After Dumping the Scumbag Top, I Was Relentlessly Chased by a Top-Tier Idol - Chapter 23

Before his brain could even react, Shen Xu’s body moved instinctively, rushing over to catch the falling person.

The two were thrown onto the sand together by the massive force of the impact.

Frowning, Shen Xu quickly propped himself up to check on the condition of the person on top of him. He saw Lin Yizhou’s face covered in layers of sweat, his lips deathly pale, and his brows furrowed tightly; he was completely unresponsive.

He tried to help the man up, but as he lifted his arm, he realized he couldn’t raise it at all.

Nan Qiguang hurried over and knelt before the two of them, waving his hand to stop the other guests from crowding in. He continuously fanned the air in front of Lin Yizhou’s face. “Everyone, don’t get too close. Captain Lin has heatstroke.”

“Production crew, please bring some water over quickly.”

Seeing the situation, the staff rushed over with water, an ice towel, and a handheld mini-fan.

Nan Qiguang’s movements were practiced and methodical as he helped cool Lin Yizhou down. Shen Xu continued to act as a “backrest,” his injured arm hanging powerlessly at his side, while his uninjured hand remained busy, constantly fanning Lin Yizhou.

Pei Yutai took a parasol from the crew and stood nearby, holding it so the shadow fell over Lin Yizhou.

A staff member came over to check on Shen Xu’s injury, but the victim shook his head. “I’m fine. Don’t crowd around us for now.”

The “Vase” finally messed up, didn’t he? Trying to climb a tree with bare hands—why doesn’t he just call himself a monkey? It’s a pity the vase didn’t shatter.

Also, I feel like he’s working so hard in the show just to perform for us.

To the person above, do you even hear yourself? Do you have no basic common sense? Heatstroke can be minor or severe. Who do you think you are? You think someone would risk their life just to perform for you?

The sister above is my spokesperson. Lin Yizhou has been working under the scorching sun for a long time; sweat was pouring out in layers, yet he hadn’t had any water. He’s not a robot. Isn’t it normal for him to get dehydrated and suffer heatstroke? Have some decency for the sake of the next generation.

For a moment, the comments in the livestream became heated. One side insisted on slandering Lin Yizhou, claiming he was acting, while the other side fiercely defended him for being serious and responsible.

It was a bloodbath of opinions.

When he saw Lin Yizhou fall from the tree, Song Chizheng sprang up from his swivel chair instantly. Seeing him caught, he unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

But as soon as he realized his own reaction, he felt he had overreacted. Even if Lin Yizhou fell to his death, it had nothing to do with him. Jiang Siyuan was also on the show; he was just worried about Jiang Siyuan.

Yes, he was worried about Jiang Siyuan.

After emphasizing this to himself several times, he called Director Tu. “You’d better guarantee Sisi’s safety on your show. Otherwise, there’s really no need to film this trash program anymore.”

Director Tu hurriedly agreed.

Although there was a small accident on set, the livestream was not cut, and the show proceeded as usual.

The guests tasked with picking coconuts racked their brains for ways to get them down, splitting up to find tools they could use. Meanwhile, the foraging group still had no harvest, still searching among the large and small reefs.

Only the two “casualties,” Lin Yizhou and Shen Xu, were out of the camera’s frame.

Inside the production crew’s exclusive tent, on a folding chair, Lin Yizhou’s fingertips twitched slightly. He slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Shen Xu’s worried face.

“Captain?” Seeing him wake up, Shen Xu called out softly. “How do you feel? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Lin Yizhou shook his head and sat up. Noticing Shen Xu’s hand wrapped in white gauze and hanging in a sling, his brain—which had been somewhat foggy—cleared instantly. He frowned. “How did you get hurt?”

Without waiting for an answer, Lin Yizhou recalled the sequence of events. He lowered his eyes, apologizing like a small child. “I’m sorry. Not only did I fail to get the job done, but I also caused you to get hurt.”

Shen Xu shook his head and tilted Lin Yizhou’s chin up, forcing him to look at him. “I’m fine. The team doctor looked at it; it’s just a hairline fracture. Wrapping it like this helps it heal faster.”

“Everyone… no one blames you. Everyone was very worried about you. You being okay is the most important thing.”

Lin Yizhou was momentarily stunned, looking somewhat incredulous. He asked softly, “Really…?”

Shen Xu looked directly at him, his gaze sincere, his tone certain and caring. “Absolutely. So, do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Lin Yizhou stared at him blankly, his nose feeling inexplicably sore.

So… it’s okay not to be blamed when things aren’t done well. So this is what it feels like to have someone care when you’re hurt.

He remembered the first time he climbed a tree. He had fallen and was covered in blood, yet he hadn’t received a single word of concern.

That year he was ten years old, during summer vacation. Gu Lan had taken him and Lin Yidan back to her mother’s house in the countryside.

One day, they went up the mountain together to pick fruit. Lin Yidan saw a bird’s nest in a tree and started crying and fussing because she wanted the eggs inside.

Gu Lan dragged him to the base of the tree. “Are you deaf or dead? Didn’t you hear your sister say she wants the bird eggs?”

Lin Yizhou said cautiously, “But, Mom, I don’t know how to climb trees.”

Gu Lan glared at him. “Saying you can’t without even trying? Are you an idiot? Don’t you know how to learn on the spot? What’s the use of giving birth to you? All you know how to say is ‘I can’t’.”

Lin Yizhou looked up at the tall tree, braced himself mentally, and started climbing. Gu Lan shouted from behind him, “You better be careful. But if you fall to your death, that works out too. I’ll just bury you right here and save myself the trouble.”

At that moment, Lin Yizhou had climbed nearly two meters high. Terrified by those words, he fell straight down from the tree. A sharp, stinging pain radiated from his back, but Gu Lan didn’t come over to help him up. She didn’t even ask if he was okay. Instead, she kicked him. “If you’re not dead, get up. You can’t even do this small thing; what’s the use of me raising you!”

In the end, he retrieved the bird’s nest. His hands were covered in blood and his knees were scraped, but he still didn’t receive a single word of concern from Gu Lan. She only cared about whether Lin Yidan was happy.

“Captain? Captain?” Shen Xu waved his hand in front of him.

Lin Yizhou snapped out of it, pushed Shen Xu’s hand down, and lowered his head. “I’m fine.”

As he spoke, he tried to get off the lounger, but was unexpectedly pulled into a warm, solid embrace.

Shen Xu pressed Lin Yizhou’s head against his shoulder, patting his back gently with his hand. His voice was soft. “It’s good that you’re fine, but I have something. Captain, lend me your shoulder to lean on for a bit.”

Lin Yizhou knew his intention and tried to pull away, but the hand on his back pressed him back down. A warm voice circled his ear. “Captain, be good. Just for a moment.”

Lin Yizhou’s hands, hanging at his sides, curled into fists.

Then… just for a moment.

Just this once.

The hands at his sides remained at his sides.

After a moment, Lin Yizhou pushed him away and said a word of thanks. “We should go out.”

As the two emerged from the tent, Director Tu walked toward them. “Lin Yizhou, how are you feeling now?”

Lin Yizhou: “I’m fine. I can continue filming now.”

Director Tu then looked at Shen Xu. “And you?”

Shen Xu likewise indicated he was fine.

Director Tu nodded. “Both of you pay attention to yourselves. Report immediately if you feel unwell.”

The two nodded and left the director’s tent, returning to the main camp. The campsite was empty; no one had returned yet.

Shen Xu guessed, “They’re probably still looking for tools to pick coconuts? As for the foraging group, they probably haven’t found anything good to eat either.”

The two went back to the coconut tree, but there was no one there either.

As they looked around, Pei Yutai suddenly burst out from the jungle. Seeing Lin Yizhou, he immediately ran over, tossing the miscellaneous branches in his hands aside. He wanted to give his captain a bear hug, but before he could reach him, he was caught mid-way by the back of his collar.

Pei Yutai clawed the air in frustration. “Brother Xu, why can’t you be a bit more settled even with only one hand left!”

Shen Xu’s voice was calm. “The one who needs to be more settled is you. It seems your memory isn’t very good, little brother. Did you forget what you just promised me so quickly?”

Pei Yutai:

He really had forgotten.

“I didn’t forget! I didn’t plan on doing anything!”

Shen Xu snorted softly. “You’d better not have.”

With that, he let him go.

Pei Yutai shrugged his shoulders, straightened his clothes, and walked very obediently to Lin Yizhou. “Captain, you’re okay now, right?”

Lin Yizhou: “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“That’s good. You really scared me to death just now.” Pei Yutai patted his chest.

Shen Xu interrupted the sentimentality. “Where are the others?”

Pei Yutai pointed behind him toward the woods. “They’re all still in the forest looking for tools to pick coconuts. Unfortunately, no one has found anything yet. We’ve tried every method we could think of, but it’s just too high.” As he spoke, he looked up at the coconuts on the tree and swallowed, looking somewhat hopeless. “Can’t reach them, can’t reach them.”

Lin Yizhou stretched his body and said, “I’ll go up and pick them.”

Pei Yutai opened his arms and ran in front of him, blocking the path like a giant “X.” “Captain, did your scar heal that quickly that you’ve already forgotten the pain?”

“I’m fine. Earlier… was an accident.” After speaking, Lin Yizhou bypassed him and walked to the coconut tree.

Pei Yutai looked at Shen Xu, who was standing still, looking confused. “Brother Xu? Are you just dazing off?”

Shen Xu shrugged slightly. “The Captain will prove that earlier was indeed an accident.”

He never doubted Lin Yizhou’s ability. Earlier, he had been affected by the environment and hadn’t thought deeply about the reasons for the abnormal sweating; he had been too careless.

As for now, he was certain Lin Yizhou was perfectly fine.

That fall earlier surely had many busybodies waiting to laugh at Lin Yizhou. Cui Sula was likely running in circles trying to control the public opinion.

Public opinion can be guided and controlled… but nothing is more persuasive than the person involved personally stepping out to debunk it.

This time, there were no emergencies. Lin Yizhou climbed the coconut tree smoothly. From above, he picked the coconuts and fronds and threw them down. Below the tree, Pei Yutai and Shen Xu were responsible for picking them up and piling them together.

To those who said Lin Yizhou couldn’t do it, open your eyes and look now! Does Grandpa Lin hit your face hard enough? Does your face hurt?!

Ahhh! I feel like this man is truly all-powerful. Looking forward to the surprises Lin Yizhou brings me next!

As expected, a capable man only uses actions to prove himself. Unlike certain people online who only know how to bark.

By the time Lin Yizhou came down from the tree, Nan Qiguang and the others happened to return.

The three of them looked at the small mountain of coconuts and leaves and praised them one after another, but Lin Yizhou only told everyone to hurry back to the main camp with the items.

The group reached the entrance of the camp and happened to run into the guests who had finally returned from foraging. Wen Yue saw them as well and excitedly held up Jiang Siyuan’s hand to show off. “Look, we caught a big fish!”

Pei Yutai’s eyes widened instantly. He ran over quickly to verify the fish. The big fish caught him off guard by slapping him with its tail. He didn’t mind at all; instead, he said in shocked excitement, “Wow, it’s a real fish! Such a big fish. Brother Jiang, did you catch this?”

Jiang Siyuan smiled slightly and said honestly, “Yes and no. The cameraman found it and told me.”

As he spoke, he gave Lin Yizhou an ambiguous look, his eyes filled with a sense of subtle showing off.

Seeing him like this, how could Lin Yizhou not know what he was trying to express? This fish was most likely arranged by someone Song Chizheng sent.

Pei Yutai praised, “It seems everyone on our team has good luck.”

Hearing this, Jiang Siyuan seemed to suddenly remember something. He walked to Lin Yizhou’s side, feigning concern. “Captain, I heard you fell from the tree just now? How were you so careless? You didn’t get hurt anywhere, did you?”

Having said that, he leaned slightly closer to Lin Yizhou’s ear, saying in a voice only the two of them could hear: “It wasn’t on purpose, was it?”

Hearing this, Lin Yizhou finally understood why Jiang Siyuan was being so strangely inexplicable. He knew Song Chizheng would definitely be watching the livestream; it turned out Jiang Siyuan thought he fell from the tree just to show Song Chizheng and gain his attention.

So, in Jiang Siyuan’s eyes, I am that kind of person?

Truly laughable.

Thinking you know someone… it’s the most ridiculous thing.

Lin Yizhou pulled a faint smile. “I’m fine.”

Jiang Siyuan curled his lips and raised the fish in his hand. “Good that you’re fine. Eat more later; it’s just the thing to nourish your body.”

Pei Yutai was very curious about the fish. When Jiang Siyuan walked over, he followed. He stood to the side studying the fish for a while, completely failing to notice the atmosphere between the two. Seeing them finish their conversation, he immediately asked what he didn’t understand: “Brother Jiang, do you know what kind of fish this is? It’s my first time seeing such a big one. This must be almost half a meter long, right?”

Jiang Siyuan nodded. “This is called a Greater Amberjack, also known as a Red Sweetfish. I just asked the photographer to help measure it; it’s exactly forty centimeters long.”

“Red Sweetfish? I feel like I’ve heard the name of this fish somewhere!” Pei Yutai seemed to suddenly remember something and exclaimed, “Right! I saw it in an interview with Brother Zhou. This is Brother Zhou’s favorite fish to eat.”

“Right, Brother Zhou?”

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