After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 15

Bai Man and Su Qingwan entered the forest one after the other.

Withered pine needles blanketed the unidentified wildflowers. They continued uphill for several hundred meters without spotting a single mushroom.

Something’s not right, Bai Man thought. We must be missing something.

She stopped, picked up a twig, and used it to sweep aside the pine needles.

Su Qingwan’s face lit up with surprise as a mushroom cap was revealed. “A mushroom!”

Bai Man nodded and cleared away the remaining needles, revealing a dark yellow mushroom in its entirety. Su Qingwan reached out to pluck it, but her hand recoiled the moment she touched it. She turned to Bai Man with a questioning glance. “Is this mushroom poisonous?”

Bai Man searched her memory and shook her head. “No.”

Hearing this, Su Qingwan hesitated no longer. She carefully plucked the mushroom and placed it in the basket on Bai Man’s back.

Now experienced, Su Qingwan picked up her own twig and began sweeping aside pine needles as they walked. Before long, she had gathered several more mushrooms.

Livestream Comments:

Why are the mushrooms they’re picking different colors? Are they poisonous?

I’ve been around mushrooms since I was a kid. I can tell you for sure that none of the ones Wanwan and Bai Man are picking are poisonous. And to be fair, Bai Man’s memory is pretty good. Before coming back here, I checked Yu Meng’s stream. Half of the eight mushrooms they picked were inedible.

Su Qingwan and Bai Man are getting more in sync every day! Did you see that? Su Qingwan didn’t even have to say anything, and Bai Man already knew what she was thinking.

**Ahem… I think I’m seeing a domineering CEO and her gentle, doting wife right here.

“Bai Man, do you hear the sound of running water?” Su Qingwan stopped walking and turned to ask.

Bai Man nodded. She had faintly heard the sound of flowing water earlier and guessed there was a river nearby.

Noticing Su Qingwan swallowing repeatedly, Bai Man guessed she was thirsty and suggested, “Let’s go check it out!”

Su Qingwan immediately smiled and followed Bai Man’s lead. “Okay.”

Following the sound of the water, they walked about six or seven hundred meters and indeed found a river. The river flowed downhill, its bed filled with rocks of varying sizes, and clear water trickled slowly through the gaps.

Bai Man set her backpack down by the riverbank, stepped onto the rocks, stopped at a small pool, squatted down, and cupped some water in her hand to drink.

Seeing this, Su Qingwan joined her and imitated her actions. She had expected the water to taste unpleasant, but was surprised by its sweet, refreshing flavor—even better than mineral water she had tasted before.

Bai Man stood up and noticed Su Qingwan’s satisfied expression. She said softly, “This water comes straight from the mountain. It’s completely unpolluted, so it tastes so good.”

“Bai Man, you know so much,” Su Qingwan said earnestly, her face full of admiration. She had only known there was a river here, but hadn’t considered all the details.

“It’s just common sense. What’s there to praise?” Yu Meng’s voice cut in.

Director Xu had instructed the five groups to spread out to improve mushroom-picking efficiency. Su Qingwan remembered that Yu Meng and Liu Yue were on the other side of the forest. She hadn’t realized the woods were interconnected.

Yu Meng had actually followed the sound of the flowing water. After walking such a long distance, drinking water and resting along the way seemed like a pleasant idea. But as she approached, she overheard Su Qingwan praising Bai Man.

In Yu Meng’s eyes, Bai Man was nothing but useless mud that couldn’t even be plastered on a wall. Aside from her family’s wealth, she had no redeeming qualities. How could someone like that deserve Su Qingwan’s attention and guilt?

Bai Man calmly stood up, glancing at the basket Liu Yue was carrying. Several brightly colored mushrooms lay inside. A smirk curled her lips. “Someone who scoffs at common sense should know that the more vibrant the mushroom’s color, the more poisonous it is, right?”

Yu Meng’s face flushed crimson instantly.

Seeing this, Liu Yue immediately took over, her expression contrite. “It’s all my fault. I should have listened to Ms. Yu’s advice and not insisted on keeping these poisonous mushrooms.”

Her words sent shockwaves through the live stream chat.

I don’t remember Yu Meng warning anyone. Besides, she was the one who picked those mushrooms. I recall Liu Yue even trying to dissuade her at the time.

I’ve heard from friends in the industry that Yu Meng’s affable persona is just an act. The real Yu Meng is arrogant and conceited.

If this had happened before, I might have doubted it. But seeing how Liu Yue seems to fear Yu Meng, I’m starting to think there might be some truth to it.

How many times has Bai Man publicly humiliated Yu Meng now? If Bai Man hadn’t caused that earlier scene, I’d definitely be a fan. She may not say much, but her character is miles better than Yu Meng’s.

Come on! Have you forgotten when Bai Man went completely insane? She’s a lunatic.

Yu Meng remained unaware of the heated debate in the livestream chat. She gave Liu Yue a subtle nod, signaling her to follow their earlier plan and seize the opportunity.

Liu Yue understood. She set the basket on her arm down. “I’m a bit thirsty. I’ll have some water too.”

She stepped over the rocks and waded into the river. “You two must have gathered a lot, being so skilled. Let me see.” With that, she headed straight for the bamboo basket.

Su Qingwan and Bai Man paid her no mind until Liu Yue let out a piercing scream. They turned to see Liu Yue and the basket toppling to the ground together.

Liu Yue’s body half-dangled over the basket. Startled, she flailed wildly, crushing many of the mushrooms scattered across the ground. In the blink of an eye, the area was a mess.

Su Qingwan rushed over and helped Liu Yue up. “Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?”

Liu Yue nodded, clutching her lower abdomen. “It hurts.”

Seeing the graze on Liu Yue’s arm, Su Qingwan supported her. “I’ll take you down the mountain.”

Liu Yue glanced sideways at Bai Man, who stood motionless. Deliberately, she twisted her ankle.

The sudden movement nearly pulled Su Qingwan down with her.

Fortunately, Su Qingwan reacted quickly and regained her balance, avoiding a fall. She steadied herself and glanced at Liu Yue, who was gasping for breath, a flicker of suspicion crossing her mind.

The ground they were standing on was relatively flat. Tripping once could be an accident, but tripping twice in a row seemed too coincidental. Moreover, Su Qingwan detected a hint of theatricality in Liu Yue’s expression.

But what was Liu Yue’s motive for this performance?

“My foot hurts a bit. I don’t think I can walk,” Liu Yue said, turning to Bai Man. “Bai Man, could you help me? I saw you working out this morning—you must be in good shape.”

This remark reminded Su Qingwan of Yu Meng’s words from the previous day. Her pupils narrowed slightly as she realized: So this was Yu Meng’s plan all along?

Yu Meng turned to Bai Man and chuckled softly. “What’s wrong? Don’t want to lend a hand?”

By this point, Bai Man knew exactly what Yu Meng was up to. She casually leaned against a nearby rock and sat down. “She’s your partner. If something’s wrong, it’s your job to help her, not mine.”

Anticipating Yu Meng’s next move, Bai Man cut her off. “And don’t try to guilt-trip me with morality. No one knows better than you, her partner, why she keeps tripping.”

Yu Meng cursed inwardly, “Useless!” but her expression remained composed. “What do you mean?”

“My meaning is simple: stop resorting to such low-level tactics. Do you really think everyone’s a fool?” Bai Man addressed the camera directly. Even if she hadn’t witnessed the details of Liu Yue’s fall, the camera had recorded everything.

I knew something was off! Bai Man’s reminder just made it click. Liu Yue’s fall was way too dramatic, like it was staged.

I was just complaining to my friend about how someone could fall so perfectly, landing right on the backpack?

I also thought Liu Yue’s expression was a bit over the top.

If Bai Man’s right, and Yu Meng orchestrated this, I suspect Yu Meng is furious and trying to get Bai Man kicked off the show.

If Yu Meng really did this, her carefully crafted image as a friendly and approachable person will crumble.

Yu Meng, well aware of online trends despite not being in the live stream, could guess most of the viewers’ comments. She immediately denied the accusations: “Stop spreading baseless rumors! If necessary, I’ll take legal action to protect my reputation.”