Escape from Prison Island

Ends tomorrow V My new novel, The Republican-Era Actor and His Bodyguard, is now open for preorders. The blurb is below. Jian Ying is a rookie idol who shot to fame on looks alone. His extreme arrogance and lack of humility have made him hated across the internet. He even claimed the top spot on Weibo's Most Hated Celebrities in Showbiz list. That's right, number one. Jian Ying is pretty pleased with that. * Escape from Prison Island is a bizarre variety show featuring the six most hated celebrities. It drew countless viewers as soon as it aired. Before official filming began, the cast played a little game to build team chemistry. When internet celebrity Luo Sheng opened a cabinet and found a zombie inside, fitness blogger Xing Nan rescued him. To ensure his own safety, Luo Sheng did nothing while Xing Nan was in danger. Afterward, Xing Nan demanded an explanation. Luo Sheng: "Sorry, I was so scared I froze, and my legs went numb. I really wanted to help you." Xing Nan replied: "I don't blame you." Viewers: [What an idiot. I have no patience for idiots.] [In the apocalypse, kill the do-gooders first.] After escaping the warehouse, Jian Ying quickly ducked into a convenience store as zombies gave chase. Luo Sheng and Xing Nan knocked on the door, begging to be let in. Jian Ying: "I don't think this is a team game." For his own safety, Jian Ying dragged over a shelf and used it to barricade the door. Viewers: [What a cold-hearted bastard.] When zombies blocked the mission site, all six gathered in a warehouse. The show's host and senior figure, Jiang Yuan, suggested, "I think we should send someone to lure the zombies away. I'm older and not as agile as you youngsters, or I'd do it myself." Not a single fish took the bait. Jian Ying: "I have a good idea." Jiang Yuan thought he was planning to sacrifice himself for the team. Before he could even feel happy, he saw Jian Ying pull a metal bar from his pocket and start banging it against the metal door. The metal bar slammed into the door with a thunderous clang. At the sound, the horde of zombies came charging over in unison. And that wasn't all. Jian Ying kept backing away, still pulling metal bars from his pocket and banging them against the door. Sunlight fell across his sharply defined face, and Jian Ying's smile was blinding. Viewers: [Wow, what a cold-blooded, crazy man.] [He's practically pushing everyone else into the fire.] [Wait, he's kind of hot.] Viewers whose own lives were stressful enough had encountered contestants with so many flaws that they wanted to fire off a hundred comments complaining about them. The next day, the first episode went live. Viewers who had been nursing a bellyful of resentment were ready to keep complaining and let off steam, but the comments suddenly changed tone. [Hahahahahahahaha] [I'm so happy watching them suffer.] [Give us more.] [I'm going to throw up last night's dinner.] The theme of the first game in episode one was Lucky Blind Box. The six contestants happily chose the blind boxes they liked. None of them knew what terrifying scenes awaited them. While internet celebrity Luo Sheng was navigating a maze in a glass room, caterpillars began dropping from the ceiling. One, two, three... They fell onto his body, their fat bodies wriggling across the back of his hand, their black fuzz brushing his skin... Actor Jiang Yu entered a room full of cockroaches. They were packed tightly together, their bodies gleaming and revolting. He had to find the cockroach with a white belly within the time limit. Popular female star Ni Luo was luckier. She was sent to a laboratory filled with human organs preserved in formalin. Her task was to stick labels onto the correct organs. By comparison, Jian Ying had it the worst. As soon as he opened the door, he saw countless frogs hopping around on a stretch of black mud. Up close, the mud was even worse than it looked. Thick, coffee-colored earthworms writhed in the dirt, their long bodies slick and shiny, their skin covered in mucus. A foul, fishy stench filled the air. He had to catch five frogs in two minutes. It was next to impossible. Jian Ying immediately took off his T-shirt. [Reader advisory] If this makes you uncomfortable, please stop reading immediately. The Republican-Era Actor and His Bodyguard Dai Siyu was a male actor in the Republican era. In poor health, he died young. After being reborn, he found himself taking part in an acting competition show. He never expected to meet someone who looked just like A Yao. A Yao was a servant his father had bought. They grew up together and studied abroad together. He was his bodyguard, study companion, and friend, and also... As for him, Liang Chengan, he was just an insignificant stranger. But that face was so much like A Yao's. While he hesitated over whether to ask him about it, the other man came to him first. "Hello. You look just like my idol. I suspect you might actually be him." Dai Siyu: Oh, interesting. There was no time to waste. Liang Chengan gathered his courage. "Can I pursue you?" Dai Siyu: I'll have a little fun with him and treat him as a substitute for A Yao. * As they grew closer, Dai Siyu realized the two men were complete opposites. A Yao was stubborn and set in his ways. He seemed to listen to Dai Siyu in everything, but was actually domineering and controlling, even about the smallest things. Most importantly, Dai Siyu could throw everything he had at him and A Yao would remain unmoved. He was a genuine block of wood. Liang Chengan, on the other hand, seemed like a distant, untouchable beauty who had renounced desire to everyone else. In reality, he blushed easily and was no match for a little teasing. He was as pure and innocent as they came. After an intimate moment, Dai Siyu called Liang Chengan by the wrong name, calling him A Yao. Only then did Liang Chengan realize he'd been a substitute for someone else all along. * Dai Siyu thought Liang Chengan was acting strangely. Lately, he had been stern and controlling, and seemed so old-fashioned. The feeling was strangely familiar, and a ridiculous idea came to mind. Dai Siyu decided to test him. "Dai Siyao, you've gotten bold." The other man replied, "You mistook me for him again." Dai Siyu was confused. The other man continued, "Don't you want me anymore, Young Master?" Dai Siyu: "Are you really A Yao?" The other man: "No. I'm Liang Chengan." Dai Siyu thought he was beginning to understand. There were two personalities in one body, and every time things got serious, he had to ask the same question. "Guess whether I'm Liang Chengan or Dai Siyao." Dai Siyu: This is going to kill me. I love it. Even though it's one person, I get to experience two romances. I doubt anyone else understands this kind of dilemma. Liang Chengan: So the unattainable first love is actually the second choice. I thought we'd spend ages dancing around each other, but every conversation turns into a high-speed joyride. Theme: To understand someone, you must see with more than your eyes. You must look with your heart, too.