These days, Xia Xiqing has not contacted Zhou Ziheng on his own initiative, and Zhou Ziheng clearly has no intention of seeking him out either. Under normal circumstances, no matter how difficult the problem, Xia Xiqing can usually resolve it within a week, but Zhou Ziheng is an exception.
He was willing to spend time on it.
Any person or matter that could bring him a sense of fulfillment, he was willing to invest time in.
On the day the house was renovated, Xia Xiqing had originally planned to invite Xu Qichen and the others over to his new home for a gathering. This suggestion was also made by Chen Fang, as that day happened to be the premiere of the show *Escape to Survival*.
The “Escape to Heaven” production team had spared no expense to promote the show. The promotional materials leading up to the broadcast were extensive, and the trailer alone had been shared nearly 20,000 times. The five guests were all highly popular and influential, especially Xia Xiqing, who had previously debuted as Zhou Ziheng’s fan and was now appearing on a reality show with his idol, making him even more prominent.
The tone of the first episode’s trailer was very traditional suspense style, with fragmented editing, misaligned dialogue, an increasingly fast pace, and background music that immediately captured the audience’s hearts.
Compared to traditional escape rooms, “Escape to Heaven” adds the element of finding the killer, and the editing deliberately highlights this, amplifying the conflicts and tensions among the participants in the trailer.
Xia Xiqing was well aware of the deep tricks behind variety show trailers, but he didn’t expect them to be this deep. The scene where he was questioned by Chen Chen was edited into the trailer, completely changing the tone.
“What if you’re not an ordinary player?” Chen Chen’s voice perfectly matched the scene where Zhou Ziheng unlocked Xia Xiqing’s handcuffs. Soon, the camera shifted to him leaning against the wall, smiling as he answered the question.
“If I were really the killer, the first thing I’d do is ‘kill’ Zhou Ziheng.”
Intercut with scenes of Ruan Xiao opening the jewelry box and Shang Sui Rui sitting in a chair laughing and saying, “I abstained,” The scene then shifts to the first moment when Xia Xiqing and Zhou Ziheng are locked in the room, with Zhou Ziheng bound from head to toe and Xia Xiqing handcuffed, his eyes covered with a black cloth, facing each other.
Chen Chen’s voice appears again, “Could it be that Xia Xiqing was telling the truth? Ziheng, you really are the killer.” Suddenly, the screen goes dark.
No, it’s not darkness. Xia Xiqing presses his finger against the earpiece, and faint breathing sounds can be heard inside. In the darkness, an infrared camera records the moment when Zhou Ziheng pushes him against the wall and covers his mouth.
Zhou Ziheng’s voice began to speak, “If I were a killer, I would indeed kill him first.”
He heard his own voice, sounding weak yet calm.
“I can’t get out.”
As the door slammed shut, the words “Escape to Heaven” appeared on the screen, marking the end of the teaser.
Xia Xiqing shook his head and removed his headphones. This production team really knows how to create conflict. In just two minutes, the trailer revealed almost no actual plot details, but instead restructured the original storyline, concentrating all the conflicts on Zhou Ziheng and himself. After watching the trailer, the audience would unconsciously empathize with their conflicts, weakening their focus on Shang Siru, and only feel a sense of revelation when the truth was finally revealed.
They really know how to play the game.
Xia Xiqing clicked on the nearly 10,000 comments below the trailer, which were mostly as he had expected.
[Who Says I’m Cute]: Ahhh, what a divine plot of love and hate! The official version is killing the fan fiction!!
[Shinyyyy]: Oh my god, it feels like a mix of escape room and Werewolf! If you’re the killer, the first person you want to kill is the other person! This is so intense, I’m crying! I haven’t seen such a thrilling reality show in ages! (Not a fan, but Zhou Ziheng is absolutely amazing!)
[I’m a bad student]: My goodness, Zhou Ziheng is such a divine Alpha. The scene where he pressed him against the wall made my heart explode. Covering his mouth is basically a forced kiss, sisters!
[Little Butterfly is not Little Fortune Butterfly]: I have to say, the guy in the white shirt is really handsome. When he smiles, he’s like an angel. I don’t believe he’s the killer~
[My cute little San San]: 55555 The cream-colored Si Rui is so cute. Even though San San is so adorable, I still have to say that his sense of incongruity in this high-IQ game is really strong, hahaha.
[Rui Rui, raised on candy]: Hahaha, San San is showing everyone all kinds of “confused” faces on the spot~
[Is there anyone cuter than Shang Sui Rui?]: Please don’t tell me Rui Rui is the first to die [though I really think so in my heart]
[The Sister is a Treasure]: Has no one noticed that this show is a feast for the eyes? That Mensa sister is so beautiful, she doesn’t even look like an amateur-level beauty. She’s both elegant and intelligent—what kind of fairy has descended from heaven?~
[Did Cen Ge Marry Me Today?]: My husband rarely appears on a reality show, but he spent the entire time questioning others, hahaha. so fierce~
[I love CC]: I love his black hair and red lips! I want to marry Cen Ge today too!
[KarenLee]: As a casual viewer, I was hooked just from the preview. This show feels so genuine—the sets and props are incredibly realistic, and the immersion is too strong.
[I’m Not a Little Zombie]: It’s truly well-made, like watching a TV drama! And this type of show is really rare in China. It’s exactly what I, as a mystery fan, crave! Just watching the trailer gave me goosebumps. It’s definitely going to be a hit.
[Xi Xi Fu Xi Xi]: The production team seems to have played a masterstroke. The trailer doesn’t reveal who the dark character is, but they really know how to choose guests! Zhou Ziheng and his fans have an incredible chemistry! A high-IQ actor paired with a high-IQ artist—it’s a love-hate relationship. I’m hooked!
…
Jiang Yin truly lives up to her reputation as a top-notch producer. The effect she created is even more exaggerated than Xia Xiqing imagined. Out of 10,000 comments, nearly half are discussing Zhou Ziheng and his CP.
I wonder how Zhou Ziheng feels seeing this teaser now. Thinking about it, Xia Xiqing can almost picture him frowning unhappily. Feeling playful, he wanted to tease him again. Just as he opened the WeChat interface, Xia Xiqing hesitated. He realized he had a problem—this was the first time he had ever been so eager.
Looking at the chat window that still hadn’t been replied to, Xia Xiqing finally exited WeChat and casually threw his phone onto the sofa.
Just as he threw it down, the phone rang. He was initially quite happy, thinking it was Zhou Ziheng, that silly kid, who had finally come to his senses, but the caller ID showed it was someone else. Xia Xiqing’s smile gradually faded, but he eventually answered the call.
After hanging up, he paced around the living room a few times, lit a cigarette, and changed into slightly more formal attire before heading out.
Before picking up the car, he sent a message in the four-person WeChat group.
[Xia Xiqing]: Let’s put today’s plan on hold for now.
[Chen Fang]: You’re not ditching us to go on a date with Kai Zi, are you?
[Xia Zhixu]: Cheering.jpg
[Xu Qichen]: What’s going on? I was planning to buy groceries with Zhixu and bring them over to cook for you.
[Xia Xiqing]: Something came up. Let’s do it tomorrow. I’ll have the wine ready for you guys tomorrow. Qichen, I want to eat water-boiled fish!
After giving his instructions, Xia Xiqing started the car. It was almost rush hour, and the traffic was terrible. Xia Xiqing, who was already in a bad mood, became even more irritable. After finally arriving at his destination, it suddenly started to rain.
Fortunately, there was an umbrella in the car, though he didn’t know which former lover had left it there. There was no choice but to use it. Xia Xiqing parked the car, opened the umbrella, and got out. He looked around. At six o’clock in the afternoon, the school gate was filled with students and parents in school uniforms. One colorful umbrella after another blocked most of his vision.
Where was he? Xia Xiqing lifted the umbrella and looked around at the high school students passing by. Suddenly, he felt someone bump into him from behind, with arms wrapping around his waist.
“Brother!”
Xia Xiqing sighed, prying open the arms wrapped around his waist. Turning around, he saw Xia Xiuze’s smiling face, his wet hair hanging down by his temples, and a pair of eyes resembling his own, curved like a crescent moon.
“Why didn’t you let your dad come?” Facing his so-called “younger brother’s” smile, Xia Xiqing didn’t give him a friendly look. He pushed the umbrella handle into Xia Xiuze’s arms, “Take it.”
“He’s in England on business.” Xia Xiuze took the umbrella and held it for Xia Xiqing, leaving most of his shoulder exposed. Though still a first-year high school student, he had grown tall quickly, only half a head shorter than Xia Xiqing.
Why don’t you ask your mom? Xia Xiqing had wanted to ask this, but in the end, he didn’t say it out loud. He just said coldly, “If no parent comes, what can your teacher do to you? Do you really need someone to come?”
Xia Xiuze bit the inside of his lip and said softly, “Everyone else has their parents coming… I… I feel bad if I don’t.”
“What’s so bad about it? I graduated just fine.” Xia Xiqing was harsh with his words, but his feet still carried him toward Xia Xiuze’s school. Xia Xiuze knew his brother had agreed, and happily held the umbrella for him, using the opportunity to stand close to him under the same umbrella.
He had always idolized his older brother, believing him to be the most capable and handsome person in the world. No one disliked his older brother, and he was the one who loved him the most.
But they did not share the same blood.
Xia Xiuze’s mother had intervened in Xia Xiqing’s family. A family that was already incomplete finally fell apart completely, and Xia Xiuze was the result of this collapse.
From a young age, Xia Xiuze never received a kind word from Xia Xiqing. He was always afraid of his older brother, who was ten years his senior, because he was always arrogant and ignored the existence of him and his mother. Until his sixth birthday, when he dressed up like a little prince and invited the entire class to a party at home. Standing by the window directing everyone to play games, he looked down and accidentally saw his brother, limping from being beaten, sitting on the steps at the front door.
He climbed onto a stool and searched through the cabinet filled with gifts for a long time, but only found a small Band-Aid. Xia Xiuze rushed downstairs, carefully holding the Band-Aid as he approached his older brother, unable to speak for a long time.
After standing there until his legs grew weak, his older brother finally turned his head. The sharp moonlight pierced his side, and the corner of his mouth, stained with blood, was raised arrogantly as usual, like a beautiful, decadent rose.
“Are you happy?”
Having a birthday is a happy thing.
Seeing me in such a sorry state should also be a happy thing.
Xia Xiuze dared not speak, but walked forward and handed him a Band-Aid. “Brother, let me put it on for you. It won’t hurt anymore.”
That night, Xia Xiqing embraced him for the first time, as if he were a real younger brother.
Buried in that small shoulder, he wept bitterly.
