Qiu Xinxue felt that the study was the most likely place.
Before, they had only searched the drawers and bookshelves, but now it seemed that even the inconspicuous corners were worth a more careful and bothersome search.
Qiu Xinxue glanced at Lin Yirou, who was still flipping through the bookshelf, and secretly rolled her eyes, cursing in her heart: "Stubborn and clueless."
As time ticked by, Qiu Xinxue searched even under the carpet, but still couldn't find the key, becoming more impatient.
"Half of these books are real, and half are decorative," Lin Yirou said, as if she had discovered something.
"That's normal. Normal people don't have so many books at home; they're just for show," Qiu Xinxue said impatiently, her tone not very good.
"Then... if they are decorative books, does that mean they are hollow inside and can hold things?" Lin Yirou scanned the bookshelf. "In that case, the book title should be the key."
"The key..." Lin Yirou raised her hand and pointed to the spine of a book on the third shelf from the left of the bookshelf. She read the title: "The Key" by Tanizaki Junichiro.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xinxue immediately stepped forward and took the decorative book. When she shook it, she heard the sound of hard objects rattling inside.
Her eyes lit up, and Qiu Xinxue quickly opened the book, took out the key the size of her palm from the middle, her eyes shining. With the victor's demeanor, she waved the key in her hand and smiled brilliantly, "I found it!"
Seeing Qiu Xinxue like this, Lin Yirou's gaze dimmed slightly. Then, she silently stepped back half a pace and only smiled faintly, saying, "Congratulations."
"Heh, not at all. Sister Rourou is smarter. This is the result of our joint efforts." Qiu Xinxue walked towards Lin Yirou, smiling. While saying this, she held the key tightly, showing no intention of sharing the fruits of her labor with Lin Yirou.
Lin Yirou saw through it but didn't expose it. She just smiled faintly and said, "Let's go down first. We don't know how others are doing."
"Okay, let's hurry. I wonder how Qing Tian and the others are doing." Qiu Xinxue now desperately wanted to find Xia Qingtian to show off the key she found, to boost her own prestige.
Her steps even became lighter.
Lin Yirou followed behind Qiu Xinxue in silence, but she had already made a judgment about Qiu Xinxue in her heart: this person is too focused on gains and losses. A nodding acquaintance is enough; one should never get too close.
When Lin Yirou and Qiu Xinxue arrived in the living room, they found that both groups of male guests were already in the living room, drinking tea and chatting.
Upon asking, they learned that the men had found nothing and had given up.
Only Xia Qingtian and Ji Meina had not yet returned.
"Call them back," Qiu Xinxue said, shaking the key in her hand. "There was nothing on the second-floor balcony, just a decorative pond, a low landscape made of rocks, and some flowers and plants. Nothing else."
"You found it? How lucky," Ling Feng Han said with a shallow smile. "It seems Qing Tian will be disappointed this time."
Just then, Ji Meina and Xia Qingtian also came down from the stairs. Ji Meina said with a smile, "We found the key~"
"Hm?" Everyone then looked at Xia Qingtian and Ji Meina with surprised expressions. "You found the key too?"
"Yes, it was under the pile of rocks. Qing Tian is so smart! I never would have thought there would be a key there!" Ji Meina couldn't help but praise.
"No, it was just good luck," Xia Qingtian said with a slight smile.
"So... you two both found keys?" everyone looked at Qiu Xinxue, then at Xia Qingtian.
"I remember there were supposed to be nine fake keys and one real key. Now, we don't know which of the keys you two are holding is real and which is fake," Ji Jun said, as if recalling something.
"We'll know soon." Qiu Xinxue was very confident. The spine of that book was titled "The Key," didn't that already prove it was the real key?
What real key could be under a pile of rocks?
After a short rest, it was soon two o'clock, and the program crew led the eight guests to the entrance of the secret room on the basement level.
[Congratulations to the guests for finding all ten keys. As a reward, the difficulty of next week's mission will be reduced by one level.]
The program crew's voice came through the electronic device, causing all eight guests to smile faintly.
[Each guest holding a key has one, and only one, chance to try the key. We hope everyone cherishes their opportunity.
Now, please the first guest to try the key.]
Hearing this, Qiu Xinxue looked at Xia Qingtian. "Qing Tian, I'll try first then."
She wanted to save Xia Qingtian the trouble of even trying the key.
Xia Qingtian smiled and nodded, watching Qiu Xinxue take out the key and walk to the door of the secret room.
As the key was inserted, Qiu Xinxue's lips couldn't stop curling upwards, but her smile quickly froze.
It wouldn't turn!
No matter how hard she tried, in whichever direction she turned it, it wouldn't budge.
"Is it... stuck?" Qiu Xinxue asked the program crew awkwardly.
[It is not stuck. This key is not the real key. Please the next guest to try the key.]
The program crew's voice came, causing Qiu Xinxue's expression to stiffen slightly.
But she maintained her image, pulled out the fake key, took two steps back, and watched Xia Qingtian step forward with a dry smile.
With a "click," the secret room door was easily opened.
[Congratulations to this guest for winning the first week's activity and receiving our prize, a 300g pure gold bar. Please, our mascot assistant, Xiao Dudu, present our prize.]
At this moment, the brand's mascot, dressed in a fat costume, trotted over and presented the prize, interacted and took photos with Xia Qingtian in front of the camera, and then trotted away.
Everyone began to applaud. Qiu Xinxue stood aside and clapped perfunctorily a few times.
[Now, please all guests move to the living room to rest. In 30 minutes, we will have "Heartbeat Matchmaking," where guests will choose their preferred partners or those they wish to get to know better.]
Having obtained the gold bar, Xia Qingtian was in a great mood and joked with the program crew, "Can I choose anyone?"
The program crew playfully responded, [We uphold the principle of absolute freedom. Male guests can also choose each other if they fancy each other~ Our program is very open, as long as it doesn't cause trouble that prevents broadcast!]
If you want to be witty, the program crew is even wittier.
Everyone chuckled and sat down in the living room. They gathered around Xia Qingtian, curiously asking to see the gold bar.
The 300g gold bar was quite weighty in hand.
Seeing Xia Qingtian in the center of attention, Qiu Xinxue felt a pang of unease.
"Remember why you're here," Lü Songtao said from the side, giving Qiu Xinxue a stern look. He said in a voice only they could hear, "Don't waste time on trivial matters."
After saying this, Lü Songtao gave Xia Qingtian a malicious glare before quickly concealing the malice in his eyes.
"Don't worry, I remember," Qiu Xinxue gritted her teeth before putting on a harmless smile again.