The dolls wearing number one badges on the screen and in the room raised their hands simultaneously, then spoke in childish voices:
"Pick me and you'll get a surprise!"
Doll number two raised its hand:
"Pick me and you won't get a surprise..."
Doll number three raised its hand:
"Number one is lying!"
On the television, the three children in doll costumes lowered their hands after delivering their lines in childish voices and stepped back behind the host.
The host said with a cheerful smile:
"Only one of these dolls will actually give you a gift if you choose it, and only one of them is telling the truth."
"Hurry up and give us your answer!"
Li Xian flexed his fingers. He knew the correct answer as soon as he heard the question.
The television show moved on to waiting for calls. The host kept repeating a phone number that was drowned out by static whenever she said it.
Meanwhile, the three dolls sitting on stools in the room extended their arms and waved gently at Li Xian, signaling for him to touch the correct "option."
Li Xian's gaze settled on doll number two. Seemingly noticing his attention, it waved faster, as though urging him to hurry up and touch it.
No.
Was this question really that simple?
Everything before him seemed designed to lure him into touching doll number two as soon as possible, but that excessive "guidance" only suggested danger.
He stayed where he was. A few seconds later, the host on the television received her first call.
Until then, the television had been quiet enough that he had to move a little closer to hear it clearly. But when the telephone rang, the sound suddenly became piercingly loud-
"Riiing!!!"
Rather than answering immediately, the host feigned delight