"I'm really sorry. Something urgent came up at home a few days ago and held me up."
Shen Yun ordered milk tea on his way over and began handing it out to the crew and guests as soon as he entered.
First, he apologized to everyone with a contrite expression, then explained his reasons in an aggrieved tone.
No one pressed the matter. Besides, Shen Yun had made it on the last day, so he hadn't really disrupted anything.
After getting settled, Shen Yun spotted Jiang Ze leisurely drinking milk tea in a corner. He almost failed to maintain his gentle smile.
"Jiang Ze! ...You... what are you doing here?"
The accusatory question slipped out before Shen Yun could stop it, and he regretted it immediately. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to sever every connection with Jiang Ze.
"Shen Yun, I came on the first day. My family kept urging me, and the director was kind enough to specifically ask me to arrive early, get familiar with the surroundings, and do a good job filming the show."
What a joke. I'll beat the White Lotus at his own game and leave him nowhere to turn!
Jiang Ze was exceptionally handsome. Even among all the beautiful people in the entertainment industry, his looks ranked near the top.
His words praised the crew and director while indirectly taking a jab at Shen Yun.
The other guests gave the two of them odd looks. Anyone with eyes could see they didn't get along.
Shen Yun's smile stiffened. With everyone watching, he had to maintain his gentle, caring persona and couldn't afford to lose his temper.
He could only offer a couple of polite replies, acting as though they barely knew each other.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the director began announcing their next assignment.
"There are six of you in total. Next, we'll officially head into Barren Mountain in teams of two. All the food and supplies you've brought will be confiscated! None of it is allowed into the mountain!"
The last sentence drew a chorus of complaints. From that point onward, the crew raised their cameras and began filming.
Although everyone had mentally prepared themselves, they still couldn't help grumbling as they handed over their belongings.
"I need to apply these skincare products every day! If you won't let me take them and my skin gets rough, are you going to take responsibility?"
Jiang Ze had just handed over his things when he saw the popular young actress beside him angrily berating a crew member.
"Zhizhi, didn't we tell you about this before you came? Let's put up with it for now. We can deal with it after filming."
It took plenty of coaxing from the assistants to get Jin Zhizhi to reluctantly compromise.
"Everyone, come draw lots. The two people who draw matching lots will be a team."
Jiang Ze felt rather unlucky. Of all people, he'd ended up paired with that pampered heiress, Jin Zhizhi.
It looked like he wouldn't have a moment's peace on this trip.
Jin Zhizhi gave him a disdainful glance, ignored him, and walked aside with her lot.
Led by the crew, everyone began hiking into Barren Mountain.
"Pick up the pace, everyone. We need to reach the next checkpoint before dark. Barren Mountain really can get dangerous at night."
"This show isn't messing around, huh? Out here in the mountains at night, we might actually run into wolves or something."
The singer who looked like a rich kid was named Du Chen. He seemed a little frightened and edged closer to the veteran actor.
"Tch. A grown man, and such a coward."
Since Jiang Ze and Jin Zhizhi were teammates, they walked fairly close together, and he heard her make the remark quite loudly beside him.
This heiress really says whatever's on her mind. Good thing he's too far away to hear her.
Somewhat speechless, Jiang Ze looked at Jin Zhizhi, who clearly thought very little of Du Chen.
The paths through Barren Mountain weren't easy to navigate. Many weren't proper trails at all, just traces left by people passing through.
Wild grass and tall trees surrounded them. After they had walked for quite some time, the sky gradually began to darken.
"Hey, I think there are people up ahead."
Finally spotting some movement ahead, everyone quickened their pace and reached the first checkpoint set up by the production team.
"Very good. You must all be tired after walking here, but you can't relax just yet, or you might have to go hungry tonight."
The director and crew had arrived ahead of them. Now, he watched them at his leisure, looking distinctly up to no good.
The guests, who had thought they could finally catch their breath, immediately began complaining.
"Seriously, director? We've walked at least five kilometers, and we don't even get a breather?"
It was Du Chen again. His face was reasonably handsome, but he seemed terribly out of shape, panting so hard as he spoke that he looked ready to keel over at any moment.
"Here are your task cards. Each team has a different task. You'll only get food if you complete it."
Each team sent someone over, then opened their task cards to take a look.
"Task: collect firewood. Each half-kilo can be exchanged for ten task points."
The veteran actor, Chen Yong'an, was paired with the actress who had an artsy air about her. He read aloud from his task card.
"That sounds fairly easy."
His partner, the actress Chen Ran, nodded in agreement.
"Gather any edible plants. Points will be awarded according to the type of food, with higher nutritional value earning more points."
Du Chen seemed especially attentive to Shen Yun. He had barely caught his breath before volunteering to take their task card.
"What food could there possibly be out in this wilderness?"
Shen Yun, who was partnered with Du Chen, looked around and frowned as well.
"Du Chen, why don't we ask the director what edible plants grow around here? It wouldn't be good if we searched aimlessly and ended up eating something we shouldn't."
"Right, right! You're a quick thinker, Shen Yun. The production team must have scouted this place beforehand. Asking what's available before we go will definitely save time."
Du Chen hurried off to ask the director. While waiting for news, Shen Yun deliberately glanced toward Jiang Ze.
"Jiang Ze, what's your task?"
Jiang Ze watched him approach with a show of curiosity. Before he could answer, Jin Zhizhi brusquely spoke up beside him.
"The director just said we don't have to share our tasks. This area's only so big, and we're all competitors."
Jin Zhizhi was blunt, without any of the polite niceties the others used. She snatched the task card from Jiang Ze's hand and shoved it straight into her pocket.
Jiang Ze watched Shen Yun's innocent expression rapidly darken.
Wow, she really goes after everyone indiscriminately. Why does that feel so satisfying?
Shen Yun slunk away. Seeing that Jin Zhizhi had already begun walking off to explore, Jiang Ze hurried after her.
"Try not to wander too far, everyone. We've checked everything within five kilometers, and there's nothing dangerous, but you still need to be careful. Gather back here at the end."
"Also, whatever you find can be exchanged for food and supplies, or you can eat it yourselves. No trading between teams.
You must return within two hours."
In other words, each team had to rely on its own abilities. How much they found would determine how much they ate that night.
After a few reminders from the director, the three teams hurried off in different directions.
Jiang Ze followed behind Jin Zhizhi. The heiress didn't speak and charged through everything, though her stamina was considerably better than Du Chen's.
She walked at a blistering pace.
"Hey, why are you walking so fast? There are plenty of snakes and bugs in these mountains. Be careful."
Jiang Ze held a wooden stick and kept a constant watch on the ground beneath his feet.
The woman ahead paid no attention to what he said. She couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge him and stubbornly wandered around at random.
Their task was actually quite simple: pick mushrooms.
The task points would likewise be awarded according to the mushrooms' value.
But before they had taken more than a few steps, Jiang Ze heard a startled cry from ahead.
"Ah!!!! What is that?!"
He had been bantering with the system in his mind. At the cry, he jerked his head up and saw a dark shape swoop down from above.
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