The director looked at Jiang Ze awkwardly, but Chen Yong'an was getting on in years, and he couldn't very well slight such a veteran of the entertainment industry.
Jiang Ze could tell perfectly well that Shen Yun was doing this on purpose. His face remained expressionless, but inwardly, he grumbled.
Shen Yun really is just as scheming as he was in the book.
Still, staying alone would actually be more comfortable for him. He could freely take out the everyday supplies he had prepared in his storage slots.
He hadn't even used the air mattress he'd bought specially yet. He figured it would be pretty good.
"I don't mind. Staying in the Cave really wouldn't be suitable for Mr. Chen. I'm fine staying by myself."
Chen Yong'an had been about to say something, but after hearing that, he could only offer a slightly apologetic explanation.
His work had left him with chronic back problems. Spending a night in the Cave with nothing but a sleeping bag might genuinely leave him suffering all night.
In the end, they decided that Jiang Ze would sleep alone in the Cave, Shen Yun, Du Chen, and Chen Yong'an would share the large tent, and the two women would stay in the small tent.
The Cave wasn't actually far from the task site. For the guests' safety, the Production Crew also assigned two staff members to pitch a small tent beside it.
Before it grew completely dark, the others, curious themselves, accompanied Jiang Ze and the staff to the Cave.
"This place seems pretty nice."
Du Chen looked at the two sleeping bags and assorted everyday supplies laid out simply inside the Cave. It had something of the feel of a quirky guesthouse.
As soon as they entered the Cave, everyone felt that it was a little cooler inside than outside.
"It's so cold in here. What if you get sick after sleeping here all night?"
Jin Zhizhi had complained about the Production Crew's arrangements the whole way over. What kind of bizarre thought process had led someone to make a guest sleep in a cave?
Although she wasn't staying here herself, she felt a little worried after Jiang Ze had spoken up for her earlier.
Jiang Ze found a cushion at random and sat down, stretching lazily as though he couldn't care less.
He even turned around and reassured her.
"It's fine. This cave isn't deep, and it's only two hundred meters from you guys. I'll just treat it as a new experience. I've really never stayed in a cave before."
Seeing that he wasn't worried at all and even looked intrigued, Jin Zhizhi rolled her eyes.
She had never met anyone so carefree.
They chatted a little longer, giving the Production Crew plenty of footage, before heading back to rest one after another, leaving Jiang Ze alone.
Jiang Ze played a match-three game on his phone for a while. There was no internet in the mountains, let alone inside the Cave, where the reception was even worse. He could only play offline games.
Just as he was about to go to sleep, he suddenly heard faint footsteps coming from the entrance.
He frowned and asked the system a couple of questions. The person outside turned out to be Shen Yun.
At that moment, Shen Yun quietly slipped past the staff's small tent near the entrance and tiptoed up to the Cave.
Jiang Ze had no idea what he wanted. Once Shen Yun reached the Cave, he stopped trying to conceal his movements and strode right in.
"Shen Yun? What are you doing here?"
Shen Yun showed no panic at being caught. He wore a smile that looked downright creepy this late at night.
"I didn't get a good look at this cave earlier, so I wanted to come back and check it out myself. I was also worried you might not be used to staying alone!"
Jiang Ze had no idea what he was up to, so he could only wait and see. He silently watched Shen Yun approach the rocky wall inside and feel around for something, inch by inch.
"System, what do you think he's doing? Is he looking for that Jade Pendant? But surely he wouldn't look for it right in front of me."
Shen Yun's baffling actions left him at a loss.
Shen Yun walked to the far end of the Cave, his hands carefully feeling along the stone wall. Before long, a series of clicks abruptly broke the silence.
Jiang Ze stared, dumbfounded, as a small opening appeared in the stone wall at the far end, just large enough for one person to pass through.
"Wow! Jiang Ze, come look! There's actually a hidden mechanism here!"
Shen Yun called out in an exaggerated voice. Jiang Ze walked over, only to see him slip straight through the little opening.
What's going on? How does Shen Yun dare to go straight in? He even seems prepared, as though he already knew about this mechanism. But isn't this his first time here too?
Jiang Ze felt that something was very wrong with Shen Yun's behavior, but he had no time to dwell on it. His instincts told him this place had something to do with Shen Yun's fortuitous opportunity, so he followed him inside.
Beyond the small opening lay an entirely different scene.
Not only was the space more than five times larger than the outer chamber, but a series of small stone platforms were also arranged at staggered heights along the upper section.
Shen Yun was standing beside one of the platforms, holding a Wooden Box.
"Shen Yun, what are you holding?"
Jiang Ze kept feeling that his expression was strange. There was no unease or surprise, as though he knew everything in advance. He hadn't even opened the box.
"Jiang Ze, it looks like there are loads of treasures here. Could this be some kind of treasure stash? I found a Jade Pendant on this platform. Maybe the others have something too!"
Only then did he open the box in his hands. Sure enough, it held an oval, emerald-green Jade Pendant, with what seemed to be a design carved into it.
"System, is it the one he's holding?"
The system knew what he meant. It seemed to spend a moment checking before answering, its voice a little excited.
"That's right, host. That's the one!"
Seeing that Jiang Ze wasn't moving, Shen Yun frowned. His tone grew a little impatient, though he still tried to speak nicely.
"Jiang Ze, look at that platform over there. There really is another wooden box, just like the one I'm holding. Come take a look!"
Jiang Ze's eyes flickered. As though he really had been tempted, he hurried over.
"Where?"
When Shen Yun saw him approach, he grabbed him and yanked hard, then picked up the box and made to run outside.
Although Jiang Ze looked thin, he had been exercising ever since transmigrating here. How could Shen Yun's feeble grip possibly drag him around? He turned and exerted a little strength, sending Shen Yun stumbling and the box in his hands crashing to the ground.
"My Jade Pendant!"
The Jade Pendant fell out of the box. Shen Yun landed on the ground and froze for a moment. Ignoring Jiang Ze, he scrambled up with all his strength, snatched the Jade Pendant to his chest, and swiftly slipped out through the small opening.
Jiang Ze glanced at the empty little stone platform beside him. He knew Shen Yun had deliberately lured him over, but what was his goal?
He was just about to leave when the familiar clicking sound came from the entrance.
"Shit, Shen Yun really is a bastard!"
Shen Yun had actually closed the little opening from outside. By the time Jiang Ze ran over, it was already too late.
Only then did he realize what Shen Yun had been after. He had gone to all this trouble to come here in the middle of the night and lure Jiang Ze inside just to trap him in this chamber.
Jiang Ze felt around the stone wall inside the entrance, but there was no mechanism like the one outside. Apparently, it was a one-sided switch that could only be operated from outside.
Shen Yun really was sinister to the core.
Outside, Shen Yun swiftly pressed the button. Watching Jiang Ze run toward him in alarm filled him with satisfaction.
The mechanism was extremely well concealed. Made of stone, it blended into the wall. If he hadn't been unlucky enough to get assigned this Cave in his previous life and then happened upon the switch by chance, he would never have discovered the Jade Pendant.
He wiped away some signs of disturbance on the stone wall, then used Jiang Ze's shoes to leave footprints leading away from the main entrance before sauntering back.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ze sat on the largest stone platform, his face expressionless.
"Host, it looks like you're trapped!"
Jiang Ze showed no sign of panic. He even wore a faint smile as he carefully examined an emerald-green object that had appeared in his hands from who knew where.
It was none other than the Jade Pendant Shen Yun had treasured so dearly just moments ago.
"This trip wasn't a loss. I've got the Jade Pendant now, haven't I?"
Before you continue