Upon hearing this, Shen Xingsui felt as if the strength drained from him.

While Zhang Chi was curious about his reaction, a voice sounded from behind. Fu Jinxiao leaned against the railing, looking at Zhang Chi seated on the chair. He smirked slightly and said sarcastically, "I find that hard to believe."

Zhang Chi stiffened.

Moments ago, he was passionately speaking, but now, hearing Fu Jinxiao's voice made him freeze on the spot. He turned his head slowly, meeting Fu Jinxiao's deep gaze. That face bore a pleasant, faint smile, but it strangely evoked feelings of unease and danger.

Fu Jinxiao leisurely walked over and took a seat by the table. With a languid look at Zhang Chi, he said, "Care to explain in detail?"

A bead of sweat trickled down Zhang Chi's cheek.

Zhang Chi felt choked with anxiety, never imagining he'd encounter Fu Jinxiao here.

The real question was…

Why did he have to overhear me?

Although Zhang Chi was new to the entertainment industry, before joining this show, his agent had repeatedly warned him, "The one person you must never offend on this show is Fu Jinxiao. Anyone who has crossed him in the industry has never ended well."

Just how fearsome was this man that his agent felt the need to stress this point repeatedly?

Zhang Chi's mind was in a daze. Simply looking at Fu Jinxiao's face made him feel an intangible pressure. He blurted out, "Brother Fu, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it that way."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Why the long face?"

Zhang Chi was taken aback.

"Speak up, or people might think I'm suppressing newcomers," Fu Jinxiao commented dryly, his tone dripping with irony.

Zhang Chi's impending cry was stifled. He hurriedly responded, "I didn't mean it, Brother Fu. I was just casually chatting with Xingsui. I've always believed you couldn't possibly do such things. Please don't take it to heart."

Fu Jinxiao said languidly, "Isn't there a saying about knowing a person's face but not their heart?"

Zhang Chi's face went pale. "I was just joking," he replied awkwardly.

"At your age, you still speak flippantly," Fu Jinxiao's eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Seems like all those years abroad were wasted on you."

There are some people who won't judge you with a stern face.

They'd just sit leisurely, converse with a friendly demeanor, and though their words seem harmless, every sentence feels like a barbed needle, making you sweat in trepidation.

Zhang Chi, not daring to argue, said, "I only said that out of concern for Xingsui..."

Fu Jinxiao cast a glance at Shen Xingsui beside him, "So you believe what he said?"

Shen Xingsui felt a chill under that gaze. He fidgeted nervously and quickly replied, "Of course, of course I don't."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying his statement.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Chi quickly pleaded, "Mr. Fu, I genuinely realize my mistake. I'm a newcomer who just returned to the country. Please give me another chance..."

Shen Xingsui, watching Zhang Chi apologize from across the table, suddenly felt a rush of mixed emotions. It brought back memories from many years ago when they were in a similar situation. His good friend, Zhang Chi, fearing potential backlash from associating with him, had immediately backed down and began distancing himself.

After all these years, it seemed like nothing had changed.

Fu Jinxiao spoke languidly, "Indeed, in the entertainment industry, you might know one's face but not their heart. You've got a point."

Zhang Chi was momentarily stunned.

"The female star, constantly embroiled in scandals that you see in entertainment news, might, in reality, lead a virtuous life and have impeccable character," Fu Jinxiao's voice was deep and resonant. "Similarly, the idols who appear dignified and respectable in the public eye might be utterly despicable in private, no better than beasts. It's only when you truly know them and grasp the reality that you earn the right to comment."

"And for someone like you who has never bothered to know me," Fu Jinxiao's gaze became icy, his lips curving in a mocking smile, "you think you're qualified to talk about faces and hearts?"

Left speechless by the reprimand, Zhang Chi felt acutely his insignificance and vulnerability in front of Fu Jinxiao.

Fu Jinxiao, with casual elegance, leaned against his chair, looking down at him, "Since you're a newbie, go back and learn the rules from your agent. Otherwise..."

Zhang Chi felt his heart jump to his throat.

The customary deceptive smile on Fu Jinxiao's face faded, he continued with a chilling hint in his tone, "You won't even know what hit you."

Fear surged through him, and even in the midst of winter, Zhang Chi felt a bone-chilling cold. His mind went blank for a moment, consumed by the terror one might feel when targeted by a predator vastly more powerful.

The door opened and shut swiftly. Zhang Chi had fled.

Silence once again enveloped the room.

Unfazed, Fu Jinxiao turned his attention to a visibly shaken Shen Xingsui, noticing his dazed expression, he inquired, "Did I scare you?"

Snapping back to reality, Shen Xingsui whispered, "No."

Fu Jinxiao, noting his distraction, asked with a hint of irritation, "Feeling sorry for him?"

! !

What an accusation!

Shen Xingsui raised his voice defensively, "No, not at all! Why would I feel sorry for him? Even though I think he might've said those things with some good intentions for me, I don't agree with him at all."

Fu Jinxiao chuckled lightly, "Why don't you believe it? Maybe, just maybe, he was speaking the truth."

Those words sent a chill down Shen Xingsui's spine. Unaware of the sorrow evident on his face, he cautiously questioned, "Is it true?"

Raising an eyebrow, Fu Jinxiao answered unhurriedly, "No."

"..."

What a trickster!

Without any reservations, Fu Jinxiao took a fresh pair of chopsticks from the table, sampling a few dishes before casually stating, "Indeed, there were female celebrities who left my hotel room. But they were all thrown out."

"Indeed, there have been many within the industry who've sought my affection," Fu Jinxiao said with a sly smile. "But none have succeeded."

But none have truly succeeded.

Under the light, Shen Xingsui admired the handsome man smiling at him. He felt torn – on one hand, he realized why so many adored his idol, but on the other, he felt saddened, thinking he was just one in the many admirers.

Shen Xingsui softly inquired, "Why explain all this to me?"

After all, he hadn't even bothered to clear the misunderstanding with Zhang Chi, who was most offended.

Putting down his chopsticks and looking sideways, Fu Jinxiao asked in a deep voice, "Why do you think?"

Caught off guard by the intense, enigmatic gaze, Shen Xingsui's heartbeat quickened, and his breath slowed down. "I... I don't know."

Fu Jinxiao leaned back in his chair, pausing before saying, "I misspoke earlier. Allow me to correct myself."

Puzzled, Shen Xingsui asked, "About what?"

With a playful grin, Fu Jinxiao whispered, "It's not that no one has ever succeeded."

Shen Xingsui's heart raced. His fingers involuntarily curled as he cautiously asked, "Who?"

Fu Jinxiao, exuding a mature charm with every gesture, locked eyes with Shen Xingsui. In a voice rich and elegant, he confessed, "You."

The revelation hit Shen Xingsui like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned.

At first, it was disbelief, followed by overwhelming joy. And as he met Fu Jinxiao's dark, penetrating gaze, it was a mixture of both.

Shen Xingsui stammered, "Me... I? Really me?"

Just as Fu Jinxiao was about to reply, there was a knock at the door.

Shen Xingsui, rather exasperated, inquired, "Who is it?"

A crew member outside replied, "Mr. Jian, the director sent us. We have your task card."

Recognizing the professional nature of the visit, Shen Xingsui quickly responded, "Alright!"

He glanced at Fu Jinxiao, signaling him to perhaps move out of view.

But this time, the film star wasn't so easily swayed. Fu Jinxiao casually remarked, "It's not as if we're having an illicit affair. What's there to fear?"

"..."

Shen Xingsui shot him a helpless look.

Eventually, he let the crew member in. Upon entering and spotting Fu Jinxiao, the crew member looked surprised and mentioned, "Mr. Fu, your task card was also delivered to your room. Could you please head back now? Our team is waiting for you."

Fu Jinxiao queried, "Can't they just leave it in my room?"

The crew member, apologetically, responded, "I'm sorry, Mr. Fu. This task card is rather significant and complicated. It requires a face-to-face explanation. Given the distinct roles of each guest, no one else can be present during the briefing. We hope you understand."

Fu Jinxiao nodded, looking at Shen Xingsui, "Should I head back now?"

Shen Xingsui felt a bit reluctant but knew he had to cooperate with the work, so he replied, "Alright."

Fu Jinxiao smirked, "I'll come over later, okay?"

The staff member was taken aback, wondering if he had just overheard some secret he shouldn't have and questioned his odds of seeing another sunrise. Maybe it wasn't too late to pretend he hadn't heard anything.

Being slightly self-conscious, Shen Xingsui, noticing the staff member's subtle expression, quickly said, "No, no need!"

Seeing that Shen Xingsui was genuinely upset, Fu Jinxiao decided to leave.

After he left, the staff member approached Shen Xingsui to brief him about the task, then said to the cameraman behind him, "We can start now."

Shen Xingsui exclaimed in shock, "Was the cameraman here the whole time?"

The staff member, noticing his embarrassment, chuckled, "It might feel a bit awkward, but yes, he was."

The cameraman signaled, "We're rolling now."

Shen Xingsui felt incredibly relieved that they hadn't been recording earlier. If the conversation with Zhang Chi and the later words of Fu Jinxiao had been broadcasted, it wouldn't just be a casual gossip for the audience. Possibly, no one would sleep that night.

The live stream viewers, seeing Shen Xingsui's expression, began to speculate:

"What happened?"

"Did I miss something?"

"I dare not take my eyes off this stream, afraid of missing out."

"Hahaha, this is even more exciting than my college classes."

As the crowd watched in anticipation, the staff member elaborated, "In our Fei tribe, there's an ancient legend. Deep within the forests, there's a treasure that can suppress evil spirits. Our tribe has lived here for generations, guarding it to prevent its misuse. Now, with the world in chaos, various powers covet this treasure. Each of you young heroes has come with a mission."

Shen Xingsui innocently asked, "What mission?"

The staff member took out a golden card from a box and handed it to him, saying, "Find the treasure and seal it, preventing it from falling into evil hands. Today, the eight of you came to the Fei tribe, bearing this heavy responsibility. This token allows you to access the deep forest. Only with it can you locate the treasure. Keep it safe."

Shen Xingsui, now more experienced, inquired, "Is there an insider among us..."

"Yes, indeed. Among you, there are those who wish to obtain the treasure for nefarious purposes," the staff member earnestly replied. "Young hero, be cautious of your comrades on this adventure, and don't let the villains get the upper hand!"

Shen Xingsui felt exhausted.

Another mole, and new guests got the killer card. Last time it was An Ran and Ning Ze; who would it be this time?

The viewers in the live chat rooms jumped between channels, discussing:

"Shen Xingchen isn't the killer."

"Teacher Tuya isn't either."

"Ning Ze has the good card this time."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, they aren’t showing Fu's card, everyone."

"Something's up!"

During the last battle, if it weren’t for Fu Jinxiao - a figure comparable to a military strategist, carrying the team 1v6, and repeatedly highlighting the key points - the 'good' team wouldn't have stood a chance. Now, if Fu Jinxiao got the sole killer card this time, things would get intense.

"It's 1v7 now, folks."

"I'm so excited, fam!"

"Can the 'good' side win this time?"

"It's going to be tough, really tough! If Teacher Fu got the mole card, it’s like playing on hard mode."

The other guests were oblivious to the challenge awaiting them, so they all slept well, preparing for the potential storm the next day.

In the morning, once the guests woke up, the production crew called for a gathering.

The director announced, "A new day, a fresh start. You all worked hard yesterday. Today, our guests will be paired up."

This would likely be Shen Xingsui's first time pairing with someone else since joining "Starry Lights."

"The rules for selecting partners this time are different," the director said with a smile. "We’ve introduced a new format to be closer and more interactive with the audience."

The guests asked, "How so?"

The director began, "On platforms like WeChat, Weibo, and live streaming sites, we activated a voting system yesterday. It ended at 4 am today, and 120 million viewers voted for their most desired pairings."

This was quite innovative.

Usually, in such shows, the teams were either self-chosen by the guests or selected by drawing lots. Never before had the audience been so involved.

The director, with a mysterious grin, seemingly enjoying the suspense, said, "Now, we will announce the top four pairings with the highest votes."

Shen Xingchen whispered to Shen Xingsui, "Who do you think are the likely pairs?"

Shen Xingsui replied uncertainly, "Could be anyone. We can't predict the audience's preferences."

"Well, it won't be the two of us," Shen Xingchen said nonchalantly. "We're both too clever. If we teamed up, wouldn't we be invincible?"

"..."

Shen Xingsui always admired his confidence, agreeing, "True."

Shen Xingchen laughed confidently.

The director began unveiling the pairings, "The first pair is Teacher Tuya and Teacher Li, with a total of 13.45 million votes!"

Everyone applauded.

The director cast a mysterious glance at Shen Xingsui and Shen Xingchen, then cleared his throat, announcing, “The second pair is Shen Xingsui and Shen Xingchen, with a total of 43.21 million votes!”

"..."

The two who received the votes were utterly bewildered.

However, the live-stream audience seemed to delight in their plight:

“I really want to see how badly these two silly kids can mess up without their main support.”

“Haha, Xingsui, experience life without Teacher Fu for once.”

“Turns out, we all had the same thought!”

"Oh my god, I'm dying of laughter."

Shen Xingchen stroked his chin, musing, “It seems we must make a mark today, showing the audience just how formidable we are.”

Shen Xingsui felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding but eventually nodded, "Alright."

The production crew then announced the remaining pairs:

Fu Jinxiao & An Ran: 63.29 million votes

Li Xu'an & Ning Ze: 11.90 million votes

Xu Qinkè & Feng Fan: 32.14 million votes

The live-stream audience found the vote count amusing:

“Who in the world voted for Fu Jinxiao and An Ran?”

“Hilarious.”

“But it seems like An Ran always wanted to be close to Teacher Fu and kept getting rebuffed, which is entertaining.”

“An Ran, here's your chance, go for it!”

“Haha, everyone sure is deeply invested.”

The production crew then unveiled the day's mission: “You should already be aware of your roles and tasks from yesterday. Now, you are to embark on a quest to secure a map and key leading to a secret realm. Along the way, you'll face the guardians of the treasures and challenges from the Fei people. Only by earning their approval points can you successfully proceed.”

Shen Xingchen remarked, “Piece of cake.”

The director continued, “Within this village, five sacred object guardians reside. You must find them on your own and complete the tasks they assign. It’s first come, first served.”

All the teams set out.

When Shen Xingsui left, he couldn't help but steal several glances at Fu Jinxiao. At that moment, An Ran approached Fu Jinxiao and began conversing. Fu Jinxiao listened indifferently. They stood apart, yet seemed to get along harmoniously.

As Shen Xingsui watched, Fu Jinxiao, as though sensing his gaze, glanced sideways in his direction.

Shen Xingsui felt caught, a little flustered.

Fu Jinxiao seemed to discern his little secret, a slight smile gracing his lips. Under the morning sun, the handsome man looked as though bathed in light. That charming, subtle grin made one's heartbeat flutter.

Shen Xingsui ruefully touched his nose, attempting to mask his emotions. He quickly averted his gaze, following Shen Xingchen, fearing Fu Jinxiao might think he was overly clingy.

Shen Xingchen strutted ahead, assuming Shen Xingsui was worried about their chances. "Just wait and see. I'll lead us to victory today and defeat all the other teams!"

Shen Xingsui snapped back to reality, responding, "Okay."

Finding the guardians in the village was no easy task.

It seemed like the other teams had a plan, while the two of them were still meandering. Shen Xingchen proposed a laissez-faire approach: "I have an inkling about who this guardian might be."

Shen Xingsui grew curious, "Really? Who?"

"Guardian, guardian…" Shen Xingchen pondered, concluding, "Usually those referred to as 'guardians' must be formidable. Why don't we inquire about the most formidable person in the village?"

Shen Xingsui thought it made sense, "Should we ask around then?"

They asked various villagers, identifying several of the strongest men, but none were the guardians.

By noon, they hadn't located anyone. Shen Xingsui leaned against a wall, catching his breath, "Where could the most formidable person be..."

Shen Xingchen mused, "Perhaps we shouldn't only look for men. It might be a woman."

A lightbulb moment hit Shen Xingsui, "What if the guardian is actually the protector of the village? Let's approach the village chief."

It sounded like a plausible idea.

The two rushed to Uncle Wang's house, only to find he wasn't home. Instead, his wife, an elderly woman, greeted them. Hearing their quest, she announced, "The guardian you seek is me."

Shen Xingchen jumped in surprise, high-fiving Shen Xingsui, "Yes!"

The elderly woman settled into a chair, "I have no tests for you. But to pass the treasure's challenge, you'll need patience and perseverance. Now, cook me a meal. I fancy roasted rice cakes and sour fish soup."

This seemed doable.

Shen Xingsui was raring to go, "Leave it to us!"

The duo, full of enthusiasm, rolled up their sleeves and entered the kitchen. Finding white rice cakes in a jar, they lit a fire and began roasting them. However, they ended up... burning the rice cakes.

A puff of black smoke accompanied by a charred aroma arose, almost mockingly.

After a moment of silence, Shen Xingsui remarked, "I think it might be burnt. What do you think?"

Shen Xingchen took and broke the cake, examining the inside, deep in thought, "The inside seems edible. Do you think the old lady will approve?"

"..."

The Shen family seemed to be champions of disastrous culinary experiments.

The dishes Shen Xingsui cooked were hardly palatable. There were only a few dishes he could barely stomach; the rest were complete disasters. Having charred all the rice cakes they tried to roast, both were now too apprehensive to gauge the elderly lady's reaction.

Shen Xingchen proposed, "Let's prepare the fish!"

Shen Xingsui followed suit, readying to process the fish.

As the lively fish floundered on the chopping board, Shen Xingchen's hand, clutching the knife, trembled slightly, "Xingsui, you do it."

"..."

Shen Xingsui looked at his brother, "I... I'm not particularly adept at it either."

"Just go and give it a quick chop," Shen Xingchen directed, "It's actually quite straightforward!"

Shen Xingsui handed him the knife, "Then why don't you do it?"

Shen Xingchen buried his face in his hands and finally whispered, "I'm scared..."

"..."

Shen Xingsui lapsed into contemplation.

The audience in the live stream was laughing uncontrollably:

"Hahaha, what 'treasure boys'? I can't handle this, folks!"

"Why are you like this, Chen?"

"Hahaha, Chenchen is still such a kid!"

"I bet Xingsui is questioning his life choices now."

"Hahahahahaha..."

Left with no choice, Shen Xingsui reluctantly wielded the knife. He didn't have the heart to kill, but steaming the fish alive seemed even more cruel. After weighing his options, he decided knocking the fish unconscious was best. But his attempt was misaligned, slightly injuring the fish. A trickle of fish blood, with its strong smell, seeped out.

The sight of the red mixed with blood momentarily transported Shen Xingsui back to his past life. Disturbing memories resurfaced, and feelings of nausea and overwhelming despair engulfed him.

"Clang!"

The knife dropped onto the board, and he rushed outside.

Shen Xingchen hurriedly chased after him, "Xingsui, what happened?"

"I'm..." Shen Xingsui heaved, murmuring, "I think I'm a bit queasy at the sight of blood. Just give me a moment to recover."

This might be a residual trauma from a past life, a revelation he only came across now. The abrupt onset made him feel as though he was at death's door, with a faintness and anxiety that was too profound to articulate.

Seeing his brother's distress, Shen Xingchen took the fish outside, proclaiming, "Alright, Xingsui, let big brother handle this fish today!"

Shen Xingsui thought, if only your hands weren't shaking so violently.

But his discomfort was so overwhelming that he remained silent, choosing instead to sit and gather himself.

Exiting the courtyard, Shen Xingchen approached the stream, attempting to prepare the fish. To the cameraman, he lamented dramatically, "Why is cooking so hard? I want to go home..."

The live stream's audience couldn't contain their amusement:

"Hahaha, ladies, let's laugh it off."

"Master, what's become of you?"

"While other idols carry an image, Shen Xingchen seemingly requires his fans to pick up after him."

Amidst his theatrics, Shen Xingchen spotted a familiar figure approaching: Fu Jinxiao, who was passing by. Desperate, he lunged at him, clinging on, "Brother Fu, you're a lifesaver! Help me with the fish, please!"

Fu Jinxiao pushed him away with a foot, "Tend to your own task."

"I really can't manage it." Shen Xingchen tried to bargain, "How about I sneak you one of my older brother's collectibles?"

Such a touching display of filial loyalty.

Fu Jinxiao gave him a sidelong glance, unhesitatingly replying, "No thanks."

Shen Xingchen pressed on, "I'll be at your service, whenever you need. No questions asked."

Fu, the renowned actor, continued walking in another direction, coldly declining, "Not interested."

...

That didn't work either.

Time to pull out the big guns!

A lightbulb moment hit Shen Xingchen's somewhat slow brain. He blocked Fu Jinxiao's path and leaned in to whisper, "Brother-in-law... Oh, I mean, son-in-law, we're all family, right? I know you won't just stand by. If you help me with the fish, I'll sort things out with my elder brother and father on your behalf."

Fu Jinxiao stopped in his tracks, giving him a meaningful look.

Shen Xingchen's face was a mix of hope and desperation.

The corner of Fu Jinxiao's mouth curled up into a mysterious smile. Grasping Shen Xingchen's hand, he calmly stated, "Deal."