The next morning, the forest had been shrouded in thick fog.
The production team released a new task early in the day: find and collect three types of edible wild plants. Each group had to complete the task before noon, and the first place would receive a hearty lunch supply.
After hearing the task, Lin Weiwei immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Zhao Lei ge, I don’t recognize any edible plants… What if I accidentally pick something poisonous?”
Zhao Lei patted his chest. “Don’t worry, I know a few. Just follow me.”
The other groups also began to move.
In Zhou Chaochao’s group, Zheng Kai was still lingering inside the tent. He hadn’t slept well the night before—partly because the hard ground had left his back sore, and partly because his mind had been in turmoil.
By the time he stepped out of the tent, Zhou Chaochao had already finished packing and was squatting by the fire, boiling water. She had tossed in some wild mint leaves, and when the water boiled, a refreshing fragrance drifted into the air.
“You’re up?” Zhou Chaochao didn’t look up. “Wash up and come eat something. I found some wild berries and mushrooms. They’ve already been processed.”
Zheng Kai froze. “You… when did you wake up?”
“Five,” Zhou Chaochao replied calmly. “Morning training.”
Only then did Zheng Kai notice the damp patch of sweat on the back of her camouflage jacket, and the strands of hair stuck to her forehead. She had actually… done morning training in the forest?
After washing up, Zhou Chaochao handed him food wrapped in a large leaf—inside were cleaned wild berries, roasted mushrooms, and a few mint leaves.
“Make do with this. If we get supplies at noon, it’ll be better.”
Zheng Kai took it and tasted a mushroom—it was surprisingly fragrant, with a texture similar to chicken.
“How do you know these are edible?” he couldn’t help asking.
“I learned before,” Zhou Chaochao answered simply, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. “Let’s go. I know where the plants for the task might be.”
The two of them walked into the forest one after the other. Zhou Chaochao moved quickly, and Zheng Kai almost had to jog to keep up.
“Wait… slow down…” Zheng Kai panted.
Zhou Chaochao stopped and turned to look at him. There was no impatience in her eyes, but no warmth either. “There’s a time limit for the task. If you want to go slowly, you can act on your own.”
Zheng Kai choked on his words, irritation rising again.
This woman was always so cold! Not considerate at all!
But he still gritted his teeth and followed.
Zhou Chaochao truly knew the way. She barely paused and headed straight toward a sunlit slope. There grew several edible wild plants: purslane, dandelion, and fiddlehead ferns.
She crouched down and began picking them efficiently.
Zheng Kai stood beside her, awkward—he didn’t recognize the plants and didn’t know what to pick.
“Pick the tender leaves of purslane. For dandelion, take only the leaves, not the roots. For ferns, take the curled young shoots,” Zhou Chaochao said without looking up. “Why are you still standing there?”
Zheng Kai had no choice but to squat down and start picking clumsily.
After collecting three types of plants, Zhou Chaochao checked them and nodded. “Enough. Let’s go back.”
On the way back, they ran into Lin Weiwei’s group at a fork in the road.
Lin Weiwei’s eyes lit up when she saw them. “Zheng Kai ge! What a coincidence!”
She jogged over, beads of sweat on her forehead, her cheeks flushed, looking delicate yet hardworking.
“Are you done already? Zhao Lei ge and I searched for so long and only found two kinds…” As she spoke, her gaze drifted to the basket in Zhou Chaochao’s hands. “Wow, Mumu jie picked so many! You’re amazing!”
Zhou Chaochao didn’t respond, only gave a faint nod.
Lin Weiwei didn’t seem embarrassed. She turned to Zheng Kai with a sweet smile. “Zheng Kai ge, how has it been working with Mumu jie? She… she’s easy to get along with, right?”
The question was subtle.
Zheng Kai’s expression shifted slightly. “It’s… it’s okay.”
“That’s good.” Lin Weiwei patted her chest as if relieved. “I was worried you two might not get along. After all, Mumu jie’s personality is… well, unique.”
She didn’t finish, but the implication was obvious.
Zhou Chaochao finally lifted her eyes to look at Lin Weiwei, her gaze calm and unreadable. “Are you done talking? If you are, we’re going back.”
Lin Weiwei was choked by the blunt dismissal, her eyes instantly reddening. “Mumu jie, I… I was just concerned…”
“No need,” Zhou Chaochao said coolly. “Mind your own business.”
With that, she turned and left.
Zheng Kai stood there, looking at Zhou Chaochao’s cold retreating figure, then at Lin Weiwei’s aggrieved expression. The balance in his heart began to tilt.
“Weiwei, don’t mind her. She’s just like that…” he comforted.
Lin Weiwei wiped her eyes and forced a smile. “I know… I was just worried you might feel wronged. Zheng Kai ge, if you really feel like you can’t get along with Mumu jie, you can join our group… Zhao Lei ge is very nice too. The three of us can take care of each other.”
Her words left Zheng Kai deeply conflicted.
By noon, at the campsite center, all the groups returned one after another to submit their tasks.
Zhou Chaochao’s group had the most plants and the best quality, taking first place without dispute.
Zhang Yan announced, “The Yellow Team wins today’s lunch supplies—two self-heating rice meals, a serving of fruit, and… chocolate!”
A staff member delivered the rewards. Zheng Kai’s eyes lit up at the sight of the chocolate—he hadn’t eaten anything sweet for a whole day.
But Zhou Chaochao glanced at it, only took the rice and fruit, and pushed the chocolate toward Zheng Kai. “You can have it.”
Zheng Kai froze. “You… you’re not eating it?”
“I don’t like sweets,” Zhou Chaochao said flatly.
Zheng Kai took the chocolate, feeling conflicted. This woman might be cold, but she didn’t seem that bad.
At that moment, Lin Weiwei’s group returned. They had only found two types of plants, and the quality was average.
Zhang Yan shook his head. “Red Team did not complete the task. Lunch will be compressed biscuits.”
Lin Weiwei’s eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry… it’s all my fault. I’m too useless. I dragged Zhao Lei ge down…”
Zhao Lei hurried to comfort her. “It’s not your fault. I didn’t teach you well.”
Zheng Kai looked at Lin Weiwei’s aggrieved expression, then at the chocolate in his hand, and suddenly spoke, “Weiwei, here, take this.”
He handed her the chocolate.
Lin Weiwei widened her eyes. “This… how can I? You earned this…”
“It’s fine, you eat it,” Zheng Kai said, feeling like a hero. “Girls should have more sweets.”
Lin Weiwei was so moved that her eyes watered. “Zheng Kai ge… you’re so kind.”
She accepted the chocolate, carefully unwrapped it, broke off a small piece, and put it in her mouth, closing her eyes in delight. “So sweet… thank you, Zheng Kai ge.”
Zhou Chaochao sat to the side, quietly eating her self-heating rice, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
After lunch, the broadcast from the production team rang out on time.
“Attention, guests! Next up is today’s main event—the special hunting mission!”
“From now until sunset, anyone who captures prey in the designated area—whether it’s a wild chicken or rabbit—can exchange it with the production team for any item they want! Comfortable bedding, extra rations, even a satellite phone to contact the outside world—all can be exchanged!”
Soon after, the groups began drawing lots to determine their hunting zones.
Lin Weiwei went first. She drew an area near a stream—an open grassland with dense animal tracks, clearly a good location.
When it was Zheng Kai’s group’s turn, only one envelope remained.
Just as Zheng Kai was about to reach out, Lin Weiwei suddenly spoke, “Zheng Kai ge, how about… letting Mumu jie draw? She seems to have good luck today.”
Zheng Kai hesitated, then looked at Zhou Chaochao. “You do it?”
Zhou Chaochao stepped forward calmly and drew the last envelope.
Inside was a map marking the northernmost area—a dense, nearly impassable thorn bush region, with a small skull symbol drawn at the edge.
Zheng Kai’s face darkened. “How are we supposed to hunt here? There’s not even a path!”
Zhou Chaochao studied the map for a few seconds, then lifted her gaze, sweeping calmly over everyone before finally landing on Lin Weiwei.
Lin Weiwei smiled back, a trace of triumph flashing in her eyes.
Zhou Chaochao folded the map. “We’ll take this one.”
“You’re sure?” Zheng Kai grew anxious. “This place is too dangerous! Can we switch? Production team—”
Before he could finish, Zhou Chaochao had already turned to pack her gear.
“You’re going?” Zheng Kai chased after her. “This place is too dangerous, what if—”
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to,” Zhou Chaochao said without looking back. “I can go alone.”
The words pierced Zheng Kai like a thorn.
“What do you mean?” he raised his voice. “You think I’m a burden, don’t you?!”
“I didn’t say that,” Zhou Chaochao looked at him. “I’m just saying, if you feel pressured teaming with me, you can choose freely. The rules allow it.”
“Fine! Fine!” Zheng Kai laughed in anger. “If you think I’m a burden, then I won’t drag you down!”
At that moment, Lin Weiwei gently grabbed his arm, her voice soft. “Zheng Kai ge, don’t be angry… maybe Mumu jie is just very independent. Since she wants to go alone, why don’t you join us? We just happen to need another guy.”
She looked up at him, eyes full of admiration and expectation. “With you joining us, we’ll definitely win!”
Zheng Kai looked at Zhou Chaochao’s cold expression, then at Lin Weiwei’s gentle smile. The balance in his heart finally tipped completely.
“Alright!” he gritted his teeth. “I’ll join your group!”
Lin Weiwei’s eyes lit up. “That’s great! Welcome, Zheng Kai ge!”
Zhou Chaochao watched the scene expressionlessly, then turned and walked alone toward the upstream direction.
Her back was straight, her steps firm, without a trace of hesitation.
Zheng Kai watched her retreating figure, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable. He hadn’t truly wanted to leave—he had just been pushed into it, unable to back down.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Lin Weiwei lightly tugged his sleeve, her voice soft. “Zheng Kai ge, don’t think about it. Since Mumu jie is so confident, let’s trust her. Besides… she’s more free acting alone. Maybe she really can catch something.”
Zheng Kai clenched his fists. In the end, he said nothing.