I'll deal with you as soon as I get back tomorrow

After the competition, everyone returned to the living room to rest.

It was already 6:30 PM, and the fading glow of the sunset spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing every corner of the room. The group, visibly exhausted, lounged haphazardly on chairs and sofas.

Outside, the horizon where the sea met the sky was painted with streaks of orange. The sun, suspended mid-air, was about to extinguish itself as it dipped into the ocean.

After resting for a while, Meng Wenzhou leaned back on the sofa and casually remarked to Pan Ning and the others, "We're heading back tomorrow."

Pan Ning had already known that Shen Yixue needed to return to Haicheng early, so she nodded in agreement.

Tang Ziyun and the other three walked over and asked, "Are you guys leaving for Haicheng tomorrow?"

"Yeah, Yixue has some family matters to attend to, so we figured we might as well all go back together," Meng Wenzhou explained.

Tang Ziyun nodded and glanced at Su Yang. "Then let's head back too. What do you guys think?" she asked, looking at Liu Meng and the others.

Liu Meng shrugged. "I’m fine with it. We’ve been here for four or five days already. If you want to go back, let’s go."

"Alright, then we’ll leave tomorrow with Su Yang and the others. Have you booked your flights yet?" she asked, turning back to Meng Wenzhou.

Meng Wenzhou shook his phone. "I’m looking at tickets now. You guys want to join us, right? Send me your ID details, and I’ll book them all together to save the hassle."

Tang Ziyun smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Brother Meng. We’ll transfer the money to you later."

"Don’t worry about it. It’s just a small amount."

"That’s not right. We should pay you back."

Liu Meng chimed in with a laugh, "We insist. We know you’re not short on cash, but that’s not the point. We’ve only known each other for a couple of days. Once we’re closer, I won’t hold back, hehe."

"Hahaha, alright, alright. Send me the details later then," Meng Wenzhou chuckled as he continued browsing flights.

Liu Bo leaned in and whispered, "Hey, Brother Meng, hold off on booking for now."

"Why?" Meng Wenzhou asked, puzzled.

"What if Wen Xin wants to go back with me tomorrow?"

"Seriously? Are you dreaming? You really think that’s possible?"

"Who knows? Haven’t you noticed her attitude toward me has changed?"

Meng Wenzhou gave Liu Bo a once-over and muttered, "Listen, buddy, you’re dangerously close to becoming a simp. Haven’t you heard the saying?"

"What saying?" Liu Bo blinked.

"A simp simps until he ends up with nothing."

"Come on, man, you know me better than that!"

"Honestly, I’m starting to question that. You’d never say stuff like this before."

Meng Wenzhou added, "Take my advice—just stick to the plan. If she really likes you and wants to go back with you, she’ll book her own ticket. Didn’t I just transfer her tens of thousands?"

Liu Bo thought for a moment. "Fair point. Forget it then."

Su Yang leaned in and whispered, "Focus on sealing the deal tonight first."

Liu Bo grinned. "No problem, Brother Yang."

Pan Ning, sitting beside Su Yang, overheard their hushed conversation.

"You guys are always thinking about one thing."

"What thing? We didn’t say anything!"

"Ugh, never mind."

Soon, the group turned on the TV and gathered around the sofa to sing.

Night fell completely, and Su Yang groaned—he was sick of eating barbecue after two days straight.

Since they were leaving Haicheng the next day, Meng Wenzhou called the hotel, and soon, staff arrived with an extravagant spread:

Lu City’s signature roasted chicken, freshly cracked "horse dung" sea urchins, French white pearl oysters, M9 Wagyu steak, and other premium delicacies.

The grand finale was a massive Iberian 5J ham.

This stuff was expensive. Iberian hams are graded from highest to lowest as black, red, green, and white labels.

The highest standard is black label, but 5J surpasses even that.

Made from 100% purebred Iberian black pigs fed on acorns, a single leg could easily cost over ten thousand.

But for Meng Wenzhou, this was just pocket change.

Wine glasses were filled, and the group gathered around the sofa for their last dinner in Lu City.

By the time they finished eating and drinking, it was already 10 PM.

Ding!

Su Yang’s phone buzzed.

He picked it up—it was a message from Lin Yiyi.

"Brother Su, why haven’t you replied to me these past two days? Where’d you go? You haven’t even visited my stream."

Su Yang froze. Damn, I almost forgot about her.

"What’s up?"

"I keep losing my PK battles. I need you to save me."

Su Yang smirked and replied, "I’ve been out of Haicheng. I’ll help when I’m free."

"Okay~ When are you coming back?"

"Tomorrow."

"Can I come see you tomorrow then?"

"Sure, tomorrow night."

"Yay~ [shy emoji]"

Su Yang put his phone away, thinking, You keep throwing yourself at me. Don’t blame me for what happens next.

"Who was that?" Pan Ning asked.

"Uh, just a friend."

Pan Ning nodded and didn’t press further.

Xia Keke suggested playing Werewolf, and the group went through four or five rounds.

Liu Bo checked his watch—midnight. He cut the game short.

"Let’s switch to something else!"

Liu Wenxin, sitting beside him, looked up. "What’s wrong? I was just getting into it!"

"I’ve got something even more exciting."

Xia Keke tensed up at his words.

Liu Bo grinned. "With so many of us here, it’d be a waste not to play the Ouija board game!"

Xia Keke groaned and covered her face.

"Bro, why are you so obsessed with this game? I really don’t want to play."

"Have you ever tried it before?"

She shook her head. "No, but I’ve seen videos. It’s terrifying."

"It’s not that scary. We won’t even turn off the lights, okay? With so many people, what’s there to fear? If any ghosts show up, I’ll make them kneel on their way out."

After some hesitation, Xia Keke finally gave in—mostly because the team assignments from earlier still applied.

Liu Bo had won the basketball game, securing the right to choose any game he wanted. She had no choice but to comply.

The other girls were also reluctant, but with the mood at its peak, they didn’t want to ruin the fun and reluctantly agreed.

Seeing everyone on board, Liu Bo stood up with a grin and went to gather the materials.

Su Yang leaned back on the sofa and laughed. "Lao Meng, why is Fatty so obsessed with this game? He’s dead set on playing."

Meng Wenzhou smirked. "You think he actually cares about the game?"

"Oh… I get it now."

"Last push. Once he scares the right person, he’ll get his chance."

"Heh, this guy always goes for the unconventional tactics."

"Honestly, about that Fatty guy... ah, never mind. I’ll tell you the details when we get back to Haicheng and have a chance to meet up."

Su Yang noticed Meng Wenzhou hesitating. Though he was curious about what had happened to Fatty, this wasn’t the right setting for a heart-to-heart.

He nodded and said, "Alright, we’ll talk when we’re back."

Just then, Liu Bo came jogging over with a black beer bottle, a sheet of white paper, and a ballpoint pen.

"Couldn’t find one of those pens that stands up, so we’ll have to make do with this bottle," Liu Bo said as he placed the bottle on the table.

"A beer bottle?" Su Yang blinked in confusion.

"An empty one. Found it in the kitchen—it’s not from us drinking. It’s just something from the villa. Same difference, really, just a different name."

"So what’s this game called?"

Liu Bo looked around solemnly and announced, "Bottle Spirit!"

"Bottle Spirit?" Meng Wenzhou and the others were completely baffled.

"Exactly! Look, just treat it like a Ouija board—the rules are pretty much the same."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say."

Liu Bo scanned the circle of people and asked, "Anyone here never played this kind of game before?"

A few of the girls shook their heads. "Maybe you should explain first. None of us have tried it."

"It’s super simple—no need for a long explanation. Just follow my lead."

With that, Liu Bo picked up the ballpoint pen and started writing on the white paper.

......