Inside the opulent yet gloomy back room of the bar, a girl with an innocent face and a fiery figure clutched the quilt tightly. Her loose bathrobe failed to fully conceal her fair, curvaceous form—a glimpse of bare skin flashing through the gap. She was Wenwen Li, an ordinary high school girl from the city. Today, she’d come to this bar with her childhood sweetheart and best friend, both recently awakened as Superheroes, just to see the sights. Who knew her companions would vanish halfway through?
When she finally realized the danger, Wenwen tried to resist—but stood no chance against the towering thugs. After futile struggles, she was dragged deep into the bar, forced to take a shower, and draped in this unnaturally seductive robe. Her clothes and belongings were confiscated; even calling the police was impossible.
Escape? She’d tried. But where could a lone girl run in their stronghold?
From the thugs’ vicious eyes, Wenwen understood: if she pushed their patience, her fate would be unspeakably grim. Though her current situation was already bleak, a flicker of hope lingered—maybe her childhood sweetheart would notice her disappearance in time!
Otherwise…
Wenwen wasn’t just a pretty face. She’d heard rumors: this bar was backed by powerful figures. Even the police were useless. Regret gnawed at her—why had she followed her sweetheart out? Why had she been blinded by the allure of "Superhero," foolishly obeying every command?
Grief overwhelmed her. Knees drawn to her chest against the wall, tears had streamed nonstop since she arrived. She’d guarded her purity fiercely, keeping herself spotless. Was her life truly ending like this? The injustice burned—why her? That pure lily, destined to wither untimely, stained by utter despair. Such cruelty always befell the innocent.
Despair choked her, yet a sliver of hope remained. *Maybe my sweetheart will rush in any second. Maybe the police will burst through the door. Maybe a passing Superhero will save me!*
Though hiding under the quilt like a turtle, Wenwen strained to hear every sound at the door. As time crawled, hope faded. She knew her life was ruined. Bitter hatred surged within—*I hate this!*
Her parents’ aging faces, the silver streaks in their hair, pierced her heart. Tears flowed uncontrollably. *I’ll make them pay. Whatever it takes. I swear it.*
*Creak!*
A noise at the door froze Wenwen mid-sob. Trembling beneath the quilt, she slowly peeked out. Was the monster coming to defile her? *I’ll never forgive him. Even if I die, I’ll return for revenge!*
Yet… the thought of her vibrant life—like a bold, blooming lily—ending here ignited fresh fury. Such raw, focused hatred made Mirror October pause as he entered, glancing toward the bed.
Left unchecked, this would birth tragedy.
The purer the soul, the fiercer its darkness when corrupted. Mirror October knew this well—he was living proof. Contrary to Wenwen’s fears, he didn’t pounce. Instead, he glided gracefully from the shadows to the sofa, settling down with eerie calm.
Merged with the darkness, he remained a blurred silhouette no matter how hard Wenwen stared. Only the unnaturally sharp curve of his smile radiated pure malice.
"You should leave."
His voice—velvety yet raspy—instilled instinctive dread. Mirror October had no wish to drag this innocent girl into his game. Though her emotions had twisted into obsession, she’d done nothing yet. He wouldn’t rush her invitation.
*If today breaks her,* he mused, *she’ll find her way to my game soon enough.*
"What do you want with me?" Wenwen blurted, then instantly regretted her foolishness. The slender shadow offered no reply, savoring the silence as he waited… for prey.
Terror jolted Wenwen. Eyes locked on the indistinct figure, she crept toward the door. Just as her fingers brushed the handle, his low voice cut through the air again.
"Turn left at the hallway’s end. The changing room’s there. Everyone along the way has been handled. Don’t look. Don’t ask. Forget tonight once you leave the bar." The cleanup was thorough. Mirror October dealt only with the irredeemable. The bar’s calm surface was mere illusion.
He wasn’t a hero. His games were sometimes complex, sometimes simple.
He’d played a little test with those marked for death—measuring their response to sin. The verdict was clear: some souls were beyond saving. No excuse could wash away their bloodstains.
Wenwen flinched at the icy finality beneath his calm words. She yanked the door open and fled without looking back. The clever girl had already pieced it together: *supervillain*—the monstrous figures from public warnings.
"*Hmph*. Such is humanity…"
Sensing her fear and disgust, Mirror October let out a throaty, hollow chuckle. Not even a thank-you. How utterly human—to treat salvation as obligation, or worse, suspicion. How cold.
A trivial distraction. Mirror October spared her no further thought. He tilted his head lazily, eyes gleaming with interest as Wu Jianguo entered—utterly unaware his doom had arrived.
The lavish room echoed once more with that familiar voice.
"Hello, Wu Jianguo. I’d like to play a game with you…"
