Xie Lin climbed back into his room from the balcony, his little face flushed with excitement.
After fiddling with his phone a few times, he curled his lips and cackled.
"What are you looking at?"
"Ah-"
Xie Lin had been concentrating so hard that the sudden voice sent his heart pounding in fright. He turned and smacked the intruder upside the head.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? Don't you know you can scare someone to death?"
Lu Ye rubbed his head, looking aggrieved.
"I only came to ask if you wanted some pheromones. Who knew you wouldn't hear all that noise..."
"No. Piss off!"
"Babe~ You can't just use me and toss me aside!"
"I just did. Go complain to whoever you want!"
"How about a little bite for fun?"
Xie Lin tilted his head to look at him, his expression murderous.
Lu Ye shuffled a step to the side and pouted.
"Babe, you're so mean!"
But I love it!
"Did you climb through the window again?"
"Yeah. The door's too obvious."
Xie Lin was a little puzzled.
"Is there something you can't let people see?"
Lu Ye held up two fingers, his expression solemn.
"...Of course not. The sun and moon can bear witness to my feelings for you!"
Xie Lin rolled his eyes and covered his phone with his hand.
"Hurry up and go back. Look at the time. I want to sleep."
"...Fine!"
Lu Ye reluctantly climbed straight back into his own room, took out his phone, and made a call.
"I'll give you a number. Check what's on his phone later. Don't let anyone find out."
"No problem, boss!"
Lu Ye lifted his eyelids and looked out at the dark night, the corners of his mouth rising slightly.
How could I let my babe take the lead on something so dangerous?
In the room opposite, Yu Zhiwei, who had been drinking yogurt, suddenly straightened and looked around in confusion.
"What was that sound?"
Yue Lan covered her ears with both hands.
"Don't listen!"
"What was it?"
Yue Lan smiled faintly.
"Who cares!"
At seven in the morning, Xie Lin opened his door, feeling refreshed-
Bang!
The camera nearly rammed into his face!
[I've honestly been wondering why Xie Lin got so much hate before. Could a certain scumbag Fu have ordered it?]
[Exactly. With looks like these-and he's completely barefaced, right? He leaves a certain precious baby in the dust.]
[Taking our precious Ningbao away. Don't come near us. Get lost, Xie the dog!]
At the sight of the cameraman's expressionless face, Xie Lin's shoulders immediately slumped.
"...No breakfast for me."
The camera bobbed up and down, as though stifling laughter.
Just then, a sickly-sweet voice rang out from behind the camera.
"Good morning!"
The cameraman whipped the camera around.
Dressed in pure white sportswear, He Jianing tilted his head and winked playfully. A closer look revealed carefully applied makeup on his face.
[Our Ningbao's looks are out of this world. He's so gorgeous! Taking him away for kisses!]
[His foundation's as thick as wall putty, and you can still praise that? Did He Jianing buy shills?]
[I just want to ask how old He Jianing is now. Why is he still pouting and acting cute? Isn't that disgusting?]
[Wait, who's this pighead? Don't tell me that's Fu Yunxi. His face still hasn't healed?]
Fu Yunxi's old injuries had healed, only for new ones to appear. His nose was swollen as though he had rosacea.
Facing the camera, he turned sideways toward He Jianing and flashed what he thought was an affectionate smile.
"Thank you for helping me put on the medicine. It's much better now."
"You're welcome. We're best friends, after all!"
He Jianing blushed faintly and lowered his head with a small smile.
In truth, he was so disgusted he nearly threw up last night's dinner.
Was Fu Yunxi's face ever going to get better?
[Xi Paper Wraps Ning is so sweet. I'm dying over this ship.]
[Has Fu Yunxi finally realized he got dumped?]
[How strange. Those two still seemed so awkward the day before yesterday. How did they end up like this today?]
[Hmm... Let's keep watching!]
[What's there to watch? A scumbag alpha and a trashy omega. They should stay together forever!]
[What did our precious Ning ever do to you? Get lost if you don't want to watch!]
[Nothing. I just hate how fake and manipulative he is. And he's supposedly Fu's unattainable love? Such a noble little homewrecker!]
[Ha, isn't your President Lu a homewrecker too? He knew they were engaged and still stole him!]
The moment Lu Ye stepped outside, he saw the two of them flaunting their affection, and his eyes filled with disdain.
Then he spotted Xie Lin, and his eyes instantly lit up. He darted over, his voice especially loud.
"Babe, did you sleep well last night?"
"..."
Xie Lin picked at his ear, utterly speechless.
Before he could speak, his gaze suddenly sharpened. Yu Zhiwei and Yue Lan had actually come out of the same room.
"Everyone here?"
The director popped up from who knew where, holding a little pink megaphone.
"You've had a whole day to rest, so everyone's stamina should be replenished, right? Then let's-head out!"
"Where?"
The director grinned, looking thoroughly ill-intentioned.
"Moon-Covering Forest."
Xie Lin raised his eyebrows slightly.
"That's a pretty nice name."
"Nice, isn't it?"
Lu Ye grinned and began showing off as though seeking praise.
"I think so too!"
Xie Lin glanced at him, even more certain that this island most likely belonged to him.
Everyone boarded an all-electric bus and arrived at the edge of the Moon-Covering Forest in less than half an hour.
Wearing oversized slippers, the director instructed the crew to start pitching tents.
"This game is called Jungle Survival. There are three little flags at the finish line. The first team to get one and return here right away wins."
"Supplies have been placed along the route: bottled water, compressed biscuits, whole-wheat bread, medical supplies, and so on."
His gaze swept across the guests' faces one by one.
"Since this is a dating show, everyone also has a Hidden Task they must complete. Otherwise, your result won't count."
He turned to the crew and signaled for them to bring the cards over for the guests to draw.
Then he looked at Lu Ye.
"President Lu, would you like to use your Privilege Card?"
Lu Ye tilted his head, thought for a moment, and shook his head.
"Not yet!"
The director nodded.
Once the guests had drawn their cards, he began announcing the teams-
Xie Lin and Fu Yunxi were one team, Yue Lan and Yu Zhiwei another, and Lu Ye and He Jianing the third.
"Your ranking determines dinner. First place only has to eat. Second place cooks and eats. Third place-not only has to cook, but doesn't get dinner."
Fu Yunxi spoke instinctively.
"So we just go hungry?"
Xie Lin's intolerance for stupidity flared up. He silently retreated a few steps to avoid being infected.
Lu Ye didn't indulge him in the slightest.
"Has Film Emperor Fu's wound infected his brain? You don't get dinner, but aren't there supplies? Were you planning to eat them all along the way?"
"..."
Fu Yunxi opened his mouth, then grew smug again at the thought of being teamed up with Xie Lin.
The live comments instantly erupted in curses.
[What the hell are these teams? Why split up our Xi Paper Wraps Ning?]
[Breaking up my Lu-Lin ship? You'd need at least ten years of brain damage to pull this!]
[Poor Tao Miaomiao. Not only does he have to win, he has to carry an idiot too.]
[Seriously, Fu Yunxi should get his brain checked.]
He Jianing's eyes lit up, and he looked shyly at Lu Ye.
"President Lu, sorry for the trouble in advance."
Lu Ye looked at the director resentfully.
"Can I switch teammates? I don't want to carry dead weight."
Already anticipating that today's trending topics would blow up, the director shook his head with a broad smile.
"Nope!"
"What kind of lousy dating show is this? Haven't you seen that Xie Lin and I have the most support online?"
Ignored and called dead weight, He Jianing turned a little pale and lowered his head, looking aggrieved.
Fu Yunxi stood beside Xie Lin, watching him out of the corner of his eye, unable to conceal his delight.
"Stay close to me in a bit."
"Tch. Just don't hold me back!"
"You're an omega. Why do you have to be so tough?"
"I have to be tough because you're useless!"
Fu Yunxi immediately exploded, his face and neck flushing with anger.
"How am I useless?"
Xie Lin remained expressionless.
"In every way!"
Before you continue