After Joining the Same Variety Show as My Arch-Nemesis - Chapter 9

For the first time, Gu Jingxi felt that maintaining the smile on her face was hard.

Really hard!

Too damn hard!!!

If her phone had not been handed in, she truly would have wanted to throw a call at Fu Hang right now and make him hurry up and give her an explanation!

The woman wore a light gray tracksuit. Her long hair was tied behind her head, and that pair of gold-rimmed glasses with an extremely cold texture still rested on her face.

“Hiss!” Lu Bin, who was beside her, sucked in a breath of cold air.

“Brother Fang, Sister Gu, Xiao Luo, Teacher Owen, I’m not seeing things, right? That person is…”

Even the usually steady Fang Zixu froze in place and said in disbelief, “Isn’t that Teacher Jian Lan? No way. Is this show really this generous? They even invited Teacher Jian Lan?”

Luo Wentao, however, carefully glanced at Gu Jingxi. Only then did the other men react.

Whoa. Good heavens. Putting Gu Jingxi and Jian Lan in the same variety show—this show’s producer was ruthless enough.

Did they really not know the rumors about these two?

Seeing everyone look at her, Gu Jingxi could curse Fu Hang in her heart for being a bastard who tricked her all she wanted, but she still had to put on a smiling face and say, “This really is unexpected. Jian Shen actually came back to participate in a variety show too.”

Her tone was no different from an ordinary person’s, making it impossible for others to figure out exactly what her attitude toward Jian Lan was.

Luo Wentao and Lu Bin exchanged a glance, then looked toward Fang Zixu. Since they were all in the film circle, Fang Zixu should know more than they did.

But unexpectedly, Fang Zixu shrugged, clearly indicating that he knew nothing either.

Owen, on the other hand, smiled faintly. Looking at Jian Lan as she walked over, he greeted her with a smile. “Teacher Jian, you’re here.”

“Mm.” Jian Lan stepped forward. Her gaze swept lightly over everyone before she replied, “Sorry for making you wait.”

“No, no!” Lu Bin quickly waved his hands, his face full of surprise and delight.

“Teacher Jian.” Fang Zixu nodded at her.

“Hello, Jian Shen!” Luo Wentao even smiled brightly at her.

“Hello.” Jian Lan curved her lips slightly at them. Then all eyes fell on Gu Jingxi.

Seeing that everyone had greeted her, Gu Jingxi could no longer pretend to be mute. She gave a fake smile and said, “Long time no see, Jian Shen.”

“Mm, long time no see.” Jian Lan smiled back at her.

“Xixi.”

That intimate form of address instantly left the people beside them stunned.

Weren’t these two said to be like kings who never met? Then why did Jian Lan’s tone sound so intimate? More importantly, it was “long time no see”!

These two had never collaborated openly at all, but this “long time no see”…

It was very thought-provoking.

“Looks like everyone is here?” Lu Bin glanced at the group and spoke first.

“Mm.” Owen took out his phone. Looking at the text message on it, he smiled and said, “Looks like our mission has arrived too.”

“Wow, why do you have a phone, Teacher Owen? We weren’t allowed to bring ours at all,” Luo Wentao clicked his tongue and said.

Owen smiled, shook his phone, and said, “Could it be because I’m the captain for this episode?”

On his phone case, the word “Captain” was clearly marked.

“Oh~ Captain Ou, Captain Ou!” Lu Bin very cooperatively followed along and made a fuss.

“Speaking of which, did any of you find out in advance… what we might be doing?” Luo Wentao asked.

“They told me this is an activity that combines intelligence, physical strength, and courage,” Fang Zixu said.

“Same here.” Lu Bin nodded.

“Mine too,” Owen said.

Then no one spoke for quite a while. Luo Wentao looked up and saw Gu Jingxi and Jian Lan still looking at each other.

Luo Wentao: “???”

Why did he feel like the situation in front of him was a little strange?

Oh my god, these two couldn’t really be on bad terms, right? Help!

“Ahem.” In the end, it was Owen who coughed lightly. Then he looked at the two of them and asked, “Teacher Jian, Teacher Gu, do you have any clues?”

“No.” The two spoke almost in unison.

Gu Jingxi’s expression stiffened. Then she smiled awkwardly and said, “I didn’t receive any leaked information either.”

“I did hear some rumors,” Jian Lan said with a smile.

“Oh? What is it?!” Lu Bin quickly asked.

“Escape room. I believe everyone has already heard of it. Our mission may very likely be related to that kind of game,” Jian Lan said.

“Whoa!” The moment they heard this, the men all became somewhat eager to try.

But Gu Jingxi’s smile completely froze on her face.

Escape room. Was it the kind of escape room she was thinking of?!

When she had asked Fu Hang, that guy had not said a single word. He had only told her not to worry and that there would be mission instructions to guide them.

Fu Hang!!!

This time, Gu Jingxi truly wanted to tear those two characters apart in her mouth, chew them to pieces, and swallow them raw.

She, Gu Jingxi, was most afraid of darkness and ghosts in her entire life!

Escape room…

She was about to suffocate. Her image might be destroyed from this point on.

Owen held the phone and looked at the only text message inside it with a smile. “Alright, let us take a look at what exactly it is.”

The others all gathered around. Owen opened the message and began reading its contents.

“Dear Six Decoders, hello. Welcome to ‘My World.’ I believe that with your abilities, you will certainly be able to solve the secret hidden within this manor. I have already arranged the road ahead for you. I hope you will not disappoint me. Mysterious Person M.”

After listening to the text message, Lu Bin scratched his head and said, “Six Decoders should be referring to us, right? So this really is a puzzle-solving series?”

“A manor mystery! Doesn’t it remind you of those puzzle-solving mini-games we used to play on the computer when we were little?” Luo Wentao said excitedly.

“The manor should be pretty big, right?” Fang Zixu said with his arms crossed. Then he looked at the bus not far away. “So, are we taking that?”

“Hey, our logo is on it.” Lu Bin pointed.

“Looks like it.” Owen put away his phone, then smiled and said, “In that case, let’s go.”

Listening to them, Gu Jingxi looked at the bus in despair.

She now regretted with all her heart that she had softened and agreed to Fu Hang’s request, only to sell herself completely.

Help. She really wanted to run away.

“Huh? Sister Gu, what’s wrong? Your complexion looks a little bad,” Luo Wentao noticed Gu Jingxi’s face looked somewhat poor.

“No, it’s nothing.” Gu Jingxi forced a smile.

“Let’s get on the bus first. It’s still very hot outside,” Jian Lan, who had not spoken until now, suddenly said.

“Jian Shen is right. Sister Gu, I’ll help you with your suitcase.” Luo Wentao smiled and pulled Gu Jingxi’s suitcase over.

“No need. I can do it myself.” Gu Jingxi quickly said.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s go!” Luo Wentao said with a smile. Suddenly, he felt a chill at the back of his neck, and a sense of crisis rose within him.

When he turned around, he saw Owen and Jian Lan talking about something. No one was paying attention to him.

“How strange,” Luo Wentao muttered.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Luo?” Gu Jingxi, who had not noticed anything, asked.

“Nothing, nothing.” Luo Wentao smiled. His two little canine teeth looked extremely cute.

“Let’s go, Sister Gu.”

“Alright. Thank you for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. Hehe.”

Watching the two walk farther away, Jian Lan withdrew the corner of her gaze.

Owen saw it all and could not help laughing. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, “Do your best, Teacher Jian. The road ahead is long and difficult.”

Jian Lan glanced at him, then pulled her suitcase and turned to leave.

“It’s time to go, Captain Ou.”

Owen shrugged and turned to follow, smiling as he asked, “Teacher Jian, do you need help with your suitcase?”

“No need, Teacher Owen,” Jian Lan said without looking back.

Owen smiled and said nothing.

The group boarded the bus, placed their suitcases away, and then casually found seats.

Gu Jingxi sat in the third row from the front. Luo Wentao sat beside her, separated by an aisle. Fang Zixu and Lu Bin sat behind them, seemingly discussing something.

Owen glanced at Jian Lan’s expressionless face and suddenly felt amused. He squeezed forward and said, “Xiao Luo, I’m very interested in your last album. Can we talk about it?”

When Luo Wentao heard his idol say this to him, he became so nervous and excited that he almost forgot how to speak.

“O-of course!”

“Then let’s go talk in the back,” Owen said to him with a smile.

“Okay, Teacher Owen!” Luo Wentao was only short of standing up and giving him a military salute.

The two of them walked toward the back rows. As Owen walked, he even turned back and winked at Jian Lan. Then he found a place with Luo Wentao and sat down.

Jian Lan naturally understood his kindness. With a natural expression, she sat down in the seat Luo Wentao had originally occupied.

Gu Jingxi’s expression stiffened for an instant. She had just wanted to get up and change seats, but then she thought that doing so would be too deliberate. If she showed dissatisfaction toward Jian Lan on the show, regardless of the reason, Fu Wen would be the first to break her legs.

For the sake of her poor legs, it was better for her to behave.

After everyone was seated, the bus finally started and headed toward their destination.

Inside the bus, Lu Bin was chattering with Fang Zixu about the manor they were about to visit.

“Brother Fang, do you think this manor could be like one of those haunted houses in games? And then we have to stay there for a few days? Otherwise, why would the production team make us bring our own luggage?”

They were sitting right behind Gu Jingxi. Hearing Lu Bin say this, Gu Jingxi instantly got goosebumps all over.

“It’s possible. But it probably won’t be too excessive,” Fang Zixu said after thinking for a moment.

“But it’s still so exciting!” Lu Bin immediately became excited.

Gu Jingxi thought to herself that this was not exciting at all. She was most afraid of ghosts. When she was little, she could even be scared to tears by horror movies.

Thinking of this, she suddenly paused. Turning her head, she saw Jian Lan sitting beside her, one hand propping up her chin as she looked out the window. She looked quiet and peaceful, as if the years themselves were calm and lovely.

Gu Jingxi, however, felt a little stomachache.

The reason was nothing else. When they were little, the two families had been close, and she often went to the Jian residence to play. There was a small screening room in the Jian family’s basement. She, Jian Lan, and a few others had watched movies there before. At some point, someone suggested watching a horror movie, and the others egged each other on to play it.

And then…

Gu Jingxi’s cheeks grew a little hot, and she quickly turned her head to look out the window.

That day, many people had been scared to tears. She had not been the only one.

But…

She was the only one who, after being scared to tears, had thrown herself into Jian Lan’s arms and cried.

So embarrassing!