LUNCH wrapped up uneventfully, leaving team Yunyue feeling like they'd missed a chance to make headway. Playing their assigned roles, they knew they'd have to rely on subtle interactions to uncover the information they needed to stop Jack the Ripper. Yet the quiet meal hadn't brought them any closer to understanding who on board might be Jack the Ripper or Sherlock Holmes. Since not all passengers had dined at once, there were still people they hadn't seen, including, perhaps, members of the opposing team.
That didn't mean they hadn't kept a close eye on the other passengers in the dining car. In fact, that's exactly what they focused on throughout lunch—except for Su Yuqi, who had her attention on the waitstaff. They'd agreed earlier that she would handle observing the train's staff, as she was the only one with access to areas off-limits to regular passengers.
After lunch, Luo Yan expected that he and his "mother" would return to their cabin with Mrs. Thompson and Miss Thompson. This made him feel a bit frustrated; if he'd been assigned the role of a mischievous boy, he could have roamed around the train without a second thought. But since he was playing a shy and timid child, wandering off would be completely out of character.
He was already considering abandoning the role assigned to him. If he continued like this, he'd be stuck in their cabin for the next three days, only stepping out for meals or quick trips to the restroom. Unlike his four teammates who had much better mobility.
As planned, Su Yuqi took on the responsibility of observing the train staff, while Bai Ze volunteered to keep an eye on the first-class passengers. Playing the role of a noble with significant influence in high society, he knew that, no matter how irritating his character might be, few in first class would dare to ignore him.
As for Shen Ji Yun and Luo Jin, they had decided to stage an "affair." Yes, an affair. When Luo Yan read that on the team channel, he nearly choked on his mashed potatoes. The two explained that since Shen Ji Yun's character required him to flirt with a woman every 15 minutes, it would be much easier—and far less complicated — if he did it with Luo Jin instead. Plus, being together would help Luo Jin fulfill his mission of being the center of attention. With the two of them side by side, they'd undoubtedly become the train's most talked-about passengers. It was a perfect way to hit two birds with one stone.
Shen Ji Yun also decided to ignore the "secret lover" side mission assigned to him. Since skipping this particular mission wouldn't result in any point deductions, he opted to leave it alone. If it wasn't required and wouldn't impact their score, there was no reason to bother with it. Everyone on the team agreed with his decision.
The four of them had already changed into their sleepwear, and a train staff member had prepared the beds in their cabin. The two seats had been converted into lower beds, with two smaller beds set up above them. A small ladder was attached to the side to make it easier to climb up to the top bunks.
Luo Yan was given one of the top bunks, with Mrs. Winslow sleeping below him. On the Thompsons' side, the mother took the lower bunk while the daughter settled into the top one.
Mrs. Winslow tucked him in and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, my dear. Sleep tight, and I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Mother," Luo Yan said shyly, not forgetting to observe his "mother's" expression at that moment.
And... nothing. It wasn't that he couldn't read her expression—it was that her eyes seemed oddly empty, a stark contrast to the warmth in her voice. This woman was becoming more intriguing by the moment.
Soon, the lamps in the cabin were extinguished, leaving only darkness. Luo Yan hadn't planned to sleep, but for some reason, his eyelids grew heavy as a faint floral scent filled the air. Before he knew it, he drifted off completely.
That was until a blood-curdling scream shattered the silence of the cabin.