Chapter 452: Costume Ball |
As Wang Haoran navigated his in-game character through the building, scavenging supplies, a pair of sudden system notifications popped up on his screen, causing him to pause.
So it turned out Jiang Gaoxuan wasn’t slacking off, seeing how he went all-in with a powerful move.
As for Xiao Ye, his value was finally squeezed dry. There was nothing left to take from him.
Moments later, his phone buzzed again.
Seeing the caller ID, Wang Haoran walked back to the guest room he had stayed in before and answered the call in private.
The living room remained quiet. Liu Yue was the only one there, still completely focused on her yoga routine, unaware that Wang Haoran had stepped away.
“Master,” Jiang Gaoxuan’s voice came through, laced with panic. “Things went too far. That Xiao Ye… he seems brain-damaged now. What should I do?”
“If he’s brain-damaged, then so be it,” Wang Haoran replied coolly. “Forget about him. I’ve got a new task for you.”
During the time Jiang Gaoxuan was monitoring and sabotaging Xiao Ye’s livestreams, the guy provided a generous stream of Villain Points and Halo Points. Wang Haoran had already gotten more than enough out of him.
“Will this one take long?” Jiang Gaoxuan asked carefully, knowing better than to object but still hoping for some clarity.
“Not at all,” Wang Haoran said casually. “You’ll be done in no time.”
“Please give your instructions, Master,” Jiang Gaoxuan said without hesitation.
“You’ve lived in the underworld for years. Have you ever been involved in robberies, either for money or… women?” Wang Haoran asked the question with a deliberate pause, testing the waters before revealing his real objective.
“I only ever robbed for money once, and that was when I ran into you. Before that, never. But as for women… I’ve got plenty of experience,” Jiang Gaoxuan admitted without a hint of shame.
Wang Haoran narrowed his eyes slightly. This guy really was a classic villain—his past wasn’t just dark, it was pitch black.
Fortunately, Jiang Gaoxuan no longer had the physical capability to commit those crimes. In a strange way, Wang Haoran wondered if stripping him of that ability had actually done the world a favor.
He didn’t dwell on it and moved straight to business.
“Here’s what I need you to do on the night after tomorrow…”
Jiang Gaoxuan listened intently, memorizing every instruction without missing a word.
Once the call ended, Wang Haoran dialed another number. This time, he contacted the villain trio—Liu Hua, Lu Ming, and Wei Zhihang.
Their task was simple: spread a fabricated rumor around Qingling University.
According to the story, there had been a string of incidents near campus involving a dangerous predator who targeted beautiful women walking alone at night.
Once that was arranged, Wang Haoran returned to the living room.
His character in the battle royale game had already been eliminated during the time he was away.
Qin Yunhan quit the match immediately after and re-invited him to form a new team.
With no one around to distract him this time, Wang Haoran played seriously and carried Qin Yunhan to a flawless victory.
After sending her a quick message to wrap up the game, he closed the app and launched Honors of King.
He also texted Xu Muyan, telling her to invite him once her match ended.
But she didn’t want to wait. She left her current game right away and joined his lobby.
They played a fun match together, laughing and bantering all the way through.
Not long after, dinner was served.
Although Wang Haoran had already eaten once earlier, how could he say no to Qiu Qianwei’s thoughtful gesture?
He sat down again and shared another meal, sipping generously from a bottle of red wine in the process.
By the time dinner wrapped up, he stood up a little unsteadily, feigning tipsiness as he prepared to leave.
Qiu Qianwei, clearly concerned, insisted that he stay the night at the villa.
He accepted without hesitation and headed for the guest room.
The night was still young.
With plenty of time left, he played more games with Qin Yunhan and Xu Muyan, taking turns between rounds.
Without even noticing, the night had grown deep, and the clock had already passed midnight.
Just then, a new message arrived on his phone.
Before he knew it, the night had deepened, and silence settled over the villa.
Suddenly, a message popped up on his phone.
“I can’t sleep.”
When Wang Haoran saw Qiu Qianwei’s message, a strange sense of deja vu came over him—this situation felt oddly familiar.
He recalled how something similar had happened before, and he ended up with Tantai Yaoyue. But after that encounter, she had grown wary and wouldn’t fall into the same situation so easily again.
Unless… they were to go official.
But doing that would inevitably attract Qin Fan’s attention, and that meant inviting trouble.
With a sigh, Wang Haoran pushed the thought out of his mind.
There was no rush. He had all the time in the world. Besides, after tasting something once, even if you still crave it, you learn how to control yourself.
He glanced at the message one more time, then quietly stepped out of the guest room.
In the hallway, he ran into Bian Suwen, who seemed to be heading to the bathroom.
She looked at him suspiciously—the direction he was walking didn’t lead to the public restroom.
“You drank a lot at dinner. Are you feeling any better now?” she asked.
“My head’s still a little dizzy,” he said, pressing his fingers to his temple with a slightly dazed expression.
“You know my medical skills,” Bian Suwen said. “Let me help relieve some of that pressure.”
“Thank you, Third Sister,” he replied politely and sat down in the living room.
Bian Suwen walked over and gently pressed her hands against his head, massaging his temples with practiced movements.
After a few moments, she asked softly, “How do you feel now?”
“Much better. Thank you, Third Sister.”
“I’m glad. Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?”
“No, I feel fine now.”
She nodded, ready to return to her room. But just as she turned, she leaned close to his ear and whispered something unexpected.
“Come by when you’re done.”
Without waiting for a reaction, she walked toward Room Two and disappeared inside.
Wang Haoran blinked in surprise.
That little immortal doctor had sharp instincts.
She figured him out.
Wait a minute—wasn’t she supposed to be in Room Three?
With sudden realization, he glanced toward Room Three using his X-ray vision.
It was empty.
His expression immediately turned curious.
The next morning, everyone gathered in the dining room for breakfast.
Luo Qingqian, Bian Suwen, and Qiu Qianwei looked radiant, their faces glowing with vitality. None of them wore makeup, but each was beautiful in her own unique way.
After finishing his meal, Wang Haoran left for campus as usual.
As he stepped outside the villa, he couldn’t help but sigh to himself.
Thankfully, his Internal Energy cultivation had already reached two hundred years. His body had been strengthened across the board.
If not for that, last night might have broken him.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the campus costume ball.
By the end of afternoon classes, students were already roaming the school grounds in full costume.
The event was set to take place in the Qingling University Gymnasium.
When night fell, the venue was packed with people.
Everyone wore strange and colorful outfits. Some had masks on, others proudly showed their faces.
Those who chose to wear masks were usually the ones lacking in looks. The truly attractive students—especially the handsome guys and gorgeous girls—were happy to go unmasked.
Small groups of friends chatted in corners of the gym, forming lively little circles.
Among the guys, the conversation mostly revolved around which girls looked the most stunning.
Meanwhile, the girls gossiped about which boys looked the most handsome.
Naturally, the four freshman campus belles—Qin Yunhan, Xu Muyan, Mu Zhaozhao, and Yu Shiqing—were the center of everyone’s attention.