Chapter 17: The Performance... Begins!

At the entrance of the Hotel.

Glancing at the figure of Dong Xiaoyu as she hurried away,

Chu Chenfeng took a "Black Suitcase" out of the parcel locker.

"This is..." Ding Mo, standing to the side, looked at it in surprise:

"This is what you called the key to breaking the deadlock?"

Hearing this, Chu Chenfeng looked at him:

"Using it carries great risk, but it is at least better than us killing each other."

"Then... what exactly is inside here?"

"Nothing at all. I only had the Prop Team send over an empty box.

"But..." he said, shaking the box slightly: (Author's note: This book is first published on the reading app Zhui Shu Shen Qi, tt k. tw, for a super smooth, error-free, and orderly reading experience.)

"Now there is something in it."

Chu Chenfeng's words left Ding Mo even more confused.

What on earth was he trying to do?

"However," Chu Chenfeng changed the subject and said:

"After the performance ends tonight, it will be a better time."

The implication was that it could not be used yet.

"Why wait until tonight?"

"... Who knows?" Chu Chenfeng recalled the situation from last night, a flash of contemplation in his eyes:

"Perhaps 'tonight' will tell you my answer."

Soon, it was night, 00:00 AM.

The performance, once again, begins!

During the day, everyone had created a small group to discuss for a long time, but they hadn't reached any conclusions about what the director was hiding.

They only confirmed that Ding Mo's speculation was, in all likelihood, true.

Because every time the director discussed related topics, there was basically only one type of response:

"Don't know," "Not clear," "If you all don't know, how would I know?" and so on.

Right!

The problem of food shortages had now been discovered by everyone.

Yet the progress of the performance remained at a standstill.

Ding Mo stared at the "banquet" under the lights not far away, as well as the few people performing diligently, and couldn't help but sigh.

At the beginning, he had said the Task was simple, but now it seemed it was difficult upon difficult; up to this point, there wasn't even a clue.

At this moment, those few people had mostly taken their seats.

The sound of "serving the dishes" came, and Ding Mo and Chu Chenfeng adjusted their Masks, then picked up the trays and walked forward as usual.

Arriving under the lights, everything was as usual,

Except...

The sharp-eyed Chu Chenfeng suddenly discovered that on the fruit tray being held by Chu Chen, there was actually an extra apple!

It looked different from the other prop apples.

Upon closer inspection, Ding Mo realized that it was a plump, fresh "True Apple"!

What was going on? Where did it come from? Ding Mo felt confused and puzzled.

But now was not the time to ask questions, so he had to follow the routine and set down the tray.

During this process, he kept his attention on the tray holding the true fruit.

Until it was placed,

In front of the "King," Zhu Jie!

And during this process, besides Ding Mo, there was one other person who had been watching the whole time.

Dong Xiaoyu watched as the fruit was carried to Zhu Jie, and she couldn't help but feel nervous.

This True Apple was the one she had requested from the "Prop Team"!

And they, who never provided any food, had actually agreed to her request this time!

Regarding this, Dong Xiaoyu vaguely understood something, but it was no longer important now.

The food shortage had caused everyone to start scrimping and saving; if a fresh apple appeared now, it was likely that no one would refuse to take a bite...

Sure enough!

Zhu Jie soon discovered "it." He picked it up, a hint of surprise on his face.

Perhaps he thought the "Prop Team" had made a mistake and mixed a real item in with the props?

In any case, he examined it for a moment and actually looked like he was going to eat it!

He brought the apple to his lips, and with his movement, Dong Xiaoyu felt as if her heart had been squeezed tight!

In the banquet of the performance, this was her only chance to poison Zhu Jie!

Not just her, but Ding Mo, Chu Chenfeng, and even Leng Rourou, who had been completely unaware, noticed this scene.

But at this moment, with the apple at his lips, Zhu Jie's movement suddenly paused.

Wh-what's wrong? Dong Xiaoyu swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She didn't know that Zhu Jie was actually considering—would it be impolite to just eat it?

He was the King! Eating required etiquette!

Zhu Jie placed the apple on a plate, smiling as he sliced it open with a small knife, then raised his fork, wanting to enjoy it.

But this action caused Dong Xiaoyu, who was sitting beside him, to tremble!

Just because, the flesh of that sliced apple...

Was actually black!

A foul odor faintly wafted from it, causing people to change color!

Zhu Jie widened his eyes, his fork frozen in mid-air.

The banquet area was not large, and everyone had seen this scene clearly.

The air fell into silence!

……

Looking at the scene that seemed to have suddenly frozen, in a suite larger than the Queen's room,

Seeing this, a figure swayed slightly and also put down their fork.

Ugh~ Ugh~

To the side, bursts of retching sounds suddenly came.

He turned his head and said viciously, "Swallow it for me!"

"B-Boss!" the retching figure said with disgust:

"T-this thing, even if stir-fried with wine and meat, I still... Ugh~"

"You damn thing!" The figure called 'Boss' saw this and suddenly pounced like a wild beast! He pressed the other's head against the wall and slammed it a few times.

Thump! The figure fell to the ground, letting out a terrified howl!

"Now you can't even eat it when it's mixed with pork! In a few days, there won't even be pork, what will you do?

"You might as well just die right now!"

"I-I'm sorry!" The figure on the ground hurriedly apologized in fear.

"Damn it, you're all useless! And you too, I told you to cook a dish, and you only finished it now! And you call yourself a Butcher!"

The 'Boss' returned to his seat and scolded another corner.

In that corner, a figure swayed a few times and said aggrievedly:

"Boss, I'm just a Butcher, where would I have dissected a human body..."

But the 'Boss's' attention had already returned to the television.

Because, the situation had undergone a new change.

……

On the "stage".

A table had been overturned, and the "Poison Apple" was slammed hard onto the ground, shattering into several irregular black pieces.

Who!

Who did this!

After a cold sweat, Zhu Jie looked up, both shocked and furious.

But he happened to meet Leng Rourou's equally terrified gaze.

Beneath the Mask, her face was already deathly pale.

"You! It was you!" Zhu Jie gritted his teeth and pointed at the 'Queen', his angry voice echoing in the hall:

"You want to poison me?! Bitch! Someone, come and chop her..."

But before he could finish his sentence, Zhu Jie's pupils suddenly shrank!

【Threshold: 77%】 → 【Threshold: 67%】

【You have groundlessly accused your Queen, which does not fit your Identity】

……Bastard!

Zhu Jie only felt that he was about to explode with frustration!!

It was clearly her...

Under the gaze of everyone, he took a deep breath, his expression dark and uncertain, his eyes like a bloodthirsty jackal watching its prey.

Beside him, Dong Xiaoyu could not stop trembling in terror.

It's over, it failed...

Ding Mo looked at the composed Chu Chenfeng beside him in shock.

Your apple is still poisonous?

Chu Chenfeng, however, just quietly watched this scene, and Leng Rourou was also watching the changes calmly.

After a long while, Zhu Jie's eyes rolled, he let out a heavy cold snort, and said hideously:

"My Queen!"

"……I, I am here." Dong Xiaoyu's voice was trembling.

She could already imagine the horror she would face after the performance ended.

He would tear her to pieces!

"There is an assassin in the palace, I command you!

"Return to the room with me, only then will it be 'safe'!"

Zhu Jie's tone heavily emphasized the word "safe".

This was an order from... the King!

As the voice fell, it was now so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

After a long while,

Only then did Dong Xiaoyu hear herself speak with difficulty, saying:

"I... refuse!"