Chapter 125
As for Song Tianbai\'s identity, everyone simply assumed he was Ningning\'s friend.
This was Huo Guining\'s first time playing an escape room game, and she didn\'t quite understand the rules.
The theme of this escape room was magic-related. Probably because Huo Guining was there, everyone chose a less scary room to accommodate the young girl.
Once they entered, the ambient lighting and decorated dolls made Huo Guining exclaim with excitement.
"Brother, will ghosts suddenly jump out at us later?" Huo Guining asked eagerly.
Huo Yueze felt his scalp tingle: "Ningning, this is a puzzle-solving game, don\'t be too eager for that..."
Song Tianbai, dressed in magical attire, obediently followed behind the two, his expression unreadable.
As Huo Guining had anticipated, the group searched for clues everywhere, with NPCs popping up to make their presence known.
Some of Huo Yueze\'s classmates were easily frightened, screaming out loud.
Huo Guining, on the other hand, wore an expression of pure delight. Not only did she admire the NPCs\' costumes, but she also had time to help everyone find clues.
Amidst all the commotion, the group finally reached the last level.
Here, the horror atmosphere was at its peak, with lighting, sound effects, and ghostly NPCs making everyone\'s hearts race.
Although Huo Yueze knew Huo Guining wouldn\'t be scared, he still held her hand tightly to prevent her from being jostled by panicked companions.
"Ahahahaha~"
The sudden amplified sound effect made everyone scream.
Even Huo Guining was startled.
Then, she felt someone grab the hem of her clothes.
It was Song Tianbai.
Huo Guining frowned but couldn\'t bring herself to shake off his hand.
After solving the final puzzle, the group was finally able to leave.
Huo Yueze, being tall, was assigned to retrieve a key from a high place.
Suddenly, a broken, blood-stained doll fell from the ceiling.
Huo Guining only caught a glimpse, but the screams behind her were deafening.
The group, who had maintained their composure until now, ran frantically towards the exit.
Huo Guining, momentarily distracted, was jostled about.
Song Tianbai, being slightly taller than her, shielded her from the front.
Huo Yueze fought against the crowd to find them, taking one in each hand and leading them out of the escape room.
Outside, the lighting was bright.
Recalling the muffled groan she had heard earlier, Huo Guining immediately began checking Song Tianbai for injuries.
"Did you get hurt just now?"
Song Tianbai shook his head, pressing his lips together: "I was bumped, but it\'s nothing."
He covered his arm, constantly trying to back away.
Adhering to the principle of repaying both grudges and favors, Huo Guining grabbed his arm to examine it without hesitation.
His elbow was badly bruised, looking quite painful.
Huo Guining felt a rare twinge of guilt.
Huo Yueze, unable to stand by, grumbled as he reached out to help: "What\'s the big deal? He\'s a man, how much can it hurt?"
Huo Guining stiffened for a moment, deftly blocking her brother\'s mischievous hand.
"Brother, I\'m a bit hungry."
Huo Yueze: "Then let\'s go get you some small cakes."
With that, Huo Yueze waved goodbye to his friends, and the group changed venues, heading to a dessert shop.
Huo Yueze ordered chestnut cake and coconut sago dessert, according to Ningning\'s usual preferences.
He also casually ordered donuts and milk for Song Tianbai.
"Ningning, eat these first. We\'ll have lunch a bit later," Huo Yueze explained, worried that Huo Guining might not have enough to eat.
Huo Guining nodded: "It\'s getting late, let\'s go home for lunch. Dad should be awake by now."
Huo Yueze checked his watch: "Alright."
Song Tianbai suddenly spoke up: "My mom\'s not home, I..."
Huo Guining asked, puzzled: "Do you want to come to our house for lunch?"
Before Song Tianbai could answer, Huo Guining ruthlessly refused: "Not possible."
Huo Yueze smiled brightly.
Song Tianbai shook his head obediently: "No, it\'s not that. My mom\'s not home, and I don\'t have money for food..."
Huo Guining looked at him suspiciously: "Your mom doesn\'t seem short on money, how could you not have money for food?"
Song Tianbai lowered his head without speaking, looking somewhat pitiful.
Huo Guining glanced at Huo Yueze, who mouthed: "He\'s faking it."
Huo Guining looked back at Song Tianbai, her gaze inadvertently passing over his elbow.
She sighed resignedly: "Fine, brother, let\'s eat out with him."
Song Tianbai suddenly raised his head, eyes bright.
Huo Guining said cruelly: "Consider it thanks for the injury he sustained for me."
Song Tianbai\'s eyes visibly dimmed.
Huo Guining pretended not to notice.
Huo Yueze\'s friends had other plans.
After finishing their desserts, the group split up.
Huo Guining, Huo Yueze, and Song Tianbai went to a restaurant to eat Cantonese cuisine, Huo Guining\'s favorite.
Song Tianbai ate at an incredibly slow pace.
Huo Guining and Huo Yueze, maintaining their good manners, didn\'t feel comfortable leaving first.
By the time Song Tianbai put down his chopsticks, it was nearly 2 PM.
Huo Guining couldn\'t help whispering to Huo Yueze: "Brother, has he never eaten before? He eats so slowly and so much."
Huo Yueze was equally puzzled: "Surely not. He may not be cute, but he doesn\'t look malnourished."
Song Tianbai clearly heard the siblings discussing him right in front of him, but he remained nonchalant.
He suddenly felt that Song Qing had overthought things.
Huo Guining wasn\'t nearly as difficult to deal with as she had imagined.
"Song Tianbai, where\'s your home? We\'ll drop you off first," Huo Yueze asked.
He wanted to avoid any potential trouble if something happened on the way back.
Song Tianbai pressed his lips together: "No need, I can get off where we got in the car earlier."
Huo Guining was confused: "Don\'t tell me you\'re still planning to act there?"
Stung by her bluntness, Song Tianbai was momentarily at a loss for words.
At this point, Huo Guining couldn\'t be bothered to persuade him further and let him be.
When they arrived at the Huo family\'s old residence, Huo Yueze didn\'t stand on ceremony and simply dropped Song Tianbai off at the main gate.
As they were getting back in the car to leave, Huo Guining suddenly noticed something.
Inside the Huo family compound, Song Qing\'s graceful figure flitted through the garden like a butterfly.
She opened the car door and stood next to Song Tianbai.
Her eyes fixed on Song Tianbai, but her tone was certain: "So, you\'ve been putting on an act for me since early this morning, right?"
Song Tianbai didn\'t try to hide it anymore and admitted: "Yes, my mom had some business with your dad..."
"So she deliberately sent you to distract me?" Huo Guining laughed: "Your mom is as foolish as you are."
Song Tianbai\'s eyes were filled with confusion.