Chapter Nine: Jiang Nian's Martyrdom for Love

Watching Jiang Nian walk away, Ji Beishu resumed contact with Shen Li through the walkie-talkie: “Why didn’t you let me revive you?”

He had intended to use a resurrection card to bring Shen Li back immediately, but she had stopped him.

“Are you trying to win without effort?”

He truly despised people like Shen Li, who manipulated public opinion to ruin someone’s life without any remorse. If she weren’t somewhat clever, he wouldn’t even bother talking to her.

“Use the other cards you have first.” After being eliminated, Shen Li watched the livestream on the virtual screen. She knew what cards Ji Beishu held, and of course, she had overheard his conversation with Jiang Nian.

It had to be said, Pei Wenxuan’s chosen ally this time had some brains—Jiang Nian. She made a mental note of that.

In the previous round, all the top streamers’ team members had been bought off by Pei Wenxuan, causing her immense suffering. This time, she planned to turn the tables, making them endure everything she had gone through!

“Save the resurrection card for last,” she hinted, wary of revealing too much to the production team and jeopardizing her plan.

This game was essentially a battle of cards—the more cards in hand, the better the advantage. Currently, both teams had roughly the same number of cards, and if the game dragged on, uncontrollable variables would arise.

Cards kept flying back and forth—when would they ever finish?

Hence, a swift victory was the best course. Ji Beishu was smart and immediately understood Shen Li’s plan; his eyes widened. “Got it!”

He quickly contacted his teammates, telling Bai Qiuya and Qiao Le: “Are you close to Lan Ting?” Lan Ting was the only surviving female in the top streamer team and a weak point.

Qiao Le checked the red dots on the virtual map. “Not far.”

“Perfect,” Ji Beishu calmly strategized. “You two find Lan Ting and take her down together.”

“Just the two of us?” Qiao Le was startled. “Doesn’t that mean—”

“Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Ji Beishu continued to coordinate calmly. Though uneasy, Qiao Le had no better option but to follow orders.

Then, Ji Beishu played a function card: “Use the ‘Shield Card’ to block all opponent function cards for three minutes.” During this time, the opposing team could not activate any function cards.

If an opponent tried to use one, it would be ineffective, but the card would still be consumed regardless.

Ji Beishu followed up: “Use the ‘Time Extension Card’ and ‘Acceleration Card’ on Lu Ziwei’s chimpanzee.” Lu Ziwei was the only other male besides Jiang Nian on the top streamer team, with good stamina.

They had to use time extension and acceleration to quickly allow the chimpanzee to catch him. As Tianyin announced the use of function cards, Lan Ting, Bai Qiuya, and Qiao Le perished together. Lu Ziwei fled for over thirty seconds but was ultimately caught by the chimpanzee. Only two players remained alive on the field.

Ji Beishu raised the resurrection card: “Revive Shen Li.” Then he used the link card: “Link Shen Li and Jiang Nian.”

The link card’s effect was that if one linked player died, the other would die with them. Shen Li, just released from the elimination zone, immediately charged toward the chimpanzee, embracing it.

Tianyin announced: [Shen Li eliminated; linked player Jiang Nian dies with her. Congratulations to the Blackmail Team’s Ji Beishu for surviving. Blackmail Team wins.]

All of this happened within three minutes. Lu Ziwei and Lan Ting clutched their cards helplessly, watching their opponents claim victory. Jiang Nian appeared calm—he had already walked into the elimination zone as soon as the elimination was announced, as if he had foreseen his fate.

Shen Li stepped forward, bowing respectfully: “Well played.”

The sea breeze suddenly turned biting cold. Jiang Nian was like an automatic cooling system—anyone near him felt a chilling, forbidding aura.

His narrow black eyes stared at Shen Li expressionlessly: “You won.” With that, he turned and left. Shen Li turned to watch him. Just then, Jiang Nian reentered the elimination zone and met her gaze.

Though his black eyes betrayed no emotion, Shen Li felt a gentle warmth enveloping her.

Was it just her imagination?

It must be. She hardly knew Jiang Nian, and he certainly didn’t know her—how could he look at her with such lingering tenderness?

Moreover, Jiang Nian was Pei Wenxuan’s man—her enemy!

She met his gaze fearlessly, ready for battle. Yet, at that moment of eye contact, Jiang Nian withdrew, looking at her without a trace of hostility.

Could Jiang Nian be Pei Wenxuan’s secret weapon, using his looks as a tactic?

Indeed, he had that capital.

No matter what, she had set her sights on Jiang Nian. Bring it on, she thought, curling her lips with a confident smile and turning away gracefully.

Behind the monitors, the director seethed with unspoken rage.

He waved his hands wildly in the air and paced back and forth. “You freeloading idiots! Planning team, where are you? Come out here! I don’t want to see the same scene repeated in tomorrow’s game!”

All five members of the planning team bowed their heads. “Yes, sir.” The team leader whispered, “We’ll work overnight to revise the plan and ensure your satisfaction!”

“Get out!” The director waved again. His phone rang, and he flinched, nearly collapsing into his chair. Holding the phone awkwardly, he cleared his throat and left.

The other staff immediately relaxed.

“That scared me to death.”

“He’s been temperamental ever since the show blew up. Just bear with it.”

“If it weren’t for the paycheck, I wouldn’t put up with him.”

“Workers, keep quiet. Say less or you’ll get overheard.”

…

The eight players gathered on the beach as Tianyin announced the winners’ rewards:

[Blackmail Team receives 10,000 recommendation points and 1 cumulative score point. Top Streamer Team receives 20,000 recommendation points but 0 cumulative score points.]

In the previous season, recommendation points could be converted to score points at the end of each episode—10,000 recommendation points equaled 1 score point. So despite fighting hard to win, their gains only balanced out the Top Streamer Team’s easy votes from the livestream.

Shen Li smiled wryly. This voting settled every day before the game started. Her teammates finally saw things her way. Qiao Le, still displeased, wanted to question the director but was held back by Shen Li.

Shen Li shook her head. Qiao Le clenched her teeth in frustration. “It’s so unfair.”

Shen Li fixed the director with a cold, sharp gaze like a dagger piercing his eyes. “Don’t worry, he won’t beat us. The scales will tip in our favor.”

She curled her lips slightly, exuding a fierce, commanding presence.

The director paused just as he was about to announce the end of the first episode, instinctively shrinking and nervously swallowing.

For some reason, he felt a chill down his spine.

Don’t be afraid… he told himself. Mr. Pei arrives tomorrow, and then Shen Li will meet an even worse fate!

Thinking this, he straightened up. “I hereby announce that all livestream votes have been reset and will reopen until before tomorrow’s game starts. Viewers, please choose the team you support again. Your support will bring them generous rewards.”

The livestream ended, and the eight players were escorted to their accommodations…