"I still don't get why electric bikes aren't popular in Japan."
For someone who rarely exercised, the 28-kilometer ride hit Chu Zhi harder than expected. By the time he arrived in Sapporo, he was completely winded. Even though the weather was cool—almost brisk—his bangs were soaked in sweat and his shirt collar was damp.
There were plenty of bikes around Sapporo, parked all along the streets, but not a single electric one in sight.
The camera crew following behind was brimming with curiosity. He could have just used his free transport title and gotten to the city in under thirty minutes. Why tire himself out like this?
"Now to find our undercover contact at the south exit of the Sapporo subway," Chu Zhi muttered. He turned to the nearby cameraman for the time, but the latter kept quiet.
With no other option, he headed into a convenience store, bought two bottles of water, and checked the clock himself—7:40 a.m. Mission complete.
The reason the cameraman, Xiao Zai, refused to answer was simple: spite. Thanks to Chu Zhi's pre-dawn ride, he'd had to leave his warm bed two hours early. Sleep was sacred, after all.
"Is this guy just naturally good-looking or what?" Xiao Zai thought. "Sweaty and exhausted, with his hair stuck to his forehead—if he weren't good-looking, he'd be totally forgettable right now."
But even through the mess, Chu Zhi's features were unfairly well-proportioned. Xiao Zai's envy deepened. Every time he got grumpy, he "paid him back" by filming some very unflattering angles.
Chu Zhi asked pedestrians for directions to the south exit and began walking his bike over.
Parking fees in Japan were sky-high, and he couldn't afford them. As for leaving the bike just anywhere... every Japanese bicycle had a unique registration number, which meant it could be tracked down. Punishments were strict, though people still lost their bikes often—especially international students.
Even stranger, some people stole only the seats. Japan had even once had a notorious "seat thief" who stole over five thousand of them. Since this bike was borrowed, Chu Zhi didn't want anything to go wrong.
While the team leader was already tracking down the undercover agent, the rest of the group had just finished getting ready to leave the Star Pavilion. Each was handed a rice ball and free hot tea as breakfast.
"Xiao Chu left us fifty thousand yen. We need to be extra careful with how we use it," said Zhang Ning, clutching the bills like she was holding a million-dollar check.
"We already spent over ten thousand yen these past two days. If he gave us fifty thousand, Brother Chu probably has nothing left," said Cai Jia with concern. "And from the mission letters, it sounds like he's handling the main storyline, while we're on the side quest."
"Main missions are usually more complex. I just hope he has enough funds," she added.
"Little Chu's got skills," Zhang Ning said with confidence. "Plus, he has the [Natural Genius] title. He can use a free ride whenever he wants. And honestly, he just has a face that makes you feel at ease."
"Zhang Ning-jie, if you clutch that money too tightly, you might forget and throw it out like scrap paper," Min Jeongbae warned her, speaking from experience.
Good point. Zhang Ning snapped out of it and stuffed the fifty thousand yen into her crossbody bag. The three of them waited for the first Kappa Rider subway at the station.
To save money, Luo Jianhui had filled up empty bottles with cold tea for everyone. Though he was quiet, he always handled the heavy lifting without complaint.
Travel in Japan really was expensive—even public transport. A rail trip over twenty kilometers would only cost a few yuan back in their hometown, but here it cost about 25 RMB.
A round trip would be nearly 50, and there was no telling where they might have to go next. So Cai Jia suggested they get a one-day unlimited pass for just over 40 RMB. A smart move.
Meanwhile, in downtown Sapporo, rush hour had begun. At 8 a.m., white-collar workers flooded the streets. Chu Zhi spotted the undercover contact the moment he reached the south exit.
The camera gear made it impossible not to notice.
The guest was Yo Shinbo, a singer-actor hybrid born in the mid-80s, who had found moderate success across TV, film, and music. Technically, he was a singer first, then pivoted to acting. Often, he even performed the theme songs for the dramas he starred in.
Now 32, Yo Shinbo still looked the same as he had in college—if anything, he looked a few years younger.
🎵 The wind howls through the night,
As startled horses cry in fright. 🎵
Chu Zhi walked up and recited the line quietly.
Yo Shinbo instantly responded, "A hero's blade still sings, even locked in wind and rain!"
"Glad you made it, brother," said Yo Shinbo. "I've got some intel to share."
"Easy there. Hydrate first," said Chu Zhi, handing him a bottle of water. He had already finished one himself after sweating so much.
Yo Shinbo downed most of it in a few gulps. "I should introduce myself properly. Codename: Old Yo."
"I'm Old Nine," Chu Zhi replied. "But this isn't a great spot to linger. Want to find somewhere quieter?"
"You're really on the ball," Yo Shinbo chuckled. His prominent cheekbones didn't make him look old, but when he smiled, the flesh around his cheeks puffed up in two soft lumps.
The station exit was packed with people. Chu Zhi walked his bike while Yo Shinbo wheeled his suitcase along. They reached the far end of a side street, where it was quiet enough to talk.
"I've got a special skill and item. My character's from a family of engineers, so my skill is [Device Summon]," Yo Shinbo said, explaining his variety-show persona with pride. "It lets me summon any one mechanical object."
"There are character skills now?" Chu Zhi was puzzled. None of the five original members had even been given a character card, let alone skills.
"Look at this guy," he thought. "Engineer family, gadget summoner…" A flicker of envy stirred in him. But rationally, he understood. The production team had to make flying guests more dynamic, otherwise they'd struggle to stand out.
"What about you, brother?" Yo Shinbo asked, mistaking Chu Zhi's silence as disappointment. "What's your personal skill?"
"My skill is [Super Communication]. Lets me talk to NPCs more effectively," Chu Zhi said. "And I'm playing the role of a wandering detective."
Men always get competitive in the weirdest ways.
"That's a pretty cool ability," said Yo Shinbo. "Anyway, good thing you arrived on time. Since we made contact as scheduled, we earned a special item."
He pulled a prop from his backpack—it looked like an ancient scroll cast in plastic.
[Party Scroll]Effect: lets the production team help you organize a live event. Clearly a story-specific item.
As expected, Yo Shinbo explained their next mission. "At around 1 p.m., we need to gather two hundred Japanese locals at this station, and protect them from traps the Chrysanthemum Bandit has hidden in the area."
"Brother, I've got an idea. Want to hear it?" Yo Shinbo clearly had no problem getting close fast.
If Beastplay was the slow-burn social master, this guy was the instant bestie type.
"You've been undercover all these years for a reason. Let's hear it," said Chu Zhi.
"My skill lets me summon a full set of instruments, like piano and guitar. I already cleared it with the crew," said Yo Shinbo. "We set up a street performance. Play a couple of songs and the crowd will gather naturally. Two hundred isn't that many. And we get to save the Party Scroll."
Chu Zhi loved saving items. The plan sounded solid—but street performing? He actually liked the idea. His only worry was whether it would really work.
"Don't worry, brother. I've done street shows before," Yo Shinbo said, pounding his chest with pride.