CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: THE OUTSIDER IS ALREADY DEAD

Was there anyone who knew this scene would happen long ago? I can’t tell.

But those who remain indifferent in this scene are very suspicious.

After checking the expressions of the people around him, everyone focused their gaze on Cheng Zhirang.

Cheng Zhirang maintained his usual calm expression, and because of those gentle eyes and the slight curve at the corner of his mouth, others’ calmness seemed to have an added touch of warmth for him.

"It’s not me," he said.

Mu Qiu & Guan Yu: "I believe him!"

Li Yang showed an indescribable expression: "Don’t you think your trust is coming a bit too quickly?"

Zhu Qi: "If I said so, would you believe me too?"

Guan Yu: "Do you want the truth?"

Zhu Qi: "No need, goodbye."

Shu Ran burst into laughter amidst the variety show atmosphere that everyone had worked hard to create, interjecting with a segment of a fairy changing faces, "Brother Cheng doesn’t look like a bad guy. I believe him too."

The only person who could seamlessly and unawkwardly pick up the conversation was Zhu Qi, who sighed, "Maybe good looks are God’s test for honest people like me."

Mu Qiu decided to ignore that awkward interjection and continued staring at Cheng Zhirang: "Brother Cheng, are you sure you’re telling the truth? We are teammates."

Lin Banyan nodded beside him, also staring at him: "We are teammates."

Cheng Zhirang’s expression was utterly natural as he responded with a question: "If you found out there was deception among us, what would you do?"

Lin Banyan’s clear voice answered without hesitation: "I’d walk away and turn against you."

Su Yan’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before quickly shifting away.

Mu Qiu silently chanted, "There are cameras everywhere, don’t look at them, don’t look at them," trying hard to keep his gaze fixed on the ground in front of him, "Ultimately, this episode is about individual wins and losses. If you lied to us... Director, can reporting within the team earn extra points?"

Cheng Zhirang looked at her with a disappointed heartthrob expression.

"Actually, now we can proceed to the first round of analysis."

Su Yan unintentionally spoke again, "Since every group has such a scene recreate, it certainly won’t be in vain. There will be clues. After each round of scene recreation, we can analyze it once, gather everyone’s clues together—anyway, the author said this is ultimately an individual battle. If we can eject that God, we’ll win."

Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Anyone with a little experience in Werewolf or similar shows knows what to do, but this is only the first episode. With a top celebrity joining, those capable of mixing in the entertainment world know which spotlight to give to whom.

Zhu Qi continued right after Su Yan: "Then we can first analyze one round of you guys, first analyze the main characters in the scene recreation, and then look at the off-stage performance."

Shu Ran also agreed: "Then let’s first analyze Su Yan. He’s interacted with those two performers."

"So let’s begin the suspect’s self-statement time with Su Yan," Guan Yu prepared to listen.

Su Yan lowered his eyes, pondered, then said something very strange.

"I knew nothing about my identity at first, all the information I received was about Brother Cheng and Mu Qiu."

Everyone was surprised. Cheng Zhirang thought for a while and asked him, "What information?"

Su Yan revealed the information he initially got from the task card: "The couple living to the right of the small villa fell in love at seventeen and married at twenty-two. They encountered one of the most common issues faced by longtime couples, but what’s different is that one was too obsessed to let go, and the other constantly wanted to escape but also felt immensely guilty. As for the outsider, they are already dead."

The last sentence was the key point.

"The outsider is already dead?"

Mu Qiu looked at Lin Banyan, Lin Banyan looked at Zhu Qi.

Lin Banyan felt puzzled: "I’m family."

"But you are an outsider in this relationship."

Zhu Qi: "What about me? Just because my role was a corpse, I have to take the blame for all the dead?!"

Li Yang silently watched him: "So, Brother Zhu Qi, were you an infiltrated spy?"

Zhu Qi was on the verge of breakdown: "I’m not! I’m wronged! I’m truly just your pure little brother-in-law! The kind that bullies others and drains family wealth!"

"If you can say something like that, you probably aren’t a spy," Guan Yu laughed loudly, "Shi Yuhuai, what do you think?"

Some people turned their gaze to Shi Yuhuai, who had remained silent.

He didn’t seem suited for variety shows. Without being mentioned, he barely spoke. Yet, ironically, a substantial portion of the show’s traffic came from him...

Mu Qiu was still analyzing Shi Yuhuai’s character when Shi Yuhuai calmly spoke and directly pointed names.

"Sister Guan Yu is probably not, Su Yan is uncertain, Brother Cheng is too calm, very suspicious. Why is Zhu Qi playing a corpse? Might be connected to the already dead outsider. Shu Ran is too emotionally expressive. Could be acting, also very suspicious."

Shu Ran, once again targeted: ......

Nobody expected that he was silently analyzing each person’s potential while staying quiet.

Guan Yu excitedly stirred things up: "So if you had to blindly vote for a God, who would you cast your vote for?"

Shi Yuhuai lifted his gaze: "Su Yan, or Brother Cheng."

"Why?"

"Because the information is incomplete, I can’t speak for others."

"......"

Incomplete information, well, indeed it’s incomplete information. After each person analyzed it based on this incomplete information, they decided to actively seek an opportunity for the second scene recreation.

Just as they stood up to leave, the lawyer who had been sitting straight suddenly spoke.

"Sister Guan."

Hearing this, Guan Yu had already walked two or three steps, sensed something was off, and turned back hesitantly: "... Are you calling me?"

The lawyer nodded earnestly.

Sister Guan Yu* hesitantly walked back, with an aged expression: "Is there anything else?"

"Hey, sister, with you like this, I feel bad too. How about this, come find me again in two days. I’ll ask my senior brother to see if there’s another way. Remember, come back in three days. Oh, and those two neighboring families of yours are also getting divorced. I’ve called them but no one answered, please tell them to come back in two or three days."

Guan Yu was stunned for a moment, nodded, and looked back at the others.

Why did the lawyer emphasize three days later?

Are the others getting divorced too?

On the same day at the same place?

As expected, these are not ordinary neighbors; even divorce needs to be a joint affair.

Mu Qiu just thought of this, and a fleeting thought quickly crossed her mind.

She paused in her steps and turned back to ask Guan Yu, "How many times have you been here?"

Guan Yu: "Twice? She said I came three days ago, and then today."

"The scene recreation is from three days ago, and three days ago was just when you first came to inquire. Initially, I thought the broadcast about three days ago referred to three days before today, but just now that lawyer said three days later we’ll come again together..."

"Don’t tell me you suspect that the three days ago refers to three days before three days later?"