"It was originally 8,000 yuan, but I haggled it down to 1,800. Not bad, right! This is the Queen of Gems!" Qiu Xinxue boasted. "It's a black opal! Too bad it's too small, and the iridescence isn't displayed very well. If it were a bit bigger, it might look even better."
"But if it were bigger, it would cost us 3,000 yuan, and we definitely couldn't afford it."
After saying this, Qiu Xinxue looked at Ji Meina and the other two, expecting their praise.
Ji Meina and Lin Yirou didn't speak, their gazes shifting to Xia Qingtian.
"Hmm... I don't really understand gemstones," Xia Qingtian said with a dry laugh. "With these things, the most important thing is that the buyer is happy. Everything else is just added value."
Hearing Xia Qingtian's words, Ji Meina and Lin Yirou immediately understood.
This Qiu Xinxue had spent a lot of money on something worthless.
It seemed that the gemstone bracelet was indeed not as grand or as beautiful as the gemstone brooch shown to the old lady that day, resembling more like scrap materials after various processing.
"We don't understand gemstones either. As long as it looks good, that's enough," Ji Meina and Lin Yirou also said with a dry laugh.
Hearing the three compliment her bracelet, Qiu Xinxue beamed with even more pride.
Ji Meina had initially thought she would be the most embarrassed that day. Seeing Qiu Xinxue, whose face clearly proclaimed her to be a "sucker," Ji Meina felt much better.
The next morning, the third week's activities began.
In the third week's activities, everyone was dispersed again, becoming independent individuals to complete the week's tasks.
The program team did not announce the content of the third week's activity but handed over an envelope.
"Isn't this the envelope that was in the treasure chest I found?" Ji Meina asked curiously upon seeing it.
"Meina, please read the contents of the envelope," Xia Qingtian said.
"Okay." Ji Meina responded, then opened the envelope, unfolded the letter inside, and read its contents:
"Dear Esteemed Guests,
Hello.
We are the owners of this villa and hope you have enjoyed your stay these past few days. We apologize that we cannot personally host you as our youngest daughter, Nini, has gone missing.
We heard news of Nini in other cities and have already driven off to search. By the time you read this letter, we will have already left Z City.
Once again, we apologize and hope you enjoy the rooms and meals we have prepared for you.
Gold Miner, Future Soldier, Count Dracula, Librarian, Floral Expert, Mr. Perfectionist, Sweetheart Princess, Mermaid Bubbles.
We once again express our sincerest apologies to all of you.
Additionally, if you happen to find any clues or evidence regarding Nini's whereabouts during our absence, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Your friends,
The Villa Owners."
After Ji Meina finished reading the letter, everyone was a bit bewildered.
The viewers who had just reopened the live stream were also confused.
[Wow, this dating show actually has a main storyline!]
[I thought I was watching a dating show, but it's a puzzle game? I thought it was a puzzle game, but it's a chaotic variety show. I thought it was a chaotic variety show, but it suddenly revealed its true nature and told me it's a script-killing game!!! Damn! Is the program team this good at hiding things?]
[Is the program team competing with Xia Qingtian to see who can cause more chaos?]
[Look at what the guests have pushed the program team to do. A certain woman who is building a harem, can you please pay attention to your own behavior?]
[Xia Qingtian's fans, don't be so presumptuous. The program flow is all pre-arranged, so how can it be related to Xia Qingtian? You guys are really trying to piggyback on her fame.]
[If you ask me, the program team is amazing. This veteran variety show has so many tricks. I'd say 'Heartbeat Step One' has made a solid comeback.]
[It's also thanks to the guests playing along so well; otherwise, it wouldn't be this popular.]
[I'm really tired of them praising Xia Qingtian again, get lost! I'm annoyed just looking at her!]
[Xia Qingtian! Xia Qingtian! Xia Qingtian! I will say Xia Qingtian, and if you don't like it, don't watch!]
[@#￥￥%……&]
While the live stream was erupting into arguments, the program team continued with their plans.
The guests began to identify their roles based on the characteristics of their rooms.
"So, our activity this week is to find information about Nini, right?" Sweetheart Princess Ji Meina asked the program team, passing the letter she held to others to see.
[Yes, this week's activity is to find the missing Nini. Guests who successfully find Nini will receive a mysterious grand prize from the program team. We hope everyone will continue to strive in the next five days.]
[All guests can search individually or team up, entirely at your discretion.]
[Also, we will need to confiscate the guests' communication devices this week. We hope all guests will cooperate and hand over their phones and other communication devices to the program team.]
[Finally, a reminder to certain guests, this is a legitimate variety show!]
Xia Qingtian shrunk her neck, feeling like the program team had called her out, but she had no proof.
The guests discussed the upcoming activities and walked outside. At this moment, the program team called Xia Qingtian aside individually.
"I really don't cause trouble!" Xia Qingtian, who was asked to stay behind, said weakly, innocently rubbing her hands. "There's no need to keep me behind for criticism."
The program team members shook their heads, then pointed at Xia Qingtian and said, "You are Nini."
"???" Xia Qingtian was stunned for a moment. That wasn't right. According to the original script, Nini wasn't in the villa; there was only a letter of her running away, accusing her parents of neglect.
Then the theme would elevate, calling for everyone to pay attention to the emotional development of adolescents and children. That was the authentic script in her previous life.
How did she end up being Nini?
Good heavens, did the program team have to go to such lengths to prevent her from causing trouble?
"If other guests find Nini, they win. If no guests find Nini, you win," the program team member said solemnly. "There are many directional clues in the villa. You need to disrupt the guests while they are deciphering them and prevent them from associating the clues with you. Additionally, you have the right to eliminate other guests. Over the next five days, you can eliminate at most one person per day."
"Got it." Although the plan had changed, Xia Qingtian quickly understood and gave an OK gesture.
The viewers in the live stream erupted again. No wonder the program team wanted to confiscate their communication devices; they were blocking everyone here, afraid that everyone would know Xia Qingtian was the wolf, right?
[I thought I was watching a dating show, but it's a puzzle game. I thought it was a puzzle game, but it's a chaotic variety show. I thought it was a chaotic variety show, but it suddenly revealed its true nature and told me it's a script-killing game. Just when I accepted it was a script-killing game, it suddenly turned into a werewolf game!]
Who wouldn't exclaim: Program team, amazing!