Early in the morning before dawn, Yin Zhizhi was dragged out of bed by her assistant to head to the airport.
She was going to S City to film a variety show, and Ji Huan would be accompanying her.
The airport was crowded in the morning. Yin Zhizhi wore a large white hooded sweatshirt on top and shorts on the bottom, with the oversized sweatshirt covering her shorts, revealing her slender, long legs.
Her perfect body proportions immediately drew attention from those around her.
Yin Zhizhi had a mask on, showing only her large eyes. She and her assistant quickly lined up for security check-in.
"Isn't she a celebrity? Great figure. Even an ordinary sweatshirt looks so good on her."
Someone nearby whispered.
Worried that being recognized would cause a commotion, Yin Zhizhi pulled her sweatshirt hood over her head, looking displeased at being watched.
"Probably not a celebrity. If she was, there'd be lots of fans surrounding her. She's just a bit pretty."
"You haven't even seen her face. How do you know she's pretty?"
Yin Zhizhi felt relieved after passing security.
Assistant: "Miss Yin, Manager Ji is waiting for you in the VIP lounge."
With half an hour until the flight, and many people lingering after security, Yin Zhizhi went to the VIP lounge.
The morning VIP lounge had only a few scattered individuals, mostly in suits working on laptops.
The most eye-catching was a man wearing glasses in the corner, likely Ji Huan around 6'3" with a model physique and good looks fit for an entertainer, yet he chose to be an accomplished manager instead.
Not only was he a manager at Starlight Entertainment, he was also a personal film investor. Ji Huan invested in major IPs, and none of the shows he invested in ever flopped.
There was an unethical saying in the industry:
Sleeping with a sleazy investor to get a role was considered a fair trade, but if you could sleep with Ji Huan and get a role, that was a bargain.
Yin Zhizhi shuddered.
Assistant: "Miss Yin, are you cold?"
It was now after the beginning of autumn, not as hot as summer, especially in the morning when a coat was needed. Yin Zhizhi's bare legs looked chilly.
Yin Zhizhi: "No, I'm not cold."
Yin Zhizhi sat next to Ji Huan. "Big Manager Ji, you're here so early?"
"Arriving an hour early at the airport isn't that early." Ji Huan didn't look up from his newspaper.
"Don't you think coming this early is a bit much? I felt like I came too early."
She came half an hour early and still felt it was too soon?
Ji Huan put down his paper. "From now on, unless it's a special situation, you'll arrive at the airport two hours early. If I find out you delayed the flight and work because of your tardiness, you can find someone else to accompany you."
"Hey, why are you threatening me by saying I'll have to find someone else?"
"What else could I threaten you with?"
"Oh, you could punish me by not letting me eat if I make a mistake, or make me exercise extra hours to lose weight. That would be perfect since you've been saying I gained a few pounds, right?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, as if settling an old score.
Ji Huan: "The job hasn't even started, and you're already feeling resentful about losing weight for a few days?"
"No, no resentment at all. I'm being really obedient." Her chubby face beamed an innocent smile.
Ji Huan didn't bother arguing further and ignored her.
Seeing he wasn't entertaining her, Yin Zhizhi pouted and quietly played on her phone.
Her assistant brought over a boiled egg for Yin Zhizhi's breakfast.
"Just an egg? Nothing else to eat?"
Assistant looked conflicted. "Would you like some fruit or cucumber?"
"...Never mind."
Yin Zhizhi peeled and slowly ate the boiled egg in small bites. After finishing, she felt unsatisfied and pressed on her stomach while using her phone.
As if pressing her stomach would make it narrower and less hungry.
"Get her a vegetable bun." Ji Huan spoke up.
The female assistant looked surprised but immediately went to get one.
The VIP lounge had an abundant breakfast area.
When Yin Zhizhi received the bun, she could hardly believe it. "But you said I'm fat, right? Buns are made of starch."
"Then don't eat it."
"No, I'll eat it."
The flight took two hours to reach S City. The production team sent cars to pick them up at the airport.
After a rushed lunch, the artists went for hair and makeup for the afternoon filming.
Yin Zhizhi knew she'd be on this variety show, so she had watched the previous episodes over the past couple of days.
It was a horror escape room type of variety show where artists were put in a maze-like environment full of scary scenes and NPCs. The artists had to find clues to escape while being scared throughout.
The entire filming process was intense and thrilling. Artists' terrified reactions were made into popular video memes with over a billion views.
Yin Zhizhi looked up information on the regular cast members: Guo Cheng, a veteran singer with a warm older brother image; Xiao Boran, the leader of a new boy group; and Sun Li, a popular actress.
"Miss Yin, please come with me for styling."
A staff member called for Yin Zhizhi, who followed into the makeup room.
Inside, she saw Sun Li in casual athletic wear. Sun Li was an excellent actress with a great personality. This was the only variety show she had participated in.
Sun Li looked surprised to see Yin Zhizhi. "I heard you'd be here, but I didn't expect it to be you. I'm Sun Li."
"Hello, Sister Sun Li." Yin Zhizhi was around four or five years younger and greeted her politely. "Your recent hit drama was also very popular overseas. I binged it - your acting was brilliant."
Sun Li smiled. "Looks like the staff arranged our meeting early before the cameras. We'll have to act surprised when we officially meet on screen."
Yin Zhizhi smiled wryly. "Yeah, my manager even told me there wouldn't be a script."
"There's no script for playing the games, but some dialogue is scripted for other parts," Sun Li explained meaningfully.
Sun Li had already finished styling and could have left the makeup room earlier to avoid running into Yin Zhizhi.
But after meeting Yin Zhizhi, Sun Li didn't think she was the troublemaking type and was happy to chat with her.
The stylist applied makeup on Yin Zhizhi and tied her hair into two high pigtails, giving her a cute, youthful high school student look.
Yin Zhizhi asked Sun Li for tips on playing the game.
Sun Li looked helpless. "Besides roaming around feeling and searching for clues, there's no other secret. Just scream in terror throughout. It's all up to the editing for humor and thrilling scenes."
The show's appeal was watching them get scared and chased.
"Teachers, are you both ready over here?"
Sun Li: "Yep, all set."
"These are your microphones, teachers. Let me help put them on."
A staff member brought over microphones to clip onto Yin Zhizhi and Sun Li before leading them to the filming set.
From afar, Yin Zhizhi saw Ji Huan talking to the director.
"Teacher Sun Li, you can go first. Teacher Yin, please wait a moment."
The staff addressed the artists respectfully as "teachers."
The three regular guests Guo Cheng, Sun Li, and Xiao Boran had to appear on camera first.
Yin Zhizhi waited behind as they filmed the opening segment. She would only go out when they introduced the new guest.
While waiting, Ji Huan came over.
Ji Huan looked at her hairstyle. "Who put your hair in those pigtails?"
"Stylist, what's wrong? Is everything okay?"
"Too young." Ji Huan simply commented that, without saying much else. He said something else: "While you're in the secret room, interact more with Guo Cheng and Sun Li. Xiao Boran is the new generation boy group leader, his fans are mostly girlfans. He's around your age, so don't get too close to him."
Getting too close could spark dating rumors or make people think they're a CP, which could lead to attacks from his girlfans.
Some people like to create drama for attention, but Ji Huan disdained that. He needed Yin Zhizhi to stay clean and unblemished.
Yin Zhizhi nodded: "I absolutely won't go near him."
"When participating in the variety show, speak up more, and try to say witty things, so that more of your footage will be kept."
"Understood."
A staff member came over, "Ms. Yin, you can go out now."
Yin Zhizhi glanced at Ji Huan, who paused for a moment before saying, "Go ahead."
She went out.
Under the spotlight, in front of the cameras, she greeted enthusiastically, "Hi everyone!"
Sun Li was surprised, "Zhizhi, I didn't expect the new guest to be you."
Guo Cheng said, "Yin Zhizhi, welcome, welcome. I really want to know if you have a grudge against the production team? Don't you know our show is famous for scaring people? What if you end up crying like a little girl, who's going to console you?"
His words made everyone laugh.
Xiao Boran spoke up, "The three of us will just have to protect our new member."
As he was speaking, suddenly the lights went out, very abruptly, accompanied by a loud noise in the studio.
Yin Zhizhi was startled by this sudden change of events. As she wondered what was going on, black-clothed figures approached them and blindfolded each one of them.
Yin Zhizhi understood - this was arranged by the production team.
Guo Cheng was particularly dramatic, shouting, "Who are you? What are you doing? Daring to kidnap people in broad daylight!"
Xiao Boran played along, "Don't tear up the ransom note, someone will come to pay for me."
Sun Li said, "Why are you two being so dramatic?"
Yin Zhizhi also acted, "It's so dark, who are you? Where are you taking me? Sister Sun Li, I'm so scared."
Sun Li said, "Don't be afraid, Zhizhi, don't be afraid."
It seemed Yin Zhizhi was being portrayed as the protected little sister, and the production team was already looking forward to seeing her act scared.
Usually, everyone would be taken to the same place, and then go through ordeals together to escape the secret room.
But today, after being blindfolded, everyone was taken by the black-clothed figures to different corners of the secret room, with only a communication device left beside each of them.
A voice came over the broadcast: Players, you may now remove your blindfolds. The game begins!
