Sorry, We're Late

A small deserted island in the South Sea.

Fashionably dressed, exquisitely featured men and women gathered on the vast silver beach, surrounded by staff members filming with cameras. Beside them stood a wooden board bearing four large words: Live Until the End.

This was the live-streamed variety show Chu Lan and Xia Wanqing had mentioned—Live Until the End. As its name suggested, it was a survival adventure reality show. Its specific content remained unknown, but judging by the location of the first stop, it was clearly no easy task.

The entire show would be livestreamed. It had invited the hugely popular AC Boy Group, rising actors and actresses, as well as nationally acclaimed Best Actor and Best Actress winners. Ever since the show had been filed for production, it had sparked intense discussion. The entire internet was waiting to see what waves this star-studded program with its explosive title would make.

"Director..."

Xueli, the popular young actress who had shot to fame through a costume drama, fanned herself with her hand and asked playfully, "How much longer do we have to stand here photosynthesizing?"

Though it was morning and the sea breeze felt nice, standing around for so long was still scorching. Besides, they had already been waiting here for nearly an hour.

"Exactly." Liu Yue, a three-time Best Actress winner, chimed in unhappily. "Another half hour under this sun, and we'll all turn into dried fish."

Standing between his four teammates, Xia Wanqing had a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. His bright eyes darted around as he said crisply, "Director, don't tell me survival has already started?"

Director Zhang Jin was roasting too, but there was nothing he could do. "Please wait a little longer. Not all the guests are here yet. Once everyone arrives, we'll enter the island together."

Xueli covered her mouth and laughed. "Could it be that you invited my idol, King Li Yang, too?"

Everyone present was shrewd enough to catch the mockery in her words, but no one spoke. The people here were all prominent stars in the entertainment industry. The biggest names, the Best Actor and Best Actress winners, were already here, and the most popular boy group had arrived on time as well. The guest who was nearly an hour late had to be putting on airs.

The livestream chat had already exploded with curses.

[Who hasn't arrived yet? Making so many big names wait—what top star is this?]

[Which flop is putting on airs to farm attention again?]

[My precious Qingqing's little face is all red from the sun. Mommy's heart hurts so much.]

[Ah!!! Lan-ge wiped Qingqing's sweat!!! I'm dying from the ship! You little couple, stop being so blatant!]

[Raise the banner for the Qing-Chu husbands! How is this any different from doing it right here? This show shouldn't be called Live Until the End—it should be called Love Until the End!]

[My Qingqing really is the group's darling!]

[Shipping is one thing, but whoever dared make my CP stand in the sun this long is finished. I'll tear that flop apart!]

After another ten-odd minutes, even the celebrities who usually cared deeply about their camera image began to look visibly displeased.

Zhang Jin was inwardly groaning. Just as he was about to suggest they enter the island first, a rumbling sound came from the sky.

A helicopter approached the island and landed five minutes later, its massive rotors whipping up gusts of sand.

With a frown, Chu Lan stepped in front of Xia Wanqing to shield him. He had completely lost any favorable impression of this attention-seeking guest.

Once the helicopter had fully stopped, the cabin door opened. A youth with flamboyantly dyed red hair jumped down neatly, a bright smile hanging from his delicate face and revealing two shallow dimples. "Sorry, I'm late."

[Holy shit, so it's this flop.]

[Why did they invite Qi Ning? Privileged resource-hoarding nepo star, get out of this show!]

[An hour late and still making such a huge entrance? Is he trying to get canceled all the way?]

When they saw it was him, the dissatisfaction in everyone's eyes eased slightly.

Xueli stiffened for a moment, then quickly put on a sweet smile and waved excitedly. "Hi! Qi Ning, we've been waiting for you forever!"

Qi Ning ignored her. Turning back, he reluctantly held out a hand. "Don't fall."

A slender, fair hand rested on his wrist, borrowed his strength, and jumped down, landing steadily on the ground.

[Holy fuck! There's a handsome guy! Never seen him before!]

[Whoa! So handsome! So tall! So fair! Face lovers are celebrating!]

[Damn it, another privileged nepo star. The earlier leaks said there were only nine guests. As expected of the Qi Household's eldest young master—he's been dragged this badly and still dares openly bring a newcomer, and show up late too! Blacklisted for life, no explanation needed!]

When Chu Lan and Xia Wanqing saw who had come down, their pupils contracted. Why was he here too?

Xia Yu's peach-blossom eyes swept over the group, pausing briefly on the two standing tightly together. His lips curved. "Sorry, we're late."

Zhang Jin nearly burst into tears of joy. The guests were finally all here. "Everyone, enter the island first! We can talk once we reach the campsite!"

"Let's go, let's go!" Zhang Wen, the warmhearted Best Actor, hurriedly called out. "Take your things and follow the group. Don't run around!"

The five members of AC Boy Group were the first to turn and retrieve their suitcases. Everyone in the industry knew they did not get along with Qi Ning. They had always avoided one another, and no one had expected them to meet on this variety show. None of their expressions looked particularly good.

Especially Xiang Ziqi, the group's lead vocalist. Qi Ning had originally been AC's lead vocalist, but after Qi Ning quit the group in a fit of temper, Xiang Ziqi had taken his place. Every time his singing was compared unfavorably to Qi Ning's by Qi Ning's rabid fans, so merely seeing Qi Ning made his chest tighten.

"Lan-ge, why is Qi Ning here too?" Xiang Ziqi asked in a low voice. "Wasn't Kaka supposed to be the last invited guest?"

Kaka was an actor under their company and had some fame. Their manager had casually mentioned before that he was among the prospective guests for this variety show.

Chu Lan frowned slightly. "Watch what you say. Which guests the production team invites is their business."

Only then did Xiang Ziqi realize he was already wearing a microphone, and he hastily shut his mouth.

[I knew that privileged nepo star Qi Ning was causing trouble again!]

[So Kaka was the one originally invited? That privileged nepo star stole his spot and even brought a newcomer along. Pah, disgusting!]

[Feel so bad for Kaka! Privileged nepo star, get out of the show!]

"Qi Ning!" Xueli jogged over and called out happily, "Why are you here too? If I'd known you were coming to the island, I would've waited for you."

Qi Ning leaned into the helicopter to grab the luggage and spared her a glance. "Who are you?"

Her smile froze, but she quickly adjusted herself. "I'm Xueli. We were in the Fox Demon production last month. We even had scenes opposite each other."

"Oh. Don't remember. Move aside."

"..." Xueli looked somewhat embarrassed. Biting her lower lip lightly, she stepped aside and looked toward Xia Yu, who was holding a sun umbrella. She took the initiative to greet him. "Hello, I'm Xueli. Are you a new artist signed by Qi Ning's agency?"

Xia Yu tilted the umbrella slightly in her direction and smiled faintly. "Hello, I'm Xia Yu. I'm not an artist."

That spring-breeze smile dazzled her for a moment. After freezing for a second, she quickly lowered her head, her cheeks faintly flushing. "Oh... oh..."

[I'm losing it. This handsome guy looks so good when he smiles—so gentle and so gentlemanly. He and Xueli look so compatible! I'm shipping first!]

[He definitely isn't a privileged nepo star! Qi Ning must have dragged him here to keep him company!]

[Handsome guy, can you stay far away from Qi Ning? Go hang out with AC Boy Group!]

[Qi Ning, if you dare make this handsome guy be your nanny, I'll swim to the island overnight and strangle you!]

[Say that again. Who are you going to strangle? Believe it or not, I'll crawl through the internet right now and twist your dog head off?]

Qi Ning had worked himself to death hauling down four suitcases and was drenched in sweat. When he turned around and saw the handsome man and beautiful woman standing beneath the umbrella like they were shooting a poster, he nearly spat blood. He snapped viciously, "Can you come get your own things?!"