Chapter 56: Cat and Mouse Game
[The war is starting already?]
[Why come up and hug our Teacher Xie? Such a lack of boundaries.]
[Dog Lu’s expression is so vigilant hahahaha.]
[Can’t the program team find someone normal? Must they find someone to wreck relationships?]
[No, wait, is the default assumption now that XSB and LCH are really together?]
[True, almost forgot they have an acting component.]
[??? They are that sweet and it’s still acting? This couple is the sweetest this season, right?]
[Didn’t Director Tan say this is ‘The Birth of Actors’? They are actors to begin with. Plus, there’s that marriage certificate which is obviously fake and framed. They just act very sweetly. Maybe it’ll be them in the end. Isn’t there a rumor they already broke up and came here for PR because of the leak?]
[I wanted to believe it, but what normal person frames a marriage certificate! That point really makes it hard to believe there’s nothing wrong with them.]
[…That is true.]
Li Lechi apologized, “Sorry, almost forgot Brother Xie is a taken man now. Senior Lu, you won’t mind, right?”
Lu Ciheng raised an eyebrow, scoffing internally.
Really a Green Tea.
He didn’t show much magnanimity. Facts proved that fighting and snatching were the only ways to firmly tie down the wife. “I mind.”
Li Lechiās smile paused. He hadn’t expected Lu Ciheng to express jealousy so bluntly in front of Xie Shibai, not playing by the rules at all. Watching the previous live broadcasts, the possessiveness had been more obvious behind the scenes.
To be so blatantāwasn’t he afraid Xie Shibai would hate him?
Lu Ciheng wrapped his arm around Xie Shibaiās waist, dragging out the end of his sentence slowly. “Teacher Xie, who is he?”
Xie Shibai introduced, “Li Lechi. We collaborated on a movie before.”
Lu Ciheng narrowed his eyes. He knew this person. Accurately speaking, he knew every actor Xie Shibai had collaborated with. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of using collaborations to make contact before, but unfortunately, they missed each other every time. Or there would be rumors saying Xie Shibai would participate, he would go, and then find out it was unscrupulous marketing accounts writing nonsense.
When he invested in movies himself and invited Xie Shibai to star, there was either a schedule conflict or the other party’s agent would reject it immediately upon seeing him involved.
Lu Ciheng hated every person who played opposite Xie Shibai equally.
Especially someone like Li Lechi, whose name Xie Shibai remembered and whose intentions were obvious.
Lu Ciheng gave an unhurried “Oh,” lowered his eyes, and whispered in Xie Shibaiās ear, “Teacher Xie, we haven’t even filmed a drama together.”
Xie Shibai turned his head to dodge the breath falling by his ear. “Our acting paths are similar; it would be strange if we could collaborate.”
Both of them were top-billed actors (First Billing). Agents wouldn’t decide to lower their value to take a second-billing role unless it was a famous director and a very significant movie; otherwise, billing wouldn’t be disregarded.
Lu Ciheng whispered softly, “En, I really envy people who can film with Teacher Xie.”
His eyes were smiling as he looked down and asked, “But I have a question. After resting for so long, who will Teacher Xie be filming with next?”
Xie Shibai: “…”
He could already guess what Lu Ciheng was going to say.
The curiosity of the livestream room was hooked.
[That’s right, after resting so long, did he take a new role?]
[Brother, focus on your career! Hurry up and film!]
[LCH mentioned it deliberately, so he must have taken one already. Helping to promote?]
[Intuition tells me something is fishy.]
[Me too…]
Lu Ciheng hooked his lips, not hiding his possessive stamping behavior at all. “Turns out he’s going to film with me.”
[I knew it! Why would LCH ask about filming for no reason?]
[He was holding it in right here.]
[Filming what? The two are collaborating?]
[Didn’t hear any marketing accounts say they were going to film anything together.]
[Probably signed the contract already. Can’t hide a steamed bun in a dog kennel; he just exposed it directly.]
[Ahhh what show? What’s it called? I want to watch it now!]
[He’s not referring to that short drama in the variety show, is he?]
[That’s possible too.]
[Be bolder! With LCH’s smug look, they must definitely be collaborating!]
Li Lechi was speechless for a few seconds. After reacting for a moment, he quickly asked, “You two are collaborating?”
Lu Ciheng chuckled lightly, speaking unhurriedly. “En, it was Teacher Xie who chose me.”
As if saying he was special to Xie Shibai.
[…Such a dog.]
[Showing off again.]
[Super Simp Dog.]
Li Lechi: “…”
Eye-opening. Indeed, seeing it offline drew more aggro than seeing it online.
After catching up, Su Xingran took Li Lechi to the room to put away his luggage.
Regarding the matter of having an extra roommate, Su Xingran wasn’t all that happy either. He had just sent away a blind one, only for a competitor to arrive.
Although they say the enemy of an enemy is a friend, the relationship between Su Xingran and Li Lechi wasn’t exactly good. Both were from boy bands and had collaborated with Xie Shibai in movies. The difference was that Su Xingran was a forced CP arranged by the company, while Li Lechi took the route of ‘friend within the circle’ and reaped some benefits, though Xie Shibai rarely responded.
Neither started with pure intentions, and they were the type who knew exactly what the other was thinking upon meeting. Let alone cooperation, just not despising each other upon meeting was considered harmonious and friendly.
They still had to sleep in one room. As probationary husbands, they’d see each other constantly.
No wonder Mu Zhenzhen said it was his peer; the comment was too spot on.
After the meal, many of the foursome announced upcoming activities on the show, seeming anxious not to delay progress due to the change in guests.
The next activity was a long-planned immersive Cat and Mouse game. The main goal was for everyone to have fun. However, the teams this time relied entirely on drawing lots. Only three were Cats; the others were Mice. The Mouse team could open an escape route after finding key items, while the Cat team won by capturing all Mice.
Considering the cabin was too small for the game, the production team had specially built a large-scale LARP (Live Action Role Playing) venue.
Netizens in the livestream were excited. Last season had this segment too, but it turned into a chaotic mess. The game, which should have been full of tension, looked like a revenge game.
[Please let my two brothers be on opposite sides!]
[Really want to see them play this time.]
[Haven’t even started and I already feel it’ll be fun.]
[XSB and LCH acting opposite each other is so amazing, I dare not imagine how exciting a direct Cat and Mouse confrontation will be (slurp).]
[But a bit worried if Teacher Xie can play while sick. Feels like this game requires a lot of physical activity.]
[Should be fine, right? Mice actually don’t walk much; with many people splitting zones to find task items, it’s easier. Conversely, Cats basically have to circle the entire venue several times, and this venue seems huge.]
Program team: “Please come draw your identities one by one.”
Going clockwise, Su Xingran, sitting on the far right of the sofa, was the first to draw.
Muttering “Don’t be a cat, don’t be a cat,” he reached in and drew a card. He revealed the content to the camera: a cartoon mouse icon. Confirming he was a Mouse, Su Xingran breathed a sigh of relief.
Second was Mu Zhenzhen. She also drew a cartoon mouse icon. She looked a bit disappointed. “I wanted to experience catching people as a Cat.”
Following that, Xu Xiangming and Mi Qiran both drew Mice.
After four consecutive Mice, Qiao Jiayi drew a Cat. He showed it to the camera and returned to his seat.
Mi Qiran looked at Qiao Jiayi and asked what the Cat card looked like.
Qiao Jiayi handed the card to him.
After the first Cat was born, another appeared right after. Li Lechi also drew a Cat card.
Only one Cat card and one Mouse card remained in the lottery box.
[Really going to confront each other!]
[Love to see it, love to see it!]
With two different cards left, the only suspense was who between Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng would be the Cat and who would be the Mouse.
Xie Shibai stepped forward and pulled a card from the box. Painted on the card was a cartoon mouse.
[It’s a Mouse!!!]
[LCH, a simp for half his life, finally gets to be a Cat.]
[LMAO, simp for half his life, and even in a game, he’s the one chasing.]
[Dog Lu won’t go easy on him, right?]
[Hard to say.]
[Li Lechi is also a Cat. Maybe he’ll catch Teacher Xie before Lu Ciheng does.]
[I have a weird intuition that LCH won’t give Li Lechi that chance.]
[It’s starting! Beagle vs. Chihuahua Cat and Mouse!]
[This time enemies and friends are all opponents, eh.]
[Feels like LCH isn’t worried at all; instead, he’s very excited, eh.]
[Excited again, Brother.]
Without suspense, the final Cat went to Lu Ciheng.
Su Xingran said, “Our odds of winning are huge.”
Mi Qiran hesitated for a few seconds and said, “I feel like Teacher Lu could run ten laps around the venue without getting tired. Aren’t we guaranteed to lose?”
Mu Zhenzhen shook her head. “You don’t understand. We’ll formulate a tactic. Xingran, you go follow Teacher Xie and take a ‘debuff.’ Teacher Lu will definitely catch you first. Brother Qiran, you stall Brother Jiayi. With only Li Lechi left, he’ll be naturally easy to deal with.”
Su Xingran stood there blankly and pointed at himself. “Huh? Me?”
[Holy loud conspiracy.]
[Laughing to death, making a plan right in front of the three Cats, you’ve really got guts.]
[What the hell is a debuff hahahaha.]
[Actually, even saying it out loud works. Can Dog Lu rest easy with a rival by Teacher Xie’s side? He’ll definitely eliminate Su Xingran first thing. Saying it out loud makes it even more effective.]
[Master is wise.]
[Don’t say it, maybe it’ll really work. Banning LCH increases the winning odds greatly.]
After drawing faction cards, as an immersive game, the program team prepared corresponding costumesāCat and Mouse outfits and propsādistributed according to each card.
Since the activity was at night, each group went back to their rooms to change clothes.
Back in the room, Xie Shibai looked at the mouse ear headband for a few seconds. His pale fingers hooked a necklace with a cheese graphic out from the clothes.
The necklace was an important prop for the Mouse. If removed by a Cat, it meant the Mouse was eliminated.
The Cat’s costume props were simpler: black cat ear headbands corresponding to the identity, a small bag to collect mouse bells, and a leather choker marking them as a house cat.
After Lu Ciheng put his on, he approached Xie Shibai, lowered his eyes, and said slowly, “Teacher Xie, you have to hide well.”
Xie Shibai glanced sideways, his gaze landing on the cat ear headband atop Lu Cihengās head. His fingertips curled; his hands itched a little. He moved his gaze down and saw the black leather choker on Lu Cihengās neck.
The corners of his eyes lifted slightly. His pale fingers touched the side of Lu Cihengās neck, slender fingertips passing through the choker. He hooked the edge in reverse and suddenly pulled downward with force. His voice was nonchalant and provocative. “Talk after you catch me. Being too confident isn’t a good thing.”
Lu Ciheng groaned, his breath tightening. Forced to lower his head, he braced his arms beside Xie Shibai. His neck was strangled tightly. His Adam’s apple rolled, and his pitch-black eyes were dyed with intense excitement as he stared closely at Xie Shibai. “Is there a reward if I catch you?”
Recommended Reads
