Speedboat

However, Li Yu, still focused on filming the show, knew nothing about it. To him, he had merely completed one of the games on the program.

"So... we won, right? The production team can tell us what that surprise reward is now, can't they?"

With his hands in his pockets, Yu Lin stared at the members of the directing team.

"Mm... all right, all right, I won't keep you guessing anymore." Zhong Su grinned into his megaphone. "Considering that the guests may be a little tired after all that exercise, the winning team's final reward is one hour of massage service. The massage therapists hired by the production team will be waiting for you in Sea View House No. 4 tonight."

"Oh, I thought it'd be something more exciting..."

Yu Lin immediately looked a little disappointed.

"It's not bad. A free massage is still pretty nice. At least it really is a surprise, not some kind of scare." Li Yu patted Yu Lin on the shoulder in consolation.

"Director, my arms are really sore too. I need a massage as well..." Shu Menglan batted her eyes at the directing team.

"This... how about this? We only hired two massage therapists. Anyone who wants a massage can go to Room No. 4 tonight, as long as Li Yu's group agrees."

The moment Zhong Su said that, Shu Menglan hurriedly hugged Li Yu's leg. "Little Yu, you wouldn't have the heart to see me wake up tomorrow with an aching back and sore waist, would you?"

"It's fine. Everyone can come tonight. We've all been tired out this morning—we could all use a massage." Li Yu smiled.

The production team had deliberately put it that way. They had clearly intended from the start to give all eight of them massages, yet they had dressed it up as some "surprise reward" for the final winners. How sneaky.

Still, it was all for the show, and none of the guests minded too much.

That afternoon, the production team also rented several speedboats and let the guests tear across the sea for a while.

It was Li Yu's first time riding a speedboat too. The boat rented by the production team was an eye-searing hot pink. As soon as they sat down, the young man driving it told them to hold tightly onto the handrails—or onto the person beside them.

At first, Li Yu had no idea why the driver said that. The instant the speedboat started moving, though, he understood.

True to its name, the speedboat raced across the water. The momentum sent Li Yu tipping backward, straight into Chi Yan's arms beside him.

Chi Yan did not show much on his face. One hand braced against the railing while the other wrapped around Li Yu. "Are you sitting securely? Hold onto the handrail beside you first."

Li Yu's face heated up. Just as he was about to push himself upright, Yu Lin on his right failed to steady himself and leaned heavily in his direction, pressing him even closer into Chi Yan's embrace.

Li Yu internally cried for mercy. His lips were almost touching Chi Yan's Adam's apple. Anyone who saw them might think he was taking the chance to cop a feel!

Yu Lin quickly readjusted his position. The wind blurred his voice, and Li Yu only caught him saying, "Sorry, Little Yu. This... this is a little too thrilling. I haven't adjusted yet. My body wasn't under my control just now."

Li Yu said it was fine and settled himself properly. One hand gripped the railing, while his other hand remained firmly caught in Chi Yan's grasp.

The speedboat cleaved through the churning waves, sending white spray flying everywhere and even soaking their clothes.

All they could do was sway from side to side with the boat. The roar of the wind and engine swept past their ears, every bit of scenery rushing by them rapidly retreating into the distance. Shu Menglan and Liang Meichen's hair flew wildly in the wind.

"Holy crap, this feels amazing!"

Shu Menglan was instead wildly excited, shouting at the top of her lungs.

"Woohoo!"

Xiang Zhinan was having the time of his life as well. "This is so thrilling!"

"How long until we stop?" Liang Meichen asked.

"No idea. We'll probably stop when we reach that little island across from us. The speedboats ahead have all stopped there," Xie Jingming said.

After around twenty minutes of riding, the speedboat indeed stopped beside the island Xie Jingming had pointed out.

"This island is very small, but plenty of people still come here to check in because it looks like a heart on the map. The locals also call it Heart Island," the director said.

"Really? Sounds like the kind of place couples come to all the time."

After getting off the boat, Shu Menglan felt as though her feet touching solid ground was unreal. The ride had been far too exhilarating; it felt as if she were still flying over the sea.

Li Yu pursed his lips and silently glanced at Chi Yan. In a low voice, he said, "Brother Chi, we're getting off the speedboat. You don't need to keep holding my hand anymore."

At that, Chi Yan obediently released Li Yu's hand.

Li Yu raised his hand and looked at it. He really had not been exaggerating when he said Chi Yan had a strong grip. In that short time alone, Chi Yan had squeezed his wrist red.

Heart Island truly was small, without any particularly remarkable scenery. There were simply quite a few strangely shaped rocks along the beach.

However, someone had spotted a business opportunity there and opened a small rock-painting shop. Tourists could bring in stones they had picked up, decorate them with paint at the shop, and keep them as souvenirs.

When Chi Yan saw the painting shop nearby, he inexplicably thought of the pink stone Li Yu had given him in his pocket.

That stone's surface was not very smooth, though, and it was unsuitable for painting.

Of course, Chi Yan could not bear to alter it either. He only wanted to frame the stone and place it in his secret room.

That way, whenever he looked at it in the future, he could remember everything that had happened over the past few days. He could remember that it was a pink, heart-shaped stone Little Fish had given him—one that was unique in the entire world.

The eight guests lingered on Heart Island for a while, chatting until it was nearly time for dinner, then took the speedboats back to base camp.

Fortunately, Li Yu had learned from the experience on the way back. Before the speedboat started, he had already gripped the railing tightly, avoiding another awkward tumble into Chi Yan's arms.

Perhaps the production team had finally found its conscience. That night, they at last took the guests to Rippling Isle's most famous local seafood restaurant.

All the ingredients in the restaurant were displayed in fish tanks. Whatever dishes tourists ordered, the chefs would directly catch the live seafood from the tanks, which showed just how fresh the ingredients were.

Furthermore, the entire cooking process was completely open for viewing. To show tourists the restaurant at its best, the chefs took their knife skills to the limit and vigorously tossed their woks while cooking, giving onlookers the sense that it was incredibly impressive, though they could not quite say why.

Still, this fully transparent process did let tourists eat with greater peace of mind. No wonder the restaurant received such high ratings.

By the end of the meal, the waitstaff had even come over to clear the table when the directing team suddenly announced that they would be playing a little game. Whoever lost would have to choose between truth or dare.

"Truth or dare? Director, are you serious?"

Shu Menglan rested her chin on one hand. Games like this were usually the biggest headache.

"Wow, then who would dare choose truth if they lost?" Xiang Zhinan joked.

But he was telling the truth. Everyone had loosened up by now, and who knew what tricky questions the directors might ask? No one wanted to expose their private lives, so most people would choose dare.

Embarrassment was better than having your privacy exposed.

"Director, tell us what game it is first. Just don't make it some intelligence game, or I won't even have a chance to play," Yu Lin said.