Chapter 34

Chapter 34

“Okay, today’s game is over! Since Number Three went out through the back door, tomorrow will be Number Four, Ms. Song Xue. Decide what event you want for tomorrow and tell me before six this evening!”

With that, Tina skipped away.

The players dispersed and returned to their rooms to rest.

Chen Nuo, Tang Ying, and Ruirui all lived on the ninth floor and rode the elevator up together. Chen Nuo pulled his keycard from his trouser pocket and was about to unlock Room 0911 when Tang Ying spoke.

“So you live next door to us.”

Chen Nuo turned and saw Tang Ying and Ruirui standing outside Room 0910. He had never paid particular attention to where the others were staying. He only knew that all their rooms were concentrated on the eighth and ninth floors. He acknowledged her with a murmur and was about to go inside without another word.

“I’d like to talk to you. Is that all right?” Tang Ying asked.

Chen Nuo hesitated. “About what?”

“The hallway isn’t the best place for a conversation. May we go into your room?”

After considering it for a few seconds, Chen Nuo said, “All right.”

“Can I come too?” Ruirui asked, linking her arm through Tang Ying’s. She seemed to want to stay with Tang Ying at all times.

Tang Ying looked at Chen Nuo for permission.

“Of course. Both of you can come in. It would be a little awkward for an unmarried man and woman to be alone together anyway.”

“You’re surprisingly traditional,” Tang Ying said.

Chen Nuo did not answer. He unlocked the door with his keycard and gestured for them to enter.

Tang Ying and Ruirui sat on the sofa, while Chen Nuo perched on the edge of the bed across from them.

“What did you want to discuss?” he asked.

“I’m just curious. You’re clearly the smartest one among us, so why didn’t you want to go last in today’s game?” Tang Ying asked.

“You flatter me. I don’t believe I’m the smartest person here.”

“Of course Dr. Che Dongming and the high school student, Shu Ke, are both intelligent. I’m no fool myself. But in the first two games, you were unquestionably the most impressive player. If you hadn’t posed like an airplane just now, I never would have thought of the in-flight meal. We won that contest because of you. So why didn’t you go last and improve our chances of winning?”

“Because once I’d heard Tina explain the rules, I realized there were clever ways to give the others hints. That meant it wasn’t particularly important whether I asked the final question.”

“So you simply didn’t want to go last?”

“You could put it that way.”

“Was it because of what Che Dongming said? ‘Our fate is in your hands.’ I noticed you frown when you heard that, and then you refused without hesitation. Why?”

Chen Nuo had to admire Tang Ying’s powers of observation. His resistance had shown for only an instant, yet she had noticed it.

“I explained it at the time. I only want to decide my own fate. I won’t take responsibility for anyone else’s,” Chen Nuo said.

“So in this game, you only want to protect yourself. You don’t want to shoulder too much responsibility.”

“Tang Ying…” Ruirui tugged at Tang Ying’s clothes, warning her that the question was too direct. They did not know Chen Nuo well enough to speak to him that bluntly.

Chen Nuo looked at Tang Ying in confusion. “Shouldn’t every one of us be trying to protect ourselves in this game? I came on this trip alone, with no relatives or friends to worry about. All I want is to save myself. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. But you’re one of the most intelligent people here, and we now know for certain that you aren’t the Mastermind. That means we can trust what you say and follow the strategies and suggestions you propose. Under those circumstances, it will be easy for you to become the central figure among us. If I’m right, people will soon begin approaching you to form an alliance,” Tang Ying said.
“An alliance with me?” Chen Nuo laughed. “What would be the point? During each person’s home round, they’re the enemy of everyone else. Does forming an alliance mean allies will deliberately hold back during the games? The only result would be putting themselves at risk of random elimination. Isn’t Lu Qian the perfect example?”

Tang Ying shook her head. “The point of an alliance isn’t to hold back during the games. It’s to pool our intelligence, find the Mastermind as quickly as possible, and end this game!”

Chen Nuo lifted his chin slightly as realization dawned. She was right. That was the true key to winning the game as a whole.

“So you want to form an alliance with me?” he asked.

“Yes. And I’m sure I won’t be the only one. Anyone who approaches you to form an alliance will most likely not be the Mastermind.”

“Because the Mastermind won’t want everyone to unite and pool their ideas. It would make them more likely to be found.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s true in theory. But suppose the Mastermind is extremely cunning and has already considered that. They might deliberately approach me, form an alliance, and build a good relationship with me so none of us will suspect them. Isn’t that also possible?”

As Chen Nuo spoke, he stared directly into Tang Ying’s eyes.

“You’re talking about me, aren’t you?” she said.

“What? Tang Ying is the Mastermind? That’s impossible!” Ruirui instantly sprang to her best friend’s defense. “Chen Nuo, you don’t know Tang Ying, but I’ve known her for years. She could never…”

Chen Nuo raised a hand to stop her. “I’m only saying it’s possible. My point is that even if someone approaches me to form an alliance, we still can’t easily rule them out as the Mastermind.”

“True. We can’t rule them out that easily. But generally speaking, the Mastermind still won’t take the initiative to suggest an alliance. Several minds are always better than one, especially when one of those minds belongs to someone intelligent and trustworthy. If we work together, it can only hurt the Mastermind.”

“Tang Ying, I’ll say it again: I may not be the smartest person here. We’ve played only two games, and there are many people we know almost nothing about. Someone among us may be extremely intelligent and merely hiding it, especially the Mastermind. We can’t let appearances fool us into underestimating our opponent,” Chen Nuo said.

“You have a point. So are you willing to form an alliance with Ruirui and me?” Tang Ying asked.

“Now I understand. When you asked whether I cared only about protecting myself and refused to shoulder responsibility, you were testing whether I was selfish and could be trusted, weren’t you?”

“Yes. That’s also why I voted for you when Liang Chen called the vote. I didn’t want my vote to be wasted.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you,” Chen Nuo said. “I am selfish. In this game, it’s best not to form attachments to anyone. That way, I can fight to win every contest with everything I have and without a single reservation. If I become close to certain people, emotion may make me hesitate and cloud my judgment. That will only make winning harder.”

“How can you be like that?” Ruirui looked at Chen Nuo in sad disappointment.

“That’s who I am.” Chen Nuo smiled faintly. “Do you still want an alliance with me?”

“Yes.”

Tang Ying answered without the slightest hesitation.