Bai Yanliang’s observation, Lin Dayou’s emotions were complicated, yet lacked the one emotion that should have appeared.

Anger.

He was puzzled, panicked, dazed, fearful, but not angry.

This was something not only Bai Yanliang noticed.

Zhan Yunhong also turned his head, looking thoughtfully at Lin Dayou.

Then, he glanced around and said, "Someone is threatening us, trying to scare off Lin Dayou and take the 3 million for themselves."

"Not me, I’ve been with Brother Lin almost the whole time, when would I have had the chance to print and place such a note here?" Ouyang Kang immediately explained, while turning to Bai Yanliang and the others, "In my opinion, you’re more suspicious, you were already here when we arrived at the hall, you had enough time to do it."

"Evidence?" Song Que looked up at him, his expression full of disdain, "Don’t talk nonsense without evidence."

"You!" Ouyang Kang’s face turned red, seemingly wishing to rush forward, but he was held back by his petite girlfriend.

"No matter who wrote that note, as long as we know it’s a bluff, Lin Dayou will die in the second-floor Horse Head Room, it’s clearly a scare tactic. As long as we don’t go to the second floor after lunch, won’t it be fine?" Zhan Yunhong said.

This broke Bai Yanliang’s impression of him. This man... seems to have spoken so many words for the first time.

"At least, there’s one thing the paper says that’s right. We need to eat," Liu Ruonan suddenly said.

Indeed.

"Did...did everyone skip breakfast?" Ouyang Kang’s girlfriend Wang Rui suddenly said softly.

Everyone nodded.

"I...I discovered the villa’s kitchen and dining room last night. If you guys don’t mind, I can..."

"I’ll help." Qi Nian raised his hand.

"I’ll help too," Liu Ruonan said.

Ouyang Kang also regained his composure, not looking at Song Que, he walked straight to Lin Dayou and said, "Brother Lin, don’t be scared, the paper is just some nonsense, it’s clearly fake. Even if, worst case, it were true, as long as you’re with us, you’ll be fine!"

Ouyang Kang pounded his chest confidently, but this confidence didn’t rub off on Lin Dayou at all.

That middle-aged man sat at the chair, pale-faced, with sweat pouring down in large drops, his whole being engulfed in despair.

His entire body trembled; clearly, Lin Dayou was terrified of what was written on that paper.

His reaction... as if he believed everything on the paper would come true.

The group of nine, led by Wang Rui, left the hall.

As Qi Nian passed by Bai Yanliang, Bai Yanliang whispered, "Keep an eye on Wang Rui and Liu Ruonan, stay safe."

Qi Nian nodded slightly, "Hmm, you stay safe too."

The three women went to the kitchen, while the remaining six sat in the dining room.

It wasn’t long before Liu Ruonan served some coffee for everyone.

When she placed the coffee in front of Bai Yanliang, he thanked her, "Thank you, but I don’t drink coffee."

"I’ll take it then." Zhan Yunhong seemed much more amicable, no longer confrontational as he was yesterday, and was less aloof.

Liu Ruonan handed the coffee to Zhan Yunhong as instructed.

Up to this point, the air of suspicion and vigilance had slightly decreased, and everyone seemed more relaxed.

"So do you guys think... who exactly is the owner of this villa? Why set up such an incomprehensible activity?" Ouyang Kang couldn’t help but start talking, "Isn’t he worried we might take his valuables? The whole villa is empty of people."

"Take? Are these things really valuable?" Song Que glanced around casually, his gaze not fluttering the least.

Ouyang Kang was about to retort but, upon seeing Song Que’s understated yet luxurious attire, he instantly reconsidered.

He’s from a wealthy family in contrast to my poor student status, no point in having an argument...

"It’s best not to entertain such thoughts, I’m guessing there are cameras everywhere in this villa," Zhan Yunhong commented as he drank his coffee and furrowed his brows, "haven’t you noticed that wherever you go, you feel like you’re being watched?"

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I remember, Xiao Rui kept saying last night that someone was watching her and she barely slept. Could the villa’s owner be a creep and install cameras even in the bedrooms?" Ouyang Kang speculated, bewildered.

"It doesn’t hurt to be cautious." Zhan Yunhong took a sip of his coffee, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch. The villa’s owner is using a 3 million reward to attract us, meaning that he anticipates gaining returns not less than 3 million."

"In my view, it’s highly possible that we’ve been secretly filmed as part of a reality show." Zhan Yunhong scanned the dining room, "If you think about it, even that paper curse targeting Lin Dayou starts to make sense; it’s a tool to stir drama, to see how we react in the face of the unknown."

At this junction, Zhan Yunhong put down his coffee cup and stared at Lin Dayou, saying, "Isn’t that right, Boss Lin?"

Lin Dayou was in a state of shock, but as soon as Zhan Yunhong addressed him, he shuddered and looked at Zhan Yunhong with anger, "You’re suspecting me as the villa’s owner? Ignorant fool! If we don’t come up with a solution, everyone here will die!"

"Calm down," Zhan Yunhong looked at him coldly, "I never said you are the villa’s owner. I just learned that the villa’s owner has the surname Lin."

"Nonsense!" Lin Dayou was both anxious and angry, "The villa’s owner is obviously surnamed Liu!"

Oh?

Several sets of eyes instantly focused on Lin Dayou.

His body stiffened, and he quickly clamped his mouth shut, looking troubled.

"Liu? As in Liu Ruonan’s Liu?" Song Que’s gaze was menacing, fixated on Lin Dayou.

Lin Dayou shivered all over, sweating more profusely, stammering, "I don’t know... I don’t know! Stop asking me! I don’t know anything!"

The atmosphere immediately grew tense and confrontational again.

Some people watched Lin Dayou trembling, while others gazed at Zhan Yunhong attentively.

For instance... Bai Yanliang.

He had seen with his own eyes how Zhan Yunhong, seemingly by chance, maneuvered step by step until Lin Dayou inadvertently revealed this secret himself.