"Let’s pretend to ally with Mu Qiu and use her to catch Chuchu or Shi Yuhuai. Maybe we can even put Lin Lian into hibernation. That way, with no one to save him, he’ll directly drop to the lowest score."
To be able to say such a thing without batting an eyelid, Bai Shu and Xu Cheng both cast admiring glances at Cheng Zhirang.
Is this some kind of double-agent within a double-agent game?
As soon as Li Yang heard it was to trap Mu Qiu, he thought about it for two seconds, then said:
"This idea is really not bad. But may I boldly ask, is there a way to make Mu Qiu lose points, the more the merrier? I think that kind of method would be perfect."
Cheng Zhirang maintained a smile: "She’s very shrewd, it’s hard for us to fool her. The method doesn’t have to be complex, as long as it’s simple and effective."
"Alright then."
He reached out his hand, and the three of them placed their hands on top.
Li Yang shouted a slogan: "All for the sake of trapping Mu Qiu! Go go go! Victory victory victory!"
Cheng Zhirang almost couldn’t shout it out.
The four of them in the alliance changed direction, following the route Li Yang speculated that Mu Qiu was likely to take.
Although this scenic spot isn’t very large, nor particularly small, after circling around a couple of times, they could meet the person they were looking for.
They had a chance encounter with Mu Qiu and Lin Lian by the swings.
Mu Qiu was sitting on the swing, leaning on one side of the ropes and swinging herself. From a distance, she looked like a droopy cat, even her tail-flicking motion seemed listless.
Lin Lian stood next to the swing, looking around and, upon seeing the visitors, immediately poked Mu Qiu.
"Sister Mu Qiu, it’s Brother Cheng and Brother Yang."
Mu Qiu lazily lifted her eyelids to glance at them and waved her hand: "This mountain is mine, this tree is mine, if you want to pass through, you’d better run faster."
Cheng Zhirang almost couldn’t hold back his laughter, taking a step closer while saying: "Qiuqiu, how about we talk cooperation?"
Mu Qiu perked up a bit.
Is he trying to create an alliance within an alliance? What a player!
As soon as she perked up, it was like a cat raising its head with big, round eyes looking at a dried fish. She seemed very interested in joining this excellent organization, Li Yang thought.
"Our organization does have competitive advantages. Although you have a grudge with Brother Cheng, and I have one with you, I can endure it. It’s up to you whether you can endure Brother Cheng. But, judging by your expression, you’re very willing to join."
His tone was full of confidence: "With Brother Cheng’s and my physical strength, combined with your intelligence, our team is sure to be invincible."
Mu Qiu continued to gently swing, her eyes darting around, and she first asked: "Can you guarantee that you won’t stab me in the back?"
Li Yang: "Of course! Once we say we’re letting go of our past grievances and starting anew, then we’re true allies. To show sincerity, you can name this alliance."
Even a simple-minded person wouldn’t bat an eye when lying, a historic growth indeed.
Mu Qiu suppressed her urge to laugh and asked another question, striving to maintain her innocent, pre-alliance status:
"Why do you want to put aside our past grievances and ally with me? Have you thought of some devious plan?"
"What do you mean devious plan? It’s a perfect solution to quickly end the game. Just say whether you agree or not."
She pretended to exchange a glance with Lin Lian, faking to seek his opinion.
"What do you think, Lin Lian?"
Lin Lian, being quick to learn, immediately caught on, frowning and glancing at the four opposite people multiple times before hesitantly saying in a whisper for all to hear: "Teaming up with them shouldn’t hurt."
"Makes sense," she turned and agreed, "We can agree, but you must swear that if you stab us in the back, you must mimic a dog on camera in front of all your online fans."
If someone breaks both alliance oaths, they might as well be deemed a half-dog, half-pig.
Li Yang was disdainful of her proposal: "Why don’t you have us mimic a pig too, just like squeezing that pink pig over and over."
The three people behind him were all a bit awkward at once.
Mu Qiu kept smiling: "How do you know there won’t be opportunities to mimic a pig? Come on, let’s discuss this. To start, if it involves me sacrificing, don’t even mention it."
"No, it won’t," Cheng Zhirang spoke up this time, "It’s quite simple."
...
Three minutes later, the six of them hid behind a long flowerbed, peeking over its edge.
The multi-colored mattresses rose slightly above the dark heads behind the flowerbed, looking like a tiny fence added on purpose amid the flowers.
Directly in front of the flowerbed, Shi Yuhuai and Jiang Zhufeng were standing before the three of Guan Yu, two armies confronting each other with a strong scent of gunpowder.
Guan Yu: "Excuse me, are you the rumored runaway little prince of the Straight Male Nation? I’m sure Shu Ran is chasing you everywhere!"
Shi Yuhuai sneered: "Do you think you’re any better than me? She probably wants to chase you down more than anyone else!"
Guan Yu: "Oh my, isn’t it a coincidence, being chased by the same person. I think we should consider joining forces to resist the enemy’s attacks."
Shi Yuhuai had only one response: "Stay away from me."
Guan Yu, being the epitome of thick-skinned, pretended she was intermittently deaf and still smiled:
"Men just like to say one thing and mean another, I totally get it. So I’d better get a little closer."
The six people hiding behind the flowerbed watching: ... yue.
Shi Yuhuai avoided her as if she were a scourge, every inch of him reading "cautious":
"You’re not trying to use the same tactic to solve me and Jiang Zhufeng, are you? Impossible. Come closer, and I’ll kick you away."
"Kick me away?! You actually want to kick me away?! Have you ever considered me a weak and delicate female guest? Do you not appreciate my stunning looks, graceful body, and exquisite charisma?"
Shi Yuhuai: "Ugh."
The six people watching also silently mimicked the same "ugh" sound.
Mu Qiu thought, when it comes to shamelessness on the show, she was slightly inferior. Clearly, there were better competitors here.
After Shi Yuhuai’s emotionless puke sound, it was immediately followed by Chuchu, Zhang Li, and Jiang Zhufeng’s stifled laughter.
Newcomer guests tend to be more reserved, if it were others standing there, the laughter might scare away all the birds on the mountain.
Guan Yu didn’t feel embarrassed at all, crossing her arms and standing with a gangster-like aura:
"Fine, I’ll forgive your neglect of my stunning beauty. As for dealing with you, I never said anything about taking you down, we’re here to seek peace this time."
She leaned forward, fluttered her eyes, and sent a flirty look: "How about we join forces against Shu Ran instead? After all, we’re both her enemies. Or, if you don’t want to become a permanent NPC, how about we team up against Mu Qiu?"
Mu Qiu, eavesdropping behind the flowerbed: "???"
Why do these people keep targeting her?! Isn’t Cheng Zhirang also in the safe zone? Eliminating him once wouldn’t be an issue!
She turned and stared at Cheng Zhirang beside her, mouthing: "Beautiful people get special treatment."
Cheng Zhirang reached out to touch her hair, brushing her earlobe with his fingers as his hand lowered.
Then he looked at her gently and smiled soothingly.
Alright, it makes sense for beauties to get preferential treatment.