Quack, quack, quack

Jiang Xiubai waved at the camera.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, the director cleared his throat softly. "Ahem, to welcome Mr. Jiang tonight, the production team spent a fortune preparing a barbecue feast... equipment for you all."

With that long pause from the director, Xia Yu gave a live demonstration of going straight from heaven to hell.

"Director, could you be any more of a bastard?" Xia Yu was utterly exasperated.

"Hahaha, I wouldn't dare. Getting your barbecue ingredients is very simple. You'll still be in pairs, with one person holding the other in their arms or carrying them on their back while playing ring toss. The prizes are tonight's ingredients. You get whatever you land a ring on. If you don't get anything, you'll just have to go hungry."

"Of course, before the game begins, the two teams that lost this morning must complete the witch's punishment."

Zhong Ran reached up and put both hands on Leng Yifan's shoulders. Leng Yifan did not disappoint him, sweeping Zhong Ran into a bridal carry with impressive flair.

Not to be outdone by the sight, Jiang Xiubai scooped up Yun Xi, who was still swooning beside him.

Yun Xi had been busy swooning when he was suddenly lifted up, and both his hands landed squarely on two firm muscles.

Oh my, they're a little hard.

Jiang Xiubai looked at the person in his arms, his gaze moving downward.

"Can you let go now?"

"Sorry!" Yun Xi hastily withdrew his hands.

"Oho." Held in Pei Yanchuan's arms, Xu Wang happened to catch this spectacular scene, his face a picture.

[Baby, do they feel nice?]

[Baby, is it comfortable?]

[Baby, are they digging into you? (How about letting me try?)]

[Wifey, that look on your face is making it way too obvious you're enjoying the show.]

[Xu Wang, munching sunflower seeds: You two are getting this spicy?]

[Wifey looks exactly like me watching drama and shipping couples. How does this not count as something my wife and I have in common? (Smug)]

Xu Wang really did feel like munching sunflower seeds now. He decided that once he finished filming this episode, he would make sure to keep some on him all the time.

A hundred squats were not much for an alpha. The hard part was having to hold someone in their arms.

The two were evenly matched at first, but Jiang Xiubai's superior stamina gradually showed. He maintained a steady pace throughout, and his breathing stayed even.

Leng Yifan gradually slowed down, though not particularly noticeably.

In the end, Jiang Xiubai finished his punishment first, more than a dozen squats ahead of Leng Yifan.

Once both had finished their punishment, the director gave all the guests an hour to rest before the ring toss game.

The livestream was also temporarily paused.

Xu Wang looked at the flushed Yun Xi behind him with some surprise.

"Wait, how did I never notice you blush so easily? Where's that scheming little act of yours from before?" Xu Wang turned his head curiously.

"Oh, you don't understand. His looks are completely my type! With other people, I'm just faking it and playing along. With him, I'm genuinely shy." Yun Xi covered his face.

"President Pei, did you hear that? He said he was just faking it and playing along with you." Xu Wang curled his hand into a microphone and held it out to the man behind him.

Looking helpless, Pei Yanchuan took Xu Wang's hand and gently squeezed his palm. "He's getting ahead of himself."

Yun Xi looked up speechlessly at the two, who were glued to each other every day. What was going on? Why did he suddenly feel a little stuffed? Burp~

At that moment, Jiang Xiubai sat with his legs crossed on a chair not far away, staring at Yun Xi. Who knew what he was thinking?

The young butler standing beside Jiang Xiubai was equally puzzled by his young master's behavior. He did not understand why his young master had wanted to join this show. At twenty-two, his young master did not seem to be in any hurry to get married, and neither his mother nor his father had urged him to.

The butler recalled what had happened a few days earlier. That day, his master and mistress had been watching the show's livestream in the living room when the young master happened to return from playing ball with his friends.

The butler remembered that the stream had merely been showing a clip of this Mr. Yun Xi playing a game. The young master had suddenly stopped, turned around, and sat on the sofa. When an unexpected incident brought the livestream to an end, he suddenly announced that he wanted to go on the show for fun, giving everyone present a fright.

The hour passed quickly.

The livestream resumed. This time, there was only one shared stream.

Watching the viewer count skyrocket on the big screen, the director nodded in satisfaction. It had passed ten thousand, then a million. He had managed to catch this enormous wave of traffic after all.

Eighteen small boxes were set out on the beach, each labeled with the name of the food inside.

Each pair of guests stood at the starting line. They could only take one ring at a time. If they missed, they had to go back for another ring. The guest being carried could not touch the ground throughout the process.

Holding the plastic ring, Xu Wang spun it lightly around his arm. Wasn't this just the sort of ring he used to toss at geese whenever he went to the big market?

Almost every pair chose a piggyback carry.

The director gave a light blow on his whistle, and everyone ran toward the red line ahead.

"Just throw however you like, Wang. It's fine if you miss." Pei Yanchuan took the lead, reaching the red line first.

There were five meters between the red line and the ingredients they needed to ring.

Xu Wang smiled at Pei Yanchuan, casually raised his hand, and tossed.

The plastic ring landed squarely around the ingredients.

Nearby, the assistant director watched the big screen with some apprehension. "Boss, what if Xu Wang gets one on his first try?"

"How could he possibly get one on his first try? It's not like we haven't tested it. If he gets one, I'll bury my head in the sand and wash my hair." The director waved a hand in disbelief.

The moment the director finished speaking, gifts suddenly flooded the livestream.

Fireworks, carnivals, sports cars-there was everything.

The assistant director watched in bewilderment. Only when all the effects ended did he understand what had happened.

"B-Boss, Xu Wang got the seafood platter in the center!"

"How is that possible?!" Refusing to believe it, the director stood up. He had tried it himself yesterday and had not landed a single ring in half an hour. Was Xu Wang really that lucky?

[Awesome!]

[Xu Wang is way too good! I once spent a hundred yuan playing ring toss and didn't get a single thing. In the end, the owner couldn't bear to watch anymore and gave me a drink.]

[My sympathies to the commenter above for one second. Pat, pat.]

[Xu's Wife, what else is there that your emperor doesn't know about you? Even an omega like me is falling for you.]

[Me too. I'm a new fan.]

[I joined a fan group yesterday and found there were more omegas than alphas in it. Now I know why. (Snicker)]

[Xu Wang really is handsome!]

Xu Wang's first-try success gave everyone else quite a boost in confidence, and they all tossed their rings.

Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. Only Zhong Ran managed to get half his ring around a target. Everyone else either threw outside the ring toss area or sent their rings curving off course.

Looking at the ring that had flown straight out of bounds, Yun Xi looked a little embarrassed. Wasn't that a bit too far off?

Xu Wang was already back for his second attempt. This time, he handed the ring to Pei Yanchuan.

Pei Yanchuan did not refuse. He tossed it lightly forward and landed it cleanly.

That made everyone else envious.

On his second attempt, Qin Huai luckily landed a ring around some barbecue chicken wings.

Before Qin Huai could get excited over his prize, Gu Yunlan, who was carrying him, jumped for joy. Chicken wings! There would be chicken wings tonight.

Qin Huai's smile had only just begun to rise when it immediately flattened at the sight, and he reached out to slap Gu Yunlan on the back.

After that slap, Gu Yunlan immediately quieted down.

Yun Xi also handed his throwing opportunity to Jiang Xiubai.

Jiang Xiubai raised an eyebrow, took the ring from him, and casually tossed it forward.

"Got it!" Yun Xi cried excitedly as he watched the ring land on its target.

"This game's just all right. Pretty easy." Jiang Xiubai turned around with a haughty look.

By the end of the game, every pair had won some food, and the ingredients for that night's barbecue were secured.

At night, the sea looked pitch-black, with only the waves lapping against the shore in layers like the hem of a skirt.

The beach that had been bustling during the day was now empty, without a soul in sight. Everyone could clearly hear the sound of the waves.