After a D-List Celebrity and Their A-List Ex-Partner Join a Travel Reality Show - Chapter 5

Husky! The two locked eyes and discovered on each other’s faces…

Norway is six hours ahead of domestic time. Four in the afternoon at home is equivalent to ten in the morning here. With three hours left before the live broadcast, the production team arranged for them to first experience the local specialty: sledding.

The sledding course was set up in a very flat area completely covered by a thick layer of snow. The route selected by the production team featured both mountain and lake views. After everyone arrived, the sleds were already prepared at the starting point.

“Whoa!” He Lan saw several huskies from afar, already poised and ready to go. He walked over with great interest to pet their heads.

Once everyone had arrived, the staff announced the task: “Teachers, for this race, you can choose between two types of animals: reindeer sleds or dog sleds. Your ranking, based on when you reach the finish line, will determine your lunch menu. Also, please group up according to yesterday’s lodging arrangements.”

The production team was very generous; the dog sleds were pulled by eight huskies each, while the reindeer sleds were typically pulled by a single reindeer.

Zuo Jiaxi rested his chin on his hand and pondered: “Dog sledding must be faster than reindeer sledding. There are eight huskies for just one sled!”

The staff said nothing, merely indicating that everyone was free to choose.

“But huskies are much harder to control in terms of direction; they will not necessarily run in the direction you intend.” Duan Nan stood to the side, observing the director’s mysterious smile, and added: “Besides, I have a feeling there is a catch.”

Yu An agreed: “I also think there is a catch. Furthermore, reindeer sleds are more for sightseeing; it would be nice to enjoy the scenery along the way. I feel like after riding the dog sled to the finish line, we will look like we have been through a storm. Why do we not choose the reindeer instead?”

“Sure,” Ke Tongtong said. “As far as I know, there is nothing in Norway that I cannot eat, so if we lose, I will be the one to accept the punishment. Plus, I brought a camera, so we can take pictures of the scenery along the way later.”

He Lan listened to their discussion and then looked at the staff, asking: “There are two of us in a group; do we only need to arrange for one person to race?”

“That is correct, but one sled can seat two people. If both of you want to experience it, you can sit together.”

Upon hearing this, He Lan looked at Shen Shiqin, who was half-crouched in front of a husky, feeding it a ham sausage he had brought from who knows where.

“Teacher Shen,” He Lan called out, “are you participating?”

After feeding the rest of the sausage to the husky, Shen Shiqin nodded: “Yes, let us participate.”

He added: “Do not be crazy.”

He said this to the husky that was rubbing against his leg at his feet. After saying that, he patted the husky’s head.

He Lan did not look at him; he was intently studying with Zuo Jiaxi how the huskies were cleverly harnessed to the sled. So, upon hearing Shen Shiqin speak, he nodded naturally: “Oh.”

Shen Shiqin heard his response, looked up at him for a second, then withdrew his gaze and continued feeding the dog.

Yu An witnessed all of this and could not help but laugh.

He Lan looked up at her, his eyes full of inquiry: “What is it? Why so excited?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Yu An patted his shoulder. “Stay calm.”

He Lan did not understand and looked at her suspiciously.

…

The four groups quickly finalized their mounts. He Lan and Shen Shiqin, along with Duan Nan and Zuo Jiaxi, chose the dog sleds. Yuan Kuanglun and the duo of Yu An and Ke Tongtong chose the reindeer sleds.

The staff taught them how to drive independently and explained the safety precautions, adding: “For safety reasons, we have set a shorter sledding route, so we will adopt a best-of-three format.”

He Lan was full of confidence: “One round is enough to decide the winner.”

Zuo Jiaxi followed up: “I think so too!”

Shen Shiqin and Duan Nan stood to the side, silently watching the two of them overflowing with self-confidence. They locked eyes, and both saw helplessness on each other’s faces.

No, Shen Shiqin’s expression was clearly one of speechlessness.

After the staff finished their instructions, everyone sat down and prepared to depart.

There were eight huskies for the dog sled. He Lan watched as these huskies lounged; some were lying down, others were sitting, showing absolutely no awareness that they were about to start working.

One of them was even excitedly turning its head to rub against Shen Shiqin’s leg.

Shen Shiqin was also petting the husky’s head with a gentle expression.

He Lan’s mouth twitched: “Is this the one you just fed the sausage to?”

“Yes,” Shen Shiqin did not deny it. He pulled out one hand, took off his leather glove, and prepared to reach into his coat pocket.

The husky’s eyes lit up, and its fluffy head rubbed against Shen Shiqin’s pant leg even more enthusiastically.

He Lan knew exactly what he was about to do without even thinking, so he immediately reached out and gripped Shen Shiqin’s wrist.

“The race is about to start, stop feeding it, Teacher Shen.”

Shen Shiqin was stunned. He looked down at the hand holding his wrist.

That hand was bare, the joints prominent.

Holding his wrist was one thing, but he suddenly rubbed it a few times?

Shen Shiqin immediately pushed his hand away and put his glove back on.

“Yes, I know.”

He Lan only then realized what his hand had subconsciously done. He withdrew his hand, covered his mouth, and coughed twice: “Uh, well, let us feed it after the race.”

Since it was a speed race, to prevent accidents, the production team required everyone to wear specialized protective equipment. The field chosen by the team had very thick snow, ensuring that with the gear on, the guests would not get hurt even if they fell.

After the guests were ready, a staff member held a small flag in one hand and a whistle in the other, shouting from the side: “Three, two, one, race start!”

As soon as the whistle blew, the huskies of the two sleds took off immediately. In contrast, the reindeer group to the side was leisurely.

The huskies were extremely fast. He Lan gripped the reins with both hands to control the direction, and soon they opened a gap from Zuo Jiaxi’s group.

“Woohoo!” He Lan looked back at the three groups trailing behind and said to Shen Shiqin beside him: “Sit tight.”

Shen Shiqin did not speak. When the huskies ran, their hind legs would kick up snow, occasionally spraying it onto the people sitting in the seats behind.

Shen Shiqin silently pulled his zipper all the way up to cover most of his face, then gripped the handrail tightly. He looked at the sneaky staff members not far ahead, then at He Lan who was having the time of his life. He opened his mouth, but closed it again.

Forget it.

He Lan was having a blast. As they approached the finish line, a staff member suddenly appeared on the side of the track holding something that looked like a bucket. He did not pay much attention to it and was preparing for the final sprint, but in the next instant, the huskies all turned toward the staff member in unison.

“?” He Lan was stunned and immediately pulled the reins to try and steer back onto the correct track, but it was completely useless. He watched helplessly as he and Shen Shiqin were pulled off-course by the huskies.

He made a final struggle: “Where are you guys going?”

The huskies ignored him, happily dragging their two customers away from the track and stopping obediently in front of the staff member.

The staff member smiled and took something out of the bucket, feeding it to the huskies. He Lan then saw what was in the bucket.

“Fish?!” He Lan was dumbfounded. “You can play like this? Awesome.”

Shen Shiqin had his hands hidden in his pockets. After seeing what it was, he reached up and pulled his collar higher, completely covering his mouth and nose, but he could not help but let out a huff of laughter.

“Did you see that just now?” He Lan’s ears were very sharp; he heard that huff and turned to look at him.

Shen Shiqin ignored him. He heard the faint sounds from the track behind them, getting closer. He turned his head and happened to see Zuo Jiaxi’s group rushing over.

He Lan followed his gaze and also saw Zuo Jiaxi’s group.

The two locked eyes and then, with perfect tacit understanding, got off the sled and dragged it back to the original track.

After returning to the correct position, they feigned that the dogs were disobedient and refused to move, then sat back on the sled.

“Teacher He! Why did you stop?” Zuo Jiaxi looked from afar at their sled parked on the edge of the track and asked curiously.

When He Lan heard the voice, he turned his head wearing an expression of helplessness: “I do not know what happened; they suddenly will not move.”

To make it more believable, he nudged Shen Shiqin with his elbow to seek confirmation: “Right, Teacher Shen?”

Shen Shiqin also turned back and said: “Yes, perhaps they are hungry.”

Seeing a good opportunity, Zuo Jiaxi’s fighting spirit was ignited. He patted Duan Nan, who was controlling the reins: “Teacher Duan, good opportunity! Let us pass them! Our huskies do not look hungry!”

“Right!” Duan Nan gripped the reins and increased his speed.

At the same time, the staff member appeared on the other side of the track with a bucket.

The plan was set; He Lan and Shen Shiqin watched with straight faces as the two accelerated toward them. When the huskies caught the faint scent of fish in the air, they turned their direction without hesitation, veering off the track and dragging Zuo Jiaxi and Duan Nan toward the staff member.

Zuo Jiaxi was shocked: “Where are you going!?”

Duan Nan tightened the reins, trying to return to the correct track, just as He Lan had done earlier.

However, as expected, the huskies stopped in unison in front of the staff member, waiting to be fed. Only Duan Nan and Zuo Jiaxi were left, bewildered and messed up in the wind.

“Hahahahaha!” He Lan made no attempt to mask his mockery.

Even Shen Shiqin laughed from the side: “Are your huskies not full either?”

Zuo Jiaxi finally realized they had known about the ambush all along; he stood with his hands on his hips, ready to counterattack.

At this moment, the staff member took fish from the bucket and tossed it into the air to feed the dogs. Seeing the fish, the huskies pulling He Lan and Shen Shiqin’s sled stood up from the ground immediately and dragged the two toward them.

Because the track for Zuo Jiaxi’s group was on the other side of where they were stopped, the dogs turned their direction and swerved to the left.

The two, who were completely unprepared, immediately leaned back and to the right due to momentum. Shen Shiqin was on the right side, and his body could not help but tip over. Just as he was about to fall, his hand subconsciously grabbed the hem of the person next to him.

He Lan was quick-witted; he reached out to scoop Shen Shiqin’s waist and pulled him back into his arms.

The two remained tightly pressed together due to the momentum until the sled stopped. He Lan immediately let go.

His voice was a bit stuttering, feigning sarcasm: “When Teacher Shen was about to fall just now, you grabbed my clothes; were you trying to perform a ‘mutual destruction’ act in public?”