Chapter 19: A New Kind of Stacking Game?

Zhao Liheng’s heart sank the moment he saw Yu Zhi’s face. She was setting the pace for him so naturally, but wasn't she just trying to lead him into a ditch?

"Yu Zhi, didn't you say it yourself? A stagnant program is boring. We are simply upholding the guests' own ideas!"

The boomerang he had thrown came back to strike him right between the eyes. Yu Zhi gained a deeper understanding of the director’s shamelessness.

"Well, look, if you don't agree, we won't do it."

[Where does Yu Zhi get her confidence? Didn't you see that even Shi Hai ling hasn't spoken?]
[Heh, from someone's bed, of course.]
[They've been bickering all day; they all look exhausted now. Someone is sticking up for them—they're grateful, so who would want to undermine her?]

Seeing that no one was taking the bait he had laid, and desperate for the engagement metrics this footage would bring, Zhao Liheng hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"I'm truly afraid of you lot. Fine, I agree! From now on, all procedures will follow the script!"

"Yay!!!"

Gu Qing, overcome with excitement, jumped up and cheered. When everyone turned their gaze toward her, her expression shifted instantly, and she whispered softly, "Yay... the director is so considerate of us. Unlike us, who only know how to cause trouble—"

Yu Zhi: ...Is this girl acting? She doesn't seem like the type.

Xia Shuang finally realized what had felt so off about Gu Qing. "Gu Qing, you're quite the performer, aren't you?"

"I don't know what Sister Xia is talking about. Let's finish the task quickly so we can eat. If we delay any longer, it will hold up everyone's dinner, and I would truly feel terrible." Gu Qing’s voice trembled, trying her best to maintain her persona.

Yu Zhi was already dragging Zhou Su toward the turntable. The wheel, painted in vibrant, chaotic colors, was covered in abstract symbols.

"Are we spinning for a scene or for our specific challenges?"

A new question arose, and Yu Zhi looked at the director to raise her objection.

"This... that depends on you. Do you want everyone to perform the same scene, or one each?"

Zhao Liheng thought for a moment and kicked the ball back to the guests, saving himself from their future complaints about the difficulty.

"Zhizhi, why don't we do the same one? That way, those who perform later can learn from the failures of those who went before." Shi Hai ling, considering that some had never acted before, offered a suggestion.

Yu Zhi nodded and gave the turntable a flick with her right hand. It spun wildly, circling a dozen times before the speed began to drop, finally coming to rest on a symbol she didn't recognize.

Zhao Liheng gave a knowing smile, pulled a card from the box behind him, and handed it to Yu Zhi.

"Yu Zhi, this is your challenge task."

Xia Shuang rubbed her arms, though there were no goosebumps to be found. "The director’s smile is so creepy; Yu Zhi is definitely going to make a fool of herself!"

Shen Jiayu’s gaze followed Yu Zhi’s movements. He barely heard Xia Shuang, and only snapped back to reality after she pinched him. "She has her own ideas."

Xia Shuang was furious. Was she asking if Yu Zhi had a solution? She wanted to find someone to watch Yu Zhi make a fool of herself with her. That someone used to be Shen Jiayu, but now...

Yu Zhi flipped over the task card. Written on it were a few distinct characters: *New Style Jenga.*

Completely bewildered, she asked the director, "What does this mean? I can't even understand it; how are we supposed to complete the task?"

"You'll see when you look at the script in a moment."

Zhao Liheng struggled to suppress a laugh. While he spoke in riddles, the other guests also drew their challenge contents one by one. Some wore the same confused expressions as Yu Zhi, while others furrowed their brows, clearly unenthusiastic about their tasks.

[Hurry up and serve it! I want to see! You’re keeping it so hidden—are you expecting me to act it out myself?]
[Intriguing expressions! Yes, I mean you, Professor Li! I want to see how you complete your task later!]

Slipping the card into her pocket, Yu Zhi scanned everyone’s expressions, marking them as targets for future observation. Soon, everyone knew their tasks by heart and resumed their usual masks.

Zhao Liheng stood before them with a bright red megaphone. "Let me explain the scene you'll be performing. Since you chose the same scene, doing it simultaneously shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"The title of the piece is 'Flowers in Bloom.' I believe you are all slightly familiar with it."

Yu Zhi lifted her lowered eyes. The director was really dancing on the edge of a blade. This was a film that had sparked massive controversy when it was released last year, and he was flaunting it right here.

'Flowers in Bloom