Trembling At A High Altitude

"I think we have to strive to win no matter what, only by winning does he have a chance to go to the Hell Theater Troupe, otherwise, he won't even have the opportunity to go there," Gao Fei suggested to Anna.

"Of course, winning is the best outcome. Two hours of filming time, a total of one hundred and twenty minutes. If our Red Star News Agency team wants to win, each of the five of us has to endure at least 24 minutes of severe torture on average, otherwise, if we reveal the clues too early, after they compile the five clues, a bit of deduction could quickly identify who the underground worker is," Anna responded to Gao Fei.

"Severe torture! How can we endure it?" Donna shook her head.

"The five of us are a unit this time. If everyone doesn't share the burden, the underground worker alone won't be able to hold on until the end," Anna sighed again.

"I'm so scared," Daisy murmured softly.

After a moment of silence, Gao Fei walked to the back of the bus and whispered something into Li Teng's ear.

The others couldn't hear, but they guessed that Gao Fei must have told him his clue.

A little later, Daisy also got up and whispered a few words to Li Teng at the back of the bus.

The white-collar woman did not seem interested in speaking to Li Teng.

Sunglasses Woman Anna hesitated for a moment, then she also went to the back of the bus.

"What did they tell you?" Anna quietly asked Li Teng.

"You first tell me what your clue is? Are you the liar?" Li Teng countered Anna.

"I just want to remind you of something, what they told you might not be true. In this cruel world, no one is worth trusting, even if you have saved someone's life, it doesn't mean they'll risk theirs in return," Anna whispered into Li Teng's ear before heading back.

...

Half an hour later, the bus arrived at the filming site.

However, everyone did not start shooting directly but entered the makeup room next to the filming site.

The production being filmed was a period drama, and though they were extras, makeup was necessary before the actual filming could begin.

Each extra enjoyed their own makeup room and makeup artist.

The makeup artists at the Film and Television City were masters, fast and good at their work.

After makeup, a stylist took the extras to the dressing room, where each actor was dressed in garments from that era.

After changing clothes, all actors walked out of the dressing room, and seeing each other's makeup, they couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Too handsome! If Donna is not an underground worker, I wouldn't believe it," Daisy expressed with a fangirl-like face.

"Really, clothes make the man! I never thought he was so handsome before, but with makeup and that outfit, he really embodies the period-specific dashing look. Except for him, who else is suitable to play an underground worker?" the white-collar woman exclaimed.

"I'm really not an underground worker, don't betray me," Li Teng said helplessly.

"You guys are only looking at how handsome he is, you should look at Anna, she's absolutely stunning. The clothes of Donna and Anna really match, standing together they like a beautiful poster from a Republic of China-era movie," Gao Fei pointed out as he looked at Sunglasses Woman Anna and spoke to everyone.

"Go away!" Anna rolled her eyes at Gao Fei.

"Taking a poster is boring, they should consider adding a kissing scene, play something like 'Lust, Caution,' haha," Elsa laughed wildly.

"Quick, go ask the director," Gao Fei nudged Li Teng.

"That requires extra pay, why would I act in a kissing scene for no pay? Just to let her take advantage? What kind of idea is that, are you stupid?" Li Teng shook his head vigorously.

Anna felt like banging her head against a wall.

The laughter couldn't hide everyone's inner panic.

Severe torture was about to begin, and no one knew to what extent it would go.

...

Next, the actors, after getting dressed and makeup, were led by the staff to the filming spot.

Upon entering the filming spot, everyone was somewhat stunned.

Old buildings along the road, pedestrians on the streets, rickshaws, big-brimmed hats, yellow overcoats...

Even street-patrolling police officers, untidily marching soldiers, and newsboys selling newspapers.

The Republic of China era vibe was overwhelming.

Big-budget investment, professionalism, high-quality production.

A newsboy came running to sell newspapers; Elsa spoke a few words with him, and since she didn't buy any, the newsboy gave her a cursory response and then ran away.

Li Teng looked around, hoping to find some street food, perhaps scrounge some free buns or the like.

Unfortunately, none were available.

"Should we go into the alley to look?"

"Mind your image!" the director's voice came through Li Teng's earpiece.

Li Teng had to stand straight and give up the thought of sneaking into the alley for free buns.

"If we are extras, what are these people considered?" Elsa asked those around her.

"They are staff members," Anna replied to Elsa.

"Well, that's one way to see it," Elsa nodded.

After a few minutes, the five of them arrived outside a small western-style building.

A sign that read 'Red Star News Agency' hung on the exterior wall of the building.

Following the director's instructions, the five entered the building and walked up the stairs to the third floor editorial office.

The editorial office was bustling with many staff members, each busy with their tasks — some were on the phone, some were writing furiously, and others were conversing about news of that era, as if they were truly living in those times.

Following the direction of the director in their earpieces, and with guidance from the staff, each sat in their assigned seats and then began their 'jobs' as per the director's instructions.

Donna and Anna sat facing each other at their desks. A staff member, a woman in her thirties, passing by even started asking them about their wedding date.

Anna was initially puzzled but then told the woman that the wedding was scheduled for next month on the first day.

Li Teng looked at Anna curiously, only to receive an eye roll in return.

"Take good care of her! Otherwise, we won't let you off," the woman said ambiguously to Li Teng as she left.

"Rest assured, I will protect her with my life," Li Teng, receiving cues from his earpiece, had no choice but to follow the script.

"Hmph!" Anna scoffed, though it was unclear whether she was scoffing at Donna or Li Teng.

Two minutes later, Huang Xun also entered the editorial office.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses, a western outfit, and his hair was slick and shiny, appearing quite refined.

Upon arrival, Huang Xun nodded and smiled at everyone, only to receive a bunch of eye rolls in response.

Li Teng did not roll his eyes at Huang Xun.

Li Teng was busy turning his desk drawers and cabinets inside out.

"Not bringing snacks to work, doesn't that make you hungry?"

Li Teng was annoyed by this.

...

Noise erupted from downstairs in the editorial office.

Half a minute later, the stairs thundered underfoot.

Feng Dahai, with his prominent parted hairstyle, Pretty Boy Du Qing, and a squad of about a dozen armed military police stormed up to the third floor.

"Arrest them according to the list!" Feng Dahai commanded triumphantly.

Pretty Boy Du Qing, holding a stack of arrest warrants, distributed them to the military police. They worked in pairs, comparing names with the arrest warrants and captured the six editors: Anna, Elsa, Donna, Gao Fei, Mickey, and Daisy.

No resistance was possible.

Firstly, as the military police were staff members with guns, being killed by them wouldn't send you to Hell Mode but directly eliminate you by sealing you in wax.

Secondly, the director also instructed through the earpieces not to resist.

The six editors protested according to their scripts, but eventually, they were all bound by the hands and taken out of the small western-style building by the military police, and loaded onto a large truck parked by the street.

Bystanders and newsboys crowded around to watch.

Only then did the newcomers realize when the plot unfolds, you can't just self-destruct whenever you want. Being cornered and trying to utilize the newcomers' protection mechanism in the script to find an opportunity to kill Feng Dahai and self-destruct was harder than reaching heaven, first and foremost because you couldn't even bypass the military police.

Not to mention, Feng Dahai was well-prepared and had all of their hands bound immediately upon arrival.

Especially Li Teng, who was particularly targeted by Feng Dahai due to being wanted by the Silver Wolf Guild, was bound by the military police into a tight bundle, rendering his hands and feet immobile throughout, and they never untied him.

Without control of the narrative, newcomers were like meat on a chopping board, completely at the mercy of others.

Afterwards, there wasn't much to say, as the six editors were taken directly to a temporarily constructed execution room.

A very large empty room.

The performance had officially begun.