The Second Fall - Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Sister, I Was Wrong

Yu Mingsong had originally intended to reach out and take her hand.

It was rare for Rong Yushu to be so “proactive”; although she looked lazy and ill-intentioned, and taking her hand might be a trap, Yu Mingsong wasn’t about to miss such a good opportunity. Her hand almost touched the finger Rong Yushu had extended.

But Yu Mingsong abruptly stopped her movements. She felt as if something had scraped across her face—burning hot, yet possessing the sharpness of a blade. Like a laser weapon, it glared straight at Yu Mingsong’s hand. If she didn’t pull back, she felt it would be burned through. Only then did Yu Mingsong lose the nerve to keep reaching.

Lifting her head to meet the gaze of the owner of that sensation, Yu Mingsong felt a subtle shift in mood. A random bodyguard has eyes like this? She had felt genuine killing intent in that single glance from Lan Cixing.

Even now, Lan Cixing hadn’t relaxed. She lifted her gaze, showing more of the whites of her eyes, making her look like a wolf poised to strike. Even without seeing the rest of her features, one could feel the danger in her expression.

Yu Mingsong withdrew her hand awkwardly. “Eating someone’s food makes one’s hand short” (indebted). She still had to survive here until tomorrow noon. She didn’t have any survival skills; their group relied entirely on Rong Yushu. Truth be told, if Lan Cixing weren’t so reliable, Yu Mingsong and Rong Yushu probably wouldn’t even have their tent up yet. With night fast approaching and no fire or flashlight, they wouldn’t have known how to get through the night.

Seeing that she was still being glared at even after withdrawing her hand, Yu Mingsong had a sudden lapse in judgment and extended her hand toward Lan Cixing instead. She wanted to “get in touch” with her a bit more.

Lan Cixing was stunned for a moment, but she actually reached out and shook her hand. Yu Mingsong’s eye suddenly twitched. The handshake lasted a bit too long. Lan Cixing wouldn’t let go, and Yu Mingsong didn’t seem to have the intention of leaving.

Beside them, Rong Yushu rested her face on her hand. Her chair was a folding model brought by Lan Cixing, complete with a small pillow. She was the most relaxed person there, watching these two people who had been shaking hands for five minutes with leisurely interest. Her gaze swept back and forth, finally landing on the bead of sweat forming on Yu Mingsong’s temple. She let out a sneer.

“How much longer are you two going to hold hands?” A sharp “tssk” interrupted the confrontation between the two.

Lan Cixing pulled her hand away as if she had touched fire, disregarding the fact that Yu Mingsong was nearly flung into the air by the force. After withdrawing her hand, she immediately took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned between her fingers. She didn’t even try to hide her disgust.

Yu Mingsong stumbled from the force and almost fell onto the pot. It was Rong Yushu who grabbed her by the hem of her clothes to pull her back. She didn’t quite catch her balance and landed “thud” on the ground. Now, her newly bought pants were completely ruined.

“It seems your contact was quite pleasant,” Rong Yushu said, turning toward Yu Mingsong with a beaming smile.

Yu Mingsong pressed her hand to her waist. Being thirty years old, she couldn’t handle this kind of tossing around. She rubbed it for a long while and had no desire to respond to Rong Yushu.

“It wasn’t,” Lan Cixing denied from the side. She hadn’t spoken much since the cameras started rolling, but fearing Rong Yushu might misunderstand, she felt compelled to offer a cold explanation.

Yu Mingsong’s gaze lingered on Lan Cixing for a bit longer, especially on her eyes. She retracted her gaze before Lan Cixing turned toward her, and after rubbing her waist, she began to massage her hand. Only she knew how ruthless Lan Cixing had been just now.

It was called a handshake, but in reality, she was completely crushing her hand. It was the kind of strength that wanted to snap the bones, crush them, and turn them into mincemeat. There was no restraint at all, and her eyes were fiercer than a wolf’s. It was as if Yu Mingsong were this person’s greatest enemy in life.

Yu Mingsong became thoughtful. She seemed to know who this bodyguard was.

Lan Cixing sharpened the bamboo pieces she had found and began to slice potatoes. In the pot, the rice was half-cooked, its aroma wafting through the air. Yu Mingsong obediently found a mat to sit on the ground, using a twig to draw ants in the dirt. She was even tossed a pile of wood by Lan Cixing, with the instruction to watch the fire.

Yu Mingsong, who had never touched such a task in her life, kept a numb face as she turned toward the flames. She didn’t dare disobey anymore. Half an hour had passed, and her hand was still red; the pain of being crushed hadn’t vanished. It felt as if Lan Cixing had split off a piece of her soul to act as a ghost, still gripping her, warning her not to get close to Rong Yushu.

As for Rong Yushu at the center of the storm, her life was quite comfortable. The sun hadn’t fully set yet, and she could still enjoy the breeze from the fan while napping in her folding chair. Lan Cixing would occasionally wipe the sweat from her brow. This person had started her vacation the moment she brought the bodyguard.

The production crew couldn’t stand it any longer and finally controlled a drone to drop a rolled-up piece of paper. It landed right in front of Lan Cixing. It nearly hit Rong Yushu’s foot.

Rong Yushu lifted an eyelid. Lan Cixing fed her a cherry tomato. Rong Yushu closed her eyes. Lan Cixing finished slicing the potatoes and ignored the paper on the ground.

It was Yu Mingsong who couldn’t stand it and crept over to the paper to pick it up. She had already stopped viewing this desert island survival as a serious variety show, so she didn’t follow the routine of interacting with the potential audience. Only after reading the paper did she remember she was wearing a mic and should read the content aloud.

“The crew has a task for us. Let’s see… we need to find all the fragments and complete the tasks on them to exchange for supplies. I knew they weren’t up to any good. You can find the camp without finding all the fragments, but you can’t do the tasks to get supplies.”

After Yu Mingsong finished her “business” performance, she looked at the two tourists beside her. Rong Yushu had put on sunglasses at some point—everyone was now used to her pulling out vacation gear at will. She took off her glasses and glanced at Yu Mingsong. “Do we still need supplies?”

Her Xingxing was kindhearted and had even prepared dinner for this “dog woman.” Rong Yushu looked around and felt their supplies were quite complete; they didn’t need any charity from the crew.

“What can we exchange them for?” Lan Cixing added the potatoes to the rice, along with two sweet potatoes she had added earlier. Yu Mingsong didn’t even know when she had dug up sweet potatoes; she was completely numb.

“We have to find all the fragments first. The crew didn’t say what we can exchange them for, but theoretically, all common ingredients are available. I knew it was impossible for them to truly let us search for ingredients on the spot and do actual wilderness survival.” Yu Mingsong’s tone unconsciously carried some resentment, but she no longer looked at Lan Cixing with the previous grudge and hostility.

Lan Cixing gave her a suspicious look. Yu Mingsong continued to curse the crew. “We all came to record under the banner of a dating show. Who knew they’d throw us on an island right from the start? Luckily it’s only for one day. I wonder how the sisters in the other groups are doing.”

No one cooperated with her, so Yu Mingsong performed her monologue alone. As an A-lister who frequently recorded shows and films, she was used to acting this way.

“In short, let’s head back to the path to find the fragments. Yushu, you stay and guard the camp? Bodyguard sister, do you have any light source? It’s almost dark.” Yu Mingsong gave a fake smile.

Lan Cixing felt nauseous just hearing the way she addressed her and took a step back to clearly distance herself. Yu Mingsong’s face stiffened.

“Fragments, like these?” Rong Yushu finally consented to get up from her lounge chair, her steps lazy, walking slowly and softly. In her hand was a stack of cloth pieces—exactly the fragments the crew required them to find.

Lan Cixing took them and pulled out the ones from her own pocket as well.

“Don’t know how many were hidden. Anyway, let’s see what’s written on the back first.” Rong Yushu gave a half-hearted performance, acting very tired and sleepy as she leaned onto Lan Cixing’s back, using her as a human cushion.

Yu Mingsong no longer had the energy to complain about the intimacy between Rong Yushu and this little bodyguard. She looked at the stack of fragments, her eyes wide. They had walked the same path, and she hadn’t seen Rong Yushu find a single fragment! Moreover, she had walked the route back carefully, keeping the task of finding fragments in mind. How on earth did these two find them all?

“Need to assemble them.” Lan Cixing was sparse with words. She cleared a space and began to assemble the fragments. As expected, when the fragments were put together, they formed a complete map, with tasks written on the back.

Five minutes later, the puzzle was complete. Lan Cixing knelt down to study the tasks. The production crew watching this scene also felt themselves breaking down. While the other groups had only just finished pitching their tents, this group was about to finish cooking. Their progress was completely ahead of schedule.

The director was even more exasperated. She thought this task would at least stall these two for an hour! It didn’t even stall them for ten minutes.

“Did you give this bodyguard the answers?!” the director cried out, her words losing logic.

“No, it’s impossible. The security personnel can only get the island map at most. How could they know where the fragments were…” The planner and assistant looked at each other and spoke weakly.

“Then did anyone film how they found them? What about the drones? Four cameras and not one caught it?”

The photographer controlling the drone swallowed. “Sister, we really didn’t catch it. I remember clearly; I just said their group only had the three fragments Yu Mingsong found and they definitely wouldn’t be able to put it together…”

The director was on the verge of a high-pitched scream. Meanwhile, Lan Cixing had finished reading the tasks and decided to follow the map to find the crew members and exchange for supplies. The tasks were simple: find a water source, clean the water, pitch a tent. Points were given for each. Lan Cixing calculated they had 15 points so far, which was half the total of all tasks. Considering they had rice, a pot, and water, it should be enough.

She had just taken a step when her hem was pulled. Lan Cixing didn’t need to look back to know who it was. She turned around, bending her knees to reduce the height difference between her and Rong Yushu.

“The path isn’t easy to walk, and it’s getting late.” Lan Cixing wasn’t wearing a mic, so she didn’t have to be careful speaking to Rong Yushu, using her usual gentleness. At least she didn’t call her “Sister” out loud.

Actually, Rong Yushu hadn’t spoken at all. The crew had no idea what she wanted to do. Only Lan Cixing understood that she wanted to go with her. Rong Yushu had said it: she wanted her.

To the side, Yu Mingsong pondered and understood as well, feeling uneasy. This bodyguard was quite fierce when talking to her—cold and ominous, a literal god of death. But when it came to Rong Yushu, her voice was as soft as an innocent puppy. The whimpering when acting spoiled for a master was exactly what Lan Cixing was doing now.

“It will be quick. I looked at the route; it’s about twenty minutes round trip.” Lan Cixing stopped acting cold and started talking more, even explaining herself.

Rong Yushu’s green eyes were dark and ghostly in the blue tones of the evening. Quiet as water, they inevitably carried a hint of persistence when looking at Lan Cixing.

“Wait for me to find meat for Sister to eat.” Lan Cixing leaned in a bit closer and reached out where the camera couldn’t see. Very carefully, she gave Rong Yushu a little squeeze. It was as if Lan Cixing were Rong Yushu’s toy. If Rong Yushu wanted to play, Lan Cixing would offer herself up proactively.

After leaving the camp, Lan Cixing didn’t dare show much expression in front of the cameras. she only quietly lifted her hand and looked at the pinch mark left by Rong Yushu’s sharp nails. It hurt quite a bit. She seemed to have made Rong Yushu angry again. Foxes had strange temperaments and hard-to-understand moods. But no matter how angry she got, she only reached out her delicate claws to scratch an ambiguous red mark onto her.

Lan Cixing rushed to the supply exchange point at her fastest speed. The assistant watching the screen marveled at how smoothly their group was going. It turned out this bodyguard was incredibly fast at navigating.

The director finally came back to life and frantically signaled the staff member in charge of handing out ingredients. The walkie-talkie flashed repeatedly. However, Lan Cixing had already reached the exchange stall and settled fifteen points with the staff.

“The price list is here. Please allocate them carefully.” Lan Cixing was the first guest to come to exchange for ingredients. The staff member put on a business smile and reminded her kindly.

Lan Cixing looked at the prices. The crew was at least reasonable. Completing one fragment task earned 1-2 points, while the price of rice and flour was 0.5 points—the lowest tier. Basically, finding 2/3 of the fragments or deducing the tasks and exchange route would provide today’s food. The crew even provided cooked food, likely not expecting anyone to actually build a fire and cook on a desert island.

“Are there raw ingredients to exchange for? What about seasonings?” Lan Cixing scanned the first page of the price list; it was all cooked food. There were even boxed meals—5 points each, the highest tier.

“Huh?” The staff member finally noticed the flashing walkie-talkie and quickly turned on the headset. She heard the director’s roar, telling her to remind Lan Cixing that they were a proper dating variety show and not to interfere with the guests’ emotional interactions.

The staff member shrunk her neck after hearing the director’s lion roar. The voice was so loud that Lan Cixing heard it from the side as well. I didn’t interfere with the interaction between Rong Yushu and Yu Mingsong. It was her own sister who didn’t want to talk to Yu Mingsong. She was just helping to solve the trouble.

“Raw food? We have some. Let her take it.” In the face of a dating show, food seemed unimportant. The director waved her hand irritably and had someone bring the frozen food they brought to the exchange point.

“This doesn’t cost points?” Lan Cixing watched as several security colleagues moved the boxes over and truly prepared to start picking.

“Uh, it wasn’t specified… so it’s free?” The staff member wanted to contact the director again, only to find the headset signal was gone—the director had unilaterally blocked her.

“Then thank you.” Lan Cixing picked out a single shower unit, exchanged for two buckets of hot water, and several packs of pre-mixed seasonings. She also took a wok, a spatula, and oil, truly intending to cook a good meal. She picked through the raw food, thinking it definitely wasn’t the quality Rong Yushu loved, so she could only pick the quality that wouldn’t affect the taste as much as possible.

When she returned to the camp with bags in both hands, it was almost pitch black. Rong Yushu was sitting by the fire, occasionally listening to Yu Mingsong talk, her laughter like a bell. Yu Mingsong sat very close to her; the two looked up, perhaps at the stars. Hearing footsteps, Rong Yushu turned back, her smile widening further.

“…Sister.” Lan Cixing didn’t care about the cameras and started jogging. Despite carrying many things, she wasn’t slow. That one word “Sister” caused Yu Mingsong’s movements to freeze.

“I’m back.” Lan Cixing laid out the things she got, chattering to Rong Yushu like a puppy home from school.

“There was cooked food; why exchange for raw to cook?” Rong Yushu listened patiently, her eyes even gentler. When her fox-eyes softened, they were even more filled with affection, looking at someone without blinking as if she truly held love.

Yu Mingsong struggled to suppress the waves in her heart. She was certain that if anyone else spoke so much nonsense to Rong Yushu, they would be ruthlessly scolded and kicked out. What a temper Rong Yushu had. How could she bother with a boring person? No matter how useful they were, it wouldn’t matter.

“The boxed meals definitely won’t taste good.” But Lan Cixing still exchanged for one as a backup. Worst case, it could be given to that Alpha. “I’ll go stir-fry the rice first. Does Sister want to wash up first?” Lan Cixing had included the single shower unit in her plan the moment she saw it. Her sister loved cleanliness; unfortunately, there was no good bathtub, so she had to make do with a shower.

“If you don’t accompany me, how can I wash?” Rong Yushu cared even less than she did; even with cameras and a mic, she could be this blunt. It nearly made Lan Cixing drop the chicken in her hand.

“Can I wash alone? I definitely need someone to serve me.” Yet Rong Yushu spoke with total justification, sitting beside Lan Cixing, her voice twisting around her.

“B-but, we’re filming now, and it’s a single unit, small…” Lan Cixing’s gaze drifted randomly, sticking to any camera, her neck turning red. This flush was suspicious in the extreme, as if they truly showered together usually and she served Rong Yushu every day.

“Then I won’t wash.” Rong Yushu stood up, brushing Lan Cixing with the fragrance of her hair. The white tea scent had been faint all day, but now it clung to the tip of Lan Cixing’s nose.

She remembered Rong Yushu’s words, took a step forward, and then stopped in her tracks. Anything went in private. But going into the same shower unit as Rong Yushu on the show—Lan Cixing truly didn’t dare. She was an Alpha, after all. Actually, the excessive intimacy with Rong Yushu all day was already ridiculous enough.

Lan Cixing’s heart was in limbo, looking at Rong Yushu’s back, thinking of her tears at noon and the wound she had cut herself. And that overly intense kiss. Lan Cixing gritted her teeth and took a step. If she was attacked online, so be it. As long as Rong Yushu didn’t give her a cold look, she didn’t care.

“Sister, I was wrong.” Lan Cixing abandoned the cooking. The chicken she just took out was left lying in the wok.

“Sister, Teacher Rong.” Lan Cixing quickly caught up, not daring to raise her voice but quickening her steps. Even her movements were a bit bold. She truly took Rong Yushu’s hand, and after being shaken off a few times, she tried again.

Seeing the two of them truly bickering as they entered the single shower unit together, Yu Mingsong, sitting by the fire, expressionlessly grabbed a filming drone.

“I recall this bodyguard is an Alpha,” she said, speaking the inner thoughts of any audience member who would see this segment in the future.

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