Honing his acting in a murder mystery game

The comments weren't entirely accurate. In truth, Shen Xinbai had approached those men himself.

He had discovered traces of human activity and, assuming they were clues to a hidden mission deliberately left by the production team, had resolutely followed them in hopes of taking a shortcut.

"Who's there? Get the hell out here," a rough male voice snarled.

All four of them jumped. Shen Xinbai quietly shrank back. Wen Shiting glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, then spoke clearly.

"We're exploring the jungle and happened to pass by. We didn't mean to disturb you. We'll leave right away."

With that, Wen Shiting took Cheng Yu's hand to leave, but Shen Xinbai suddenly stepped forward. "Gentlemen, has the production team given us another mission?"

"Quit your fucking babbling. Tell me, what the hell are you here for?" The vicious-looking mercenary suddenly raised his hand, pressing a black gun barrel against Shen Xinbai's temple.

Shen Xinbai's face instantly drained of color. He trembled, utterly terrified.

[Holy shit, what's going on? I'm lost.]

[Whoa, where did the production team find these big guys? Every one of them looks fierce and wild.]

[No, wait. That looks like a real gun.]

[I heard about fugitives sneaking into the jungle before. Don't tell me...]

While the comments buzzed with discussion, the scene itself was deathly silent.

The man suddenly reached out to touch Shen Xinbai's face, kneading it with his rough, cracked fingertips. "This pretty boy's not bad-looking at all. We've been hiding out for so long. Just the thing to satisfy our cravings."

The scar-faced man beside him yanked Cheng Yu out. "I prefer boys like this one."

Cheng Yu shook off his hand. "Don't touch me!"

Just as Scarface was about to explode, Wen Shiting grabbed Cheng Yu's arm and shielded him firmly behind his back.

"Gentlemen, we're guests filming a jungle exploration show. Everything is being livestreamed right now. We really did just happen to pass through and had no intention of disturbing you."

His words were courteous, but they also hinted that their identities were not ordinary. If these men didn't want trouble, they should let them leave as soon as possible.

Ordinary kidnappers might actually have been intimidated, but these men lived on the knife's edge every day. They only found it exciting!

Scarface snorted with laughter. "A livestream? Perfect. Let them watch you high-and-mighty celebrities get on your knees and beg like dogs. Hahaha!"

As he spoke, the man suddenly fired at a drone, sending shattered parts raining down from the air.

The deafening blast exploded in everyone's ears. Only then did they realize that what they had just heard was a gunshot!

Their faces all turned deathly pale.

Cheng Yu said fearfully, "You want money, right? Any amount is fine, as long as you let us go."

One man grumbled irritably, "We've got plenty of money. What fucking use is it? Out here in the middle of nowhere, there's nowhere to spend it. Eating compressed biscuits every day, I can barely taste anything anymore. I'm ready to eat human flesh!"

Shen Xinbai abruptly raised his head. "I-I know where there's food. I can take you there!"

An inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in the other three.

Lou Jun, who had remained silent all this time, growled, "Xinbai, don't say anything rash!"

Scarface immediately kicked him. "Shut the fuck up. Say another word and I'll slaughter you."

Seeing Lou Jun's miserable state, a flicker of pity crossed Shen Xinbai's eyes. But he was even more afraid of being kicked himself, so he hurriedly spoke.

"Eight guests came to film this episode. The other four are in another group. Someone over there knows how to find wild vegetables and cook game. I can take you to them!"

[Seriously, has Shen Xinbai lost his mind? Still going after Xu Chao at a time like this?]

[Fuck, Xu Chao must have eight lifetimes' worth of bad luck to have met Shen Xinbai.]

[Yesterday, Xu Chao fed everyone, and now that something's happened, Shen Xinbai immediately turns on him. A classic farmer and the snake!]

[Xinbai's just buying time until the production team rescues them. What's wrong with that?]

After the hornet incident the night before last, the production team had worried that the guests might suffer fatal injuries, so they had supplied them with an emergency contact phone. Shen Xinbai hurriedly contacted Zhou Nan and asked him to send his location, then led the group to find Xu Chao.

Xu Chao was staring bright-eyed at the rabbit over the fire. Roasted until fragrant and dripping with fat, it was mouthwateringly tempting.

"It smells so good, so good!" Xu Chao savored the aroma of the roast meat, looking just like a little greedy cat.

Watching him, Fu Sichen couldn't help smiling. "It's hot. Eat slowly."

No sooner had he spoken than he heard an unusual sound. His gentle expression abruptly turned icy.

Xu Chao hadn't noticed the approaching danger, but he noticed the change in Fu Sichen and asked with concern, "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Someone's coming. Be careful." Fu Sichen raised his eyes toward the sound, his face cold and stern, like a lion poised to strike.

Zhou Nan and Lin Yang had yet to understand what was happening, but Xu Chao reacted immediately. The greedy little cat look vanished from his face, and he turned serious.

Soon, the men came into view, shoving Shen Xinbai and the others along.

Four familiar faces, along with seven or eight burly men in black.

Wedged in the middle with his hands behind his back, Cheng Yu stared at them anxiously, frantically winking and pulling faces.

But no one responded, even after all that time.

Gritting his teeth, Cheng Yu shouted, "Run! They're kidnappers!"

Kidnappers?!

Xu Chao immediately recalled a news story from the original novel.

Around this very time, a band of mercenaries had fled into the jungle, taking several villagers hostage and killing them.

But since they had never encountered the main characters, it had only received a few passing lines to highlight Shen Xinbai's kindness.

Yet although they hadn't met in the original novel, they had now that he had transmigrated!

Scarface growled at Cheng Yu to shut up, frightening him into Wen Shiting's arms like a little kitten.

Still, Scarface didn't dwell on it, because all his attention was on the deliciously fragrant roast rabbit!

Shen Xinbai immediately shouted too, "Xu Chao, hurry and give these gentlemen the roast meat! Once you give it to them, they'll let us go."

[No! They really found Chaochao!]

[Waaah, I've already called the police. I hope they catch all these kidnappers soon!]

[But the jungle's so big. It'll take the police time to get there. What if something happens? Aaaah, watching this is making me so nervous.]

The outlaws looked at the fragrant roast rabbit as though they had spotted a peerless beauty. They inhaled its aroma in a trance, shoved the others aside, and charged over to snatch it like bandits.

"Wait. Did I say you could touch it?"

At the same time, a charred, glowing stick pressed against the back of a dark hand.

Xu Chao was the one who spoke.

Fu Sichen was the one who acted.

Their coordination was inexplicably seamless.

Half a second later, the man suddenly let out a howl. "My hand!"

He frantically tried to shake it off, but the burning stick pinned him in place like a nail, leaving him unable to move.

The others finally reacted, swarming forward and glaring at them.

Anyone else would probably have been trembling with fear by now.

But Xu Chao and Fu Sichen were each calmer than the other. Fu Sichen even kept a faint smile on his lips throughout.

Xu Chao lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice casual yet commanding. "What's all the noise for? Keep it up and I'll slit your throats."

Although the young man looked youthful and inexperienced, he carried himself with the authority of someone accustomed to being in command.

At his words, the men inexplicably felt a measure of fear.

Scarface snarled, "I think you're asking to die!"

Fu Sichen narrowed his eyes slightly, an icy gleam spilling from them as he readied himself to strike.

The next second, Xu Chao, who had been so outrageously arrogant a moment ago, suddenly burst out laughing.

Everyone gave him strange looks.

Xu Chao showed no discomfort whatsoever. Instead, he rolled his neck even more languidly and said haughtily, "All right, all right. We're all friends here. Brother Qiang's come a long way, so I specially roasted some rabbit to show a little hospitality. Do me the honor. Sit."

His words left everyone completely bewildered.

Even the man who shared his sleeping bag couldn't work it out and turned his eyes toward him.

Xu Chao's expression remained unchanged, but he quietly squeezed his hand and traced the word "act" with slightly trembling fingertips.

Fu Sichen's eyes curved indulgently, and he squeezed his hand in return.

Soon, Xu Chao lifted his eyelids again. Looking at the stunned men before him, he suddenly snatched the burning stick from Fu Sichen's hand and thrust it hard at Scarface.

Scarface instinctively reached out to block it.

But Xu Chao laughed lazily. "Do me the honor. Sit."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and tossed the burning stick away.

Scarface laughed at that too. He glared at the men beside him and said loudly, "What are you standing around for? Put your knives away. Young Master Zhuang's showing us courtesy. We'd better accept it properly."

The kidnappers slowly put their knives away, but their movements were deliberate, as though they might spring forward the very next second.

Xu Chao's gaze didn't change in the slightest. His lips parted as he said mildly, "You're a busy man with a short memory, Brother Qiang. Can't even remember an old client's name?"

Fu Sichen cut off a small piece of rabbit with his dagger. "Young Master Chen, careful. It's hot."

Xu Chao immediately beamed and ate the piece of rabbit from the man's hand.

As though rewarding him, he even smacked the man on the ass.

"So fucking good!"

Everyone: "?" Holy shit, this is life or death, guys! How are you still flirting?

[Holy shit, what's going on? Why's Chaochao suddenly acting all buddy-buddy with Scarface?]

[I don't understand, but this scene is insanely shippable. Haughty, arrogant young master versus cool, gorgeous bodyguard.]

[Aaaah, I knew Xu Chao was no good! He really is in league with these mercenaries. Maybe he deliberately brought them here to set Shen Xinbai up.]

Scarface's smile grew more sincere at the sight. He let the matter go and plopped down on the ground.

Rumor had it that Young Master Chen was volatile and vicious, utterly merciless, and fond of men. From the looks of things, it was all true.

And this bodyguard moved so quickly that he had clearly clawed his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. However ordinary his clothes looked now, his nature remained the same: lethal and dangerous.

But the moment he moved, Xu Chao kicked him. "What are these people here for?"

At his imperious tone, as though he were ordering around a subordinate, the other mercenaries instantly drew their knives. Scarface immediately snapped coldly at them.

"Put them all down!"

"But, boss, this brat-"

"This is Young Master Chen. Show some fucking respect."

Scarface answered, "They stumbled right into us on the way here. Said they were some kind of big celebrities..."

Before he finished, Xu Chao interrupted with a frown, looking impatient. "Throw them out. Don't let them interfere with our deal."

Scarface smiled, deliberately testing him as he stared fixedly at Shen Xinbai. "Sure. Then let's slaughter them all."

At those words, the others all grew frightened. Shen Xinbai hurriedly shouted, "No, no, no! He's lying to you! He's not some young gangster master. He's a celebrity here to take part in-"

Fu Sichen casually picked up a twig from the ground and threw it.

With a smack, it struck Shen Xinbai across the face, silencing him.

"You don't get a say here. Shut up."

Chaochao rarely acted spoiled with him. Now that he had finally found something he wanted to play, Fu Sichen would only make sure Xu Chao enjoyed himself to the fullest. No one was allowed to interrupt.

Shen Xinbai's cheeks instantly flushed red.

That move startled Scarface too.

The speed, force, and accuracy of Fu Sichen's strike just now proved he was trained.

If Fu Sichen had attacked him, could he have dodged it? The answer was no.

The mercenary became less probing and more cautious. "In that case, Six, kill them all and dump the bodies."

Cheng Yu's voice shook with frightened tears. "I haven't lived long enough yet."

Wen Shiting held Cheng Yu's trembling hand tightly.

Lou Jun and Shen Xinbai, who had always been at odds with Xu Chao, both looked toward him at those words.

For some inexplicable reason, they had a feeling that Xu Chao was the only one who could save them now.

Xu Chao remained languid and arrogant. His cold gaze swept over them before he spoke in a threatening tone.

"These are public figures. If you really kill them all... you can flee overseas and enjoy yourselves, but I still have business to do here. What, are you trying to destroy my livelihood?"

Scarface hurriedly offered an ingratiating smile. "Of course not. You're joking, Young Master Chen. I'll send someone right-"

"Zhou, Lin, you two go. Dump them somewhere far away."

Zhou Nan's burly frame jolted, his legs going weak with fear.

But looking at Xu Chao and Fu Sichen's formidable backs, Lin Yang felt a surge of heroic ambition. He excitedly thumped his chest and roared, "Yes, Young Master Chen! We'll get it done!"

That shout nearly made Xu Chao break character.

Lin Yang marched over valiantly to grab the others, then realized after a couple of steps that Zhou Nan hadn't followed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the suspicious looks the people around them were giving Zhou Nan.

Without thinking, Lin Yang turned and kicked him. "What are you gawking at? You dare disobey the young master? I'm telling you, Mr. Wang sent you here to make amends, not to act like some big shot!"

Zhou Nan froze for two seconds, then followed him over.

But he really was far too frightened.

For people who lived on the knife's edge every day, observing their opponents was a biological instinct.

Scarface suddenly said, "Stop!"

Zhou Nan shuddered, shoved Lin Yang aside, and ran forward.

Everything happened in a flash.

Xu Chao kicked the burning pile of firewood.

Wood chips and sparks instantly scattered on the wind.

At that very moment, Fu Sichen struck swiftly, snatching a flying stick out of the air and bringing it down on the back of Scarface's neck with thunderous force. Then he quickly seized the gun from his hand.

There was a click.

The pistol was cocked.

Its black barrel pointed at Scarface's temple.

Holding a roasted rabbit leg in each hand, Xu Chao said cheerfully, "Nobody move. Wouldn't want his hand to slip."