Trending Again – Chapter 8

Looks Like You’re the One Who’s Dead Weight¹

Night fell quietly, fireflies and starlight casting their glow in turn. Two figures slipped through the jungle one ahead of the other, Si Meng chasing after Lin Hanyue and muttering under her breath: “Such a petty little spirit. Every time she gets mad she won’t listen to a word of explanation. Arrogant brat.”

The words had barely left her mouth when Lin Hanyue came to an abrupt halt. Si Meng, not paying attention, slammed straight into Lin Hanyue’s shoulder blade, the tip of her nose turning instantly red. Si Meng rubbed her nose and grumbled, “Why’d you stop so suddenly?”

            

Lin Hanyue turned around and said coldly, “Can’t you see there’s no road ahead?” But Si Meng didn’t miss the flash of amusement in her eyes — she’d done it on purpose.

Si Meng knew she was in the wrong and muttered, “Running around when you don’t even know the way — now even the cameraman can’t find us.” She carefully recalled the afternoon’s route. Her memory had always been photographic, and though it was already dark, she could still find the way out.

Just then, everyone’s phones buzzed with a message:

            

“Effective immediately, all participants must forage for ingredients and supplies on their own. A seven-day wilderness survival challenge has begun. One guest has already been eliminated. To improve your chances of survival, you may form alliances or eliminate opponents to end this challenge early. Good luck!”

Only then did it hit everyone — the production team was actually serious? They were really being left to fend for themselves?

One or two freshly debuted starlets couldn’t help tearing up. Their managers had told them this was just a vacation, that all they had to do was go through the motions. But now…

            

Si Meng, on the other hand, wasn’t flustered at all. She’d already memorized the locations of every food ingredient. She glanced back at Lin Hanyue, noticed she didn’t look well, and suddenly realized something. “Are you hungry?”

Lin Hanyue insisted, “No.” The very next second, her stomach let out a gurgle.

Si Meng couldn’t hold back a laugh, tugging at Lin Hanyue’s sleeve. “Follow me, I’ll find you something to eat!”

            

Si Meng first gathered some dry firewood from beneath the trees and slowly lit it with a flint. Lin Hanyue watched from the side, adding firewood from time to time. Then Si Meng pulled supplies out of the bushes — she’d spotted them that morning and stashed them there on a whim. Ironically, this was what had caused the earlier mix-up with Lin Hanyue.

The supplies included a tent, a large pot, and some seasonings. Not much, but enough to get them by for a while.

Si Meng gathered some wild mushrooms and wild vegetables, along with a pile of wild fruit. Too bad it was too dark to go hunting for meat — roasted meat would have been amazing.

            

Lin Hanyue couldn’t cook, so she could only stand by and watch Si Meng work. She hesitated. “Do you need help?”

Si Meng always came alive when she cooked — after all, eating and making food were both happy things. Dimples showing, she smiled and said, “Then help me wash the vegetables.”

Working together, they were surprisingly efficient. Though the two were rivals, their coordination was excellent — one glance and they knew what tool the other needed.

            

Si Meng breathed in the inviting aroma of the mushroom and wild vegetable soup. The ingredients were simple, but the flavor was genuinely fresh and savory. One sip and her stomach felt warm all over.

A rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes. Si Meng assumed it was a wild animal and instinctively shielded Lin Hanyue behind her — but two heads poked out of the darkness, followed by a familiar voice.

“See? What did I tell you — this fresh aroma has to be someone cooking mushroom soup!”

            

Zhang Biliang plonked himself down across from Si Meng as if they were old friends, while the man behind him hung back, somewhat reserved.

“Hey, girl, we meet again. You don’t mind us crashing your meal, do you?” Zhang Biliang cut straight to the chase.

Si Meng saw there was still plenty left — more than they could finish — and not wanting to waste food, tacitly let them stay.

            

Zhang Biliang savored each bite while somehow wolfing it down at the same time, the umami melting on his tongue. The way it perfectly balanced the freshness of the mushrooms with the slight astringency of the wild vegetables — he was clearly a connoisseur.

The man beside him finished eating, then offered to help. “My name is Shen Zhiyi. Thank you for the meal — I can help you set up the tent.”

Zhang Biliang, bouncing his leg dismissively, scoffed, “This guy sure knows how to ingratiate himself. Don’t pay him any mind, girl — he’s just a has-been Movie King. One hassle after another the whole way here, terrified of owing anyone the slightest favor.”

            

Then he sidled up to Si Meng, utterly shameless. “We’re different, though. Hang out a few times and we’re friends, right!”

Lin Hanyue watched Zhang Biliang getting too “close” with Si Meng and couldn’t resist wedging herself between them. She stuffed a washed wild fruit into Si Meng’s mouth, eyeing Zhang Biliang with open hostility.

Zhang Biliang shot a provocative glance at Lin Hanyue, then pulled some gummy candies from his pocket and presented them to Si Meng like a treasure, adding, “That fruit’s tart — have a candy to take the edge off.”

            

Si Meng looked at Zhang Biliang, then at Lin Hanyue, and decisively set the candy down, saying with a sunny smile, “No thanks, the fruit’s delicious.”

She sat there spacing out, completely oblivious to the daggers the two in front of her were glaring at each other.

Suddenly, a filthy girl burst out of the bushes, staring longingly at the leftover soup in the pot. Si Meng didn’t think much of it and let Zhang Biliang give the girl the rest. But the girl didn’t even say thank you — she snatched the pot right out of Zhang Biliang’s hands and wolfed it down as if she were about to bury her whole face in the pot.

            

Lin Hanyue frowned slightly. Zhang Biliang was utterly repulsed — her table manners were far too appalling. As the saying went, you could tell a person’s character from the way they ate.

After finishing, the girl burst into tears, sobbing about her useless teammate who’d gotten eliminated early, leaving her alone and vulnerable. She begged them to take her in.

No one said a word. Everyone went about their own business, paying her no mind — some setting up the tent, others cleaning up the leftovers. Seething at being brushed off, her eyes fell on Si Meng, who was lounging nearby in a Ge You slouch². She decided to use Si Meng as a punching bag. Marching over, she said with righteous indignation, “What’s wrong with you? Everyone’s working and you’re just sitting here slacking off.”

            

Si Meng had no interest in dealing with this lunatic³ and shot back, “None of your damn business.”

The girl thought she’d struck a nerve, convinced that Si Meng was the team’s dead weight. She shrieked hysterically, “How does the team end up with trash like you? You’re deliberately dragging us down, aren’t you?”

“Shut up. You’ve got some nerve accusing someone of dragging people down?”

            

“Shut up. Looks like you’re the one who’s dead weight here.”

Lin Hanyue and Zhang Biliang had spoken in unison, glaring at the troublemaking girl with predatory eyes.

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