Chapter 764 Autumn
It was like a switch flipped.
Energy surged through the house, replacing anxiety with adrenaline.
Within minutes, someone had wheeled out the house bar cart, and another contestant connected an fm station to the speaker system.
The living room transformed into a makeshift club.
The lights were dimmed. Colored LED bulbs—meant for special house events—flashed and spun, throwing streaks of blue and purple across the walls.
Loud, pulsing music filled the space, and soon, laughter and the clinking of glasses joined the mix.
Even the more reserved contestants started loosening up.
Alcohol flowed freely—wine, beer, even hard liquor that had been hoarded from previous rewards. Inhibitions melted.
The earlier nervousness was replaced by dancing, jokes, and unexpected flirtations.
Ross was in his element.
He moved smoothly through the crowd, drink in hand, greeting people like a celebrity at his own party.
A few girls gravitated toward him, giggling, hoping to catch his attention.
He entertained them with sly comments and confident charm, never staying with one person too long.
Jason, still reeling from his emotional speech earlier, had a drink too many and ended up loudly declaring that he would do all the chores next week by himself if it meant he could stay and he would never fart again.
People laughed and cheered him on.
Lily, on the other hand, sat for a while in a corner nursing her drink, quietly observing.
But as the music picked up and someone pulled her into a dance, even she began to let go of her prim posture and joined the celebration.
The party kept escalating—someone started a dance-off, another pulled out whipped cream from the fridge and smeared it across someone's nose, and a pair of housemates disappeared briefly, returning with suspiciously disheveled clothes and flushed faces.
And as the night deepened, so did the chaos.
Tensions that had been building for weeks began to bubble over—not just romantic sparks, but jealousies, rivalries, and hidden grudges too.
Heated whispers were exchanged in shadowy corners, stolen glances led to bold actions, and more than one housemate would wake up the next morning wondering if they'd gone too far.
But for tonight, none of that mattered.
Tonight, the looming eviction, the pressure of the game, the watching eyes of the outside world—they were all forgotten.
Tonight, they were just young people caught in the whirlwind of the moment, drinking, dancing, and living like there was no tomorrow.
Because for one of them… there wouldn't be.
Some of them swam in the pool, others munched on snacks or lounged around under the warm evening lights.
But one thing was obvious—everyone was drinking hard by now.
Laughter echoed across the backyard, bottles clinked, and a few already seemed one step away from singing karaoke.
The relaxed, almost festive atmosphere blanketed everything like a soft haze.
Ross stayed in his corner with his women, cooking over the grill and keeping the food coming.
He flipped skewers and burgers with one hand while chatting with them, enjoying the sight of their smiles and laughter.
Every now and then, Heaven and Tianna's giggles would rise above the noise, drawing attention—though no one could quite tell what they were laughing about.
"I'll get some more ice inside. Be right back," Ross said, brushing off his hands and heading into the house.
The moment he stepped into the kitchen, he slowed down.
The lights were dimmer here, and the hum of the fridge was the only sound.
That was when he noticed someone already there—Lily, standing by the open refrigerator door, looking a little lost and swaying slightly on her feet.
She turned when she heard him enter.
"The orange juice is at the bottom shelf, if that's what you're looking for," Ross said casually, moving to grab a bag of ice from the freezer.
"Oh… thanks," Lily replied softly.
Her voice wasn't slurred, but there was a sleepy warmth to it.
She reached down carefully and pulled out the juice, pouring herself a glass.
As she took a sip, her eyes flicked toward Ross.
At first, it was a quick glance—just polite acknowledgment. But her gaze lingered.
He wore only a loose tank top and shorts, his arms still glistening slightly from the grill heat outside.
The muscles on his forearms flexed as he hoisted the bag of ice, and something about the way he moved made her breath hitch, just slightly.
Lily knew she was tipsy—drunk, even—but not out of control.
Her thoughts were still her own, and she was well aware of the way her heart had started to beat a little faster.
Her eyes drifted lower, trailing over the lines of his chest visible through the thin fabric, then back up to his masked face.
She'd always guessed that Ross was attractive.
Anyone with eyes could see that even if he covered his face with a mask.
But here, in this quiet space away from the others, with no noise, no distractions… it hit differently.
She sipped her juice again, slower this time.
She watched as Ross hoisted the bag of ice with ease and closed the freezer door.
That's when, fueled by alcohol and a sudden surge of reckless courage, Lily spoke to him for the first time—really spoke to him.
Normally, she avoided him.
Ross had a reputation in the house. Everyone knew he was a flirt. A womanizer.
And not just any womanizer—an accomplished one, with a body count that was more rumor than fact, but all the more intimidating because of it.
Lily had always kept her distance, not wanting to be another notch on his belt.
But tonight, something felt different.
"I know what you're doing, Big D," she said with a teasing smile, folding her arms as she leaned one hip against the counter.
Her voice was slightly slurred but playful.
"You came inside to hook up with all the beautiful women here, didn't you? By my count, there's five of us. Don't tell me you're planning to try and get into my pants next."