Can You Escape the First Time and the Second Time Too? (Bonus Double Chapter)

Yu Xingxing was like a little cub who had accidentally wandered away from home into the wilderness, only to see his younger brother being bullied. He rushed over to help, only to get beaten himself. As the saying went, beat the little one, and the old one would come running.

So Wang Wan and B University officially stepped in to defend their cub.

The involvement of these parties escalated the incident once more. Its popularity soared, and the entire internet began discussing it.

The most shocked were the casual netizens who had believed the brainwashing propaganda spread by Bai Ziyu's fans.

What? Jiang Fang's real name was Jiang Zishu, and he was this year's top science student in City B? Hadn't they said his grades had been fraudulently swapped? Hadn't they said he'd been stealing and causing trouble since childhood?

[Holy shit, what is going on? My whole family is shocked. Jiang Fang is actually the top science student?]

[732 points? Even if I memorized every answer on the college entrance exam, I still couldn't score that high. Didn't they say when God closes a door, He opens a window? Turns out all my doors and windows were shut, while Jiang Fang just tore the roof off.]

[Hahahahaha, I'm dying. What else do the fish fans have to say now? Just like you guys—whenever you dislike someone, you immediately throw dirt on them. You're so practiced at it; looks like you've done this plenty of times.]

[Awesome! So awesome! Those shady tricks in the entertainment industry have finally been thrown back in someone's face. B University made an official statement—there's no way they'd say something like that without evidence. That video must really have something going on. Fans, just wait for it.]

[These past few days, Bai Ziyu's fans have been cursing out anyone they find online. I didn't even dare speak. If you watch that video closely, it really gives you chills. Then look at how Jiang Fang and Bai Ziyu interacted in the livestream—I feel like something really happened between them!]

As for Bai Ziyu's fans?

Some of them realized things were going wrong and quietly stopped supporting him, deleting the accounts they had used for cyberbullying. Others refused to give up until they saw the coffin and were still stubbornly discussing what to do next in their group chats.

[Ziyu can't contact the studio right now, but we all believe Fishy is too kind to ever do something like this. Jiang Fang must have rivals behind him smearing us. Everyone, we absolutely can't let our guard down.]

[That video is just a dark blur. You obviously can't see anything. Everyone can report B University to the education bureau for openly shielding its own student, and that Professor Wang too. Make things messy, and some clueless passersby will help us curse them!]

[I'll contact the studio. I hope they report this to the police!]

The bloody storm raging online was unknown to the guests currently filming the show.

Only the director watched the news grow increasingly intense, with a nagging feeling that something was going to happen.

Had Bai Ziyu really pushed Jiang Fang?

The reason the show dared to begin with a high-altitude skydive was that all the participants were professionals and had undergone standardized, rigorous testing and training. Those who truly couldn't do it could also find an instructor for a tandem jump.

Jiang Fang was the best skydiver among them. One look was enough to tell that he did this often; his skills were highly professional.

He was good-looking, highly skilled, and had been recommended by a popular celebrity. That was why the director had compromised and allowed an ordinary person onto the show.

Yet he had never imagined that this highly skilled civilian participant would have an accident right at the beginning of the program and nearly fall to his death.

Back then, he had been blinded by appearances. Looking back now, everything seemed wrong.

"Hiss..." If it was really like the internet said, then... then... then wouldn't his Wilderness Survival be finished?

"Fuck!"

Especially after seeing B University say that it had handed the video over to the police, Jiang Nan shot to his feet.

No! Absolutely not!

He had to think of something.

"Director! Director! Something's wrong!"

Jiang Nan's heart trembled. Could his show really be over this quickly?

"What happened?"

A staff member rushed in, panting. "On the island, on the island! It's pouring rain on the island!"

Phew...

Jiang Nan braced himself against the table, his legs going weak. Thank goodness it wasn't something serious. He let out a long breath.

"You scared me to death!" For safety, their production team had specifically hired wilderness survival experts. There was no problem with the campsite Jiang Fang had chosen. A rainstorm would not cause too much trouble at most, aside from getting them wet.

Thinking of that, Jiang Nan's favorable impression of Jiang Fang deepened once again.

If the guests had really chosen the place Bai Ziyu had suggested earlier, the production team would have been in for a lot of work.

On the island.

Rumble—

The midsummer downpour came suddenly. Before Jiang Fang and the others could even pack up their things, rain began pouring down in sheets.

Jiang Fang swiftly scooped Kitten into his arms. Just as he was about to grab the other things that could easily be damaged, Qin Yan stopped him.

"Take Kitten back to the tent first."

"Meow~" Damn water! Big Kitty, let's go back first!

Jiang Fang froze for a moment, then suddenly noticed that the wind was blowing the tent hard enough to nearly overturn it. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurried over, pressing down on the tent to keep water from getting in or the wind from flipping it.

His and Qin Yan's tents were close together, so he reached out and grabbed the neighboring tent as well.

"Fang Yi! The tent!" The thunderstorm drowned out his shout. Fang Yi did not hear him, and his tent failed to hold up, tearing apart in the wind.

The other side was no better than theirs. Two tents were blown straight over. The only surviving tent was Bai Ziyu's. He had been lucky; at the time, he had the tent closed and no one knew what he was doing inside.

The deserted island, quiet except for thunder and rain, suddenly became lively.

Everyone in the campsite rushed to save what they could. They were soaked through, and after more than an hour of frantic work, the rain finally showed signs of gradually weakening.

Worried that the little kitten would get stressed, Jiang Fang put Kitten inside the tent first. The little thing could easily get sick after being caught in the rain.

"What do we do? The rain hasn't even stopped, and one tent is already ruined." Fang Yi looked at his tent, which had been shredded into a pile of trash, looking like he was about to cry.

He looked enviously at Qin Yan's tent, which had been rescued and remained intact.

"Bro! Brother Qin!" He sidled up to Qin Yan with pitiful puppy eyes. "I have nowhere to sleep tonight, and it's still raining! You're my brother! My only brother! Let me crash at your place?"

Qin Yan rolled his eyes. Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the only still-standing tent at the neighboring campsite and suddenly changed his mind.

"You can have my tent."

Fang Yi: !!! Happiness had come so suddenly?

He had been planning to spend the night chatting by candlelight with Brother Qin, but after saying that, Qin Yan ran straight into Jiang Fang's tent.

Fang Yi: ?

Just as he was about to salvage something from the situation, someone beside him patted his shoulder.

What was it?

Fang Yi had barely turned around when someone said, "Brother Yi, can I borrow your tent for the night?"

It was Lin Sen.

Fang Yi's Husky brain suddenly became sharp.

So Qin Yan, you bastard, had been waiting for this all along?!

That guy got to share a tent with Jiang Fang and was happy as could be!

Still, Fang Yi compromised. After all, they were livestreaming. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to compromise.

There were three tents left, just enough for two people per tent.

Inside the tent.

Jiang Fang was changing clothes. He had been soaked through while rescuing the tent earlier.

Just then, the tent was suddenly pulled open. A gust of wind swept in with fine raindrops, and Jiang Fang shivered from the cold.

"Sorry."

Qin Yan reflexively shut the tent and turned around, facing away from it.

A slender but not frail waist, pale skin with two adorable dimples at the small of his back, shoulder blades that flashed into view like works of art, and something hanging down to his hips, faintly visible...

Qin Yan's throat bobbed involuntarily, and even his face began to heat up.

Raindrops hit his face, instantly snapping him awake.

Qin Yan, what are you thinking?! Are you a pervert?

The image surfaced in his mind again and refused to go away.

Maybe he was, just a little...

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing!" Qin Yan denied it reflexively, insisting that he had not been thinking about anything. It only made him look more suspicious.

Jiang Fang was puzzled. He had only asked one question—why was Qin Yan acting like this?

Then he caught sight of Qin Yan's slightly red ears and suddenly understood. Who would have thought this guy was a pure-love warrior?

"Your clothes are soaked. Hurry up and change."

At those words, Qin Yan seemed to receive a pardon. With reddened ears, he went into the tent, his retreating figure looking entirely like he was fleeing in defeat.

He even forgot to block the livestream camera behind him, fortunately Jiang Fang reacted quickly enough.

At that moment, the livestream chat was filled with thirsty screams.

Jiang Fang had avoided the livestream camera while changing, since he still wanted some privacy. But Qin Yan had not noticed. The camera had followed behind him when he opened the tent. Although his reaction had been quick, the netizens had been faster at taking screenshots, and some had even been recording the whole time.

[Ahhh, that beautiful waist! That beautiful waist! I hereby declare that I'm King Chu. How can Jiang Fang be both so slim and so powerful? Those two waist dimples are so cute, wahhh, kitty kisses!]

[B University student checking in. Is this the beautiful top-scorer junior who stirred up such a storm before he even enrolled? Come here, Junior Sister will touch your waist. With a body that good, you must have abs!]

[I'm in law school. I'll help my dear junior fight his lawsuits. Wouldn't it be unreasonable if he didn't let me touch him once?]

[A prospective B University freshman has come to worship the legend. How did the legend score 732? Wahhh, my highest score was only 701. I barely brushed against 700.]

[Holy shit, are you people even human? You're all showing off, aren't you?]

[Fuck! Look at Qin Yan! What is he thinking about? His Adam's apple moved? Is he thinking dirty thoughts? Holy shit, his ears are red! I'm shipping this couple.]

By the time they finished tidying up and rested, it was already past midnight.

In the silent late night, there was only the young man's calm, steady breathing and Qin Yan's slightly uneven breaths.

Qin Yan lay stiffly inside the tent. The single-person tent was tiny; if he moved at all, he would bump into Jiang Fang.

Unable to help himself, he shifted slightly. Jiang Fang seemed to be sleeping deeply, but his movement startled him. Jiang Fang turned onto his side and draped an arm over Qin Yan.

The young man's hot breath washed over the man's neck, turning a large patch of it red.

Qin Yan sat there with a red neck, at a loss for what to do.

"Jiang Fang?" he called softly.

No one answered.

Qin Yan swallowed. He only felt that the tent was unusually hot tonight, yet for some reason, he did not wake Jiang Fang or move Jiang Fang's hand away.

He remained awake all night.

Jiang Fang slept especially well that night.

It was just a little hot.

"Brother Qin? Jiang Fang?" Someone was calling him. Jiang Fang thought hazily, with no intention of getting up. He was not awake yet.

Qin Yan had not slept all night and had only started feeling sleepy near dawn. He was sleeping especially soundly now.

Everyone had gotten caught in the rain last night, and two people outside had already caught colds.

Fang Yi did not hear any response and grew worried. By this time, Qin Yan should have been up long ago.

Could something have happened?

Fang Yi hesitated in place for a long while, but in the end, worry won out.

"If you don't say anything, I'm coming in, okay?" After saying that, he stood there for a while longer without moving.

Still no movement.

Only then did he nervously pull open the tent zipper.

The livestream camera behind him perceptively peeked inside.

Then the world froze.

Fang Yi stared wide-eyed at the sight before him, his voice caught in his throat, unable to rise or fall.

[Holy shit! Is this something I'm allowed to see? Director Jiang, can your variety show even pass review like this?]

[Ahhhhh, has my dream come true? Wahhh, sleeping in the same bed!]

[I'm fed! This camera understands so well. It deserves ten AI chicken drumsticks! Sleeping in the same bed and even head to head—round it up and they're married!]

[Hello, I'm the Civil Affairs Bureau. I came here myself. These two are getting married, right? Hold them down immediately!]

Inside the single-person tent.

Jiang Fang and Qin Yan lay close together, their heads resting against each other. Jiang Fang's face was slightly turned to the side. Qin Yan was a little taller than him, his chin nearly touching Jiang Fang's forehead. Compared to Qin Yan's very proper sleeping posture, Jiang Fang's was much more casual.

His hand rested on Qin Yan's body as he lay slightly turned toward him. They did not look particularly intimate, yet the air was filled with ambiguity.

Perhaps sunlight had shone in from outside, or perhaps Qin Yan sensed the shift in atmosphere. His eyes flew open.

He happened to meet Fang Yi's astonished, wide-eyed gaze.

Qin Yan: ?

Fang Yi said nothing. He looked at Qin Yan, then at Jiang Fang.

Qin Yan finally recovered a little rationality. Just as he was about to get up, he noticed that Jiang Fang's hand was still on him and the distance between them was rather ambiguously close.

"Jiang Fang?" He was about to wake him when he suddenly saw the livestream camera.

His mind went blank for several seconds.

"Fang Yi!" His voice sank, clearly carrying displeasure, though he still instinctively lowered it.

Fang Yi snapped out of it.

Noticing the camera beside him, his heart instantly went cold. He yanked the tent shut so quickly that his hand became a blur.

"Haha, my brothers and I sleep together sometimes too. It's no big deal, haha." Fang Yi awkwardly explained to the livestream camera.

[I'm dying, Fang Yi. Think about your reaction just now.]

[It's no big deal. It's over. Someone's getting beaten up!]

[Brother Fang, our CP fans' happiness depends on you from now on! More scenes like today, more more!]

[Hahahahaha, we understand. Brotherhood, right? I sleep in the same blanket with my brother too. My lover brother. Shy face.jpg]

When Jiang Fang woke up, the person beside him was already gone.

He reached out and touched the bedding. It was cold.

Qin Yan must have been up for a long time. How had he not heard any movement at all? Though it seemed like someone had come over earlier and said something?

He had slept too deeply to realize that his and Qin Yan's "brotherhood" had already been broadcast live for everyone to know.

Time to get up.

"Meow~" Kitten sensed Big Kitty waking up beside him, stretched lazily, yawned, shook out his fur, and stood up.

"Meow, meow, meow, meow!" Big Kitty! Wake up, it's adventure time!

By the time Jiang Fang had washed up, Qin Yan had already made breakfast: the leftover sweet potatoes from before.

They were fragrant and sweet, soft and glutinous.

Jiang Fang ate with relish, failing to notice Fang Yi's hesitant gaze. Qin Yan noticed, though, and shot him a sharp look.

Fang Yi was curious. Could it be that Brother Qin really had something going on?

But Jiang Fang had only just come of age. Wouldn't Brother Qin be robbing the cradle—and Fang Yi had even broadcast it live?

This was bad.

By the time Jiang Fang got up, the sun was already high in the sky. Now it was nearly noon.

"What do you want to eat today?" Qin Yan refused to mention anything about last night or this morning, as though nothing had happened.

Yet Jiang Fang felt that something about Qin Yan was off today.

"Mm, I don't feel like meat. Let's go gather some wild vegetables and catch some fish for Kitten."

"Meow, meow, meow!" Big fish!

Qin Yan nodded. After breakfast, the two left, leaving Fang Yi alone to ponder what he should do.

"Huh? Where did they go?"

By the time he came to his senses, Qin Yan and Jiang Fang were already nowhere to be seen.

"What's wrong with you today?"

After walking for a while, Jiang Fang realized Qin Yan had been especially quiet today.

Something was off.

Qin Yan paused, then shook his head.

"Nothing."

Jiang Fang thought back. Nothing had seemed wrong last night. It appeared to have started this morning?

He seemed to have heard people talking outside the tent that morning.

"Did something happen this morning?"

Sure enough, he saw a flicker of unease cross Qin Yan's face.

"Someone came in this morning?"

Qin Yan froze, looking at him with surprise.

I guessed right again, Jiang Fang thought.

Then they must have seen something? As Jiang Fang pondered it, he suddenly noticed that Qin Yan's ears seemed a little red.

Jiang Fang raised a brow. What interesting thing had happened, exactly?

Qin Yan said nothing for a long while, and even the tips of his ears had turned red.

Seeing that, even someone as slow as Jiang Fang would have figured it out—let alone someone as perceptive as him.

He blinked, the corners of his lips curving faintly upward, and did not press further.

"Come on. Let's gather wild vegetables."

Qin Yan let out a breath of relief. At last, Jiang Fang had stopped asking.

The two worked together, and before long, they had gathered quite a lot.

The livestream camera dutifully followed them. Even though nothing important happened between them, the viewers still shipped them with great enthusiasm.

Along the way, Jiang Fang watched Qin Yan thoughtfully, his gaze utterly undisguised.

Naturally, Qin Yan noticed. The hand holding the wild vegetables tightened, loosened, then tightened again.

Why is Jiang Fang looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong? Or did something else happen? Could Jiang Fang know about last night and this morning?

Qin Yan could not help overthinking it, but no matter how hard he thought, he could not figure out what it was. He adjusted his expression and put on his usual aloof look.

"What is it?"

Not pretending anymore? Jiang Fang thought.

"Nothing. I'm just a little troubled..." Jiang Fang deliberately paused, waiting for Qin Yan to ask.

Sure enough, Qin Yan took the bait.

"Troubled about what?"

Jiang Fang's smile brightened, and beneath the sunlight, his dark eyes seemed to glitter with stars.

"With so many wild vegetables, I feel like I'm about to grow a brain."

The young man blinked, looking a little playful.

Qin Yan: "Huh?" What did that mean?

Seeing that he did not understand, Jiang Fang paused, then smiled. "Nothing, just a joke."

Qin Yan felt that he had meant something else. He quietly remembered the remark, intending to look up what it meant once they returned.

Little did he know, the livestream chat had already exploded.

[Why wasn't I there?! Aaaah, Qin Yan, I hate that you're such an idiot! Do you even know what Jiang Fang meant?]

[I don't think Brother Qin would know. There's still a generation gap between adults and college students!]

[What if Jiang Fang was just joking and didn't mean that?]

[I don't care, I don't care! Even if it's a joke, would you say to a friend, "I'm about to grow a brain"? Everyone would instinctively laugh and say, "Eat less, or you'll turn into a love-struck fool." Now look at Jiang Fang's eyes!!! If this isn't real, what is?!]

[No, what are you all talking about? Have I become disconnected from the world? What does being love-struck have to do with wild vegetables?]

[Imagine a handsome guy flirtatiously telling you, "I think I'm about to become love-struck." How would you react?!]

[Holy shit! Qin Yan, I hate that you're such a blockhead!!!]

Jiang Fang and Qin Yan had just returned to camp when they saw Fang Yi staring their way like a statue waiting for his husband.

The moment he saw them, he ran over.

"What happened?"

"It's like this. We just received word that Director Jiang wants us to go to where we first landed. He has something to announce, and he'll also be bringing us some supplies."

Bai Ziyu's group would be coming too. They were just waiting for Jiang Fang.

Jiang Fang nodded. After setting down the wild vegetables, they headed toward the place where they had first landed.

Because of everything that had happened recently, neither Lin Sen nor Bai Ziyu spoke. Jiang Fang was happy to enjoy the quiet, chatting with Qin Yan along the way and occasionally lifting Kitten up for a kiss or a hug.

The others were doing wilderness survival, while Jiang Fang looked exactly like he was on vacation.

Lin Sen rolled his eyes in secret.

As they walked, Fang Yi, who was in front, suddenly stopped.

"Why did you stop—"

Before he could finish, the rest of his words caught in his throat.

Jiang Fang had been playing with the cat. Sensing that something was wrong with the atmosphere, he looked up and saw everyone staring blankly to the side.

He looked over, paused, then suddenly understood.

This was the place Bai Ziyu had insisted on choosing as their campsite. The flat ground from back then had now become a vast expanse of water. The water from the stagnant lake had burst through the embankment during yesterday's torrential rain and spread outward.

If they had truly decided to camp here, what would have happened? At the thought, someone shuddered.

Fang Yi, who was usually so carefree, rubbed his arms in lingering fear and shouted, "Jiang Fang! Good thing you were smart and got us to change locations, or we'd have been done for."

Bai Ziyu's face immediately darkened.

No one spoke. Fang Yi belatedly realized that he seemed to have offended someone, so he fell silent too.

The stifling atmosphere was not broken until Jiang Nan announced the news.

"Due to certain special circumstances, the seven-day Wilderness Survival program will be shortened. It will end on the fifth day, when a winner will be chosen. We hope everyone makes the most of the remaining time."

The variety show was ending early!

Some in the crowd were happy, while others were worried.

Lin Sen was naturally delighted. He could finally go home without having to pay a penalty for breach of contract.

But Bai Ziyu did not look pleased. He glanced at Jiang Fang, his hands clenching nervously.

The fifth day...

That meant he did not have much time left.

--

Back at camp, Bai Ziyu kept looking toward Jiang Fang, unable to settle his mind.

At last, he saw Jiang Fang head to the beach alone, seemingly taking the cat for a walk. There was no livestream equipment around him.

Bai Ziyu left his livestream equipment in the tent, looked around, and saw that no one was paying attention to him. He immediately followed.

Jiang Fang stood by the sea, letting the ocean breeze wash over him.

When the director announced that filming would be shortened today, he knew Bai Ziyu could no longer wait.

So he deliberately found an opening and waited for Bai Ziyu to come to him.

"Tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow, I'll keep my word. I hope you'll keep yours as well."

Bai Ziyu appeared soundlessly behind him. Though he spoke words of compromise, with Jiang Fang's back turned, the malice in his eyes was fully exposed.

I refuse to believe it, Jiang Fang!

You escaped the first time—can you escape a second time?