Work Text:
As the first game of One-Night Werewolf begins, each player gets a card assigning them a role. Once they look at it, they place it face-down on the table.
Everyone, close your eyes, says the narrator’s voice from Shi Qingxuan’s phone. Werewolf, wake up. You may look at one of the center cards.
Xie Lian opens his eyes, leans forward, and picks up one of the three cards that are not in play this round. The card he chooses to look at says Minion. He gives a small grimace for two reasons: first because he has no ally in this game, since no one has been assigned the minion role, and second because he now has no alibi either. If he had seen a card for a role the villager team, he could’ve pretended that was his role.
Werewolf, close your eyes. Minion, wake up. Werewolf, stick out your thumb so the minion can see who you are. Even though Xie Lian knows there’s no minion at play in this round, he still dutifully sticks out his thumb while keeping his eyes closed.
Minion, close your eyes. Lovers, wake up and look for your lover. Feng Xin and Shi Qingxuan make eye contact, and Shi Qingxuan gives him a little wave. Feng Xin does not look particularly impressed.
As the lovers, they are on the villager team and can vouch for each other’s innocence.
Lovers, close your eyes. Seer, wake up. Hua Cheng opens his eyes. You may look at another player’s card, or two of the center cards.
Hua Cheng silently leans over and picks up Xie Lian’s card. He smirks when he sees what it says, then carefully places it back down.
Seer, close your eyes. Robber, wake up. You may exchange your card with another player’s card, then view your new card. He Xuan grabs Shi Qingxuan’s card and swaps it for his own. When he glances at his new card, it shows a picture of one of the lovers.
Robber, close your eyes. Troublemaker, wake up. You may exchange cards between two other players.
For this round, there is no troublemaker. After the random distribution of the nine possible cards, the troublemaker ended up in the center three, so it’s not in play.
Troublemaker, close your eyes. Everyone, keep your eyes closed and reach out to move your card around slightly. They all obediently slide their card around the table for a moment so it won’t be immediately obvious if anyone’s card has been moved during the night. Everyone, wake up!
“Okay! Does anyone want to say what their role is?” Shi Qingxuan asks, looking around eagerly.
“I’m the werewolf,” Xie Lian says.
Shi Qingxuan gasps. “If you’re the werewolf, you’re not supposed to tell us that!”
“Oh,” Xie Lian says. “Then I’m not the werewolf.”
Mu Qing’s eyes are narrowed as he appraises Xie Lian. “Then what are you?”
Xie Lian glances down at the table, where all the cards are face-down. He smiles. “What are the other roles again?”
Shi Qingxuan bursts into laughter. “Lao Xie, are you playing us?”
“I’m the seer,” Hua Cheng says suddenly, “and I looked at his card.”
“And?” Feng Xin says.
“And it’s none of your business.”
“How is it not our business?” Mu Qing snaps. “If he’s the werewolf, we need to vote for him, or we’ll all lose. Including you!”
“We’ll lose if we vote for him,” Hua Cheng says.
“Are you saying Xie Lian is the tanner?” He Xuan asks. “He’ll win if we vote him out?”
“He could also be the minion,” Shi Qingxuan says. “The minion wants us to vote for them instead of the werewolf so the werewolf wins.”
“Or maybe Hua Cheng is the minion, and Xie Lian really is the werewolf,” He Xuan says.
Xie Lian just smiles placidly, not giving any more away.
“I don’t believe Hua Cheng is the seer,” Mu Qing says. “I think he’s the werewolf.”
Hua Cheng scoffs. “What are you, then?”
“I’m a villager.”
“Oh, likely story. Very believable.”
“I am!”
“Sure you are.”
“Well, I can reveal my role,” Shi Qingxuan says. “Feng Xin and I are lovers!”
“No, you’re not,” He Xuan says coolly.
Shi Qingxuan turns a confused look on him. “But we are, though! Xuanxuan, are you eating vinegar right now? It’s just a game!”
He Xuan rubs a hand over his face in exasperation. “I meant that you’re not lovers anymore because I’m the robber, and I took your card.”
“Oh! So you and Feng Xin are lovers now.”
“Why are you scowling at me?” Feng Xin hisses to Mu Qing. “It’s just a game. Are you eating vinegar too?”
“Shut up!” Mu Qing says furiously. “I was thinking maybe you aren’t the lovers but the werewolf and minion colluding.”
“Oh,” Feng Xin says. “No, I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean you don’t think so?” Shi Qingxuan exclaims. “Shouldn’t you know so? We made passionate eye contact during the night!”
“I wouldn’t really call it ‘passionate,’” Feng Xin hedges. “It was more like . . . awkward. I don’t want to be your lover. That’s gross.”
Shi Qingxuan rolls their eyes.
“Guys, there’s no need to argue,” Xie Lian cuts in. “We can all just vote for me.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Mu Qing says. “Since you’re obviously the tanner.”
“No, I’m the werewolf!” Xie Lian pauses. “I mean, I’m not the werewolf.”
“I think Hua Cheng is the werewolf,” Mu Qing says. “He probably saw the seer card in the middle and is just pretending to be on our side.”
He Xuan narrows his eyes as he observes Hua Cheng. “Or he really is the seer and Xie Lian really is the werewolf, but he’s so whipped he doesn’t want us to vote for Xie Lian.”
“I don’t think it’s Lao Xie,” Shi Qingxuan says. “He looks too innocent to be a werewolf!”
“Well, you and Feng Xin don’t look like former lovers, so you must be lying about your role too,” He Xuan deadpans.
“But you took my card! You know I’m not!”
He Xuan shrugs. “How could I be the robber? Do I look like someone who would steal?”
“Yeah, kind of,” Feng Xin says. “No offense. You just have, like, a vibe about you. Maybe it’s because you’re always wearing black, like a cat burglar.”
Shi Qingxuan laughs. “That’s not a very nice thing to say to your new lover.”
“If I hear the word ‘lover’ one more time, I’m going to kill everyone in this room,” Mu Qing says.
“Kill?” Hua Cheng raises his eyebrows. “Sounds like something a werewolf would say.”
“You—!”
“Guys, really, just vote for me!” Xie Lian says.
Time is up. Everyone, it’s time to vote, the system announces. Point to the player you think is the werewolf in 3, 2, 1.
He Xuan points to Xie Lian, who also points to himself. Shi Qingxuan, Hua Cheng, and Feng Xin point to Mu Qing, who points at Hua Cheng.
“That’s three votes for Mu Qing,” Hua Cheng says. “Flip over your card.”
“What the fuck!” Mu Qing scowls at Feng Xin. “Why did you vote for me?”
“I didn’t know who to vote for,” Feng Xin says.
“Oh, because you didn’t want to vote for your lover?”
Feng Xin’s expression is thoroughly bemused. “But I did?”
Mu Qing is so speechless that he just whips his head away and tosses his card face-up on the table. It does indeed say Villager. “It’s definitely Hua Cheng.”
Hua Cheng laughs mirthlessly and throws his own card down. Seer.
Xie Lian turns his card over to reveal a picture of a werewolf. “I did try to tell you,” he says mildly.
In the second round, Hua Cheng wakes up when the werewolf is called. The card he checks from the center for his alibi is one of the lovers.
No one wakes up when the lovers are called, since both of those cards are in the center this time.
He Xuan, as the seer, checks Hua Cheng’s card and raises his eyebrows when he sees the werewolf. Next, Mu Qing wakes up as the robber and switches his card with Feng Xin’s. Now Mu Qing has taken over Feng Xin’s role as the tanner.
The troublemaker is last. Shi Qingxuan hurriedly swaps cards between He Xuan and Hua Cheng before going back to sleep.
They’re all called to wake up, and the discussion begins.
“What is everyone?” Shi Qingxuan glances around.
“I am definitely not the werewolf,” Feng Xin says immediately.
“That’s kinda suspicious,” Shi Qingxuan says. “What are you, then?”
“The seer.”
He Xuan frowns. “That’s interesting. What did you see?”
“I saw that I am not the werewolf.”
“I’m not the werewolf either,” Mu Qing says.
“Have you both gone stupid?” Hua Cheng asks. “Oh, wait, you were already there. Apologies.”
He Xuan stares pointedly at him. “Do you want to say your role? Because I happen to be the actual seer, and I looked at your card.”
“Oh?” Hua Cheng says calmly.
“About that,” Shi Qingxuan chimes in. “You may not be the seer anymore, actually.”
“What did you do?”
“I’m the troublemaker,” they explain, “and I kind of switched your card. But I panicked that I wasn’t going to be quick enough before everyone woke up, so I can’t exactly remember who I switched you with.”
“Was it him?” He Xuan jabs a thumb at Hua Cheng, who starts to cackle.
“Possibly?”
“So we have two seers,” Xie Lian says, glancing at Feng Xin. “That seems a bit logistically fraught.”
“Right,” Feng Xin says. “Somehow we’re both the seer.”
“No, you’re just a liar,” He Xuan says.
“I’m the real seer,” Mu Qing says suddenly.
Hua Cheng squeezes Xie Lian’s hand. “Gege, they really have gone stupid.”
Xie Lian laughs softly. “At least one of them must be courting our vote. Perhaps a tanner or minion?”
“Gege is so wise,” Hua Cheng drawls.
“It’s possible that one of them was the robber and they took He Xuan’s card, so they really are the seer now,” Shi Qingxuan says, tapping their fingers against their lips as they think.
“I’m the robber,” Feng Xin and Mu Qing say in unison, then smack each other’s arms, once again in unison.
“Well, I’m just a humble villager,” Xie Lian says. “I don’t have any other information.”
“Actually, I think it was Hua Cheng whose card I swapped yours with!” Shi Qingxuan says suddenly, nudging He Xuan’s shoulder. “So you might now be whatever you saw on his card—what was it again?”
Hua Cheng starts to laugh again at that blank expression on He Xuan’s face. “I have really good news for everyone.”
“No, you don’t,” He Xuan says. “Hua Cheng was the tanner.”
“In fact, I was the werewolf before you switched us,” Hua Cheng says.
Shi Qingxuan’s lips part in shock. “Oh no.”
“So He Xuan is the werewolf now?” Xie Lian confirms.
Feng Xin taps a finger on his own card. “It’s definitely not me. I’m very innocent.”
“No, I must be the tanner,” He Xuan says.
“You can’t be the tanner because I’m the tanner,” Mu Qing says.
“But I’m actually the tanner!” Feng Xin gestures emphatically with his hands.
“Ooookay.” Shi Qingxuan looks around with a wrinkled brow. “Are there any lovers who want to vouch for each other?”
“We’re lovers,” Hua Cheng says, wrapping an arm around Xie Lian’s waist to tug him closer.
“I meant in the game!”
“We’re still lovers even while playing a game,” Hua Cheng says seriously, which makes Xie Lian laugh.
“That’s true,” he says, “but I’m definitely a villager. I vouch for San Lang’s innocence though!”
“Based on what?” Mu Qing’s face is scrunched with distaste.
“He seems really innocent!”
“You would probably say that even if he were covered in blood and howling at the moon,” Feng Xin points out.
“I’m sure he’d have a good reason if that were the case.”
“Of course, gege.” Hua Cheng lifts his hand from Xie Lian’s waist to stroke a lock of hair between his fingers.
“Surely there’s something in the rules against doing”—Mu Qing gestures vaguely to them both—“that.”
Time is up. Everyone, it’s time to vote.
After the countdown, Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, and Shi Qingxuan point to He Xuan, who votes for Hua Cheng. Mu Qing points to himself; Feng Xin also votes for himself.
Hua Cheng draws an imaginary bow to shoot He Xuan, who flips over the Werewolf card with a resigned sigh.
“Sorry, He-xiong!” Shi Qingxuan tries to hug him, but he presses his index finger against their forehead to push them away. “Hey, what are you being so stingy for? It’s not like you were wrongly accused!” They dip their head to escape and wrap their arms around him anyway. He Xuan just sighs, but he doesn’t try to remove them.
“I really was the tanner, though!” Feng Xin says.
Mu Qing rolls his eyes. “No, you weren’t.”
They both flip over their cards, and Feng Xin reveals a comically surprised expression at the Robber card in front of him.
“You stole my card!”
Mu Qing brandishes the Tanner card. “Yeah, because I was the robber, dumbass.”
“You—” Feng Xin can’t actually argue with the evidence in front of him. “Damn.”
Shi Qingxuan claps their hands. “This game is great! Don’t you think it’s bringing us all closer together?”
“I feel closer to my husband after murdering He Xuan together,” Hua Cheng offers.
Shi Qingxuan tilts their head uncertainly. “Okay . . .”
“I want to kill Feng Xin,” Mu Qing announces.
“Um, okay . . .”
“I also want to kill Mu Qing,” Feng Xin says.
“I want to kill all of you,” He Xuan says.
Xie Lian bites his lip to keep from laughing. “I think this game is quite interesting.”
In the third round, Shi Qingxuan is the werewolf. They look at the Villager card in the center. The minion role has actually come into play this round, so He Xuan wakes up when the minion is called; Shi Qingxuan keeps their eyes closed but sticks out their thumb so He Xuan can identify his teammate.
Mu Qing and Feng Xin are the lovers. Mu Qing’s face nearly turns purple when he wakes up and makes eye contact with Feng Xin, who blows him a sardonic kiss.
There’s no seer this time, but Hua Cheng is the robber, so he takes Xie Lian’s card. Xie Lian is the last to wake up as the troublemaker. He swaps Mu Qing’s and Feng Xin’s cards.
Everyone, wake up!
They’re all silent for a long moment after they open their eyes.
“Shi Qingxuan is the werewolf,” Hua Cheng says.
“What?” Their voice is shrill. “Why would you say that?”
Hua Cheng shrugs. “Normally you’re pestering us with questions.”
“I’m a villager! I just wanted to see if anyone would volunteer anything first!”
“I did. I volunteered that I think you’re the werewolf.”
“If you’re done making stuff up,” He Xuan says, “we can proceed with the round. What’s your role then, since you’re so quick to make accusations?”
“I’m the robber, and I took your card.”
He Xuan’s impatient tapping against the arm of his chair suddenly stops. “Interesting.”
If true, that would place He Xuan on the villager side and make Hua Cheng the minion, though he wouldn’t know his werewolf teammate.
“I’m the troublemaker.” Xie Lian leans forward and gestures to Mu Qing and Feng Xin. “And I switched your cards. What were your original roles?”
Mu Qing crosses his arms and looks away. “I decline to say.”
“Werewolf!” Hua Cheng’s voice is an obnoxious singsong.
“No, I’m not!”
“I can vouch for him,” Feng Xin says, not particularly enthusiastic.
“Werewolf and minion!”
“I think so too!” Shi Qingxuan exclaims.
“I was just playing around. What are you jumping on my accusation for?” Hua Cheng raises his eyebrows.
Shi Qingxuan shrinks back, trying to suppress a look of guilt. “Can’t I have my own accusations? Mu Qing not saying his role is suspicious!”
“He’s just embarrassed to admit we’re lovers,” Feng Xin says.
“You—!” Mu Qing can’t get any other words out in his outrage.
“We already knew that, though,” Xie Lian says kindly. He pauses. “Oh, you mean in the game?”
Mu Qing’s wordless fury attempts to burn a hole in Xie Lian’s face, but it is unsuccessful.
Feng Xin shrugs. “Either way, I guess.”
“In the game! Lovers in the game,” Mu Qing hisses.
Feng Xin nods. “Yeah, that too.”
“Are you itching to enter the reincarnation cycle early?”
“Let’s send Shi Qingxuan first,” Hua Cheng says.
“No, please! I’m an innocent villager!”
“That’s fine. I’d rather kill a villager than let anyone except my husband win as werewolf.”
He Xuan slowly raises his hand to give Hua Cheng a sarcastic thumbs up. “Your approach to this game is really admirable.”
“Thank you.”
“Xuanxuan, why aren’t you defending me! We’re lovers too!”
He Xuan makes an odd choking noise. “What?”
“In the first round!” Their eyes dart blankly around the room as they think. “Oh, wait, that was me and Feng Xin! Feng Xin, defend me!”
Feng Xin blinks. “Huh?”
Mu Qing smacks his arm. “Don’t defend them. They’re obviously the werewolf.”
He Xuan sucks his teeth. “Technically, in that round I was lovers with F—why am I arguing about this? Even if we’re lovers, I have to vote for you.”
“You consider us lovers outside the game?” Shi Qingxuan coos. “Aw, I had no idea you felt so passionate about our relationship.”
He Xuan slowly turns his head to look at them, his features twisted with utter incredulity. “Did I say that?”
“You implied it, and I was so moved! I don’t mind if you vote for me now.”
“Stop feeling moved,” He Xuan snaps. “That is absolutely not what I was—oh, just shut up. We’re in public.”
“Got it. We’ll discuss being lovers in private only.” Shi Qingxuan mimes zipping their lips shut and placing the imaginary key in He Xuan’s hand. He Xuan pulls his hand away and shakes it vigorously.
Hua Cheng’s entire body is wracked with malicious laughter at He Xuan’s expression.
Even Xie Lian is having difficulty keeping a straight face. “Who knew a game about killing each other would be so full of love?”
Everyone, it’s time to vote.
All the players, including Shi Qingxuan, vote for Shi Qingxuan, who sighs dramatically and flips their Werewolf card.
“You have no idea how hard it is to be the werewolf!” they exclaim.
“It is quite difficult,” Xie Lian says kindly.
“But you made it look so easy, gege. Unlike Shi Qingxuan, who was a complete failure.”
“Hey! Lover, defend me!” They poke He Xuan’s shoulder. “Oh, sorry, I forgot you’re easily embarrassed.” They drop their voice to a whisper. “Lover—”
“You—be quiet.” He Xuan flips over his card to find that he’s still the minion, despite Hua Cheng’s claims of robbery. “You bastard. You tricked me.”
Shi Qingxuan, by contrast, looks delighted. “We were on the same team! How beautiful. That’s just as good as being lovers.”
“That means you both lost,” Mu Qing says.
“We may have lost the game, but we won—”
“If you dare to say something sappy right now, I’m going to leave and block your number,” He Xuan says seriously.
Shi Qingxuan gestures frantically at the table. “Quick, quick, shuffle the cards! We need to play again so He-xiong and I can be lovers in the game too!”
He Xuan’s face sinks into his hands. He refuses to lift it even when Shi Qingxuan tugs at one of his hands.
“You could leave,” Hua Cheng says helpfully.
“This is what you look like when you’re being dramatic,” Feng Xin mutters to Mu Qing.
Mu Qing holds up his lover card threateningly. “If you say one more word, I’m going to shove this down your throat and hope you choke on it.”
“As I said, dramatic!”
Hua Cheng leans over to whisper in Xie Lian’s ear. “Gege, isn’t it nice to be the best couple here?”
Xie Lian’s smile slowly grows now that he’s no longer working to rein in his amusement. “Isn’t it a little conceited to say so?”
“It’s just a plain fact, I fear. We’re a power couple.”
Xie Lian leans closer to whisper, “Don’t tell them, but I think so too.”