Chapter 1053: Oh wow, survival variety show meets ex! 23

Look again at the third Shen Yi.

Although he kept shouting noisily and was close to them, he also made preparations, muttering that there definitely weren't any ghosts while putting on all the gear he carried.

He obviously also planned to seize supplies and clues in the water prison.

"Who's there?"

Shen Yi's perception of the surroundings was sharper; noticing someone following, he immediately turned, raised his gun, half‑crouched warily, and his high ponytail was tied into a roll with one hand, neat and menacing.

"Come out!"

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, thinking this was what you yourself asked for.

His fingers twitched, and Bai Xuan's corpse was again manipulated into appearing.

The terrifying "female ghost" slowly stuck out its tongue toward Shen Yi, revealing a smile.

"Damn."

Shen Yi panicked and ran.

Dealing with people is fine enough! Fighting ghosts is just her being bored and overfed!

Jin Chen walked on with his hands behind his back, continuing to look for the next person, while the corpse behind him swayed along lazily.

He Chao, who kept trying to contact someone but never succeeded, actually seemed the most harmless of all.

【The top is contacting the program team director, but the phone keeps not getting through.】 0731 said.

Jin Chen leaned against a strange rock, the sleeve blade he prepared held in his mouth, slowly putting on his gloves, eyes downcast in thought.

Since the person behind the scenes can control the deserted island, the program team director must be under control; whether he's alive now is uncertain.

He Chao, lacking backup, appeared far too weak.

In the original plot, He Chao killed several people even without a god's view, but… the focus is on Lin Gui.

Lin Gui has a problem.

Jin Chen swiftly put on his gloves, flicked his sleeve blade at He Chao's back, heard only a muffled grunt; He Chao dodged in time but still got his arm slit.

Useless.

Even being a scapegoat is too much of a hassle.

Jin Chen gave up and retreated.

In contrast, the always timid and weak protagonist, the bottom Lin Gui, though still praying for luck from the jade pendant at his neck, was the first to accidentally find the correct exit.

Lin Gui walked while stroking the jade pendant, his expression gradually becoming alert; even though his gaze shifted quickly afterward, Jin Chen knew Lin Gui had noticed he was being tailed.

Still pretty impressive.

Jin Chen deliberately made a noise so Lin Gui could confirm, then muttered, "Quite lucky."

Having said that, he turned and went down another path.

Lin Gui exhaled in relief, released the jade pendant, tightly pinched the web of his thumb, and squeezed out two drops of oddly colored blood from a mole‑like mark.

He sucked in the blood, his pupils contracting for an instant, like a beast sensing prey and danger.

After two seconds he returned to normal, Lin Gui became feeble again, and staggering, he actually walked up to He Chao's side.

"He Dage!"

Lin Gui ran over with a choking voice, immediately bursting into tears unable to catch his breath, "I'm so scared… glad I found you."

"Don't cry."

He Chao also relaxed, no matter what, having Lin Gui this lucky charm beside him.

He comforted Lin Gui, his warm arm stroking the shoulder, "As long as we find the water prison, we'll be fine."

"With your luck, you'll definitely make it."

Lin Gui lowered his eyes, leaning into his embrace, slipping in conversation unnoticed.

"He Dage… this show seems to have changed; you said you knew the director—did something happen?"

In such unreserved trust, He Chao had little guard, and the information he currently held was utterly useless, so he soon spilled the truth.

Lin Gui listened while stealthily moving closer to He Chao; a sharp needle hidden in his fingertip pierced He Chao's waist, and in an instant he felt no pain.

He Chao's pupils slightly dilated, then quickly returned to normal; he only thought he had spaced out.

Observing the whole situation, Jin Chen secretly sighed, and even an idle bystander chimed in about the relationship.

Looking at it this way, Lin Gui is the hidden wolf planted here by the mastermind.

After hearing He Chao's clues, Jin Chen went to look for the next person.

The only normal person, Xie Shao, wandered about in a daze, his spirit already driven to despair, suspecting every rustle to be a ghost.

How pitiful.

Finally, he wasn't in a hurry to leave either, simply studying the moving bell Zhong He on the cave wall.

These two seemed quite normal, at least so far showing no telltale signs.

After everyone had been tested, Jin Chen already had a clear idea in mind.

Extremely swift, he placed different false clues in various places, then headed for the water prison.

"Yu Xiaosui?"

Jin Chen pushed open the hidden door; before him was a half‑person‑high water prison, the cage thick with iron spikes, snakes and worms swimming below, the stench and foul smell rushing straight to the top of the head.

The supplies in the thicket had been taken, but there was no sign of Yu Sui; Jin Chen grew worried and shouted several times.

But turning around, he saw Yu Sui emerge spotless from the right‑hand path, backpack heavy with supplies, eyes bright as he trotted over.

"Here."

Jin Chen poked his head, "Where'd you go?"

Seeing the man's slightly dangerous gaze, Yu Sui swallowed the words "looking for you" and whispered, "Take a look."

Jin Chen laughed angrily, "Look, it's pitch black in here—just look at the air."

"……Look at you."

In the darkness, Yu Sui's ears turned red; he quietly moved closer to Jin Chen, not upset even after being scolded, "You're still here."

His tone was excited; he was very happy.

Just now Jin Chen left; after getting the supplies, he stood where he was waiting, and the longer he waited the worse he felt, his mind filled with Jin Chen's disappearance.

He hadn't noticed before, but now not seeing Jin Chen leaves him feeling unsettled.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 70!】

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -5, total 27!】

Jin Chen ruffled the youth's soft hair, couldn't help but pull him into his embrace, his chin lightly rubbing the top of his head, "I won't abandon you; I said I wouldn't leave—what are you worrying about?"

"If you hit someone again…"

Yu Sui hummed softly, carefully tugging at Jin Chen's collar; his breath filled with a relaxing scent, his forehead bumping against Jin Chen's shoulder.

"No hitting, no hitting."

He always thought he wasn't good at acting coquettish; after repeating it twice, with his arms around the man's narrow waist, he didn't realize how sweet his voice sounded.

"Captain……no hitting."

Hearing that long‑unused title, Jin Chen narrowed his eyes, released him, and lightly pinched the youth's soft cheek.

"Who are you calling captain?"

"…You." Yu Sui mumbled, looking up at him. Obviously he didn't understand why his cheek was being pinched again."

""The old me?" Jin Chen's tone turned dangerous."

Yu Sui found the question strange, but he shook his head instinctively and blurted out, his clear eyes fixed on Jin Chen's face.

""The present you.""

""So obedient, you've improved a lot.""

Jin Chen chuckled, pulled him into his embrace again, kissed his forehead, and said, "I won't hit you—I won't hit anyone but you."

""Mm… I won't abandon you either.""

This time the redness spread from his ears to his cheeks; Yu Sui simply buried himself in Jin Chen's arms, "I've remembered."

He tightly wrapped his arms around Jin Chen's waist, his tone oddly obsessive.

""Never abandon me again.""

【Host, they've all arrived—except Xie Shao, who was too nervous to notice your planted false clue; everyone else got theirs.】

Jin Chen patted Yu Sui's shoulder, "They're here—I have to keep up the disguise, don't worry."