The Second Fall - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Rong Yushu Cries in Anger

At this moment, the look Yu Mingsong gave Rong Yushu was filled with tenderness. She barely bothered to hide her attitude; in fact, she seemed to be using her acting skills to deliberately amplify it. Her public pursuit of Rong Yushu was likely intentional, probably causing Rong Yushu a great deal of trouble.

Yet, Rong Yushu did not treat her with harsh words, and the Rong family didn’t seem to have suppressed Yu Mingsong either. Could it be that the Rong family was actually satisfied with her?

Hidden in Rong Yushu’s shadow, Lan Cixing’s thoughts wandered. Her peripheral vision toward Yu Mingsong took on an unpleasant hue before she even realized it herself. Yu Mingsong, seeing her covered in a mask and hat and noting she wasn’t a guest of the show, gave her a brief, contemptuous glance, completely disregarding her. She walked straight toward Rong Yushu.

She even tried to take Rong Yushu’s hand.

Lan Cixing’s breath hitched. Their hands were almost touching. Would Rong Yushu agree?

Thinking back, ever since they had reunited, Rong Yushu had been very hands-on with her, constantly engaging in physical contact without any sense of “AO” (Alpha/Omega) boundaries. Perhaps Rong Yushu just liked physical intimacy with others. Lan Cixing endured the stinging pain of jealousy, her eyes refusing to blink.

But before Lan Cixing could finish holding that single breath, Rong Yushu raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. It seemed like an idle gesture, but it effectively dodged Yu Mingsong’s hand.

Yu Mingsong didn’t give up and tried a second time, but this time Rong Yushu directly sidestepped her.

“The last time we met was at the OM Red Carpet two years ago, wasn’t it? I didn’t realize it had been two years.”

Despite being rejected twice in a row, Yu Mingsong started a conversation with Rong Yushu with perfect composure, acting as if nothing had happened. Anyone who made it to the A-list in the entertainment industry was a master of social grace. Though she understood Rong Yushu’s attitude, she showed no outward signs of distance; instead, her tone became more intimate.

Their movements were subtle. Aside from Lan Cixing, who was fixated on Rong Yushu, no one else noticed. To outsiders, it simply looked like an Alpha who had publicly pursued Rong Yushu was making small talk, and the two were chatting happily. The other guests saw this and didn’t bother them, even instinctively moving further away. It seemed Yu Mingsong had quite a reputation in the industry.

“Yes, time flies. Two films, and it’s gone. You look very beautiful today,” Rong Yushu said. She was a better actor than Yu Mingsong when she wanted to be. Utilizing just thirty percent of her acting skill was enough to mislead anyone. Even Lan Cixing couldn’t be sure what this ambiguity meant, let alone Yu Mingsong.

The calculating Alpha’s mood was instantly brightened by Rong Yushu’s words. The smile in her eyes became more genuine as she leaned closer to Rong Yushu, intentionally blocking Lan Cixing’s line of sight.

Lan Cixing took a deep breath to suppress the lightheadedness from a lack of oxygen and the pounding of her heart. Swallowing her shame, she shifted her position. Rong Yushu didn’t reject her approach, but she didn’t make it easy for her either. Lan Cixing lingered nearby, listening to their small talk.

“Is that so? I’ll have to change out of it soon. This outfit isn’t convenient for walking,” Yu Mingsong said, clearly floating on Rong Yushu’s praise. She was visibly bubbly—it was hard to tell if it was an act or real. Either way, they were indeed chatting happily. Lan Cixing’s spirits sank bit by bit.

“I hope I get paired with you. See you later.” Yu Mingsong leaned in slightly, her voice dropping closer to Rong Yushu. The sentence carried a hint of intimacy; her breath almost grazed Rong Yushu’s skin.

She left after saying that. Rong Yushu remained alone. The smile in her eyes vanished instantly, though her facial expression remained friendly. She put on gloves and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her ears and the side of her face. When she was done, she threw the handkerchief on the ground and headed toward her dressing room.

The production crew had prepared rest areas for each guest and their teams, complete with medical and security personnel. Theoretically, Lan Cixing should have joined the security team to patrol the island. But she simply bent down to pick up the handkerchief and followed Rong Yushu. She followed stolidly, without narrowing the distance. It was as if Yu Mingsong hadn’t just given her a provocative glance.

“What are you doing here?” Rong Yushu’s voice was cold, like a blade stabbing into Lan Cixing’s heart the moment she caught up.

Lan Cixing’s footsteps faltered. Rong Yushu didn’t want her following; she wanted to find someone else, and the choice was already made. In that case, she should keep her distance and stop annoying Rong Yushu.

Lan Cixing turned and truly walked away, joining the security team. Her pace was slow, her steps as quiet as her despondent heart. Rong Yushu was a proud person; no matter how much she might regret it, she wouldn’t turn back to chase anyone. What’s more… Lan Cixing listened to the footsteps behind her. After she left, Rong Yushu didn’t even try to make her stay; her steps were steady as she moved forward, even picking up speed.

But a deserted island was actually quite dangerous.

Rong Yushu had been pampered her whole life; the greatest hardship she had ever known was being pinched red on the bed. Her skin was so sensitive that a light touch could make her bite from pain, and she would throw a tantrum if her food or lodging wasn’t perfect. Could such a person really complete the show’s tasks alone on a deserted island? Yu Mingsong didn’t know her; how could she possibly take care of her?

Lan Cixing was listening to the security briefing, but her mind was elsewhere. If she wasn’t guarding her closely, what if a wild fruit fell and hit Rong Yushu? What if she accidentally stepped into a mud pit? Rong Yushu would cry from disgust, throwing away her shoes while shedding tears. What if there were snakes? She was terrified of bugs and snakes; she used to love hiding in Lan Cixing’s arms. If there was a spider in the room, she would jump out of her skin and bury her face in Lan Cixing’s neck, too scared to look.

Lan Cixing exhaled slowly. She was Rong Yushu’s bodyguard; by all rights, she should be the one clearing away dangers. Lan Cixing simply stepped out of the line. Because Rong Yushu had introduced her, she had some privileges; the security captain gave her a map and let her through.

Lan Cixing looked at the markings on the map. As expected, Rong Yushu was pre-destined to be paired with Yu Mingsong. The route was set. The production crew had a general design for what they would encounter. The goal this morning was to find the campsite. At the finish line, there were tents, two bottles of emergency water, and a pack of compressed biscuits. The crew was at least somewhat humane.

But looking at Rong Yushu’s path, Lan Cixing was worried sick. She set out quietly, avoiding the cameras, intending to clear all the obstacles before the filming started. While she was at it, she figured she’d drop off the bag of essentials she had packed for Rong Yushu the day before.

After the drawing of straws, Rong Yushu wasn’t surprised to see that the other end of her red string was Yu Mingsong. She had anticipated this when they were chatting earlier. Yu Mingsong tugged the red string, pulling it tight and essentially drawing Rong Yushu toward her. Once they stood together, the pairing was complete.

Yu Mingsong faced the camera, leaning in behind Rong Yushu and flashing a peace sign. Rong Yushu cooperated with a pose of her own. She didn’t record many variety shows, but she knew how the game was played. The host made a joke.

“It seems our Yu Mingsong is determined to win this time. You two already had a chat before the start; is it pleasant to meet an old friend?” The host started with the most popular group.

Rong Yushu only smiled. “Seeing an old friend makes me very happy.”

Yu Mingsong didn’t hold back at all. “What do you mean ‘determined to win’? She didn’t even like me two years ago.” Noticing the cold sideways glance from Rong Yushu, she added, “So this is a good chance to spend more time together. I hope everything goes smoothly and happily today.”

Rong Yushu let out a soft snort, her lashes masking her green eyes so no one could read her emotions. Once the cameras moved away, Rong Yushu turned off her mic and practically whispered in Yu Mingsong’s ear.

“If you talk nonsense again, don’t expect my sister to give you a kind look.”

Yu Mingsong raised her hands slightly, her voice sounding lazier than it did for the camera. “I wouldn’t dare.” Rong Yushu gave her a sharp glare before she finally acted seriously.

A while later, filming began. The cameras were drones; no human cameramen followed, to avoid giving the guests hints. However, medical staff were waiting nearby just in case. Rong Yushu looked at the map, eyeing the streams and hills with interest. She grabbed Yu Mingsong’s sleeve and dragged her along.

“Yushu, don’t walk so fast. Careful you don’t run out of energy,” Yu Mingsong said. She really couldn’t keep up and began to stumble after just a few steps. Rong Yushu suddenly let go, causing her to fall against a nearby tree. She leaned against it, narrowly avoiding face-planting into the mud.

By the time she caught up, Rong Yushu was holding an apple. It was already peeled and sliced, stored in an insulated container.

Yu Mingsong’s expression froze. “You smuggled in supplies? Share some?”

Rong Yushu poked the last piece into her mouth, her face uncharacteristically expressionless. She didn’t even bother to fake a smile. Hearing the request, she pointed to a nearby fruit tree. “There, nature’s bounty.”

Yu Mingsong looked at the plantain tree and fell silent. Did Rong Yushu mean to suggest that a wild person turned a plantain into an apple, peeled it, sliced it, and put it in an insulated box? Not just her, but the directors and cameramen controlling the drones fell silent too. They swore they weren’t that kind-hearted to set up supplies on the trail.

After a few more steps, Rong Yushu saw a flash of light. Her green eyes lit up as she ran toward it.

“Hey, be careful!” Yu Mingsong thought Rong Yushu had seen a clue from the production crew. Their maps were very blurry, with some areas obscured; they needed to find information fragments to exchange for a real map. Yu Mingsong quickened her pace. They had only found one clue in the last forty-five minutes; at this rate, they wouldn’t reach the camp by noon.

When she arrived, she saw Rong Yushu holding a… personal fan. It was fully charged, a lightweight travel model, but the wind power was significant. Judging by the color and quality, it was likely custom-made by the Rong family for her.

“…Is this also nature’s bounty?” What kind of nature drops personal fans?

“Yes,” Rong Yushu said righteously, turning on the fan. She even forgot she was filming, stuffing the fan into Yu Mingsong’s hand and telling her to blow it on her. Yu Mingsong helplessly took it, only for Rong Yushu to snatch it back two seconds later.

“I can serve you, little princess,” Yu Mingsong said with an affected bow. Rong Yushu ignored her completely, propped the fan on her shoulder, and walked off.

The camera crew and directors were stunned. Who on earth was leaving supplies for Rong Yushu along the way? They even prepared a fan stand for her?!

Over the next stretch, to say nothing of the water and food, Rong Yushu found wet wipes for her hands and shoes, a thermos with warm tea, and even a box of facial masks. The directors couldn’t send anyone to confiscate them for fear of giving Rong Yushu hints and affecting the shoot. Watching her find so many things, they were losing their minds.

It wasn’t just that the items were left by the road; they actually pointed the way for her. Rong Yushu didn’t even bother looking for the clues prepared by the crew before she neared their destination.

Yu Mingsong followed behind, stumbling as if her strength were failing. She had honestly looked for two clues, but after realizing that following Rong Yushu’s “nature’s bounty” was faster, she just gave up. Currently, her feet were covered in mud, and she was thirsty and tired. She looked nothing like the radiant Rong Yushu.

Rong Yushu was eating snacks she found along the way, drinking hot tea, and enjoying the fan. Reaching this point, she finally remembered she had a partner. She turned back and almost laughed out loud.

“Songsong, why are you in such a state? Did you fall in a mud pit?” The interaction between the two was no longer as eerie as at the start of the show; it was more natural and less ambiguous.

Yu Mingsong’s face was dark. She really didn’t understand. Supplies aside—maybe the Rong family bribed the crew to place them—why was the path Rong Yushu took so flat and dry? Every step she took landed in mud; her newly bought pants and five-figure shoes were ruined.

“How much stuff have you picked up? Are there really wild people on the island?” Since there were cameras at four angles, Yu Mingsong had to fake a smile. Rong Jinhuai was right—his sister was a cunning fox. Her heart was black, but her face was too cute, numbing people’s senses.

“Hardly. At most, there might be a stray dog,” Rong Yushu said, grudgingly handing Yu Mingsong a wet wipe.

Yu Mingsong held it, her brow furrowing.

“Dogs, you know—they’re stupid and don’t listen well. They can only help me find things.” When Rong Yushu spoke, her expression was normal—half-teasing and half-lazy—but a flash of light crossed her dark green eyes. It happened too fast for anyone to read her mind.

Yet Yu Mingsong felt that Rong Yushu was insulting someone.

“Hmm? We’re at the finish line.” Before Yu Mingsong could figure it out, Rong Yushu followed the signs to the camp. A tent had already been set up in the clearing. It was a single-person tent, bordered with flowers, making it clear who it was for. The faint aroma of food drifted from inside.

Rong Yushu’s usual mockery vanished. Her fox-eyes sparkled, reflecting her good mood. She grabbed her supply bag and crawled straight into the tent.

Wait—where did that six-figure bag come from? A heartless wind blew past Yu Mingsong. Realizing she had to manually set up a tent and find lunch, her heart felt cold and broken. The crew members, seeing Rong Yushu turn a survival show into a vacation, were also heartbroken, but there was nothing they could do.

However, a short while later, Rong Yushu emerged from the tent. She didn’t bring the supply bag, and her expression was solemn. There was a faint red scrape on her leg.

“Yushu? Why are you hurt?” Yu Mingsong, who had only just started the base of her tent, dropped what she was doing and rushed to her side, kneeling to check.

“Is the medical staff here? I want to go to the rest area to treat this.” Rong Yushu avoided Yu Mingsong’s touch and didn’t even make eye contact. Accompanied by the medical staff, she took a shortcut out of the campsite.

Lan Cixing was waiting anxiously near the rest area. Once filming started, she couldn’t enter the shooting zone. The last marker she made was a bit crude; she didn’t know if Rong Yushu would recognize it. She had been bored all morning; her phone signal was weak, An Yu was offline, and she couldn’t play games.

A few hours later, she saw the medical staff bringing Rong Yushu back. Lan Cixing stood up abruptly. Seeing the red scrape on her leg, she gasped. Her heart felt cold—a pain sharper than when Rong Yushu had abandoned her earlier. Forgetting her awkwardness, she practically rushed to Rong Yushu.

“Sister, why are you hurt? Were there still branches on the path?” Hadn’t she cleared everything to ensure the route was safe? Could the crew have realized and reset the obstacles to increase the difficulty? How could they let Shushu suffer like that? A precious, delicate young lady couldn’t possibly handle it.

Lan Cixing cursed the production crew a hundred times in her head and pulled out the ointment she carried to apply it.

“She’s my bodyguard. She can handle it.” Rong Yushu had a cold face and was visibly in a bad mood, yet she still thanked the medical staff. Then she grabbed Lan Cixing’s collar and hauled her into the rest area.

The door slammed shut. Lan Cixing hurriedly knelt to treat the wound, only to hear a sob.

“Lan Cixing…” Rong Yushu didn’t want her bandages or her concern. She certainly didn’t want her coldness or her self-righteous attempts to appease her. She grabbed Lan Cixing’s hair, her anger getting the better of her, and pulled with force. But as she raised her hand, her heart softened, and she switched to the collar. She forced Lan Cixing to meet her eyes.

Heaven knew how much she had hoped someone would be inside the tent when she saw it. That her Lan Cixing would be there. Lan Cixing had done so much, yet she hadn’t left behind so much as a strand of hair. It was as if she thought Rong Yushu only needed those external things.

Lan Cixing stood frozen, her head buzzing, only seeing Rong Yushu’s eyes filled with tears.

“Couldn’t you have just chased after me?” Rong Yushu said. Tears began to fall like rain, unstoppable. Her gaze held hatred—cold and sharp.

She had truly cried out of anger.

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