*Off-Camera, Yuan Lai’s Heart Skips a Beat*
By the time Yuan Lai finally emerged from her room, the sun was already high in the sky.
She shuffled into the living room, rubbing at her half-closed eyes, and immediately spotted Song Qingxu’s busy figure.
Although Wilderness Diary didn’t go live until eight o’clock that night, the guests were expected to arrive on location well in advance. Song Qingxu had eaten lunch early and was now sorting through the items she planned to bring.
Yawning, Yuan Lai asked, “Need a hand?”
Song Qingxu glanced up briefly. “No, I’m almost done.”
“There’s lunch on the table,” she added.
“Oh? Auntie came this early today? Lunch is already ready?” Yuan Lai headed toward the dining room.
“Not early—it’s already one in the afternoon,” Song Qingxu said, checking the time.
Yuan Lai stared at her in shock. “I slept that long?”
Song Qingxu nodded.
Relieved that her wife hadn’t yet left, Yuan Lai quickly asked, “What time are you heading out? I’ll drive you.”
“Four o’clock,” Song Qingxu replied while double-checking her things. “No need, the driver will take me.”
She could tell Yuan Lai still looked tired and wanted her to rest.
But crouched on the floor packing her suitcase, Song Qingxu suddenly felt an intense gaze. She looked up to find Yuan Lai leaning against the wall, staring without blinking.
“What… what is it?” Song Qingxu asked.
“The driver’s on leave today,” Yuan Lai improvised.
“We have more than one driver.” Song Qingxu answered.
“Oh, well… they all took the day off. Group trip.” Yuan Lai replied.
Song Qingxu paused. “Then I suppose I’ll have to trouble you to drive me.”
Yuan Lai’s lips curved into a grin. “No trouble at all. I just happen to be going out too.”
With that settled, Yuan Lai finally went to get lunch. Song Qingxu watched her walk away, unaware that a smile had crept into her own eyes.
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The Wilderness Diary crew had been bustling since morning. Though the show required no rehearsal, the production team had to make preparations well in advance.
Professionals had conducted site surveys and risk assessments days ago. Supplies were stocked, medical teams stood by, and contingency plans were in place for any emergencies.
After all, the guests would be surviving in the planned location for seven days—safety had to be guaranteed.
Despite its reputation for stinginess, Wilderness Diary had gone all out this time, even buying multiple trending topics to promote the show before it started. Staff wages and benefits had also improved; the boxed meals had upgraded from bland and unappetizing to colorful, fragrant, and flavorful.
One cameraman, shoveling food into his mouth, exclaimed, “The show must have struck gold! We’re living large—meat, eggs, milk, and fresh fruit every meal!”
Gone were the days of surviving on a single nutrient drink a day. Fresh, organic food was a luxury far beyond most people’s budgets.
A technician lowered his voice. “I heard a big sponsor dropped a huge investment into the show.”
“Wow, must’ve been a lot.”
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By the time Yuan Lai brought Song Qingxu to the venue, the place was already packed—guests, entourages, and stationed crew members filled the area in a steady tide of people.
Compared to the others, the two of them looked rather “understaffed.”
A staffer approached.
“Miss Song, let’s run through the general schedule.”
“Miss Song, you’ll be in makeup in half an hour.”
“Miss Song, we’ll need to do a quick health check later.”
Another staff member turned to Yuan Lai. “You must be Miss Song’s assistant? Could you tell us her dietary restrictions and allergies—”
Before Yuan Lai could speak, Song Qingxu interjected, “I’ve already listed them out. I’ll send it to you.”
The staffer blinked in embarrassment. “Oh, sorry—I thought you were her assistant.”
“You guessed right,” Yuan Lai corrected smoothly. “Just got hired, still learning the ropes.”
Song Qingxu glanced over, only for Yuan Lai to arch a brow at her. She quickly looked away.
Once the staffer left, Yuan Lai drawled, “Miss Song.”
She studied Song Qingxu’s profile. “Why won’t you look at me?”
“Didn’t we agree yesterday that I’d be your assistant? What, did you think it was just for one day?” Yuan Lai said.
Still focused on the schedule booklet, Song Qingxu asked, “Don’t you have anything else to do?”
“Sure I do.”
Song Qingxu’s fingers tightened involuntarily on the papers. “Then go do it.”
“My ‘thing’ today is being your assistant.” Yuan Lai answered.
Song Qingxu looked up suddenly, something unfamiliar flickering in her chest.
Yuan Lai slipped into her role easily—fanning her, offering water—before telling her, “Wait here a sec.”
Assuming she’d gone to fetch more supplies, Song Qingxu stayed under the shade of a tent, going over the schedule.
Moments later, Yuan Lai returned carrying a folding chair.
“Miss Song,” she said, setting it behind her, “standing this whole time must be tiring. Sit.”
Warmth spread through Song Qingxu’s chest.
Temporary assistants arranged by her company had always stuck strictly to work matters; personal needs were left for her to manage. She’d once considered hiring her own, but bypassing the company wasn’t easy, and the idea had been shelved.
Who would’ve thought her first-time assistant would be this considerate?
“You’re zoning out.” Song Qingxu said.
Yuan Lai waved a hand in front of her, the fingertips faintly flushed from carrying the chair.
Song Qingxu caught the hand to still it, only for Yuan Lai to offer her other hand in “rescue,” making it look like she was holding both of hers.
From a distance, a crew member whispered, “Miss Song and her assistant seem really close. I’m jealous.”
“Isn’t that the same assistant who trended with her yesterday?”
“Looks like it. People online sure love to exaggerate—just shopping together and they spun it into a scandal.”
“Still, they’re both so good-looking. Standing together is eye candy.”
“Honestly… I ship them.”
Flustered, Song Qingxu pulled her hands back and sat down, grateful to rest her legs.
Yuan Lai lingered, glancing at her own hands with faint reluctance. She still hadn’t mentioned the contract from yesterday—there’d been no time.
She was about to speak when a syrupy voice cut in: “Qingxu-jie, you’re here!”
The nickname set off alarm bells in Yuan Lai’s head.
Xia Shaoshao approached, apparently oblivious to Yuan Lai, addressing only Song Qingxu. “Please take care of me during the show.”
Before Song Qingxu could answer, Yuan Lai said, “They’ll split the guests up—you might not even meet again before the end. Survival shows are about relying on your own skills, not someone else’s care.”
Only then did Xia Shaoshao look at her, feigning surprise. “You’re the assistant who trended with Qingxu-jie yesterday, right?”
Before Song Qingxu could clarify, Xia continued sweetly, “Next time you run errands, you should go alone—don’t drag Qingxu-jie along and get her scolded.”
“It wasn’t her, it was—” Song Qingxu began.
“I know, you like to take the blame for others. You’re too kind—you need someone who understands you.” Xia gave Yuan Lai a pointed look.
Ignoring her, Yuan Lai leaned down to murmur in Song Qingxu’s ear, “Want me to get you something to eat before the live starts?”
Given the remote location and looming broadcast, food was out of the question.
“No… it’s fine,” Song Qingxu said.
Watching their closeness, Xia clenched her fists in jealousy.
When Song Qingxu turned her head, their proximity nearly brought her lips to Yuan Lai’s cheek. She froze, catching a faint trace of citrus before Yuan Lai straightened, chin tilted toward Xia in silent challenge.
Xia left without another word, leaving Song Qingxu puzzled—but she didn’t dwell on it. The live show was about to begin.
Yuan Lai, however, was wary. Sharing a program with her wife was risky—Xia would definitely try to flirt with her. She needed a plan.
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This season’s lineup included four guests—three celebrities and one internet personality. Song Qingxu and Lin Yajie were the most well-known, while Xia Shaoshao was a rookie actress and Xiao Bei a video blogger with far less public recognition.
Song Qingxu was ready for the live broadcast, Yuan Lai at her side looking every inch the perfect assistant—bag in one hand, sunshade in the other.
“No need for the umbrella,” Song Qingxu whispered. “This is a survival show.”
But Yuan Lai barely heard her—too distracted by the subtle floral scent around her and the gentle lilt of her voice. She raised the umbrella higher, determined not to let the sun touch her.
It wasn’t unusual—several other assistants were also holding umbrellas—so Song Qingxu let it go.
Soon, the guests were led away one by one. Yuan Lai caught the fading scent of honeysuckle as Song Qingxu disappeared from sight.
By eight o’clock, she was already stationed in front of the live feed.
The broadcast began.
After the host’s introduction, the camera switched to the guests—blindfolded in helicopters hovering above a rainforest. One by one, they were lowered into different corners of the jungle.
Removing her blindfold, Song Qingxu took in the dense greenery. So this was the stage for their survival challenge.
“Have we started?” she asked, stepping toward the camera.
Her delicate face filled the frame without warning—so close, so vivid.
Watching from afar, Yuan Lai froze, her heart skipping a beat.