The Truth Game

The first scene in the mourning hall ended. Because of the beggar’s disturbance, someone had called the police.

The police arrived to investigate.

The deceased had died of a sudden heart attack, but the medicine bottle he carried was empty. Therefore, everyone present needed to be investigated.

The first round of discussion began.

Everyone except the beggar had a motive for murder.

Xu Yi held a black lace fan, half-covering his face, and sneered at Lu Xingyan. “Little Yan has always had a bad relationship with my husband. Because of the ex-wife, he often said he wished he’d die sooner.”

This was part of the script. Xu Yi thought he and Lu Xingyan were rivals.

Just as he finished speaking smugly, Lu Xingyan suddenly leaned close and whispered, “You call ‘husband’ so sweetly.”

“Are you crazy?” Xu Yi stiffened, raising the fan higher until only his eyes showed through the black veil of his hat.

Since putting on the female costume, Lu Xingyan had been acting like he was possessed, constantly running a fever.

Xu Yi couldn’t help suspecting that the other had discovered something—perhaps that the cross-dressed figure matched his online identity.

“Indeed, he married into my mother’s family, but after taking over the company, he gave her the cold shoulder until she died of depression.” Lu Xingyan stated expressionlessly, playing the part of a son who hated his father well.

Though immediately accused by the stepmother, he didn’t retort. Instead, he shifted the topic, pointing out that an aunt owed the father a high-interest loan she couldn’t repay.

That aunt’s face darkened instantly. She pointed at Xu Yi. “Everyone knows the lady is a promiscuous woman, ten years younger than Mr. Lu. He often beat her in private because of his insecurity.”

The police immediately checked the lady’s heavily covered arm and indeed found makeup-simulated traces of domestic violence.

Lu Xingyan suddenly sneered. “My stepmother is weak-willed, bullies the weak, cowardly, and greedy. If she really killed my dad, she wouldn’t get a cent. How could she be the murderer?”

Xu Yi glanced at the script. Lu Xingyan seemed to be right.

Though he was clearing Xu Yi’s name, he listed many of his flaws. Just a moment ago, he’d said something about relying on each other. Quite the actor.

Several guests grew anxious and began slinging mud at one another.

Then came the evidence-collection phase.

The only fingerprints on the medicine bottle belonged to the deceased and the lady.

Now everyone needed to split into groups to search, preventing anyone from hiding evidence.

Xu Yi and Lu Xingyan were placed in the same group. Each group had ten minutes to inspect all rooms.

Xu Yi first went to the garden where the deceased had died. The garden set was farther away, and Lu Xingyan’s attitude shifted again.

While Xu Yi was earnestly searching through the garden items, Lu Xingyan suddenly hugged him from behind.

Xu Yi was so startled he nearly jumped.

He whispered in warning, “There are cameras in every room.”

“Right, I’m just following the script.” Lu Xingyan chuckled. “What are you afraid of? We’re both guys. Touching your waist won’t make you pregnant.”

Only then did Xu Yi realize this was from Lu Xingyan’s script.

So his previous remark had made him look conceited.

Xu Yi blushed awkwardly, but thankfully the black veil of his hat hid his face.

“Mother, I will protect you,” Lu Xingyan said, gazing at Xu Yi with deep affection.

Xu Yi finally understood.

This script was incredibly bold.

So it was a story of a stepson falling for his stepmother.

In that case, the stepson being the murderer—killing the deceased to protect his stepmother from abuse—made perfect sense.

Xu Yi stood up and suddenly said, “Let’s check your room.”

They went together to Lu Xingyan’s room.

Xu Yi searched meticulously.

Since his own script didn’t mention any relationship with Lu Xingyan, it meant Lu Xingyan’s feelings were unrequited, one-sided.

So finding the murderer would mean victory.

Lu Xingyan watched helplessly as Xu Yi suddenly became so motivated.

This guy was truly impervious to anything but the desire to win.

A script with emotional entanglements like this was the perfect medium for ambiguous relationships to progress.

Finally, Xu Yi found a family photo in Lu Xingyan’s drawer.

The father’s figure was slashed.

There was a deep diagonal cut across the face.

Until everyone finished searching, they gathered again to reorganize clues and speculate.

Li Yuan pointed out the empty medicine bottle found in Xu Yi’s room and demanded to know what medicine it was.

Xu Yi answered that it was just vitamins he’d finished and hadn’t replenished yet.

Another half an hour of discussion, mutual accusations, and timeline alignment.

Then came the voting phase.

Lu Xingyan received the highest number of votes.

The NPC host looked at the last page of the answer.

He regretfully announced the winners of this murder mystery game.

Lu Xingyan, Xu Yi.

Everyone stared at the pair sitting together in confusion.

Usually, the winner was either the murderer or another player.

How could there be two winners?

If the murderer won, that meant Lu Xingyan wasn’t the murderer. So why did he win too?

Li Yuan suddenly slammed the table and stood up. “I got it! They’re having an affair!”

Xu Yi instinctively wanted to deny it, but Lu Xingyan had already nodded before him.

Then he put his arm around Xu Yi’s shoulder. “That’s right, Xiao Yi is actually… my girlfriend.”

Xu Yi’s mind went blank.

So Lu Xingyan had indeed discovered his identity?

“Yes, Lu Xingyan’s task was to cover for the lady and take the blame for her.”

“And the lady, as the real murderer, went unnoticed—the method of swapping the quick-acting heart medicine with vitamins.”

“Both members of the murderer team completed their tasks, achieving a bad ending: the son takes the blame, the murderer inherits all the property.”

“A few years later, the son gets released early for good behavior, goes to find the lady to confess his love, is rejected, and they kill each other.”

Xu Yi finally realized that Lu Xingyan’s mention of ‘girlfriend’ referred to the script’s plot.

What a complicated relationship.

Everyone was frustrated because Lu Xingyan’s earlier nervousness and stammering had all been an act.

Li Yuan groaned in agony. “I always thought Brother Yan was an upright guy. Who knew he could act so well!”

The winners received two souvenirs, while the losers got consolation prizes.

The souvenirs were thoughtfully designed: two figurines of their respective characters.

Palm-sized chibi versions, quite detailed.

Moreover, since their outfits were identical, they really did look like the two of them.

Li Yuan and the others’ consolation prize was a pitch-black shadow figure.

Clearly the murderer type.

But the expressions were different, still cute.

Everyone had a great time. Lu Xingyan and Li Yuan planned to return to the dorm together.

There were still five days left in the short break, so they might arrange to hang out again.

But Xu Yi suddenly called out to Lu Xingyan.

He stood behind with a serious expression. “Lu Xingyan, can you come over for a moment?”

Li Yuan looked at them curiously but smiled. “Do you guys want milk tea? I’ll go buy some.”

“Yeah, thanks, just get anything.” Xu Yi forced a smile.

Lu Xingyan walked toward Xu Yi. “Same for me.”

Hearing this, Li Yuan grabbed his phone and ran to the milk tea shop across the street.

Xu Yi waited until he was out of earshot, then looked up, frowning. “You already know, don’t you?”

Without waiting for an answer, he said with a hint of defeat, “I’ll rent a place off campus and stay away from you guys. I won’t tell anyone about those things.”

Xu Yi turned his head to look at the park beside him.

He didn’t dare meet Lu Xingyan’s eyes.

Even if Lu Xingyan hit him now, he’d accept it.

“Yeah, I know.” Lu Xingyan’s tone turned serious.

He saw Xu Yi lift his head abruptly, eyes red like a helpless little rabbit. “Can you… not tell Li Yuan?”

“Sure.” Lu Xingyan smiled.

Then, a bit embarrassed, he scratched his head. “I know you kind of like me. Maybe I don’t usually mind my boundaries, but I have a girlfriend…”

“And I think you’re a great roommate. I hope we can be best friends forever.”

Lu Xingyan’s voice grew softer, and by the end, even his face was completely red.

Xu Yi stared dumbfounded at Lu Xingyan rambling to himself.

Wait, was this guy really that narcissistic?

So the other had no idea at all.

Xu Yi sighed in relief, and his tense mood unconsciously turned into smugness.

He crossed his arms and sneered, “Actually, I was just messing with you. Can’t believe you fell for it.”

After saying that, Xu Yi saw Lu Xingyan’s expression become noticeably dejected.

Like a guilty big dog, looking at him pitifully.

Xu Yi paused. “But, since you’re so sincere about wanting to be my good friend…”

“I’ll reluctantly agree.”