Sinners’ Game

Chapter 1: The First Collision

In the dark forest, the hunter often hides in the guise of prey. So in a crowded city, bustling with people, what form will the hunter take to catch its prey? Tonight, who will be the prey, and who will be the hunter?

Radix Astragali: 27 years old. Heir to the Radix Group, a leading multi-industry conglomerate in the country. Astragali is not only young, but his business acumen is rated significantly higher than his father’s and grandfather’s. Since he took over, Radix’s revenue has doubled to tripled compared to his father’s era. Furthermore, he harbors the ambition to take the Radix Group to the world stage. Talented he is, ambitious he is, and fate also blessed him with a handsome face that attracts every girl. A deadly beauty, causing countless girls to fall madly in love, even knowing that loving him is wrong, they still want to rush in. This young master lives up to the handsome looks he was granted, being a playboy and famously promiscuous. By his side, he already has a beautiful, young fiancée, Passiflora Foetida, the daughter of billionaire Passiflora. Everyone says Astragali and Foetida are truly a perfect match—the man is talented, the woman is beautiful. Especially in terms of economics, the two families are well-matched. They call it a marriage of equal social standing.

But for the young master Astragali, the human heart has four chambers, and having only one Miss Foetida is not enough. Besides her, he also has a girlfriend who loves him deeply, always devoting all her thoughts to him, the younger schoolmate from the same university, Rosa chinensis, the daughter of millionaire Rosa. Although she knows he has a fiancée, she still believes Astragali’s words that he only loves her, and she willingly accepts being his lover without a title.

The beauty of both Foetida and Chinensis is ranked among the finest in the luxurious city. Yet, both are slightly less beautiful than the young mistress Astragali keeps, Helianthus Annuus, who is two years his junior. Annuus is the daughter of a poor family, whose parents run a small business, but she is an intelligent girl with excellent academic achievements. Immediately after graduating, she applied for an intern position at Radix Pharmaceuticals – one of the Radix Group’s subsidiaries. Her beautiful appearance and intelligence attracted Astragali. She always ignored his flirtations. But one day, her father fell ill with kidney disease, requiring a large sum of money for treatment. She was forced to sign a mistress contract with Astragali.

Friends all thought that these three girls, whose beauty ranked first and second in the city, with three different personalities, three unique and interesting qualities, would be able to tie him down. Even Astragali thought this was enough, but deep down, he always felt something was missing. He wanted something more exciting. As time passed, he also grew increasingly bored, losing interest in any of them.

The young man began searching for other pleasures. Tonight, he started his hunt again; young girls were always waiting eagerly for his appearance.

CRIMSON NIGHT is a bar not just anyone can enter. This bar is reserved for the wealthy elite. People often rumor that the owner of this bar is a beautiful and dangerous woman; there are also rumors that the owner is a gentle and kind young man. No one knows if any rumor is true, and even when asked, the bar staff doesn’t know either. All information about the bar’s owner is concealed. This is also what attracts the curious or the young masters and ladies to admire that alluring or gentle scholar figure, hoping to meet the person behind it all to see which rumor is true. But since the rumors surfaced, no figure, male or female, has ever appeared. Astragali was also very curious about the owner; he had spent a lot to secure an appointment. However, all requests were rejected, and he silently thought, “That's an arrogant person. If the rumor of a beautiful and charming woman is true, I will definitely add her to my collection of flowers.” Astragali and his friends are VIP members of the bar, enjoying the best service. But they have also never seen the owner appear. Today, Astragali hoped to meet the owner. He arrived earlier than usual and sat at the bar. The Bartender smiled brightly:

“This time, the esteemed sir is still ordering: Morning After Sin?”

He nodded slightly, his gaze sharp and cold, as if cornering his opponent:

“Your bar owner is still not coming today?”

The Bartender smiled gently. Handing over the glass of Morning After Sin:

“Sir is truly persistent. In response to that persistence, the owner sent a message: ‘We will meet soon.’”

Astragali slightly furrowed his brow, brought the glass to his lips, lightly touched it, then took a small sip. Slowly setting the glass down, his voice deepened:

“When?”

The Bartender calmly replied:

“Sir, do not worry. The owner said: We will meet when the time comes.”

A vague timeframe. He knew this was another rejection. He was used to it, so he did not continue asking.

He sat with his back to the bar counter. Under the flickering red and blue lights that enveloped the entire space of the bar. Red light strips coiled around the ceiling like silk ribbons, further enhancing the mysterious ambiance. Astragali was like a hidden hunting beast, observing, waiting for the prey to appear.

A girl walked up and sat next to Astragali. He turned to look at her; he felt his heart thump like a young boy experiencing love for the first time. She possessed an exquisite beauty with brown hair, eyes so sparkling they seemed to draw others into an abyss, deep red lips, and fair, rosy skin exuding a proud, captivating beauty. She wore a red dress, which, under the dim light of CRIMSON NIGHT, further amplified the primal, seductive instinct deep within a man.

Without waiting for him to speak, she flashed a smile, her lips curving into a perfect angle of cruelty:

“Handsome man, sitting here alone? Morning After Sin – The penance after a night of sin… yet still willingly sinking into it.”

Her voice was sweet and provocative. He swallowed, looking at her, his right slender fingers lightly supporting her tilted head, his left hand resting casually on the table.

“And what about you? Why are you here alone?”

She shrugged lightly, her radiant smile seemingly inviting him.

“I’m waiting for a friend. Seeing you all alone… so perfect, I wanted to chat during my free time.”

He raised the glass to his mouth, taking a sip, as if to conceal his intention. His eyes locked onto her:

“May I buy you a drink?”

She gave a faint, enigmatic smile.

“Sure, since you’re inviting. Please choose for me.”

“Crimson Bite,” Astragali called the waiter, his eyes never leaving her, as if afraid he would miss something.

The corner of Grandiflorus’s mouth curled up ever so slightly, but her eyes held absolutely no smile, as if concealing some satisfaction.

Astragali was sinking into something very vague—it felt like a bottomless abyss yet carried a sweet aftertaste he couldn't escape, like something dangerously seductive. Then, a familiar voice shattered the fleeting emotions. That voice made him feel annoyed, like a scratch on a gentle symphony:

“Astragali, you’re early. And who is this beautiful lady?”