Chapter 62 – Putting On an Act

“No way, is it going to rain just as we arrived?” Fan Feimiao wailed. He had been counting on resting once they got across the river.

Qi Yushuo concealed the surprise in his eyes and looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were gradually gathering overhead. Judging by their thickness, this was bound to be a heavy downpour.

“We…” Qi Yushuo had just started to speak when he was casually interrupted by Zhong Jingyi.

He smiled at Lin Ganzhi’s group and asked, “What a coincidence, you took a detour too? So fast? How come we didn’t see you on the way?”

With a look that all but screamed, Did you cheat?, Zhong Jingyi slowly approached.

Lin Ganzhi ignored the fake smile on Zhong Jingyi’s face and his loaded words, replying coolly, “We didn’t take a detour. Weren’t there vines by the side of the path? We swung over. What, don’t tell me you didn’t see that big vine?” Lin Ganzhi’s question was deliberately sharp, like little daggers stabbing at Zhong Jingyi’s fragile heart.

Zhong Jingyi’s expression turned ugly for a moment. Facing the camera, he forced a smile. “Oh, is that so? I was more concerned about my team’s safety, so I chose the safest route.”

BOOM!

As soon as he finished speaking, another clap of thunder echoed through the sky.

A smile touched Lin Ganzhi’s eyes, but his words were pious. “I see. Then you should hurry and set up your tents. A kind person like you, Jingyi, surely wouldn’t want your teammates to get caught in the rain, right?”

Standing behind him, Wenren Yi clenched her fists. If it weren’t for the cameras, she really would have given Lin Ganzhi a round of applause! That was a perfect comeback!

Zhong Jingyi nearly ground his back teeth to dust, but he had to endure it. He turned to his teammates and said, “It’s about to rain. Let’s set up the tents first. Qi Yushuo, you’ll be with Feimiao. I’ll be with Yuanzhou…”

“Our tents won’t withstand a storm of this magnitude. We need to find some sturdy trees for a frame,” Qi Yushuo said, suppressing his displeasure and offering a serious analysis.

Lin Ganzhi’s group was almost done with their preparations. They had even built a small shelter to shield their fire from the rain. Now they were sitting on soft piles of grass, sharing bananas. Compared to Zhong Jingyi’s team, they were simply too comfortable!

Lin Ganzhi and his friends’ gazes occasionally drifted to the other team. If only they had some sunflower seeds, it would be even better.

Having his decision so bluntly rejected, Zhong Jingyi almost lost his composure. He had been upset ever since his argument with Qi Yushuo about crossing the river, and now, in front of Lin Ganzhi, Qi Yushuo was still acting so independently, putting him in an awkward position.

“But it’s about to rain. Finding those materials will be very time-consuming. I saw some rocks by the river; we can just pile them on the four corners of the tent. I’ve said it before, we can’t do things without guarantees. Even though this is wilderness survival, in my team, the safety of my members is more important than anything else,” Zhong Jingyi declared righteously.

Lin Ganzhi pouted. It was truly something else to be arguing and still take a swipe at their group.

Lu Xi quietly leaned over, his boyish face filled with confusion. “Is he… scolding us?”

Before Lin Ganzhi could answer, Zhong Jingyi turned around, his brows furrowed. “I was just talking to my teammates. Please don’t try to stir up trouble!”

Suddenly being called out, Lu Xi quickly grew scared. His handsome features scrunched up, and he even scooted back a few steps, right up to Wenren Yi who was sitting inside. Wenren Yi was speechless at this silly goose. Who whispers so loudly that others can hear?

She rubbed the goofball’s head and said to Zhong Jingyi, “Sorry about that. Our kid’s social skills are still a work in progress. You guys go on, we’ll just eat.”

Mindful of the cameras, Zhong Jingyi could only turn back in frustration.

Lin Ganzhi was trying hard to hold back his laughter when Lu Xi tugged on his sleeve again and asked earnestly, “Ganzhi, was Wenren just scolding me?”

“Pfft!” Lin Ganzhi burst out laughing.

Que Jin had wanted to maintain her goddess-like image, but Lu Xi’s antics made her laugh as well. Zhong Jingyi, with his back to them, had an extremely ugly expression on his face.

But what annoyed him even more was what Qi Yushuo said next.

“If you think my decision is bad, you don’t have to follow it. Conversely, if I think your decision is problematic, I also have the right not to follow it. Three people can fit in one tent. You guys can set yours up. You can have my share of the tent too.” After saying that, Qi Yushuo turned and walked towards the depths of the jungle.

Zhong Jingyi’s lips trembled, unable to form a single word.

Luan Yuanzhou unzipped the tent. “Jingyi, it’s about to rain. Let’s hurry and set up. We’ll set up two.” Luan Yuanzhou was still relatively calm. This wasn’t a friendly outing; their fame and popularity in the entertainment industry were already sufficient, so there was no need to attract negative attention.

“Qi Yushuo has his own ideas. If he doesn’t succeed, at least he’ll have a place to stay when he comes back.”

Under Luan Yuanzhou’s gaze, Zhong Jingyi gradually calmed down. Although Fan Feimiao complained, Luan Yuanzhou’s commanding presence kept him in check, and he had no choice but to start working.

Lin Ganzhi, listening from the side, realized that Luan Yuanzhou was one of the few sensible people there.

The dark clouds pressed lower and lower. By the seventh clap of thunder, Qi Yushuo returned, dragging a tree trunk and palm leaves. By then, Zhong Jingyi’s group had already set up their tents.

Luan Yuanzhou was trying to start a fire, but the damp ground and the few remaining dry grasses made his task difficult.

Qi Yushuo placed the materials between Lin Ganzhi’s and Zhong Jingyi’s tents, slightly closer to Zhong Jingyi’s side, and began to build without a word.

It was the first time Lin Ganzhi had seen Qi Yushuo work. He could build the frame in three or four minutes, and he didn’t even frown at physical tasks like lifting and securing the logs. Then came weaving the roof; his handiwork was countless times more skillful than theirs, and he had none of the airs of a celebrity.

It had to be said, Zhong Jingyi had really gotten lucky this time.

Lin Ganzhi watched, completely engrossed, marveling inwardly. So you can tie it like that, and wrap it around like that!

Qi Yushuo also noticed the gaze from Lin Ganzhi’s side, but he didn’t pay it much mind. The most important thing now was to build the shelter to a degree where it wouldn’t be washed away by the heavy rain. The palm leaves on the ground were dwindling, and by the time he got to the last corner, they were all used up.

Suddenly, a deep red bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder. The downpour had arrived, and raindrops the size of beans began to pelt the ground.

Qi Yushuo’s hands paused, his gaze falling on the corner that was not yet covered with palm leaves.

Zhong Jingyi and the others had already scrambled into their tent, its four corners weighted down with rocks. Fan Feimiao waved at Qi Yushuo, but Qi Yushuo frowned and didn’t go over.

“We don’t need these, just throw them away. Yep, throw them away!” Lin Ganzhi, holding a pile of leftover palm leaves, tossed them at Qi Yushuo’s feet in front of the two cameramen, then quickly darted back into his own shelter.

Brother Chen gave Lin Ganzhi a meaningful look.

Lin Ganzhi feigned ignorance with a straight face. “Huh? Does the show have a rule against littering leaves?”

There was no such rule.

Brother Chen reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

Qi Yushuo looked at the palm leaves at his feet, then at Lin Ganzhi, who was peeking at him from inside the shelter. Pink hair, round almond eyes… he looked like a squirrel he had raised as a child. Qi Yushuo was stunned for a few seconds, his heart feeling as if it had been tickled by a feather. He picked them up before the rain got heavier.

Seeing that Qi Yushuo had quickly patched up the last corner and ducked inside to take shelter from the rain, Lin Ganzhi finally looked away. Suddenly, something landed at his feet. It was a bundle wrapped in leaves. Lin Ganzhi looked outside and saw Qi Yushuo retracting his hand.

“I picked it up. It’s useless. I didn’t hit you, did I?” Qi Yushuo apologized with a straight face. His tone was a bit low, but not cold.

“It’s fine. Is it a rock?” Lin Ganzhi unwrapped the leaves. It was a white, somewhat transparent solid.

Qi Yushuo was silent for a moment, then grunted in affirmation. “I found it on the road. If you think it’s fun, you can keep it to play with.”

Lin Ganzhi’s index finger scraped the edge of the rock, and the fragile crystal produced some white powder. It was mineral salt!

Lin Ganzhi quickly replied, “Sure, it caught my eye. I can add it to my collection.”

The cameraman, Brother Chen, and the audience in the live stream were speechless.

[Could this be… the legendary Crystal Salt?]

[The way you guys are exchanging supplies… you’re constantly jumping between being smart and being dumb.]

[I think they’re repeatedly testing the director’s limits. Hahahahaha!]

[I think Lin Ganzhi is pretty nice! Not at all like what they say online. He even gave my idol supplies!]

[Is it just me, or is Qi Yushuo most natural when he’s talking to Lin Ganzhi?]

[Yeah, yeah, and he even jokes around. My Brother Qi rarely jokes with his own teammates!]

[Hehehe, I ship it again~ Is Lin Ganzhi a universal match? He looks good with everyone~]

The rain grew heavier, accompanied by strong winds. Lin Ganzhi stretched, and suddenly heard a commotion, faintly mixed with screams. When he poked his head out, he saw Zhong Jingyi’s tent not far away being blown over. The rocks that had just been holding it together were now scattered by the wind. Of course, the tent they were living in had been blown down.

In the downpour, Qi Yushuo emerged from his shelter, his tall figure looking remarkably composed.

He first went to grab Fan Feimiao’s tent, which was on the verge of being blown into the river. Fan Feimiao took the opportunity to crawl out of the tent, but before he could even thank Qi Yushuo, the man had already run to the other end to rescue the others.

“Fuck!” Wenren Yi couldn’t help but curse. Fortunately, Brother Chen was filming outside and didn’t catch them. Lin Ganzhi made a “shush” gesture at Wenren. Although Fan Feimiao’s behavior was despicable, that was how the entertainment industry worked—you suck up to whoever the big shot is. It was fine to disapprove, but there was no need to get dragged into the mess.

Qi Yushuo only stood there for two seconds before going over to help Fan Feimiao secure the tent. Zhong Jingyi was the first to get out, his cheekbones visibly bruised. Luan Yuanzhou looked even worse, with blood trickling down his forehead, though it was quickly washed away by the rain.

“Go over there.” Qi Yushuo pointed to the shelter he had built. It wasn’t large, and the materials were limited. Zhong Jingyi helped Luan Yuanzhou rush inside first, followed by Fan Feimiao. By the time Qi Yushuo went over, he could only sit at the very edge, where he would be drenched by the rain if he wasn’t careful.

This incident immediately sparked outrage. Qi Yushuo’s fans had never seen their idol suffer such injustice.

[Hello? Can I ask if these three have any semblance of being seniors? Learn from Lin Ganzhi’s group!]