Backstage, in the lounge.
The door was pushed open with force. Sparkle stood in the doorway, panting heavily.
"Boss! Boss, wait for me!" She braced her hands on her knees, gasping for air. Her cheeks were flushed bright red from sprinting over.
"About next season... the Elation home ground thing. Can we talk about it again? I promise I'll go all out!"
Su Chen turned around and looked at her sudden change in attitude. Before he could speak, Mydei handed him his phone with a somewhat serious expression.
"The next round's competition details are out."
On the screen, the four large characters "Intelligence Competition" stood out clearly.
"An intelligence competition?" Little Herta leaned over for a look and smirked.
"Oh? Finally, something in my area of expertise. This round, I should take the stage. Perfect chance to exercise my brain before it rusts completely."
"You?" Su Chen asked. For some reason, he felt strangely uneasy, as if something was off.
"Otherwise? Su Chen, you asked me to join the team precisely because of my intellect, didn't you?" Little Herta replied matter-of-factly.
"...Fair enough."
Mydei and Sparkle had no objections either. When it came to "using one's brain," no one had more authority than Little Herta.
Su Chen nodded and was about to say a few words of encouragement.
The next moment, his phone suddenly vibrated. The name flashing on the screen was one that caught him slightly off guard — "Fontaine Superstar."
"Sorry, I need to take this call." Su Chen gestured to the others and stepped into a quiet corner.
The moment the call connected, Furina's signature dramatic and exaggeratedly excited voice came through:
"Mr. Su Chen! The task you assigned me has been gloriously completed! I've been scouring the world to find a face model for Genshin Impact for you. Guess what? I already found one! And he's currently at your competition venue!"
"Oh?" Su Chen was surprised. The bad feeling in his chest grew stronger. "That fast? So, who is this person you're talking about?"
"His name is Cyno. He's... well, a very troublesome fellow!" Furina's voice paused, as if recalling some terrible experience. She lowered her voice, still sounding traumatized. "Listen, a few days ago I had Aether go talk to him about a possible collaboration. You won't believe what happened. They were only together for half an hour, and when Aether came out, he looked completely dazed. His eyes were unfocused, his lips were purple, and he collapsed on the spot with some kind of illness! Even though it's over thirty-eight degrees in the middle of summer, he's been wearing a military coat and hugging a hot water bottle, constantly muttering 'So cold, so cold...' He says his soul feels frozen solid. Now he even thinks I look 'refreshingly handsome'!"
Su Chen's eye twitched violently. He almost dropped his phone.
Cyno?!
That walking encyclopedia of cold jokes? That human-shaped air conditioner?
The man who could drop the temperature of the entire Sumeru City by three degrees with a single pun?
He suddenly remembered — this round had two examiners!
Besides the advanced AI known as "Shush," who supposedly had a hundred thousand cold jokes programmed into it, there was also a never-before-seen special guest examiner!
This was bad. This was really bad. This was no coincidence!
Su Chen immediately realized that this so-called "intelligence competition" wasn't about testing intelligence at all. It was a contest of cold resistance! A soul-level mental contamination attack designed to crush everyone!
He spun around and rushed back into the lounge in one swift motion.
"Where's Little Herta? Where did she go?" He grabbed Mydei by the shoulders, voice urgent. "Quick! Get her back here! This round is rigged! I have to go on myself. I... I have resistance!"
Mydei looked completely lost as he was shaken. He pointed toward the stage. "It's too late. She already went up. Especially after she heard that Big Herta was also participating in this round, she marched out with such heroic determination that no one could stop her."
Su Chen slapped his own forehead.
Too late. Everything was too late.
Could Little Herta's pure scientific brain really withstand the magical assault of cold jokes?
And Big Herta was participating too?
Good grief. Two genius girls going up against a human air conditioner?
This topic was going to blow up the ratings.
Mr. Reca really knew how to chase viewership.
Su Chen hurried to the edge of the stage and looked up. He mouthed silently at Little Herta — "Be careful!"
Little Herta saw him and gave a confident nod, her eyes seeming to say: Relax. This is nothing.
Su Chen sighed inwardly: No, you don't understand. You have no idea what you're about to face!
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of March 7th, who was also on stage.
At that moment, March 7th had her head lowered, hands clasped behind her back. She was unusually quiet.
Her usual chirpy, energetic "big smart girl" aura had completely disappeared, replaced by a calm and reserved demeanor that didn't match her usual character at all.
This is... has Evernight already logged in?
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy Su Chen felt.
Shit.
Please don't tell me it's Evernight mode.
Then Owlbert began announcing the rules.
"Dear audience, the exciting intelligence competition is about to begin! This round still has four contestants: Big Herta from the Big Herta Team, Little Herta from the Boss Team, March 7th from the Castorice Team, and Cipher from the Acheron Team!"
"And the question master for this round is the very popular bartender robot — Shush!"
As he introduced it, a round, chubby robot slid to the center of the stage.
[Hahaha, holy shit, Shush is the examiner?]
[Are you guys not paying attention? Big Herta vs Little Herta? This is a century-defining showdown!]
[We finally get to see Big and Little Herta in the same frame. These two look way too similar. It's like they were carved from the same mold.]
Owlbert continued explaining: "The rules are simple. Shush will ask questions to each contestant in turn. Correct answers earn no penalties. Wrong answers result in immediate elimination! Now, let the competition begin!"
Following Owlbert's signal, Shush began asking questions.
"First up, Lady Big Herta. Please listen carefully: Little Ming got a very handsome haircut. Why did his classmates stop talking to him the next day?"
Big Herta smiled confidently and answered almost instantly: "Because he was so handsome that he had no friends left."
"Correct."
[Hahahahaha... I knew Shush wouldn't disappoint us.]
Shush turned to Little Herta. "Lady Little Herta, why does Little Ming insist on drinking eight glasses of water every day?"
Little Herta answered calmly: "Because he can't even finish one glass."
"Correct."
Su Chen let out a long breath backstage. Good, these were just appetizers. The difficulty was still within human comprehension.
Shush slid over to Cipher. "Miss Cipher, what animal is most likely to slip and fall?"
Cipher's eyes darted around. She quickly came up with an answer and smiled slyly. "A fox, because it's very cunning (and has slippery feet)."
"Correct."
The first three contestants passed smoothly, and the comments began to relax and joke around.
[Oh no, the pressure is on March 7th now.]
[Poor March. She's probably going to get eliminated in the first round. These questions are way above her level.]
[Putting March 7th in an intelligence competition... is this the weakest horse in the Tian Ji horse racing strategy?]
The camera focused on March 7th. Just as the comments predicted, she stood there with a blank, cute expression, unconsciously twirling a strand of her pink hair, as if she still hadn't processed the previous questions.
The entire audience was nervous for her.
Shush's electronic eyes locked onto her. "Last contestant, Miss March 7th. Please listen carefully: There was a very hungry wolf walking down the street. It passed by a lamb meat shop. Why didn't it go inside?"
Time ticked by. March 7th still showed no reaction. She just stood there blankly.
Just when everyone thought she was about to be eliminated, the fingers twirling her hair stopped.
She slowly raised her head.
In that instant, the camera captured the change in her expression. Those eyes that were usually as lively as a little deer's had become like a frozen lake. All emotion had settled, replaced by a deep, all-seeing calm.
Her voice also dropped slightly as she slowly gave her answer:
"Because... that shop is called 'Yang Guofu.' The characters for 'lamb' and 'Yang' are homophones. It's quite amusing."
The entire venue fell into dead silence.
Even the comments went blank for a full three seconds.
Backstage, both Su Chen and Mydei had their mouths hanging open.
[???]
[What the fuck?! Is this really March 7th? Did my ears break?!]
[No... why does March 7th feel like a completely different person? That look in her eyes was so cool!]
[Give me back my sunny, cute March wife! This... this is an answer March 7th could come up with? Is her IQ actually this high?!]
[Something's wrong! This is definitely wrong! I know it's acting, and actors having contrast is normal, but I've met the real March 7th in the Interaction City. Her behavior in the web drama matches her real self perfectly. She's just a silly, sweet girl!]
After a moment of silence, Shush announced the result:
"All contestants... answered correctly. The first round is over."
"Now, the second round begins. Difficulty... increased. Please welcome our special guest 'Add Ice' — Mr. Cyno!"
A young man with long white hair slowly walked onto the stage from backstage.
He had handsome features and an aura that clearly said "strangers keep away."
This was Cyno.
Cyno walked to the center of the stage and stood side by side with the round bartender robot "Shush." One person and one machine formed a strangely harmonious pair.
"Guest and 'add ice' are homophones," Cyno said expressionlessly, continuing the previous line in a flat, emotionless voice.
"It's quite amusing."
"..."
"..."
Backstage, Su Chen closed his eyes in pain.
Here it comes. They finally arrived.
The comments in the live stream were filled with question marks.
[????]
[???? Who is this guy?]
[What did he just say? I didn't understand, but I'm deeply shaken.]
[Guest and "add ice" are homophones... it's quite amusing... Oh shit, I get it! Guest = Add Ice! Save me!]
[I feel like we don't even need the air conditioning anymore. The temperature in the venue just dropped ten degrees.]
[How can he say something like that with a straight face?! Is he a demon?!]
Owlbert felt his teeth chattering. He forced a smile and announced:
"Now, the second round officially begins! In this round, Shush and Mr. Cyno will take turns asking questions to the contestants!"
Double the happiness. No — double the torture.
Shush was the first to slide over to Big Herta. "Lady Big Herta, why do crabs walk sideways?"
Big Herta's brows furrowed slightly. This question wasn't so simple.
This robot and that white-haired kid were definitely not to be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Shush had already started the countdown.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1!"
"Please answer, Lady Herta."
Big Herta took a deep breath. "Because crabs have pincers and do whatever they want."
"Correct!"
[So this is Big Herta?]
[I'm breaking. Guys, I'm actually breaking.]
[Have pincers and do whatever they want, hahahaha... Fuck me... How did the production team even come up with these underworld-level questions?]
[When people are speechless, they really do laugh.]
[Big Herta: I feel like my intelligence has been challenged like never before.]
Shush moved in front of Little Herta. "Lady Little Herta, Xu Xian came home and bought a piece of clothing for Lady White Snake. After she put it on, she didn't move an inch. What kind of clothing was it?"
A magical artifact?
Little Herta wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
It wasn't that simple.
She recalled Su Chen's earlier warning and glanced at him backstage, who was already holding his forehead.
After thinking for a moment, Little Herta cautiously answered: "Because... it was a duckbill cap?"
Shush replied: "Correct."
"Hoo~" Little Herta let out a breath of relief.
[Pfft——! I can't anymore. Someone save me! My funny bone is being rubbed into the ground by this show!]
[Big and Little Herta have the exact same expression. That "I got it right but I feel like I lost" constipated look. I'm dying.]
[There's actually some substance here! The difficulty just skyrocketed!]
Both geniuses had barely scraped through. The pressure instantly shifted to Cipher.
This time, it was Cyno's turn to step up to her.
Cipher blinked. For some reason, just looking at him made the pressure feel immense.
"Miss Cipher, what kind of bee can't fly?"
Cipher swallowed hard. Her expression clearly showed panic.
What the hell kind of question was this?
A brain-teaser from hell?
"I-Is it... a wingless bee?"
Cyno wagged his finger. "Wrong, Miss Cipher."
"Then what is it?"
"Ko-bee."
Cipher: "..."
[Hahaha... Ko-bee. Kobe. I get it, but I wish I didn't!]
[This is actual hell! Cyno, you have no heart!]
[I can't take it anymore! My fists are clenched!]
[Cipher: I'm just an ordinary person who wants to compete properly. Why do I have to endure this?]
[Feather wife, don't be scared. The difficulty of this question is beyond human comprehension. Losing isn't shameful.]
Cipher opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She wanted to say something, do something, but she only felt lost. The future looked completely dark.
Owlbert had no choice but to announce: "Miss Cipher has unfortunately become the first contestant to be eliminated."
Amid the sighs, Cipher returned to her team.
Now, the focus of the entire venue once again fell on March 7th.
After one person was eliminated, the atmosphere grew even more tense.
Everyone felt that March 7th was definitely going to lose this time.
Even Big and Little Herta had nearly crashed. How could she, a well-known "big smart girl," possibly withstand this?
Cyno walked up to her. His icy face showed no emotion.
"Why don't vampires like spicy food?"
Another absurd question.
The audience in the live stream had already begun mourning for March 7th in advance.
[It's over. Is March wife about to be eliminated?]
[How do you even answer this? I have zero ideas.]
[March 7th: I was so scared at the time.]
On stage, March 7th still had that blank expression. Her head was lowered as she twirled a strand of hair, as if her mind had wandered far away.
Backstage, Su Chen's heart was in his throat.
Evernight, is that you?
Hurry up and log in! Save us!
Just as Owlbert was about to start the countdown.
March 7th's fingers twirling her hair stopped.
She raised her head.
It was the same moment. The same gaze.
Her liveliness and innocence faded, replaced by the still calm of an ancient well with no ripples.
Her eyes passed over Cyno as she clearly spoke the answer:
"Because vampires prefer their blood cold."