Global Collapse-Chapter 522 - 491: Rising From Severe Illness_1

Hearing the cheerful voice coming from the other end of the mobile phone, the directorial team was taken aback for a moment before quickly realizing. "Did you steal his phone?"

"I wouldn’t exactly call it stealing," Gu Mian replied as he glanced at the cameraman who had sprawled to one side, then continued candidly, "I just took it. If you want to call it theft, then go ahead."

The directorial team hadn’t called to discuss the semantics of ’pilfering’ versus ’snatching’ with Gu Mian. They wanted to confirm with the cameraman what had happened.

Gu Mian heard the person on the other end of the phone demanding, "Give him back his phone."

The tone of the directive was as though Gu Mian’s entire clan for nine generations would be executed if he didn’t comply.

However, Gu Mian wasn’t one to follow orders blindly, and besides, he didn’t have nine generations of kin to be punished. If the production team actually managed to find them, Gu Mian might even thank them.

The television screen was still focused on Gu Mian. Fatty, who had been watching Gu Mian’s every move, saw him pause on screen before a theatrically enunciated "No!" was heard.

Fatty couldn’t hear what was said from the other end of the phone. He just stared curiously at Gu Mian’s legs on the screen. "It’s rare to hear the Doctor speak in such a repulsive tone."

The directorial team was clearly stunned by Gu Mian’s theatrically enunciated "No!"

After a brief pause, a few seconds later, a voice came through again. "You should know that your current actions violate the program’s rules. According to the rules, we can now..."

"Throw me into a manure pit?" Gu Mian recalled Su Xiaocha’s ordeal. "I suggest you save such plans for when you’ve actually caught me."

So, you think you’ll catch me? The directorial team processed this implication for a moment, then asked in astonishment, "What are you trying to do? Are you planning to run?"

The program had filmed many episodes, and while there had been uncooperative guests, no one had ever actually tried to run away.

And this was practically announcing his escape to the production team and the audience, almost shouting the words, "I’m going to run away!"

Previous guests were all game players whose task was to cooperate with the production team to complete the filming; otherwise, they couldn’t leave this place.

That’s why no matter how oppressed and frustrated they felt in this instance, they never thought of running away.

If I don’t cooperate, I’ll be stuck in this damn place forever. This was the thought process of most players. Hence, they would grit their teeth and cooperate with the production team, always behaving and never harboring any rebellious intentions.

"Whether I violate the rules or not, I’ll end up stuck in this damn place anyway," Gu Mian said, clutching the phone. "I already know this. I was cooperative before because I thought I could complete the mission by going with the flow. Now that you’re telling me I can’t leave no matter what, there’s no need for me to pretend to be a docile sheep anymore."

"Ha, I didn’t expect you to know. Since you already know, don’t you think you’re being a bit too arrogant right now?"

Veins bulged on the director’s forehead, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped his phone. "Acting so arrogantly now, you’ll probably suffer quite a bit in the days to come," he finished with a dry chuckle.

But this guest clearly wasn’t buying it.

All they could see on their screen was Gu Mian, with a sneer, kicking over the camera. The lens tumbled a few times before the screen went completely black. Evidently, the camera had gloriously sacrificed itself due to that kick.

Then, the director heard the voice from the still-connected call. "I don’t know if I have a future, but you definitely don’t."

The director frowned. "What does that mean?"

But the other party didn’t answer; the call was abruptly disconnected.

In the studio, everyone stared awkwardly at the blackened screen, their expressions strange.

The man had run.

But they were certain he wouldn’t get far. He was just an isolated stranger in a foreign land; he’d soon be discovered, reported, and then dejectedly dragged back here. Then, he would be publicly punished in front of all the viewers.

However, the current situation was already quite embarrassing. The most popular guest’s blatant escape had infuriated many viewers, so they had to get him back as soon as possible.

The director, holding the disconnected phone, remained silent for a moment. Then, he stared intently at the screen and ordered in a low voice, "Find him! I want him found within the day!"

"And keep a close watch on the remaining few! Don’t let them run away too!"

Gu Mian’s actions were truly going to bring trouble upon others.

The last image Fatty saw of Gu Mian was the sole of his shoe, as the mud-stained shoe kicked towards the camera, forcefully turning the television screen black.

Fatty burst out laughing; this was a rather serious broadcasting accident!

The production team evidently realized this too. Within a few seconds, the feed switched to another guest, Accompany me next year.

At this point, Accompany me next year had already circled the stinky ditch several times, picking up the schoolbags and wastepaper the children had thrown down.

Of course, those books weren’t wastepaper before being thrown in, but after a bath in the foul-smelling ditch and being fished out, they were no different from trash.

Perhaps finding Accompany me next year too submissive, a few of the older children decided she wasn’t interesting and turned to find new targets.

Next Year struggled to climb out of the filthy ditch, the pungent stench constantly making her want to vomit.

With Gu Mian’s precedent, the production team feared the remaining guests might also cause trouble. The number of staff surrounding Next Year had now increased by half.

As soon as Next Year climbed out, she saw everyone around looking at her vigilantly, as if she might pull out a bomb at any moment and take them all down with her.

She no longer had the energy to think about what was happening. She collapsed to one side, gasping for fresh air, trying to suppress the nausea rising from her stomach.

It had not even been half a day, yet Next Year was already deeply terrified of this instance.

This was different from the other horror instances she had experienced. Although previous instances were terrifying, there was always a thrill of having escaped death after getting out. When she recalled them, she would marvel at her own resourcefulness or how horrifying the ghosts in those instances were.

But this instance was different. It seemed safe, but there wasn’t a moment to breathe here. Every second, she worried if something more disgusting would happen next; every second, she worried about what new tricks the people here might devise.

It was a fear that burrowed deep into one’s soul, so much so that even after leaving, just thinking about this place in the future would cause infinite disgust and humiliation to well up.

Next Year suppressed her nausea; her psychological endurance was quite strong. She feared other players might already be contemplating suicide.

I wonder how the others are doing... she thought, looking up at two staff members whispering to each other in the distance. Next Year suspected they were discussing how to deal with her next. A great sense of helplessness welled up in her heart.

She couldn’t help but find her earlier concern for the other players laughable. She herself was barely hanging on, yet she still had the mind to worry about others...

Just then, a few words drifted into her ears from their direction.

"...escape...catch him..."

Escape? Upon hearing this word, Next Year frowned. She tried to make some connections but immediately shook her head. Impossible. Who would escape? If they escaped, they wouldn’t be able to leave here...

If one wanted to leave this place, suicide was the most efficient method.

Just then, Next Year saw a familiar face. It was Meiren Chu, walking towards her.

There were also many more staff members around Meiren Chu. Now that the two groups had gathered, the place seemed even more crowded.

As soon as Meiren Chu arrived, he dropped a bombshell. "Someone escaped."

Someone really escaped? Next Year was dumbfounded for a moment. It took her a long while to find her voice. "Who?"

"The First," Chu Changge replied concisely.

Next Year quickly processed this. If someone ran, they definitely couldn’t complete the mission. He must have suffered great humiliation and oppression. He might even be looking for a place to commit suicide to escape this miserable world.

Seemingly seeing her thoughts, Chu Changge spoke. "He ran before he had a chance to suffer any grievances. Before leaving, he snatched the cameraman’s phone and kicked over the camera."

Next Year felt her face wrinkle up like a steamed bun. "This..."

Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the bespectacled man beside her. She knew this man never wasted words. For him to come speak to her specifically, he must have a purpose.

Next Year hesitated before inquiring, "Why are you telling me this?"

"My point is," Chu Changge adjusted his glasses, "you can run too."

A chill ran down Next Year’s spine. She stiffly turned to look at the camera that was always in front of her. "You really didn’t need to tell me this right in front of the camera."