After Dumping the Scumbag Top, I Was Relentlessly Chased by a Top-Tier Idol - Chapter 42

Lin Yizhou was suspended in mid-air, his head perpetually hanging low, his eyes closed.

In truth, the rope of his fate was also held in his own hands.

The end of the slipknot was gripped right in his palm.

As long as he moved his wrist slightly to undo the knot, he could immediately be liberated from this boundless fear that could descend at any moment.

Falling into the sea, even if he couldn’t save himself, the staff of the program would surely rescue him.

But he couldn’t.

If he pulled the knot, it would be equivalent to forfeiting this match.

Then… his team would lose.

And his teammates would not get the food they wanted…

He tried to distract himself, attempting to feel the high-altitude wind and trace the mountain scenery before his eyes… but it was all to no avail.

At this moment, nothing on his body was more magnetic than the sea beneath his feet.

It was like a gargantuan, greedy mouth, ready to swallow him at any second.

The moment his body plummeted, he thought he was finally going to be set free. He opened his eyes, wanting to face that greedy mouth head-on, but at a certain point, the descent of his body came to an abrupt halt.

He looked toward the other end of the rope, only to see Shen Xu and Wen Yue clutching the line tightly, as if they would pull him back to the shore even if it meant risking their very lives…

When they were being uncontrollably dragged forward, Shen Xu was the first to stop his steps.

His feet sank deep into the sand, and the veins on his arms, neck, and face bulged.

He moved forward slowly, exerting force to reclaim the rope inch by inch, clutching it in his palm, and gradually turning around to drape it over his shoulder.

He wanted to pull the person at the other end back.

But he couldn’t move him.

The distance was too great, and the strength available was too little.

However, he would absolutely not let Lin Yizhou fall into the sea.

He didn’t want him to fall into the icy deep sea again.

Twelve years ago, he hadn’t had the chance to catch the falling Lin Yizhou.

Now, no matter what, he would not let go!

Time passed for an unknown duration as the stalemate on the beach continued.

On Nan Qiguang’s team, Xiang He was pulling the rope with all her might, practically lying on the sand and using her body weight to restrain the line.

Meanwhile, the other teammate, a crew-cut male actor, slung the rope over his shoulder with his back to the sea, attempting to pull their captain back to the shore.

“I can’t hold on anymore,” Xiang He gritted her teeth, speaking almost in a whisper of breath.

The second after she spoke, she released the rope, falling helplessly onto the sand.

The shared force suddenly converged; the crew-cut actor stumbled abruptly, but fortunately, his lower body was stable enough that he didn’t fall.

He quickly stabilized himself, turned around, grabbed the rope in his hands, and leaned his center of gravity back, barely steadying his steps that were being dragged away.

Pei Yutai watched him from a distance and said anxiously, “As expected of an action actor, he’s really too steady!”

“Shen Xu,” Wen Yue yelled through gritted teeth, “I’m about to lose my grip.”

Hearing this, Pei Yutai jumped up: “Sister Yue, hold on just a bit longer, just a little more and we’ve won.”

“I’m sorry.” Wen Yue let go of the rope and collapsed on the beach like a stranded fish. Her protective gloves were somewhat worn down, revealing deep purple fingertips.

When Wen Yue said she couldn’t hold on, Shen Xu had already turned his body to face the sea. He didn’t stumble backward like the crew-cut actor, but he was still dragged forward about half a meter.

He gripped the rope deathly tight, his center of gravity leaning back, likewise using his body weight to achieve balance between the two ends of the rope.

Sweat trickled down his cheeks and past the corners of his eyes. He blinked and looked up, his gaze landing exactly on Lin Yizhou.

The other person was shaking his head at him.

Was he telling him to give up?

No.

He didn’t want to.

But he seemed powerless.

Such a familiar sense of powerlessness.

Before he could search his mind, his mother’s blood-covered face flashed through his memory like a movie scene, frame by frame.

Yes, it was just like that time.

He had watched his mother die before his eyes, and he could only watch helplessly from the side…

No.

“No!”

On the quiet beach, Shen Xu suddenly let out a loud cry. With a burst of strength from nowhere, he rapidly hauled the rope back, and the coils of rope at his feet began to accumulate.

Pei Yutai froze for a split second before reacting quickly. He looked up toward Lin Yizhou’s position and shouted in surprise, “We won! We won! The captain has crossed the coastline!”

A whistle pierced the sky.

Hearing the sound, Pei Yutai quickly ran over to pull a rope.

Wen Yue also scrambled up from the ground and grabbed her original rope.

Seeing this, Song Chizheng ran over as well.

Jiang Siyuan, behind him, arched an eyebrow slightly and followed.

The five of them worked together to slowly lower Lin Yizhou from the heights.

When his feet touched the ground, Lin Yizhou felt as if he were stepping on cotton. His legs didn’t seem to belong to him; they were weak and limp, unable to support his body as he collapsed toward the sand.

But what caught him was not the soft beach, but a solid chest.

He lifted his hazy eyes, and through the blur, he saw a very familiar face.

“Are you okay?” Song Chizheng asked with a frown, looking at the person in his arms.

Before Lin Yizhou could respond, his body was suddenly snatched away by a force. He heard Pei Yutai say seriously, “President Song, don’t be like this. I know you mean well, but Brother Yuan might get jealous in a bit.” After saying that, he looked at Lin Yizhou nervously, “Captain, what’s wrong?”

Song Chizheng looked at his empty arms, feeling strangely dazed for a moment.

Lin Yizhou leaned on Pei Yutai’s body, using the support to stand straight, and slowly shook his head: “I’m fine, thank you all.”

Pei Yutai took his arm and draped it over his shoulder to lead him inside.

Lin Yizhou had scanned the crowd just now; everyone was there, except for Shen Xu… He was about to ask when he looked up and happened to see Shen Xu lying on the beach.

Just now, seeing that the person had finally landed safely, Shen Xu had intended to run over to greet him. But he let out a heavy sigh as if he were exhausted and lay directly on the sand, his chest heaving violently.

His body had no strength left.

Pei Yutai helped Lin Yizhou over to Shen Xu’s side and let him sit down: “Captain, you and Brother Xu rest here. I’m going to find Director Tu to check the supplies, hehe.”

Lin Yizhou nodded, watching Pei Yutai walk away. He turned around and looked at the youth lying on the beach.

The youth’s face was bathed in the glow of the sunset. The golden choker around his neck was dampened by sweat, making its color seem even deeper. Although his breathing was still tight, his smile was even broader it possessed the vitality of the morning sun and the gentleness of the sunset.

Perhaps seeing that he hadn’t moved for a long time, the youth’s smiling face drooped and puckered up. He held his hand out in front of him, his voice sounding pitifully aggrieved: “Captain, it hurts…”

Lin Yizhou lowered his gaze. His eyes swept past the golden boat on the white sleeve and landed on the palm of his hand. One-third of the protective glove was worn through, and it was blood-stained. He couldn’t help but frown: “You shouldn’t have pushed yourself. Now that you’re injured, you’re the only one who suffers the pain.”

Shen Xu sat up and faced him. Unlike his previous playful self, he was slightly serious: “So, can you no longer feel pain?”

Ever since he was nine years old, he had never disobeyed his family’s orders. How many times had he forced himself through things?

Lin Yizhou’s movement to stand up paused. The impulse rose in his heart again—the impulse to ask how much the other person actually knew about him.

But he didn’t ask.

It would be meaningless.

He pretended not to hear, his emotions as flat as ever. He stood up: “Let’s go. Your wound is a bloody mess; we need to find the team doctor to treat it. It’ll be a hassle if it gets infected.”

Shen Xu’s expression became a bit complicated for a moment.

After walking two steps, Lin Yizhou stopped and looked back at the person still sitting on the ground, calling out, “Shen Xu?”

Shen Xu snapped out of it and extended his uninjured hand toward him, his voice perfectly pitiful: “Captain, can you pull me up? I still feel so weak.”

Suspecting nothing, Lin Yizhou reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up.

Shen Xu smiled: “Thank you, Captain.”

Lin Yizhou had just thought that Shen Xu was acting unusually serious this time, but the next second, a hand was extended in front of him. The owner of the hand spoke in a pathetic tone: “Captain, blow on it for me, it hurts a little.”

Lin Yizhou looked at him expressionlessly. But seeing the other’s slightly furrowed brows and aggrieved look, he somehow found it a bit cute and couldn’t help but curl his lips slightly.

Shen Xu feigned shock, his peach-blossom eyes widening slightly: “Captain, you laughed? Are you making fun of me?”

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

He withdrew his hand and walked quickly, getting ahead of Lin Yizhou.

Lin Yizhou looked at the back that was at least half a head taller than himself. The curve of his lips widened as he followed behind, his voice involuntarily lifting: “Are you a child?”

Having achieved his goal, Shen Xu stopped to wait for him and said seriously, “Of course I’m not a child.” Then he instantly changed his face: “Of course, if you want me to be, I can be.”

“Do you want me to call you Captain-gege? Or Zhouzhou-gege, or just… Gege?”

This questioning format and tone… Lin Yizhou frowned slightly; it was inexplicably familiar.

“Don’t frown.” Shen Xu extended his hand in front of him once more. “Gege, hurry and blow on it, or else I might start wailing from the pain later—the kind that can’t be coaxed into stopping.”

Lin Yizhou pressed down on his wrist and pulled him toward the medical room: “Stop being poor. Hurry up and get it treated.”

Shen Xu looked at his wrist being held and said obediently, “I’ll listen to the Captain!”

Passing by where Director Tu was, Lin Yizhou explained the situation to him.

The director nodded: “Go ahead. Gather back here in an hour.”

OMG, these two are holding hands!! Ahhhh, how is this any different from doing ‘it’? Being so blatant in broad daylight… is this really okay! (squirms)

Sister in front of me, your drool is getting on my face!

Sisters in front, your underwear is falling on my face!!

Why does it feel like Song Chizheng’s eyes keep darting toward Lin Yizhou? He ran so fast just now to help him up. I feel like the ‘pursuing the ex-wife’ storyline can still be… saved! President Song, step up!

Scumbag Song, stay away, thank you.

Unsurprisingly, the bullet comments began a new round of verbal sparring.

On the beach, Song Chizheng and Jiang Siyuan strolled along the shore facing the sunset.

Song Chizheng’s gaze drifted toward the medical room for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

Jiang Siyuan stretched lazily against the sunset sea breeze and said, seemingly casually, “If you’re so worried, why don’t you go over and take a look?”

“Worried?” Song Chizheng turned his head in feigned surprise. “Who would I be worried about? Aren’t you right here by my side?”

“A-Zheng, do you know?” Jiang Siyuan’s smiling gaze landed on him. The sunset reflected in his eyes made him look incredibly gentle. “My eyes have always been on you.”

“So, where your gaze lands, and even the changes in your micro-expressions I can see them all very clearly.”

Song Chizheng frowned slightly.

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