The final grouping turned out like this.
Xi Yue, Jiang Ning, Wei Lan.
Shen Yiqiao, along with the two remaining male guests, Zhong Hui and Qin Lang.
Shen Yiqiao visibly let out a sigh of relief, looking quite pleased.
Jiang Ning quietly asked her, “Are you really that happy to play this game?”
Shen Yiqiao was extremely cheerful, beaming as she said, “Of course I’m happy not to be on the same team as Brother Xi. A few days ago, you were getting so much hate that just glancing at the comments section made my teeth ache.”
Jiang Ning actually agreed, thinking that Xi Yue was like a durian—once you got close, the smell was impossible to shake off.
But Shen Yiqiao exaggeratedly exclaimed, “Brother Xi is the man among men! The alpha among alphas! The god among gods! How could mere mortals like us dare to get close to him?”
Jiang Ning: “…”
Jiang Ning said tactfully, “There’s no need to praise him that much.”
This was still being live-streamed.
To the audience, Jiang Ning’s words came across as smug.
After all, she was the only woman in the entertainment industry with any connection to Xi Yue—she had even been carried back to her hotel by him in a princess hold when she was drunk.
Xi Yue’s fans in the audience immediately flew into a rage, only to hear Jiang Ning add:
“Take off the rose-tinted glasses, and he’s still the most troublesome of the troublesome.”
The fans who were about to flip the table: “…”
They silently sat back down.
Jiang Ning was indeed telling the truth about this.
There was nothing to criticize.
Who in the entire entertainment industry was more troublesome than Brother Xi?
Xi Yue’s fans could only reluctantly mutter:
[…She really does know Brother Xi well.]
Casual viewers were dying of laughter.
There really was a female celebrity who could handle Xi Yue’s fans.
…
The production team’s car sped toward the haunted house.
As soon as they got out of the car, the staff handed out leg-binding straps.
After receiving the strap, Jiang Ning proactively said to Wei Lan, “I’ll tie it.”
Wei Lan was so flustered and honored that he stammered, “Thank you, thank you…”
Jiang Ning stood up and smiled. “No problem.”
[Wow, wow, wow! The little brother’s face is all red!]
[I can tell, Brother Wei Lan has a thing for Sister Ning!]
[The puppy-like little brother and Sister Ning really do match!]
[Director, why bother with a group variety show? Just make it a dating show instead!]
Wei Lan’s fans and many casual viewers started shipping them enthusiastically.
Even Shen Yiqiao let out a teasing “Wow.”
Xi Yue caught sight of Jiang Ning and Wei Lan’s interaction from the corner of his eye and let out an impatient “tsk.”
The staff member who was handing Xi Yue a strap with one hand was so startled that he trembled all over, quickly offering it with both hands in a flustered manner.
Jiang Ning’s idea was that if she and Wei Lan were tied together, the worst-case scenario would be being sandwiched between Xi Yue and Wei Lan.
At least she wouldn’t be stuck on one side, pressed up against Xi Yue alone.
Jiang Ning’s plan was beautiful, but she had seriously underestimated Xi Yue’s shamelessness.
The next second.
Xi Yue took the strap and, as if Wei Lan didn’t exist, squeezed right between the two of them.
Wei Lan: “?”
Xi Yue crouched down and first tied Jiang Ning and himself together.
His movements were quick and smooth. Before Jiang Ning could even pull her leg back, Xi Yue had already tied a tight knot.
Jiang Ning’s feelings were indescribable. “Can’t you tie yourself to Wei Lan?”
Xi Yue sneered. “Don’t want to play with me?”
Jiang Ning: “I’m afraid your fans will attack me.”
Xi Yue: “Don’t you have any self-awareness about your height? When we start running, if I don’t hold you up, will you even be able to take a step? Little potato.”
Jiang Ning couldn’t take it anymore: “I’m 1.68 meters tall, which is a normal height for a girl, okay? Besides, if I can’t run, Wei Lan can help me.”
Xi Yue said sarcastically: “What’s wrong? Not afraid of Wei Lan’s fans attacking you?”
Wei Lan’s fans quickly clarified in the bullet comments.
【We would never do that! We really like our little sister!】
【Little sister and Wei Lan look great together, we love seeing them!】
【We Wei Lan fans are all harmonious and friendly, okay?】
Seeing this, Xi Yue’s fans didn’t want to be outdone and quickly displayed their grace as top idol fans.
【Teammates should help each other! How could we possibly attack Jiang Ning!】
【Yeah, yeah, Jiang Ning is an artist Song Yushan just signed, what’s wrong with Brother Xi looking out for her a bit!】
Jiang Ning really didn’t want to argue with Xi Yue during the live stream.
She simply shut up.
Their current positions were like this.
Jiang Ning, Xi Yue, Wei Lan.
The other team’s positions were Zhong Hui, Shen Yiqiao, Qin Lang.
Shen Yiqiao’s team had a very harmonious atmosphere. The gentle Qin Lang even said: “Just hold onto our arms in the middle, and if you can’t keep up, let us know.”
Shen Yiqiao, sandwiched between two handsome guys, nodded repeatedly, looking very happy.
Jiang Ning wanted to be that happy too.
If only Xi Yue hadn’t participated in this show.
But now she could only remain expressionless as Xi Yue kept chattering on his own.
“Start with your left foot in a moment. If you can’t run, remember to call me. Can you hold my hand so you don’t fall? If you don’t want to hold hands, you can put your hand on my shoulder instead.”
Jiang Ning could only reach out and grab Xi Yue’s sleeve, settling for second best in an attempt to make him shut up.
Xi Yue was somewhat satisfied.
The game began.
The two teams entered from two different entrances of the haunted house. The haunted house was fully staffed with real NPCs, and various obstacle checkpoints were set up.
After entering the haunted house, the three of them walked slowly with four feet tied together. Jiang Ning kept up with Xi Yue’s pace without much difficulty.
She was still wondering when they would find their way out when Xi Yue suddenly sped up and ran a short distance. Even Wei Lan exclaimed, “Oh shit!” and almost couldn’t keep up.
Let alone Jiang Ning.
After Xi Yue ran past that section, Jiang Ning realized he had wrapped his entire arm around her shoulder, afraid she wouldn’t keep up.
Jiang Ning quickly shook it off, not wanting to be associated with Xi Yue.
Wei Lan complained: “Brother Xi, why did you suddenly start running?”
Xi Yue: “I heard footsteps behind us and thought there was a Ghost.”
The following cameraman said with a complicated expression: “…That was me.”
Bullet comments: Hahahahaha.
Jiang Ning suspected Xi Yue did it on purpose.
“Brother Xi.” Jiang Ning said coldly: “Has anyone ever told you that you’re really asking for a beating?”
“Yeah.” Xi Yue said casually: “My dad said if I weren’t his only child, he would have beaten me to death long ago.”
Jiang Ning: “Then I can probably guess which time your father hit you the hardest.”
Xi Yue was curious how Jiang Ning guessed: “Which time?”
Jiang Ning: “The time he didn’t beat you out.”
Xi Yue: “…”
Xi Yue’s fans were laughing their heads off.
【How bold! She actually dares to talk to her top boss like that!】
【Hahahaha, there’s actually someone in the entertainment industry who leaves Brother Xi speechless.】
【Now I finally know why Brother Xi takes such good care of Jiang Ning. She really seems interesting. I can’t help it, I’m a fan now!】
【Ten thousand people petition for little sister to open a Weibo account!!】
The three of them walked awkwardly through a relatively calm, deep passage, encountering no live-action NPCs aside from the eerie gusts of wind and the terrifying background sounds of ghostly wails and howls.
But soon, they arrived at a fork in the road.
Wei Lan hesitated for a moment before saying, “How about we take the middle path? According to maze theory, going straight gives us a higher chance of getting out.”
Jiang Ning also thought Wei Lan made a good point. “I agree.”
Seeing the two inexplicably align on the same side, Xi Yue was somewhat displeased. “No, my intuition tells me the exit is on the right.”
Wei Lan tried to persuade him patiently. “Brother Xi, we’re following the will of the people here. Why not go along with it?”
Xi Yue replied, “Because I only follow the guidance of the organization. My intuition tells me the exit on the right is the organization’s directive.”
[Why do these black words seem to grow redder the longer I look at them?]
[Brother Xi’s ideological awareness is truly high!]
Given Xi Yue’s insistence, Wei Lan and Jiang Ning had no choice but to go along with him.
As soon as the three of them turned into that fork in the road, they ran straight into a Ghost.
The group immediately took off running, accompanied by Wei Lan’s terrified screams.
“Ahhhhh! Mom, save me!!”
Jiang Ning ran a few steps before Xi Yue’s hand began to wander, resting on her.
As she ran, she slapped his large hand several times and even pinched it hard, but Xi Yue refused to let go.
He was doing it on purpose.
Xi Yue even preemptively said, “Behave.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
This was simply turning the world upside down.
Jiang Ning felt utterly hopeless.
She knew nothing good would come from being grouped with Xi Yue.
All she wanted was to appear on a variety show and collect her paycheck.
Wei Lan was nearly scared to tears. “Brother Xi, what happened to the organization’s guidance you mentioned?”
Xi Yue remained relatively calm. “The organization must be testing me.”
The live chat was practically in hysterics.
[Honestly, if I’d known Brother Xi had such a talent for comedy, I would’ve urged him to join a variety show ages ago.]
[Hey, hey, hey! So why did Xi Yue come to this obscure little variety show in the first place? I just realized no one’s even curious about this!]
Guided by this viewer’s comment in the live chat, many of Xi Yue’s fans finally caught on.
Oh, right!
Xi Yue had already made a name for himself overseas and returned with glory, with plenty of top-tier resources at his disposal.
So why did he come to participate in this show?
Ahhh, I’m dying of curiosity!