"Welcome to Truth Time, a game that uncovers and explores the deepest, darkest secrets hidden within human nature."
"Here, we've prepared 500,000 US dollars for everyone brave enough to face themselves and participate."
"Every contestant has undergone rigorous screening by the production team. They must first complete a 50-question test under the supervision of a lie detector."
"Tonight, by correctly answering just 21 of those questions, you can take home 500,000 US dollars."
"However, it's important to note that answering these questions may bring unpredictable risks to the contestants themselves."
"Some scars, once reopened, are difficult to heal. This could involve family, love, friendship, career, or even darker secrets."
"Will emotions triumph over money, or will money override everything? Let's wait and see!"
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"Let's unleash this wave of truth or dare!"
The background narration ended, and the stage lights suddenly illuminated as the host, Anders, walked out.
He wasn't a famous host or talk show comedian, but someone the production team dug up from who knows where.
They had sent invitations to big-name hosts, but after understanding the show's format, they were all politely declined.
This show clearly seemed abnormal. Its broadcast would foreseeably spark nationwide discussion, but not necessarily all positive, so there was no need to jeopardize one's career for it.
"Tonight, the only thing standing between people and 500,000 US dollars is whether they will truthfully answer 21 questions."
"As you can see from the pyramid behind me, correctly answering 6 questions will get you 10,000 US dollars. Answering 5 more correctly gets you 25,000 US dollars."
"Continuing to answer 4 more questions correctly will earn you 100,000 US dollars. Answering 3 more correctly, and you can take home 200,000 US dollars, which is what many people earn in several years."
"If you continue the challenge, you only need to answer 2 more questions correctly to win 350,000 US dollars, and then the final ultimate question. Answer that correctly, and you can take home 500,000 US dollars."
"But it's important to note that if even one answer is detected as false by the lie detector, all efforts will be in vain."
"The complete truth, the only truth. Are there still honest people in America?"
"Let's welcome our first contestant!"
At the Olsen Family home, the five daughters and one younger sister watched the show's rules with great interest.
Elizabeth Olsen tilted her head towards Eric: "Why set up such rules? 150,000 US dollars for one question? My acting fee is only that high, and they just need to answer one question."
"Hehe. That's called the contrast effect. When you're under immense pressure to answer 6 questions for 10,000 US dollars, but then answering just one question can get you 150,000 US dollars, the impulse will stimulate your brain even more, pushing you to continue."
"So, are the questions very difficult?"
Eric pinched her collagen-rich cheek: "Just watch. I actually hope someone can take home that 500,000 US dollars."
The big screen began to introduce the background of the first contestant, a handsome 26-year-old man, whose looks could be described as quite striking.
He had been working at a local hospital for less than half a year, having previously worked at his family's shop.
Kind-hearted, handsome, gentle, and polite, he gave off a very approachable impression, seeming like a genuinely good person.
His mother, girlfriend, and best friend were present as guests today.
Anders shook hands with him: "Arthur, you look very relaxed. Are you ready?"
The young man nodded and directly sat in the interrogation chair.
Anders said: "You already understand the rules. Now, let's get down to business."
"Bring it on!"
Woah!
"Arthur, you are handsome. When you pass by a mirror or anything reflective, do you stop to admire yourself?"
Hearing this question, the audience and the support group all laughed. The man unhesitatingly answered "Yes."
"A very simple question. Now for our second question: After you shower, do you look at your naked body in the bathroom mirror?"
Again, there was a burst of laughter. The young man once again answered "Yes." *I'm handsome, so what if I'm a bit narcissistic?*
His girlfriend also gave a thumbs-up. *My taste is just that good. Let the bitches be envious.*
Both were very basic questions. Not only did Theron and Nicole find them uninteresting, but even the audience was commenting "boring" below.
"That's it? These lousy questions are worth 500,000 US dollars? Why didn't they invite me? I could bankrupt the production team!"
"Isn't this just a traditional Q&A game? We play it at friend gatherings too."
"This guy is quite handsome. My boyfriend, who is not as handsome as him, often looks in the mirror. Anyway, it's very common."
"What's the rush? There are 21 questions. Maybe these are just appetizers."
Anders smiled at the contestant: "Arthur, it seems you are very confident in your looks."
The young man shrugged: "I'm not sure, but everyone thinks so."
"Hahahaha. OK, third question: Do you believe you can get any girl you want with your handsome looks?"
As soon as this question was asked, Arthur's smile vanished, and the audience also found it a bit more interesting.
After a moment of hesitation, when he said "Yes," his girlfriend's facial muscles visibly twitched. *Isn't he implying that I was also easily obtainable?*
"Very good, Arthur. You've honestly spoken your inner thoughts. We are looking for honest people like you."
The young man quickly tried to amend: "I know this might sound bad, but it's just a thought, and many people have it, like many big stars, you know."
"Yes, occasional thoughts aren't really important, as long as they don't turn into action."
"Then please listen to the fourth question: Did you have relations with a girl on the very first day you met her?"
OH!
The audience immediately became excited. Interlocking questions, constantly digging deeper into secrets—this was what they wanted to see.
At the same time, the camera focused on the girlfriend. Her expression was very serious, staring intently at her man.
Arthur's smile had completely vanished. If he admitted it, it would mean he was a frivolous person, someone with a very casual attitude.
His face was complex, he hesitated, and finally gave a "Yes" as the answer.
Hearing the lie detector confirm the answer was correct, the girlfriend's face immediately turned ashen, and she lowered her head without a word.
Seeing this, the best friend quickly tried to comfort her: "This was just a past mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Arthur is a good person. He wouldn't betray you. We should give him more confidence."
His mother also offered words of comfort, and the girlfriend's expression only then improved slightly.
That's right, Arthur was still very good to her, and they got along well. As long as he behaved well in the future, why dwell on the past?
Thinking this, hope rekindled in the girl's eyes. She cheered her man on again, indicating that she wouldn't care about these things.
Arthur immediately promised his girlfriend that he would be loyal to her.
Seeing their family adjust so simply, Anders sneered inwardly.
*If I don't mess them up, what's the point of this show? I might as well quit being a host.*
He said with some surprise: "Arthur, congratulations on having such good friends and family. Are you and your best friend very close?"
Arthur said somewhat proudly: "Yes, we've played together since childhood. We are very close, iron brothers."
"Hmm, truly enviable friendship. Then please listen to the fifth question: Do you share your girlfriend's private matters with your best friend?"
Boom!
The best friend and the girlfriend were simultaneously struck dumbfounded, at a loss for what to do.
Seeing his girlfriend and best friend staring at him together, Arthur felt the pressure on his head growing heavier. After all, he had just been emphasizing how close he was with his friend, like family.
If he admitted to having doubts now, how would his friend look at him?
But 10,000 US dollars was right in front of him. If he gave up now, wouldn't his previous self-exposure be for nothing? The sunk cost had already been incurred.
He looked at his mother. His mom shrugged and shouted: "You've come this far, you can't give up, Arthur."
His mother's encouragement seemed to give him courage. Arthur finally nodded: "My answer is Yes!"
"Arthur! Brother?" The best friend looked incredulous.
"Sorry, John. You're excellent, and sometimes I'm busy, so you two go out together. It's hard not to overthink. Don't mind it, brother. Actually, I still trust you a lot."
Anders continued to fan the flames: "Do you two go out together behind Arthur's back?"
The girlfriend quickly denied: "No, Arthur knows. But he's busy with work, so sometimes John accompanies me."
"So, you two…"
"No, nothing happened between us!" The best friend quickly denied.
"OK, regardless, no matter what everyone is thinking, Arthur faced his inner self, and his courage is commendable."
"And now you've already won 10,000 US dollars. Let's congratulate him!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
The audience immediately erupted in applause, but how much mockery and schadenfreude was mixed in was unknown.
"OMG! This is the variety show I wanted to see! It's a hundred times better than The Voice!"
"This girlfriend is so pathetic. She's too angry to speak. You can tell she really wants to escape."
"Such explosive questions! Is this only the sixth question? I can't wait for the later ones. It's so satisfying to see others expose their scandals."
"I can still recall the smiles on that family's faces just now. Now their expressions are grim, because the smile has transferred to my face, ah ha ha ha!"
"I feel bad for this girl. The guy is such a scumbag."
"Why keep grilling this pretty girl? She looks so pitiful."
"Break up! There's no need to continue with this kind of man. I can already imagine he'll be torn apart by feminists!"
"Who else dares to say they can win 500,000 US dollars? I wouldn't even dare challenge for the lowest tier of 10,000 US dollars."
"This show is explosively good! Lionheart Network is amazing, always coming up with unprecedented fun and antics."
"Don't you know? This show format was created by Eric Cooper! He was falsely accused some time ago, and finally proved himself with a lie detector. He just wants everyone to experience that feeling."
"Eric Cooper, how wicked, but I love him so much!"
"I'm a man, and I like him too!"
"I'm also a man, but he's really great. He always knows how to hit your sweet spot."
In just over ten minutes, the comments section under Lionheart Network had exploded. The audience was shocked by this exchange between money and the ugliness of human nature.
Seeing Arthur sitting there, they felt as if they were seeing themselves.
Some shows, with just an opening, you recognize them as masterpieces!
Truth Time was one of them.
Bang!
Eric pulled open a beer tab. The sound wasn't loud, but it immediately drew dissatisfied glances from the five daughters and one younger sister.
"Shh! Be quiet, dear. Everyone else is concentrating."
"Burp! Is it necessary? I said this is just a variety show. I was hoping we could all watch and complain together."
"Are all these questions from you? Like that day at the police station." Gadot asked, widening her eyes.
"No, I only provided some as examples. We also hired psychology experts to participate."
"Eric, you're so evil!"
"And ugly!" Mary added.
"Dark!" Nicole also added.
"Despicable!" Theron followed suit.
"Shameless!" This was Ashley.
"Disgusting!"
"Hateful!"
"Lecherous!"
"Filthy!"
"Hey, hey, hey, is it necessary to use so many vicious words to describe me? Elizabeth, you're the kindest."
Elizabeth Olsen blinked her two big, watery eyes: "I just couldn't think of the right word for a moment. Anyway, you're like a devil luring people to hell."