Chapter 64: Spring-Loaded Chairs

Chapter 64: Spring-Loaded Chairs

Wang Feng cried out in dismay, "When did they install these? I had no idea!"

Xie Yan sighed, "I thought we were safe after changing into pajamas!"

"The production team is getting sneakier!"

"Director, these pajamas are expensive! They shrink when wet—they’ll be ruined! The show has to compensate me!" He Jie deliberately made things difficult for the crew.

"They shrink? Hahaha..." Chen Yuwen couldn’t help but laugh. "What kind of pajamas shrink?"

The others joined in the laughter.

"I’m serious, Director! They really do!" He Jie insisted.

The director replied, "Only two people need to sit on the spring-loaded chairs. The third can answer questions. If your pajamas can’t handle it, then step up and answer. Choose—your buddy or your pajamas!"

He Jie looked shocked. "Are you threatening me?"

The other guests were already in stitches.

"Now, please choose one person to sit in the front seat while the other two take the spring-loaded chairs."

An Wen, Zhao Ning, and Xie Yan sat in front, while the rest took their places on the chairs.

"Now, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" the director asked.

"Director, isn’t sitting here already bad enough?" He Jie wailed.

Another round of groans followed.

"Let’s hear the good news first," Zhao Ning suggested.

"The good news is, tomorrow at 6 AM, a flight will take you to Country N for a day trip," the director announced.

Cheers erupted.

"The bad news is, only the first-place team will get a private car to the airport. The second and third-place teams will have to make their own way there."

A 6 AM flight meant it would still be dark out—finding transportation would be nearly impossible!

"That’s brutal!"

"Zhao Ning, you’ve got this! Our ride depends on you!"

"Xie Yan... save me!" He Jie reached out dramatically.

Xia Jin and Tang Ting also cheered for An Wen, "Little An, do your best!"

The director began the question: "What was the first dish you ate today?"

Everyone turned to Wang Feng. "Quick, what did you eat?"

Wang Feng shrugged. "I forgot. We had so many dishes—how am I supposed to remember?"

"You useless—!" He Jie snapped. "Think harder!"

Wang Feng racked his brain but couldn’t recall. He listed a few dishes before grumbling, "The production team is too sneaky, asking us after we’ve already eaten!"

Just as everyone was at a loss, trying to pick from Wang Feng’s guesses, An Wen pressed her buzzer.

All eyes turned to her as she said, "Spicy diced chicken."

"Is that correct?" they asked the crew.

Then, with the exception of Xia Jin and Tang Ting, everyone else was flung into the water.

She was right!

He Jie and the other three climbed back onto the platform, baffled. "An Wen, how did you know?"

"Even Wang Feng forgot!"

"Because the spicy chicken was closest to Brother Feng. Everyone said we should remember the order, so I did," An Wen admitted sheepishly.

"Wang Feng! Why didn’t you remember?" He Jie smacked him twice in frustration.

Wang Feng shot back, "I did remember!"

"What did you remember?" Xie Yan asked.

"There were nine dishes in total!" Wang Feng declared.

He Jie facepalmed, then stood up and said to the director, "I demand he gets launched into the water."

Wang Feng was unconvinced and asked, "Old Man He, what did you remember?"

"There were nine dishes in total!" He Jie declared confidently.

"Get lost!" Xie Yan roared.

Everyone burst into laughter.

"The second question: What was the seventh dish served in order?" the director asked.

Everyone began recalling, but Xie Yan suddenly pressed the buzzer and answered, "Shrimp! That plate of shrimp!"

Then, He Jie and Xie Yan were ejected into the water.

The two climbed ashore, utterly disheveled and frustrated.

The director announced, "The seventh dish served was roast duck."

"Third question: How many colors were on the plate of spicy wings?"

"How many colors?" An Wen turned to Xia Jin and asked, "Didn’t you eat several of them?"

Xia Jin started counting, "The garnish was red, white, the cilantro was green, and the chicken wings were golden-brown. So, four colors, right?"

An Wen pressed the buzzer and said, "Four."

The moment she finished speaking, Xia Jin and An Wen were flung into the water.

When Xia Jin emerged, he swept his wet hair back, revealing his handsome features, leaving everyone momentarily stunned. But then he immediately struck a dramatic pose and shouted, "Second Brother, let’s climb back and fight again!"

The mood instantly turned absurdly comical.

An Wen: "..." My heart aches for Xia Jin’s manager!

"Fourth question: What was the fourth dish Li Jiaming ate?" the director continued.

"What kind of ridiculous question is this?!" Li Jiaming wailed.

The others all stared at him and said, "We genuinely don’t know this one. You’d better think hard."

"If you don’t know, why are all of you hovering over the buzzers, ready to press them? You’re clearly waiting for my answer!" The moment he finished, Zhao Ning pressed the buzzer.

Li Jiaming gasped, "Why did you press it?!"

"Didn’t you just imply you knew? I’m just being faster," Zhao Ning retorted.

"This is a disaster… Who said I remembered?!" Li Jiaming covered his face, nearing breakdown.

"Zhao Ning, please answer," the director said.

Zhao Ning: "..."

"Just eject them, Director. They don’t know…" He Jie shouted loudly.

Xia Jin, sitting nearby, began singing, "I send you far, far away… you fade into silence…"

Tang Ting joined in.

Chen Yuwen closed his eyes and said, "Go ahead! Eject us!"

"Wait, wait! I think it was pickled fish—it was right in front of me!" Li Jiaming blurted.

"Pickled fish," Zhao Ning echoed. "Whatever."

Then, everyone except Li Jiaming and Cheng Yuwen was ejected.

"Correct! Ahhh…!" Zhao Ning and her teammates cheered, hugging each other in triumph.

After several more rounds, the game ended with Zhao Ning’s team at 3 points, An Wen’s team at 2, and Xie Yan’s team at 1. Zhao Ning’s team won the privilege of the private car.

Tang Ting, ever optimistic, wiped the water from his face and said, "No worries, we’ll do better tomorrow!"

Xia Jin raised a fist overhead and declared, "The Running Siblings Three, never to part!"

Tang Ting echoed, "The Running Siblings Three, never to part!"

An Wen: "..." For fuck’s sake…

It actually rhymed…

After filming wrapped, everyone hurried back to their rooms to sleep. The next day at 5 a.m., An Wen, as agreed, packed up and left with the other two.

The team with the private car was still fast asleep.

The gap!

The three of them dragged their luggage out as the city just woke up. Breakfast shops were already open. Xia Jin said, "Forget it, let's grab something to eat first."

"Big bro, we don’t have any money," Tang Ting replied.

"No matter how tough things get, we can’t let the kid suffer. Little sis is still growing—breakfast is a must," Xia Jin insisted.

An Wen glanced at him and laughed. "Big bro, ever since you spotted that breakfast shop, your eyes have been glued to it."

Xia Jin wasn’t embarrassed at being called out. "You know me best, little sis!" he said with a chuckle.