Hearing the voice, Jiang Xi quickly stood up and put on a smile, ready to greet them.

"You're he—"

But the moment she saw a familiar face, her smile froze instantly.

...Yu Li?

Cen Xiu was drinking from his glass when he heard Jiang Xi's voice. He casually glanced over, but this careless look made his hand holding the wineglass stiffen mid-air.

His previously lazy expression suddenly turned shocked.

"Yu Li..."

The junior Jiang Xi mentioned was Yu Li?

He looked up at Jiang Xi, but the astonishment on her face seemed genuine—she appeared equally surprised.

Yu Li stood behind Le Yi and Xiao Jingqu, meeting the gazes of the people on the couch across from her. Among the newcomers were Hou Liang and Guangran, along with an unfamiliar man.

Her eyes swept over him briefly before she slowly curved her lips.

Advanced player.

Le Yi hurriedly made introductions: "Senior, these are my two roommates."

After introducing Xiao Jingqu, she turned to Yu Li.

"This is—"

Jiang Xi smiled and extended her hand, interrupting her: "I know her. Junior Yu Li."

Yu Li smiled back at her, her tone polite. "Hello, Senior."

Then she turned to Cen Xiu beside her and curved her eyes.

"Long time no see, Boss."

Cen Xiu: "..."

That title really doesn't suit him.

Yu Li's arrival drew the attention of everyone else at the table.

Especially the unfamiliar man—the moment he saw Yu Li, his movements paused slightly before his eyes narrowed faintly.

Truthfully, Jiang Xi hadn't expected Yu Li to show up. Had she known Yu Li was Le Yi's roommate, she definitely wouldn't have invited her.

After all, last time, Bo Jingmo and Qi Mai were in the same dungeon together. Qi Mai died, and based on past speculation, it was likely Bo Jingmo who killed him.

And Yu Li, being Bo Jingmo's girlfriend...

Thinking this, she glanced at Guangran across from her.

Sure enough, Guangran had already set down her glass. Her eyes, reddened by alcohol, were fixed unwaveringly on Yu Li.

Jiang Xi quickly signaled to Cen Xiu, who caught on immediately and stood up to lighten the mood.

"Uh, everyone, feel free to order whatever drinks you want! There's food too if—"

Le Yi and Xiao Jingqu were here for the first time, their eyes full of curiosity.

Le Yi showed the menu to Yu Li. "Yu Li, what do you want to drink?"

"Just juice. I can't handle alcohol." Yu Li glanced at the two eager girls. "You two shouldn't go for anything too strong either. Start with something light for your first time."

"Got it, got it." Le Yi excitedly held the menu, discussing drink options with Xiao Jingqu.

Yu Li sat on the single sofa. When she looked up and noticed everyone's gazes on her, she raised a brow.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Xi glanced at Guangran before chuckling. "Nothing, just thinking what a coincidence this is."

Yu Li smiled. "Not the first time, either."

The juice arrived quickly. Yu Li took a sip before suddenly hearing a hoarse female voice beside her.

"Bo Jingmo didn't come with you?"

She turned to meet Guangran's dark, gloomy gaze.

The atmosphere instantly turned silent.

Though the dance floor's music still played around them, their table was enveloped in an eerie tension.

Yu Li stirred her juice, smiling as she replied, "He had something to do. Didn't come."

Guangran let out a cold laugh.

"What? Killing someone?"

Her voice was quiet, almost blending into the background music—inaudible if one didn't listen carefully.

But Cen Xiu, sitting right beside her, heard it loud and clear. His eyes widened in alarm, desperately hoping Yu Li hadn't caught it.

Oh my god, woman! You're completely drunk!

"Ah—! Uh—! I just remembered! There are some really handsome waiters here! Have you guys seen them?!"

He tried to distract everyone, but the silence remained unbroken.

Yu Li lowered her head without responding. The faint smile on her lips remained, as if she truly hadn't heard those words.

Around them, the clamor of the crowd continued—cheers and toasts mingling together. Yet their table felt separated by an invisible barrier.

Even Le Yi and Xiao Jingqu, dense as they were, sensed something was off and cautiously looked up.

What's going on?

Leaning closer to Yu Li and hiding behind the menu, Le Yi whispered, "Yu Li... what's happening?"

Yu Li took another small sip of juice before glancing at her roommates. Their earlier excitement had been replaced by concern.

She smiled slightly and set her drink down.

"No idea."

"I've had a bit too much juice. I'm going to the restroom. You guys have fun—just don't drink too much."

Le Yi blinked in confusion. "Oh... okay."

Only after Yu Li left did the tense atmosphere ease slightly. Cen Xiu exhaled in relief before turning to the two girls.

"Uh... first time here, right? Want to play a game?"

Jiang Xi watched Yu Li's retreating figure, about to stand and follow, when Hou Liang caught her wrist. "What's wrong?"

"I..." Jiang Xi hesitated before slowly sitting back down. "It's nothing. Let's play."

Guangran slumped in her chair, her drunken gaze fixed blurrily on Yu Li's back. She set her glass down, closed her eyes, and let out another cold laugh.

The man on the adjacent sofa, however, seemed thoughtful. He put his drink down and patted Cen Xiu's shoulder.

"That woman just now... which team is she on?"

Cen Xiu looked up blankly. "What team?"

The man frowned. "...You know her but don't know which team she's in? Has she not joined one yet?"

Cen Xiu: "..."

What the hell?

"Tian-ge... are you talking about which team she's on in the game?"

Tian Jianmu's frown deepened. "What else would I mean?"

Cen Xiu fell silent. "...She's not a player."

Now it was Tian Jianmu's turn to go quiet.

"...She is."

After a pause, he added, "She's just hiding her system. But I'm an advanced player—it doesn't work on me."

Cen Xiu: "..."

Seeing Cen Xiu's thunderstruck expression, Tian Jianmu slowly withdrew his hand, scanning the others with a strange look. To his surprise, everyone else wore the same shocked expression.

Even Guangran, who had closed her eyes earlier, snapped them open, staring at him in disbelief.

Tian Jianmu: "..."

Hesitantly, he ventured, "Don't tell me you all..." thought that woman wasn't a player?

Everyone: "..."

Wait, since when?!

Cen Xiu sat frozen in place, his mind racing through all his past encounters with Yu Li.

He'd even discussed dungeons with Bo Jingmo right in front of her, testing her multiple times. She must've been laughing at him this whole time.

AAAAAAAAH!! YU LI!! YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO ME ALL THIS TIME!!