Chapter Six: The Little White Flower Strategy Fails...

Xia Shuang’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes filled with panic and bewilderment. To think that Yu Zhi actually...

Having dealt with Xia Shuang, Yu Zhi picked up the fallen sickle, readjusted her sun-shielding fisherman’s hat, and walked a few paces ahead to put some distance between herself and the others. Glancing sideways, she caught a glimpse of Xia Shuang’s expression and struggled to suppress a smile.

With this settled, she should be able to enjoy some peace for a while. Unless Xia Shuang caused trouble during the filming, she wouldn't necessarily insist on a scorched-earth policy; it was just competition, and Xia Shuang was not yet enough of a threat to fear.

Xia Shuang pressed her arms against the ground, only daring to relax after watching Yu Zhi walk away. Ignoring the mud staining her clothes, she remained slumped on the ground for a long time, unable to get up. Rumors in the circle claimed that Yu Zhi played for both teams—it turned out not to be a lie. If she had been targeted by Yu Zhi, did she even have a way to survive?

...

As the sun set, everyone felt a chill creeping into the air. The director instructed the staff to tally the labor results for each team.

"Without further ado, you’ve all experienced our warm-up session this afternoon. Now, let’s discuss the most important matter: accommodation."

The director reached out, drawing everyone’s gaze behind him. "Across the wheat field is your lodging. You will spend seven pleasant days here."

"Since some of you didn't check the filming guidelines, the staff will reissue them shortly. Over the next seven days, everything from your food, clothing, and housing to your dating allowance must be exchanged using points."

"Points are your currency..."

The director spoke with great passion, but the guests he faced were all slumped on the ground, lacking the energy to respond. Except for Bai Fuyuan, who still wore a smile, the others had forgotten their grudges, leaning on each other in exhausted heaps.

Zhao Liheng, carrying a palm-leaf fan, nodded with endless satisfaction. It was worth setting this as the opening segment. With a group of such delicate, haughty people who couldn't stand the sight of one another, weren't they here to make a joke out of a dating show? If they could tear each other apart just by trying to date, he wouldn't need to produce a show—they might as well just slap each other in the face.

The more he watched, the more pleased he became. Zhao Liheng wished they could film the rest of the show in this state, if only he weren't afraid of working them to death... He rolled his eyes, cleared his throat, and continued, "Based on the results just tallied, I will now announce tomorrow’s groupings."

"The team of Yu Zhi, Shen Jiayu, and Xia Shuang takes the top spot, with each receiving 20 points. Next is the team of Bai Fuyuan and Shi Hailing, with 15 points each. The team of Gu Qing and Li Ze gets 10 points each."

"Teacher Yu has ranked first and earns the exemption pass for this round of grouping."

"All other team members remain the same!"

Yu Zhi: ???

Shouldn't it be the right to choose partners? How did it become an exemption pass?

Seeming to understand Yu Zhi’s confusion, the director’s voice boomed from the megaphone again, "Our new guest arrives tomorrow, so Teacher Yu's partner tomorrow will be the new guest."

Taking advantage of the guests’ current weakness, Zhao Liheng hurriedly announced the remaining rules, "Tomorrow’s assembly time is eight o'clock in the morning. Please go to bed early and don't stay up late, so as not to affect your recording state. Finally, for tonight’s dinner, you may consider using your points to exchange for meals, or you can cook for yourselves after arriving at the lodgings. The production team will not interfere."

Once he finished speaking, Zhao Liheng and his staff fled as if pursued by wild beasts.

The dazed guests on the ground and the netizens watching the stream: ...

Xia Shuang rubbed her aching arms and said speechlessly, "The director slipped away too fast. He didn't even say how we’re supposed to get there. We’ve been working all afternoon; surely he doesn't expect us to walk back!" Her carefully styled hair was full of broken wheat stalks, and her brow was dark with gloom.

Yu Zhi stood up. The wide-open field was empty—not even a dog in sight. The director was truly heartless, not even leaving them a single person to guide them. "We have no choice but to walk in the direction he pointed. Let’s hope we run into some locals."

Bai Fuyuan had a sudden inspiration. He pushed himself off the ground, sprang up, and crouched half-way in front of Yu Zhi. "Big Sister Yu, let me carry you back."

Yu Zhi simply veered around him, ignoring his obsequiousness. The wheat field swayed in the wind, casting indifferent shadows behind him, masking his loneliness.

"Pfft—"

Shen Jiayu sneered, stood up, pulled Xia Shuang to her feet, and left him behind as well.

Shi Hailing elegantly brushed the clumps of dirt from her pant legs, smoothed her hair, and followed Yu Zhi. "Zhizhi, do you think the director will let us have a proper meal later?"

Noticing Shi Hailing’s unsteady gait, Yu Zhi reached out to support her. "Hard to say. Sister Ling, did you twist your ankle?"

Shi Hailing leaned into Yu Zhi’s strength, walking slowly. "Just a slight twist, it’s not a big deal. It should be fine by tomorrow."

"When we find someone, we'll get some medicine to rub on it..."

The conversation drifted into the distance. Bai Fuyuan didn't feel embarrassed; he stood up as if nothing had happened, going through a thousand fake gestures in a second.

"Teacher Bai, why don't you carry me? My legs are so weak I can't stand..."

In a corner not far away, the director and a cameraman were squatting in the middle of the wheat field, peeking. "Director Zhao, is our show’s first couple about to emerge?"

Zhao Liheng’s eyes lit up as he leaned toward the lens. "I told you peeking would yield something good. At least Teacher Gu is still following the romance route."

The cameraman was pushed aside, feeling speechless. "Director, are you sure this is a proper romance route? The guests are exhausted; they have no energy to date. The live stream comments are all cursing you today."

"They aren't cursing me to my face, so it doesn't count. People have practically dug up Yu Zhi’s ancestral grave online, and she doesn't care, does she?"

Cameraman: ...Is it really okay for you to evaluate Teacher Yu like that?

Gu Qing gazed up at Bai Fuyuan with teary eyes, sitting on the ground with small cuts from the wheat harvest on her skin. She looked so pitiful that anyone would feel sympathy. But Bai Fuyuan just watched her for a few seconds, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and spoke languidly, "Sister Gu Qing~ have pity on me too, I can barely stand anymore."

Her attempt to play the damsel failed. Gu Qing’s fingers sank into the soil, her voice trembling slightly. "Hehehe... really? Then I suppose I’ll just have to try my best and not trouble Teacher Bai..."

Bai Fuyuan dropped his smile and walked away. After a few steps, he suddenly turned back. The dirt on him didn't mask his air, but rather imbued him with a worldly, languid charm. He paused for a few seconds and added, drawling, "Sister Gu~ is there no one to pity you? Should I go call Teacher Shen over?"

A breeze blew, and Gu Qing suddenly felt a chill. Bai Fuyuan’s subtle threat made her tremble uncontrollably. She tugged at her clothes, opened her mouth, and refused in a hoarse voice, "Teacher Bai, I can do it myself. You don't need to help me call Teacher Shen."

Bai Fuyuan felt disappointed. He stopped tormenting Gu Qing, lifted his eyes to look at Yu Zhi, who was getting further away, and hurriedly set off to catch up.