Chapter 3: The Desperate Game

That text message, like a stone thrown into a stagnant pool, didn't cause a storm, but it rippled deeply within Gu Qingshuang's frozen mind. Her fingertips gently traced the cold phone screen, repeatedly examining the highly provocative message, dissecting, analyzing, and reconstructing every single word. > [They thought they had buried you, but beneath the ruins often lies the foundation of a throne. The last spot in the survival reality show "Desperate Island" is reserved for you. Do you dare to come?] Source of the message: An unknown, heavily encrypted number. This ruled out a conventional invitation from a production team. Regular invitations would go through an agency, or at least a staff member using their real name. Behind this number was an individual who didn't want to, or disdained to, reveal their identity. A player capable of and accustomed to manipulating things from behind the scenes. Content analysis: "Buried," "ruins," "foundation of a throne." The wording was precise, powerful, and full of god-like insight. The sender clearly knew Lin Weiyu's situation, not just being "blacklisted online," but the deeper truth of being "buried alive" by capital and public opinion. But they didn't show a shred of sympathy; instead, they used an almost cruel tone, defining it as "the foundation of a throne." This wasn't comfort; it was a challenge. An invitation, tinged with scrutiny, issued to a potential peer. Core subject: "Desperate Island." A survival reality show. Gu Qingshuang's mind raced, immediately accessing all the information about this show in Lin Weiyu's memory bank, while simultaneously quickly searching for more detailed information on her phone. "Desperate Island" was an S+ level flagship variety show launched last year by "Xinghai TV," one of the three major domestic video platforms. It was known for its extremely high difficulty, absolutely realistic filming environment, and brutal elimination mechanism. After the first season aired, it immediately became a nationwide sensation. Its rules are extremely simple and brutal: sixteen guests from different fields are dropped onto a deserted island, completely isolated from the outside world, with no modern tools, only the most basic survival kit. They need to rely on their intelligence and teamwork to survive for thirty days. During this time, the production team will air-drop tasks; completing tasks earns them material rewards, while failure results in punishment. The entire process is broadcast live 24/7, and viewers can vote to eliminate contestants and also donate to provide their favorite guests with meager "aid supplies." This is not a variety show at all. _It's a Roman Colosseum condensed with humanity, desire, betrayal, and survival._ Here, the glamorous "personas" of the celebrities will be shattered. Physical strength, intelligence, adaptability, psychological resilience... everything will be exposed to the scrutiny of hundreds of millions of viewers. In the last season, an action star known for his tough-guy image broke down and cried because he couldn't bear the hunger; a female host famous for her high emotional intelligence turned against her teammates over food. Heaven and hell are just a thought away. For "Lin Weiyu" at this moment, this is undoubtedly a cup of poison offered to her lips, but it might also be the only antidote. Gu Qingshuang leaned against the headboard, and for the first time, a scorching light ignited in her calm eyes. She quickly constructed a decision-making model in her mind, beginning to evaluate the benefits and risks of this high-stakes gamble. * #### Strategic Value Assessment: The Throne on the Ruins | Decision Dimension | Analysis and Deduction | Extremely High Reward | | Breaking Through Public Opinion | The online negativity and insults have created an impenetrable information bubble. Conventional public relations methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and ineffective in breaking through. However, "Desperate Island" itself is a massive traffic black hole; its high topicality can forcibly tear open the curtain of public opinion, directly pushing a brand new "Lin Weiyu" in front of everyone, forcing them to re-examine her. | Extremely High Reward | | Risk Assessment | 1. Physical Condition: Lin Weiyu's physical condition is extremely weak, which is her biggest weakness.
2. Public Opinion Backlash: If she performs poorly, she will only be criticized more severely, solidifying her reputation as a "failure."
3. Behind-the-Scenes Manipulators: The identity of the inviter is unknown, and their purpose is unclear. It's possible this is a deeper trap. Su Manqi and others are also likely to have planted people in the show to sabotage her. | High Risk | | Feasibility Analysis | 1. Physical Issues: Gu Qingshuang possesses systematic training knowledge far beyond this era; she can maximize and improve the functions of this body to its limits in a short time. Although she cannot return to her peak, it will be enough to meet the challenge.
2. Skill Advantages: Wilderness survival, psychological warfare, trap setting... these instincts imprinted in her soul will become her most deadly weapons.
3. Enemy Movements: It's better to have enemies in the open than hidden in the shadows. The arena is both her crisis and her best hunting ground to eliminate her enemies. | Risk Controllable | * Analysis complete. A cold smile curved on Gu Qingshuang's lips. The conclusion was obvious. For a drowning person with nothing, should she grab a vine leading to the shore that might break at any moment, or wait to drown where she is? She didn't even need to choose. This was not just an opportunity, but a card thrown by the other party. She had to accept it, and she had to win beautifully. Only then would she be qualified to sit at the table, to truly begin this game with the mysterious inviter and all the hidden enemies behind him. Just then, a financial news notification popped up on her phone screen. > [Star Entertainment's stock price plummeted in the afternoon, dropping 8%. Market rumors suggest its senior executives are suspected of financial fraud and are under internal investigation.] Gu Qingshuang glanced at it, her eyes showing no emotion. It seemed Wang Yao's efficiency wasn't too bad. Her phone call, like a precisely thrown stone into an ant's nest, had already caused a sufficiently strong tremor. This was just the beginning. What she wanted was more than just Wang Yao's downfall. She closed the news, her fingers flying across the screen, browsing through various rumors and leaked posts about the second season of "Desperate Island." Soon, on a list of prospective guests supposedly "leaked by an insider," a familiar name stood out— Su Manqi. Gu Qingshuang's movements stopped. She stared at those three words, the chill in the depths of her eyes almost freezing into ice. So that's it. Su Manqi, the newly crowned queen of television dramas, was at the peak of her career; logically, there was no reason for her to participate in such a high-risk, image-damaging program. There was only one possible reason for her presence—she was uneasy. She was uneasy about the "dead" Lin Weiyu, perhaps sensing something amiss, and wanted to be there in person to ensure that this thorn in her side was completely crushed into the dirt, never to rise again. This was... perfect. It saves me the trouble of finding you all one by one. A hint of almost joyful smile finally appeared on Gu Qingshuang's cold face. She screenshotted the list and saved it, then opened the text message interface for the encrypted number. Without any unnecessary words, she replied with only two words. > [Accepted.] The next second after the message was sent, the other party's reply arrived almost instantly. > [Very good. Tomorrow night at 8 PM, East Port Pier, Berth 3, Black Sail Yacht. No waiting if you're late.] Putting down her phone, Gu Qingshuang showed no sign of slackening. She threw off the covers and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor. The wound on her wrist still ached faintly, and her body was weak from blood loss and prolonged malnutrition; even walking a few steps left her slightly breathless. But her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. She didn't choose high-intensity exercise like running, but instead began a series of extremely slow, yet highly demanding stretching and control exercises that targeted her core strength. Every movement was precise to the millimeter, activating long-dormant deep muscles. Sweat soon beaded on her forehead, trickling down her pale cheeks. Her body screamed in protest, every muscle fiber trembling in the pain of tearing and rebuilding. Lin Weiyu's body couldn't withstand such high-intensity exertion. But Gu Qingshuang's will was like steel, coldly controlling this body teetering on the brink of collapse. She needed strength. Not for survival, but for... hunting. Time ticked by, the only sound in the ward being her heavy, yet rhythmic breathing. Only when the last rays of the setting sun bathed the room in a warm golden light did she stop, drenched in sweat. She didn't rest, but walked to the window, looking out at the bustling city below. In the distance, the headquarters of Xingyao Entertainment loomed faintly in the twilight. Gu Qingshuang picked up her phone, dialed Wang Yao's number, drafted a new text message, then thought better of it and deleted it. To deal with a dog that's already terrified, you don't need to constantly whip it. You just need to remind it of the collar around its neck when it lets its guard down slightly. She instead dialed another number, that of a delivery rider from a food delivery app. "Hello, please buy me a set of professional outdoor sportswear, a pair of hiking boots, and... a Swiss Army knife. Deliver it to Room 703, Building A, Inpatient Department, City First People's Hospital. Yes, express delivery, money is not a problem." After hanging up, she took one last look at the world outside the window. The sun set, and night fell. Desperate Island? For Lin Weiyu, it was a desperate situation. But for Gu Qingshuang, that would be her home ground. Su Manqi, and all the demons and monsters hiding in the shadows... The game has only just begun.