IOLYF Chapter 51

The game began, and everyone gathered at the small square designated by the production team. Under the camera’s gaze, the director meticulously explained the rules once more, giving each team five minutes to devise a plan.

Shen Xixi clutched the map, nervously sharing her thoughts. Wen Ci frowned slightly, thinking her ideas were a bit off. He turned to Mo Ming for his input.

Mo Ming provided his honest opinion. Since this was a team effort, he didn’t hold back, and he marked the eight possible locations where he suspected the clue cards might be hidden on the map.

Mo Ming assigned three spots to Wen Ci and himself and left the remaining two for Shen Xixi.

“How do we know your guesses are right?” Shen Xixi couldn’t stand Mo Ming’s authoritative attitude. “What if you’re wrong, and I end up running around for nothing?”

Mo Ming looked at her calmly. “You’re free to search anywhere you like.”

His tone was so even that Shen Xixi couldn’t tell if he was rebuking her or sincerely suggesting she explore on her own. With the cameras rolling, she didn’t want to make a scene, so she turned to Wen Ci. “Wen Ge, what do you think?”

“I agree with Mo Ming.” Wen Ci replied. “Once we split up, let’s keep in touch and notify each other as soon as we find a clue card.”

With the director’s signal, the nine participants scattered from the square, each followed by a camera operator.

Each team decided to split up, and since the clue cards’ hiding spots weren’t too difficult to deduce, everyone had a rough idea of where to search. The real competition was in their speed.

Meanwhile, NPCs playing the role of hunters were stationed throughout the area to capture contestants.

Mo Ming was the first to find the “Wood” clue card.

As the camera tracked Mo Ming, Han Shao Zhou, watching from the control room, saw him run purposefully toward the massive amusement ride “The Screamer.” Circling the sturdy base, Mo Ming located a box hidden underneath, which contained the clue card.

The word “Wood” was clearly written on the lid.

“Why would ‘Wood’ be hidden here?” Han Shao Zhou couldn’t help but ask. He couldn’t see the connection.

If it were up to him, he would probably have done what most other participants did: head straight for the carousel or another area filled with wooden structures. Those seemed like the only logical places associated with “Wood.”

The screenwriter, who was standing nearby, wasn’t too keen on trying to figure out what the big boss was thinking and just answered the question directly.

“Well, Han Ge, the ‘Screamer’ ride is shaped like a T, and the ride’s action involves people sitting on it. The character for ‘Wood’ can be broken down into the components for ‘person’ and ‘T,’ so the ride matches perfectly.”

Han Shao Zhou frowned. “These puzzles of yours are really twisted.”

“It’s not like that, Han Ge.” the screenwriter explained with a wry smile. “To be honest, we prepared several different clue cards for the other elements, so it was just a matter of time before the contestants found them. But we only prepared one card for ‘Wood,’ planning to use it as the deciding factor for the winner. We hid it in a spot we thought most contestants wouldn’t consider, but we didn’t expect Mo Ming to find it first…”

Han Shao Zhou raised an eyebrow. “So Mo Ming has already won?”

“You could say that, but the game will continue. We, who know the inside information, understand that this clue card is the key to winning, but the contestants still need to find the other cards…”

“He actually figured it out…” Han Shao Zhou muttered to himself, crossing his arms as he squinted at the screen showing Mo Ming.

The little guy on screen was calm and focused, both beautiful and sharp, his dark, glossy eyes like two inky pearls—bright but cold… Seeing Mo Ming like this, hard at work, was incredibly sexy.

Mo Ming seemed to be on fire. In less than fifteen minutes, he had already found two of the clue cards in three locations, fulfilling the tasks he had initially divided among his teammates.

Each contestant had been given a phone by the production team, and during the game, they could contact each other. As per their earlier agreement, Mo Ming promptly informed his teammates of his finds and then slowed his pace, avoiding NPCs as he wandered around the vast amusement park.

The main goal of the variety show was to entertain, and the production team probably didn’t want him to finish the game too quickly. Mo Ming, knowing he wasn’t the most entertaining person, decided that after completing his tasks, it was time to let others have the spotlight.

On his way, Mo Ming ran into Cheng Jing, who immediately put on a pitiful face and begged Mo Ming for help. Mo Ming, treating him like one of the NPC hunters, turned and ran without a word. But he wasn’t a match for the athletic Cheng Jing, who quickly caught up.

Playing the sympathy card, Cheng Jing reminded Mo Ming of their teamwork over the past two days, asking for a hint. Mo Ming, unable to shake him off, leaned in close, and Cheng Jing eagerly brought his ear over.

Mo Ming gave him two locations, explaining that, based on his analysis, there should be boxes containing clue cards there.

“You’re not tricking me, are you?” Cheng Jing was skeptical.

Mo Ming nodded seriously. “You can write my name backward if I’m lying.”

Satisfied, Cheng Jing let Mo Ming go and ran off, soon finding one of the boxes. But the box was empty—the clue card had already been taken by Mo Ming.

Furious, Cheng Jing rolled up his sleeves and stormed off to confront Mo Ming.

In the control room, the staff erupted in laughter, and the director quickly instructed his team to note this moment—it was definitely going to be a highlight.

“Honestly, the banter between Cheng Jing and Mo Ming is pure comedy gold. They’re both so in sync and hilarious together.” someone commented.

“Yeah, like a double act.” another agreed, laughing so hard tears came to their eyes.

The assistant director nodded with a smile. “They might just become a popular on-screen pair.”

“Now that you mention it, I think so too.” another staff member chimed in.

“They’re funny and natural, plus they look great together. We could totally ship them—”

Before the scriptwriter could finish, they caught sight of Han Shao Zhou glaring at them with an icy stare. The expression in his eyes made it clear that if they said another word, this man would storm over and twist their head off.

But what had they said wrong?

Is shipping a crime now?

Mo Ming, knowing Cheng Jing would probably come back to settle the score, ran a good distance in the opposite direction, only to receive a call from Wen Ci.

Wen Ci informed him that he had found a location where a clue card was hidden, but he needed help to retrieve it.

Mo Ming quickly made his way to Wen Ci’s location.

It was an attraction called “Raging Waves” a large pool surrounded by three towering artificial cliffs, with a small wooden boat floating near the shore, securely attached to tracks underneath.

The box containing the clue card was lodged in a crevice on the opposite cliff.

To unlock this clue, the participants had to take on an adventurous challenge: ride the small boat across the pool, following the track to the other side to retrieve the “Water” card.

The boat required at least two people to start, and the activation button was on a separate platform. Wen Ci immediately called Shen Xixi to come over.

Mo Ming and Wen Ci put on the waterproof raincoats provided at the scene and boarded the small boat. Wen Ci, struggling with the safety belt, looked up at Mo Ming with some difficulty. “I’ve never done this before. Do you know how to buckle the seatbelt?”

“There’s a guide on the rock by the shore.”

“To save time, I’ll stay here. Mo Ming, could you help me buckle it? Please, as a teammate?”

Climbing back to the shore to check the guide would indeed waste time. After weighing his options, Mo Ming carefully made his way over to Wen Ci and quickly secured his safety belt.

“It’s tight.” Wen Ci smiled as he looked at Mo Ming, who was now close to him. “Don’t mess with me.”

Mo Ming stared at Wen Ci for a moment before returning to his position at the front of the boat and buckling his own safety belt.

Onshore, Shen Xixi received the signal and pressed the button on the control panel.

The boat’s base rumbled to life, causing the vessel to shake and sway as it moved along the tracks toward the opposite shore.

Powerful waves churned the water, sending up massive splashes that rained down on the boat like a torrential downpour, creating a curtain of water around the rocking vessel.

Amid the “storm” Mo Ming struggled to keep his eyes open, only to see Wen Ci’s hands moving…

As the boat neared the cliff, it rocked violently once more. Through the deluge, Mo Ming watched as Wen Ci was thrown overboard.

The boat finally stabilized, and the water calmed, leaving Wen Ci floundering in the pool.

“Help! Help…”

Wen Ci’s terrified cries echoed as he thrashed in the water.

Shen Xixi screamed in panic from the shore. Unable to swim, she desperately called for help, while the two camera operators, also non-swimmers, quickly set down their equipment—one testing the water’s depth, the other searching for emergency gear.

In the control room, the director urgently called for nearby staff to assist. But when he turned around, he realized that Han Shao Zhou had already bolted from the room like a gust of wind.

Chaos erupted both inside and outside the set.

Mo Ming unbuckled his seatbelt, slowly stood up, and carefully walked to the back of the boat to retrieve the box from the crevice in the cliff.

Another clue card secured.

With the two cards he already had, that made three… This game was turning out to be pretty dull.

One of the camera operators located an emergency flotation device and tossed it to Wen Ci. Soon, an NPC, hearing Shen Xixi’s cries, arrived on the scene and jumped into the water to rescue Wen Ci.

Soaked to the bone, Wen Ci knelt on the shore, coughing violently, his face pale and eyes filled with tears.

He had twisted his ankle when he fell from the boat, and the pain was excruciating.

By then, Han Shao Zhou had rushed over. He quickly knelt beside Wen Ci, his expression grave. “Are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

Wen Ci, eyes red, looked up at Han Shao Zhou, his body trembling with cold. Han Shao Zhou immediately removed his coat and draped it over Wen Ci’s shoulders.

More staff from the production team and the amusement park arrived, all profusely apologizing. It was indeed an oversight on their part—not having someone on standby near an area with water deep enough to be over an adult’s head was a serious mistake.

“How did you fall off the boat? We’ve tested this attraction over a hundred times…”

“Was the seatbelt not fastened?”

“It was.” one of the camera operators said. “I saw Mo Ming buckle it for Wen Ci.”

“Then it must have been buckled incorrectly or not properly secured. These seatbelts have been tested to withstand over a thousand pounds of force.”

“Why did Mo Ming buckle his own seatbelt correctly and stay on the boat while Wen Ci fell into the water?” Shen Xixi suddenly spoke up. She was still shaken and hadn’t calmed down yet. “He managed to stay on the boat while watching someone else fall into the water.”

Shen Xixi’s words made everyone turn their attention to Mo Ming.

“Plus, when Wen Ge fell into the water, he just stood there on the boat, grabbing that stupid box.” Shen Xixi said angrily, “How can anyone be so cold-hearted?”

Many people had indeed seen this, including Han Shao Zhou…

At that moment, Mo Ming, having secured the card, pressed the return button on the cliff. With a hum, the boat smoothly glided back to shore.

Mo Ming disembarked calmly, ignoring the crowd gathered around Wen Ci. He focused on the map in his hands and silently left the scene.

It seemed like the remaining two clue cards would also have to be found by him…

After wandering through a good portion of the amusement park and nearing his next destination, Mo Ming once again ran into Cheng Jing.

Cheng Jing seemed to have forgotten about settling the score and immediately ran up to Mo Ming, speaking in a hushed, mysterious tone. “Did you hear that Wen Ci almost drowned? Isn’t he on your team? What happened?”

“Just a mistake in the game.” Mo Ming said, still focused on the map.

“Oh, and I heard Han Shao Zhou was on site. He personally took Wen Ci to the hospital.”