Chapter 68 - A Game To Win

"With team 2, 4, 5 and 8 eliminated, we are left with four teams. These four teams will go for another round after which the three leading teams will go for one more round after which we will have a winner. So Team 1, 3, 6 and 7, are you ready because this round will be much tougher than the first one" The MC asked as he allowed his eyes to wander from one participant to the other. He paused when his eyes met with that of Yang Zi. He couldn't resist admiring her beauty and bravery for a few seconds before he continued with what he was saying. Yifeng who was staring at Yang Zi for a long time frowned when he saw the MC stare at Yang Zi who was oblivious of what was going on. Yifeng thought Yang Zi was unaware of their incessant stares, not knowing that she knew but was only pretending to be oblivious of what was going on. When other participants heard that the second round would be tougher, they started panicking, but Yang Zi remained unaffected. Her expression was just like it was before they started the game.

"Jiu, stop fidgeting if you don't want to lose. Don't allow those words of his get to you. Our team and boss' team have the same score, so there is no need to get scared. We can do this," Yang Zi said in an encouraging manner as she tapped his hand to calm him down. Jiu was so shocked to see her act like this. He raises his eyes and stares at her affectionately. Since Yang Zi was facing the MC, she did not see his affectionate gazes. ​​

"You are so nice, Miss Yang," Jiu blurted out, still gazing at her. The look in his gazes did not change one bit. While biting his lower lips, he silently prayed that Yang Zi would turn around to glance at him too.

"Really? You won't say so if you get to know me. Jiu, I know that you can't resist staring at me since I am extremely beautiful but if this goes on you might bore a hole in my beautiful face," Yang Zi joked as she turned around to look at the guy she considered as her little brother. Jiu looked away shyly when he heard her remarks, his face turned beet red because of her teasing. Yang Zi chuckled when she saw the boy acting all shy and innocent. When all this was going on both Yifeng and the MC could not help but wonder what was making the two fellows so elated.

"Miss Yang, you look like the type who doesn't watch movies, so how come you are very familiar with almost all the movies displayed tonight?" Jiu whispered curiously after he had regained his composure.

"You think so?" Yang Zi replied, looking away. "I don't like movies but it's all thanks to my Mi Er and Shui Shui who love watching movies," she thought. Yang Zi smiled when she recalled some scenes when her Mi Er always forced her into watching Christmas movies whenever she went home for Christmas. Shui Shui was always the worst when it comes to pestering her to accompany her for a movie.

"Yes, you ...," Jiu got interrupted by the MC's loud voice. It was as if the MC increased the tempo of his voice because of him.

"As I was saying, the rules are still the same only that you have just thirty seconds to write your answer. Let's start," The MC said as he beckoned the person in charge of the screen to play the next movie on his list.

"National Lampoon's Christmas holiday by Chevy Chase! This is so damn correct. The four teams got the answers right. Wonderful," The MC applauded them, smiling. Other contestants except Yifeng and Yang Zi exhaled heavily when he announced the answer. The expression of relief was written all over their faces. The MC moved onto the next movie after the air of excitement died down. For the first time, Yang Zi panicked when she could not recall the name of the third person who wrote the movie A CHRISTMAS STORY. She recalled that she watched the movie three years ago on her first Christmas in Keelung Country after their return from the States.

"Jiu, I recalled that the movie 'A Christmas Story' was written by three people but I can only recall two which are Bob Clark and Leigh Brown. I can't recall the third person's name and we are running out of time. Do you know who the third person is?" Yang Zi asked softly as she turned to face Jiu, who was now trying very hard to recall the third person's name.

"It was something Jean....," Jiu said, trying so hard to recall it to impress his crush.

"Jean Smith..... no no no that isn't right," Yang Zi said in disappointment. The two took a trip down memory lane to see whether they will recall the name of the third person before time runs out.

"Oh yeah, I recall it now. It's Jean Shepherd," Jiu said, beaming with smiles.

"You are so smart, Jiu. What would I have done without you," Yang Zi said as she hugged Jiu out of excitement; Jiu was over the airs, but just then he recalled that they haven't written the person's name and the allocated time was almost up.

"Miss Yang, the time is almost up and you have not written the name on your notepad. Be fast or we will lose a point for not getting all the names right," Jiu said anxiously as he pulled away from her in a flash.

"Oh yeah! What a wonderful boy you are," Yang Zi said playfully as she jotted down the answer. Jiu who heard the rumour that Yang Zi was cold and aloof deemed those rumours fake seeing how friendly she was.

"Wow! Team 1 and 6 got both the name of the novel and writers correct, team 3 got one out of the three writers of the movie A Christmas story wrong while team 7 got none right. I am baffled at how these two teams could have gotten this movie writer's names correct? I really thought it was impossible for any of the teams to get it right. It will be impossible for us to get a winner if this goes on. These two groups have really exceeded my expectations," The MC said, baffled as he took turns staring at the participants of the two groups.