Chapter 480 The Game Begins

Chapter 480: The Game Begins

The name Wu Heng... should be completely unfamiliar to the other players present, except for Su Bai. Lian Xiangyu wore an awkward expression; his brow twitched slightly, and his lips were pressed into a stiff line, as if he had already foreseen being forced to call a stranger "Dad" in this absurd game.

However, no matter how flustered, resistant, or embarrassed they were, the players had no better options against the Nightmare Game.

At least in the early stages, all they could do was follow the prompts step by step.

Ning Yi continued introducing the audition script in a natural and fluent tone: "Next, according to the script's setting, the Old Master forcibly brings Mr. Lian back home, trying to force him to go through with the marriage to Miss Shen. However, Mr. Lian disregards the family's pressure and instead invites the female lead—me—to the villa, deciding to immediately break off the engagement with Miss Shen."

As soon as she finished speaking, she deliberately gestured toward Shen Donger again. Sitting there, Shen Donger wore a cold expression, idly twirling a strand of hair with her fingertips, as if this petty farce was trying her patience.

"Of course, Miss Shen in the script is unwilling to accept this," Ning Yi continued. "She cannot stand to have her husband stolen, nor can she stand the two who were once intimate becoming as distant as strangers. So, she begins to vent her accumulated resentment on the script's version of me. According to the description, she employs a series of cliché methods commonly used by antagonists in over-the-top melodramas—such as framing, slander, spreading rumors, drugging food, and even hiring assassins—unfortunately, all these schemes are thwarted one by one by Mr. Lian."

After saying this, Ning Yi closed the script and sighed softly.

"The final outcome, naturally, is that Mr. Lian in the script and I end up married, just as we wanted. As for Miss Shen, due to committing various crimes, she is sent to prison. Even the initially stubborn Old Master is moved by the female lead's kindness at the wedding and sincerely offers his blessing."

Even though Ning Yi used a calm narrative tone, it didn't prevent this audition script from sounding like an old, cliché-filled soap opera.

"According to the timeline given in the audition script," Ning Yi continued, "the plot should be shortly after Mr. Lian brings me back to the villa. At this point, Miss Shen has already begun to unleash various schemes against me, while the Old Master is in the stage of vehement opposition. This period is indeed the most conflict-ridden and dramatic part."

"It really is a melodrama," Huo Lang couldn't help but sigh, his brow slightly furrowed. "In this kind of plot, the butler is probably an insignificant role, right? The script I received only says that I have always stayed by the master's side, occasionally putting in a good word for the male and female leads."

As he spoke, Huo Lang helplessly flipped through the script in his hands.

Then, Huo Lang's gaze fell on Su Bai, his eyes carrying a hint of curiosity: "Brother Su, what's your role in the script?"

Su Bai slightly raised his eyes, as if he had already anticipated this question. After a moment of silence, he "mustered his courage" to slowly open the script, his eyes scanning the few simple lines of setting, and said helplessly: "I am the villa's... gardener. In the script's setting, both my hobby and my job are to decorate the villa with flowers from the garden. Except for the female lead, everyone ignores my existence, and my only purpose is to set off the kindness of the female lead whenever she helps someone out."

In Su Bai's view, this gardener role was dispensable.

Moreover, the purpose of planting so many flowers in the garden outside was just to pick them and decorate the villa?

"So, are we really going to play role-playing here?" Shen Donger finally couldn't help but stand up from the sofa, her tone tinged with weariness.

As she tidied her hair, she said helplessly: "I used to be a bit of a love-struck fool for a while. The more crazily I loved back then, the more I hate myself now. And now I actually have to play a love-struck idiot?"

Shen Donger paused, her tone revealing some confusion and self-mockery: "In the script, I'm a well-matched young lady from a wealthy family. What kind of man can't I find in this world? Why must I cling desperately to someone who doesn't love me, instead of looking for those fresh and enticing young men who are even more appealing than Young Master Lian?"

Shen Donger's words were sharp. It was clear that although the script's Shen Donger was devoted to Lian Xiangyu, loving him to the point of wanting to kill the script's Ning Yi, Shen Donger in real life didn't have much fondness for Lian Xiangyu. In fact, the two seemed to have a mutual dislike.

This struck Su Bai as odd. Although he had noticed their rivalry back at the Luolimasi Grand Hotel, by the time the game was nearing its end, the two still stood together to face the enemy.

"Roles are just roles. Everyone must remember, this is just a game; don't let the role's emotions affect you. Although it's a small-scale game, if we fail the audition, we won't be able to clear it," Huo Lang quickly spoke up to reassure everyone.

Upon hearing this, Shen Donger ultimately let out a long sigh and sat back down on the sofa, crossing her arms with an unwilling expression.

"Dong—"

Just as the conversation reached this point, the wall clock suddenly chimed.

The game had officially begun.