Chapter 45: Developing Inappropriate Feelings for the Pure Younger Brother…

“Your clothes are on backward?”
“Backward?”
“On backward?”
“Backward?”
“…ward?”

Ning Qingyan’s comment kept echoing in Gu Si’s mind. He stiffened, glanced down slowly, and the previously lazy expression on his face froze instantly. The next moment, he vanished on the spot, dashing back to his room.

Everyone burst out laughing, with Ning Qingyan chuckling audibly.

Live Chat Comments:

• “Hahaha, Ning Qingyan and Gu Si are killing me with laughter.”
• “One moment he’s all cool and confident, the next he’s gone like a flash.”
• “Did he sleep so badly that he put his clothes on backward at his age?”
• “Look closely; he has dark circles. Probably didn’t sleep well last night, huh?”

By the time Gu Si grudgingly came back downstairs after fixing his clothes, everyone but Ning Qingyan managed to stifle their laughter out of politeness.

After quickly scarfing down breakfast, the show’s director’s voice came clearly through the guests’ earpieces:

“The princes and princesses, being adventurous, frequently explore uninhabited islands. One day, a storm strikes while they are at sea, and most of their supplies are lost to the ocean, leaving them only with their backpacks. They must survive on this deserted island for three days and nights!”

“Please follow the drone to the designated task location.”

With the announcement, the living room door opened automatically. Outside, a drone hovered, with eight backpacks laid neatly below it.

Clearly, the adventure-themed setup was another scheme by the director to spice things up.

Having been through the challenges of the first episode, the guests were now more prepared. Each picked up the backpack with their name on it and followed the drone to the destination.

This journey even included an aerial cable car ride with twists and turns before they reached the other side of the island. The location was a wild forest and beachfront untouched by the production crew.

The waves lapped rhythmically against the shore, a capsized wrecked boat lying in the sand and occasionally washed over by the tides.

The viewers in the live chat were stunned by the production quality:

• “What am I even watching—romance, survival, thriller, or some fantasy show?”
• “The production crew sure knows how to stir the pot. Three days and nights of survival? These pampered stars can handle that?”
• “You don’t get it. Adversity breeds affection! This is how real bonds form.”

Once at the site, the guests opened their backpacks to check their supplies: a bottle of water, a pack of compressed biscuits, a small flashlight, a utility knife, a sleeping bag, and other essentials.

The drone also dropped two additional bags of supplies.

While this wasn’t a hardcore survival show, the producers had provided items like tents, a lighter, and cooking utensils. However, food and drink still had to be sourced independently.

Reassured by this setup, the live audience relaxed—after all, they were here for a romance show, not pure survival.

The guests began setting up the tents, which were foldable and required minimal effort to assemble.

Male and female guests each shared a tent, with the two tents spaced apart but close enough to hear each other in case of emergencies.

After setting up their respective sleeping arrangements, Ning Qingyan fluffed up her sleeping bag, letting it expand after absorbing air.

Gu Si crouched into his tent. At 6’2″, he couldn’t straighten his back in the small space.

“Little brother, setting up the sleeping bag is your job,” Gu Si said lazily, tossing his bag toward Ning Qingyan.

Having just finished laying out her own sleeping bag, Ning Qingyan instinctively caught the one thrown at her.

“Can’t you do it yourself? As the elder brother, shouldn’t you set an example?”

Gu Si replied lazily while spinning the bag in his hand, “This tent is so cramped. With my size, I can’t move freely like you can.”

Not willing to be outdone, Ning Qingyan flung the bag back and dragged the tall Gu Si down to sit on the floor.

“Can’t you lay it out while sitting?” she asked plainly.

For the first time, Gu Si found himself being dragged down by someone shorter and surrounded by Ning Qingyan’s soft scent. His face immediately flushed red. Instinctively, he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap before pushing her away in panic.

Meanwhile, the system chimed: “Gu Si’s favorability +5.”

Caught off guard by Gu Si’s strength, Ning Qingyan toppled backward, but Wen Shijin, who had just entered the tent, steadied her by the waist. His calm voice accompanied his steady hold:

“Careful.”

The warmth and calm of Wen Shijin’s touch contrasted starkly with Gu Si’s intensity. Ning Qingyan’s cheeks reddened slightly as she nodded.

Gu Si, on the other hand, was utterly stiff, furiously muttering under his breath: “Lust is emptiness. Emptiness is lust…”

The director’s voice broke the awkward tension:

“Find food and prepare lunch! Your contribution will determine your team rankings and bonus meals!”

Gu Si heaved a sigh of relief. He grabbed his sleeping bag and moved away from Ning Qingyan, claiming, “From now on, I have a one-meter rule. Don’t come near me!”

“…A one-meter rule? Are you saying you’ve suddenly developed a fear of men?”

Ning Qingyan stared at him incredulously, and Gu Si hastily explained, “I don’t like guys. I like girls—soft, curvy ones.”

“Me too!” Ning Qingyan replied matter-of-factly.

Gu Si: “???”