Gu Ming didn’t get the news that Gu Yan had already joined the film crew until three days after the fact.
Even Yao Yi hadn’t expected that Yan Ling, despite still being abroad, would already have her clutches on Gu Yan.
Gu Ming had heard of that script before. She also knew the director…a veteran in the industry who specialized exclusively in art-house indie films. Her chosen themes were always eccentric and niche. During promotions, she would constantly claim she was aiming for prestigious awards rather than box office success, only for reality to deliver a harsh reality check every time the films hit theaters. And as for the awards? Forget about winning; her films barely even qualified for a nomination.
Unless an actor was completely irrelevant and desperate for work, no one willingly touched her projects.
Gu Yan was easily a solid tier-two actress now. How could she have fallen so low as to take on a script like this?
Sensing Yan Ling’s deep-seated malice toward Gu Yan, Gu Ming felt a wave of loathing for the woman, while a tight knot of worry formed in her chest for Gu Yan.
“Gu-laoshi, asking for your phone back and forth like this really isn’t ideal. We’re right in the middle of filming,” the production team pleaded, at their wits’ end. Even though Gu Ming was one of the title sponsors for this season of Wilderness Survival, they couldn’t keep breaking the rules for her over and over again.
“I’m sorry,” Gu Ming said smoothly, but she still didn’t hand the phone back. She was waiting for word from Yao Yi regarding Gu Yan and the exact details of that script.
Fortunately, the script had previously been sent to the inbox of another artist at her agency. Yao Yi quickly tracked down the file and forwarded it over.
Disregarding everything else around her, Gu Ming began flipping through it right then and there.
The production crew members exchanged helpless looks. With a sigh of resignation, the director gave up and instructed the drone and camera crews to focus on the other contestants first.
By now, Wilderness Survival had reached its twelfth day.
Thanks to Yusa and Gu Yan’s stellar efforts in the early stage, the contestants had been allowed to return home to rest and adjust for two days. Compounded by the new rule changes, these past few days had been much easier than their brutal first week.
Still, basic survival needs…food, water, and hygiene…remained entirely up to them. The show’s challenges only provided clean clothes and various miscellaneous items, both useful and useless, leaving everything to the mercy of a lucky draw.
The entertainment value was still high. For instance, when they first returned, they weren’t allowed to bring any outside gear and had to rely entirely on their original tools. As luck would have it, it had been raining heavily over the past few days. Their changes of clothes were repeatedly soaked through, leaving them with no choice but to aggressively participate in the timed tasks to win dry gear.
The challenges proved harder than expected, featuring timed events and randomized rewards, which instantly spiked the tension.
Fortunately, the guys possessed incredible physical stamina. Pushing through the exhaustion, they managed to reach a distant, rugged destination within half an hour and brought back four rewards.
The misfortune, however, was that these four items completely missed the mark on what they actually needed.
A pair of nail clippers, a comb, a small nightlight, and a folding table.
Song Ai tried to find the silver lining. “Look on the bright side, we don’t have to hold our bowls in our laps while eating anymore.”
He Xin offered a wry smile. “More than that, we have a light now. We won’t have to worry about being left in pitch black if the campfire goes out.”
“There’s always tomorrow. Let’s keep trying,” Cheng Ming comforted them.
“The main issue is this randomized aspect; it’s completely ridiculous. Who knows what other garbage the crew will use to screw us over,” Yin Shi grumbled, his face falling. He had run so hard for the reward that his lungs felt ready to burst, only to get this.
“Maybe it was just bad luck today. Besides, they aren’t completely useless. The girls can use the comb, and the nail clippers can trim everyone’s nails before they get too long and get in the way of work, haha,” Xu Wen chimed in, keeping his composure.
“Speaking of which, where is the captain? I feel like I haven’t seen her all day,” Zeng Jiu asked.
“She’s been in her tent the whole time,” Kang Yu said, glancing toward Gu Ming’s solo tent with a soft sigh.
“Without Gu Yan around, the captain has completely lost the energy to do anything,” Xu Wen blurted out, almost subconsciously.
Everyone stared at him in dead silence. Confused, he blinked. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Some things are better left unsaid, even if you know them,” Kang Yu murmured.
“Kid, the cameras are still rolling,” Zeng Jiu said, patting him on the shoulder.
Xu Wen was still utterly baffled. “Did I say something wrong? Is she down because Yusa isn’t here? No way. The captain is clearly closer to Gu Yan. Aren’t they basically like sisters?”
He Xin looked at him with an expression of pure pity. “It’s a miracle you’ve survived this long in the entertainment industry.”
“Uh…”
“Keep it up,” Zeng Jiu added, patting his shoulder once more.
Xu Wen: “…”
“No, seriously, I’m not wrong! The two of them are practically joined at the hip normally. Now that Gu Yan has forfeited and left the show, leaving the captain all by herself, isn’t it normal for her to be upset?”
“It’s perfectly normal, kid. But there’s no need to spell it out so clearly,” Zeng Jiu said, giving his head a patronizing pat.
Xu Wen: “…”
“Fine, I’m going back to rest. See ya.”
The group burst into laughter.
It sounded lively outside, but Gu Ming had no interest in joining in. The more she flipped through the script, the deeper her brow furrowed. She was on the verge of walking off the set and quitting the show entirely.
What kind of trash script was this? What on earth was Yan Ling trying to pull? How could she degrade and ruin Gu Yan like this?
She dialed Yao Yi’s number. “Has Gu Yan already joined the crew?”
“Yes, she’s been there for three days now.”
“What are they currently filming?”
“I’ll have to check on that. Hold on a moment.”
Yao Yi worked efficiently and called back shortly after. “Per President Yan’s instructions, the production is currently fast-tracking and focusing heavily on the violent and intimate scenes.”
“Also, President Yan will be returning to the country in two days.”
“Stall her.”
“That… might not be feasible. If we intervene, it could easily blow up into an international issue.”
The current international climate was tense, making it highly inconvenient for her family to get involved. Yet, she couldn’t just sit idly by and watch Yan Ling return to cause trouble for Gu Yan.
“Come over tomorrow. Let’s talk to the Wilderness Survival crew.”
Thinking about this made Gu Ming’s head ache with a twinge of guilt. Forcing the crew and the other guests to bend to her personal whims over and over again was uncalled for, but she had to admit…her mind was completely disconnected from the show.
When Gu Yan was around, she could still find reasons to smile. But the moment she left, Gu Ming’s world felt entirely empty. The sheer anxiety and irritability consuming her made her feel unrecognizable to herself.
When had she ever been this short-tempered and easily angered?
Remembering how she had lost control of her temper earlier that day, her face darkening just because Kang Yu was moving a bit too slowly, she felt a wave of intense shame. She knew perfectly well that Kang Yu had a foot injury and couldn’t bear weight easily.
Gu Yan, Gu Yan…
The first time she saw Gu Yan, she had assumed she was some underage child actor cast to play her younger self.
But looking at her height, it didn’t match the childhood version of her character in the script. After all, what kind of six- or seven-year-old girl stands at 160 centimeters and is already so physically developed?
Only then did it finally click: this was the actress playing her sister.
Burned by past experiences, she was initially guarded around Gu Yan. But as the day went on, Gu Yan didn’t look up at her even once. In fact, she barely spared a glance for anyone else. Letting her guard down slightly, Gu Ming tentatively approached her.
To her surprise, before she could even get close, Gu Yan fainted right in front of her.
Startled, her first instinct was to suspect Gu Yan was faking it…playing some sort of trick. But seeing that she was genuinely unconscious, Gu Ming panicked. She quickly helped her up and secretly slipped a piece of chocolate into her mouth.
As the sugar hit her system, Gu Yan slowly came to. Watching her timidly murmur her thanks, something stirred in Gu Ming’s heart, prompting her to exchange names.
Back then, she figured that as long as Gu Yan wasn’t like those other copycats who intentionally tried to worm their way into her good graces, having a little sister wouldn’t be so bad. They were in the same crew, and their characters shared a close bond. As a senior, it was only natural for her to look out for her.
And Gu Yan’s every action eventually completely dismantled her defenses. She was nothing like those other opportunists; she was incredibly independent, always keeping to herself and actively avoiding Gu Ming.
Yet, the more she pulled away, the more Gu Ming found herself unable to resist getting closer, teasing her.
To see her misted eyes, her flushed cheeks, and that burning yet deeply restrained look in her gaze…
She knew Gu Yan was too deeply immersed in her character, but for once, Gu Ming couldn’t bring herself to maintain her usual clear-headed, detached composure to help her snap out of it.
She liked this little sister. She needed her.