Chapter 278
After coming out of the escape room, they got back on the Love Investigation tour bus and headed for the next location.
The resentment inside the bus was heavier than the ghosts themselves.
Especially those four who had just been scared half to death.
Not only had they been treated to a “wake-up call package” early in the morning, but all the ridiculous scenes of them being terrified in the escape room had already been clipped into GIFs and memes by netizens.
Repeated public executions.
Their souls were gone. Their dignity, too.
Lai Bingxuan nibbled on a piece of chocolate to calm herself.
Qiu Chengye caught a whiff and leaned over. “Where’d you get money to buy chocolate?”
The others immediately snapped their heads toward her.
When each of them only had 500 yuan of living allowance left, barely enough for half a bun at breakfast, chocolate was clearly a luxury.
After all, prices in Love Town were outrageously high.
Lai Bingxuan instantly panicked.
She recalled how last night, Xie Mi had secretly stuffed her with snacks and told her not to let anyone else know.
Thinking quickly, she blurted:
“It’s Xiao Jingxi’s. He hid a bunch of food, loads of it!”
Everyone’s eyes instantly shifted toward Xiao Jingxi.
“???”
If not for the cameras, Xiao Jingxi would’ve exploded right then.
So every time there’s a mess, you all just dump the blame on me, huh?
[Yesterday Qiu Chengye dumped the blame, today Sister Lai’s dumping it—Xiao Jingxi’s about to become a professional scapegoat]
[Didn’t he make Sister Xie carry the blame for ages before? Serves him right]
[Clear Soup Lord!]
In the unnoticed corner, Lai Bingxuan shot Xie Mi a victorious look.
Xie Mi gave her a thumbs-up.
Well done.
“Today’s first dating task, the escape room, is complete!”
Director Niu, wearing his little mic, arrived late but finally. “Now it’s noon, time for lunch. All meals during the date will be covered by the show, so everyone can enjoy yourselves.”
At those words, the guests—hungry since last night—lit up with excitement.
“At least the production team has a little conscience,” Qiu Chengye nodded in satisfaction.
Xu Shuangrong smiled faintly. “Even though the show exaggerates for effect, the director won’t actually starve us.”
“Is it really that simple?” Liu Woxing was doubtful.
“Of course, it still depends on the viewers’ votes.”
Director Niu smirked cunningly. “While you were in the escape room, the second voting round had already begun!”
“At noon, for lunch—should you go to a trending restaurant, or cook for yourselves?”
The guests’ faces fell at once.
Xie Mi reacted first, putting her palms together and chanting with eyes closed: “Trending restaurant, trending restaurant, trending restaurant…”
As if she could control the outcome by magic.
Qiu Chengye, seeing her with eyes shut, mouthed behind her: “Idiot.”
Smack!
Lai Bingxuan and Liu Woxing suddenly pressed their palms together and shut their eyes as well.
“Trending restaurant, trending restaurant…”
Qiu Chengye: “???”
Whoosh!
Xie Mi suddenly stood and began doing a shaman dance, swaying her head and chanting, while Shen Moqing somehow produced a bell and shook it rhythmically.
Still not recovered from the escape room, Qiu Chengye leapt out of his seat in fright.
“Are you all insane?!”
This was cursed!
Xu Shuangrong seized the chance to express “sincerity” toward Xie Mi, and said to Qiu Chengye in a grave tone:
“Don’t mock those braver than you—for the light they strive for can also illuminate you.”
Qiu Chengye: “…”
What the hell.
[I don’t care who you are—nobody’s allowed to get off Old Xie, Old Shen, Sister Liu, or Sister Lai—I love this]
[This looks like a cult ritual. The sudden shaman dance killed me. And Old Shen, where’d you even get that bell?!]
[Sister Liu and Sister Lai are becoming more and more like Old Xie]
[Got it—this is the Old Xie Training Camp. You go in one Old Xie, and come out all Old Xies]
[Hahahahaha, no lies detected!]
Finally, Director Niu revealed the results.
“After an hour of voting, 392,847 viewers participated.”
“Of those, 259,385 chose the trending restaurant!”
“So, our next stop is—the trending restaurant!”
“Nice!” Xie Mi punched the air. “The ritual worked!”
Shen Moqing calmly pocketed his bell and sat down. “Guess it wasn’t shaken in vain.”
Liu Woxing cast Xie Mi another admiring look.
As expected of Teacher Xie.
[What the hell did the ritual have to do with it!!]
[I’m crying with laughter]
[That look in Sister Liu’s eyes—she’s definitely a fangirl now]
[I swear even if Old Xie stood up and sang some ear-torturing song, Sister Liu would still say: ‘As expected of Teacher Xie’]
[Facts]
The trending restaurant result lifted everyone’s spirits. Even Qiu Chengye stopped complaining as they happily rode to the place.
At the entrance, however, they stopped in front of… a dingy little eatery hidden in a side alley.
Qiu Chengye scowled. “This is what you call a trending restaurant?”
“They say the true delicacies are hidden among the people. Don’t judge the taste by the environment.”
Xu Shuangrong, ever optimistic, smiled. “Since it’s a trending restaurant, it must have its unique charm. I think we can expect—”
Before she could finish, a roar came from inside.
“What are you blocking the doorway for?! Eating or not?! If you’re eating, come in and order! Stop dawdling!”
The speaker was the shop owner, stomping past with a tray, cursing nonstop, and even scolding Xu Shuangrong straight to her face.
Her smile froze.
What… was this?
Just then, Xie Mi pulled up some info. “Found it! Turns out this place is actually pretty popular.”
She hit play on a video.
“Today we’re checking out the restaurant with the foulest temper in all of Shanghai. The boss never pampers customers. If you want to eat, be ready to get yelled at. After the scolding, the food tastes even better…”
Everyone: “…”
This world had gone mad.
[So that’s the “unique charm”]
[Wait… by trending restaurant, you meant that kind of trending??]
[Well, technically it is trending]
[How did this place even blow up? I don’t get it, man]
[All masochists, come out—don’t hide]
Suddenly, Yu Jinzhe stepped forward.
The boy’s eyes were clear and resolute.
“Let me take the scolding. That way, you can all eat in peace.”
[Ahhh, my sweet baby!!]
[Jinzhe, you’re making me cry! You may be the youngest, but you’re the most responsible]
[I knew I didn’t stan the wrong person!]
The other guests, unaware of the truth, looked at Yu Jinzhe with gratitude.
So, the seven sat down to eat—while Yu Jinzhe bore the brunt of the hot-tempered boss’s tirade alone.
His responsible image won countless new fans.
Only Xie Mi, slurping noodles, noticed Yu Jinzhe’s expression—resolute on the outside, but secretly enjoying the scolding.
She sighed inwardly.
This kid got off on it again.
