Du Lai came back to his senses, slowly retracting his hand…
But his eyes remained fixed on the doll on the coffee table.
Bai Youwei slightly raised her eyebrows, feeling puzzled. Many people wanted to obtain the substitute doll, but Du Lai's expression… compared to others, conveyed an even stronger obsession, as if he absolutely had to have it.
This was very strange.
However, she never liked meddling in other people's business. As long as Du Lai could produce the puzzle pieces, she would honor the deal.
Du Lai's hoodie had a very large pocket, right in the middle of the garment, open at both ends.
He took out a handful of puzzle pieces from the pocket, placing them one by one on the coffee table.
One piece, two pieces, three pieces… six pieces, seven pieces.
That was it.
Bai Youwei looked at him coolly, "Hey, we agreed on ten puzzle pieces."
"I know, ten puzzle pieces." Du Lai's expression didn't change as he slowly said, "Ten… used puzzle pieces. But what I'm giving you is six used puzzle pieces, and one unused puzzle piece."
Bai Youwei's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
The others in the room also looked surprised.
Tan Xiao blurted out, "Are you stupid? Wouldn't it be better to keep the unused puzzle piece for yourself? Why use it to trade for a prop?"
The substitute doll only prevented harm, while the puzzle pieces could directly allow a player to leave the game. Comparing the two, it was clear that the puzzle pieces were more valuable!
To give a simple example—
In "The Last Bride," what would be the consequence if a player caught by the Duke used the substitute doll? It could indeed prevent harm for a period of time, but what about after that time? The player fixed to the torture device would still die! Unless other players could clear the game within that time!
In this light, Du Lai's behavior was too abnormal.
Bai Youwei reached out, tracing each puzzle piece on the coffee table, one by one.
She paused when she touched the seventh piece.
It was indeed an unused puzzle piece; information surfaced in her mind upon touching it.
She looked at Du Lai, her eyes slightly narrowed, her silent gaze containing scrutiny and doubt.
"You don't need to doubt my motives." Du Lai smirked, revealing a hint of mischief and coolness, "Puzzle pieces can allow players to leave the game, but puzzle pieces can't allow players to win the game, and what I want is to win."
Bai Youwei lightly tapped her index finger on the coffee table twice.
She looked at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo pondered for a moment, then said to her, "In a deal, integrity is key."
Bai Youwei thoughtfully said, "Mm… integrity should indeed be key."
She picked up the doll on the coffee table, taking it back, and said, "I'm not trading."
Du Lai's expression almost cracked!
"Not trading?" he asked in astonishment, "Didn't you just say that integrity is key?!"
"Yes, so I'm not trading." Bai Youwei said calmly, "We agreed that ten puzzle pieces would be exchanged for the doll, but you only have seven puzzle pieces."
"This seven puzzle pieces includes one puzzle piece with immunity!" Du Lai emphasized through gritted teeth, "This one puzzle piece alone! Can be worth ten used puzzle pieces!"
"Not really." Bai Youwei gently shook her head, "You just said that your goal is to win, and I also have my goal. My goal is to collect puzzle pieces, and the more the better, of course. Perhaps to others, this one puzzle piece is very precious, but to me, one is just one, because this one piece causes me to collect three fewer pieces, and I can't accept that."
Du Lai looked at Bai Youwei, then looked at Shen Mo, pointing at them and saying, "You're playing me?!"
Where was this a transaction?
It was clearly deliberately finding fault!
"No way~" Bai Youwei sat on the sofa, saying casually, "You can use this puzzle piece to exchange for three used ones, gather ten and come find me again, you're always welcome~"