Chapter 65 – A Past Birthday
That single arrow not only stunned the entire internet but also made Yan Shengping, who was working in his study, hold his breath for a moment. Decisive, calm—not at all like the person who was as docile as a baby by his side.
He had lied to him again.
Ever since Lin Ganzhi’s team developed their own bows and arrows, Qi Yushuo’s team stopped holding back as well. They came up with all sorts of traps based on various principles, giving the live stream audience a fancy lesson. It was absurd that one could learn about designing mechanisms just by watching a variety show these days.
When Qi Yushuo caught a wild chicken, Wenren Yi used her terrifying arm strength to draw her bow and shoot a wild boar.
When Qi Yushuo discovered wild berries, Lin Ganzhi, with his agile body, climbed a seven or eight-meter-tall wild papaya tree to knock down papayas.
Under the intense competition, the show’s direction became increasingly outrageous. Fans were shouting: We sent you here to survive, not to become overlords of the forest!
But while they said that, their bodies were very honest. Right after saying it, they would comment below, “More! More!”
Several famous domestic wilderness survival bloggers even reposted the variety show and mentioned in their own videos that they hoped to have a chance to adventure with Lin Ganzhi, Qi Yushuo, and Wenren Yi, which in turn added another wave of popularity to the show.
After all, when this variety show was first announced, many loyal fans of wilderness survival and professionals had mocked it, saying that the entertainment industry was crazy for money, trying to cash in on this kind of popularity. They never expected the show to unearth such survival experts from today’s entertainment circle. This wasn’t survival; this was a forest food festival, wasn’t it?
Amidst all the online discussion and praise, the second episode was finally nearing its end. After seeing Brother Chen off, Lin Ganzhi would spend his last night in this rainforest. He surprisingly felt a sense of not having had enough.
At eight o’clock, everyone’s excitement had yet to fade, so they gathered around to chat. Although Qi Yushuo had been their competitor these past few days, they had gradually started to talk to each other. At least, it was more open than the conversations in his original group.
So when Qi Yushuo came out to bury the food scraps, Lin Ganzhi asked if he wanted to come over and sit for a while. Qi Yushuo surprisingly agreed and sat with them by the campfire.
Zhong Jingyi and the others saw this but didn’t say anything. They just glanced over coldly and went back to rest.
The group of young people chatted about everything under the sun.
“Do you like shrimp?” Qi Yushuo asked when Wenren Yi mentioned Lin Ganzhi’s previous desire for a seafood feast.
Lin Ganzhi scratched his head, a little shy. “I like all seafood.” A true foodie at heart.
“Then I’ll send you some,” Qi Yushuo said without a hint of hesitation.
“Huh? Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?” Lin Ganzhi was surprised.
Qi Yushuo smiled. “It’s fine. My family lives by the sea. My parents are fishermen, so catching shrimp is free. At most, it’ll just cost some delivery fees. It’s no trouble.” Qi Yushuo spoke about his family without any attempt to hide it, not caring about the entertainment industry’s obsession with status and family background.
“Wow, thank you in advance then. I’ll add you later. I’m so envious that you live by the sea. Does that mean you can eat lobster and sea fish whenever you want?” Lin Ganzhi asked with interest.
Qi Yushuo looked at Lin Ganzhi’s sincere expression, and his features softened. “Pretty much. If you have time someday, I’ll invite you to my place. The seafood is freshest right after it’s caught. You can even sit on a fishing boat and eat freshly cut sea urchin.”
Lin Ganzhi’s face was filled with longing. After Yan Shengping recovered and they divorced, he could actually go visit Qi Yushuo while traveling the world.
“Hehe, it’s a date then. When I have time, I’ll come visit you. I’ve never really been to the seaside for fun before!” Lin Ganzhi got very excited when talking about food.
“Can… can I go?” Lu Xi looked on eagerly. He was really craving it.
“Sure, you can all come to my place then. My parents are very hospitable,” Qi Yushuo said with a smile in his eyes.
Lin Ganzhi was especially happy to hear that. He loved making plans with friends to do things together. It seemed like this had almost never happened in his previous life. Back then, he was busy with work, busy saving money for a house, and never truly enjoyed this kind of happiness.
“By the way, Ganzhi, isn’t your boyfriend Mr. Yan’s birthday coming up? I think it’s… the day after tomorrow?” Que Jin suddenly mentioned.
A big question mark appeared in Lin Ganzhi’s mind. Crap, he seemed to have completely forgotten about this. His boss’s birthday was the day after tomorrow!!!
“You… you didn’t forget, did you?” Que Jin asked, her question hitting him right where it hurt.
Lin Ganzhi froze completely. At the last moment, he decided to be stubborn. “How-how could I? I’ll go back and prepare for his birthday right after filming ends tomorrow!”
Everyone present cast him a look of disbelief. Under their gazes, the little pink-haired boy gradually felt his confidence waver.
“Uh, um,” Lin Ganzhi nervously fiddled with his hands, then had a flash of inspiration. “Sister Que Jin, how did you know Yan Shengping’s birthday?”
Oh boy. Now everyone’s attention was focused on Que Jin.
Que Jin looked shocked and said, “Did none of you read the news last year? The President of Zhong’s Chips’ twenty-eighth birthday was such a sensational event!”
After she spoke, four faces looked back at her, completely bewildered.
Only then did Que Jin realize that Wenren Yi had just returned to the country this year and wasn’t familiar with the domestic scene.
Lu Xi, though from a wealthy family, was a homebody who probably only knew what day it was.
Qi Yushuo had also just come into prominence this year. Last year, he was probably still in college.
Emm, okay, she understood.
“Well, let me put it this way. I was lucky enough to accompany my company’s boss to the banquet last year after winning a relatively important award. The venue was the largest manor in the city. I heard that the owner of that manor never easily lends it out, but on Mr. Yan’s birthday, he permanently opened the manor to him,” Que Jin said, the admiration in her eyes almost overflowing.
“At that time, I was standing in the most remote corner of the banquet hall, a hall that could accommodate over a thousand people. Your boyfriend, Mr. Yan, was wearing the most understated haute couture suit and standing in the center of the crowd. I didn’t even get a clear look at his face. Reporters weren’t allowed into the banquet hall, but every socialite who came out was excited, saying things like he was of ‘outstanding character and appearance’ and ‘extraordinary and imposing.’ There, I saw big shots from various industries, as well as many seniors from our circle who hadn’t made public appearances in years—directors, writers, veteran actors. Even though I was just a passerby at that banquet, after that night, the level of endorsements and advertisements that came my way improved by more than just a little.”
Que Jin felt her description was still too inadequate. The shock that night had brought her was far more than what she had just said.
It was also the first time Lin Ganzhi had heard such high praise for Yan Shengping from someone else. This didn’t seem like the same petty, temperamental Yan Shengping who refused to eat when he was upset.
After finishing, Que Jin patted Lin Ganzhi’s shoulder again and said, “I don’t even know how to describe it. I can only say that your boyfriend is a very, very amazing person. The brilliance of that night was all created by him alone. I can’t imagine someone who is only 28 years old could be so successful. Keep it up, believe in your boyfriend. If he can succeed once, he can do it a second time.”
Indeed, he was already preparing for the second time. Lin Ganzhi patted his chest. Luckily, he hadn’t opposed him back then, nor had he been in a hurry to leave. Otherwise, how could he be living such a comfortable life now, with a monthly salary of one million? He had never even dared to dream of it before.
Wait, if last year was so glorious, with this year’s situation, wouldn’t his boss feel a sense of disappointment?
He had to buy a gift to cheer him up. What did Yan Shengping like? He had never asked. Every day, Yan Shengping was either looking at his computer or his tablet; he had never seen him have any other special hobbies.
Lin Ganzhi frowned in frustration. It was his oversight.
In the firelight, Qi Yushuo saw Lin Ganzhi’s slightly troubled face and gradually lowered his gaze.