"Alright, time to draw lots," An Yan announced, placing the crumpled pieces of paper on the table. "If you draw the same number, you're a pair. First rule: you can't sit next to your partner!" Four people would play the first round; the others would wait. Those who drew the numbers one and two would go first. To her dismay, Shu Wan drew a two. Her gaze lifted to the man opposite her. Huo Sihan held a one, placing them on opposing teams. An Yan, who had also drawn a one, arched a brow at Shu Wan, a silent promise of ruin in her eyes. "Who's got the other two?" After a moment's hesitation, Ji Liangchuan unfurled the slip of paper in his hand. He offered Shu Wan a small smile. "I'm not much of a card player. Guess I'm counting on you." Shu Wan managed a smile that was more of a grimace. She was hardly the type for these kinds of games; she’d always been a quiet, well-behaved girl. An Yan had rattled off the rules so quickly Shu Wan hadn't caught half of them. And now Ji Liangchuan, who looked like a natural at this, was claiming he couldn’t play? This had to be a setup. A suspicion bloomed in her mind: had An Yan rigged the draw? When An Yan dealt the cards, Shu Wan’s heart sank. The hand was a complete mess—no pairs, no runs, nothing. With a final, deft flick of her wrist, An Yan dealt the last card. "Your turn to start, Miss Shu." That seductive voice set Shu Wan on edge. She was only wearing a single dress. One loss, and it would be gone. She’d be completely exposed, put on display for everyone to see, no different from one of the girls who sold themselves on the street. It was obvious now: this was An Yan’s payback for Lin Zechen’s jab about her ‘not being for sale.’ She was using this game to take her anger out on Shu Wan. Shu Wan saw the trap for what it was, but there was nothing she could do. Her hand was trash, and to make matters worse, Ji Liangchuan seemed to be throwing the game. A cold sweat broke out on her palms. And then there was Huo Sihan, playing like a man possessed. He wouldn’t give her an inch—she’d play a simple three, and he’d counter with a four-of-a-kind bomb just to block her. Shu Wan’s face went pale with frustration. Seeing her distress, Lin Zechen, who was sitting beside her, swiftly pulled her onto his lap. "Easy now," he murmured, "I’ll help you." Her mind was so consumed by the game that she didn’t even register that she was now sitting on his lap. All she felt was a rising panic. "What do I do with these?" she asked, turning to him desperately. Lin Zechen took the cards from her. In a flash, he rearranged them into a straight flush and played it with a decisive snap onto the table. An Yan shot him a dirty look. "That's cheating, Lin Zechen." Lin Zechen simply arched a brow. "And what are you going to do about it?" An Yan scoffed, but gathered her cards and leaned back against the sofa. Seeing An Yan back down, the tight knot of worry in Shu Wan’s brow finally began to ease. A wave of relief washed over her, and she turned to Lin Zechen with a grateful smile. Her smile sparked something in him, and unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed her. The cool press of his lips against hers snapped her back to reality. In that instant, she became acutely aware of where she was: sitting on Lin Zechen’s lap. She struggled to push him away, but his arms tightened around her, a possessive grip. "Move again," he whispered menacingly, "and I’ll take you right here." The threat froze her. Her face drained of color, she slowly turned her head, and her eyes locked with Huo Sihan’s once more. This time, she saw it clearly: the rims of his eyes were stark red, and his gaze held a murderous chill that sent a violent tremor through her heart. Huo Sihan… Just as she wondered if he cared, he slammed down the ultimate bomb—the red and black jokers—obliterating her play. He followed it with a rapid succession of smaller bombs, giving her absolutely no room to counter. As Shu Wan watched him play his final card, the last bit of hope drained from her face. An Yan, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. "And that just leaves my last run!" She slapped the sequential cards onto the table and shot a triumphant smirk at Ji Liangchuan and Shu Wan. "Looks like you two lose," she chirped. "Game's rules. One piece of clothing off. For both of you." With a resigned smile, Ji Liangchuan laid down his remaining handful of cards and shrugged off his jacket. An Yan’s gaze then slid to Shu Wan, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Miss Shu, my darling Liangchuan has done his part. Now, it’s your turn."