"Punishment??"
"What Punishment?"
"???"
The guests gave Tang Tang a confused look. Understandingly, the host elaborated her statement.
"Similar to gaining a point as the reward for answering the question, if the player fails to answer the question, there will be punishment."
"And that is?" Le Yang asked.
"The partners of the players…" Tang Tang looked at Viviana and Derrick who was called out later. "…will be splashed with water by the punishment executors."
"…"
Tang Tang pointed at the two figures who came out and stood on each side of the stage. The so-called executors were two large fur balls. One was a blue bear mascot and the other red. The red was standing at the side of the chair where the blue team was. And the blue stood where the red team were.
"I'd like to ask Miss Viviana and Mr. Derrick to take the seat on the side."
As if they were eager to pour water on them, the mascots of the two opposite teams pulled their prisoner to the chair and made them sit.
Before Viviana and Derrick could even comprehend what was just said, they were forced to sit at the chair of punishment by the two mascots of their opposing team.
After a few seconds, Viviana finally understood why she was called out by Lyra who was the most unlikely person to give her the spotlight. It was to humiliate her like this.
She couldn't help turning her head and glaring at the younger girl and also at her partner in crime, Tang Tang. Otherwise, how would Lyra know of this beforehand? She refused to believe that it was merely a coincidence. An unfortunate luck on her side.
"Sister Vivi… I'm…. I didn't know…. I'm so sorry."
There it began. The pitiful act.
Lyra was stuttering as her eyes were tearing up. She looked like a puppy which was fearful of getting punished. Shaking.
'She really is suited for the industry.'
Viviana couldn't help but commend Lyra at her abilities to turn black into white and pretend as though she was an innocent lamp. And not the wolf who had killed the cattle.
Viviana usually lets Lyra play her game most of the time. But after what happened six months ago in the set of the 'Royal Physician' her patience for her had been getting very weak.
She already knew Lyra was waiting for her to snap. She knew she shouldn't. But she was not happy to be told that she would have to get wet whenever Lyra fails to answer a question.
Not when the person who has to answer the quiz was a hungry ghost who would only be satisfied when she was humiliated.
So, she snapped. With a mocking tone.
"I'm sorry… I didn't think it would…. If I had known, I would_"
"If you had known then what?"
Silence. Everyone paused as soon as she talked.
"What would you do if you knew that the person you called out would be punished?"
Nobody was expecting Viviana to respond like that. Even the mascots who were busy with silly movements paused their action.
Those who had been in the industry for enough time like Ruo Xuan and Daniel Miller could see through Lyra's acting.
But since this was all happening in front of the camera, they were expecting Viviana to just suck in her grievances and get along with it. Say some comforting stuff and shits like that. Just for the image.
But both of them didn't expect Viviana to not follow the norms. Ruo Xuan had never worked with her before. So, it was both surprising and refreshing to see someone unveil the pretentious nature of the girl.
As for Daniel, although he had once seen Viviana put Lyra in her place before in the set of the 'Royal Physician,' he did not expect her to not care of her image and snapped back at Lyra's hidden taunt.
It was either she did not care. Or she fired back at you. That was how her response had always been.
Lyra knew of this. But she thought that the person who was the subject of her scheming would comfort her. At least this time. Thinking that this was the last chance for Viviana to clear her image of being a bully.
But from how she acted in front of the older actress, she knew that her fans would always doubt that Viviana was bullying her whether she comforted her or not.
So, she thought she would enjoy Viviana saying soft words, against her own, to her at least once. But she never expected that the indifferent women would be so reckless to throw fire at her even in this situation without, caring about the spectators.
'Is she dumber than I thought?' Lyra wondered in her speechless state.
"That… I…"
She continued with her act.
Seeing the situation was tense, the sound director felt that the music playing in the background was inappropriate and turned it off.
"You what? Would you call out someone else if she knew beforehand? Coach Lee? Player Bryson? Na Yun? Who will you call out amongst the three?"
Viviana continued her question.
Since the music was turned off. Viviana's voice which was magnified by the mike attached to her made her voice so cynical.
"…"
This time, Lyra had no answer to give. She knew she was at advantage with Viviana acting like this. But she couldn't help but feel anger as she was put into a difficult position by the girl.
"That…"
"Whatever, let's just get this done with. With your intelligence, I'd surely be taking a bath."
Viviana commented, making sure to mock Lyra. If the younger artist had any shame, she should at least answer a few questions so as to not lose her own face.
It was clear that Viviana had already dismissed the subject. But everyone was still in a tense mood after what had just happened. Everyone except for the director and the planner.
The two were having a hard time controlling themselves from jumping on their seats.
'Viewership. Viewership points!!!' That was what they had in their mind as they watched the conflict they had anticipated eagerly unfold in front of their own eyes.
The planner was like a drama fan, wondering what would happen in the next episode. While Director Jone was planning about how to use the clips in the trailer as a bet for the netizens to watch the show when it aired.
'And this is not even half of the episode. Not even a quarter.'
He thought as he hoped for more such conflict to occur.