You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 593 The Weird Wolf Master

"Welcome back, Tang Yin." Madam Chen Xiang stood at the entrance to the cafeteria, smiling and nodding at him. Her voice remained gentle, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealed an unconcealable weariness.

The atmosphere in the cafeteria was somewhat tense. Several high school students huddled around a table, heads down, tucking into their bowls. Hualu was whispering to Xiaome, occasionally glancing toward the door.

Qian Jin sat alone by the window, his fingers drumming softly on the table. In the corner, Grandpa Wolf stared intently at the empty bowl before him, his wrinkled face expressionless. Sunlight slanted in through the yellowed window panes, casting long, thin streaks of light and shadow across the floor.

"I'm sorry, I can't help." Tang Yin said in a low voice, with a complicated emotion in his heart.

"Don't mind." Chen Xiang shook her head gently. "Go and help Zhao Gang. Thank you." There was a kind of understanding warmth in her eyes, as if she already knew what they had done.

"Nothing." Tang Yin paused and looked around. "Um, where are Wang Lina and Xia Hui?"

"The female reporter said she wanted to check the contents of the camera, then locked herself in the room. Wang Lina must have been helping her with laundry," Hua Lu explained, her voice a little hoarse, clearly having endured a sleepless night. Tang Yin then remembered that Xia Hui had indeed been covered in blood. The shocking scene seemed to be still before his eyes.

"Please enjoy your meal." Qin Yi came out of the kitchen with a plate of food and placed it on the table.

Mrs. Chen Xiang handed over a white porcelain bowl, and Tang Yin took it and sat down at a random spot. The cafeteria was filled with a complex aroma of pickles and meat, which was not unpleasant.

"Thank you for your hard work, Tang Yin." Qin Ming suddenly spoke with a hint of sincerity in his voice.

"You too, Qin Ming." Tang Yin responded calmly.

"You've already remembered my name? I'm honored." Qin Ming's tone was playful. Tang Yin's heart tightened, and he pondered the deeper meaning of this sentence. Just remembering a name shouldn't make him think of a death replay.

Tang Yin picked up a pair of chopsticks and dug into the vegetable and marinated meat rice in front of him. The food was no longer hot, but still tasty.

"I'm sorry, this is all I can offer you. These are leftovers from yesterday, but they can't be wasted." Chen Xiang's tone was apologetic.

"How much food is left?" Tang Yin put down his chopsticks and asked this crucial question.

"The refrigerator's out of power. I'm afraid the milk and meat won't keep for long. But there's no need to worry about the rice and vegetables." Chen Xiang sighed. Tang Yin nodded silently, having completely overlooked this issue the previous time. Fortunately, they weren't completely out of food; that was a blessing in disguise.

"Apart from the power outage, are there any other problems?" he continued to ask.

"Well, I'm a little worried about the gas. It's almost time to replace the gas tank." Chen Xiang hesitated, "Once it runs out, we'll have to light a fire."

"Is Dashan angry?" Tong Xiaoliang suddenly interrupted, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone.

"Xiaoliang, stop swearing." Chen Xiang stopped him immediately.

Listening to their almost everyday conversation, Tang Yin lowered his head and took another bite of his bibimbap. The sourness of the pickles and the salty aroma of the cured meat spread throughout his mouth, unexpectedly whetting his appetite. It tasted quite good; at least it temporarily made him forget his current situation. But how long could this peaceful time last? The mist outside the window seemed to silently mock their luck.

Tang Yin put a piece of meat into his mouth and was surprised to find that it tasted surprisingly good. It was completely different from the food prepared in such an environment. He thought he would have to close his eyes to force himself to swallow it. The soup in the bowl exuded an enticing aroma. Compared to the bland soup at Belle Manor, the food here was much saltier and fresher, and the taste was more authentic.

Tang Yin chewed the meat in his mouth thoughtfully. This must be the prey that Old Man Gao Zhijie had hunted yesterday and later handed over to Wang Lina. The meat was tender, without a trace of fishy smell, and had a refreshing taste. It must be venison. He remembered being treated like a fool by those people in the mountains before. Now he could finally get back at them. Comparing them carefully, whether in terms of the quantity or taste of the meat, the food in the Hidden Mist Village might be a little better than that in Belle Manor.

Tang Yin quickly polished off his bowl of food and then asked for another. Since it was such a rare treat, he'd eat as much as he could while he could. His movements were quick and decisive, unaffected by the atmosphere.

"You've adapted to the food here quite quickly," Qian Jin's voice came from a distance. Tang Yin looked up, expecting another barrage of ridicule, but this time Qian Jin's tone was surprisingly calm, lacking the usual aggressiveness.

"Don't you want to eat?" Tang Yin put down his chopsticks and asked casually.

Qian Jin shook his head slightly, a look of disdain on his face. "I have food at home. Honestly, after living in the city for so long, I feel like the food here is tasteless." The phrase "here" had a subtle tone, clearly referring not only to Wuyin Village but also to the entire Baifeng Manor. Tang Yin keenly noticed this detail.

"Besides, I don't have much of an appetite right now." Qian Jin added, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

"Uncle, have something to eat? This might be your last meal." Tong Xiaoliang suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of unintentional cruelty.

".!" Gao Mei trembled violently.

"Hey, Xiaoliang!" Qin Ming shouted sternly.

Before she could finish her words, Gao Mei, already pale, suddenly covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom. She had clearly been forcing herself to eat, but her excessive nervousness and fear made it impossible for her to swallow anything. The airflow from her running caused the napkin on the table to lift, then gently drop.

Qian Jin turned his gaze to Tong Xiaoliang, his voice filled with reproach: "Xiaoliang, you were deposed as the heir because you couldn't understand other people. Why haven't you learned your lesson yet?" His words were not harsh, but every word cut to the heart.

"Uncle, I don't want to hear your lecture. I'm going to apologize." Tong Xiaoliang curled his lips, stood up, and followed Gao Mei's direction. His back looked a little lonely, and the sound of his footsteps was particularly clear in the quiet cafeteria.

As the two men left, the atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly became extremely awkward. The clatter of cutlery grew increasingly shrill. Everyone lowered their heads, seemingly concentrating on their food, but in reality, avoiding each other's gaze. The fog outside the window seemed to thicken even more, shrouding the entire room in a gray haze. An indescribable sense of oppression permeated the air, making it difficult to breathe.

"What's going to happen next?" Tang Yin put down his chopsticks and glanced at everyone present. The air in the cafeteria seemed frozen, with only the whisper of the wind outside the window. Chen Xiang hesitated to speak, her eyes flickering, clearly hiding something.

"There should be a regular meeting to decide who the murderer is," Qian Jin said slowly, his tone cold. His slender fingers tapped the table lightly, making a rhythmic sound.

"And then?" Tang Yin pressed on, already vaguely guessing something in his mind.

"Don't worry, Tang Yin," Qin Ming suddenly interrupted, forcing a smile. But his voice was clearly unnatural, as if he was deliberately hiding something. The sunlight filtered through the window onto his profile, casting a deep shadow.

"Nothing ridiculous will happen." He added, but his tone seemed a little lacking in confidence.

"Oh, that sounds very reliable." Tang Yin said sarcastically, but his eyes were extremely sharp.

"Well, don't worry," Qin Ming repeated, as if trying to convince himself. Tang Yin frowned, a question swirling in his mind—is he still a wolf this time? Just as he was racking his brains trying to sort out his thoughts, the cafeteria door was pushed open, and Zhao Gang's figure appeared at the door. "Zhao Gang." Chen Xiang bowed slightly.

"Sister Chen Xiang, help me get a big bowl." Zhao Gang's voice was tired, but he still maintained a cheerful tone. "Qian Jin, did you eat well?"

"Don't call me so intimately." Qian Jin responded coldly.

Zhao Gang turned his gaze towards Tang Yin and found that the bowl in front of him was almost empty. "Oh, Tang Yin, you've eaten quite a lot."

"Thank you for the hospitality." Tang Yin nodded slightly.

"You are so lucky that you got to eat Sister Chen Xiang's meal before me. It's delicious, right?" Zhao Gang gave a teasing smile.

"Well, if you want to marry a wife, you should marry this kind of woman." Tang Yin replied casually.

"Cough cough!" Qin Ming suddenly started coughing violently.

"Oh, oh, oh, that's too much praise." Chen Xiang's face flushed slightly and she waved her hands quickly.

"You kid, are you interested in Sister Chen Xiang?" Zhao Gang's expression became meaningful.

"Oh, what's wrong with this atmosphere?" Tang Yin pretended to be bewildered. Playing dumb was obviously the best option right now, he thought to himself.

"By the way, Zhao Gang." Tang Yin lowered his voice and moved closer to Zhao Gang.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Gang's expression turned stern.

"When does the party start?"

"Nine o'clock, the time designated by Mr. Gao." Zhao Gang lowered his voice unconsciously.

"I understand." Tang Yin nodded, a chill running down his spine. In less than an hour, they would discuss which of them would be executed. This realization made him feel suffocated.

Zhao Gang finally began to eat, the clink of chopsticks against the porcelain bowl resonating clearly in the quiet dining hall. Everyone else was silent, as if enveloped by some invisible pressure. Tang Yin looked around, his gaze finally settling on the lone figure in the corner. He stood up and walked over, bowl in hand.

"Can I sit here, Grandpa?" he asked softly, gazing at the old man staring at his empty bowl. Grandpa Wolf didn't look up, but he leaned slightly aside to make room for him. The atmosphere in the cafeteria seemed even more solemn, even the sound of the wind outside the window grew more bleak.

"Oh?" Mr. Wolf's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly, his wrinkled face showing no emotion. Tang Yin pondered inwardly, if this old man was a protector, how would he respond then? The thought made him feel a little uneasy.

"It's so unlucky. We just moved here yesterday and it's foggy today." Tang Yin tried to change the subject, with a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Hehehehe." Grandpa Wolf suddenly let out an ambiguous laugh, and his old voice sounded particularly harsh in the corner of the cafeteria.

"Master Wolf, where do you live in the Hidden Mist Village?" Tang Yin continued to try to strike up a conversation, carefully observing the old man's reaction.

"Hoo~" He was answered by a long snore. The old man's head drooped slightly, as if he had fallen asleep. It seemed that normal communication was impossible. Tang Yin sighed inwardly.

"Haha, sorry to bother you." He was about to get up and leave.

"It's safe here." Master Wolf suddenly spoke, his voice clear and firm, completely unlike his drowsy appearance just now.

"Huh?" Tang Yin was stunned.

"This is the safest place, that's why I stay here." The old man's tone was firm, as if he was stating an indisputable fact. The sunlight poured in through the window behind him, casting a vague halo on his hunched figure.

Safe? Tang Yin frowned slightly. This word seemed so ironic in the current situation.

"Ah, you mean the cafeteria?" he asked tentatively.

"..." Master Wolf fell silent again, as if the previous conversation had never happened. Tang Yin couldn't tell whether the old man was answering his question or just talking to himself. This inexplicable attitude was hard to understand.

If he'd said the Hidden Mist Village was the safest, that would be even more puzzling. From any perspective, the Hidden Mist Village should be the most dangerous place in Baifeng Manor. Was there some special reason that made him so certain of its safety? But based on his last experience, hadn't he been killed just as quickly? Judging by the outcome, this place wasn't safe at all for him.

Tang Yin felt as if he had grasped some important clue, but at the moment he was unable to organize these scattered pieces of information into a complete logic. This vague feeling made him irritable and uneasy.

Unable to endure this oppressive atmosphere any longer, Tang Yin stood up and prepared to change seats. At this moment, he heard the sound of a chair being pulled beside him. He turned around and saw Hua Lu staring at him quietly with her bright eyes. This sudden situation put Tang Yin in a dilemma - should he sit down?

"Mr. Tang Yin, I have something to tell you," Hua Lu said softly, with a hint of subtle nervousness in her voice. Even though it was so obvious, Tang Yin was still hesitating whether to -

"Hey! Don't ignore the flower dew!" Qian Jin suddenly raised his voice.

"Unexpected complaint!" Tang Yin blurted out subconsciously.

"Who's complaining about you?" Qian Jin's face flashed with anger. "Even if you just arrived and don't know who to respect, you should know that you must respond to the invitation of a dignified lady. This is the most basic etiquette!"

"Oh, regardless of whether she is dignified or not, I really can't refute your point!" Tang Yin shrugged.

"That's right. Are you kidding me?" Qian Jin realized that he had been fooled.

Tang Yin turned to Hua Lu, a smile playing on his lips. "Hua Lu, you're beautiful today, too." The sunlight shone brightly on the side of Hua Lu's face, gilding her delicate features with a faint golden hue. The atmosphere in the cafeteria seemed to have become less solemn because of this episode.

(End of this chapter)