Chapter 13: Don’t Bully My Sister!

Ji Jingchuan angrily withdrew his hand, huffed, and turned his head away.

The director grinned widely, as if recalling every heartbreaking moment of his life, before holding back his laughter and continuing, “Alright, the third tool is an insect-repelling sachet. Each team needs one person to carry the other on their back and run from this line to that tree.”

Ji Jingchuan: “I forfeit.”

“The insect-repelling sachet is very important. There are a lot of bugs in the forest, and without it, you’ll most likely get bitten.”

“You said the same thing about the map.” Ji Jingchuan looked determined not to be fooled again and insisted, “I’m forfeit, anyway.”

The director then turned to Shang Que.

Shang Que asked, “Why are you looking at me? I can’t carry myself over there.”

“…”

Jiang Yizhe raised his hand and asked, “Director, can I help complete this task for them?”

“No,” Ji Jingchuan immediately cut in, firmly stating, “Shang Que can’t even carry you.”

【???】
【So you were expecting Shang Que to carry you in the first place?】

Jiang Yizhe quickly clarified, “No, no, I meant I could carry Sister Shang Que.”

“Still no.” Ji Jingchuan’s expression left no room for debate as he then snapped at Shang Que, “And you’d better not agree to it!”

Shang Que was exasperated by his unreasonable antics but, since they already had the map and compass and the sachet didn’t seem essential, she chose not to argue. “Forget it, our team doesn’t need it.”

For outdoor adventure activities on variety shows, the production team typically checks the area in advance to ensure there are no dangerous animals like wild beasts or venomous snakes before allowing the guests in. Everyone knew this, so when Ji Jingchuan and Shang Que both insisted on forfeiting, the director didn’t push the issue further.

Meanwhile, Lu Zhixu and Jiang Yizhe easily hoisted their respective partners onto their backs and ran back and forth along the designated route, appearing very relaxed.

Jiang Yizhe even marveled, “Wow, you’re so light! Do you not eat much?”

Lin Jinyi paused for a moment. “I think I eat normally…” Her face showed slight discomfort as she murmured, “When I was filming before, someone even said they couldn’t lift me and told me to lose weight.”

Lu Zhixu countered, “Why didn’t that person go work out instead?”

【Exactly! If someone can’t even carry Lin Jinyi, maybe they should check if they have muscle atrophy.】
【I’ve seen her before—she’s really slim.】
【Lu Zhixu truly sets the gold standard in the entertainment industry; other male celebrities could learn from him for centuries.】
【There’s always room for learning.】

Lin Jinyi instinctively looked at him, her lips parting slightly as her expression became complicated.

Jiang Yizhe quickly added, “Yeah, I think you’re really light. Even Sister Ning Sheng and Sister Shang Que could probably carry you.”

Right then, Shang Que walked over and said, “Let me try.”

She slipped one arm around Lin Jinyi’s back and the other under her knees, effortlessly lifting her into a princess carry.

Lin Jinyi gasped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Shang Que’s neck.

Shang Que withdrew her hand from Lin Jinyi’s waist and remarked, “See? Not so heavy.”

“Really?” Lin Jinyi asked, frowning in doubt.

“Really,” Shang Que nodded. “If I were as tall as you, I’d definitely be heavier.”

Lin Jinyi was quite tall—about 1.7 meters—so naturally she had a larger frame, but she was nowhere near needing to lose weight. Even on camera, where appearances might add weight, she still looked well-proportioned.

However, a male co-star had once publicly complained on a show that she was too heavy, joking that she should lose weight. When Lin Jinyi scowled in response, he brushed it off as a joke, telling her not to be so sensitive.

He got the last word, while Lin Jinyi ended up with a reputation for being overly sensitive.

Because of that incident, she later developed disordered eating for a while before eventually recovering.

Hearing all this, Lin Jinyi looked momentarily dazed before awkwardly saying, “Maybe my recent dieting has really worked.”

Shang Que agreed, “Indeed, a little more and you’ll be down to three and a half pounds—me and the box included.”

【Haha, Shang Que’s tongue is as sharp as ever.】
【But she isn’t wrong—if I ate like that, I wouldn’t even have the strength to tie a noose.】
【Not to mention, does anyone else think Shang Que gives off major girlfriend vibes? One-handed princess carry, for crying out loud!】
【Let’s not forget she once carried Ji Jingchuan to first place.】
【I can’t help but think—if Shang Que ever princess-carries me…】
【Then I’d step in for you.】

Lin Jinyi’s brief moment of gratitude vanished, replaced by an annoyed glare.

With that matter temporarily set aside, the other two teams obtained their insect-repelling sachets, and the director announced, “The final task: each pair must maintain eye contact for one minute without laughing. If you laugh, you start over.”

【Wow, wow, wow!】
【Lu Zhixu and Ning Sheng’s team—staring without laughing; meanwhile, I’m giggling.】
【This task will be the hardest for Jiang Yizhe; his laugh threshold is practically non-existent.】
【I hope Shang Que and Ji Jingchuan don’t end up fighting instead of laughing.】
【The director only said don’t laugh—he didn’t say anything about not fighting. Just keep a straight face when throwing punches.】
【Are you really that genius?】

Staff members positioned three stopwatches beside them. The director raised his hand and announced, “Ready—”

The timer started as the three pairs stared at each other. Jiang Yizhe tensed his facial muscles, trying desperately not to smile. Gradually, his face contorted and puffed up like a blowfish, turning bright red.

Lin Jinyi accidentally glanced his way and nearly burst out laughing, quickly averting her eyes.

“Pfft—”

“Lin Jinyi and Jiang Yizhe’s team, please restart.”

Jiang Yizhe immediately defended himself, “Director, I didn’t laugh!”

“Your mouth curved upward.”

“That’s just my natural resting smile!”

“Pfft—”

His indignant protest prompted Lu Zhixu and Ning Sheng to burst into laughter.

【Haha, ‘natural resting smile’—what is that even supposed to be?】
【You little scoundrel, laughing and then dragging everyone else into it.】
【I wonder if Shang Que and Ji Jingchuan are on some kind of detox—they can hold back laughter.】

Lin Jinyi covered her face in embarrassment and said, “Enough already—let’s just start over.”

Jiang Yizhe rubbed his lips and muttered, “It really is just that.”

After the two teams prepared again, the timer restarted, and the director reminded them, “Don’t try any tricks; follow the standard set by Shang Que and Ji Jingchuan.”

Everyone glanced over to see Shang Que and Ji Jingchuan sitting with stern expressions, their eyes locked in a fierce stare that sparked as if they might start a fight at any moment.

As soon as the countdown ended, the two immediately broke eye contact, grabbed their maps and compasses, and headed straight into the forest.

【They are so in sync.】
【I swear, looking at them any longer might just blind me.】

It was now early morning. The forest was dim and quiet, and Ji Jingchuan stormed ahead, clearly determined not to speak to anyone.

Shang Que, seeing this, silently muttered to herself about how stingy he was, and decided not to engage with him.

The forest was filled with the scent of damp earth, and occasional bird calls and insect chirps echoed through the trees. The deeper they went, the darker it became. Moss grew abundantly on the ground, dotted in patches of green.

Shang Que was bent over studying the map when she suddenly slipped. She fell backward, exclaiming in surprise as she staggered before barely regaining her balance.

Hearing the commotion, Ji Jingchuan instinctively looked back. Seeing that she was alright, he subtly exhaled in relief before frowning and saying, “You can’t even follow from behind without falling, you—”

His words abruptly halted as his eyes widened, “Shang Que, there’s a snake!”

Following his gaze, Shang Que looked down and saw a small blue-tailed lizard—resembling a tiny snake—crawling on her exposed lower leg.

Nonchalantly, she picked up the little blue-tailed lizard and set it back on the ground. When she looked up, she met Ji Jingchuan’s horrified eyes.

“Shang Que, you’ve been bitten!” Ji Jingchuan exclaimed, noticing blood on her leg. “What kind of snake is that? Is it venomous?”

Shang Que stepped forward and, off the cuff, replied, “It’s a many-step snake—its venom is extremely potent. Anyone bitten by it will surely die within seven steps.”

Ji Jingchuan’s face drained of color. “Stop right there! You’ve already taken six steps—don’t move!”

Shang Que: “…”
【Hahaha.】

【One lies, one believes.】

【What? Ji Jingchuan—(avoiding eye contact) I’m not a Ji Jingchuan fan! (Clutches the corner of her clothes) I really am not one of his fans! (Sweating) Please, don’t laugh at me!】

【They all laugh at you, Ji Jingchuan, but you’re really hilarious too.】

Shang Que stood with her arms folded, a slight frown creasing her face as she began to wonder if there was something wrong with their family genes. “You—”

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Jingchuan suddenly squatted down in front of her, his voice trembling ever so slightly as he said, “Shang Que, come up here. I’ll carry you out to find a doctor.”

“No need to find a doctor.”

Shang Que was just about to confess that she was fine when Ji Jingchuan, seemingly misunderstanding her meaning, shouted loudly:

“Don’t talk like that! With me here, you won’t die.”

Shang Que paused for a moment, suddenly recalling something from long ago. When they were children, whenever she got into a fight with someone, Ji Jingchuan would always rush out to stand in front of her. Even though he was shorter than her, his little figure was so determined—like a little snarling puppy—shouting, “No one is allowed to bully my sister!” before pouncing on those older kids.

In her memory, that little person seemed to have suddenly grown up. His shoulders had become broad, his back straighter, yet his voice remained the same as before—clearly anxious but forcing calm.

Just like now, Ji Jingchuan squatted very low, head down as he anxiously urged, “Hurry up, let’s get out of here.”

Seeing that there was no other option, Shang Que had no choice but to climb onto his back.

Ji Jingchuan immediately hoisted her up and began striding back quickly, muttering non-stop, “It’s okay, it’s okay, you won’t die. Shang Que, hang on—I’ll take you to a doctor right away, just don’t…”

Just don’t leave me behind.

His voice was so soft, it was hard to tell if he was speaking to her or trying to brainwash himself.

Shang Que patted his shoulder. “Stop talking. I just want to sleep a bit.”

They hadn’t slept well last night because of all the noise, and with the show recording early this morning, his constant chanting was making her even more drowsy.

At once, Ji Jingchuan stiffened and quickened his pace, almost breaking into a run. “Shang Que, don’t sleep! Don’t fall asleep—let’s get out right now.”

【Oh no, why are my eyes suddenly watering?】

【Me too. I was just laughing at Ji Jingchuan, and now I feel a bit sour inside.】

【Since he refused to do the task at the start and didn’t take the insect-repelling sachet, maybe he thinks that Shang Que “being bitten by a snake” is his responsibility.】

【And after arguing for two years, there must be some feelings involved, right?】

【Sob sob—who said enemies can’t become friends?】

【When you look at him, Ji Jingchuan is pretty good—his flaws are just his strengths.】

Even as Shang Que explained all along that she hadn’t been bitten by a snake, Ji Jingchuan seemed oblivious, too focused on hurrying forward.

Soon, he burst out of the forest with her in tow. Spotting the production team, Ji Jingchuan shouted, “Director, help! Shang Que’s been bitten by a snake!”

The director, who had been cooling off in the shade, was so startled that his fan flew out of his hand. He bolted over, “Impossible! We checked the area in advance—there are no snakes here!”

Ji Jingchuan set Shang Que down on a chair. Hearing the director’s words, he angrily exclaimed, “Impossible! Look at her face—it’s all…”

Rosy.

After all that running, Shang Que now looked as if she could punch a bull with her good health.

Ji Jingchuan looked at her, and the words that were about to come out changed: “She’s nearing death, where’s the doctor? Doctor!”

Shang Que, unable to bear it any longer, stepped down a few paces, walked over, and gave his arm a sharp pull.

Ji Jingchuan’s eyes widened. “You’ve taken seven—”

“Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven steps,” Shang Que circled him, then stood still. “I’m not dead.”

Ji Jingchuan’s urgency turned to confusion, then disbelief: “Shang Que, did you lie to me?”

“I told you I’m fine. You just wouldn’t listen.”

“But the blood on your leg…”

“Just from a mosquito bite,” Shang Que said after a pause, looking at him as he stood frozen. Thinking for a moment, she added rather awkwardly, “But since you’re so concerned about me, I—” (She felt quite touched.)

“Who’s concerned about you?” Ji Jingchuan suddenly said, his eyelids reddening as he looked up in indignation, furious: “Shang Que, I will never trust you again!!!”