My balloon!

Xu Wang glanced at the big prize wheel. The grand prize was probably three wildcard cards, with the other two prizes decreasing accordingly to two cards and one.

"Let me explain how the wildcard cards work. If you have one, you can swap tasks in the later rounds, and any task is fair game. Also, if your group isn't happy with the rewards you receive, you can use a wildcard card to swap with any other group of guests, including the amount of travel funds you've earned." Smiling, the director pushed his glasses up into his hair.

Qin Huai narrowed his eyes. "So that means as long as you have a wildcard card, you don't have to worry even if you finish dead last."

"Isn't that basically a card that can turn your fate around?" Xia Yu rubbed his hands together.

Zhong Ran looked at Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan. If he got three cards, he could turn the situation around in an instant.

Leng Yifan also looked at Pei Yanchuan. The man had really screwed him over lately. Billions had gone straight down the drain, and his father had punished him by making him kneel in the study all night.

At the thought of his father's disappointed gaze, Leng Yifan couldn't help clenching his right hand tightly at his side.

Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan exchanged a look. Given the current situation, their group had to get those cards.

"Looks like these old bones of ours will have to give it a shot too." Zheng Weiguang began warming up with a kindly expression.

At his words, the corners of Qu Rou's mouth twitched faintly.

Brimming with energy, Tian Xiaowu said she would do her very best.

Yun Xi cursed inwardly and forced a twitch of his lips. All he wanted now was to go home.

"Good luck, everyone. I hereby declare the competition officially underway!" The director blew the whistle hanging around his neck.

Tweet-

"We'll go on ahead!" Xia Yu pulled Hou Yunqi over to the first stage.

Beside the staff member was a whole box of plump water balloons. It looked like the production team had prepared plenty.

"How would you two like to transport it?" The staff member picked out a yellow water balloon and handed it to them.

"Let's put it between us." Xia Yu placed the water balloon between his chest and Hou Yunqi's.

Keeping a careful eye on the water balloon between them, the two took tiny steps toward the second stage.

The first stage was about ten meters from the second.

Because of the water balloon's own weight, it began slipping downward as soon as Xia Yu let go.

"Wait, wait! Don't fall!" Watching the water balloon slide lower and lower, Xia Yu instinctively lowered his body along with it, and the scene gradually started getting out of control.

Even the director couldn't resist lifting his sunglasses. Oh-ho!

[Wait, wait, are they really allowed to broadcast this position? (Little face turning yellow)]

[Xia Yu, please show some restraint.]

[Even an honest guy like Hou Yunqi is blushing, hahaha.]

Pop!!!

Despite Xia Yu's efforts, the water balloon still fell to the ground and burst into a splash.

"That looks a little difficult." Xu Wang raised an eyebrow.

Pei Yanchuan also frowned slightly. Several plans flashed through his mind, but he rejected every one of them.

With time running short, the others didn't dare delay any longer either.

Each group took a water balloon and began considering where to position it for transport.

Xu Wang looked at the blue water balloon in his hand. It wasn't particularly big, about the size of an adult's palm.

The other groups all placed their water balloons between their bodies to transport them, but the results were much the same. Almost halfway there, the balloons either got squeezed until they burst or fell to the ground.

Xu Wang tried placing the water balloon between his cheek and Pei Yanchuan's. Compared with their bodies, whose larger surface area made control difficult, their smaller cheeks seemed more responsive.

Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan, who bent slightly at the waist, moved forward in steady, synchronized steps. They soon made it halfway.

[Wow! They've pulled ahead just like that.]

[I'm betting Xu Wang's group takes first in this Championship Competition.]

[Count me in.]

[Then I'll bet on Best Actor Gu and his hubby.]

[Me too!]

Seeing the enthusiasm of the fans and viewers in the livestream, the director immediately started a poll.

Every group's progress bar increased with every passing second.

Qin Huai was the first to notice the two. By now, the fronts of his and Gu Yunlan's clothes were soaked. They had already squeezed two water balloons until they burst.

Just as Gu Yunlan was about to place a water balloon between them for the third time, Qin Huai stopped him and pointed at Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan.

Gu Yunlan understood immediately. He picked a slightly smaller water balloon and placed it between their cheeks.

After another failure, the remaining groups finally figured out the trick.

Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan were the first group to clear the first stage.

At the second stage, two staff members stood on either side, with two water balloons tied to ropes between them. The staff threw them toward each other, and the guests had to cross the stretch between them.

Xu Wang pulled Pei Yanchuan aside. At this point, they were the only two who hadn't been splashed with water.

Qin Huai and Gu Yunlan were the second group to clear the first stage.

They took the black blindfolds from the side, put them over their eyes, and slowly walked hand in hand into the second stage.

The moment they stepped inside, the two staff members released the water balloons in their hands, letting them swing naturally to the other side.

As the water balloons swung back with their momentum, a huge one struck Gu Yunlan squarely on the forehead. The instant it burst, water cascaded from his hair, as though he had just had his hair washed.

"Pfft..." Gu Yunlan spat out the water in his mouth, then raised his right hand to wipe his face.

Qin Huai had nimbly jumped out of the second stage's area as soon as he heard the noise. When he removed his blindfold, he saw Gu Yunlan looking as though he had been caught in the rain.

Qin Huai couldn't help clutching his stomach and laughing. "Pfft, hahaha! You look so ridiculous."

[Hahaha.]

[Best Actor Gu, I swear I'm not trying to laugh at you. I just can't help it.]

[Handsome, handsome, still handsome, hahaha.]

[Hubby, is it really okay for you to lead the laughter like that?]

[Getting our normally aloof hubby to laugh like this-Best Actor Gu, you're really something.]

Qin Huai only laughed for a little while. He did love Gu Yunlan, after all. Picking up a clean bath towel from the side, he walked over and carefully dried his hair.

Zhong Ran and Leng Yifan were the third to clear the first stage. Both let out a huge sigh of relief after putting down their water balloon.

Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan tried to clear the second stage, but unfortunately, a water balloon hit Pei Yanchuan in the back when they reached the middle. Fortunately, Pei Yanchuan had sheltered Xu Wang in his arms in front of him, so Xu Wang hadn't gotten too wet.

"Are you okay?" Xu Wang removed his blindfold and looked at the man behind him.

One of Pei Yanchuan's shoulders was soaked, and droplets trickled down from the hair at the back of his head.

Pei Yanchuan shook his head gently. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

Xu Wang pulled Pei Yanchuan aside, took a dry towel, and helped wipe the water off his back.

Rather than rushing to clear the stage next, Xu Wang quietly observed its pattern. Suddenly, he realized that as long as they counted out the rhythm, they could dodge the water balloons by moving left, right, left, right.

Their second attempt confirmed Xu Wang's guess. Once they knew the pattern, they moved both quickly and safely.

The third stage was the shortest, spanning only a two-meter-long mat.

The sky gradually darkened a little.

Barefoot, Xu Wang and Pei Yanchuan each held a water balloon and stepped carefully onto the mat.

The slippery mat made every step difficult for them.

Behind them were Yun Xi and Tian Xiaowu. They had fought to catch up during the second stage, going straight from last place to second.

Qin Huai and Gu Yunlan were third.

Zheng Weiguang and Qu Rou were fourth.

Zhong Ran and Leng Yifan were fifth.

Last were Xia Yu and Hou Yunqi.

In the last-place group, Xia Yu's eyes burned with the desire to win. He grabbed a water balloon and charged onto the mat.

But the very next second, he fell flat on his back with all four limbs in the air. Hou Yunqi didn't even get a chance to catch him.

The water balloon that slipped out of Xia Yu's hand slid forward along the mat, right under Leng Yifan's backside. Leng Yifan lost his footing and sat straight down on it, bursting it.

For a moment, everyone present fell silent.

[OMG!]

[Oh my God!]

[Ohmigod!]

Comments began flooding madly across the livestream.

There at the scene, Leng Yifan felt the chill beneath his backside, and his expression instantly darkened. He didn't dare get up.

"My balloon!" Xia Yu reached out a reluctant hand.