Chapter Forty-Nine: Someone Else Is Catching Up?

The six staff members at the back no longer looked quite human—they seemed more like hosts to a parasite, moving down the mountain like the walking dead.

“I… I’ll catch…” one of them mumbled.

“No need to catch anyone anymore, the day’s over. Let’s go, you’ve all worked hard. We’ll treat you to hotpot tonight!” Lin Ze slung an arm companionably around the first staff member’s shoulders.

“So, how do you all feel after a day like this?” he asked.

“I feel… like jumping up and kicking you,” the staff member replied through gritted teeth.

Lin Ze’s arm froze, but then he pulled out his phone and handed it to them. “Here, take a look at the viewers’ comments.”

[Big thanks to the staff running after everyone today!]
[It’s been ages since I watched such an entertaining show—please don’t cut any of this in the final edit!]
[Thank you so much to all of you!]

Reading these, the staff felt a warmth blossom in their hearts.

“Now you know what it feels like for us performers. So much of the credit for what happens behind the scenes ends up attached to us. But today, you’ve all become performers too, bringing joy to everyone. Tell me, are you happy?”

“We’re happy!” the six staff members nodded.

It was a sense of fulfillment they’d never experienced before.

Lin Ze let out a long breath and, as he turned, wiped the sweat from his brow. “That was close—I thought I was about to get beaten up.”

Guoguo rolled her eyes at him.

…

After a delicious hotpot dinner that night, everyone returned to the villa. Lin Ze had barely stepped inside when he noticed Zhao Funing’s unfriendly gaze.

“Lin, when are you going to dig my eyeballs out?” he asked coldly.

Lin Ze coughed awkwardly. “Ah, I just saw you two sitting at the door early in the morning with nothing to do, so I thought I’d spice up your routine a bit.”

Everyone else was already at the table, waiting for the evening’s meeting to begin.

“Don’t change the subject. Be honest—what did you and Guoguo do today?” Pei Xue demanded, hands on her hips.

“Guoguo?” Ji Chen couldn’t help but repeat the name.

All eyes turned to Ji Chen. Beside him, Lin Chunshui smacked his own forehead. They’d been exposed again…

“We? We took Guoguo hiking today—first to Nine-Bend Mountain, then to Jingtian Mountain,” Lin Ze said truthfully. “After climbing, we had hotpot. That’s why we’re back so late.”

His behavior was no longer surprising to anyone. They all nodded, unruffled.

Among the group, only Chen Weiguo and Bai Qiong hadn’t yet interacted with Guoguo. If nothing changed, tomorrow would be their turn with the secret mission.

“Tomorrow is the last day, everyone,” Director Zhang announced. “How has this week in Tong County been for you?”

“It’s been good. Exhausting, but fulfilling,” Zhao Funing said, smiling. His arms had noticeably grown stronger over the past few days.

Chen Weiguo and his wife nodded cheerfully. “It’s been great.”

Ji Chen and Lin Chunshui exchanged a smile, any awkwardness from their initial meeting now gone.

“Good…” Lin Ze and Su Zitan were about to speak, but the others glanced over, effectively silencing them.

“Lin, have you prepared this week’s song? Which group will you give it to first?” Director Zhang asked with a grin.

“A song?” Ji Chen swallowed nervously. “What song? Is it for us?”

Lin Ze merely smiled. “You’ll find out tomorrow night.”

Seeing that everyone was tired, Director Zhang added, “Those without a secret mission tomorrow are free to do as they like. You can go to Nine-Bend Mountain or Jingtian Mountain. Tomorrow evening, we’ll wrap up with a summary of the first week.”

Lin Ze already knew what song he would write, and for whom. He was just waiting to sing it tomorrow night.

Exhausted from the day, everyone went to bed early. Lin Ze and Su Zitan, after climbing mountains all day, slept deeply. In the blink of an eye, it was morning—and unexpectedly, the secret mission still involved the two of them.

“Today’s secret mission: take Guoguo to Tai County and hand her over to the elderly couple returning to their hometown.”

Hearing this, Lin Ze immediately sensed something off.

“Who are these elderly people to Guoguo?” he asked.

“They’re from Guoguo’s hometown. Since she can’t stay with her mother, you’ll hand her over to them, and they’ll take her back home.”

“Alright,” Lin Ze nodded, understanding.

A basic cell phone had the elderly couple’s number stored. “Just call this number to reach them,” Director Zhang explained, handing Lin Ze the phone.

“That’s it? Just hand her over? No other games?” Lin Ze eyed Director Zhang’s smiling, round face, unconvinced things would be so simple.

“Don’t worry, just get Guoguo there safely,” Director Zhang replied, still beaming.

Lin Ze had already guessed most of the secrets, but as for the final act… he glanced at the cameras. Best not to reveal too much yet.

The pair boarded the production van, picked up Guoguo, and headed for Tai County. With only Chen Weiguo and his wife left unassigned, today’s mission was clearly theirs as well.

Sure enough, the elderly couple turned out to be Chen Weiguo and Bai Qiong.

Tai County was close to Tong County—barely eighty kilometers away. The trip took just two hours, during which everyone napped. When they opened their eyes, they had arrived.

After getting off the van, the four of them had breakfast nearby. But as soon as Lin Ze finished eating, he felt something amiss—just like yesterday, it seemed someone was watching them.

“Today won’t be so easy,” he muttered to himself.

The old shopping mall in Tong County wasn’t far. Most of the stores inside sold cheap clothes and trinkets, squeezed together with narrow corridors in between. The lighting above was too dim to fully illuminate the space, giving it a gloomy feel.

Pretending to browse, Lin Ze, Su Zitan, and the others slipped into the mall. It was already nearly eleven, and the place was crowded. After weaving through the crowd several times, Lin Ze and Su Zitan, with Guoguo, suddenly vanished from view.

Xiao Qian panicked, remembering what had happened yesterday. She grew alert—were the chasers here again?

But with yesterday’s experience, Xiao Qian kept her cool and pressed forward through the crowd.

It wasn’t long before she felt a hand cover her mouth and the camera lens, and she was pulled into a narrow passageway.

“Shh, don’t make a sound.”