"Let the race begin!"
At Director Niu's command, all four boats sprang into action. Paddles churned furiously, and chants rang out.
Assistant Director: "Follow my count! One, two, one! One, two, one!"
The acting captain of Director Team B: "Strength is our advantage! Put everything you've got into paddling!"
"Paddle! Everyone, paddle faster!"
Qiu Chengye directed his teammates while watching the directors' two boats out of the corner of his eye. Seeing them about to pull ahead, he panicked and pointed at Xie Mi's team, shouting.
"Hey, hurry up and interfere with them! Hurry-"
"Mr. Qiu."
Liu Woxing, who had been paddling diligently the whole time, finally lost patience and called him out. "Sorry for the trouble, but could you paddle too?"
Qiu Chengye jolted, inexplicably cowed by Liu Woxing for a moment. Once he recovered, embarrassment set in, and he grabbed his paddle, grumbling.
"I was directing everyone, wasn't I? Who said I wasn't going to paddle? I am the captain, after all..."
But even with him joining in, their boat still lagged noticeably behind the directors' two boats.
First, they genuinely couldn't match their opponents' strength. Second, they lacked coordination.
The seven burly men on the opposing teams were professional competitors handpicked by the Production Team. Events like this were already second nature to them.
They found their rhythm immediately, paddling in perfect sync. Carried effortlessly toward victory, the Assistant Director gleefully started talking trash.
"We're destined to win today! The Deserted Island is waiting for you! Hahahaha-"
Director Niu watched from shore, thoroughly pleased.
Promising to make him Teacher Xie's personal follow-cam producer on the Deserted Island had clearly been the right call. Just look at how fired up he was to win.
"Don't celebrate too soon."
Along with a clear female voice, the ramshackle boat appeared