The audience loves watching this kind of real stuff now.
For the sake of ratings, the production team had completely thrown away all decency.
But they were already here, and the show had already gone live. There was no medicine for regret.
Luo Shujing was startled, but he quickly relaxed. There were no staff members, only drones.
The production team would not possibly let anything happen to them. At most, their bodies might not be able to take it. His backlash had not yet recovered, so he might have to suffer a little.
But that was even better for what he was about to do.
The range the drones could capture was limited. Wouldn’t that make killing Luo Cheng’an even easier?
Luo Shujing looked at Luo Cheng’an, who was talking to Xi Yu, and revealed a faint smile.
If he could kill them both at the same time, then the Luo family would be his for the taking.
Luo Cheng’an, Luo Cheng’an, don’t blame me for being ruthless. If you want someone to blame, blame yourself for being born into the wrong family, for getting in my way and blocking my path!
As for Xi Yu, he should never have appeared in the first place. Since you came back at the wrong time, then go to hell!
Luo Cheng’an was completely unaware of Luo Shujing’s gaze. He was simply wholeheartedly echoing Yu Qian’s frustration.
Of the several guests, aside from Xi Yu, who was relatively calm, the other calm one was Lu Zhixing.
He had already opened his suitcase and was stuffing his belongings into his backpack.
Yu Qian gritted her teeth as she opened her own suitcase, not forgetting to angrily curse, “You guys… this is too much!”
【Hahahahahaha, Beauty Yu is throwing a little tantrum too.】
【Watching Brother Lu’s private clothes in broad daylight.】
【Brother Lu’s suitcase is so neat. Did he pack it himself?】
【There’s even a cat doll in Shen Linchuan’s suitcase. I’m dying. He put the doll into his backpack first thing. Is that his A Beibei?】
【No, Xi Yu is already done packing? What did he even put in there?】
Luo Cheng’an frantically stuffed things into his backpack, not forgetting to look up at Xi Yu, who was carrying his backpack. “Bro, put yours over there. I’ll take care of it for you later.”
Xi Yu casually tossed some toiletries and two sets of clothes into his backpack and zipped it up. “No need. I’m done.”
As soon as Xi Yu finished speaking, Lu Zhixing also stood up.
As soon as the ten minutes were up, the production team began snatching away their luggage.
Yu Qian’s hand followed the suitcase as it was dragged away, and she shouted anxiously, “I haven’t finished packing! My serum! I’ll be allergic if I use something else!”
In the end, Yu Qian snatched the serum and several sheet masks back from the production team. Her backpack could no longer be zipped shut.
The production team handed out communicators in the form of wristwatches, and Xi Yu fastened his onto his wrist.
Amid the sound of Yu Qian struggling to pull her zipper closed, the stone door behind them slowly opened, accompanied by a mechanical voice.
“Welcome to the Misty Forest—”
Luo Cheng’an weighed his backpack in his hand and complained, “The production team’s voice really has that damp, creepy male ghost vibe.”
The stone door would only remain open for one minute. Xi Yu had just raised his foot when Lu Zhixing had already walked in first. He fell one step behind and followed behind Lu Zhixing.
Then came Luo Cheng’an, Yu Qian, Shen Linchuan, and Luo Shujing.
The scenery at the entrance to the misty forest came into view.
Large, thick, towering trees blocked out huge amounts of light. A few gusts of wind swept through, causing the leaves to rub against one another with rustling sounds.
“So dark…” Yu Qian said softly.
The moment she finished speaking, the stone door behind them slowly closed, and a chill came with it.
It was the height of summer, yet for no reason at all, it made people feel cold.
Yu Qian had long, wavy hair. Finding it somewhat inconvenient, she took a hair tie and tied it into a high ponytail, then pulled her leather jacket closed.
Xi Yu glanced at the time.
Ten-thirty.
It was when the sun was at its brightest, yet inside the misty forest it seemed like evening. It did not affect their ability to see things, but after the sun went down, they would probably be unable to move an inch.
Chapter 34: Coaxing Lu Zhixing
None of the several people were very familiar with one another. Xi Yu and Lu Zhixing were both the sort who did not like socializing with others.
The only true social butterfly was Luo Cheng’an. He asked excitedly, “What are we supposed to do now?”
The drone flew back and forth overhead, and Luo Cheng’an even cheerfully waved at it.
Lu Zhixing cast Luo Cheng’an a sidelong glance, then looked toward Xi Yu.
Xi Yu seemed to sense it. He turned his head and met Lu Zhixing’s gaze. The corners of his lips curled into a smile, carrying a hint of goodwill.
Lu Zhixing pressed his lips together and gave a soft snort before looking away from Xi Yu.
That snort from Lu Zhixing was so soft that it was almost just a breath of sound. But Xi Yu had spiritual power within him, making his five senses more sensitive, so he heard it clearly.
Xi Yu’s eyelashes trembled.
He did not know if it was because Lu Zhixing had Zhi Yi’s divine power on him, but some of his little movements and expressions resembled Zhi Yi to an uncanny degree.
Even the way he threw a tantrum was exactly the same.
Rather cute, Xi Yu thought.
The two’s gazes crossed for only an instant, and the others did not notice. Hearing Luo Cheng’an’s words, Shen Linchuan replied, “We should probably look for lunch and tents first. It will definitely be very cold here at night. Without food and tents, it’ll be hard to get through the night.”
Yu Qian was expressionless. “It’s already hard enough right now. My bag is so heavy!”
“Then carry mine,” Luo Cheng’an said as he weighed his own bag. “Mine’s still okay. I’ll carry yours for you.”
As he spoke, Luo Cheng’an had already held out his bag.
His bag was filled entirely with clothes, and there weren’t that many of them either.
Yu Qian stared blankly at the bag being held out in front of her.
She had only been complaining…
Luo Cheng’an had always had a terrible reputation in the entertainment industry. His acting was bad, his character was bad, and aside from his face, almost everyone hated him.
Yu Qian had never interacted with Luo Cheng’an, but she had also heard those rumors.
But now, looking at Luo Cheng’an’s clear eyes, she felt that the rumors seemed… not entirely believable?
Or was Luo Cheng’an putting on an act?
But Yu Qian was more inclined toward the former, because she had watched Luo Cheng’an’s dramas. To be honest, his acting really was mediocre… Yu Qian felt that with the sincere look in his eyes right now, Luo Cheng’an simply could not act it out.
“C-can I?” Yu Qian asked uncertainly. She really did have too many things, and carrying them would seriously affect their progress.
Luo Cheng’an nodded and had already gone to take Yu Qian’s bag. “Of course! My mom said that when you’re out and about, everyone should stick together and help each other!”
Xi Yu watched this from the side and weighed his own bag.
His bag was very light. Switching with Yu Qian would be more suitable.
But Yu Qian would not be able to carry the things in his bag.
Even if Yu Qian could, Xi Yu would not stand in Luo Cheng’an’s way.
A person’s goodness, even after countless basins of dirty water had been poured over it, would still eventually be seen.
Luo Cheng’an was that kind of person.
Taking advantage of this variety show, Luo Cheng’an could turn his reputation around.
The more love he received, the stronger Luo Cheng’an’s fortune would become.
And the more impossible it would be for Luo Shujing to do anything to him.
There was a saying in the entertainment industry: popularity nourishes a person.
That was exactly how it worked.
But speaking of being popular, Xi Yu’s gaze swept toward Lu Zhixing.
The most popular one should be Lu Zhixing.
Lu Zhixing had chosen his profession well. The love and faith of his fans could become entangled around him, suppressing the demonic aura within his body.
After deciding to look for supplies first, the six-person team began walking deeper into the misty forest.
Meanwhile, the netizens in front of their screens were having a blast watching the six people on the show being livestreamed from all angles by four camera positions.
【The production team is so damn sneaky. They actually planted miniature cameras inside. These people still think there’s only one drone. Luo Cheng’an was even waving at it and asking it to film him more.】
【Amazing! Now we can admire Brother Lu’s beauty from every angle.】
【Aaaaaahhhhh! The fourth camera was just on my Brother Lu! Did you guys see him snort just now?!】
【Saw it, saw it! He was looking at Xi Yu. What was that about?! That little-wife expression! What was he doing?!】
【I’m sensing something unusual…】
【This is so contradictory. Every time Brother Lu trains us like special forces, how can he also act this coquettishly? For heaven’s sake, can someone tell me whether these two know each other or not?!】
【Person above, can you stop getting tipsy on your own imagination? You’re reading way too much into a single micro-expression.】
【Weakly raising my hand—did no one notice that Raccoon was carrying Beauty Yu’s bag? He looked so sincere. I’m becoming a little less of a hater.】
【I saw it! Honestly, I didn’t expect it either. Raccoon actually seems pretty gentlemanly. I really didn’t see that coming.】
Xi Yu could not see the barrage, but he sensed the golden light around Luo Cheng’an slowly becoming stronger.
He wanted to absorb it…
Xi Yu kicked at the leaves beneath his feet. Luo Cheng’an was talking to several of the others, so he walked slowly, falling one step behind.
The air inside the misty forest was humid, and there was also a faint, almost imperceptible demonic aura.
Xi Yu picked up a leaf and rubbed his fingertip over its veins.
The demonic aura on the leaf was even stronger.
However, there was no vicious aura to it. It should not hurt anyone.
But even a demon without malicious intent would unconsciously absorb the essence and vital energy of a human body, causing people to experience hallucinations.
“Bro, hurry up!”
Luo Cheng’an turned around and called out. Only then did Xi Yu throw down the leaf and walk toward Lu Zhixing.
Luo Cheng’an watched with his own eyes as Xi Yu nodded at him, then walked toward Lu Zhixing on the far left, his face full of question marks.
Lu Zhixing was touching an inconspicuous red mark on a tree. He turned his head and was just about to speak when he met Xi Yu’s face.
Xi Yu walked to Lu Zhixing’s side and glanced at the drone. After confirming that the surveillance was not on them at the moment, he leaned close to Lu Zhixing’s ear and said, “There’s something here. Stay close to me.”
Lu Zhixing lowered his head slightly.
As Xi Yu spoke, his warm breath brushed against Lu Zhixing’s ear. With them so close, Lu Zhixing caught the faint fragrance of pear blossoms on Xi Yu.
Cool and pure, yet incomparably familiar.
Lu Zhixing’s heartbeat stopped for an instant. He pressed his lips together, and his breathing became somewhat disordered.
Xi Yu thought he was still angry about last night. In a gentle, soft voice, he apologized, “I’m sorry. I was too harsh last night. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
Xi Yu rarely apologized to anyone, but when he did apologize, he was remarkably skilled at it, especially at lowering himself and putting aside his pride.
Even he himself had not noticed that the way he apologized looked especially like coaxing a child.
Xi Yu was an ancient Divine Venerable, lofty in status and worshiped by all the gods. Such a posture should never have appeared on him.