Chapter 8

The plot of Heavenly Punishment that Luo Xi selected was the grand finale, where the male lead sacrificed himself for justice to protect the female lead from heavenly punishment, allowing her to ascend to godhood.

Heartbroken over losing her beloved, the female lead was overwhelmed with grief. Her intense emotional fluctuations made everyone watching Heavenly Punishment again tear up and feel heartbroken.

: Yu Lanting acted so well in this. You know she won an award for this drama.

: Yu Lanting’s acting is beyond reproach. I heard the female lead role in Southern Lang Chronicles is up for grabs to her, not sure if it’s true though?

: Southern Lang Chronicles? Directed by Li Chang, written by Fang Lei, produced by the Green River team. If Yu Lanting joins, she could take her career in the entertainment industry to the next level.

: That crappy company of Yu Lanting’s probably can’t touch resources like that. Even if they could, they’d definitely push for Zeng Ranran instead.

: When is Star Creation Entertainment finally going to go bankrupt?

: I’m not even expecting Zhai Yi to act it out well. Just cry a little and it’ll be fine.

: Isn’t she pretty good at crying? Back during the Spring Tournament when they lost, she was tearing up like an aggrieved baby. People who didn’t know thought someone bullied her.

: That’s different. This is a game. If she doesn’t take it seriously and get into the emotions, she won’t shed any tears.

: Sigh, how does it always end up drawing Zhai Yi? Is there some inside job going on?

: Don’t talk nonsense. Director Luo’s variety shows are the least likely to have any shady dealings.

The male lead in Heavenly Punishment was named Xiu Yan, and the female lead was named Shen Qingshi.

Director Luo thoughtfully prepared the lines for them to review the plot and get into the mood.

Everyone thought: If you’re so thoughtful, just let us pass directly.

Yu Lanting explained the plot of Heavenly Punishment to Zhai Yi, then shared her emotions and thoughts from filming this scene back then, to help Zhai Yi get into the feelings a bit.

“Shen Qingshi doesn’t have too many lines here, but her emotional fluctuations are huge. She’s constantly in a state of breakdown and self-blame. Facing Xiu Yan’s sacrifice and death, Shen Qingshi can’t accept it and is heartbroken.”

Seeing that Zhai Yi’s expression hadn’t changed and she seemed lost in thought, Yu Lanting asked, “Do you have someone you like? You could try substituting those feelings.”

Zhai Yi shook her head. “No.”

Yu Lanting paused. “Huh?”

Zhai Yi looked at her. “I don’t have anyone I like.”

Yu Lanting said awkwardly, “Sorry, I just wanted to help you get into it. My bad.”

“Then let’s try another angle. Do you have anything you love dearly?”

“Like your favorite game, and then your family won’t let you play it. You’d definitely be heartbroken, right?”

Zhai Yi said sincerely, “Not really.”

Yu Lanting: “….”

She remembered Zhai Yi was a pro gamer, right?

Not being able to play games should be torture and agony for a pro gamer, no?

Yu Lanting suddenly felt at a loss. “Then… let me think if there’s any other way to help you get into the emotions.”

Weixing Yan leaned over with an idea. “How about having the captain yell at you a couple times? Last time he did, you cried.”

Mu Li’s forehead twitched with a vein. “Shut up!”

Zhai Yi straightened her lips. “No need for that.”

: Hahaha, that’s actually a solid idea. Yell at her and she’ll cry.

: You know, that really is a reliable method.

: Makes sense. Mu Li can be pretty fierce when he’s disciplining someone. If he weren’t so handsome, he could’ve scared a few little girls to tears.

: When it comes to scaring people to tears, Luo Weizhi wouldn’t back down.

: ING’s top laner Luo Weizhi doesn’t even need to yell. One glare and you’re terrified.

Seeing Yu Lanting looked troubled, Mu Li frowned. “Can you even do it or not? Don’t hold the team back.”

Zhai Yi raised an eyebrow. “If you can, you do it.”

Mu Li snapped coldly, “If it had drawn me, would I even need you?”

Zhai Yi sneered, “Fair point. This scene should’ve been you. You’re so awesome, right? One second and your eyes go red, Life-Giving Bro.”

Mu Li’s face darkened. “…..”

Weixing Yan heard Zhai Yi’s nickname and asked curiously, “What’s Life-Giving Bro?”

Zhai Yi looked at Mu Li leisurely.

Yu Lanting turned her head and said nothing.

Mu Li suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and gritted his teeth. “It’s nothing.”

Zhai Yi looked at Yu Lanting, who was holding back laughter. “Don’t worry, I can act.”

Yu Lanting breathed a sigh of relief. “You found a way to get into the emotions?”

Zhai Yi had gone through countless task worlds, after all, playing roles numbering not in the thousands but certainly hundreds. The emotions she’d experienced were intricate and profound.

Shedding four tears in a minute was as easy for her as breathing.

Zhai Yi didn’t bother explaining to Yu Lanting and just replied casually, “Yeah.”

Luo Xi said, “Since you’re ready, let’s start.”

Yu Lanting asked, “Do we need to act out the movements?”

Luo Xi said, “Up to you.”

Seeing the director hadn’t specified, Zhai Yi said, “Forget it, let’s just do it face-to-face.”

Yu Lanting figured recreating the actions might help Zhai Yi immerse more, so she pulled Zhai Yi to sit down and placed her hand on her own face. “This way, it’ll be easier for you to act.”

Zhai Yi lifted her eyelids slightly. “Okay.”

Seeing they were ready, Luo Xi said, “Five-minute countdown starts now.”

The staff immediately started the timer.

Yu Lanting’s eyes instantly reddened, tears swirling in them. Her voice choked and trembled. “Qingshi, don’t be afraid. With me here, no one… no one can hurt you.”

She gripped Zhai Yi’s hand tightly. “I will… I will protect you.”

Yu Lanting just wanted to use her own emotions to influence Zhai Yi and help her cry. But now, looking into Zhai Yi’s eyes surging with complex, profound feelings—that heavy love and grief—made Yu Lanting’s heart tremble.

It was as if… as if she were Zhai Yi’s lover right now, the Xiu Yan whom Shen Qingshi loved enough to give up everything for.

“Xiu Yan, please…” Zhai Yi’s pupils trembled, tears instantly soaking her eyes. She pleaded word by word, earnestly and helplessly, “Please don’t leave me alone. You promised me… promised you’d stay by my side forever. You can’t go back on it… can’t lie to me….”

Yu Lanting’s emotions were instantly swept away by Zhai Yi. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her voice faint and weak. “Qingshi, don’t cry.”

She raised her hand and gently wiped the tears from the corner of Zhai Yi’s eye. “I won’t leave you. I’ll… become the clouds in the sky, forever… accompanying you from afar.”

“Qingshi, you have to become a god… the strongest in the world. That way… no one will dare bully you again.”

Yu Lanting’s gaze gradually grew unfocused. “Qingshi, live on properly.”

With those words, the hand wiping tears fell limp.

Zhai Yi hugged Yu Lanting’s slumping body and cried out in despair, “Xiu Yan, no, please don’t leave me alone. I don’t want to become a god. I just want you, I just want you—”

The staff wiped their tears and sniffled. “Time’s up!”

Luo Xi announced, “Challenge successful for this game.”

There were no cheers on site. A silence tinged with sadness and heartache spread through the room.

Zhai Yi helped up the choking Yu Lanting, wiped her face, clenched her fist, and grinned. “Woohoo! Another win!”

Everyone: “….”

Suddenly not sad anymore.

: WTF, I actually cried. Why stab my heart again? Why?

: Zhai Yi acted so well. Tears kept falling nonstop, and that gaze was so affectionate.

: Maybe Zhai Yi should quit gaming and act in the entertainment industry. She pairs so well with Yu Lanting.

: I wanna cry so bad. My Xiu Yan, aaaaaaa…

: Can Heavenly Punishment get a second season? Revive Xiu Yan. Don’t let Shen Qingshi end up lonely forever!!!

: Zhai Yi breaks character so fast. Yu Lanting’s still over there calming down.

: Zhai Yi’s acting gives me that “eunuch visiting a brothel” sense of helplessness.

: Zhai Yi’s acting gives me that “pants down for nothing” feeling of dismay.

Zhai Yi helped Yu Lanting up and looked at her reddened eyes. “Feeling better?”

Yu Lanting’s voice was a bit hoarse. “I’m fine. I’ll recover soon.”

Zhai Yi patted her shoulder. “It’s just a game. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Yu Lanting paused slightly but said nothing, just smiled.

Tuantuan sensed the female lead’s mood shift: 【The female lead is still quite sad.】

Zhai Yi said calmly, “Actors who get immersed are like this. Yu Lanting is a method actor—easy to get in, hard to get out.”

Tuantuan half-understood: 【But First Sister, your acting was amazing. I got moved watching it.】

Zhai Yi said, “Do enough tasks, play enough roles, and emotions become second nature.”

“Once you’ve assisted enough taskers later on, you’ll get it too.”

Tuantuan: 【Got it. Looks like I need to work harder.】

For the third round of draws, it was Mu Li, who got Zeng Ranran and Le Yang.

The third game tested reaction speed—a staple in Director Luo’s variety shows.

Le Yang had top-notch reflexes and won easily.

Zeng Ranran was completely under Director Luo’s control, turning her head wherever he pointed. It was all about obedience.

Everyone pinned their hopes on the fourth game.

Jiang Qingyan drew, first was Yu Lanting, and second was Zhai Yi again.

Fu Liang chuckled helplessly. “Your luck today is insane. Go buy a lottery ticket or something.”

Zhai Yi raised an eyebrow. “Now that’s an idea.”

Luo Xi beckoned, and the staff brought over three trays with different props, ingredients, and drinks.

“Only one sandwich has no mustard; only one water cup has pure water, the rest is high-concentration saltwater; only one of the five sticks is short.”

“Pick the right ones successfully to win.”

Bian Tang grumbled, “The odds are way too low.”

Li Zhi was speechless. “Director Luo straight-up doesn’t want us to succeed.”

Luo Xi shrugged. “Don’t say that. Games are meant to be played to the fullest. Faking it is no fun.”

Zhai Yi stepped forward. “I’ll go first.”

Luo Xi said, “Alright.”

Tuantuan immediately chimed in: 【Sandwich on the far left, middle drink cup, second-to-last stick.】

This game was child’s play for Tuantuan.

Zhai Yi picked up the leftmost sandwich and took a bite. “No mustard.”

She took the middle drink. “Pure water.”

She drew the second-to-last stick. “The shortest.”

Everyone: “…..”

Just like that?

Luo Xi frowned. “Check it.”

The staff immediately verified. “Director, Teacher Zhai Yi got them all right.”

: WTF, this luck is unbeatable!

: Gotta buy lottery tickets, gotta buy!

: Damn, what luck.

: Did Zhai Yi step in dog shit or what?

: Actually, looking at the draws, Zhai Yi’s luck has been killer.

: Yeah, it’s always her getting picked.

Luo Xi let out a short laugh and turned to Yu Lanting. “Your turn, Lan Ting.”

Yu Lanting looked at the trays in front of her and reached for the center sandwich when suddenly someone grabbed her hand and moved it to the rightmost one.

“Eat this one.”

Yu Lanting paused, then trusted Zhai Yi, picked it up, and bit in without hesitation.

No expected spiciness—it was the right sandwich.

Yu Lanting said delightedly, “No mustard.”

Zeng Ranran pursed her lips. “Can you get outside help?”

Zhai Yi eyed her. “Outside help? Lan Ting and I are a pair. What’s wrong with helping each other?”

Zeng Ranran puffed her cheeks but saw Luo Xi say nothing and shut up.

Trusting Zhai Yi, Yu Lanting asked, “Which of the remaining two?”

Zhai Yi glanced. “Second cup and fourth stick.”

Yu Lanting drank the second cup without hesitation. “Pure water.”

She drew the fourth stick and exclaimed, “It’s the short one.”

Everyone: “….”

What the hell!

Bullet chat: “….”

What the hell +2

Luo Xi snorted a laugh and blurted, “This is freaking ridiculous.”

A staff member beside him reminded, “Director, we’re recording.”

Luo Xi: “….”

Fu Liang let out an “Ow!” “Yay! Three wins—we’re eating big tomorrow.”

Bian Tang high-fived him. “Big meal time—”

Luo Xi smiled. “Games over, and it’s getting late. Everyone rest up.”

“Got it.”

Fu Liang sidled up to Zhai Yi curiously. “Your luck is nuts. How’d you know which ones?”

The others nearby perked up their ears.

Zhai Yi said seriously, “I really just picked randomly.”

Everyone: “….”

Yeah right.

Everyone dispersed back to their rooms.

Zhai Yi returned to her room, not sleepy yet. She hopped off the bed and asked, “There’s a pool downstairs, right?”

Tuantuan nodded: 【Yeah, First Sister, going for a swim?】

Zhai Yi grabbed her swimsuit and headed down. “Gonna swim a bit.”

Perhaps it was because it was deep into the night, but there was no one else on the basement level. Even the program group had withdrawn.

Zhai Yi changed into her swimsuit and leaped in, diving to the bottom of the pool.

She had played a mermaid during a previous mission, soaking in the sea every day, so she could hold her breath underwater for a long time.

Zhai Yi stretched out her body, letting it drift with the waves.

Tuantuan suddenly said: 【First Sister, the male lead and female lead are here.】

Zhai Yi opened her eyes underwater. “At a time like this? What are they here for? Swimming?”

Tuantuan: 【They’re not wearing swimsuits. They seem to be talking.】

Zhai Yi hadn’t wanted to listen, but unfortunately, their voices grew louder and louder.

Seeing Yu Lanting about to leave, Mu Li suddenly grabbed her hand and yanked her back. “I didn’t agree to break up back then. We’re still a couple. On what grounds can you make the decision alone?”

“You’re the one who said we should get together, and now you’re the one saying we should break up. You’re not even giving me a chance?”

Yu Lanting felt exhausted. “We were both so young back then, hot-headed and immature. We didn’t understand love at all and just stumbled into a relationship. Later, we chose different paths and parted ways. Naturally, the promises we made back then don’t count anymore.”

“They do count,” Mu Li denied. “Lan Ting, I like you. Weren’t we happy back in high school? We didn’t lose contact after starting university, and now I’ve built a successful career. We can be together again.”

Yu Lanting sighed. “But I’m tired.”

Mu Li was baffled. “Tired of what?”

Yu Lanting looked at him, her gaze full of resentment and her expression one of restraint. “In your heart, I’m not that important. For the sake of your career, your friends, and your future, you can abandon me at any time.”

“Your feelings for me are only because we grew up together, because I always obeyed you and took care of you meticulously. It made you mistakenly think you love me, that you can’t live without me. In reality, it doesn’t matter to you whether I’m there or not.”

Mu Li panicked. “That’s not it, Lan Ting. That’s not what I think.”

Yu Lanting closed her eyes, her tone laced with fatigue. “You don’t know what I like, what I fear, or what I hate. You’ve never truly tried to understand me. All you have for me is the attachment from our youth and the companionship you’ve grown accustomed to.”

She pushed his hand away. “Mu Li, I didn’t join this variety show because of you. The company made me do it, and I couldn’t refuse. Don’t overthink it. Let’s just finish recording the show properly and stop meeting privately afterward. It’ll be better for both of us that way.”

Mu Li’s face darkened. He gripped Yu Lanting’s wrist tightly and said forcefully, “No. That’s not allowed.”

“We can’t end things so unclearly. I don’t agree.”

Yu Lanting frowned. “Let go.”

“I’m not letting go. I don’t agree to ending it like this.”

Yu Lanting struggled forcefully and shoved at Mu Li’s shoulder. “Let go!”

“No. I won’t accept your reasons. You’re lying to me, Lan Ting. You can’t just…”

Mu Li pulled hard on her. With too much force, Yu Lanting twisted her ankle. She stumbled a few steps and fell straight into the swimming pool.

Splash—

Mu Li cried out in panic. “Lan Ting—”

He couldn’t swim. He was a natural landlubber.

Yu Lanting could swim, but the fall was too sudden. She didn’t react in time and was completely submerged.

Mu Li kept shouting, “Lan Ting, Lan Ting! I’ll… I’ll go call someone—”

“Wait for you to call someone so they can collect her corpse?”

Zhai Yi held the choking Yu Lanting and stood in the pool, staring coldly at Mu Li.

Mu Li was stunned. “Why are you here?”

Zhai Yi placed Yu Lanting on the pool’s edge and jumped out onto the side. “Swimming.”

Mu Li saw she was wearing a swimsuit and realized it did look like she was there to swim.

Mu Li walked over to Yu Lanting and reached out to touch her, but Yu Lanting shrank into Zhai Yi’s arms, looking at him warily and on guard.

“S-Sorry… It wasn’t on purpose.”

Zhai Yi lightly patted Yu Lanting’s back and coldly rebuked, “Murder doesn’t distinguish between intentional and unintentional.”

Mu Li’s face hardened. “What did you say?”

Zhai Yi narrowed her eyes. “Forcing, threatening, violence. Mu Li, is this how you treat a girl?”

Mu Li floundered in panic and denied it. “No, that’s not it. You don’t understand the things between me and her.”

“Even if I don’t know what emotional entanglements you had before, that doesn’t give you a free pass to manhandle a girl however you want.” Zhai Yi helped Yu Lanting to her feet and wrapped an arm around her waist. “If I catch you forcing Yu Lanting again, I’ll make you taste what it’s like to drown.”

Mu Li lowered the hand he had wanted to use to hold her back. He watched Yu Lanting’s retreating back, regret and sorrow flashing in his eyes.

Zhai Yi took Yu Lanting to the changing room. Seeing how uncomfortable she looked from choking on water, she said, “Cough slowly.”

She patted Yu Lanting’s back with one hand and held the other near her mouth. “Spit it out little by little. Once it’s all out, you won’t feel so bad.”

Yu Lanting’s eyes were red, and she looked at Zhai Yi with teary eyes. She spat out several mouthfuls of water, but Zhai Yi showed no disgust at all. With an indifferent expression, she calmly grabbed a clean towel from nearby and wiped Yu Lanting’s face.

“Why are you crying?” Zhai Yi gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Still feeling bad? Do you want to see a doctor?”

Yu Lanting held back her sobs. “No… I’m okay now.”

Her already watery eyes were brimming with tears she refused to let fall, making her look both pitiable and helpless.

Yu Lanting bowed her head, trying to hide her sadness.

Zhai Yi raised her hand and lightly flicked her forehead, letting out a soft sigh. “If you want to cry, then cry.”

Those words were like the final straw. Yu Lanting gave up all resistance.

She poured out all the bitterness and helplessness, the pain and confusion in her heart.