After figuring out the hidden rules, Mu Qiu clicked his tongue, stood up and dusted his palms, saying:
"Let’s go, let’s lay low first. Although we can’t avenge the capture, not losing points is the most important thing. We need to focus on the bigger picture."
"Makes a lot of sense." Li Yang stood up, and three colorful moths sneakily ran while hiding, heading to the farthest place.
Leaving the place where she felt embarrassed, Mu Qiu got over her awkward feelings, grabbed both sides of the mattress, compressed it inward to reduce air resistance, and ran freely in the wind.
Worried about encountering the recently "assimilated" Zhang Li, they chose small paths deliberately, trying not to get close to the square.
Having just run past the square, near the small amusement park, they suddenly heard a burst of laughter.
It really sounded like playful laughter, like someone chasing butterflies in the Imperial Garden.
A few girls’ screams and voices filled with playful, gentle, and coarse tones; mixed with a man’s heavy breathing while running.
Mu Qiu gestured for silence, and the three of them hid outside the bushes and peered inside.
Xu Cheng was chasing a group of female guests, apologizing while testing the waters to rush forward and grab someone, eliciting a series of screams from the girls.
"Xu Cheng, have mercy! Why not catch the guys?!"
"Ahhh don’t catch me! Are you heartless, Xu Cheng?!"
"Xu Cheng, honestly, are you doing this on purpose? You’re the only one blocking us!"
"Oh my, almost got caught! Spread out a bit!"
"Spread out? We’re a few people and can’t beat him alone? Grab him!"
"Really, we can do that? Why grab him?"
"Of course, to torment~"
Xu Cheng: "..."
Suddenly, the situation reversed, the frenzied "butterfly chasing" Xu Cheng was encircled by a group of butterfly fairies, his hands and feet were shackled, even the mattress on his back was seized.
He struggled fiercely, but the girls were so close that he dared not to move aggressively, fearing misunderstandings if he touched one of them.
Yet if he didn’t struggle, his hands were quickly captured, changing from a capturer to a captive.
If not too heavy to lift, it felt like he was about to be raised up in a big "X" shape and tossed into the lake.
Mastermind Guan Yu laughed arrogantly: "Caught him! Tie him up here! Any ropes?"
Shu Ran itching to move: "I’ll find ropes!"
Xu Cheng was pushed to the ground, looking at them in horror: "...Ladies! Please let me go, is it fitting for a capturer to be tied up? Give me some face, will you?"
"I’m afraid not."
Shu Ran had already gotten a sun-protection clothing from the staff that could act as a rope, and she softly approached.
"Come on, just surrender."
Xu Cheng’s face visibly sank into despair, being tied up by four girls with a pink sun-protection clothing, tightened deliberately to prevent easy escape.
After tying him up, Shu Ran lightly patted his face, full of teasing intent.
"See, such a pretty face, sharp brows, bright eyes, high nose bridge, looking quite handsome."
Xu Cheng, ashamed, turned his face to avoid her hand.
But as he turned, he faced Guan Yu, and wherever he looked, Chuchu and Jiang Zhufeng were also watching him with strange eyes.
"..." He was finished.
Guan Yu: "Looking closely, he really is good-looking. Hey, hey, hey, don’t struggle, come, hold down his legs."
Jiang Zhufeng: "He still has muscles on his arms, can you pull down the ice sleeve and have a look?"
Chuchu: "Is this not too inappropriate? Hey, his collarbone is showing."
Xu Cheng’s face turned crimson, resembling a peeled shrimp.
What a disgrace, this was his first time on an entertainment show and he’s being humiliated like this, how utterly embarrassing!
Outside the bushes, Mu Qiu watched with eyes wide open, thoroughly entertained.
Three minutes ago, it was like the Emperor playing butterfly chase with the concubines in the Imperial Garden, three minutes later, it became the scene of Imperial Palace nurses being ridiculed mercilessly by bored concubines.
Really, too amusing.
Crouching nearby, Li Yang had a look of pity, he turned off the mic and whispered:
"So pathetic. Falling into the hands of such ruthless, cruel women, truly pathetic."
Mu Qiu turned to him, muttering softly: "You think Xu Cheng is a flower too?"
"...It’s just a metaphor. Should we go up and rescue him?"
She silently stared at him:
"Did you leave your brain behind while running earlier? He’s our capturer and you want to rescue him now? This isn’t just farmer and snake, this is silly pure-hearted saving a python for love."
Li Yang: "..."
Lin Lian helped Li Yang change the subject: "So what are we going to do now?"
"Rush up and join the torment, or hide away and conserve energy, watching them fight like tigers."
Lin Lian & Li Yang: "Better to hide away then."
Three mattresses slowly moved, shifting behind the wooden shelf stairs behind the black statue, squatting.
Secretly peeking out to watch the "Imperial Palace guard suffering abuse" live situation.
Xu Cheng was already hopeless, mechanically saying flattering words.
"Ladies, please let me go, I’ll just lie here and rest for a while, not catching you anymore, can you run away?"
Guan Yu: "We suddenly feel constantly running away isn’t gentlemanly."
Xu Cheng: "Is that why you pulled my ice sleeve, Sister Guan Yu?"
Guan Yu: "I just wanted to see your strong and powerful arms."
Xu Cheng: "...Please let me go, ladies, I have no research value. If you really want to appreciate the male physique, you can find the best-looking ones, like Brother Cheng or Lin Lian."
"Brother Cheng is out of the question, his arms can punch four men at once, but Lin Lian might be..."
Perhaps imagining a more fascinating scene, the four ladies exchanged subtle glances.
Always watching the chaos inside, Mu Qiu and Li Yang turned simultaneously to Lin Lian, showing sympathy.
"They have their eyes on you."
Lin Lian silently tightened the mattress to cover himself slightly.
"So now the threat isn’t the capturer against the captured, but rather female guests against male guests, right?"
"Now you see the thrill of the female guests on this show, right?" Li Yang spoke with a veteran tone,"I grew up in such an environment. Really tough."
He pretended to wipe the corner of his eye after saying that.
Unamused, Mu Qiu watched him act: "I think maybe it’s not tough enough for you. Later I’m going to discuss with Sister Guan Yu, when they rob Lin Lian, send an extra one of you."
"Forget it, I was just joking earlier. Our show’s female guests are all very nice."
Having grown accustomed, he now adeptly mastered the skill of rising and bowing to circumstances.
Apparently destined to be grabbed, Lin Lian closed his eyes tightly and sighed deeply.
Encountering a female bandit during his escape who’s only interested in the person, not material, it’s something he never expected on this show, feeling he’s on the wrong program.