Riding together

After the other guests left, only Jiang Shu, He Gu, and Ye Heng remained in the kitchen.

Ye Heng handed He Gu a handkerchief and quietly comforted him as he cried in distress. "He Gu, it's all right. I know you meant well."

"Don't cry. Time reveals a person's true character. Everyone will see how good you are."

With someone beside him offering comfort, He Gu put even more effort into his performance. "I really didn't know the kitchen had already made breakfast. I just wanted to make everyone something nice..."

"All right, He Gu, no one's blaming you. Stop crying. Let's go have breakfast too, or we won't make it in time for filming."

Jiang Shu had still been immersed in guilt over speaking too harshly and hurting Sheng Nian, but hearing He Gu's sobs brought him back to his senses, and he offered some comfort too. However, Young Master Jiang had been pampered by others since childhood and had little experience comforting anyone. His words sounded more like he thought He Gu was making a fuss over nothing.

He Gu's crying actually faltered at his words. Then, under Jiang Shu's distracted attempts at comfort, he finally knew when to stop.

The three of them soon finished tidying up and went to the dining room for breakfast.

As soon as they entered, the other guests greeted them with looks of curiosity or anticipation of a spectacle. An awkward, stagnant atmosphere hung over the entire breakfast.

Sheng Nian was still "angry" about Jiang Shu snapping at him earlier, so he didn't have to go over and strike up a conversation as he used to. He was happy to enjoy the freedom.

"The crab roe buns and shrimp dumplings were both delicious today. Thank you for putting so much care into preparing them."

Full and satisfied, Sheng Nian thanked the butler.

Mo Yuanyuan nodded vigorously in agreement.

The butler wore a courteous smile. "I'm glad you all enjoyed them."

Then he turned to Sheng Nian and asked, "What would you like for dinner, young master?"

Sheng Nian blinked. "Oh, I don't know whether we'll be back at the villa for dinner, so there's no need to trouble yourselves preparing anything."

"In that case, I'll have the kitchen simmer a few pots of nourishing soup. After a tiring day out, a bowl of soup will be just the thing when you return."

Mo Yuanyuan said gratefully, "Thank you. You're so thoughtful."

The butler said playfully, "Of course. Looking after you is our job, after all. The gentleman has paid us."

They chatted happily, but He Gu felt that every word was a veiled jab at him. He kept his hands clenched the whole time to avoid losing his composure.

He Gu recalled what his manager had told him last night. More and more negative posts about him from publicity accounts were appearing online, and gossip-hungry netizens were still digging into matters involving Sheng Nian, Jiang Shu, and him. Some were already close to uncovering the fact that Jiang Shu's and Sheng Nian's families were longtime friends.

If people found out Jiang Shu and Sheng Nian were already engaged, then I'd...

No. I have to find a way to turn the audience's attention back to Sheng Nian and make him my shield again, just like before.

Sheng Nian knew nothing of He Gu's thoughts. After breakfast, he gathered with everyone in the small garden to hear the director's arrangements for the day.

"Good morning, everyone. Did you sleep well last night? You'd better be well rested. We've got quite a busy schedule today."

"Today we're heading to the water park on the eastern side of Evernight Sky. We'll gather at the Sea Demon Castle on the east side first."

Everyone perked up. Mo Yuanyuan raised her hand to ask, "Director, yesterday you said we wouldn't be free to do as we pleased for today's task. So what's the plan?"

Director Ren said with a grin, "Today is the badge scramble for the first stage-the 'Heart flutter' stage. There are a limited number of badges available from the water attractions. Only the first three pairs to check in at each attraction will receive badges, with the number awarded decreasing from five to three to one."

"What's more, only three attractions in the water park offer badges this time. You'll need to find clues and solve the puzzles to determine which three they are."

The guests groaned. Today's task had gotten even harder.

Director Ren ignored them and announced mercilessly, "All right, let's set off for the Sea Demon Castle in Evernight Sky!"

The group took a large hovercar to Evernight Sky, then traveled by boat to the Sea Demon Castle on the eastern island.

Only after they arrived did the Production Team announce that filming for this episode had officially begun.

The guests were still a little lost, unsure where to look for clues. Director Ren prompted them, "We've already gone easy on you. We even gave you all maps."

Hearing this, the guests hurriedly took out their maps and discovered that they all pointed to the same location. They would definitely be able to find a clue there; now they just had to work out how to get there.

Sheng Nian leaned over to look at the map in Yan Feizhuo's hands. It was drawn in an extremely impressionistic style, so abstract that, to someone with Sheng Nian's poor sense of direction, it was no different from an indecipherable script.

Seeing the young master's brows knot as he studied it, Yan Feizhuo said with a smile, "Don't worry. You don't need to read the map. I can understand it."

Looking relieved, Sheng Nian patted Yan Feizhuo's arm. "I'll leave it to you, then."

Overhearing their conversation, Mo Yuanyuan came over to plead with Sheng Nian. "Neither Qi Xiao nor I can understand the map. Can we come with you? Please, please! We definitely won't compete with you for first place."

"If there are any rewards or anything, you can pick first. Take us along."

Sheng Nian looked at Yan Feizhuo, asking his opinion.

Yan Feizhuo folded the map and put it away, then asked, "Can you two ride horses?"

Qi Xiao said, "I've learned a little."

Mo Yuanyuan, however, couldn't ride at all.

With a regretful expression, Yan Feizhuo said, "Then we can't go together."

He turned to Sheng Nian and asked, "Can you ride, young master?"

Sheng Nian said, "I learned when I was little. I'm not very good..."

"That's all right."

[??? President Yan, want to turn around and look at Mo Yuanyuan's and Qi Xiao's faces? Hahahahaha.]

[You don't look the least bit sorry to me. You just want some alone time with Sheng Nian, don't you? President Yan, you scheming Alpha!]

[President Yan, a man with double standards written all over his face.]

[Are they planning to ride there? Wow, it feels so much like European nobility from the old era!]

[Isn't horseback riding a little dangerous? Why not take a carriage? I spotted that sort of old-fashioned carriage nearby too.]

Mo Yuanyuan and Qi Xiao could have cried. Yan Feizhuo did have some humanity left: he pointed out the clue's location to them before taking Sheng Nian to rent a horse nearby.

Yan Feizhuo led a tall bay horse over to Sheng Nian. "Young master, time to go."

Sheng Nian turned and lifted a foot to step onto the mounting block. His movements were so clumsy that he really did look as though he wasn't much of a rider.

Seeing this, Yan Feizhuo reached out, wrapped an arm around Sheng Nian's waist, and hoisted him up as if he were lifting a child.

Sheng Nian cried out in surprise. Yan Feizhuo gave his bottom a supporting lift, settling him onto the horse's back.

Sheng Nian: "??"

[I'm dying. Sheng Nian was already seated before he even knew what was happening.]

[President Yan has some serious arm strength!]

[Huff, huff. What I'm imagining isn't suitable for children, so I won't say it.]

Yan Feizhuo handed Sheng Nian his small backpack, then swiftly stepped into the stirrup and swung himself onto the horse. He drew Sheng Nian closer against his chest, took the reins, and cracked the whip. Rather than heading toward the castle's center, where the buildings clustered, he turned onto a woodland path outside the castle.