Chapter 5: Utterly Bewildered

Chen Yu first reached out tentatively, touching the edge of the doorframe that had been scorched. The temperature had dropped; it was no longer burning hot. He quickly lowered his head, leaning in for a closer look. Just as he had expected, through the irregular gap burned into the frame, he could clearly see the cold metal bar locking the door from the outside.

“Let’s hope there’s no padlock on the latch,” he thought, his nerves settling slightly. Holding his breath, he carefully slipped his fingers toward the gap. The opening was just wide enough for his index and middle fingers together, but still so narrow that it scraped his skin painfully.

“This damned gap… way too tight,” he muttered inwardly.

At that moment, every viewer in the live stream, including the tense staff in the production van, instantly understood Chen Yu’s intention.

“Holy crap! This guy’s thinking is off the charts! He started a fire, risked the smoke, just to burn through the frame and unlock the bar from inside?”

“This dude is something else! That’s some next-level problem-solving!”

“But wait, isn’t the production team being a bit too harsh? Couldn’t someone outside just open the door? Why make it so complicated?”

“You’re clueless! This is all about the show’s impact! Top-tier effects!”

“By the way, where’s that guy who swore he’d eat something unspeakable upside down if ‘Mr. Corpse’ escaped? Come on, time to keep your promise!”

In front of the monitors, Captain Yan’s gaze was complex.

This extra whom he’d initially dismissed as an out-of-line amateur was now, with every move, making his heart race. From mocking the unprofessional performance, to sneering when Chen Yu attempted to start a fire—thinking it impossible for any ordinary person—Yan had been skeptical every step. But when Chen Yu actually succeeded in producing a spark, his shock was profound.

What followed was even more outrageous: this background actor, in full view of a national live broadcast, openly destroying “evidence.” Yan’s anger almost boiled over.

He knew well that if someone were truly trapped in an unknown room, burning the frame to escape would be perfectly logical. The problem was, this was an actor hired by the show! Surely, he must know this was a real crime scene, and those items were secured evidence?

Yet, only now did Yan’s instincts as a seasoned investigator force him to admit—this young man possessed abilities far beyond the ordinary. His mind was terrifyingly meticulous; his adaptability, elite.

Every reckless, seemingly nonsensical action he’d taken, in retrospect, had a clear purpose—not a single step wasted.

Click—

A faint but distinct metallic sound rang out. Under the watchful eyes of tens of millions, the bar that had held the door shut was finally nudged aside from inside by Chen Yu.

Slowly, he pushed open the heavy iron door.

A harsh creak echoed as blinding daylight surged in like a tide, stabbing at Chen Yu’s eyes, which had grown accustomed to the dimness. Instantly, his vision was flooded with white.

The room had been far too dark. Instinctively, he raised a hand to shield his eyes.

“So…it was daytime outside all along,” he thought, a wave of relief and disbelief washing over him.

But just as he was about to exhale, a cold, mechanical voice sounded in his mind:

“Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the first novice mission: Escape the locked room!”

“Stage reward: 500 skill points awarded!”

“New feature unlocked: Points Store (some items now available)!”

“You may now use your points to purchase items or skills as needed!”

“Points Store?” Chen Yu was taken aback, his thoughts racing. “I can buy things? Gear, or…even more powerful abilities?”

He was about to focus on this unexpected “Points Store” when a thunderous round of applause suddenly erupted nearby.

Next came a clear, pleasant woman’s voice that left him frozen in place.

“Dear viewers! Let’s once again give our warmest applause to our outstanding ‘mystery guest’!”

At that moment, the doorway to the abandoned house was packed tight. Beyond the full production crew, a crowd of devoted fans had rushed over after hearing the news. Excited, they raised phones and cameras, flashes going off incessantly as they photographed Chen Yu, who had just stepped out.

Host Lin Bing, microphone in hand, was already waiting gracefully outside. Her face glowed with a professional, infectious smile. Following the script hastily agreed upon with the director, she spoke with great excitement:

“Friends, as you’ve seen, our program ‘Cold Case Revisited’ prepared this thrilling, suspenseful opening just for you!”

“Did everyone enjoy it?”

She paused skillfully, scanning both the crowd and the camera, then resumed with a poised air of assurance:

“Now, let me formally introduce—our so-called ‘corpse actor’ from the livestream is, in fact, our special mystery contestant for this episode!”

“With extraordinary observation, rigorous logic, and astonishing survival skills, he has escaped this infamous ‘impossible room’—all by himself!”

“He really did it!”

In the production van, Captain Yan’s mouth twitched at Lin Bing’s shameless spin, his exasperation with the show deepening.

Yet the audience was completely taken in by the seasoned host. The chat exploded again with excitement, expectations for this detective variety show soaring to new heights.

“Wow! What a twist! So it was all a planned surprise! This show just leveled up—several grades at once!”

“Look at him—Chen Yu isn’t just a genius, he’s got an incredible physique! Eight-pack abs, perfect lines! I’m a fan for life—face fan and brain fan both!”

Indeed, after starting the fire and putting it out, Chen Yu’s shirt had been sacrificed as a tool. Bare to the waist, his body gleamed with sweat, muscles sharply defined in the sunlight, exuding raw, explosive beauty. Combined with his youthful, chiseled features and the undimmed sharpness in his eyes after the recent ordeal, his charm was undeniable.

Of course, he remained utterly oblivious to all this.

Lin Bing caught sight of such comments, and an unusual glint flashed in her eyes before she quickly masked it. Maintaining her warm smile, she stepped gracefully to Chen Yu, handed him the microphone, and gently asked:

“Congratulations on escaping the locked room! Could you share with our viewers how you’re feeling right now?”

“Wait…hold on, what exactly is going on?” Chen Yu frowned slightly, glancing at the overly sweet host, the dark crowd, and the countless cameras surrounding him. His mind was in a whirl.

He wasn’t stupid—far from it. His intelligence and reaction speed far exceeded most. From the host’s few but revealing words, along with the unmistakable signs of a major production all around, he’d already pieced together some key clues.

“Was I not really kidnapped or trapped here by accident?”

“The original’s identity…could I actually be a so-called ‘contestant’?”

“So I’m…participating in some kind of reality show? One that’s live nationwide?”

A cascade of questions exploded in his mind, leaving his expression especially odd.

Lin Bing, a master at reading faces, caught every tiny shift in his demeanor. She thought to herself, “Just as expected,” but kept her smile unchanged. She quickly signaled toward the camera, then switched to an even more stirring tone:

“All right! Now that our new ace contestant has made a sensational debut, even more mysteries await us!”

“Let’s count down from five together!”

“Five!”

“Four!”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

“This episode of ‘Cold Case Revisited’—the case investigation officially begins!”