FLME Ch21.1: End of the Recording

The production team prepared barbecue grills. Lunch was settled at the third supply point. The harvested mountain goods were washed clean, brushed with sauce, and slowly roasted over a low fire, making for a simple and delicious lunch.

Yu Wen sat on the steps in a daze, holding a bowl full of mushrooms.

The mushrooms in the bowl were desperately snatched from the mouths of the other starving ghosts by Chu Han and Tong Li, who were worried he wouldn’t get enough to eat. After instructing him to finish eating properly, they turned back to the battlefield.

Yu Wen knew the rations were hard-won, but he truly didn’t have much of an appetite.

So tired.

The soreness from climbing the mountain yesterday hadn’t eased yet, and today was another high-intensity activity. He had adapted a bit better in the morning, but as soon as he relaxed, his whole body felt as if it had been run over by cartwheels.

“Are you not going to eat?” Xi Su, sitting on a step two levels above him, saw that he hadn’t moved his chopsticks for a long time. Struggling to swallow the food in his mouth, he said indistinctly, “Otherwise, give it to me…”

Yu Wen knew he wasn’t being kind; looking at his eyes, he really wanted to eat it.

Yu Wen turned his head and silently stared at him for two seconds, realizing that although Xi Su had the appearance of a noble young master, he scarfed down his food like a dog digging for grub. This show was physically demanding, so the guests ate exceptionally heartily, contributing to many iconic scenes. But among all the MCs, only Xi Su truly deserved the title of “reincarnated starving ghost.”

“Go fight for it yourself,” Yu Wen said weakly.

It was past five, nearly six o’clock when they truly reached the mountaintop campground. In between, they were “invited” by local residents to help with farm work, delaying them for two or three hours. One could figure out with their knees that this was the production team’s doing.

Having weeded all afternoon, Yu Wen directly collapsed next to the tent, cosplaying a corpse.

Tong Li called on the others to process the ingredients for dinner. Although everyone looked tired, they gradually started moving to reward their hungry stomachs as quickly as possible.

Yu Wen answered the call, dragging his shattered body and wriggling over to the stove like a caterpillar.

Tong Li turned her head and handed him a large flatbread. “Go play. Wounded soldiers don’t go to the battlefield.”

Yu Wen: “…”

Song Chenglei also saw that he lacked physical strength and found an excuse to send him to the nearby small woods, letting him avoid the cameras and rest for a bit.

Yu Wen rolled over to the small woods to gnaw on the flatbread.

The signal on the mountain was poor; the higher they went, the worse it got. Yu Wen took out his phone and saw the boss’s greeting message in the group chat with a delay.

It was still the Starlight Media four-member backbone group. The group name had already been changed to “Fortune 500 Reserve Starlight…”

It was so long it couldn’t be fully displayed.

Xie Jiamao: [Xiao Yu, how’s the show recording? Are you tired? Poking_head_around.jpg]

It was already a message from two hours ago.

Yu Wen held the flatbread in his mouth, freeing up both hands to type.

Yu Wen: [After participating in this show, the sins Xiao Yu committed in the first half of his life will be completely written off.]

Xie Jiamao always replied to messages very quickly, as if his eyes grew on his phone.

Xie Jiamao: [What’s wrong? Very tired?]

Yu Wen: [Don’t worry Boss, not tired, just dead.]

Xie Jiamao: [??? Who died?]

Xie Jiamao: [That shouldn’t be. People rarely die on variety shows.]

“…”

Yu Wen looked up at the sky.

Oh no.

His train of thought had drifted so far that even his boss couldn’t keep up.

While Xie Jiamao was still asking in the group who died, Yu Wen rested his chin on his hand, pondering how to explain. Suddenly, a message popped up at the very top—from Xie Heyu.

Xie Heyu: [Should I pick you up tomorrow? It’s on the way.]

Yu Wen let out a small cheer. He was just worrying about how to catch his flight tomorrow; having someone pick him up would be wonderful.

Yu Wen: [Sure, sure, Teacher Xie is also in H City? What a coincidence.]

Xie Heyu: [Mn. What time tomorrow? Address.]

Yu Wen rapidly tapped and sent the call sheet over.

Immediately after, he realized something was slightly wrong.

Yu Wen: [Where are you right now?]

Xie Heyu: [School.]

Yu Wen: [Confused.jpg]

Yu Wen: [You’re in S City, I’m in H City. How is that ‘on the way’?]

Xie Heyu: […]

After dinner, everyone sat on chairs, chatting in twos and threes. This was a rare leisurely time on the show. Usually, after chatting, they could return to their rooms to rest, but today was different.

Everyone knew perfectly well that today’s itinerary still had one most important part left to complete.

“Since everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, next up is the final segment of the day, which is also the doubt that has been lingering in everyone’s minds all day—

“Just who is the ‘Gold Stealer’?”

Song Chenglei was the first to raise his hand. “Seriously, please don’t set up these segments that require IQ next time. Wow, everyone is as tired as dogs after a whole day, there’s absolutely no way to think…”

Tong Li: “Don’t blame the uneven road if you’re the one lacking; don’t blame the setting if you have no IQ.”

Song Chenglei: “If you keep doing this, I’m really going to take a taxi home.”

The others burst into laughter. The director’s team interjected in time to interrupt their bickering: “Now announcing the members’ points situation—”

It wasn’t much different from the situation at noon. After a day’s tasks, most members’ points had increased by anywhere from a dozen to several dozen. Chu Han was stolen from by another twenty or so points after noon, and even he himself couldn’t figure out what had happened.

The overall point trend was upward; only Yu Wen’s points were dropping steadily.

“Teacher Yu, -66.”

Yu Wen’s face remained unchanged, looking indifferently upon life and death.

So what if it’s negative? It’s not like they could actually ask him for money. Anyway, he was just recording one episode; he was going to be the first man in variety show history to leave in debt!

Xi Su didn’t have much of a chance to make a move in the afternoon. Yu Wen netted over thirty points in the afternoon, and for it to still end up negative in the end, it all had to be credited to Song Chenglei.

Teacher Song just kept fleecing him as his designated sheep. Yu Wen couldn’t even remember how many times he had wiped his shoes throughout the day; he had even used a brush to scrub them once under Song Chenglei’s arrangement.

To go into the negatives like this, Teacher Song deserved major credit!

Tong Li cast a subtle glance at him through the crowd, thinking to herself that this companion really dared to think and act. In fact, although he was negative sixty-six, as a mole he also earned sixty-six. Once the mole succeeded, the net profit after doubling would be ridiculously high.

Moreover, looking at the pitying gazes of the others, Tong Li knew in her heart that Yu Wen’s identity as a good guy had been fully solidified.

Their success was right before their eyes!

Hearing this outrageous number, Song Chenglei felt a bit guilty and cleared his throat. “Ahem, Xiao Yu, uh, do you have any clues about this?”

Yu Wen comfortably took a sip of hot milk tea, shaking his head. “None at all.”

“Everyone has three voting opportunities. If the moles are voted out in three rounds, everyone’s points today will be saved. If not, the moles win. The points earned today by all members except the moles will be cleared to zero.”

“Let me start.” Tong Li led the charge, firing the first shot for the mole camp. “Teacher Song, as an old friend, your performance all day today has seemed very suspicious to me…”

Yu Wen ate slowly. While a battle of words raged over there, he was still picking through the food in his bowl.

Chu Han frowned and listened for a while, feeling that everyone made sense. He quietly leaned over to Yu Wen and whispered, “Who do you suspect?”

Yu Wen raised his eyes and swept a glance.

The intense debate on the field was mainly between three people: Tong Li suspected Song Chenglei; Song Chenglei suspected Xi Su; Xi Su tried hard to acknowledge Song Chenglei but failed, and also suspected Tong Li.

The three moles formed a perfect closed loop.

No wonder they could be moles together, you could tell at a glance that their trains of thought were of the same breed.

“Don’t worry about it, we’ll just pick one of these three to trust, and then follow their vote.” Yu Wen lowered his head and continued to scarf down his food, his expression unconcerned.

Chu Han frowned deeper. “Will that work? After it airs, will the netizens say we’re being… passive.”

He originally wanted to say “buzzkills,” but after some consideration, he opted for a safer word.

Yu Wen didn’t care at all. “It’s fine, all three of them are moles.”

He said it casually, completely unaware of what kind of bombshell it was to the person listening.

Chu Han: “?!”

Chu Han’s expression looked as if he had been struck by lightning, his brain short-circuiting along with it. It took a good while before he stammered, “R-really? How do you know.”

Yu Wen rested his chin on his hand, wearing a distressed expression as if not knowing where to begin.

“…Forget it, just watch the broadcast when the time comes.”

Yu Wen was truly feeling lazy and didn’t say much more.

In his heart, Xi Su and Song Chenglei were ironclad wolves. Tong Li couldn’t be confirmed originally, but after the probing in the afternoon, plus her defense at this moment, it undoubtedly cemented the latter’s identity.

So the current situation was that the moles were slaughtering each other. There was no need to get involved; just adding fuel to the fire would do. His and Chu Han’s two votes combined could lock the situation no matter whose side they took.

A guaranteed win.

“You…” Chu Han hesitated, “Do you have some kind of, like seeing into the future, superpower.”

Yu Wen paused for two beats and turned his head to look at him.

“Teacher Chu, you even know how to make jokes now.” Yu Wen played along: “So funny oh hahahaha.”

“I’m not joking, I’m serious,” Chu Han said solemnly.

Yu Wen: “…That’s right, I am the superpowered person about to save the world.”

Chu Han: “I knew it.”

Yu Wen: “You even believe this?”

Chu Han’s eyes widened. “Why wouldn’t I believe it? You know everything every single time.”

Last time it was Xi Su’s background, he even knew such a secretive wealthy family scandal, he definitely had some extraordinary ability!

The microphone was hanging right at his collar, so Chu Han didn’t say the second half of his thought out loud.

Yu Wen stayed quiet for a moment, then admitted it.

“Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, and I know about this matter. A third person must not know.”

Chu Han: “Understood, it will affect your saving the world, right.”

Yu Wen’s fair and tender face sank slightly, becoming solemn.

“That’s right. If the evil forces learned of my existence, my situation would be terrible.”

Chu Han nodded heavily.

After a while, Chu Han covered his microphone and leaned close to his ear. “Remember to have the production team cut this part out, don’t let it leak…”

Yu Wen patted his hand, indicating that everything was under control.

“It’s fine. What should be broadcast will be broadcast; what shouldn’t be broadcast naturally won’t be broadcast.”

Chu Han tried to comprehend this, thinking that this sentence meant there was a specialized department handling logistics.

Chu Han felt relieved.

“…Teacher Song, after saying so much just now, you still haven’t clearly explained why Yu Wen lost the most points while staying with you. If this point isn’t clarified, all your arguments are just sophistry in my eyes,” Tong Li said.

While Yu Wen and Chu Han were discussing saving the world, the debate in the center was raging hotly. It mainly focused on Tong Li and Song Chenglei. Xi Su would occasionally pop his head up to argue a couple of sentences. Cao Lingyun was like a confused roe deer; listening a bit to everyone, and believing a bit of everyone.

Song Chenglei: “I don’t need to argue my case, I am innocent. Judge freely for yourselves, anyway, I suspect Xiao Xi.”

Xi Su spread his hands helplessly: “I haven’t proactively touched Chu Han-ge all day today. If we go by your logic, ge, then I’m also innocent. Right, Chu Han-ge?”

Chu Han: “Ah?”

Xi Su looked over in their direction, his eyes instantly turning tender, and even his voice deepening, “Ge, do you suspect me?”

Yu Wen was done.

At a critical moment like this, you fucking still don’t forget to queerbait. You really are a hardcore careerist.

Receiving Chu Han’s plea for help, Yu Wen moved his cheeks, swallowed the food in his mouth, and said calmly, “Arguing further is meaningless, let’s vote.”

One sentence cut right back to the main topic.

In a place the cameras couldn’t sweep to, Xi Su’s gaze shifted from Chu Han to Yu Wen. He slightly raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat displeased.

He hadn’t completed his KPI today. If Chu Han had answered just now, regardless of whether he believed him or not, the CP fans would have had their food. With Yu Wen interrupting like this, for this entire episode, there might not be any “Xi-Han” shipping moments to be found.

What’s with this bro? We’re on the same pirate ship now, why is he still disturbing him from making money.

Xi Su curled his lips.

“Xiao Yu, who do you want to vote for?” Tong Li asked.

Everyone’s gazes uniformly fell upon Yu Wen. He tilted his head and spaced out for a moment, his eyes looking very confused. “Hmm… I feel like what you guys said all makes sense. Then I’ll vote for Teacher Song.”

Chu Han hurriedly followed suit: “I also vote for Teacher Song.”

Cao Lingyun followed and raised her hand: “I believe Sister Tong, I also vote for Teacher Song.”

Song Chenglei was so angry he fell backward.

First round, Song Chenglei was voted out with four votes.

He was invited to the spectator seats. Before getting up, he kept shaking his head, “It’s not me, it really isn’t… You guys will regret it.”

Tong Li: “Deliberately mystifying.”

As the second round began, Tong Li gave Yu Wen a wink, meaning victory was in their grasp; Xi Su also gave Yu Wen a look, meaning we talked about this in the afternoon, Tong Li is very suspicious, remember?

Yu Wen gave them each a reassuring look, meaning understood, I understand everything.

Then he followed Xi Su’s vote and voted Tong Li out.

Teacher Tong’s expression when she was eliminated was full of disbelief. Yu Wen felt she even wanted to rush over, grab his shoulders, and interrogate him if he had lost his mind.

Yu Wen could only try his best to put on a regretful look of someone whose heart had been blinded by lard (deceived).

Third round, Xi Su turned his head to look around the field, searching for the next lucky winner suitable for a false accusation.

However, as his gaze swept across, Yu Wen and Chu Han were huddled in a corner, like two outsiders, stuffing roasted meat into their mouths while chewing and looking at him.

Cao Lingyun had finished eating, but for this last spot, compared to Yu Wen and Chu Han, she obviously suspected Xi Su more.

Meeting her hesitant gaze, Xi Su: “…”

Final round, without any dispute, Xi Su was voted out.

“The undercover game is over, now announcing the results—”

The director deliberately dragged out his tone, keeping people in suspense.

The guests had already returned to their seats, waiting for the director to announce the result. Although Tong Li was very puzzled at the moment she was voted out by Yu Wen, she quickly understood that Yu Wen’s intention was to draw a clear line. She was quite satisfied with this current result, unable to suppress the curve of her lips.

But the next second, the director’s words made her doubt her life.

“All three moles have been found out, the guest group wins!”

?

Tong Li was dazed for a moment.

Song Chenglei: “What? How many?”

Xi Su pointed his finger back and forth among the three of them, “Us? The three of us?”

Song Chenglei: “All three of us are moles?!”

Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Chu Han also couldn’t hide his surprise. Even though he had heard it from Yu Wen, when he truly confirmed the reality of this matter, he still felt it was unbelievable.

Moles knifing each other? Good heavens, this could simply be recorded in the annals of variety show history and become a legendary scene.

Everyone was in an uproar. While clearing his plate, Yu Wen chimed in half-heartedly: “What? Oh my god, no way, how did this happen…”

“Wait, that’s not right.” Tong Li woke up as if from a dream and looked toward Yu Wen through the crowd. “There are only three moles… Are you not one? I was tricked?”

Yu Wen flatly denied it. “Impossible! Xiao Yu never deceives people!”

Xiao Yu only spouts nonsense!

With the topic drawn to Yu Wen, the production team came out to build suspense. “I believe everyone is also curious about what exactly happened and how it came to the current situation… Teacher Yu, please tell everyone the causes, effects, and your thought process in rooting out the moles.”

Yu Wen had just placed two slices of potato on the barbecue grill and was about to brush them with oil. “Me?” He pointed at himself, his cat eyes wide, looking innocent and pure. “What could I know? I only know how to eat.”

Song Chenglei: “Wait, wait! Does that mean Xiao Yu knew all along that the three of us were moles? When did my cover blow? I thought my disguise was excellent!”

The director held back a laugh and said, “Every time you made Xiao Yu wipe his shoes.”

Song Chenglei: “…”

Probably seeing that Yu Wen really hadn’t eaten his fill, Chu Han exchanged a plate of pork belly with the production team. Yu Wen was eating happily, his cheeks bulging. Meeting Song Chenglei’s condemning gaze, he just pressed his palms together and waved them back and forth to express his apology.

“For the sake of your cuteness, I’ll let you off—” Song Chenglei sighed faintly. “But since you knew I was a mole, why did you still go and wipe your shoe every time I reminded you it was dirty?”

Yu Wen sipped some water and swallowed his food. “The bigger the fluctuation in my points, the less you could calculate it clearly. Because you couldn’t calculate it, you wouldn’t think there were other companions. That way, you would unbridledly attack the people you wanted to attack.”

By the same logic, Chu Han’s points also fluctuated greatly, constantly exchanging various items for him along the way, causing the twenty-something points stolen by Tong Li to not attract the slightest attention.

“My god.” Tong Li finally reacted. Covering her forehead, she walked behind Yu Wen, pinched his shoulders, and shook him exasperatedly. “You have such an innocent face, how could you be so bad ahhh Xiao Yu! You tricked me!… Ah! I’m going crazy!”

Xi Su still hadn’t fully sorted out all the rules even now, but he knew one thing: Yu Wen had discovered the flaws in the three of them right from the beginning and had used some clever divide-and-conquer tactics, causing the mole camp to never be able to recognize each other.

He scratched his fluffy blue hair and clicked his tongue. “Got played.”

Upholding the principle that he couldn’t be the only one losing face, Song Chenglei asked Tong Li, “What did he do to you? Say it out loud, let’s all lose face together.”

Tong Li laughed out of anger. “No need to say it, you’ll know how embarrassing it was when you watch the broadcast later. At the time, I asked him if Song Chenglei told him to wipe his shoes. He said to me, ‘Maybe I just wanted to wipe them myself.’ I thought at the time, someone who hadn’t received a task card couldn’t make up such a sentence. Either he was just talking nonsense, or he was revealing his identity to me. It had to be the latter! That expression at the time!”

“Turns out he was acting! He was acting! Director, you absolutely must put his expression, look, and tone from that moment on a three-time loop playback. With a face like that, any human being would believe him!”

Cao Lingyun couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. “Teacher Yu is too smart.”

Almost all the guests were sighing over Yu Wen’s formidable deduction skills and insight, but Chu Han took exception to this.

He knew that Yu Wen didn’t see through everything relying on this, but on his most powerful secret—superpowers.

His friend is a superpowered person.

This made Chu Han feel a shared sense of honor.