There's nothing in this world that can scare me

Everyone exchanged glances and shook their heads.

Since no one did, the next question was how to pair up.

Everyone had their own little agenda. Xu Can was already stealing looks at Jiang Lan.

Meanwhile, Tan Duoduo and Lin Ziyou happened to meet each other's eyes as they both looked toward Wen Zhiyan.

Qiao Xin and Yu Nan exchanged a knowing glance. She spoke up directly, inviting Yu Nan, "Want to go with me?"

At her words, Yu Nan's cheeks reddened, and he nodded his assent.

Only six people remained.

Omegas were always reserved. They were waiting for the alphas to take the initiative and invite them.

Unexpectedly, the two remaining alphas seemed to have suddenly been poisoned mute. Both kept their mouths shut, looking even more reserved than the omegas.

Tan Duoduo broke eye contact with Lin Ziyou and looked at Wen Zhiyan's profile. She was just about to invite him when Lin Ziyou unexpectedly went off script, beating her to it and saying to her,

"Duoduo, team up with me?"

Tan Duoduo froze. "Huh?"

Lin Ziyou looked at Tan Duoduo with an innocent smile. "I said, Duoduo, want to go with me? I'll protect you."

Tan Duoduo was speechless.

Her expression was a little odd, but with the cameras rolling and Lin Ziyou's invitation already out there, Tan Duoduo could hardly refuse outright. She could only curse inwardly while smiling as though touched.

"Sure. I didn't expect you to pick me, Ziyou."

Lin Ziyou smiled too. "Nobody said omegas have to pair up with alphas. Don't be scared. I'll hold you tight."

Jiang Lan had guessed that morning that both Lin Ziyou and Tan Duoduo had voted for Wen Zhiyan.

Now, he couldn't help seeing Lin Ziyou in a new light.

The whole approach was: since we both want him, neither of us gets to have him.

Lin Ziyou's maneuver opened up a new line of thinking for Ye Qiunian, who had still been torn between choosing Jiang Lan and Wen Zhiyan. He said to Xu Can,

"Cancan, want to pick me?"

Xu Can looked at Jiang Lan, still wanting to make one last attempt, only to hear Jiang Lan say outright,

"Ah, in that case, I suppose I'll have to reluctantly team up with President Wen."

He looked at Wen Zhiyan. "Any objections, President Wen?"

President Wen's expression remained calm, giving no hint of his thoughts. Seemingly indifferent, he replied politely, "You're too kind, Teacher Jiang. It's my honor to team up with you."

Jiang Lan nodded. "Well, nobody else wanted to pick you, so you'll have to feel honored whether you like it or not."

Wen Zhiyan agreed. "Yes, I should reflect on my shortcomings. But I scare easily, Teacher Jiang, so I'll have to trouble you to hold me tight later and make me feel safer."

Hearing Wen Zhiyan say this, Jiang Lan nearly bit his tongue.

As though utterly disgusted, he said through gritted teeth, "Don't worry. I'll show you what a real alpha looks like."

Watching Jiang Lan and Wen Zhiyan pair up in just a few words, seemingly deeply dissatisfied with each other, Xu Can found her last attempt strangled in her throat.

She shut her mouth and silently moved to Ye Qiunian's side.

Ye Qiunian's gaze lingered on Wen Zhiyan and Jiang Lan for a moment, his thoughts unknown.

Beyond the cameras, countless question marks appeared in the live chat again.

[I did not see this result coming.]

[You and me both. Genuine question: is this the kind of pairing we're supposed to get on a dating show?]

[I don't care. Ziyou was so alpha just now. I'm all for omega/beta!]

[I saw baby Xu Can wanting to speak but holding back. What an adorable straight guy Ye Qiunian is.]

[I feel like Lan-ge and President Wen are starting a love-hate relationship. If they keep this up, I'm going to start shipping them.]

[I'm fucking dying. Bungee jumping is such an easy way to get hearts racing, and they've just ruined it and wasted the opportunity.]

[Not necessarily. At least I think Qiao Xin and Yu Nan could work out.]

[Then do you think Jiang Lan and President Wen could work out?]

[Sorry, that's beyond me...]

There was a difference between wanting to do something and actually facing it and putting it into action.

Bungee jumping, for instance.

Most people watching from the sidelines would only think it looked wild, thrilling, fun, and exhilarating.

But when you actually stood on a cliff over three hundred meters high, ready to jump, your mind would probably go blank, your heart would race, and you would be so nervous you wanted to throw up.

The first pair onto the jumping platform was Qiao Xin and Yu Nan.

Standing beside Wen Zhiyan, Jiang Lan watched Yu Nan clutch Qiao Xin's waist with a pale face and said to Wen Zhiyan,

"If you get scared later, you can hold my waist tight."

Wen Zhiyan acknowledged him, then asked Jiang Lan in return,

"What if you're the one who gets scared?"

Jiang Lan scoffed and boasted, "There's nothing in this world that can scare me."

Wen Zhiyan raised his eyebrows. "But you nearly threw up on a roller coaster before."

Jiang Lan froze at his words, then remembered that, a long time ago, something like that did seem to have happened.

He gave a light cough. "That was then. This is now. People grow. I'm terrifyingly strong now."

Then he shot Wen Zhiyan another glare. "Besides, wasn't that only nearly?"

Wen Zhiyan was just about to speak when a bloodcurdling scream came from Yu Nan.

At a nod from a staff member, Qiao Xin leaped straight off the cliff with Yu Nan.

Jiang Lan hurriedly craned his neck to look. Listening to Yu Nan's unending screams, he broke out in goosebumps and jabbed Wen Zhiyan with his elbow, telling him,

"Don't you yell later. It's way too embarrassing for an alpha to scream like that."

Wen Zhiyan answered, "What if I can't help it?"

Jiang Lan thought for a moment. "Then bite my shoulder. I'm not afraid of pain."

Wen Zhiyan's eyes curved with his smile. "All right. Thank you, Teacher Jiang."

Jiang Lan pressed his lips together and said nothing more.

When Qiao Xin and Yu Nan were pulled back up by the lifting mechanism, the sight of Yu Nan's pale lips left Jiang Lan even less able to speak.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and furtively wiped the sweat from his palms, then said to Wen Zhiyan with a perfectly calm expression,

"Shall we?"

Wen Zhiyan glanced back at Yu Nan and Qiao Xin, who were still recovering, and asked the other four,

"Would you like to go first?"

The other four exchanged glances and all shook their heads.

So Wen Zhiyan followed Jiang Lan to the edge of the jumping platform.

For a tandem bungee jump, the two people had to press close together, firmly bound by the safety equipment.

A seamless fit, without a gap between them.

As the staff fitted them both with safety equipment, Jiang Lan kept his lips pressed tightly together and said nothing.

Partly, it was because he was trying to hide his nerves with silence.

And partly, it was because he could feel Wen Zhiyan's full, firm chest muscles pressed against his own.

Farther down, Wen Zhiyan's flat, taut abdomen was pressed tightly against his.

Farther down...