Whether willing or not, everyone descended the slope, following a narrow path, barely half a meter wide, through the grassy field.
The Overseer stood beside a long table, offering a seemingly benevolent reminder: "When you make your decision, please be decisive and firm, because when the sun sets in the west, those beautiful flowers will fall asleep."
Everyone quickened their pace.
—The most beautiful flower, naturally, should be picked at its peak bloom.
The game, at least for now, didn't seem difficult. It was just picking flowers. Any person with a normal sense of aesthetics could distinguish beauty from ugliness. Choosing a beautiful flower and picking it should be easy.
However, this seemingly simple game had a near 50% elimination rate.
Out of 18 people, only 10 would remain.
"In the story of Socrates, the ending is that no one picked an apple they were satisfied with."
Shen Mo pushed Bai Youwei's wheelchair, his steps steady as he moved through the grass, his voice as calm and collected as his pace.
"Some students encountered a good apple, but because they wanted to find a better one, they continued walking. Only when they reached the end of the orchard did they realize that the first apple they saw was the best. Other students picked what they thought was the best apple early on, only to find better ones later on their journey, filled with regret. They asked Socrates for another chance to choose. Socrates told them that life is a one-way journey with no turning back."
They entered the woods. The dense branches and leaves blocked the sunlight, and their vision darkened, while the fragrance of flowers in the air gradually intensified.
Shen Mo asked Bai Youwei, "What do you think the purpose is of mentioning Socrates?"
"The purpose…" Bai Youwei rested her chin in her hand and thought for a moment. "There are actually many versions of this little story. There's picking apples, picking wheat stalks, picking trees. Ultimately, it teaches people to be cautious when making choices. However, I don't think the Overseer is kind enough to give us a philosophy lesson."
"Mm." Shen Mo nodded slightly. "Perhaps it's meant to mislead us. After all, choosing an apple and choosing a flower are completely different."
Choosing a large, good apple has clear criteria.
But choosing the most beautiful flower, the word "beautiful" itself carries subjective connotations.
Bai Youwei recalled the Overseer's blonde hair, blue eyes, and long limbs, feeling a sense of unease. "That guy's aesthetic sense must be terrible."
Shen Mo: "…Alright, now's not the time to talk about this."
…
The group walked in the woods for about fifteen minutes before the scenery suddenly opened up, and the fragrance of flowers wafted towards them.
It was a vast valley.
A long, low-lying area naturally formed between two mountains. A straight path led into the depths, seemingly endless, and both sides were covered with colorful flowers!
Regardless of season, region, habit, or species, they all bloomed in this valley!
—Whether it was snow lotuses from frigid regions or cacti that grew in the tropics; whether it was magnolias that bloomed on trees or water lilies that grew in water; whether it was winter jasmine in March or sweet osmanthus in August! They were all here! It defied all scientific reasoning!
Everyone was stunned by the spectacle before them.
The endless sea of flowers left everyone speechless!
"This… so many flowers…" Wu Lili stared blankly. A cluster of violets happened to be beside her, and she couldn't help but reach out. "Are these flowers… real?"
"You can only choose once!" Zhang Qi reminded her, frowning.
Wu Lili's movement stopped, and she turned back with an embarrassed smile. "I know, I just wanted to touch them. I can't believe these are all real flowers…"
Zhang Qi still held a grudge against her for faking her leg injury and didn't respond, continuing to walk forward with a cold expression.
Everyone walked slowly, worried about missing the most beautiful flower.
As they walked, they discussed:
"So many flowers… to choose the 10 most beautiful, how do we even choose…"