Tiger-Tiger Fish Restaurant.
Director Ren was already there waiting for the guests to arrive.
When Sheng Nian and the others arrived by Hovercar, staff immediately led them to a private room.
Director Ren said, "Thank you, President Ying, for treating us to this fish feast."
After saying that, he glanced at Sheng Nian. "Since certain guests have called the Production Team stingy, I've decided to add an extra dish of salmon for you."
Sheng Nian: "..." Was that aimed at me?
"If you're being so generous, Director, you should order bluefin tuna. Why salmon? That's not up to our Production Team's standards!"
At Sheng Nian's words, Mo Yuanyuan's eyes darted, and she immediately chimed in, "Exactly! Only bluefin tuna is worthy of our Production Team!"
The two played off each other, leaving the director no way out.
Director Ren glared at them in exasperation. "Fine, fine. I'll order it for you. Happy now?"
[Hahahaha, Yuanyuan and Niannian are such clever little things!]
[It's so rare to see the director get bested.]
Mo Yuanyuan high-fived Sheng Nian. "Done."
Their impish antics made even the usually reserved Chu Yue smile. "We really have Yuanyuan and Sheng Nian to thank. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten to eat this tuna today."
Everyone began eating amid chatter and laughter.
He Gu was already full of anger. Why was everyone's attention on Sheng Nian, who had once been universally despised? Where exactly had things gone wrong?
As he cursed viciously to himself, Sheng Nian suddenly shuddered. Why had he suddenly felt as though a venomous snake lurking in the shadows was watching him?
Beside him, Yan Feizhuo keenly noticed his shiver. Frowning slightly, he summoned his assistant and had a small blanket brought for Sheng Nian.
Sheng Nian really was a little cold. He didn't know whether the private room's air conditioning was turned up too high, but the air blowing on him was making his head feel a little dizzy.
After lunch and a short rest, once the guests had all changed into comfortable clothes, the Production Team's Hovercar took them to the high-altitude rafting site.
Director Ren offered a reminder. "For high-altitude rafting, you'll be rushing down from the snowy mountain, and the slide is glass. Although safety is guaranteed, it's still a little thrilling. Once you're up there, stay within your limits. You can take a lower-level slide, and if you don't want to do it, you can opt out."
"This is today's last task location. Afterward, anyone who wants to try other attractions can stay and keep having fun. If you're done, head back to the villa. Just remember one thing: we're meeting at the villa at nine tonight. That's all. Dismissed!"
After the director dismissed them, the guests first went to the task desk to ask the staff exactly how this task worked.
"Snow mountain rafting has slides of five difficulty levels. The couple or individual who finishes rafting down a higher-difficulty slide first will receive five badges. Second and third place will receive three and one badges respectively, according to the rules."
"Guests can choose their own difficulty level. The Production Team won't impose any requirements."
After hearing the rules, Sheng Nian told Yan Feizhuo, "Let's pick the highest difficulty. I want to slide down from the top!"
Hearing him, He Gu also told Jiang Shu, "Jiang Shu, let's pick the highest difficulty too."
"We don't have an advantage in badge numbers, and Ye Heng... I'm worried we won't have enough badges."
Jiang Shu nodded at that. "All right. We'll choose the highest difficulty."
Once everyone had chosen their difficulty level, they took the cable car up the snowy mountain.
At the very top, Sheng Nian looked at the winding slide, barely able to wait. He kept bouncing even as a staff member put his life jacket on him.
Sheng Nian's eyes sparkled as he urged Yan Feizhuo, "Hurry up and put your life jacket on. There aren't many people right now, so we won't have to queue."
[He Gu beside him has gone white with fear. Sheng Nian, how are you this excited?]
[He really is brave. He didn't even blink on those thrill rides yesterday either.]
[At least pretend to be scared so President Yan can have his moment.]
Yan Feizhuo put on his life jacket. "I know. Stand still and stop bouncing."
Wanting to take first place, He Gu quickly put on his life jacket and climbed into an inflatable raft before Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo.
The two-person raft wasn't small, but it was still a little cramped with two adults sitting in it. Jiang Shu sat in the back, unable to stretch out his long legs, and could only bend them slightly. He Gu sat between his legs, making it look as though Jiang Shu was holding him in his arms.
He Gu glanced at Sheng Nian, deliberately relaxed his back, and leaned lightly against Jiang Shu. Then he raised his voice a little. "Jiang Shu, I'm not making you uncomfortable like this, am I? This inflatable raft really is a little small."
"It's fine. Lean against me. Hold on tight."
Forced by an OOC warning, Sheng Nian turned his head.
He stared steadily at the two of them, his expression stubborn, without speaking.
Seeing him like that delighted He Gu, but outwardly, he explained, "Sheng Nian, don't misunderstand. This raft really is a little small. You'll understand when you and President Yan get in later."
Unexpectedly, not only did he fail to see Sheng Nian lose his temper, but Jiang Shu spoke first. "Sheng Nian, you're going to ride in this raft with Yan Feizhuo too?"
Already seated in the raft, Jiang Shu naturally knew how suggestively close an Alpha and an Omega would be sitting in it.
In particular, the gland at the back of the Omega's neck was exposed right by the Alpha's mouth. Lean just a little closer, and he could catch traces of the Omega's pheromones even through a neck ring.
"No! You're taking a single-person raft later."
The little figure in the bubble was already exploding with anger. [You damn scumbag! You've got one, but you're still eyeing another!]
Sheng Nian parted his lips, but his answer wasn't what Jiang Shu wanted to hear. "Then why are you sitting with He Gu?"
Jiang Shu looked at him as though he were an unreasonable child. "That's different. Do you know how dangerous it is for an Omega and an Alpha to sit this close? You're not even wearing a neck ring today!"
"How is it different? He Gu is an Omega, and you're an Alpha too. Why are you sitting with him?"
Sheng Nian bit his lip and pleaded, "Jiang Shu, could you sit separately from him?"
Seeing things taking a wrong turn, He Gu hurriedly spoke. "Jiang Shu, I... our badges..."
Jiang Shu understood what he had left unsaid. He Gu had analyzed it with him: they needed to get five badges in this task to have a chance of overtaking Ye Heng. Otherwise, Ye Heng would definitely use his privilege in the next stage to put He Gu on his team.
He could understand He Gu not wanting to team up with Ye Heng, so they had to take first place in this round.
At that thought, Jiang Shu's expression turned cold. "No. And you'd better not sit with Yan Feizhuo either. I don't like it!"
With that, he told the staff to open the slide's closed gate, and the two slid down.
[???]
[Jiang Shu is seriously messed up. He's holding He Gu in his own arms. What right does he have to criticize Sheng Nian?]
[Doesn't he dislike Sheng Nian? Then what does it have to do with him who Sheng Nian shares a two-person raft with?]
[The officials can set fires, but the common people can't even light lamps? Stop interrupting our Sheng-Yan date, okay?]
Seeing all the comments attacking Jiang Shu, his fans immediately stepped in to control the narrative.
[He's just looking out for a friend, okay! What kind of Omega is so casual about sitting in someone else's arms and putting his gland right by an Alpha's mouth?]
[Look~ There's one right here, and he's even putting it by your precious idol's mouth~]
[You're being so nasty. This is clearly just a two-person task. Our He Gu doesn't mean anything like that.]
[Oh, someone finally realizes this is a two-person task. What right does Jiang Shu have to act so justified in telling Sheng Nian not to do the task?]
Sheng Nian knew nothing of the argument in the comments. He kept a hurt expression on his face, but inside, he was already exploding with anger.
[Is Jiang Shu out of his mind?! He ruined my good mood!]
Hearing Sheng Nian's thoughts, Yan Feizhuo walked over. "Do you want to take a single-person raft?"
Before Sheng Nian knew how to answer, Yan Feizhuo spoke again. "Even if you want to, you can't. I don't like it either."
With that, he pulled Sheng Nian away toward a two-person inflatable raft.
[Yes, exactly! President Yan, hurry up and get Sheng Nian into your arms first!]
[Ooh, "I don't like it either." I'm not saying who's jealous again.]
Before you continue