Chapter 229
As the new game task appeared on the screens in the guests’ rooms, the viewers also received an introduction to the game “Indispensable.”
“Indispensable,” as the name suggested, was a multiplayer online game combining exploration, collection, combat, and puzzle-solving, with hundreds of two-player linear worlds and several open-world maps for multiple players.
A new game, its first closed beta test being on a dating show, it was a surprising crossover.
The task description was lengthy, lines of text scrolling across the screens in the guests’ rooms, almost replacing the earlier red string ranking announcement. Some of the less attentive guests only then started scrambling to record their red string count.
At 8:30 AM, the passwords for the computers in their rooms, which could only connect locally, were distributed, the guests were given half an hour to familiarize themselves with the game’s controls.
Then, at 9:00 AM, the two-player mode would be unlocked, the eight guests paired up seven times, each playing with every other guest, the order and the game world randomly assigned.
And the reward: one red string per completed world.
For fairness, the seven game worlds were fixed, each with a thirty-minute time limit.
There would be fifteen-minute breaks between each game (which could be used to pause the game if needed) and a two-hour lunch break.
From 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, seven hours, seven games, a true 996 work schedule, then the next task, preparing dinner, would begin.
It was 8:35 AM; most of the guests were still reading the instructions on their screens.
Shi Hongxiao, looking at the monitoring wall, Cheng Tingyan’s eyes were still bloodshot after washing up and having breakfast, but… it was only the second day.
“Cheng Tingyan is an adult, she won’t push herself too hard, she’s a director, she’s used to staying up late, and you even gave them a two-hour lunch break.” Hua Lang said, glancing at the worried Shi Hongxiao, he was typing on his phone.
“I’m worried she won’t even take a break… And I still don’t know why she wanted to ask Zhao Can those questions, she said it wasn’t anything serious, and now this… I should have stopped her, found another way…” Shi Hongxiao said, regretting his decision, he looked at the relaxed Hua Lang and grumbled, “You, a fake fan, you’re not even worried about her.”
Hua Lang looked up, annoyed. “I’m a real fan! I even skipped school to watch her live streams! Xiao Shi, Yan Yan is no longer six years old, you can’t treat her like a baby anymore. Look, she’s having fun playing the game, and you’re over there, worrying.”
Shi Hongxiao, looking at the screen, Cheng Tingyan’s furrowed brow, her serious expression, how did he see that as “having fun”?
Shi Hongxiao gave up. “Whatever, she’s already here. Speaking of which, so many calls last night, those who couldn’t reach you called me, what are your plans for the sponsorships?”
After Cheng Tingyan and Wang Zhiqing joined, the sponsors who had previously been hesitant were now interested.
But Hua Lang was in charge of sponsorships, and he went to bed after a few vague replies, leaving Shi Hongxiao to deal with the calls.
“You also received many calls, just help me out. Heh, they ignored us before, and now we’re supposed to welcome them with open arms? Just wait, they’ll be begging us later.” Hua Lang said, switching to the live stream page on his phone. “Hmph, wait until 9 AM, when the ‘Watch Ads, Collect Red Strings’ system is online, let the data show them what they’re missing. We’ll prioritize our existing sponsors today, the Shen family, the He family, ‘Indispensable,’ and Chen Tianji seasonings. Speaking of which, Chen Tianji is quite loyal, they sponsored ‘Where’s Baby Going’ eighteen years ago, they weren’t even angry when Wei Chengli, that terrible cook, ruined their product placement, and they agreed to sponsor us without hesitation this time. Remember to give them some close-ups during the cooking segment tonight, I’ll add their ads.”
Shi Hongxiao agreed, they should reciprocate. But… why complain about him receiving calls! Whose fault was it?!
Shi Hongxiao, who had barely slept last night, sighed, looking at the guests on screen, who were now playing the game.
People were different, even with the same lack of sleep, some were exhausted, while others were… full of energy.
Although Cheng Tingyan couldn’t deduce much from the number of cranes, the game was a different matter!
Although she rarely played games, she had seen Zhao Can and Maomao play twice, the last time just a year ago!
People had habits in real life, and they also had habits in games. A year, surely their gaming habits wouldn’t have changed too much?
In short… Zhao Can’s gaming habits were reckless and wasteful, unskilled yet enthusiastic.
Cheng Tingyan, while following the tutorial, controlling her character, recalled those two times…
No, it was mostly what she heard.
“You saw the boss, and your first reaction wasn’t to heal, but to charge? You’re asking to be killed, hahaha!”
“Why did you drop so many items after dying? Ninety-nine health potions? You didn’t use a single one, always running around with low health? And these dishes… you didn’t eat any of the stat-boosting ones? Are you saving them for after the game?”
“Wait… what are these? Old rags, rotten wood, poisonous mushrooms… dozens of them… You still pick up every piece of trash you see… Are you going to clear your inventory later just to store them…?”
Even now, Cheng Tingyan could still clearly remember Maomao’s exasperated complaints and that little furry head, peering at the TV screen, trying to count the junk in Zhao Can’s inventory.
Shi Hongxiao, watching Cheng Tingyan’s serious expression soften as she played, her lips curving into a smile, was surprised. Did she actually enjoy playing games?
Cheng Tingyan, lost in her memories, didn’t realize her own subtle shift in demeanor.
She summarized Zhao Can’s gaming habits: picking up everything, hoarding items, always low on health, and… jumping around. The previous time, Maomao couldn’t even find her, she was already on the roof.
Cheng Tingyan mentally reviewed Zhao Can’s habits, then… 9 AM finally arrived.
Although Cheng Tingyan wasn’t a skilled gamer, she had a strategy: partial imitation.
This dating show wasn’t a competition, even if she had the most red strings, there might be a mutual selection segment later. She had to make the person who might be Zhao Can feel comfortable around her.
Zhao Can always complained about Maomao being too cautious, always healing, always using buffs, never taking risks.
Cheng Tingyan would observe, and if she suspected it was Zhao Can, she would imitate her recklessness. And even if she didn’t think it was her, she would still try it later, maybe Zhao Can was just being reserved on camera. But she still had to complete the levels, the red strings were important.
Three and a half hours of gameplay, excluding the breaks.
Time flew by, the game was new and engaging, several guests were even reluctant for it to end. Zhao Can even requested more gaming sessions, wanting to turn the dating show into an esports competition.
But the reluctant ones didn’t include Cheng Tingyan and Wang Zhiqing, both with hidden agendas.
But now the question was…
Cheng Tingyan, fiddling with a piece of paper, and Wang Zhiqing, staring at her whiteboard, both had the same question:
Was Zhao Can’s reckless and wasteful playstyle that common?
The Goldfish, unskilled, the Ox, showing off, the Lamb, passively following, the Tiger, hoarding but cowardly, they could be eliminated for now.
But… Cheng Tingyan circled the Yellow Dog, the Long-tailed Tit, and the Pika, what was going on? She thought Zhao Can’s playstyle was unique, had she been too naive?
But there were still some differences.
The Yellow Dog and the Long-tailed Tit started normally, only becoming reckless after she imitated Zhao Can. And she was just testing the waters, they were even more reckless than her. It was possible that Zhao Can, being on camera, was trying to be more restrained, but seeing a similar playstyle, she reverted to her usual self. But perhaps wanting to earn the red strings, they became more cautious towards the end and helped her complete the levels.
The Pika was even more suspicious, the only one who charged towards the boss without even equipping her gear… She died quickly, and she was the most difficult one to cooperate with, almost making them fail the level… Cheng Tingyan, playing with her, truly felt Maomao’s frustration.
So, who was Zhao Can… the Yellow Dog with 191 cranes? The Long-tailed Tit with 120? Or the Pika with only 30?
Cheng Tingyan pondered her options.
And at the same time, Wang Zhiqing was staring at the word “Pika” on her whiteboard.
Among the first group of suspects (Goldfish, Pika, Lamb) and the second group (Black Bear, Long-tailed Tit, Pika), there was only one overlap.
A prime suspect!
But… that strange playstyle, three out of eight, it was…
Unlike Cheng Tingyan and Wang Zhiqing, who were trying to identify Zhao Can, Wei Maomao, washing vegetables in her kitchen, was… eliminating Zhao Can.
Being on a dating show with a friend was fine, but being paired up would be awkward. Wei Maomao and Zhao Can had agreed to avoid choosing each other, so Wei Maomao had been observing during the game.
Zhao Can’s gaming habits were truly… Wei Maomao decided to imitate them, to subtly signal her identity, to prevent Zhao Can from choosing her. And to avoid being seen as copying her, Wei Maomao would exaggerate those habits, performing them twice.
But…
Were there too many Zhao Cans on this show?
Whatever… Wei Maomao, peeling potatoes, mentally eliminated the Black Bear, the Yellow Dog, and the Pika. She wasn’t there to find a date anyway.
She would make Zhao Can’s favorite sausage and potato rice. If, after eating this, Zhao Can still chose her, she would sell her to Wang Zhiqing!
“The Goldfish, unskilled, the Ox, showing off, the Lamb, passively following, the Tiger, hoarding but cowardly, they could be eliminated for now.”
Male contestants eliminated immediately lol.