Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 21

Seeing Chu Xiyue and Su Yan absorbed in their own world and completely ignoring her, Lu Rujin couldn’t help but sigh dramatically behind Yao Tian. The sigh was so mournful that Yao Tian couldn’t help but chuckle, nudging Lu Rujin with her elbow.

“They’re on a proper date,” Yao Tian said, “don’t bother them.”

Remembering the Meng Qin and Zhao Fei group, Lu Rujin, worried about upsetting Yao Tian, quickly explained, “I know, I just didn’t want them to leave without us. Remember what happened yesterday…”

That black-hearted production team! Yao Tian thought. They probably hadn’t given them any warnings at the start for the sake of drama. Recalling yesterday’s embarrassing situation, Yao Tian now feared that the other island might also be hiding some kind of trap. After all, the Heartbeat production team was notorious for their unexpected twists.

But the guests’ worries seemed unfounded. Perhaps the production team had suddenly developed a conscience and decided to be decent. By the time everyone had disembarked, there were no staff members waiting for them, only meticulously arranged checkpoints spaced at intervals, each decorated with romantic flair to match the dating show’s atmosphere.

The guest groups took turns photographing each other, acting as each other’s photographers. As the morning wore on, they gradually relaxed their guard and began to enjoy themselves immensely.

Heart Island, a private island, had been leased by a wealthy businessman many years ago when public regulations were less strict, allowing his descendants to reap the benefits of that era. Later, private ownership was completely prohibited, and the surrounding islands gradually became inhabited. Though somewhat isolated, the area was actually quite lively, with simple, honest customs that perfectly matched people’s romanticized visions of island life from novels.

Cameras were set up around the designated check-in points, but the rest was up to the participants themselves. Without constant filming or program requirements, the group relaxed and enjoyed themselves even more.

Meng Qin and Zhao Fei posed for a photo in front of a stone wall piled high with gifts and romantic lyrics. Just as they finished making a heart gesture, Yao Tian, diligently adjusting her small camera to get the perfect angle, was about to press the shutter when a sudden, sharp scream startled her so badly that her hand jerked, nearly dropping the camera.

The scream came from Meng Qin. A gift box at her feet had suddenly exploded open, startling her so much that she grabbed Zhao Fei’s hand in fright. Only after calming down and seeing the mission card hidden inside did she regain her composure.

“I knew the production team wouldn’t let us have it easy…”

Even the usually composed Zhao Fei couldn’t help but show a hint of exasperation. He patted Meng Qin’s back reassuringly before picking up the mission card from the ground and reading it aloud in a clear, measured tone:

“Couples, please choose one of the following locations—Firefly Forest, Rainbow Valley, Oath Flower Sea, or Sunny Ferris Wheel—to visit today and take an eighteen-grid photo collage. Any team that fails to complete this task by midnight will be deemed to have failed and will face the consequences.”

That final “呢” (ne) carried a mischievous undertone. Though the Director wasn’t physically present, everyone could vividly imagine the production team’s smug, infuriatingly smug expressions.

“Why didn’t they tell us this sooner? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have wasted my energy walking so far!” Lu Rujin was on the verge of tears. Her meticulously made-up face crumpled the moment she saw the map. “Why are all the locations so far away? They’re practically on the opposite side of the island from where we need to go back!”

This island was much larger than Heart Island and had a sizable population. Circumnavigating it, even with frequent stops, would require considerable stamina.

“These place names sound so poetic, like something out of a fairy tale,” Meng Qin remarked, noticing Lu Rujin’s downcast expression and trying to cheer her up.

It was past 3 PM. They had been leisurely strolling around the island when Meng Qin accidentally triggered a mechanism. If not for that, they might have stayed until nightfall without realizing there was a mission. After grumbling briefly, they quickly began selecting locations, fearing they wouldn’t complete the task.

Fortunately, all the gift boxes contained identical cards and detailed, hand-drawn maps of the island. The maps were clear enough for anyone with even a basic sense of direction to understand.

Meng Qin and Zhao Fei chose the “Oath Flower Sea,” while Lu Rujin and Yao Tian opted for the “Sunny Ferris Wheel.” Su Yan and Chu Xiyue, being the most physically fit of the group, generously let the other two pairs choose first.

Once everyone had made their selections, they set off. Su Yan deferred the final choice to Chu Xiyue, who hesitated between the remaining two options.

The “Firefly Forest” sounded like a nighttime activity. If they had to wait until dark to see fireflies, they’d be stuck. To play it safe, Chu Xiyue quickly made her decision:

“Sister, shall we go check out Rainbow Valley?”

As the new map was developed, the viewership of the live stream steadily increased.

This season of Heartbeat featured more outdoor scenes, a departure from traditional dating shows that attracted viewers outside the usual demographic. The bullet screen erupted with excitement when the guests, tricked by the production team into leisurely strolls, suddenly discovered incomplete tasks.

Viewers, with their omniscient perspective, could see that the production team had prepared romantic setups and heart-pounding special missions at each location. Kissing cards, eye-contact cards, hide-and-seek cards—surprises kept coming, designed to make the guests’ final night together unforgettable.

But fate had other plans. The weather forecast had promised a sunny day, but as the guests discovered their task cards and split up to complete them, increasingly heavy clouds obscured the sun, brewing a mountain storm.

The guests hesitated, unsure whether to continue, but no instructions came from the Director via their phones.

Seeing the sky darken, Su Yan stopped Chu Xiyue from continuing down the narrow path. Instead, she led her on a detour to buy an umbrella and two sturdy raincoats, stuffing them into their bags to avoid getting drenched later.

The island had no staff, only occasional residents who seemed completely unfazed by the impending downpour. They showed no signs of alarm, merely quickening their pace slightly.

Chu Xiyue wasn’t worried about getting wet; completing the production team’s task was her priority. She didn’t want to hold anyone back if others had already finished. Besides, she reasoned, typhoons usually only struck in summer, and autumn typhoons rarely reached this region, so she dismissed the threat.

Their backpacks were heavy, and Su Yan had been carrying most of the weight for the long hike without complaint. As they walked, they spotted a sign indicating they were nearing Rainbow Valley. Chu Xiyue glanced at the bulky pack on Su Yan’s back and asked again:

“Want me to take over? You should rest.”

Su Yan sized her up before flatly refusing:

“Don’t be ridiculous. With your build, I’m better off carrying it myself.”

Chu Xiyue bristled instantly:

“What’s wrong with my figure?!”

Miss Chu inherited the excellent genes of both Madam Chu and Mr. Tian. Standing at 1.7 meters tall, her physique alone made it clear she was far from frail. Moreover, she maintained a rigorous workout routine year-round, unlike many female celebrities who relied solely on dieting for weight loss, resulting in a sleek and well-defined figure.

Though she had her share of rivals and anti-fans in the industry, few dared to criticize her looks or physique.

However, facing Su Yan—widely acknowledged as having one of the most enviable bodies and proportions in the industry—Chu Xiyue felt slightly outmatched.

A gentle pat on her shoulder made Chu Xiyue turn her head. She braced herself, expecting Su Yan to flex her toned arms, the word “childish” already on the tip of her tongue.

Instead, Su Yan’s deep eyes, hidden beneath her baseball cap, held a faint, almost imperceptible smile as they met Chu Xiyue’s slightly flustered gaze. Despite their long walk, Su Yan’s stride remained steady:

“Do you even have abs?”

“…I used to.”

Having relaxed her training regimen recently, only faint traces of her abdominal muscles remained.

Though Chu Xiyue answered, she refused to concede defeat, immediately firing back:

“Do you?”

Su Yan raised a delicate eyebrow, her voice clear and cool, yet inexplicably laced with a potent allure. As her words brushed Chu Xiyue’s ear, soft as a breath, she murmured:

“Do you want to verify?”

Chu Xiyue’s mind went blank. Faced with Su Yan’s bewitching gaze, she nearly nodded instinctively, as if possessed. Fortunately, reason returned at the critical moment. She cleared her throat, barely managing to salvage her crumbling composure.

Regaining her senses, she realized they were standing far too close.

On the narrow mountain path, they had to press tightly together to walk along the cultivated dirt trail. Their arms brushed, each feeling the other’s warmth. When Su Yan had turned to speak, their breaths mingled, each inhaling the other’s essence. A faint, cool fragrance overwhelmed the fresh scent of vegetation, carrying a hint of dampness.

It was about to rain.