Chapter 33: The Last Mouse Standing

Despite Lin Ziyao’s current urge to playfully pinch Qin Yu’s cheeks, the harsh reality reminded her that she was the sole remaining player in the game.

To claim the final victory, she had to evade Qin Yu and Dai Wen’s coordinated search, enduring for just three more minutes.

Fortunately, her chosen hiding spot was elevated, shielded by a towering slide that perfectly obstructed their view. For now, they wouldn’t find her.

“Qin Yu, Dai Wen, you can do it! Find Ziyao!” Feng Qiqi, bobbing in her swimming ring, cheered loudly for them.

Feng Qiqi’s words reached Dai Wen’s ears, prompting a wry smile. “Whose side are you on, anyway? Director Chen told me you were just cheering for Ziyao!”

“Well, everyone needs cheering on!” Feng Qiqi mumbled, sticking out her tongue, before continuing to paddle around the pool with her swimming ring.

Once Feng Qiqi quieted down, Dai Wen asked her partner, “How do we find this last little mouse?”

The water park wasn’t exceptionally large, nor was it particularly small. Finding one person within the remaining time would be quite challenging. If they simply scurried around like headless chickens, Lin Ziyao might genuinely escape. They needed a sensible division of labor.

Observing the two paths leading to different pools, Qin Yu instantly formed an idea. “You take the left, I’ll take the right. If either of us finds anything, we’ll call for help immediately.”

“No problem!” Dai Wen readily agreed to Qin Yu’s suggestion, heading towards the left passage, eager to track down Lin Ziyao.

Seeing Dai Wen depart, Qin Yu also advanced down the right passage.

Lin Ziyao secretly watched the two figures at the entrance separate, with only Qin Yu heading in her direction.

A sigh of relief escaped her.

Facing Qin Yu alone would be manageable. She still had one talent performance opportunity left, which would allow her to gracefully slip away right in front of her.

With this thought, her confidence surged once more. As long as she remained hidden and undetected by Qin Yu, she could win this game.

‘Though it’s two against one, the advantage is still mine!’

Lost in this thought, she couldn’t resist a quick, surreptitious glance at Qin Yu, who was now approaching her side.

Unexpectedly, her gaze met Qin Yu’s as the latter looked up, and in her eyes, Lin Ziyao saw a hint of amusement.

The exchange of glances lasted only a fleeting moment. Lin Ziyao immediately reacted, pressing herself against the slide to hide.

‘Did she discover me?’

Her heart pounded erratically as she pondered, terrified that Qin Yu had found her hiding spot.

Little time remained for Qin Yu. When they had first entered the water park, a staff member had already informed them that time was running out.

If Qin Yu had indeed discovered her location just now, then she would still have about a minute left if she ran over immediately.

“Are you hiding here?”

Just as she was still feeling anxious, Qin Yu’s voice drifted up from beneath the slide. It seemed that the brief exchange of glances earlier had indeed revealed her hiding place to Qin Yu.

With no other choice, and wanting to preserve her talent performance opportunity to buy more time, she could only resort to her backup plan: sliding down this very slide.

However, as she stood up, preparing to sit on the slide, a sudden thought struck her.

‘Wasn’t I a complete non-swimmer?’

At this realization, her hands, which had been gripping the slide, began to tremble. Immersed in the regret of being outmaneuvered by Qin Yu, she had entirely forgotten this crucial detail.

Now, standing at the edge of the slide, she was caught between a rock and a hard place—unable to slide down, yet unable to let go.

“Found you!”

Qin Yu slowly ascended the stairs, her tone laced with playful mockery as she looked at the standing Lin Ziyao.

Lin Ziyao met her gaze with a puffed-out, indignant face. “Qin Yu, you tricked me again!”

“Again? What do you mean, again?”

Her tone was innocent, as if she genuinely couldn’t recall ever tricking her.

“Why don’t I remember that?”

“It was last time when…”

Lin Ziyao abruptly cut herself off. She certainly couldn’t reveal to everyone that Qin Yu had once asked her to use her lap as a pillow.

Otherwise, once the episode aired, the audience would know that her little ploy had backfired, and she had been outsmarted by Qin Yu.

“When was that? Why did you stop?” Having seized her weakness, Qin Yu’s voice brimmed with curiosity, all while feigning forgetfulness.

Lin Ziyao could only let out a soft huff, refusing to engage further.

“Perhaps you should first consider how you’ll get down from here?”

Seeing her defeated expression, Qin Yu kindly offered a reminder.

“I’ll sing you a song, just move aside! I still have one chance left!”

With that, she was about to start singing “Ningxia,” but Qin Yu interrupted her.

“You already used your chance by the lake.”

“What?” Her heart tightened. She wanted to confirm Qin Yu’s words. “What did you say?”

“This time, it’s true.” With that, she instructed a nearby staff member to retrieve the recording.

The screen displayed a scene of the two of them sitting by the lake, with Qin Yu’s hand resting on Lin Ziyao’s thigh.

“I want to know what happens if you get caught by a cat now.”

Qin Yu then slowed down the video.

“You’re caught by a cat.”

This was the required line to say when a cat caught a mouse. And indeed, Lin Ziyao had proceeded to perform her talent as Qin Yu instructed.

From the production team’s perspective, this could certainly be interpreted as using up one opportunity. After all, it was an impromptu rule, and the comedic effect was undeniable, leaving Director Chen no reason to disagree with Qin Yu’s maneuver.

At this point, Lin Ziyao truly panicked. If Qin Yu caught her here, she would have no choice but to accept the punishment.

Just then, Qin Yu took a step, slowly approaching her.

“You… don’t come any closer! I can slide down from here!” Facing the steadily advancing Qin Yu, she instinctively placed her hand on the edge of the slide.

“Oh? If you could slide down, you wouldn’t be wasting time with me here.” Qin Yu extended her hand, as if inviting Lin Ziyao. “So, come here!”

Only a hand’s breadth separated them. Seeing this, Lin Ziyao had no choice but to give up resisting. She released her grip on the slide’s edge, intending to place her hand in Qin Yu’s.

At that moment, for reasons unknown, Lin Ziyao’s foot slipped, and her entire body slowly began to move downwards along the slide.

“?”

Before Lin Ziyao could even react, the surroundings blurred past her vision. It was only then that she realized she was sliding down the chute.

“Hold tight to me!”

It was Qin Yu’s voice!

Soon, she felt a warm, soft body beside her. Instinctively, she followed the instruction and reached out to embrace her.

Water splashed around the slide, yet she felt nothing at all.

“Close your eyes and hold your breath!”

She unconsciously trusted her, holding her breath.

Gurgle, gurgle, after a rush of water.

All sounds vanished from Lin Ziyao’s world. She could only feel the warmth of their bodies touching, their fingers intertwined.