Chapter 19 – Wen Lingyue Hits the Mark, Green Tea Pei Jingli Appears

Fu Xin’s smile froze halfway.

Audience: ??

Lin Rui was the first to protest: “You should do it. This bow is really tight; it’s not suitable for a girl.”

Pei Jingli didn’t speak, only watching Wen Lingyue.

Wen Lingyue leaned casually against the stone wall, loose strands of hair falling by her cheeks. She looked effortless and nonchalant. She glanced at Pei Jingli and nodded lightly.

Pei Jingli handed her the bow and arrow.

An unspoken understanding flowed between them.

Lin Rui suddenly felt a pang of envy.

Wen Lingyue stayed leaning against the wall, not stepping forward. Following her natural posture, she drew the bow, not tightening her eyes too much, yet her entire presence radiated a sharp, lethal aura.

Lin Rui and Yu Yan widened their eyes.

The bowstring was drawn. Wen Lingyue released. The arrow whistled through the air.

“Bang!”

It pierced the bullseye.

Lin Rui was dumbfounded.

Yu Yan straightened up, her eyes sparkling like stars.

【Ahhhhhh!】

The live audience screamed.

So handsome!

Absolutely breathtaking!

They regretted it—Wen Lingyue shooting the arrow was even cooler than Pei Jingli.

One step unmoved, hitting the mark perfectly!

Pei Jingli stepped forward, took the bow from Wen Lingyue’s hands, and smiled warmly: “I knew you could do it.”

The screaming viewers suddenly found it hard to breathe.

【Pei Jingli is so deliberate! He shot three arrows before, his arm didn’t even hurt!】

【Green tea man! But I still love it.】

【Who doesn’t love green tea? I’ll drink this cup first!】

Pink heart emojis floated across the comments.

Fu Xin laughed too but felt something was off: “Something feels… weird.”

The pink heart emojis weren’t quite what he had imagined.

The staff were already hyped: “No wonder, this is perfect!”

“…Hello, does anyone care about my life?”

Li Qingqing stretched her helpless hand from the cage.

Who was going to rescue her?

Lin Rui’s expression turned glum, eyes full of grievance as he looked at Pei Jingli.

Pei Jingli smiled gently: “You go ahead.”

The seal lifted, the suspension bridge lowered, and Lin Rui crossed to open the cage, rescuing Li Qingqing.

The five reunited.

They moved forward and finally reached the last stage of the secret chamber.

Inside, Jiang Yurou, Zhou Huailang, and He Ran were already there.

Jiang Yurou, feigning surprise, said, “You just arrived? I’ve been waiting for you so long.”

Zhou Huailang immediately went to her, He Ran also diligently coming to rescue her—she was satisfied.

Wen Lingyue arrived late, clearly having been delayed.

Wen Lingyue ignored her, eyes meaninglessly flicking to He Ran.

He Ran felt a bit uneasy.

Jiang Yurou noticed and deliberately said: “Sister, the chamber is scary, thank goodness Huailang and He Ran came to save me, otherwise, I’d have been trapped forever.”

Wen Lingyue withdrew her gaze: “Don’t call me sister. My surname is Wen.”

Lin Rui suddenly understood. He looked at Jiang Yurou: “Sister Lingyue came out of the chamber herself, and she saved me too.”

He pointed to his pink chest badge.

Yu Yan chimed in: “She saved me too.”

Li Qingqing: “She saved me too.”

Pei Jingli added casually: “She impressed me.”

Jiang Yurou: ?

Zhou Huailang and He Ran were confused.

Li Qingqing, Yu Yan, and Lin Rui all stared at Pei Jingli—

You little…!

Pei Jingli was completely unaware, only smiling at the surprised Wen Lingyue: “I’m serious.”

Lin Rui ground his teeth in frustration.

So much green tea energy!

The audience’s eyes lit up at this series of events.

【Confirmed, Pei Jingli is a scheming green tea】

【Jiang Yurou’s brag backfires, satisfying!】

【In Jiang Yurou’s eyes: the secret chamber is a haunted castle; in Wen Lingyue’s eyes: her own garden】

Zhou Huailang looked at Pei Jingli, frowning: “Everyone’s here. Let’s solve this together.”

From his prior observation: “There’s a column at each corner of the chamber, each corresponding to a two-digit code. Each of us needs to press the correct number for the column to open the path.”

Naturally taking charge: “Two people per column. Stand in front of your designated columns.”

Yu Yan, Lin Rui, and Pei Jingli all stepped in front of Wen Lingyue.

Wen Lingyue: “…You’re supposed to stand in front of the column, not me.”

“I want to be in a team with you.” They all said in unison.

“…Fine. You can compete.”

Audience: ?

Three: ?

Lin Rui spoke first: “It has to be male-female pairs! Plus, I’m Wen Lingyue’s little master!”

He shamelessly pointed to his pink badge.

Wen Lingyue silently covered her face.

Lin Rui spoke, but she was the one embarrassed.

Pei Jingli stared at the badge, silent.

Yu Yan clicked her tongue: “Lin Rui, you’re with me.”

“Why?” Lin Rui faltered.

“Because I’m not teaming with Wen Lingyue, and neither will you.”

Lin Rui complained: “Then what about Pei Jingli?”

“He’s not as gross as you.”

Lin Rui: “…”

Teams were set.

Jiang Yurou leaned close to Zhou Huailang: “We’re a team.”

The remaining He Ran and Li Qingqing exchanged a glance: “We’re a team.”

The four teams stood before the columns. Zhou Huailang directed:

“Wen Lingyue, Pei Jingli: 3,1.”

“Yu Yan, Lin Rui: 6,1.”

“Li Qingqing, He Ran: 7,9.”

“3,2,1—press!”

All eight pressed the numbers in front of them.

The columns lit up, bumps of various shapes and sizes protruding from their surfaces.

Eight dynamic ropes descended from above.

Rumble—

The overhead passage opened, dim daylight spilling in.

Zhou Huailang looked up: “The path above, we need to step on the bumps to climb up.”

Jiang Yurou frowned: “I can’t climb.”

“No problem, I’ll pull you up,” Zhou Huailang said.

“Okay.”

Jiang Yurou smiled sweetly.

On the other side, Pei Jingli said to Wen Lingyue: “You go first, I’ll support you from below.”

“No need.” Wen Lingyue tied her rope without looking up.

Lin Rui called out: “Pei Jingli, take care of yourself first!”

Pei Jingli was confused but secured his rope.

“Go.”

Wen Lingyue grabbed a protruding stone, pushed off with her toes, and shot forward instantly.

Pei Jingli realized and followed, agile, hair flying, looking exactly like a male protagonist from a comic.

They moved effortlessly.

Halfway through,

“So tired—” Yu Yan’s strength faltered.

Lin Rui, drenched in sweat, supported her: “Climb! The longer you pause mid-air, the more exhausted you get.”

Jiang Yurou, feeble, said: “I’m tired too.”

Zhou Huailang leaned close, wrapping one arm around her waist: “Climb, I’ll carry you.”

The four climbed, sweat pouring, breaths echoing throughout the chamber.

【Obsessed! These two teams are so sweet!】

【Romance-version escape room! Such tension!】

【This must be what the director wanted】

Pei Jingli behind Wen Lingyue began to breathe harder as well.

Wen Lingyue paused and looked down at him: “Need help?”

“Can I?”

Pei Jingli smiled happily.

Wen Lingyue extended her hand: “Here.”

Pei Jingli grabbed it, and together they climbed.

Audience: ??

【Pei Jingli, you massive green tea!】

【Sure, Pei Jingli climbs so easily and suddenly gets tired? Who believes that?!】

【Wen Lingyue, wake up! Pei Green Tea hasn’t even sweated!】