Chapter 7

At 6 PM, the game began.

Everyone gathered in the first-floor lobby, all looking at Luo Xi.

Luo Xi beckoned, and a staff member brought over a mobile tablet.

Luo Xi pressed a button on the remote control in his hand and said, “Let me introduce the game rules. There are four games in total. As long as you complete three of them, you can get tomorrow’s meals.”

He clicked the remote control, and pictures of delicious food flashed across the screen.

Fu Liang said in surprise, “There’s hotpot and barbecue.”

Bian Tang said happily, “And seafood too.”

Everyone looked at the food on the tablet and swallowed their saliva.

Weixing Yan looked at the pictures on the tablet reluctantly. “They look so delicious.”

“Is that just ‘look’? The model Li Zhi next to him stared with wide eyes. “The food provided by Director Luo is all made by top chefs. Every guest on Director Luo’s variety shows raves about it.”

Weixing Yan wasn’t too familiar with Director Luo’s variety shows, but after hearing Li Zhi’s words, his mouth watered even more fiercely. “Then we have to play these games seriously.”

Jiang Qingyan said worriedly, “I heard Director Luo’s games are all very difficult. I’m afraid I’ll hold everyone back.”

Ning Yao said warmly, “It’s fine. Everyone just do their best.”

“The boxed meals from the Program Group are pretty good too.”

Zeng Ranran frowned. “I don’t want to eat boxed meals anymore.”

Luo Weizhi glanced at her.

Zeng Ranran’s face stiffened. She didn’t dare meet Luo Weizhi’s eyes and shifted her gaze to Mu Li nearby, pretending to be concerned. “Teacher Mu Li, how are you at these variety-show-style games?”

Mu Li said flatly, “Not good.”

Zeng Ranran said, “Don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let you lose.”

Mu Li looked toward Yu Lanting, who was sitting at the left end of the sofa. A trace of worry flashed in his eyes. Just as he was about to look away, he inadvertently glanced at Zhai Yi and saw her smiling faintly, her gaze toward him carrying a subtle emotion.

Mu Li: “….”

Tch!

For some reason, Mu Li felt that Zhai Yi was even more annoying than before.

The tablet began displaying the four games, along with their rules and winning conditions.

Fu Liang read aloud, “Learn Call Me in 20 minutes, perform a five-minute scene from Heavenly Punishment with emotional investment until the character sheds four tears, the disobedience game, and the blessing or curse game. Draw lots to select two members for each game. Winning three out of four counts as victory.”

: These four games are old favorites from Director Luo’s variety shows. Looks like on the first day, Director Luo isn’t planning to go easy or hard on them.

: 20 minutes to learn Call Me? Are you kidding?

: I’ve watched the Call Me MV. That choreography—I practiced for a month and still couldn’t get it.

: Performing Heavenly Punishment—hope it’s not the finale scene. Besides Yu Lanting herself, who else could pull it off?

: Bian Tang is an actor too. He could pair with Yu Lanting.

: Get real. Bian Tang’s acting is unwatchable. With his status, does he even deserve to act with Yu Lanting?

: What’s wrong with Bian Tang? His Summer Rendezvous was great. Don’t get your idol in trouble upstairs.

Fu Liang asked curiously, “Call Me is my song. If I draw myself in the lots, does that count?”

Luo Xi nodded. “Of course. It all depends on your luck.”

A staff member brought over a box with a circular hole on top, just big enough for one hand to reach in and grab the balls with names inside.

“You can choose someone to draw the lots yourselves. After drawing, the ball goes back into the box for the next round.”

Jiang Qingyan asked, “So it’s possible for the same person to end up doing multiple games?”

Director Luo said, “Yep.”

Bian Tang complained, “That person would be so screwed.”

He looked at the others. “Whoever has good luck, go draw. The last game of the first round was Fu Liang and Qi Yaoyao. They’re both singers and dancers, so they’ll definitely pass.”

Qi Yaoyao smiled. “I can do it. As soon as Teacher Fu Liang released Call Me, I learned the dance.”

Jiang Qingyan clapped. “Then the first game is a sure win.”

“Who’s drawing?”

“Fu Liang, why don’t you?”

Fu Liang waved it off. “No way, my luck is terrible.”

He looked at Qi Yaoyao. “You do it?”

Qi Yaoyao shrugged. “Mine’s even worse than yours.”

“Teachers from the ING Team, who’s got good luck?”

Weixing Yan laughed. “We’re good at gaming, but luck-based stuff? Hard to say.”

Bian Tang said, “How about this? We’ll do rock-paper-scissors among a few of us. Winner draws.”

Everyone agreed.

After a round of competition, the drawers were Zeng Ranran for the first, Yu Lanting for the second, Mu Li for the third, and Jiang Qingyan for the last.

Zeng Ranran reached her hand into the box, fumbled around, and pulled out a ball. Seeing the name on it, she said in surprise, “Fu Liang.”

Fu Liang pumped his fist in celebration. “Nice! Your luck is great.”

Zeng Ranran said proudly, “Of course. Wait, I’ll draw Qi Yaoyao next.”

She fumbled again and pulled out another one. Her face instantly fell. “Oh no.”

“Who’d you draw?” Fu Liang leaned over, saw the name, and turned to look at Zhai Yi, who was sitting calmly on the sofa. “Teacher Zhai Yi, have you heard my Call Me?”

: Oof, we’re done. First game forfeit.

: 20 minutes to learn Call Me? Forget Zhai Yi—even Fu Liang might’ve forgotten the moves himself.

: Yeah, at his last concert, Fu Liang messed up several parts.

: LOL, he made the song, choreographed the dance, and forgot it all.

: Don’t laugh at my bro. He’s a bit dumb, but super talented.

: If it’d been Qi Yaoyao, we’d be golden. What a shame.

Bian Tang said in surprise, “You drew Teacher Zhai Yi?”

Jiang Qingyan smiled wryly. “Looks like it really is all about luck.”

Yu Lanting looked at Zhai Yi worriedly. “Fu Liang’s Call Me dance is pretty tough. The moves are complex. Can you do it?”

Zhai Yi stood up. “Can I see the practice room version of Call Me?”

Fu Liang understood immediately upon hearing this.

He had been worried that Zhai Yi hadn’t heard Call Me before, so she definitely wouldn’t know the dance. But she was asking for the practice room version instead of just watching the MV to figure it out, which meant she had some understanding of singing and dancing.

“Yes, yes!” Fu Liang quickly pulled up the video and handed it to Zhai Yi. “Take a look.”

Zhai Yi looked at Luo Xi. “Do I need to learn the whole thing?”

Director Luo asked, “Is this your first time hearing about Call Me?”

Zhai Yi nodded. “Yeah.”

Everyone frowned upon hearing this, their faces showing “oh no” expressions.

Director Luo’s eyes lit up. “Don’t you have a Wish Card? You can use it here.”

Everyone’s expressions varied as they looked at Zhai Yi, but no one spoke up to persuade her to use it.

“I just wanted to ask if I need to learn the whole Call Me,” Zhai Yi said calmly. “Asking doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”

: What bold words!

: Careful, or you’ll get slapped in the face! What’s she showing off for?

: That’s just Zhai Yi—no skills but insists on trying. In the Spring Tournament, the ING Team missed the semifinals because of her.

: Ugh, can Zhai Yi just leave!?

Director Luo raised an eyebrow. “No need for the whole thing. Just the chorus.”

Zhai Yi nodded. “Then start the timer.”

Director Luo gave a look to the staff nearby. The staff member stood next to Zhai Yi with a timer. “Begin.”

Fu Liang stepped over, a bit panicked. “You good? Want me, the original singer, to teach you?”

Zhai Yi asked, “This song came out last year. Do you still remember it?”

Fu Liang: “….”

Truth be told, he had mostly forgotten too.

: LOL, Fu Liang forgot everything hahaha.

: Even if Fu Liang forgot, he has muscle memory. Unlike Zhai Yi, who’s all talk and dragging everyone down.

: One sentence piercing Fu Liang’s pride and facade hahaha.

: Zhai Yi’s personality is kinda unique.

Zhai Yi handed the phone to the side. “Watch together.”

Fu Liang shut up and watched seriously.

The staff member kept time. “Time’s up.”

Zhai Yi returned the phone to Fu Liang and looked at Luo Xi. “Let’s start.”

Seeing her calm and composed, Director Luo said in surprise, “You learned it?”

He glanced at the original singer, who was still practicing moves. During the 20 minutes, he hadn’t seen Zhai Yi move at all.

Zhai Yi nodded. “Instant memory. If we don’t test it now, I’ll forget.”

“Yeah, yeah, hurry up and start.” Fu Liang said urgently.

Luo Xi said, “Alright, begin the test.”

The chorus of Call Me played in the first-floor lobby. Everyone watched Zhai Yi and Fu Liang intently.

They moved.

Both of them moved.

Instead of the expected chaos, what appeared was a jaw-dropping sight.

Fu Liang, as the original singer who had reviewed for 20 minutes, performed the chorus dance proficiently. But surprisingly, Zhai Yi kept perfect pace with him. Their movements were synchronized like a team. Aside from her expression being a bit flat, there were no mistakes—everything was spot on.

: Am I seeing things? Zhai Yi learned it?

: What kind of inhuman talent is this? 20 minutes for the Call Me chorus dance? No way.

: Thinking about it, if Zhai Yi didn’t go pro, she could debut in entertainment.

: Yeah, her looks and figure are passable at least.

: Debut for what? Backup dancer?

: Even a pretty vase would work.

: Zhai Yi’s support play is decent. Why go to entertainment? She could switch to support and keep competing.

: You joking upstairs? Zhai Yi good at support? What about Ning Yao?

: Go check Weibo replays yourself. Zhai Yi’s five support games this afternoon were all solid.

Zhai Yi and Fu Liang finished dancing, and the room fell silent.

Director Luo said seriously, “This really your first time hearing Call Me?”

Zhai Yi wasn’t even out of breath. “A little trust between people, please.”

Back in the day when she was in the entertainment circle, doing bands and singing-dancing, you lot were who knows where.

The difficulty of Call Me’s song and dance was nothing to her. Back in Q&K, the choreo from Hui Bi was way more complex.

Director Luo: “…. Fine. First game, you pass.”

Everyone cheered, “Yay!”

For the second game, which Yu Lanting drew, the first name she picked was herself. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But when she drew the second ball, that sigh cut off abruptly.

Fu Liang clutched his head and yelled, “How is it still Zhai Yi?”

Luo Xi smiled. “Please look at the tablet. The scene for you two is the finale segment from Heavenly Punishment.”

Yu Lanting comforted Zhai Yi. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle the tears. You just say the lines and follow the plot.”

Zhai Yi had a feeling it wasn’t as simple as Yu Lanting made it sound.

Luo Xi continued, “This scene requires two people acting together. Roles are decided by lots.”

Everyone had thought it was safe—Yu Lanting’s acting was top-notch, shedding four tears would be easy. But before they could celebrate, Luo Xi’s words hit them like a club to the head.

Everyone: “….”

Draw lots again!

Does the lot hate you?!

Drawing you every damn time?

Yu Lanting and Zhai Yi each took a slip from the staff and opened them.

Yu Lanting drew the male lead role. “Uh?”

Zhai Yi drew the female lead role. “Heh.”

And the one who had to cry was the female lead, grieving the loss of her love.

Everyone rolled their eyes and felt utterly chilled. “Fuck!”

Totally done for—