Yan Su frowned slightly, as if finding the woman's logic too chaotic to endure: "Didn't you admit it yourself first?"
The actress found it a bit embarrassing but was also genuinely intrigued by the cold and rejecting man before her. She smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, I guess I was the one who exposed my cards first."
Her words were filled with implication.
Zhen Ai, as usual, didn't understand any of the suggestive terms, and whether Yan Su got it or not, he remained indifferent, meticulously cutting his steak into neat little pieces, as if it were done by a machine.
However, the other men around the table were not happy about being overshadowed. A man sitting next to the actress questioned, "Maybe you knew what we did for a living from the start?"
Yan Su responded coolly, "This is the first time I've met you. It's just that you were too obvious."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So what do I do?"
"You're a surgeon," Yan Su glanced at him coldly. "You've wiped your hands no less than five times—you're obsessively clean. Your hands are dry with slight wrinkles, probably from prolonged use of disinfectant. There are faint marks on your fingers from fine strings, likely from tying knots during surgeries. You also exude a strong sense of superiority when you talk to others, indicating a high social status. The most likely profession is a surgeon."
The man opened his mouth but was left speechless, clearly frustrated.
The woman beside him, who was dressed modestly, gave a small round of applause, "That's amazing. What about me?"
"You're a kindergarten teacher," Yan Su glanced at her. "Around 30 years old, your smile is warm and sincere, and your attire is modest with a hint of childlike cuteness. Your gentle tone carries a childlike quality, and your clapping gesture is a distinctive trait of kindergarten teachers. Spending time with children makes you look younger than your peers."
The kindergarten teacher's eyes gleamed with delight, clearly pleased by such earnest and serious praise.
Zhen Ai was also watching joyfully, thinking her boyfriend was amazing. Being with him was always so much fun; there was never a dull moment.
The last woman at the table, tall and heavily made-up, smiled and said, "No need to guess for me. It's obvious I'm a model." As she spoke, the actress next to her gave her a disdainful look, but the model ignored her and continued, "So, can you tell what everyone else does?"
"The others are a lawyer, a racecar driver, and a boxer," Yan Su gave the remaining three men a brief glance.
Everyone at the table was quietly impressed. The lawyer asked, "So, may I ask what you do?"
Hearing this, Zhen Ai thought to herself: A logician, a cryptography expert, behavior analysis, psychology... he's definitely going to say...
"Logician," Yan Su responded flatly.
Zhen Ai smiled, knowing this was his favorite subject.
"Logic?" The burly boxer chuckled, "What good is logic? Can that make money or feed you?"
Hearing this, the others at the table pretended to disdain the boxer's crudeness.
Yan Su didn't mind. He looked at the boxer's hand, noticing some small scratches, and asked, "Do you have a dog at home?"
The boxer was stunned for a moment before replying, "Yeah, I do."
Yan Su continued, "Judging by your interests, it's not your dog."
"It's my wife's."
"Raising a dog requires a lot of independent time. Either your wife is a homemaker, or you have a housekeeper."
"Yes, my wife is a homemaker, and we do have a housekeeper."
"Having a dog also requires a relatively large space. You probably have a house with a yard."
"Yes, we have a villa in the suburbs."
"So, your family is doing well financially, and you're quite successful in your boxing career."
"Yes."
"Your wife doesn't work and fully depends on you. Your career is going well, so typically, in such situations, your relationship with your wife is also good."
"We're very close."
"So, you probably have sex around 4-5 times a week."
"Yes," the boxer was completely taken aback.
Yan Su handed the cut steak to Zhen Ai, then took her plate, casually adding, "From the fact that you have a dog, I deduced that you have sex 4-5 times a week. That's logic."
The boxer, along with everyone else at the table, stared wide-eyed, speechless.
"That's amazing." The boxer was dumbfounded for a long time, finally expressing his admiration.
At that moment, the waiter came by to clear the plates, and the boxer, having just learned something new, eagerly asked the waiter, "Do you have a dog?"
Though the waiter was puzzled, he politely replied, "No, sir."
The boxer sighed in disappointment, "Ah, your sex life must be unsatisfactory."
Someone at the table burst out laughing, and even Zhen Ai thought the boxer was a bit silly.
Yan Su frowned slightly, seriously correcting his mistake: "Mr. Boxer, from a logical standpoint, this kind of reverse inference cannot yield a true statement!"
The boxer, utterly confused, said, "What?"
Yan Su paused, feeling a sense of deep helplessness. "Never mind! Forget I said anything."
He lowered his head, grumbling unhappily, "I must be out of my mind to discuss my favorite subject with someone this simple-minded."
Zhen Ai was chewing on the steak he had cut for her. Hearing his disgruntled words, she put down her fork and knife, took his hand, and excitedly whispered praise, "But I understand it all! I think you're so smart and adorable!"
Yan Su's expression immediately softened, but he pretended not to care, giving a proud snort, "I don't need you to tell me that."
The actress across from them was quietly watching, thinking that this man, who had been so cold and reserved at the table, only showed the faintest trace of warmth when handing Zhen Ai water or a plate. Now, his faint smile and the glow in his eyes were utterly captivating.
She laughed softly, her voice sultry, "Mr. Logician, your logic is truly flawless."
Yan Su had been joking with Zhen Ai, but upon hearing this, he looked up and seriously responded, "No, logic is not flawless. On the contrary, 'Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem' proves that there are always statements within any logical system that are 'true' but 'unprovable.' Logic, as a system, is inherently incomplete." He spoke with utmost seriousness, almost reverence. "But that doesn't change the fact that it's the most perfect subject in my heart."
However, everyone at the table fell silent, holding their knives and forks. No one, except Zhen Ai, understood a word of what he was saying.
But the content sounded so high-level that no one wanted to reveal their ignorance, so they all nodded earnestly.
For the women at the table, not understanding didn't stop them from fully appreciating the charm of this man's seriousness and purity.
The actress blinked slowly, unable to help but sigh, "Oh my, you're adorable." Her tone was almost brazen.
Zhen Ai also noticed something was off, looking at her in confusion but unable to pinpoint what was wrong.
Meanwhile, Yan Su's eyes narrowed slightly. Even though he was emotionally dense, his high IQ allowed him to detect the subtle sexual undertones in the actress's body language and tone.
He coolly averted his gaze, "I don't think so."
The actress wasn't discouraged in the least, shrugging her shoulders with a smile, "We're all heading to Silverland tomorrow. I hope we all have a pleasant trip together!"
Yan Su and Zhen Ai both paused slightly. Were these the people they'd be traveling to the island with?
Summer had arrived, but on the northern island of Weiling, the weather remained in spring.
After getting off the cruise, Yan Su and Zhen Ai rented a car and drove around the island. The island was clean and tidy, with northern-style houses featuring low walls and small windows, all painted in bright colors and stacked like candy boxes in a patchwork of heights.
The day they arrived happened to be the summer solstice, and there was a market on the island. They had some time to spare before the scheduled 6:30 PM departure to Silverland Reef, so Yan Su accompanied Zhen Ai for some shopping.
Zhen Ai was always fascinated by anything new and colorful but, due to her personality, had never really felt the desire to possess or own anything. Most of the time, she simply appreciated things for what they were.
However, ever since she had been with Yan Su, this habit had started to change.
As usual, she delighted in looking at the merchandise, while he watched her intently, holding her hand and buying things he judged she liked.
"Dear, how did you know I liked those balloons?"
"Because the corners of your lips curved upward."
"Dear, why did you buy the kaleidoscope?"
"Because your pulse sped up when you looked at it."
"Dear, how did you know I liked that shell bracelet?"
"Because you wouldn't let go of it."
"Dear, why did you buy me that red scarf?"
"Because it looks good on you… Um, Owen wasn't wrong. You have fair skin, and red scarves suit you well."
Zhen Ai suddenly remembered. About half a year ago, on a winter night in a small town, she had played a word game with him, saying, "An alien has stolen all my oranges."
At that time, they had only met for half a day, but he had wrapped his scarf around her with a warmth that allowed no refusal.
In truth, he wasn't a man who was casually or proactively warm. And perhaps, she had already felt something for him even back then, despite his teasing, calling her a "stick bug."
Who would have known that by coincidence, she had used Jiang Xin's printer paper that day, which led to so many twists and turns in the stories that followed?
As she thought back to those memories, she realized that the days spent with him had always been encapsulated in moments, much like that quiet and soft scarf on a snowy night.
Yan Su spotted a large stuffed bear in a shop window, but Zhen Ai only glanced at it casually before moving on to other things. He wrapped his arm around her waist and asked, "Don't you like stuffed bears?"
She glanced at the window again, then withdrew her gaze indifferently, her voice relaxed, "I only want Yan Xiao Su."
Yan Su hadn't expected that answer and smiled as he kissed her forehead.
In the afternoon, the sky turned cloudy. The weather in this region was unpredictable, with large temperature swings between day and night. Even in summer, there were often storms at night.
By the time Zhen Ai and Yan Su boarded the boat, the sky had started to pour, with raindrops as big as beans, pelting the deck like hailstones.
Yan Su quickly covered Zhen Ai with his coat and rushed her into the cabin, where most of the others were already gathered.
Zhen Ai emerged from Yan Su's embrace, immediately checking the paper bag in her hand. The helium balloon tied to her wrist bobbed up and down with her movements.
A lazy glance from the actress swept over Zhen Ai's balloon and the colorful items she held. The actress crossed her arms and smirked, "A college girl who likes little kid stuff?"
Zhen Ai continued rummaging through the bag, not realizing the actress was speaking to her until a second later. She looked up and replied earnestly, "Yes, I like it."
The actress choked on her words, unsure if the girl was truly naive or just pretending.
The model gave a glance but seemed uninterested; the teacher, however, smiled warmly, seemingly fond of the things Zhen Ai was holding.
Yan Su pulled Zhen Ai to a corner, seating her down before positioning himself in front of her, his back shielding her from everyone else.
The other men didn't seem to care much. The boxer, apparently drunk from the day, was fast asleep; the lawyer and the host were engaged in a lively conversation; the doctor was trying to flirt with the model; and the racecar driver was absent.
The writer, who had been sitting alone admiring the sea view, turned his gaze to Yan Su, his attention fixed. He seemed eager to ask Yan Su about his mysterious experiences, likely in search of writing material.
But clearly, Yan Su wasn't the kind of person who was easy to approach.
At 6:25, a young girl dressed as a maid appeared at the cabin door, speaking politely and with submission. She wore a constrained smile and said, "Dear guests, please prepare yourselves, we will set sail shortly."
Zhen Ai peeked over Yan Su's shoulder to look outside.
Though the weather wasn't warm, the girl was dressed in a typical Parisian maid outfit. Her hair was tied with a lace ribbon, and she wore a short-sleeved, fitted dress with a white apron over it, looking impeccably clean.
She had a curvaceous figure, and the outfit accentuated her sensuality. But while her body was quite mature, her face was youthful and innocent.
The host, with a smile, asked, "Miss Maid, I hope you can excuse my rudeness, but what's your name? It feels impolite to keep calling you 'maid.'"
The actress scoffed at his polite flirtation.
A maid who could steer a boat? Yan Su turned and gave her a quick glance. At first glance, her attire seemed flawless, but upon closer inspection, her clothes had a few wrinkles at the chest, her stockings' texture was uneven, and her wrists were a bit swollen.
The maid blushed and replied politely, "Guests do not need to know my name. On this island, I am simply here to serve you." She continued, "If there's nothing else, we'll begin the journey."
The teacher raised her hand and said, "Wait, the racecar driver isn't here yet."
The rain outside grew heavier, and the others inside the cabin seemed impatient. The lawyer said, "Maybe he decided not to come after all."
The maid glanced at her watch and said, "The master requested we depart on time, so perhaps we should leave without him." No one objected, and the maid left the cabin.
A few minutes later, the boat set sail.
Zhen Ai sat in the small cabin as it sailed towards Silverland, frowning as she stared at the dark, ominous sea. The deeper they ventured from the coast, the darker the sea grew, and the waves became more violent.
The boat rocked violently in the wind, and Zhen Ai began to feel seasick again.
But with everyone else around, she wasn't as carefree as when she was alone with Yan Su. She simply closed her eyes and rested in his arms obediently.
An hour and a half later, the sky was completely dark.
Through the storm, a light finally appeared in the distance. Zhen Ai forced her eyes open to see. It was a tiny cliffside island, seemingly home to nothing but a gothic-style castle perched atop the sea cliff.
The castle was tall and narrow, like a bony black skeleton, with several towering spires that resembled spears ready for battle.
There must have been hundreds of windows in that castle, each glowing with golden light. The entire structure was ablaze with lights, looking like countless doors to heaven in the stormy night.
It was both breathtakingly beautiful and eerily terrifying.
The small boat continued to rock violently, and Zhen Ai's head throbbed. She couldn't understand how her brother's clues had led her to this eerie place. How could such a sinister location be called Silverland?
Not long after, the small boat finally docked at Silverland. In front of them was a steep mountain path, estimated to have over a thousand steps, leading directly to the castle's front gate.
The model held an umbrella handed to her by the maid and raised an eyebrow. "It's so high, and the rain is pouring. How can we possibly make it up there?"
The maid apologized humbly, "I'm sorry, the wind and rain are too strong. The cable car isn't safe; it could be blown into the sea."
The men, not wanting to be harsh on the maid, immediately started climbing the stone steps.
Zhen Ai was helped ashore by Yan Su, but she accidentally slipped, and the red scarf in her hand fell into the sea.
With a wave crashing, it vanished.
Zhen Ai gazed at the red scarf being swallowed by the darkness, feeling a bit sad. Yan Su patted her on the shoulder comfortingly, "It's okay. We can buy another one on the way back."
"Mm." Zhen Ai replied weakly, holding onto Yan Su's hand and trying her best to keep going, "Dear, I've noticed that every time you pat my shoulder, it encourages and comforts me. It's so magical."
Yan Su held her by the waist, supporting her as they climbed. After a few moments of silence, he coughed and said, "That's because my conditioning experiment was successful."
Zhen Ai: … No wonder...
Unaware of the shift in mood, Yan Su continued to explain, "Every time I pat your shoulder, I say something encouraging or comforting. Over time, even if I don't say anything, just patting your shoulder makes you feel comforted and motivated. It's like when you shake a bell every time you feed a dog. Eventually, even if you don't give it food, the sound of the bell makes the dog salivate..."
Yan Su stopped talking, realizing the atmosphere around him wasn't quite right.
He pressed his lips together in silence. How foolish—why did he have to say all that?
Thinking quickly, he lightly patted Zhen Ai's shoulder once, twice, and soothed, "Be good, don't be mad."
Zhen Ai couldn't help being upset. She stopped walking. "I can't move anymore!"
Yan Su, sensing the situation, offered immediately, "I'll carry you!" With that, he handed her the umbrella and crouched down.
Zhen Ai glanced at the many steps ahead and hesitated. But looking at him crouching with his coat pulled tight against his broad back, she couldn't resist the temptation to try lying on his back.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up.
The warmth from his body radiated through the thin layer of fabric, pressing against her chest. Her cheek was close to his temple—intimate, comforting, and a little ticklish.
He walked steadily, as if carrying his most treasured possession. After a few steps, she began to slide down, and he adjusted her, lifting her thighs back up. She felt like she was on a pirate ship, being tossed up and falling back safely against his back, rough but soothing at the same time.
She bit her lip, giggling to herself, and whispered teasingly into his ear, "Dear, is this your first time carrying someone?"
"No." He answered without hesitation.
Zhen Ai's heart sank, and she turned away to rest her head on his shoulder, mumbling softly, "Who did you carry before?"
"You, when you were drunk last time."
Zhen Ai's heart soared once again.
In the windy, rainy night, Yan Su's breathing grew heavier. The helium balloon above them nudged their heads, gently brushing against the rough surface of the umbrella. Inside their little bubble, the world felt warm and close. She didn't want to get down. Blushing, she playfully bit his neck and said softly, "Dear, from now on, you're only allowed to carry me, okay?"
"Okay." He responded tenderly and resolutely, "This lifetime, I'll only carry you."
After a pause, he added with quiet happiness, "Only hug you, only kiss you..." His heart raced, not because of the steep steps, but something else.
At last, they reached the top of the long stone staircase, where the others were waiting, their expressions quite amused.
The host still wore a smiling face, "Mr. Logician and Miss Student, your relationship is truly wonderful." The others chuckled awkwardly.
The maid pressed the doorbell once everyone was assembled.
The sound wasn't loud, but it suddenly echoed throughout the castle. For a moment, it felt as though hundreds of bells were ringing at once, or as if someone had thrown countless glass marbles into a deep, winding cave.
The sound was eerie. Though there were 11 people at the door, everyone felt uneasy, their faces pale, like a row of phantoms in the stormy night.
With a creak, the castle's door opened, and a beam of golden light pierced the cold night.
Standing in the doorway, backlit by the light, was a man impeccably dressed in a suit, his hair slicked down to perfection. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and from his hairstyle to his attire, from his movements to his speech, everything about him was polished and meticulous. "On behalf of the castle's owner, I welcome you all," he said.
He bowed slightly, bending with such precision that not even a strand of hair moved out of place. He looked like an emotionless robot.
The atmosphere turned strange once again. As the man straightened, a flash of lightning illuminated his stern, expressionless face, making him appear even more sinister. The model let out a soft gasp in fear.
The maid, gentle and timid, quickly explained, "I'm sorry, our butler doesn't show his emotions."
So this was the butler.
The group entered the house. Inside, the heating was strong, and though the decor wasn't overly luxurious, it was elegant with a subtle, old-world charm. The house should have felt warm, but as they looked around the vast hall, there were 13 long corridors in sight.
Although each hallway was brightly lit with rows of candle lamps, they seemed to stretch on forever, lined with tightly closed doors. The whole place felt empty and eerie.
Zhen Ai looked around indifferently. She didn't feel scared, but the other women in the group, in particular, didn't look well.
The butler, maintaining his stiff demeanor, introduced, "This castle has 3,167 rooms, 215 basements, 149 attics, 437 corridors, 28,765 steps in various locations, and 3,131 mirrors, along with 786 secret rooms. So, without my guidance, I suggest you don't explore on your own. If you get lost and starve to death inside, it won't be my responsibility."
The host, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "By the sound of it, there must be a lot of ghosts in this place, huh?"
The butler, walking ahead, turned his head. The lighting made his face look particularly grim. "Since World War II, 1,997 people have died on this island."
The host's face turned pale.
The group suddenly felt a chill in the air.
The butler continued walking and muttered, "During World War II, there was a small battle here. Too many people died."
The group: … Was that a joke?
Leaving the storm outside, they followed the butler through the warm, comfortable corridor to the dining room.
Along the way, the author pulled out a notebook and asked the butler about the history of the castle, saying it would make great material for future writing.
Though the butler remained indifferent, he answered every question.
It turned out this castle belonged to a reclusive family. The original owner had been a businessman who made his fortune during World War II. He had gotten rich by selling a certain type of weapon of mass destruction and, fearing the ghosts of soldiers killed by his weapons would seek revenge, he built the castle like a maze, filled with traps. He hoped that if the spirits came, they'd be frozen by the cold air from the North Sea or blown away by the island's strong winds. And even if a few did manage to get inside, they'd get lost in the labyrinth.
The couple then led a life of seclusion, with only their loyal servants and the butler for company.
However, they spent their days in constant fear and under the shadow of the war, and soon passed away. The couple's daughter did not want to live in the castle and moved away, leaving only the butler's children to continue taking care of the master's castle.
Several decades later, the butler's children had children of their own. One day, a young lady arrived at the castle, claiming to be the granddaughter of the lady of the castle. She moved in with her fiancé and lived in seclusion as well.
But not long after, the couple went out to sea and never returned.
The castle grew even quieter, and the outside world began to call it the "Cursed Castle."
Some time later, the castle was somehow bought by a new owner. The new owner visited once, agreed to let the former butler continue his service, and suggested opening up the castle to bring in some fresh energy. The owner also mentioned plans to develop it into a tourist attraction.
As they continued talking, the atmosphere became more relaxed.
The lawyer chimed in, "That's a great idea. If your owner needs legal advice, feel free to reach out to me."
The host added cheerfully, "I can help with promotion."
Even the actress, playing with her hair, softly said, "I know a lot of investors, maybe I could help too."
The writer, meanwhile, kept his head down, busily jotting down notes.
Everyone chatted back and forth, and the mood was lighthearted and joyful. Soon, they rounded a corner and arrived at the dining room, where the long rectangular table was filled with dishes that emitted tantalizing aromas.
But in just one glance, all the cheerful and lively conversation ceased. Everyone's eyes widened in terror as they stared ahead, as though they had witnessed something beyond their wildest nightmares.
Zhen Ai, gazing at the wall opposite the dining table, instinctively tightened her grip on Yan Su's hand.
Behind the chairs lining both sides of the long table stood eleven figures.
There was the model, the actress, the preschool teacher, Zhen Ai, Yan Su, the lawyer, the doctor, the boxer, the writer, the host, and even the race car driver who hadn't arrived.
Each figure stood in a different pose, wearing the exact same outfits as their real-life counterparts.
Eleven lifelike, yet eerily hollow-eyed and expressionless, wax figures.
Yan Su's eyes narrowed slightly. He and L.J. had assumed these people had gathered here of their own accord, but it seemed they had all been drawn here by something else.