Chapter 163: Screening

"Oh my god, oh my god!"

Qiao Yinuo was so excited when she saw Su Mian that she immediately pounced on her. "Ragdoll Cat, thank goodness, I'm going to be carried to victory again!!!"

Su Mian:...

She really couldn't carry anyone to victory this time.

Tiffany stepped forward. "In that instance, you saved me, right?"

Su Mian nodded. One of the female streamers who died in the previous instance was Tiffany.

The bug was eliminated, so she naturally resurrected. She wiped her tears in excitement. "Thank you, Ragdoll Cat."

Su Mian couldn't breathe from being hugged by the two of them. When the twins heard the term "Ragdoll Cat," their expressions both changed.

Aside from that one, the consecutive win legend often had people posting about being carried to victory by Ragdoll Cat again. She must be a very powerful player.

Today, they finally saw the real person, and she was actually such a delicate-looking girl.

"Everyone, don't stand at the door. Find a seat."

The auntie cleaning the courtyard held a broom and approached them. Several round tables had already been set up.

The tablecloths were bright red plastic, with teapots and enamel cups pressing down on the edges. The rims of the cups clinked against each other, making a crisp sound.

They walked calmly to an empty round table and sat down. Steam rose from the kitchen, the smell of cooking oil mixed with steamed meat swirled in the courtyard, and the sound of spatulas hitting the edges of pots came from time to time. People were moving in and out carrying stools.

Bundles of fireworks and firecrackers were piled under the wall, their red paper skins shining in the sun.

Today was the day of Mao Rongjun's engagement.

Everything was so festive and harmonious, but as soon as they sat down, the neighbors and villagers looked over instantly. Their eyes were wide, and their expressions were quite eerie.

The newcomer girl swallowed and lowered her head even further.

Su Mian grabbed a handful of corn candies from the iron plate and put them in her bag, remaining calm and composed.

"Bride..."

"Bride..."

Murmurs came from all directions, making them feel scalp-tingling, until Mao Rongjun's father came out of the residence, at which point they withdrew their gazes.

Mao Fu wore a brand-new but ill-fitting dark blue Zhongshan suit, the collar buttoned up tightly.

He held a red lacquer tray in his hand, on which were placed a pair of scissors wrapped in red thread, a wooden comb, and a few red ropes.

He walked to the middle of the courtyard and cleared his throat.

The noise around them instantly died down, leaving only the sound of spatulas colliding in the kitchen.

"Although... Rongjun has something urgent to attend to and needs time to rush back, the auspicious time cannot be delayed. We will follow the rituals as usual."

The courtyard was packed, and applause erupted instantly. The players looked puzzled.

Qiao Yinuo leaned in. "What does that mean? Aren't we neighbors here for the banquet? How did we become the bride?"

Tiffany glanced at Qiao Yinuo, who was revealing a sense of silliness. "The system means the bride is among us."

Qiao Yinuo said "Oh" and frowned at Tiffany. "What's with that look?"

"No special meaning." Tiffany smiled gently, no different from when she was in Vibens.

Just as amiable.

"I just feel sorry for Ragdoll Cat having to carry so many people."

Just as "green tea" (manipulative).

But this time, the target of the green tea seemed to have changed.

Qiao Yinuo widened her eyes in speechlessness, grabbed Su Mian's arm, and winked at Tiffany.

Su Mian:...

She scratched her cheek, not knowing whether she should join the battlefield.

On the stage, Mao Fu held the microphone, his voice ghostly. "Seeking the bride..."

He looked over here. "Step one: combing the hair. The bride's hair must be smooth, bright, and tied with a red rope, symbolizing that the couple is of one heart."

He picked up the wooden comb from the tray, pinched a rope, and walked toward their table step by step, holding the tray.

The newcomer looked around, took one look, and quickly withdrew her gaze, asking uneasily, "What does it mean? Are, are they going to comb our hair? What happens if we're chosen?"

No one answered her; everyone tensed their bodies.

Mao Fu stood still by the table. Being close, one could smell the old mothball scent on him, mixed with a faint smell of incense candles.

He stood behind Tiffany. "Raise your head."

Tiffany raised her head slightly. Amidst the terrified gazes of the others, he picked up the wooden comb and really started combing, one stroke after another.

Combing slowly from the roots to the tips, her scalp was pulled painfully, but Tiffany didn't show a single expression.

"Not smooth enough," he muttered and turned to the next one.

Qiao Yinuo and the other female player pretended to be calm and let him comb.

"Hair quality is too hard, not good."

Until he combed the newcomer player, his eyes slowly brightened. He took out a red rope and tied a dead knot in her hair.

The newcomer girl covered her mouth and looked at them for help, only to see Mao Fu continuing to comb hair. Su Mian was puzzled for a moment, as if she understood something.

The twins were both passed, and the last one was Su Mian. She was also tied with a red rope.

Tiffany and Qiao Yinuo looked at her with worry.

Just when everyone thought it was over, Mao Fu picked up the microphone again. "Step two: cutting the 'Double Happiness' character. The bride's hands must be skillful; the cut character must be upright and auspicious."

"Why is there more???"

Qiao Yinuo was on the verge of tears. Su Mian revealed a look of realization. "He won't give up on anyone who could become the bride."

"We two are already shortlisted. If this 'Double Happiness' character isn't cut well, I'm afraid it won't be easy."

The shiny red paper had already been sent to the table. Everyone picked up a sheet. Mao Fu handed over the scissors. Hearing Su Mian's words, Qiao Yinuo became even more nervous. She had never been married; how would she cut the "Double Happiness" character?

Qiao Yinuo could only look around. Seeing Su Mian folding it on her own, she began to imitate her.

Su Mian certainly knew how to cut it; after all, she had studied it before coming. But this precisely meant she couldn't cut out a perfect "Double Happiness" character.

If the players found out later that the real bride was someone who could cut the "Double Happiness" character perfectly while looking for clues, they would definitely associate it with the scene at this moment.

The red hair rope just now had already provided her with a safety net; whether she cut the "Double Happiness" character or not, she would remain, so this character must absolutely not be cut correctly.

She was just afraid that the murderer would be too clever and cut a flawless one, only to find out later that it was one of the key clues.

When playing mid-game mini-games in script murder before, Su Mian had almost fallen for it.

So, after observing that Qiao Yinuo couldn't do it, she demonstrated the normal steps. After Qiao Yinuo finished cutting, she secretly cut a few more strokes, and the finished product became neither fish nor fowl.

Mao Fu looked at the "Zhe" character she had cut, frowned, waved his hand, and turned to look at the others.

The twins cut it very well. The newcomer stumbled for a long time without cutting it out, but she had the hair rope from the first round to save her life, so Mao Fu didn't say anything.

After peeking at Su Mian, Qiao Yinuo successfully escaped a disaster.

After patrolling the circle, all players were shortlisted as candidates for the bride, which proved they could all survive. Mao Fu walked back to the stage, his eyes looking elsewhere.

The people at the table near the door were dressed exceptionally formally, in suits and leather shoes, forming a sharp contrast with the others. One of the middle-aged men stood up with a kind smile. ===== CHAPTER 164 =====