The middle-aged man reacted quickly.
After getting a clear look at Yue Shi’s face, he was stunned for less than a second before his expression of shock transformed into one of calm.
He spoke with a steady voice, tinged with a hint of apology. “Sir, I’m terribly sorry, but we are past our reception hours for today. If you have a proposal for a partnership, you can follow the normal procedures during the day tomorrow.”
As he spoke, he moved a step toward the door without drawing attention to it.
“The young lady at the front desk might not have explained it clearly to you; that was an oversight on our part.”
“Tell you what, I’ll personally instruct them tomorrow. Just give them my name, Lucas, and they will arrange for you to—”
Another step.
Yue Shi stood where he was, a faint, mocking smile on his lips, quietly watching the performance.
A chill ran down Lucas’s spine.
He didn’t recognize this person.
However, he had sat in this position for over a decade and had seen all sorts of people. He had long ago honed the ability to distinguish danger.
The person before him was dangerous.
It wasn’t the kind of danger posed by someone who would throw a tantrum or cause a scene.
It was a deep-seated danger that made one’s instincts scream to flee.
Lucas retreated another half-step, now close to the door. He squeezed out one last smile. “Then that’s that. See you tomorrow—”
Before his voice could fade, his hand gripped the doorknob, yanked it open, and he bolted out!
His speed was startling.
It was not a speed an ordinary person should possess.
The corridor retreated rapidly before his eyes. The familiar office doors, walls, and potted plants flashed past his vision.
His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor—thump, thump, thump, thump—rapid and urgent like a drumbeat.
“Someone, help!”
“Security! Security!”
He shouted as he ran, his voice echoing through the hallway.
No one answered.
The lights in the cubicles were clearly still on, and the employees working overtime were right there, but as he rushed past them, not a single person looked up at him.
They continued slacking off at their work, completely failing to hear his cries.
Lucas’s heart sank.
But he didn’t stop; he kept running.
A long corridor.
Orderly cubicles.
A familiar scene.
He froze.
Ten meters ahead, there was a potted plant.
When he had run past earlier, a potted plant had been in that exact spot.
Now, it appeared before him again.
In the exact same posture, with the leaves facing the exact same direction.
Terrified, he looked back.
Behind him was the corridor he had just run through, identical to what lay ahead.
On both sides were neatly arranged office doors, each with a plaque. Artistic Director, Content Director, Legal Department, Finance Office... and at the very end, the President’s Office.
It was his own office.
After running for so long, he had actually returned to the starting point?
Lucas’s breathing became ragged.
Refusing to believe it, he turned and continued running forward.
This time he ran even faster. At this speed, if he didn’t slow down in time, he would slam into the wall at the end of the corridor.
Unfortunately, the corridor had no end.
The exact same scene appeared before his eyes over and over again. It was as if someone had copy-pasted this section of the corridor countless times and then connected the ends to create a circle from which he could never escape.
He finally stopped.
He panted heavily, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
He tried pushing open the door to the Artistic Director’s office.
The door opened. It was empty inside, but a cup of unfinished coffee sat on the desk, steam still rising from it.
“Lily, are you there?”
There was no response.
The room was empty; there was only him.
He exited the office and stood in the corridor once more.
The silence around him was terrifying.
All the sounds that had originally existed had vanished, leaving only his own heartbeat—thump, thump, thump, thump—growing louder and louder.
Lucas leaned against the wall, gasping for air.
He had realized that he was in big trouble.
That long-haired man was definitely coming for him.
And now, he was trapped in this corridor he could never escape.
The door at the end of the corridor—the President’s Office—was still there.
The long-haired man hadn’t chased him out; he wasn’t visible anywhere in his line of sight.
But Lucas knew the man hadn’t left. He was waiting for him inside the office.
Waiting for him to return the way he came.
Lucas clenched his fists. He couldn’t run out, and no one answered his shouts.
Think of another way?
There was no other way.
The only path was to go back.
To face that person.
He took a deep breath, stood up straight, and straightened his tie to steady himself.
Since he couldn't escape, he would face the danger head-on.
...
At the same time, two artists under Singing Star Media were rehearsing for the upcoming Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival.
In a dressing room.
A young woman was removing her makeup in front of a mirror.
She was one of Singing Star Media’s most popular female artists. Only twenty-three years old, she had starred in major productions, become an overnight sensation, and had countless fans.
Having just finished her rehearsal, she sat before the vanity, using a cotton pad to wipe away the makeup from her face bit by bit.
The face reflected in the mirror was indeed beautiful, with exquisite features.
However, her complexion wasn't good.
There were faint dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks were slightly sunken, and she was overall quite thin. Her clothes looked somewhat baggy on her frame.
The door was pushed open, and an assistant walked in carrying a tray.
“Sister, your late-night snack is here.”
She glanced at the tray.
A few small dishes held boiled broccoli, a few slices of cucumber, a handful of lettuce, and a glass of what looked like some kind of green fruit and vegetable juice.
Entirely vegan, without a trace of meat.
Her brow furrowed.
“This again?”
The assistant smiled awkwardly. “The company arranged it, saying your physique and weight need to be controlled.”
She said impatiently, “You know how much I weigh. Forty-seven kilograms at one hundred and seventy centimeters. This is what you call needing control?”
The assistant lowered her head, not daring to respond.
She looked at her increasingly haggard face in the mirror, an inexplicable fire rising in her heart.
Over half a year ago, the company had suddenly used weight management as an excuse to force her into a vegan diet. She wasn't allowed to touch any animal products, nor was she allowed to touch nutritional supplements.
She had tried to resist, but it was useless.
The company had sent people to watch her. In every aspect of her life, there were eyes everywhere.
She didn't understand why.
It was normal for artists to maintain their figures, but surely not to this extent?
She wasn't one of those low-level workhorses; she could afford natural meat.
Furthermore, excessive veganism made her complexion poor, caused her skin to lose its luster, and made her hair fall out. For a female artist, this was fatal.
But the company was adamant.
“Fine, just leave it there,” she said, waving her hand tiredly.
The assistant carefully placed the tray to the side and retreated.
She looked at the plate of green items. This feeling of being controlled was truly disgusting.
She’d rather just take nutritional supplements!
...
Another dressing room.
The door was tightly closed.
A young male artist sat on a sofa, his face pale, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
He was the newcomer Singing Star Media was heavily promoting this year. His traffic was good, and he was fortunate enough to participate in this year’s Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival. He, too, had just finished rehearsal.
An assistant stood beside him with a towel, her face full of concern.
“Your complexion is so bad. Is it a lingering effect from that car accident last year?”
“How about I tell the company to cancel tomorrow’s rehearsal so you can go to the hospital for a check-up?”
Jiang Chen’s expression stiffened.
The car accident.
That mysterious car accident last year.
He remembered that night. He had finished his schedule and was heading home when he suddenly lost consciousness on the road.
When he woke up, he was lying in the hospital. His manager stood beside him with a strange expression, telling him the surgery had been a success.
Everything else was fine, just superficial injuries.
But his 'bells' had been severely damaged, and they had no choice but to...
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m fine. No need for a check-up. I just need a night’s rest.”
The assistant wanted to say more, but he raised a hand to stop her.
“You go out first. I’ll rest for a bit.”
The assistant hesitated but eventually nodded and retreated.
The door closed.
He sat alone in the empty room, looking at his poster on the opposite wall.
In the image, he was sunny and cheerful, with a bright smile.
He gave a bitter laugh.
It was hard for a neutered kitten to ever show that kind of sunny, cheerful smile again.
But there was an upside: at least his fans didn't have to worry about him dating and affecting his career, let alone worry about his lifestyle causing a scandal.
That was the only thing worth being thankful for.
...
In front of the President’s Office door, Lucas stood for a long time.
He finally raised his hand and pushed the door open.
“Back already?” Yue Shi’s voice was soft, as if he were greeting an old friend.
Lucas’s shirt was already soaked with sweat.
Everything in the office was exactly as it had been when he left—the wide floor-to-ceiling window showing Avenia’s glittering night view, and that massive desk.
And that long-haired man.
The man was still standing by the bookshelf, holding a trophy, his posture as relaxed as if he were in his own home.
But there seemed to be something extra in the room.
The smell of blood.
Lucas’s nose twitched as the scent of fresh blood rushed into his head.
Such a pungent smell indicated a massive amount of bleeding.
His gaze instinctively swept the room, and then his whole body stiffened.
On the floor beside the bookshelf lay a person. The posture was severely distorted, limbs bent at bizarre angles, and the head had been twisted 360 degrees. The face was turned to the side, eyes wide with terror, mouth agape, frozen in the final moment of horror before death.
A dark red liquid was slowly spreading across the floor.
Lucas recognized that face with a single glance.
It was his company’s talent scout.
What was his name again?
It didn’t matter.
What mattered was who this person was.
This man specialized in scouting newcomers on the streets. He had a sharp eye and an extremely high success rate. Several of the company’s current top artists had been signed by him.
But he was also frequently unscrupulous.
Candid photography, stalking, setting up traps and threats—he would do anything to sign the person he wanted.
Lucas knew all this, but he never questioned it.
In the end, the company benefited. As for those artists who were tricked into signing indentured contracts, who cared?
But now, that scout was lying on the floor, dead.
He had died a gruesome death.
How had he offended this long-haired man?
Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he looked at Yue Shi’s face, roughly understanding what had happened.
The scout had brought back a massive disaster.
Lucas wanted to ask about it, but the words died in his throat.
He didn’t dare ask.
He would rather pretend the corpse didn't exist.
“Sir, what exactly are your demands?”
Lucas spoke, his voice hoarse and his tone humble, forcing himself to look away from the corpse.
“If there is anything I can help with, I will certainly do my best. Please, just speak. As long as it is within my power, I will surely satisfy you.”
Yue Shi put down the trophy, turned to face Lucas, and curled his lips upward.
“The Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival... what is it?”
Lucas was stunned for a moment.
That was it?
His mind raced, wondering why this long-haired man who killed without blinking would suddenly ask about this.
But he didn't ask questions; he simply began to explain the literal meaning.
“The Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival is one of Avenia’s largest annual events.”
“It is hosted by us, Avenia, and we invite delegations from various surrounding islands to participate. The event lasts for two weeks and includes cultural performances, art exhibitions, academic forums, and trade negotiations... the content is very rich.”
His speaking pace was a bit slow. Seeing that Yue Shi didn’t interrupt, he continued slowly.
“This year’s exchange meeting is on a larger scale than in previous years. Many famous artists will perform at the opening ceremony. The phone call I just took was about that. Two artists from our company will be participating, along with stars from other islands...”
As Lucas spoke, his voice grew smaller and smaller.
Because he realized that the way the long-haired man was looking at him had changed.
A thick malice surrounded him.
In those pitch-black eyes was an indescribable look that felt like a thorn in his back, like a sword hanging over his head.
Lucas shut his mouth completely.
The office was silent for several seconds.
The air conditioner hummed, and the corpse was still bleeding.
“I don’t want to hear that.”
“You’re trying to brush me off with things everyone knows?”
“I want to know the more sensational, darker inside story.”
Yue Shi’s voice was very light.
He didn’t believe in that surface-level glamour and prosperity because he could sense the evil on this island.
Lucas shuddered, feeling as if the air in the entire room had frozen. Large beads of sweat poured down.
He opened his mouth to say something but didn't know what to say.
The inside story?
What did he mean by inside story?
He didn't know what this long-haired man was referring to.
But he knew that if he just made up an answer, the consequences might be even worse than the corpse on the floor.
“I...” Lucas’s throat tightened.
Yue Shi smiled, his gaze casually sweeping over the corpse on the floor. “If you don’t want to talk, I don’t mind using some methods. I’m sure you’ll be very willing to cooperate then.”
Lucas trembled, his gaze also falling on the corpse.
Weighing the pros and cons took only a second, and then he honestly began to sell out the secrets.
“The Inter-Island Cultural Exchange Festival... besides those activities on the surface, privately...”
After a moment of hesitation, he continued, “The high-levels of various islands also participate in a game.”
Yue Shi asked, “A game?”
Lucas nodded. There was no turning back now. Since he had already leaked a secret, he might as well leak everything to exchange for his current safety.
“That game is actually a Killing Competition.”
Yue Shi became interested.
Lucas continued, “The invited guests only need to put on a certain specialized helmet device, and their consciousness will be uploaded to the viewing area.”
“That is no ordinary spectator stand, but a very comprehensive trading platform with many... special service items.”
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