When it was time to appear on the variety show the next day, Bai Jianwei still felt so embarrassed thinking about what had happened the night before that even his scalp tingled.
Even in his dreams last night, what he dreamed of was the look in his parents’ eyes as they watched the two of them with that “not-so-innocent” gaze, and Xiao Jiqing’s sentence, filled with expectation—
“Do you want to sell BL fanservice with me?”
Sell, sell, sell your big ghost head!
Bai Jianwei felt a little hot and restless. He lightly patted his face, wanting to drive the embarrassing memories from his mind. But things went against his wishes. The more he did not want to think about it, the deeper the memories became.
Xiao Jiqing’s words “sell BL fanservice” kept circling in his mind, and that gaze full of expectation was impossible to forget. It had practically become a lingering nightmare!
In the end, Bai Jianwei’s brain even began hallucinating. He saw himself nodding shyly, saw his CP with Xiao Jiqing exploding on Weibo, and saw himself leaping into the ranks of top traffic, becoming the light that illuminated the entertainment industry!
Bai Jianwei: “…”
His face turned horrified. Suddenly, he remembered the process of being brainwashed by Sang Qin last night, and he was so embarrassed that his toes nearly dug through the floor. His face turned bright red.
He knew his personality was easy to stir up, but he could not be that stirred up!
Although it was true that he was the light of the entertainment industry, there was still a very long way to go before reaching that goal, all right!
One had to be modest.
And Bai Xiao Wei deeply understood the ways of being a person.
The first matter, selling BL fanservice, had completely fallen through under his parents’ persuasion. After he returned to his room, he accepted the second matter—clearing up every scandal that had clung to him over the years.
Heavens! How could that possibly be easy!
Just thinking of all the labels marketing accounts had attached to him over the years made Bai Jianwei’s vision go black.
Acting like a big shot, having no friends in the industry, bullying others… basically, aside from issues of moral stance and principle, they had fabricated every negative label about him imaginable!
He might as well give up and let everything rot.
Bai Jianwei silently shrank into a corner of the car, watching the scenery outside flash past rapidly. Once again, he clutched his heart like Xi Shi, his face full of weakness.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated, just in time to shift his attention.
Bai Jianwei opened his eyes and impatiently looked at the message.
No matter who it was, anyone who could make him forget those embarrassing things right now was a great lifesaver!
【Guardian of Planet Xingxing: Bai Jianwei, I thought about it. For the sake of your career, I can also reluctantly cooperate with you in selling BL fanservice.】
Bai Jianwei: “…”
He wanted to forget, not be reminded and made to remember, thank you.
Bai Jianwei went mad and began typing coldly and ruthlessly.
【Already a Salted Fish: I’m still a child. I have to listen to my parents. And didn’t you refuse last night?】
Bai Jianwei had explained what happened last night for a very long time. In his memory, only one earnest sentence from his mother remained: “Baby, with our family, if you want the stars in the sky, I can buy them down for you. Why suffer by hyping a CP to gain popularity? Mom can use money power to buy you tens of millions of fans.”
Once those words came out, Bai Jianwei was left speechless.
And what had Xiao Jiqing’s attitude been at the time?
He had merely lowered his eyes and said heartlessly, “Auntie is right.”
So, since you did not cherish such a good opportunity, do not even think about it now!
Bai Jianwei was furious. His gaze remained fixed on the words “the other party is typing” at the top of the phone screen. He wanted to see exactly what a certain someone could reply with!
Five minutes passed… no, ten minutes. Bai Jianwei’s eyes were almost going blind from staring, and finally, a message appeared in the chat box.
【Guardian of Planet Xingxing: For the sake of your career, we can hide it from the parents and secretly sell a little BL.】
…Student Xiao, you are so shameless.
Was this not basically having an affair behind the parents’ backs?
Bai Jianwei instantly flipped his phone face down and subconsciously looked toward Bai Yun, who was sitting beside him. When she strangely asked, “What’s wrong?” the hormones in his brain surged, and he actually felt the thrill of secretly having an affair behind the parents’ backs…
It seemed rather exciting.
Bai Jianwei swallowed, his gaze blank, feeling ashamed of the strange associations in his mind.
He gripped his phone tightly, not daring to reply to that sentence. He wanted to pretend to be dead and let the matter be completely turned over.
After that, Xiao Jiqing did not send another message.
Because they had arrived at their destination.
Clear mountains and beautiful waters. Towering mountains rose one after another, mist curling around them, and houses lined up in neat rows. It was like a fairyland.
At a glance, it was a place very suited for wilderness survival.
The director said reservedly, “Hello, everyone. This is the place where we will soon begin our wilderness survival.”
Everyone exclaimed in amazement.
At the same time, the livestream opened.
【Wah wah wah, I’ve been squatting here all day! The livestream is finally on!】
【Looking forward to it, looking forward to it! Of course, I’m not looking forward to the wilderness survival segment, but to the performance of these strange talents!】
【Let me see what other surprises are waiting for this emperor!】
【No, wait, this location… looks a little familiar.】
【Shouldn’t they be doing wilderness survival in some deep mountain forest or on some island? Why are there still households here?】
【Why does this feel a bit different from the celebrity wilderness survival shows I usually watch?】
The director asked, “Did everyone bring the water and food I asked you to prepare yourselves?”
“All ready!” everyone replied in unison.
At this moment, every person was pretending to carry a hiking bag prepared by the director. It did not matter whether it met proper standards or not. In any case, each one looked packed full, complete with tents, sleeping bags, and moisture-proof mats. Under the director’s reminder, they had even brought enough food.
Everyone had even brought a pair of slippers.
They just did not know what they were for.
Even Little Bastard, a weak and helpless dog who only knew how to act cute every day, was carrying a pink bag on his back, filled with several days’ worth of his rations.
Right now, looking at the beautiful waters and green mountains, the scenery absent from the city, everyone was in an exceptionally good mood, and they ignored many unreasonable details.
“Very good,” the director said with satisfaction. “Then next, we begin our first stop: entering the mountain!”
The moment the director said “entering the mountain,” all the cars that had just brought them there started up and drove away. Everyone followed the muddy road upward, beginning the long journey into the mountain.
…Wait. Wasn’t something strange somewhere?
Bai Jianwei had seen wilderness survival on other variety shows before, and he spoke strangely. “Director, from what I’ve seen of other people’s shows, it isn’t like this. Aren’t we supposed to be forbidden from bringing food and other things, then have professionals lead us through wilderness survival? This… What does ours count as?”
“And also, if we’re entering the mountain, then fine, but why are there villages everywhere?”
The director guiltily touched his nose.
With Bai Jianwei bringing it up, everyone finally reacted and began asking all at once.
“Exactly, isn’t this just a small village?”
“It’s already strange enough that we have tents, but you even specially reminded us to bring food? Then what else do we need to do?”
“We have food and shelter. What kind of wilderness survival is this?”
“There are still tasks!” the director shouted loudly, not in the right but still bold. “You’ll know once you get up the mountain!”
“Fine…” Everyone put away their suspicion and obediently carried their bags up the mountain.
But the livestream room became lively.
【This… looks like a base.】
【The person upstairs may be thinking the same thing I am. It’s quite famous among primary and middle schools in Jing City.】
【Famous among primary and middle schools? What are you talking about? Isn’t this wilderness survival?】
This stretch of road was truly long.
As the journey went on, there were fewer and fewer households. Only then did everyone’s raised hearts ease slightly. It should be a proper… wilderness survival, right?
Probably?
The hearts everyone had just lowered rose again.
Because of Bai Jianwei’s doubts, as well as everyone’s impression that the production team was unreliable, the atmosphere during the climb became extremely stagnant. The director did not get the effect he wanted at all. One by one, everyone honestly carried their hiking bags and climbed upward.
Only when the camera moved to Bai Jianwei’s family, along with the attached Xiao Jiqing, was there barely a little more topicality.
Xiao Jiqing said reservedly, “These are too light for me. Seeing that you’re so tired, give me some to carry.”
Everyone knew perfectly well who this “you” referred to.
Bai Jianwei followed his gaze and looked over. Seeing Xiao Jiqing’s broad, straight back, relaxed steps, and calm way of walking the dog, he did indeed look very at ease.
But this was not a reason for him to mock him!
He was not tired. He was not tired at all, all right!
“…I can do it.”
Seeing this, Bai Yun immediately said, “Weiwei, are you tired? Let your dad carry more. He prefers lifting heavy things.”
The corner of Rong Sinian’s mouth twitched. “Yes, I prefer carrying heavy things. Weiwei, give them to me.”
Bai Jianwei: “…”
He really had not become weak to that extent.
A man could not say he could not do it! Especially not in front of the camera! He still had an idol image to maintain!
Bai Jianwei rushed to the front in one breath, panting as he climbed upward. “No need. I’m not tired at all.”
Bai Yun froze in surprise.
She thought of the little Weiwei who, when he went out to play as a child, would complain about being tired and act spoiled, asking to be carried. Then she looked at the figure ahead, carrying heavy things, walking slowly, yet not saying a word…
Bai Yun lowered her eyes.
Xiao Jiqing immediately followed with Little Bastard on the leash. “You really don’t need my help? I’m very relaxed.”
Bai Jianwei’s steps paused slightly. Flustered and exasperated, he turned his head. “Stop talking!”
How could there be someone like this? Just earlier, he said he wanted to sell BL fanservice, and now he had begun a chain of mockery! He could forget about selling BL fanservice for the rest of his life!!
Xiao Jiqing fell silent. Then he suddenly moved closer and said sincerely, “Sorry. I just wanted to help you carry some things.”
Bai Jianwei: “…”
After a long silence, he said dryly, “No need. Thank you for your kindness. I really can do it.”
【The collision of speeches between two dead-straight men, hahahaha.】
【I thought Xiao Jiqing, being so cool and arrogant, must be a straight man. I didn’t expect Weiwei to be even straighter here?!】
【So what if they’re straight men? They’re handsome.】
【That final direct ball was so sweet!】
【I’ll love direct-ball people for life! And Weiwei’s ears are red! Red!】
【Bai Jianwei doesn’t act that much like a big shot either. So many people offered to help him carry things, but isn’t he still carrying them properly by himself?】
The tips of Bai Jianwei’s ears were slightly red, and he walked silently.
Perhaps because they had been climbing the mountain the whole way, his whole body felt unbearably restless, hot, and stuffy.
He thought, How can Xiao Jiqing be like this? How did he even learn to apologise? This made Bai Jianwei unable to scold him even if he wanted to.
Also, did he still remember the matter of selling BL fanservice or not?
Thinking all sorts of thoughts along the way, his mind taking seven or eight turns, they soon reached the destination.
The director had sharp eyes and immediately saw the fenced area. He picked up the loudspeaker and shouted, “We’ve arrived at the destination!”
Hm??
Everyone raised their eyes.
The first thing they saw was a small mountain villa, with several large words written on it in striking characters—Wilderness Survival Base.
B-base?
Everyone was completely dumbfounded.
【It actually really is this place…】
【Is this production team really that poor??】
【Let me think about what other people’s wilderness survival shows are like. Professionals, high-end equipment, and some even rent out an island.】
【This??? Help, isn’t this the wilderness survival club I went to as a child? It really only has a few activities, and they’re very, very boring!!】
【What did the director say yesterday again? A different kind of wilderness survival. It really is different, hehe.】
【Hahahahaha, seeing everyone dumbfounded makes me have no regrets!】
“This is the different kind of wilderness survival you were talking about?”
Bai Jianwei’s outstretched finger trembled, and he was furious.
The wilderness survival he had been looking forward to was not like this! It should have been the high-end, impressive kind where they drilled wood to make fire themselves, searched for water and food, and built their own shelter!
How could it be just an ordinary base!
The director shrank his neck. “It is indeed unusual. Look how peaceful and free it is. The main thing is that our funding really is limited…”
The final sentence was spoken very quietly.
Bai Jianwei closed his eyes and tried to ask calmly, “…Tell us honestly. How much per person?”
“Three hundred. There’s also a group discount.”
Bai Jianwei: “…”
I’ll kill you!!!
