The nine of them reluctantly picked a "favorite" booth, as the director eagerly counted down from three to one.
Mu Qiu chose the second booth from the front.
She had a fondness for the number two at times: not first, so you don't get shot down standing out, and not too bad, so you avoid criticism—this position was the best for laying low.
The booth had retractable panels on both sides, quite solid, with a small, mini-magnifying-glass-shaped micro camera on top.
The director commanded from outside, "The five-minute countdown for the group task starts now!"
The guests inside the booth carefully unveiled the black cloth covering the plate.
The director, having just announced the start, now comfortably lounged on a bamboo chair, under a big umbrella the staff managed to find from somewhere, like the ones at a small shop entrance.
With a floral headscarf, sunglasses, beach shorts, and slippers, he looked so at ease it made one grit their teeth.
