You're Such a Dog

After breakfast, the production crew handed out the guests' first-day task.

A huge van drove over from the distance, carrying several saplings. A fragrant scent spread through the air.

Director Chen introduced them, "These are Paperbush saplings. Since ancient times, Paperbush has symbolized 'joyfully entwined branches.' Its distinctive fragrance and shape have made it widely loved."

"There are six Paperbush saplings here. Your task today is to plant them. From then on, each Paperbush will be your very own love tree! During filming, everyone will receive a red string each day to represent the threads of fate. You can tie it to the Paperbush of the person you like. Maybe one day, he'll understand your feelings!"

Cheng Cheng instinctively glanced at Shen Ranxin.

Shen Ranxin was not moved in the slightest by the romantic atmosphere Director Chen had painted. He rolled up his sleeves, bent down to grab a shovel nearby, and began looking for a place to plant his tree.

The other guests also picked up their tools and began choosing spots in the large open area ahead.

Shen Ranxin had finally selected a patch of soft, fertile soil and quickly started digging a hole. Cheng Cheng dug a small hole beside him as well.

Everyone dug away furiously, eager to get the trees planted as soon as possible. The sun overhead was growing fiercer by the minute, and they were all in the entertainment industry—either actors or idols who made a living off their faces. Their skin could not withstand this kind of sun.

Only Gu Yifei seemed completely unaware that he, too, made a living off his face. He fussily selected the sapling he found most artistic among the six, then patted Jiang Ye on the shoulder.

"Hey, dig for me."

Jiang Ye's pale skin had turned red from the sun. He wiped the sweat from his temple and frowned. "I haven't even finished planting mine."

Gu Yifei did not dare provoke Shen Ranxin, much less Lu Zhi. But Jiang Ye, this straightforward, foolish Alpha, looked much easier to fool.

"Help me plant mine first. You have to plant your own anyway. You can't seriously expect an omega like me to dig a hole, can you?"

Jiang Ye glanced at Fang Yu and Cheng Cheng, who were digging their own holes with all their strength. "Why can't omegas dig holes themselves? They're both doing it. You can't because you don't have hands?"

"How am I the same as them? My hands are meant for playing instruments. I can't do this kind of rough work!" Gu Yifei pouted. "You're an Alpha, so you should help me. You have no manners at all. Why even come on a dating show? You might as well go home and play your games..."

Jiang Ye could not be bothered to keep arguing with him. He could not look too cold in front of the cameras, either, so he could only pick up the shovel and ask, "Where?"

Gu Yifei pointed to a spot not far away. "Here."

Jiang Ye dug hard until the hole was more than thirty centimeters deep. Gu Yifei said unhappily, "Forget it, forget it. This patch of ground doesn't look very good. Let's change places."

Jiang Ye: "..."

Gu Yifei picked another spot after much deliberation. Jiang Ye dug for ages, yet Gu Yifei was still dissatisfied and wanted to change places again.

Jiang Ye frowned, a hint of impatience showing. "Last time. If you change spots again, dig it yourself."

"Why are you so impatient? I just want to find the most suitable place for my love tree." Gu Yifei huffed. "Didn't you come on this dating show to earn money so your team could buy new equipment? As long as you behave and help me work, I'll cover the cost of those upgrades!"

Jiang Ye pressed his lips together and said nothing.

At that moment, Fang Yu's hand reached over and gripped Jiang Ye's shovel.

Jiang Ye froze for a moment, then looked up.

Fang Yu was exhausted too, but he looked incredibly sexy standing beneath the sunlight.

His healthy wheat-colored skin glistened as sweat slid down his neck and into the white collar of his shirt, gathering in the delicate hollow of his collarbone before slipping lower, soaking the fabric over his chest.

Jiang Ye's throat tightened. He swallowed unconsciously, then turned away and scratched at his burning ear.

So thirsty... Was it because it was too hot?

[It's way too hot today. Our little Jiang Ye has been roasted into a red-tailed shrimp.]

[Remember to put on sunscreen! Captain Jiang is so pale; he burns so easily!]

[Gu Yifei, please let Captain Jiang go. He's practically about to peel from sunburn!]

[Gu Yifei's whole persona has always been a high-maintenance beauty, but this is too much. Captain Jiang hasn't even planted his own tree, yet he's dug four or five holes for him!]

[Movie Emperor Fang, save our Captain Jiang! He's still young and doesn't know how to refuse!]

Fang Yu smiled and said, "I've already finished planting my tree. How about I help you dig, and let Jiang finish planting his own?"

Gu Yifei whined, "Then you'd better dig properly. You're an omega—can you even manage it?"

Fang Yu pushed Jiang Ye, telling him to finish his own task first, then picked up the shovel and started digging the hole Jiang Ye had left unfinished.

Jiang Ye took two steps, then stubbornly came back. "I'll do it. Go rest."

Fang Yu waved a hand. "No need. I work out regularly. This little bit of work is nothing to me..."

While they were still arguing over there, Shen Ranxin and the other two leaned on their shovels before a rectangular pit three meters long, one meter wide, and fifty centimeters deep, lost in thought.

After a long silence, Shen Ranxin said, "I told you to dig holes and plant trees, not dig graves. Who are you trying to bury alive in this pit?"

Shen Ranxin had originally been digging just fine by himself, but Lu Zhi and Cheng Cheng insisted on digging beside him. As they dug, their three holes connected into one, forming this pit that looked ready for a burial.

They had already dug it, so they might as well bury someone in it... No, they might as well plant in it.

So, three trees were planted side by side in the pit. Once they were done, the three of them turned around and noticed the argument over here.

Shen Ranxin slung his shovel over his shoulder and walked over.

The moment Gu Yifei saw Shen Ranxin, he broke out in a cold sweat despite the blazing heat. "Y-you, what are you coming over for?"

Shen Ranxin said, "We're done, so I came to see whether you needed any help."

"N-no!" Gu Yifei immediately said. "There's nothing we need your help with!"

Shen Ranxin nodded. "Captain Jiang, then let's go."

Jiang Ye tugged Fang Yu along, and the group turned toward the shade not far away.

Gu Yifei wanted to stop them, but he did not quite dare. Shen Ranxin from last night had left him with a considerable psychological shadow, one he would probably need several days to get over. So he could only hold back his tears and dig by himself.

But after only a couple of digs, his shovel suddenly struck something hard, jolting his arm numb.

He looked down and saw what appeared to be a black jar.

Gu Yifei hurriedly called out to Fang Yu. "F-Fang, come take a look. I think I dug up something!"

Hearing Gu Yifei's voice, the people ahead all walked back together.

"He really did dig something up." Cheng Cheng looked at the jar. "What is this?"

"It's probably the kind of jar farmers use to pickle vegetables. It got buried in the ground," Jiang Ye guessed.

Fang Yu suddenly said, "You mean it's an old pickle jar?"

Everyone: "..."

A gust of cold wind swept past. Shen Ranxin said faintly, "Shh. You can't say things like that casually."

"W-why?" Gu Yifei's face turned deathly pale, as though he had thought of another kind of thing that could be stored in a jar.

"Because..." Shen Ranxin lowered his voice even further, somehow making the height of summer feel icy cold.

Gu Yifei's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground. His fingers touched the black earthenware jar, and he instantly screamed before fainting on the spot!

"Because old pickle jars didn't pay for advertising." Shen Ranxin blinked and looked baffledly at the unconscious Gu Yifei. "Look how tired the kid is. He fell asleep right out in the field. Youth really is nice—you can fall asleep the moment your head hits the ground."

Everyone: "..."

You really were such a dog!