The production team had arranged another task: a wilderness exploration. They were told only the approximate direction of the finish line and had to compete individually for their rankings.
After receiving the instruction to set off, Wen Feiran walked straight ahead.
He didn't want to socialize and had been avoiding people. Whenever he had time these past few days, he had gone out, steadily expanding the new map he had explored, and he was very familiar with everything around him.
[The production team is way too harsh. They didn't even give them a compass. How are they supposed to find the finish line?]
[Why do I get the feeling Wen Feiran has a great sense of direction? He even seems to know the route and hasn't hesitated once.]
[Oh, please. He went the wrong way ages ago and is still pretending he knows what he's doing.]
[He's still doing better than the others. Looks to me like they're all going around in circles.]
A figure suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision. The sunlight was dazzling, so Wen Feiran narrowed his eyes slightly and saw the person wave and run over enthusiastically.
"Feiran, what are you doing here?" Zou Yuxing asked with a smile.
Their starting points were far apart, so they shouldn't have been able to run into each other. Wen Feiran paused in surprise. "The finish line is just past the flower field. Do you know about this shortcut too?"
Zou Yuxing scratched his head. "No. Didn't the production team tell me to head west? I just came over and saw you."
Wen Feiran: "..." This was east.
He looked at Zou Yuxing as though he wanted to say something, but didn't expose him.
"Let's form an alliance. I'll follow you, and when we get there, I'll let you take first place," Zou Yuxing suggested.
Wen Feiran had no reason to refuse, so he nodded, but he would come to regret it bitterly.
"How do you know this route?"
"I come out for a walk every day, so I got familiar with it over time."
"Then how come I don't know it?"
"You're asking me? How would I know?"
"I've got it. It must be because we've been staying inside for longer these past few days. Why don't you come play with us?"
"..."
The veins at Wen Feiran's temples throbbed.
He really couldn't handle the energetic Zou Yuxing, so he could only change the subject awkwardly. "Watch your step. Make sure you don't fall."
Zou Yuxing looked at him with stars in his eyes. "Do you know this area that well? You even know whether there are stones underfoot."
Wen Feiran had painted himself into a corner and could only grit his teeth and say, "Yes, very well..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt his toe hit something. He lost his balance, stumbled, and fell to the ground.
!!!
The air fell silent in an instant. Zou Yuxing looked at him thoughtfully and asked, "Did you just go 'ah'?"
Wen Feiran: "..."
He scrambled to his feet on all fours, his movements frantic and his eyes darting about in embarrassment. His first instinct wasn't to check his injuries; he couldn't even feel any pain. All he wanted was to cover his face and leave.
His bulky glasses had also been knocked off. Zou Yuxing picked them up and brought them over, only to catch sight of Wen Feiran's face.
Without the black-framed glasses in the way, Wen Feiran's face was clearly visible before him: the small tip of his nose, the naturally curved corners of his lips, and his beautifully defined jawline. Every feature was exquisite, yet they also came together harmoniously on one face, making it impossible to look away.
"You're actually really good-looking," Zou Yuxing said. A full ten-odd seconds passed before he came back to his senses and frowned. "It's just that hairstyle..."
Wen Feiran instinctively shrank back and clamped a hand firmly over his bangs.
He couldn't let Zou Yuxing discover that his bangs could be flipped up in one piece. He'd have to pay a breach-of-contract penalty!
"I'm fine." Wen Feiran hurriedly turned his head, hiding his expression but exposing an ear that had turned bright red. "Let's go."
Zou Yuxing paused, then dropped the subject and enthusiastically hurried after him again.
"Did you get hurt?"
"Aren't you really familiar with this area? How did you still manage to fall?"
"Slow down. We took a shortcut, so we're sure to come in first."
Wen Feiran was numb. If they hadn't been on camera, he would have covered his ears and run.
The mood in the livestream was very cheerful.
[Hahahaha, he fell right after bragging.]
[Keep it down, you guys. Stop rubbing salt in the wound. doge.jpg]
[Wen Feiran's personality doesn't seem as dark as the rumors online say. He's just a little socially anxious.]
[...I still think he's deliberately clout chasing. Otherwise, how could he have run into Zou Yuxing by such a coincidence?]
They walked and chatted all the way to the finish line.
The director was dumbfounded. "That fast!"
Zou Yuxing said with a grin, "Feiran knew a shortcut, so of course we were fast. Oh, right, director, will you give us an extra reward?"
Their setup had been thrown into disarray. They were lucky he wasn't taking them to task, so how could there be an extra reward...? The director said stiffly, "Wait a little while. The others will be here soon."
Wen Feiran could finally get away from Zou Yuxing and found a quiet corner, but he'd barely sat down when Zou Yuxing came after him like a little tail.
Meeting Wen Feiran's gaze, Zou Yuxing asked blankly, "What's wrong?"
Wen Feiran felt like crying but had no tears. He squeezed out a few words through his teeth. "Nothing."
Zou Yuxing thought of another topic. "You..."
Wen Feiran quickly interrupted him. "The weather's so nice today. Let's enjoy the scenery together."
"Sure." Zou Yuxing readily joined him.
Beautiful scenery had a healing effect on the soul. Neither knew who had started it, but the two of them lay down on the grass. With the faint fragrance of flowers lingering around their noses, they slowly closed their eyes.
The other three, however, had a hard time of it, especially Ning Tingyu. To steal the spotlight and take first place, he had kept running forward with all his might. Unfortunately, he wasn't familiar with the area and couldn't tell directions, so he took several detours. By the end, he was exhausted and panting, and sweat had blurred his makeup.
Fortunately, it had all been worth it. When he saw the empty finish line, his eyes lit up, and he used the last of his strength to run over.
He smiled at the director, expecting him to hurry up and announce that he had come first, but the director said, "Congratulations, Tingyu. You're third."