CSGM - Chapter 27
Chapter 27: Game Instructions
Ren Zhi joked, "Chu Xi, your ability to read situations is quite sharp—except when it comes to people."
Li Xiling laughed and nodded in agreement. "That's right, Chu Xi! You care about everything except whether we live or die!"
Chu Xi simply smiled without a word.
Over the past few days, they had all gotten to know each other better and could now banter and joke around without a second thought.
A moment later, just as Chu Xi had predicted, the Director revealed the "game" segment the production team had prepared.
The cast members entered a room that had been set up in advance by the production team, with live-stream cameras positioned on all sides for a 360-degree view.
Looking at the five people around her, Li Xiling secretly breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "This is good. We're all together this time, so we can pool our wisdom."
It was much better than the first day of the show, when they had to enter the game room individually and were left completely clueless.
In the center of the room's stage were six clearly connected platforms. Flanking them were two tall, rectangular scoreboards resembling thermometers, labeled "Plus Points" and "Minus Points."
Opposite the platforms stood a large, confusing grid board.
Each small square on the grid contained a letter: "T," "R," "U," "L," "C," "X," and so on.
There was no discernible pattern, leaving everyone baffled and confused.
It was only after the Director announced the game's instructions that they understood the purpose of the setup.
The Director began, "Esteemed members of Our Restaurant, you will now spend the next seven days running your business in Jinwu Town. During this time, your tents will be collected, and the production team will provide you with lodging free of charge."
Upon hearing "free lodging," the cast members, who knew the Director's usual tricks, didn't look happy too soon. Each one remained perfectly calm and waited for the catch.
It was like a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—it couldn't be for a good reason. For the Director to go from renting them tents to providing free lodging, there had to be a catch. It would never be that easy!
Heh, that old fox. Did he think they didn't know him by now?
The Director continued, "However, the quality of your lodging will be determined by you. On this 5x5 letter board, a question is hidden beneath each letter. Today, all members must take turns selecting and answering questions. In the end, the production team will determine your accommodations based on your final score."
The cast members looked at the large grid board he was pointing to, understanding dawning on them.
Just as they'd thought. Free lodging? Impossible on this show. Everything came with strings attached.
The Director smiled faintly. "Will the cast members please move to your designated platforms to begin answering."
Chu Xi scanned the setup and asked a crucial question.
"Why do we have to stand there?"
If it was just about answering questions and calculating points, they could simply take turns. There would be no need to stand on specific platforms.
The others, who had been about to walk to their platforms, stopped in their tracks and whipped their heads around as if they'd just pulled back from the edge of a cliff.
They realized she had a point. They had almost missed that blind spot.
Luo Yangtian quickly pressed, "Yeah, Director, is there another trap you're not telling us about?"
The Director glanced at Chu Xi, forced to admit that her powers of observation were incredibly sharp.
Chu Xi met his gaze and chuckled lightly. "Director, you might as well tell us the rest of the rules now."
【Yeah, Director, don't hide it. You can't hide anything from Chu Xi (manual doge)】
【Chu Xi is the definition of clear-headed. She doesn't fall for a single one of the Director's traps.】
【Director: My career's Waterloo. Ever since Chu Xi joined this show, none of my traps have worked!】
【Chu Xi's observation and reaction skills are insane. Even if everyone had just gone and stood on the platforms, I wouldn't have thought anything was off...】
【Exactly! If she hadn't brought it up, I honestly wouldn't have noticed anything was wrong. But now that she has, it's so obvious!】
The audience, catching on late, also realized the Director must have been hiding some of the rules.
"Oh, Chu Xi..." For the first time ever, the Director sighed in resignation.
He said to the other cast members, "I was planning to give you all a little scare, but I didn't expect Chu Xi to see through it ahead of time. You're lucky. Props department, bring out the rest of the equipment."
Staff members came forward and placed a circular ring at the base of each platform. Then, someone wheeled out a prop on an iron frame. A giant hammer hung from it, suspended by a chain at the top, its heavy head swaying back and forth like a pendulum.
The cast members: "?!?!' A giant pendulum hammer?
Ren Zhi stared at the prop, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Director," she deadpanned, "are you trying to murder us?"
The Director snorted. "The hammer will start at a distance. As you answer, it will move closer or farther away depending on your score. You must remain on your designated platforms, and your feet cannot leave the rings. Doing so will result in elimination. Of course, any member struck by the swinging hammer will also be eliminated. You are all in this together. The final standard of your hotel will be determined by the number of team members who are not eliminated."
"If all of you pass, everyone will stay in a five-star boutique hotel. If five of you pass, you'll all stay in a four-star garden inn. If four pass, you'll all stay in a standard room at a near-four-star hotel. Three people passing means a three-star hotel for everyone. If fewer than three of you pass, you'll be staying in a youth hostel. Good luck."
Luo Yangtian watched the hammer swing through the air, trembling. "Director, if I get hit by that hammer, will I be eliminated from the game, or from the biosphere?"
The Director just gave a wicked laugh.
"Decide on your positions amongst yourselves. Just know that whoever stands at the front will be the first to get hit."
Although he knew the Director's hammer couldn't possibly be real iron—that would be a fatal accident waiting to happen—it looked quite solid and heavy. Luo Yangtian figured getting hit by that thing would still hurt quite a bit.
The hammer was positioned to the far left, and the platforms were arranged in a line from left to right.
A staff member demonstrated how the hammer would swing. It moved like a giant pendulum ride at an amusement park, arcing from one side to the other. Thankfully, for now, it was positioned in front of their platforms, so its swing couldn't reach them yet.
Chu Xi smiled faintly and walked toward the leftmost platform. "I'll stand at the front."
"Hey, wait, wait, wait-!" But Luo Yangtian rushed over to stop her.
"Sister Xi, you can't stand at the front! You need to be in the back. You're our brain trust; we can't let you get eliminated first. I'll do it. I'll stand at the front." Besides, Luo Yangtian felt that as a guy, he was a bit more durable and should be the one to take the first hit.
Chu Xi patted his shoulder and whispered something in his ear.
His eyes instantly lit up, and all his previous worries vanished.
Although the Director didn't know what Chu Xi had told Luo Yangtian, seeing him transform from a trembling wreck into someone brimming with confidence was a major source of frustration for someone who loved to toy with the cast's emotions.
He quickly raised his megaphone and announced solemnly, "From now on, no whispering or giving each other hints! Doing so will be considered a failed answer!"
He had to be on guard against Chu Xi and not give her any openings to exploit.
But the quiz hadn't even started. What answer could Chu Xi possibly have given Luo Yangtian?
In truth, she had told Luo Yangtian: Don't be afraid. The hammer is a balloon.
It looked incredibly real and heavy, but that was just a visual effect. The hammer was nothing more than a realistic-looking balloon; getting hit by it wouldn't hurt at all.
Luo Yangtian breathed a huge sigh of relief. It seemed that even if he got eliminated, he wouldn't have to worry about being eliminated from the biosphere.
After making his announcement, the Director, megaphone still in hand, turned to Chu Xi and reminded her pointedly.
"Chu Xi, no cheating!"
"Got it, Director," Chu Xi replied calmly.
After some discussion, the cast members arranged themselves from left to right in the following order: Luo Yangtian, Xiao Han, Li Xiling, Ren Zhi, Chu Xi, and Zhao Shiqing.
Li Xiling's reasoning was, "I'm not good at quizzes anyway, so it doesn't matter if I stand near the front and get eliminated. Chu Xi and Ren Zhi, you two have to be in the back. You're the hope of our village!"
As for putting Zhao Shiqing at the very end, it was because there was no difference in the outcome between having two people pass and only one person passing.
All preparations were complete.
Even the live comments were in an uproar: 【Holy crap, Director, this giant death hammer is taking things a bit too far!】
【Director: Get hyped! Get hyped! Are you moved? Cast: We don't dare to move!】
【The production team really understands psychology. Having a huge hammer swinging in front of them is designed to increase the cast's mental pressure. Under pressure, it's easy to mess up.】
At this point, the 5x5 board opposite the cast members displayed 25 unique letters. The Director had explained that a question was hidden beneath each one, and once a letter was chosen, it was gone.
Luo Yangtian studied the board but couldn't spot any clues, so he just went with his gut and chose the letter 'X.'
The top half of the 'X' tile flipped over, revealing the number '2.'
No one understood. "What does that mean?"
The Director explained authoritatively, "The number represents the point value of the question. A correct answer adds that many points, while an incorrect answer subtracts them."
Then, the bottom half of the 'X' tile flipped over to reveal the question.
【In the acronym VIP, 'V' stands for the word 'very,' and 'I' stands for the word 'important.' What does 'P' stand for?】
"Person! It's person, as in a human!"
Luo Yangtian's eyes lit up as he eagerly shouted the answer.
He knew this one! This was great, he actually knew it!
The Director announced, "Correct."
Simultaneously, the "Plus Points" scoreboard on the left lit up by two bars.
Chu Xi glanced over at it.
Luo Yangtian cheered, "Yes!"
Luo Yangtian was the one who answered correctly, but it was Li Xiling who breathed a sigh of relief. She muttered to herself, "Oh god, please don't let me get an English question..."
The next person to answer was Xiao Han. He chose the letter 'U,' which revealed a three-point question.
The higher point value clearly meant a higher difficulty.
【What landmark is depicted on the back of the 50-yuan banknote currently in circulation?】
Forget the 50-yuan note; Xiao Han would have trouble remembering what was on the back of the 100-yuan note, even though he saw it most often during the New Year!
Who pays attention to that sort of thing? Besides, people use cash less and less these days. He barely used it once a year, so how was he supposed to know?
With no other choice, Xiao Han took a wild guess. "It's a landmark within our country!"
Trying to bluff his way through? The Director could only inform him with mock regret, "Incorrect. Why didn't you just say it was a landmark from outer space?"
"I really don't know, Director! Who even uses cash anymore? It's so rare!" Xiao Han argued, refusing to concede.
Chu Xi, who had been listening silently, was speechless. "..."
She wished he would just shut up. Could they just eliminate him first? Had he completely forgotten who was collecting cash at the restaurant every single day?
Speechless at Xiao Han's incredible foolishness, she calmly glanced at the "Minus Points" board on the right, which had just risen by three bars.
Then, she observed the hammer prop.
Points had been both added and subtracted, yet the hammer's position hadn't changed at all.
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment