We Are Filthy, Born From Mud - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Yes, We Need Change.

Under the host’s guidance, everyone was led into various rooms.

To elevate Su Tongguo, Zong Yougu and Su Tongguo were assigned to the same room.

Although Zong Yougu and Su Tongguo had known each other for a long time and were considered friends, in this situation, Zong Yougu found Su Tongguo irritating no matter how she looked at her.

She turned her head away in annoyance, moving Su Tongguo out of her line of sight.

“Detective Su and Investigator Yu, you are investigating a residential burglary in the small town. You plan to split up and investigate separately. After Detective Su was separated from Investigator Yu, she encountered the suspicious Miss Zong on the roadside. Investigator Yu met the equally suspicious Miss Wu.”

The broadcast sounded at the right time, setting the background.

“Detectives, you must uncover the truth as quickly as possible. Suspects must also assist the detectives to clear their names. Please note: Detectives can only search during the day, while suspects can only sneak into various rooms at night to find the necessary evidence. The room you are currently in is a temporary investigation post. There are a total of two temporary investigation posts. After each search round, you can choose which room to enter. Please note: Whether you are a detective or a suspect, you can only exchange evidence with the people in the same room. There are four rounds of investigation in total. The person whose final deduction is closest to the truth will achieve the final victory.”

The broadcast cut off, and the game officially began.

The lights outside turned bright, simulating the scorching sunlight of the day.

Su Tongguo, playing the detective, left to search for evidence according to the script.

Only Zong Yougu was left in the room.

Zong Yougu sat on a plastic chair. Her pant legs slid up, revealing a section of her calf. Her hand unconsciously scratched the exposed skin until faint, raised scratch marks appeared on her calf.

She recalled the script. Although she only glanced at it from Zong Liangu’s side, she could easily remember every detail.

According to the script, she should choose the other room during the next search, and in the following segments, she should refuse to share any evidence she found.

She was to be selfish and stupid, elevating Su Tongguo’s uprightness and intelligence.

The lights outside slowly dimmed. Just as the last bit of light was about to go out, the door opened.

Su Tongguo arrived, entering the room with Yu Zhao.

Before Zong Yougu could stand up, she said, “Yougu, you come into this room later. We’ll consolidate everything we’ve found. Zhao Zhao… Yu Zhao just told the guest in the other room, so remember to come over.”

Every one of her pauses was consistent with the script.

Zong Yougu stood up from her seat, tugged at her pant legs, and walked straight out.

It was very dark outside, with two or three lamps casting faint orange-yellow light.

A person dressed equally ridiculously walked out of the other room.

Zong Yougu squinted to identify her. It was the show’s regular guest, also playing a suspect.

However, unlike Zong Yougu, this Miss Wu was a suspect actively cooperating with the investigation. She would work with Su Tongguo and Yu Zhao to uncover the truth.

Zong Yougu ignored her and turned to observe the props in front of her.

The main door was locked, and there were no keys around. As suspects, they naturally couldn’t enter through the front door.

Zong Yougu looked around and finally saw a window slightly ajar.

The window was about the height of her chest. Zong Yougu supported herself on the windowsill with both hands, placed her right foot on the rough wall, pushed hard, and successfully entered the crime scene.

The room wasn’t big. The indoor furnishings were clear at a glance.

Zong Yougu spun around in place a few times, occasionally touching the fake flowers on the windowsill or curiously examining the photos on the table.

After lingering for a while, she slowly squatted down and found the evidence under the bed. It seemed to be a piece of fabric, tattered, feeling like plastic.

The focus of this program was not on deduction, so the prop preparation was very perfunctory.

Zong Yougu pursed her lips.

Zong Yougu thought of Su Tongguo again.

Su Tongguo’s interaction with Yu Zhao in front of the camera made Zong Yougu inwardly sneer.

Su Tongguo had complained to Zong Yougu more than once about Yu Zhao, saying her acting was poor and she couldn’t keep up with the scenes, saying she not only kissed badly but also ate before kiss scenes, and so on.

Yu Zhao also disliked Su Tongguo. Zong Yougu had once heard that Yu Zhao almost walked out due to Su Tongguo.

Yet, in front of the camera, they were so friendly.

Everyone was so hypocritical. Everyone’s heart was so dirty. In the end, Zong Yougu was the only one who had to pay the price.

Zong Yougu sighed. She walked to the window, flipped over, and landed steadily.

She didn’t pay attention to the guest who entered the room with her, as she was irrelevant.

She walked two steps, and two doors appeared in front of her.

Zong Yougu didn’t pause, walking straight toward the empty room.

The furnishings of this room were basically the same as the previous one, except there was a transparent glass panel here, seemingly set up like an interrogation room.

Zong Yougu’s reflection was mirrored on the transparent glass, vague and unclear.

Zong Yougu stared blankly at her own shadow.

She missed Zong Liangu a little.

Zong Liangu hid her face under the wide hood and mask.

She lightened her steps and breathing, successfully placing tiny, bean-sized listening devices in various corners.

She did this for no other reason than to know how Zong Yougu would react in this situation.

Being looked down upon, being ignored, would she handle it calmly? Or would she simply make a scene?

She felt a little childish, constantly doing meaningless things involving Zong Yougu.

Through the earpiece, Zong Yougu’s voice was transmitted from a distance to Zong Liangu’s ear, as if whispering right next to her.

Zong Liangu listened intently. She looked forward to hearing Zong Yougu’s anger and helplessness, because only that could prove that Zong Liangu was more suitable for this world.

As it turned out, Zong Yougu dutifully followed the script, seriously playing the lazy, stupid, and selfish suspect.

It was completely uninteresting. Zong Liangu pursed her lips.

Zong Liangu felt bored. Just as she was about to take off the earpiece, she heard something else.

She frowned, carefully identifying the voice. It was the director’s.

“Wu You, remember to enter Zong Yougu’s room later. You need to share your clue with her.”

The director’s voice was mixed with the noisy buzzing and beeping of the equipment.

A clatter sound, seemingly the walkie-talkie being put down.

After a period of meaningless rustling, someone else spoke, apparently talking to the director.

“Director, why aren’t we following the original script? It was the same before, and the effect was great.”

“Over a decade ago, when I first started interning on this show, it was already a scripted performance.

The dramatic conflict and the perfect variety show rhythm made the show explode in popularity.

It’s true that many viewers still enjoy this setup, but it’s undeniable that our ratings are slowly declining. People are tired of the same old thing.”

The director took a sip of water. The thermos collided with the armrest of the chair, and the metallic hum echoed like a triangle.

“Besides, don’t you think our script this time is cliché? The righteous hero leads everyone to success. We’ve been telling that story for over ten years. The recent scripts are just variations on the same theme. It’s too boring. I’m not criticizing the planning team. The show has been running for over twenty years, and most things that could be written have already been done.”

The director sighed.

“In short, we can’t rely on past success anymore. We need change.”

All the commotion was transmitted to Zong Liangu’s ears.

She frowned in thought.

So, this script is fake?

“Mhm, Director, I understand. So your idea is to make the script public? I know what you want: the guests’ reactions when they realize the direction is different from the initial setting. I’ll communicate with the editing team as soon as possible.”

How will Zong Yougu perform? Zong Liangu’s gaze deepened.

She raised her right hand and gently tapped the earpiece twice. The director’s voice cut off instantly. Zong Yougu’s voice came through the earpiece, still so lazy and willful.

The door was pushed open.

Zong Yougu turned around in surprise and saw the regular guest, Miss Wu. If she remembered correctly, her name was Wu You.

According to the script, Wu You shouldn’t be here. Wasn’t she supposed to be with Su Tongguo and Yu Zhao?

Wu You’s face showed a hint of panic. She turned her back to the camera and mouthed to Zong Yougu: She took the wrong turn.

Zong Yougu raised an eyebrow, then squinted.

Her eyes rotated, sizing up Miss Wu in front of her.

Wu You felt uncomfortable under the other person’s scrutiny. She nervously shifted her gaze.

Could Zong Yougu have figured it out so quickly?

Through her thick eyelashes, she couldn’t understand Zong Yougu’s meaning.

Zong Yougu pointed at Wu You. After a while, she slowly spoke:

“Your clothes are ugly. Just as ugly as mine.”

Wu You finally relaxed. She pulled out a chair and sat down. She said, “I know, right? We’re both suspects. Suspects never wear nice clothes.”

“Should we exchange evidence?” Wu You asked.

Zong Yougu waved her hand casually. She smiled and said, “No, it’s not in the script.”

Zong Yougu blatantly said the word “script” in front of the camera, making Wu You feel a little flustered.

She tried to remain calm: “That’s not good to say.”

“What does it matter? It will be edited out anyway.”

Zong Yougu didn’t care. She crossed her legs, propped her head up, adopting the air of an idle socialite.

“True,” Wu You said.

Zong Yougu laughed sharply.

Wu You took out the clues she had found on her own accord, spreading them on the table.

Zong Yougu turned her head and swept everything off the table.

She said, “Miss Wu, the script is not like this. You should go find Su Tongguo and Yu Zhao. You need to share your clues with them, not me.”

Wu You pouted. She said, “Fine.”

The time allocated for exchange and sharing was long. Since Zong Yougu’s room didn’t plan to share clues, they just sat there doing nothing for this long period.

Wu You spoke: “Miss Zong, let’s not talk about clues. Why don’t we talk about something else?”

Zong Yougu happily turned back. She pointed at herself with her right hand.

Zong Yougu said with a smile, “What do you think of me?”

Wu You was startled. She frantically waved her hands and retreated, knocking the chair behind her askew.

She said, “Miss Zong, there’s too much of an age gap between us, and I’m married.”

Zong Yougu still smiled. She reached out to help Wu You up.

She said, “Huh? What are you talking about? I just think I’m so great that no one could possibly dislike me. I like hearing people praise me. I think I’m kind, I’m beautiful, and I have a great personality…”

Zong Yougu seemed completely immersed in her own world.

“Wu You, go find Su Tongguo and Yu Zhao next round. There’s a new clue hidden under the sofa,” the director reluctantly told Wu You.

The bright lights outside the room slowly dimmed. It was time for the suspects to search for evidence again.

“Aren’t you leaving?” Zong Yougu asked Wu You, turning her head.

Wu You laughed and immediately followed suit, completely failing to notice that the clue she had just put back into her pocket was now in Zong Yougu’s hand.