After finishing their meal, everyone washed their dishes and found they had little to do, with consciousness not to venture outside given the scare they had from the wild monkey during the day.
Now it was dark, the unknown lurking beyond was intimidating.
"A game?"
Xie Er'lan looked at the director in confusion.
"Yes, to add some fun. How about it?"
Having the director suggesting as such, they were left without much to say. So, everyone agreed.
"Isn't a 'Heart-Throbbing Guest' a usual feature of dating shows? Here's ours, but with a twist."
The director explained as the assistant passed everyone a paper and a pen.
"Write down the person you'd want to kill most. Only someone from amongst us. Write the method of their death as well. It’s murder after all, so feel free to choose strangulation, stabbing, drowning, or beheading. Love is madness, love begets hatred. Correct?"
The director's suggestion seemed insane. Everyone was speechless.
"Wow, this is getting exciting."
"Wasn't this going to be a sweet and romantic show? Why has it suddenly become deadly?"
"No doubt he's a crime-drama director. Who would've thought he'd apply those themes here."
"Love and hatred entwined. I love it."
"I really want to know their choices. All will be revealed tomorrow. Can't wait to see their reactions."
"Everyone knows about Murphy's law, right? If you want something to happen enough, it usually does. The director is asking them to write down death threats. Does that mean someone will actually die?"
"The guy above, quit misleading people. If that was true, where's my lottery win I've been praying for every day?"
"It's because evil intentions are stronger. Have you all watched a Japanese show called 'Your Turn'? The residents all write down the person they want to kill, and the next day people start dying."
"But that's a TV show. We need to believe in science."
At last, everyone stuffed their written notes into the box provided by the director's assistant.
"To be fair, I will take part. So will my assistant and this young lady."
He pointed at the young assistant standing beside Xie Er’lan.
Then the three of them also wrote their choices and shoved them into the box.
"Hey, where did this box come from?"
Liu Chuxia stared at the decoration on the box, seemingly noticing something.
"What's wrong? I found it on a table in the villa."
Liu Chuxia took another look, then began.
"I once read a collection of weird tales called 'Wilderness Tales' that was written long ago in ancient Chinese. A story in it featured an object very similar to the decoration on this box."
Upon hearing this, everyone showed interest and gathered around to get a closer look.
"The story was about a rich merchant who bought a rosewood box from a merchant in Nanyang. The box was engraved with four uniquely shaped flowers. The Nanyang merchant told the rich man that the box had magical powers, granting whatever wish a person had."
"A genie in a lamp?"
"Anything that could grant wishes cannot be a good thing."
"If that box is as good as you say, why would the merchant sell it?"
"There must be a ghost story involved!"
"Shh! Do you want to continue hearing the story or not?"
"But the merchant warned the wealthy man not to make a wish to the box. Otherwise, unfortunate incidents would happen. Hence, this could only be treated as a regular box, suitable for storing items."
【Classic story, every little thing that we aren't supposed to do got done.】
【Then the wealthy man died a tragic death?】
【It isn’t scary at all, really. But Liu Chuxia is indeed a straight-A student at S University, even the books she read are so cultured.】
"Later, the wealthy man gifted the box to his favorite lady. Then both the wealthy man and the lady suffered violent deaths. When they were discovered, their bodies were entwined tightly, blood and flesh merged into one and couldn't be separated."
"Shh..."
You Xichun shivered.
Liu Chuxia smiled, her chin resting on her palms, she asked,
"What do you guys think… the lady loved by the wealthy man wished for?"
For a moment, everyone swallowed.
"She wished to be with the wealthy man for a lifetime, never to part. So the box fulfilled their wish, their flesh merged, and they could never be separated."
Cen Yueyue, blowing bubble gum, answered.
Liu Chuxia clapped her hands, indicating,
"That's correct, very accurately guessed. But this story doesn't mention who the box ended up with later on, it's merely a scary story. Don’t pay it any mind, I just thought of it when I saw the four flowers on this box. It's probably just a coincidence."
With a laugh, the atmosphere relaxed.
"Exactly, even if it were true, we didn’t make any wishes. We merely put a list of people we want to kill inside. It's not considered making a wish, right?"
Yu Jieqi chuckled.
【Shit, if that was true, it would be terrifying. That's basically making a wish.】
【Unlikely. If that were true, no one would be left alive. Isn't this stimulating?】
【If people are really going to die, vote! Who do you guys want to die first?】
【No, too unlucky, just enjoy the sweet variety show tomorrow.】
Just as the discussion was heating up, everyone noticed Cen Yueyue suddenly glancing at them, as if looking directly into the camera.
"What's wrong?"
Zou Yunshu asked beside her, his voice captivating.
"I feel as though someone is watching me."
Zou Yunshu furrowed his brows, looking around,
"No one’s here. It’s only the fifteen of us. Who else would be watching us?"
The moment she finished speaking, Yuan Shumo chimed in,
"Are you too scared? Do you want me to protect you?"
Cen Yueyue: ……
【OMG, have you guys noticed?】
【What?】
【The logic in their conversation. They said that… there are only fifteen people in this villa. But all fifteen are in front of us, please tell me…】
【Who is filming the live broadcast?】
【…】
【Wouldn’t it be that they didn’t count the one filming?】
【If that’s the case, why is even Xie Er'lan’s assistant appearing on camera? Usually, the assistant would never appear.】
【And why are they saying only shooting tomorrow, yet they’re live today? Have you ever seen a live broadcast not fully prepared?】
【Stop scaring yourselves. Maybe they're messing with the audience again. Don’t forget the director themselves specializes in thrillers.】
On one side, the barrage was discussing, and on the other side, everyone thought it was about time. The director asked them to go back to freshen up and rest, preparing for tomorrow's filming.
The live stream kept lingering in front of the guests' rooms until it reached a corridor where two people, Yuan Shumo and You Xichun, were furtively standing.
"Tomorrow we start filming. You need to help me win over Cen Yueyue. You will play the assistant, and I will pursue her. Once she develops feelings for me, I'll reveal to the viewers that I've always liked you."
"The director arranged other scripts for us. If we want to breakout, we can only rely on ourselves."
You Xichun nodded.
"But could you put in some more effort? Today's attempts were simply..."
Embarrassing, You Xichun didn't even want to comment.
"What's the problem? Doesn't my face look enough like Nangong Yi's? It would be an honor for any man to desire her. Don't worry, I'll go along with you. I'll do my best to exhibit your kindness, making everyone like you."
"I can't believe he just said that!"
"OMG, scum man and evil woman!"
"Is this part of the script? Otherwise, how can they blatantly reveal their scheme?"
"But I don't feel they're lying. I think they genuinely don't know they're being filmed."
"How could he have the nerve to say his face resembles Nangong Yi's? Him? Does he measure up?"
On the other end of the live stream, in a room, a person was sitting in a chair. He was watching countless split-screen images, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.
