"I say, you two are being a little excessive, aren't you?"
Vic wore a face of utter despair, his finger trembling as he pointed at the Ludo board.
His four "airplanes" were firmly blockaded at the starting line by Enid and Wednesday's pieces, unable to move an inch. His voice was filled with the grievance of a man facing cosmic injustice.
"This is cheating!" He wailed dramatically. "Since when do two players team up to bully one person like this?!"
Enid, whose cheeks still held a lingering blush, pursed her lips shyly. Her gaze drifted, and she mumbled a defense, clearly lacking confidence.
"Wh-who's cheating... The rules don't say we can't cooperate... How else are we supposed to win against you..."
Wednesday, on the other hand, was calm and collected. Her slender fingers elegantly held one of her blue game pieces.
She merely raised an eyebrow slightly, sweeping her gaze over Vic's face full of "grievance." Her tone was flat but carried a logic that dealt a fatal blow:
"The rulebook clearly states, 'Players may freely choose their movement strategy.' We simply formed a temporary alliance based on strategy, completely within the permissible scope of the rules. Is there a problem?"
Vic: "..."
He looked at Wednesday's calm demeanor, which screamed 'I followed the law, what are you gonna do about it?'
Then he glanced at Enid, who was obviously an "accomplice" but hid a smug little smile in her eyes. He instantly felt the powerlessness of punching cotton.
"Fine, fine~"
Vic suddenly raised his hands in surrender. However, the corner of his mouth hooked into a cunning arc. His peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, shimmering with liquid light.
His gaze lazily swept over Enid's flushed ear tips and Wednesday's feigned calmness. He dragged out the end of his sentence, soft and long.
"You win. Your rules apply."
Vic suddenly leaned forward, elbows resting on the edge of the board, closing the distance between him and his two girlfriends. His voice dropped to a whisper, breathy and scratching at their hearts like a feather:
"However... I can lose countless times. It doesn't matter. But if you lose to me just once..."
He extended the tip of his tongue, lightly licking his dry lower lip. His eyes instantly became aggressive and seductive.
It felt like invisible silk threads were wrapping around them, the air filling with an ambiguous, sweet scent.
In this moment, his innocent boyishness faded, replaced by something that truly resembled the legendary, soul-bewitching succubus.
"There will be no escape~"
"Ugh!"
Enid's throat moved uncontrollably as she swallowed audibly.
She felt like Vic's gaze carried physical heat, scorching her heart until it trembled. Her body swayed subconsciously, almost losing her balance.
Under the table, Wednesday quietly reached out and squeezed Enid's trembling wrist hard, transmitting a silent message with her eyes:
'Hold it together! Have some dignity!'
Enid rolled her eyes back at her, squeezing Wednesday's equally cold fingertips in return. Her eyes retorted:
'Girl, can you stop your own hand from shaking as much as mine before you lecture me?'
The two girls barely maintained their defensive line through silent eye contact, united against the "Succubus" across from them who had suddenly gone full power.
Ten minutes later, the winner of the first round was decided.
Thanks to precise calculations and Enid's perfectly timed "harassment," Wednesday successfully moved all four of her pieces to the finish line, securing the first victory.
"Alright~"
Vic spread his hands gracefully, admitting defeat. He smiled at Wednesday, his eyes surprisingly bright.
"The first round goes to my dearest Wednesday. So, what does the winner want me to do?"
He spoke slowly, once again leaning forward across the "border" of the chessboard, closing the distance until he could clearly see his reflection in her dark pupils.
"As for me~"
Vic's voice dropped even lower, carrying a bewitching magnetism. Every word hit like a drumbeat on the heart.
"I accept my loss. Anything goes~"
His deliberately slowed speech and those eyes, practically dripping with emotion, formed a lethal invitation.
Wednesday felt her breath hitch slightly.
Vic was too close. The faint scent of sunshine mixed with something indescribably fresh wafted from him.
The unhidden anticipation and temptation in those eyes were like a vortex threatening to pull her in.
She could even feel her steady heartbeat skip a beat.
But Wednesday was, after all, Wednesday.
She lowered her eyes quickly, avoiding the overly direct gaze. Her long eyelashes trembled lightly like butterfly wings.
When she looked up again, she had recovered her usual cool composure. Only a faint flush at the base of her pale ears failed to hide completely.
"Anything goes?"
She repeated, her voice still cool, but a fraction softer than usual.
"Mmhmm~" Vic nodded smilingly, like a large feline waiting to be fed—dangerous and charming.
"In that case—"
The corner of Wednesday's mouth hooked up imperceptibly.
"Vic, do you recall the wager you personally made in Atlantis when facing the Kraken?"
The smile on Vic's face froze instantly. His brain buzzed as the "dark history" he had temporarily thrown to the back of his mind surfaced clearly—
At the time, he had sworn that if a human could actually control the Kraken, he would willingly lie flat and let Wednesday step on his face! He even said "stomp away"!
"What?"
Wednesday took in the annoyance and stiffness flashing across his face. The amused curve of her lips deepened slightly, carrying a perfectly measured, cool provocation.
"Do you intend to go back on your word? It matters not. If you are afraid, we can simply void the stakes."
Her tone was dismissive, as if she didn't care, but her sharp eyes were locked onto Vic's expression.
If it had been a few minutes ago, Vic might have just gone with the flow, made a joke, and brushed past this "shameful play" stake.
But right now, having just regained his confidence in the "Love Brain Battle," his IQ instantly seized the high ground!
In a flash of lightning, Vic keenly caught Wednesday's intention—seemingly provocative, but actually urging him to give up!
She is goading me to retreat!
Clarity dawned on Vic. What did this mean?
It means she's nervous too!
She's also afraid that if I win later, I'll really propose that "Tyler and Siren-style" stake!
She's using this retreat-to-advance tactic to end this dangerous game early!
Heh heh!
Vic sneered triumphantly in his heart. General Han Xin of ancient China endured humiliation to achieve greatness!
Do I, Victor Black, lack the courage to be stepped on by my girlfriend? If word gets out, where would I put my face as a handsome maniac?
Moreover...
Vic's gaze involuntarily stole a glance at Wednesday's small foot, clad in black tights, dangling off the edge of the bed.
That ankle was slender, the lines graceful...
It seems... not entirely unacceptable? Why is there even a weird sense of anticipation?!
A mix of rebellion, competitiveness, and an indescribable excitement rushed to Vic's head!
"Who... who's afraid!"
Vic looked up abruptly. The stiffness on his face was instantly replaced by a look of "going for broke," shining with a flush of excitement.
His voice was loud, carrying a tragic sense of "facing death with dignity." "It is known that I always keep my word!"
With that, under the stunned gazes of Wednesday and Enid, he executed a clean roll and lay flat on his back on the soft bed. He placed his hands by his sides, squeezed his eyes shut tight, and shouted:
"Come on! I accept my loss! I am ready!"
His posture of "heroic sacrifice" left Enid dumbfounded, her mouth forming an 'O' shape.
And Wednesday, who had been confident she could force Vic to back down, felt her smile freeze completely.
Her eyes widened slightly, looking at Vic lying on the bed with his eyes closed, looking like he was saying, "Take me."
A rare emotion named "caught off guard" flashed across her pale face.
I miscalculated.
The thought appeared clearly in Wednesday's mind.
Her original plan was to use this overly "humiliating" stake as a deterrent, making Vic retreat and thus ending this spiraling game with dignity.
She was certain that given Vic's usual chaotic, face-saving personality, he wouldn't submit.
But she calculated everything except that Vic's IQ was online today, and he refused to take the bait of the "goad."
Instead, he swam against the current, treating this as another form of "challenge" and... "kink"?
Now, the one riding the tiger and unable to get off was her.
Step on him?
Leaving aside that this behavior severely clashed with her usual aloof image, just imagining the scene... Wednesday felt her ears starting to burn again.
Don't step?
That would confirm she was bluffing just now. Where would she put her dignity as the "Dark Queen"?
Wednesday stood there. For the first time when facing Vic, she fell into a genuine, momentary silence.
In those eyes that were usually still as a deep well, a rare trace of hesitation and... imperceptible panic appeared.
Enid looked at Wednesday's frozen profile, then at Vic on the bed, eyes closed but corners of his mouth hinting at a smile. Suddenly, she wanted to laugh.
She felt like... she kinda understood what Vic was plotting.
The air in the room seemed to solidify in this moment.
A silent gamble of "to step or not to step" unfolded quietly between the three.
And the scales of victory, because of Vic's unexpected lie-down, began to tilt subtly.