I'm in Wuha, and the whole internet is shipping me and Song Yuqi as a couple.

The campfire on the beach is already lit.

The fire was set up a dozen meters away from the sea level, and the dry firewood crackled and popped.

The spark shot up half a meter high, then dissipated in the night breeze.

Five chairs were neatly arranged in front of the campfire, all with their backs to the sea and facing the fire.

The chairs were very stylish, with wide armrests, making it feel like sitting in an interrogation room.

A nameplate was inserted behind each chair.

From left to right, the names are Deng Chao, Chen He, Lu Han, Song Yuqi, and Jiang Che.

Chen He walked up to the chair and looked at the spotlight shining down on him; he felt terrible.

"This isn't a bonfire party, it's a court hearing for prisoners."

Deng Chao walked around the chair once and patted the back of the chair.

"solid."

"Can't you focus your attention on the right place?" Chen He's voice cracked.

Lu Han didn't say anything, walked to her seat and sat down, placing her hands on the armrests, looking like she was resigned to her fate.

Song Yuqi stood beside the chair without sitting down, her gaze fixed on the white dot of light on the distant sea that was getting closer and closer.

"What is that?"

Jiang Che followed her gaze.

A speedboat was circling around from the west side of the island, its engine roaring over the waves and the sound of the campfire.

The boat had a sign with the production crew hanging on the bow, and a camera was mounted on each side, with the lights shining brightly.

The speedboat slowed down in the shallows, leaving a long trail of water in its wake.

A man jumped off the deck.

His trousers were rolled up to his calves, he wore sandals, and he carried a large kraft paper envelope in his left hand and held a large red plastic megaphone in his right.

Wang Mian walked ashore on the waves, his hair disheveled by the sea breeze, but his expression was unusually excited.

He raised the megaphone and yelled at the five people.

Good evening, brothers and sisters!

Chen He was the first to jump up, his finger trembling as he pointed at him.

"Wang Mian? What are you doing here?"

Deng Chao was stunned for two seconds before he realized what was happening.

"Are you the mysterious questioner Wu Zheng mentioned?"

Wang Mian tucked the megaphone under his arm, pulled a stack of documents from a manila envelope with his left hand, and waved it at the camera.

Let me give you a formal introduction.

"I am the special interrogator for this episode of 'Island Night Bonfire Party,' fully entrusted by the production team to uncover your secrets."

Chen He's face turned completely green.

"You've been bribed?"

Wang Mian slammed the documents onto the folding table next to him with a straight face.

"What do you mean by bribery? This is called business cooperation."

"Director Wu gave me a condition that I couldn't refuse."

Deng Chao crossed his arms, his tone so cold it could freeze.

"What are the conditions?"

Wang Mian licked his lips and lowered his voice, but the loudspeaker was still on, and the sound spread throughout the entire beach.

"I can't say, hehe."

Chen He plopped back down in his chair, clutching his chest.

"traitor."

"A complete traitor."

Deng Chao pointed at Wang Mian's nose.

"Wang Mian, how many episodes did we record together? How many barbecue meals did we eat together?"

"Are you really going to push your brother into a fire pit for a little bit of petty gain?"

Wang Mian placed the megaphone on the table, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Deng Chao.

"Brother Chao, I'm sorry."

"The guidance I received was too much; I couldn't refuse."

He straightened up, his expression extremely serious.

"This isn't betrayal; it's survival."

Chen He jumped up from his chair.

"For survival? You call betraying your comrades for survival?"

"I didn't betray you, I was just asking questions."

Wang Mian picked up the stack of documents from the table and tossed them in his hand.

"The answers are all in your own mouths; I'm just a tool."

Deng Chao grabbed Chen He by the collar and dragged him back.

"Forget it, there's no point in arguing with him about this. Let's listen to the rules first."

Lu Han sat in the chair, looking at the thickness of Wang Mian's kraft paper envelope, and spoke.

"How many people's records are in there?"

"Five people." Wang Mian held up five fingers.

"Everyone has their own personal file, the content of which includes, but is not limited to, the program team's preliminary research, social media account history, materials provided by the management team, and details of your words and actions recorded by the staff during the recording of the program."

Song Yuqi finally sat down, gripping the armrests of the chair with both hands.

"Did the management team also provide materials?"

"Sister Su Qing is very cooperative." Wang Mian smiled.

Song Yuqi's expression changed.

Wang Mian cleared his throat, spread the documents on the folding table, and then turned to face the five people.

"The rules are officially announced."

"First, I ask questions, and the person being asked must answer."

"The answer matches the records I have, so no points will be deducted or added."

"If the answer does not match the file, or if you refuse to answer, you will be penalized 500."

Chen He raised his hand.

"What if I choose silence for all options?"

"Then you'll lose two or three thousand tonight, depending on whether your budget allows you to cover it."

Chen He lowered his hand.

Wang Mian continued.

"Secondly, teammates can help the person being asked to answer the question. If the answer is correct, the team gets an extra 500 points."

Deng Chao nodded.

"That makes sense, brothers help each other out."

Wang Mian raised a finger, his smile carrying a deeper meaning.

"The third point is the main event."

"If a teammate proactively reveals damaging information about the person in question that wasn't asked, and this information is verified to be true by the records..."

He paused for a moment.

"A reward of one thousand yuan will be given to the whistleblower."

The beach was quiet.

The five people looked at each other in bewilderment.

Chen He's mouth slowly opened wide.

Deng Chao's eyes began to change.

Lu Han withdrew her hands from the armrest and crossed them in front of her chest.

Song Yuqi glanced at Jiang Che subconsciously.

Jiang Che leaned back in his chair, his expression calm, but he glanced at the expressions of the other four people.

The atmosphere between Chen He and Deng Chao has become tense.

The two looked at each other for a second, then simultaneously looked away.

Wang Mian was clearly satisfied with the effect and picked up the megaphone to deliver the final blow.

To summarize briefly.

"You can stick together for warmth, or you can betray each other."

"You earn a thousand by exposing someone else's secrets. You get exposed by someone else, and you're dead."

"Between friendship and money, which would you choose?"

Chen He slowly turned his head and stared at Deng Chao.

"Brother Chao, what did that look you gave me just now mean?"

Deng Chao picked up the bottled water and took a sip.

"What kind of look is that? I don't have any particular look in my eyes."

"You have it." Chen He moved half a chair towards him.

"Your eyes darted slightly to the upper right; you were recalling information."

"What dirt are you thinking about on me?"

Deng Chao screwed on the bottle cap, his expression utterly innocent.

"He'er, you're overthinking it."

"What's our relationship? We're brothers."

"You'd sell your own brother too." Chen He plopped back down, wrapping his arms around himself.

Lu Han, standing at the very edge, spoke quietly.

"Stop arguing."

"First, figure out who he started asking questions from."

All five people turned to look at Wang Mian.

Wang Mian picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them a couple of times.

He had an inconspicuous black in-ear monitor plugged into his ear.

Wu Zheng's voice came through the in-ear monitor, and only he could hear it.

"Let's start with Chen He."

Wang Mian smiled and looked up at Chen He.

Chen He pressed his back against the chair back, shrinking down by two centimeters.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Wang Mian pulled out the first sheet of paper from the stack of documents and slowly unfolded it.

He didn't read the contents aloud immediately, but instead glanced at them first, raised his eyebrows, and made an "oh" sound with his lips.

Chen He swallowed.

"Don't pretend."

"You've used that expression eight hundred times on stand-up comedy stages."

"Every time you raise your eyebrow and make that mouth shape, it's followed by a really sarcastic joke."

Wang Mian turned the paper over so that only he could see the words on it.

"Chen He".

Chen He swallowed.

"Let me tell you a time and place first, listen carefully."

He cleared his throat.

"December 14, 2019, Jiefang West Road, Changsha, 2:00 AM."

Chen He's knees buckled, his buttocks slid two inches off the chair, and he gripped the armrests tightly with both hands.

Deng Chao immediately sensed something was wrong and turned to stare at him.

"Jiefang West Road? Two in the morning?"

Chen He's lips moved twice, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Wang Mian held up the paper and gave the camera a standard stand-up comedian smile.

It's okay if you can't answer.

"Your teammates can also help you answer."

"Of course, if anyone knows what happened that night and voluntarily reveals it..."

He held up one finger.

"One thousand yuan."

Chen He suddenly stood up from his chair and waved to Deng Chao, Lu Han, Jiang Che, and Song Yuqi.

"None of you are allowed to speak!"