Not long after Mu Yanxi got out of the car, her manager and little assistant walked over from a short distance away, pulling their rolling suitcases.
She turned to look at the two of them and greeted them with a smile, “You’re here too.”
The little assistant didn’t answer, just frantically winked and made faces at Mu Yanxi, so anxious that her suitcase slid restlessly on the ground several times.
Mu Yanxi glanced at her quizzically a few times. “Is your eye twitching?”
The manager shot the little assistant a harsh glare. “You, keep your mouth shut.”
Only then did Mu Yanxi notice her manager’s gloomy expression and tried to ease the tension. “Sister Ling, what are you so angry about this early in the morning? Don’t tell me I’m trending on the hot search again?”
Just as Mu Yanxi was about to take out her phone to check Weibo, the manager sneered and got straight to the point. “Who dropped you off?”
Mu Yanxi’s hand froze. It took her a few seconds to realize that her manager must have seen Yi Wulan’s business Bentley.
This was a special VIP lane, so she wouldn’t run into fans for the time being. She never expected to run into her manager right after getting out of the car.
Mu Yanxi: …Ah, hiss.
After two years, had her not-so-bright manager finally had a moment of cleverness?
Torn between lying about getting a luxury car from a ride-hailing app and confessing honestly, Mu Yanxi chose the latter.
Just as she was about to speak, as if by telepathy, the little assistant who had previously promised to keep her secret chimed in with an exaggerated tone, “Teacher Mu, do good-looking people get better cars when they hail a ride? How come I’ve never had such luck?”
“You shut up.” The manager shot the little assistant a cold glance.
Mu Yanxi: …Good thing I didn’t choose that excuse. It sounds fake just hearing it.
The manager looked at Mu Yanxi again, her eyes filled with regret. “You’re not planning to take a shortcut to fame, are you?”
The manager’s words were very tactful. She hurriedly pulled Mu Yanxi aside. “Never mind, just quickly tell me about that person. If something happens, I can help you with public relations.”
“I’m not.” Mu Yanxi was exasperated.
The manager glanced around. Although there weren’t many people, she felt it was best to be cautious. She quickly pulled Mu Yanxi through security, and an airport staff member led them to the VIP waiting lounge.
After entering, the manager walked in first, immediately occupying the central sofa. She crossed her legs, her face full of displeasure, looking as if she was about to eat someone in the next second. Even her eyes seemed to be cursing.
Mu Yanxi slowly put down her bag and sat opposite the manager. Who would have thought that the moment the manager saw her, she would immediately frown and open her mouth to speak.
As if she knew what the manager was about to say, Mu Yanxi immediately raised her hand to stop her. The walk over had given Mu Yanxi ample time to come up with an excuse, and she blurted it out, “Wait, I can explain this.”
The words the manager had been brewing were choked back. She took a deep breath and said coldly, “Fine, then explain.”
Mu Yanxi explained, “I’m not being kept. She’s the one I married. You just never asked before, so I never said anything.”
Manager: …
If the person you married can afford that kind of car, why are you still letting others push you around?
The manager had thought that Mu Yanxi, who could take on the entire internet, would come up with all sorts of high-sounding excuses to placate her. She hadn’t expected Mu Yanxi to not even bother with a perfunctory reply this time, instead shifting the blame right back to her.
The manager recalled how she had never interfered with Mu Yanxi’s private life, and a wave of anger washed over her. “You…”
But before she could vent her anger, Chen Xu, who was standing by the door with his arms crossed, suddenly glanced over. It was just a calm look, but it sent a shiver down the manager’s spine.
One look at Chen Xu’s muscular arms, which looked like great iron hammers, and it felt as if he would charge at her if she uttered even half a harsh, blaming word.
The manager’s words were forcibly swallowed back, and it was an incredibly uncomfortable feeling.
Mu Yanxi looked at her with great innocence. “For the sake of my honesty, please forgive me, Sister Ling. I’m begging you.”
The manager met Mu Yanxi’s gaze and recalled some of the incredibly foolish things she had said in front of Mu Yanxi before. She wished she could just run into a wall and get amnesia.
The manager took a deep breath. “So all those haute couture dresses you had before, she bought them for you?”
Mu Yanxi frowned and corrected her, “I bought them myself.”
That really had nothing to do with Yi Wulan.
The manager breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had finally found a reason not to be too embarrassed. If the clothes that netizens had accused Mu Yanxi of wearing fakes of were actually real, she would have truly lost all face.
But as soon as this thought emerged, the manager’s protective instincts couldn’t help but surface again.
It was one thing that Mu Yanxi’s partner of two years had never once visited her on set. But what, she could afford a car worth tens of millions, but didn’t have the money to buy Mu Yanxi a genuine dress?
“You’re usually so smart, how come you don’t know how to leech off someone when you’re in a relationship?” the manager said angrily. “She’s so rich, why don’t you spend her money?”
Mu Yanxi understood what the manager meant, but her face still wore that innocent expression. “I’d be too embarrassed.”
So embarrassed that she had spent a nine-figure sum at a single auction, not to mention all the other miscellaneous expenses that seemed small but added up to enough to fund a major film production.
The manager thought of the luxury car from just now, then looked at the bodyguard who stood like a door god, and then compared Mu Yanxi’s wife to a Scrooge who gave neither money nor resources. A series of dramatic, deep-water-of-the-rich-and-powerful storylines instantly formed in her mind.
The manager, the manager was about to be driven mad by Mu Yanxi.
Just as she was about to start scolding her, Mu Yanxi smiled and opened her arms to her. “Come.”
The manager said irritably, “Come for what?”
“To comfort me, of course,” Mu Yanxi said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Don’t you think I’m pitiful? Do you need me to have a good cry? I’m quite good at crying.”
Manager: …
Mu Yanxi had been on many film sets over the past two years. In the beginning, like all amateurs who hadn’t had formal training, she often held up the crew’s progress. But with practice, she had accumulated some acting skills.
As soon as she finished speaking, her bright, foxy eyes blinked gently, and a layer of mist welled up. It seemed that if the manager just gave the word, tears could fall at any moment, and she could pour out the story of her tragic marriage.
The manager watched her with a deadpan expression, not moved in the slightest by Mu Yanxi. Instead, she said mockingly, “Since you’re so good at crying, try to get all your crying scenes in Peach Blossom Debt done in one take. Leave a good impression on the director.”
Mu Yanxi forcibly held back her tears and couldn’t be bothered to answer her.
Just when Mu Yanxi thought the matter was over, the manager had a sudden idea, acting just like an enthusiastic, meddling auntie. “Since you can’t openly leech off her, then next time you’re in her car, act a little intimate with her. I’ll secretly take a picture. It wouldn’t hurt to create some buzz for you, right?”
Mu Yanxi had been feeling inexplicably happy on her own, but when she heard this, she nearly choked on her coffee and refused flatly, “No.”
“Why not?”
Of course not. She had so many anti-fans and was so obscure in the entertainment industry. If she didn’t find the right opportunity, people would think she was bullying others with borrowed power.
At that point, the Rongjia stock that her manager was so obsessed with would probably be a total loss.
Of course, Mu Yanxi didn’t say this out loud, just casually made up an excuse. “There’s a wall between us.”
One in the entertainment circle, one in the financial circle. It would be so inappropriate to be photographed together.
However, to the manager’s ears, this turned into: “Is she very old?”
A wall meant a generation gap, and what else could that refer to but age?
Mu Yanxi followed her manager’s train of thought and felt it made some sense. There was indeed a six-year age gap between her and Yi Wulan. So, she nodded with a deadpan expression.
Coincidentally, the little assistant next to her chimed in at the perfect moment, “Teacher Mu, does this mean I finally don’t have to help you hide the fact that you’re being kept? I was about to burst from holding it in all this time.”
With that sentence, the manager had a sudden epiphany. As if she had imagined a whole dramatic saga of a wealthy family, she finally understood why Mu Yanxi’s partner hadn’t appeared for the past two years. The look she gave Mu Yanxi was now filled with pity.
Mu Yanxi: …
Mu Yanxi stiffened all over. For a moment, she almost failed to hide her expression and could only say stiffly, “It’s almost time to board.”
The manager finally let her off the hook, and the group boarded the plane. First class was only half full, but as luck would have it, just as Mu Yanxi sat down, she saw Jiang Tong sitting on the other side of the aisle.
Great, truly impossible to avoid.
Jiang Tong saw her too. He shot her a disdainful glance but, surprisingly, didn’t say anything, turning his head back haughtily.
Mu Yanxi and the little assistant beside her exchanged glances.
It was better if Jiang Tong didn’t speak. She didn’t want to argue with someone on a plane either.
A little over an hour later, the plane landed.
Before Mu Yanxi could even walk out of the airport’s inner hall, a commotion erupted at the entrance.
A group of young girls holding fan merchandise were excitedly gathered at the security checkpoint, clearly there to greet a celebrity.
The diligent Chen Xu immediately positioned himself in front and to the side of Mu Yanxi to prevent the fans from injuring her.
Mu Yanxi reminded him, “They’re not my fans. We can just go in another direction to avoid them.”
Although Mu Yanxi was a dreamer, she wasn’t delusional enough to think she’d live to see the day fans would come to greet her at the airport. At most, she’d just show off a little in front of Yi Wulan.
Just then, Jiang Tong emerged from behind them, wearing a black mask, and the group of fans started screaming again.
The manager behind her tugged on Mu Yanxi’s arm. “Envious of him?”
Mu Yanxi came back to her senses. There was no envy in her eyes, just some surprise. “It’s only been a week, he’s already this famous?”
The little assistant immediately replied, “Famous? Isn’t it all bought with money? He recently landed a brand ambassador title from a sponsor, and his money-worshipping fans are making a huge fuss. That’s why they’re here to show support.”
Jiang Tong had just entered the entertainment industry. It was more accurate to call him an internet celebrity than an artist. He had no film or television works, no singing skills; all his popularity was bought with money.
Comparing herself to him, Mu Yanxi felt an absurd sense of accomplishment. At least she had left some works behind.
The manager reminded her, “The production team has a car coming to pick us up. To avoid being with Jiang Tong later, let’s go first.”
“Okay.”
Perhaps because the audience feedback for the first two episodes of Secret Room Rush Rush Rush was good, the production team’s pickup vehicle had been upgraded from the usual bus to several comfortable SUVs.
The recording location for the new episode was in the suburbs, and the production team had arranged a nearby hotel. Filming wouldn’t start until the next evening. The director’s team had originally said they needed to brief them on filming information, which was why they were asked to arrive early. But they had just received a notice that the director’s team’s flight was delayed, so everyone was to rest in their rooms for the night.
Mu Yanxi had no love for working overtime, so she decisively returned to her room to charge her dead phone.
After taking a shower, she dialed Yi Wulan for a video call while applying her skincare products.
Yi Wulan seemed to have been waiting, as she answered almost instantly. The background was the study at home. Her face was stern, and her voice carried a hint of chill. “Your plane has finally landed?”
Mu Yanxi’s hand, which was squeezing out serum, paused. She glanced at the time on the screen. More than six hours had passed since she got off the plane.
On the plane, because Jiang Tong was nearby, Mu Yanxi had spent the entire time watching downloaded videos on her phone. The battery died not long after she got off.
Later, at the hotel, she had dinner with her manager and the others before returning to her room.
One thing led to another, and time just slipped away.
Mu Yanxi felt a pang of guilt, but she retorted, “My phone was dead. Didn’t Chen Xu tell you?”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, utterly lacking in confidence.
Yi Wulan didn’t say yes, and she didn’t say no. She just watched her quietly.
“Um… cough, my phone really was dead.” Mu Yanxi had assumed Chen Xu would report her whereabouts to Yi Wulan in real-time, but now it seemed Yi Wulan had no intention of monitoring her.
She had always been shameless with Yi Wulan and chuckled dryly, “Besides, the others from the show went out, but I didn’t go with them. It’s because I missed you so much that I wanted to video call you sooner.”
Mu Yanxi smiled fawningly at Yi Wulan. Her skin, having just been washed, was saturated with moisture, fair and rosy, utterly lovely. The occasional water droplet that slid down her cheek and disappeared at the bottom of the video frame was even more tantalizing, bewitching and seductive without her even trying.
The moment Yi Wulan heard Mu Yanxi’s tone, she knew this person was trying to change the subject and tell barefaced lies again. Even looking at her ingratiating expression, she remained completely unmoved.
Her gaze lowered slightly to Mu Yanxi’s lips, and she couldn’t help but find it a little amusing. She wondered where this little ancestor, who had been such a quiet little girl during her adolescence, had learned all these flirtatious words over the years.
Mu Yanxi was dutifully playing cute. When she saw Yi Wulan suddenly stop talking and stare at the lower half of her face, she was momentarily stunned, thinking she hadn’t removed her makeup properly. “What’s wrong?”
Yi Wulan leaned back slightly. The anxiety and gloom on her face from Mu Yanxi’s delayed call faded a little. “You missed me that much?”
Mu Yanxi nodded quickly. “Mhm, mhm, mhm!”
Yi Wulan chuckled softly, as if she was finally ready to let the matter drop.
Mu Yanxi silently breathed a sigh of relief and started chatting with Yi Wulan about running into Jiang Tong at the airport.
Yi Wulan had never had much of a memory for people in the entertainment industry. She didn’t even recognize the most popular artists under Rongjia Entertainment. The only one she could remember was Mu Yanxi.
Mu Yanxi dutifully explained the conflict between her and Jiang Tong, even switching her phone to her photo album and animatedly showing Yi Wulan screenshots of their previous trending topics.
But as she was talking, Yi Wulan suddenly said, “Stop scrolling.”
Mu Yanxi switched the screen back to the video. “What’s wrong?”
Yi Wulan looked at her, her expression as calm as an ancient well, her tone flat. “Didn’t you just say you missed me so much you wanted to video call me? I have an online meeting later.”
Mu Yanxi: …
Mu Yanxi stared at Yi Wulan in disbelief, mulling over her words twice before confirming that Yi Wulan really meant for her to look at her more.
Realizing this, Mu Yanxi choked on her own saliva and coughed for a long time, so hard that her eyes welled up with moisture.
Her long eyelashes were wet with tears, looking as if they might fall at any second.
But Yi Wulan on the other side just watched her impassively, seemingly leaving no room for negotiation.
Originally, having a face-to-face video call should have been the most normal thing.
But now, being stared at by Yi Wulan like this, Mu Yanxi was in a daze, as if she and Yi Wulan weren’t on a video call, but were actually talking face to face.
She tested the waters, “Don’t you have a meeting? Maybe I shouldn’t hold you up?”
Yi Wulan glanced at the time. “It’s fine, it’s still early.”
She had an air of ‘You wanted to look, didn’t you? Then I’ll let you look your fill.’
But it was Mu Yanxi herself who had suggested she wanted to see Yi Wulan. She couldn’t go back on her own words, so she had to brace herself and meet Yi Wulan’s gaze, swallowing her pride to relieve her so-called longing.
The more guilty Mu Yanxi felt, the less she dared to look Yi Wulan in the eye.
But Yi Wulan just stared back at her with a blank expression, seemingly unaffected.
It was as if she was openly mocking her, exposing her.
Mu Yanxi was finally stared at until she became angry from embarrassment. She bit down hard on her back teeth. “Yi Wulan!”
Yi Wulan sat up a little straighter. “What is it?”
Mu Yanxi’s eyes darted around, and she beckoned to Yi Wulan with her finger. “Come a little closer.”
Hearing this, Yi Wulan leaned forward again.
Seeing the fish take the bait, Mu Yanxi’s confidence grew, and she became bolder. “A little closer.”
Mu Yanxi’s gaze was like a hook, brazenly watching Yi Wulan’s features get closer and closer, her eyes dancing over that cool, aloof face as a wicked idea formed in her mind.
It wasn’t until Yi Wulan had brought the phone right up to her face that Mu Yanxi finally spoke. “That’s good.”
Yi Wulan looked at her, puzzled. The next second, Mu Yanxi’s features suddenly magnified on the screen, gradually focusing on her red lips, and then, a soft “mwah” sound was made.
It was as if she had really planted a kiss on her cheek.
This series of actions was as smooth as flowing water, taking only a second. Then, Mu Yanxi’s face reappeared on the screen.
Like a little fox that had successfully stolen a treat, her eyes curved into crescents, full of spirit. “Yi Wulan, do you miss me?”
“You… you…” Yi Wulan held back for a long time, finally swallowing the word ‘shameless’.
She had a gut feeling that Mu Yanxi might not like to hear those words.
Who knew that when she didn’t say it, Mu Yanxi sighed with some regret, “Why aren’t you teaching me my manners today?”
Yi Wulan was silent for a long while before asking, “Then what should I say?”
“You should get angry from embarrassment, and then kiss me back.” Mu Yanxi said without batting an eye, making a kissing gesture with her fingers.
Yi Wulan: …
By the end of the video call, Mu Yanxi finally saw Yi Wulan’s familiar, indescribable expression, and she was so delighted she almost scraped out half a jar of face cream.
“And also,” Mu Yanxi continued, looking meaningfully at Yi Wulan’s collar, “couples can take off their clothes during video calls, you know. It’s like being face to face even through the screen.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her restless paw reached for the phone screen, as if it could touch Yi Wulan’s collar in the next second.
But of course, she couldn’t touch it.
Not only could she not touch it through the screen, but she was also bounced right back to the chat window.
──Yi Wulan had hung up the video call.
Mu Yanxi was stunned for two seconds before she came to her senses, then she leaned over the sink, laughing uncontrollably.
A few seconds later, a message from Yi Wulan appeared in the chat box: 【I’m going to my meeting. You should go to bed early.】
【Don’t stay up late.】
Mu Yanxi suppressed her laughter and slowly replied: 【Then you can come to my dreams to supervise me, and while you’re at it, we can finish what we didn’t get to do just now.】
On the other end, Yi Wulan was typing for a long time, but no message ever came back.
Perhaps, she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight and wouldn’t be able to come to her dreams after all.
The next evening, after dinner, Secret Room Rush Rush Rush finally began recording its third episode. The live stream started fifteen minutes early. As usual, the guests were blindfolded and led into a confined space.
During this time, the number of viewers skyrocketed. The moment the broadcast began, the number of viewers had already surpassed one million.
Only die-hard fans of the show would be so punctual. It was a stark contrast to the dismal viewership when the show first started, and as a result, more and more brands were looking to sponsor them recently.
When the time came, the director reminded them through their earpieces, “Get ready, we’ve arrived at our destination.”
As his voice fell, the black space they were in suddenly made a ‘click’ sound, and everyone in the darkness immediately became alert.
The next second, under the control of the director’s team, the walls of the space spread out in all directions. What came into view were red-lacquered wooden carved railings and painted beams, ancient and quaint, which was hair-raising in the dim environment.
The theme for this escape room was actually ancient times!
Not only were the guests on site stunned, but even the viewers watching the live stream were stunned. Then, the bullet comments started flying rapidly:
【Hahahaha is this an ancient theme? It wouldn’t be too much to have a few thousand-year-old zombies, right?】
【The ancient theme looks terrifying. Jiang Jiang, be careful, sending hugs.】
【Hurry up and go in, I want to see the little vase fight zombies.】
【Why does the little vase look so listless? Could it be that she got a role in a drama recently, made some money, and is now slacking off on the variety show?】
【Calling the director’s team, hurry up and dock Mu Yanxi’s pay!】
【Dock her pay! Dock her pay!】
Mu Yanxi was unaware of what was being said in the bullet comments, but as they said, she was indeed feeling a bit listless.
Just as the container opened, a familiar wave of her special ability suddenly surged from her lower abdomen, radiating a slight heat that spread through her limbs. The moment her vision returned to the light, her brain suddenly felt dizzy, which resulted in the shot that the netizens saw.
Mu Yanxi’s body swayed imperceptibly. Fortunately, Yu Jin beside her steadied her in time. She whispered, “Thanks.”
The light was dim, and Yu Jin thought Mu Yanxi hadn’t adjusted to the environment, so she replied, “Be careful.”
Mu Yanxi took a deep breath, controlled her expression with sheer willpower, looked at the camera in front of her, and then followed the other guests towards the entrance of the secret room.
By the time the camera focused on her again, Mu Yanxi had returned to her normal expression, showing no stage fright.
The difficulty of the secret rooms often increased towards the end. The first two stages today were standard, just finding keys to open doors. Mu Yanxi could faintly feel the signs of her ability core about to upgrade again.
But the symptoms were just beginning. To conserve her energy, she didn’t take the lead and obediently followed behind the group, which allowed Jiang Tong to steal the show.
The production team’s tasks were often interlinked. When the guests completed one task and moved on to the next, they would often find that the clue for the next task was back at the previous one, forcing them to rush back.
In short, the production team would absolutely not let them pass easily without torturing the guests and creating enough entertainment value.
But tonight, Jiang Tong seemed to be on fire. His memory was explosive, and he could recall the missing information on the spot, getting it right almost every time. Even his teammates were surprised.
However, Jiang Tong just smiled shyly at the camera. “I just reviewed the production team’s patterns when I went back, so I was a bit more mindful when I came.”
Like a good student who diligently reviewed his lessons after school, he instantly drew praise from the bullet comments:
【Ahhh, Jiang Jiang is so smart! Jiang Jiang is amazing!】
【It’s over, it’s over, I feel like the production team’s patterns are about to be seen through. Jiang Tong is really showing off this time.】
【Our Jiang Jiang studied abroad at a prestigious university, his IQ is just high, unlike some people.】
The group followed Jiang Tong as he blazed a trail. Even Yu Jin and Shen Yi, the on-screen couple who were usually the most timid on the show, couldn’t help but hold their heads high during today’s recording.
Seeing that the three-hour task was completed by Jiang Tong in just one hour, the director’s face turned black. “What’s going on? Even if you gave Jiang Tong the script, you don’t leak it like this. How are we supposed to continue recording now?”
The assistant director beside him was also worried sick. “I… I clearly told him last night to watch the time. See, he even wore a watch specifically for it.”
The director shot the assistant director a harsh glare. “Then for the next stage, we’ll use our backup plan.”
“We can’t, Director. That’s too difficult. What if Jiang Tong can’t get the key then?” The assistant director glanced around and added in a low voice, “He’s the one the investors said to promote.”
“There’s a limit to promotion. Look, the bullet comments are already figuring out that Jiang Tong has a script. I’ve been a director for over twenty years and I’ve never seen someone like this! If you leak any more clues to him, you don’t have to come back next week.” The director was furious and immediately arranged for the staff to reset the scene for the next stage.
Fortunately, there was a commercial break in the middle of each week’s live broadcast, which gave the director’s team time to readjust.
As soon as filming paused, Mu Yanxi went to the restroom, found a stall, locked the door, and vigorously massaged her temples. She knew very well what she was about to face.
The symptoms of her ability upgrade were becoming more intense each time, but similarly, the time her body would enter a complete dormant state would also be longer each time.
The last upgrade was on the Qixi Festival more than two months ago. At that time, her symptoms lasted for more than three hours before they fully set in. This time, she would probably have four hours to adapt.
The recording had only been going for a little over an hour, so she still had more than two hours left, which was enough.
Mu Yanxi endured the dizzying, throbbing sensation in her head and used the ability within her body to treat herself in reverse, making her mind clearer. The fluctuations of the ability in her abdomen also gradually subsided.
But using her ability at this time also had a strong side effect: it would accelerate the time of the ability upgrade.
Given that the show was a live broadcast and she couldn’t withdraw, this was the best solution Mu Yanxi could think of.
When the time was almost up and the staff’s urging voice sounded, Mu Yanxi took a deep breath, adjusted her mood, and walked out.
For the rest of the time, Mu Yanxi acted as if everything was normal. Her mental state was clearly much better than in the previous stages. The bullet comments all joked about whether Mu Yanxi had been warned by her manager and finally realized she still needed to earn money, thus taking the recording seriously.
When they returned to the original room and opened a new door, they were unaware that everyone in the studio was watching with a schadenfreude-filled expression.
Behind the door was a maze-like room. The limited lighting made it impossible to see the specific contents inside. Everyone got busy looking for clues.
Perhaps the previous stages had been too smooth, making Jiang Tong, who held the script, finally get carried away. Along with the sense of superiority he hadn’t shown at the airport, he sidled up to Mu Yanxi and asked in a low voice, “Teacher Mu was so amazing before, why are you so quiet today?”
The audience couldn’t hear their voices and thought the two were teaming up to find clues.
The ability within Mu Yanxi’s body showed signs of fluctuating again. She kept her head down to stay as clear-headed as possible and ignored Jiang Tong, continuing to feel her way into a room.
Inside the room was a huge, antique coffin. The edges of the coffin were carved with many decorations, but the lid was covered in dust.
Seeing Mu Yanxi’s dismissive attitude, Jiang Tong instantly became furious. He followed her into the room. “Don’t think you’re so great. You’ll have to rely on me later anyway. Mu Yanxi, if you don’t beg me, I’ll tell…”
Before the word ‘you’ could come out, Mu Yanxi’s hands, which were on the coffin lid, pushed with a slight force. With a ‘crash’, the seemingly heavy coffin lid fell to the ground. The zombie inside, played by an actor, instantly opened its eyes, which met Jiang Tong’s gaze directly!
In the bullet comments, the long-awaited zombie NPC finally made its grand entrance, brandishing its claws. Jiang Tong, who had been spouting nonsense just a moment ago, froze instantly.
He had thought the coffin was just for decoration. After all, in the script the assistant director had given him last night, this stage was just a maze, and the real NPC wouldn’t appear until the next stage!
He had naturally assumed the target item wouldn’t be in the coffin and that passing through the maze was all that was required to clear the stage.
Thus, Jiang Tong turned to leave the room without a second thought. However, secret doors suddenly appeared on the walls of the room, and zombies swarmed in from all directions, dancing wildly as they surrounded him.
And so, the smart and rational persona Jiang Tong had built up over the past hour instantly collapsed. He was chased by the horde of zombies, jumping up and down, his image completely ruined.
Mu Yanxi was already feeling dizzy from her ability acting up, and with Jiang Tong chattering incessantly beside her, she assumed all the live zombies were outside. Adhering to the principle of finding the item quickly so she could leave, she went after the zombie.
The zombie’s makeup was extremely pale, and it wore an official’s robe from some unknown dynasty, with shoulders that curved up high like eaves.
Mu Yanxi rummaged through the contents of the coffin messily. The NPC beside her, who had been ignored for a long time and felt as if its zombie dignity had been lost, finally reacted. It belatedly reached out its claws to grab her hand and shrieked at her.
The moment Mu Yanxi’s vision refocused, the jade stone on the zombie’s chest was conveniently exposed. Mu Yanxi quickly reached out and, as the zombie lunged for her, she whispered a reminder, “The Civil Code stipulates no workplace sexual harassment.”
Zombie: ???
The moment the zombie heard the words ‘Civil Code’, it was so scared it immediately let go of her hand.
It wasn’t until Mu Yanxi had pried the long-guarded jade stone from its chest that it finally reacted.
How was grabbing her wrist sexual harassment?
Clearly, Mu Yanxi attacking his chest was worse!
Does the Civil Code protect the rights of zombies?!
To make matters worse, even the camera, fearing the zombie’s makeup was too intense and would scare the audience, and worried it wouldn’t pass censorship, didn’t film up close.
Therefore, the zombie suffered all alone.
The zombie felt wronged, but the zombie had nowhere to complain.
At the same time, the horde of zombies chasing Jiang Tong also swarmed towards Mu Yanxi, but they stopped abruptly when they saw the jade stone in her hand.
Thus, Jiang Tong, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, once again became the target of all the zombies. A group of them surrounded him, pushed him into a corner, and tied him up.
Mu Yanxi held the jade stone and blinked in confusion, asking, “Why aren’t they coming for me?”
The zombie whose jade had been stolen avoided the camera and reminded her irritably, “This piece of jade can ward off evil. It’s effective against all ghosts and monsters.”
It can ward off all ghosts and monsters?
Mu Yanxi’s chaotic mind was suddenly shocked. She immediately shoved the jade stone back into the zombie’s hand.
She absolutely could not take this thing. What if it really had some evil-warding function and dispersed her reborn soul?
And so, the evil-warding jade that was supposed to drive away zombies, which she had worked so hard to obtain, was personally handed back by Mu Yanxi.
Not only the director’s team in the studio, but even the bullet comments were left with nothing but the word “Damn.”
Yet Mu Yanxi herself didn’t feel there was anything wrong. She even subconsciously moved a little further away from the zombie holding the jade, accidentally bumping into another zombie behind her.
But the scene just now had been witnessed by several zombies who had wanted to attack Mu Yanxi. They didn’t remember the script allowing a guest to return the jade and thought the director’s team had arranged some other scene.
In an instant, Mu Yanxi herself became the so-called evil-warding physique.
Those uninformed zombies saw the zombies in front of them avoiding her, assumed Mu Yanxi had the jade, and so they all avoided her as well.
It was as if they had been tamed.
In the studio, the director exploded. Where was his zombie army?
Where were the ferocious zombies from the training sessions?
Why were they all gone?
With continuous problems in the recording and the live broadcast time almost up, the director called a halt to tonight’s recording.
Half an hour later, Mu Yanxi got into the production team’s SUV and returned to the hotel. The moment she entered her room, the relaxed expression on her face instantly vanished.
A continuous burning sensation came from her abdomen, her forehead was scorching hot, and her entire body had completely entered the symptomatic stage of her ability upgrade. She didn’t even have time to close the door before her legs gave out.
The manager behind her caught her just in time. “Mu Yanxi!”
Mu Yanxi forced her eyes open and, with her last bit of consciousness, looked at Chen Xu behind the manager. “I’m fine. You… you don’t tell her.”
Before Chen Xu could answer, she lost control and fainted completely.
The hotel room was instantly thrown into chaos as they rushed her to the hospital.
By the time her body temperature returned to normal, the sky was already turning white.
Mu Yanxi groggily opened her eyes. Her body temperature was still a bit high. The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, the ceiling above was unfamiliar, and she could hear the dripping sound of an IV drip.
She moved, and the corner of her eye caught a familiar figure by the hospital bed. But her dry throat made it impossible for Mu Yanxi to form any words, and she could only let out a few hoarse sounds.
The figure heard the noise and slowly turned around.
It was indeed Yi Wulan.
Mu Yanxi’s eyelashes trembled. She blinked several times to confirm that it was really Yi Wulan.
But… hadn’t she specifically told Chen Xu not to tell Yi Wulan before she passed out?
The worry that had plagued Yi Wulan all night finally subsided.
But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she saw Mu Yanxi’s expression, which was one of surprise mixed with confusion upon seeing her.
Chen Xu’s words from last night immediately echoed in Yi Wulan’s ears: “Miss Mu said not to tell you.”
Yi Wulan’s entire face instantly darkened, and she strode towards the bed.
Seeing this, Mu Yanxi’s whole body tensed. She immediately figured out the key point. Before she could even blame Chen Xu for selling her out, Yi Wulan was already at her bedside, looking down at her.
Mu Yanxi suddenly felt a little helpless.
She was wrong.
She was done for.
Yi Wulan had found her out.
The second before Yi Wulan was about to scold her, Mu Yanxi, in a desperate move, found a solution from the countless novels she had read.
Her bright, foxy eyes blinked, and she put on what she thought was a bewildered expression, asking, “Who… who are you?”
Her voice was hoarse and trembling slightly.
Utterly lacking in confidence.
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