I Swear I Don’t Want to Be Everyone’s Favorite - Chapter 16.1

“Exactly,” Fu Yunqing suddenly seemed inspired. “Why keep asking me? Are you all ignoring Xiang Fan?”

“No swap,” Xiang Fan retorted with a bitter laugh, rejecting Fu Yunqing’s attempt to stir trouble before turning to Jiang Luoyue. “Not saying anything means you want to go to the other side? Isn’t that a bit narrow-minded?”

Jiang Luoyue apologized sincerely, “Is that so? I thought the guide wanted to go to the other side. It’s all my fault.”

Xiang Fan shot her a sidelong glance. “You can’t have both beauty and wishful thinking.”

With that, Xiang Fan turned around and reiterated to the Square Team, “Not going, not swapping, stop looking at me.”

Jiang Luoyue, who had expected to be scolded: “” Is this a case of “courtesy before force”?

Since Xiang Fan was unwilling, no one could force her. Fu Yunqing, seeing her attempt to stir trouble fail, reluctantly accepted the fact that Xiang Fan would be her teammate.

Even though the Square Team clearly had reservations, they didn’t argue further.

The groups were thus finalized, and the production team began distributing basic survival kits to the guests. Each kit contained seven items: salt, a multi-functional knife, a compass, a flashlight, matches, a tent, and a walkie-talkie specifically for the show.

[Where’s the food? This is way too basic!]

[It’s not like they’re helpless can’t they find their own food?]

[They have shelter, fire for light, and a knife for protection. How is that basic? If it were any more luxurious, they might as well be sent to a five-star hotel for three days and two nights.]

[Live-streamed from a hotel for three days and two nights? I’m in if it’s live-streamed.]

As the screen flooded with “I’m in,” the two teams began exchanging items.

Although the production team didn’t allow guests to bring their own food, they didn’t restrict them from using points to exchange for food and water.

The Square Team didn’t use any points. Instead, they relied on the two opportunities provided by the production team to exchange for two cans of food and a small medical kit containing common medicines.

Their discussion was brief: Ning Fuguang proposed the idea, and Yu Jingtang agreed, with the total exchange not exceeding twenty words.

So much so that by the time the exchange was completed, some were still puzzled at how quickly they had reached a decision.

Meanwhile, when the camera panned to the Heart Team, the trio seemed somewhat indecisive.

Jiang Luoyue, having no prior survival experience, opted for compressed biscuits for stability.

Though unappetizing, they at least provided energy and were easy to carry.

Fu Yunqing deliberated repeatedly and finally chose a large-capacity water bottle. After receiving it, she shook it and stared silently at the empty interior for a few seconds. “We have to fill it ourselves?”

“Otherwise, how would it be called survival?” The director avoided her gaze, looking around evasively.

Fu Yunqing pressed further, “What if we get sick from drinking wild water?”

“You can use the matches from the survival kit to light flammable materials and boil the water before drinking,” the director replied.

Reluctantly, Fu Yunqing screwed the cap back on and stuffed the bottle into her bag.

But when it was Xiang Fan’s turn to choose, she took an unconventional route and picked a fishing kit complete with a fishing rod, bait, and floats, along with every flashy gimmick imaginable to lure in beginners.

“What’s the use of that?” Fu Yunqing asked, bewildered.

Xiang Fan replied, “It’s for fishing. Also, what I choose seems to be none of your business.”

“Then why team up at all?” Fu Yunqing shot back, her tone heated.

Jiang Luoyue and she had both chosen practical items to contribute to the team, while Xiang Fan picked a useless fishing rod, what could he possibly catch with that?

Xiang Fan sneered coldly but didn’t change his choice.

Fu Yunqing looked dejected, so Jiang Luoyue comforted her, “We can also exchange for items by completing tasks. It’s not a big problem. Maybe Xiang Fan is actually really good at fishing? Then we’d have our food problem solved.”

“That’s the kind of thinking a normal person would have,” Xiang Fan remarked with a sigh. “You’re quite foresighted.”

Jiang Luoyue replied, “Yunqing was just thinking about the team. What do you think, Xiang Fan?”

Under her pleading gaze, Xiang Fan had no choice but to drop the matter.

Naturally, Fu Yunqing and Jiang Luoyue ended up standing a little closer. Hugging her water bottle, Fu Yunqing grumbled, “You’re so much better. Xiang Fan is just not normal.”

Jiang Luoyue felt she was gradually getting used to this: “It’s fine. Is it heavy? Let me carry it for you.”

As they talked, the director announced that the Diamond Team could leave and explore on their own, while the Heart Team still had to wait a few more minutes.

The smaller team had privileges this time, but surprisingly, no one objected. Fu Yunqing even nodded in rare agreement with the show’s arrangement.

Seeing Jiang Luoyue looking at her, she explained casually, “Let them scout ahead. If there’s any danger, we’ll know in advance.”

Ning Fuguang’s veins bulged in anger: “There’s no danger in this rainforest. Even if there were, no one would tip you off.”

“Really?” Fu Yunqing looked somewhat disappointed but generously added, “Well, we have strength in numbers anyway. We don’t really need your updates.”

Jiang Luoyue quickly cut in, “Alright, that’s enough! Let’s focus on discussing where we should go next.”

There were no maps in the rainforest, and the show only provided basic compasses. After a moment of thought, Xiang Fan suggested, “Let’s look for a water source first. In the rainforest, water is usually found in low-lying areas.”

The proposal was unanimously agreed upon.

After all, they weren’t professional survivalists. Their main goals were simply to ensure their own survival and complete tasks in their free time.

Thus, the Heart Team set off on their journey. As they traveled, the live chat was filled with comments:

【Why didn’t Xiang Fan switch teams? I want to see Luoyue and Jingtang in the same team! Give me my favorite pairing back!】

【The Heart Team is terrifying. Two respected seniors are bullying the others, and Jiang Luoyue doesn’t even dare to speak. My heart aches for her.】

【Fu Yunqing’s fans, stop pretending to be anti-fans. Fu Yunqing and Jiang Luoyue are sticking together just fine. Even if your eyes turn red with envy, she won’t spare you a glance.】

【They’re not even talking, yet you’re all arguing so fiercely. The Diamond Team’s live stream is not only silent, but their chat is dead too.】

Someone casually clicked into the Diamond Team’s live stream. Unlike the Heart Team, who were searching for water, Ning Fuguang preferred to secure a campsite first. Yu Jingtang didn’t argue, so under his unilateral decision, the Diamond Team began looking for flat ground.

There was no communication between the two, and the live stream atmosphere was unusually quiet. After all, the guests couldn’t see the live chat during this broadcast.

Without the stars’ interactions, many viewers naturally preferred to watch the team with more dramatic dynamics.

“Is there really water along this path?”

Fu Yunqing glanced at her watch. Nearly an hour had passed since they set out. Not only was there no sign of water, but they were also venturing deeper into the dense forest. The lush canopy blocked almost all sunlight, making the surroundings cold and oppressive.

She had no doubt that if they continued, snakes would definitely appear nearby.

The production team said they would ensure the guests’ safety, but they never guaranteed that the guests wouldn’t be attacked by animals.

Fu Yunqing stopped walking. When Jiang Luoyue looked up, Xiang Fan was tilting her head to listen for something while also fiddling with the soil. “The soil around here is already a bit damp. If we walk a little further, we should reach it.”

Fu Yunqing: “Did you hear something?”

She was asking Jiang Luoyue, who shook her head blankly. Still, the two of them chose to trust Xiang Fan and didn’t question further.

【Is there really water nearby?】

【If the soil is waterlogged or muddy, it means the terrain is low, and there’s likely a water source nearby. Xiang Fan’s reasoning is correct, but I checked the weather it rained in Q Province the past two days. It’s possible the soil is damp because of the rain.】

【Then it’s over. Fu Yunqing looks like she’s about to explode.】

【If someone led me the wrong way and made me walk for over an hour, I wouldn’t be able to take it either.】

Sure enough, after walking for a long time, not only was there no sign of water, but the soil was getting drier and drier. When they saw the mountain range not far away, Xiang Fan stopped and said, “We took the wrong path.”

“Wrong path?” Fu Yunqing took a deep breath. “An hour and a half, and it ends with just ‘wrong path’?”

“What else should I say?” Xiang Fan was also frustrated but instinctively retorted, “No one objected before we set off, which means the decision-making risk is shared by all three of us.”

She directly handed the compass to Jiang Luoyue. “I can’t lead the way. You do it.”

“Stop pretending,” Fu Yunqing cut her off. “Why didn’t you let her lead when I questioned you earlier? Now that you’ve led us astray and can’t fix it, you’re handing it over to her? If Jiang Luoyue leads us wrong, are you going to step in and take charge again?”

Tensions were about to erupt, but Jiang Luoyue simply took the compass, pondered for a few seconds and realized she couldn’t read it.

She casually picked a direction and started walking. Soon, the other two, who had been arguing, caught up.

“Why are you walking so fast?” Fu Yunqing asked quickly, though her tone wasn’t as sharp as before.

“Whether I’m there or not makes no difference when you two are arguing.”

【That’s such a harsh truth.】

But before the viewer could finish typing “truth,” Fu Yunqing had already retorted, “We’re a team. Without you, the triangle loses its point and becomes a parallelogram.”

Jiang Luoyue: “You’re pretty good at geometry.”

Fu Yunqing, having been praised, instantly regained her lively demeanor.

But soon, a serious problem confronted the three of them.

They had forgotten the way back.

It was their first time surviving in the wild, and none of them had thought to mark the trees to avoid getting lost.

Jiang Luoyue decided to be democratic. “Should we choose a direction?”

Xiang Fan humbly asked, “What happens if we don’t?”

Jiang Luoyue: “We’ll just wander based on my intuition.”

She thought this unreliable suggestion would be rejected, but to her surprise, both Fu Yunqing and Xiang Fan chose to rely on intuition.

“Anyway, we’ve already wasted so much time,” Fu Yunqing said. “A little more won’t hurt.”

Jiang Luoyue: “…”

Jiang Luoyue wasn’t sure if her luck today was good or bad, but after stubbornly walking south for ten minutes based on her intuition, the three of them finally encountered a fork in the road for the first time.

As luck would have it, there were exactly three paths.

Like a game of matching tiles, all three paths were narrow one had branches strewn on the ground, another was muddy, and the last one occasionally had vines, along with small footprints, suggesting the presence of dangerous beasts.

“Let’s take the middle path,” Xiang Fan spoke first, trying to regain the lost trust. “It’s muddy with dense vegetation, so it should be close to water.”

“No,” Fu Yunqing pointed to the left path. “This one looks safer.”

“Jiang Luoyue, what do you think?”

Xiang Fan sought Jiang Luoyue’s opinion, but she hesitated, looking toward the last path. “I want to take this one.”

Facing their surprised gazes, Jiang Luoyue explained, “Animals need to drink water too, right? There are traces of their activity here; there might be a water source.”

Fu Yunqing immediately agreed, “That makes sense. I’ll go with you!”

“But it could also be an animal habitat.”

“The production team gave us walkie-talkies,” Jiang Luoyue glanced at Fu Yunqing and shook her head. “If the guide’s direction is correct, we can contact them anytime.”

With things said to this extent, Xiang Fan nodded and didn’t try to persuade them further.

The team split into two groups. Some viewers questioned: [Isn’t it too dangerous to leave Xiang Fan alone?]

[The whole mountain is covered with cameras, and there are staff following them. What danger? If they keep dawdling and don’t start a fire before dark, not having a place to stay would be the real danger.]

Shortly after setting off, Jiang Luoyue clarified their goal for the journey: “It’s best if we find water, but if we don’t, we shouldn’t go too deep. We’ll regroup with the guide before dark.”

Since stepping onto this path, Fu Yunqing had been warily scanning their surroundings. After a while, she finally replied, “She can take care of herself.”