*Misunderstood Jealousy*
Yuan Lai’s brows knit together as she stared at the sudden figure blocking their path—Xia Shaoshao.
Xia Shaoshao didn’t even glance at her. Her face lit up as she looked past Yuan Lai toward Song Qingxu.
“Qingxu-jie, what a coincidence!”
“Not a coincidence,” Yuan Lai cut in, stepping in front of Song Qingxu. “All the guests are in this rainforest. Running into each other is normal—it’s hardly ‘coincidence.’”
Xia Shaoshao almost rolled her eyes but restrained herself under the camera’s gaze.
“Qingxu-jie, are you out looking for food?”
Ignoring Yuan Lai, Xia Shaoshao hurried forward, holding up the fish in her hand.
“I just caught a bunch of fish. I can share with you—”
“No need,” Yuan Lai interrupted coldly. “I can catch fish myself.”
Song Qingxu tilted her head at the woman in front of her, eyes full of puzzlement. Since when did Yuan Lai know how to fish?
Yuan Lai shot Xia Shaoshao a frosty look. “You should take your fish back and share them with your own team. Song Qingxu has me.”
Song Qingxu quickly added, “That’s right. Food is hard-earned—we can’t take it.”
Seeing her offer refused, Xia Shaoshao’s enthusiasm waned. She tried another angle. “Qingxu-jie, where’s your shelter? We could meet up to look for food together—it’s safer with more people.”
Song Qingxu thought she had a point and was about to agree.
“No way,” Yuan Lai cut in again. “Who knows if you’re here to help us or harm us? We’re not telling you. Give up.”
Yuan Lai wasn’t wrong, so Song Qingxu swallowed her words.
“You’re maliciously speculating about me!” Xia Shaoshao accused.
“And I call it not letting my guard down!” Yuan Lai shot back even louder.
“Qingxu-jie hasn’t spoken yet. Who are you to speak for her?”
“Stop trying to stir up trouble between us!” Yuan Lai said.
Xia Shaoshao gave a saccharine smile with an edge. “What ‘us’? You’re just temporary partners. Don’t make it sound so close.” She put particular weight on “temporary.”
“Exactly!” Yuan Lai sneered. “Right now, Song Qingxu’s partner is me. Outsiders, keep your distance.” She put equal emphasis on “me” and “outsiders.”
Xia Shaoshao said, “Hmph. It’s only seven days. What’s there to be proud of?”
“Some people don’t even have seven days. Jealous much?” Yuan Lai said.
【Why are they fighting now?】
【Feels like watching grade-schoolers bicker.】
Song Qingxu, just like the livestream audience, was baffled. She didn’t understand why the two of them couldn’t see eye to eye. But as their voices rose, she hurried to step in.
“Stop!”
At her voice, both immediately fell silent.
“It’s getting late. We should get back to the shelter—rainforests aren’t safe after dark.”
“Qingxu-jie,” Xia Shaoshao persisted, “my shelter’s just downstream along this creek. If you run into trouble, you can always come find me.”
“No need,” Yuan Lai said icily. “As long as I’m here, Song Qingxu won’t run into trouble. You’d best drop it.” Her tone carried a double meaning.
“You—you…”
Seeing they were about to start again, Song Qingxu grabbed Yuan Lai’s sleeve and pulled her back the way they’d come.
“We’re heading back,” she told Xia Shaoshao, and added, “You should hurry back before it gets dark.”
Xia Shaoshao’s voice turned sweet again. “Thank you for your concern, Qingxu-jie. I’ll go now.”
Song Qingxu had only said it out of politeness, but Yuan Lai couldn’t help feeling a sour pang. Why be so nice to Xia Shaoshao?
Song Qingxu’s hold on her sleeve was light, yet Yuan Lai followed obediently. It struck Song Qingxu as odd—on the way out, Yuan Lai had been chatting nonstop, yet now she was completely silent.
“Is it because you didn’t find any food?” Song Qingxu asked gently. “Don’t worry, I brought a fishing net. Once our supply runs low, we can go fishing again.”
“That’s not it,” Yuan Lai muttered.
Song Qingxu grew more curious. “Then… is it because of Xia Shaoshao?”
At the mention of her name, Yuan Lai bristled. “She’s up to no good. You should stay away from her.”
She couldn’t outright say, Xia Shaoshao likes you, so she swallowed the rest of her words.
“You’re biased against her,” Song Qingxu said, stopping to meet Yuan Lai’s eyes. “Speaking ill of others on camera isn’t good for either of you.”
Worried the viewers would get a bad impression of Yuan Lai, Song Qingxu addressed the audience beyond the camera: “People say impulsive things when they’re upset. My partner here is a good person—as I’m sure you’ve all seen over the past day. She just wasn’t calm in the moment.”
“Xia Shaoshao is also a warm-hearted junior. I hope you’ll give her your support.”
【Jie-jie’s composure is amazing. Wife material.】
【It’s just a little spat—no one’s holding grudges.】
【She’s so kind, worried her partner will get flamed online, and patiently explains to everyone.】
【Didn’t realize Song Qingxu was this mature and attractive.】
【When she talks to the camera, she literally glows. I’m in love!】
Yuan Lai buried her hostility toward Xia Shaoshao for the moment, taking the out Song Qingxu offered. She turned to the camera and apologized.
“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking before I spoke.”
Then she immediately glanced at Song Qingxu, hoping for praise.
But Song Qingxu didn’t look at her—she looked instead at the darkening sky. “We should hurry. It’s almost dark.”
This time, she didn’t take Yuan Lai’s sleeve; she walked ahead on her own.
No one knew what dangers lurked in the rainforest at night—it was safest to get back quickly.
Yuan Lai lowered her eyes, hiding the flicker of disappointment.
She trailed behind like a soul without a body, lost in thought.
Is she ignoring me now?
Is she disappointed in me?
Does she hate people who argue?
Is she angry?
Regret gnawed at her. If she’d known it would end like this, she would’ve held back instead of arguing with Xia Shaoshao.
It was all Xia Shaoshao’s fault—showing up in front of Song Qingxu like that, obviously with bad intentions.
And then Song Qingxu had spoken well of her on camera… the sourness in her chest surged again.
Lost in her thoughts, they reached the shelter before nightfall.
Yuan Lai followed Song Qingxu right up to the door—only to be stopped.
“Your shelter’s over there,” Song Qingxu reminded her gently when she saw the distracted look on her face.
But Yuan Lai misunderstood, thinking she wasn’t allowed inside. Her head drooped. “Oh.” She trudged toward her own shelter.
Song Qingxu hadn’t expected the quarrel to put Yuan Lai in such a mood. She decided to give her space to cool down.
Back inside, Song Qingxu’s first priority was to wash up and change. The temperature outside hadn’t been high, but hours of hiking had left her sweaty and uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, Yuan Lai didn’t go into her own shelter. She sat cross-legged in the grass outside Song Qingxu’s, staring at the closed door.
【What is she doing? I don’t get it.】
【Why just sit there? Is there something special about that spot?】
【Cosplaying a “waiting-wife” rock? Interesting.】
【Hey, when did Song Qingxu become her wife?】
【Song Qingxu is my wife—hands off!】
Her gaze was unfocused, but still fixed on the door—so that if Song Qingxu came out, she’d be the first to know.
She turned over ideas in her mind: How do I get her to stop being mad at me?
Apologize? She’d already apologized to the camera, and Song Qingxu hadn’t even looked at her after that.
Promise never to fight with Xia Shaoshao again? No—that was impossible.
Frustrated, she yanked up a handful of grass. Soon the patch beneath her was bald.
But at least she waited long enough to see the door open.
Song Qingxu emerged freshly changed, towel in hand, drying her damp hair. She paused, startled. “Why are you sitting here?” Then, seeing the handful of grass, she hesitated. “Were you… clearing weeds?”
“I have a trowel if you want to use it,” she added, eyeing Yuan Lai’s bare hands. “You’ll hurt yourself doing it like that.”
Yuan Lai quickly tossed the grass behind her and scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt and debris from her pants. Only then did she notice the bald patch she’d made.
She forced a laugh. “No, no… I’m used to using my hands.” And instantly regretted saying something so ridiculous.
Song Qingxu didn’t question it—she respected people’s little quirks.
Water still dripped from her hair, dampening her shoulder. Tilting her head, she went on rubbing it dry.
“Do you have a hairdryer I can borrow? I can’t find mine.”
A sweet honeysuckle scent, mixed with the shampoo they’d all been given, drifted over. Somehow, on her, it smelled infinitely better.
Yuan Lai swallowed. “Y-yeah… I’ll get it for you.”
She wanted to offer to dry Song Qingxu’s hair herself, but a glance at her dirt-smudged hands killed the thought.
She dashed back for the hairdryer and handed it over, keeping her distance so as not to get her dirty. “Here… for you.”
“Thanks.” Song Qingxu took it and started back inside. At the door, she turned and looked at her—
And Yuan Lai’s dim eyes lit up instantly.