Playing the escape game, a high-risk, high-reward strategy is to enter a mode of random action.
If the escapees themselves don’t know where they’re going to be tomorrow, then the trackers trying to simulate their actions will be even more at a loss.
Specifically, completely random actions come in many forms — in Western versions of similar shows, contestants might hitch rides from the roadside, or even decide their next move by rolling dice.
The next day, after waking up by the lake and feeling the breeze, Huo Ren made an even more adventurous decision from his wallet.
— He booked a one-day tour of Lindu for the entire Crown team plus three photographers.
When he suggested this idea, everyone was still in the process of applying makeup and disguises.
Bo Jue continued to use a wig to cover his hair, switching to a rather neat short hair today, though his head was actually quite stuffy.
“A one-day tour group?”
Among the five, only Xie Lianyun showed a face that said ‘You’re really daring’, while the other two, born with silver spoons and two foreigners, had no idea what they were getting into.
“It might be a bit of a rip-off,” Huo Ren tried to give them a heads-up. “Though there’s no overnight stay, expect to be dragged around.”
“As long as it’s safe,” Long Jia was optimistic. “You sure a wanted criminal can join a tour group?”
“No problem,” Xie Lianyun said lazily. “They only care if your money is good, whether you’re good or bad, you’ll still be slaughtered.”
“Slaughtered?” Mei Shengyao was curious. “What does that mean?”
“It means— they find ways to make you spend money.”
Of course, they had to choose a shady, unqualified travel agency.
Legitimate tour groups take tourists to proper attractions, covering major and minor sites in a day, where every penny is worth it.
But Huo Ren and Xie Lianyun knew well that these shady travel agencies had their set of fake attractions, like Silk Museums and Porcelain Exhibition Halls, where they trap people to spend money or not let them leave, and the police might not even care.
—Normal people would avoid such nonsense, but the six of them were actually looking forward to it.
Leaving the wetland park, Huo Ren booked an incredibly cheap one-day tour package online.
“Six attraction tickets, air-conditioned bus, luxury lunch for only forty yuan?” Mei Shengyao was surprised. “That’s so affordable, forty yuan isn’t even enough to buy water, right?”
Xie Lianyun silently patted his head: “Kid, you really need to understand the current prices…”
The meeting point was near the front garden of Suming Court, and the guide, a lady with a mole at the corner of her mouth, counted everyone and herded the out-of-towners: “Get on the bus, get on the bus! First stop, we’re going to the Fu Family Mansion, to see the old-time wealthy home with six entrances and exits!”
Nearly eighty people were crammed into a bus, and before it even started moving, the guide’s mechanical voice filled the cabin through the microphone.
While the others were looking out at the city’s unique scenery, Huo Ren leaned against the window and continued to doze off, occasionally wrinkling his brow at the noise.
When the bus stopped in front of a tourist trap, the guide hurried the suckers off to be fleeced: “Look, look, the old mansion’s palace secret beauty tea, and silk quilts and red clay cups, all Lindu specialties, you’re losing out if you don’t buy!!”
A group of out-of-towners got off the bus to tour the garden, leaving two people on the bus.
“Hey, young comrades, why haven’t you—”
Xie Lianyun, having tucked his handheld console into his sleeve, signaled her to keep it down, not to disturb Huo Ren’s sleep.
“He’s not feeling well, so he’s not going down.”
“But,” the guide thought missing two people meant missing out on commissions, trying to push them to get down and spend some money: “Since you’re here already…”
Xie Lianyun flipped a wad of cash, smoothly stuffing it into the guide’s purse: “For your trouble, thank you.”
“Alright, then you sleep.”
The guide counted the money twice before getting off the bus, fearing she’d been shortchanged.
What’s with young people these days… paying to sleep on this bus?
After days of worry, Huo Ren unknowingly slept through the morning.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself leaning on Xie Lianyun’s shoulder, who was battling Mei Shengyao in a handheld console game.
The bus was moving slowly towards the so-called ‘special luxury flavor restaurant’ for lunch.
“Woke up?”
“…Yeah.” Huo Ren, groggily rising from his shoulder, covered a yawn with his hand: “What time is it now?”
“Eleven forty-six,” Mei Shengyao, now wearing a sunhat given by the tour guide, wagging his tail, said: “In the afternoon, we’re going to the Fairy Flower Temple, Crystal Museum, and the Polar World. Ren-ge, are you coming?”
Huo Ren was somewhat skeptical about the forty yuan ticket price: “Let’s go, I’ll accompany you guys.”
As expected, the lunch was just a nicer way of saying cafeteria food, essentially a big pot communal meal, with the rice being undercooked.
Worried about the hygiene of the restaurant, Huo Ren opted for takeout burgers from KFC for the six of them, squatting under a willow tree to make do with a meal.
Chi Ji seemed to enjoy himself: “Ren Ren, you missed out, that mansion was really nice!”
Xie Lianyun rubbed his head sympathetically: “You’re being scammed and still counting the money for them…”
Then they arrived at the Fairy Flower Temple, where the tour group was given a quick look around and then half an hour of free time, dispersing with their cameras.
The so-called Fairy Flower Temple was just an old City God Temple slightly renovated, with a few clay figurines in children’s drawing style set up for worship, the nearby flower beds and ponds refurbished, and a few legends crudely inserted into brass plaques, making it seem somewhat legitimate.
Amusingly, there was also a snack bar in the temple courtyard, with large umbrellas boldly open, printed with a dragon dancing in the wind logo and a poster of six young men.
The youthful and handsome six boys, holding ice cream cones, looked exceptionally vibrant.
The cameraman earnestly gave this umbrella and the tour guide beneath it a five-second close-up.
The guide herself was oblivious to any issue, and focused on counting and checking the money.
Huo Ren, shielding himself from the sun with a newspaper, took a brief walk around with Long Jia to buy cold drinks.
The shop owner didn’t recognize them, still smiling and inviting them to sit on small stools to rest a while.
“The sun is too strong today, be careful not to get sunburned!”
While paying, a boy from the same tour group came over with his mother, both wearing matching yellow sun hats.
“Mom, look at that umbrella!”
Huo Ren and Long Jia’s hearts jumped to their throats.
“…What’s so interesting about an umbrella.”
“Hey, look at that person, the one in black clothes with a silver chain, his name is Noah, he’s really popular online!” The boy, picking out ice pops beside the freezer, oblivious to the cameraman filming him, said: “Our class calls him ‘Mule Duck’, so effeminate, got kicked out of manhood many times—”
The woman glanced over dismissively: “Dressed so indecently, don’t watch such people, don’t lead our good kid astray.”
Huo Ren’s brain flooded with anger, standing up just to be held down by Long Jia.
“Patience is a virtue.” Long Jia spoke firmly: “Stay still, endure it.”
Huo Ren’s eyes reddened, his voice hoarse as he called out: “Brother—”
He couldn’t hold back any longer.
Long Jia’s grip on his wrist was strong, pressing down on his neck while looking for Chi Ji’s location.
Chi Ji had been dragged off by Mei Shengyao to feed the koi, completely unaware of the minor turbulence here.
After the mother and son finished picking and left the freezer in a mess without paying, they even complained about the shop being too expensive, charging more than five yuan for a bottle of water.
As they walked away, Huo Ren clenched his fists in frustration, his blood boiling.
What do you know?!
You have no idea what kind of person Chi Ji is, how dare you insult him with those words?!
“Let’s leave this tour group, pull out now,” Long Jia said quietly, signaling Huo Ren to notice the cameraman’s position: “It’s all been filmed, see?”
If they simply endured in silence, the broadcast would make the mother and son pay back double in public opinion.
But if the celebrities themselves retaliated or made a scene, they would lose all grace and dignity, and even more negative labels would be pinned on them.
Endure, they must endure, they had no choice but to endure.
Huo Ren took a deep breath, swallowing all the indignation and repression he had accumulated over time.
It wasn’t just the words of those two that caused his emotional turmoil.
He had faced too many dark storms, too much head-on with everyone.
He was nearly ignited in full.
After filming the mother and son, the cameraman turned to capture the expressions of Long Jia and Huo Ren at that moment.
One holding down his brother in silence, the other with tears in his red eyes, which ultimately didn’t fall.
Just a brief shot was enough.
Bo Jue, holding a flower wreath woven by Mei Shengyao, noticed their off mood upon returning.
“What happened?”
Long Jia explained softly in a few words, asking for his help to smooth things over: “Let’s leave early, take cabs back, and hide at Supply Point B for the night.”
Bo Jue immediately understood, quickly gathering the other three members.
“Let’s go, the distance lamp flashed yellow a few times, let’s leave here first.”
Mei Shengyao, without overthinking, swiftly gathered and disposed of their yellow hats, looking for an exit while checking the surroundings.
Huo Ren remained silent for a long time, allowing Long Jia to continue leading him forward.
At that moment, Xie Lianyun’s phone in his pocket rang.
“Hello? Is that Yao Yao?”
“It’s me, Xie Lianyun.”
“Oh, oh,” Manager Zhou sounded regretful, then cheerfully said: “I’ve scouted a coffee shop at the street corner for you guys, it’s just in the renovation period, you guys don’t mind breathing in some formaldehyde for a day, do you?”
“It’s fine,” Xie Lianyun quickly responded: “Shop renovations mean better closure and secrecy. Where is it?”
“Well, I don’t have many old friends, and he’s the only one who would lend his shop to me,” Zhou Ji hemmed and hawed for a bit before continuing: “That shop, well, everything’s fine about it, just that it’s a bit dusty since they haven’t painted much.”
“…So, where is it?”
“Right across from the Lindu Police Station.” Zhou Ji scratched his head, chuckling: “Your last day is tomorrow, wanna add some thrill?”
Author’s note:
Xie Lianyun: That’s… too thrilling
love this restaurant owner HAHAHAHAHA