The show ended

Su Li tapped the mirror's surface, and ripples spread across it like water.

"Smash it," Su Li ordered the Ghost Doll.

The Ghost Doll's eyes lit up. She had wanted to do this for decades!

She struck the mirror with her palm, but it did not break.

She concentrated all her strength and resentment into her hand and struck the mirror again.

This time, a few cracks appeared on it.

The Ghost Doll beamed with delight.

The Mirror Ghost inside seemed to have been awakened, and a face appeared on the mirror's surface.

The Mirror Ghost was about to kill the person who had disturbed its sleep, only to discover that it was the Ghost Doll.

"How did you get out?!" it roared at the Ghost Doll in disbelief.

The Ghost Doll sneered. "Didn't expect that, did you? My lord rescued me."

"Impossible! Who could rescue you?" the Mirror Ghost roared, then saw the androgynous-looking youth beside her.

"You? Die!!" It tried to drag Su Li into the mirror and kill him.

The Mirror Ghost suddenly felt a terrifying force sweep toward him. He stared at Su Li in horror and was sucked into the Ghost Ring without even being able to struggle.

The Brass Mirror shattered completely as well.

When An Hui, Chen Zhuo, and Cheng Sirong saw that there was actually a face in the mirror, and that it had even spoken, they pieced it together with Su Li's earlier conversation with the Ghost Doll and realized that these were probably real ghosts, and that Su Li was no ordinary person either.

Because they knew that, no matter what, Wang Xiang would never give the guests scripts.

Su Li seemed very familiar with this Ghost Doll. Last time, she had vanished without explanation.

Only Song You and the two cameramen still thought Su Li was genuinely triggering the plot and that all of this had been arranged by the production team.

Su Li clapped his hands and told the Ghost Doll, "Go back and wait for me."

The Ghost Doll was deeply grateful to Su Li and bowed to him. "Yes. Thank you, my lord."

Su Li turned and walked toward An Hui and the others.

An Hui, Cheng Sirong, and Chen Zhuo immediately came forward and gathered around Su Li. "Are you okay?"

They felt that, no matter who Su Li was, he was someone they had accepted as their friend, and they would not fear him.

Su Li paused and looked at them in surprise. "You..."

An Hui interrupted him. "Xiao Su, you're our friend. There's no need to say anything else."

Chen Zhuo tugged at Su Li's sleeve. "Exactly, Brother Su. I've decided you're my brother, no matter who you are."

"Aw, once the show's over, I'll treat you all to dinner. How about hot pot, Xiao Su?" Cheng Sirong offered heartily.

Su Li looked at the three of them for a long time, then broke into a genuine smile. "Sure. Hot pot it is!"

"Yes! They've been controlling my diet lately, and my assistant won't let me eat anything high-calorie. I've been craving hot pot so badly! I want the beef-tallow broth!" Chen Zhuo cheered.

An Hui shook his head with a smile. "You're going to drive Xiao Qian mad!"

"Hey, he can't keep me in line~"

Cheng Sirong aired her grievances. "I've been watching my weight lately too. I can't even eat much rice."

"Can't be helped. In this line of work, you just can't stuff yourself..."

Su Li watched them with a smile and said to Yuan in his mind, Who would have thought I'd actually make friends in my third life?

"They're quite good. Although they're ordinary people, they're worthy of being your friends, Master," Yuan said, offering rare praise.

"Yuan, this is the first time I've heard you praise someone else," Su Li teased him.

"They're sincere, and they haven't lied to you."

Su Li sighed. "Yes. It feels nice spending time with them."

When the livestream resumed, the viewers flooded back in, only to find the guests already chatting and laughing in the first-floor hall.

[??? What did I miss?]

[So what happened just now? I'm dying to know.]

[Was that boss defeated? And what about the Ghost Doll?]

[Director Wang just had to drop the ball on the last day. The equipment actually malfunctioned during the livestream.]

[I have to say, Li Bao really is everyone's favorite. They're all gathered around him.]

[Li Bao's smile is so gentle, sob sob.]

Wang Xiang shouted through a megaphone, "The third installment of 'Brave Challenge' is over! A perfect finish!"

Several staff members beside him set off confetti poppers.

Wang Xiang certainly did not think he had dropped the ball at the end. He was happier than anyone. It was finally over, and he needed to get out of this sinister Manor as soon as possible.

Besides, this installment's popularity, buzz, and recorded-broadcast ratings were more than three times those of the previous two installments. He was now at the very top of variety-show directors.

[Ah, that was so fast. It's already over.]

[Sob sob, I don't want it to end.]

[Even though something went wrong at the end, this installment was peak quality.]

[Li Bao! When will we get to see you again?]

[Li Bao must have gained some fame after this variety show. He'll get opportunities in the future!]

The livestream ended.

The assistant director smiled at Wang Xiang. "Director, where did you find the props and projection equipment for this installment? The quality was amazing. I actually thought they were real ghosts earlier."

Wang Xiang's smile suddenly stiffened. "Good luck. I was lucky enough to borrow them..." he said awkwardly.

An Hui and the others gave odd smiles, then heard Su Li remark, "I thought they were real at first too. Gave me quite a fright. But then I thought, ghosts don't exist. We still have to trust science."

"Exactly! Trust science!" the others agreed.

But at that moment, while everyone else was busy wrapping up and paying no attention to Su Li, An Hui, Cheng Sirong, and Chen Zhuo were watching him the whole time.

A black-robed figure faintly appeared behind Su Li!

It even seemed to have Su Li encircled in a protective posture!

Before they could take a closer look, it vanished.

An Hui/Cheng Sirong/Chen Zhuo: Xiao Su (Brother Su), there's nothing scientific about you at all! (ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ

Everyone was getting ready to head upstairs, pack, and leave. The four of them planned to feast on hot pot before leaving City C.

They were still discussing what dishes to order.

Song You watched them enviously from the side.

Just then, Liu Jinjian's assistant, Fan Ping, ran downstairs in a panic and told the director, "Director Wang, something seems to have happened to Brother Liu. No matter how much I call him, he won't open the door!"

Wang Xiang was startled. "Was anything wrong when you brought him food today?"

"He sent me a message this morning saying not to bring any food, and another at noon. I thought he couldn't possibly go a whole day without eating, so I went to knock just now, but there was no response no matter how much I knocked!"

Wang Xiang's heart sank. Nothing had better happen at a time like this.

"Come upstairs with me, quick!" He took several staff members up to the second floor.

Su Li and the others exchanged glances. They had no intention of getting involved and went upstairs to pack as well.

At Liu Jinjian's door, Wang Xiang knocked. "Mr. Liu, it's Wang Xiang. Open the door!"

Sure enough, there was no answer. Something really might have happened.

He told a staff member, "Kick the door open!"

The staff member was strong and kicked the door open in just a few tries.

"Mr. Liu, are you here?"

Wang Xiang looked around the room, but there was no one there. If he was not here, where had he gone?

"Director Wang, look!" a staff member called.

He pointed at a half-open wardrobe, with a foot sticking out of it.

Someone opened the wardrobe, and everyone was shocked to discover Liu Jinjian inside!

"Why is he in here?" "No idea?"

The production crew broke into a flurry of discussion.

Wang Xiang turned and shouted angrily, "What are you all still talking for? Call an ambulance! Hurry up and get him out!"

Everyone immediately lifted Liu Jinjian out of the wardrobe.

The ambulance arrived quickly, and a doctor came upstairs and examined him first. "It's shock-induced syncope. Looks like he fainted from fright. It's been over ten hours. Any later, and he probably wouldn't have survived."

Wang Xiang shuddered inwardly at those words. Frightened into unconsciousness?

Liu Jinjian was taken to the hospital.

Wang Xiang smoked a cigarette. Although what had happened to Liu Jinjian had nothing to do with the production team, he was a little frightened.

He checked the security footage outside Liu Jinjian's door. Apart from Fan Ping coming to knock, no one had gone inside.

Then there could only be one explanation.

He understood now. Of the entire production team, Zhao Yuhao, Meng Chichi, and Liu Jinjian had all offended him.

And afterward, each of those three had ended up worse off than the last.

Even if this Manor was haunted, why were An Hui, Cheng Sirong, Chen Zhuo, and Song You all fine? Why had the ghosts singled out those three to frighten into unconsciousness?

Wasn't it obvious that this terror was behind it? Other people might not know, but he knew this person even had a ghost assistant. Who knew whether there were others!

Wang Xiang stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and immediately packed his bags.

He had better get out of here fast. This place was far too creepy. The assistant director could handle the rest.

Suddenly, a familiar voice that sent chills down his spine came from behind him. "Director Wang, where are you off to?"