Deceitful Game

That "beggar's version of Jigsaw" wasn't Gu Tao's child—

It's not surprising that Mingbo could guess this.

The initial profiling he did almost already anchored the guy's personality.

Judging from his age and personality, he is most likely young, emotionally unstable, and both insecure and arrogant. The likelihood of such a person harboring such clear and persistent hatred for a stranger is actually quite small.

If he really wanted to kill Mingpo, he would have done it already.

It was precisely because that guy held such complicated thoughts that Mingpo guessed that the other person might be her child.

But at this juncture, Mingpo immediately changed her mind—

Because that guy's attitude towards Gu Tao's two wives was wrong.

Regardless of whose child he was, regardless of who his mother was, regardless of whether his mother abused him... he should not have treated her this way. It's not about "hatred" or "indifference," but about placing both wives on equal footing—a perspective clearly reserved for outsiders.

Because if you put your mother alongside the other wife of the father you hate, it's tantamount to diminishing your own value.

Someone who is so insecure, sensitive, or even mentally unstable would never do this—except perhaps if it were an illegitimate child.

Mingbo's question was precisely to rule out this possibility.

"I see."

Mingpo smiled and slowly drew his bow.

He loaded the pulley bow again and then shot through the red balloon falling on the right.

But this time, an unexpected event occurred—

Mingper, of course, hit the red balloon accurately, and it did indeed explode.

The problem was that it exploded with a burst of fire, which caused Zhang Hui to let out a muffled scream.

It was like throwing a lit cotton ball directly at someone's face. Although it would bounce off immediately without causing burns, the burning pain would be very noticeable, and there was a small chance that the hair would catch fire. Moreover, as animals, humans are instinctively afraid of fire... So Zhang Hui struggled violently, trying to avoid the balloon falling towards her.

The result was that the balloon was instead launched directly into the air—

"Quiet, don't move."

Mingpo's face showed obvious displeasure, but her tone remained gentle: "If you're like this, I can't aim accurately, darling."

"Waaaaahh ...

Zhang Hui glared angrily, trying to express something to "Gu Tao".

Unfortunately, her efforts were completely in vain. No sound came out, and she was unable to leave her seat.

Zhang Hui was clearly afraid when faced with the flames that could set her hair on fire.

She resisted fiercely, shaking her head and trying to bounce the balloon off her head and further away.

"Can't you understand that I'm asking you to be quiet?"

Mingpo sighed, her tone turning somewhat sorrowful.

The melodious sound of the piano flowed through the air.

That was the music played at the wedding, but it didn't have an orchestra; it was a slow-paced, purely piano piece.

Just listening to that voice, Mingpo even hallucinated that she was hearing the standard Mandarin announcer's voice: "Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon, thank you all for coming as scheduled..."

The next moment, Mingpo drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

—Tap!

With a muffled thud, the flying arrow pierced Zhang Hui's left eye.

She was struck as if by lightning—her head was thrown backward by inertia, but then bounced back because her back was locked to the chair. Her body convulsed violently for a moment, and then she fell silent.

The arrow pierced her eye with incredible precision, its tip even faintly protruding from the back of her head.

These arrows are not the rubber or polymer arrows commonly found at shooting ranges, but rather high-carbon steel arrows used for hunting. A composite bow fitted with hunting arrows can even kill an adult wild boar; its lethality against a human is comparable to that of a small-caliber bullet.

"Why can't you understand human speech?"

Mingpo shook her head: "Less arrows mean fewer balloons to shoot. I don't know if it will have any impact in the end."

He looked calmly at Cai Jingyi and gently instructed, "Don't make me waste another arrow, okay?"

Cai Jingyi had seemed to have considered throwing a tantrum earlier—after all, the oil had splashed into her eyes, making her feel quite uncomfortable. But now, her face was pale, and she had become completely docile.

Or rather... like a wooden puppet, not daring to move an inch.

Mingpo, satisfied with her quietness and obedience, continued to ask the "host" questions.

"So, the second question."

Mingpo asked casually, "You know my daughter, right?"

"...How did you know?"

"You just need to tell me, is it correct or incorrect?"

"……correct."

"Oh, very good."

Mingper wasn't even surprised by this answer.

What kind of person would hate Gu Tao but not kill him directly; and also harbor malice towards both of his wives, demanding that Gu Tao "choose one of them"?

The answer is then clear.

Gu Tao's ex-wife, Cai Jingyi, abandoned her daughter; clearly, she was not having a good time with her stepmother.

After all, judging from the content etched on the door at the beginning and the identities of the two people introduced by the host, the two divorced peacefully without any conflict—saying "I don't like you anymore" is just an empty lie.

When you truly lose affection and are so disappointed in the other person that you feel hopeless, the breakup won't be so bland, let alone a divorce. This is just about maintaining appearances for both of you.

He and Cai Jingyi were childhood sweethearts and each other's first love, and they were roughly the same age. Zhang Hui was a full twelve years older than him.

The statement "I met someone I like" is obviously not very reliable in this situation.

More likely, he used being a kept man to resolve his debt problems. This could be intentional or unintentional—perhaps he voluntarily took on the debt and took his daughter with him; or perhaps Cai Jingyi ran away.

And a former shooting athlete who later became a physical education teacher and swimming coach... his entrepreneurial path most likely involved opening a gym.

Mingpo himself enjoys extreme sports, so he happens to have some knowledge in this area.

Generally speaking, the three-year survival rate of gyms is less than 30%, and in non-first-tier cities, this figure is even lower.

The dream of "opening a gym" is similar to the entrepreneurial idea of ​​"opening a coffee shop." Without a special operational strategy, industry channels, and sufficient cash flow and traffic, it's basically a losing proposition no matter how you try to open one.

This also explains why he was able to become a gigolo.

Therefore, it's not surprising that his daughter harbored hostility towards both of her mothers.

But by the same token—if his daughter prepares for this game, then her purpose will definitely be focused on these two "mothers," rather than on Gu Tao.

And considering that guy's obvious fear of Gu Tao...

He had a kind of "fanatical trust" in Gu Tao's physical abilities that even Mingpo himself couldn't understand.

Clearly, he orchestrated the previous games in preparation for the third round. But the hatred and hostility in the previous games could easily have taken Gu Tao's life.

How much must he have believed that Gu Tao wouldn't be tormented to death for he to have meticulously set up so many deadly traps, all in order to conquer and defeat him?

It was less about hatred, apprehension, or fear...

...It's more accurate to say it's worship.

"You've known me for a long time, or rather... you're my student, right?"

Mingpo asked again.