Chapter 218: Chapter 216: Zhao Qi’s True Character

Meng Xiaoyi could tell that Zhao Qi wasn’t joking.

She instantly reached out, grabbed Xie Fu Yao’s arm, and pulled him onto the bamboo raft.

She smiled fawningly. "Brother Xie, don’t mind him. That’s just Zhao Qi’s personality."

Zhao Qi didn’t bother with the idiot anymore.

The bamboo raft moved little by little into the lake. It was indeed a bit wobbly at first; this was their first time doing anything like this, their first time poling a bamboo raft.

Naturally, they were clumsy and had trouble controlling it.

But fortunately, adults are pretty adaptable.

Zhao Qi got the hang of it quickly.

’Even if I can’t catch up to Doctor Wen’s group, I can’t be in last place.’

’Otherwise, won’t my family laugh at me when I get back?’

’No way in hell!’

When Meng Xiaoyi saw that Zhao Qi was ignoring her, she turned her attention to Xie Fu Yao. "Brother Xie, don’t be discouraged. None of us expected that Doctor Wen to have a trick like that up her sleeve. But it must be a fluke. A relative of mine knows someone who can also pole a single piece of bamboo across the water and even dance on it, but to reach that level, that girl trained for twenty years!

This Wen Ying is probably some kind of heir to a similar tradition. She put so much thought into coming on this show, and she even specifically chose the unusable boat. She must have planned to use her twenty years of practice to become an overnight sensation. But on this show, this boating part is just the beginning. It won’t be used at all later on, so we’ll definitely be able to leave her in the dust."

Xie Fu Yao felt much better after hearing that.

’Meng Xiaoyi is right. If she’s spent all her energy on this whole ’crossing a river on a bamboo raft’ business, then she must be lacking in other areas.’

’I still have a chance to win!’

’How can I give up over a small setback at the beginning?’

’If I can’t gain a wave of popularity from this show, not only will my manager scold me, but the company will probably make me work twice as hard to repay their investment.’

’I’m not a puppet!’

’I have to win!’

At the same time, this strengthened Xie Fu Yao’s resolve to pursue a publicity pairing with Jiang Beibei.

He couldn’t afford not to get famous. He *had* to get famous!

"You’re right, Xiao Yi. This is just the first challenge. We won’t lose in the ones to come."

Meng Xiaoyi smiled and nodded.

The two of them watched Zhao Qi pole without offering to help. Instead, they looked over at Jiang Beibei and Zhang Jingxing.

They had just gotten on their bamboo raft, but it lurched, and Jiang Beibei nearly fell. Zhang Jingxing grabbed her, and while she steadied herself, he was the one who fell.

His clothes were soaked through.

Although Zhang Jingxing wasn’t much of a person, there was no denying his face and physique.

Thanks to him getting soaked, the chatter in the livestream chat surged again.

Meng Xiaoyi covered her mouth in feigned worry. "Brother Xie, is Jingxing okay? And Sister Bei Bei, wasn’t she in a girl group? Her balance must be excellent. How could she have accidentally almost fallen?"

Xie Fu Yao, who had been about to gloat, heard this and thought it made sense.

’Jiang Beibei wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake.’

’Unless... she did it on purpose.’

’The previous wave of attention was definitely stolen by Wen Ying. To win it back, she had to do something unexpected... like getting Zhang Jingxing all wet?’

’That Jiang Beibei... she’s definitely a schemer.’

’Someone like that is perfect for a publicity pairing. After all, we’d both be getting what we want, with no strings attached and no guilt.’

Although the weather was a bit hot, Zhang Jingxing still went to change his clothes.

By this time, Wen Ying had already reached the opposite shore, and Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan had also arrived safely.

Zhao Qi’s group of three was in the middle of the lake. "Xie Fu Yao, are your hands broken? I’ve been poling this long, can’t you take a turn? You really think I’m your damn workhorse?"

[This Zhao Qi is so vulgar!]

[Why did the production team cast such a vulgar person? It lowers the tone of the show!]

[LMAO! What ’tone’? Should they have cast a hypocrite like your favorite celebrity instead?]

[Someone genuine like Zhao Qi is way better than a hypocrite like Xie Fu Yao! He’s not blind, doesn’t he know to switch with Zhao Qi and let him rest for a while? He’s clearly doing it on purpose! Don’t give me any excuses like ’he forgot’!]

[No wonder he’s still a nobody! He can’t even be bothered to act. It’d be a miracle if he ever got famous!]

Xie Fu Yao immediately explained, "Sorry, Zhao Qi. I was afraid that since I don’t know how to pole, I’d slow us down. If you don’t mind, I’ll start poling now."

As Xie Fu Yao stood up, the raft wobbled again.

But Zhao Qi wasn’t about to coddle him. They were already losing anyway!

"If you don’t know how, then practice more. That’s what I’ve been doing this whole way!"

Xie Fu Yao gripped the bamboo pole, feeling a torrent of curses about to burst from his lips.

But for some reason, probably after Doctor Wen’s boat fell apart, the production team had found a motorboat. Staff members were now sitting in it, following alongside them and filming the whole way.

With the camera shoved in their faces, he couldn’t very well start cussing.

He had to force a smile instead.

"Go, Brother Xie! Safety first, it’s okay to be slow. Sister Bei Bei’s team can’t pass us." Meng Xiaoyi wanted to offer to help, but she was afraid Xie Fu Yao would actually make her do it, so she stuck to cheering without offering any real assistance.

Xie Fu Yao was also too embarrassed to let a woman pole while the two men just sat there.

By the time they reached the other side, Xie Fu Yao was panting, while Zhao Qi was fully rested.

He got right off the raft without a word.

Meng Xiaoyi jumped up happily. "Brother Xie, we made it! We should be looking for food now, right?"

Xie Fu Yao nodded and looked at Zhao Qi. "Zhao Qi, are you coming with us?"

"No, you guys go on ahead. I’ll search on my own."

’Zhao Qi had no desire to be with these two. He was more comfortable alone. Besides, if he shamelessly tagged along with someone else, he might be able to ride their coattails!’

Jiang Beibei and Zhang Jingxing were the last to arrive.

So, Wen Ying’s group didn’t get the clue from the production team either.

"Brother Fu Yao, have you seen Wen Ying’s group?" Jiang Beibei asked, a little anxious.

’Now that we’re on the other side, I’m still the team leader. I’m supposed to make them find food and hand it over to me.’

’But now that we’re here, there’s not a soul in sight?’

Xie Fu Yao shook his head. "Xiao Yi and I were about to go look for clues. We were waiting here for you to let you know."

A coy blush flashed across Jiang Beibei’s face. "Thank you, Brother Fu Yao, for always looking out for me."

Suddenly, she asked, "Where’s Zhao Qi?"

An unnatural expression flickered across Xie Fu Yao’s face. "He went off to look for clues on his own."

"Brother Fu Yao, why don’t we go together? We don’t have any leads right now, and this forest is huge. Once we run into the others, we can split up then, okay?"

Xie Fu Yao thought about it, realized she had a point, and didn’t refuse.

The four of them walked into the forest together.

Apart from the camera operators and a few assistants, the rest of the production crew hadn’t crossed the lake.

They watched the footage sent back from the cameras from the opposite shore.

Wen Ying led Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan down a path she’d chosen in the forest.

"Sister Yingying, Jiang Beibei made us miss out on the clue. How are we going to find food now? Without food, are we all going to starve today?"

Hearing Xu Jiali’s words, Wen Ying broke into a smile. "Don’t worry. Have you forgotten my profession?"