Chapter 106: A Wonderful Day Naturally Starts with Hiking

“Don’t worry, the director pulled a prank today, so there are definitely worse ones waiting for us,” Ren Bahai said slowly.

Gu Yue glanced at him and closed the lid of her Self-Heating Rice. “Slandering the director? You’re doomed. The director will give you small shoes to wear later.”

Xia Zhengyun took a seat.

She casually picked up the card on the table. As expected, this was probably their task for the day.

“What does it say? What’s on it?” You Hui squeezed forward, but Xia Yubing, who had been sitting primly, suddenly raised her hand and hooked her arm behind Xia Zhengyun’s back.

Xia Yubing silently blocked him, preventing him from getting closer. You Hui glanced down at the owner of that hand but didn’t pay it much mind; he only cared about what was on the card.

Xia Zhengyun began reading the text aloud:

[A wonderful day has begun again. Today’s goal is to hike to the new task base, where you’ll pick up your individual task cards and handle lunch and other matters on your own.]

[The map and winter clothes are in your bags. Each bag contains only one box of Self-Heating Rice. Make sure to arrive at the village before dark—we’ll be waiting for you in San Village~]

“Damn, director, are you messing with us?” You Hui couldn’t help saying.

“I hate you, director…” Tang Qi stared at the endless mountain ranges and paused before adding, “So this is what pastoral life is like.”

A true pastoral variety show.

“I even told Lu Nan that you really like some warm-up exercises, but I didn’t expect you’d go all the way… I won’t side with you anymore, director…” You Hui said tearfully. “I hate you.”

Yi Xiao and Ren Bahai exchanged a glance and chimed in from the side, “Count us in, count us in.”

Mo Zhiting glanced at them and nodded repeatedly.

Xia Zhengyun smiled as she watched their expressions.

Lu Nan slowly closed her eyes, and Song Wenwei beside her closed hers almost in sync.

Gu Yue was still squatting there, eating the Self-Heating Rice she had won the day before. Chewing on the fragrant rice made her feel much brighter, and she tuned out everything else, focusing solely on her delicious breakfast.

Seeing everyone’s odd expressions, she set down her spoon, chewed a few bites of the food in her mouth, and said, “While there’s still water here, why don’t we all eat breakfast first?”

Only then did Lu Nan remember—water. They wouldn’t have any water once they started walking.

Song Wenwei, as if reading her mind, said, “Everyone, fill up your water first. We’ll have to hike to the task base later.”

No one had thought of that oversight until she mentioned it. Without water, they’d die of thirst on the dry road.

“Oh yeah, it had to be Wenwei to remind us. We almost forgot about that,” You Hui said, nodding repeatedly. He grabbed his backpack and started boiling water.

In the corner sat six identical army-green duffel bags, each labeled with their names—one for each person. The other four were on the side, with walking sticks propped next to each backpack.

The outer pockets of the backpacks held massive thermoses, each looking like it held about two liters—enough for a full day’s drinking water.

Song Wenwei picked up the backpacks the production team had left in the corner.

There were two barrels of drinkable water next to the tents. Song Wenwei grabbed a kettle, filled it with water—warm was better than ice-cold.

She lit the fire, and You Hui and Xia Yubing also fetched kettles to boil water.

Once the kettles boiled, You Hui filled thermoses for his teammates and himself, then started eating the breakfast provided by the production team.

Xia Yubing followed suit, filling one for Xia Zhengyun before using the rest to heat her breakfast.

Song Wenwei held two thermoses and filled one for Tang Qi as well.

“Thanks, Sister Wenwei.” Tang Qi was a bit flustered by the attention. She hadn’t expected Song Wenwei to fill hers. She raised an eyebrow and sneakily glanced at Lu Nan.

Her expression seemed to say one thing: Hehe, I have one, you don’t.

Lu Nan instantly closed her eyes, pretending not to see.

Out of sight, out of mind.

I can’t see it, I can’t see it.

Why did this little girl keep provoking her?

There was still half a kettle of hot water left. Song Wenwei stood there holding it and, without hesitation, pulled the thermos from Lu Nan’s backpack, filled it up, screwed the lid on, and naturally placed it back.

Lu Nan suppressed the curve of her lips and silently shifted her gaze to Tang Qi, who was sitting primly drinking water.

Bring it on, kiddo. Pfft~

Tang Qi: Huh? Why do I feel like someone behind me is looking down on me?

Gu Yue watched the two of them. Fine, fine—the only one hurt here was her.

“Do you guys have tents?” Lu Nan turned to ask the four who had come from the hotel.

Since the card said they needed to reach the village before dark, they might have to walk all day outside, plus tasks at the base. Out here in the wilderness with nothing around, the only way to rest besides sitting on the ground was with tents.

Theirs could be dismantled and packed easily, ready for use on the road.

“They should,” Xia Zhengyun replied.

She picked up the other four backpacks that had been set aside. These looked a bit larger than the others, though not obviously so. It was very likely their resting tents were inside.

Xia Zhengyun rummaged through one and, sure enough, found tent fabric and a groundsheet—but nothing else tent-related.

It looked like they’d have to rest with yesterday’s teammates at noon. She glanced at the woman leaning against the tree. Since these were with her, the poles and such must be with Xia Yubing.

Xia Yubing noticed her gaze. She glanced at her own backpack. The production team had accepted her suggestion after all—perfect.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her expression soft, as she stared openly at Xia Zhengyun without hiding it.

Xia Zhengyun sighed silently.

So annoying. Can’t shake her off.

“Once we’re done eating and have some energy, let’s head out,” Yi Xiao said. After filling his water, he had set his and Mo Zhiting’s breakfasts to steam.

Ren Bahai pulled out the map from his backpack—the one they’d need later.

He adjusted his slipping glasses and prepared to study it. As he unfolded the felt cloth, a round object fell out. He paused.

He picked it up and saw it was a compass—probably in case they were all directionally challenged.

The map was winding but detailed, marking mountains and rivers clearly.

The starting point was their current location. They needed to climb one mountain to reach the task base and pick up their tasks.

Then another mountain, passing streams and forests.

You Hui leaned in close but couldn’t quite make sense of the map. He asked curiously, “So how long will it take us?”

Ren Bahai pushed up his loose glasses and used his finger as a measure. The mountain they needed to cross was right in front of them on the map.

“From here to the opposite mountaintop, probably about eight or nine kilometers.”

You Hui stared at his hand in surprise. “You’re that good? You can tell just from your hand?”

“Uh, I was totally guessing,” Ren Bahai said, holding back a laugh.

You Hui: “…And here I thought you were a genius a second ago.”

Gu Yue: “You two are so sweet together too?”

“What do you mean ‘too’?” You Hui perked up his gossip ears and asked her, “Who? Who?”

Gu Yue instantly shut her mouth. Damn it—the Self-Heating Rice must have been too tasty, making her blurt it out.

So harmful. She almost outed them. Sin, sin.

“Spill it, or whisper it to me?” You Hui smelled gossip and leaned in with his ear. “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I won’t leak a word.”

“No, I misspoke. Slip of the tongue.”

Sin, sin.