*Do… Do You Want a Bite?*
The shelter’s loudspeakers crackled to life, broadcasting the latest announcement. Of the four guests, three were still out foraging for food—only Lin Yajie was inside.
Quick as lightning, she snatched up the No. 1 pick: a wilderness survival expert.
[Forget Song Qingxu being lucky—this is the real jackpot: lying in the shelter while the show feeds her.]
[Of all four helpers, the survival expert is the most useful. Can’t believe Lin Yajie got her hands on them first.]
[Actually, a doctor would be good too—if anyone gets hurt in the wild, they can be treated right away.]
[The other three should just hurry back and choose!]
Unfortunately for the commenters, the guests outside couldn’t hear a word.
________________________________________
Deep in the rainforest—
Xiao Bei moved through the undergrowth with a backpack slung over her shoulders, searching for edible plants and fruit.
The rainforest was rich in resources. As long as you could identify safe food, surviving for seven days would be no problem.
A food vlogger on a popular streaming site, Xiao Bei had grown up in G City, where “anything edible” was taken literally—from rodents to insects, she could eat it all. She liked to call this survival show her personal “gourmet tour.”
Before the show started, she’d crammed hard on identifying edible wild plants. Lucky for her, the location turned out to be a rainforest—her research was paying off.
As she walked, she gathered fruit until her large pack was bulging with a rainbow of colors.
[Might as well rename the show “All-You-Can-Eat Wilderness Buffet.”]
[Compared to previous seasons, this one looks way too easy. I think I could survive here.]
[These guests are so lucky—it’s basically a spring picnic.]
[Still not as lucky as the one lounging in the shelter.]
Following a stream, she noticed the fruit near the water was particularly lush. Her hands kept moving, plucking them one after another—until she heard movement up ahead.
Animal or human?
The production team wouldn’t drop guests into areas with large predators. At worst, there might be small animals, nothing life-threatening.
Cautiously, Xiao Bei crept forward, parting the broad leaves in front of her—and her eyes widened.
“So many fish!”
[Didn’t someone just say they should pair wild fruit with meat? And now the “meat” has delivered itself.]
[This has turned into a food show.]
[Well, Xiao Bei is a food vlogger. Food vloggers belong on food shows.]
While Song Qingxu was debating whether to release some of the fish, Xiao Bei appeared, clutching her bundle of fruit.
“Want to trade some fish for fruit?” Song Qingxu asked.
“Of course!” Xiao Bei answered.
They made their exchange and went their separate ways, each returning to their shelter—only then hearing the latest broadcast.
________________________________________
Seeing the remaining three options, Song Qingxu’s rational side told her to choose the doctor. In a rainforest, a medic could be far more useful than the other two.
But for some reason… she found herself wanting the “mystery guest” instead.
She hesitated.
The production crew finally spoke up:
“Sorry, but while you were deciding, the doctor was already chosen.”
It was Xia Shaoshao who picked the doctor. She had cut her calf on a jagged branch while out foraging, blood running down her leg.
Thankfully, she had a first-aid kit in her backpack. After a quick patch-up, she hobbled back to the shelter. But for the rest of the day, she wouldn’t be able to go out again—and she had no idea where Qingxu was.
She’d barely sat down when the selection broadcast began. Before it had even finished, she’d already picked the doctor.
Lucky—injured one moment, and the next, the show delivered medical help to her door.
[Now every guest thinks they’re the lucky one. The producers really know how to keep things fair.]
[Song Qingxu missed her chance—her doctor got taken.]
[She might not have wanted the doctor anyway—maybe she was just thinking it over.]
This time, Song Qingxu didn’t hesitate—she chose the mystery guest. Even if the doctor had been available, she knew she would have followed her gut in the end.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, Xiao Bei had just arrived back, her haul of fruit still unpacked, when the crew told her she’d be getting a chef as her helper.
It was like a pie had fallen from the sky. She was stunned, then overjoyed.
“Wait… you mean you’re sending me a chef?”
Once the crew confirmed, she grinned so wide her cheeks hurt.
“Before I came, my friends warned me this would be grueling,” she said to the camera. “But actually? It’s easy and fun.”
“The rainforest is beautiful. Once you’re here, you can really feel the simplicity of life—no noise, no distractions. It’s peaceful.”
She turned to the viewers. “If you’re interested, you should totally join next time.”
[Signed up for next season of Wilderness Diary.]
[Signed up for next season of Rainforest Vacation.]
________________________________________
Yuan Lai had already changed clothes. When the time came, she would appear in front of Song Qingxu and give her a surprise.
The closer it got, the more her heart raced.
After the four guests had made their choices, the new helpers boarded a helicopter.
As with the previous arrivals, they were blindfolded so they wouldn’t see their drop-off points. One by one, the helicopters carried them to their partners.
Yuan Lai’s pulse pounded—pure excitement at the thought of seeing Song Qingxu again.
As the helicopter descended, staff members guided her step by step toward her destination.
From afar, Song Qingxu heard the low roar of the rotors. She stepped out of the shelter, anticipation bright in her eyes.
That silhouette…
[Judging by Song Qingxu’s face, she might know who it is.]
[But the blindfold’s still on—how could she be sure? She didn’t know the identity during the selection.]
[If it’s someone close enough, you can recognize her just by her outline.]
[She definitely recognized her—she just didn’t expect her to show up.]
The audience’s guesses were closer to the truth than Song Qingxu realized.
She watched silently as Yuan Lai walked toward her.
Halfway there, Song Qingxu couldn’t just stand still—she moved forward too.
The distance closed quickly.
“You… what are you doing here?” Surprise in her voice, but even more delight.
Seeing the faint smile on her wife’s face, Yuan Lai’s tension melted.
“I’m here to be your helper.”
She carried the same standard-issue large pack the crew had given all newcomers. Setting it down, she rummaged through it for a while.
Song Qingxu started to move to help her—only for Yuan Lai to pull out a bright red apple.
Sunlight streamed through the dense canopy, dappling her radiant face. Her amber eyes sparkled, and in them, Song Qingxu’s reflection was crystal clear.
“For you.”
[Uh… why is this suddenly sweet?]
[Is this a romance show now?]
[Who is this mystery guest?]
When Song Qingxu didn’t take it right away, Yuan Lai explained, “It’s from the rations the crew gave me. I already washed it.”
Looking at the apple, Song Qingxu’s eyes darkened slightly—something the camera couldn’t catch. “If you give me your food, what about you?”
“I’ll just go find more later,” Yuan Lai said matter-of-factly.
Why are you so good to me?
The question rose in Song Qingxu’s mind, but with the cameras rolling, she kept it in.
She accepted the apple but didn’t bite into it yet, holding it loosely in her hand.
Yuan Lai shouldered her pack again, reaching for Song Qingxu’s free hand.
“Come on—let’s head back.”
Like she owned the place, Yuan Lai led her toward the shelter with the ease of someone taking her home.
[Aaaaaah what’s their relationship?!]
[Guest and helper, obviously 🙃]
[When will the show reveal the mystery guest’s identity?]
[Doesn’t she look familiar to anyone else?]
[Wait—isn’t she the one spotted with Song Qingxu in that supermarket photo?]
[Yeah, a few days ago Song Qingxu was papped with a “civilian” companion—rumors said her marriage was in trouble. The hot search was quickly scrubbed, and the pics disappeared.]
[Guess this clears things up.]
The crew had set up Yuan Lai’s shelter right next to Song Qingxu’s, but she didn’t even glance at it—just went straight inside Song Qingxu’s.
She put down her bag and immediately got to work—cleaning the fish, reinforcing the shelter—never stopping for a second.
Her own shelter? Untouched.
[She’s so capable.]
[Forget the survival expert—I like her better.]
[She’s actually doing real work.]
At one point, Song Qingxu tried to stop her. “You’ve been working all morning. Rest a bit.”
“I’m fine. I’ve got plenty of energy,” Yuan Lai replied without even slowing down. “The crew sent me here to help you. If there’s anything you need done, just tell me.”
If anything, she seemed eager—like she wanted to be given tasks.
[Not gonna lie, her stamina’s impressive—half a day of work and no complaints.]
[She’s showing off, like a peacock in full display.]
Sitting on the stone bench Yuan Lai had built for her, Song Qingxu watched her move in and out, busy with a dozen little tasks.
The apple in her palm had warmed from her hand’s heat. Lifting it to her lips, she took a small bite. The rich aroma filled the air, drifting to Yuan Lai’s nose.
Yuan Lai’s gaze locked on the bite mark. Her throat moved unconsciously.
Catching the unguarded look, Song Qingxu swallowed her mouthful, lifted the apple, and asked softly—
“Do… do you want a bite?”