I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Director Liu nodded quickly, responding smoothly, "I understand, I love nursing too."

He put down his teacup and raised his voice:

"In conclusion, each group's task concluded successfully, and their performance was truly outstanding!"

"Alright, dinner will be served promptly in twenty minutes. Everyone, eat as much as you like!"

"But a friendly reminder: today's tasks are quite mentally taxing, so I suggest eating until you're about 70% full to leave some room for your brain to work."

As soon as Director Liu finished speaking, Su Yanhuan immediately responded to the call, patted Jiang Yunyou next to her, and said in a tone of impatience:

"Let's go, let's eat! I used up too much energy this morning, I need to replenish myself."

Jiang Yunyou pushed her wheelchair toward the restaurant, glancing down at her:

"What did you expend? You were in a wheelchair the whole time, you didn't even walk."

Su Yanhuan didn't turn her head and said confidently:

"I'm using my brain! Creating art requires planning, you know! This is much more tiring than running!"

Jiang Yunyou was silent for two seconds: "...Didn't you sleep the whole way in the car?"

"That's called conserving energy!"

The two bickered as they moved toward the restaurant.

Shu Zi remained seated on the sofa, her gaze fixed intently on Director Liu's retreating figure.

Gu Yan followed her gaze and looked at her: "What's wrong?"

Shu Zi didn't look away, and lowered her voice: "I suspect something's fishy. I feel like Director Liu has tricked us."

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

Shu Zi looked away and turned to him, her expression serious: "Look at the expression on his face just now, he definitely knows something."

She glanced at Gu Yan's neck again: "That shouldn't be the case, there's nowhere else."

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt: "Do you think there really is a hidden camera?"

Gu Yan looked at her as if she were facing a formidable enemy, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly: "He wouldn't dare, and even if he had one, he wouldn't dare to release it."

He reached out and patted her head:

"Alright, stop thinking about it and let's go eat. If we don't go now, the whole table of food will be devoured."

Shu Zi immediately stood up and rushed to the restaurant without saying a word.

Who cares, let's eat first.

[Shu Zi: I suspect Director Liu is up to something. Gu Yan: He wouldn't dare. Shu Zi: Okay, I'm going to eat then. This shift in trust is too fast, hahaha!]

[Gu Yan pats your head! And he said, "Even if I had it, I wouldn't dare to release it." Wouldn't dare to what?! Does he know something inside? Was he the one who caused the camera to break before?!]

Shu-Tzu's dedication to food always comes first; she puts aside all schemes and tricks.

No, so what is it? What are you afraid of?

After lunch, everyone went back to their rooms.

In the master bedroom of suite 202, Fang Yutong was about to lie down and rest when her phone vibrated. She picked it up, glanced at it, and then deleted it without expression.

*

As soon as the afternoon's schedule was announced, the living room erupted in chaos.

Director Liu stood in the center of the living room, holding a stack of envelopes in his hand, a mysterious smile on his face that suggested he was about to unleash a major surprise.

"Everyone, this afternoon's project is an immersive, real-life murder mystery game!"

"The game area has been set up, and everyone has a corresponding character and costume. After changing, you can directly enter the story."

"This is a suspense novel set in Shanghai in 1937. The story revolves around a murder that occurred at the Paramount Ballroom."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"The murderer is among you."

"Friendly reminder: Once a role is selected, it cannot be changed. Your performance will affect the final outcome."

"Alright, let's start drawing characters now."

People took turns stepping forward to draw an envelope.

Shu Zi opened her envelope, took out the character card inside, and glanced at it.

Nian Tang was the leading actress at the Paramount Ballroom.

Below the character card is a line of smaller text:

"Three years ago, your sister Shen Nian fell to her death from the third floor of the Paramount. Everyone said it was suicide, but you didn't believe it. You stayed at the Paramount just to wait for an answer."

Shu Zi's gaze lingered on that line of text for a few seconds, she raised an eyebrow, and then calmly put the card away.

Su Yanhuan, who was standing next to her, leaned closer and said excitedly in a low voice:

"Sister Zizi, who are you? I'm smoking a police detective!"

Jiang Yunyou rolled his eyes: "You, a detective in a wheelchair? Who would believe that?"

Su Yanhuan clicked her tongue: "I was injured on duty! That's much more convincing, okay!"

Han Jingxue unfolded her character card and glanced at it.

The female owner of the herbal medicine shop appears gentle, but she actually has a grudge against Manager Zhao. Her sister and apprentices were all bullied by Manager Zhao.

She didn't say anything and silently put the card away.

Shen Yihuai was assigned the role of a newspaper reporter, specializing in reporting on the hidden past of Shanghai and possessing knowledge of many people's secrets.

Yu Shize plays the role of the secretary to the president of the chamber of commerce.

Fang Yutong plays the accountant at the Paramount Ballroom, whose relationship with the top courtesan is complicated.

Gu Yan unfolded his character card, glanced at it, then looked up at Shu Zi, raised an eyebrow, and curled his lips into a smile.

Director Liu walked over to Gu Yan and handed him an extra envelope.

Gu Yan took it, opened it, glanced at it, and put the envelope into his pocket without changing his expression.

Shu Zi was puzzled by his gaze, glanced down at her character card, then looked up at him again:

"What did you draw?"

Gu Yan didn't answer, but simply turned the character card over to show her.

Shu Zi leaned closer, and there it read: "Mysterious investor of Paramount Ballroom, with close ties to the top star, a regular visitor to her boudoir every night."

Shu Zi: "..."

She stared at the line of text for two seconds, then expressionlessly flipped the character card over:

"Who wrote this script?"

Behind the camera, the scriptwriter of the murder mystery game gave a peace sign, keeping his accomplishments hidden.

[Su Yanhuan: I was injured on duty! Jiang Yunyou: I think you were slacking off on duty.]

[Gu Yan's character card: He has a close relationship with the top courtesan, Hong Ling, and is a regular visitor to her boudoir every night. Screenwriter, are you writing fanfiction on company pay?!]

[Shu Zi: Who wrote this script? Screenwriter: I wrote it, you're welcome.]

Director Liu also gave Gu Yan an extra envelope. What's inside? Could it be a hidden mission?

[I can already smell the infidelity; this murder mystery game probably wasn't tailor-made for them.]

Director Liu spoke up at the opportune moment:

"Alright, now that we've seen all the characters, let's head to the game location."

"The appropriate clothing has been prepared according to the size. Everyone should change after arriving. The real test will be at the Paramount in half an hour."

***

Half an hour later, the group appeared one after another in a house in the style of the Republic of China era.

The interior of the house was carefully decorated by the production team, with dim lighting, an old gramophone, and walls covered with calendar posters.

The air was filled with the scent of perfume and sandalwood, instantly transporting one back to that decadent era.

When Shu Zi came down from the second floor, the living room was quiet for a moment.

She wore a wine-red silk cheongsam with a dark pattern, the skirt slit up to mid-thigh, revealing a glimpse of her fair legs as she walked.

She wore a pair of black stilettos, her hair was styled in a loose low bun, a silk flower was pinned to her temple, and she held a sandalwood folding fan in her hand, which swayed gently with her steps as she went downstairs.

As she reached the corner of the stairs, she flicked her wrist and with a "whoosh," flung open her fan, half-covering her face and revealing only a pair of smiling eyes with slightly upturned corners, exuding a natural charm.

She stopped, her gaze slowly sweeping over the people in the living room, her tone slightly languid:

"Well, this is quite a lively place today. What brings you all to my Paramount Ballroom?"