Half an hour later, Xu Gui finally arrived, albeit late.
In the hotel lobby, the director, arms crossed, looked at her and said sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this our Teacher Xu? What brings such a busy person like you here?"
Xu Gui glanced at him cautiously and whispered, "Didn't you send someone to call me down?"
The director's lips twitched slightly: "...You think I'm really asking you a question?" Couldn't he hear the sarcasm?
Xu Gui blinked and didn't say anything, just looking at the director innocently and obediently.
The director couldn't help but think to himself: She does look decent enough, and seems quite well-behaved, but who knew that this best-looking one would be the one with the most questions among their guests.
The director lifted his eyelids to look at her and asked, "Didn't you receive a notification from the production team that the guests should gather here in the lobby at six o'clock?"
Xu Gui shook her head and replied, "No, I didn't receive a text message."
The director frowned and questioned again, "Then where's your assistant? You don't know, but surely your assistant knows? Didn't she tell you about this? What kind of assistant does your company have?"
Hearing this, Xu Gui said, "Director, I don't have an assistant. I came to participate in the show alone."
"..." The director hesitated, "Your company..."
Finally, looking at Xu Gui's innocent puppy-dog eyes, the director frowned and ultimately didn't say anything more. He just waved his hand and said somewhat annoyedly, "Alright, find a seat first."
Xu Gui immediately obediently found a seat in the lobby. Not far from her was Su Ya, who glanced at Xu Gui and pursed her lips. With
Xu Gui's arrival, all the guests were present. At seven o'clock, the director gave a wink to the staff, and the staff in charge of filming nodded and immediately turned on the live broadcast equipment.
At 7 PM, the official live stream of "360 Trades" began.
All the other guests' live streams were closed, leaving only the official one open. As one of the hottest variety shows currently airing, "360 Trades" saw a massive influx of viewers the moment it started, with the number of viewers increasing at an alarming rate.
[They're here! Front row seats reserved!]
[I see my idol! But why is he sitting in the corner? Is there something fishy going on?]
[Wow, no wonder everyone says "360 Trades" is a beauty pageant! Look at all these handsome men and beautiful women! They've gathered all the good-looking people in the entertainment industry! This scene is so pleasing to the eye! Why don't you all form a group and debut as a 50-person group!] [
The ordinary people are all very good-looking. I heard that there are elites in various fields among them. The one in the blue plaid skirt seems to be the principal dancer of the national dance troupe, and the woman in the white shirt is the lead singer of the song and dance troupe.]
[I can't help but sigh every time I see this. Hunan TV really spends a lot of money. They can invite all kinds of guests.]
[I heard that actor Zhao Yang has already made more than three million yuan in the stock market. Some people followed his stock trading and made hundreds of thousands of yuan. Waaah, I'm so envious. I've never realized that money is so easy to make.]
[Is that Princess Tang Xu? She and Qiu Nai look so good together. Nai Xu is real!!]
...
A large number of viewers flooded into the live broadcast room instantly. The combined fan base of the fifty guests was terrifying. The barrage of comments in the live broadcast room was dense and overwhelming.
Under this "all-encompassing attention," the director coughed lightly.
"Currently, filming for '360 Trades' has been underway for half a month. So far, apart from a few guests who seem to be slacking off, everyone's performance has been excellent, showcasing a very positive and upbeat attitude to the audience..."
The director's speech was very official, but when he mentioned "a few guests who seem to be slacking off," Xu Gui had a feeling that he was referring to her.
Xu Gui muttered: "It's just my imagination. I've clearly been working very hard."
Thinking this, she met the director's gaze without flinching. When the director looked at her meaningfully, she returned his gaze with a big smile.
Director: "..."
The director seemed to be blinded by the bright smile and simply looked away, no longer giving Xu Gui any extra attention.
"...So, our program will enter the next stage!"
After the official opening remarks, the director finally revealed the purpose of the gathering. He said, "In the next half month, '360 Trades' will be implementing an elimination system!"
An elimination system?
The guests immediately erupted in commotion, unable to help but whisper among themselves.
"Director," Zhao Yang spoke up, asking, "What's the explanation for this elimination system? How many rounds are there? How many people will be eliminated?"
"To put it bluntly," the director grinned, revealing a bright smile, but to the guests, it seemed to carry a hint of malice.
He said, "You can call this elimination system the 'last-place elimination system.' That means the last-place person is the first to be eliminated."
The director's smile faded, and he continued, "The elimination system consists of three rounds. In the first round, which will be in three days, the last twenty of you fifty guests will all be eliminated!"
"The second round will begin after the first round. This time, the last fifteen will be eliminated from the remaining thirty winners!"
"As for the final round, the last five will be eliminated!"
"In other words, we will only have the final ten guests left for the final competition!"
The director's gaze swept over everyone: "Does anyone have any questions?"
"Director, the production team didn't mention any elimination system before we came to participate in the show," a guest complained.
Director: "Oh, this? This was added at the last minute. We felt that only by adding an elimination system would the guests be more motivated to earn money, and the show would be more watchable... We're doing all this for the sake of ratings."
A guest arrogantly asked, "But director, isn't your arbitrary change of the show's filming rules a violation of the contract we signed?"
The director glanced at the guest who spoke, and, already prepared, had the assistant director bring him the contract that their production team had originally agreed upon. He then turned to a page and found a particular line.
"Camera, move closer, focus here!" He gestured for the camera to be on the line he was pointing to, saying, "See? All interpretation rights belong to the production team! Understand?"
Everyone: "..."
The director smiled and said, "Don't worry, everyone. All the changes our production team has made are for the sake of our show. And the better our show's ratings, the more benefits you guests will receive, right?"
The director confidently declared, "So, trust me, I won't do anything reckless!"
The guests' lips twitched slightly, many thinking to themselves: You won't do anything bad to the show, but I'm afraid you'll consider the ratings and do something sabotage to us like this!
Although the director was unaware of the guests' unspoken complaints, he had a rough idea. But as the old saying goes, a director who isn't complained about isn't a good director; being criticized only proves he's a smart and competent one.
"Ah, I forgot to mention!" the director seemed to suddenly remember something. He chuckled, "Our show's ratings are currently quite good, so many sponsors have expressed interest. Therefore, the top ten finalists in the competition for first place are very likely to be chosen by a sponsor."
Amidst the guests' suddenly enthusiastic gazes, the director, never one to shy away from drama, laughed, "Well then, guests, good luck! Hopefully, you won't be eliminated in the first round."
However, the elimination system meant that twenty people would be eliminated in the first round three days later.
*
Shortly after the live broadcast ended, the topic of "[Elimination System of '360 Professions']" immediately topped the trending searches, sparking much discussion among netizens, living up to its reputation as a "favored" and "dark horse."
Fans of the guests ranked within the top 30 remained calm, but those ranked outside the top 30 were in a panic.
[Honestly, is this elimination system really okay? They never mentioned it before! This is completely unfair to the later guests!]
[Isn't it a bit much for the production team to suddenly introduce this elimination system? Everyone was completely unprepared.]
[I actually like this elimination system. The atmosphere among the guests is instantly different. The previous atmosphere was too friendly and relaxed; this confrontational atmosphere is much more like it!]
[I'll just say one thing: the elimination system is garbage. I think the production team just acted on a whim.]
[Actually, the production team's move to introduce the elimination system is the smartest. Not only has the atmosphere of the show changed, but they can also legitimately make money. To prevent their favorite stars from being eliminated, fans will have to spend money!]
...
The elimination system has sparked heated discussions among netizens, and the bottom twenty guests are starting to worry and are all trying to find solutions.
Unfortunately, Xu Gui was among the bottom twenty, currently ranked thirty-fifth. To avoid elimination, she needed to climb four places.
"…Teacher Xu, aren't you worried?"
The next day, the cameraman, who had only learned about the elimination system from the trending topics online, looked at Xu Gui with a hint of resentment. He said, "I'm worried for you! What will you do if you get eliminated?" Xu Gui
confidently replied, "It's okay, I have the advantage this time."
The cameraman said, "…You're already thirty-seventh, and you've dropped two places. You still have the advantage?"
In just one night, the guests at the bottom of the rankings had already shown their skills. Not long after the show started, Xu Gui's position kept dropping, and now her thirty-seventh place seemed precarious.
Xu Gui said, "You don't understand. I have a feeling, my luck is on fire lately, I definitely won't be eliminated."
The cameraman didn't understand, but he could only choose to believe her.
*
Xu Gui's first guest today was an acquaintance.
Seeing the familiar fisherman's hat and the familiar smile, Xu Gui smiled too and said, "Grandpa, you're here again."
This grandpa was none other than the same fishing grandpa who had patronized Xu Gui's stall yesterday. Yesterday, he had even given Xu Gui eight small crucian carp, so in every way, Xu Gui had a deep impression of him.
The grandpa skillfully scanned five hundred yuan on his phone for Xu Gui, and then said, "Master, could you also help me calculate which spot would be best for me to bait and fish today?"
After saying that, he added, "I want to catch something special."
Xu Gui: "Something special?"
"That's right!" Grandpa Wu nodded, "The kind that, among all the anglers, catches the most special one!"
Xu Gui looked at him knowingly and said, "You made another bet?"
She still remembered what the grandpa had said yesterday, that he had bet someone that he could catch a big fish. His cheerful and excited expression today clearly indicated something else, which was why Xu Gui asked this question.
Hearing her words, Old Wu's gaze shifted slightly, then he chuckled dryly.
Xu Gui understood. She pondered what would be considered "special.
" "Let me calculate for you..." she said.
Old Wu's gaze instantly returned, practically fixed on her expectantly. Xu Gui calculated and said, "The place you're baiting today is about thirty meters to your left."
Old Wu pressed, "Thirty meters? Does it have to be thirty meters? How much margin of error can be allowed?" This wasn't just a few steps, but thirty meters; he couldn't estimate thirty meters with the naked eye.
Xu Gui: "Just, the place where you first see a fish, that's where it is."
Old Wu nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, "Will I be able to catch something truly special there? Will I catch some kind of nationally protected fish?" Old Wu
's eyes lit up.
Xu Gui looked at him meaningfully, indicating, "Don't worry, it will definitely be something very special!"
Old Wu was satisfied, confidently picking up his fishing gear and leaving. He felt that with the master's words, today's bet was definitely secure.
After Mr. Wu left, the paparazzi couldn't help but ask Xu Gui, "...Teacher Xu, what special thing did that old man catch?" He was very curious.
Xu Gui replied, "I don't know, but I calculated that place is the most special; the old man will definitely catch something very special!"
The paparazzi thought: ...Why do I have a bad feeling?
...
Xu Gui was messaging Aunt Tuanzi.
According to Aunt Tuanzi, Wu Tingting had been temporarily arrested on suspicion of child abduction, awaiting further confirmation of the case before being held accountable and sentenced. As for the other members of the Wu family, they also bore responsibility for failing to report the crime, and the circumstances were very serious; they would likely be punished
as well. Wu's mother, although also a key suspect, reportedly fainted after learning she would be held accountable and was still in the hospital, so she couldn't be brought in to oversee the investigation for the time being.
Aunt Tuanzi said, "Not only the Wu family, but also the Lin family, have been called in by the police to cooperate with the investigation, and there's a high probability they will all face corresponding punishment."
This whole affair is thanks to Wu Tingting. Wu Tingting seems crazy, willful, and arrogant, but in front of the police, she's extremely obedient and docile. When questioned, she blurted out everything.
According to her confession, besides Wu Hao, almost everyone from the Wu and Lin families was involved in secretly taking the child. If they're truly held accountable, no one can escape.
Wu Hao is involved in failing to report the crime, and the circumstances are extremely serious. Considering the current online public opinion, he will most likely also face corresponding punishment.
Of course, this information was obtained by Aunt Tuanzi after consulting a lawyer. However, this case won't be over anytime soon, from filing a case to sentencing; it will take at least two or three months.
Fortunately, Wu Xueya can stay with Aunt Tuanzi during this time.
After leaving the police station yesterday, Wu Xueya went home with Aunt Tuanzi. They still needed to get a paternity test done in the next couple of days, just to be on the safe side.
Xu Gui looked at the text message Aunt Tuanzi had sent. Although she couldn't see Aunt Tuanzi's current appearance, she could sense a sense of relief in her words. However…
"Aunt Tuanzi, you need to be careful from now on," Xu Gui typed. "Things have escalated to this point; nobody knows what the Wu family might do. Be careful they
don't act rashly." Aunt Tuanzi, though puzzled, patiently replied, "I know. Don't worry, everyone in the Wu family except for Old Lady Wu is in jail. They can't do anything to me."
As she wrote this, Aunt Tuanzi chuckled to herself—the whole family in jail? What a joke!
Just then, Xu Gui suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes. She looked up and saw a stealthy figure sitting down in front of her. After sitting down, the person cautiously looked around.
Xu Gui: ?
The young man looked exhausted, with thick bags under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for three days and three nights. Upon closer inspection, beneath his tired expression, there was a hint of fear.
After sitting down, he cautiously moved closer to Xu Gui's defenses, looking just as he had been described before, very stealthy. Then he whispered, "Master, I suspect I've encountered a ghost!"
Xu Gui also whispered, "Why do you say that?"
The young man said, "You don't know, I received a call from my dad in the middle of last night!"
Xu Gui was confused: "...Your dad called you, weren't you happy?"
The young man said anxiously and fearfully, "But, but my dad was buried yesterday!"
Xu Gui: ?
Live stream chat: ? ? !!!
"Hiss!" A gasp
came from the air. Xu Gui took a breath, suddenly realizing that the person who gasped wasn't her. She subconsciously turned to look at the person filming her. The person
filming her covered their mouth, looking somewhat apologetic.
Xu Gui turned to look at the young man, and asked him with some difficulty, "You mean, you've already buried your father?"
The young man nodded first, then shook his head, and said in a strange tone, "Master, what you're saying sounds so wrong. It's like you buried my father alive... My father died a natural death, he was buried."
Xu Gui gasped.
The young man sighed and said, "My father passed away the day before yesterday. That day, he went out drinking with friends, and on his way back, he suddenly collapsed on the edge of a paddy field. By the time we carried him home, his body was already cold..."
As he spoke, the fear on the young man's face lessened a bit. He tried to cheer himself up and said, "We keep the coffin for three days, but my sister and I are both very busy with work, so we only kept it for one day. We buried him on the mountain yesterday morning."
The afternoon after the funeral, which was yesterday afternoon, they drove back, and then, unsurprisingly, the accident happened.
"Last night, in the middle of the night, I received a call from my dad!" The young man's voice became tense as he spoke. "On the phone, he kept calling my name, he said..."
[Stone, it's so dark here, I think I'm being locked up! Please save me!]
"This morning, my sister called me, saying that my dad also called her, asking her to come and save him..."
The young man was on the verge of tears as he spoke. He looked at Xu Gui and said, "Master, did my dad have some unfulfilled wish, which is why he's haunting us and dying with his eyes open? Please help me calculate how we can send him away!"
Xu Gui pondered, looking at the young man with a heavy expression. She said, "Your dad wasn't originally gone, but now, he is indeed about to be sent away by you."
"So, is it possible that your dad wasn't dead to begin with?" she asked.
The young man: "..."
The young man: "Huh?!"