An Ran had never seen Fu JinXiao with such an expression.

In this life, it was their first encounter, and in his previous life, he never saw it. To be honest, An Ran always felt a distance from Fu JinXiao, as if there was a thin veil separating them.

He couldn't reach his heart.

In his previous life, even when An Ran had settled down, Fu JinXiao remained single. It seemed that no one could truly understand and be accepted by him.

In this life, An Ran thought he could be the one, but now, it felt like they were worlds apart. Just when An Ran thought he understood Fu JinXiao, he realized he had barely scratched the surface. And now, the man in front of him seemed unapproachably intense.

...

The viewers in the live chat grew impatient:

"What's happening? What are they saying?"

"They're too far away; I can't hear clearly."

"But they look quite intimate."

"Still, I ship Fu JinXiao with Suìsuì more!"

After seemingly catching a hint from An Ran's words, Fu JinXiao left and turned his microphone back on. The cameraman asked him where he was headed next.

Fu JinXiao responded, "The Peach Blossom Forest."

The forest, in its autumn beauty, wasn't in full bloom. Walking past, one could easily see a towering pagoda and the staff below. Seeing Fu JinXiao approach, a staff member tried to stop him, "Sorry, Mr. Fu, the tower is off-limits right now."

Fu JinXiao stopped and raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"It's locked at the moment," the staff explained. "So, as per rules, no one can go up now."

Fu JinXiao stood at the entrance, looking up. His gaze caught a yellow vest fluttering atop the solemn tower, giving off a somewhat comical and cute impression.

As he looked down and met the eyes of the staff member, even though the staff member was guarding the entrance and Fu JinXiao intended to go in, the staff member seemed more nervous than he was.

Fu Jinxiao's handsome brows slightly lifted, standing naturally with a friendly expression: "Really?"

The staff member nodded nervously.

"Has anyone ever told you..." Fu Jinxiao began in a leisurely manner, but his voice gradually deepened, the amusement in his eyes intensified, hinting at danger. Though he remained casual, his presence was somehow more imposing. He smirked, revealing a hint of innate arrogance, "I'm not one for rules."

The staff member blinked in surprise.

Over the years, Fu Jinxiao had become much more reserved, always polite and gracious. So much so, that people almost forgot he was once quite the rule-breaker.

Fu Jinxiao glanced over the locked door with amusement.

The staff member instinctively took a few steps back, wanting to guard the lock. However, Fu Jinxiao didn't attempt to unlock it. Instead, he murmured, "Please move aside."

Though the staff member held the advantage, he couldn't resist Fu Jinxiao's command. He stepped aside, unwittingly giving way.

Ignoring the door, Fu Jinxiao nimbly leaped through a window, his movements smooth and dashing, showing no hesitation. The following cameraman didn't even have time to react.

From inside, Fu Jinxiao waved casually to the stupefied staff outside and then promptly turned to leave.

The cameraman, burdened with heavy equipment, looked at the staff and managed to say, "Can you unlock the door? I can't get through the window."

Staff member: "...Alright."

The live-streaming audience burst into laughter after witnessing this:

"Such a treasure!"

"Who would have thought!"

"Oh my, it's been years since I've seen Fu Jinxiao wholeheartedly play on a variety show."

"I'm getting nostalgic vibes."

Up in the tower, Shen Xingsui was sitting inside when he heard some noise. Startled, he quickly asked, "Who's there?"

"It's me." Fu Jinxiao's voice replied from outside. He inquired, "Are you okay?"

Recognizing the voice, Shen Xingsui's excitement was evident. "Mr. Fu! I'm fine, I'm so glad you're here. But it seems the door is locked from the outside!"

Fu Jinxiao responded, "I know."

Hesitantly, Shen Xingsui asked, "Do you have a key?"

Fu Jinxiao briefly assessed the wooden door. It was old and could be easily broken down. However, this was a historic site, and such an act could damage a piece of cultural heritage. The issue wasn't about compensation but preservation.

He simply answered, "No."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback, "What...huh?"

He had subconsciously believed that Fu Jinxiao was omnipotent. But perhaps even for someone like him, there were challenges.

Shen Xingsui felt relieved and was about to suggest, "It's okay, Fu. The view here isn't that bad. Maybe you could leave first and come back later when..."

The sound of unlocking interrupted him, and within seconds, the door opened.

The door slowly swung open to reveal a man standing straight with an open and calm expression, even displaying a gentle smile. He quirked an eyebrow, "Come back later for what?"

The words died in Shen Xingsui's throat.

However, curiosity soon took over, "How did you open the door?"

"This door?" Fu Jinxiao spread his hands, "A student gave me a toy yesterday. It had a copper wire inside, which I used to pick the lock."

Shen Xingsui stared in disbelief, a figurative question mark forming above his head.

The live-streaming audience was equally electrified:

"Hahaha, since when did you have this skill?"

"Wait, is that even possible?"

"I'm as shocked as Xingsui, okay?"

"That's our Fu, always surprising!"

"Is this the advantage of having a unique skill?"

Stammering, Shen Xingsui finally managed, "You're amazing to know something like this."

Fu Jinxiao replied nonchalantly, "It's just a minor trick I learned to pass the time."

...

What a way to 'pass the time'.

There were so many sudden twists that Shen Xingsui didn't know where to start.

Hurriedly, he said, "Thank you so much. I hung my yellow vest on the window, hoping someone passing by might see and rescue me. I never expected you to come. I'm so grateful."

"Hmm?" Fu Jinxiao replied with a faint sound, smirking, "I didn't just 'happen to pass by'."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback.

Fu Jinxiao's deep gaze briefly met his, but he said nothing more.

The subtle implication in his words was enough to send ripples through Shen Xingsui's mind. He stood there, blinking rapidly, as if processing the information.

Fu Jinxiao spoke again, "It's warm in here, let's go outside."

Shen Xingsui snapped back to reality, quickly adding, "Wait, I made a new discovery in this room!"

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

Shen Xingsui, brimming with excitement, no longer held back. He eagerly grasped Fu Jinxiao's wrist, leading him to the window. Pointing out to the vista, he asked, "From here, you can see the entire town. What shape do you think the town resembles?"

From their vantage point, a unique perspective emerged: the town formed a peach blossom pattern, fanning out beautifully from a central core.

Fu Jinxiao remarked, "No wonder it's named after the peach blossom."

Shen Xingsui nodded fervently. That wasn't all he discovered. He produced a card and map he'd found, eagerly explaining, "When I studied this peach blossom card in detail, I noticed something ingenious. Remember where everyone worked on our first day in town?"

Fu Jinxiao, with his impeccable memory, promptly listed the places.

"Exactly!" exclaimed Shen Xingsui. He compared the design to the town's map, bursting with excitement, "Places like the tavern and the bookstore are situated on the petals of the peach blossom. I found this map card in the tavern, so I deduce that all the mysterious fragments are located where we worked!"

After hearing the analysis, a pleased smile curled on Fu Jinxiao's lips, "Impressive attention to detail."

Despite being sweaty from the room's heat, Shen Xingsui didn't wallow in despair. Amidst adversity, he had charted an escape plan and found solutions. His resilience alone was commendable.

The viewers concurred:

"Xingsui, you're sharper than we thought!"

"Hahaha, smart kid!"

"And to think he was the first to notice!"

"Go, go! Deal with that sinister assassin, An Ran!"

With sparkling eyes, and visibly elated from Fu Jinxiao's affirmation, Shen Xingsui grinned, "Shall we retrieve the fragments and then..."

Understanding his intent, Fu Jinxiao stated firmly, "Seek revenge."

Shen Xingsui's smile widened. Lately, his demeanor was brighter, devoid of earlier insecurities. Resolutely, he nodded, "Let's move!"

With their newfound clues, their search accelerated.

Emerging from the tower, they found the hidden clue in the bookstore. With three fragments gathered, they discussed plans on the move and unexpectedly met Xu Qinkè and Feng Fan. The duo, usually reserved, seemed agitated now.

Panting, Xu Qinkè warned, "Be careful. We think we've identified the killer."

In unison, they named the suspect: "An Ran!"

Xu Qinkè blinked in surprise, "You figured it out?"

"Yes, we found a diary," Shen Xingsui acknowledged with a wry smile, "The path to this conclusion was bizarre, but we got there."

Feng Fan added, "We believe An Ran might not be working alone."

Without hesitation, Shen Xingsui said, "He has a younger brother, his accomplice. And he's the youngest among us."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

As there were very few young individuals present, Shen Xingsui and An Ran were the youngest.

As everyone was left agape, Fu Jinxiao let out a soft sigh, steering their wandering minds back on track, "Why can't the younger brother be An Ran himself?"

! !

Eureka!

Shen Xingsui, along with the other two, looked at Fu Jinxiao with an expression filled with awe and admiration.

Fu Jinxiao: "..."

The viewers watching the live stream burst into laughter at this scene:

"Haha, one leading six! MVP indeed."

"These goofs would have been lost without Master Fu!"

"Kudos to the production team for this twist!"

"Haha, Fu Jinxiao is definitely the MVP of this round!"

With a clearer perspective in place, they began to connect the dots. Considering a younger brother who wasn't too old, and eliminating the evidently clueless Shen Xingchen, the only child Fu Jinxiao, and everyone else, the one who fit the bill and had been overlooked was: Ning Ze!

Oh boy.

Xu Qinke remarked, "Then Shen Xingchen is in danger. He just left with Ning Ze."

No sooner had he spoken than an announcement echoed: "In this round, Tu Ya, Li Xu'an, and Teacher Li have been eliminated."

Puzzled expressions formed on everyone's face. Despite being closest to the killer and being partially poisoned just the day before, how was Shen Xingchen unscathed?

As they pondered, a group approached them, clearly engaged in some sort of argument. As they got closer, their words became audible.

Shen Xingchen expressed with clear disdain, "I never asked you to save me."

Li Xu'an sighed, "You carry a fragment of the artifact. You're more useful alive."

"Mind your own business!" Shen Xingchen glared at him and then kicked Ning Ze, "Traitor!"

Ning Ze just shrugged helplessly.

As the groups merged, Shen Xingchen’s eyes brightened at the sight of his teammates. He rushed over, exclaiming, "Ning Ze and An Ran are the killers. We've been deceived!"

Shen Xingsui chuckled at his ruffled younger brother.

His innocence made him adorable. Shen Xingchen had this way of sulking if those close to him seemed divided. His simple-mindedness often made things seem straightforward, but that didn't mean he couldn't handle complex situations. It was just his nature.

Shen Xingchen declared, "I have a fragment here. Let’s find the others and exact our revenge, eliminating the treacherous from our town!"

Shen Xingsui and Fu Jinxiao exchanged glances.

Fu Jinxiao nodded gently, revealing all the fragments he had, "Together, we have four."

Shen Xingchen was taken aback. It was now afternoon, and he had thought they'd need to strive much harder to find the remaining fragments. To his surprise, they already had four. Six fragments are required for the artifact, meaning they only needed two more.

Xu Qinkè, seeing this, timidly mentioned, "Actually, we both have a piece as well."

What?!

No one expected things to progress so smoothly.

However, it was Fu Jinxiao who always got to the heart of the matter, directly asking, "How were the three of them eliminated? And how did you get poisoned yesterday? Any ideas?"

Shen Xingchen was momentarily speechless.

After carefully recalling, he said, "Actually, I'm not sure. From the start, we simply grouped together, didn’t do anything special, just went on a hunt for the fragments. Everything seemed normal. We chatted casually, and then Li Xuan'an interjected a few times. Shortly after, they all got eliminated."

...

Silence enveloped the group.

They were unaware of the killer's method of elimination, putting them undoubtedly in a precarious situation.

Shen Xingsui inquired, "What did you all talk about?"

Shen Xingchen replied candidly, somewhat agitated, "Just casual talk. Ning Ze asked me some stuff and then mentioned going somewhere else. Before I could respond, Li Xuan'an and Teacher Tuya said we could. As we were walking, they got eliminated."

A somber expression crept onto Shen Xingsui's face, "Something's definitely off..."

Fu Jinxiao, with his dark and intense eyes, looked gravely at Shen Xingchen, "What did you and An Ran talk about yesterday?"

Shen Xingchen pondered for a moment, "Not much. Though at one point, he approached me to help chop firewood."

Fu Jinxiao pressed further, "Details. What did he say?"

Shen Xingchen muttered, "He asked if he could borrow the axe to give it a try."

Silence.

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

then

It dawned on all of them simultaneously, and they exclaimed, "The way to poison is by asking if one can do something!"

With the mystery unraveled, they were all in disbelief. They had considered various possibilities like a magical potion or coming into contact with some object, but never this method. It was truly shocking.

Someone started laughing.

Everyone joined in with a bitter smile, lamenting, "That's so sly."

But now that they knew the method, there was no fear. They reached the last antique stall according to the map and found the stall owner. They retrieved the fragments from him, managing to gather all six pieces before sunset.

The director cheered, "Congratulations to the Wang Manor's 'Good People' team on their victory!"

The others came over to congratulate each other. Shen Xingchen playfully punched Ning Ze but quickly forgave his good friend. He had the type of temperament that cooled off as quickly as it flared up, easily mollified by a few soothing words.

The audience was deeply moved:

"Winning this was truly a challenge."

"Had they not deciphered it at the end, they might have completely failed."

"No words needed, Fu is the MVP."

"Sui Sui is also impressive, figuring out all the fragment locations."

"That collaboration was epic. A real turnaround."

In reality, this game was incredibly difficult. The clues provided in the task card about the assassin were too obscure, granting them too much advantage. Although the good team had numbers on their side, the hints they received were limited. Especially with Shen Xingsui being locked in the tower. Had it not been for Fu Jinxiao's prompt decision, the lack of a map would have led to numerous unexpected events.

The first episode of the first season of "Starlight Splendor" concluded perfectly with the end of this game.

The director and crew, smiling, said, "It hasn't been easy for everyone. We believe after spending five days together, deep bonds have been formed. We've prepared a surprise segment for you all. Please proceed to the restaurant. On the second floor, rooms are labeled with your names. Find your respective rooms."

"..."

Though it was pitched as a surprise, everyone felt a looming sense of foreboding.

After the time spent with the production crew, trust was essentially gone. Getting close to them usually meant impending misfortune.

Shen Xingchen was the first to proceed. But before leaving, he warned, "Director, better not deceive us. Once filming is done, watch out; I might come climbing through your window."

The director was left amused yet speechless.

Everyone proceeded to the second floor. Shen Xingsui found his room first. Hesitating briefly, he entered to find a camera and a crew member awaiting him. Seeing him, the crew member greeted with a smile, "Please have a seat."

Shen Xingsui sat down.

The crew member gestured towards a piece of paper on the table, "Please write down the name of the person you're closest to or like the most from this crew, along with a message for them. They will then receive a gift from you."

Shen Xingsui blinked, "Only one person?"

"Yes," The crew member explained, "Make sure you're confident about your choice, as we'll disclose the names later. If your feelings aren't reciprocated, it might be awkward for you."

...

This devilish production crew, always with their tricks!

Shen Xingsui was torn after hearing this. When thinking of the person he was closest to, it was, of course, his brother, Shen Xingchen. But his favorite person? That would undoubtedly be his idol.

But would Fu Jinxiao choose him?

Having been friends with Tu Ya and Teacher Li for years, logically, Fu Jinxiao would choose one of them over him, a newcomer of only half a year.

It would be foolish to entertain any hope. Otherwise, the letter and gift would put him in a deeply embarrassing situation. Making himself uncomfortable was one thing, but making Fu Jinxiao uncomfortable was another.

...

The crew member urged, "You need to decide quickly; we're on a tight schedule."

Shen Xingsui's time to deliberate was dwindling. Pen in hand, after a brief moment of hesitation, he finally exhaled softly and wrote down Shen Xingchen's name.

The staff member glanced at the list and asked Shen Xingsui, "Is this your final choice?"

Shen Xingsui nodded.

"Alright, please wait outside."

"Okay."

As he stepped out, others began to emerge as well. Everyone exchanged glances, subtly assessing one another. Shen Xingchen came out and asked, "Who did you choose?"

Shen Xingsui candidly replied, "You."

Shen Xingchen patted his chest, "And I chose you. We're set."

Soon, a staff member came out pushing a cart full of gifts, announcing with a smile, "Congratulations to everyone for completing the challenge. Now, we will reveal the recipients of the letters and gifts."

Everyone held their breath in anticipation.

The staff member read from a card, "Firstly, Xu Qinke, congratulations on receiving a letter and a gift."

Xu Qinke smiled and bowed, "Thank you."

The staff member continued, "The person you chose also sent you a letter. Congratulations!"

Xu Qinke turned and embraced Feng Fan, both of them beaming.

The staff member proceeded to announce the remaining names:

"Shen Xingchen, you have received two letters and two gifts."

"Shen Xingsui, congratulations on receiving two letters and two gifts."

The staff member smiled at them, "Congratulations, the individuals you selected also chose you."

Shen Xingsui and Shen Xingchen high-fived.

However, after the gesture, Shen Xingsui couldn't help but glance in Fu Jinxiao's direction, feeling a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. He wondered who Fu Jinxiao had given his one and only choice to.

From a nearby sofa, the languid figure of the movie star Fu Yindi raised an eyelid and gave Shen Xingsui a meaningful look.

Shen Xingsui felt as though sharp blades were hovering behind him. The air was tense.

Fortunately, the staff member continued, "Teacher Fu, congratulations on being chosen by two people. You have received two letters and two gifts. However, the person you chose did not choose you."

"..."

The room fell silent.

Almost instantly, all eyes converged on Fu Jinxiao, then shifted amongst themselves. The situation suddenly became intriguing.

Tuya was the first to cover her mouth and laugh, "Oh my, Mr. Fu, seems like you're in a one-sided affection, aren't you?"

Teacher Li couldn't resist teasing his friend with a sardonic tone, "Though I chose you and you didn't choose me, I'm not the slightest bit upset. After all, I wager you're more distraught than I am."

From the sofa, Fu Jinxiao looked up, calmly taking in the spectacle. He lifted an eyelid, his face donning a smirk of feigned amiability, addressing the two jesters, "Is it really that funny?"

Both of them nodded in unison, replying, "Absolutely hilarious!"

"..."

This situation is truly an epic tale!

That's Fu Jinxiao we're talking about! The so-called national heartthrob, the man who's won the 'Most Popular' award for five consecutive years! And yet, even he has met such a fate.

The live audience was in an uproar, clearly just as excited:

"Hahaha, sisters, our idol's feelings are unrequited!"

"LOL, who's the brave soul who dared? Kudos to them!"

"Who could refuse my Fu? That person must be sinfully delightful."

"I'm dying of curiosity! Who is it?"

"Hahaha, oh my god, can someone just reveal the name? I won't have peace until I know!"