Divorce Is An Absolute Must! - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Beautiful

◎A beautiful tropical cold-blooded animal.◎

The two of them were lying on a huge linen bed. Li Lan grabbed Zhu Qing and held her head down, pinning her on the bed.

Zhu Qing slapped the bed hard, her voice muffled, and she accused loudly, “You’re not playing fair!”

Li Lan let go of her and said coolly, “Why are you running? Come back and keep watching.”

Zhu Qing rolled over several times and went to the side furthest away from Li Lan. “Why can’t you use that position on me at other times?”

“What other times? Like when you’re in the bathroom with your bare legs, wearing only one of my butt-hugging shirts?” Li Lan raised an eyebrow and teased, “You wish.”

“You’re so vulgar,” Zhu Qing said, completely shocked. “Butt-hugging is one thing, but why is it… too much!”

Li Lan didn’t care and said in a very calm tone, “I’m so sorry. I’m eight years older than you, so my words are not elegant enough.”

“Old…” Zhu Qing made a sound and then stopped herself. She glanced at Li Lan several times to avoid a surprise attack. “…Fart,” Zhu Qing pointed at Li Lan incredulously. “You’ve really gone bad!”

Li Lan said, “Come here.”

She held Zhu Qing down and made her watch the entire show, and they gossiped at the same time.

“Did you guys not notice how strange it is? Yu Ling seems like the production crew’s favorite child. She just finds treasure chests and knows the answers to the games.”

“Forget about whether she’s their favorite child. Can Yu Ling stop trying to ride on other people’s coattails?”

“Yu Ling and Zhu Qing have a super topic called “A Lingful of Happiness,” and Yu Ling and Li Lan have one called “Ling and Lan Reflecting the Moon.” Why does she try to ride on everyone’s coattails?”

“She looks down on Qi Yao. She’s a “newbie” who just debuted and has no work. It’s a huge step up for her to be matched with Qi Yao, but she still wants more and is trying to cling to others.”

“She’s so fake. She clings to everyone.”

Zhu Qing was shocked by the 180-degree turn in public opinion. “They were just saying yesterday that Qi Yao wasn’t good enough for Yu Ling. Why are they suddenly cursing her instead today?”

Li Lan was used to it. “This is very normal. Maybe it’ll be my turn to be cursed tomorrow.”

“Bah, bah, bah! Spit it out, spit it out,” Zhu Qing said, slapping Li Lan’s back. “Don’t say such things!”

Li Lan coughed from the slap. “You, you…”

“Are trying to murder your wife,” Zhu Qing said. “If I get cyberbullied, I’ll jump from here!”

Li Lan followed Zhu Qing’s finger and her eyelid twitched. It was the first floor. Below was a soft patch of grass, and further away was a river.

“What? There are snakes in the grass and alligators in the river,” Zhu Qing said. “You should be careful with what you say.”

Li Lan could only nod. “Okay.”

After all the back and forth, Li Lan didn’t remember what the topic was anymore. She only remembered that Zhu Qing was very lively and excited and looked very happy. She also felt inexplicably happy.

After a while, the production crew came to get them. The two of them officially started the first episode of filming in Africa.

…

The wheels of the off-road vehicle rolled over the dusty Kenyan road. Zhu Qing rested her forehead on the car window, feeling the slight vibrations from the glass. This was her first time in Africa and her first time participating in such an immersive reality show—no script, no pre-set plot, just a group of people and an unknown wilderness.

“We’re almost there.” The director in the front passenger seat turned around and said, “Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of the last remaining wildlife paradises in the world.”

Zhu Qing withdrew her gaze and looked at her other companions in the car. Sun Qi and Xu Yuzhi, the award-winning actress who was as strong as a man and the award-winning actor known for his tough-guy image, were both resting with their eyes closed, seeming unconcerned about the upcoming adventure. Yu Ling and Qi Yao, the new generation of young celebrities, were excitedly taking pictures of the trees flashing by outside the window. Hu Xu and Liu Yini, the seasoned artists, were talking in low voices, calmly commenting on the scenery and everything they had seen on the way.

“Are you two nervous, Teacher Li?” The director suddenly turned the camera on them.

Zhu Qing instinctively put on a standard smile. Li Lan also moved the corners of her mouth and smiled. A lively expression flashed across her cool and aloof face. “Rather than nervous, I’d say we’re excited. This trip is arranged so well. We’ve been busy with work every day, and we haven’t been this close to nature in a long time. Xiao Qing and I are both very excited.”

Zhu Qing agreed. “It’s my first time seeing a grassland. The sky is high and the wilderness is vast. The scenery is really beautiful.”

The director then turned to the other guests to get their first impressions. Zhu Qing twisted her clothes. In fact, she didn’t sleep well last night—the reports about how dangerous Africa was on the internet made her have nightmares all night about being chased by wild animals. If it weren’t for this nightmare, Zhu Qing would have thought she wasn’t scared at all. In fact, she woke up and still didn’t feel scared, but she would have nightmares about it. It was really strange.

The off-road vehicle turned a corner, and the view suddenly opened up. The endless golden grassland shimmered with a warm glow under the afternoon sun. In the distance, the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro was faintly visible against the blue sky. A few giraffes walked gracefully on the edge of the grassland, their long necks swaying slightly in the heat, rubbing against each other affectionately.

“Wow!” Yu Ling exclaimed, her entire body almost pressed against the car window. She had been in high spirits the entire time and didn’t seem to be affected by the online public opinion at all.

Li Lan and Zhu Qing also held their breath. This scene was completely different from what they had imagined—it wasn’t the tense and exciting hunting scenes from documentaries, but a sacred tranquility and beauty. The wind blew across the grassland, creating waves of grass, like a golden ocean.

The car drove into the entrance of the reserve. A group of baboons sauntered across the middle of the road, completely unbothered by the humans’ arrival. A baby baboon came close to the car window out of curiosity, its black, shiny eyes meeting Zhu Qing’s for a second before its mother grabbed its ear and dragged it away.

The campsite was built on a small hill. Several canvas tents were arranged in a semicircle, with a bonfire area in the center. The crew had already set up the equipment. A few cameras were quietly waiting for the celebrities to arrive.

“Everyone, welcome to Africa.” The director clapped his hands. “For the next few days, you’ll experience the most authentic wildlife observation. There’s no script, no pre-set performances, only real reactions and interactions.”

Zhu Qing took the binoculars from a crew member. The metal casing was slightly hot under the sun. She looked around and suddenly realized that this was her first time standing in a place where there were no man-made structures to block her view. The sky was so vast, and the horizon was so far away, making her feel a strange sense of insignificance and freedom.

“Look over there!” Li Lan suddenly pointed to the east.

About two hundred meters away, a group of zebras were walking in a line towards a watering hole. Their black and white stripes were turned into distinct patterns by the sun, standing out against the golden grassland. A few gazelles were following behind them, raising their heads to look around from time to time.

“Are they migrating?” Li Lan asked.

The local guide smiled. “No, this is just a daily watering activity. The Great Migration will happen in August. At that time, millions of animals will cross the Mara River.”

Zhu Qing looked at the production crew’s professional cameras and felt a little tempted. This kind of natural scene would naturally attract a photographer’s attention. She really wanted to raise her camera and aim it at the animals and everything around her. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t a photographer now. She was a celebrity being filmed. Zhu Qing reluctantly took her eyes back.

Li Lan followed her gaze for a moment and didn’t say anything.

The production crew announced the next filming plan.

[According to our planned safe route, you can find traces of many animals. Each group can get a learning card. According to the content on it, you’ll find traces of animals along the way. The group that finishes first and finds the most traces wins.]

Because of budget constraints and a lack of staff, the production crew only cleared two routes. The guests had to split into two groups to complete the next task. The first to draw was Hu Xu and Liu Yini’s group. They would be able to split into groups after they drew.

Hu Xu opened the slip of paper, glanced at it, and then covered it. She walked back with her hands behind her back.

The other three groups looked at her, waiting for her to announce the group assignments.

Hu Xu looked at Xu Yuzhi, then at Li Lan, and smiled. “Who wants to be in a group with whom?”

Everyone looked at each other. “Anyone is fine, Teacher Hu. Don’t keep us in suspense.”

Although they said anyone was fine, the other three groups didn’t really want to be involved with the young group at this time. The audience couldn’t see clearly what was going on between Yu Ling and Qi Yao, but the experienced people here knew that they represented the subtle rivalry between two companies. No one wanted to be caught in the crossfire and get into trouble.

Yu Ling looked hopeful. Her gaze was on Li Lan from time to time. It was clear to everyone that she really wanted to be in a group with Li Lan.

Li Lan smiled, showing no preference. Zhu Qing rubbed her face and turned her back, not wanting the camera to catch her stiff face—she didn’t want Yu Ling to come over! Yu Ling’s behavior of trying to steal someone’s partner wasn’t good anywhere!

But she had just given Zhu Qing a bottle of bug repellent, the kind that was very famous locally. Zhu Qing was in a dilemma again. Although Yu Ling liked to be with Li Lan, Li Lan would reject her. Although she wasn’t popular with the audience, Zhu Qing herself had been cursed by people who were mindlessly following the trend… After thinking about it, Yu Ling had always been very nice to them. Sometimes, Zhu Qing even felt that Li Lan’s responses were too stiff, but she had never seen Yu Ling get angry. So, if she really did end up with Yu Ling, Zhu Qing should also happily accept it…

Zhu Qing was trying to convince herself when Hu Xu finally spoke slowly. “Little Li Lan, this is our first time working together since the show started filming.”

Yu Ling’s smile froze for a moment. She looked at the production crew.

Working together!?

Zhu Qing’s face was no longer stiff, and she wasn’t in a dilemma anymore. She turned around and couldn’t help but smile brightly. “Teacher Hu and us are in the same group!”

Li Lan’s smile didn’t change. She glanced at the crew member who was handing out the slips of paper and said with a smile, “Yeah, I can finally work with Teacher Hu and Teacher Liu again.”

Zhu Qing jogged over and hugged the two of them, giving a peace sign to the camera.

When Xu Yuzhi and Sun Qi found out that they were in a group with the young celebrities, they also smiled. “Now we’re going to get some youthful energy.”

Yu Ling and Qi Yao quickly said, “Not at all. We still need the seniors to guide us.”

The groups were decided just like that. The rest of the time was free for them to explore the lush grassland.

Li Lan fanned herself and walked to Hu Xu’s side, fanning her as well. She said, “Teachers, you two go to the car. Come out when the sun isn’t so hot.”

Hu Xu squinted at her. “What are you trying to do? Are you trying to make the audience say that we’re disrespectful and lazy?”

“Of course not. You can go to the river and have a look. There are definitely a lot of animal tracks around the campsite,” Li Lan said, lowering her head. Her tone was respectful and friendly. “It’s hot here, and the conditions are quite harsh. I remember you and Teacher Liu both have a little high bl00d pressure. You can’t just faint halfway through.”

Liu Yini thought for a moment and looked at Hu Xu. “You not only have high bl00d pressure, but you also have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. You can get dizzy easily if you move around too much.”

“Exactly,” Zhu Qing chimed in, trying her best to persuade them. “The two of you should stay near the entrance. You can walk around when you have the energy. Li Lan and I will walk the entire route no matter what. It won’t be a problem.”

Hu Xu no longer declined. Compared to outdoor activities, they preferred being indoors. After all, it was this kind of climate, and a vast wilderness with poor medical conditions wasn’t suitable for people their age.

After making sure Hu Xu and Liu Yini were comfortable, Li Lan and Zhu Qing set off on today’s route. They took their backpacks, trekking poles, and other necessities. Before they left, Li Lan glanced at the other route. There was a crew member next to Qi Yao, who seemed to be his company’s assistant or manager. He was whispering something to him, and Qi Yao nodded hesitantly.

After they got on the road, emergency personnel and a guide followed behind them. Li Lan turned around and said, “Is this route safe?”

The guide nodded, his dark face filled with a smile. “This is a specially planned route within the reserve. There won’t be any large predators. We’ll mainly be observing the traces and habitats of herbivores.”

Li Lan was relieved.

Zhu Qing excitedly took a step forward. Li Lan followed for a while, then suddenly turned around and motioned to the people filming them from an off-road vehicle and a three-wheeler behind them.

Zhu Qing saw that no one was following and stopped, looking back. Li Lan was leaning over and talking to the people in the car. Soon, she came out with a camera bag and ran towards Zhu Qing.

“Here you go.”

Zhu Qing was surprised. “A camera!?”

“When we’re having fun, we should have a blast,” Li Lan said, pinching the tense arm muscles of Zhu Qing as she held up the camera. Her eyes were gentle, but her voice was a little serious. “But you have to be careful. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t get so focused on the scenery that you forget to watch your step.”

Zhu Qing naturally agreed a hundred times. She put the camera around her neck. She was about to reach out and hug Li Lan, but she remembered the cameras and shyly pulled back, giving her a flying kiss. “Thank you, my dear Teacher Li.”

Li Lan lowered her eyes, and her expression became more relaxed.

“By the way, Teacher Li,” Zhu Qing said, holding up the camera and looking around. “Don’t walk too fast. I want to look at these trees.”

The trees here weren’t very tall. Their umbrella-shaped crowns cast irregular shadows under the sun. The trunks were covered with vertical cracks, and there were all kinds of strange-shaped leaves everywhere. Everything looked new and exciting.

Zhu Qing used her camera to capture these small details. She walked and took pictures, and before she knew it, she had walked a long way. Li Lan’s hiking boots crushed a few dried seeds, making a crisp popping sound in the quiet afternoon.

Zhu Qing was bending over to take a picture of a purple-red flower that had sprouted from a rock crevice. A golden-bronze flash suddenly entered her camera.

Zhu Qing looked in the direction of the flash and said happily, “Li Lan! Look at this rock—”

Her voice came to an abrupt halt.

Thirty centimeters from Li Lan’s right boot, a “rock” suddenly unfurled itself—it was a savanna monitor lizard nearly half a meter long. Its scales, like flowing gold, glistened in the sunlight. Its black, forked tongue flickered violently in the air. Its amber vertical pupils were looking at Li Lan as she turned.

“Don’t move.” Zhu Qing’s voice came from two meters away under a tree, but it was already too late.

The lizard suddenly shot up. Li Lan caught a glimpse of the giant lizard, and her body reacted before her brain did. She stumbled backward in fear.

“Oh!”

Li Lan didn’t fall. Her back hit a warm body. Zhu Qing’s arms went under her armpits, and she pulled her into her arms, turning to shield her.

The lizard shot onto another tree, flickered its tongue, and scurried away.

Everything happened in a flash. Zhu Qing’s camera almost fell to the ground. The two of them were breathing heavily, their rapid breaths echoing in the humid and stuffy shade of the tree.

“It’s just a lizard. It doesn’t bite,” Zhu Qing said, sensing that Li Lan’s temples were sweaty. She comforted her softly. “It’s more scared of you.”

Li Lan then realized that her left hand was tightly clutching Zhu Qing’s shirt on her chest. The fabric was crumpled in her palm. Zhu Qing’s heartbeat was transmitted from under her palm, and this realization made her suddenly feel shy. She quickly let go, leaving a faint red mark on the other’s collarbone with her fingernails.

Li Lan stared blankly at the mark.

Zhu Qing smiled and said uncaringly, “Are you scared? It’s okay. The bite force of this kind of lizard is very weak. There’s no need to be scared…”

Li Lan didn’t get a good look at the lizard. In her peripheral vision, it was a half-meter-long, ugly, and strange creature with a long tongue flying towards them. Anyone would be startled by that sight.

Zhu Qing continued to comfort her, washing her hands with mineral water. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Savanna monitor lizards are very gentle.”

Li Lan gradually came to her senses and raised her hand. “I’m fine.”

Zhu Qing looked at her expression. “Are you really okay?”

Li Lan nodded. “Yeah.”

Zhu Qing also nodded, but two seconds later, she suddenly lowered her head.

Li Lan frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Zhu Qing burst out laughing.

Li Lan: … I knew it.

Zhu Qing knew it wasn’t right to laugh at her, but she couldn’t help it. It was a rare sight to see Li Lan so frightened, and she even fell into her arms. The sense of accomplishment and the strange pleasure of seeing someone in trouble intertwined. Zhu Qing really couldn’t hold it in.

But soon, she couldn’t laugh anymore.

Zhu Qing was laughing so hard that her body was shaking. Her elbow accidentally touched a hanging vine. In that instant, a rain of silver threads and a black spider with fluorescent yellow markings the size of half a palm came falling from the sky.