Chapter 7: Favorability +10! “Brother, my foot hurts”

A line of three people originally stood neatly together. Before the other two could react, Ning Qingyan, with uneven steps and a slight limp, dashed out of formation like a gust of wind, brushing past Wen Shijin. Within seconds, she reached the cliff’s edge and fastened her harness.

The remaining three’s expressions froze into the same reaction: “Dropped chopsticks in hand, eyes blank—stunned. JPG.”

However, their inner thoughts varied:

• Huo Qi’s thoughts: Perseverance despite adversity.
• Gu Si’s thoughts: Can’t resist!
• Wen Shijin’s thoughts: A fleeting shadow?

Live Chat Comments:

• “One moment Ning Qingyan is like, ‘I won’t be a simp!’ The next, she’s like, ‘Harness secured; ready to climb!’ Dog emoji.jpg.”
• “OMG, Ning Qingyan’s antics have me laughing so hard, it’s making my cramps worse.”
• “I laughed so much I made a mess everywhere. Dog emoji.jpg.”
• “Gu Si: Don’t ask; just know she’s expelled from my team.”
• “Wen Shijin: I saw a shadow flash before me, and I was terrified.”

The live chat buzzed with playful banter and memes.

After securing her harness, Ning Qingyan cautiously stepped onto the first foothold. Just as she prepared to climb further, someone tugged her left leg from behind.

She held tightly to the metal foothold and turned to see Wen Shijin tightening her harness. Smirking playfully, she teased,
“Wen Shijin, you’re so underhanded, dragging me down.”

Wen Shijin smiled warmly and replied softly, “Shouldn’t partners tackle challenges together? How could a brother abandon his sister?”

Noticing Wen Shijin’s bandaged hand and glancing at the towering cliff, Ning Qingyan extended her hand to him with a grin.
“How could I? Let me be your third hand.”

Her sparkling peach blossom eyes curved like crescents, brimming with purity and warmth. Her outstretched hand was slender and fair, almost unreal.

System Alert: Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.

Wen Shijin’s phoenix-like eyes momentarily faltered but quickly regained their usual gentleness. He grasped her hand lightly, his voice soft and tender, “Alright.”

The touch of their hands sent a faint, electrifying sensation up their arms. Wen Shijin instinctively loosened his grip to quell the strange current.

His gentle, low “Alright” resonated in Ning Qingyan’s ears, making them tingle. She took a deep breath and exerted strength, pulling him up.

Nearby, Gu Si, who had just fastened his harness, watched the “brother-sister duo” with a raised eyebrow. With a hint of dissatisfaction, he quipped,
“Ning Qingyan, how can you be so spineless, calling someone else ‘brother’ so easily?”

Annoyed that his junior had addressed someone else first, Gu Si licked his sharp canine teeth, feeling inexplicably irked.

Oblivious to Gu Si’s irritation, Ning Qingyan turned and flashed a bright smile, showing her teeth.
“Spineless? So what? You can’t eat pride.”

She then turned back and resumed climbing.

Gu Si, feeling both frustrated and helpless, climbed up effortlessly, positioning himself just above Ning Qingyan. Looking down at her, he teased with a smug tone,
“After all the tips I taught you about flirting, you’ve never called me ‘brother.’ What’s wrong? Don’t want to learn anymore? Don’t want a girlfriend?”

Ning Qingyan paused and looked up at him, her voice clear,
“Good brother, if you don’t hold back and help me find a girlfriend, I’ll even call you my biological brother!”

Their eyes met. Ning Qingyan’s peach blossom eyes curved into crescents, and her smile deepened. Gu Si’s hand clenched slightly, and his heart skipped a beat before he abruptly averted his gaze. He then punched a nearby rock to mask his embarrassment.

Gu Si’s thoughts: It’s awkward for two guys to lock eyes for too long, okay? I’m straight!

Shaking off his thoughts, Gu Si climbed higher, leaving Ning Qingyan behind.

By now, Gu Si led the climb, followed closely by Ning Qingyan and Wen Shijin. Huo Qi trailed leisurely at the back, seemingly uninterested in competing.

Live Chat Comments:

• “Huo Qi’s clearly the mole—he’s not even trying to complete the task!”
• “Why are they all asking Ning Qingyan to call them ‘brother’? Do guys love being addressed like that?”
• “Ning Qingyan’s totally being tricked by Gu Si. She’s never going to get a girlfriend at this rate.”

Finally, nearing the top, Ning Qingyan struggled under the blazing sun. Sweat drenched her white shirt, making it cling uncomfortably to her back.

As Gu Si continued teasing her, she suddenly stopped, tugged at his shirt, and looked up with a pitiful expression,
“Brother, my foot hurts.”

The words sent a jolt through Gu Si. Looking down, he saw her disheveled, sweat-drenched figure. For a moment, he was stunned.

System Alert: Gu Si’s favorability +10.

Snapping back to reality, Gu Si hastily climbed down to her level, muttering,
“A guy acting coy? Ning Qingyan, can you stop being so girly? You’ll never get a girlfriend like this!”

But before he could examine her foot, Ning Qingyan mustered her strength and climbed two steps, reaching the top first.

Director’s Announcement: “Congratulations to Ning Qingyan for reaching the top first! You have priority in rescuing the female guests and selecting ingredients for lunch.”

Gu Si, left behind and embarrassed, could only watch her victorious silhouette heading toward the food selection area.