Chapter 29

Chapter 29
The public script did not provide specific information about the antiques.

The description “a large number of antiques” was too vague. Now that the antique shop owner had long since died, aside from Sister Wang herself, only the accomplice who participated in the robbery back then would be certain she could take all the antiques without any tools.

Because she knew what goods Sister Wang had.

Although the game rules required everyone to hide their identities as much as possible to avoid suspicion, at this point, continuing to conceal it would only be unfavorable for Ji Yingshan.

Ding Yang made a “please” gesture: “Come on, Teacher Ji, tell your story.”

Then let everyone judge whether she had a motive for murder.

Ji Yingshan’s story was not complicated.

Ten years ago, she met the idle Sister Wang. Both wanted to find somewhere to get money, and after some contact, Ji Yingshan set her sights on the antique shop on Cultural Street.

After making a robbery plan, Ji Yingshan was responsible for preparing tools and providing support afterward, while the agile Sister Wang sneaked into the antique shop late at night. Unexpectedly, she encountered the owner who hadn’t left yet, and the burglary instantly turned into robbery.

After knocking out the shopkeeper, Sister Wang looted all the old jade pieces in the store.

But something went wrong midway. Ji Yingshan didn’t meet Sister Wang at the agreed location, and instead saw wanted notices all over the city.

“I was afraid that if Sister Wang was caught she would expose me, so I had to hide my identity and leave far away.” Ji Yingshan felt too guilty to face the people beside her. “Until five years ago, when I met my husband.”

Xie Yiqian didn’t speak for a long time, just sitting there rubbing his brow, perfectly portraying the feeling of “married for five years and I didn’t know my wife was a criminal.”

Everyone looked at Xie Yiqian with some sympathy.

Ji Yingshan sighed: “Some time ago, this island became popular online because of its scenery. I suddenly spotted Sister Wang in a video, so I used our wedding anniversary as an excuse to bring my husband here. From beginning to end, I was after the money, not her life.”

Pei Chuzhi sat quietly. On the surface, she seemed to be digesting the story from ten years ago, but in fact she was thinking about how to shift the murder suspicion onto Ji Yingshan.

After a moment, she turned to look at Xing Ye’s expression.

Xing Ye seemed to be considering something, his gaze unusually indifferent.

Pei Chuzhi had gradually become used to his way of thinking — when he didn’t speak, it meant there was definitely something he hadn’t figured out.

At this moment, it seemed she could only rely on herself.

Pei Chuzhi reorganized her thoughts and found an entry point: “But Teacher Ji, you didn’t find the antiques. You were frightened for ten years, finally only a step away, yet Sister Wang refused to tell you anything. Weren’t you angry?”

Ji Yingshan parted her lips: “Even if I was angry, there was no need to kill her, right?”

Ding Yang stroked his chin and denied it: “Not necessarily.”

He flicked the notebook in his hand. “She secretly found buyer Mr. X behind your back, obviously wanting to pocket the goods alone. I’ve seen plenty of news like this — two bad people split unevenly, conflict breaks out, and one kills the accomplice.”

At the critical moment, Xie Yiqian finally defended his wife: “But she didn’t know where the antiques were. Killing Sister Wang would lose the clue for nothing — not worth it.”

Xie Yiqian’s statement seemed to persuade Ding Yang.

He scratched his head, hesitation flashing across his face.

Pei Chuzhi caught Ding Yang’s expression and grew anxious.

If they didn’t eliminate Ji Yingshan now, once suspicion turned to Xing Ye again, the situation would be extremely unfavorable to her.

From the moment she and Xing Ye drew number 3, their relationship had been both allies and enemies.

Even if their couple identity was fake, their desire to support each other and survive to the end was probably more genuine than the other two couples.

She wanted to protect Xing Ye.

Having decided, Pei Chuzhi straightened her back.

Perhaps the movement was too obvious — Xing Ye suddenly pressed her wrist and shook his head.

As if telling her not to rush.

Pei Chuzhi froze, unable to tell what he intended to do.

Xing Ye released her wrist and tapped lightly on the sofa armrest.

After a few seconds, his voice sounded with a hint of hesitation: “I’m thinking, is there a possibility…”

The others in the living room suddenly fell silent.

Xing Ye’s dark, bright eyes swept across everyone: “This was a setup by Sister Wang.”

“What?!” Ding Yang almost jumped up. “Bro, that line of thinking is way too bizarre.”

Xing Ye leaned back on the sofa with a relaxed posture: “Think about it from another angle. As a fugitive, why would Sister Wang openly run a guesthouse now? Isn’t she afraid of being discovered?”

His words were like lightning splitting Pei Chuzhi’s muddled thoughts.

Xing Ye, Ji Yingshan, and the still-unexposed Pei Chuzhi.

Although their focuses were different, they shared one obvious common point — they had all appeared at the Lakeside Guesthouse because of information they recently obtained.

Xie Yiqian quickly reacted: “The news was deliberately released by Sister Wang?”

Ding Yang suddenly raised his head, voice dry: “What was she after?”

Pei Chuzhi quietly observed Ding Yang, noticing his behavior had become jumpy.

According to her and Xing Ye’s speculation, Ding Yang was likely related to the antique shop owner, meaning he too had probably only recently discovered Sister Wang’s whereabouts.

Thinking of this, Pei Chuzhi quickly recalled the script.

A key point everyone had overlooked surfaced.

Pei Chuzhi spoke softly: “We seem to have fallen into a blind spot. Teacher Ji, between you and Sister Wang, did either of you know antiques?”

“…No.” Ji Yingshan shook her head. “In the setup, we’re just small-time hoodlums.”

Ding Yang took a deep breath: “The public clues indeed didn’t mention the value of the antiques.”

“The antiques were… fake?!”

Ji Yingshan couldn’t believe it, her last word cracking. “But didn’t Mr. X pay a deposit?”

Pei Chuzhi: “But Mr. X only paid a deposit, he hadn’t seen the items. Mr. X might not even have been Sister Wang’s target — he was just pulled in to make the situation look more real.”

Ding Yang: “Then who was her target?”

Xing Ye glanced at Ji Yingshan, and Xie Yiqian also looked at his “wife.”

Ji Yingshan was still confused: “Me?”

Pei Chuzhi applauded wildly for Xing Ye in her heart.

His timing in proposing “Sister Wang’s setup” was perfect — it left no room for careful thought and made the situation more confusing.

She turned to look at Xing Ye. The man tilted his chin, giving her a “your turn” look.

Pei Chuzhi smiled and began her performance:

“Teacher Ji said you spotted the antique shop first, then made the plan and had Sister Wang carry out the robbery. From beginning to end, you barely appeared, and since Sister Wang escaped, no one even knew you existed.”

“These ten years, although you were afraid, you lived quite well, even getting married and enjoying a normal life.”

“If the antiques were fake, then if I were Sister Wang after ten years of fleeing, I definitely wouldn’t swallow that anger.”

Pei Chuzhi curled her lips: “I would, at all costs, find you.”

“And take revenge on you.”

Ding Yang finished word by word.

The sudden reversal left Ji Yingshan stunned.

She looked around blankly, her delicate face full of confusion: “Wasn’t I the suspect? How did I almost become the victim?”

“Wait.”

Xie Yiqian frowned and raised his hand to calm everyone, then smiled at Pei Chuzhi. “Now I’m starting to suspect you.”

Pei Chuzhi: “!!!”

“Wasn’t he supposed to take care of fans?”

Xie Yiqian analyzed calmly: “Although what you said just now sounded logical at first, if you think about it calmly, it’s all just speculation. Someone like me, who’s completely unrelated to the robbery, wouldn’t speak so definitively. After all, I don’t know Sister Wang or the inside story of the robbery.”

He paused, hinting meaningfully: “Unless you have other clues proving it. Otherwise I have reason to suspect that everything you said was fabricated to clear yourself.”

When people lie, to increase credibility, they often use tempting and conclusive wording.

Pei Chuzhi realized she had overlooked something, her fingertips trembling unconsciously.

She instinctively wanted to seek Xing Ye’s help, but remembering she was the real killer, she suppressed the impulse and tried to refute Xie Yiqian.

However, she didn’t expect Ding Yang to stand on her side.

“I think Zhizhi’s words make sense. Sister Wang tricked Teacher Ji to the Lakeside Guesthouse to take revenge, and during their argument, Teacher Ji accidentally killed her.”

Ji Yingshan denied helplessly: “I really didn’t…”

Ding Yang sounded oddly confident: “Then to cover it up, you pretended you were after money, deliberately hiding in the basement for so long, so we’d believe your goal was always the antiques.”

Xie Yiqian was puzzled: “The revenge theory was proposed by Zhizhi. You can’t treat it as solid evidence. Or are you two in the same group?”

“Because he has a clue.”

Xing Ye spoke calmly, a bold smile at the corner of his lips. “Ding Yang, if the killer isn’t Teacher Ji, then it can only be you. Do you want to keep hiding your clue, or wait for me to show evidence?”

Ding Yang froze: “What evidence?”

Xing Ye took out the old newspaper folded several times and spread it on the coffee table.

He lowered his gaze, pointed to the article about the antique shop owner’s suicide, and repeated what he discussed with Pei Chuzhi in the basement.

“Tong Yang very much didn’t want us to think the motive was revenge.”

His voice was low and gentle, yet like a dagger aimed at Ding Yang’s weakness. “The person she wanted to protect could only be you.”

Ding Yang swallowed a few times, then sighed: “Alright, I’ll say it. First, I did come to the Lakeside Guesthouse to take revenge, but Sister Wang was already dead before I acted. Second, Zhizhi’s guess is correct…”

He struggled for a few seconds, finally deciding, “I’m going to reveal my clue.”

Before he finished speaking, Pei Chuzhi held her breath.

Too strange.

Her revenge theory was built on Xing Ye’s “Sister Wang made a setup.” In reality she just wanted to make Ji Yingshan the suspect and eliminate her in round two.

But why was Ding Yang cooperating?

Pei Chuzhi’s nerves twitched, recalling Xing Ye had exchanged clues with Ding Yang.

What did he know?

The answer came quickly.

Ding Yang said, “My clue is ‘I’m not the only one who wants revenge.’”

Pei Chuzhi froze.

The other person wanting revenge was her, but Ding Yang had clearly been misled!

Sure enough, Ding Yang sincerely persuaded Xie Yiqian: “Teacher Xie, now you understand? Besides me, Sister Wang also had revenge to take. Believe me, the killer is definitely Teacher Ji. If it were me, I wouldn’t reveal this clue.”

Xie Yiqian pondered, wavering: “But…”

Before he could finish, discussion time ended.

This time, the director’s voice carried mischievous delight: “Everyone, start voting.”

Ding Yang pointed at Ji Yingshan first.

Pei Chuzhi followed, and after struggling, Xie Yiqian raised his finger too.

Ji Yingshan already looked resigned: “Alright, unanimous vote… huh?”

Pei Chuzhi felt a bad premonition arise.

She turned her head and was surprised to find Xing Ye hadn’t pointed at anyone.

The director loudly announced: “Ji Yingshan is voted out. Ding Yang guessed the wrong clue target and is out.”

Ding Yang’s confidence collapsed instantly: “…fuck?”

·

Because two people were eliminated directly in the second round, the program team had to inform the remaining three that the next round would be the final showdown.

After all, if the real killer wasn’t found in round three, they couldn’t just leave the killer and the last person voting each other.

Pei Chuzhi didn’t dare move together with Xing Ye anymore.

And since Xie Yiqian had already suspected her last round, he wasn’t a good partner either.

The three split up.

After thinking, Pei Chuzhi chose the guest rooms upstairs.

She wanted to see if she could find evidence to frame someone else.

“This is too hard — who am I supposed to frame?”

She complained to a camera on the second floor. “I can’t afford to offend any of them. Your program team is really evil.”

The camera quietly kept recording.

Pei Chuzhi sighed: “Forget it. Maybe in the third round they’ll vote me out. That might even be better — I can leave in peace.”

In the rest lounge near the villa, the three eliminated guests watched this scene and felt emotionally shattered.

Tong Yang squatted on the ground, slapping the floor: “Zhizhi-jie is such a liar! I trusted her so much! Ahhh, women really are less trustworthy the prettier they are!”

Ji Yingshan also laughed helplessly: “It was actually Zhizhi? Oh no, I’m really not suited for this kind of game. I was confused the whole time.”

“…Seriously, everyone, when Xing Ye comes out I’m going to beat him up.”

Ding Yang, who felt most wronged, stood at the front, pointing at the screen as if trying to poke Xing Ye. “This pig teammate! If not for his flashy moves, I wouldn’t have been misled. He screwed me over!”

Tong Yang couldn’t help mocking: “That’s because you’re dumb.”

Ding Yang coughed awkwardly: “Wasn’t I trying to avenge you? But honestly, Xing Ye was like a loose cannon. All our eliminations involved him. He was basically helping the killer.”

Ji Yingshan worried: “Then when the show airs, won’t he be scolded badly?”

The room fell silent as they imagined it.

Viewers love hindsight commentary — even if confused watching, they’ll still criticize afterward.

After a while, Ding Yang shrugged: “Can’t help it. Xing Ye’s seen worse.”

On the second floor, Pei Chuzhi found nothing.

This season emphasized timelines and testimony rather than physical evidence.

This gave performers more room but meant some returned empty-handed.

Pei Chuzhi felt her luck had run out and left the second floor.

The other two hadn’t returned. She wandered the first floor and stopped at the kitchen.

She remembered two things.

Why Xing Ye didn’t call Sister Wang to fix the switch.

And…

When she killed in the kitchen, did Xie Yiqian, who went to the restroom, hear anything?

Pei Chuzhi suddenly realized a loophole.

If Ji Yingshan came back to steal antiques, was there any need to bring along her unaware husband?

Did Xie Yiqian really know nothing at all?

Pei Chuzhi turned and walked toward the restroom.

The restroom prepared by the program team was quite cozy. A warm yellow pendant lamp hung from the ceiling, illuminating the wide-mouthed porcelain vase beside the sink.

Unfortunately the flowers seemed a bit wilted, with a few dried petals scattered around the vase.

She slowly reached out and pulled a large bundle of stems from the vase.

Several pieces of old jade with a gentle luster lay quietly at the bottom.

Pei Chuzhi: “……”

What kind of “everyone’s a villain” script is this?

·

In the final round, no one chose to exchange clues and they went straight into discussion.

When Pei Chuzhi appeared holding the vase, Xie Yiqian’s eyes dimmed for a moment.

He folded his hands on his knees, as if he had expected this, silently waiting for her to speak first.

Thinking about accusing her idol, Pei Chuzhi felt pressured. She placed the wide-mouthed vase on the coffee table and forced herself to say, “Teacher Xie, why don’t you tell us where you went after returning to the villa?”

Xie Yiqian: “I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“…Alright.”

Pei Chuzhi thought, you asked for it. She cleared her throat, less decisive than before. “I guess you and Teacher Ji colluded to steal the antiques. You suggested fixing the flower rack to distract Xing Ye and Ding Yang.”

“And then?”

“And then maybe you and Teacher Ji weren’t that loving? That’s why before going downstairs, you told me I could look for your wife in the next room. That way, even if someone suspected Teacher Ji, you could distance yourself.”

“Even the vote just now — you saw you couldn’t save her, so you voted for her.”

Xie Yiqian nodded: “But that doesn’t prove I hid the items in the vase.”

Just as Pei Chuzhi was about to speak, Xing Ye let out a cold scoff, sounding irritated: “Is this a classroom Q&A session?”

“……”

Pei Chuzhi glanced at him, feeling like he didn’t want her and Xie Yiqian going back and forth.

Xing Ye leaned forward: “I’ll say it. Teacher Xie returned to the villa only two or three minutes before me. I don’t think you had time to find the antiques, so Teacher Ji put them there. You only wanted to go to the restroom to take them. But the unexpected power outage forced you to change plans.”

Pei Chuzhi froze: “Why?”

“Because he was afraid of running into Sister Wang coming out of the kitchen.”

Xing Ye looked up at the man opposite. “Even small jade pieces aren’t easy to carry, and you didn’t know where the switch was. You were worried about meeting her while moving them.”

A faint smile appeared in Xie Yiqian’s cool expression.

But Pei Chuzhi suddenly understood.

No — Xing Ye was wrong this time.

She had wondered before: even with heavy rain, Xie Yiqian passing the living room should have heard something.

Now the pieces connected.

— Xie Yiqian didn’t know Ji Yingshan was still in the basement. He thought the person in the kitchen was Ji Yingshan!

A man who left himself an escape route from the start would never involve himself in a ten-year-old case.

So whatever happened in the kitchen, he avoided it and went straight to his target.

But the sudden blackout made him suspicious, so he stayed put and calmly rejoined everyone after the power returned.

But then — if Ji Yingshan found the antiques, why would she stay in the basement instead of leaving?

“You’ve pretty much guessed it.”

Xie Yiqian’s clear voice sounded. He spread his hands, relaxed. “I really am not a good person. Not long after marrying my wife, I discovered her secret. In fact, this trip was my suggestion.”

Pei Chuzhi twitched her lips, unable to look directly at her idol holding a scumbag script.

Xie Yiqian smiled faintly. “Since this is the final round, I’m not afraid of exposing my identity. Besides, once exposed, my suspicion is completely cleared. The killer can only be between the two of you.”

Pei Chuzhi didn’t dare look at Xing Ye.

Xie Yiqian was right. He had no suspicion now.

His goal was stealing antiques, so Mr. X who paid the deposit couldn’t be him.

And whether by Xing Ye’s reasoning or Pei Chuzhi’s, at the moment of blackout Xie Yiqian didn’t know the kitchen situation, otherwise he wouldn’t abandon the nearby antiques.

He didn’t even know whether Sister Wang was alive. How could he be the killer?

Should she push the blame onto Xing Ye?

Pei Chuzhi bit her lower lip. All three knew Mr. X must be him. Using the fact the antiques were already taken, she could frame him for killing in anger after being cheated of the deposit…

She clenched her fingers and turned to Xing Ye.

Xing Ye looked back calmly.

After a moment, he suddenly curled his lips.

“Want to vote for me?”

The low voice struck her heart, spreading through her body.

Pei Chuzhi began to feel sad.

A voice in her mind kept stopping her.

Xie Yiqian sat opposite, watching quietly.

After two rounds, the only surviving couple was Xing Ye and Pei Chuzhi.

From that moment, Xie Yiqian believed they were the fake couple.

They had been covering for each other. Without a secret agreement, their coordination wouldn’t be so smooth.

“Xing Ye,” Xie Yiqian reminded, “remember why Ding Yang was eliminated. He guessed wrong about the other person seeking revenge. Now it can only be Zhizhi. And think about Sister Wang’s wound — with your height or mine, how likely is it?”

Xing Ye responded softly, eyes sharp.

Pei Chuzhi lowered her lashes.

She still had room to counterattack — Xing Ye’s actions during the blackout were suspicious…

Xie Yiqian wasn’t harsh. He didn’t want a young girl targeted too long.

“Once decided, let’s vote,” he suggested.

“Okay.”

Xing Ye answered softly.

Pei Chuzhi inhaled. Just as she was about to give up resisting, she sensed something odd.

Since round three began, Xing Ye’s words had been clearing Xie Yiqian.

He hadn’t defended himself once.

Even though he could be framed.

“Except me, don’t trust anyone else.”

Those words echoed again.

Pei Chuzhi frowned, realizing something.

If Xing Ye didn’t know she was the killer, he should’ve said “don’t trust anyone,” right?

But the word he used was clearly “trust.”

It sounded as if…

As if he was reminding her that no matter what happened, she must trust him.

Half-doubting, Pei Chuzhi raised her hand and pointed at the shocked Xie Yiqian.

Beside her, Xing Ye’s finger also pointed toward Xie Yiqian.

“Ah—!”

Ding Yang’s scream came from the lounge. “Xing Ye, are you stupid?! There’s no way it could be Teacher Xie!”

Xie Yiqian, voted out, couldn’t believe his eyes. “Am I seeing wrong? Or did I misunderstand? Are there actually two killers?”

“You didn’t misunderstand. There’s only one killer — Zhizhi.”

Xing Ye took out his script and showed it. “But my objective was never to find the killer.”

Xie Yiqian lowered his head in disbelief: “Let your fiancée survive to the end?”

Xing Ye laughed softly, a trace of inexplicable pleasure in his smile.

“Yeah. From the start, I only wanted to protect her.”

Author’s note: Xing Ye: So what if he’s an idol, didn’t we still team up to take him out