After Fang Cheng opened the tent, he could not make out what was inside at first. When the torch came closer and he saw it, his body went stiff and numb with fright.
Si Wuyu saw it too. His expression darkened as he covered Fang Cheng's eyes and led him farther away.
His little brother was afraid of snakes.
And the one in the tent was venomous—the kind that could kill with a single bite.
"Bro..."
Fang Cheng was on the verge of tears.
Tang Shiba picked up a rock and hurled it into the tent. Once she had battered the venomous snake to death, she used the stick Fang Cheng had kept beside him to lift it out, then walked toward Zhao Shen with a blank expression.
In the livestream chat.
[Was that a snake?]
[A venomous one! All those bright colors—one bite and you're off to heaven.]
[Why was there a venomous snake in the tent? What is Tang Shiba going to do?]
Tang Shiba abruptly flung the snake off the stick at Zhao Shen. He jumped in fright and cursed at her. "Are you fucking crazy?"
"No, I'm not. I heard you liked things that stink, so I'm catering to your tastes. Take it. You're welcome."
Zhao Shen glared at Tang Shiba's back, wishing he could burn a hole through her.
Tang Shiba stopped and turned around again. "Sorry, we're not swapping tents anymore. The three of you can share one. I won't mind."
"Shiba, how can you do this? If we don't swap, Zhao Shen won't have anywhere to sleep."
"Why do you have to make things difficult for him?"
Tang Xueqing tried to persuade her, but Tang Shiba was not having it. She was particularly good at holding grudges.
She never went easy on anyone who crossed her.
"Save your breath. He can keep watch. He seems full of energy anyway."
Zhao Shen gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll keep watch. Who's afraid of whom? If I can't sleep, neither can you."
Tang Shiba returned to the tent and told Si Wuyu and Fang Cheng to sleep while she kept watch.
Fang Cheng had recovered from his fright. He asked in confusion, "Weren't we swapping?"
Seeing that Tang Xueqing and Zhao Tiantian had not come over, Si Wuyu raised an eyebrow. "We're not swapping?"
"No. Go to sleep. I need to keep watch in case that three-second man comes over to mooch a spot in our tent."
She would fight him to the bitter end and see who dropped dead first.
Si Wuyu thought for a moment, then suggested that Tang Shiba sleep for the first half of the night while they slept for the second half.
Tang Shiba agreed, crawled into the tent, and fell asleep instantly.
Fang Cheng did not dare go inside, afraid of finding another snake. "Bro, I'll sleep by the fire. You can sleep in the second half of the night."
Si Wuyu murmured his agreement and tossed more of the firewood he had collected from the bag onto the fire, making it burn higher.
The livestream ended early, so the fans had no idea what happened afterward.
In the middle of the night, the Director's crew was up late collecting crabs again.
The Director looked at the memes his assistant had drawn and grinned so hard his mouth went crooked.
"Great work. Take these to the factory tomorrow morning. We're going to produce them in bulk."
"Boss, let's bring back a few samples first and list them during the livestream."
"Right. That's what we'll do."
Some people were dreaming, some were counting stars, and some were staying up late collecting crabs.
As soon as dawn broke, Director arrived with a task card.
Tang Shiba opened her eyes to find a handsome face before her.
Si Wuyu!
She jolted upright in fright. After taking a moment to recover, she hurriedly opened the tent. Seeing that no one else was up yet, she quickly stepped outside.
Fang Cheng was sleeping so soundly that he did not even notice when Tang Shiba kicked him twice.
After Tang Shiba left, Si Wuyu woke up too.
Last night, Fang Cheng had fallen asleep while keeping watch.
Si Wuyu had gone to wake Tang Shiba, but seeing how soundly she was sleeping, he had left her alone. He had been unbearably sleepy himself, so he had dozed off beside her for a while. Then morning had come.
He frowned. He should not have made such a basic mistake.
Was it because it had been too dark, and he had felt safer beside her, that he had fallen asleep there?
Fortunately, no one knew about it. By the time Director arrived, everyone was only just getting up.
In the livestream chat.
[I wonder what today's task will be?]
[Aw, poor little Fang and Scumbag Zhao. Why are their dark circles so bad?]
[My fave looks strange today—strangely handsome.]
[What kind of lousy variety show is this? There's nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat. They've made my fave look so worn out.]
"Good morning, everyone." The yawning Director was sporting a huge pair of dark circles too.
"Morning..."
They all had some life left in them, but not much.
Director smiled and told them to perk up. "The weather's nice today, so here comes your task."
"The Production Team has left everyday supplies in these Woods, including pots, bowls, ladles, and basins, as well as spicy seasonings. Whoever finds them first gets to keep them."
Fang Cheng's eyes lit up. After the past few days, his mouth had been so deprived of flavor that he was almost losing his sense of taste.
With a set of kitchen supplies like that, he could stay here a few more days—even ten days or half a month.
Tang Xueqing's group was equally determined to get them. No one liked eating unseasoned food, let alone for an entire week.
"All right, everyone, off you go. There are clues in the Woods. Find them yourselves."
After the group set off, the assistant approached worriedly. "Boss, what if they find the Cave?"
Director reassured him. "The Cave is so well hidden. Who could find it? Besides, they'd need a rope to get down there, unless they're unlucky enough to fall in."
Tang Xueqing's group ran at full speed, afraid Tang Shiba and the others would beat them to it.
Fang Cheng wanted to hurry too. "Bro, let's pick up the pace. If they get the supplies first, we'll have to go back to living like cavemen."
"Find the clues first. It won't be that easy."
The Livestream Variety Show would not make it that simple. Otherwise, there would be nothing entertaining about it.
Si Wuyu looked at Tang Shiba. She was glancing around as though searching for something.
If I follow Tang Xueqing, I'll find what I want. She's the female lead, so she'll stumble across all the good stuff. I'm just here to scoop up the leftovers.
Maybe she'll even stumble across that Cave.
She was the female lead, after all. Even if she was a two-faced schemer, some good things would still come her way.
If Tang Shiba searched on her own, who knew how long it would take?
So the three of them followed Tang Xueqing's group at a moderate distance, leaving the livestream viewers baffled.
[Why are they following our precious darling's group?]
[Is Tang Shiba planning to steal their stuff? She's led both our guys astray.]
[She's awful! Tang Shiba, I've got a whole basket of rotten eggs ready, just waiting for you to come back.]
[I've got durians ready.]
[I've got watermelons ready.]
[Haha, I've got pepper spray ready.]
After they had followed them for a while, Tang Xueqing's group finally made a move. Holding something in their hands, they pointed in a direction.
Tang Shiba exchanged a glance with Si Wuyu, and they took Fang Cheng along as they sprinted in the direction the others had pointed.
A little bewildered, Fang Cheng could only quicken his pace. "You found it?"
"Yep. Run faster, or Tang Xueqing and the others will get it first."
Zhao Shen spotted them and shouted, "Oh no! They found it too! After them!"
And so a chase began through the Woods.
By the time Tang Xueqing's group reached the destination, the supplies were already on Fang Cheng's back—a huge sackful.
Zhao Shen panicked. "Grab it! We can't let them take it away."
If they took it, he would be back to eating dirt. Any more of this and he would go mad.
Zhao Tiantian had no objections.
Tang Xueqing hesitated, then silently agreed.
Fang Cheng looked back as he ran, puzzled.
"I've already got it. Why are they still chasing us?"
"Just run! They're coming to steal it."
At Tang Shiba's words, Fang Cheng ran even faster, terrified that they would snatch the supplies away.
Before you continue