The Variety Show Continues
The Great Escape
Xu You and Lu Heng’s cooking skills were quite good, and in the end, everyone enjoyed a sumptuous dinner.
That evening, they all returned to their respective rooms. Lin Sifei pulled Luo Ke inside, then grabbed a cloth from the table and draped it over the camera.
“Now, it’s time for us to calculate the accounts.”1
Luo Ke averted her gaze, a guilty look on her face. “Calculate what accounts?”
“What else could it be? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?” Lin Sifei pouted, tilting her chin up to look at her.
Luo Ke stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. “I wanted to give you a surprise.”
“This isn’t a surprise at all.” Lin Sifei opened her mouth and gave her a little bite on the cheek. “Besides, Yan Yafei is here too. You’re sure you’ll be okay?”
Hearing the worry in her tone, Luo Ke brightened. “So you were worried about me.”
“You need to be careful, too. Who knows what that protagonist’s halo2 of hers will do.” Lin Sifei was terrified of something happening to her. The more she liked someone, the more she feared for them.
“This is a good chance to see what she’s capable of,” Luo Ke said with a smile.
Lin Sifei reached out and pinched her cheek. “Then you have to be careful.”
Just as they were talking, a knock came at the door.
“Sifei, are you in there? We’re planning to go to the Uncle’s house to install the cameras and see if we can catch the chicken thief.”
Recognizing Lu Heng’s voice, Lin Sifei opened the door. “Are we going now?”
“There are a lot of puzzles to solve, so now is the perfect time. We’ll set up cameras in all the necessary spots,” Feng Tingyun chimed in with a smile. “The Auntie’s water vat needs one, too.”
Lin Sifei smiled and went out with them, winking at Luo Ke just as she closed the door.
“Modern technology can solve a lot of problems,” Lin Sifei said cheerfully. “We’ll have another puzzle solved in no time.”
“I don’t think it’ll be that simple.” Feng Tingyun took a breath and crossed his arms.
After greeting the Uncle and Auntie, the group installed the cameras. Just in case, they also placed a few along the street.
“With this, we can just wait until tomorrow to wrap things up.”
The next day, however, they didn’t even get a chance to check the footage. Luo Ke gathered everyone in the living room, pointed at a map, and asked if they had chosen their locations.
“We’re starting now? I thought we had to solve the mystery first.”
At a signal from the director, Yan Yafei put on a worried expression. “I can’t read maps. Can you guys?”
No one seemed very confident. Luo Ke smiled, took out her phone, and began promoting a map app.
Seeing her in full-on product promotion mode, Lin Sifei couldn’t help but have a laughing stage.3
Lu Heng applauded, nudging her with his arm. “She’s a sponsor. Show some respect.”
Lin Sifei joined in the applause. Luo Ke’s face turned slightly red under her gaze, but she still went through the motions4 of handing out phones to everyone. The phones were from another sponsor, and they immediately installed the map app.
“Alright, you can all set off now.”
Everyone opened the app to look at the real-time landscape photos and choose their destinations.
“They all look pretty far away. We’re going to need transportation,” Lin Sifei said, looking outside. “Let’s go ask the villagers if we can borrow something. But we’ll probably have to solve another puzzle.”
They had already figured out that the puzzles were mostly related to daily life, so borrowing a vehicle from a villager should be possible.
They all ran outside and saw villagers heading to the fields with bamboo baskets. They followed them to the edge of a field and were surprised to find cherry tomatoes growing there.
Yan Yafei was the first to run up and stop a villager. “Hello, Dage.5 Do you have a vehicle? Could we borrow it?”
“I’m in the middle of harvesting. I need it.”
Yan Yafei was embarrassed by the rejection but just made a face at the camera. “We’ll ask a few more.”
Lin Sifei wasn’t interested in fighting for screen time. She hung back, shielding her eyes from the sun. Lu Heng walked beside her, his gaze fixed on the cherry tomato harvest.
The other three asked around but were told by everyone that they needed their vehicles. They had to return with broken wings.6
Feng Tingyun walked over and leaned dramatically against Lu Heng. “Now what?”
An idea sparked in Lin Sifei’s mind. “What if the places the villagers need to go are the same places we can get a ride to?”
As she said it, she subtly glanced at Luo Ke, who was standing nearby. Luo Ke gave her a smile in return. She knew she’d guessed right.
Seeing this, Feng Tingyun went along with it. “The villagers did seem to be in a hurry when they saw us. They wouldn’t say much, only that they needed their vehicles. It looks like this is the puzzle.”
“This place is huge. How are we supposed to know where they’re going?” Xu You smartly pulled out his phone to check the map.
Lu Heng frowned at the fields. “Everyone is harvesting, so this batch of cherry tomatoes must be ready for market. They’re probably using their vehicles to take them there. Xu You, see if there’s a market nearby.”
Xu You immediately started searching. “There is a market, but it’s toward the city. The scenic area is supposed to be set up closer to the village, focusing on natural scenery.”
They all fell into thought again. Yan Yafei spoke up, “Maybe we have to transfer to another vehicle midway?”
Feng Tingyun, as the team captain, thought for a moment and then slapped the board.7 “Let’s go ask first. If we’re wrong, we’ll guess again.”
He quickly found a villager. Everyone watched him expectantly, but unfortunately, he came back looking dejected.
They tried to think again. Staring at the map, Xu You suddenly raised his hand. “There’s a highway nearby. It’s not very populated, so maybe they sell them on the side of the road.”
Feng Tingyun went to ask again. This time, he returned with a triumphant pump of his fist. Everyone immediately cheered and high-fived.
Feng Tingyun emerged from the crowd. “He said to wait a minute. A vehicle will be here to pick us up soon.”
Lin Sifei nodded. Seeing Feng Tingyun sidle up to Lu Heng again, she quietly moved away and trotted over to Luo Ke’s side.
“Pretty impressive,” Luo Ke said, taking out a towel to wipe the sweat from her brow. “Want some water?”
Lin Sifei took the cup. After a sip, she realized it was lemonade with a very familiar taste. “You made this.”
Luo Ke smiled. “Yeah. I know you like it.”
Lin Sifei held the cup, feeling delighted. The other celebrities also went to their assistants for water.
Feng Tingyun’s assistant had brought mineral water, sports drinks, and other kinds of lemonade. Feng Tingyun gathered them all in his arms and approached Lu Heng. Unfortunately, since they weren’t on camera, Lu Heng completely ignored him.
Lin Sifei watched Feng Tingyun eat defeat8 with great amusement. She leaned closer to Luo Ke. “I think Feng Tingyun must have offended Lu Heng in the past.”
“That’s a given. He wouldn’t be getting the cold shoulder otherwise.”
Soon, the vehicle arrived. Filming resumed as everyone climbed into the back of a tractor, heading for the highway with a chugging tut-tut-tut.
Along the way, they marveled at the scenery. The lake shimmered under the sunlight, dotted with the occasional fisherman poling a small boat, casting a net, or directing black birds to dive for fish.
“I think this place could be a scenic spot on its own,” Lin Sifei said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Tour buses could pass through here, and then people could take boat tours on the lake.”
Feng Tingyun faced the wind and shouted to the villager driving the tractor, “Uncle, where does this lake lead?”
“Past the mountain, there’s a small Daoist Temple up ahead. There are still people living there.”
Feng Tingyun turned back to the group, his face alight with excitement. “There’s a Daoist Temple! It could definitely be a scenic spot.”
“Let’s get off, let’s get off.” Everyone grabbed their bags.
Feng Tingyun asked the Uncle to stop the tractor, and they all scrambled down a nearby dirt slope. Lin Sifei stood by the lake, smiling at her reflection in the water. “The water is so clear here.”
“If we’re going to open this as a scenic spot, we’ll have to remind everyone to protect the environment. People make a living by fishing here,” Feng Tingyun said, leading the group along the shore.
“Wait a minute!” Luo Ke called out to the director. “It’s still pretty far from the ferry dock. Let the tractor take them closer.”
The director agreed and had them drive a bit further.
Lin Sifei, still immersed in the task, rested her chin on her hand. “Building another road is impossible. We should build a dock near the main road. People can walk for a bit to enjoy the lake view, and then they can take a boat.”
Luo Ke propped her chin on her hand and watched her seriously planning on the map, an unconscious smile gracing her lips.
“The riverbank here needs to be protected, too. If it’s opened as a scenic spot, you all can launch an appeal. The rest will be up to the locals to maintain.”
A short distance from the dock, the director had everyone get out to film a scene of them strolling along the lakeside. Finally, the group arrived at the dock.
“Hello! We’d like to go see the Daoist Temple on the other side. Is that possible?” Lin Sifei’s voice was soft and exceptionally well-behaved.
The fisherman she spoke to relaxed upon hearing her. “Sure. There are plenty of empty boats. You can each take one.”
Without much thought, they all boarded the boats and set off one by one.
Halfway across, Lin Sifei’s boat suddenly stopped. She looked at the boatman, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
The words had barely left her mouth when the long, flat fishing boat began to spin in place.
“Hey!” Lin Sifei gripped the edge of the boat nervously.
Her teammates up ahead turned back and called out, “What’s wrong with you?”
Lin Sifei was completely stunned. The boatman suddenly took off his hat and pulled out a stack of cards from inside. “Time for a rapid-fire Q&A. If you get stuck, you’ll be thrown into the lake.”
Lin Sifei’s eyes went wide. “I can’t swim!” she blurted out.
The boatman chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m a professional lifeguard. I’m certified.”
Lin Sifei played along, putting on an expression of someone with a life without anything to love.9 “You production team members are too treacherous.”
The boatman settled down and tried to calm her. “Don’t panic. Just don’t get stuck.”10
Lin Sifei sat up straight, took a deep breath, and said, “Let’s begin.”
“Who is your favorite actor from the cast of 《Light》?”
“Lu Heng.”
“Favorite pet?”
“Cats.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Is there someone you like?”
“Yes,” Lin Sifei said with a shy smile.
The boatman’s eyes widened. “Wow, I can’t believe I’m getting such big gossip. Can you tell me who it is?”
“Everyone will find out eventually. They’re not a celebrity.” The happiness on Lin Sifei’s face was impossible to hide.
The boatman had a look of understanding. “You’re about to get together, right? That’s why you said you don’t have a boyfriend.”
Lin Sifei just smiled without answering.
The boatman continued the rapid-fire questions.
“What’s your favorite gift from a fan?”
“A human-sized teddy bear.” Lin Sifei even gestured with her hands. “This big. It’s so soft to hug.”
The boatman smiled.
“Last question. Why did you accept our show’s invitation?”
“I heard we would be building a scenic spot ourselves. I thought it sounded interesting and meaningful.”
The boatman raised an eyebrow. “So you just wanted some public expense travel,11 right?”
“That’s also true,” Lin Sifei said, laughing heartily.
The boatman put away his cards, picked up his bamboo pole, and began to sing as he ferried her across the lake.
The small boat passed between two small hills, and the lake narrowed into a channel. The current washed over the rocks, creating a gentle, tinkling sound.
“We’re here.” The boatman stopped. Lin Sifei saw a stone slab next to the boat.
The boatman pointed ahead. “Just follow the riverbank.”
Lin Sifei ducked under some lush branches. There was only one stone slab, so she walked along the narrow grassy bank, steadying herself against the mountainside. After a few meters, the view opened up. The mountain curved inward, and a neat stone path appeared on the grassy clearing before her.
She followed the path with her eyes and saw a small Daoist Temple. Feng Tingyun and the others were already standing at its gate.
Delighted, Lin Sifei ran up the stone path. Halfway up the steps, she glanced back and understood why the boatman hadn’t stopped directly in front of the temple. That spot was covered in rocks and overgrown with dense waterweeds that would have been taller than her if she weren’t standing on higher ground.
“Sifei!”
Hearing her name, Lin Sifei ran up the rest of the steps and reached the temple gate.
A lay practitioner12 nodded a greeting to her, and Lin Sifei bowed slightly in return.
She leaned close to Lu Heng and whispered, “Why aren’t we going in?”
“We have to solve a riddle.” Feng Tingyun handed her a piece of paper. On it was a string of character riddles.
Lin Sifei looked at the Traditional Chinese characters13 and pursed her lips. “I can’t even read this.”
Xu You let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. So you don’t get it either. I thought I was the only uncultured one.”
Lu Heng also laughed. “To be honest, there are several characters I don’t recognize either.”
Feng Tingyun and Yan Yafei nodded in agreement.
Lin Sifei looked at them and let out an exaggerated “Wow.” “Your idol baggage is way too heavy.”
The lay practitioner couldn’t help but chuckle. He kindly raised a hand. “Traditional Chinese characters aren’t used much these days, so most people don’t recognize them. How about I read it to you all?”
“Wait!” Lin Sifei held up a hand. “This is a character riddle, right? Then my guess is just ‘Dao’!”
The lay practitioner’s raised hand froze in mid-air. He then lowered it helplessly. “You guessed correctly.”
“Wow!” The others crowded around Lin Sifei.
Xu You’s eyes were wide. “How did you figure that out? You didn’t even read the riddle clearly.”
“Well, this is a Daoist Temple, so the riddle must be related. If it wasn’t ‘Dao,’ I would have guessed something else. If none of those were right, then we could think about it seriously.”
“A blind cat bumping into a dead mouse,”14 Yan Yafei said with a happy smile, but her eyes held a hint of provocation, and her words were unpleasant.
Lu Heng stepped in to make the stage round.15 “Black cat, white cat—as long as it catches the mouse, it’s a good cat.”
The lay practitioner also nodded with a smile, then sighed regretfully. “I told my master not to write such a simple riddle.”
“You call this simple?” Feng Tingyun raised his hands in a fist-and-palm salute. “Thank you all for leaving mercy under your hands.”16
He had acted in so many Wuxia dramas17 that the gesture had the authentic air of a swordsman. The lay practitioner returned the salute and smiled as he pulled the gate wide open. “Please, come in.”
The group wandered around the Daoist Temple and asked if it could be renovated into a scenic spot. After getting permission, they all hugged each other happily.
Lin Sifei leaned toward the camera. “First scenic spot, found.”
According to their plan, they would build a new, smaller dock under the guidance of the fishermen to ferry people to the main dock. Then, they would clean up the narrow path leading to the temple, mainly by clearing the weeds.
The dock construction was mostly left to the fishermen; the cast’s job was to clear the path.
Standing in front of the temple with tools in hand, everyone was already a bit tired. The director told them to take a break.
Lin Sifei let out a long breath, sat down where Luo Ke was, and drank some hot water from a thermos.
“I’m so tired. This show is exhausting. It’s only just begun, and I’m about to go crazy.”
Lin Sifei hugged Luo Ke’s waist, whimpering, “Ying Ying Ying.”18
Luo Ke stroked her head. “You’re the one who wanted to come play.”
Lin Sifei pouted. “Next time, I’m definitely finding a show that can be filmed in one day.”
A satisfied smile touched Luo Ke’s lips. “Once you’ve cleared the narrow path, I’ll go talk to the director and the planner to lighten your workload.”
“Really?!”
Lin Sifei hugged her tighter, nuzzling against her. “Luo Ke, you’re the best!”
Luo Ke smiled and ruffled her hair.
After a short rest, everyone picked up their tools and got back to work.
Lin Sifei looked at the branches growing out from the cliff face, but she couldn’t bring herself to use the shears. “Let’s leave these. We can say it’s a test of character. Besides, with obstacles, people will walk more slowly, which will be safer for tourists.”
Feng Tingyun thought that made sense and, as team captain, announced, “Then we’ll leave them.”
In any case, if it really became a scenic spot, anything unsuitable would be removed later.
Their main task was clearing the moss to prevent anyone from slipping.
“Alright! Perfect.”
Lin Sifei raised her hands happily. They received an invitation from the lay practitioner to have tea at the temple.
They sat around a stone table under a stone pavilion as the lay practitioner laid out a tea set and began to brew for them.
“I feel so calm all of a sudden,” Yan Yafei said with a smile, looking around.
Lin Sifei sat beside her, watching the lay practitioner’s hands closely. “Your tea-brewing technique is very skilled.”
“It’s for self-cultivation,” the lay practitioner said with a smile. “But we live a simple life. The tea isn’t anything special, just something to quench your thirst.”
He filled the cups, and everyone took one, sipping it slowly.
The cameraman used a long shot here, panning around the scene.
By the time they finished, it was getting dark. They took a boat back and stood on the riverbank. On the road not far away, the driver waved at them.
“Hey—!”
“The Uncle is back!” Lin Sifei and the others immediately stood up, waving back and drawing out their reply, “Heeey—!”
The group happily ran to the road and climbed onto the tractor, breaking into song. Xu You sang a folk ballad, mixing in some local dialect, which sounded exceptionally clear and ethereal.
The tractor dropped them off at the guesthouse. After a short rest, they split up to cook dinner again.
“We’re having fish soup tonight. Someone gave us three fish when we got off the boat,” Lu Heng said, rolling up his sleeves with a smile.
Lin Sifei sat on a small stool, clapping happily. “Yay!”
While Xu You and Lu Heng cooked, the other three sat in the living room watching the surveillance footage.
“Wait, right there.” Lin Sifei’s cat-like vision was more sensitive. She pointed at the screen. “Rewind a little.”
Soon, the three of them saw a flash of light in the bushes. Then, a long shape walked up to the wire fence, reached over it, and bit down on a chicken. The hen struggled violently but quickly fell silent.
“That has to be a weasel, right?” The video was creepy. Feng Tingyun was the first to suggest a possible animal.
Lin Sifei frowned. “But a weasel can’t stand that tall.”
“A snake?” Yan Yafei suggested, tucking her hair back.
“No way, its movements don’t look like a snake’s,” Feng Tingyun said, pinching his chin.
Lin Sifei laughed and leaned back against the sofa. “We should call 《Approaching Science》.19 They could make three episodes out of this.”
All three of them laughed.
Lin Sifei glanced at Luo Ke, who just shrugged as if to say she couldn’t help.
“Dinner’s ready!” Lu Heng called out loudly.
Everyone took their seats. The chair next to Lin Sifei was pulled out, and Luo Ke sat down beside her.
Lin Sifei looked surprised. “You…”
Luo Ke picked up her chopsticks. “The sponsor wants to taste your cooking. If it’s good, there might be some perks later.”
Hearing this, everyone cheered and started piling food onto her plate.
“Try this pork! It’s so tender, not fatty at all!”
“This scrambled egg with chili is spicy and amazing.”
“Have some fish soup. It’s very nourishing.”
Lin Sifei watched the surrounded Luo Ke and smiled, holding her own bowl, which was quickly filled with food Luo Ke passed to her. She leaned back in her chair, enjoying the show while she ate.
After a satisfying meal, Luo Ke declared that the food was delicious. As a reward, their only task for the next day would be to help pick cherry tomatoes.
“Is there really such a good deal?” Feng Tingyun looked skeptical. As he went back to his room to sleep, he muttered, “Something feels fishy.”
The next day, standing in the vegetable patch, everyone learned how to harvest from the villagers.
“I have an idea,” Feng Tingyun said, standing with his hands on his hips. “This place has vegetables and fruits. I think we could start an Agritainment20 business. We could have parents and kids come for picking. The local villagers could teach the children to identify the different vegetables and fruits and how to pick them.”
“I think that could work,” Xu You added. “They could use what they pick to cook, and both parents and children could participate in the cooking process. It would increase parent-child interaction. For couples, it could be a way to experience the daily routine of cooking after marriage and learn to be more considerate of each other.”
“Then let’s talk to the Village Chief first. We’ll definitely need his approval.”
They continued to harvest, heads down, when the sound of firecrackers suddenly erupted outside.
Puzzled, they saw the villagers all heading out, so they curiously followed them to the main road.
The Village Chief was holding a megaphone. “Recently, we’ve discovered people stealing our crops. Today, we are going to catch these people!”
A bad feeling washed over Lin Sifei, and she slowly started to back away.
Sure enough, the Village Chief turned to them. “Do you lot have harvesting permits?”
They instantly realized they’d been set up. Feng Tingyun threw down his gloves. “Run!”
“Ah!” Everyone turned and fled.
Xu You dashed into the woods. Feng Tingyun grabbed Lu Heng, snatched the Village Chief’s bicycle, and took off. Yan Yafei ran down a small path, deeper into the fields.
Lin Sifei ducked back into the village, using the houses for cover.
“Whoa, what do I do now?”
A cameraman was following her, recording her escape. Lin Sifei could already hear the villagers searching nearby.
She crouched down and peeked out.
Not far away, Luo Ke appeared openly, holding a cup and pointing the way for her.
Lin Sifei’s brow twitched, and a smile touched her lips. She turned and ran in the direction Luo Ke indicated.
Luo Ke followed behind, keeping an eye out for villagers and guiding her.
Several times, Lin Sifei nearly ran into villagers, but thanks to Luo Ke’s directions, she managed to avoid them and make it back to the guesthouse safely.
She let out a long sigh, leaning on a table to catch her breath. “I… I haven’t… run this fast… since… since I graduated from college.”
After resting for a moment, she carefully went upstairs and pulled back the curtains to look outside. She saw that the villagers weren’t searching the houses, but if you hid randomly, you might run into a villager who was at home.
So this is the escape scene from the script. She couldn’t help but smile and sent a message to the others.
【Lin Sifei: Get back to the guesthouse. They stop chasing you once you’re here.】
【Lu Heng: Feng Tingyun and I are on our way.】
【Xu You: Understood.】
【Yan Yafei: I got caught, waah ┭┮﹏┭┮】
【Lin Sifei: Be careful, the roads are being patrolled by villagers.】
The use of the word “patrolled” really gave it the feel of a spy film.
It was especially true when Feng Tingyun came charging in on an old-fashioned bicycle. It had such a vintage vibe.
“Charge!” Feng Tingyun yelled, pedaling straight for the guesthouse with Lu Heng on the back.
This quickly alerted the villagers, and someone moved to block their path.
Feng Tingyun shouted, “Lu Heng, the old trick! Three, two, one!”
On “one,” both of them leaped off the bike. Feng Tingyun even used the bike’s momentum to jump in the opposite direction, perfectly dodging the person blocking them.
He turned, grabbed Lu Heng, and with a burst of strength, took off at a hundred-meter dash pace.
Lin Sifei opened the courtyard gate from downstairs. “Go! Go!”
“Aaaah—!” Feng Tingyun roared as he and Lu Heng burst into the courtyard, slamming the gate shut and locking it behind them.
Lin Sifei breathed a sigh of relief. When she turned around, she saw Xu You sitting on the ground. Her eyes widened. “How did you get back?”
“I climbed over the wall,” Xu You said, also panting heavily. “Thanks to you two for drawing their fire. I came over the back wall and didn’t run into anyone.”
Feng Tingyun, also out of breath, laughed when he heard this. “Then what are you panting for?”
“I’m alive, aren’t I? Living people breathe.” Xu You rolled his eyes, making everyone laugh. He then patted his chest. “I was scared. When I was climbing the wall, the neighbor’s dog jumped up and tried to bite me. Scared me to death.”
The four of them laughed. After resting for a bit, they decided to rescue Yan Yafei.
“Should we just talk to the Village Chief directly?”
Lin Sifei checked the situation. “The villagers have dispersed, but they’re still patrolling, mainly on the road to the Village Chief’s house. It looks like we really do have to go over there.”
“Grab your gear. Prepare to move out.” Feng Tingyun took out a small flashlight, shone it on his face, and stuck out his tongue.
Lu Heng smacked him on the back of the head. “Can you be any more childish?”
Xu You grabbed a bamboo basket. “If someone comes, just pop this over your body.”
Feng Tingyun praised the idea and went to get one for himself.
Lin Sifei looked at their flashlights and baskets, then silently pulled Luo Ke over.
Luo Ke let out a snort of laughter. Feng Tingyun secretly gave her a thumbs-up from the shadows.
This time, however, Lin Sifei didn’t plan on letting Luo Ke guide them secretly. She pushed her right in front of the camera. “Our sponsor is the safest person here. Let’s have her scout for us.”
Luo Ke laughed helplessly. “I’m not part of the game. This doesn’t count.”
“It does count. You ate our dinner yesterday and even set us up. It’s time to repay the favor.” Lin Sifei patted her on the shoulder and shoved the flashlight into her hand.
Leaning in close, she softened her voice. “President Luo, please help us out.”
Luo Ke reluctantly agreed, ruffling her hair. She switched on the flashlight. “Stay close. The villagers might figure it out later on.”
“I’ll definitely stick close to you,” Lin Sifei said with a smile, grabbing the corner of her shirt.
The others followed her example, forming a human train behind them.
Luo Ke pushed open the door, and the little train chugged out smoothly.
Under the cover of night, Luo Ke walked openly down the road, scouting ahead. A wave of her hand was the signal for everyone to pass quickly.
Their path was clear all the way to the Village Chief’s house, but then their luck ran out. They ran head-on into a group of villagers.
Feng Tingyun immediately shouted along with the villagers, “Charge!”
He led the charge toward the villagers, then suddenly dropped and rolled on the ground.
This was just a show; the villagers weren’t going to actually hit him with their shovels, so they quickly moved aside.
Lu Heng seized the opportunity to leap over Feng Tingyun and run ahead. Lin Sifei and Xu You dashed past on either side. Finally, Feng Tingyun pushed off the ground and shot forward.
The group successfully reached the Village Chief’s house.
The Village Chief looked at Luo Ke, heartbroken. “Traitor.”
Luo Ke shrugged. “I’m an undercover agent.”
The Village Chief snorted. “Alright. If you want to rescue your teammate, you have to do a livestream and sell one hundred jars of pickled vegetables!”
“Let us see the hostage first.” Feng Tingyun aimed his flashlight at him as if it were a gun.
The Village Chief waved his hand, and Yan Yafei stepped forward, launching into a dramatic performance. “Don’t worry about me! Just go!”
“We will not abandon a single teammate!” Lin Sifei declared earnestly.
They had all been notified beforehand about the product promotion, so they began to set up the livestream using the phones they’d been given.
“The camera on the XX phone is so good,” Lin Sifei said, diligently advertising.
The livestream suddenly went live, catching the fans off guard. Lin Sifei gave the opening line, “To rescue our teammate, we’re going to start a livestream to carry goods.”21
Xu You got a bowl of rice and opened a jar of pickles. “Mmm, this tastes amazing.”
Lu Heng held up a light for him while Feng Tingyun broke into a rap. The beam from the flashlight looked like a strobe light at a nightclub. The number of viewers shot up, and the pickles sold quickly.
As the others were disco dancing, Xu You sat in the middle eating, accompanying Feng Tingyun’s rap with a mournful melody from his throat. The intense rap collided with the tragic tune.
The bullet comments22 flew across the screen.
【Welcome to the countryside concert!】
【The ticket is one jar of pickles.】
【Yun-ge,23 your character design collapsed!】24
Feng Tingyun was very nonchalant. “If it collapses, it collapses. Who cares about a persona! Hurry up and buy some pickles!”
Lin Sifei couldn’t help but break character and laugh on the spot. Even Xu You choked a little. Lu Heng gave Feng Tingyun a helpless look. “That was a pretty good rap.”
“I think so too,” Feng Tingyun said seriously. “Xu You, I’ll come to you to write a song later. Don’t you dare refuse.”
“Don’t worry, Yun-ge, I’ll definitely cooperate!”
The livestream didn’t last long. After some fooling around, they ended it. The rest of the content would only be available on the variety show.
“We’ve sold enough. Release her.”
The Village Chief readily let her go, then began to lecture them earnestly. “Why were you picking our vegetables without permission?”
“We weren’t just picking them randomly.” Feng Tingyun had completely let the self fly free,25 his northern dialect coming out in full, coarse force. “We came up with a great idea.”
He briefly explained their plan, and the Village Chief readily agreed. They happily reached a consensus.
The Village Chief then looked at Luo Ke again. “You’re still a traitor.”
Luo Ke leaned against Lin Sifei. “We’re business partners now.”
Lin Sifei couldn’t help but laugh. She puffed out her chest, slung an arm around Luo Ke’s shoulders with the swagger of a gangster, and declared, “We’re all brothers now!”
The author has something to say:
Village Chief: Traitor!
President Luo: I’m an undercover agent.
Lin Sifei: It’s 《Infernal Affairs》,26 you didn’t see that coming, did you?
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